China Digs into a Lucrative Afghan Copper Mine

China was awarded a contract over the Aynak copper mine, and, predictably, the selection contributes to the chorus of graft complaints in China. The Chinese state owned company, China Metallurgical (MCC), beat American and Canadian companies in the 2007 bidding process. The story is back in the news as the mine is preparing to open and conduct extraction. The United States' war enabled this process, and I wouldn't ever contend that we are "owed" first rights to strip a country's national resources. I wanted to post this to illustrate how China's rising is tied with resources and the US's sacrifices, as I pointed out in Trading Sanctions for a Missile Shield.

The Chinese are adept capitalists and most likely its resource diplomacy will run aground and increase disenchantment with China's growing power, as it already has for Iraqi oil workers. The Chinese favor importing their own workers instead of relying on indigenous workers, as the Newsday and NYT articles claim, which can only add to doubts over China's extractive efforts. US's companies record on exploiting local workers is hardly sterling, and the level of US companies' benefits to foreign workers and their environment is debatable. However, the Chinese strategy of avoiding labor strife and discontent by employing Chinese workers in foreign ventures could possibly backfire and foster nationalist resentment toward China and its businesses that seem intent on mining, drilling, or otherwise removing natural resources.

Why Children Don't Belong at Phish Concerts

Photo from Festival 8, with thanks to Michael Mahle

One Week from Departure

This time next week, I will be snaking my way through Denver International Airport as I leave for Morocco. After stop overs in Newark and Lisbon, I land in Casablanca where I'll stay for a few days as I acclimate to my new surroundings and escape from what I expect to be punishing jet lag. I'm bringing a laptop and I envision photo updates here and on facebook. As one can guess, this week is filled with appointments, drinks, and time at home with Kate.

Playing Ball for Organized Labor and EFCA

By all appearances, organized labor is quieting what many considered it's number one priority, the Employee Free Choice Act, in favor of comprehensive health care reform. With the release of the White House guest logs, I was surprised to learn that Andy Stern visited 1600 Penn twenty-two times, which was more than any person whose name was requested. SEIU and Change to Win were vital elements in Obama's coalition that propelled him into the White House. Of course, there's no guarantee that Stern met with the president or any ranking cabinet-level officials. Trumka entered the White House seven times. I would not be surprised to learn that EFCA is still a possibility next year or two after Obama's big ticket agenda items pass.

With that in mind, the AFL-CIO released a snappy flyer with a roster of baseball players who support EFCA. With the title "A Level Playing Field is as Important in the Workplace as it is in Baseball," the advertisement grouped photos and positions of Heath Bell, Dave Bush, LaTroy Hawkins, Torii Hunter, John Lannan, Andrew Miller, J.J. Putz, Jimmy Rollins, Mark Teixeira, Justin Verlander, Shane Victorino and Adam Wainwright to express their support for EFCA.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/28/world-series-stars-push-e_n_336658.html

One Image that Encapsulates a Phish Festival

Mark Sanford's an Intellectual Conservative (!?!) & Ayn Rand in Newsweek

Mark Sanford (you know, the governor from South Carolina that managed to disgrace his family, office, state, and party) is waving and waving in an attempt to stay relevant and position himself as an intellectual conservative. In a pitiful attempt, Sanford beats a well-worn conservative path on Rand and why she and John Galt kicks mega ass in Atlas Hugged. Hugged is a poorly titled article that reeks like an 0p-ed of a person who's fighting for his political career yet fails to recognize that his indecency has pushed him far from the great white hope of the GOP. Blatantly wrapping himself in the ridiculous garb of compassionate conservatism, the piece is nothing more than a soapbox for Sanford's conservatism by beating the "government is the problem" drum.

Of course, what would the article be without a closing paragraph on the fallen nature of man? Sanford links limited government with man's sinful tendencies and salvation is lurking around the corner, presumably for his stupidity and the bogeyman of big government. "Men and women are imperfect, or "fallen," which is why I believe there is a role for limited government in making sure that my rights end where yours begin....In that sense, this is a very good time for a Rand resurgence." Weaving religion and limited government induces vomiting and his feeble shot at salvation is reprehensible.

ETA: Although Sanford mentions Jennifer Burns's new Rand bio as well as Rand's works, there's no semblance of a book review in this pointless "article."