47 Senators

This latest action by the Republican 47 is unprecedented and capable of causing international mischief. If Our (particular) democracy is seen to be incapable of entering into binding international treaties and agreements, it would be very, very bad. A couple hundred years of development of a code in which our nations might function, if not always live, we cannot have national legislature's, of any country, threatening to undo international agreements. It just isn't done and I feel like an idiot spelling it out but if nations cannot trust the USA on treaties and agreements, the international order vanishes. I am not sure it gets more serious than this and the fact that our Right Wing is so used to being an oppositional force they cannot be trusted with real power.

The  Euro has outlived its usefulness. When the Euro first appeared it seemed a necessary antidote to USA dominance. A uni polar world is a recipe for abuse and hegemonism. Now, however, the rise of China has made the USA  less of a worldwide behemoth and has created the bi polar world we are comfortable with. The Euro papers over differences of national attitude at the detriment of democracy. When the former Finnish minster says  ( paraphrased) we do not change policy because of elections it is a frank disavowal of democracy. If there is a counter weight to the USA we do not need a European union as much. As an American I want a counter balance to USA hegemony. The European union has failed at being this counterweight and merely ties economic policy to a non democratic techno- authoritarianism that is both unpopular and doomed. The European union is the modern equivalent of the Holy Roman Empire; neither holy, nor Roman nor an empire. It was a noble attempt, but since the rise of China as well as  the  Islamic State  the  USA does not seem so  invincible. It is time to loosen the union back to the former common market.

Execution and understanding

 I am back! Didn't post for a few years but.....                                                                                                       Lately one of the issues  in the  death penalty debate is whether the intended death row inmate  knows why they are being executed.  To me this is silly. If the reason for death penalty is to remove those who cannot get along with others with no chance of them getting paroled is would not matter if they know why they are being executed. If the reason is purely bloodthirsty then having the inmate ponder their upcoming  mortality  ( I guess in terror) would be important. This is a big deal now because  so many of our mentally ill are incarcerated.  TExas desperately wants to execute people  but balks at executing those who think their punishment is because they are Jesus or Napoleon. Texas juries do not want to consider this kind of technicality but courts have ruled on capacity and responsibility and it is  that the convicted's understanding is so important. If it is all about revenge served cold then this makes sense.