Comments on: Obama’s Revolution And The Caribbean http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/ Ramblings From The Nature Paradise of Dominica Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:40:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Dan http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10377 Dan Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:19:40 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10377 You're asking me to be wiser than anyone who has ever lived! Yes, regulations are necessary to keep capitalism from becoming as cruel as it can be. Remember, there are only two economic systems: one is an appeal to greed (capitalism) and the other an appeal to envy (socialism). Neither can solve mankind's problems, because both are men's creations. The only system that would would is one that we can never have: a system that is independent of human nature. You’re asking me to be wiser than anyone who has ever lived! Yes, regulations are necessary to keep capitalism from becoming as cruel as it can be. Remember, there are only two economic systems: one is an appeal to greed (capitalism) and the other an appeal to envy (socialism). Neither can solve mankind’s problems, because both are men’s creations. The only system that would would is one that we can never have: a system that is independent of human nature.

]]> By: Eric http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10376 Eric Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:30:49 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10376 This is a question for Dan, or the original poster of this blog thread. I agree that many things can not be changed in America or the World while the capitalist system still holds. For example, there will never be housing for everyone, jobs for everyone within capitalism, which is why I am opposed to capitalism. However, I do believe it is possible for certain policies to reform capitalism. That said, do you think the anti-sweatshop bill that Obama has signed on to, which demands all imported goods (ie. goods made in the Caribbean) be made in unionized/worker-friendly workplaces, will help the Caribean economy? This is a question for Dan, or the original poster of this blog thread. I agree that many things can not be changed in America or the World while the capitalist system still holds. For example, there will never be housing for everyone, jobs for everyone within capitalism, which is why I am opposed to capitalism. However, I do believe it is possible for certain policies to reform capitalism. That said, do you think the anti-sweatshop bill that Obama has signed on to, which demands all imported goods (ie. goods made in the Caribbean) be made in unionized/worker-friendly workplaces, will help the Caribean economy?

]]> By: Dan http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10365 Dan Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:41:23 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10365 Obama’s greatest vulnerability is that with its latent racism, and rampant stupidity, the American public is eager to spread and/or believe the worst about him. False smears against Obama are posted on the Internet and arrive in my e-mail daily. One claims that he's a muslim and against America. Another is directed at his wife and the church he attends. He's not perfect, but then no candidate walks on water. Why is it news when one is found to lack the ability? Obama’s greatest vulnerability is that with its latent racism, and rampant stupidity, the American public is eager to spread and/or believe the worst about him.

False smears against Obama are posted on the Internet and arrive in my e-mail daily. One claims that he’s a muslim and against America. Another is directed at his wife and the church he attends.

He’s not perfect, but then no candidate walks on water. Why is it news when one is found to lack the ability?

]]> By: Dan http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10337 Dan Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:22:58 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10337 No politician can change America much. Our politics have been too thoroughly corrupted by money. America's eminence in the world is not the triumph of democracy, it is the triumph of capitalism. Within the capitalist system, only subtle degrees of difference can ever exist between the major political parties. No politician can change America much. Our politics have been too thoroughly corrupted by money. America’s eminence in the world is not the triumph of democracy, it is the triumph of capitalism. Within the capitalist system, only subtle degrees of difference can ever exist between the major political parties.

]]> By: Eric Hoyt http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10336 Eric Hoyt Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:33:41 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10336 I am a student in Madison, Wisconsin in the USA. A side note, when I was 6 years old, my mother, an anthropologist and teacher, wanted to move to Dominica. We almost moved; my father quit his job and traveled ahead of us to search for work and scope out the scene in Dominica. He returned to tell us that the schools had no walls, and there was no work for middle class people. Only really wealthy and really poor people in Dominica. So we stayed in USA, and my parents had to look for new jobs. But anyway, I agree that Obama, though he would signify significant change in the USA, and he will likely win, I think there will have to be a REAL revolution in the USA before we take a new policy to address economic injustice in places like Dominica. Obama plays lipservice to turning free trade policies into fair trade policies. He says he will still push for free trade deals, but he will demand there be stipulations of labor and evironmental standards. Also on the slate to passed in the US congress if Obama is elected is an Anti-Sweatshop bill, which would require that all imports will have to made in workshops with unions (no sweatshops) fulfilling all ILO obligations. Do you, as Dominican, think these policies will make a difference? I am a student in Madison, Wisconsin in the USA. A side note, when I was 6 years old, my mother, an anthropologist and teacher, wanted to move to Dominica. We almost moved; my father quit his job and traveled ahead of us to search for work and scope out the scene in Dominica. He returned to tell us that the schools had no walls, and there was no work for middle class people. Only really wealthy and really poor people in Dominica. So we stayed in USA, and my parents had to look for new jobs. But anyway, I agree that Obama, though he would signify significant change in the USA, and he will likely win, I think there will have to be a REAL revolution in the USA before we take a new policy to address economic injustice in places like Dominica. Obama plays lipservice to turning free trade policies into fair trade policies. He says he will still push for free trade deals, but he will demand there be stipulations of labor and evironmental standards. Also on the slate to passed in the US congress if Obama is elected is an Anti-Sweatshop bill, which would require that all imports will have to made in workshops with unions (no sweatshops) fulfilling all ILO obligations. Do you, as Dominican, think these policies will make a difference?

]]> By: Dan http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/comment-page-1/#comment-10288 Dan Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:18:52 +0000 http://www.dominica-weekly.com/ramblings/obamas-revolution-and-the-caribbean/#comment-10288 I would not expect substantive change. At the end of the day, he's just another politician, and they dance with who brought them -- in the case of our politicians, that would be the moneyed interests. I also don't expect him to win the nomination. That is because his "base" consists of the less well off (who haven't the money he needs) and students (who don't retain fervor -- have you noticed that all his speeches are on college campuses?). Money has ruined American democracy. Only the wealthy donor class have political influence in America. Obama, like John F. Kennedy, is a great orator. But JFK could not get anything through Congress. Had he not been killed, he's have gone down in history as an ineffective President. I wish I were wrong to be so cynical, but am afraid that I'm right. I would not expect substantive change. At the end of the day, he’s just another politician, and they dance with who brought them — in the case of our politicians, that would be the moneyed interests. I also don’t expect him to win the nomination. That is because his “base” consists of the less well off (who haven’t the money he needs) and students (who don’t retain fervor — have you noticed that all his speeches are on college campuses?).

Money has ruined American democracy. Only the wealthy donor class have political influence in America.

Obama, like John F. Kennedy, is a great orator. But JFK could not get anything through Congress. Had he not been killed, he’s have gone down in history as an ineffective President.

I wish I were wrong to be so cynical, but am afraid that I’m right.

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