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KEVIN STODA-has been blessed to have either traveled in or worked in nearly 100 countries on five continents over the past two and a half decades.--He sees himself as a peace educator and have been-- a promoter of good economic and social development--making-him an enemy of my homelands humongous DEFENSE SPENDING and its focus on using weapons to try and solve global issues.
"I am from Kansas so I also use the pseudonym 'Kansas' and 'alone' when I write and publish.- I-keep two blogs--one with BLOGGER and one with WORDPRESS.- My writings range from reviews to editorials or to travel observations.- I also make recommendations related to policy--having both a-strong background in teaching foreign languages and degrees in teaching in history and the social sciences.--As a Midwesterner, I also write on religion and living out ones faith whether it be as a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist perspective."
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Do Balanced Budget Amendments ever Serve the people? (2 comments)
Considering what is happening today in American states which have balanced budget amendments, (i.e. budget crises in most every state) do such balanced budget amendments serve America and the citizens of those states well?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 Is it only the Republicans who are sabotaging the economy to win? (13 comments)
The Republicans will sabotage the economy to win the Senate and defeat President Obama. What else explains risking another global financial meltdown? It's simply irresponsible. We cannot reward putting personal power ahead of national interest - and you have the ability to stop it."
Sunday, April 24, 2011 Has this been the worst congress money can buy? (3 comments)
Has this been the worst congress money can buy? We have had a bumper crop of bad congresses. Lets' discuss this as progressives and historians Then let's vote.
Friday, April 8, 2011 If USA Presidential election were held today, I would vote... (7 comments)
If USA Presidential election were held today, I would vote...? This is so pertinent today as we await the likelihood of tumult in governance and policies throughout this decade--perhaps even having a 4 way race for presidency for the first time since 1948.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 How likely is the next Ghadaffi Terrorist Attack? (10 comments)
With no exit strategy in sight, the USA opened a fourth war front with the attacks on Libya. How likely is it that this war will increase terror attacks in Europe and/or North America?
Friday, January 14, 2011 A rhetorical question about the independent spirit and history of Arizona, etc.? (62 comments)
Americans too often fail to reflect on who they are and what identity they project--or continue to project. Arizona has been portraying itself as an independent people a lot in recent years. Is it really independent and reflective of an independent thinkin example for America?
Monday, September 20, 2010 Should the White House [re]implement Solar Energy? (1 comments)
Over 30 years ago, Jimmy Carter installed the first solar energy (water heating). Less than a decade later they were de-installed. Last week, the Obama White House rejected a proposal to reinstall the solar panels.
Monday, September 20, 2010 Patents on Life Forms Should Never Be issued to a Corporation (1 comments)
PATENTS ON LIFE FORMS SHOULD NEVER BE ISSUED TO A CORPORATION.
(Note that Monsanto is claiming this right with genes in North America.)
Do you agree or do you disagree with this statement?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 Would a majority of Republicans support pullout starting 2010? (2 comments)
There is a lot of good reporting out there that even the Tea-Party supporters think it is time to stop chasing hundreds of Taliban around Afghanistan with over 100,000 NATO troops in 2010. Would voters, even progressives, support a strong position for pull-out in the coming autumn 2010 elections if the candidate was a Republican?
Monday, June 28, 2010 Shoul Judge Feldman be impeached for no recusing self? (2 comments)
The judge who stopped the Obama's Administration's 6-month moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico this week likely should have had to recuse himself before taking part in the case.
The Judge, Martin, Feldman, has held a great number of shares in oild firms over the years and still has some. should he be impeached?
Sunday, April 25, 2010 Should USA Cut Off Climate Aid to Bolivian Climate Control programs??
The US is cutting off climate aid to, Bolivia the Poorest Country in South America.Bolivia and several other countries have refused to ratify the recent global commitments from Copenhagen, etc. On the other hand, the USA never ratified nor implemented the more important Kyoto Protocol agreement on Global Climate.
Is it appropriate for the USA to withhold funds related to reducing climate warning in this case?
Sunday, April 25, 2010 What should the ratio of spending be now in Energy?
What should the ratio of spending be now in the field of Energy and energy development by the federal government concerning new constructions and support or subventions for production?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Should presidents have blank check in extra-judicial murders? (24 comments)
The U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair in congressional testimony last week said, "Being a US citizen will not spare an American from getting assassinated by military or intelligence operatives overseas if the individual is working with terrorists and planning to attack fellow Americans." What do you think?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Sweet drink tax--are you for or against it? (23 comments)
For health reasons and in order to support the payments for universal national health care coverage, medical journals "are calls for a 1-cent-per-ounce sales tax, an amount more than double the average state tax. It would increase the levy on that $1 soda can to 12 cents."
Do you support such a tax and/or tax increase in your state to improve health and health care in America?
Friday, February 5, 2010 Are you ready for your state to hold a constitutional convention? (4 comments)
"[T]he framers left open a path to amendment that doesn't require the approval of Congress--a convention, which must be convened if two-thirds of the states apply for it. Interestingly (politically) those applications need not agree on the purpose of the convention." Lessig, The Nation magazine
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 How afraid are you of the rise of White Power, National Socialists? (15 comments)
White Power, National Socialists, and other right-wing militia groups have shown increased power in the USA in the past years. How afraid are you that many more attacks, like the one on the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, await America during this coming decade?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 What is the root cause in delay for health care for all? (19 comments)
According to H.G. Wells, ""A downtrodden class ... will never be able to make an effective protest until it achieves solidarity."
A German newspaper, DIE ZEIT, did a multipiece article on American's "fear of solidarity" which has hurt America--and Americans--in its progress to more universal health care.Is the inability of America to take care over most of its weakest and endangered residents, the result of _____________ ?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 H.R.3679 - Against Corporations Organizing to Rip-off the Nation Act To prohibit the Fede (6 comments)
the Against Corporations Organizing to Rip-off the Nation Act of 2009. It's called the ACORN Act. What that would do would be to “prohibit”—and this is a quote—“prohibit the federal government from awarding contracts, grants or other agreements to providing any other federal funds to or engaging in activities that promote certain corporations or companies guilty of certain felony convictions.”
Sunday, October 11, 2009 Progressive Justice Pulse Poll on Health Care:US House (2 comments)
If no health care insurance is passed in 2009, you would plan to vote against your state's representative in Congress next year in the elections.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Global Tax System--Needed or Not (12 comments)
Germany's finance minister, Peer Steinbrueck, "has called for a global tax to be imposed on financial transactions in a bid to end" that which his administration is calling "binge-drinking" in the financial markets."The cost of the crisis should not be borne alone by small taxpayers," Steinbrueck has stated in the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
Does the world need a global tax soon, i.e. in this next decade?
Friday, September 11, 2009 Should Americans be allowed to withold taxes for military spending? (24 comments)
Real democracy requires that all stakeholders be empowered. The USA system of allowing the military and CIA unlimited power is as bad as an imperial presidency. A rebalancing between citizen stakeholders is essential NOW
Friday, July 10, 2009 Should bright young Americans join the US State Department? (4 comments)
Howard Zinn, in recognition of the passing of Robert McNamara (the architect for the Vietnam War escalation in 1965), stated to much focus is on in terms of intellectual intelligience in encouraging people to decide to work in the State Department (in Defense or Homeland Security)? Moral Intelligience, however, is not encouraged there. Would you advise America's youth to seek work outside the State Department if they
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Closing down the Revamped School of Americas (4 comments)
On Friday, May 22, 2009, Representative Jim McGovern will introduce the Latin America Military Training Review Act. This bill would suspend operations at the old School of the Americas , i.e. where torture is taught (and militarization of Latin America is supported )and set up a commission to investigate the abuses tied to it.
Should Congress close down this military training facility in Ft. Bennings, Georgia?
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Justice, Freedom, Tolerance? etc? (11 comments)
Justice, Freedom, Tolerance? etc? a recent poll in Germany found that in a forced-choice survey, 35% of all Germans feel that justice is the most important value in a society. What do OP-ED readers think?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Health Care vs. Health Insurance (15 comments)
A lot of polls in recent months have shown that the majority of informed Americans, including doctors, are for a single payer. However, too many polls focus on insurance companies. This poll focuses on whether we want health care for all.
Or not?
Monday, April 6, 2009 Nickleville, hoovervilles, Reaganvilles, Bushvilles, WBushvilles (1 comments)
Despite obvious problems, self-help housing has addressed numerous important and cross-cutting social issues. These communities substantially increase the housing stock available to low-income urban residents. As sociologists Alan Gilbert and Peter Ward have observed, without self-help construction, the government either would have to expend many more resources on housing projects or raise wages to enable the poor to compete
Monday, March 30, 2009 Should Citibank become the Nations first government owned bank? (3 comments)
Should Citibank become the U.S. nation's first government owned bank?In many countries, such as the economic powerhouse Germany, there are both national banks that the federal government maintains shares in and local state (Laender) partially owned banks. These are called Sparkasse, etc.
Sunday, March 29, 2009 Limits on interest rates or Usury--NEEDED or NOT? (25 comments)
As unlimited interest rates grew well past 30% due to arbitrary bank and finance, the system soon ran amok and producers in societies in the USA and around the globe were encouraged to finance, rather than pay fair wages and invest in local infrastructure and development. People's whos wages remained stable for decades had to turn to borrowing at usery rates to get by.
Should there be limits on interest rates?
Sunday, March 29, 2009 Would you visit Burma (Myanmar) if they let you visit (10 comments)
LET'S MAKE A DEAL BURMA JUNTA: What do other readers think, would you visit Burma (Myanmar) if the Junta let you visit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and let her travel unhindered throughout Burma?
I'M READY TO FREE MY TOURIST DOLLARS UP if you free up Suu Kyi and your people.
Friday, March 27, 2009 Filibuster rules in Senate need to be returned to 1930s practices (8 comments)
Until you move to a Senate that is more majoritarian, you know, the reality is that you're going to be in a situation where you have a very unequal, unfair, often unethical and oppressive economy, because you can't get the changes that you need, you can't get the New Deal reenacted with the kind of filibuster that is in place today. FDR couldn't have had the New Deal if he had had the filibuster that we have now
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Time to reduce student loans to that of biggest banks:1% (24 comments)
Alan Michael Collinge joins Reverend Jesse Jackson. Collings wrote The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History-and How We Can Fight Back.
What do Americans and other borrowers think should be done IMMEDIATELY
Monday, February 16, 2009 It is time that Obama investigates and prepares to prosecute those promoting torture (15 comments)
It is necessary that a special prosecuter to investigate the crimes of the past 7 years in order to really put the end to torture and illegal things like rendition. Until this prosecution is taken place, AMERICA cannot move forward.
We do not want justice in America and elsewhere to depend any more on who is in the White House.
Monday, February 9, 2009 Should atomic energy be part of the Obama plan? (19 comments)
Should Economic Stimulus Bill Include Billions for Nuclear Power?A coalition of environmentalists state that nuclear power has no place in the economic stimulous bill.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Is it time to implement a hoarding tax for financial institutions? (12 comments)
Is it time to implement a hoarding tax for financial institutions?
Last week it was announced that banks who have received federal funds recently have been handing over moneys to stockholders and company higher ups--even as layoffs have occurred.
Doesn't the US really need such moneys to be retargeted to help the economy.
Saturday, January 31, 2009 Will Erdogan's critique on Israel find a backlash from USA? (10 comments)
The international press and international observers are expecting a backlash from the new U.S.A. regimen--a regime which generally sides nearly 100% with Israeli government and military claims.
Will a backlash and pressure be applied from the U.S. in 2009 to force Turkey to once again become more neutral in its relationship to Israel and other forces in the Middle East?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 Should non-profit cooperative groups and workers be supported more in 2009?
In the wake of other depressions in the last two centuries, workers have organized cooperatives and have even taken over firms. Currently little has been done in this depression to empower labor in terms of taking over badly run firms--in the banking sector, auto sector, finance sector, newspaper sector, etc.
What do Americans need to do in January 2009 to empower workers to control more of their lives?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Has George W. Bush been the most unacceptable President in U.S. History? (31 comments)
December 2008 marks not just the conclusion of another calendar year, but the end of eight years of the George W. Bush administration-an era notable for, among other things, particular predations on civil liberties, the free flow of information and the public's right to know. Other administrations have been wary of the press corps, to be sure.
Has the Bush administration been the least acceptable president?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Who thinks the Bush administration is promoting the bombings of Gaza the Holiday Season? (12 comments)
This poll is intended to measure with some salience the degree that Israel appears to make decisions on its own, i.e. without reference to what current and future U.S. administrations feel. The poll measures what OP-ED readers and writers feel needs to be recognized when dealing with Israeli leadership and the level of violence within Israel's still official (and unofficial) borders.
Friday, December 12, 2008 Energy and mass transit in America as 10 to 20 year investment (9 comments)
Should American federal government put down 400 to 500 billion in the next decade or so to get a better high speed train, air, and car-hitch network using super high speed ground transport--as Japanese, Chinese and Europeans have?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Still time and need to impeach President Bush and Cheney (27 comments)
Congress needs to do its duty and impeach both President George W. Bush and Vice-President Richard Cheney before they leave office for crimes against humanity and malfeasance in the office entrusted to them.
It has been indicated that unless this is done now, generations will suffer for the current congress' timidity and poor judgment.
Monday, June 9, 2008 Who needs to be on the Democratic ticket with Barack Obama to win in November? (50 comments)
It is time for all progressives to force Clinton and Obama to make certain a strong progressive and helpful candidate as VP. Who do you believe that person needs to be to win and make the Changes America Needs?
Sunday, May 11, 2008 Concepts of Sovereignty in 2008 and questioning how to aid the Burmese
"France has suggested invoking a U.N. 'responsibility to protect' clause and delivering aid directly to cyclone-hit Myanmar without waiting for approval from the [Myanmar] military."
Do you agree with France on its call that the UN bypass the traditional constraints of sovereignty in order to protect millions of Burmese?
Thursday, May 1, 2008 Supreme Court's future in the USA (14 comments)
Do you think that if a progressive president is elected in 2008, he should (do as President FDR did 7 1/2 decades ago) threaten the Supreme Court with expansion of appointments as of 2009?
Thursday, May 1, 2008 Using the phrase "pigeons coming home to roost"
Is using the phrase "pigeons coming home to roost" ever acceptable when referring to events such as those on 9-11 or in the death of John F. Kennedy?
Thursday, May 1, 2008 Media Access for Americans of all classes and groups
Do you believe that the state, local and federal governments need to ensure more access time for you and your community than it currently does currently? This goes for all U.S. based radio, TV, Cable, Sattelite and internet.
