Good Bye and Good Luck

Two greatest patriots, libertarians and idealists of our time stepped down from their podiums last week.

Washington D.C., Nov 14, 2012, Representative Ron Paul delivered his farewell speech to the Congress, in which he asked penetrating questions such as: Why Congress voluntarily bend over to the executive branch? Why alternations of the ruling party does not carry any policy changes? Why big corporations were bailed out in 2008, while middle class left loosing families and jobs? Why so many officials believe in making fortune out of printing money? Why so many people agree government and politicians can provide protection without sacrificing freedom? Why people never realize war destroys wealth and freedom? Why so little attention on the kill list made by the President, even when American citizens have been included in it? How come patriotism equates to loyalty to the government, rather than to the principle of liberty and people?

A 37-question edition:
1. Why are sick people who use medical marijuana put in prison?
2. Why does the federal government restrict the drinking of raw milk?
3. Why can’t Americans manufacturer rope and other products from hemp?
4. Why are Americans not allowed to use gold and silver as legal tender as mandated by the Constitution?
5. Why is Germany concerned enough to consider repatriating their gold held by the FED for her in New York?
6. Is it that the trust in the U.S. and dollar supremacy beginning to wane?
7. Why do our political leaders believe it’s unnecessary to thoroughly audit our own gold?
8. Why can’t Americans decide which type of light bulbs they can buy?
9. Why is the TSA permitted to abuse the rights of any American traveling by air?
10. Why should there be mandatory sentences—even up to life for crimes without victims—as our drug laws require?
11. Why have we allowed the federal government to regulate commodes in our homes?
12. Why is it political suicide for anyone to criticize AIPAC ?
13. Why haven’t we given up on the drug war since it’s an obvious failure and violates the people’s rights?
14. Has nobody noticed that the authorities can’t even keep drugs out of the prisons?
15. How can making our entire society a prison solve the problem?
16. Why do we sacrifice so much getting needlessly involved in border disputes and civil strife around the world and ignore the root cause of the most deadly border in the world-the one between Mexico and the US?
17. Why does Congress willingly give up its prerogatives to the Executive Branch?
18. Why does changing the party in power never change policy?
19. Could it be that the views of both parties are essentially the same?
20. Why did the big banks, the large corporations, and foreign banks and foreign central banks get bailed out in 2008 and the middle class lost their jobs and their homes?
21. Why do so many in the government and the federal officials believe that creating money out of thin air creates wealth?
22. Why do so many accept the deeply flawed principle that government bureaucrats and politicians can protect us from ourselves without totally destroying the principle of liberty?
23. Why can’t people understand that war always destroys wealth and liberty?
24. Why is there so little concern for the Executive Order that gives the President authority to establish a “kill list,” including American citizens, of those targeted for assassination?
25. Why is patriotism thought to be blind loyalty to the government and the politicians who run it, rather than loyalty to the principles of liberty and support for the people?
26. Why is it is claimed that if people won’t or can’t take care of their own needs, that people in government can do it for them?
27. Why did we ever give the government a safe haven for initiating violence against the people?
28. Why do some members defend free markets, but not civil liberties?
29. Why do some members defend civil liberties but not free markets?
30. Aren’t they the same?
31. Why don’t more defend both economic liberty and personal liberty?
32. Why are there not more individuals who seek to intellectually influence others to bring about positive changes than those who seek power to force others to obey their commands?
33. Why does the use of religion to support a social gospel and preemptive wars, both of which requires authoritarians to use violence, or the threat of violence, go unchallenged?
34. Why do we allow the government and the Federal Reserve to disseminate false information dealing with both economic and foreign policy?
35. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority?
36. Why should anyone be surprised that Congress has no credibility, since there’s such a disconnect between what politicians say and what they do?
37. Is there any explanation for all the deception, the unhappiness, the fear of the future, the loss of confidence in our leaders, the distrust, the anger and frustration?

As a matter of fact, some fans filed a petition on the White House site asking President Obama to respond. The petition has garnered 5,711 signatures in 2 days, 19,289 short of the 25,000 threshold which in theory warrant an official response.

Beijing, China, the same day on Nov 14, 2012. The once-a-decade power transition was accomplished 'successfully' with the concluding of the 18th National Convention of Chinese Communist Party. The 'next generation' leaders, represented by Party boss Xi Jinping and future premier Li Keqiang become the top party officials replacing Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.

Hu Jintao made a last contribution, maybe the first and real contribution to Chinese political system by not extending his term as the command-in-chief. When Hu visited a Japanese elementary school classroom in 2008, an eight-year old asked him, 'why do you want to be China's President?' Hu replied, 'I don't want to be the president, Chinese people want me to be the President.' Retrospectively thinking, perhaps Hu was indeed being sincere at that moment.

China's true lost was Mr. Wen Jiabao, the only voice for people's liberty and freedom in the 800 million strong political force ruling China. In the past two years, Wen had publicly asked for political reform. Many times he was shut out by propaganda department, and many times he had to take chances to talk about it with foreign news agencies when he was en route visiting other countries.

As the top government official, Wen's last ten years, in a sense, is an edition of Ron Paul after winning the presidential campaign. By disguising his true color and blending in among his colleagues, Wen raised to the top of the executive branch in China as the premier.

While Ron Paul had been by and large ignored by the Democrats and buried by the Republicans as a Congressman, Premier Wen had been distanced and suppressed by his colleagues in the politburo. For most part of his two terms, Wen was seen as a fire fighter, rushing to every disasters and accidents. Even as an coordinator of rescue and relief, Wen did not have much authority. During the Sichuan Earthquake, PLA officers refused to send it troops to the disaster area. Wen was over heard threatening a top brass in the phone, 'you are fed by the people, use your conscious.'

With his limited authority, Wen abolished a long lasting ordinance which allowed police to detain anyone out of his hometown without proper permission.

Instead of questions, Wen left with alarming warnings to the ruling communist party. 'Without political reform, there would be no future but peril', and a vow, 'I will push the political reform, until my last breadth.'

Wen suffered a blown to his face when New York Times published a lengthy investigation on the wealth controlled by Wen's family and friends. The article showed an astonishing $2.7 billion fortune amassed by his close connections. Although NYT claimed the article was the result of years of journalism, Voice of America as well as a few other western news agencies revealed that shortly after Wen fired a Maoist leader Bo Xilai, all western media in Beijing received packages with same information from mysterious sources. Some of the information presented is difficult to verify, while some turned out as poorly disguised smear campaigns. The author of the author, David Barboza explained he obtained his sources from public inquiry. It may sounds plausible to westerners, but for anyone familiar with Chinese politics, that is nothing but flat lie.

Wen responded with a statement from oversea lawyers, the first ever when a top communist officials bring legal system into a political turmoil. Wen also requested a formal investigation on his financial status.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away", as said by General MacArthur. Nevertheless, the legend of Paul and Wen will keep inspiring people across the globe in the years to come.

Wen Jiabao: Rail Ministry Must Tell the Truth

Premier Wen got to the scene of the bullet train accident. Wen held a press conference after visiting the hospitals and talking to survivors and their families. Wen said he had been on bed for 11 days because of an illness, which was the reason he did not come earlier.

When asked on the handling of the accident, Wen stated he called the Rail Minister immediately. We stressed he only said two words on the phone to the Minister, which were'save life' and not even one word beyond that. Wen said the Rail Ministry must tell the truth of the disaster.

People at the scene accused the officials did not assist passenger to leave the train after the accident. Further, they charged officials harshly called off the rescue operation within a few hours. It is wide spread that carriages were pushed down the 60 feet bridge with people inside. Later, many bodies and a couple of live persons were found in the pushed-down carriage, as well as on the ground nearby. TV reporting from the scene also showed heavy equipment were used to smash the 6 carriages on the ground, without checking whether there were still passengers inside. Later, many bodies were found whose heads and limbs were cut off by construction equipment.

TV programs from the scene also showed carriages were then decomposed into pieces and buried in big holes dug at the scene. Reporters questioned why they had to be smashed to pieces. The Rail Minister stated the action was to prevent advanced sensitive technology fell into wrong hands. The spokesperson of the Rail Ministry stated the action was to use the carriages to pave road.

The news conference was not allowed to be broadcasting on-air in mainland China. However, many reporters posted the questions and Wen's answers in real time on micro-blogs.

Reporters came with many questions. Specifically, they wanted to know which official called off the rescue hours after the disaster, and which official order the train to be smashed and buried hours after the accident took place. They also wanted to know the real death toll. Beijing still insisted on the number 35, while it is obvious the number should be between around two hundreds. Three carriages plunged 60 feet with full load of 80 passenger each according to ticketing. In addition, one entire carriage was wiped out during the collision. The carriage looked like a post card with floor and ceiling ironed together. Nobody would survive.

勒克儿:凌晨3点，刚写完博客，再发一条微博睡觉去鸟：小时候，奇迹是一个柔软的奶瓶，三聚氰氨在里面，良心在外面；长大了，奇迹是一座燃烧的礼堂，孩子在里面，领导在外面；再后来，奇迹是一辆着火的大巴，人在里面，救生锤在外面；现在，奇迹是一节血迹班驳的车厢，你在里面，铲车在外面。

While Wen took a break, more than 20 reporters at the scene shouted together to demand the Rail Ministry to answer questions directly, because unlike Wen who just got up from his sick bed, the Rail Ministry had answers to all questions. However, neither Wen nor the Rail Minister responded to the demand, but wrapped up the news conference and left.

Combing through each word said by Wen, reporters realized Wen only promised to investigate the accident itself, but did not even brush on the clear demand to investigate the handling after the accident by Vice Premier Mr. Zhang Dejiang, the top CCP official at the scene.

Mr. Zhang received a B.S. from North Korea.

Wen Jiabao Cried Speaking to Chinese Diplomats in Japan

Permier Wen Jiabao was seen wiping tears while speaking to diplomats at Chinese embassy in Japan. Wen revealed that it was his personal decision to visit the earthquake-tsunami-nuclear hit Fukushima area. Wen explained the rational of his visit, and signed he might not be able to come to Japan again.

Some read the speech a sign of Wen being increasingly isolated at the top level of power in China. One thing for sure, once Wen retired from his post, he would not be able to go outside China. There has been no precedence of former top leaders being allowed to go overseas after they departed offices.

Scholars Warn Collapse May be Sudden and Unforeseeable

Premier Wen has been chanting for political reform in an unusual high intensity. He publicly spoke about the sensitive issue 6 times in 3 months, and used phrases such as, '.. dead end', and '..won't give up until my last breath'. By all means, he sounds not only deadly serious, but also alarmingly urgent.

Finally, the ruling communist party responded with an editorial of the People's Daily. The article titled '..steadily push forward political reform', while the contents basically removed any doubts that such reform could be remotely possible under the Party's rule. It insisted the Party's firm leadership is absolutely essential, and threatened any political reform to be unpatriotic.

Scholars liken the situation to that at the end of the Qing Dynasty. While the people, echoed by some senior officials, demand political reform, the imperial government blandly refused. A couple of years later, Qing collapsed suddenly in 1911. Since 1840, the Qing had survived western invasion and mass rebellion. When it collapsed in 1911, it was enjoying a rather uneventful period.

Diplomatic Issues

1. China and Japan 'normalized' their relationship in 1972. However, "Japan never apologized for the suffering of Chinese (300 million Chinese killed) during the Japanese invasion and occupancy", as complained by many Chinese. Former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Takuei (1972-1974) recalled he expressed 'being puzzled "困惑"' by what Japanese did to Chinese when he signed the 'normalization treaty' in Beijing. Tanaka argued the Kanji characters 'being puzzled' has a deeper meaning of 'not agreeing'.

2. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro (2001-2006) is known for his family roots which are entangled with the past glory of imperial army, and unapologizing attitude on Japanese's aggressions during the WWII. Unsurprisingly he was not popular among Asian neighbors, particularly China and Korea. For a while, China suspended talks with him. During an international meeting, Koizumi suddenly showed great interest in Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's pen, and asked for a look. The two talked briefly, and the incident was considered a breakthrough in Sino-Japan relations.

3. The Sino-Japan relationship was once again frozen after the incident of Japan detaining a Chinese fishing boat captain near the Diaoyu Islands, which is controlled by Japan while claimed by both mainland China and Taiwan. In retaliation, China announced a suspension of bilateral communication of minister level and above. When the senior officials of both countries were attending an international conference, Prime Minister Kan Naoto (2010- ) caught up with Chinese Premier Wen in the hallway, and chatted for 20 minutes. According to reporting of Japanese news media, the incident was 'executed in the manner of' while Wen walked out of the meeting room, Kan walked "in high speed in same direction" and caught up with Wen. It is assumed Wen slowed down. Japanese coverage varied on the account whether Kan walked in big steps or small steps, but agreed on the 'high speed' part.

Premier Wen's Political Reform

Premier Wen Jiabao told CNN when attending conferences in New York City that he would keep pushing for political reform, and weather any stormy resistances till his death.

Although Wen is known of using elegance of Chinese classics, he summarized his goals in four simple phrases: he wants Chinese people could

1. live in dignity and be happy;
   
2. feel safe;
   
3. a society fill with justice;
   
4. full of confidence to the future;
   

Among all Communists officials, 80 millions of them, Wen looks to be a lonely advocate to his ideas. Many accused him of not having acted more boldly, but there is so much you can do as one of the 80 millions leadership class. Instead of criticizing wen's inaction, each Chinese should think of how to help out.

Lament of the Premier

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told college students, 'do real work, don't be officials'. The No. 3 ranking official has been screaming his desperation recently, parting way from his colleagues in the Party in public.

The Organizational Deputy Minister of the CCP, Mr. Wang Taifeng, recently put the total number of CCP members as 77.995 million by the end of 2009, with a net gain of 2.065 million over the previous year.

Chinese Premier Sat in Classes in Middle School

Premier Wen Jiabao sat in classroom through five classes at a Beijing Middle School in September. This week, he authored a paper on education. The paper is based on his classroom observations, and covers a broad range of topics, including pedagogical methods and scientific discussions.

Some critics sensed the incident a signal that Wen had been kept out of loop in the power circle. With nothing else to do, Wen went back to middle school. Actually, Wen was able to pick up a theoretical mistake in the Geography textbook.

In Chinese government architecture, Wen is the head of the central government. In the Party ladder, Wen is No. 3 or No. 4 (behind Hu Jintao, (Jiang Zeming,) Wu Bangguo.