http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

Peaceful transition of government. This makes countries like the USA great. Also, the ability of an African-American to achieve the USA's highest office supported all races, ethnicities, and religious background. Truly blessed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

AcommonLOVE. AcommonHOPE. AcommonBEAT. AcommonTUNE. AcommonWISH. AcommonDREAM. Rob J> acommon1 boa pessoa

This is dated but should not be forgotten. 
Oh, how I ponder how easy it is to get so caught up in believing that their can only be one way.  Preach peaceful transition everywhere but the Southern Hemisphere.  Shame on the double standard here.  What could not be done via elections, they chose to influence disruption.  How many more of these have occurred out there? 
Salvadore Allende was the "democratically" elected president of Chile in the early 1970s.  A peoples man.  Though I do not support has views about nationalization of businesses and wealth landowners, he was elected by the people of Chile.  He campaigned for a long time.  Up and down the long country. 
Viewed as a threat to certain nations that should have been more focused on bring true equal opportunity and democracy to their own shores, they instigated a pack with a series of people that would unlease a repression that flowed through South America.  Perhaps, the military junta meant well.  Maybe, Chile's prosperity of today has something to do with the foundation layed by both Allende and the military junta's leadership.  Many paid.
Attached is the final speech from Salvadore Allende before he died.  As the military closed in on his offices, some convinently claim that he commited suicide.  Others question the likelihood of such an action by Chile's President.  On September 11, 1973, the take over was completed.  Salvadore Allende breathed his final breath.  Chile fell into the heart of darkness to later arise a bright Phoenix of stability decades following much pain and suffering. 
This is only to help you remember "acommon1" piece of World History unnoticed or, often, forgotten.
Rob J>
acommon1 determination to remember those that had well meaning but died while trying.
boa pessoa.
 
xz
Sources:  Encarta, Spero News,  WikiSource

LAST SPEECH OF SALVADOR ALLENDE, aired by Radio Magallanes on September 11, 1973 in Santiago, Chile, from the Palacio de la Moneda.



My friends,
Surely this will be the last opportunity for me to address you. The Air Force has bombed the antennas of Radio Magallanes.
My words do not have bitterness but disappointment. May they be a moral punishment for those who have betrayed their oath: soldiers of Chile, titular commanders in chief, Admiral Merino, who has designated himself Commander of the Navy, and Mr. Mendoza, the despicable general who only yesterday pledged his fidelity and loyalty to the Government, and who also has appointed himself Chief of the Carabineros [paramilitary police].
Given these facts, the only thing left for me is to say to workers: I am not going to resign! Placed in a historic transition, I will pay for loyalty to the people with my life. And I say to them that I am certain that the seeds which we have planted in the good conscience of thousands and thousands of Chileans will not be shriveled forever.
They have force and will be able to dominate us, but social processes can be arrested by neither crime nor force. History is ours, and people make history.
Workers of my country: I want to thank you for the loyalty that you always had, the confidence that you deposited in a man who was only an interpreter of great yearnings for justice, who gave his word that he would respect the Constitution and the law and did just that. At this definitive moment, the last moment when I can address you, I wish you to take advantage of the lesson: foreign capital, imperialism, together with the reaction, created the climate in which the Armed Forces broke their tradition, the tradition taught by General Schneider and reaffirmed by Commander Araya, victims of the same social sector who today are hoping, with foreign assistance, to re-conquer the power to continue defending their profits and their privileges.
I address you, above all, the modest woman of our land, the campesina who believed in us, the mother who knew our concern for children. I address professionals of Chile, patriotic professionals who continued working against the sedition that was supported by professional associations, classist associations that also defended the advantages of capitalist society. I address the youth, those who sang and gave us their joy and their spirit of struggle. I address the man of Chile, the worker, the farmer, the intellectual, those who will be persecuted, because in our country fascism has been already present for many hours -- in terrorist attacks, blowing up the bridges, cutting the railroad tracks, destroying the oil and gas pipelines, in the face of the silence of those who had the obligation to act. They were committed. History will judge them.
Surely Radio Magallanes will be silenced, and the calm metal instrument of my voice will no longer reach you. It does not matter. You will continue hearing it. I will always be next to you. At least my memory will be that of a man of dignity who was loyal to his country.
The people must defend themselves, but they must not sacrifice themselves. The people must not let themselves be destroyed or riddled with bullets, but they cannot be humiliated either.
Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Go forward knowing that, sooner rather than later, the great avenues will open again and free men will walk through them to construct a better society.
Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!
These are my last words, and I am certain that my sacrifice will not be in vain, I am certain that, at the very least, it will be a moral lesson that will punish felony, cowardice, and treason.
Santiago de Chile, 11 September 1973

The purpose of this note is to share with you my concern about the possible gap in common sense to resolve our country's financial situation.  There exist key learning markers for us but possibly a hidden international positive too.  Regardless, it is a sad situation.  I was impressed with Congresses swift move to provide liquidity but sadden by being taken in by the financial industries stupidity.  Hopefully, we can bring back a form of common sense and discipline to the process.  Hold those people involved accountable.

Bring back a form of Glass-Steagall Act of 1933.  Should have never let it expire during the Clinton Administration (and, I believe, the Republican Legislature (Senate and/or Congress)). 

One of the reasons of this Act was to reduce the possibility of a domino effect due to cross financial investment and activities.  At one time, insurance companies were just that ... insurance companies.  Banks were banks.  Savings and Loans were places to save money and get loans.  Securities firms dealt with the stock market and raising funds for corporation.  There wasn't much blurring.  Now everything is so fragmented.

Honestly, speculation is driving a key component of this financial setback.  Come on.  Once the banking and financial institutions started to struggle "more visibly" then, we saw the swift decline in petroleum and grain prices.  Speculation!  The sudden declines in these critical commodities should be partially celebration along with a huge uproar.    Will anyone be held accountable other than the little people?

Recommendations and thoughts from acommon1:

1.  Bring back segmentation and discipline.

2.  Reconstruct our generations own Glass-Steagall Act for this century.

3.  Stop scapegoating the poor and middle-class for this issue and the guarantees from Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.  The banks / mortgage lenders knew that they should not have processed the loans too.   They promoted and made even equity and reverse mortgages too accessible.  Also, if the CEOs and Boards of Directors make extremely large compensation packages and perks something has to be wrong about this too.

4.  Realize that the Federal Reserve does much better driving inflation control and contraction than stimulation.  The US Federal Reserve can continue to cut interest rates all they want.  During an economic contraction that is like pushing a string.  What happens with you push a string?  Note that it doesn't move anything.  Need some form of government investment that stimulates domestic employment.  Yes, if it is infrastructure initiatives than let us get moving.  Focus on hiring "US Citizens" and firms.  No outsourcing it without penalties. 

5.  Any Federal Government loans to the banking / financial industry should be secured against assets.  Our government needs to be as firm with these organizations that have not proved themselves credit worthy.   Someone has to bird-dog and protect our tax dollars.

6.  Cease allowing the banking / financial institutions to pass the buck onto the consumer for the subprime lending issues.  These institutions were "NOT" forced to process loans for unqualified borrowers. 

7  Protect renters caught up in these foreclosures / evictions.  It is extremely sad to see these people caught in the middle of this.

8.  Personal responsibility!  Some borrowers and lenders have to fail.  Hold borrowers accountable for their greed especially those owning multiple properties with the hope of flipping them or lying about their income.  People made really bad judgment gambling on ARMs and Balloon loans.  Many people understood the implications a few didn't.  Whatever happened to the logic "if it sounds too good then it is."   Too many people were trying to get over and live beyond their means too.

9.  Though I am not into too much regulation, there requires some discipline as to speculation. Place some level of restrictions upon "derivatives".  If it is too difficult to explain that it tends to be a game.

10. One positive out of all this is the credit issue crushed Wall Street and worldwide commodity speculation and could strength the dollar.  Yes, regardless of the financial situation, the world believes in the USA as a stable country.  Trust me, I even wonder how long the EURO and EU will be as the Europeans have a history of falling apart when egos arise with a taste of nationalism.  Even better, is that we're no longer paying (as a country) outrageous rates for petro to countries that really do not like us from the Middle East, Asia (incl. Russia), to S. America.  Now, those who hate the USA and democracy have to rethink their budgets. On another note, how does Oil drop from $150+ to Brent Oil approx. $49 and Sweet Oil approx. $55?  Is someone investigating this! 

 

I wish you and your staff the best.

Acommon1 Hope for a stronger US Dollar, improved trade balances, financial discipline in government & the economy, and more Americans put back to "full-time" enrichment employment.

Robert N. Johnson
acommon1
boa pessoa / hoa ren

Salute to our relatives!  

Music became a part of many of us because it carried away sorrow.

Music brought back joy.  It connected us with HOPE.  It brought some foes closer to the camp of overcoming bias and stereotypes.  The notes released from our heart gave my people chance.  The music score freed us before legislation ever did.

My people are American people.  All races.  All religions.  All income levels.  All gender.  Each harboring some histoy of changing Chance and Destiny.   The sub-component of meis my ethnicity that matters very much.  But, alas, what am I to be called because I am a mixture of so much.  You name it, I am some of it below;

> Black, African, American Indian, European (Irish), Colored, Negro, etc.

When you see me, you would only know the Black side of me.  That is fine because that side defines me the most.  I am proud of all sides.  I am mostly proud of the Black side because of the Black man and woman's historical ability to forgive then move on.  Once you get past those profiteering socalled Black leaders that continue to stir up the past to enrich themselves, you'll know that yesterday can be brought forward again to build strength and patience.  Such maturity and love that our heritage had

They tried bring democracy everywhere.  This effort continued to happen even when it was denied at home. 

We all have many stories of sadness, pain, disrespect, etc.  But, our folks found joy in waking up everyday.  They allowed the simple things to mean so much.  This is one reason why the family meal time especially around holidays meant so so much.  Pain was set aside.  You forgot the times when a family member lost their job, electric bill couldn't be paid, or heating oil would be out in less than a month.  Our parents, grandparents, and community held it together.  There was so much laughter.  We learned of our parents and grandparents life experiences only in sound-bites of short stories.  Not dwelled upon for their knew that thoughts of sadness and set back flood the soul.  So, they celebrated the simple.  We prayed.  We sung. 

My mother used to play the piano.  When she hit a road block.  Beyond prayer, my mother would play a hymn on her brown hardly tuned piano that sounded so fresh to us.  She played with passion.  The keys were a part of her.  Then, after while a tear rolled.  Out of the corner of her eye.  Eyes opened.  Then eyes shut.  Mom merged with the notes. 

Since the dawn of time music brought people together.  It still does the same.  It cuts across languages.  This is a special unifying gift.

My Myspece firends keep composing and playing.

Rob J>
acommon1 one tune played around the world
boa pessoa

What man wouldn't give such beauty the world or what he has? But, alas, could she handle being showered all the attention?

Would it ever be enough?

Could such a lovely lady enjoy a simple life full of chance, choice, and laughter?

Beauty and intelligence. Art, travel, and bio-chemistry, what a combination! Too hot to handle for most men. Too wise to believe such a Queen exist.

My fair maiden, do walk the halls of TIME tenderly for knowing that votre ami awaits to bring you joy whenever you seek it.

Never alone.
Never visually connected unto thee.
Never to receive a suble touch of kindness to warm the soul.
Never to catch the scent of your breath or your natural being.
Never to sway unto a voice whispering just my name and I yours.

To share but a tone.
To release but a tune.

Let memory transform from more than a faulty colorful dream of never was or were to be.

Lead this person unto the lands where motion required no movement.

Lead this man to where sound flowed without rhythm.

Make my steps someday ... ours where two separate journeys merged under Destiny's breeze.

Alas, the thought is but a thought.


Peace.
Rob J>
acommon1 smile for you.
boa pessoa

M'ami, les gens oublient parfois de penser.  Ils recherchent pensees.  C'est leur choix
que devient notre tristesse parce que certaines personnes ne pense pas que.

Rob J>
Acommon1 journee pour bonnes personnes
Boa pessoa
San Francisco Bay Area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Unifier! It is about CAN! It is about HOPE! It is finally beyond a political PARTY! It is about our US of America being ONE! It is about being proud of America and humble while strong within our World. It is about ACOMMON1 road to JUSTICE and UNITY! It has always been my ACOMMON1 dream for YOU and I to LOVE! ACOMMON1 HOPE