The Hermit Kingdom

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, aka North Korea, is a country of almost 24million souls governed by a totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship under a personality cult headed by several generations of the Kim family. North Korea is one of the most isolated impenetrable societies on earth and is ruled through continual and intense propaganda and iron-fisted control of virtually every facet of day-to-day life. So little is known about this country that the fact that it suffered an almost decade-long famine during the nineteen nineties during which an estimated 2 million people perished, was hardly known in western countries. The actual number is probably higher, as many deaths were classified as having been caused by collateral diseases.

In her book, Nothing To Envy, journalist Barbara Demick presents an oral history of several North Koreans who were able to defect to economic powerhouse, South Korea. It is through these stories that the desolation of life in the Hermit Kingdom can be understood. The particular, but by no means only, example of the miseries foisted on its citizens brings home the extent to which the residents of this closed society have been forced to suffer. The state's ability to provide fundamental nutrition for its people experienced a massive breakdown resulting in continuous foraging for scraps and even edible weeds causing sickness and death on a massive scale.

One very sobering story is told by a former kindergarten teacher who's pupils would arrive at school wearing ragged hand-me-downs, layered to counter the lack of heating in the classrooms. The children themselves being so undernourished that they appeared to be several years younger than their actual ages.

After the students had settled into their seats, the teacher would bring out her accordion to lead the class in a rousing rendition of "We have nothing to envy in the world."

Our father, we have nothing to envy in the world.
Our House is within the embrace of the Workers Party
We are all brothers and sisters
Even if a sea of fire comes toward us, sweet children
do not need to be afraid
Our father is here
We have nothing to envy in the world

The "father" is of course whichever Kim happens to be in power. The government supplies framed Photos of the Kim's for every home and public building, but can't seem to bridge the massive food deficit.

It turns out that the accordion is the official "people's instrument" which all teachers must master before graduating. In addition to schools, forced labor parties are also serenaded with accordion propaganda tunes. This brought to mind the great lamented Boston writer, George V. Higgins, who maintained that nothing good ever came from any event at which an accordion was played.

This might be funny if it weren't for the widespread suffering of the North Korean people The Kims can find money for nukes, but let the people forage for roots and weeds to eat. George Bush was right, this country has definitely earned its place on the axis of evil.

Against All Odds

It would seem that any concern over whether or not it is too early for Scott Brown to ramp up his re-election effort can be put to rest. In a half-page OP-ED PIECE in today's Globe, old friend, Joan Vennochi makes a case for a rematch between Brown and Mass. Attorney General, Martha Coakley. Citing a recent poll by the Democratic polling company, PUBLIC POLICY POLLING, the article shows that Coakley appears to be the best match up against Brown of the seven potential candidates included in the poll. At that, the poll shows Brown ahead of Coakley, 49%to 40% in a head to head match. Coakley's relative strength appears to stem solely from her high name recognition.

When Scott Brown's autobiography, Against All Odds, was released earlier this year, it seemed as though all anyone wanted to talk about was Brown's brush with an attempted sexual abuse by a camp counselor when he was ten years old. Not to minimize the seriousness of such an event, but the book is 324 pages, and there are a number of more important topics covered.

First of all, the story of Brown's early life is sobering, to say the least. Dealing with the insidious effects of a broken home life: his father's abandonment at a very early age, his mother's bouts with alcohol and her several husbands, including at least one psychopath named Larry McShane who threatened to break Scott's hands, which would have curtailed his basketball career. Not only was basketball his first love, but would also become his ticket to a college education. The fact that Brown was able to rise above these circumstances speaks volumes about his character. Even more amazing, is by the time he was running for office later in life, he managed to salvage a good relationships with each of his parents.

Towards the end of the book, Brown writes about his political philosophy.

There is a core set of beliefs that have shaped my thinking since the beginning of my service in public life. They are uncomplicated and straightforward. I believe that government is getting too big. We have too many laws, and we don't need more of them. I have always felt that we need to get rid of some of our laws and streamline the ones we keep, and we need to better enforce the laws that we have.........

I believe strongly that taxes are too high. But they are now getting much worse. Congress and the administration dithered over taking still more money out of the pockets of hardworking Americans......

Lowering tax rates encourages citizens to invest and to save and also to spend. It encourages businesses to hire new workers. It encourages entrepreneur's to start new ventures. We can solve a significant portion of the federal government's fiscal mess by growing our economy.

I believe that power concentrated in the hands of one political party, as it is in Massachusetts leads to bad government and poor decisions. That holds true for Democrats and Republicans...... There is little uglier than the arrogance of power or the bashing of our opponents for partisan and selfish ends.

Yes, Scott Brown is a Republican, but is not an ideologue. His main goal is to find solutions to our common problems and is willing to work with good ideas regardless of their source. We would argue that he is the prototype of a new politician, one that Massachusetts badly needs if it is to get beyond the morass of corruption and pandering to special interests that that threatens to drag the state down. Read "Against all Odds" and learn the rest of the story.

Re-elect Scott Brown

It's hard to believe that with seventeen months to go before the election, Scott Brown, and the Brown Brigade, are up and running in full re-election mode.

The Senator was in town yesterday to make the case that, given all the hot air coming from the left, not to mention the cadre of candidates lining up for the nomination, it is not a bit too early to start generating support for the re-election of the only Republican holding high state or federal office in Massachusetts. Brown was frank and open, especially regarding some of the votes he has made as senator. "I didn't go down there to do nothing", Scott stated and was unabashed in his willingness to work with whomever could develop new ideas to solve our serious fiscal problems. "It's all about jobs", he continued. "We must enable businesses to begin hiring and put people back to work". This requires the re-establishment of a sense of tax and regulatory stability to encourage investment in the future.

With respect to the federal deficit, Scott cited a dangerous "precipice" yawning out into our future if nothing is done to stop the out of control spending. He reassured those in attendance that raising the debt ceiling without serious and meaningful cuts in spending is a giant non-starter. Attendees were also assured that efforts are underway to tame Obama care, especially its most damaging provisions.

So don't be a wallflower. Get it on and start thinking Re-election for Scott Brown. The other side has already spent an incredible $45 million in an early effort to capture this most important Senate Seat. Don't let it happen. Click on Scott Brown for Senate to learn more.