Update: Revolution for Liberty in Ukraine

           After a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, the Ukrainian Parliament has removed the authoritarian President of Ukraine, who had fled the capital, from power and placed the Speaker, who had been part of the opposition, in charge of an interim government until new parliamentary elections can be held.

            The President, who had been ousted in the 2004 Orange Revolution and later returned to power, chose to accept a Russian loan package for the indebted Ukrainian government instead of a trade deal with the European Union, thereby signifying closer ties with Russia over integration with Western Europe.  See my post from December of 2013, Foreign Digest: Ukraine, Poland, Central African Republic, Italy, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2013/12/foreign-digest-ukraine-poland-central.html.  Russia controls the natural gas pipelines that lead into Ukraine and offered to continue the flow, which served as a reminder that it could cut it off, as it had before.  The opposition suspected a deal between Russia and the Ukrainian President that benefited him personally, a theory for which the evidence was bolstered by the discovery over the weekend of his lavish palace at the expense of the poor people of Ukraine.  Their concern about Russia was also based on the large presence of Russians in the eastern part of the former Soviet republic and the possibility that Russia would try to occupy militarily or even annex eastern Ukraine.  The opposition also objected to the imprisonment on politically-motivated charges of the former President who had led Ukraine after the Orange Revolution, among other human rights abuses; she has since been freed, along with many of the protesters who had been detained.  Their cause was emboldened further by the harsh measures taken by the Ukrainian government against peaceful protesters.  In short, Ukraine had become, once again, similar to Russia and Venezuela. 

I had called earlier this month in my post on the Winter Olympics in Russia for the Free World, led by the United States, to stand more strongly for the independence, territorial integrity and freedom of the former Soviet republics and with the people in the streets of Ukraine, which it has. 

The destiny of Ukraine is now once again in the hands of the Ukrainian people.  They must return to representative government quickly through parliamentary elections and, through their chosen representatives in Parliament, guarantee the liberty of all Ukrainians, whether they speak Ukrainian or Russian.  The Ukrainian people can then decide, free of intimidation or bribery, their relations with Russia and Western Europe, which need not be mutually exclusive, while Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity must be respected by all foreign states.  I congratulate the Ukrainian people on their revolution and wish them success in achieving the goal of liberty and keeping it.

Update: Renzi Is Italy’s New Premier

           As expected, Matteo Renzi was sworn in today as Prime Minister of Italy after re-forming the same grand coalition of the center-left and center-right and the center as the executive lead by the predecessor he ousted through a party conference, Enrico Letta, although with a mostly new cabinet of ministers.

            The new Italian Premier has a full docket, as economical, political and fiscal reforms are urgently needed.  Renzi promises to address one each month.  Italy, the European Monetary Union’s third largest economy, is only beginning to emerge from its deepest post-war recession, has a much-derided parliamentary election law that has been ruled unconstitutional and possesses one of the highest ratios of debt to gross domestic product in the world.  The new center-left prime minister is expected to continue economic reforms that will encourage growth without raising taxes, replace the electoral law with one supported by both his own party and those parties both in government and in opposition on the center-right that can better help a party win and sustain a governing majority, and to reduce spending by streamlining bureaucracy and selling off state assets. 

           Italy’s Parliament is expected to give Renzi its vote of confidence on Monday.  Meanwhile, it started the process of political reform by ratifying the Italian Government’s decree to phase out government subsidies of political parties I had posted about in December of 2013, in my post, Foreign Digest: Ukraine, Poland, Central African Republic, Italy, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2013/12/foreign-digest-ukraine-poland-central.html.  No changes in North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Italy’s foreign policy are expected, meaning it will maintain its close relations with the United States.

Honor George Washington by Refuting False Arguments against the Greatest American

           Today, I return to one of my favorite subjects: to honor George Washington on his birthday.  Alas, it has become necessary to refute some of the false arguments made against the Father of our country. 

These myths or unfair criticisms of Washington are based upon various motivations.  They are intended to give legitimacy to radical views, are intended to besmirch the American Revolution, or represent iconoclasm based upon jealousy or insecurity or to defend the misbehavior of others by maligning the reputation of the Father of our country and other Founders.  Although, like everyone, Washington was imperfect, he strove mightily to improve himself and achieved greatness – a greatness that is unparalleled in American history and among only the best in world history – as a result. 

            I have extolled Washington’s virtues and accomplishments in my post of February of 2009, George Washington the Great, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/02/george-washington-great.html.  In my post from April of that year, Two Big Myths about the Founding Fathers: The Myth about the Three Fifths Rule and the Myth that Washington Warned against “Entangling Alliances,” http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-big-myths-about-founding-fathers.html, I corrected the frequent error that Washington advised against “entangling alliances” in his Farewell Address, in which he advised only against “permanent alliances.”  There are other dubious, false, exaggerated or unfair accusations against the American Founding Fathers in general, but the purpose of this post is limited to the refuting the specific repeated personal ones against Washington.

Washington Was Not a Deist

            There is a myth that most of the Founding Fathers, including Washington, were deists.  Deists believe that God created the universe, but did not intervene in it, and thus prayer was pointless.  Although Washington practiced the ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism, he attended church, usually worshipping as an Anglican/Episcopalian, prayed and gave public thanks to God.  He believed that God had protected him numerous times in battle and had favored the cause of the American Revolution. 

There Is No Convincing Evidence Washington Committed Adultery

            Washington did maintain a close relationship with a woman, which we know about through his correspondence, although it must be considered in the context that he was among the most prolific letter-writers of all time.  There is no evidence of anything further, or we would certainly know it by now.  Of course, it cannot be proven whether or not someone committed “adultery of the heart,” as President Jimmy Carter put it.  Regardless, what the historical record reveals is that Washington’s wife often joined him at his battlefield headquarters and he was eager to retire from public service, both as general and President, and to return to his farm with her.  The absurd accusation that he died of syphilis is easily disproved by the historical record; Washington contracted a respiratory infection after riding his horse on his farm on a rainy December morning at nearly 69 years of age, which was exacerbated by the medical practice of bleeding the patient.  Moreover, Washington practiced morals and self control and maintained a good reputation.

That Washington Lost More Battles than He Won Does Not Prove He Was a Bad General

            I submit that the fact that Washington lost more battles in the American Revolution than he won, especially considering that he was leading an untrained army against the greatest fighting force in the world, is proof that he was a great general.  Washington practiced Fabian tactics, meaning that he avoided a potentially disastrous direct confrontation with a superior force from an inferior position.  He maneuvered his forces to harass the enemy and seized opportunities to attack when conditions were most favorable.  As a result, when Washington lost, he usually lost barely, but when he won, he usually won decisively, such as at Trenton or Yorktown.  His only major defeat was his first battle, at Long Island, but he executed a great escape and learned from his mistake.  Sometimes, Washington won without even firing a shot, as he did when he drove British forces from Boston by placing cannon on ground overlooking the city.  He was a master at espionage, maintained discipline over his almost unruly army, and was loyal to the civilian authorities who had granted him extraordinary power.  Washington inspired his soldiers with his personal bravery in battle.  Although he was not as great as Alexander, Washington’s successful military record is exemplary. 

          It is right as we honor Washington on the anniversary of his birth to learn more about the great model and source of inspiration and dismiss the ignorant and malevolent accusations that are without merit.  The American people can rightly have George Washington as their hero.

Conservative Thoughts on the Increase of the Federal Debt Limit

The federal debt limit was raised to well over $17 trillion by the Congress and President, without any offsetting budget cuts. 

The cuts to future military retirees’ pensions were restored.  I had posted that there was bipartisan support for restoring them in my December of 2013 post, Conservative Analysis of the Two-Year United States Budget Deal, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2013/12/conservative-analysis-of-two-year.html. 

The purpose of the debt limit is to give Congress the discretion on whether to raise or lower it. It is not, as liberals argue, automatically to raise it, or else it would not be subject to public debate and a vote.  In anticipation of bills to paid, it is necessary to raise the debt limit to cover those bills, if expected revenues are insufficient to equal the expenditures.  It is prudent to require offsetting spending reductions, however, because of the growth of the federal debt, which now exceeds the gross domestic product.

Conservative Republican members of Congress attempted to enact spending offsets, but their effort failed as the Legislative Branch gave up its leverage with the Executive Branch.  Thus, an opportunity for more spending restraint and fiscal responsibility was lost.  The political climate of blame for the legislative struggles between liberals who wish to spend more and conservatives who wish to spend less was unfavorable for the latter, even though a convincing case could be made that the liberals have been unreasonable in their opposition to budget cuts, which has forced the government shutdown or brought the federal government to the brink of running out of spending authority.  The resolution of the debt limit question gives temporary certainty for the market, as well, until the limit is exceeded yet again. 

Despite the necessity of having to compromise with the liberal Democratic-controlled Senate and President Barack Obama, conservative House Republicans have nevertheless been effective in significantly decreasing the annual budget deficit and slowing the growth of the debt, but a minority opposition party must effectively use the power it has, under the political circumstances.  Greater progress in restoring fiscal responsibility than what Republicans in Congress usually achieve will likely come only after the GOP wins the majority of the Senate in the 2014 General Election.

Nepal and Lebanon Form Governments

Nepal

            The non-communist republican party that had long been in opposition to the monarchy was able to form a government with the backing of the Marxist-Leninist Communist party, which will keep the Maoist Communists out of power.  The Marxist-Leninists will not join in the government, but will support its vote of confidence, which is necessary for a government to remain in power in a parliamentary system.

            I had posted in November in my post, Foreign Digest: Honduras, Nepal, Germany, Italy, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2013/11/foreign-digest-honduras-nepal-germany.html, that because no party had gained a clear majority in the parliamentary elections, the ruling Maoists, who had led a violent rebellion against the monarchy they helped abolish after taking power, would be unable to turn Nepal into a totalitarian state, while the monarchists had clearly lost, which meant that Himalayan state would remain a republic.  With the three main parties usually close in popular support and each  exchanging power since the abolition of the monarchy, and thus unable to provide sufficient direction, Nepalese politics has been deadlocked and remains uncertain.  Nepal has been unable to initiate reconciliation by bringing the former Maoist rebels into the armed forces and to draft a permanent constitution, but the formation of a government gives it a chance to build republican institutions through a constitution that respects human rights and the rights of minorities.

Lebanon

            After a ten-month period of negotiations, Lebanon was able to form a national unity government that includes Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims, as well as Christians.  The unity government was necessary as Lebanese factiousness has been exacerbated by the Syrian Civil War, as the Sunnis and Shi’ites in particular were aligning themselves with their brethren in neighboring Syria, which had long dominated Lebanese politics.  There has been another spike in violence in Lebanon, which has again raised fears of a return to civil war.  It is hoped that Lebanon’s new government will contribute to Lebanon’s peace and greater independence.  

Update: Letta Has Resigned; Renzi Is Expected to be Given a Mandate to Form a Government

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta submitted his resignation Friday, which was accepted by President Giorgio Napolitano. 

The outgoing Premier, who heads a temporary caretaker government, opted not to submit to a confidence vote in Parliament, as his own center-left party had overwhelmingly voted to call for a new government.  A confidence vote, even if lost by Letta, would have allowed Parliament, specifically, the Chamber of Deputies, the representatives of the people, to cause the Government’s downfall, instead of the party in a return to Italy’s post-war style of revolving-door governments.

Napolitano has ruled out new elections, as the much-maligned current election law, which has been ruled unconstitutional by the highest Italian court, and the significant support for the populist anti-establishment opposition party, would not likely allow any party to win a majority to govern and result in another hung parliament like the one in 2013 that necessitated Letta’s unprecedented center-left-right coalition government.  Thus, the selection of the new prime minister is up to the center-left party, the largest in Parliament, who wants its leader, Matteo Renzi to be the next Prime Minister of Italy.

After consultations with all the parties in Parliament, Napolitano is prepared to give a mandate to the Renzi, to form a government.  In order to gain the required parliamentary majority, another grand coalition executive of the center-left and center-right is necessary, as the incoming Premier will need the support not only of his own party and the centrists, but also of the New Center Right Party, which split with the center-right party that was led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and opted to remain in government.  In addition to the typical negotiation over the make-up of the cabinet, the New Center Right is seeking assurances about Renzi’s plans and expressing opposition to inviting a left-wing party into the grand coalition.  Both center-right parties backed Renzi’s plan to reform the election law. 

The center-left party thanked Letta for his service and its new leader who deposed him did offer praise.  The outgoing Premier was also thanked for his reforms by European leaders.  They were joined by United States President Barack Obama, who thanked Letta also for maintaining Italy’s friendship with the U.S.

Letta Will Resign as Prime Minister; Renzi Will Try to Head the Next Government of Italy

           Italy will have a new prime minister, its third consecutive unelected premier since center-right Silvio Berlusconi was elected in 2008 and resigned in 2011.  Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who led a grand coalition government of the center-left and center-right, announced that he will tender his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano today after his center-left Democratic Party voted overwhelmingly at a conference for a new Italian government to be headed by its upstart leader, Matteo Renzi, the 39 year-old Mayor of Florence.

            Regardless of whether President Napolitano accepts Letta’s resignation and urges him to submit to a parliamentary vote of confidence, the Democrats’ impatience with the pace of reform would make it unlikely the premier would gain enough support from his coalition partners to add to the small minority he retains in his own party for his executive to survive.  The Head of State had chosen Letta, a Member of Parliament, after a two-month long hung parliament had resulted after inconclusive elections in 2013, after having chosen his predecessor, technocrat Mario Monti, whom Napolitano had named a Life Senator as Berlusconi’s Government had been teetering on the brink of collapse amidst Italy’s financial crisis.  This time, however, not only was the choice to lead Italy’s government not in the hands of the voters, but not even in that of Parliament, as the Democratic Party has chosen Italy’s prime minister.  Furthermore, in a politically risky move, it has chosen in Renzi someone to lead an executive who has never served in Parliament or even stood for parliamentary or national election.  In fact, Renzi had stated that he preferred for elections to determine to the next premier, but had had also observed the unlikelihood of a definitive choice before the much-maligned and unconstitutional election law could be reformed. 

            Letta had adroitly managed to keep the unprecedented left-right government together longer than many analysts had expected, despite the removal of Berlusconi by his Democrats from the Senate, after the center-right leader’s conviction on corruption charges.  He had instituted a number of fiscal, economic and political reforms and had proposed additional ones, but impatience grew with the lack of bold parliamentary action as Italy has continued to be stuck in its worst post-Second World War recession.  

           Renzi had struck a deal with Berlusconi on a reform of Italy’s election law that would increase the required share of votes for Parliament for smaller parties to serve in government, lower the large number of bonus seats awarded the party that wins the most parliamentary seats, and reduce block lists in order to allow voters to choose their Members of Parliament more directly.  The proposal also would make the lawmaking function of Parliament unicameral, as the upper chamber, the Senate, would be stripped of its legislative power and largely become an assembly of the Regions and Provinces.  Renzi’s plan, which marginalized Letta, who supported it, would decrease the possibility of another hung parliament by giving the winning coalition a better chance of governing with a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.  The plan not only minimizes smaller parties that tend to veto reforms, but also minimizes the obstructionist populist party, which came in third in the 2013 parliamentary elections.  The two main center-right parties, Berlusconi’s and the remnant of his former party that remained in Letta’s government, support the plan. 

Renzi would likely need support from the center-right to gain a mandate from President Napolitano to head a new government and win parliamentary approval for his political reform proposal and other fiscal and economic reforms.  However, they are likely to be calls from the right for the Head of State to dissolve Parliament and schedule new parliamentary elections – that would have to be conducted under the existing law – which could continue the uncertainty over Italy’s direction, a move Napolitano had dismissed previously.  I shall post updates of significant developments.

Conservative Republicans Force the Liberal Democrats to Cut Food Stamps

           The United States Congress passed the agriculture bill, which President Barack Obama has signed into law.  The appropriation measure continues many farm subsidies, shifts funds from a subsidy program that paid farmers not to farm to other programs and increases overall spending, but there was one major concession the liberal Democratic-led Senate and President had to make to the Republican-led House: an $800 million cut in the food stamp program.

           Like other welfare and entitlement programs that have increased dramatically under the Obama Administration, the food stamp program increases dependency on government and remains riddled with fraud.  Federal welfare programs, which are of dubious constitutionality because they violate federalism, are used by the liberal Democrats to benefit their constituency at the expense of those who earn the money, with the ludicrous excuse that taking money from one person and giving it to another, after the federal government middleman takes his cut, is somehow stimulative to the overall economy.  After welfare reform resulted in significant reductions to welfare spending in the 1990s, however, the economy prospered as more people took jobs, thereby generating more taxable income and, in turn, further decreasing federal spending. Therefore, federal welfare programs should be reformed again by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse and tightening eligibility rules, if not be phased out completely, at least by giving block grants to the States to administer the program entirely as they see fit.  In the meantime, there are various proposals by fiscally responsible conservative Republicans in Congress to reduce some of the welfare and entitlement fraud. 

            As with the series of spending compromises over the last two years, about which I have posted, the agricultural appropriation increases spending, but at a slower rate than otherwise would have occurred had Congressional conservatives, especially in the House, where they are the largest group within the majority-GOP caucus, not insisted on them.  Together with the budget cuts that have come about through sequestration, the deficit is significantly lower than during the first two years of the Obama Administration, when liberal Democrats were in the majority of both chambers of Congress and went on a record-setting spending spree.  However, the level of deficit spending remains unacceptably high as the debt has ballooned to nearly $17 trillion.

           In fact, the next dispute will soon be in regard to the federal debt limit, which is once again about to be exceeded.  Conservative Republicans must continue to insist on spending cuts to pay for the current spending in order to stop the debt from further increasing.  We conservatives should remind Congress that the debt undermines market confidence and necessitates burdensome taxes, both now and for future generations.  We must demand that Congress take significant action now to rein in debt and restore fiscal responsibility.  

Foreign Digest: South Sudan, Philippines, Libya

South Sudan

After various cease-fire violations in South Sudan, there has been a reduction in violence.  It is hoped that negotiations between the warring tribes will resolve the crisis that threatens the stability of the world’s youngest republic.  

Philippines

            The Filipino government reached a peace deal with the largest separatist Muslim rebel group, after decades of fighting.  Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to battle one of the splinter groups of Muslim guerillas, some of which have a history of terrorism.  An al-Qaeda affiliate is among three Islamist organizations operating in southern Philippines. 

Libya

           Libya has reportedly destroyed its chemical weapons.  The weapons of mass destruction were left over from the dictatorship of Muammar Qaddafi, who had not destroyed his entire chemical arsenal.  In contrast, Syria still has not fully implemented its deal to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons.

Russia Hosts the Olympics near the Georgian Territory It Invaded

Russia is currently hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics in its Black Sea semi-tropical resort at Sochi.  There has been some focus in the media on concerns about security in regard to threats from Islamist terrorists in the region, Russia’s anti-homosexuality law, the lack of readiness of host facilities and other embarrassing problems, but the Russian invasion of nearby Georgian  territory has been forgotten.

            Sochi is not many miles away from Abkhazia, one of the separatist parts of Georgia that Russia invaded in 2008.  The Russians set up puppet governments in Abkhazia and South Ossetia after provoking a war with its pro-Western, democratic neighbor in the Caucuses that had been a Soviet republic.  Only a handful of foreign states recognize the independence of the two breakaway regions that will either continue as de facto Russian protectorates or are expected eventually to seek union with Russia.  After the invasion, there was some thought among critics of Russia’s aggression of organizing a boycott of the Russian-hosted Olympics nearby, but the focus of concerns about the games has been elsewhere. 

As I have posted a number of times, Russia has paid no price for its misbehavior.  In fact, I noted recently in a post how it has economically intimidated another former Soviet republic, Ukraine from becoming closer with the rest of Europe, as states along Russia’s periphery, especially former Soviet republics, are mindful of what happened to Georgia.  One price Russia ought to pay in order to deter further aggression is in people not attending or patronizing the Sochi Olympics in any manner that remotely benefits Russia. 

The Free World, led by the example of the United States of America, must stand more strongly for the independence, territorial integrity and liberty of former Soviet republics and especially with the people, for example, in the streets of Ukraine who are protesting their government’s alignment with Russia and repression of their freedom of expression.  The world should also expect Russia to respect the liberty of its own people, as well as that of its neighbors.

The New Tunisian Constitution Is a Model of Liberty

           Tunisia has succeeded in drafting a new constitution that respects liberty and rejects Islamism.  The document is expected to be approved by the Tunisian Parliament soon. 

The state that gave rise to the Arab Spring would thus become the second fruit of the movement for liberty in the Arab world, after Morocco.  See my post from June of 2011, Morocco, First Fruits of the Arab Spring, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/06/morocco-first-fruits-of-arab-spring.html.

Tunisia’s new constitution establishes a representative republican form of government and guarantees basic liberties, including the freedom of religion, as opposed to Sharia (Islamic holy law).  It also establishes equality for women, which is unusual in the Islamic world. 

The Tunisian constitution is the result of compromise between moderate Islamists, leftists and liberals, who worked two years to reach consensus on the document.  It will now up to the Tunisians to abide by their constitution in the same spirit of pluralism they demonstrated in drafting it. 

The resolution of the constitutional question is expected to bring stability to Tunisia, which should improve commerce and restore good relations with the United States.  I congratulate Tunisia and wish it well.

Just as Egypt, where Islamists were elected and created a constitution that entrenched them in dictatorship and did not respect human rights or the rights of minorities, served as a bad example for Tunisia, it is hoped that Tunisia will serve as a good example for Egypt.  

Extending Federal Unemployment Insurance Subsidizes Unemployment

            It has been said that if one wants more of something, subsidize it.  As studies have shown, extending federal unemployment insurance benefits for additional months subsidizes, and therefore incentivizes, unemployment. 

            Extending unemployment benefits for several additional months reduces the incentive to look for work seriously.  Many people receiving unemployment compensation turn down temporary or part-time work.  They also hold out for higher-paying jobs instead of accepting job offers for lower-paying employment.  People on unemployment compensation oftentimes do not start engaging in a serious job search until they are near the end of the period during which they receive benefits.  

In fact, it is not unusual for people receiving unemployment compensation to make half-hearted attempts at finding a job, or even phony ones, such as showing up at job interviews inappropriately attired.  Conversely, the approach of the end of the period of receipt of unemployment benefits is an incentive for people to accept the job offers they have received or to start looking for work seriously.   

Some people who receive unemployment benefits have no intention to return to the labor force because they do not need financially to work.  They stop their obligatory job searches immediately after their unemployment compensation ceases.  They are then counted by the federal government as “unemployed,” which exaggerates the unemployment statistics.  After a certain period, they are then counted as “discouraged” workers because they have stopped looking for work and are removed from the statistical ranks of the unemployed.  Regardless, they are not discouraged because of economic reasons, but were understandably enjoying the unemployment compensation for which they had paid taxes as a kind of insurance premium. 

The point is that government interference in the free market creates economic distortions that cause unintended consequences, like the time wasted by people and companies with phony job searches, let alone the statistical distortions – which, in turn, lead liberal politicians to call for more government help for the long-term unemployed.

As has been occurring during the Obama Administration, extending unemployment insurance benefits would have the opposite effect: decreasing employment and reducing productivity, thereby decreasing taxable revenue.  The current debate in Congress has centered on the demand of some conservative Republican members of finding offsetting spending cuts to finance the extension of unemployment benefits, but it is time to for Congress to question the efficacy of federal unemployment insurance in the first place. 

People can purchase supplemental unemployment insurance, which is a prudent idea.  It would be even better if the federal government eliminated unemployment insurance taxes, got out of the unemployment insurance business altogether and allowed the free market to provide whatever level of protection people desire to purchase with the money freed up from not having to pay unemployment taxes.  Then, if people opt not to take work, they would not be wasting taxpayer dollars, but their own allotment.  The increase in employment would create more taxable revenue for the federal and state governments and increase productivity, which would further stimulate the economy, thereby generating even more taxable revenue.  

A Federal Appeals Court Rules Bloggers Have the Same Protections as Other Journalists

          A Federal Appeals Court has ruled in a defamation case that a blogger has the same legal protections as journalists who are trained, professional, and engaged in conflict-of-interest disclosure. 

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the defamation and negligence case, in which the defendant blogger had been held liable for $2.5 million, because the jury had not been instructed that negligence had to be proved.  In order to prove negligence, a defendant must have failed to “act with a reasonable level of care” and whether the author made the statements “in a good faith and reasonable belief that they were true.”  The Court noted the Supreme Court’s observation of the increasing difficulty of drawing a line between “traditional” journalists and other speakers.  Thus, although it did not define the blogger as a “journalist,” the Court afforded her the same protections by applying the same standard of proof as applies to professional journalists.  In fact, the Court did not require the defendant to adhere to certain professional journalistic standards, such as seeking both sides of a story, in order to be protected. 

The ruling proves that the freedom of the printing press is a freedom enjoyed by all, not only those who belong to a particular profession, whether one prints handbills or posts commentary electronically in blogs on the Internet.  Indeed, all freedoms and rights belong to all the people.  No freedoms or rights are limited to a few.

41st Annual March for Life

           Hundreds of thousands of people attended the 41^st annual March for Life today in Washington, D.C. on the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that denied States the right to prohibit abortion.  It is especially moving that these pro-lifers attended despite the extremely cold weather. 

The theme for this year’s march was adoption, the alternative that pro-lifers have promoted over abortion.  Participants noted the reduction in the number of abortions and abortion clinics, as their efforts to promote the culture of life are having some success, both through persuasion and various state laws that have been approved over the last three years, such as those that ban sex selection abortions, limit late-term abortions, strengthen informed consent or parental notification/consent, and increase regulations of clinics to match those of healthcare facilities.  Many of the speakers discussed proposed state and federal legislation, such as legislation to prohibit the federal requirement of abortion in insurance coverage under United States President Barack Obama’s federalization of health insurance.

Although founded by Catholics and supported by a tweet from Pope Francis, the March for Life organizers made a special point this year of inviting Evangelical Protestant leaders to participate.  Their effort was successful, as several Evangelical leaders, as well as other non-Catholics, were among the speakers.  As always, the number of young people in attendance was striking.

There were a million elective abortions performed across the United States last year.  Although this number is down sharply from the peak of over two million per year, it remains a disturbingly high number.  The toll from Roe v. Wade has reached 55 million in 41 years.  Thankfully, the pro-life movement is saving lives, but much more work needs to be done to promote the most basic of all human rights.  Let us pray for the end of abortions and euthanasia and the respect for life for all human beings from conception to natural death.

Foreign Updates: Iraq, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Iran, Syria

Iraq

            The Iraqi’s are confronting a resurgent al-Qaeda, which has taken the two major cities in the restive Sunni Arab province of Anbar.  They have requested and are receiving American arms, while further requests are pending approval by the United States Congress.  The Iraqi government is being aided by allied Sunni Arab tribal militias, which is significant because of continued al-Qaeda and other Islamists’ efforts to divide the Sunni Arabs from the Shi’ite Arab-led government.  The Obama Administration is right to continue to support its Iraqi ally in the War on Terrorism, especially after it withdrew American troops.

Central African Republic

            The new Muslim leader who had taken power by force has resigned.  Much of the violence from Muslim and Christian militias has been quelled, thanks to the resignation and international peacekeepers, but stability is yet to be established.

South Sudan

            Tribal warfare has killed thousands of people in the world’s newest independent state.  The situation was bad enough to send refugees fleeing even to war-torn Central African Republic.  Thankfully, peace negotiations have begun.

Iran

            Iran reached an agreement to implement a nuclear agreement it had negotiated with the five parties it has been in negotiations with for several years: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia.  As doubts about its effectiveness increase, efforts in the U.S. Congress continue to pass sanctions that would take effect should Iran cheat, despite a threatened veto by President Barack Obama.

Syria

            Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons continues to be destroyed, but the civil war continues on.  Al-Qaeda affiliates are increasingly dominating the opposition and they are frequently clashing with non-Islamist militants.

The Best of Williamcinfici.blogspot.com

            

          In celebration of the end of the year of the recent fifth anniversary of the launch of this blog, I thought I would issue a “best of the blog” post. 

The following posts were selected, either because they were the most important or best representative of a certain category of posts, or were among the most well-liked or popular thus far, in chronological order:

Retain Gubernatorial Appointments of Senators, from January of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/01/retain-gubernatorial-appointments-of.html;

Presidents’ Day vs. Washington’s Birthday, from February of 2009,

http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/02/presidents-day-vs-washingtons-birthday.html;

George Washington the Great, from February of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/02/george-washington-great.html;

Father Stanley Jaki, Rest in Peace, from April of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/04/father-stanley-jaki-rest-in-peace.html;

Lepanto, by G.K. Chesterton, from April of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/04/lepanto-by-gk-chesterton.html;

The Rise and Fall of Islamic Civilization, from April of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-recent-posts-about-lepanto-and-fr.html;

Follow-Up on the Fall of Islamic Civilization, from May of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/05/follow-up-on-fall-of-islamic.html;

Celebrate Columbus Day, from October of 2009, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/10/celebrate-columbus-day.html;

The Pope’s Declaration of Pius XII’s Heroic Virtue Debunks a Liberal Myth, from December of 2009,

http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/12/popes-declaration-of-pius-xiis-heroic.html;

Commentary on the Roman Influence on America Exhibit at the Constitution Center, from July of 2010, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2010/07/commentary-on-roman-influence-on.html;

Abolish Daylight Savings Time, from March of 2011, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/03/abolish-daylight-savings-time.html;

Useless Cabinet Departments, from March of 2011, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/03/useless-cabinet-departments.html;

More Language for Conservatives to Avoid: Gender vs. Sex, from June of 2011, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-language-for-conservatives-to.html;

Virtue, Liberty and Independence, from October of 2011, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtue-liberty-and-independence.html;

The Rev. Monsignor Felix A. Losito, Rest in Peace, from November of 2011, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/11/reverend-monsignor-felix-losito-rest-in.html;

Chester Arthur, the Most Underrated U.S. President, from April of 2012, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2012/04/chester-arthur-most-underrated-us.html.

I opted only to include posts from prior to this year, at this point.  There were a number of entire major categories of subjects not included, such as coins and currency, the War on Terrorism, Pennsylvania politics and my service on the Reading School Board of Directors, that were not included because there were too many posts from which to select a best one and I did not want to make the best of list too long.

I am pleased that this year that the decline in the number of times I posted annually was the smallest, both in real and absolute terms, despite being called upon once again to serve in public office.  Thank you for visiting, especially those of you who are repeat visitors or who post comments or express praise outside of the blog.  Your patronage and support of my blog makes it worthwhile to post.  

Conservative Analysis of the Two-Year United States Budget Deal

           A bipartisan two-year budget deal was recently approved by the United States Congress, despite some conservative opposition, and was today signed into law by President Barack Obama.

            The budget deal increases spending, but at a slower rate in order to save $23 billion.  In other words, there are no spending cuts in the deal, but it does reduce spending overall from the level at which it would have been had the deal not been reached.  It spares the military more of the sequestration cuts that are threatening its readiness, while keeping the overall sequestration cuts in place by raising other revenue, such as user fees.  There will also be a reduction of cost of living adjustments for future military retirees, a spending reduction that there was some bipartisan support in the Congress to restore later.  The deal also prevents yet another extension of unemployment benefits that were sought by liberal Democrats.

           The measure is expected to avoid government shutdowns over the budget.  However, there will be another contest over the raising of the debt limit within months.  Conservative Republicans in Congress are expected to push for real spending cuts in exchange for an increase in the debt limit.  We conservatives must continue to encourage them to have the political fortitude to follow through on their plan.  We also must work to elect more conservative Republicans to Congress, especially the Senate, in 2014.

Merry Christmas; Think of the Plight of Christians in the Holy Land

           Merry Christmas!  I wish the joy and peace of Christ to all readers.  Thank you for visiting my blog.

            In Christmases past, I posted how relative peace in the Middle East, the overthrow of Iraq’s suicide-bomb-sponsoring dictator Saddam Hussein, and better Israeli anti-terror methods have allowed more pilgrims to travel to Bethlehem and other parts of the Holy Land for the Feast of the Nativity.  Easter is another holiday especially when Christian pilgrims visit the Holy Land, although some arrive throughout the year.  This Christmas, let us think about and pray for the Christians throughout the Middle East who are being attacked or persecuted, particularly in Egypt, Iraq and Syria. 

Christianity originated in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago with Jesus Christ, and thus long predates Western European Civilization, with which some Muslims associate it to the point of questioning the patriotism of their Christian countrymen.  Islamists are intolerant of any perceived Western or foreign influence in general, and especially of other religions like Christianity.  Islamic law strictly forbids apostasy, which necessarily restricts Christian proselytizing, and Muslim authorities often place limits on the construction of Christian churches.  The numbers of Christians in the Holy Land have decreased significantly in recent years, especially as they have emigrated from the Middle East, in addition to those who have been murdered.  In addition to Christians, adherents of Baha’i and various Muslim minority sects are also persecuted throughout the Islamic world, but the plight of the millions Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere in Muslim-dominant lands has been particularly striking.   

Some Islamic-led governments actively persecute Christians, while others do little to protect them.  Let us call upon these governments to respect religious liberty and upon our own governments to speak up more rigorously for freedom of religion and to pressure Middle Eastern governments particularly to uphold human rights of religious and ethnic minorities, and for all the peoples of the Holy Land to live peacefully with one another.  

Italian Budgetary and Economic Developments

The Italian Parliament has approved Italy’s budget.  According to the Italian News Agency, ANSA, it keeps the deficit to less than 3% of GDP, as required by the European Union.  ANSA reports that the budget includes pension cuts, a local tax to replace the real estate tax on primary residences, a Web tax (to which the European Union objects), as well as modest income and labor tax cuts.  The budget is expected to increase growth slightly.  Additional spending cuts and further crackdowns on tax evasion are planned by the Italian Government, according to ANSA. 
           
           After posting a flat quarter of economic growth for the first time in two years, Italy is projected, according to ANSA, to return to economic growth and begin to recover in 2014.

European Union Updates: Germany, Greece, Banking Union, EU Downgrade

German Coalition Government Is Formed

            I had posted earlier this month that Germany’s ruling center-right party, the Christian Democrats, were able to form a government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, joined by the Left in a grand coalition.  Now, after the parties and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany have approved the deal, the executive has taken office. 

Developments in Greece

The conservative Greek Government ended public funding of Greece’s anti-austerity fascist party.  Greece is projected to begin its economic recovery in 2014. 

Eurozone Banking Union; Downgrade of European Union

The European Monetary Union has agreed to form a banking union, which is a key step in ending its fiscal crisis, which had been exacerbated by a lack of coordination by national central banks of interest rates.  The union will be able to rescue troubled banks, instead of relying on governments to bail them out with taxpayer-backed loans.  Meanwhile, the European Union was downgraded a notch from one of the rating firm’s highest rating.  Its rating is still excellent, but demonstrates the continued threat from the ongoing fiscal crisis.

Cinfici’s Letter to the Editor on the Role of School Boards in Pennsylvania

A letter I wrote to the editor of the Reading Eagle was published verbatim December 5.  I reprint the manuscript below, as it does not contain his capitalization or punctuation errors or interpositions of trendy examples of style, although, thankfully, these did not compromise the point of the letter. 

One of the main reasons I launched this blog, which I am grateful to have, is not to be subject to 200-word limits, liberally-biased and ignorant editors with poor writing styles, or transcription errors.  Nevertheless, I do appreciate the letter’s publication.  Numerous letters of mine have been published over the years, but I have been content to post on my blog over the last five years instead.  This particular subject, given my recent public service, necessitated an exception.

My letter was in response to an editorial that essentially repeated the same point the editors and other critics who do not understand the role of School Boards of Directors in Pennsylvania have been making in accusing the Reading School Board of Directors, on which I recently completed a temporary term, of micromanaging or overstepping bounds.  I note here they had failed to make such criticisms during my previous term of service when the Superintendent was effectively controlled by a small number of School Directors in a true example of micromanaging and overstepping the bounds, but now criticize the current Board for fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility by seeking information from the School District Administration.  Because those micromanaging School Directors falsely accused those of us who sought information to expose the District to openness and transparency – in part to counter their micromanaging – of “micromanaging” ourselves, I have been steadfast in protecting the legal rights of all School Directors to govern effectively in the face of continued similar false allegations. 

Here is a transcript of my manuscript:

Your statement that the duties of school directors are “to establish goals for the district while allowing the superintendent and other administrators to chart the course on how to attain those goals” reflects a common misconception about the role of school boards of directors in Pennsylvania.

            In addition to adopting policies and budgets, school boards are required to do more than set goals, but also to consider whether or not to vote for every expenditure, textbook, major personnel and real estate matter.  

           Moreover, it is the oversight responsibility of school directors to follow up and determine whether or not their policies have been carried out or whether the procedures the administration implements have been effective in achieving these goals, and, if not, to respond accordingly.  A school board of directors is thus not like a corporate board of directors because, as the Auditor General notes, once school directors take their oaths of office, they have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers and are not to be rubber stamps for unelected superintendents.  Therefore, it is the duty of school directors – and not overstepping their bounds or micromanaging – to obtain information to inform their votes and in order to hold administrations accountable. 

Syrian Chemical Weapons Update

           A recent United Nations report finds – not surprisingly – that Syria’s Assad regime did, in fact, use chemical weapons against its own people on several occasions.

            Meanwhile, the entire identified Syrian stockpile of its most dangerous chemical weapons has been destroyed.  The United States assisted significantly with the destruction of the weapons of mass destruction. Other foreign states are working to destroy the remainder of Syria’s chemical arsenal.

           The Syrian Civil War continues, however, as the government and rebels remain in a stalemate while the rebel camp is divided between Islamists and those Muslims who are not Islamists.  Although it is deprived of chemical weapons, Bashar Assad’s regime continues to commit crimes against humanity with impunity by attacking civilians indiscriminately with conventional weapons.   

North Korean Purge Announcement Intellectually Undermines the Regime

           I thought it would be interesting to examine how the purge of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s uncle and his associates, which is obviously an attempt by the young strongman to consolidate power within the regime, might be viewed by the North Korean people, other than strictly through the Communist Party line.  I suspect that if they are able to read between the lines, despite decades of brainwashing by the Stalinist dictatorship, the regime’s official announcement may unintentionally undermine its public support. 

            As was the case with the Czars who were frequently eliminating their advisors because of poor advice, allegedly malevolent advisors reflect on the leaders who trust them.  Considering that Kim Jong-un’s uncle was portrayed as a benevolent and trusted figure, the Communist regime’s allegations about him suggest that even such revered people in the Hermit Kingdom’s ruling family might not necessarily be what they seem.  The North Korean people might begin to suspect that the neither is the young nephew who rules them, nor anyone else closely associated with him.

            The execution of Kim Jong-un’s uncle allegedly for treason for trying to seize control of the regime, as well as for corruption and womanizing, suggest that political power is something that one might be tempted to covet for its own sake – even at the risk of one’s life – instead of being an opportunity for selfless service to country.  Seen in this light, Kim might not necessarily continue to be viewed by the North Korean people as only being concerned for the good of his countrymen. 

           Furthermore, the allegations against Kim’s uncle demonstrate that Communist party leaders have access to money, foreign goods and vices, while the people remain impoverished and constantly on the brink of starvation.  Indeed, not all appears to be well in Socialist Paradise if people steal, or want foreign goods and vices, let alone covet power for themselves instead of exhibiting unquestioning loyalty to the Supreme Leader. 

Foreign Digest: Ukraine, Poland, Central African Republic, Italy

Ukraine Is Being Torn between East and West

            Ukraine is facing decisions about whether to join Europe fully or become a vassal state of Russia.  The democratically-elected Ukrainian government has opted to orient with the dictatorship of Russia in turning down a potentially beneficial free trade agreement with the European Union and eventual membership in that organization.  It succumbed to Russian threats in regard to energy supplies.  The government’s decision has touched off massive street protests and counter-protests to determine the State’s political destiny. 

Crucifixes to Remain in Poland’s Parliament

            A Polish appeals Court has ruled that Crucifixes may continue to be displayed in Parliament, thereby overturning a lower court ruling in favor of a number of Members objecting to the display.  The ruling serves as a reminder that the rights of Man come from God, which is the essential belief that necessarily guarantees the liberty of all.

International Military Mission to Central African Republic

            After a rebellion by Muslims overthrew a Christian-led government in the always-unstable Central African Republic (C.A.R.), and the new government’s inability to quell violence by some of its own supporters, the African Union and former colonial power France have intervened militarily to restore order.  The United States is aiding the international effort by transporting Burundian troops to the C.A.R.

Italian Political Reforms

           The Italian Government issued a decree phasing out public subsidizing of political parties.  It will, however, allow taxpayers to earmark .2% of their income voluntarily to fund parties.  The parties will also now be subject to public audit.  After a series of scandals involving party members embezzling from their own publicly-funded parties, the moves are the first fruits of political reform and will also help Italy eliminate its budget deficit.  Decrees take effect legally, but are required to be ratified by Italy’s Parliament within two months.

Cinfici Completes a Term on the Reading School Board of Directors

           I recently completed my appointment to a temporary term on the Reading School District Board of School Directors.  The term was to fill a vacancy for nearly seven months until the special election to elect someone to fill the remaining two years of the four-year term.

            I had posted about my assistance of the Board on the budget in my post in June of this year, Cinfici Helps Balance the Reading School District Budget to Avert a State Takeover, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2013/06/cinfici-helps-balance-reading-school.html.  It afterward became necessary to correct the budget because of incorrect information the School District Administration gave the Board and then to add additional unexpected revenues from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which had approved its budget two days after the District.  Much of the remainder of my focus as a School Director was spent on trying to keep the District’s budget balanced, in terms of obtaining accurate information from the Administration as to the District’s finances, as well as finding increased revenues or spending reductions.

            Meanwhile, the other significant accomplishments of my service included initiating the use of metal detectors for Board meetings and helping to get them installed at the intermediate high school, leading the update of the facilities use rental policy and fee schedule, spearheading the hiring of a public relations firm to manage the District website, and shepherding through a major energy savings program that is expected to save several million dollars.  The energy project, which will improve comfort and be a better example to students and the community, will coincide with a more than $40 million deferred maintenance plan the Board initiated for 15 of the District’s schools.

           Thanks in part to my efforts, various other initiatives were advanced to improve the District's finances, facilities and board governance, as well as to give the new Board of School Directors the information it needs to make good decisions in regard to these ideas.