Why's Democracy Bullshit? Count the Days

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died 13 Feb 2016.

As required by the US Constitution, the President nominated Scalia's successor, but while Congress was in session the Republican-controlled Senate took no action for 326 days.

Another nominee from the new President was eventually confirmed -- but the important US Supreme Court seat was vacant for 420 days.

This type of tactic is improper; it taints semi-Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Expect the same delaying tactic with the recent democratic election of Doug Jones as US Senator for Alabama. Because Republican control of the Senate will be negatively impacted, they'll go slow.

Senator-elect Jones will only be able to take-up his seat after any recount is conducted, and "either campaign could request a recount. As long as that campaign is willing to put up a bond and pay to cover the cost, the state will recount the votes. Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.), who had been appointed to fill the seat until the special election, will remain Alabama's junior senator as long as the process takes." (link)

Rich scum ignore democracy as long as possible.

Withdrawal Method May Fizzle

The UK government under Theresa May seeks to favourably re-position the nation by withdrawing from the European Union.

Some segments of the populace may indeed benefit. But many others will suffer grievously.

Can Britain setup as a wholly independent player in a world where teamwork offers the many benefits of lower transaction costs and economies-of-scale? Much alarm has been generated by xenophobia - but surely the UK has much more to offer than deliberately painting itself out of a diseased world.

Decent people should be worried by Theresa May & Boris Johnson manipulations, and especially spiritual leader Nigel Farage and his UK Independence Party. The Theresa May government's use of half-truths is shocking. Sudden pie-in-the-sky assurances and gross dishonesty may keep them in office for more weeks, but the nation and even the world are put at risk by their deceits.

After months of vague & secretive backroom bunco, PM May's sudden explicit assurances are so much hot air aimed to save her job -- wholly unreliable. This historic process needs attention far beyond partisan politics or the conceit of a handful of individuals.

Mr & Mrs Anglican, please confirm from any Roman Catholic older & wiser: forget WITHDRAWAL -- it's both unfulfilling & unsafe.

Yes ICAN

Congratulations once again to ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

As reported here before, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was agreed last July. To a large extent, this was a response to nuclear non-proliferation agreements, where the nuclear powers pledged to cut-down and eventually eliminate their nuclear arsenals but instead have boosted them.

Here's a summary from the Nuclear Threat Initiative

UN links are confusing & incomplete; here's their best (PTNW)

Overview from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists noting media bias

Unfortunately, the nuclear weapons states tried to deflect attention from the UN Treaty efforts & boycott proceedings. The USA also pushed junior partner states such as Australia, Japan & Norway to help rubbish efforts toward nuclear prohibition. (Here's how the Treaty stands now - link)

This ignorant stance continues, as reportedly the US, UK and French ambassadors callously skipped last night's Nobel banquet in Oslo which honored ICAN.

They failed to disarm as promised. Now they hide.  SCUM ! 

Two final links: on lapdog media and PTNW (treaty text)

Swing to the Flim Flam

The Sandwich, Massachusetts, Heritage Museum drove a flim flam now being challenged by local Cape Cod residents.

First -- Heritage Museum shouldn't be in the aerial adventure zipline business. Could the museum leadership have a dark plan to expand operations into off-topic activities, then cut-back & liquidate, taking away Cape Cod treasures? The zipline park attracts additional people, but strangely defines HERITAGE...

A big problem has become destruction of trust. Heritage initially listed the wrong permit application address (67 Grove Street), resulting in no neighbor notifications. The actual address for the aerial park is 0 Shawme Road and 0 Pocasset Road. Nearby neighbors & abutters had minimal chance to challenge the project. 

Terrible! ...this stinks. The adventure park is operated by Outdoor Venture Group of Connecticut, with a pattern of Continental trickery. The Connecticut firm partnered as well with TreeTop Adventures of Canton, MA whose address was also misrepresented, and for which their license to operate was subsequently ordered withdrawn (link). Many people reportedly are both distrustful and disgusted.

Make no mistake, Cape Cod justice should not be fooled

Any improper application should be rejected when incomplete or false (even if mistakenly first permitted).

(Here's a recent news link)

Trump Puppet