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          As we think about China and how she has so rapidly become a world presence, we may remember Napoleon’s famous description “Let China sleep for when she awakens she will shake the world.”  

          In 1979, my husband Barry and I were in China just when our two governments agreed to trade with each other.  The Chinese people were ecstatic.  They dancing in the streets.  I wondered how all this would play out.  The agrarian country was now becoming a world trader.  Let’s fast forward to 2008.

          In our eagerness to trade with China, it became – and still is – lopsided.   It is called free trade where one side only benefits.  

          Fair trade is when I give you 50% and you give me back 50%.  

Along the way, somehow we seduced ourselves into giving up our own industries which had kept us independent.  We thought now being a service-oriented society would be good.

Stupidly, we sent away our American jobs, all our manufacturing, and we sent them to China and India. 

          The U.S. has really been living in a fools’ paradise on a phony economy.   Now we are world dependent.  We have helped China to become so wealthy that she owns us, because most of her profits are in billions and are invested in our nation.

          A recent interview in Barron’s, the financial periodical, is very compelling.  Listen… We have not been through anything like what we are going through now.    We have been able to convince the world lately to lend us and to provide us with goods that we do not produce anymore and that we cannot afford to pay for.   And now the problem is big, especially since the real estate bubble.

          The U.S. is now an empire that is sustained by borrowing from friends and anyone else who will give us credit.  Our creditors hold hundreds of billions of dollars, but the dollar continues to weaken and our foreign creditors could take a huge loss in their dollar holdings.

          Are we now a global mess?

          Did our national leaders err by encouraging us to give up our own industries? 

          I say we should resurrect what worked for us before – and that is our own industries and reject our dependency on other nations.   Now with China and India in the world market, the global workforce is in the billions so the inflation of workers creates resentment and competition.   The stage is set to the inevitable confrontation of China and India vs. the U.S. and Europe, and how that situation will play out remains to be seen.  

          I still say let’s go back to manufacturing which worked for us before.  Let’s not wait.  Let’s do it now, not later.

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

The long requested book of Kay’s commentaries is now available for purchase online at our KSCO.com website, right on the home page.  For $24.95 plus shipping and handling, it’s applicable.  Treat yourself to this wonderful book full of Kay’s wisdom, thoughts, and humor.  It makes a great, and all proceeds support KSCO your favorite radio station.   Go to KSCO.com and buy Kay’s book today. 

© copyright 2011

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The following is a KSCO commentary.  Here is Kay Zwerling:

          The following commentary came out of my book.  It was written on May 15, 2009. 

          Since many of my listeners enjoy senior citizen status or will sometime soon, they may be interested in the following health insurance information. 

          Most of you know that the Senate version of the recent stimulus Bill includes provision for extensive rationing for senior citizens.   The author of this part of the Bill, former Senator and tax evader Tom Daschle, was credited recently with the following statement.  Daschle said “Healthcare reforms will not be pain free.  Seniors should be accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them.” 

          Put another way “Do not expect the government to let you have certain expensive procedures or drugs since you are too old and you won’t be around much longer anyway.”

          I heard somewhere some unknown heartless lawmaker state that for those over 75 it is our duty to quietly leave willingly since the world is getting too crowded. 

          About Daschle and his cavalier attitude – and he is a senior also – remember that he and his Congress people do not like our Medicare benefits so some time ago they quietly chose something much fancier and superior that covers them and their spouses for life – and I suspect that We the People pay their premiums – and they do not fall under the same rule as being denied treatment like the rest of us oldies.  

          And, when they are no longer in Congress, they and their spouses each receive hefty lifetime pensions.  Hopefully those of us who can afford private insurance will be able to do so.

          However, it bugs me how our leaders take outrageous perks for themselves that We the People pay for and will never know exist or be able to change.   It is unpleasant and frustrating.   

          So, let’s change the subject, and let’s wind this up with a little joke that is floating around.

          A U.S. Congressman was seated next to a little girl on the airplane.  The Congressman said “Let’s talk.  I heard that flights go quicker if we strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger.”

          The little girl who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the Congressman “What would you like to talk about?”

          “Oh, I don’t know,” he said, “how about the banking crisis?” and smiled. 

          “OK,” she said, “that could be an interesting and timely topic.  But, let me ask you a question first.   A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass.  Yet a deer excretes little pellets while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass.  Why do you suppose that is?” 

          The Congressman, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says “Hmm, I have no idea”, to which the little girl replies “Do you really feel qualified to discuss banking when you don’t even know sh** (bleep)?” 

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011

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The following is a KSCO commentary.  Here is Kay Zwerling:

          What I am about to tell you will shock and anger you – and you will believe it is unbelievable.   It happened probably during the Clinton administration, or was occurring about two decades ago.  

          Let’s call this “Our National Parks now belong to the United Nations”. 

          Across this great land, our national parks, wildlands, forests, and lakes are being turned over to U.N. control. 

          This means that under the United Nations Biodiversity Treaty voted upon probably during the Clinton administration, a precious resource owned by American citizens for over 200 years has been turned over to the U.N.’s bureaucrats for control. 

You and I will continue to pay taxes for the maintenance and upkeep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and for Yosemite National Park, and all the other American national parks, but we will no longer own them.  Now, the United Nations has ultimate jurisdiction.   This alone is startling evidence that the once independent nation-state known as the United States of America is going out with a whimper and not a bang.   Our sovereignty may be coming to an end.  

How can our leaders allow this?

          As a consequence, across the USA, our parks and wilderness areas are slowly being closed to the public.  Roads inside the park are being grazed over.  Mountain passes and hiking paths are being blockaded.  

“No fishing”, “No hunting”, and “No trespassing” signs are being erected everywhere on public lands.   Entrance fees are being jacked up 100%, even 500%, higher to keep American families out of their own lands.  

Remember listeners, this which I am reading was written years ago. 

          The U.N. and its elitist masters do not want you on their property, and in case you do trespass and enter forbidden areas of these pristine U.N. lands, you might just be shot. 

          U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service agents and park personnel are now taught to love nature’s Mother Earth and to despise and loath Human Beings.   They are being given firearms, and instructed to use them.  

          Remember listeners, again, that this article was written many years ago.  The United Nations are still in control, though We the People of the United States still pay the bills.  Interesting arrangements – but many Americans including me are not comfortable with this give-away.  I would like to dismiss the U.N. and its uncomfortable agenda and own and control our own national parks.  

          It is also no secret that the United Nations created after World War 2 to settle affairs between countries now really wants to totally own the U.S.  And, that is totally not acceptable!   It is like by creating the U.N. we have created a monster who wants to destroy us. 

Last Saturday, expecting challenge, I pulled this commentary after its initial reading so I could research the material further.

          It appears there are numerous versions of the United Nations’ control over U.S. national parks including a credible 1972 Treaty which does grant the U.N. control over many of our national parks and many other American historical landmarks.

          If all this is true, the extent to which we Americans choose to reject United Nations’ gradual takeover of our Country, will determine how much we all care about our own beloved sovereignty.   No one person can change it.  

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011

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          This commentary is in my book.  It was written January 24, 2009.   Part of it is somewhat a continuation of last week’s commentary. 

          The United States is struggling with an inferiority complex.  Our Country is probably the best nation that has ever existed because it is generous, honest, brave, and because it was blessed with men of wisdom at its creation centuries ago.  

          They made laws to promote freedom for the citizens to define themselves.  We are the envy of other countries on this globe, and now we are being verbally assaulted – very unfairly – by those countries who have been and still are recipients of our financial generosity and help whenever it is needed.   Rarely if ever to those countries send troops to help when their freedom is in danger.  

          We are being taken advantage of by those who have regularly been helped and elevated by us. 

          Most of the countries which make up the United Nations dislike us.  In 1945, at our expense, we built the beautiful building in New York City for all nations to come together to help each other get along. 

          They do not get along very well, and we pay all or most of the expenses, while representatives of many countries, even third world countries, are treated like visiting royalty.  

          Somewhere along the way many of the leaders of the U.N. became corrupt.  They have stolen millions of dollars for themselves, money which was meant to help world poverty.   Now, they have another agenda. 

          The U.N. wants to rule the world and is quietly taking over different nations’ properties.  Outrageous?  Research it yourself.  Is it possible that the U.N. has already taken possession of our own U.S. national parks?   Check it out. 

          But, I am diverting from the original thoughts of this topic, which is that many of the countries in the world do not approve of the U.S., and the liberal extremist wimps in the U.S. are anxious for us to change our image so that the world will like us more. 

          That is bull-pucky.  We have done nothing wrong or immoral.  On the contrary, we must let our military fight to win and not let our image be the priority. 

          When in war with an enemy who slices off the heads of our soldiers, we must use water-boarding which never kills, which creates fear for a few minutes, but gets valuable information to save the lives of our soldiers.   A little torture is okay competing with slicing off heads. 

          Please, let us not buy into this politically-correct guilt. 

          While we are grateful for allies like Britain, Australia, Turkey, and several other countries, our existence is not dependent upon those judgmental and jealous countries who love to criticize, but will always find excuses to not help their fellow humans. 

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011

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I wrote this on the high seas a couple weeks ago en route to Israel. 

          Let’s call it The Stupidity of Political-Correctness. 

          The big happening of May 2011 surely will be the capturing and murder of Osama Bin Laden.   It will remain in the news for weeks, and rightfully so. 

          It appears our President, as former Presidents have done, gave the go-ahead recently for those in the know to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden.   No doubt our President, now campaigning for a second term, thought he might also obtain points for himself if this happened during his Presidency.  He did obtain points, a measly 2%. 

          The event happened.  Our people obtained Osama’s whereabouts and the job was done safely, swiftly, and the world, especially our Country, feels redeemed that this monster no longer exists. 

          However, we learn there is that ugly thought that keeps some Americans and possibly our President less ecstatic because of the possible beliefs that our soldiers used the Leftist frowned-upon technique of water-boarding to obtain the necessary information of the whereabouts of Bin Laden.  

          Our politically-correct leaders believe that water-boarding is torture, and is or should be illegal.  And, we have reached a level of “sanity” whereby we must not subject even our worst enemies to water-boarding.

          Never mind that our enemies chop off the heads of our soldiers routinely.  And, because that is so fast, it is not painful.   That is not torture, but water-boarding is.   That thinking is sheer stupidity!  

          Here are the facts:  Pouring water into a person’s nostrils with his head upside down may cause enough pain for the person to spit out information which can and does save many soldiers’ lives and never kills the victim.  I believe it should be used in war when necessary.  

          When we humans have reached the point where we are more concerned about the feelings of our enemies who decapitate our men routinely (and we care less about our own victims), then political-correctness is insanity!   It became a way of life four or five decades ago, created by the righteous Left.  Many believe as of now it has practically destroyed Great Britain and France, who bought into it big-time, and will destroy us if we allow it.  

          People, please, let’s wake up and let’s be logical!   Let us not continue to buy into the destructive stupidity of political-correctness!  

 For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011 

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The following is a KSCO commentary.  Here is Kay Zwerling with more on last week’s commentary about political correctness:

Moving along – political correctness has fostered a nation wimps and victims.  People do not take responsibility for their behavior.  It is much easier to let someone else or the government bail them out.  

How about the elderly woman who held her cup of hot coffee between her thighs while driving, scalded her legs, then took McDonald’s to Court, sued for damages, and won? 

Also, the lifetime smoker who developed lung cancer, blamed, and then sued the tobacco company, and was awarded millions? 

Victim-hood has become a lucrative art.  Now, greedy unethical lawyers are initiating frivolous lawsuits, all with the help of politically correct juries and especially condoned by politically correct Judges who lack the backbone to rule rationally. 

Liberal and extreme Judges must take responsibility for enabling our judicial system to become political and grossly unfair. 

These extreme Judges and lawyers are surely in the minority, but it only takes a few rotten apples to ruin the entire barrel.  

One could go on and on about the abuses and havoc generated by political correctness.  It is really tiresome that these p.c. lefties are always offended.   Now the word “Christmas” can no longer be mentioned in the public school system.   Can’t say “God” either.  And, the Ten Commandments are banned from all schools and all public buildings.   Our national moral fiber is wearing very thin.  

In a subsequent commentary, we will discuss more about the excesses perpetrated by political correctness and finish with the full text of the amazing Bill of No Rights.    Stayed tuned.
For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011

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          This commentary is in my book.  I wrote it on 2-20-2003. 

Political correctness emerged in the late 1960s as the brainchild of the academic left, borne of emotion. 

That is to say, feelings – not facts, not reality.  It was decided by the left that to be politically correct, one must no longer use the word “handicapped”.  Instead, that word was replaced by the words “physically challenged”.  Nothing really changed.  The handicapped person was still handicapped, and probably came to terms with that situation a long time ago.  

Anyhow, the word “challenged” came into vogue, and any condition remotely negative or sad became hyphenated followed by the word “challenged”.  

About five years ago, a local high school accustomed to honoring the student graduating with the highest grades by naming that person the Valedictorian, had to withdraw that traditional singular honor because eleven students had the same grade average.  

Had the administrators factored in other individual accomplishments, one student would have stood out front, but rather than hurt anyone’s feelings, that year there were eleven Valedictorians.   So much for the joy of achievement.  

Likewise in the 1960s, UCSC initiated a Pass-Fail grading system to replace letter grades, primarily because it was more compassionate for students who were unable to attain A’s and B’s. 

The pursuit of excellence was no longer rewarded – in fact, it was disdained.   In the name of feelings, there came a settling for mediocrity.  

 Political correctness heralded the dumbing down of our educational system.  Competing has become politically-incorrect.  Students are no longer expected to be high achievers.  Everybody’s comfort level must be equal.  Nobody must have hurt feelings – nobody except maybe the innocent victims of Affirmative Action.   The best and the brightest have to defer to the less able.  Many brilliant students have been locked out of medical schools, law schools, dental schools, etc.  

There must be a way to implement Affirmative Action without punishing those with the most potential.  The feelings of everyone affected should be considered.   

Because of political correctness, children are not being properly disciplined, not at home and not at school, because that might stifle creativity.  Parents were admonished to avoid saying “No” or “Do not” to their kid for fear that those restrictions might damage Junior’s psyche. 

Feelings have replaced discipline and common sense.  Children are being cheated out of having parameters.  As a result, respect for parents and teachers has eroded.  In some schools, teachers are being cursed, assaulted, and in extreme cases, some have even been raped by students. 

Because of political-correctness, many parents have abdicated their roles as guiding influences.   And, instead, have opted to be their kid’s buddies – not all parents, only those who have allowed themselves to be seduced by the misguided notion of political-correctness.  

So, if the shoe fits, wear it. 

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011

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The following is a KSCO commentary.  Here is Kay Zwerling:

This is called “Time to Cut Military Spending”. 

          Kudos to Andrew Russo who published this material last November in the Salinas, California newspaper.   He clarified for us the work of the military-industrial complex.

          While both political parties are loathe to admit it, our Country can no longer withstand the horrendous expenses to support the military needs of almost the entire world.  Our military expenses must come to a halt if we are to remain a free nation.

          Today, the U.S. officially spends about $750B per year on the military, but the real figure probably exceeds $1 trillion.   This is far more than every other nation of the world combined spends.  

          This trillion dollar military budget goes to fund an empire of over 700 overseas bases and the U.S. military presence in over 130 countries.   It includes funding to pay for the unnecessary and unconstitutional wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which will ultimately cost taxpayers over $3 trillion.   It pays for the occupation of Japan, which has not been our enemy since 1945.   It funds the presence of 75,000 GI’s in Germany, 20 years after the Berlin wall came down.   It covers the cost of maintaining tens of thousands of American troops in South Korea 50 years after the end of the Korean War.  

          Military-industrial complex is indeed just as great a threat to our survival as the private banking institutions which Thomas Jefferson denounced, and which provide the funding mechanism for nations to go deeper into debt to finance war and global adventurism.   A central bank – the Federal Reserve system – was critical to America’s unnecessary involvement in the European war of 1914. 

          The phony “neo-conservatives” who want America involved in a perpetual war for perpetual peace ignore the fact that war is almost always associated with a massive expansion of the powers of government.    Of course, war generates massive profits for the military-industrial complex and their shareholders just as Eisenhower said. 

          I ask, who are these people and these shareholders? 

          Today, America is bankrupt.  We are buried in a debt of unimaginable dimensions, and the value of the dollar is collapsing and a panicky Fed tries to print our way out of economic catastrophe. 

          We need to slash military spending down to a level consistent with protecting America’s national security, and not that of other nations.   That means an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. occupation forces from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Germany, Korea, Japan, and the shutting of our bases abroad.   It is time for America to come home, or very shortly we will not have an America to come home to.  

For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.

© copyright 2011