COMMENTARY

"Post-NATO"

Well, I did my part---I was downtown for both the National Nurses United rally and march, and also for the NATO-specific activities on Sunday. I'm proud to say I was within earshot when a number of veterans returned(read: threw in the general direction of the NATO "Summit") their medals. Their sentiments were heartfelt and pretty universally agreed with among the citizens gathered in the streets of downtown Chicago that afternoon.

Luckily, I missed the altercation shortly after the medal ceremony. I saw later, on televised reports, that some heads were bloodied and demonstrators arrested. I'm glad I missed that part, you understand. I'm not afraid of a lump on the head, but I've spent enough time behind bars in these United States already---about eight years total---and I am not wanting to do anything to increase that total. So I'm willing to do all I can for the cause, short of getting arrested while on parole. I will be "off paper" in June, and will not feel constrained by my status any longer. I will be free to choose from a wider range of actions.

What I'm wanting to get at here is what the hell do we do now? Where do we go from here? We did all we could to let the NATO "dignitaries" know our position on some relevant issues, but they're gone---they've gone home. What can we do to wake up the slumbering populace? What will it take to get more people out into the streets? --- Robert S. Moore

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"Financial Reform?"

I would care to know just one thing about "financial reform": What is really going on?!!

Because I do not know whom I should believe.

Having read Matt Taibi's May 2012 Rolling Stone piece entitled "How Wall Street Killed Financial Reform", I am inclined to think that any "reform" is pretty well DOA. And, I tend to believe Matt Taibi. The May article is particularly convincing.

However, a few evenings ago, I watched and listened intently to Charlie Rose interview our Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner for a full hour. And, if our administration's cabinet member is to be believed, the Dodd-Frank legislation has produced some effective regulatory restraints on the banking industry. I'm not too prone to take Mr. Geitner at face value, though. Sorry. His answer, when asked specifically whether the new rules are adequate in addressing the "TOO BIG TO FAIL" scenario, was way too vague for my liking. And Mr. Rose let it go at that. He let the Secretary off way too easy. I didn't buy any of it, personally.

And now in the past couple of days, Mr. Geitner is again on the hot-seat regarding what he knew about the Libor situation with the European banking system. I'm afraid that he isn't too convincing in his responses there, either.

Add to all this the fact that the banking industry has spent more than $350 million lobbying Congress to date, and things look pretty dark on the horizon. Especially when Gary Gensler, chairman of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the man basically in charge of setting up the new regulations, said in a recent interview that he and his fellow commissioners need to have their "feet held to the fire" to get things wrapped up properly. He was none too edifying.

If anyone has anything good to tell me about financial reform, please email me!

--- Robert S. Moore 7/26/2012

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Water- Water Everywhere...Right?

Sure, but the vast majority of it is sea water. That is, salt-water. What I am concerned with here is fresh water. Potable water. Water you can drink and cook with.

I have been aware, recently, of Jacques Cousteau's daughter and her fight globally for water in all its various forms on this planet. I believe that she, too, puts an empahsis on fresh water conservation. Now Erin Brocovich has entered the fray. Yes, the Erin Brocovich. I saw Ms. Brocovich on a recent episode of Tavis Smiley's PBS show and was frightened by what she had to say. T-minus 50 years and counting on availability for drinking water. Wow.

She has been working on a movie, a documentary called "Last Call At The Oasis" that, to my understanding, gives an in-depth look at the water emergency situation world wide. It is not a pretty picture that she paints. It is actually a very alarming state of affairs. She spoke of many, many "superfund" sites here in the U.S., that are not even close to being handled properly. Things do not look good.

This is just a heads-up to all my progressive-minded friends. I don't really want to alarm anyone, but Ms. Brocovich alarmed me and I am simply passing word along.

I have yet to see "Last Call At The Oasis" , but have every intention of doing so real soon. You can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be back with a lot more information then.

Till then, 'keep the faith'.

--- Robert S. Moore 8/20/2012

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