All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
International

Riots in Northern Ireland, pro English parade sparks response from those wanting independence

August 14, in Northern Ireland a pro-English Protestant parade sparked a violent response from those who still seek independence (Irish Catholics).

Northern Ireland is controlled by the United Kingdom.  Recently a report revealed that indeed the U.K. government (and thereby the Royal Family) actively supported pro-English terrorists with weapons and money in Northern Ireland, during the time of “The Troubles”.

Sunday’s Londonderry riots quickly moved to targeting police vehicles and other government vehicles.  One person described it as “sustained rioting”.

This year is starting to look like peace has ended in Northern Ireland.  This isn’t the first time a pro-English parade sparked violence, riots also broke out during the pro-English parade in Belfast.

 

U.S.

U.S. Army suicides break record again

“There’s actually two things that we’re doing; one is we’re returning them back, we’re letting them have a little break and returning them back to the battle zone.  And if they’re not going back, if they’re being discharged, or staying in the service away… we’re trying to tell them they’re not sick.  If they insist that they’re sick or stressed we’re giving them a lot of anti-psychotics medication.”–Karen Kwiatkowski, former Pentagon official

Despite claiming to have increased efforts to solve the suicide problem, the U.S. Army hit another record in July, 2011: 22 active-duty soldiers and ten reservists killed themselves, the highest number for any month since the U.S. Army began publishing monthly suicide reports in 2009.

So far 160 active-duty and reserve Army soldiers have committed suicide this year.  That’s not counting veterans.

Percentage wise the U.S. Marine Corps isn’t far behind the U.S. Army.  Each of the past six years has seen a record number of active duty and reserve suicides.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? 2.5 million new jobs, not for the U.S., for Iran

The Iranian government is working to create 2.5 million jobs in the Iranian calendar year 1390 (March 21, 2011 – March 19, 2012).

The Iranian government claims to have the essential human and financial resources to achieve this goal.  Iran created 1.6 million new jobs last year.

To do what the United States government can’t seem to do, Iranian labor unions, and companies, are cooperation with their government.  It’s all part of a strategic 20 year socio-economic plan.  The 20 year plan is broken up into smaller tactical five year plans.  Iran recently started its fifth five year plan, which ends in 2015.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Israel preparing to let go of United States, finds new supporter: China

Israeli military industries have long had cooperative relationships with Chinese military industries.  Now the Israeli government is making big moves towards wooing the Chinese government.

On August 14, General Chen Bingde, of China’s People’s Liberation Army, met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, in Tel Aviv.  Barak visited China two months ago.

The Israelis are trying to win increased support from the Chinese.  Possibly they realize the United States government is flat broke, and can’t continue to give Israel billions of the U.S. taxpayers’ money.

A Jewish commentator, Eran Shayshon, stated, on the same day that General Chen showed up in Israel, that Israel must adopt an “open tent” policy towards the BRIC economies.  BRIC stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China.  They’re the only countries with good economies.

This is the first time a Chinese military official has visited Israel.  General Chen will be there for the next three days.


Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: World Bank says China’s Yuan would make a good replacment for the U.S. Dollar

“The Chinese policy mix includes a tool box of administrative measures … In general, one of the lessons that the United States and others can learn (from China) is that to have supervisory policies for bank regulatory systems can be a useful part of the tool set.”–Robert Zoellick, World Bank president

Zoellick gave a speech in Australia, August 14, and made it clear that China was a shining example of how economic policies should work.  In fact he said that China’s yuan may help the world pull through “a time of danger.”

Zoellick did warn that the current inflation situation, in China, might be tougher to control than Chinese officials think.

The World Bank president also hinted that China’s cooperation with the bank, creating a “catalyst for consensus”, would benefit China in the near future.

Business/Economics, International

China to modify Tight Money Supply policy

China has tightened money supply (monetary policy) in order to control inflation.  Now they will modify it with a “directional loose” money supply.

What they mean is that certain industries will be allowed easier access to financing.  Those industries include agriculture, certain small and medium sized businesses, and construction of low income housing.

Chinese officials hope this new policy will still hold down inflation, without putting a drag on industries.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Recent quotes from Chinese officials, commentators, business leaders and professors show China is preparing to distance itself from the United States

“The U.S. has made other economies, including China, partly pay the bill for its recovery.”– Zhang Xiaoqiang, National Development and Reform Commission

“…the global economy is strapped stiff in the chariot of the U.S. dollar.  The United States adopted quantitative easing policies and successfully levitated the inflation level on a global scale.  The country needed the world’s help to solve its debt pressure.  Its domestic economic growth can hardly free it from its debts.”-Ye Tan, National Business Daily

“More than 70% of our products are exported to the U.S. while the rest all go to Europe.  Therefore, the depreciation of the U.S. dollar as a result of an economic recession will have a great effect on us.  The only solution we can think of now is to produce high-end products.  Buyers of these goods usually care less about prices.”-Zhou Mingwang, Yiwu Mingwang Jewelry Company

“The economic situation in the United States and Europe is not going to recover within two or three years, so we will probably reduce the proportion of exports to 50%.”-Zhang Guanjin, Shaoxing Jinyong Textile Company

“It’s like gambling, it’s hard to secure substantial, long-term profits. The only thing we can do is to transfer our factories to the inland regions to reduce costs.”-Chen Xi, Wenzhou Dongyi Shoes Company

“The economic development mode, which is highly dependent on high energy consumption, heavy pollution and resource exhaustion has reached its end in China.”-Dong Dengxin, Wuhan University of Science and Technology.

“We cannot count on the U.S. promise to ensure the security of our assets [reference to the U.S. debt China holds].  We should rely more on domestic demand and become stronger by ourselves.  Don’t worry about any hard landing in China.”-Zhang Xiaojing, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Business/Economics, International

Global Economic War: Europe increases tariffs on Chinese products, again

“A series of actions adopted by the EU this year suggests that tougher trade policies adopted towards China may increase the possibility of trade protectionism.”-Bai Ming, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation

Last November, the European Union put together a five year plan to boost European production.  The plan targets China by imposing and raising tariffs.  The goal is to force Europeans to start buying more expensive European made products by slowing, or stopping the importation of Chinese products.

Earlier this year the EU already jacked up tariffs on Chinese ceramics by 70%!  Now, as part of the five year plan, tariffs will be raised on other inexpensive products coming from China.  Several EU member countries have also boycotted products made in China.

The five year EU plan is known as ‘protectionism’.  If you know your history, protectionism became the main economic policy of many countries, including the United States, prior to the First World War, and prior to the Second World War.

Also, protectionism is the result of bad economic times, like major recessions, or depressions.  The times we’re living in now look more and more like history repeating itself.  What’s next is another World War.  Right now it looks like Europe Union has drawn the line with China, who’s next?

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Idaho could become gun maker mecca, the competition is on, support your team!

Several pro-gun states, like Idaho, are hoping U.S. gun makers will settle in their state.

Idaho has even passed a law that exempts guns made in Idaho from Federal gun control laws (Idaho Firearms Freedom Act, aka; made in Idaho gun law).

Now the race is on, between other states that have passed similar laws (like Montana, Utah, Arizona, etc), to see who can woo the most gun makers.  Many of the U.S. gun makers are located in states that have passed strict anti-gun laws.

Humorously Idaho Department of Commerce’s Bibiana Nertney calls guns “recreational technology”.

Unfortunately Idaho officials are trying to claim the state has low or no taxes, uh, I live in Idaho and that’s a lie!  Unless they mean low or no taxes for big companies.  Officials are also pushing the fact that they’ve destroyed unions, which has been proven to be the cause of the drop in overall income in Idaho, which means a lot of people can’t really afford to buy those nice new guns.  That aside, I do agree with another lure officials are using to get gun makers to move here; the right to keep and bear arms!

Idahoans, do your research, help the local economy, contact those gun manufactures on the other side of the country and get them to move to Idaho!

 

Technology

Israel to expand illegal Jerusalem settlements, and destroy al Aqsa Mosque, blames it on the bad economy

“I have believed for a long time that Israel wants this al-Aqsa Mosque simply not to exist.”-Mark Dankof

August 11, Israel orders the construction of 1,200 illegal settlement homes around al Quds (Jerusalem).  On top of that one Israeli official said they are about to authorize another 2,700 more homes in occupied Palestinian territory.

Some officials say they’re going ahead with the illegal settlement homes to address the bad economy that so many Israelis are protesting.  Officials say the settlements will provide affordable housing.

The European Union says Israel’s continued illegal settlement construction guarantees there will be no peace: “Settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two state solution and undermines ongoing efforts to resume negotiations.”-Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Egyptian and Russian officials have stressed that the settlements are illegal.  They violate UN resolution 452, which bans settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territory.