More on 'Dad, Rush Limbaugh and Me' - Los Angeles Times

Madeline Janis wrote an op-ed article in August  18, 2013 LA Times that described how her father became a fan of Rush Limbaugh and how that created strife in her relationship with her father.  There were many postings and a follow on set of editorials that showed that others also had a similar experience with their older parents:

More on 'Dad, Rush Limbaugh and Me' - Los Angeles Times:

My wife's father, Henry, also had the same thing happen to him.  He was always an outdoorsman, and an environmentalist.  However, after listening to Rush, he was gradually won over.  Listening to Rush was almost like an obsession.  His conversations always seemed to move to political subjects and positions that Rush took.  He suddenly became bigoted against women, other races, and gays.  In fact, he wrote an editorial that was published in his local newspaper that condemned gays.  That article offended his wife's son and daughter-in-law who have a gay son, and they no longer spoke to Henry for his final 10 years of life.



I always wondered how the well-educated and informed citizens of Japan or Germany could have fallen for the right-wing positions taken by their politicians prior to World War II.  It seems impossible for me to comprehend how both countries which were based upon peace-loving religions could become blood-thirsty killing machines.  But it happened.  Now I can see!  With very careful control of media, a radical right-wing ideology can spread, and blind people to reason.  I worry that Rush Limbaugh and his types, combined with the enormous power of Rupert Murdoch's media empire could push the US into a similar situation.

Richard Branson and James Cameron want to save the high seas - Los Angeles Times

Richard Branson and James Cameron wrote an editorial that was published in the LA Times in August 2013

Richard Branson and James Cameron want to save the high seas - Los Angeles Times: (also on Virgin's web site here)

I'm convinced that we need international laws for controlling the seas, along with power to enforce those laws.  The UN is the place to do it!



The US has continually been the main opposition to a new high seas agreement for the UN.  Apparently the US Republican groups are opposed to giving the UN any authority over the global oceans, and those groups, along with pharmaceutical and plastic companies are big contributors to influential congressmen and senators who have fought against any new ocean protection treaties.



Somehow, I would think there has to be some common ground to protect the ocean --and the planet.  I'm glad that Branson and Cameron have taken a stand.  However, it will take many more leaders to also step forward to get the action the world needs!

Does the term 'apartheid' fit Israel? Of course it does. - Los Angeles Times

In today's LA Times, Saree Makdisi presents a good case why Israel should be described as an apartheid country.  Does the term 'apartheid' fit Israel? Of course it does. - Los Angeles Times:  I thought his argument was reasonable, and was based upon the international legal definitions.

Michael Oren, a previous Israeli ambassador to the US wrote a response to the argument, ( http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-oren-israel-apartheid-20140518-story.html )  which quibbled about the terms involved in the definition of Apartheid.   The overarching argument he presented was that Israel still feels that they are "at war" with the Arabs, and that absolves their treatment of all non-Jews.  During Apartheid, the South African government also felt that they were "at war" with the black majority.  They were trying to defend "their way of life" from the masses of their country.  It isn't clear what the difference is.

During Apartheid in South Africa, the US could have done a lot to stop it.  However our government generally sided with the South African Government.  Israel, and the US helped the Government of South Africa and refused for a long time to support the anti-apartheid movement.  Israel and the US helped provide weapons to South Africa, and the US refused to sign UN documents which defined and condemned Apartheid.

Many people describe Israel as a friend of the US.  But while they accept our billions of dollars in foreign aid, they are the only country in that region who has continually spied on our government, stolen our corporate trade secrets, and  has attacked our military ships.   We ask them to quit building "settlements" and they snub their nose at us.  I wouldn't call that a "friendship" --more like a parasite.  They seem to want to start a war with Iran over nuclear weapons, while they maintain their own -- which is one of the reasons that everyone else in the region feels they need them.  I think we need some "tough love" in dealing with Israel.  I wish the US Jews would see it that way too.  They have made it illegal for US citizens to donate money to any cause but their own.

Use of license plate photo databases is raising privacy concerns - Los Angeles Times

I knew that Government police agencies were tracking license plates.  But I didn't realize there were so many private businesses doing the same thing.



Use of license plate photo databases is raising privacy concerns - Los Angeles Times:



Again, I think that these database collections are a valuable tool for police and businesses.  I also don't think this sort of data collection necessarily violates our Bill of Rights.  Our founding fathers pretty much knew where everyone was in their community, and recognized everyone on sight, or by the horse they rode.



However there should be some sort of registration to maintain such a data base, requiring a license, inspection, and controls on them to protect everyone.