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Today is Independence Day in the United States. There will be celebrations throughout the United States. But, as it celebrates this day, America continues to be at a crossroads. This is ever more crucial as contenders for the Presidency try to advocate their vision for their view of Constitutional Government.

As this debate continues, I hope that the current contenders all remember what Jefferson said of the need to change with the times:

I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.

America needs to remember this admonition as it looks forward to another contention election season.

Happy Birthday America...May this experiment continue to endure!!!

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July 4th 2011 @ 07:38

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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"Outsiders" Economy Watch (7/3/2011): Navigating Thru the Minefields...

The Economy Watch will be a regular feature here going forward. As I wrote earlier KP's sister site, Outsider Views, the second half of 2011 promises to be a very challenging one especially in light of the fact that the United States will be in Election Season Mode and hardly anything will get done. This is as the prospect of a US Default looms ever more.

The Republicans have been on the record pushing for deep cuts in Federal Spending. They have been against any tax hikes, arguing that their effect on the Economy will be detrimental. This is, of course, as the Economy continues to grind to a halt. The analysis that John Mauldin did in his "View from the Frontlines" newsletter is scary enough. But there are rays of hope if the politicans have the courage to step up and make the tough choices.

A recent article in Time Magazine talked about how a Trillion dollars could be saved almost immediately if the scalp was applied to the US Defense Budget. The article began, oddly enough, about an event in Norfolk celebrating the virtual ribbon cutting of the new US Aircraft Carrier that is part of the new Gerald R Ford Class of Super-Carriers. It noted how the Chinese are working on a Missle called the DF-21. The DF 21 costs 10 Million Dollar each and will be able to sink the $ 20 Billion Ship with its' 5,000 crew in a hearbeat. The question was then, why spend that kind of money?

What is so sad is how the US spends more money on defense than the entire world combined--yet the US feels less secure. What is also ever more unfortunate is that the current crop of Republican Candidates want to even spend more. The myth of US Power is starting to fade ever more simply because maintaining 500 bases, a multitude of conflicts and an unsustainable out of date military will simply not suffice for the 21st Century. Mark Thomson's Article noted how the savings could be achieved:

1) Reduce the 11 Aircraft Carriers
Savings $ 15 Billion Per Carrier;
2) Use More Drone/unmanned Aircraft
Savings $ 500 Billion
3) Shrink Missile Defense
Savings 60 Billion
4) Reduce US Global Footprint
Savings 287 Billion
5) Trim Spy Spending
112 Billion

Of all the analysis Mark Thomson did, what I found striking was how the myriad of Spy Agenices the US has generates data that, at times, is absolutely useless. 9/11 supposedly woke up America. Yet, it seems, America seems to be struck in its' old ways.

Although some of the steps advocated seem simple enough, I was frankly shocked by a report by Aliya Sternstein in Government Executive Magazine. She reported on a practice commonly referred to as "Second Chances" whereby Federal Contractors were given another chance to meet the bonuses entitled to under their contracts. The amount reported by her was about $ 300 Billion from fiscal 2004 thru 2008. It seems to me that this is in and of itself is simple enough. If you don't make the grade, you don't get paid. This is another example that shows how simple common sense ways of looking at how Government Works can serve all in the long term.

The road to long-term economic development and viability begins with a true and honest assessment of the defense budget. What I have to wonder is whether the US Political leadership will have the guts to really reassess this and get through the minefields ahead.

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July 3rd 2011 @ 21:59

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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"Outsiders" is Three Years Old This Week!!!

Today marks the third year of "Outsiders". It has been a very interesting and challenging year, to say the least.

The idea behind this was simple: to create a platform to think about our World and discuss it from a "Main Street" Perspective. It was to really try and understand our World beyond the so-called "Mainstream Media". As I continue on with the work, I realized that some may not have agreed with the assessment here. However, I have viewed the work as critical in providing a "third way" that in turn could potentially impact the way ahead. This "Third Way" in America has been missing for the longest time. The World, though, seems to have understood the need for a third way. That's why the rise of Al Jazeera in the Middle East and France24 in France has been quite fascinating to assess and observe to provide a way to truly assess our World.

What I launched three years ago, was in a way, validated when "No Labels" was launched. The idea behind No Labels was in essence what I had envisioned--a Third Way. Although Fox News and the rest of the so-called conservative media like to think of themselves as an alternative, they are part of the New Conservatives that do have a right to express themselves becuase America has the First Amendment. The problem has been is that they seem not to wish to understand that over 50% of Americans and even more of a percentage of the World has moved away from what America believes and espouses.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the daily readers and the followers who have taken the time to read on and assess this. I also want to thank all those who have taken the time to share their thoughts because I view their contributions as a Vital and crucial to the development of this initiative. Last, but not least, I want to extend a special appreciation to the Orble Team. They took a chance three years ago. I trust that with the plans I have for "outsiders", I'll continue to do what I can to help continue to put Orble on the Map.

The Best is Yet to Come!!!!!

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June 21st 2011 @ 05:19

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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"Outsiders" Tech Watch (6/8/2011): The Gang of Four & Other Thoughts

It has been quite a year. But it seems as if that we continue to break down and milestones all the time.

I begin with what happened this past Monday. Steve Jobs emerged from his Medical Leave to roll out iCloud and iOs5. Although the services are not available til the fall, the idea was to simply make the ipod, the ipad and the iphone platform indepedent by allowing the data to reside in the "cloud". I thought Steve Jobs' "description' of the traditional View of the Cloud was quite interesting--but I think those of us who seem to try and get what is going with the h technology are of the view that there is truly more to the "Cloud"than simply it being a "disk in the sky". The idea of further music and document collaboration is also quite fascinating as the deadline of the fall rollout approaches

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June 8th 2011 @ 13:26

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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The War on Drugs

There is always a fascination with War. I have never understood it and will not claim to do so. But there is one War that I have been particularly against--and finally someone has come out to actually say that it has been a failure.

The War on Drugs was launched over forty years ago to eradicate the scurge and cancer of drugs. Billions upon billions have been spent on this so-called War and thousands of the best, brightest and bravest of us have fallen in this so-called War. What I find very very strange is how the usage has gone up despite this so-called War

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June 5th 2011 @ 10:00

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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"Outsiders" Americas Watch (5/7/2011): Scary Times!!!

I begin this editoin of the "Americas Watch" by noting a sobering statistic: 44.6 Million Americans rely on some sort of Food Assistance from the Government. This is as Unemployment Claims has hit new highs, housing continues to be anemic and the decision by the Fed to stop its so called QE2 (The quantitive Easing Mechansim).

A recent comment by the CEO of Walmart was quite telling: His customers are running out of money. The increase in the price of gas has begun to take a real bite out of the average ordinary guy who shops at Walmart everyday. This is as the clamour for budget cuts gathers momentum. I caught excerpts of a recent speech by the newest Republican "Boy Wonder" Paul Ryan noting that he felt that "Sound money" was the ultiamte objective by working to bring the fiscal house in order

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May 6th 2011 @ 06:50

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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KP Media Watch (4/27/2011); What a Way To Start off!!!

I launch this with a bang!! Olbermann is back with a vengenance.

For those who may not remember, Olbermann abruptly left MSNBC and thereafter struck a deal with Current.TV, Al Gore's TV startup to take over News Operations. His Countdown program has found a new home. He is due to go on the air June 20

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April 27th 2011 @ 05:35

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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Taking a Little Time.....

As Spring is before us, I'd be taking a 30-Day Sabbatical to reflect upon the work here and in the sister sites of Outsiders. It has been quite a Quarter with all that has gone on around the World. I have been witness to history and am grateful for the opportunity beyond Words.

I wanted to conclude this brief thought by citing the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

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March 17th 2011 @ 16:16

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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Another Tragic Killing

I read with great horror about the killing of an Israeli Settler Family by Palestinians. This latest killing is just one example of the continued bloodshed that continues on with no end in sight. But the Government of Israel responded to this tragic event by approving more building settlements.

The tragedy in Palestine continues on with no end in sight. The true realities are such that two states residing side-by-side is becoming increasingly impossible to achieve. The peace process is all but dead in name only. This will not be in the interests of the State of Israel. Who will have the vision and the boldness to break out of this impasse? Who will be Rabin who shook the hands of Arafat? Will we see the day that people will come together or not

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March 15th 2011 @ 05:51

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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KP Americas Watch (3/4/2011): The Emerging Republican Field

Newt made it official (or did he)?

Newt (through his surrogates) made it known that he wants to run for President. He actually did not announce a Presidential Exploratory Committee. But he announced the launch of a website to begin the possibility of running for President. I have been amazed as to what he has done

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March 4th 2011 @ 07:33

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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KP Americas Politics Watch (3/3/2011): Geese...

This is the first edition of America's Politics Edition which will feature commentary on where things are in the United States today. Although the focus here in "outsiders" has been on Foreign Affairs, There has been quite a lot going on in the US Political Scene.

The fight, right now, is on the US Federal Budget. There has been no Federal Budget. I wrote in KP's sister's site about another stop gap measure being passed. I welcomed it. But, it is only a two week stop gap measure as the House and the Senate continue the give-and-take over priorities. The cuts proposed by the House are, to say the least, devastating and will wreck havoc on the most desparate of the US Population. It is amusing to watch how the Politicians in Washington are falling over each other to show who is the more fiscal hawk than the other

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March 3rd 2011 @ 07:09

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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KP Media Watch (3/2/2011): All that's Going On...

NBC and Comcast are now one. This is as the long-term growth and evolution of Media as we know it continues to be ever more in a state of flux. The traditional Media is no more.

One of the things that I continue to think through and reflect upon is Social Media. Social Media has been the central feature of all that has happened that has caused so much grief for long-term dictators and near dictators around the Middle East. It has been just beautiful to see the uprising and cries for the need for equality of opportunity and freedom

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March 2nd 2011 @ 06:41

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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A WTF Moment

I had not done this in a While...but I could not help myself.

I have had a long-standing keen interest in Zimbabwe. With all that has been going on, Zimbabwe has fallen off the radar screen for many. But, Mugabe the butcher continues to be there and continues to be as brutal as ever

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February 25th 2011 @ 06:31

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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Something No One is Talking About...

In the midst of all the political wars and revolutions, what has been missing lately has been a central issue that is critical to life: Water.

One of the key rivers in the Western United States, The Colorado River, is drying up. This is a river that supports Sin City (also known as Las Vegas) and vasts areas of Southern California. Although there has been conservation measures in place, the fact remains that change is coming and how to manage this precious and crucial resource

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February 25th 2011 @ 06:17

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: politics, news, women, law, war

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