Ted Cruz announced his candidacy for president. I am waiting for people like Donald Trump who demanded Obama verify that he was born in the U.S., to come out and say that Cruz is not eligible.  If people like Trump would not say that Cruz is ineligible, then why all the fuss about where Obama was born?  If being born in the U.S. is needed to be president, then Cruz is not eligible since he was born in Canada.  I personally think that if someone is an offspring of an American citizen and lived in the U.S. most of his life then he is eligible.  I think the original intention of the founding father was to prevent someone born in England become president and possibly undermine our independence.  In any case, I am still waiting for Trump and others who demanded proof even when proof was already given, say what they think since there is proof that Cruz is not born in the U.S.

I didn't see the comment from LBOAYM from the last blog till today.  The article of the artist is very interesting.  Our family, like many immigrant families from China, are from Taishan of Guandong province.  We were considered poor uneducated hillbillies in China.  Yet many immigrants from that area have flourished, not only in the U.S. but also Canada, Europe and Southeast Asia.  Lee Kuan Yew would be an example of descendants from Guandong province who went on to do great things.  By the way, Fareed Zakaria, the host of CNN's GPS program, said today that Lee was the most interesting man in the world.  Very few people in the U.S. know about him and it is too bad.  Most people in the U.S. probably think the most interesting man in the world is that guy in the Dos equis beer commercial!

The Chinese Exclusion Act was all to real.  We are a country of immigrants but our treatment of immigrants is no where near the ideal that we were taught in school.  The quote on the Statue of Liberty:  Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...."  is well known to school children but the Chinese Exclusion Act?  I would bet 95% of college educated Americans had no idea of its existence.  What native born Americans don't realize is that the people who are willing to make a horrible journey, face discrimination and still work very hard are the people who push this country forward.  Without the drives of immigrants, we will lose our world leading status in a very short time.  We, the Chinese immigrants, have to remember those who came before us, our Jackie Robinsons.  It was their dedication and suffering that made it so much easier for us today.

Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore has died.  I consider Lee the greatest leader of a country in the last 50 years.  Although Lee has many critics, Singapore is celebrating its 50 years of independence as a thriving economic powerhouse.  I don't think that in 1965, Lee or anyone else in the world could have predicted that Singapore would survive 50 years let alone be a rich nation.  There was problem with its much larger Muslim neighbor Malaysia.  There was also a restless native population that did not like the idea of being ruled by people of Chinese ancestry.  Lee had to act to protect the country and unify it at the same time.  Given all that and take the country from the third world to be one of the tigers of Asia in less than three decades is a great accomplishment. 

Of course there is the question of individual freedom in Singapore.  Lee did rule with an iron hand.  But when the country became stable and prosperous, Lee did step down even though his influence continued behind the scene.  Obviously laws such as no chewing gum in public will never be accepted in western countries.  But the type of discipline that Lee brought to Singapore helped it survive and thrive.  Lee is the father of the country, literally.  He is the father handing out tough love and the children do well as a result despite resentment.  The difference between him and other dictators is that he did not do it to benefit himself.  He lived frugally and did not become extremely wealthy while the country stayed in poverty.  With his passing, I am sure the laws will gradually loosen up.  Young people of this generation did not grow up in danger or poverty.  They may not appreciate what Lee had to do.  They will demand more individual freedom.  And that would be the right thing for Singapore.  But we must not forget that without Lee, Singaporeans would be living as Muslims under Malaysia today.  They would not have more freedom under that system and certainly will not be as rich.

Forty seven GOP senators wrote to the ayatollah of Iran telling him that any nuclear deal made by Obama will be cancelled with the election of a new president.  I think it is safe to say that the negotiators from Iran have a very good understanding of how our government works.  I am sure they know the party of the current president may not be in power in 2017.  They also know about the difference between a treaty which needs the approval of the senate and an executive agreement.  So I don't think that Iran will stop negotiating after reading this letter.

But the letter is stupid in that gives the advantage to Iran.  Now if the negotiation breaks down, Iran can blame the Americans because the U.S. government as represented by these senators are going to go back on any deal.  Sure, the agreement may be a bad one and Iran can cheat after making the agreement.  But we can always restart sanctions if Iran does not keep their end of the bargain.  And what is the alternative?  Bomb Iran on behalf of Israel?  Israel is perfectly capable of doing that herself.  But it will only delay and not stop Iran from building the bomb.  If negotiation completely fails, can we count on our allies to continue sanction if it appears people in our own government is sabotaging the effort. 

In two days Israel will have their election.  Netanyahu's speech to Congress at the invitation of GOP was a political move by him and his hosts.  We will see if the citizens of Israel agree with them.

Was away during the weekend.  Trying to catch up with the news today and found about the U. of Oklahoma racist video.  I was a little shock that in 2015 that college educated people would still think nothing of saying these sickening things.  Then I realize that I would be naive if I don't think that this happens behind closed doors in college campuses everywhere.  It just happens that this time somebody who is appalled by this is able to send out a video recording to the public.  I think most people believe that with each succeeding generation, racism decreases.  But despite being more diverse than previous generations, I think the young people of today maybe no better or even worse than last couple of generations when it comes to racism.

I think there is a perception among young people today that economically they will go backward compared to their parents.  White males still make the most money compare to others with the same education.  It is just that a college educated white male have to battle with females and males of other races for a job that would have gone to a white male before.  There is a perception that Asians are getting the top college spots, not realizing that Asians actually get less spots than their credentials would indicate.  (more on that in the future)  There is also the perception that minorities are taking jobs away from whites through affirmative action.  Add to that the rants from conservatives about our black president and you can see why young naive people can become racist.  I don't know if any of this apply to the U.of OK video but I will not be surprised if more of this goes on behind closed doors on campuses today than in the past 20 years.

The GOP blockage of funding for homeland security is totally ridiculous.  They are willing to hold hostage the security of the country in an attempt to stop Obama's immigration policy?  There is no chance that they would succeed because they don't have enough vote to stop filibuster in the senate nor override a veto from Obama.  This is an exercise in futility.  Even most Republicans agree with this.  While this may not cripple the country in the short term, it will have consequences if the department is not funded.  Do you really want the people who are working in security lose their concentration because they are forced to work without a pay check?  Just like the debt default debacle a few years back, the confidence in the U.S. is at stake here.

I don't know why the GOP is wasting time on this and trying to kill Obamacare.  Their best chance in these are in the courts.  They have no chance legislative wise unless they elect a GOP president in 2016.  They can enhance their chances in that if they can show they can govern.  If they put out laws that are moderate, they have the votes to pass both houses.  Then if Obama vetoes then they can use that against the Democratic nominee.  If he signs, then the GOP show that they are reasonable and able to govern.  So if they are smart, they won't waste any more time trying to do things that are impossible and endanger America.

Speaking of presidential election, Rand Paul won a conservative poll this week while Jeb Bush got booed at the gathering.  Don't read too much into this.  Both Rand Paul and his father Ron had won this poll in the past and neither have been close in getting the nomination.  Jeb Bush is not a favorite among conservatives but he has the name and money.  With Romney bowing out, Bush is still viable among the moderates in the party.  I think Scott Walker is in a good position as he has placed himself between the extremists and moderates.  Plus he is from a toss up state that the GOP nominee needs to win to get elected.  So I would place him as the front runner at this time.