Growing Challenges to Democracy in Myanmar

By John Amaruso

    The country of Burma, or better known as Myanmar, is in the midst of the often volatile transition to democracy. Like many countries, Burma is experiencing the growing pains of democratic rule. Governed under the brutal Military Junta since 1962, the thaw out from authoritarian rule to democracy has been a rocky one with few strides made.
    As inherent as the troubles of consolidating a democracy may be, this does not excuse some of the recent clashes between Burmese authorities and the citizens. A few incidents in the past few weeks demonstrate that the coming months for Burma will most certainly be tumultuous.
    Recent demonstrations at the site of a copper mine in Burma's Sagaing region led to authorities cracking down and arresting 7 protestors, including Moe Thwe, the leader of the protest. Meanwhile dozens of protesters were injured.
    Police claimed the protest became violent, a story which protesters deny. Police reportedly used tear gas, smoke bombs, and incendiary devices that burned several people.
    Farmers claim the deal was forced upon them by Than Shwe's Military Junta nearly 2 years ago and has ultimately led to the eviction of farmers from their land in favor of the China-backed project. The majority of profits from the copper mine would benefit the military in Burma, which still has significant power in the country.
    To top this off, a known political activist and former monk, U Gambira, who helped organize the 2007 anti-government protests, was detained by the government prior to the demonstrations. Many say this was an attempt by the ruling elite to prevent U Gambira's support of the now nation wide protest against the copper mine.
    Family members have attempted to visit him in Insein Prison, the location where officials claimed he would be. To their surprise, the prison officials denied he was being held there. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Monk treated after suffering burns from Burmese police

  This back peddling of human rights comes only days after President Obama visited the country to congratule President Thein Sein on his political reforms and progress towards a transition to democratic rule. The significance of President Obama's visit should not be underscored- the trip made him the first American President to ever visit the country.
    The praise from President Obama comes after the release of political prisoners, the liberalization of the media, and the successful conducting of elections that have been a part of President Thein Sein's political reforms since taking office 18 months ago. Despite these positive first steps, many in the country claim it is merely a crack in a large wall preventing civilian rule in the country. The metaphoric wall being the military.
    The military's grip on power is being challenged by Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner, who was among those released in the wave of reforms. Aung San Suu Kyi, who was placed under house arrest for 15 years and became a symbol of Burma's democracy movement, won a seat in the Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of the Burmese parliament in 2012. Her party, the National League for Democracy, won 43 out of the 45 seats up for grab in the election.
    Her call for action against the oppressive Military Junta throughout the 80's and 90's has won her considerable praise from the international community, receiving awards and invitations from countries around the world.
    With all this said, can Burma truly become democratic? Small skirmishes such as the copper mine protests are not as uncommon as you may think. They happen in what are considered fully consolidated democracies.
    Take the U.S. for example. Protesters at Occupy Wall Street were pepper sprayed indiscriminately by police without warrant of force. Bills have been proposed by sitting senators to ban protesters from public areas such as Federal building sites. The NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) signed by President Obama allows for the abduction and closed military trial of any U.S. citizen anywhere under the broadly defined 'suspicion of terrorism or terrorist related activities'. Meanwhile, Freedom House rates America as one of the best functioning democracies in the world.
    Can Burma become a democracy? It can. With the right circumstances, Burma can push through the door that was unlocked when the Military Junta ceded power in 2011. If those that are in power are willing to let the people decide the fate of their nation, then and only then, will true democracy be brought to Burma.
   

History In The Making- Marijuana's Legalization

Tonight, at midnight, in both the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, history will be made. For the first time in 75 years, marijuana will be legal for recreational use in two states in the U.S., Colorado and Washington. 

On election day 2012, voters in both states voted on a referendum which legalized marijuana. Tonight those laws go into effect.

For us on the East Coast it will occur at 2 and 3 am.

History in the making folks.

A message from NGNJ.

Corporate Profits at All Time High. Wages at All Time Low.

By John Amaruso

Corporate profits compared to share of GDP
Business Insider

As the economic recovery slumps forward, fewer people are doing better, meanwhile a lot more people are doing worse than they were before the downturn.

A recent study conducted by Business Insider shows that corporate profits are at a record high while employment/wages are at an all time low.


Corporations (namely the largest of) are doing better than at any time since 1950. Research shows this comes as a result of a few common sense factors.

1. Corporations are paying people less than ever as a share of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) because they can get away with it. A limited job share (A.K.A. monopoly on labor) allows companies to pay whatever they say with little reaction/possible alternative for the worker.

Wages compared to share of GDP
Business Insider

2. Corporations are outsourcing jobs in many different ways, as in through technological replacements of workers (I.E. One computer does the work 20 people could do at a fraction of the cost) or of course, the shipping of jobs overseas.
3. Corporate tax loopholes/havens allow companies to either skip out on potential costs by retracting revenue from the American economy and providing that saved cost for itself or other governments with even lower tax rates.

So the next time someone says burdensome regulation or high taxes is what's stunting economic growth, tell them to look at the facts. Since wages are low, people can't spend, and when people can't spend, smaller companies that depend on these consumers lose customers and the cycle continues.

As Clinton famously once said...

It's the economy, stupid.

We Are Already At War With Iran

President Ahmadinejad of Iran touring a nuclear facility

By John Amaruso

       The tension between Washington and Tehran has been increasing steadily in the past few months. From the crash of a secret American drone in Iranian territory, to the assassination of a prominent Iranian scientist, to the continued threats from Tehran towards U.S., Israel and Britain, the air seems to be thickening all around us.

     But if you look at the facts, there already is a war waging between America and Iran. Just over the past few months alone, a number of events have brought to light this shadowy and often unknown world of intelligence gathering and military posturing that is often seen in clandestine wars like these.

Protesters during the 1979 revolution in Iran donning posters
of the leader of the revolt, Ayatollah Khomeini

      A cyber attack in late 2011 that many claimed the C.I.A carried out on an Iranian nuclear facility was just another form of a missile strike between the two nations. The drone that supposedly malfunctioned itself into Iranian territory in early 2012 is a modern version of gathering intelligence on the enemy. The summary trial and pending execution of an accused American-Iranian spy in Tehran is a war criminal being put on trial. The assassination of a prominent Iranian scientist is just another casualty of this secret war being waged behind the scenes. All in all, a war has not been declared, but it can be said that a war is being fought.
      The 1979 revolution in Iran which started off with the over throw of the Shah and ended with the takeover of the American Embassy where over 60 workers were held hostage for 444 days could be seen as the day war was declared. Through negotiations carried out by then President Ronald Reagan and the C.I.A., weapons and ammunition were funneled through terrorist groups in Nicaragua to the Islamists in Tehran to have the hostages released. To the American government this was a short term solution to what they knew was going to be a long term problem.
      The problem? A hostile nation, with access to immense resources, centered in one of the most strategically important areas of the globe, was now attempting at the expense of international law, at obtaining and enriching uranium for nuclear purposes. This was a sore sight for C.I.A. officials and businessmen who enjoyed a comfortable relationship with Iran under the western backed Shah. For this, the Iranian regime was deemed to have no validity and was to be prevented in anyway from achieving their goal of becoming a nuclear power.
       Sanctions imposed by President after President reflect this sentiment. Claims of Iran sponsoring groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon have stalled any form of productive talks since the cutting of diplomatic ties. Iran's ever growing influence over affairs in the region has left many in the west shaken, as control over the region's political stability is vital to many interests in both America and the business world.
       This regime which has threatened stability has pitted Shia Muslims against Sunni Muslims since 1979 have been working for decades now on obtaining nuclear materials for what they claim are peaceful energy uses. While many citizens in the country believe it is their country's right as a sovereign state to utilize nuclear energy for domestic consumption, western nations have been weary of the Iranian government's intentions.
       Iran's long time feud with Israel is one that has also been of much concern. Being that Iran is ruled by strict fundamentalist Islamists, their views towards the country have always been hostile, and it is feared that an attack on Israel by Iran could spark a war between the West and the Arab world. With rising frequency in both covert and overt operations being perpetrated by both Tehran and Washington, it seems that an attack on Israel might not even be needed to start the next war. That is, if you don't already consider this a war.