Three Mini-Rants: Congress Moves on Chinese Currency; St. Dominic's Shootings; Are These Obama's Friends?

Sometimes events happen so fast, you have to address all of them. Here are three mini-rants.

1) Giving Credit Where Credit is Due: While there has been plenty of duly earned criticism of Congress for leaving Washington without resolving the tax cut expiration issue, not much attention was given to a truly bi-partisan measure passed overwhelmingly today by Congress laying the groundwork for resolution of the China currency issue. As I understand it, unless China allows its currency to float rather than keeping it pegged artificially low to the dollar, Congress will enact a sweeping 25% tariff against all Chinese goods entering into the United States. Glenn Beck doesn’t like it, and ranted on his radio program this morning. But on this issue, both Dems and Republicans are stunningly united, and I say “huzza!” Now if they only have the courage of their convictions to enforce it. Outside of energy independence, resolution of the China currency issue is the single biggest thing that can be done to give a boost to the American economy.

2) The senseless shooting last Saturday afternoon of an elderly couple leaving St. Dominic’s Church, resulting in the husband’s death and the wife with an amputated leg, is the single most disturbing news story I have seen in a long time. In a case of mistaken identity, two men shot up the couple’s car, in broad daylight, on the busiest part the major north/south road in the city. Caught up in a drug/turf war, these poor seniors didn’t know what hit them. The car was pelted with at least 12 rounds of ammunition. This came several months after another incident at St. Dominic’s where another elderly woman was shot in the parking lot while entering her car after Mass in an attempted robbery. After the arrest of the perpetrator, his family tried to kill the witnesses. Both of these incidents were black on white crime. Black on white and black on black crime, already a major problem, is on the rise. It is deteriorating fast. Northern Boardman Township and the historic Forest Glen is in jeopardy as thugs from Youngstown’s southside attack people in their driveways or while walking down the sidewalk. City law enforcement needs to wake up before things get totally out of control. But it can only do so much. The violence in the black community has to be addressed from within, and unfortunately, I don’t think there is any solution.

3) Advice to President Obama: Dude, get some new advance people. In a staged CNBC Town Hall meeting, President Obama was berated by one of his “supporters” about the “new normal” of high unemployment, shaky medical insurance, and lack of confidence in the government. In an Iowa backyard picnic meeting, he was attacked again by those afraid of Obamacare. Both of these venues had an handpicked audience and question reviews. If these are Obama's friends, what about his enemies! What is really scary is that these were the toughest questions posed to him by anyone since before the 2008 election up until now. If Obama citizen supporters can ask the questions, why can’t the press?

The Heart of the Recession: China's Currency

You can have a political debate from now to the cows come home on some sort of domestic policy that will solve the current economic malaise. The fact of the matter, the source of the problems lies overseas in two places: China (manufacturing) and Saudi Arabia (energy). This essay is about the problem with China.

We have lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs to China. Some of the blame lies right here in the United States in the form of draconian environmental rules, high corporate taxes, minimum wage requirements, and unions. The other part of the equation is the deliberate attempt by China to bankrupt the world. I have been writing this blog for five years now, and I have been saying, over and over and over again, unless China lets its currency float like the other currencies in the world, things will only get worse, not better.

While most major currencies float allowing adjustments to imports and exports if an imbalance develops, the Chinese currency does not. It is tagged to the dollar at a 30% discount. No matter how far the dollar may fall in value to the Euro, for example, boosting US exports to Europe, the Chinese currency will always be 30% cheaper than the dollar, keeping its exported goods at a strong competitive advantage to anything made in the United States. Couple that with an artificially low Chinese wage structure, of course companies will move entire factories to China.

China has done this deliberately. It is a predatory exporter. The result is the massive buildup of currency reserves…the largest in the world. The United States has paid lip service to resolving the problem. Every six months or so a trade delegation heads of to Beijing and does the dog and pony show thing. The Chinese have said for years they will take care of the problem. The make a few cosmetic adjustments, and six months later the cycle is repeated.

Why does the United States allow this to happen? Because major US corporations have historically dreamed of a billion Chinese consumers market, which is ignored by China in favor of exports! Corporations like IBM, GM, GE all have major markets in China for goods they produce here, but mostly make in China. That does nothing for the American worker. Add in Walmart, which has built its business around Chinese imports, you have the perfect storm.

The reality is that China guards its markets carefully. American business will never realize its dream of open and free Chinese markets. China is slowly but steadily developing the technology to rival what we have here. What it can’t develop it steals. China has decided not to conquer the world, but to buy it.

China is buying up Australia wholesale. It is THE major political issue down under. Now it has its eye on the United States, and has put out feelers to become a major stockholder in General Motors when the new GM does its initial IPO. The Chinese partner would be GM’s current partner in its China operations, the state backed SAIC. Because SAIC is state controlled, it has unlimited access to Chinese government capital.

State capitalism is a new concept to the United States, part of Barack Obama’s fundamental change to America. Up until his election, we were probably the only country in the world that didn’t have some form of state capitalism in which the country has only a quasi-free market with government hybrid corporations calling the shots. These corporations are driven only partially by market forces. In exchange for government financing and capital, these companies are also directed by government policy, both domestic and foreign.

The issue we currently face is way beyond tweak fixes to our economy. The United States has moved headlong towards state capitalism in its financial markets and in the automotive industry. Some people say a purely capitalistic society can’t compete in a world where the other major competitors practice State Capitalism. That is the debate. I believe free markets can win out, but only if the playing field is leveled. If a country wants to do business in the United States, it must play by the same rules as everyone else.

Until the Chinese currency issue is resolved, we are just spinning our wheels.

Sucking at the Public Tit

My wife hates that phrase. She always goes “eeewww” when I start on one of my rants. But tonight she said she finally got it. Once public employees start to suck at the public tit, it takes the Jaws of Life to pull them off. Several recent events demonstrate my point.

Chris O’Donnell beat Mike Castle for the Republican nominee for Senate in Delaware. She was a Palin supported candidate who dislikes masturbation, as has been repeatedly reported on the news over and over and over again. It was “assumed” that Mike Castle, a long time member of the House and former Delaware Governor, would breeze into the Republican nomination, and blow his way into the Senate. In fact, so sure were the politicos that he was going to win, VP Biden’s son dropped out of the Senate race as a Democrat because Castle would have beaten him. The press did a hatchet job on O’Donnell this past week that made their treatment of Palin look like a walk in the park.

Silly politicos!! Chris O’Donnell, an attractive Palin like woman public relations person, who has had some personal financial reversals, and of course dislikes masturbation, wins the nomination with TEA party support. The press went nuts. She is crazy. She is a nut. She is a right wing whacko. Castle went into a frenzy releasing statements that O’Donnell is undeserving of the victory. President Obama and VP Biden called him to offer their condolences reinforcing the campaign allegation that Castle would switch parties after being elected. Even Karl Rove went nuts. How dare someone beat Castle in a primary election! It was pitiful. Never mind Castle voted for Cap and Trade…the ultimate conservative no-no.

So now there is speculation Castle will run as an independent or in a write in campaign. That is already being done in Alaska, where the current Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican primary to another TEA party supported candidate Joe Brown, and is announcing she will run a write-in campaign. How dare someone beat her in a primary election!! That seat belongs to her!!!!!

She is following in the steps of another whiney baby loser, Charlie Crist, current Governor of Florida who dropped out of the Republican primary for Senate because he was going to lose to TEA party supported candidate Marco Rubio. Now he is running as an independent, and has switched policy positions from abortion to immigration to move to the left, and has consulted with the Democratic Party…most likely because he would caucus with the Democrats if he wins. Of course, the poor Democratic Party candidate, a black guy who has a lot going for him, has been hung out to dry by the Dems who are having a love fest with Crist.

Like I said…it takes the Jaws of Life. Rubio will do okay and most likely win in Florida. Murkowski in Alaska has some current polling that shows she beats Brown by 4 points in a three way…but the situation is fluid and people don’t like sore losers. Castle hasn’t given any definite indication he might try an independent run…but he should take note that O’Donnell garnered as many votes in this primary as showed up to vote in Republican primary the last time one was held.

This election, people are fed up and are going to throw the bums out. The bums would be wise to get out of the way, be they Republican or Democratic bums. Of course one way to solve this would be term limits…that way all of the bums would have only a limited time at the public tit. Eeewwww!!!!!

Godspell: WOW WOW WOW

Usually I get to rant about something outrageous. But tonight, thanks to Marlene Strollo, I get to rant about Move Over Broadway’s boffo version of Godspell playing this weekend at St. Michael’s Church in Canfield. The only bad thing I can say about it is you better see it tonight (Saturday) or tomorrow night. It’s a shame it is only running for one weekend. Word of mouth could keep this going for a month.

Godspell is a 1970’s Broadway musical based on the Gospel of Matthew. There are widely known songs: Prepare Ye The Way (new to me) and, of course, Day by Day. I've never seen Godspell. I had some general knowledge as to the type of play it was. I am friends with a number of the cast members and had some concerns. It is a youth oriented hippie type musical. Is the cast too old? Is the play too dated? Is there too much choreography (think Sister Act and Sister Act 2, especially the Joyful Joyful sequence)? I even joked with one cast member about renaming this production Geriatric Godspell!!!

I was wrong. What the audience got was WOW-WOW-WOW!!! Ms. Strollo put together an eclectic, extremely talented cast of all ages, some of whom cartwheeled down the center aisle at the end of the show. These are superb amateur musicians who turned on the energy from the very first note and kept it going as it greeted the audience going out the door at the end of the performance. It was infectious. It was fun. It was inspiring.

No, the cast wasn’t too old. No, the play wasn’t too dated…it was as fresh as when it was written. No, the cast handled complicated, non-stop choreography with ease. The visuals on stage were terrific. Choreographer Nick Opritza outdid himself on this one.

It's hard to name standout cast members when it's pretty much all of them, but I'll try. If I leave someone out, please forgive me because they were all so good.

The lead (Jesus) is played by Mark Samuel. His history wasn't in the program notes, but I understand he came late to the cast. I had my doubts at the beginning of the show, but he made me a believer by the end. His humor and confidence fit the role to a tee, and the Passion scenes, particularly the Last Supper, gave me chills. His outstanding falsetto at the end of the program shows this guy knows what he is doing.

Tom Gent, a perennial local favorite, showed his talents again in a dual role of Judas and John the Baptist. His solid voice adds gravitas to any show he is in. Mr. Gent and Mr. Samuel stopped the show with their tap dancing/singing duet All for the Best.

Showstopper #2 was By My Side performed by Sarah Sobota and Brooke Fusco, both students at South Range High School…lucky South Range. We can only hope that they both decide to stay in the area so we can enjoy their talents in the years to come.

The same can be said about Hogan Russell whose All Good Gifts shows he ready for Broadway now. Another South Range student…I can hardly wait for their school play.

The same can be said about Tim Harkleroad and his version of We Beseech Thee…another South Range High School student…what are they putting in the food out there? They must grow talent by the bushel in the hinterland.

JoAnne Santagata shocked the house with her Sophie Tucker/Mae West bump and grind Jesus seduction song Turn Back, Oh Man. What a hoot. I didn’t know she had it in her…but she does in spades.

And Grace Vouvalis brightened the stage with her winning smile and rock the house number Bless the Lord. She’s a grown up!!! And doesn’t go to South Range, but we can forgive her for that!

One of the biggest treats of the night was Nikita Jones’ version of Day by Day. It brought a tear to my eye. She is a real talent and her rendition was stunning. I am really looking forward to seeing her in other productions.

The balance of this ensemble cast gave a strong choral and dance performance way beyond what anyone should expect in this type of production. Music Director Jodine Pilmer always does a great job in getting the amateur MVOB chorus to sound like pros, not to mention the accompanying musicians. This was no exception. It was like listening to the cast recording…which I did when I got home.

And here’s the secret…this was better. One of the ironies of Community Theater is that when it is good, the intimate setting and the enthusiasm of the cast always pushes it from good to way, way beyond real good. In this case, short of Broadway itself, I doubt if you would find a better version of Godspell anywhere.

It was a real treat for me to set aside the worries of the world and be inspired by this great show. Thank you to Marlene Strollo and her Move Over Broadway associates. Do more stuff like this!!!!

A DYSFUNCTIONAL BIG TEN

All of us Big Ten fans were abuzz when Nebraska announced its jump to our then eleven and now twelve team conference. The Big Ten brand of hard hitting, old fashioned football is legendary; and as of late, has come back favor notwithstanding the Southeastern Conference style of razzle dazzle.

But now that the afterglow of the announcement has faded, what are we left with? Once again the Big Ten is showing an appetite for money instead of sports, and that college football at that level is no longer amateur, but a multi-billion dollar business built on the backs of unpaid players and frustrated fans. What is it doing, and why?

This past week the Big Ten announced how the expanded conference is going to operate. It will be divided into two yet to be named divisions: Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue and Wisconsin are in one division. Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern will be in the other. Each team will play all of the other teams in its division, plus three cross divisional games, several of which are mandated.

Of immediate concern is the traditional Ohio State/Michigan matchup at the end of November. Fans in each of the states plan their lives around the game. In my case, my wedding day was determined by the OSU/Michigan game…and reminds me each year it’s time to buy my wife and anniversary card and present.

Winning coaches at Ohio State and Michigan have lost their jobs over losing streaks in the rivalry, especially at Ohio State where the game can determine million dollar bonuses for the coach. When Bo Schembeckler died on the eve of the big game a few years ago, it raised the game almost to a mystical religion. This is a big deal to the schools and to the conference.

So…the Big Ten was faced with a dilemma. How to keep the tradition alive that is the lifeblood of the Big Ten conference and its rabid fans…and how to make more money!!! What a dilemma. And guess what…the money won out.

Here is what they came up with. Ohio State/Michigan is a mandated cross divisional game to be played at the end of the season…just because!!! The big finale will be the divisional playoff game in December at a neutral domed stadium somewhere in the Midwest (it will be in Indianapolis in 2011). Given that the Big Ten Championship has historically been tied to the Ohio State/Michigan game, the question then arises as to what happens if both teams have won their respective divisions…and then play the “just because” mandatory cross over game in November which will have NO conference significance, only to have to play another game two weeks later to determine the Big Ten Championship.

The Big Ten commissioner said the fans would love it. Really? What I see is a disaster waiting to happen. This is not fair to the players who have to get ginned up twice for the “big game(s),” it is not fair to the fans who now faced a diminished importance of a traditional rivalry game, and probably isn’t fair to the other teams in the Big Ten notwithstanding, because the possibility exists that the team with the best win/loss record in the conference would not represent the Big Ten in a national championship game because of “division” win-loss issues.

This is a really dumb idea based solely on a Big Ten Conference dream of money and more money and more money flowing from a Conference championship game. That is all that matters to them.

Here is a better idea. Eliminate some of the warm up games. Ohio State doesn’t really have to play Marshall. Add a week to the season and have the teams play as many conference games as possible, even if they don’t play all of the teams all of the years…just like now. The team with the best conference win/loss record, wins the championship.

I think this system will flop and cause frustration and anger across the board. We will see!