Arab Spring and Wall Street Autumn

2011 was an eventful year for politics. We witnessed the arrival of Arab Spring in the Middle East and Wall Street Autumn in America.

Arab Spring registers signs of optimism (at least relief) – better days on the horizon. Power to the people; Egypt, Libya, Syria. One after another oppressive powers fall.

Wall Street Autumn emits evidence of despair (at least trouble) – weary road ahead. More power to the overlords; Wall Street, military complex, professional politicians.

Democracy is dead. Money talks. Reasons walk.

What happened, and why?

What happened is that we have forgotten our founding fathers’ pledge and quests:
We the people have the right and ability to solve any and all problems confronting us. In theoretical terms, and modern day practice: “The person who is closest to the problem, by impact or with resource, is the person to solve the problem?” (Kam C. Wong)

This means:

(1) People, not the government establishment or Washington experts, decide what the problem facing this country is or is not. For example, minority interests, bankers, should not trump or dictate national interests.

(2) People’s voices should be heard, not silenced by force and arms – forced eviction in Wall Street, pepper sprayed in UC-Davis.

(3) Power back to the people. A majority of the people has no faith in their government, e.g., politicians, Party or Congress. Changing political leadership every so often does not seems to help, e.g., Obama acts more or less like Bush! Most people are not happy with the direction our nation is heading.

(4) As a people, we should take responsibility for our own actions.

(4.1) Be realistic. Live within our means. Bigger things (NFL stadium) is not better. More rights (without corresponding duties) is not good. Material goods do not bring happiness.

(4.2) Be wise. Spend appropriately. A few basketball players get paid thousands per game. Thousands of teachers make hundreds per month. Thousands of lawyers get rich by creating disputes and destroying relationships. Millions of construction workers starved to keep roof over the lawyers' head allowing their families to live happily thereafter. A 20 something makes billions in an air condition office after a few months/years to buy bigger and better video games. A nation of laborers sweat under the sun for life to put bread on the table

(4.3) Be honest. Stand up for our principles. No double standards or empty talk.
(4.3.1) We cannot invade other nations and kill other nationals, in the name of fighting terrorism.
(4.3.2) We cannot begin to tell other nations/people what to do, when we do not know their history, speak their language, or understand their culture. For example, Ms. Clinton, Secretary of State, lectured China on human rights, when she has little facility with Chinese.
(4.3.3) Ms. Clinton declared virtual war to disrupt China to advance free internet when our government is monitoring all e-mails in and out of the US.'
(4.3.4) Our (few) soldiers cannot rape and kill other nationals but not be held responsible to other nations' law. Many in fact get away with murder (for cooperating with prosecution) by plea negotiation in US military courts. They should be held responsible to the same degree as if they had kill and rape in the US.
(4.3.5) We cannot keep invading other countries and building more advance weapons, and other people to love peace and forgo arms,

(4.4) Be fair. Pay everyone the same. Why should brainy people enjoy intellectual property's rights for years, after their intellectual labor is done, and laborers do not enjoy laborer's right in like manner and degree. Pay up when you ride a car made by a laborer!!!

(4.5) Be visionary. Live for the future. As a nation we cannot keep supporting big military with deficit spending (more bombs and plans) and keep weakening education by starving our teachers (less bread & butter).

(4.6) Be strong. Stand up for what we believe in. Learn from Arab Spring. Do not take no for an answer.

In the end, might (economic, political, military ) does not make right. Or, do they?