11/13/09 Lousia Lim - NPR
It is a tale of two brothers, but no ordinary brothers. One is president of the United States; the other is his half-brother, who lives in China. As President Obama arrives this weekend in China, his half-brother recently released a semi-autobiographical novel, revealing the abusive nature of their father.
Mark Obama Ndesandjo's face bears an uncanny resemblance to his more famous sibling. His eyes are familiar, yet different.
Ndesandjo and Obama share the same father, but their lives have veered apart. Barack Obama hardly knew their father, who left when Barack was 2. But his younger half-brother Mark grew up in Kenya under the same roof as their violent authoritarian father.
"He managed to work his way up through ... sheer intellect, will and also, at the same time, persistence to go to Harvard and some very high levels in American society," Ndesandjo says of their father. "Then something happened. It was an explosive mixture of drink, maybe disappointment and an inability to understand his own demons that caused the domestic violence we had in our home."
Ndesandjo (pronounced de-SANZ-jo) wrestles with that legacy in his semi-autobiographical book Nairobi to Shenzhen. Like Obama, his mother was a white American, so the book describes his struggle with his multiracial identity. Like Obama, he went to university in the U.S., studying physics and math at Brown, then earning further degrees at Stanford and Emory.
But his academic success was overshadowed by those formative years in Kenya. He says the violence at home hardened him, making it difficult for him to forge relationships or even to look closely at himself.
"With me what happened is that I also didn't want anything to do with anything that had to do with my father. This could include aspects of African culture. It could be not wanting to be associated with the Obama name," Ndesandjo says.
After losing his marketing job in the U.S. after Sept. 11, 2001, Ndesandjo moved to China where he took refuge in music and community work. A gifted pianist, Ndesandjo recorded an album and he volunteers at a local orphanage. Last year, he married a Chinese woman.
But he says Barack Obama's election campaign turned his life upside down.
"I didn't want anything to do with American politics: It's scrappy, it's something that turns huge spotlights on everybody. But then slowly I began to see an atmosphere around the world that was moving from one which had been in fear towards one of hope," he says.
Indeed, the spotlight did turn on Ndesandjo. Last year he flew to Austin, Texas, using money he had been saving to buy a piano, to meet Barack Obama for the first time in many years. He says it was an emotional moment.
"Well, first I hugged him, and he looked at my moustache, and he said, 'Hey, what's this little thing here?' And I said, 'It's a moustache, dude.' Then he said, 'You have a little less hair than last time I saw you.' And I said to him, 'Well, so do you.' And he said, 'Oh I couldn't afford a haircut then.'"
His half-brother's election has allowed him to take pride in the Obama name, which he hadn't used for many years. Their father — who had six other children — died in a car crash in Kenya in 1982.
Barack Obama's 1995 memoir Dreams From My Father dwells on his absent father and how it shaped Barack's life story.
I didn't want anything to do with American politics: It's scrappy, it's something that turns huge spotlights on everybody. But then slowly I began to see an atmosphere around the world that was moving from one which had been in fear towards one of hope.
- Mark Obama Ndesandjo
For Obama and Ndesandjo, their father's shadow looms large over their lives. Back in 2004, Barack Obama described that influence in an NPR interview.
"There's a wonderful saying by Lyndon Johnson that every man is either trying to live up to his father's expectations or making up for his mistakes. I guess I'm sort of doing both. I think in some ways I still chase after his ghost a little bit," Obama said.
Ndesandjo calls Obama's reflections interesting.
"Well, I guess in my case I don't see myself chasing after his ghost. I think for a long time his ghost was chasing after me," he says.
These mirror-image reactions in a way reflect the relationship. These half-brothers have much that is shared — and much that is not. Ndesandjo is planning to meet his half-brother on his trip to China, which starts Sunday.
"I look at my brother — President Obama — and I'm so totally proud of all that he's been able to do. I'm extremely excited my brother is coming to China," he says.
In Dreams From My Father, Obama describes meeting Mark as being like "looking into a foggy mirror." All these years later, Ndesandjo says he finally hopes to wipe clean the fog from that mirror.
To hear the audio of the interview: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387029&ft=1&f=1004
11/14/09 Robbie Dingeman - Honolulu Advertiser
President Obama's announcement last night that Honolulu will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation annual meeting in 2011 put his hometown at the center of one of his most important international initiatives.
Hawaii has been vying for months to host the gathering of 21 heads of government from the Asia-Pacific region who discuss the economy, trade and investments.
And last night, leaders from Washington, D.C., to Downtown Honolulu praised Hawai'i's selection as a way to put the state on the map as a serious international business meeting place where East meets West year-round.
East-West Center President Charles Morrison said the summit is expected to bring 19 heads of state, many Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials, and more than 10,000 participants.
Holding the leaders meeting in Hawai'i "attracts attention and excitement no amount of money can buy," said Morrison, who is attending this year's APEC meeting in Singapore.
"Hawai'i has never had anything remotely approaching an international meeting where the president of the U.S., president of China, prime minister of Japan, and many other heads of state come at the same time, not to mention something like 75 Cabinet officials, the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization, and leading regional and global business people," Morrison said.
He added, "This may be arguably the biggest and most open international meeting of 2011, and it's in Hawai'i."
The 2011 event will be held from Nov. 12 to 20.
The president made the Hawai'i announcement to APEC leaders gathered in Singapore.
"When America hosts APEC in a few years, I look forward to seeing you all decked out in flowered shirts and grass skirts, because today I'm announcing that we are bringing this forum to my home state of Hawai'i in 2011," he said.
In comments to the APEC leaders, Obama stressed the critical importance of the region.
"Perhaps no connection between Asia-Pacific and the United States runs stronger or deeper than the economic ties we share," he said.
In his first major trip to Asia as president, Obama has called himself the "first Pacific president." He was born in Honolulu and lived here — except for four years in Indonesia — until he went to the Mainland for college.
"America's four top trading partners are now APEC members, with the countries that form the Association of Southeast Asian nations collectively making up the fifth," Obama said.
He noted that 60 percent of the goods and services the United States exports go to APEC nations — exports that support millions and millions of American jobs.
"The United States is also the largest export market for Asia, which has led to more affordable goods and services for American consumers," he added.
Obama earlier indicated that the United States will also be engaging with the four Trans-Pacific Partnership countries (Brunei, Chile, Singapore, New Zealand) with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement.
"We also believe that continued integration of the economies of this region will benefit workers, consumers, and businesses in all of our nations," he said. "Together, with our South Korean friends, we will work through the issues necessary to move forward on a trade agreement with them."
The APEC meeting rotates among members and was first held in the United States near Seattle in 1993. That's where then-President Bill Clinton came up with the tradition of having the leaders wear outfits chosen by the host. The 2010 meeting will be held in Japan.
The meeting here is seen as a coup for the state's visitor industry as it underscores Hawai'i as a good site for international business gatherings, especially for the Asia-Pacific region.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann last night said he was "ecstatic" that Honolulu had been selected to host the 2011 APEC Summit.
In addition to collaborating with the East-West Center and Hawai'i Tourism Authority on the proposal to host the conference, Hannemann said he lobbied for the effort in meetings with White House and State Department officials in June.
"When President Charles Morrison of the East-West Center first approached the city about collaborating on a proposal to host APEC, the key component was security," Hannemann said, and Honolulu beat out the two California cities there.
"Honolulu, and all of Hawai'i for that matter, will be on the world stage come 2011, and it will be our opportunity to show that we're more than sun, sand, sea, surf and the spirit of aloha," Hannemann said.
Aside from the immediate economic impact, Morrison said it opens a new line of business over the longer term for the state as "a truly world-class international center."
Gov. Linda Lingle said the selection of Hawai'i to host the APEC Leaders Meeting is "an affirmation of Hawai'i's strategic role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and will help build a stronger economic foundation for Hawai'i's future."
"We appreciate President Obama selecting Hawai'i for this important meeting and recognizing the significant role Hawai'i plays as America's most diverse and strategically located state," she said.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye also praised the selection.
"The spotlight that will shine on Hawai'i during the APEC meetings will remind the world that our culture and strategic location is the ideal site to gather global leaders and debate the needs of a diverse society," he said.
Inouye said the state serves as a bridge between the East and the West, and "will help show our Asia-Pacific neighbors that the United States remains committed to collaborating on economic policy as the world emerges from international recession."
HTA president and chief executive officer Mike McCartney said the leaders meeting will help to combat the state's image as more of a place to play than work, often dubbed "the boondoggle effect."
"The APEC meetings will dispel that misconception and position Hawai'i as a global business destination," McCartney said. "The world will see that Hawai'i is an ideal place to conduct business due to our strategic location in the Pacific and our multi-cultural diversity."
State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert earlier said she does not yet have an estimate of what the economic value of having the international meeting here would be, but it is significant.
The last high-level international gathering for Honolulu was the Asian Development Bank meeting in 2001.
That meeting had stirred worries of violent protests that had erupted in other cities but the meeting went smoothly with only small non-violent demonstrations.
San Francisco, the Los Angeles-Orange County area, New York and Miami were being considered as possible venues for the conference. Earlier, Hawaii Convention Center's SMG general manager Joe Davis said the decision was narrowed to between Honolulu and the two California destinations weeks ago.
The 21 members of APEC are: Australia; Brunei; Canada; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; the United States; Chinese Taipei; Hong Kong, China; People's Republic of China; Mexico; Papua New Guinea; Chile; Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
City of Obama, Japan
The city of Obama has received much publicity because it shares its name with that of U.S. President Barack Obama. It began when Obama as a Senator gave a 2006 interview to Japanese television network TBS where he noted that, when passing through customs in Narita Airport, an official looking at his visa said that he was from Obama.The Obama City Hall heard about the interview and the mayor, Toshio Murakami, sent Senator Obama a set of the city’s famous lacquer chopsticks, a DVD about the city and a letter wishing him the best. As Senator Obama's presidential campaign progressed, more local businesses began to organize primary parties and put up "Go Obama!" posters, sell "I love Obama" T-shirts, and produce manjū (a type of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama's face on them. A hula group began in the town in honour of Senator Obama's home state of Hawaii. The troupe visited Honolulu in June to perform at the Pan Pacific Festival.
President Obama has since thanked the town for their gifts and support, saying "I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better, freer world".
There are a number of Japanese with the surname Obama. Though the American President is of Kenyan Luo heritage, it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike.
As a result of the victory by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, the Mayor of Obama City announced to the Japanese press that he intends to commission a statue of Barack Obama to be put in front of the city hall "as a token of the great historical moment for the name Obama".
In addition, he has declared that November 4 will be an annual holiday in the city.
On January 20, 2009, the day that Barack Obama was sworn into office, the city of Obama celebrated with women dancing the hula at the Hagaji Temple to celebrate the inauguration.
(source: wikipedia)
Japan's Obama town welcomes president with Hawaiian dance
11/13/09 AFP
TOKYO (AFP) – When the US president arrived in Japan on Friday to kick off his first Asia tour in office, no-one was happier than his most fervent fans in the country -- the residents of the town of Obama.
To welcome the US leader, who spent part of his youth in Hawaii, and whose father was Kenyan, the town of 30,000 people dispatched its team of hula dancers to perform a dance outside the embassy of the African country.
The tropical-style welcome was actually performed several hours before Barack Obama's Air Force One touched down in a cold drizzle -- but the undeterred organisers suggested it was the symbolism that mattered.
The namesake of their ancient fishing town, which means "small shore" in Japanese, had been unable to make time to visit Obama town during his busy two-day trip, or even to watch the heartfelt Hawaiian welcome, they said.
"Security is so tight that we only hope to get a glance of the president at some point," said the group's leader, Seiji Fujihara, referring to the 16,000 police who are on duty in Tokyo during the state visit.
"We danced for friendship with Kenya and for the new ambassador," he said. "We also danced with the wish that we will meet President Obama."
Fujihara later said he and his dancers would wait again on Saturday to perform another show somewhere along Obama's route.
"We know it will be impossible to bring him to Obama," he said. "But we hope something will happen, and we are thrilled."
The people of Obama have rallied hard for the US President since his election campaign, creating a hula dance in his honour and distributing "I Love Obama" T-shirts.
The western Japan town, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Tokyo, has turned its accidental world fame into a cottage industry, selling presidential souvenirs and snacks, and enjoying a spike in tourism.
The town's officials had made every possible effort to contact Obama, sending him a gift of lacquer-coated chopsticks, the town's traditional craft, and offering him an invitation to the coastal settlement.
"The invitation was not accepted, due to the tight schedule of the president, but instead the US government invited the mayor to his speech," which is to be held in Tokyo on Saturday, a city official told AFP.
Obama Mayor Koji Matsuzaki gladly accepted the offer, she added.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
11/12/09 Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Elmendorf! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Please -- thank you so much. Anybody who has a seat, go ahead and take a seat.
I want to thank General Troy for the introduction and for his extraordinary service; to Colonel Mark Camerer and your outstanding local leaders for welcoming me here today. And I want to give a shout-out to the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific. (Applause.)
I realize that your Commander, General Atkins, couldn’t be here. I’m told that he got called down to Hawaii -- shaka brah, what's up? (Laughter.) I grew up there, so I hope that he's getting as warm a welcome as I'm getting here.
I want to thank your senior enlisted leaders: Command Chief Master Sergeant Robert Moore, Chief Master Sergeant Tom Baker and Command Sergeant Major David Turnbull. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) And please give some applause to all the airmen and soldiers up here. They look terrific. (Applause.)
It is wonderful to be here at one of America’s great air bases. I have to tell you I'm also really excited because I had up until today visited 49 states. So this is officially my 50th state. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Love you --
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) But we also have a lot of folks from Fort Richardson. (Applause.) We've got folks from all across Alaskan Command -- Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, United States Marines; Active, Guard and Reserve. (Applause.) We have our allies and friends from the Canadian armed forces. (Applause.)
I see -- I see many spouses here today. (Applause.) And I want you to know you are the backbone of our military families and we honor your service. (Applause.) And I'm thrilled to see the kids who are here today -- hey, guys, thank you. (Applause.) I know you’re proud of your mom and dad, but we’re all proud of you, too.
You know, we’re here in "America’s Last Frontier." And most of you are far from home. And I know your service is made a little easier by your unbelievable neighbors. So we want to thank your local and state leaders, Lieutenant Governor Craig Campbell, all the people of Anchorage and Alaska for their incredible support.
And we’re also joined today by a leader who is fighting for Alaska in Washington, and for you and all our men and women in uniform as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee -- Mark Begich is here, Senator Mark Begich is in the house. Stand up, Mark, so everybody can see you. (Applause.)
Today, I’m on my way to Asia -- my first visit there as President. The crews are out there refueling Air Force One. But I didn’t want to just pass through. Because this is also, as I said, my first visit to Alaska and my first visit to Elmendorf. And I couldn’t come here without taking this opportunity to deliver a simple message -- a message of thanks to you and your families.
Now, these have been days of tribute. Two days ago, we gathered at Fort Hood and we honored 13 Americans taken from us: soldiers and caregivers; mothers and fathers; husbands and wives; sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We grieved with families who have endured unimaginable loss. And we found inspiration in the wounded, their spirits unbowed, and in those who braved the bullets so that others might live.
Yesterday, we gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to salute proud veterans who served on foreign fields long ago and wounded warriors from today. And as citizens of a grateful nation, we are humbled by such service.
Today, we gather here, at Elmendorf. And we see the same spirit. It’s the spirit that I saw in the outstanding airmen and soldiers I met with a few moments ago. It’s the spirit that I see in all of you.
It’s your sense of service -- answering your country’s call, volunteering in a time of war knowing that you could be sent into harm’s way. That's a sense of responsibility on your part -- the belief that the blessings we cherish as Americans are not gifts that we take for granted, they are freedoms that are earned. And it’s your sense of unity -- coming from every corner of the country, from every color and every creed and every faith and every station -- to take care of each other, and to serve together, and to succeed together, as Americans. (Applause.)
So I’m here to say to all of you, all of you who serve, all the families who are here: Of all the privileges I have as President, I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) We have the finest fighting force the world has ever known. And it’s because of you -- because we've got the finest personnel in the world. That's our most precious resource.
By being here all of you are joining a long line of service at Elmendorf -- from the liberation of Pacific islands during World War II through a long Cold War. You embody that creed: "faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, and a legacy of valor." And you uphold that legacy every day.
Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, you keep America’s skies safe. So we salute the 3rd Wing. And the 11th Air Force. (Applause.)
You project power across the Pacific, returning just recently from Guam: the 90th Fighter Squadron -- the "Dicemen." (Applause.) And the 525th Fighter Squadron -- the “Bulldogs.” (Applause.) And all the maintenance troops who support them. Welcome home. (Applause.)
And when disaster strikes -- whether a typhoon in the Philippines or an earthquake in Samoa -- you’re there, delivering the relief that saves lives. So thank you "Firebirds." (Applause.)
Today, we also send our thoughts and prayers to all those who at this very moment are serving on the front lines. (Applause.) There are airmen from Elmendorf in every corner of the world. They’re soldiers from Fort Richardson: military police in Iraq -- (applause) -- the 4th Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan. (Applause.)
Fort Rich paratroopers are no strangers to tough assignments. (Applause.) A few years back, you all spent 14 months in Iraq. Now, they’re working to bring stability and security to eastern Afghanistan -- building roads and medical clinics, renovating schools, protecting the Afghan people and giving them a chance at a better future. They are doing a terrific job and we salute them.
But with services comes sacrifice. All of you know this. You’ve made the most profound commitment a person can make. You’ve pledged to dedicate your life to your country. And perhaps give your life for it. Here at Elmendorf and Fort Richardson, some have.
They’re airmen like Staff Sergeant Timothy Bowles, who -- when a comrade fell sick -- volunteered to take his place on the patrol in Afghanistan that would end up taking his life.
They're soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, like the husband and father who gave his life in Afghanistan last week -- Specialist Julian Berisford.
And citizens of this state, like Alaska Native Corporal Gregory Fleury. Raised in Anchorage, he joined the Marines and served two tours in Iraq. He loved the Corps, he loved Alaska, so much so that he carried the state flag with him everywhere. It was with him last month when he was killed in those helicopter crashes in Afghanistan.
A little while ago, I had the honor of meeting Greg’s family, Donna and Christopher, and his grandfather Albert. And I expressed the gratitude of our nation, and we thank them for being with us here today. Donna, Albert, please stand. (Applause.)
There are no words that are strong enough and no tribute worthy enough to match the magnitude of such service. But to you and all who serve, I say this: The American people thank you. We honor you. And just as you have fulfilled your responsibilities to your nation, your nation will fulfill its responsibilities to you.
So as your Commander-in-Chief, here’s the commitment I make to you. We’ll make sure you can meet the missions we ask of you. That’s why we’re increasing the defense budget, including spending on the Air Force and the Army. (Applause.) We’ll make sure we have the right force structure. So we’ve halted reductions in the Air Force, increased the size of the Army ahead of schedule and also approved a temporary increase in the Army.
We’ll spend our defense dollars wisely. So we’re cutting tens of billions of dollars in waste and projects that even the Pentagon says it doesn’t need -- money that's better spent on taking care of you and your families and building the 21st century military that we do need.
I want you guys to understand I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests. (Applause.) But I also make you this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interest. (Applause.)
And if it is necessary, the United States of America will have your back. We will give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We will give you the equipment and support that you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to you. (Applause.)
And as you meet your missions around the world, we will take care of your families here at home. That’s why the First Lady, Michelle, has been visiting bases across the country -- go Michelle. (Laughter and applause.) Your family is a priority for our family. So we’re increasing pay. We’re increasing child care. We’re increasing support to help spouses and families deal with the stress and separation of war. (Applause.)
And finally, we pledge to be there when you come home. We’re improving care for our wounded warriors, especially those with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries. I want to salute the outstanding work you do at the hospital here on base, including your new TBI clinic. Thank you for giving our wounded warriors the world-class care they deserve. (Applause.)
We’re funding the Post-9/11 GI Bill -- (applause) -- because we want to give -- we want to give your families the chance to pursue your dreams. And we’re making the biggest commitment to our veterans -- the largest percentage increase in the VA budget in more than 30 years. (Applause.)
So these are the commitments I'm making to you. Because you’ve always taken care of America, and America must has to take care of you back. America’s obligation to our military -- as we saw this week -- is a sacred trust that we are honor-bound to uphold.
It’s the sacred trust that brought a nation together this week around 13 battlefield crosses. It’s the sacred trust that leads us to pause, on that November day, to give thanks for all those who have served before us. It’s the sacred trust that brings me here -- to say thank you for serving today, thank you to you and your families for all you do to protect this country we love.
*******************
Clarification:
At the begining of his speech at Elemendorf, President Obama said "Shaka brah. What's up?" The "shaka" sign is a common hand signal of greeting in Hawaii consisting of extending the thumb and pinkie while keeping the three middle fingers curled in, and raising the hand as in salutation with the back of the hand facing the person that is being greeted.
11/13/09 Mainichi Daily News (Japan)
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, right, shakes hands with visiting U.S. President Barack Obama at the beginning of their summit at the prime minister's office on Friday evening. (Mainichi)
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Friday to step up bilateral cooperation in combating global warming and pursuing nuclear disarmament with the Japan-U.S. alliance as the core of such efforts.
But the two leaders postponed a final decision on the relocation of U.S. Air Station Futenma, a sticky bilateral issue.
Hatoyama held the 90-minute summit with Obama after he arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Friday evening on the first leg of his Asia tour. It was Obama's first visit to Japan since he took office in January.
During the summit, Hatoyama and Obama agreed to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and confirmed that they will step up cooperation in working on global issues such as climate change and nuclear disarmament.
The two leaders also agreed to set up a ministerial working group at an early date to settle the bilateral dispute on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Hatoyama told Obama that his ruling Democratic Party of Japan pledged during the campaign for the Aug. 30 general election to seek relocation of Futenma base out of Okinawa Prefecture and out of the country.
At a subsequent joint news conference, the prime minister underscored the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation of Japan's diplomacy. We'd like to develop the alliance into a more constructive and future-oriented one."
The president also said the bilateral alliance is the axis of efforts toward stability and prosperity for not only the two countries but the whole Asia-Pacific region.
Moreover, Hatoyama urged the United States to be involved in an East Asian Community that the prime minister has proposed.
While stressing that he and Hatoyama share the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, Obama said the United States will maintain its nuclear deterrence for its allies as long as such weapons exist.
Even though he expressed hope that he will visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Obama denied that he has any plan to visit the two atom-bombed cities in the immediate future.
The president expressed gratitude for Hatoyama's offer to extend 5 billion dollars in assistance for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan over the next five years.
11/12/09 Mainichi Daily News (Japan)
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Nations must temper stimulus spending, ensure stable growth and strengthen financial systems to ensure a prosperous global economy in the post-crisis period, Asia-Pacific ministers said Thursday.
Finance ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's 21 member economies huddled Thursday in Singapore to discuss the pressing challenge of finding ways to sustain growth and encourage free trade at a time of fragile economic recovery.
The weeklong forum culminates in a weekend leaders' summit weekend that includes President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, among others from Pacific Rim nations.
Restoring growth potential, withdrawing stimulus packages and meeting the region's massive infrastructure needs are key challenges facing the world economy after the crisis subsides, said a joint statement due to be released by the finance ministers.
A draft of the statement, obtained by The Associated Press, said that reducing public sector debt will require more than "the mere phasing out of stimulus measures." It will need lower budget deficits and reforms that support economic growth, the draft said.
The ministers agreed to "undertake monetary policies" that take into account flexible exchange rates.
The statement also called for freer trade and warned against resorting to protectionism.
"We are committed to supporting open trade and investment to advance Asia-Pacific and global prosperity and growth ... and (we) will actively resist projectionist measures," the proposed statement said.
The ministers also commit to strengthen financial supervision and regulations to prevent excess credit growth, blamed for the biggest financial crisis the world has seen since the 1930s, the draft said.
New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English told reporters New Zealand is gradually withdrawing stimulus and new spending in 2010.
"We are pulling back from pumping money in," he said. "The concern is that the U.S. needs to keep stimulating their economy because it's in a pretty bad shape. We are in a better shape, we can afford to pull back and get a more balanced recovery so that the private sector can get up and running, providing new jobs."
English said the impact of the weak U.S. economy has been cushioned by robust Asian economies, especially China.
"We are on the road to recovery but there are going to be a few bumps along the road," he said.
A main focus for the regional dialogue remains efforts to create an Asia-Pacific free trade area, which would account for about half the world's exports and imports if it becomes reality.
Some ministers expressed optimism that Obama would support the plan given the deadlock in World Trade Organization talks.
But the plan is still some years away because of reluctance among some members, especially in Southeast Asia, to sign on to an agreement that would be dominated by the U.S.
"I think it's a vision that any region could aspire to but whether or not it will be achievable and when" remains to be seen, said Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"There are many, many ideas floating around ... but we have to move very, very incrementally and carefully," he said.
APEC was founded 20 years ago to promote greater trade and integration around the Pacific Rim. Its scope since has expanded to encompass a wide range of issues, including climate change, energy security and food security for the millions of vulnerable poor in the region.
In a significant breakthrough, APEC government officials agreed that leaders should discuss abolishing trade restrictions on food. The plan was recommended by the APEC Business Advisory Council, or ABAC, a council of regional business leaders.
ABAC says free trade in food would allow APEC members to use one another's strengths to produce the best and cheapest food for all.
"We have finally got to an agreement with officials that this should go on at a very high level dialogue ... we are also calling for rules to make leaders end export controls," said John Denton, an ABAC official.
If the plan takes off, Thai rice could be imported in any amount by any APEC member. Currently, many countries, including the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, restrict rice imports to protect their farmers.
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I will be posting news coverage of POTUS' asian trip via Japan's Mainichi Daily News site
Liberal pundit E. J. Dionne has an excellent column in today’s Washington Post. Regarding the ongoing health care reform efforts in Congress, there has been a lot of chatter about “perfect” becoming the enemy of the good. This has been a concern of mine for some months. Here is a link to Mr. Dionne’s column:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/11/AR2009111122256.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
If any kind of health care reform does get passed into law, the one certainty is that the final product will not be ideal by anybody’s reckoning. I have said in previous blog posts that the biggest obstacles to health care reform are those who insist that the bill contain certain characteristics, such as a “robust public option.” These people – including former Democratic Party leader Howard Dean and interim U.S. Senator Roland Burris (the choice of disgraced former Illinois Governor Blagojevich to fill the unexpired senate term of Barack Obama) – have made clear that they would rather see all reform efforts fail than to have what they believe is half-hearted reform pass. In a way, I have more respect for somebody like Senator Jim DeMint, who at least makes no serious pretense to being anything other than a political enemy of President Obama. If Obama’s presidency fails to achieve its major goals, it will be more due to his supposed allies (such as Dean and Burris) than to his overt opponents (such as DeMint). Reform can pass without any Republican support, but in order for that to happen, the Democrats have to able to unite behind something. As a practical matter, this means accepting the reality that many Democrats representing relatively conservative states and districts cannot support all the provisions favored by their more left-leaning colleagues.
If there is going to be any kind of health care reform bill that clears Congress, it will almost certainly contain some degree of restriction on taxpayer-financed abortions, and it will quite likely not provide for a public option, except perhaps one based on future contingencies. It would still be a major achievement, both in terms of politics and public policy, to get health care reform that extends coverage to all Americans, is fiscally neutral, and controls overall health care costs. This can be done, but not if side shows about the availability of abortions and the public option control the debate.
Armistice Day also known as Veterans Day and Remembrance Day
November 11 and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" 1918.
Obama heads to Asia next week11/10/09 UPIWASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Renewing alliances and forging new partnerships are key goals for U.S. President Barack Obama when he makes his first trip to Asia, a senior official said."(The) president looks forward to this attempt to really renew America's alliances in the region, to continue to forge new partnerships, and to make progress on a whole series of issues," including economic recovery, Afghanistan, energy and climate change, and nuclear non-proliferation, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, said during a briefing.The trip starts Nov. 12 with a visit to troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska before Obama's first Asian stop in Tokyo Nov. 13, Rhodes said during a briefing Monday. Obama will meet with several leaders bilaterally in Asian cities, as well as participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Among the cities Obama is scheduled to visit are Singapore and Beijing.While attending the APEC summit, Obama will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Rhodes said.After a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul Nov. 19, Obama will return to the United States.
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The WhiteHouse.gov has a site dedicated to President Obama's Novemeber asian trip:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/asia
** Please consider donating to The Fisher House ** Their program is a private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. Members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly three million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. No family pays to stay at any Fisher House!
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Excerpts from the article:
11/10/09 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning New
WASHINGTON – When Barack Obama stands today before the mourning children, spouses and comrades of those cut down last week at Fort Hood, he will confront one of the most delicate and painful duties a president undertakes.
Only a president can offer the condolences of a nation. In a moment of crisis and sorrow and anger, only a president can soothe raw emotions, allay fears, elevate a senseless act into a call to action, and offer the assurance that – as his aides put it Monday – no stone will be left unturned.
This is by far the biggest test of Obama's ability to fulfill the role of consoler in chief.
The Fort Hood massacre is the worst single tragedy on his watch. And – because the victims and the shooter were soldiers, and because the suspect is Muslim and Obama has put such a premium on repairing relations with the Muslim world – the expectations on him, as commander in chief, are especially high.
"He's taking a message from the American people as a whole to the victims and their families," said Martha Joynt Kumar, a Towson University professor who studies presidential communications. "He represents the American people and can express the feelings of pain and tragedy and put it into words."
Standing before a sea of grieving Americans, acknowledging communal pain, is a task presidents have always undertaken.
....................
The president and First Lady Michelle Obama took off from Andrews Air Force Base at 8:24 a.m. Texas time. They landed at Robert Gray Army Air Field at 11:17 a.m.
Obama and his speech writers were still polishing his remarks en route to Fort Hood.
"Obviously, this is a very solemn event," spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One. "The president will use the opportunity to honor the 13 men and women who died, to talk a little about each of them and to discuss the contribution that they made, and the notion that their memory lasts in the service and the dedication of the armed forces, and by the people that they touched, both in the military and outside."
Much of Obama's efforts today will be out of public view. Shortly after arriving at Fort Hood, he and first lady Michelle Obama plan to meet with families of those killed, at III Corps Headquarters. They'll also meet with some of the wounded and their families before the memorial service that starts at 1 p.m..
Before returning to Washington, they'll stop by Darnall Army Medical Center, where the suspect had worked, to visit other wounded soldiers.
The White House is fending off mounting criticism that U.S. authorities ignored signs of Hasan's deep objections to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his growing radicalization – including revelations Monday that he contacted a radical imam in Yemen by email in the past year, and had defended the use of suicide bombings to Army medical colleagues.
"This is an ongoing joint investigation," Gibbs said, "and the president has asked every agency involved, and everybody that would have had some purview over this, to investigate why this happened, how this happened, and to ensure that they could tell him that it won't happen again .... The president has asked that there be that accounting, and when we have it, we'll let it be known."
It was unclear whether Obama will use his remarks today to address fears about the loyalties of Muslims in the U.S. military, and related concerns that the massacre will provoke an unfair backlash.
"There are people... of all faiths and all ethnicities serving with distinction and valor in our armed services today. The investigation is ongoing to figure out what would motivate an individual to carry out the type of act this major carried out," Gibbs said.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/111009dntexobama.3c450e8.html
The Well-Being of 50 U.S. States11/10/09 By Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience.com Sr WriterThough you might not be able to run away from your problems, moving to another state could be good for the soul. New research suggests U.S. states with wealthier, better educated and more tolerant residents are also happier on average.The reasoning is that wealthy states can provide infrastructure and so it's easier for residents to get their needs met. In addition, states with a greater proportion of artists and gays would also be places where residents can freely express themselves.On average, well-being was highest in the Mountain states and West Coast states, followed by the Eastern Seaboard and then the Midwest and Southern states.The researchers note that because a state scores high or low doesn't mean you could pluck out a resident and expect that person to be appropriately cheery or depressed. And not every state in the union sits exactly where you might expect on the list."We can only make generalizations about groups of people," said study researcher Jason Rentfrow of the University of Cambridge in England. "These results don't say wealthy people are happier than unwealthy people, [or that] people who live in areas where people are wealthy are happier."Happy statesRentfrow and his colleagues came to their conclusions by analyzing data collected from more than 350,000 individuals who were interviewed between Jan. 2 and Dec. 30, 2008 as part of the Gallup Organization's Well-Being Index. The index includes six types of well-being: overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction.
What makes us happy
To figure out why some states scored higher or lower than others, the researchers looked at the relationship between happiness levels and other variables, including economic indicators, education levels, personality factors and levels of inclusiveness.
They found that states with higher gross regional product (GRP) per capita (a state's level of productivity and standard of living), income levels and median housing value, were significantly happier than poorer areas. That's not too surprising, Rentfrow noted, as wealthier individuals tend to be healthier, because they are better educated and thus more knowledgeable about healthy behaviors, and they also likely have health insurance.
The happier states also tended to have a greater proportion of residents with advanced educations whose jobs were considered "super-creative," such as architecture, engineering, computer and math occupations, library positions, arts and design work, as well as entertainment, sports and media occupations.
The number of bohemians (such as artists), gays and foreign-born residents also boosted happiness scores. Take California, Minnesota and Massachusetts, which had higher inclusiveness scores and also made it to the top 10 list for well-being.
"We view that as suggesting that in these types of areas, there's more tolerance and with this increased tolerance people are freer to express themselves and to be who they are without feeling as though they have to censor themselves or conform a bit more to the status quo," Rentfrow told LiveScience.
Of the personality factors, neuroticism took a toll on a state's cheery count, suggesting people living in the happiest states are more relaxed than their gloomy counterparts. For instance, West Virginia, Mississippi and Kentucky were ranked as highly neurotic and showed lower well-being scores. Utah, on the other hand, had a significantly lower level of neuroticism than other states.
Some caveats
The new results, which are detailed in the December issue of the Journal of Research in Personality, do have their limitations.
For one, the differences in well-being are small, a range of about 10 points on a 100-point scale. "When we compare nations, there are much larger differences, say, between a poor African nation and Denmark," said Ed Diener, a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studies well-being. Diener wasn't involved in the current research.
For instance, while Utah is about 12 percent happier than Kentucky, Diener said that Denmark has scored about double that of Togo, Africa, regarding well-being. Even so, Diener noted, "given the strong pattern of explainable findings found by the authors, I would say they are definitely onto something interesting and important."
In addition, not all states fit into the researcher's overall model of what makes for a happy area. For instance, the top three states, Utah, Hawaii and Wyoming are outliers, as they aren't considered the wealthiest of the pack.
Diener points out that Utah is conservative, and research has suggested such right-leaning individuals are a bit happier than others. Hawaii's ranking could be due to a relaxed culture, he said, adding that the three states may just have strong families and social relationships.
A survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reveals which states are happiest. The index includes questions about six types of well-being, including overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction.
Here are the 50 U.S. states in order of their well-being scores, which are out of 100 points.1. Utah: 69.22. Hawaii: 68.23. Wyoming: 684. Colorado: 67.35. Minnesota: 67.36. Maryland: 67.17. Washington: 67.18. Massachusetts: 679. California: 6710. Arizona: 66.811. Idaho: 66.812. Montana: 66.713. New Hampshire: 66.714. Vermont: 66.615. Virginia: 66.516. Nebraska: 66.417. New Mexico: 66.318. Oregon: 66.319. Connecticut: 66.320. Alaska : 66.221. Texas: 66.122. Kansas: 66.123. Georgia: 66.024. Wisconsin: 65.925. New Jersey: 65.826. South Carolina: 65.727. Iowa: 65.6 - 27/5028. North Dakota: 65.529. Maine: 65.5 - 29/5030. Florida: 65.3 - 30/5031. Illinois: 65.2 - 31/5032. Pennsylvania: 64.933. Alabama: 64.934. North Carolina: 64.835. New York: 64.736. Delaware: 64.737. Rhode Island: 64.638. Nevada: 64.539. South Dakota: 64.340. Louisiana: 64.241. Michigan: 64.042. Tennessee: 64.043. Oklahoma: 64.044. Missouri: 63.845. Indiana: 63.346. Arkansas: 62.947. Ohio: 62.848. Mississippi: 61.949. Kentucky: 61.450. West Virginia: 61.2
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Wealth, Education & Tolerance = Well-Being & Happiness
so does that mean:
Poverty, Uneducated & Bigotry = Ill-Being & Bitterness
11/8/09 Sunday Times
Christine Finn Kajar, Java Tony Allen-Mills New York
In a remote corner of rural Java, a blacksmith and his family were astounded last week to learn that the American woman who helped save them from poverty 26 years ago was Ann Dunham, an anthropologist better known as the late mother of the US president.
Dunham is still remembered in the central Javan hamlet of Kajar as a generous benefactor whose gifts of money, food and schoolbooks helped numerous villagers. Yet none of them had realised that the woman who paid several visits to research rural crafts in the 1980s had a son who was to become America’s 44th president.
Told by The Sunday Times that Dunham was Barack Obama’s mother, Darmo Sujak, a 67-year-old blacksmith, said he was “shocked” to discover the full identity of the woman who had changed his life.
Sujak recalled how Dunham arrived at his home in 1983 in a white Jeep with more than 100lb of rice, sweets, pens and school books.
He said Dunham, who died of cancer in Hawaii in 1995 at the age of 52, had given him four donations worth the equivalent of $1,000. The money enabled him to build his house, expand his business and pay for his children’s education.
Other villagers recognised Dunham, and themselves, from photographs that are included with parts of her graduate thesis in a book that will be published next month with a foreword by Maya Soetoro-Ng, Dunham’s daughter by her second marriage and Obama’s half-sister.
Soetoro-Ng said last week she was happy to learn that her mother was still remembered in the Javan villages where she did most of her research while Barack, then a teenager, remained in Hawaii with his grandparents.
“She had a real affection for those people and that place,” Soetoro-Ng told The Sunday Times. “She helped a lot of people through her work and it was very much like her to help them on a more personal level.”
Dunham’s visits to Indonesia would later cause political controversy over bogus claims that Obama had been raised as a Muslim and had been born overseas, making him ineligible to be president.
It was partly to set the record straight about their mother’s Indonesian work that Soetoro-Ng found a publisher for Surviving Against the Odds: Village Industry in Indonesia, an academic study based on her mother’s 1,000-page graduate thesis. Gazing at Dunham’s portrait on the cover, Sujak said he felt his benefactor was still with him in spirit. “It means that she still loves me; after 25 years she is still looking out for me,” he said.
Sujak recalled how he had applied for a grant after seeing a notice posted by Dunham. He recalled that he enclosed a photograph of his then seven-year-old daughter, Sutini, with his application. The Kansas-born American was travelling at the time with her own daughter, Maya, whose Indonesian father married Dunham two years after her 1964 divorce from Obama’s Kenyan father.
Kay Ikranagara, a friend of Dunham’s at the Academy of Educational Development in Jakarta, said the gifts were in keeping with the American woman’s nature.
“She was so warm-hearted. It is nice that someone she helped has been traced in this way. I hope there will be more.”
In all, Dunham gave the Sujak family 1m rupiah, then equivalent to twice the annual salary of a factory worker. Recognised in Java as a pioneer of microfinance, Dunham was campaigning to extend small loans to rural industries.
Some of the cash may have come from one of the international development agencies for which she worked as a consultant, but Dunham added her own gifts, including a fondly remembered present of three watches.
Sutini, Sujak’s daughter, is now 32 and still lives in the village. Shown Dunham’s photograph, she vividly remembered the childhood visit from a smiling, dark-haired woman.
Another villager recognised herself as a child, photographed in her late father’s shop. The 42-year-old woman, who said her name was Mintarsih, rushed to show the picture to family and friends. Her mother, Bu Sastro, was visibly moved to see her late husband’s portrait in the book. He had been one of Dunham’s main research subjects.
Dunham first visited Indonesia in the 1960s with her second husband, Lolo Soetoro. Obama lived with them in Jakarta for four years from 1967-71. When the couple split up in 1972, Dunham moved to Hawaii before returning to her Indonesian research in 1977. Barack was 16 at the time, and decided to stay with his grandparents in Honolulu.
While undertaking her fieldwork Dunham stayed at the home of Bu Maggie Norobangun, who last week recalled how the American visitor had loved to dress in vividly coloured traditional batik skirts. “She was anxious to raise the position and role of women, especially in villages . . . teaching young mothers how to make soup, showing an interest in them,” she said.
Dunham’s simple room, today bearing cracks from an earthquake in 2006, overlooks fruit trees and a terrace, where she would talk about her work with her hosts, and other visiting students. She described the village as “a wonderful and mysterious place”.
Dunham’s thesis reflects her passionate interest in Indonesian rural life. She describes how in 1978 Pak Sastro, a technology enthusiast, bought the village’s first television — battery-run as there was no electricity.
He and his wife settled down to watch it when, Dunham recalls, “hundreds of visitors crowded uninvited into their house to watch this strange new device”.
“Finally, in exasperation, Pak Sastro was forced to place the set in the window, facing the yard, and sat outside with his wife, on two chairs closest to the set, the villagers clamouring to view it behind them.”
Soetoro-Ng often accompanied her mother on her research trips. She writes in the book’s foreword: “Many hours of my childhood were spent in the homes of blacksmiths or by their furnaces . . . on these trips the greetings that the village women exchanged with Mom conveyed an intimacy that made it clear they had fully taken each other’s measure ... she was welcomed and trusted by all.”
In his memoir, Dreams From My Father, Obama displayed no trace of anger or regret that his mother had left him in Hawaii as a teenager.
He described her as “the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known”.
HealthCare Bill questions were posted by O-blogger Dave on the O-blog:
What do you guys think the impact of the bill will be from when it passes (in December) to the 2010 elections...in these 8 months or so. Do you think it will widely be seen as a success before then? Do you think rates will go down substantially before then? Will 96% of people be covered by then? What impact will it have on the economy? Re: What are your guys predictions for the immediate impact of the bill?
This was my reply: In Hawaii where there already is mandatory health care coverage for those who work 20 hours. To work around that many companies only hire workers for 20 hours. That is why the majority of people in Hawaii work multiple jobs (sometimes three) to make ends meet. In many countries there is "social health care coverage" because everyone's taxes are higher to cover the expense. America is one of the richest countries with citizen taxes that are relatively low and an astonishingly number of people that are at the poverty level, homeless, hungry and not covered health care wise.
Obama: 'This is a Health Care Bill, Not an Abortion Bill'
President Says Still More Work to be Done on Legislation Passed by House
11/9/09 By JAKE TAPPER, KAREN TRAVERS, SUNLEN MILLER and DEVIN DWYER - ABC
President Obama said today that Congress needs to change abortion-related language in the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives this weekend.
"I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill," Obama said. "And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions.
Saying the bill cannot change the status quo regarding the ban on federally funding abortions, the President said "there are strong feelings on both sides" about an amendment passed on Saturday and added to the legislation, "and what that tells me is that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we're not changing the status quo."
After a contentious debate, the House passed a health care bill on Saturday that includes a provision banning abortion from being covered in the public insurance option contained in the bill. The bill also prevents women receiving insurance subsidies from purchasing private plans that cover abortion. Liberals in the House Democratic caucus were opposed to these provisions but voted for the overall bill.
In an exclusive television interview in the Map Room of the White House, Obama told ABC News' Jake Tapper that he was confident that the final legislation will ensure that "neither side feels that it's being betrayed."
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," he said.
Watch more of President Obama's interview with Jake Tapper tonight on World News and Nightline and tomorrow on Good Morning America.
The President was also asked about concerns that the Medicare cuts he proposes to help pay for health care reform would be undone by Congress subsequently, as is often the case with deficit and cost cutting measures.
"Are you willing to pledge that whatever cuts in Medicare are being made to fund health insurance, one third of it, that you will veto anything that tries to undo that?" Tapper asked.
" Yes," the President said. "I actually have said that is is important for us to make sure this thing is deficit neutral, without tricks."
Obama told ABC News there is still more work to be done before a final health care bill reaches his desk for a signature.
"I think everybody understands that there's going to be work to be done on the Senate side," he said. "It's not going to match up perfectly with the House side."
WORLD FREEDOM DAY, 2009
Twenty years ago today, the Wall came down in Berlin and both a country and a continent came together. After thousands of East Berliners flooded through checkpoints into West Berlin, border restrictions dissolved across Eastern Bloc countries. The Iron Curtain that divided Europe for decades finally fell, ushering in a new era of freedom and cooperation. On this anniversary, we are reminded that no challenge is too great for a world united in common purpose. After the Berlin Wall fell, oppressive regimes across the globe gave way. From Kiev to Cape Town, prison camps closed and democracy's doors were unlocked for millions who had known only tyranny. Markets opened too, spreading information and technology that empowered once-insolvent nations to achieve prosperity.
Twenty years later, our world is more interconnected than at any time in human history, giving rise to new opportunities for shared progress. Today, the barriers that challenge our world are not walls of cement and iron, but ones of fear, irresponsibility, and indifference. History reminds us that such walls can be torn down, but where they still exist we must work with all nations to strengthen civil societies, support democratic institutions and the rule of law, and promote free and fair electoral processes. Upholding these principles into the 21st century will require America's enduring commitment and steady leadership. From our first days as a Nation, Americans have felt a sense of urgency and determination to promote liberty and release the potential within each individual to contribute to the common good. On World Freedom Day, we celebrate the thriving democracies of Central and Eastern Europe, and we honor their citizens' right to choose their own destinies and contribute to their nations' future success.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2009, as World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day in fellowship with other nations and people of the world with appropriate ceremonies and activities, reaffirming our dedication to freedom and democracy. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
One of the points made by President Obama in his speech to the joint session of Congress to advocate health care reform was that he would be receptive to good and constructive ideas from any source, including Republicans who oppose nearly everything he does. It was a fine speech, and it succeeded in raising the prospects of enacting some kind of significant health care reform. If he really meant what he said about considering good ideas from the political opposition, he should make that more clear.
Without a doubt, health care reform is a very difficult challenge. As the saying goes, if it was easy, it would have been done long ago. Obama’s allies in Congress (the Democrats) have major differences among themselves, regarding the merits of different aspects of reform. The Republicans are almost 100% united in opposition, both for sincere ideological reasons and for pure political motives. Obama would like to have a bipartisan bill, but (with very few possible exceptions) congressional Republicans will refuse to back any bill, even if it contains several provisions to their liking. By temperament and political background, Obama has always tried to build a consensus, but neither party in Congress is in the mood. What is a president to do?
In apparent opposition to all conventional wisdom, I still believe that the best solution – both for policy and politics – would be a moderate health care reform bill that uses some of the better ideas from both parties. For the reforms to work, they will have to expand access and reduce overall health care costs, regardless of how payment of those costs is distributed. Reforms that focus on one of these issues while ignoring the other will ultimately fail.
With my usual disclaimer about not being an expert on this or any other subject, the best health care reform at this time would have the following characteristics:
1) No legal resident of the U.S. can have his/her coverage denied or revoked due to personal health issues. [The issue regarding illegal residents is trickier. My inclination is to believe that illegal residents should be included, but I would not insist on it as a condition to support an otherwise good bill.]
2) All persons eligible for coverage must be covered. There can be no “opt out” for individuals or families. Tax credits or similar assistance should be available for those who are too poor to afford coverage, but they have to get the coverage. If insurance companies must accept all applicants and all preexisting conditions, then it makes no sense to allow healthy Americans to stay out of the system before the need for insurance becomes obvious.
3) The tax favored treatment for employer-sponsored insurance should be ended, or at least sharply reduced. People who cannot get health insurance through work should not be disadvantaged the way they are now.
4) Individuals and small groups should be able to join large risk pools, in order to remove cost distortions due to underwriting.
5) Sensible tort reform is necessary. This includes caps on non-economic damages and an effective distinction between ordinary and gross negligence. In return for setting limits, the medical profession must do a better job of policing its members. The current practical necessities of defensive medicine and huge malpractice premiums greatly add to overall health care costs, while doing very little for patient well being.
6) End the interstate prohibition on selling medical insurance. Most states need more effective competition among its potential health insurers. Allowing the sale of insurance across state lines would be a big help.
7) Emphasis on prevention, as opposed to treatment and cure, needs to be a component of health care reform. There needs to be financial incentives for people to participate in wellness programs and annual physical exams.
8) For all the talk about “death panels,” the fact is that a large chunk of health care costs take place in the last six months of the patient’s life. I am not about write off somebody for being terminally ill, but there needs to be more honest discussion about the costs associated with extraordinary measures to keep somebody breathing for a few extra months, or weeks, or days. I don’t know what the appropriate answer is, but this is a big element of the national health care bill, and the issue must be faced with more honesty than it has had so far.
9) The public option is not as great an idea as its advocates suggest. This is especially true if there is an “opt out” provision for each individual state. It would likely have the effect of denying coverage for many vulnerable Americans. It will do nothing to contain actual costs, and the notion that it will “save” money by paying doctors at Medicare (or Medicaid) rates makes no sense. Doctors and hospitals can presently treat Medicare as a loss leader item, pushing up the costs to everybody else. They cannot do that if there is no everybody else. The public option either works like Medicare, providing a short term illusion of cost saving, or it works like a private insurance company, with no saving. The “trigger” provision suggested by Olympia Snowe and some other senators, where the public option would be created something like five years in the future if demonstrated to necessary by conditions at that time, might make sense.
Anyway, the status quo cannot continue indefinitely. We need to have some sensible health care reform, but we need to get something that can pass both the House and Senate. Passing a feel good measure that passes only one house of Congress is useless. I believe that a health care reform bill with the characteristics outlined above would be good public policy, and can pass Congress if President Obama makes clear that this is something he supports. It may seem to be too much of half-hearted reform for the liking of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, but even a half-hearted reform now leaves open further reforms in the near future, if those are believed to be needed. The reverse is not true. Failure to pass something now will almost guarantee a very long delay in passing any reform. It will also seriously weaken Obama’s presidency. I do not want that to happen.
11/15/09 Jesse Lee - WhiteHouse.gov
(Dr. Biden and Vice President Biden greet soldiers from the Delaware Army National Guard 261st Signal Brigade at their homecoming in September. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
Like military moms across the country, Dr. Jill Biden looked for small ways to send the comforts of home to son Beau during his deployment: she and Vice President Biden sent him a Christmas stocking stuffed with candy and playing cards; she baked him his favorite brownies for his birthday; she helped him keep up with children Natalie and Hunter by mailing artwork and photos of soccer games. This Veterans Day, with Beau safely home after almost a year in Iraq, Dr. Biden expresses her gratitude for the sacrifices of all military families in an essay published today in USA WEEKEND Magazine, and shares how she plans to honor the men and women who risk their lives for our country:
It helps that families such as ours realize we're never alone, as I've seen this year how powerful the support of the community can be: A local restaurant provides pizzas at a welcome-home event; a minor-league baseball team, the Wilmington Blue Rocks, dedicates a game night in support of our troops; one of our schools adopts a military unit. Then, there's an organization I've worked with in the past few years called Delaware Boots on the Ground. It started as a group of military moms and spouses who came together to support our Delaware National Guard members and their families. "Boots" now performs simple acts of service for deployed soldiers and their families, like supporting summer camps for children who have a deployed parent. There are just so many ways that each American can lend a hand and make a difference.
Beau came home safely Sept. 25, after almost a year in Iraq. My family feels so blessed.
Joe and I plan to visit Arlington National Cemetery this Veterans Day and spend time with veterans and soldiers to show our thanks. On Veterans Day and every day, it's our duty to show appreciation for their service and remember that each of us has the ability to make a difference in the life of a service member. Even though Beau's deployment is complete, I still consider myself a member of the military family. I always will.
