While the politicos in Washington begin grandstanding for the public and "votes" and campaign dollars, using the budget "crisis" and entitlement programs to foment their agendas in order to swing more dollars from that program instead to their campaign backers and PAC organizations through out state bundlers, high rollers, and corporate CEO's, much has been said about just how "broke" the Social Security program is in this country, and nebulous solutions proposed by many of the candidates selected by those who run the political system in this country.
Nothing much has been said about how to "legally" fix it.
Starting with: "Give me the money!"
Changing the rules in the middle of the game instead seems to be where most of these politicos stand.
In other words, I and many Americans, especially the boomers who have paid more into that program than any other generation before or since, would like our money back before any "fix" that defrauds middle Americans from their due upon retirement.
Returning those monies which have been withheld these many years, both those deductions made in those paychecks and also the sums contributed by those employers on behalf of those boomers in 2011 dollars, with interest, would be the "legal" remedy and cure for this claimed "broke" program.
Then the boomers could reinvest those dollars in any way they then chose.
And the program could be phased out for any and all that are born or hold their first "paid" jobs, not this random and illegal age of those under 55 which has been bantered about in the media by some. Where in the world did that figure (or age) come from, and just what is the "legal" basis for using 55 as the cutoff for those other Americans?
Interesting also that while Medicare was passed during the Johnson Administration due to the progressive higher and higher medical expenses when more and more hospitals were shifting from non-profit status, to for profit status, and during the height of the Viet Nam war when so much taxpayer money was being poured into that unconstitutional engagement, post 9-11 and our subsequent now even more unconstitutional engagement in the Middle East these "fixes" for these social programs are targeted at reducing those benefits in order to actually now shift more into EXPANDING our Middle Eastern engagements for those defense contractors and the military.
By unilaterally "changing" this program, is not this then an "ex post facto" law precluded by our Constitution for any and all that have paid ANYTHING at all into this program? Is this another of this Congress and Administration's ideas of "change" again at the American people and our Constitution's ultimate expense?
Or is this once again blowing smoke and diverting attention from all those receiving some of those monies using once again the federal government as nothing more than a money laundering operation for extra-Constitutional funding at the cost of this program?
The boomers were THE LARGEST generation ever, and if anything at this point there should be a surplus in that program, not deficit.
There is a true "legal" fix.
Too bad Congress simply would rather politicize this issue once again, Americans who will be receiving far more than the average American at their retirement through those federal and state civil service perks and benefits, at the cost of their fellow Americans and their "enforced" retirement, especially due to the amount of jobless in that particular age group at the present time.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
New York's Gay Marriage Move: Politics as Usual
It was reported in the mainstream media that after several attempts to get a gay marriage bill passed in the New York legislature, the special interests have finally succeeded - again, diametrically opposed to the foundation of American government and the Constitution upon which it is based.
Marriage is a private contract, after all, and the government has no business "legalizing" or "sanctioning" any or all personal relationships, until of course they then dissolve for "breach of contract."
Appears there may be many lawyers and businesses representatives on the New York legislature, unaware of their Constitutional breach or aware but "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."
How many divorce lawyers also petitioned for this "new" law, since marriage is also, of course, an institution with its roots in not simply the "common law" upon which that Constitution is based, but also over 3,000 years of legal precedent.
Leave it to New York, that bastion of social unrest and their Wall Street and global corporate special interests to once again favor their economic welfare, over the foundational government created by those founders.
Along with those other six states which also have used our courts, and their special interests these past five or six years to forment their unlawful agendas.
Rather than address the unequal treatment under progressive laws which have been given to married couples, over those single individuals, heads of household and single parents, or long term cooperative living arrangements and regulatory agency "rules" such as Social Security which are not covered by powers of attorneys or state laws governing rights of inheritance.
This was a bold move, which I do feel will come back to haunt the gay community several years down the road.
They have now "invited" Big Brother into their domestic partnership, and custodial arrangements. And through those blood tests involved prior to issuing marriage licenses, even their own health records and personal information.
Be careful what you wish for.
Marriage is a private contract, after all, and the government has no business "legalizing" or "sanctioning" any or all personal relationships, until of course they then dissolve for "breach of contract."
Appears there may be many lawyers and businesses representatives on the New York legislature, unaware of their Constitutional breach or aware but "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."
How many divorce lawyers also petitioned for this "new" law, since marriage is also, of course, an institution with its roots in not simply the "common law" upon which that Constitution is based, but also over 3,000 years of legal precedent.
Leave it to New York, that bastion of social unrest and their Wall Street and global corporate special interests to once again favor their economic welfare, over the foundational government created by those founders.
Along with those other six states which also have used our courts, and their special interests these past five or six years to forment their unlawful agendas.
Rather than address the unequal treatment under progressive laws which have been given to married couples, over those single individuals, heads of household and single parents, or long term cooperative living arrangements and regulatory agency "rules" such as Social Security which are not covered by powers of attorneys or state laws governing rights of inheritance.
This was a bold move, which I do feel will come back to haunt the gay community several years down the road.
They have now "invited" Big Brother into their domestic partnership, and custodial arrangements. And through those blood tests involved prior to issuing marriage licenses, even their own health records and personal information.
Be careful what you wish for.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Why The Boomers Are The Largest Segment of The Unemployed
This past week during the mainstream media coverage of the Weiner Saga and Casey Anthony highly publicized mock trial, there were mixed in reports on the continuing budget political in-fighting and fiasco, and an associated report on the boomers and how retirement for them may be postponed - until most of them are likely dead by 80.
What has been truly laughable about all of this is the fact that the boomers, more than any other generation before, have paid in more to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid than any prior generation, or the ones following.
Medicare, after all, was legislation that was established and included with the Social Security overhaul of 1965 under Lyndon Johnson. So anyone who began working prior to 1965 and who has not retired has contributed more really than those born before during the prior generations.
And the boomers, after all, are the largest generation and then subsequently had the fewest children due to the "discovery" of birth control in the 1960's. And also due to those "Zero Population Growth" wackos and their agendas who focused on U.S. birth rates, (thus also Roe and its ramifications which have even been expanded affording almost unrestricted late term abortions even which were not addressed by those Supremes since that decision was handed down in the early 70's) now instead support unlimited immigration and taking in all those war refugees from all the wars we have been unconstitutionally involved with since the 60's, in addition to then educating the "brightest" and most "promising" young people from other countries at U.S. taxpayer's expense, rather than our own youth in the name of "diversity."
I hope AARP and Betty White get the message, with all those flyers and advertisements that most boomers began receiving at 50. We most likely will not live long enough to enjoy all those cruises or have enough money to buy all those low cost term and whole life policies, or even those much ballyhooed Medicare supplements.
It has been interesting to see how both political parties continue to portray Social Security as a "broke" program, and bad mouth these taxpayer funded "entitlement" programs which involve these also ever expanding tax rates taken out of their pay before they even get what is left.
I mean, in my immediate family and my ex-spouse's, there have been several members that unfortunately passed on prior to reaching age 62, much less 65 or 80. Both my spouse's parents passed away at 36 and 54 respectively. An uncle of mine at 60. A brother-in-law's brother at 48.
All had contributed during their lifetimes to those programs, yet had received not one penny of those benefits for themselves.
Few qualify for Medicaid, since you do have to be under the poverty level in order to qualify with no real assets left. In other words, you are homeless and most likely in ill health as a result, but at least part of your prescriptions are paid.
While we then also create more and more sick veterans who will need treatment for those PTSD drugs and counseling, literally tens of thousands in the past ten years alone from both Iraq and Afghanistan. I heard there are now 5 million less men than women in this country now due to this war - I guess a statistic that just thrills the average male noncombatant, in order to also, too, make room for more foreigners and immigrants to repopulate and re-educate in the "new" American history being taught in our schools.
Also missed is the fact that in most unemployment offices throughout the country, the people on those computers searching for jobs (and for one legitimate listing are about six illegitimate ones used for the ad revenues those job postings generate) are those over 40.
Perhaps the reason so many boomers are having trouble finding work has nothing to do with all those articles written by those job center employees or their paid writers, portraying most boomers as "not tech savvy" enough for the new job market, or not flexible enough to work under people less than half their ages, in many cases, and unable to resist parenting all those up and coming CEOs and higher level management personnel or giving them in politically incorrect terms the benefit of their literally years and years of experience and training many times filling the positions which are now denied them.
Perhaps it is the fault of many of those "post application" questions which you are advised during the online application process are "voluntary?"
Like those tax credit questions.
Are you Hispanic? (A "no" on this one will get you another drop down box where you can fill in what ethnic group or race you are other than Hispanic).
Are you under 40? (Used to be "50 or over" for those tax credits - maybe this is why there are so many blond 20 somethings on FOX as political analysts, "lawyers" and commentators?)
Are you a veteran?
Are you on Social Security, Aid to Dependent Children, or any other form of state or federal low income subsidy?
If not, even with those all important key words and enhanced resumes, your application will go to the bottom of the pile, never to be seen by those Human Resources personnel who basically read applications sort of like the average citizen searches the Internet, using only the first page of the Goggle results in order to make their purchase, or get their information. And then soon, you too will qualify when you can answer "yes" to at least that government subsidy question, but the jobs you envision will not at all be one in which you have any prior experience, or training most likely but those created under those "jobs" bills in order to work for your lower welfare "work" subsidy.
Obama and the Democratic Party are now stating that perhaps the reason so many are not working is due to "technology," and the fact that so many jobs have gone the way of the dinosaur due to the tech sector's time saving gadgets. Time savings that are not "passed on" to the public, instead the expensive costs of those gadgets upping the costs for most goods and services.
Of course, this position has been mentioned while the 2012 elections are in full swing, in order to garner the votes of those unemployed and underemployed, and after signing all those appropriations bills for those grants that have fed this sector lo these many years, and their outsourcing and jobs killing agendas. Not to mention also the security risks with Americans personal and financial information in their databases waiting for the next huge "hacker" story, in order to feed the identity theft "new jobs" sector using crime itself as a job stimulus.
Gee, the boomers came to that conclusion over thirty years ago when all those monies started getting earmarked for the technology sector at the cost of almost every other sector (other than medicine, another heavily dependent on those devices and computers to streamline the delivery of healthcare, of course, at higher and higher costs).
Maybe it is due to the fact that even most of those technology jobs that even are left, have gone to India then progressively.
While most of the construction jobs, those there are on these shores and not in Afghanistan or Iraq, have gone to the Mexican illegals.
And manufacturing jobs to China.
I heard several members of Congress from Arizona, my former home state, also were sponsors of a bill to provide unemployment benefits to Americans whose jobs were lost due to "globalization."
Is this insanity, or what?
What has been truly laughable about all of this is the fact that the boomers, more than any other generation before, have paid in more to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid than any prior generation, or the ones following.
Medicare, after all, was legislation that was established and included with the Social Security overhaul of 1965 under Lyndon Johnson. So anyone who began working prior to 1965 and who has not retired has contributed more really than those born before during the prior generations.
And the boomers, after all, are the largest generation and then subsequently had the fewest children due to the "discovery" of birth control in the 1960's. And also due to those "Zero Population Growth" wackos and their agendas who focused on U.S. birth rates, (thus also Roe and its ramifications which have even been expanded affording almost unrestricted late term abortions even which were not addressed by those Supremes since that decision was handed down in the early 70's) now instead support unlimited immigration and taking in all those war refugees from all the wars we have been unconstitutionally involved with since the 60's, in addition to then educating the "brightest" and most "promising" young people from other countries at U.S. taxpayer's expense, rather than our own youth in the name of "diversity."
I hope AARP and Betty White get the message, with all those flyers and advertisements that most boomers began receiving at 50. We most likely will not live long enough to enjoy all those cruises or have enough money to buy all those low cost term and whole life policies, or even those much ballyhooed Medicare supplements.
It has been interesting to see how both political parties continue to portray Social Security as a "broke" program, and bad mouth these taxpayer funded "entitlement" programs which involve these also ever expanding tax rates taken out of their pay before they even get what is left.
I mean, in my immediate family and my ex-spouse's, there have been several members that unfortunately passed on prior to reaching age 62, much less 65 or 80. Both my spouse's parents passed away at 36 and 54 respectively. An uncle of mine at 60. A brother-in-law's brother at 48.
All had contributed during their lifetimes to those programs, yet had received not one penny of those benefits for themselves.
Few qualify for Medicaid, since you do have to be under the poverty level in order to qualify with no real assets left. In other words, you are homeless and most likely in ill health as a result, but at least part of your prescriptions are paid.
While we then also create more and more sick veterans who will need treatment for those PTSD drugs and counseling, literally tens of thousands in the past ten years alone from both Iraq and Afghanistan. I heard there are now 5 million less men than women in this country now due to this war - I guess a statistic that just thrills the average male noncombatant, in order to also, too, make room for more foreigners and immigrants to repopulate and re-educate in the "new" American history being taught in our schools.
Also missed is the fact that in most unemployment offices throughout the country, the people on those computers searching for jobs (and for one legitimate listing are about six illegitimate ones used for the ad revenues those job postings generate) are those over 40.
Perhaps the reason so many boomers are having trouble finding work has nothing to do with all those articles written by those job center employees or their paid writers, portraying most boomers as "not tech savvy" enough for the new job market, or not flexible enough to work under people less than half their ages, in many cases, and unable to resist parenting all those up and coming CEOs and higher level management personnel or giving them in politically incorrect terms the benefit of their literally years and years of experience and training many times filling the positions which are now denied them.
Perhaps it is the fault of many of those "post application" questions which you are advised during the online application process are "voluntary?"
Like those tax credit questions.
Are you Hispanic? (A "no" on this one will get you another drop down box where you can fill in what ethnic group or race you are other than Hispanic).
Are you under 40? (Used to be "50 or over" for those tax credits - maybe this is why there are so many blond 20 somethings on FOX as political analysts, "lawyers" and commentators?)
Are you a veteran?
Are you on Social Security, Aid to Dependent Children, or any other form of state or federal low income subsidy?
If not, even with those all important key words and enhanced resumes, your application will go to the bottom of the pile, never to be seen by those Human Resources personnel who basically read applications sort of like the average citizen searches the Internet, using only the first page of the Goggle results in order to make their purchase, or get their information. And then soon, you too will qualify when you can answer "yes" to at least that government subsidy question, but the jobs you envision will not at all be one in which you have any prior experience, or training most likely but those created under those "jobs" bills in order to work for your lower welfare "work" subsidy.
Obama and the Democratic Party are now stating that perhaps the reason so many are not working is due to "technology," and the fact that so many jobs have gone the way of the dinosaur due to the tech sector's time saving gadgets. Time savings that are not "passed on" to the public, instead the expensive costs of those gadgets upping the costs for most goods and services.
Of course, this position has been mentioned while the 2012 elections are in full swing, in order to garner the votes of those unemployed and underemployed, and after signing all those appropriations bills for those grants that have fed this sector lo these many years, and their outsourcing and jobs killing agendas. Not to mention also the security risks with Americans personal and financial information in their databases waiting for the next huge "hacker" story, in order to feed the identity theft "new jobs" sector using crime itself as a job stimulus.
Gee, the boomers came to that conclusion over thirty years ago when all those monies started getting earmarked for the technology sector at the cost of almost every other sector (other than medicine, another heavily dependent on those devices and computers to streamline the delivery of healthcare, of course, at higher and higher costs).
Maybe it is due to the fact that even most of those technology jobs that even are left, have gone to India then progressively.
While most of the construction jobs, those there are on these shores and not in Afghanistan or Iraq, have gone to the Mexican illegals.
And manufacturing jobs to China.
I heard several members of Congress from Arizona, my former home state, also were sponsors of a bill to provide unemployment benefits to Americans whose jobs were lost due to "globalization."
Is this insanity, or what?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Weiner Waggers, Palin's Revere and More
This week the mainstream news media is at it again, dominating the airwaves with sensationalized news stories, and propaganda geared more toward ratings, than anything that truly might interest the American public, in this writer's opinion.
First there are what I like to call the "Weiner Waggers" and their subversive journalism.
I'm sure this week's "Saturday Night Live" will be a hoot, and have a field day with this one.
Mr. Weiner is a American of the Jewish faith, married to a Middle Eastern young woman that just so happens to also work for Hillary Clinton, Bill's wife.
I'm sure there is some real bonding going on there between those two women on those taxpayer paid trips to all those foreign ports of call on behalf of the State Department.
Mr. Weiner was, of course, recently married.
I find it strange that this brouhaha occurred just as the public was in the midst of continuing to question and address the bin Laden "burial at sea" and details surrounding that heroic event.
In fact, seems almost to have been concocted so fast - this "news breaking story."
And the pronunciation of Mr. Weiner's name certainly seems to be either intentionally mispronounced also to flesh out this story, since I've yet to meet another whose name is spelled in such a way, especially of the Jewish faith, and pronounced "Weiner" (as in Oscar Mayer) rather than "Whiner" (as in childrens' tales of woe, or rhyming with beer stein-er).
The fact that it seems politician's infidelity is become the norm and seems to be used as a segway after or during horrific Constitutional violations, press reports out of Washington, or whatever to an increasingly outraged public with the goings on in Washington lo these many years also seems rather odd.
Maybe he just simply irritated the Jewish population with the selection of his bride, who is not Jewish from all reports and is of a different religious and ethnic persuasion.
Or maybe he is in on this latest hoax and diversion.
I mean, also from all reports he has sponsored bills for increasing visas also for foreign models to this country (as if we don't have enough American models, most on Fox it seems promoted to "political analysts" or "lawyer"), although who knows if that one is true, either.
And then there was Ms. Palin's version of the Paul Revere tale, with a lot of "shucks" and "by gollies" thrown in for good measure.
Darn those British for even thinking about "takin' away our guns," hence Mr. Revere's warning.
Nothing about that Declaration of Independence and just what the true "grievances" of those patriots were, or the fact that America had already pretty much declared their intent to break free of Britain due to also its history of governmental abuse, increasing taxation, and its partnering with its "favored subjects" in order to rob from the poor, and give to the rich to make them much, much richer with titles and baronies, giving away or demanding both their homes and land, and then even the fruits of their own labors as that 16th Amendment and the increasing eminent domain abuses for purely increased tax revenues demonstrate now in this country.
Not that simple little "indirect" tea tax.
Mimicing the Britain of the 18th century once again.
But, gosh, America it was simply those guns and arms the British wished to confiscate.
Thrown in to all of this was also the release of a report that indicated that Americans at the present time have the lowest taxes since the 1950's.
Federal, state, local or statutory?
No breakdown was provided.
I guess we are forgetting all the literally tens of thousands of laws that have been implemented since the 1950's that now mandate (such as ObamaCare intends to do) the purchase of its "favored subjects" products BY LAW OR ELSE you can simply pay a fine to the government, or be arrested if you do not now also budget whatever income you have left according to the U.S. Congress's will and edicts (or your own state, who gave the federal government back in 1913 power it was never, ever intended to have - at least without the consent of the governed in those "passed" amendments).
Those, by any stretch of the imagination, also count as "taxes" too.
But Ms. Palin's version is more exploitive, and inflammatory (and incorrect).
Gotta love the Washington press corp, cable news and those other "waggers."
First there are what I like to call the "Weiner Waggers" and their subversive journalism.
I'm sure this week's "Saturday Night Live" will be a hoot, and have a field day with this one.
Mr. Weiner is a American of the Jewish faith, married to a Middle Eastern young woman that just so happens to also work for Hillary Clinton, Bill's wife.
I'm sure there is some real bonding going on there between those two women on those taxpayer paid trips to all those foreign ports of call on behalf of the State Department.
Mr. Weiner was, of course, recently married.
I find it strange that this brouhaha occurred just as the public was in the midst of continuing to question and address the bin Laden "burial at sea" and details surrounding that heroic event.
In fact, seems almost to have been concocted so fast - this "news breaking story."
And the pronunciation of Mr. Weiner's name certainly seems to be either intentionally mispronounced also to flesh out this story, since I've yet to meet another whose name is spelled in such a way, especially of the Jewish faith, and pronounced "Weiner" (as in Oscar Mayer) rather than "Whiner" (as in childrens' tales of woe, or rhyming with beer stein-er).
The fact that it seems politician's infidelity is become the norm and seems to be used as a segway after or during horrific Constitutional violations, press reports out of Washington, or whatever to an increasingly outraged public with the goings on in Washington lo these many years also seems rather odd.
Maybe he just simply irritated the Jewish population with the selection of his bride, who is not Jewish from all reports and is of a different religious and ethnic persuasion.
Or maybe he is in on this latest hoax and diversion.
I mean, also from all reports he has sponsored bills for increasing visas also for foreign models to this country (as if we don't have enough American models, most on Fox it seems promoted to "political analysts" or "lawyer"), although who knows if that one is true, either.
And then there was Ms. Palin's version of the Paul Revere tale, with a lot of "shucks" and "by gollies" thrown in for good measure.
Darn those British for even thinking about "takin' away our guns," hence Mr. Revere's warning.
Nothing about that Declaration of Independence and just what the true "grievances" of those patriots were, or the fact that America had already pretty much declared their intent to break free of Britain due to also its history of governmental abuse, increasing taxation, and its partnering with its "favored subjects" in order to rob from the poor, and give to the rich to make them much, much richer with titles and baronies, giving away or demanding both their homes and land, and then even the fruits of their own labors as that 16th Amendment and the increasing eminent domain abuses for purely increased tax revenues demonstrate now in this country.
Not that simple little "indirect" tea tax.
Mimicing the Britain of the 18th century once again.
But, gosh, America it was simply those guns and arms the British wished to confiscate.
Thrown in to all of this was also the release of a report that indicated that Americans at the present time have the lowest taxes since the 1950's.
Federal, state, local or statutory?
No breakdown was provided.
I guess we are forgetting all the literally tens of thousands of laws that have been implemented since the 1950's that now mandate (such as ObamaCare intends to do) the purchase of its "favored subjects" products BY LAW OR ELSE you can simply pay a fine to the government, or be arrested if you do not now also budget whatever income you have left according to the U.S. Congress's will and edicts (or your own state, who gave the federal government back in 1913 power it was never, ever intended to have - at least without the consent of the governed in those "passed" amendments).
Those, by any stretch of the imagination, also count as "taxes" too.
But Ms. Palin's version is more exploitive, and inflammatory (and incorrect).
Gotta love the Washington press corp, cable news and those other "waggers."
Monday, June 6, 2011
Fox's Huckabee Hilarity: Facts vs. Spins
Last night I had a few moments to watch briefly several segments from Fox's newest addition to its "conservative" line up on the evening edition of "Huckabee." It was eye-opening, to say the least, as one who is and has always been an American Conservative.
"Governor" Huckabee was introduced (hasn't he left office?), and began the show with an ad and promotion for Gulf shrimp and wisting the Gulf coast this summer since the cleanup has been completed, and the beaches are open and the shrimp simply mouth-watering.
Interspersed with a few comic moments regarding all the ways you can cook or barbeque shrimp, were promptings to "visit the Gulf" and such.
Then the "political" commentary began.
"Governor" Huckabee then went on to lambast Washington on its providing funding to the tune of over a half million dollars to "study shrimp" and their exercise habits using shrimp confined to a hamster's wheel to see just how that might improve, apparently, the taste and fitness of this seafood. Now, don't get me wrong Washington does and has spent outrageously in those earmarks for ridiculous and frivolous expenditures.
But does any American truly believe that those earmarked sums actually did go to provide for the scientific study of shrimp and their exercise capabilities, or rather their friendly campaign donor and his needs instead under the guise of this "study?"
Later in the show, the "Governor" then ran a segment with an old country singer, Ray Stevens, doing a little ditty that demonstrated just how he and his family could get out of debt using Washington's methods for balancing the budgets and providing for its needs in its "administrative" costs.
One such line when referenced printing whatever what was needed and then went on to call these sums "Obama money" and then referenced all the global corporate bailouts, and stimulus monies which have been provided by merely Obama (Congress actually) for such economic expenditures.
What was left out, however, during all the hilarity and pans to the studio audience laughing their literal butts off was that it was George Bush, and not Obama, that started the "stimulus" and bailout money train.
Does Fox and Mr. Huckabee actually believe that Americans memories are truly that short, or that easily propagandized.
Amazing how these ex-NeoCon Republican "entertainment" and political entities continue to get jobs on Fox such as Mr. Huckabee, Mr. Rove, and the like.
Not American Conservatives in any respect, but simply representatives of Washington and their respective self-interests in the name of "fair and unbalanced" reporting. I mean, I just wonder how their positions would jive with our Constitution since Mr. Huckabee is a hawk or was last election, although a represented "Christian" ex-pastor.
Whose only true contribution to last race was his oft-quoted remark that "Jesus would not run for political office."
Definitely not in 21st century America, or as one of the "New Age" Global Republican branch of the Global Socialist Party.
He wrapped up the show with an interview with three young Americans (less than 35) who had suffered during this economic disaster in the U.S., and lost their businesses, or saw the end clearly coming for their particular small businesses. All turned their personal tragedies and disasters into golden eggs by founding new businesses (and where did they get the funding for them, I wonder, since small business loans are almost non-existent for start ups in this economy?) - and did not hold their hands out, as Governor Mike pointed out, during their loss and new ventures for public "golden egg" assistance.
I wonder if Governor Mike has visited the local unemployment offices, and seen that most all in those centers are over the age of his "buck up" and become productive examples? And it never was disclosed just where their assistance and sums for their new ventures came from, or even their moving costs to start businesses in other states or markets?
Maybe Governor Mike should just stick to his food segments.
Since it does appear those are the only pieces with even a shred of research, or truth rather than just more political spin doctoring.
"Governor" Huckabee was introduced (hasn't he left office?), and began the show with an ad and promotion for Gulf shrimp and wisting the Gulf coast this summer since the cleanup has been completed, and the beaches are open and the shrimp simply mouth-watering.
Interspersed with a few comic moments regarding all the ways you can cook or barbeque shrimp, were promptings to "visit the Gulf" and such.
Then the "political" commentary began.
"Governor" Huckabee then went on to lambast Washington on its providing funding to the tune of over a half million dollars to "study shrimp" and their exercise habits using shrimp confined to a hamster's wheel to see just how that might improve, apparently, the taste and fitness of this seafood. Now, don't get me wrong Washington does and has spent outrageously in those earmarks for ridiculous and frivolous expenditures.
But does any American truly believe that those earmarked sums actually did go to provide for the scientific study of shrimp and their exercise capabilities, or rather their friendly campaign donor and his needs instead under the guise of this "study?"
Later in the show, the "Governor" then ran a segment with an old country singer, Ray Stevens, doing a little ditty that demonstrated just how he and his family could get out of debt using Washington's methods for balancing the budgets and providing for its needs in its "administrative" costs.
One such line when referenced printing whatever what was needed and then went on to call these sums "Obama money" and then referenced all the global corporate bailouts, and stimulus monies which have been provided by merely Obama (Congress actually) for such economic expenditures.
What was left out, however, during all the hilarity and pans to the studio audience laughing their literal butts off was that it was George Bush, and not Obama, that started the "stimulus" and bailout money train.
Does Fox and Mr. Huckabee actually believe that Americans memories are truly that short, or that easily propagandized.
Amazing how these ex-NeoCon Republican "entertainment" and political entities continue to get jobs on Fox such as Mr. Huckabee, Mr. Rove, and the like.
Not American Conservatives in any respect, but simply representatives of Washington and their respective self-interests in the name of "fair and unbalanced" reporting. I mean, I just wonder how their positions would jive with our Constitution since Mr. Huckabee is a hawk or was last election, although a represented "Christian" ex-pastor.
Whose only true contribution to last race was his oft-quoted remark that "Jesus would not run for political office."
Definitely not in 21st century America, or as one of the "New Age" Global Republican branch of the Global Socialist Party.
He wrapped up the show with an interview with three young Americans (less than 35) who had suffered during this economic disaster in the U.S., and lost their businesses, or saw the end clearly coming for their particular small businesses. All turned their personal tragedies and disasters into golden eggs by founding new businesses (and where did they get the funding for them, I wonder, since small business loans are almost non-existent for start ups in this economy?) - and did not hold their hands out, as Governor Mike pointed out, during their loss and new ventures for public "golden egg" assistance.
I wonder if Governor Mike has visited the local unemployment offices, and seen that most all in those centers are over the age of his "buck up" and become productive examples? And it never was disclosed just where their assistance and sums for their new ventures came from, or even their moving costs to start businesses in other states or markets?
Maybe Governor Mike should just stick to his food segments.
Since it does appear those are the only pieces with even a shred of research, or truth rather than just more political spin doctoring.
Friday, June 3, 2011
U.S. Jobs Report Is In: Bleak Prospects for Many
Well, the latest jobs report is in and the picture for the average American still seeking work in this depressive U.S. economy isn't pretty.
It was announced through the mainstream media that jobs are down over 9% since the last report.
Of course, you do need to double that figure since it is reported artificially lower than the true statistics, since those which are now unable to continue to collect unemployment, or have been denied benefits for whatever reason, or who owned their own businesses which have since gone under are not included in those statistics.
Recently, I had another of those "aha" moments those insurance companies (affiliated with the financial and banking sectors) advertise on most prime time and cable news stations.
As one who has a travel and hospitality certification from a now defunct travel school which was operated by American Express back in the 90's (who, I am sure, received government taxpayer grants for its operation, and in which my tuition was over $2,500 for my study), I recently stopped by a cruise line company affiliated with a Canadian website based travel company.
The franchisers of this retail operation had just recently opened, and were seeking sales and marketing representatives both at their retail location, and also mobile agents who worked from their home.
We discussed my background, having worked for over five years for a foreign domiciled vacation package retailer, in which eventually I moved from being one of their top sales agents to working in their yield management division and actually programming and developing packages for this company's U.S. market. I eventually left when this foreign domiciled company decided to move from its offices in Scottsdale, Arizona to Coral Gables, Florida for all non-reservation agent personnel for budgetary reasons.
Apparently, the rent in Scottsdale was too high although to many of us it was difficult to see where the rent in that particular part of Florida would not have been similar. Certainly, renegotiating their lease space or seeking cheaper digs would have been much more cost efficient, but then who was I to say?
The retail position this cruise company envisioned consisted of selling cruise packages under their banner with all the sales agents independent contractors, owning their own client base, as it were. Working at the franchise location merely consisted of paying a $500 up front "licensing" fee to this foreign based business and its U.S. franchisee. In addition, their share of any and all eventual bookings would be 60%, with the sales agent getting the remaining 40% (or 20% less U.S. taxes on that commission). These outrageous fees and costs, and low commission ratio was offset by all the access to the database and walk-in clients the retail agents would be receiving, and access to all the internet webinars which would be required to keep up to date on packages and promotions.
Although while I was there for over an hour not one individual came by or inquired about a future vacation.
The mobile agents (or those working from home) had it a little better.
Lower upfront costs (since the franchisee could not charge for desk space, apparently) of $200, and they then got to keep 70% of their commissions, with 30% going to the global parent company and franchisee. Although those not based at the company provided desks and computers would have to pay for their own marketing materials and such. Although, of course, could then write them off on their tax returns as independent contractors.
This is the new job scene.
Doesn't appear much research is also going into just what "new" jobs are actually out there, or just who is profiting off the backs of the unemployed. Including those selling their expertise in writing Facebook ads for the unemployed at $50 bucks and more a pop, who hang out at all those job center offices being funded by the many jobless too in the boomer and Gen X generation.
Since not a single individual in the job center office I visited recently searching on the 100 computers available was under 40.
Hope those statiticians and analysts start digging a little deeper into some of those "new jobs" created figures.
Fox recently had another propaganda piece on its pay station about some young man that held 50 jobs in 50 days.
One as a dietician.
Of course, with no education or certification as a dietician just wonder how he got THAT job?
Perhaps as a FOX employee researcher or "educator" whose real salary is provided by more public grants or stimulus monies?
It was announced through the mainstream media that jobs are down over 9% since the last report.
Of course, you do need to double that figure since it is reported artificially lower than the true statistics, since those which are now unable to continue to collect unemployment, or have been denied benefits for whatever reason, or who owned their own businesses which have since gone under are not included in those statistics.
Recently, I had another of those "aha" moments those insurance companies (affiliated with the financial and banking sectors) advertise on most prime time and cable news stations.
As one who has a travel and hospitality certification from a now defunct travel school which was operated by American Express back in the 90's (who, I am sure, received government taxpayer grants for its operation, and in which my tuition was over $2,500 for my study), I recently stopped by a cruise line company affiliated with a Canadian website based travel company.
The franchisers of this retail operation had just recently opened, and were seeking sales and marketing representatives both at their retail location, and also mobile agents who worked from their home.
We discussed my background, having worked for over five years for a foreign domiciled vacation package retailer, in which eventually I moved from being one of their top sales agents to working in their yield management division and actually programming and developing packages for this company's U.S. market. I eventually left when this foreign domiciled company decided to move from its offices in Scottsdale, Arizona to Coral Gables, Florida for all non-reservation agent personnel for budgetary reasons.
Apparently, the rent in Scottsdale was too high although to many of us it was difficult to see where the rent in that particular part of Florida would not have been similar. Certainly, renegotiating their lease space or seeking cheaper digs would have been much more cost efficient, but then who was I to say?
The retail position this cruise company envisioned consisted of selling cruise packages under their banner with all the sales agents independent contractors, owning their own client base, as it were. Working at the franchise location merely consisted of paying a $500 up front "licensing" fee to this foreign based business and its U.S. franchisee. In addition, their share of any and all eventual bookings would be 60%, with the sales agent getting the remaining 40% (or 20% less U.S. taxes on that commission). These outrageous fees and costs, and low commission ratio was offset by all the access to the database and walk-in clients the retail agents would be receiving, and access to all the internet webinars which would be required to keep up to date on packages and promotions.
Although while I was there for over an hour not one individual came by or inquired about a future vacation.
The mobile agents (or those working from home) had it a little better.
Lower upfront costs (since the franchisee could not charge for desk space, apparently) of $200, and they then got to keep 70% of their commissions, with 30% going to the global parent company and franchisee. Although those not based at the company provided desks and computers would have to pay for their own marketing materials and such. Although, of course, could then write them off on their tax returns as independent contractors.
This is the new job scene.
Doesn't appear much research is also going into just what "new" jobs are actually out there, or just who is profiting off the backs of the unemployed. Including those selling their expertise in writing Facebook ads for the unemployed at $50 bucks and more a pop, who hang out at all those job center offices being funded by the many jobless too in the boomer and Gen X generation.
Since not a single individual in the job center office I visited recently searching on the 100 computers available was under 40.
Hope those statiticians and analysts start digging a little deeper into some of those "new jobs" created figures.
Fox recently had another propaganda piece on its pay station about some young man that held 50 jobs in 50 days.
One as a dietician.
Of course, with no education or certification as a dietician just wonder how he got THAT job?
Perhaps as a FOX employee researcher or "educator" whose real salary is provided by more public grants or stimulus monies?
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