E-mail to Representative Neugebauer:
I read your latest newsletter.
Welcoming Home, the Page Program, Service Academy Nominations, District Work Schedule, and NPR Funding are all what I consider "maintenance" parts of the job. None of these are particularly relevant to the difficulties we find ourselves in with respect to government financing, mandatory eliminations of personal rights, and especially jobs. The only one that can partially qualify is NPR Funding, which should be eliminated to save a few dollars. You merely asked the question. You didn't say what you're going to do about it.
May I again suggest that you start to concentrate on actions, which will improve our country and particularly revive capitalism and opportunity, with the elimination of previous socialistic programs.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Combat Chinese Efforts to Control Military Strategic Materials
EIN News says, "Greens Shackle National Security - And Renewable Energy 23 Oct 2010 - 10:30".
This is a bit short and somewhat obtuse as presented, but it's important. You may want to read the complete article at: http://energy.einnews.com/article.php?vid=+x2b597NdxwRpLLZ&v=61763EAgzp8B2Cz/6DLTbIETWb2WFzdWM.
A summary of the situation is as follows:
Rare earths are chemical compounds of a group of chemical elements known as rare earth elements. They are used as raw materials in the production of modern technological devices. Some of these devices are stealth fighter jets, digital cameras, computer hard drives, wind turbine magnets, solar panels, hybrid and electric car batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and catalytic converters.
We previously mined much of what was needed here in the US. However the mining is difficult and labor-intensive, and production slowly moved to China, where labor costs were significantly lower. At present, the US produces essentially no rare earths and all such material required as raw materials for the above-mentioned technological devices must be imported, usually from China.
The Chinese, recognizing that they have a monopoly on the rare earth market, have decreased exports, which automatically raises prices. They presumably do this as a strategy for obtaining US taxpayer dollars, which the US government uses as subsidies for US production of modern technological devices.
In addition to this Chinese technique of extracting more dollars from the American taxpayer, through the US federal government subsidies, the US is placed in a more vulnerable military position by market imposed restrictions in the manufacture of essential military hardware, some of which is listed above.
We have previously faced similar situations. Prior to World War I, most chemical production was in Germany. At the onset of the war, the US was deprived of imports of those chemicals required for the war effort, and it required some time and effort to establish any significant chemical production here in the US. For this reason, the military has defined some essentials materials as "strategic". For example, crude oil is a strategic material, for which reason the military has a stockpile.
While I am opposed to most of the operations of big government, it is the federal government responsibility to take action for the protection of the American public against foreign powers. This includes maintaining sufficient military power to combat any physical invasion, and that power is likely to require sufficient military hardware, which is produced using rare earths as a raw material.
The obvious action that must be taken by the US government to neutralize the Chinese initiative is to immediately declare rare earths "strategic" materials and impose a significant import duty, such that the price automatically rises to a level where US mining companies can again justify a productive position and thereby guarantee independence from foreign sources to the advantage of controlling our ability to produce military hardware.
The Chinese reaction to this will be to allow increased exports from China, which will tend to lower rare earth prices and keep production in China. However, as the Chinese take such action which will lower prices, we must continue to increase import duties to justify US mining companies to produce in the US.
This program will be difficult for the Obama Administration to swallow, since it is contradictory to its efforts to redistribute wealth on a worldwide basis, including giving Chinese miners continued employment. However I am not concerned with Chinese miners. They can find something else to do. Meanwhile, I want to have a strong military, including hardware, to protect the American public from foreign invasion and also to create jobs for American miners.
This is a bit short and somewhat obtuse as presented, but it's important. You may want to read the complete article at: http://energy.einnews.com/article.php?vid=+x2b597NdxwRpLLZ&v=61763EAgzp8B2Cz/6DLTbIETWb2WFzdWM.
A summary of the situation is as follows:
Rare earths are chemical compounds of a group of chemical elements known as rare earth elements. They are used as raw materials in the production of modern technological devices. Some of these devices are stealth fighter jets, digital cameras, computer hard drives, wind turbine magnets, solar panels, hybrid and electric car batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and catalytic converters.
We previously mined much of what was needed here in the US. However the mining is difficult and labor-intensive, and production slowly moved to China, where labor costs were significantly lower. At present, the US produces essentially no rare earths and all such material required as raw materials for the above-mentioned technological devices must be imported, usually from China.
The Chinese, recognizing that they have a monopoly on the rare earth market, have decreased exports, which automatically raises prices. They presumably do this as a strategy for obtaining US taxpayer dollars, which the US government uses as subsidies for US production of modern technological devices.
In addition to this Chinese technique of extracting more dollars from the American taxpayer, through the US federal government subsidies, the US is placed in a more vulnerable military position by market imposed restrictions in the manufacture of essential military hardware, some of which is listed above.
We have previously faced similar situations. Prior to World War I, most chemical production was in Germany. At the onset of the war, the US was deprived of imports of those chemicals required for the war effort, and it required some time and effort to establish any significant chemical production here in the US. For this reason, the military has defined some essentials materials as "strategic". For example, crude oil is a strategic material, for which reason the military has a stockpile.
While I am opposed to most of the operations of big government, it is the federal government responsibility to take action for the protection of the American public against foreign powers. This includes maintaining sufficient military power to combat any physical invasion, and that power is likely to require sufficient military hardware, which is produced using rare earths as a raw material.
The obvious action that must be taken by the US government to neutralize the Chinese initiative is to immediately declare rare earths "strategic" materials and impose a significant import duty, such that the price automatically rises to a level where US mining companies can again justify a productive position and thereby guarantee independence from foreign sources to the advantage of controlling our ability to produce military hardware.
The Chinese reaction to this will be to allow increased exports from China, which will tend to lower rare earth prices and keep production in China. However, as the Chinese take such action which will lower prices, we must continue to increase import duties to justify US mining companies to produce in the US.
This program will be difficult for the Obama Administration to swallow, since it is contradictory to its efforts to redistribute wealth on a worldwide basis, including giving Chinese miners continued employment. However I am not concerned with Chinese miners. They can find something else to do. Meanwhile, I want to have a strong military, including hardware, to protect the American public from foreign invasion and also to create jobs for American miners.
Friday, October 22, 2010
We Should Not Be Spending Money on Nationbuilding
EIN News says, "U.S. to Cut Aid to Pakistan Military Units Over Human Rights Abuses. The U.S. government plans to cut military aid to several Pakistani military units as punishment for human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial executions, according to senior officials. (guardian.co.uk)".
Good move for the wrong reason. We should not be giving military aid to Pakistan or any other country. We are not in the business of nationbuilding. We have enough difficulty right now in rebuilding our own nation from the serious destruction caused by Democratic/Socialistic actions.
Human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial executions, will continue on a worldwide basis no matter what the US government thinks or does. The answer is to maintain within the US a constitutional human rights program, and invite immigration on a controlled basis to those persons who are being subjected to those hardships in their home countries. Simultaneously, we must consider a limitation on numbers and quality of immigrants. This is no different than persons trying to take in all available stray cats and dogs, when those persons are unable to handle their own livelihood.
Good move for the wrong reason. We should not be giving military aid to Pakistan or any other country. We are not in the business of nationbuilding. We have enough difficulty right now in rebuilding our own nation from the serious destruction caused by Democratic/Socialistic actions.
Human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial executions, will continue on a worldwide basis no matter what the US government thinks or does. The answer is to maintain within the US a constitutional human rights program, and invite immigration on a controlled basis to those persons who are being subjected to those hardships in their home countries. Simultaneously, we must consider a limitation on numbers and quality of immigrants. This is no different than persons trying to take in all available stray cats and dogs, when those persons are unable to handle their own livelihood.
We Need Trust in Government
EIN News says, "Iraq Province Says Foreign Gas Firms Are Unwelcome. Authorities in a western Iraqi province rejected the results of this week's government-organized gas auction, which allowed a pair of foreign companies to develop a big deposit on its territory. (yahoo.com)".
This confirms what I said a few days ago, which was that there was very little participation in the bidding because potential bidders did not trust the Iraqi government.
I maintain my more important point from this lesson, which is that the US must reestablish trust in government by its citizenry. We should do that by simplifying verbiage in our laws, not quibbling about details or establishing exceptions, reducing the size of government, and having government involved only in those matters for which government is needed.
This confirms what I said a few days ago, which was that there was very little participation in the bidding because potential bidders did not trust the Iraqi government.
I maintain my more important point from this lesson, which is that the US must reestablish trust in government by its citizenry. We should do that by simplifying verbiage in our laws, not quibbling about details or establishing exceptions, reducing the size of government, and having government involved only in those matters for which government is needed.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Lack of Trust in Government Inhibits Development
EIN News says, " Iraq Offers Up Three Gas Fields to Global Firms. Iraq auctioned off three major natural gas fields to international companies, part of its strategy to shake off a legacy of war and isolation by opening up the lucrative sector. (reuters.com)
Only five companies submitted bids for Iraq gas fields. Only one bid submitted for second-largest field on offer."
The reason for the low participation is clear. Drilling companies do not trust the government.
You may want to take the page from that book. When citizens and private companies do not trust government, including individuals in power, they will not cooperate.
That position has been arrived at not only in Iraq but also in the US. You must do something about it. The key word is "integrity".
Only five companies submitted bids for Iraq gas fields. Only one bid submitted for second-largest field on offer."
The reason for the low participation is clear. Drilling companies do not trust the government.
You may want to take the page from that book. When citizens and private companies do not trust government, including individuals in power, they will not cooperate.
That position has been arrived at not only in Iraq but also in the US. You must do something about it. The key word is "integrity".
Let's Stop Nation Building
EIN News says, "Afghanistan Cancels 1.3 Million Parliamentary Votes. Afghan election authorities canceled 1.3 million votes in last month's parliamentary election, nearly a quarter of the 5.6 million ballots cast, the country's top electoral officer said. (yahoo.com).
Were there 1.3 million fraudulent votes or did the election authorities fraudulently cancel 1.3 million valid votes? This will not be discernible, but it is clear that big-time fraud is involved.
Are we supposed to be educating these people to honesty? We have tremendous problems in this area ourselves.
The valid answer is we should be concentrating on our own Western interpretation of honesty in our culture. Middle East culture has been what it is for many hundreds or even thousands of years. Their interpretation of honesty is much different than in the Western world.
We will not be able to change the culture of the Afghanis. Get out of there now and leave them to resolve their own problems. If their resolution seems to lead to terrorist activities in the United States, eliminate training camps and terrorist leaders through surgical military strikes.
Were there 1.3 million fraudulent votes or did the election authorities fraudulently cancel 1.3 million valid votes? This will not be discernible, but it is clear that big-time fraud is involved.
Are we supposed to be educating these people to honesty? We have tremendous problems in this area ourselves.
The valid answer is we should be concentrating on our own Western interpretation of honesty in our culture. Middle East culture has been what it is for many hundreds or even thousands of years. Their interpretation of honesty is much different than in the Western world.
We will not be able to change the culture of the Afghanis. Get out of there now and leave them to resolve their own problems. If their resolution seems to lead to terrorist activities in the United States, eliminate training camps and terrorist leaders through surgical military strikes.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Rep. Randy Neugebauer's Newsletter
Randy,
I read your latest newsletter.
We have known for some time all the things that are wrong. We don't need to be reminded of them. We need to know what you are doing to correct them.
There is no need for you to be involved in Breast Cancer Month. That's a project for private industry. You need to start reducing the restrictions on private industry so that they can move ahead to do their jobs.
We don't need to know where you will be traveling. We already know your position on various subjects. We need to know what you're doing for corrective action.
I read your latest newsletter.
We have known for some time all the things that are wrong. We don't need to be reminded of them. We need to know what you are doing to correct them.
There is no need for you to be involved in Breast Cancer Month. That's a project for private industry. You need to start reducing the restrictions on private industry so that they can move ahead to do their jobs.
We don't need to know where you will be traveling. We already know your position on various subjects. We need to know what you're doing for corrective action.
Borrow from Muslim Countries in Order to Give Them Grants
EIN News says, "As Peace Talks Sway, Questions Arise About U.S. Influence in Mideast. With talks between Israel and the Palestinians in limbo, those in the region are wondering whether the U.S. has lost the necessary muscle to have influence on players across the Middle East. (cnn.com)".
That's probably correct. Our previous "muscle" was to persuade them not to argue by giving them money. It's a little harder to do these days. Perhaps we can borrow from the Muslim countries in order to be able to continue the grants.
That's probably correct. Our previous "muscle" was to persuade them not to argue by giving them money. It's a little harder to do these days. Perhaps we can borrow from the Muslim countries in order to be able to continue the grants.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Use Drones to Kill Insurgents
E-Mail to Congress:
EIN News says, "'German Militants' Killed in U.S. Drone Attack in Pakistan. A U.S. drone strike has killed at least five German nationals in Pakistan's tribal belt as part of a rapidly escalating covert CIA campaign targeting al-Qaida's reputed global operations hub. (guardian.co.uk)."
Great! Expand the program.
EIN News says, "'German Militants' Killed in U.S. Drone Attack in Pakistan. A U.S. drone strike has killed at least five German nationals in Pakistan's tribal belt as part of a rapidly escalating covert CIA campaign targeting al-Qaida's reputed global operations hub. (guardian.co.uk)."
Great! Expand the program.
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