Don't cut off your nose to spite your face

Perhaps some third world leaders should look at the latest poll conducted among the citizens of Cuba before making bold statements about the United States. The latest poll reveals 79% of Cubans are dissatisfied with the country’s economic system; 70% want to start their own business and the Cuban government will not allow them to do so. Nearly two-thirds of Cubans (64%) believe normalizing relations with the U.S. could change the economic system, though only 37% thought the Cuban political system would allow the changes to take place because it would mean them surrendering control to the people.

Growth has slowed sharply in recent years. According to Cuba’s national statistical agency, the country’s gross domestic product in 2013 was 77.2 billion pesos – which, depending on which exchange rate one uses, could equate to anything from $77.2 billion (at the official rate of 1 convertible peso to $1) to $3.2 billion (at the internal rate of 24 regular pesos to 1 convertible peso). But either way, growth has slowed dramatically from the mid-2000's. The rate exchange of their money is different for Cuban citizens and foreigners visiting or doing business in the country. The growth rate in GDP is below 1.3 percent. They rank 177 out of 222 countries world wide. Compare that to the Philippine GDP - The Philippines economy grew an annual 7.0 percent in the second quarter of 2016. GDP is based on population that must be kept in mind.

The Soviet Union was the main trading partner and strategic ally of Fidel Castro during the time of the Cold War. The collapse of the socialist bloc put the island on the brink of economic collapse in the early 1990's. Since the Russian government could no longer provide the support they had given Cuba they agreed in 2014 to reduce the DEBT Cuba owed Russia by 35%. Cuba could not pay the debt anyway.  Cuba still owes Russia 3.5 billion dollars after the debt was reduced. In return for reducing the debt Cuba agreed to allow Russia to open a small spy facility in Havana.  

There was a time in the early 1960’s when Fidel Castro made statements like, “It will be Russia and Cuba against the United States.”  That did not work out so well! Obama in my opinion is making a bad mistake in giving Cuba any aid and relaxing the trade embargo with Cuba. It is obvious due to the Russian economy slowing Russia cannot provide what the Cuban government needs to survive so why should the United States bail Cuba out of their bad decision to “sever ties” with the United States in the 1960’s. Why should our incompetent President Obama be allowed to give them the $132 billion in aid he wants to give them, since in 2014 Cuba agreed to allow Russia to open a small spy station in Cuba?

Cuba is so desperate today that they are drifting out of Moscow’s orbit and wanting to return to the United States orbit. The people  not the leaders paid a price for fifty years by severing their ties with the United States for Russia and no longer can afford to pay the price. It seems some third world leaders do not do their research before making bold statements against the United States and other Western Nations.

It is best for third world countries not to sever ties with any first world country. They should try to maintain a relationship with them all. What does a third world country really have to offer a first world country? If Roosevelt and Truman believed they could attack and beat Japan without defending the Philippines I believe modern day Presidents realize they do not need the Philippines to defend themselves against China.  A war that most likely will never happen because China or the United States or Russia do not want that.

Cuba could not survive with the help they were getting from Russia and had to turn to Venezuela, the Cuban authorities made it clear that further economic cooperation with Moscow was not a priority.  Today the Venezuela economy is failing and Cuba cannot depend on Venezuela or Russia so they reach out to the United States to save them. Why should we?

Russia did build In northeast Cuba two nickel plants, but Russia has since turned them over to the Canadians. Why would Russia be interested in mining in the Philippines if they were not interested in maintaining mining in Cuba and turned the mines over to the Canadians? The Canadians presently mine in the Philippines. New hotels were built by Mexican and Spanish firms in Cuba they were not build by Russia or China. True, two years ago Cuba did seem to express renewed interest in working with Russian oil companies. But experience tells us to remain cautious. For two decades Russian experts explored for oil off the Cuban coast, finding a few juicy items along the way, but then suddenly turned all their discoveries over to  Mexico. I would tend to think any oil deal China makes with the Philippines will benefit China far more than it will the people of the Philippines. I doubt that the Russians really have any interest in the South China Sea oil production since it would possibly damage their relationships with China.

I have also been amused that all the contracts and deals China has proposed with the Philippines requires they use China Companies to build them which helps the Chinese economy not the Philippine economy. The loans to build go right back to the Chinese government and the Philippines pays interest on the money. I am not aware of any contract or deal that the United States has made with the Philippines that requires them to only use American companies.

I know that the powers to be in the Philippines have far more knowledge of deals, contracts, trade agreements, foreign relationships than stupid little me. I have never work for any government in my life. I am just a simple man with little knowledge, but I cannot make sense of all the talk of ending a long term relationship for a promise that may never materialize and if it does the strings attached may be more than the strings you claim you want to break with the United States.

In my personal life I have never ended a long term friendship in order to gain a new friendship. In my professional life I have never ended a business relationship with an old reliable company to do business with an unknown company with no proven record. 

Revenge is hell and destroys! The Aquino's and some in the Philippines have spent three decades trying to get even with the Marcos family and it has not brought them peace. There are some that were and still are loyal to the Marcos family that have sought revenge on the Aquino family and the United States for not supporting Marcos and it has not brought them peace. Only forgiveness brings peace. 

To show how arrogant some in governments can be when it comes to revenge a United States Congressman is stopping the sale of 27,000 weapons to the Philippine National Police. Who does that hurt? Certainly not the Philippines. Duterte will purchase the weapons in China, Israel or Japan. It only hurts the people of the United States and the United States economy. The people we elect are not as smart as we think they are. 

General Westmoreland and Vietnam failures

In 1982, General Westmoreland filed a $120 million lawsuit against CBS and journalist Mike Wallace for suggesting that he had lied about the number of enemy troops in Vietnam. They claimed General Westmoreland withheld crucial intelligence so that he could continue to fight. Westmoreland lost the lawsuit. I know the judgement was just because I was in intelligent service and I witness first hand Westmoreland changing daily death totals, missing in action figures and other crucial figures.  President Lyndon Johnson was not told the truth. We had to sign a ten year contract that we would not discuss anything we read, saw or heard during our time in the service when discharged. Westmoreland later admitted to his actions, but said it was for the good of the country. It was what Westmoreland thought was good for the country not what the people thought.

Westmoreland was hard headed and thought he could make tactics used in World War II work in Vietnam.  “Search and Destroy” did not work. It only made the communist rebel fighters and North Vietnam regular army more determined to defeat the U.S.  He wanted to fight the war as if there was a ‘front line’ and there was NO front line in Vietnam.  Westmoreland tactics created chaos in Vietnam. His demand for more troops created a situation where men were sent to Vietnam not properly trained and that included young officer and enlisted men.

General Westmoreland’s reliance on manpower, artillery and air bombardment failed to cause North Vietnam to surrender. 57,000 Americans died for what? Once again the politicians were wrong and failed to listen to the citizens of the U.S.

The key to possible success in Vietnam was for Westmorland to listen to junior officers, non-commissioned officers and the enlisted men on the front line, but Westmoreland was too proud to do that. His ego was too large.  Westmoreland did not want the South Vietnamese involved in the fight, therefore he spent no time establishing training programs for South Vietnamese soldiers.

General Abrams was sent to Vietnam in 1967 and took full command of the U.S. forces in 1968. Abram did away with “search and destroy” and initiated “clear and hold.” He improved life in Vietnam with better schools, farming operations and refugee resettlement. He also was serious about training South Vietnamese soldiers to protect their own country.  Abram believed more success could be achieved by trying to make friends with the people instead of trying to destroy their country. Americans sometimes forget that people in South Vietnam had relatives in North Vietnam that were being killed.

I believe if Abram would have been in Vietnam from the beginning there may have been a different outcome. North Vietnam knew they only had to destroy the moral of the Americans and the victory was there. They knew the South Vietnamese Army could not defend themselves without the American military. The fact they could not defend themselves was Westmoreland’s fault not the South Vietnamese. Westmoreland and traitors like Jane Fonda made it impossible for a victory.  

Socialism/Communism or Capitalism

I wonder how many of the 68% of Americans polled who said they would not object to a socialist president know that communism is an extreme form of socialism. "Socialism" is sometimes used interchangeably with "Communism", but the two philosophies have some differences. Communism is a political/economic system and Socialism is an economic system. Obama has attempted to transform the United States into a Socialist/Capitalist country with heavy emphasis on Socialism.

Communism claims to deliver free-access to consumption articles through advances in technology that allow for super-abundance. Socialism claims to deliver access to consumption articles through redistribution of profits among the workforce (Obama).

Communism believes the government should own all means of production and land and everything else. People should work for the government and the collective output should be redistributed equally. Socialism believes large-scale industries are collective efforts and thus the profits must be return to society as a whole. Socialism attempts to control the economy through social control.

Karl Marx and Lenin supported both Communism and Socialism.

Communism the government owns the economy and in Socialism the government controls the economy. Socialist actually believe Capitalism can be a stepping stone to Socialism and can work if the government has control instead of the wealthy.  

Communism abolishes religion and Socialism encourages secularism.

Communism and Socialism both desire to control immigration.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was designed to be a socialist economic system, but it did not work.

Socialism and Communism does not necessarily reward on one’s natural ability or ambition. They believe all should be rewarded equally (If you have worked in a Union shop as I have you know your co-worker could be lazy and make the same amount of money as you – a product of Socialism).

Bernie Sanders is a Socialist. He is constantly speaking of free healthcare and free education. Socialism offers free healthcare and education (that are not actually free) because they are funded by taxation. Perhaps that is why Bernie Sanders is proposing tax increases of at least 13.6 trillion dollars on the wealthy and middle class.

The following countries have some form of Communism – China (Communist/Capitalist), North Korea (Communist), Laos (Communist/Socialist/Capitalist), Cuba (Communist) and Vietnam (Communist/Socialist/Capitalist). These are not government that I would not particularly want to live under.

Denmark (highest taxes in the world) and is a Constitutional Monarchy – Socialist.

Some of the most Socialist countries in the world today are: China (starvation), Finland, Netherlands, Canada, Sweden (national debt has gotten so high the government has been forced to take more control of the economy), Norway, Ireland and Belgium (welfare programs have become a burden and a major contributor to their debt).  Not all these countries claim to have a Socialist Government, but they do have Socialistic programs the same would be true today of the United States. It is also important to note where Socialism appears to be working they are countries with smaller populations compared to the United States. There is probably not a true Socialist country in the world today. If there was the people would have to own, manage and divide industry profits.

Capitalism itself is not bad, nor is all capitalist bad. Capitalism is good. People confuse capitalism with corporate America and do not consider the alternative socialism for what it is, fake. The poor in America would be the super-rich in most places in the world. If you think capitalism is wrong, live in a post-communist country for a few years. Most people who make a lot of money give a lot to charity – there are exceptions. Look at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates give away a lot of their money.

People fill their heart with resentment towards capitalist because they feel when someone wins someone else must lose. I have found generally when someone wins someone else wins. Corporation profits create more jobs. A capitalist is creative and risk taker and wants to add value to society. Corporate warriors (workforce) are more about a paycheck and bonus, two different things. Nothing is wrong with either for each needs the other.

Next time you ask the question is capitalism good or bad consider Capitalism like we have in America and the Socialism that Poland or Russian had during Communism. I think you will see that capitalism is not all that bad.

Capitalism allows you to express yourself and gives you the freedom to choose. It does not promise to make everyone equal, but rather lets you decide what you want to do with your life. Self-expression does not sound too bad to me. Capitalism allows you to set up a yoga school or write a book, open of a variety of small businesses or work for a corporation.

People should be careful what they wish for and especially who and what they VOTE for! If you want to find out how socialism can destroy a country read up on Venezuela. 

If Hollywood is against Trump he must be a good candidate.

 Prominent actors, writers and thinkers joined a "Stop Hate Dump Trump" campaign to denounce the billionaire Republican presidential frontrunner, saying he is a threat to the United States.

Harry Belafonte, Kerry Washington, Jane Fonda, Jonathan Demme, Noam Chomsky, Eve Ensler, Danny Glover, Rosie O’Donnell, Michael Moore and Lily Tomlin are among those lending their support to the drive to prevent Donald Trump from getting into the White House. Prominent thinkers I question that! The persons I have underlined have always been anti-American. The fact that these people, with their anti-American views, are against Donald Trump makes him more attractive to me. They have all lived well because of capitalism. 

I do not know of anyone that has been more of a threat to the U.S. and U.S. military personnel than JANE FONDA. I was in Vietnam when Jane Fonda paraded around in Hanoi with our enemy. She gave her support to the very people that were killing American military personnel. She did it openly and was never charged with a crime.

‘THINKERS’ – I do not need them to think for me. I do not know of any thought Jane Fonda has ever had that lines up with my thoughts. I listen to her apology on Oprah Winfrey for going to North Vietnam and I did not buy it.  Jane Fonda said, “I made one unforgivable mistake when I was in North Vietnam, and I will go to my grave with this. I don’t know if I was set up or not,” she said. “I was an adult. I take responsibility for my actions. I was laughing and clapping and there were pictures taken.” She was “laughing and clapping” while Americans were dying; she was “laughing and clapping” while Americans were rotting away in POW camps; she was “laughing and clapping” with her new pals who she knew were torturing American soldiers.

She did not make ‘one’ mistake she made many mistakes! She went behind enemy lines to give our enemy support, she spoke on North Vietnam radio calling American military personnel in Vietnam baby killers, she gave messages that the POW’s slipped to her to the commanders of North Vietnam military before she left Hanoi, she straddle a North Vietnam weapon that had been used to shoot down U.S. aircraft and laughed while posing on it.

The POW’s that slipped Jane Fonda notes thought she would help them, but instead she betrayed them. Two of the men were killed and the others were beaten after Jane Fonda left. She is responsible for their beatings and deaths! Her apology was a business decision.  

This incident received little press coverage, but both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars issued a joint statement condemning the U.S. Navy over the launch of its newest warship, the USS Jane Fonda. The ship’s name, which was kept under wraps until right before the launch, was revealed at a star-studded event presided over by Ms. Fonda. Prior to the launching of the USS Jane Fonda she made this statement, “I dedicate this ship to the brave men who fought and died in Vietnam.” How dare her!  This is just one more example of how sick our corrupt government has become and how the Obama administration goes out of its way to insult our military personnel. I would have declined the honor if I had been Jane Fonda – Jane Fonda does not think like me!

Something like this could not have been done without the authorization of Obama, who has ignored Navy tradition before by naming ships after other civilians, such as civil rights activist Cesar Chavez and Medgar Evers. Obama’s personal agenda is being played out prior to the end of his term.

For those of you who only know Fonda from her movies, her background speaks for itself. She received an Oscar for her portrayal of a military wife in Homecoming. In one scene she achieved a very real climax while receiving oral sex from her lover while her husband was deployed in Viet Nam. She just had to get one more dig in on Vietnam veterans.   

A film that did not make any money, Introduction to the Enemy (1974) is a film made by Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden to introduce Americans to our sweet, compassionate, kind North Vietnam enemy. It tells how resilient and industrious the North Vietnam people were and how they took the French and U.S. planes they shot down and made homes and bicycles out of them.

Between her anti-American radio broadcasts from North Vietnam and appearing at anti-Iraq War rallies, Fonda demonstrated against Israel’s “occupation” of the West Bank. This is someone who once said, “I would think that if you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees, that we would someday become Communists.”

‘THINKER’ – Harry Belafonte is another one that does not think like me. I would not have gone to Venezuela and met with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, but Belafonte did and while there he praised the anti-American, anti-human rights Chavez regime, saying, "No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world and the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution."  He also said to Chavez, "We Americans respect you, we admire you."

Belafonte has been criticized many times for referring to Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice as President Bush’s, "house slaves." I do not always agree with Colin Powell, but he has dedicated his life to the service of the United States. He also served as a much-needed role model for the black community in an age when men of his integrity have become rare. Harry Belafonte has proven to be a hypocrite in his criticism of American foreign policy while the socialist policies and leaders he has embraced have led to countless deaths of their own citizens in Africa and other Third World countries.

Harry Belafonte’s anti-American views are extreme and repugnant. He has praised Castro and Chavez, blamed the United States for the terrorist attacks that took place on 9/11 and denounced America as a villain in world affairs. No, Mr. Belafonte does not think like me. He thinks more like Jane Fonda and that is why they can join forces against Trump.

Michael Moore -made hundreds of millions of dollars off of the highly fictional Fahrenheit 9/11, a “documentary” that alleged close links between the Bush clan and Osama bin Laden’s family.  Recently he said that private wealth is a “national resource” that belongs to all the people and called for jailing the rich.  Then he called bin Laden’s death an “execution.”  For a man who made a fortune exploiting 9/11, denouncing wealth, and the action against the al-Qaeda leader, is beyond disingenuous. Michael Moore does not think like me.

Danny Glover -  Lethal Weapon star Danny Glover was a campus radical as a student at San Francisco State University and has been an advocate for left-wing causes ever since.  He was friends with Hugo Chavez, is a union rabble-rouser and said the Bush administration was composed of “liars and murderers.”  After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Glover was quick to blame the tragedy on global warming. Danny Glover is a supporter of Edward Snowden and has attempted to negotiate for his asylum in various countries even after Snowden’s own father said his son should return to the U.S. and face his punishment. I do not think Danny Glover’s thoughts represent my thoughts.

Rosie O’Donnell – I think Ms. O’Donnell is incapable of thinking. She just opens her mouth and garbage comes out. She says whatever she thinks will anger the most people. Talent does not keep her in the public eye, because she has none, so she resorts to controversy.

These great thinkers claim they are offering Americans a chance to be heard and engage in action, as Trump's campaign gains momentum even as he increases his hateful and divisive rhetoric. Trump has said some very politically incorrect things, but no one has been more divisive and hateful than the very ones that organized ‘Dump Trump’.

They say they believe Trump is a grave threat to democracy, freedom, human rights, equality and the welfare of our country and all our people. I have never heard of Trump meeting and supporting our enemies as the organizer of ‘Dump Trump’ has. I have never heard of Donald Trump giving his support to communist tyrants. I have never heard of Donald Trump saying if we understood communism better we would all pray to God that we would one day be a communist nation.  These so called great thinkers have always been on the opposite site of the U.S. in Vietnam, Middle East, Venezuela, Cuba and Africa. They have contributed nothing to the United States or to its people except left wing and anti-American rhetoric. If the United States is as bad as they claim it is why don't they move to a communist country?  

No, these pseudo political pundits (actors/actress/comedians/directors) do not think for me or speak for me.