Michael Collins

A chronicle of the spectacular incompetence of those who purport to lead us

WASHINGTON - Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, revealed a government process of spying on citizens and organizations, not information about the subjects of cyber spying. If not illegal, it is a process that should be illegal. The real term for what Snowden did is whistleblowing: acting to serve the public by revealing important information kept secret by the government.

Snowden was indicted for his good work.

Last week we found out that President Obama has been lying about providing lethal assistance to the terrorist-infested Syrian rebels. The public has a right to an accurate version of United States foreign policy.

Obama and the in-the-know members of his administration and Congress were not indicted.

We live in a lawless nation where enforcement of the law is the exclusive province of those in charge.

The Agonist's Don Henry Ford had the apt description of the government indictment of Snowden for serving the people by alerting them to invasive government behavior -- Treason.

Having said that, let's look at the origins of the morass that Snowden exposed.

Snoop Daddy ECHELON

Spying on citizens, governments, and others has been the goal of those in power throughout recorded history. Likely, it comes from guilt induced paranoia. You rule, you cheat and steal, and, as a result, you spy on as many citizens as possible to either improve your graft or prevent anyone from finding out the very naughty things you are doing.

The foundation for efficient mass spying on citizens began in 1947 with the establishment of the ECHELON program, a global listening network via available electronic media. The opportunities for electronic spying were too tempting for the rulers to resist. The English speaking nations started this program: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Together, they created a worldwide network spying on phone, data, and other communications. The purpose was to share vital security information. But it became much more than that.

ECHELON morphed into a number of specific programs. These were well known prior to 2001. In addition to the core group of five, every nation in the European Union was fully aware of the perils of ECHELON and its successors no later than 2001 (see this 2001 report).

When you see German government officials behave as though this is a major shock, they're just acting. The European Parliament produced an extensive report on what Snowden released in 2001. The draft version of that report is very revealing.

World leaders should just tell the truth - We have contempt for you little people and we will do whatever we want to keep you down, including spying on you.

Give Snowden the Medal of Freedom and a whistleblower reward as per federal law. Then, leave him alone.

Real Unemployment

Notice any improvement in the economy lately. It seems we've moved from life support to a transitional bed in intensive care. "Official unemployment" is down to 7.6% and there is some new business and hiring activity. But the official number is vastly understated.

The lies used to maintain the totally inadequate status quo economy are absolutely essential. If we were given the reality of how bad things are, we might fully understand the dreadful and dangerous state of the economic system. "Official unemployment" is one of the most vital lies since it masks the true extent of joblessness.

Official unemployment - U3: 7.6%
"Persons are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work." Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Alternate U.S. Gov. unemployment - U6: 13.8%
"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force." Bureau of Labor Statistics

Real Unemployment (SGS Alternative): 23%
"SGS Alternate Unemployment Rate reflects current unemployment reporting methodology adjusted for SGS-estimated long-term discouraged workers, who were defined out of official existence in 1994. That estimate is added to the BLS estimate of U-6 unemployment, which includes short-term discouraged workers." Shadow Government Statistics (SGS)

BLS U6 unemployment rate
+SGS estimate (those unemployed for more than 12 months)
= Real unemployment

So, the next time you see or hear examples of improving economic conditions, just imagine what it would be like if real unemployment went down to just the current official rate of 7.6%. That would be a 15-point decline (67%) in unemployment.

Syria Kidnapping

It's official - President Obama is held hostage by the neoconservatives who gave us the nightmare of Iraq II (and much more). He must have been kidnapped and coerced, maybe even chipped, then returned to his duties. That's the only explanation for the clearly delusional statements about the U.S. contributions to the Syrian troubles.

Clearly, the hostage takers forced Obama into pathetic public anguishing over the delivery of lethal aid to the al Qaeda infested rebels. It's a lie. The U.S. government has provided lethal assistance documented as early July 27, 2012 in Haaretz, then by the New York Times on March 13, and in the Los Angeles Times article June 21.

If the corporate media knew about lethal aid, certainly President Obama knew. Why would he lie to the public like this were he not coerced?

We urge immediate action to free president Obama from the evildoers who are making him tell these outrageous lies.

END

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