we have ROMNEY vs NON-ROMNEY, Romney having a weak offense but tremendous defense. His super-PAC defense currently controls the Iowa game and is prepared to blow-out his opponents in the New Hampshire game. He can then accept a tie in the South Carolina game, and would walk into the Super Bowl as the NON-OBAMA. In the Obama game, the teams OBAMA vs THE NON-OBAMA ROMNEY woul appear to present a very competitive balance or equal abilility. TN-OR defense would be fully recharged, (the non-Romney teams/factions would be the variable = would they support him as the ultimate GOP candidate, desplit their reluctance over his religion and their underlying problem the REpublicans have with Romney is the same porblem the American public should being have with Romney = if he doesn't stand for anything, the flip=flopping, then can he make a decision? If the GOP league gets fully behind TN-OR, OBAMA team would have their hands full. With OBAMA team having no offense throughout the season and a just adequate Defense capable of winning just enough games to be in consideration, it goes into The SUPER BOWL with an even won-loss record. So it comes down to the Quarternbacks - OBAMA vs. ROMNEY & the DEFENSES (Super PACs). OBAMA needs Romney to be roughed up in the League games over the next 5 months. A contentious convention would show fractures and expose a major whole in his offense. A Romney losing his cool would be a major turn-over. Obama has to avoid a turn-over. Romney does not possess a bully-pulpit like Obama so he will have to spend to get exposure. Obama can create several drives using his office and through battling the Republican congress.
FINAL SCORE:
OBAMA = 16 (1-td (Turnover score, 3-fg's)
ROMNEY= 14 (2-td on offense).
or
OBAMA= 29 (2-TD's, 5-FG's)
ROMNEY=28 (2-TD's on OFF/ 2-TD's on DEF)
Obama's special teams - the OCCUPY movement (OWS)
Republican Vice-President Candidate
Intangible - the Economy (negative) World Political (neutral).
Unemployment / Employment
Federal Deficit
Health Care Act
Saturday, December 31, 2011
AND THE MAJOR TAKE AWAY FOR 2011
'For the first time, the top export of the United States, the world's biggest gas guzzler, is fuel.
Measured in dollars, the nation is on pace this year to ship more gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel than any other single export, according to U.S. Census data going back to 1990. It will also be the first year in more than 60 that America has been a net exporter of these fuels.
Just how big of a shift is this? A decade ago, fuel wasn't even among the top 25 exports. And for the last five years, America's top export was aircraft.'
'The trend is significant because for decades the U.S. has relied on huge imports of fuel from Europe in order to meet demand. It only reinforced the image of America as an energy hog. And up until a few years ago, whenever gasoline prices climbed, there were complaints in Congress that U.S. refiners were not growing quickly enough to satisfy domestic demand; that controversy would appear to be over.'
'The last time the U.S. was a net exporter of fuels was 1949, when Harry Truman was president.'
So much for the energy independence arguement. As another blogger stated - no manufacturing left in the USA, now corporations export natural resources - third world country, anyone?
'All the pollution but none of the tax revenues'
Measured in dollars, the nation is on pace this year to ship more gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel than any other single export, according to U.S. Census data going back to 1990. It will also be the first year in more than 60 that America has been a net exporter of these fuels.
Just how big of a shift is this? A decade ago, fuel wasn't even among the top 25 exports. And for the last five years, America's top export was aircraft.'
'The trend is significant because for decades the U.S. has relied on huge imports of fuel from Europe in order to meet demand. It only reinforced the image of America as an energy hog. And up until a few years ago, whenever gasoline prices climbed, there were complaints in Congress that U.S. refiners were not growing quickly enough to satisfy domestic demand; that controversy would appear to be over.'
'The last time the U.S. was a net exporter of fuels was 1949, when Harry Truman was president.'
So much for the energy independence arguement. As another blogger stated - no manufacturing left in the USA, now corporations export natural resources - third world country, anyone?
'All the pollution but none of the tax revenues'
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Interesting read - from a piece by
Michael Thomas,
'This time, I fear, the public anger will not be deflected. Confessions, not false, will be exacted. Occupy Wall Street has set the snowball rolling; you may not think much of OWS—I have my own reservations, although none are philosophical or moral—but it has made America aware of a sinister, usurious process by which wealth has systematically been funneled into fewer and fewer hands. A process in which Washington played a useful supporting role, but no more than that.
Over the next year, I expect the “what” will give way to the “how” in the broad electorate’s comprehension of the financial situation. The 99 percent must learn to differentiate the bloodsuckers and rent-extractors from those in the 1 percent who make the world a better, more just place to live. Once people realize how Wall Street made its pile, understand how financiers get rich, what it is that they actually do, the time will become ripe for someone to gather the spreading ripples of anger and perplexity into a focused tsunami of retribution. To make the bastards pay, properly, for the grief and woe they have caused. Perhaps not to the extent proposed by H. L. Mencken, who wrote that when a bank fails, the first order of business should be to hang its board of directors, but in a manner in which the pain is proportionate to the collateral damage. Possibly an excess-profits tax retroactive to 2007, or some form of “Tobin tax” on transactions, or a wealth tax. The era of money for nothing will be over.
But it won’t just end with taxes. When the great day comes, Wall Street will pray for another Pecora, because compared with the rough beast now beginning to strain at the leash, Pecora will look like Phil Gramm. Humiliation and ridicule, even financial penalties, will be the least of the Street’s tribulations. There will be prosecutions and show trials. There will be violence, mark my words. Houses burnt, property defaced. I just hope that this time the mob targets the right people in Wall Street and in Washington. (How does a right-thinking Christian go about asking Santa for Mitch McConnell’s head under the Christmas tree?) There will be kleptocrats who threaten to take themselves elsewhere if their demands on jurisdictions and tax breaks aren’t met, and I say let ’em go!
At the end of the day, the convulsion to come won’t really be about Wall Street’s derivatives malefactions, or its subprime fun and games, or rogue trading, or the folly of banks. It will be about this society’s final opportunity to rip away the paralyzing shackles of corruption or else dwell forever in a neofeudal social order. You might say that 1384 has replaced 1984 as our worst-case scenario. I have lived what now, at 75, is starting to feel like a long life. If anyone asks me what has been the great American story of my lifetime, I have a ready answer. It is the corruption, money-based, that has settled like some all-enveloping excremental mist on the landscape of our hopes, that has permeated every nook of any institution or being that has real influence on the way we live now. Sixty years ago, if you had asked me, on the basis of all that I had been taught, whether I thought this condition of general rot was possible in this country, I would have told you that you were nuts. And I would have been very wrong. What has happened in this country has made a lie of my boyhood.'
'As 2011 slithers to its end, none of the major problems that led to the crisis point three years ago have really been solved. Bank balance sheets still reek. Europe day by day becomes a financial black hole, with matter from the periphery being sucked toward the center until the vortex itself collapses. The Street and its ministries of propaganda have fallen back on a Big Lie as old as capitalism itself: that all that has gone wrong has been government’s fault. This time, however, I don’t think the argument that “Washington ate my homework” is going to work. This time, a firestorm is going to explode about the Street’s head—and about time, too.'
'This time, I fear, the public anger will not be deflected. Confessions, not false, will be exacted. Occupy Wall Street has set the snowball rolling; you may not think much of OWS—I have my own reservations, although none are philosophical or moral—but it has made America aware of a sinister, usurious process by which wealth has systematically been funneled into fewer and fewer hands. A process in which Washington played a useful supporting role, but no more than that.
Over the next year, I expect the “what” will give way to the “how” in the broad electorate’s comprehension of the financial situation. The 99 percent must learn to differentiate the bloodsuckers and rent-extractors from those in the 1 percent who make the world a better, more just place to live. Once people realize how Wall Street made its pile, understand how financiers get rich, what it is that they actually do, the time will become ripe for someone to gather the spreading ripples of anger and perplexity into a focused tsunami of retribution. To make the bastards pay, properly, for the grief and woe they have caused. Perhaps not to the extent proposed by H. L. Mencken, who wrote that when a bank fails, the first order of business should be to hang its board of directors, but in a manner in which the pain is proportionate to the collateral damage. Possibly an excess-profits tax retroactive to 2007, or some form of “Tobin tax” on transactions, or a wealth tax. The era of money for nothing will be over.
But it won’t just end with taxes. When the great day comes, Wall Street will pray for another Pecora, because compared with the rough beast now beginning to strain at the leash, Pecora will look like Phil Gramm. Humiliation and ridicule, even financial penalties, will be the least of the Street’s tribulations. There will be prosecutions and show trials. There will be violence, mark my words. Houses burnt, property defaced. I just hope that this time the mob targets the right people in Wall Street and in Washington. (How does a right-thinking Christian go about asking Santa for Mitch McConnell’s head under the Christmas tree?) There will be kleptocrats who threaten to take themselves elsewhere if their demands on jurisdictions and tax breaks aren’t met, and I say let ’em go!
At the end of the day, the convulsion to come won’t really be about Wall Street’s derivatives malefactions, or its subprime fun and games, or rogue trading, or the folly of banks. It will be about this society’s final opportunity to rip away the paralyzing shackles of corruption or else dwell forever in a neofeudal social order. You might say that 1384 has replaced 1984 as our worst-case scenario. I have lived what now, at 75, is starting to feel like a long life. If anyone asks me what has been the great American story of my lifetime, I have a ready answer. It is the corruption, money-based, that has settled like some all-enveloping excremental mist on the landscape of our hopes, that has permeated every nook of any institution or being that has real influence on the way we live now. Sixty years ago, if you had asked me, on the basis of all that I had been taught, whether I thought this condition of general rot was possible in this country, I would have told you that you were nuts. And I would have been very wrong. What has happened in this country has made a lie of my boyhood.'
'As 2011 slithers to its end, none of the major problems that led to the crisis point three years ago have really been solved. Bank balance sheets still reek. Europe day by day becomes a financial black hole, with matter from the periphery being sucked toward the center until the vortex itself collapses. The Street and its ministries of propaganda have fallen back on a Big Lie as old as capitalism itself: that all that has gone wrong has been government’s fault. This time, however, I don’t think the argument that “Washington ate my homework” is going to work. This time, a firestorm is going to explode about the Street’s head—and about time, too.'
So Romney's guarantee
of a job for every college graduate sounds like 'just another Big-government entitlement program'. I mean where will the jobs come from - another bureaucracy counting paper-clips?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
I just came to a realization
my loyal friend Bella understands self-interest better than most Americans.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Corporate welfare -
"austerity programs" do not reduce governments' deficits because austerity is nothing more than redirecting funds from domestic programs into corporate welfare programs including bank bailouts and military industrial complex costs. Government deficits will continue to grow and the serial solution will be more "austerity".
When will the media bust Romney's
BIG LIE? The media currently seems to want to help the Republican elites install Romney as the nominee, but eventually the media will change and begin exposing Romney's flip-flopping. Romney will be finished about 1 month after his nomination. The American media is fickle, they build up a candidate then tear them down. With 10 months to go a lot can change but Obama has the pulpit and Romney has nothing. The Republican Congress is toxic, if Obama can tie Romney to them its over before the convention. In the end, the voters must consider if the economy will be any better under Romney than Obama.
UPDATED: 12-22-2011 - With Romney currently refusing to release his tax return and continued flip-flopping by summer he will be a very weak candidate. Will the Republicans nominate a loser?
UPDATED: 12-22-2011 - With Romney currently refusing to release his tax return and continued flip-flopping by summer he will be a very weak candidate. Will the Republicans nominate a loser?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Why is the free market so interested
in taking over the services previously offered by government? Maybe the free market doesn't really work, and its easier to get our elected officials to give them our tax revenues to privatize those formerly government services. I mean they don't deliver the services any cheaper or more effectively.
Thoughts
One is the getting rid of the lower capital gains and dividend rates and the other is the top rate. The lower capital gain and dividend rate is a distorting subsidy to the stock market that sucks investment from small business into portfolio income. The top rate can be increased without damaging the economy because it's impact on disposable income is insignificant and we have had higher rates at time when we have done well.
Spending isn't the problem as much as wasted spending is the problem. When the government creates the predecessor to the internet or GPS, it is well worth the expense. When the government makes the stock market appear safe, it is well worth the expense. Such expenses if cut will not improve productivity or generate a recovery.
Spending isn't the problem as much as wasted spending is the problem. When the government creates the predecessor to the internet or GPS, it is well worth the expense. When the government makes the stock market appear safe, it is well worth the expense. Such expenses if cut will not improve productivity or generate a recovery.
Can you imagine a Native American tribe
deciding to starve half the tribe so that a few members of the tribe can have more than everyone else.
Predatory capitalism
is the same as free enterprise. I never thought a mom-and-pop grocery store was the same as buying a company, stripping its assets & throwing thousands out of work. One problem we have is there are more regulations on small businesses than on multi-nationals.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM
-- exceptionally stupid for letting the corporations get away with the plunder of our wealth and resources, natural and human.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
So the world financial system is
So the world financial system is insolvent. Didn't Marx say something about finance capital being the highest stage of capitalism. Government (that's you and me) is being required to buy all the junk from the banks at face value plus absolve them of any taxes. There are no tax funds left to help the broad middle class get back on its feet. Remember we are paying for their wars.
We just finished the first installment, a second installment will be coming due soon - probably in 2012.
An election, two major SCOTUS decisions, world financial collapse, mass world-wide protests, climate crisises.
So you pay too much taxes - where do you want you tax dollars to go?
We just finished the first installment, a second installment will be coming due soon - probably in 2012.
An election, two major SCOTUS decisions, world financial collapse, mass world-wide protests, climate crisises.
So you pay too much taxes - where do you want you tax dollars to go?
Do I detect the right
is starting to eat their young. Republicans attacking other Republicans for who's the biggest crony capitalist.
Obama needs to run on
a progressive domestic platform and foreign policy direction while painting the Repug as unacceptable.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE
IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER - REPUBLICANS ARE DEFENDING ROMNEY'S $10K BET BUT HAD NO PROBLEM ATTACKING JOHN EDWARDS $400 HAIRCUT. THE CONTEXT OF ROMNEY'S REMARK WAS FAR MORE MATERIAL TO THE TEMPERMENT OF A PRESIDENT.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
A pro-football team needs
at least 4 impact players besides the quarterback & a left tackle. I'd build a defense first, followed by an offensive line. Say, on defense, an impact lineman, linebacker, and defensiveback. The either a running back or wide receiver. So, that gives a team six key players. Add another six (@b-level) + six (@B- level).
Ideally, when you substitute a defensiveback in a nickle-situation we also change in the line/lineback area where the original substitution came from. So, 11 - 1+1 = 9 + 2 = 11. total 13.
offensive line needs 8-9.
Ideally, when you substitute a defensiveback in a nickle-situation we also change in the line/lineback area where the original substitution came from. So, 11 - 1+1 = 9 + 2 = 11. total 13.
offensive line needs 8-9.
Does the Progressive movement
needs an election machine - to recruit, train, raise money, campaign. If it doesn't, why? This needs built from the ground up and operate continuously.
I'm I the only one who saw that
the real problem with a Romney presidency is not a $10k bet but his cowtowing to Israel.
What is the Republican message -
1. Lower taxes at the top margin;
2. Deregulate, particularly extractive industries;
3. End the freedom of working people to organize in their economic interest;
4. End economic protections for working people (medicare, medicaid, social security, wage protections);
5. Put poor children to work at the cost of jobs for working people who are supporting families.
And, don't forget - it's good for the rich to organize into corporations, but bad if everybody else to organize into unions.
2. Deregulate, particularly extractive industries;
3. End the freedom of working people to organize in their economic interest;
4. End economic protections for working people (medicare, medicaid, social security, wage protections);
5. Put poor children to work at the cost of jobs for working people who are supporting families.
And, don't forget - it's good for the rich to organize into corporations, but bad if everybody else to organize into unions.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
It's lookin' like Newt -
why ? because - to Republicans 'he is their last hope for THE ONE who will take down Obama in a mean, vicious way. Romney wouldn’t be vicious enough for them. ... They would nominate Hitler himself if they thought he could take out Obama…their hatred for Obama is all consuming, to the detriment of their party as a whole. And, they don’t want to just take him out, they want him to take a beating. He’s way too uppity.' The real question - does Obama have the stomach or the moxie to take it to Gingrich or would he be Mr. Wimp ?
Among independent minded people Obama's issue is “His inability to rally the political forces, if you will, to accomplish his goal is what disappoints me." He needs to attack. Or he will be seen as weak -
“Voters either don’t understand, or they don’t care, that the GOP has employed an unprecedented level of filibustering in order to block all of Obama’s policies, even ones that have majority public support from Dems, independents and Republicans alike. Their reaction, in a nutshell, seems to be: The Obama-led government isn’t acting on the economy? Obama can’t get his policies passed? Well, he must be weak.”
However, is the real issue the Republican effort to deny Obama any victory and his failure to see it and/or act on it. Its rooted in the bigotry and prejudice still rampant in America. Mitch McConnell said it: "We must make Obama a one term president"! The economy the TEA/GOP/Republicans are trying to paint on the president is in fact the current Congress's. The real reason this "Do Nothing! No. Not Now! Never" Congress is because Boehner's a cripple. The confrontational Terroristic Economic Antagonist(TEA) party has corrupted the mainstream Republican party with their fringe, narrow-minded people. Their Guru is Grover Norquist and his Americans for tax Reform PAC, which has never proven lowering taxes would generate jobs. There has been no give and take benefiting the general population, but contentious bickering over taxation increases to the most affluent of America. The killing of finances for programs for the infra-structure and children is the heights of irresponsibility. It just goes to show how insane the Republican determination not to allow Obama ANY success is.
Among independent minded people Obama's issue is “His inability to rally the political forces, if you will, to accomplish his goal is what disappoints me." He needs to attack. Or he will be seen as weak -
“Voters either don’t understand, or they don’t care, that the GOP has employed an unprecedented level of filibustering in order to block all of Obama’s policies, even ones that have majority public support from Dems, independents and Republicans alike. Their reaction, in a nutshell, seems to be: The Obama-led government isn’t acting on the economy? Obama can’t get his policies passed? Well, he must be weak.”
However, is the real issue the Republican effort to deny Obama any victory and his failure to see it and/or act on it. Its rooted in the bigotry and prejudice still rampant in America. Mitch McConnell said it: "We must make Obama a one term president"! The economy the TEA/GOP/Republicans are trying to paint on the president is in fact the current Congress's. The real reason this "Do Nothing! No. Not Now! Never" Congress is because Boehner's a cripple. The confrontational Terroristic Economic Antagonist(TEA) party has corrupted the mainstream Republican party with their fringe, narrow-minded people. Their Guru is Grover Norquist and his Americans for tax Reform PAC, which has never proven lowering taxes would generate jobs. There has been no give and take benefiting the general population, but contentious bickering over taxation increases to the most affluent of America. The killing of finances for programs for the infra-structure and children is the heights of irresponsibility. It just goes to show how insane the Republican determination not to allow Obama ANY success is.
The right doesn't like it when
a progressive/liberal labels them with a blanket phase but the right does it automatically without ever thinking.
Fiscal conservatism
has always been a fiction, all it means is cutting government programs that don't affect you. There's no real constituency for that.
You don't believe an idea because its true -
it's true because you believe it. The paradox of the right and their odd belief system. The truth is
they believe we are a nation founded on biblical principles when in fact, our declaration and constitution are founded on protestant and enlightenment principles. Martin Luther led the reformation of the church because he found no leadership of the Catholic Church, which at the time, was selling indulgences to finance the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In other words, the Church-the moral authority in Christendom-was telling people that Sin was okay, IF YOU COULD PAY FOR IT.
We find ourselves facing a similar situation now with the far right wing of government, willing to sell indulgences to Wall Street, to Big Business, to Big Oil, so long as they set a little of the profit of their immorality aside to feed the gate keepers. We now are in need another Martin Luther, a protestant reformer willing and able to challenge the morality of the gate keepers of our democracy, the SCOTUS, and our representatives and insist that government reform itself, or face the reform of the people. The President can only lead where people are willing to follow, and the disappointment in Obama has been his willingness to accept big finance and big business and big oil, as his superior and follow them and his unwillingness to stand up to them as Martin Luther did.
they believe we are a nation founded on biblical principles when in fact, our declaration and constitution are founded on protestant and enlightenment principles. Martin Luther led the reformation of the church because he found no leadership of the Catholic Church, which at the time, was selling indulgences to finance the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In other words, the Church-the moral authority in Christendom-was telling people that Sin was okay, IF YOU COULD PAY FOR IT.
We find ourselves facing a similar situation now with the far right wing of government, willing to sell indulgences to Wall Street, to Big Business, to Big Oil, so long as they set a little of the profit of their immorality aside to feed the gate keepers. We now are in need another Martin Luther, a protestant reformer willing and able to challenge the morality of the gate keepers of our democracy, the SCOTUS, and our representatives and insist that government reform itself, or face the reform of the people. The President can only lead where people are willing to follow, and the disappointment in Obama has been his willingness to accept big finance and big business and big oil, as his superior and follow them and his unwillingness to stand up to them as Martin Luther did.
Why would rich people spend
their wealth on job creation? Altruism? Innate goodness? Especially when the returns from stock/bond trading are much better and less risky.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Voucher health care plan
50 $20 off Starbucks coupons - first off no coupons for your mandated two weeks of no pay, why starbucks - because that's where your doctor will be working once the health care industry collapses.
CHOICES -
A) CATHOLIC, ACADEMIC ELITIST, CAREER POLITICAN/LOBBYIST
B) MORMON, WALL STREET BARON, turned CAREER POLITICAN
Wake up - Christian Conservatives & Tea Partiers.
B) MORMON, WALL STREET BARON, turned CAREER POLITICAN
Wake up - Christian Conservatives & Tea Partiers.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Headline says it all -
30 big corporations spent more for lobbying than they paid in taxes. Is this what the Tea Party supports? Also, 265 corporations have stiffed the states for $42.7 billion. So who is supporting government.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The choices (someone else's opinion)
"I don't think this is about saving America anymore..it's about deciding the shape of the decline and what comes afterward. Left/progressive guidance could take us to something better..less harmful toward the earth, less reliant on religious delusion, perhaps a shade more enlightened. The right wing/republican path is toward militarization, control, obedience, and submission to overwhelming corporate and government power. EITHER WAY, the country as we knew it IS going down..this is a fight over the future."
The republican strategy
- they don't care about the Presidency - they want to hang Great Depression II on Obama and the democrats, besides from 2013 through 2017 economy isn't likely to get significantly better particularly
if they are in a position to obstruct - therefore the goal is to improve their strength in the House and win majority control in the senate. Romney would do the least damage to the down ticket races.
if they are in a position to obstruct - therefore the goal is to improve their strength in the House and win majority control in the senate. Romney would do the least damage to the down ticket races.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Why do we have Debt ?
On the surface it appears we have debt because we want to spend more for government than it generates. But who decides what government will spend $ on and why tax rates are what they are. The rational doesn't make any sense to me and to most people I speak with. It seems in most of my adult life government has run a deficit. It seems politicans want to reduce tax revenue and give tax money to entities. For some of these entites what they receive in tax revenue business is far and away more than they supply in tax moneies.
For me this is the central problem.
There is also a more significant issue in play. In the 40's,50's, 60's & 70's if one wanted to make money one went into the private sector. Since Reagan business as moved to take over government. By now its hard to name a corporation that doesn't have government 'business'. They seem to provide inadequate, incompetent service, over-priced products & services and constantly demand to pay less and less in taxes at the same time.
Now we are at a crossroads - the idea of being an individual citizen in america has become a myth - the new definition of citizen has come to be a corporation or the interests of the '1%' as well as the top 5% (?). Political office is viewed as a way to become rich This is the central problem with the voter group - electing individuals who don't serve the voters interests or more clearly - the voters don't seem to know their own interests.
For me this is the central problem.
There is also a more significant issue in play. In the 40's,50's, 60's & 70's if one wanted to make money one went into the private sector. Since Reagan business as moved to take over government. By now its hard to name a corporation that doesn't have government 'business'. They seem to provide inadequate, incompetent service, over-priced products & services and constantly demand to pay less and less in taxes at the same time.
Now we are at a crossroads - the idea of being an individual citizen in america has become a myth - the new definition of citizen has come to be a corporation or the interests of the '1%' as well as the top 5% (?). Political office is viewed as a way to become rich This is the central problem with the voter group - electing individuals who don't serve the voters interests or more clearly - the voters don't seem to know their own interests.
Read an interesting piece on
the NEWT - the shock-jock candidate.The best face-off would be between Obama and the Newt. Newt is the best Republican in the field and stands for everything Republican - it would be a complete repudiation of all things Republican & would get this country moving. What will be the lesson of 2012?
Obama would have to go progressive against the Newt where as he could be centralist against Romney. The race would be close through the summer then about 2 months out it would go overwhelmingly Obama. People don't vote hate and the general public will suddenly see Newt and the Republican party as what it really is. I do see a people's victory. The extreme right will stay home and hide. Economic fairless is a comin'. The debate would be about issues vs. talking points/one-liners (granted not very indepth).
Obama would have to go progressive against the Newt where as he could be centralist against Romney. The race would be close through the summer then about 2 months out it would go overwhelmingly Obama. People don't vote hate and the general public will suddenly see Newt and the Republican party as what it really is. I do see a people's victory. The extreme right will stay home and hide. Economic fairless is a comin'. The debate would be about issues vs. talking points/one-liners (granted not very indepth).
Friday, December 2, 2011
Who's really running for President ?
I mean besides Romney no one as a staff or ground game including Newt, except Perry. Who would get Perry's campaign organization if he drops out. That's The person we need to watch for.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Just saw the weirdest commercial
- couldn't tell if it's a car (Jeep) ad or for a new video game. How surreal!
I've mentioned this before
financial troubles are a comin . . . Greece, Italy, the Euro, derivatives. Any bets? Look for BIG problems come summer 2012. It will re-elect Obama because none of the clowns have any clue about the world financial issues. Particularly the Mitt & the Newt, and the powers that be know this. Consider there are between $250T & $707T in derivatives (greater than the GDP of the entire world) for which there is no market. If they 'marked-to-market' rather than 'mark-to-myth' the world's banking system would be gone.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
The Federal deficiit issue is political,
not economic. No matter how it is framed the rich do not want to pay more taxes.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I remember the Golden State,
California has it was "Before Reagan, and Prop 13, a talented Californian kid could go from kindergarten through PhD virtually free. And in exchange, California had one of the brightest and most innovative populations in the country. Sadly, all this has changed. 30 years of Republican antitax zealotry have gutted the system." - a blogger.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
OCCUPY
Proposed Occupy movement's "vision statement".
We Envision: [1] a truly free, democratic, and just society; [2] where we, the people, come together and solve our problems by consensus; [3] where people are encouraged to take personal and collective responsibility and participate in decision making; [4] where we learn to live in harmony and embrace principles of toleration and respect for diversity and the differing views of others; [5] where we secure the civil and human rights of all from violation by tyrannical forces and unjust governments; [6] where political and economic institutions work to benefit all, not just the privileged few; [7] where we provide full and free education to everyone, not merely to get jobs but to grow and flourish as human beings; [8] where we value human needs over monetary gain, to ensure decent standards of living without which effective democracy is impossible; [9] where we work together to protect the global environment to ensure that future generations will have safe and clean air, water and food supplies, and will be able to enjoy the beauty and bounty of nature that past generations have enjoyed.
Also check out Michael Moore's 10 points. Any you don't like? Any you would like to add?
Also check out Michael Moore's 10 points. Any you don't like? Any you would like to add?
The Occupy movement hasn't gone away
& will not go away. Its morphing in many interesting ways. If Zuccotti Park was Lexington then we now have american revolutionaries deploying everywhere the crown appears.
Is Huntsman positioning himself for
Secretary of State - in either a Republican or Democratic Administration?
Avoiding reality -
during the Vietnam War the most popular comedy on TV was MASH . A PBS series in early TV made me realize where all the clue words for the current times come from. The current times mindset was formed in the late 40's & 50's. It's a imagine of a reality that wasn't real then.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
'Occupy ______' is beginning to follow a
path similar to the American Revolution. Just my take - will elaborate later.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
George Washington's success in the American
Revolution was primarily from just 'keeping an army in being". Sometimes just surviving is success.
In 60 days -
the occupy movment has formed committees in 100's of locations. With the crack-down it will enter a new phase. What it will be is anyone's guess - or if one understands history - a convention. But that already happened virtually. So . . . 1/10 of 1% of the population has changed the entire idalogue.
From Greg Sargent, Wash Post
While I don't consider any Republican candidate to be electable, this view of Newt & OvenMitt are right on. From Greg Sargent -
"It’s one thing to have a nominee who might betray conservatives for his own electoral self-interest, as with Mitt Romney; it’s another, and far worse, to have someone who might sell out conservatives because he suddenly wakes up one morning and decides all on his own to go off in some other direction. That’s the danger of Newt as nominee or president."
PS. The Occupy movement is only getting started, its mearly completing its intial iteration. Stage two up next. It's not going away. The public wants action on economic fairness and jobs.
"It’s one thing to have a nominee who might betray conservatives for his own electoral self-interest, as with Mitt Romney; it’s another, and far worse, to have someone who might sell out conservatives because he suddenly wakes up one morning and decides all on his own to go off in some other direction. That’s the danger of Newt as nominee or president."
PS. The Occupy movement is only getting started, its mearly completing its intial iteration. Stage two up next. It's not going away. The public wants action on economic fairness and jobs.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Fundamental Transformational change
Did 9/11 change anything?
The post-war world is coming to an end. (post-1945) and so is the reagan era 1980-2012.
Are we seeing the sun set on America's long nightmare - the unprovoked war with Iraq and the second era of offensive warfare.
The Big Change -
First, the Collapse of the Freedom Agenda: In the wake of 9/11, the administration of George W. Bush set out to remake the Greater Middle East. This was the ultimate strategic objective of Bush’s “global war on terror.”
Second, the Great Recession 2008- the recognization of extreme income inequality
Third, the Arab Spring:
Fourth, Beleaguered Europe’s Quest for a Lifeline:
These four points from an article -
Big Change Whether We Like It or NotOnly Washington Is Clueless
By Andrew Bacevich
I would add several other vectors that I see:
- energy (end of the age of fossil (indirect-sun-light) energy).
- population + resources
- the complete globalization
- changing global climate
- the complete financialization of the US economy and the transformation to a capitalist/socialist model.
The post-war world is coming to an end. (post-1945) and so is the reagan era 1980-2012.
Are we seeing the sun set on America's long nightmare - the unprovoked war with Iraq and the second era of offensive warfare.
The Big Change -
First, the Collapse of the Freedom Agenda: In the wake of 9/11, the administration of George W. Bush set out to remake the Greater Middle East. This was the ultimate strategic objective of Bush’s “global war on terror.”
Second, the Great Recession 2008- the recognization of extreme income inequality
Third, the Arab Spring:
Fourth, Beleaguered Europe’s Quest for a Lifeline:
These four points from an article -
Big Change Whether We Like It or NotOnly Washington Is Clueless
By Andrew Bacevich
I would add several other vectors that I see:
- energy (end of the age of fossil (indirect-sun-light) energy).
- population + resources
- the complete globalization
- changing global climate
- the complete financialization of the US economy and the transformation to a capitalist/socialist model.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Great Quote -
What good is a man who won't take a stand? What good is a cynic with no better plan? - Ben Harper
Friday, November 11, 2011
Who do the Republicans WANT to run ?
Now, Newt is considered a contender ! The secret Republican party apparatus does not want Romney in the worst way, but who do they want? Every possible has major flaws and smart money doesn't want it this year. Any contenders? Any contenders? Anyone, contenders please?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
MY ADVISE TO ANYONE
Basically, I would impart these 5 points:
1. Re-invent yourself every 10 years.
2. Be prepared to retire @ 50-55 without the government's help (accumulate and develop the resources one needs to survive and prosper).
3. Ask yourself this question regarding someone else's leadership or direction - 'Would I follow this person into combat. Take their direction under extreme, questionable conditions.'
4. What's the end game?
5. We'll see.
(about the last two, if you have to ask what do I mean, you have a lot to learn.)
And a sixth one - learn to eat and drink well.
1. Re-invent yourself every 10 years.
2. Be prepared to retire @ 50-55 without the government's help (accumulate and develop the resources one needs to survive and prosper).
3. Ask yourself this question regarding someone else's leadership or direction - 'Would I follow this person into combat. Take their direction under extreme, questionable conditions.'
4. What's the end game?
5. We'll see.
(about the last two, if you have to ask what do I mean, you have a lot to learn.)
And a sixth one - learn to eat and drink well.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Why is nothing being done
Under Bush 43, spending increased 241% ($11.6 trillion), while revenue decreased 442%, due primarily to cuts in income and capital gains tax for the wealthy (under Reagan, the capital gains tax was 28%, under Bush it was 14%, accounting for billions in loss revenue), which led to massive teacher lay-offs and a 93% loss of total wealth for middleclas
Under Obama, Americans have seen less corporate regulation
In 2010, 22 Fortune 100 corporatio
Under Obama, Americans have seen less corporate regulation
In 2010, 22 Fortune 100 corporatio
Is move your money
a vote of no-confidence? The last several months are just the first roll-call. Keep calling for a vote every month. The dollar numbers may appear small but the effect is enormous. Checking, Savings, credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages. It all adds up.
If a Republican is elected President
the economy will completely collapse. No government spending, already little consumer demand, a horrible housing situation, more tax cuts for the wealthy, and continued defense and security spending will send the federal deficit through the roof. Add in cuts to Social Security and health programs - a recipe for disaster.
Friday, November 4, 2011
9-9-9 Plan
So it basically taxes consumption. Let's see 80% of the US economy depends on consumer demand (ie., consumption). Well there goes the demand.
The Herb Cain phenonemon
is all about getting the media to think this is a serious effort. The ultimate goal is to degrade the electoral process. Its working!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Each of us must decide
with whom do we stand. The 1% or the 99%. The confrontation is coming and we can not ignore it.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
WE KEEP FUCKIN' UP THE END GAME
IF YOU KNEW THE END GAME THINGS WOULDN'T SEEMED SO FUCKED UP. UNFORTUNATELY YOU'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THE END GAME. & REALLY
NEITHER ARE YOU ! WE'LL SEE.
NEITHER ARE YOU ! WE'LL SEE.
Thoughts
The theme that connects them all is disenfranchisement, the sense that the world is shifting deeply and inexorably beyond our ability to control it through our democratic institutions. Everywhere, the people feel as if someone else is now ruling them—and see no way to regain control. In the U.S., the hefty majority for sweeping reform behind Barack Obama’s victory in 2008 has been stopped in its tracks by slightly more than half of one House in the Congress and by a historically unprecedented filibuster in the Senate. The Republicans have gone on record declaring that it would risk national default rather than cede a millimeter on taxes.
So how is it likely to play out - Romney wins GOP nomination / big bank fails / tea party decides to run third party candidate.
How likely is it that there will be a 2012 election?
So how is it likely to play out - Romney wins GOP nomination / big bank fails / tea party decides to run third party candidate.
How likely is it that there will be a 2012 election?
WHY ARE SEVERAL STATES SO
EAGER TO CHANGE THE VOTING RULES ? WHAT DOES THAT PROTENT ? WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE OUT THE POLITICANS - PARTICULARLY AFTER THEY VOTE TO END SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE.
Great Workschedule !
House of Representatives 2012work schedule under boners leadership - 109 days - jan=6 feb=14
mar=13 apr=8 may=10 june=13 july=13 august=3 sept=8 oct=5 nov=8 dec=8
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
words that still ring true 115 years later
William Jennings Bryan 'Cross of Gold Speech', July 9, 1896.
...Free government cannot long survive when the thousands enjoy the wealth of the country and the millions share its poverty in common. Even now you hear among the rich an occasionally expressed contempt for popular government, and among the poor a protest against legislation which makes them " toil that others may reap." I appeal to you to restore justice and bring back prosperity while yet a peaceable solution can be secured. ...
...Well has it been said by the Senator from Missouri [ Mr. VEST] that we have come to the parting of the ways.
Today the Democratic party stands between two great forces, each inviting its support. On the one side stand the corporate interests of the nation, its moneyed institutions, its aggregations of wealth and capital, imperious, arrogant compassionless. They demand special legislation, favors, privileges, and immunities. They can subscribe magnificently to campaign funds; they can strike down opposition with their all-pervading influence, and, to those who fawn and flatter, bring ease and plenty. They demand that the Democratic party shall become their ageat to execute their merciless decrees.
On the other side stands that unnumbered throng which gave a name to the Democratic party and for which it has assumed to speak. Work-worn and dustbegrimed, they make their sad appeal.
They hear of average wealth increased on every side and feel the inequality of it's distribution. They see an over-production of everything desired because of the underproduction of the ability to buy.They can not pay for loyalty except with their suffrages, and can only punish betrayal with their condemnation. Although the ones who most deserve the fostering care of Government, their cries for help too often beat in vain against the outer wall, while others less deserving find ready access to legislative halls.
This army, vast and daily vaster growing, begs the party to be its champion in the present conflict.
It cannot press its claims 'mid sounds of revelry. Its phalanxes do not form in grand parade, nor has it gaudy banners floating on the breeze. Its battle hymn is " Home, Sweet Home," its war cry " equality before the law."
To the Democratic party, standing between these two irreconcilable forces, uncertain to which side to turn, and conscious that upon its choice its fate depends, come the words of Israel's second lawgiver:
" Choose you this day whom ye will serve."
What will the answer be ?
Speech of William Jennings Bryan on the floor of the House, August 16, 1893 entitled The Gold and Silver Coinage of the Constitution.
Interesting Observation
"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater."
— Frank Zappa
— Frank Zappa
Friday, October 21, 2011
To be one of the one percent - you have to make
an annual income of $2,196,124 to be in the Top 1% of U.S. earners, according to the latest federal statistics from the Social SecurityAdministration.
Saw where 94,000 make one million a year.
7000 millionaires paid no income taxe in 2010.
- just in case - 22.7% of federal government revenues are from income tax.
Saw where 94,000 make one million a year.
7000 millionaires paid no income taxe in 2010.
- just in case - 22.7% of federal government revenues are from income tax.
Who are the one percent, what are their names and
on what street do they live - we want to go right over and give them a peice of our mind.
The decline of Capitalism
(a on-going post)
When can we trace the beginning of the decline of capitalism. I would estimate its first seeds began with the end ofg the second world war. Probably a better date would be the end of the Soviet Union system (or Communism, if that's what one would call their economic system). So -1989.
We have here in america / the middle of a economic depression - now 3 - 3 1/2 years in & no end in sight with the republicans hell bent on stopping Obama - but why?
When can we trace the beginning of the decline of capitalism. I would estimate its first seeds began with the end ofg the second world war. Probably a better date would be the end of the Soviet Union system (or Communism, if that's what one would call their economic system). So -1989.
We have here in america / the middle of a economic depression - now 3 - 3 1/2 years in & no end in sight with the republicans hell bent on stopping Obama - but why?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
income earnings report out for 2010
median - $26,363.55 / 81 people - earned $50 million or more & 94,000 earned $1 million plus / 10 million had no earnings at all. Can you live on $507.00 gross weekly paycheck.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
OWS message
- Harold Beale show - "I'm mad as hell and I would take it anymore." - economic fairness, social justice, civil rights.
cover of New Yorker Magazine - love it !
keep things precisely as they are / leave well enough alone
Do you honestly believe . . .
that the status quo is perfect and fair and that there is a "free" market." Also that taxing the rich is really about redistributing income from the rich to the poor.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
You have to ask yourself two questions:
1) Why am I supporting a system that doesn't benefit me?
that sound pretty selfish but its more self interest. Do you think the rich/powerful don't game the system to their advantage? Their goals - no taxes or as little as possible/ be in a business that utilitizes the government - sell a prdt/svc to the tax system or swing tax subsidies / afterall the 'free market' isn't very profitable. Why are they making political contributions? Anyway, you're going to pay taxes, accept it and realize the answer to the two question:
2) What do I expect from government for my tax dollars? For nearly 200 years in this country the accepted mind frame was taxes were necessary to support the commons, they should be fair, and that the commons required taxes for their support.
that sound pretty selfish but its more self interest. Do you think the rich/powerful don't game the system to their advantage? Their goals - no taxes or as little as possible/ be in a business that utilitizes the government - sell a prdt/svc to the tax system or swing tax subsidies / afterall the 'free market' isn't very profitable. Why are they making political contributions? Anyway, you're going to pay taxes, accept it and realize the answer to the two question:
2) What do I expect from government for my tax dollars? For nearly 200 years in this country the accepted mind frame was taxes were necessary to support the commons, they should be fair, and that the commons required taxes for their support.
Friday, October 14, 2011
October 14, 2011 - 21st CENTURY LEXINGTON GREEN
The refusal of NYC/Brookfield Properties to clean the park this morning is the modern shot heard around the world. OWS was prepared to stand their ground much like the citizens of Lexington Massachusetts. Yes it might not be considered that significiant (in April 1775 who would have thought it was leading to revolution) but the struggle has now entered another phase. There will be victories and defeats but the ultimate outcome is not in doubt.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Rick Perry (an American hologram)
Is a great illustration of the outright lies, half truths and dumbed down rhetoric that they use to craft revisionist history for their low level information voters. They don't realize a revolution is brewing, people in the country are living in a hologram of the what America once was, the only thing they have left is some residual wealth from when America was real.
There are a lot of wide awake Americans, polls shows about 70% of the people want taxes raised, defense spending cut, they want them to leave SS and Medicare off the table, they want unions, they want marijuana legalized, they approve of OWS, and disapprove of the TP. All that is ignored. Our country is not stupid, our media and our politicians think so, hence the bright spotlight on our captured and sold out citizenry in the TP, even if only 40 gets bussed in. In this gaudy tapestry they have created, Romney is delusional enough to think he can push through yet another Corporate Tax Holiday! Cain thinks Greenspan was great, and the fools want more cowbells for the MIC. More dumping. More of the same that got us into this deep dark hole.
The facade being presented is conjured up to keep you thinking you're the minority, to doubt your judgement, to give up. We can't. There are millions living already on the edge of desperation. You know where you can go this weekend to do your bit. Make it so.
There are a lot of wide awake Americans, polls shows about 70% of the people want taxes raised, defense spending cut, they want them to leave SS and Medicare off the table, they want unions, they want marijuana legalized, they approve of OWS, and disapprove of the TP. All that is ignored. Our country is not stupid, our media and our politician
The facade being presented is conjured up to keep you thinking you're the minority, to doubt your judgement, to give up. We can't. There are millions living already on the edge of desperatio
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Republican field
1) Pizza does not cost 9.99
2) We have come to the point where a sales slogan constitutes the potential tax code.
3) The nuts have no idea what to talk about.
4) President Obama should win this next election.
2) We have come to the point where a sales slogan constitutes the potential tax code.
3) The nuts have no idea what to talk about.
4) President Obama should win this next election.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Some of what I've been saying
for awhile:
The USA and the world is in the early stages of a major transition and it wouldn't be pretty when half want to continue the old wasteful ways (like subsidizing the idle rich, crazy defense spending, etc.). But Ezra Klein's in the WaPo elaborates on some of the problems:
(i) No hope of recovery in the housing market. Which means many
people currently underwater on their homes will remain underwater.
It also means that – any happy talk to the contrary notwithstanding
(and I’ve seen some surfacing, here and there) – we can’t expect a
revitalized housing market to pull us out of this mess;
best we can hope for is a steady growth rate that will still be lower
than what we used to consider “normal” in the past. Our future
“best” will be worse than our past “normal.”
The USA and the world is in the early stages of a major transition and it wouldn't be pretty when half want to continue the old wasteful ways (like subsidizing the idle rich, crazy defense spending, etc.). But Ezra Klein's in the WaPo elaborates on some of the problems:
(i) No hope of recovery in the housing market. Which means many
people currently underwater on their homes will remain underwater.
It also means that – any happy talk to the contrary notwithstanding
(and I’ve seen some surfacing, here and there) – we can’t expect a
revitalized housing market to pull us out of this mess;
(ii) We will never, ever, get back to what we used to consider “full
employment.” A fairly large and permanent number of unemployed
Americans may be the new normal; and
best we can hope for is a steady growth rate that will still be lower
than what we used to consider “normal” in the past. Our future
“best” will be worse than our past “normal.”
The rich vs. the rest of us is the fight the 1% fear most. So why have we been so unwilling to fight this fight?
Three reasons:
- Democratic unwillingness to offend potential major donors
- The emergence of the Tea Party which focused much of the anti-establishment anger on government itself (rather than on those who actually caused the financial crisis)
- An effective counter strategy which claims any attempt to make the rich pay their fair share is "class warfare"
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Can you name the 75 jobs that the
Tea party created? Yes, they are all in Congress. Because that's all they managed to create. The staff positions were already employed by the Republican establishment.
Will 2012 be the last
Pretend election we have in America? The Republican Nominee will be decided at convention. Forget Romney or Perry. And Cain is the Koch brothers guy who doesn't have a clue.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Equal Protection
What amendment is it ? If corporations have special rights in bankruptcy, debt relief, etc. shouldn't people intitled to those same rights.
Is American leadership the problem
Your incompetent leadership has crippled your ability to be an economic leader. So China will take over now.
The Right vs. YOU
For those of you who have already bought into the right wing narrative, what’s in it for you? After the right uses you to strike back at the occupy wall street, what will it give you? Petty power over people who are gay or immigrant or female? Is the right going to take on the bankers? Put your adult kids to work? Make your insurance premiums cheaper? Are you going to get a break on your property taxes? That last one is hillarious to anyone living in NJ under the Christie regime. You dodged a bullet when Christie decided not to run for president. Go ask Rush or Glenn what you get. We’ll wait.
A Christian America -
..At its heart, the Occupy movement is about creating a democratic society in which everyone matters, there is dignity in working together across differences, and there is enough for everyone. Is this vision tantamount to socialism? No. Once upon a time, we called this “American.”
It also sounds pretty Christian to me. What the early Apostles called “The Way” was a vision for peaceful living that built on Christ’s teaching, life, death and resurrection. The Way repudiates the pursuit of individual wealth in favor of building communities that care for the marginalized, the desperate and the powerless. Jesus demonstrated this by healing lepers and dining with prostitutes and tax collectors.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Tea Party
When the Tea Party started out they were simply anti-war, anti-corporation, and pro-Ron Paul and his anti-Fed ideas.
Today, the Tea Party is pro-corporation, pro-war, and heavily Christian Right. It's become scary, really.
Today, the Tea Party is pro-corporation, pro-war, and heavily Christian Right. It's become scary, really.
Interested piece on Van Jones at TRUTHOUT,
written by
by: Adele M. Stan and Don Hazen, AlterNet | News Analysis
Jones talked to AlterNet about the growing social movements for change, running real progressives in 2012, and how we can train a million new leaders.
As the grassroots sit-ins and marches that originated as Occupy Wall Street spread to other cities, Van Jones, lead evangelist for the American Dream movement, took the stage Monday at a Washington, DC hotel where organizers of the institutional element of the progressive movement converged at Take Back the American Dream. The gathering was organized by the Campaign for America's Future in partnership with Jones' new organization, Rebuild the Dream. Jones voiced his support for the spontaneous Wall Street uprising, and for the U.S. Marines who agreed, he said, to protect the protesters while wearing dress blues.
Jones said that after he left the White House, where he served as a green jobs adviser to President Barack Obama, he occupied his time studying how the Tea Party movement came into existence and marshaled its power. Jones had been a target of Tea Party ire, stoked by Glenn Beck on his Fox News Channel platform, back when Beck served as the de facto community organizer for media baron Rupert Murdoch, before Beck fell out of the mogul's favor.
Jones explained the Tea Party's "leaderless" model to the activists with a PowerPoint showing how the instigators of the Tea Party movement -- leaders of groups such as FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity -- didn't so much create a top-down organization as they did a network that fostered the development of local Tea Party organizations by local activists, who then took ownership of their own corners of the movement. "The Tea Party is an open-source brand," Jones explained, "that 3,528 affiliates use; none of them own it." For all their talk of rugged individualism, Jones said, the forces behind the Tea Party "have enacted the most collectivist strategy for taking power in the history of the republic."
Jones also demonstrated, with modeling schematics, how progressives had initially, during the 2008 presidential campaign, centered their movement more around a person -- Obama -- than their own issues. In no small part, Jones implied, progressives were drawn to the Obama campaign's branding, with its iconic "O" logo onto which people projected their own aspirations and beliefs.
"It has been a tough couple of years," Jones told his audience. "We went from hope to heartbreak in about a minute...We have the wrong theory of the presidency."
As for the rise of the right, Jones said, "I'm not mad at the Tea Party. I'm not mad at them for being so loud. I'm mad at us for having been so quiet the past two years."
With Monday's speech, Jones set out to sell the idea of a more diffuse and locally directed progressive movement to a gathering of progressives who are more used to being part of organizing campaigns launched from organization or union headquarters. What Jones is offering instead, though his Rebuild the Dream hub (launched in partnership with MoveOn.org), is an open-source brand for the left, complete with a logo in the form of a red "A" (for "American Dream") with a white star at its center, underlined by a blue stripe. It's a graphic turn on the American flag, part of Jones' call to the left to reclaim the mantle of patriotism.
Rebuild the Dream has already facilitated some 1,600 house meetings of like-minded people who aim to build a grassroots movement on a par with the Tea Party. Rebuild the Dream has also issued a "Contract For the American Dream," built on the model of past right-wing contracts, which politicians are being asked to sign in order to signify their willingness to support movement goals in their political and legislative work.
Today, the more institutional wing of the left will be represented among the less-affiliated protesters of Occupy Wall Street, as union members, artists, hactivists and students join in the mass expression of outrage at the impunity with which big banks and traders have turned the economy against everyday Amercans for the benefit of the 1 percent of Americans who own 42 percent of the nation's wealth. A number of New York union locals are marching in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street from City Hall to Zuccotti Park, the protesters' base camp.
Van Jones sat down yesterday with AlterNet executive editor Don Hazen and Washington bureau chief Adele Stan to share his hopes for the rebirth of a liberal people's movement.
AlterNet: When you talk about Rebuilding the Dream being a resource hub for progressives, how do you envision that?
Van Jones: We want to be a support center like FreedomWorks is a support center [for the Tea Party]. Everybody focuses on the money from the Koch brothers; they focus on Fox News TV. But they don't focus so much on infrastructure, and the relationship between the institutions. So we've tried to focus in on that.
AlterNet: One of the things FreedomWorks did was to create the Tea Party Patriots, which is a network, as you noted in your speech. One of the things Tea Party Patriots did was to create its own social media infrastructure. Progressives tend to use Twitter and Facebook, which means our calls to action are out there on public platforms. Is that just who we are, or do you foresee building an American Dream movement social-media network, just as Tea Party Patriots did for their people? They build communities that way -- communities that are locally and regionally based, but which are then tied to the national Tea Party Patriots network, which is in turn tied to FreedomWorks. But they also bring in new people who may not have been politically active before, because there's a level of the social media network that's local. One of the reasons some people are saying that Occupy Wall Street is more like the Tea Party than the folks at this conference is that nobody is directly affiliated with a top-down, long established organization.
Van Jones: People can take too literally the [Tea Party comparison] -- like what is the one effort that is going to be the [progressive version of] the Tea Party. Then people can start having a tug of war over it. But, really, I don't think of it like that. I think we're going into a real period of serious experimentation and innovation, and even improvisation -- certainly through the [2012 presidential] election, and probably a couple of years beyond as a couple of things happen. One, as the economic crisis gets worse -- it ain't gonna get better -- the formal economy is going to continue to contract. That means you're going to have a lot of people suffering due to the economy. That's going to create a need for a response. What are we going to do? How can we address the ways in which people are hurting -- immediate needs? That's going to be a driver of innovation, the economic crisis. People have to eat. People have to live indoors. People aren't going to just lay down and die because Wall Street wants to hold up the economic recovery.
But the other driver will be the other process -- which is a global phenomenon -- of the business model for social change changing, moving away from the hierarchical and more toward the horizontal. And you'll see different efforts that reflect different aspects of that. Getting all these grassroots leaders to align ourselves differently as we begin to function differently, more in partnership, and also a lot more open-source efforts.
For example, November 17 is going to be a major protest date. And we're just letting people take that and run with it. There's no central group people are going to do this. We're just throwing the date out there -- November 17th, "Jobs Not Cuts." That's different from the kinds of coalitional tables that have been set up before where [groups] try to dictate exactly the messaging, exactly this and exactly that. So you're seeing urgency because of the economic crisis, and the opportunity to do things differently, because of the technology, to create all kinds of new forums. And so it could be, in some ways, Occupy Wall Street will reflect some of the success model from the Tea Party. We're talking about the Tea Party because that's what gets the attention. But we're also studying the Arab Spring.
There's a way that we, as Westerners look at things: What is the one right answer? Is it the American Dream Movement, or is it Occupy Wall Street? Which is it? When, actually, we're just glad that the volcano is starting to erupt. We just want to fight. And there are some pre-existing grassroots assets that need to be re-aligned or redeployed; we're trying to do that here. Then there's all this new energy out there. And what you're going to see happening is that new explosion of energy will capture and inspire some existing stuff; some of these new organizations that are started will capture and inspire some new stuff, and you'll see all kinds of interpenetrations and that kind of thing.
AlterNet: So, you as a brand may still say, we're going to build our own social networking infrastructure.
VJ: We're going to continue to innovate and improvise, and nothing would make us happier than for this to result in something that's incredibly useful, and for other things to show up that create incredible utility. There's not going to be one thing that progressives do to fix this; we're going to be in a period of improvisation. Now people are going are, rightly, using your work -- Dangerous Brew and other stuff -- to get insight and a window into the Tea Party phenomenon, but there are other things.
AlterNet: So, you're saying, that even structurally you're not looking to mirror that movement.
VJ: Not primarily. We wanted to see that if we went through the steps they went through, with their Contract from America, with the house meetings, could we do it? You know, they had 800 house meetings; we had 1,597 -- almost double.
AlterNet: And are those people going to meet again to build the grassroots?
VJ: Yes. Look at the three things we're committed to coming out of here. One, November 17th -- that's a big deal. That's going to be all over the country. So, if you look from September 17th, when the young people took over Wall Street, to November 17th. That's the American Autumn. You had the Arab Spring; that's the American Autumn...That process is ongoing, on the theme, Jobs, Not Cuts. Now, the difference is, there's not all kinds of coalitions zipping around, trying to dictate all the signs and messaging. We're inviting all kinds of people, individuals as well as organizations, to jump on board.
Number two -- we're saying protests must lead to participation. We had those house meetings -- we had, I think, 31,000 people, online and in person. We're going to be launching a new online platform...where people will be able to continue that effort. We're also going to be developing teach-ins, because one of the things we learned from all those house meetings was that there's a need for some experience. Because if you go to [a house meeting] that's great, that's great. But if you go to one that's not so great, it's not so great. So if you have a teach-in, there's a way to get the best of all possible worlds. You get a lot of people together, you have some videos or a some main speakers -- we're going to try that out.
AlterNet: So you start a national conversation and get people talking.
VJ: We're going to try to get a million leaders in America online and talking with each other. And that's going to be a major piece.
And then there's a third piece, and it's new -- and it seems to have escaped people's notice -- and that's that we've said we're going to run 2012 people for office in 2012. Now, that's a big deal.
AlterNet: That's a lot of people.
VJ: And the reason we're able to do is not because Mike (Lux) have 2,000 people in their back pockets. It's because we have groups like Progressive Majority and the New Organizing Institute.
AlterNet: Then you're talking about local folks, too -- people running for school board and town council.
VJ: Everybody, up and down. We're talking about U.S. senators who want to run as American Dream candidates -- soon to be announced. We've reached out to the House Democratic Caucus; there are House members who want to run as American Dream candidates. One of the things that's been missing is, you have Tea Party Republicans: you may not like the product, but you know what the product is. Right now, you say Democrat, and you don't know if you're getting Larry Summers or Dennis Kucinich. So you can imagine at some point that there will be American Dream Democrats -- or American Dream Republicans, if they want to act right, or even American Dream independents. They just have to agree with our Contract For the American Dream -- those 10 things (the contract contains "10 Critical Steps to Get Our Economy Back on Track"), and including the preamble that says "liberty and justice for all," not for some, but for all. So you've got more corners where you can have a lot of activity happening.
Look, the Occupy Wall Street stuff is a huge, big deal; this is a huge, big deal; there will be other huge, big deals. There is a big thaw happening. People have gone through their grieving process, and people want to fight. Look, if the economy gets worse, there may be a whole section of Latinos that jump off [and into the movement] -- people nobody expected, because of the horrible things that are being dropped on Latino communities in the Southeast and Southwest.
I just want to say one last thing, and this is important. A lot of the people in the leadership of the American Dream Movement just love Occupy Wall Street. We're in awe of them and we want them to do well. And what we're struggling with is how do we support it without looking like we're trying to take it over. Because we couldn't've thunk this up, therefore we want it to be able to have its independence. At the same time, [it's important to determine] where they might need a little bit of support, so you don't jump in and wind up killing something that is an organic thing.
AlterNet: It's going to be interesting to see what happens when Dan Cantor, executive director of the labor-aligned Working Families Party, and other union members join with Occupy Wall Street for the solidarity march this week.
VJ: Exactly! This is thrilling stuff! This is an epic battle [with] the dream-killers on Wall Street -- who are so disgusting and so despicable; they are ingrates who are sitting up there laughing at us. I mean, every other bloc of capital that has this much weight, they try to do something to make you like them. Even the polluters, they say, "We'll get clean coal." They try to do something. But these people on Wall Street -- they just don't care. So it's just going to be an epic battle now between the worst people in America, the most selfish people in America, and the most selfless. And that's going to be amazing.
OVEN MITT'S REAL PROBLEM
“The billionaires and oil companies funding the attack ads are desperate to stop President Obama’s plan that would ask them to pay their fair share in taxes to reduce our debt and create jobs. Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and Karl Rove will spend millions on false television ads because they know that the American public strongly supports the President’s plan that will finally ensure billionaires do not pay a lower tax rate than middle class families. No fair-minded American thinks that someone like Mitt Romney should pay an estimated 14 percent tax rate while hardworking Americans are paying far more.” If Romney becomes the GOP nominee, Obama’s outside allies (if not the Obama campaign itself) will turn Romney himself into the public face of the very sort of tax unfairness Obama is seeking to rectify. This is one of Romney’s unexplored vulnerabilities.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
POLITICANS should be required to
divulge their income, tax bill and federal income tax rate. Seems fair to me!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Interesting stats
In 1992, the 400 highest taxpayers in the USA averaged $40 million in income per person. In the most recent year the top 400 averaged $227 million while the taxes went down from 27 to 21 percent. No wonder they can't afford to create jobs.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Follow the money
As of August 2011, more than 80 percent of the money in Super PACs backing Republican candidates had come from only 35 people writing six- and seven-figure checks.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
What the Republican Party now stands for:
(1) applauds the death penalty,
(2) demands that a hypothetical uninsured American be left to die rather than be treated
(3) booed an active-duty soldier because he was gay.
(2) demands that a hypothetical uninsured American be left to die rather than be treated
(3) booed an active-duty soldier because he was gay.
So no one is going to start a business
because tax rates are too high! That's the Republican talking -point. Well think since the start of the income tax, better yet - since the end of the Second World War, have you ever hear one job creator/ business man claim they wouldn't start their business because tax rates are too high. Imagine Sam Walton, Colonel Sanders, H & P, Bill Gates, Zuckerman et al. saying their are not going to start the next hot business idea because taxes are above 25%. Unlikely. I would argue that the drive to lower tax rates is a sign that capitalism is failing.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The average American maintains
the idealogy of the group they wish to belong to, not the one they are part of. This results in much discord during their lives.
Saw this survey the other day -
2 out of 10 Americans expect to have a million dollars in ten years. No wonder Americans support the rich!
When did we stop building
homes so beautiful that people would preserve them forever ? If you love architecture you will know exactly what I mean.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION -
USING YOUR APPROACH, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD SURVIVE UNDER ENEMY FIRE? ARE YOU CERTAIN?
Monday, September 19, 2011
The republican congressman who can't
make it on $400k is a total liar. His numbers don't add up. 500 employees at minimum wage would cost over $8,000,000 alone. Enough said.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
AMERICANS NEED TO ASK
THEMSELVES WHAT KIND OF POLITICIAN DO THEY WANT? I DON'T KNOW YOU BUT 90% OF THE POLITICIANS I SEE ARE HORRIBLE. THEY DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE MY INTERESTS AT HEART.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
TWO QUICK THOUGHTS
1) What does it cost to live in Republican America ? I want to start a cost analysis and can use your help.
2) why do Republicans want to privatize public education? On the surface I thinks its to improve education and to break the teachers union, however I believe its so they can charge in excess of the tax subsidy a parent would receive therefore they can offer student loans to attend K-12 grades, thus keeping the middle class in debt forever.
2) why do Republicans want to privatize public education? On the surface I thinks its to improve education and to break the teachers union, however I believe its so they can charge in excess of the tax subsidy a parent would receive therefore they can offer student loans to attend K-12 grades, thus keeping the middle class in debt forever.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The greatest long con ever
was played on the baby boomer.
From 1935 until 1983, Social Security had always been a "pay as you go" system. Current workers paid into the fund; retirees, widows and orphan received that money in their payments. Greenspan 's plan went like this: Double the amount retained from wages that the Boomers paid into the system. These overpayments would create a huge surplus. When the Boomers aged to the point of collecting Social Security, the surplus (savings) would be eaten into. After the Boomers died, the surplus would have been depleted. At that point (around 2035) the system would revert back to "pay as you go."
will pay off. These amendments guarantee it. And younger people can feel confident that Social Security will still be around when they need it to cushion their retirement.[emphasis mine]
From 1935 until 1983, Social Security had always been a "pay as you go" system. Current workers paid into the fund; retirees, widows and orphan received that money in their payments. Greenspan 's plan went like this: Double the amount retained from wages that the Boomers paid into the system. These overpayments would create a huge surplus. When the Boomers aged to the point of collecting Social Security, the surplus (savings) would be eaten into. After the Boomers died, the surplus would have been depleted. At that point (around 2035) the system would revert back to "pay as you go."
The NCSSR's report was enacted, and the 1983 Amendments to the SSA were the result. When Reagan signed the law, he made this statement:
will pay off. These amendments guarantee it. And younger people can feel confident that Social Security will still be around when they need it to cushion their retirement.[emphasis mine]
Since 1983, the extra money that has been collected from every paycheck of every low-wage earner is invested in special series, non-marketable U.S. Treasury securities - the Social Security Trust Fund (SSTF). This is why Americans who state that they have been "investing" in the Social Security System are absolutely correct. They have been both paying for current retirees and saving for payments to future retirees (themselves, theoretically.)
The SSTF right now is actually $2.5 Trillion of government debt - three times what the Chinese and the Federal Reserve now own.. We know that the money in SSTF was supposed to remain "off budget." (Remember Al Gore's "lockbox"?)
Congress has been borrowing these funds to balance the budget. When you hear the Republicans screaming about the huge long-term debt this country has, remember that the great bulk of it is a debt that we owe ourselves. It is the money that the American workers has been paying into this system for the past thirty years, and then loaning to Congress so that things like unfunded wars and tax cuts for the wealthiest are affordable.
Now the day is coming when the American people as a whole have to actually pay back the Americans who have been putting money into the SSTF for 30 years. In order to do this, we would have to cut our Defense Budget AND end the tax cuts to the wealthiest. But the GOP doesn't want to do this! It would cut into their own private income streams. Their solution is to simply end the Social Security program instead. They plan to keep all the FICA money we've been paying in - for themselves.
So Rick Perry and the GOP are talking about Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme," as bankrupt. This is only the wind-up of a theft that they have been planning for at least 20 years, ever since they began to make the argument that "Social Security won't be there for younger workers." Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security was predicated on that fallacious supposition (another "Social Security solvency scare" begun in 2001). But now, the GOP and the Plutocrats are under tremendous pressure to get the money out of the SSTF before it is depleted by Baby Boomer payouts. They want to end Social Security and its payouts- just as the very generation the tail end of the Boomers, which has been payingAMERICANS SEEM TO HAVE LOST
ALL SENSE OF LOGIC. AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE CURRENT OR STATUS QUO AS CORRECT - IE., REGARDING TAXES AND FEDERAL REVENUES - WE CAN'T RAISE TAXES (ON THE WEALTHY) AND THE CURRENT TAX CODE WITH ALL ITS CARVE-OUTS IS SOME HOW OK, LIKE IT CAN'T BE CHANGED, ITS BEEN THIS WAY FOREVER AND THERE'S NO NEED TO CHANGE IT (THAT WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL).
Monday, September 5, 2011
America has several major problems
if one considers 'deficit' spending has stimulative then the USA has been stimulating the economy for 30 years - with zero results.
Military spending isn't producing anything except a handful of jobs at a cost of millions per job.
America started its deindustrialization in the 70's as old industrial plants and technology became out-dated and the huge industrial companies modernized overseas, seeking low-cost environments while lobbying government to expand free trade 'partners" and tax incentivize imports.
The future economy receives no government help because it is crowded out be tax assistance to the old industry / energy - at a cost of approximately $50 billion a year.
As a America shifted from manufacturing to a service/ transfer economy far less jobs are needed at significantly less cost, while a open border policy flooded America with millions of cheap labor workers.
Now the transfer/financial economy is leaving America killing the last of the middle class jobs while continuing the military adventurism to support American flag companies and the energy appetite of a addicted society - are you prepared to pay $20 a gallon to drive 5 miles to get a $10 gallon of milk in you're 8 mph SUV?
The American economy is crumbing and the rich are demanding massive tax cuts (in the pretext of resurrecting it) before they flee (note the massive profits kept off shore). They have got millions(Tax Party et al.) bought into scheme thinking there are enough seats on the TITANIC. Well its due to sail soon. Are you sure you will be included?
I didn't think Obama was an FDR but I thought he saw this dynamic and would move to reposition the American economy - however he has proven to be owned and controlled by the elites. I guess he would never have been elected otherwise. Call me paranoid but no one has been elected Prez who didn't have the approval of the MIC since WWII.Our country may need to collapse before we can rebuild it.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Where's the progressive we thought we elected ?
Obama was elected because of his passionate, forward-thinking message, not because he was a reasonable compromise maker-he needs/needed, to push forward the progressive agenda without looking back at angry wackjobs in the rear view mirror.
How did we go
from a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion in 2001 to the present 10-year deficit of $6.2 trillion. After all it was Republican in origin."
If Perry is elected Prez
Medicare will be discontinued & Social Security will be cut 25% from current levels. It wouldn't be right away but by the end of his first term.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Republican Game Plan
This is by Mike Lofgren, who retired in June after 28 years as a Congressional staffer, including 16 years as a professional staff member on the Republican side of both the House and Senate Budget Committees.
What he has to say is damning for Republicans, but he doesn't spare Democrats, either.
Please read this in its entirely There's way too much important stuff to quote all the important sections.
Lofgren also says that the Republican Party of 2011 believes in only three tenets, with the rest of their platform just window dressing. These are their core beliefs:
1. They care solely and exclusively about their rich contributors.
2. They "worship at the altar of Mars" in their enthusiasm for invading other countries.
3. They pander to religious fundamentalists, resulting in the normalizing of what would once have been considered reactionary or quaint beliefs, and also resulting in the spread of anti-intellectualism and hostility to science.
What he has to say is damning for Republicans, but he doesn't spare Democrats, either.
Please read this in its entirely There's way too much important stuff to quote all the important sections.
-snip-
"The reader may think that I am attributing Svengali-like powers to GOP operatives able to manipulate a zombie base to do their bidding. It is more complicated than that. Historical circumstances produced the raw material: the deindustrialization and financialization of America since about 1970 has spawned an increasingly downscale white middle class - without job security (or even without jobs), with pensions and health benefits evaporating and with their principal asset deflating in the collapse of the housing bubble. Their fears are not imaginary; their standard of living is shrinking.
What do the Democrats offer these people? Essentially nothing. Democratic Leadership Council-style "centrist" Democrats were among the biggest promoters of disastrous trade deals in the 1990s that outsourced jobs abroad: NAFTA, World Trade Organization, permanent most-favored-nation status for China. At the same time, the identity politics/lifestyle wing of the Democratic Party was seen as a too illegal immigrant-friendly by downscaled and outsourced whites.<3>
While Democrats temporized, or even dismissed the fears of the white working class as racist or nativist, Republicans went to work. To be sure, the business wing of the Republican Party consists of the most energetic outsourcers, wage cutters and hirers of sub-minimum wage immigrant labor to be found anywhere on the globe. But the faux-populist wing of the party, knowing the mental compartmentalization that occurs in most low-information voters, played on the fears of that same white working class to focus their anger on scapegoats that do no damage to corporations' bottom lines: instead of raising the minimum wage, let's build a wall on the Southern border (then hire a defense contractor to incompetently manage it). Instead of predatory bankers, it's evil Muslims. Or evil gays. Or evil abortionists.
How do they manage to do this? Because Democrats ceded the field. Above all, they do not understand language. Their initiatives are posed in impenetrable policy-speak: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The what? - can anyone even remember it? No wonder the pejorative "Obamacare" won out. Contrast that with the Republicans' Patriot Act. You're a patriot, aren't you? Does anyone at the GED level have a clue what a Stimulus Bill is supposed to be? Why didn't the White House call it the Jobs Bill and keep pounding on that theme?"
-snip-
"The reader may think that I am attributing Svengali-like powers to GOP operatives able to manipulate a zombie base to do their bidding. It is more complicated than that. Historical circumstances produced the raw material: the deindustrialization and financialization of America since about 1970 has spawned an increasingly downscale white middle class - without job security (or even without jobs), with pensions and health benefits evaporating and with their principal asset deflating in the collapse of the housing bubble. Their fears are not imaginary; their standard of living is shrinking.
What do the Democrats offer these people? Essentially nothing. Democratic Leadership Council-style "centrist" Democrats were among the biggest promoters of disastrous trade deals in the 1990s that outsourced jobs abroad: NAFTA, World Trade Organization, permanent most-favored-nation status for China. At the same time, the identity politics/lifestyle wing of the Democratic Party was seen as a too illegal immigrant-friendly by downscaled and outsourced whites.<3>
While Democrats temporized, or even dismissed the fears of the white working class as racist or nativist, Republicans went to work. To be sure, the business wing of the Republican Party consists of the most energetic outsourcers, wage cutters and hirers of sub-minimum wage immigrant labor to be found anywhere on the globe. But the faux-populist wing of the party, knowing the mental compartmentalization that occurs in most low-information voters, played on the fears of that same white working class to focus their anger on scapegoats that do no damage to corporations' bottom lines: instead of raising the minimum wage, let's build a wall on the Southern border (then hire a defense contractor to incompetently manage it). Instead of predatory bankers, it's evil Muslims. Or evil gays. Or evil abortionists.
How do they manage to do this? Because Democrats ceded the field. Above all, they do not understand language. Their initiatives are posed in impenetrable policy-speak: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The what? - can anyone even remember it? No wonder the pejorative "Obamacare" won out. Contrast that with the Republicans' Patriot Act. You're a patriot, aren't you? Does anyone at the GED level have a clue what a Stimulus Bill is supposed to be? Why didn't the White House call it the Jobs Bill and keep pounding on that theme?"
-snip-
Lofgren also says that the Republican Party of 2011 believes in only three tenets, with the rest of their platform just window dressing. These are their core beliefs:
1. They care solely and exclusively about their rich contributors.
2. They "worship at the altar of Mars" in their enthusiasm for invading other countries.
3. They pander to religious fundamentalists, resulting in the normalizing of what would once have been considered reactionary or quaint beliefs, and also resulting in the spread of anti-intellectualism and hostility to science.
Why did Republicans stop acknowledging
the economic importance of demand ? I recall Econ 101 - it was the message presented on day one - that simple graph of supply/demand. Remember the Bush shopping solution to terrorism ? I guess demand just isn't that important any more. More supply for the job creators, hey that's it!
So republicans have completely abandon their old reverence for the small/medium independent business person while pretending its all about them.
So republicans have completely abandon their old reverence for the small/medium independent business person while pretending its all about them.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Does the right wing exist only to
reduce human life to cold hard cash? Dehumanizing our fellow citizens makes genocide possible. When we talk about health care the problem is not enough money its about those charged with its disbursement.
Monday, August 29, 2011
There is a corrolation between
the growth in campaign donations and the growth of the national debt. Go figure! Debt to GDP is up 181 percent since 1980. Congressional Campaign donations up 180 percent over the same period. Look into the growth of specific tax cuts and tax subsidies.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
OVEN MITT'S $12 million mansion isn't big ENOUGH !
How can anyone worth Billions and more worried by tripling the size of one of his homes understand what the average American is going through during the Lesser Depression.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
LIBERAL / CONSERVATIVE ?
Are these really the dynamics - they seem to justify centralism (the most horrible way to solve our problems) - when in reality the issue is extremist / moderate. Think about it ! Its not my original idea - Jon Stewart saw this has the dynamic back in 2002.
Centrism is a political strategy often employed that is contra to the public good, because all politicians are always influenced by special interests.
two sources of centrism - anti-extremism and the desire for intellectual honesty. Centrists sense the problem but vastly underestimate its scope. Which leads and supports to anti-rationality.
Centrism is a political strategy often employed that is contra to the public good, because all politicians are always influenced by special interests.
two sources of centrism - anti-extremism and the desire for intellectual honesty. Centrists sense the problem but vastly underestimate its scope. Which leads and supports to anti-rationality.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
IF ALL DEFICIT SPENDING
IS STIMULATIVE (WHICH IT IS) THEN WE HAVE A POLICY PROBLEM - BECAUSE THIS STIMULATIVE SPENDING ISN'T DOING ANYTHING, maybe because its being spent on all the wrong things. Defense junk, subsidizing the old, the inefficient, yesterdays' energy, big agra-business. Since 1981 the US has run deficit spending for forty years. How bad has capitalism failed & this give away to the wealthy class been that it has produced very weak growth.
Chart - annual defiicts / growth rate / fed % vs gdp / employment rate / size of the wealthy.
TAX CODE CREDITS/DEDUCTIONS ARE ALSO DOING LITTLE.
In essence, through the tax code, the USA continues to subsidize those with connections, old technology and the dismemberment of America. Why invest in a business when one can get a better return through the tax code without doing anything.
Chart - annual defiicts / growth rate / fed % vs gdp / employment rate / size of the wealthy.
TAX CODE CREDITS/DEDUCTIONS ARE ALSO DOING LITTLE.
In essence, through the tax code, the USA continues to subsidize those with connections, old technology and the dismemberment of America. Why invest in a business when one can get a better return through the tax code without doing anything.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
NEXT UP - 'THE GAS TAX WAR'
I CAN SEE IT NOW - 'WE DON'T NEED NO FEDERAL GAS TAX !' - THE ROADS ARE JUST FINE THE WAY THEY ARE.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
MY REPUBLICIAN PICKS ARE LOOKIN'
PRETTY GOOD ! IF PERRY/BACHMANN WIN LOOK FOR PERRY TO BE GONE BY ELECTION DAY - DONE IN BY A DISGRUNTLED OBAMA SUPPORTER. IF A GUESS.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
FREIBURG, GERMANY -
FIND SOMEPLACE DOING IT BETTER ! NOT EASY. HERE"S WHY:
The 12 guiding principals:
Spatial:
I. Diversity, Safety & Tolerance.
II. City of Neighborhoods.
III. City of Short Distances.
IV. Public Transport & Density.
Content:
V. Education, Science & Culture.
VI. Industry & Jobs.
VII. Nature & Environment.
VIII. Design Quality.
Process:
IX. Long-Term Vision.
X. Communication & Participation.
XI. Reliability, Obligation, Fairness.
XII. Co-operation & Partnership.
The 12 guiding principals:
Spatial:
I. Diversity, Safety & Tolerance.
II. City of Neighborhoods.
III. City of Short Distances.
IV. Public Transport & Density.
Content:
V. Education, Science & Culture.
VI. Industry & Jobs.
VII. Nature & Environment.
VIII. Design Quality.
Process:
IX. Long-Term Vision.
X. Communication & Participation.
XI. Reliability, Obligation, Fairness.
XII. Co-operation & Partnership.
The rise of conservatism is the response
to the failure of the USA economic system. Our political system favors : the old technologies, internationalism over localism, greed, trading over making. Our country clings to the past economic ways because those who can finance the political system benefit from and are heavily invested in the current ways.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
taxes - why things are screwed up, part 2 !
People and households earning $1 million or more annually made up just 0.1 percent, or just over 235,000, of the 140 million tax returns filed in 2009, and just 8,274 returns were filed by people making $10 million or more. [...]
And, the data shows, the 235,413 taxpayers who reported earning seven digits or more in 2009 took in a total of $726.9 billion — yet 1,470 paid not a penny of income taxes.
And, the data shows, the 235,413 taxpayers who reported earning seven digits or more in 2009 took in a total of $726.9 billion — yet 1,470 paid not a penny of income taxes.
TAXES - WHY THINGS ARE SCREWED UP !
THE MEDIAN AMERICAN PAYS TWICE AS MUCH IN TAXES AS A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME AS THEY DID IN THE 1950'S & 1960'S. THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS PAY TWO-THIRDS LESS THAN THEY DID BACK THEN.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
PENTAGON SPENDING - 307 B IN 2001 GREW
TO 529B IN 2011 - INCREASE OF 72%. DOESN'T INCLUDE IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN. WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT DON'T WORK, BUILT FOR THE PAST WARS, WAY OVER COST. HEY - WHERE'S THE SPACE BASED MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM - WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THAT FOR 30 YEARS, STILL IN THE DESIGN PHASE.
THE MEDIA SEEMS TO ONLY PROMOTE THE
TEA PARTY MESSAGE. MAYBE THATS WHY THE TEA PARTY SEEMS SO SUCCESSFUL.
SOME INTERESTING TRENDS
in Television - like the format of audience tv, all internet tv. Attracting viewer-ship in the face of 500 channels/choices +, and view-on-demand technology. Building a viewership that follows one than 3 of your programs. I personally don't watch network tv at all & maybe 3-5 programs seriously + 4 occasionally. Like how cable offers the show several times during the week and a season marathon. Of course one can always record.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
WHY DO REPUBLICIANS . . .
Seem to want to restrict YOUR rights - now, they want your ISP to keep a record of ALL your web searches. Where will it stop?
Saturday, July 23, 2011
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF 'INDUSTRIALISTS'.
More on this subject - are these the people Republicians seem to think will come out of the woodwork and create jobs? 1) Never heard or met someone who relied on tax cuts to create a business or hire employees. Except the recent extortion of major corporations to extract tax subsidies to locate. Don't businesses require a good idea, a demand and then some capital? 2) In my mind industrialists seemed to die out by the early 1980's, if you are thinking of the guys who were busy building congomerates in the 1950' & 60's.
2012 pt 2
So it looks like Perry will run - predict - Perry will run left of Obama - pretend most of his past doesn't exist. The Republicians want the Presidency in the worst way and are willing to give up the House & Senate in the process. The Tea Party is probably dead - the republicians wouldn't need them and will most likely run away from them - purge them out of the party.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
THE FEDERAL BUDGET IN A NUT SHELL !
2001 2011 DIFFERENCE PERCENT
SECURITY $494b $858b +$364b +74%
NON-SECURITY $369b $369b - 0 -
MANDATORY $1,772b $2,343b +$571b +32%
TOTAL REVENUE $2,724b $2,228b -$496b -24%
(19.5%/GDP) (14.8%/GDP)
SECURITY $494b $858b +$364b +74%
NON-SECURITY $369b $369b - 0 -
MANDATORY $1,772b $2,343b +$571b +32%
TOTAL REVENUE $2,724b $2,228b -$496b -24%
(19.5%/GDP) (14.8%/GDP)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
AND EXACTLY WHO IS IT THAT'S
UNAMERICAN? ON THIS MAY 2ND, ALL THIS RIGHT-WING, CONSERVATIVE, REPUBLICIAN, BIRTHER BS - THEY CAN EVEN BE PROUD OF THE USA! AND MOST OF THEM WANT TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. NOTE: THIS COULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED UNDER BUSH OR ANY OF THE REPUBLICAN WANTABES.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
ONE SHOULD EITHER . . .
STRIVE TO BE FABULOUSLY WEALTHY OR AN ARTIST. AFTER ALL, LIFE SHOULD BE ENJOYED!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
It's the revenue . . .
in the last ten years, military spending has grown 81% and revenue has fallen 34%. Do the math !
The question to the GOP
"What have you do for me?" - ad showing people from all walks of life saying to the camera - "GOP / Republicans what have you do for me? - Voice over - Medicare-trying to end it / social security / head`start/ schoollunches/ etc/ etc.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Egypt
2/1/2011 - so, the only thing left is for Mabarck to leave, el-baradei to become temporary president, the current vp stays to plaicante the military, and they hold elections in september.
Monday, January 24, 2011
WISE WORDS -
" I DON'T KNOW HOW IT COULD BE MORE STARK OR CLEAR: THIS ENTIRE SOCIETY IS BEING DOMINATED BY CORPORARTE POWER IN A WAY THAT MAY EXCEED WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY, EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY." - RUSS FEINGOLD.
THIS KIND OF SUMS IT UP. WHAT'S LEFT TO DISCUSS?
THIS KIND OF SUMS IT UP. WHAT'S LEFT TO DISCUSS?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Shootings of 1-8-2011
The shootings - while horrible, will have three effects - they will convience even the most liberal, progressive Democrats that America needs a police state, its the end of Sarah Palin, and the beginning of the end of the Tea Party.
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