Bailout Fever
On Wednesday, the big US auto manufacturers went to Washington to beg for taxpayers’ money to bail them out of possible bankruptcy. There was something symbolic about these auto execs flying in their big luxury private jets from Detroit to Washington. To me, flying to Washington in their gas-guzzling jets symbolizes their failure to innovate ...
The New American Dream
In an October 3rd article, I was challenged by an Urban Country occasional reader and friend Kam on my definition of freedom. Kam wanted to know how I think people can achieve what I’ll call the “New American Dream”. To recap that article in a nutshell, the “New American Dream” is freedom from the banks, ...
Redefining Freedom 3
I spent tonight with my work friends watching the American VP debate as well as the Canadian Prime Minister debate. Both were interesting in their own way, but the Prime Minister debate was much more interesting simply on the basis that there were 5 people debating at a roundtable, and they were actually talking face-to-face ...
Project for the New American Century is dead
In Wall-Street-Bank fashion, The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) is effectively finished (Except it has been extinct for 2 years now). If you’re unaware of what PNAC is, from their website: “The Project for the New American Century is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is ...
Positive steps by big polluters 1
Some of you have noticed over the last year or two that the articles on the Urban Country have been perpetually negative. The reason is obvious: I’ve been gradually losing hope for the human inhabitants of this world and the damage we are blindly causing. But that’s not to say there aren’t positive things happening ...
Two-bit Congressman: Patrick McHenry 5
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this video of this two-bit Congressman, Patrick McHenry. In this video he mocks the democrats for suggesting that encouraging Americans to ride their bicycles will help get through the current energy crisis. I have to give some credit to this guy for being the youngest congressman in ...
Urban Dwelling for Suburban Folk 3
A co-worker brought a new concept to my attention today. It’s a luxury condo that is planned to be built in Charlotte, North Carolina that includes an elevator where residents can drive their car literally right into their unit. The web site boasts that residents can park 2 to 4 cars in their unit so ...
What’s wrong with America?
On CNN tonight, I saw an article about a single mother who was making $70,000 a year until she was laid off in February. She has now resorted to using a foodbank to feed her family (See the full story here). Sad story eh? Boo hoo. She can’t afford to pay her utility bills because ...
Bloodwater USA
Oops, I meant Blackwater USA. Blackwater USA is a private mercenary firm that provides the US Government with a wide range of military-like security services. Blackwater has been generally secretive and operates with impunity from being tried under Iraqi law, they are immune from receiving a Court Martial and they are immune from the Military ...