In the last few days it has been apparent that this is an election year, and the political landscape is getting more and more slippery by the minute.
The latest news on the election front is the announcement by Mr. Obama that his stance on illegal immigrant enforcement activites will take a more compassionate view. He is a dreamer, and the Dream Act is once again being milked for those crucial foreign votes.
The sins of the fathers are not to be used against the children of foreigners who entered this country illegally, without going through the immigration process as set forth by Congress. Mr. Obama has mandated through another Executive Order that Congress has no authority in this matter, only the president does.
Where in the Constitution that power is accorded the president has escaped me, although I have read it through several times (it is a rather short document, after all, unlike the immigration provisions, or any other Act of Congress this past century, at least.
It is important, after all, to garner those foreign votes.
The will and positions of Americans on this contentious issue, especially in this current economy, does not bear consideration.
As one who formerly grew up and lived in a border state, and has been repeatedly victimized by the policies of Washington on this issue and my state of residence on several occasions within the past twenty years, makes such a position rather hard to swallow.
As it appears is also the case with many other Americans, whether border state residents, victims or not.
I was even victimized once again in a non-border Western state, by the current economic conditions irrespective of the border issue.
After having left my home state of Arizona in early 2007 after the National Guard had been called out in order to secure Arizona's borders, and also a victim of the mortgage mess and crisis in the Western states particularly, I eventually ended up in another Western state after having to move from a Southern state where I had extended family after one of the major hurricanes for health reasons.
It took me approximately seven or eight months to be able to regain my health, during which time I was living in weekly rental rooms, which was all that I could afford due to the ramifications of my exit from Arizona and expenses thereafter in subsequent moves, medical expenses, and costs of gasoline and related expenses.
When I was well enough, I attempted to seek work in a busting economy in my former field of experience and expertise - leisure travel and tourism (an industry which pretty much was wiped out after 9-11, and all those TSA regulations and requirements which have turned many Americans against traveling very far for their recreation, if they could afford it).
During this time I ran through my savings (the equity I had gotten out of my home due to a forced move, a home I had lived in for over 12 years which was originally on a 15 year note, for which I had in those 12 years paid for twice with the interest) and three months "emergency" stash.
Eventually, I found it necessary to apply for food stamps in order to get food. A position that in my wildest dreams I never hoped to find myself.
I walked into the state offices (this is a federal program, but administered by the states) to pick up my application.
On the television in the office there was a video of the Disney movie, Jungle Book.
And the song, "The Bare Necessities" was playing on a loop over and over again.
I guess this is an example of the federal (or state) government's sense of humor.
Or maybe it was for the children of those food stamp recipients in order to discourage their children from asking for an I-phone for their next Christmas gift. You know, the ones which are advertised on the television around Christmas time to hook those kids into begging for the latest technology.
The office was crowded, although the applications were lying on a table so I didn't have to wait in line.
I looked it over.
The first page astounded me.
While as an American I was to provide documentation of my income, residency status (although a federal program), social security number, expenses and the like, it was stressed in bold letters that no proof of citizenship was required nor social security number for foreigners.
My benefits were cut off after one month due to the fact that my paperwork wasn't in order, and I was accused by one of the government officials when I went to the office again of not returning their call when they called to obtain further information. Rather loudly, I might add.
All representatives at the offices were minority race employees, and I would have to say that as a white, older American woman my application was reviewed far more closely than that of any of the minority members seeking assistance, although my case worker was a minority member and was very cordial and later apologized privately for the mix up.
But in the end it really didn't matter.
Within a month or two of receiving my card, I ran out of cream for my coffee one morning so decided to walk to the corner store since it was snowing out that morning.
I got on my boots, gloves and coat (and for a former desert dweller this was a lengthy process) and headed out to the store.
My weekly rental was on a rather busy street, so although not living in one of the "nicer" areas in this metro community, a community where walking and biking are promoted as a benefit of living there, it was just a short walk and wasn't really all that cold outside.
I hadn't gone more than a few blocks when I noticed one of those portable taco stands parked in a vacant lot, with three young men standing outside the little mobile home/restaurant.
I started walking past the cart when one of the young men stepped in front of me and asked if I had a few dollars to spare so that he could get something to eat.
I said, no I really didn't since I myself found I needed food stamps and only had about six dollars in cash with me anyway.
With that, he grabbed my purse. I grabbed back. The strap broke, and he was off across the vacant field.
At that moment in my life, if it hadn't been snowing, and I hadn't been over fifty, I would have taken off across that field to get my purse since it had all my identification, including my needed social security card in it, my children's pictures, and my food stamp card.
I don't think the Dream Act is what America needs.
How many more tens of thousands of those kids will also be looking for work when they graduate from those state colleges, and also cannot find adequate employment in addition to the literally millions of generational Americans now in that position?
Dream on, Mr. Obama.
Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
HookerGate: Secret Service Scandal Over Colombia Connections
It was reported in the mainstream media this weekend that Barack Obama's visit to Cartagena, Colombia for the "Summit of the Americas" has been marred by reports of several Secret Service agents apparent dalliances with local prostitutes, one of which reported to local authorities she had been denied payment for services rendered.
This story is deserving of its own media headline: HookerGate
Maybe this is why the President really was never intended to be involved in global dealings on foreign soil in the first place - rather using his ambassadors to represent the American people and its government at such conventions.
So that the President then remained in Washington while Congress was in session in order to serve the American people and fulfill his Constitutional function.
This summit is in its sixth year, which means it was started when President Bush was in office.
And appears it seems to be another attempt by the globalists to redefine "America" as "the Americas."
Since the entire summit was to be devoted to discussing joint concerns over national security, the economy, and trade.
Although it was reported that part of the summit was devoted to putting pressure on our government in order to "legalize" the drug trafficking (another "free trade agreement", maybe?) Not "decriminalize" adult use, but "legalize" it apparently so that there can be free and open commerce (and taxes) levied on all that heroin, cocaine, meth and other pharmaceuticals that are the largest export of many of those South American countries.
Wonder how that ties into the good old USA and its national security?
But getting back to "HookerGate," during this report and after the GSA scandal of the Las Vegas expenses which also was reported this past week, I wonder what the tab to the taxpayers will be on this one (including those "entertainment" expenses).
These weren't even American prostitutes, so that money went to stimulate the South American economy basically.
Quite recently while I was residing in a Western state recovering from the after effects of one of the hurricanes in the South a few years back, a state which has a heavy military presence, including an academy dedicated to training America's military - I had the unique experience of viewing up close just how our tax dollars are being spent for our national security.
I was forced to live in basically weekly rental rooms during that time due to not knowing how long I would be there (work was scarce, and I was ill a good portion of the time), and having fled from Arizona after the National Guard was called out in 2006 in order to "secure" the Mexican border.
My home for over 45 years.
A political refugee.
I had had several thefts within my last six years living there, and the political climate was not at all healthy and becoming worse by the year.
During this time and in two such rental situations, I met quite a few of the ladies who frequented when many of those soldiers returned home for either redeployment, or reassignment.
Some young, some older.
Most of them very nice, and very willing to share their stories of just why they needed the work. Some were supplementing their lowered wages in this economy which they received from their "day jobs."
Of course, my tax dollars were going toward their living expenses, but at least these were American hookers and my tax dollars were being used to stimulate the local economy.
Not so with HookerGate.
While the Republicans continue to worry what people on unemployment, welfare or food stamps spend the taxpayer dollars on, maybe their energies could be better spent elsewhere cleaning house or putting in some measures to ensure that those dollars are spent a little more wisely.
Ending this rather pointless war might me a start...and truly initiating national security, rather than regional security...because we have gotten in bed with so many other nations in the past and eventually been bitten in the rear.
But it seems turnng a blind eye to the invasion in this country and resettlement of foreigners without those foreigners even having an inkling of just how our country differs from theirs is being rather deliberately undermined.
Maybe those that wish to limit those expenditures so that taxpayer dollars are not spent on alcohol or sugar laden foods might see there may be higher priorities here...much higher...
I wonder, how much in medical expenses also might be needed after HookerGate since it doesn't appear these were "escorts" or "call girls."
The news simply labeled them "South American prostitutes."
Perhaps the number of these summits also needs to be addressed, and just who should be attending so that we are not also being taxed for several government employees and individuals who appear to be charged with performing the same functions?
THIS is where our money goes? To stimulate South America's economy?
This story is deserving of its own media headline: HookerGate
Maybe this is why the President really was never intended to be involved in global dealings on foreign soil in the first place - rather using his ambassadors to represent the American people and its government at such conventions.
So that the President then remained in Washington while Congress was in session in order to serve the American people and fulfill his Constitutional function.
This summit is in its sixth year, which means it was started when President Bush was in office.
And appears it seems to be another attempt by the globalists to redefine "America" as "the Americas."
Since the entire summit was to be devoted to discussing joint concerns over national security, the economy, and trade.
Although it was reported that part of the summit was devoted to putting pressure on our government in order to "legalize" the drug trafficking (another "free trade agreement", maybe?) Not "decriminalize" adult use, but "legalize" it apparently so that there can be free and open commerce (and taxes) levied on all that heroin, cocaine, meth and other pharmaceuticals that are the largest export of many of those South American countries.
Wonder how that ties into the good old USA and its national security?
But getting back to "HookerGate," during this report and after the GSA scandal of the Las Vegas expenses which also was reported this past week, I wonder what the tab to the taxpayers will be on this one (including those "entertainment" expenses).
These weren't even American prostitutes, so that money went to stimulate the South American economy basically.
Quite recently while I was residing in a Western state recovering from the after effects of one of the hurricanes in the South a few years back, a state which has a heavy military presence, including an academy dedicated to training America's military - I had the unique experience of viewing up close just how our tax dollars are being spent for our national security.
I was forced to live in basically weekly rental rooms during that time due to not knowing how long I would be there (work was scarce, and I was ill a good portion of the time), and having fled from Arizona after the National Guard was called out in 2006 in order to "secure" the Mexican border.
My home for over 45 years.
A political refugee.
I had had several thefts within my last six years living there, and the political climate was not at all healthy and becoming worse by the year.
During this time and in two such rental situations, I met quite a few of the ladies who frequented when many of those soldiers returned home for either redeployment, or reassignment.
Some young, some older.
Most of them very nice, and very willing to share their stories of just why they needed the work. Some were supplementing their lowered wages in this economy which they received from their "day jobs."
Of course, my tax dollars were going toward their living expenses, but at least these were American hookers and my tax dollars were being used to stimulate the local economy.
Not so with HookerGate.
While the Republicans continue to worry what people on unemployment, welfare or food stamps spend the taxpayer dollars on, maybe their energies could be better spent elsewhere cleaning house or putting in some measures to ensure that those dollars are spent a little more wisely.
Ending this rather pointless war might me a start...and truly initiating national security, rather than regional security...because we have gotten in bed with so many other nations in the past and eventually been bitten in the rear.
But it seems turnng a blind eye to the invasion in this country and resettlement of foreigners without those foreigners even having an inkling of just how our country differs from theirs is being rather deliberately undermined.
Maybe those that wish to limit those expenditures so that taxpayer dollars are not spent on alcohol or sugar laden foods might see there may be higher priorities here...much higher...
I wonder, how much in medical expenses also might be needed after HookerGate since it doesn't appear these were "escorts" or "call girls."
The news simply labeled them "South American prostitutes."
Perhaps the number of these summits also needs to be addressed, and just who should be attending so that we are not also being taxed for several government employees and individuals who appear to be charged with performing the same functions?
THIS is where our money goes? To stimulate South America's economy?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Obama, Cameron and The Game
The British are here! The British are here!
Last night Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron attended a basketball game...and then today the games continued.
While many in the mainstream media keep playing up the discord between British and American philosophies for the American public, these two gentlemen are about as alike as two peas in a pod.
Both with alliances to world government and British style dominion.
Although the governmental structure of the two countries are worlds apart, you wouldn't know it or at least most in this country have been progressively "re-educated" to the British mindset.
Continue the wars for dominion. That was the battle cry of Mr. Cameron during his address with Mr. Obama this afternoon, which of course in most respects Mr. Obama seconded.
Even after recent events in Afghanistan.
Mr. Obama protected BP after the Gulf Oil spill, for the most part, acting as lawyer on behalf of those U.S. businesses and lives taken in setting up that fund in order to "recompensate" the victims. Wiping out their ability to have their day in court, as it were.
Our alliances with Britain have progressively cost this country much both economically, and in lives lost in the foreign wars we have been involved in since World War II, and the establishment of the British/American alliance thereafter, the U.N.
The sun never sets on Britain, to this day, whether in fact or fealty.
Israel...a British creation...and U.S. unconditional support has also taken its toll on our national sovereignty and security.
To this day.
Our founders would be appalled.
Our country was founded on defensive wars only.
Britain, on offensive ones from its inception for dominion in the Roman-Anglo-Saxon vein.
Mr. Cameron was here to push for continued support for military involvement in Afghanistan and as a PR move, apparently, after the latest news from the front. Stretching out U.S. and British troop withdrawal into 2014, for goodness sake!
And continued with more terrorism threats with respect to Syria.
Britain has had more wars, bar none, than any country of its size throughout history. Both civil and foreign.
American interest and government is diametrically opposed to fighting wars for dominion.
Would 9-11 have ever even occurred had it not been for our continual presence in the Middle East, and support of the fears of Western Europe?
Would our country be in the economic quagmire it is now in, if not for our continued support for these "allied" causes?
We are providing military training to Canadian troops on American bases, for heaven sake. Training foreign troops on U.S. soil for the first time ever.
I think Washington just may need to take a long, hard look at who the real enemy to the American economy and our domestic security actually is.
While sitting down for those post game cups of tea.
And just why is it that almost immediately after another war horror story is reported, the British come to tea?
Last night Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron attended a basketball game...and then today the games continued.
While many in the mainstream media keep playing up the discord between British and American philosophies for the American public, these two gentlemen are about as alike as two peas in a pod.
Both with alliances to world government and British style dominion.
Although the governmental structure of the two countries are worlds apart, you wouldn't know it or at least most in this country have been progressively "re-educated" to the British mindset.
Continue the wars for dominion. That was the battle cry of Mr. Cameron during his address with Mr. Obama this afternoon, which of course in most respects Mr. Obama seconded.
Even after recent events in Afghanistan.
Mr. Obama protected BP after the Gulf Oil spill, for the most part, acting as lawyer on behalf of those U.S. businesses and lives taken in setting up that fund in order to "recompensate" the victims. Wiping out their ability to have their day in court, as it were.
Our alliances with Britain have progressively cost this country much both economically, and in lives lost in the foreign wars we have been involved in since World War II, and the establishment of the British/American alliance thereafter, the U.N.
The sun never sets on Britain, to this day, whether in fact or fealty.
Israel...a British creation...and U.S. unconditional support has also taken its toll on our national sovereignty and security.
To this day.
Our founders would be appalled.
Our country was founded on defensive wars only.
Britain, on offensive ones from its inception for dominion in the Roman-Anglo-Saxon vein.
Mr. Cameron was here to push for continued support for military involvement in Afghanistan and as a PR move, apparently, after the latest news from the front. Stretching out U.S. and British troop withdrawal into 2014, for goodness sake!
And continued with more terrorism threats with respect to Syria.
Britain has had more wars, bar none, than any country of its size throughout history. Both civil and foreign.
American interest and government is diametrically opposed to fighting wars for dominion.
Would 9-11 have ever even occurred had it not been for our continual presence in the Middle East, and support of the fears of Western Europe?
Would our country be in the economic quagmire it is now in, if not for our continued support for these "allied" causes?
We are providing military training to Canadian troops on American bases, for heaven sake. Training foreign troops on U.S. soil for the first time ever.
I think Washington just may need to take a long, hard look at who the real enemy to the American economy and our domestic security actually is.
While sitting down for those post game cups of tea.
And just why is it that almost immediately after another war horror story is reported, the British come to tea?
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Gas Gouging Election Year Market Manipulation?
It has been so very interesting to listen to the mainstream news media commentaries on the horrendous increases which have occurred in the prices Americans are now forced to pay at the pump in order to get to work, run to the doctors, or take a much needed and overdue vacation.
Many of the pundits have offered up such half baked rationalizations it has been incredible, especially in the last few weeks.
A few short months ago, gasoline was at $2.60 a gallon at most stations off the interstate exits.
Less than thirty years ago, it was still at a little over a $1.00 a gallon, having made a 100% increase from ten years before.
There is no logical explanation at this point to why Americans are paying through the nose to power their automobiles.
Except greed.
Both corporate and governmental...
Even Obama's excuses seemed rather flimsy during his recent speech at the Daimler plant.
How much war related gasoline is being consumed by the government keeping all those Humvees, drones, jets, and ships in foreign ports equipped which Americans are paying for both at the pump, and through their other taxes and this mammoth ever-escalating deficit?
The higher the gas prices go, of course, the higher those state and local gasoline taxes also go.
This added tax is not tax deductible at this point even. In other words, those sales and use taxes are not deducted from the amount of discretionary income most Americans get to, say, pay the mortgage.
This is an election year, and all those election coffers need to be stuffed, after all, by most of those oil companies and their lobbyists, too.
No matter that you no longer have any income to pay for that unregulated utility bill, or that house that is now going into foreclosure.
The monster must be fed.
And fed.
Many of the pundits have offered up such half baked rationalizations it has been incredible, especially in the last few weeks.
A few short months ago, gasoline was at $2.60 a gallon at most stations off the interstate exits.
Less than thirty years ago, it was still at a little over a $1.00 a gallon, having made a 100% increase from ten years before.
There is no logical explanation at this point to why Americans are paying through the nose to power their automobiles.
Except greed.
Both corporate and governmental...
Even Obama's excuses seemed rather flimsy during his recent speech at the Daimler plant.
How much war related gasoline is being consumed by the government keeping all those Humvees, drones, jets, and ships in foreign ports equipped which Americans are paying for both at the pump, and through their other taxes and this mammoth ever-escalating deficit?
The higher the gas prices go, of course, the higher those state and local gasoline taxes also go.
This added tax is not tax deductible at this point even. In other words, those sales and use taxes are not deducted from the amount of discretionary income most Americans get to, say, pay the mortgage.
This is an election year, and all those election coffers need to be stuffed, after all, by most of those oil companies and their lobbyists, too.
No matter that you no longer have any income to pay for that unregulated utility bill, or that house that is now going into foreclosure.
The monster must be fed.
And fed.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Yada, Yada, Yada: Truth vs. Political Fiction
Recently I had a few moments to watch some of the prime time election coverage on two of the major broadcasting stations (Fox and MSNBC), although have attempted to insulate myself as much as possible from the coverage, such as it is.
Unfortunately, I am one of the literally millions out of steady work, or working part time or for far less than my resume would justify in this progressive, unconstitutional America we now live in.
With all the spins as one who has been majorly impacted also progressively, I'd like to add my truth as opposed to the fiction that has been the mainstay of our media low these many years, and never more so than in the past three to four decades.
The Republicans are offering up more of the same this election cycle.
More fascism in the form of corporatism.
All major contenders from that side of the two party aisle hold those beliefs when it boils right down to it in one form or another.
Even Dr. Paul with his positions of a "private" banking system in this country ala the Federal Reserve.
Which was, of course, created by Congress back in 1913 so how it could be "private" rather than publicly governmentally created, I'll never quite understand.
And this is a major position of his, and it would seem all Republicans for the total lack of accountability and control which has been exerted over the Fed's policies.
I'm experiencing a sense of deja vue this election cycle.
Even the candidates appearances look similar to the last cycle. Newt Gingrich and Calista physically could be John McCain and Cindy visually.
Mitt could be Mitt from last election.
Ron Paul could be Ron Paul from last election.
The only deviation from the script is Rick Santorum. Who could not be Mike Huckabee. But Huckabee got another gig on Fox and he isn't in reruns quite yet.
As far as the Democrats - well, let's just say that this is a rerun from last election cycle.
Mr. Obama is criss-crossing the country trying to get re-elected, and seems he is making more and more of those public news conference speeches such as the one he made at the Daimler plant in North Carolina today.
Was an interesting speech, if I do say so myself.
In it were rerun positions insofar as developing "new energy sources" and explaining away the huge spikes in gasoline prices Americans are now facing, on top of their homelessness and joblessness which was bad last election cycle, but has considerably worsened the past four years with more and more finding themselves "outsourced" or "insourced" or just plain not needed anymore.
He referenced that the United States has "2% of the world's oil, and uses 20%."
Prices are based on supply and demand, or so it was represented.
I wonder if this war actually did end, and we truly did stop our involvement in the Middle East which has gone on now for over 3 decades, if that demand would lessen.
I mean, how much oil does your average Humvee or tanker use in a week over there? Or jet fuel for those drones or fighters? Or fuel for all those ships at sea in foreign ports?
I wonder what the figures are for oil consumption for the British - the "owners" of the huge major oil company in which that billion dollar settlement for the Gulf oil spill was recently announced. Which costs of settlement, of course, will be paid by the American people once again at the pump.
Oil which is refined in Britain, and then sold back to the American people at higher prices as a result.
How much of our oil do foreign governments or foreign domiciled companies own, I wonder? How much of that precious 2%?
Also stated during this campaign stop was the huge increase in the number of cars in China now requiring fuel, and more excuses about just why we continue to remain in the Middle East for this "new" reason.
Since so many Americans have lost their jobs due to most of our manufacturing base being absorbed by China and thus raising the economies of their country's population, I guess I don't wonder much why China would need so much oil for all those new cars they are buying.
They've actually got our jobs and money, for the most part so that they can afford those cars.
But this was left out of Mr. Obama's speech.
Slams were taken at the "Republicans" who are now supporting entering another conflict in Syria, which were recently made by Mr. McCain, the senator from my former home state.
We certainly do like using that war card also each and every election.
For ones we are currently involved in, or those which we can manufacture for the future to keep all those members of the military busy for decades to come.
Somehow also tying it into protecting America from those terrorists who apparently don't like us being in their country for well on three decades and counting.
Yada, yada, yada...and so it goes...
I had been away for a few hours each day working at the only job which I could find which hardly suits my resume, but with gas now at almost $4.00 a gallon (my father remembers gas at .28 a gallon, and I when I started driving .33) I had to do what I could just to afford the gas I currently need to keep looking.
I'm helping one of those major retailers move from its old location to a new strip mall location off the interstate. It will remain nameless due to a confidentiality agreement I was requested to sign prior to being offered the job moving boxes and boxes of merchandise and stocking shelves.
My hours were recently cut, however, due to "over-scheduling."
So far I haven't seen a single item which will be sold at this particular retailer that has been American made.
All so far bear the stamp, "made in China."
And who ultimately owns this major retailer?
Bain Capital (aka Mitt Romney).
As I said...yada, yada, yada
Unfortunately, I am one of the literally millions out of steady work, or working part time or for far less than my resume would justify in this progressive, unconstitutional America we now live in.
With all the spins as one who has been majorly impacted also progressively, I'd like to add my truth as opposed to the fiction that has been the mainstay of our media low these many years, and never more so than in the past three to four decades.
The Republicans are offering up more of the same this election cycle.
More fascism in the form of corporatism.
All major contenders from that side of the two party aisle hold those beliefs when it boils right down to it in one form or another.
Even Dr. Paul with his positions of a "private" banking system in this country ala the Federal Reserve.
Which was, of course, created by Congress back in 1913 so how it could be "private" rather than publicly governmentally created, I'll never quite understand.
And this is a major position of his, and it would seem all Republicans for the total lack of accountability and control which has been exerted over the Fed's policies.
I'm experiencing a sense of deja vue this election cycle.
Even the candidates appearances look similar to the last cycle. Newt Gingrich and Calista physically could be John McCain and Cindy visually.
Mitt could be Mitt from last election.
Ron Paul could be Ron Paul from last election.
The only deviation from the script is Rick Santorum. Who could not be Mike Huckabee. But Huckabee got another gig on Fox and he isn't in reruns quite yet.
As far as the Democrats - well, let's just say that this is a rerun from last election cycle.
Mr. Obama is criss-crossing the country trying to get re-elected, and seems he is making more and more of those public news conference speeches such as the one he made at the Daimler plant in North Carolina today.
Was an interesting speech, if I do say so myself.
In it were rerun positions insofar as developing "new energy sources" and explaining away the huge spikes in gasoline prices Americans are now facing, on top of their homelessness and joblessness which was bad last election cycle, but has considerably worsened the past four years with more and more finding themselves "outsourced" or "insourced" or just plain not needed anymore.
He referenced that the United States has "2% of the world's oil, and uses 20%."
Prices are based on supply and demand, or so it was represented.
I wonder if this war actually did end, and we truly did stop our involvement in the Middle East which has gone on now for over 3 decades, if that demand would lessen.
I mean, how much oil does your average Humvee or tanker use in a week over there? Or jet fuel for those drones or fighters? Or fuel for all those ships at sea in foreign ports?
I wonder what the figures are for oil consumption for the British - the "owners" of the huge major oil company in which that billion dollar settlement for the Gulf oil spill was recently announced. Which costs of settlement, of course, will be paid by the American people once again at the pump.
Oil which is refined in Britain, and then sold back to the American people at higher prices as a result.
How much of our oil do foreign governments or foreign domiciled companies own, I wonder? How much of that precious 2%?
Also stated during this campaign stop was the huge increase in the number of cars in China now requiring fuel, and more excuses about just why we continue to remain in the Middle East for this "new" reason.
Since so many Americans have lost their jobs due to most of our manufacturing base being absorbed by China and thus raising the economies of their country's population, I guess I don't wonder much why China would need so much oil for all those new cars they are buying.
They've actually got our jobs and money, for the most part so that they can afford those cars.
But this was left out of Mr. Obama's speech.
Slams were taken at the "Republicans" who are now supporting entering another conflict in Syria, which were recently made by Mr. McCain, the senator from my former home state.
We certainly do like using that war card also each and every election.
For ones we are currently involved in, or those which we can manufacture for the future to keep all those members of the military busy for decades to come.
Somehow also tying it into protecting America from those terrorists who apparently don't like us being in their country for well on three decades and counting.
Yada, yada, yada...and so it goes...
I had been away for a few hours each day working at the only job which I could find which hardly suits my resume, but with gas now at almost $4.00 a gallon (my father remembers gas at .28 a gallon, and I when I started driving .33) I had to do what I could just to afford the gas I currently need to keep looking.
I'm helping one of those major retailers move from its old location to a new strip mall location off the interstate. It will remain nameless due to a confidentiality agreement I was requested to sign prior to being offered the job moving boxes and boxes of merchandise and stocking shelves.
My hours were recently cut, however, due to "over-scheduling."
So far I haven't seen a single item which will be sold at this particular retailer that has been American made.
All so far bear the stamp, "made in China."
And who ultimately owns this major retailer?
Bain Capital (aka Mitt Romney).
As I said...yada, yada, yada
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Adding Insult to Injury: Obama Settles With The Bankers
As one who was affected by the mortgage banking crisis (and other unconstitutional property "laws") in my home state of Arizona way back in 2006, I was amazed to hear this afternoon that Barack Obama held a rather large news conference in order to announce that the federal government has come to a "settlement" with many of the major banking concerns (primarily located in the West) whose practices led to the loss of untold thousands of American's homes these last five to six years.
First of all, I'm scratching my head wondering just where in the Constitution it affords a president to act as a lawyer on behalf of the American people in this "class action?" It does seem rather odd to me, and don't remember a time in our history when a President has exercised such "authority."
Prosecuting and putting some of those individuals sitting on those Boards of Directors or CEOs and CFOs in jail for a very long while on charges of fraudulent lending practices, or other clearly criminal charges, yes.
But engineering a settlement outside Congressional authority even?
Just where is that duty of office in our Constitution?
It was bad enough when during the honeymoon phase of Mr. Obama's presidency he appointed the former CEO of Countrywide in charge of negotiating refinances for homeowners who were still in danger of losing their homes back in 2009.
Part of the terms of this deal is the payment of a few billion in fines, which apparently is going to be earmarked to offer to homeowners who were foreclosed on "inappropriately" $2,000 as repayment for the loss of their home.
More money also will be set aside for refinancing.
Of course, if the terms of those loans remain the same as the ones which led to this travesty I just wonder how this is going to help most of those homeowners who are still receiving those foreclosure notices.
If non-judicial foreclosures remain the rule of law in many states throughout the nation, just what power does the average homeowner in default due to the continuing joblessness and piss poor economy have against the banking industry still, and their lawyers?
Let me get this straight.
The Federal Reserve who owns all of these banks (created by Congress) poured billions of dollars into these banks during the bank bailouts in 2008-9, which was to be used to ease up credit (which never really happened, but simply afforded the big box banks to buy out the smaller banks) - and now Obama has orchestrated the return of SOME of those monies in order to pay to fund more refinances, and payment of $2,000 to those for which it is "too late" and lost their homes this past five years.
Don't get me wrong. Mr. Romney's "solution" of letting the foreclosures hit bottom so that investors or corporate limited partnerships can scam some of those hot properties for rentals was far, far worse.
Talk about socialism and shifting the wealth around to the politically fortunate.
But I guess it played well for those in the Beltway in the room when he made this much publicized announcement.
But seems to me the current market conditions and all those still empty homes across America are demonstrating a vote of "no confidence" on Main Street.
First of all, I'm scratching my head wondering just where in the Constitution it affords a president to act as a lawyer on behalf of the American people in this "class action?" It does seem rather odd to me, and don't remember a time in our history when a President has exercised such "authority."
Prosecuting and putting some of those individuals sitting on those Boards of Directors or CEOs and CFOs in jail for a very long while on charges of fraudulent lending practices, or other clearly criminal charges, yes.
But engineering a settlement outside Congressional authority even?
Just where is that duty of office in our Constitution?
It was bad enough when during the honeymoon phase of Mr. Obama's presidency he appointed the former CEO of Countrywide in charge of negotiating refinances for homeowners who were still in danger of losing their homes back in 2009.
Part of the terms of this deal is the payment of a few billion in fines, which apparently is going to be earmarked to offer to homeowners who were foreclosed on "inappropriately" $2,000 as repayment for the loss of their home.
More money also will be set aside for refinancing.
Of course, if the terms of those loans remain the same as the ones which led to this travesty I just wonder how this is going to help most of those homeowners who are still receiving those foreclosure notices.
If non-judicial foreclosures remain the rule of law in many states throughout the nation, just what power does the average homeowner in default due to the continuing joblessness and piss poor economy have against the banking industry still, and their lawyers?
Let me get this straight.
The Federal Reserve who owns all of these banks (created by Congress) poured billions of dollars into these banks during the bank bailouts in 2008-9, which was to be used to ease up credit (which never really happened, but simply afforded the big box banks to buy out the smaller banks) - and now Obama has orchestrated the return of SOME of those monies in order to pay to fund more refinances, and payment of $2,000 to those for which it is "too late" and lost their homes this past five years.
Don't get me wrong. Mr. Romney's "solution" of letting the foreclosures hit bottom so that investors or corporate limited partnerships can scam some of those hot properties for rentals was far, far worse.
Talk about socialism and shifting the wealth around to the politically fortunate.
But I guess it played well for those in the Beltway in the room when he made this much publicized announcement.
But seems to me the current market conditions and all those still empty homes across America are demonstrating a vote of "no confidence" on Main Street.
Monday, February 6, 2012
First Person Perspective: Why Americans Are Unemployed
Due to all the massive spins which continue to be bantered around among Mr. Obama, the challengers, and the mainstream media, as one of those currently unemployed, I thought I would address this situation from a better, more clearer, perspective.
As one formerly in the middle class for a good part of my life, but who is at over 50 no longer from a personal perspective just what has transpired to place me in this position post 9-11 and our current economy.
My former home was for most of my life in Arizona. It is no longer, and has not been since the National Guard was called out to help secure the border in 2006 during the Iraqi War and subsequent surge when, according to media sources, then President Bush was offering border agents extra pay and bonuses if they would go overseas to secure Iraq's borders, rather than our own.
An initial move to the Midwest proved to be futile, since as an asthmatic during the summer months it was rather difficult to breathe during planting season and was a much harder adjustment at over 50 than it had been when I had lived there a short time during a spouse's graduate studies many years ago.
So I headed South, where I have extended family only to be then caught there during one of the major hurricanes in 2008, and living in weekly rental rooms at that point. Whatever the amount of equity I got out of my home upon an enforced sale, was pretty much gone after the medical bills and living expenses while I was then recovering and added expenses of then subsequent moves. This was my second move in less than a year.
It took over a year to even start to feel a bit better, and another move back West (not to Arizona, however) where I could recuperate until my lungs healed. I am deathly allergic to mold and when all those roofs were pulled up to replace, the mold which had grown out of control after the hurricane was then released in the air, and I got the mother of all lung infections.
While West and recuperating, on my good days I attempted to seek help from the Social Security office.
But since I wasn't old enough to claim my benefits, and wasn't injured to the point where they could determine it would be "permanent," nor missing a limb, I was shown the door and advised I could hire a lawyer and challenge their decision in front of a government Administrative Law Judge. That would take about a year, I was told, to go through the "process."
I continued to deplete whatever savings I had left while I continued to heal, and then found a job after nine months of looking sporadically when I could in a call center during a ramp up. A third party provider for a major cell phone carrier.
I was there all of four months before there was a massive layoff of almost all the people who were hired during that ramp up due to a slowed economy.
Especially the older workers (over 35), and any and all where drug testing, or misdemeanor offenses could then be used to whittle down the workforce (even though drug testing and background checks were undertaken upon filling out those lengthy application forms).
In the state where I was working, medical marijuana use with THC in the bloodstream during the testing period was a cause for immediate dismissal. So were juvenile possession and misdemeanor criminal offenses, although in some people's cases occurred decades before, or even misdemeanor traffic offenses. The older, of course, you got the more likely it was that at one point in your life due to the shear number of laws on the books there was something there that could be used.
Especially since in most states at this point, there are no statutory expungements for criminal offenses, even misdemeanors. With progressively also more and more victimless civil offenses now classified as criminal.
This was not a right to work state, but as of yet this center was not unionized.
But as one who formerly worked in that field, I can certainly see that day coming fairly quickly, which may be why most call centers are now "outsourced."
There may be a reason at some of those locations they are jobs Americans don't want, or can't have for just such hiring practices.
Of course, the working conditions there left much to be desired from a labor/management perspective, and from what I understand there have been lawsuits which filed over failure to pay employees for time worked, and also mandatory overtime not paid.
My time came for the boot primarily because I believe I asked far too many questions for their comfort as having worked in the labor relations field for many years. Or maybe because I was one of those "older" workers targeted anyway since my style of customer service was foreign to their management.
During my training I was warned not to become a "target" by the instructors, in failing to follow the dress code or grievance procedures, which procedures were similar to those in the military - using the "chain of command" verbiage to explain them to the new hires. Meeting with anyone in Human Resources was the last step in the chain.
Although it wasn't my real choice of job to begin with, but one taken out of shear desperation and necessity. For a little over minimum wage, after over twenty five years banking, legal and travel industry experience.
I moved again, due to the inability to get work to a state that had a little better unemployment rate.
I signed up with two or three local job centers and completed all their testing.
It is not that I am not computer savvy, having owned and managed my own website based small business for several years, and having also taken continuing education classes through the years.
I had worked with some senior students at DeVry who developed my website in 2004, and also worked with me during the process so that I could subsequently maintain it for a product line of children's footwear I had developed before the economic and political roof caved in Arizona and throughout most of the nation in 2005-06 and as a single mom with teenagers working from home.
In over seven months, only one or two referrals for minimum wage positions in this "lower" unemployment rate state.
That's it.
I also started combing the ads and internet myself.
I went to one company that was looking for sales personnel for a cruise line packager. I had worked for a major vacation packager in Arizona prior to a layoff in '99 when they deemed the rent too high there, and moved to Coral Gables, Florida - another high humidity, hurricane prone state in which at that time I could not live with also an asthmatic daughter who would not have done well there (nor as a divorced mom, could move there without "court" permission, I was told, due to a shared custody arrangement with my ex for our minor children).
There I was informed that it would cost me $500 for their training materials, and then $200 to rent desk space at their offices annually. I was then to receive a 20% commission on my sales, from the 10% commission the company made from the cruise line company, and would be paid after the cruise line company was paid by the customer prior to their departure.
I figured on a $2,500 cruise (standard) at 10% commission for the agency, my 20% of 10% would be $50.00. I would get $50.00 for each cruise I sold. They would get the rest. Hours of calls, and hand holding until that ship finally departed (especially after this latest cruise line sinking) and I would receive $50.00.
Less taxes.
I got one call the other day from an agency I had basically written off.
It was a one day assignment, but the agency needed to know one important question first.
Did I have an IPhone, or smart phone capable of taking photographs, and then emailing them from my phone?
I, of course, at this point unable to really afford even your basic flip phone (although trouble shooted those IPhones for two months), had to tell her no, I did not.
But I did have access to a digital camera that I could download and then email.
That wasn't what the client wanted.
So sorry.
Wake up, Washington...and the state legislatures...there is much, much more to this than meets the eye.
Or those candidates can even begin to comprehend.
Or just maybe, they do know and not to be politically incorrect or anything...
But Obama, Mitt and Newt just may be like those little Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil monkeys (deaf, dumb, blind) I remember from childhood. (Of course, that children's analogy sure isn't used in "politically correct" America anymore)
Or maybe, in this stage managed political arena we now live in where politicians resemble more and more "B" movie actors...
The director(s) in global corporate America, simply don't give a ****...
People are now nothing more than commerce, after all...
As one formerly in the middle class for a good part of my life, but who is at over 50 no longer from a personal perspective just what has transpired to place me in this position post 9-11 and our current economy.
My former home was for most of my life in Arizona. It is no longer, and has not been since the National Guard was called out to help secure the border in 2006 during the Iraqi War and subsequent surge when, according to media sources, then President Bush was offering border agents extra pay and bonuses if they would go overseas to secure Iraq's borders, rather than our own.
An initial move to the Midwest proved to be futile, since as an asthmatic during the summer months it was rather difficult to breathe during planting season and was a much harder adjustment at over 50 than it had been when I had lived there a short time during a spouse's graduate studies many years ago.
So I headed South, where I have extended family only to be then caught there during one of the major hurricanes in 2008, and living in weekly rental rooms at that point. Whatever the amount of equity I got out of my home upon an enforced sale, was pretty much gone after the medical bills and living expenses while I was then recovering and added expenses of then subsequent moves. This was my second move in less than a year.
It took over a year to even start to feel a bit better, and another move back West (not to Arizona, however) where I could recuperate until my lungs healed. I am deathly allergic to mold and when all those roofs were pulled up to replace, the mold which had grown out of control after the hurricane was then released in the air, and I got the mother of all lung infections.
While West and recuperating, on my good days I attempted to seek help from the Social Security office.
But since I wasn't old enough to claim my benefits, and wasn't injured to the point where they could determine it would be "permanent," nor missing a limb, I was shown the door and advised I could hire a lawyer and challenge their decision in front of a government Administrative Law Judge. That would take about a year, I was told, to go through the "process."
I continued to deplete whatever savings I had left while I continued to heal, and then found a job after nine months of looking sporadically when I could in a call center during a ramp up. A third party provider for a major cell phone carrier.
I was there all of four months before there was a massive layoff of almost all the people who were hired during that ramp up due to a slowed economy.
Especially the older workers (over 35), and any and all where drug testing, or misdemeanor offenses could then be used to whittle down the workforce (even though drug testing and background checks were undertaken upon filling out those lengthy application forms).
In the state where I was working, medical marijuana use with THC in the bloodstream during the testing period was a cause for immediate dismissal. So were juvenile possession and misdemeanor criminal offenses, although in some people's cases occurred decades before, or even misdemeanor traffic offenses. The older, of course, you got the more likely it was that at one point in your life due to the shear number of laws on the books there was something there that could be used.
Especially since in most states at this point, there are no statutory expungements for criminal offenses, even misdemeanors. With progressively also more and more victimless civil offenses now classified as criminal.
This was not a right to work state, but as of yet this center was not unionized.
But as one who formerly worked in that field, I can certainly see that day coming fairly quickly, which may be why most call centers are now "outsourced."
There may be a reason at some of those locations they are jobs Americans don't want, or can't have for just such hiring practices.
Of course, the working conditions there left much to be desired from a labor/management perspective, and from what I understand there have been lawsuits which filed over failure to pay employees for time worked, and also mandatory overtime not paid.
My time came for the boot primarily because I believe I asked far too many questions for their comfort as having worked in the labor relations field for many years. Or maybe because I was one of those "older" workers targeted anyway since my style of customer service was foreign to their management.
During my training I was warned not to become a "target" by the instructors, in failing to follow the dress code or grievance procedures, which procedures were similar to those in the military - using the "chain of command" verbiage to explain them to the new hires. Meeting with anyone in Human Resources was the last step in the chain.
Although it wasn't my real choice of job to begin with, but one taken out of shear desperation and necessity. For a little over minimum wage, after over twenty five years banking, legal and travel industry experience.
I moved again, due to the inability to get work to a state that had a little better unemployment rate.
I signed up with two or three local job centers and completed all their testing.
It is not that I am not computer savvy, having owned and managed my own website based small business for several years, and having also taken continuing education classes through the years.
I had worked with some senior students at DeVry who developed my website in 2004, and also worked with me during the process so that I could subsequently maintain it for a product line of children's footwear I had developed before the economic and political roof caved in Arizona and throughout most of the nation in 2005-06 and as a single mom with teenagers working from home.
In over seven months, only one or two referrals for minimum wage positions in this "lower" unemployment rate state.
That's it.
I also started combing the ads and internet myself.
I went to one company that was looking for sales personnel for a cruise line packager. I had worked for a major vacation packager in Arizona prior to a layoff in '99 when they deemed the rent too high there, and moved to Coral Gables, Florida - another high humidity, hurricane prone state in which at that time I could not live with also an asthmatic daughter who would not have done well there (nor as a divorced mom, could move there without "court" permission, I was told, due to a shared custody arrangement with my ex for our minor children).
There I was informed that it would cost me $500 for their training materials, and then $200 to rent desk space at their offices annually. I was then to receive a 20% commission on my sales, from the 10% commission the company made from the cruise line company, and would be paid after the cruise line company was paid by the customer prior to their departure.
I figured on a $2,500 cruise (standard) at 10% commission for the agency, my 20% of 10% would be $50.00. I would get $50.00 for each cruise I sold. They would get the rest. Hours of calls, and hand holding until that ship finally departed (especially after this latest cruise line sinking) and I would receive $50.00.
Less taxes.
I got one call the other day from an agency I had basically written off.
It was a one day assignment, but the agency needed to know one important question first.
Did I have an IPhone, or smart phone capable of taking photographs, and then emailing them from my phone?
I, of course, at this point unable to really afford even your basic flip phone (although trouble shooted those IPhones for two months), had to tell her no, I did not.
But I did have access to a digital camera that I could download and then email.
That wasn't what the client wanted.
So sorry.
Wake up, Washington...and the state legislatures...there is much, much more to this than meets the eye.
Or those candidates can even begin to comprehend.
Or just maybe, they do know and not to be politically incorrect or anything...
But Obama, Mitt and Newt just may be like those little Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil monkeys (deaf, dumb, blind) I remember from childhood. (Of course, that children's analogy sure isn't used in "politically correct" America anymore)
Or maybe, in this stage managed political arena we now live in where politicians resemble more and more "B" movie actors...
The director(s) in global corporate America, simply don't give a ****...
People are now nothing more than commerce, after all...
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Iraq War Over? In Name Only, Perhaps
Contrary to what has been reported in the mainstream media, and especially the left wing Democrats on CNN, MSNBC and even those on that British Conservative station, Fox, the Iraq War is hardly over - nor is its reported "end" the result of Mr. Obama's stated campaign promises (except to promise what Bush had already agreed to before leaving office).
It was reported four short years ago that George Bush, during his last three months in office, quietly met with the "new" Iraqi government and agreed to a massive troop withdrawal beginning in 2010 and winding down by the first two weeks in December, 2011.
Which is exactly what has occurred, as agreed.
Just prior, of course, to the next presidential election in this country.
The mainstream media reported it, however, it appears the politicians in Washington hope and pray that Americans will buy this troop withdrawal as ending the War in the Middle East and crediting Mr. Obama for this massive coup.
Until, of course, there is another tragedy involving the U.S. in Iran, Pakistan, or wherever else the military decides it needs to go to bomb, and then rebuild.
The government contractors, of course, are still in Iraq and probably will be there for quite some time.
With, of course, military personnel still there also in order to not leave Iraq totally without a U.S. presence, and keep those government contractors and their safety as their primary priority now that the war is "over." With the convenient capture also of Osama bin Laden this year too (buried at sea in the Muslim tradition?) This has been quite a year for both Mr. Obama's party, and Mr. Bush's.
The AP also reported today in another article regarding a 662 Billion Appropriations Bill, not carried on the front pages or web alert pages:
"Highlighting a period of austerity and a winding down of decade-old conflicts, the bill is $27 billion less than Obama requested and $43 billion less than Congress gave the Pentagon. The bill also authorizes money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security programs in the Energy Department.
Frustrated with delays and cost overruns with the troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft program, lawmakers planned to require the contractor, Lockheed Martin, to cover the expense of any extra costs on the next batch and future purchases of the aircraft. The Pentagon envisions buying 2,443 planes for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, but the price could make it the most expensive program in military history — $1 trillion.
The legislation freezes $700 million for Pakistan until the defense secretary provides Congress a report on how Islamabad is countering the threat of improvised explosive devices."
You can read the entire article here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFsyaljotNCsnPSzq9tjRtOkPKZg?docId=e3c1b02ccc1a42b78e94120a4a2f53a5
It really shocked me that included in this article is a provision that in the event an American is involved in some terrorist plot (although it seems Washington's politicos are the greatest terrorists of all), they too can be detained indefinitely, and without bail or bond.
Isn't that fundamentally unconstitutional, since Mr. Obama has also consented to "allow" these type actions, with the exception of any actions instigated by al Qaida or its affiliates, to be heard in the civil courts, rather than military courts. So that terrorism and those individuals defense costs can be "privatized," I guess, against all that foreign oil money from the countries that these individuals really call their home.
I mean I could understand having "open" military trials for those so accused who are not Americans but somehow got a visa and entered from one of the more than 40 countries the Bush Administration afforded free pass visa waivers during his term of office, under those "free trade" agreements using foreigners as commerce now that "commerce" and "people" have been so ill defined progressively.
Not to mention "foreigners" or "foreign enemies."
But affording the civil courts for these trials when our national security was and is so poor that a 9-11 could have even happened here in the first place, knowing just how much ill will there is in that part of the world against America and the West due to our decade upon decade presence there, force feeding our Western ideas of "freedom" - a definition of freedom that those in this country doubt the founding fathers would recognize as the inherent freedoms they were speaking of when our Constitution was ratified.
Many of these Middle Eastern countries, it appears, have little formal military for defense of their country and its people, but rather seems they are instead personal armies for the protection of the various dictators who progressively have ruled many of those countries.
From reading most of the web comments on the reported story of the "end of the War in Iraq," I'm not the only American both skeptical, and also with a longer memory than most of the mainstream media types and politicos give Americans credit for.
I predict that there will be another huge national security incident during Mr. Obama's next term of office (you don't really believe that old Newt, or Mitt, or Ron Paul even will take the coveted presidential prize this election, do you?).
So then we can have a Republican win the next election, and the status quo will then continue simply under a "change of face and party."
Perhaps against all odds by Iran (we are again beating the drums over Iran and its development of nuclear weapons - apparently a gigantic threat to this country even given our massive military might, and all the money we have spent on national defense and toys, and Reagan's Star Wars program in the 1980's). Or Pakistan (still a threat to India, apparently, another former British possession).
I guess that is why today, "The End of the War in Iraq Day", there were no parades...
It was reported four short years ago that George Bush, during his last three months in office, quietly met with the "new" Iraqi government and agreed to a massive troop withdrawal beginning in 2010 and winding down by the first two weeks in December, 2011.
Which is exactly what has occurred, as agreed.
Just prior, of course, to the next presidential election in this country.
The mainstream media reported it, however, it appears the politicians in Washington hope and pray that Americans will buy this troop withdrawal as ending the War in the Middle East and crediting Mr. Obama for this massive coup.
Until, of course, there is another tragedy involving the U.S. in Iran, Pakistan, or wherever else the military decides it needs to go to bomb, and then rebuild.
The government contractors, of course, are still in Iraq and probably will be there for quite some time.
With, of course, military personnel still there also in order to not leave Iraq totally without a U.S. presence, and keep those government contractors and their safety as their primary priority now that the war is "over." With the convenient capture also of Osama bin Laden this year too (buried at sea in the Muslim tradition?) This has been quite a year for both Mr. Obama's party, and Mr. Bush's.
The AP also reported today in another article regarding a 662 Billion Appropriations Bill, not carried on the front pages or web alert pages:
"Highlighting a period of austerity and a winding down of decade-old conflicts, the bill is $27 billion less than Obama requested and $43 billion less than Congress gave the Pentagon. The bill also authorizes money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security programs in the Energy Department.
Frustrated with delays and cost overruns with the troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft program, lawmakers planned to require the contractor, Lockheed Martin, to cover the expense of any extra costs on the next batch and future purchases of the aircraft. The Pentagon envisions buying 2,443 planes for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, but the price could make it the most expensive program in military history — $1 trillion.
The legislation freezes $700 million for Pakistan until the defense secretary provides Congress a report on how Islamabad is countering the threat of improvised explosive devices."
You can read the entire article here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFsyaljotNCsnPSzq9tjRtOkPKZg?docId=e3c1b02ccc1a42b78e94120a4a2f53a5
It really shocked me that included in this article is a provision that in the event an American is involved in some terrorist plot (although it seems Washington's politicos are the greatest terrorists of all), they too can be detained indefinitely, and without bail or bond.
Isn't that fundamentally unconstitutional, since Mr. Obama has also consented to "allow" these type actions, with the exception of any actions instigated by al Qaida or its affiliates, to be heard in the civil courts, rather than military courts. So that terrorism and those individuals defense costs can be "privatized," I guess, against all that foreign oil money from the countries that these individuals really call their home.
I mean I could understand having "open" military trials for those so accused who are not Americans but somehow got a visa and entered from one of the more than 40 countries the Bush Administration afforded free pass visa waivers during his term of office, under those "free trade" agreements using foreigners as commerce now that "commerce" and "people" have been so ill defined progressively.
Not to mention "foreigners" or "foreign enemies."
But affording the civil courts for these trials when our national security was and is so poor that a 9-11 could have even happened here in the first place, knowing just how much ill will there is in that part of the world against America and the West due to our decade upon decade presence there, force feeding our Western ideas of "freedom" - a definition of freedom that those in this country doubt the founding fathers would recognize as the inherent freedoms they were speaking of when our Constitution was ratified.
Many of these Middle Eastern countries, it appears, have little formal military for defense of their country and its people, but rather seems they are instead personal armies for the protection of the various dictators who progressively have ruled many of those countries.
From reading most of the web comments on the reported story of the "end of the War in Iraq," I'm not the only American both skeptical, and also with a longer memory than most of the mainstream media types and politicos give Americans credit for.
I predict that there will be another huge national security incident during Mr. Obama's next term of office (you don't really believe that old Newt, or Mitt, or Ron Paul even will take the coveted presidential prize this election, do you?).
So then we can have a Republican win the next election, and the status quo will then continue simply under a "change of face and party."
Perhaps against all odds by Iran (we are again beating the drums over Iran and its development of nuclear weapons - apparently a gigantic threat to this country even given our massive military might, and all the money we have spent on national defense and toys, and Reagan's Star Wars program in the 1980's). Or Pakistan (still a threat to India, apparently, another former British possession).
I guess that is why today, "The End of the War in Iraq Day", there were no parades...
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Banks Issue Flurry Of Default Notices to Homeowners in August
It was reported in the mainstream media that the banks have begun issuing a flurry of default notices to homeowners in August.
So much for the pleas by the President to arrange to work out refinances or better lending terms with the literally thousands of homeowners still who are facing foreclosure, especially in the Southwest, West and Florida, after the latest Washington manipulated boom and bust cycle in which many homeowners were forced into refinances under those "teaser" loans, or even British banking rate terms such as the LIBOR London interest rates.
I guess the time for understanding, or even compassion or integrity has passed.
Gee, I wonder if this has anything to do with Obama's proposal to turn bankers into landlords, and let them "lease out" those properties they are ready to foreclose on to the homeowner who has been scammed out of his property by this boom and bust wave, and the increasing costs of ownership which have also rise far above the cost of living, including in those states with all those property taxes.I wonder just why those banks would be now moving more quickly to initiate those foreclosure actions - to threaten those homeowners into those "lease" agreements, whatever THEIR terms might be?
This should really stimulate the home buying market for those few still in the market to buy into these "New Age progressive" loans and loan terms...
So much for the pleas by the President to arrange to work out refinances or better lending terms with the literally thousands of homeowners still who are facing foreclosure, especially in the Southwest, West and Florida, after the latest Washington manipulated boom and bust cycle in which many homeowners were forced into refinances under those "teaser" loans, or even British banking rate terms such as the LIBOR London interest rates.
I guess the time for understanding, or even compassion or integrity has passed.
Gee, I wonder if this has anything to do with Obama's proposal to turn bankers into landlords, and let them "lease out" those properties they are ready to foreclose on to the homeowner who has been scammed out of his property by this boom and bust wave, and the increasing costs of ownership which have also rise far above the cost of living, including in those states with all those property taxes.I wonder just why those banks would be now moving more quickly to initiate those foreclosure actions - to threaten those homeowners into those "lease" agreements, whatever THEIR terms might be?
This should really stimulate the home buying market for those few still in the market to buy into these "New Age progressive" loans and loan terms...
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.
Monday, March 28, 2011
AP News: Obama To Make Case To The Public For Libya?
It was reported in the mainstream AP news media that Barack Obama plans to address the nation and "lay out his case" for U.S. involvement in Libya.
Obviously, again the Constitution and its strictly common defense provisions for wars will not be factored in during this presidential address.
It is more than obvious that the unrest in Libya is a civil war, and civil matter.
I wonder how Lincoln and this country would have felt if the Russians or British or any other foreign country had involved itself in America's civil war?
Or just why it was that while our leadership in Washington was pressing its case for no fly zone bombing raids and alignment with the British and "allied" forces since World War II for their oil needs most of all, the White House security and police were arresting Americans here on native soil for protesting the Iraq War, now in its 10th year with no end in sight, because they were standing "too near the White House gates?"
This country has been in one illegal engagement after another at least during this boomer's entire life, so just when will it all end - especially since it is clear that these expensive foreign wars are bankrupting this country and its citizens PROGRESSIVELY by those global progressives on both "sides" of the political aisle aligned with the two mainstream political parties and their "corporate" agendas?
Obviously, again the Constitution and its strictly common defense provisions for wars will not be factored in during this presidential address.
It is more than obvious that the unrest in Libya is a civil war, and civil matter.
I wonder how Lincoln and this country would have felt if the Russians or British or any other foreign country had involved itself in America's civil war?
Or just why it was that while our leadership in Washington was pressing its case for no fly zone bombing raids and alignment with the British and "allied" forces since World War II for their oil needs most of all, the White House security and police were arresting Americans here on native soil for protesting the Iraq War, now in its 10th year with no end in sight, because they were standing "too near the White House gates?"
This country has been in one illegal engagement after another at least during this boomer's entire life, so just when will it all end - especially since it is clear that these expensive foreign wars are bankrupting this country and its citizens PROGRESSIVELY by those global progressives on both "sides" of the political aisle aligned with the two mainstream political parties and their "corporate" agendas?
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Twilight Zone: Texas Man Gets Face Transplant
Today it was reported in the mainstream media that a young man injured in an industrial accident from Texas was given a full face transplant by a team of over 30 doctors in Boston.
The operation was funded by his father's insurance plan apparently and it was also reported that this surgery was made possible by the recent health care legislation which afforded him to remain under his father's health care plan until he reached the age of 26, and he was at the time of the surgery 25.
Not to go too far into the rather Twilight Zone surgical procedure that also was undertaken transplanting the face of one individual onto another (although the donor also remained nameless in the article), rather than applauding again this faulty legislation for what it is, a violation of our Constitution in its present form, maybe we could ask just why this young man had run out of options and benefits prior to this legislation to begin with?
It was reported he had had over 30 operations prior to this one, and his state indigent health care benefits had thus run out, although will qualify for Medicare when he turns 26. Although I for one was covered through an employer many years ago with dependent coverage so long as those dependents, my children, were still dependent for tax purposes and either going to school, or living at home, until age 25.
I wonder, what was the overall costs for those 30 operations, while most likely those corporate hospitals and medical facilities were getting their public grant monies also for the bulk of the sums for their operating costs and expenses?
Why was this surgery also not performed in a "fellowship" or teaching hospital, due to its rather experimental nature (less than a half dozen of these surgeries have been performed at this point throughout the world).
I for one heard the Twilight Zone theme in the background while reading this particular news story.
The operation was funded by his father's insurance plan apparently and it was also reported that this surgery was made possible by the recent health care legislation which afforded him to remain under his father's health care plan until he reached the age of 26, and he was at the time of the surgery 25.
Not to go too far into the rather Twilight Zone surgical procedure that also was undertaken transplanting the face of one individual onto another (although the donor also remained nameless in the article), rather than applauding again this faulty legislation for what it is, a violation of our Constitution in its present form, maybe we could ask just why this young man had run out of options and benefits prior to this legislation to begin with?
It was reported he had had over 30 operations prior to this one, and his state indigent health care benefits had thus run out, although will qualify for Medicare when he turns 26. Although I for one was covered through an employer many years ago with dependent coverage so long as those dependents, my children, were still dependent for tax purposes and either going to school, or living at home, until age 25.
I wonder, what was the overall costs for those 30 operations, while most likely those corporate hospitals and medical facilities were getting their public grant monies also for the bulk of the sums for their operating costs and expenses?
Why was this surgery also not performed in a "fellowship" or teaching hospital, due to its rather experimental nature (less than a half dozen of these surgeries have been performed at this point throughout the world).
I for one heard the Twilight Zone theme in the background while reading this particular news story.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Mr. Obama: Competition Will Not Cure What Ails America
The press releases and publicity surrounding Mr. Obama's upcoming State of the Union address on Tuesday have highlighted the thrust of his message to the American people and his response to the defeats the Democrats suffered in the midterm elections.
It is "competition" which will create new jobs, and salvage the piss poor U.S. economy, an economy which has been on a downward spiral for literally decades under both political parties. Gas prices are now inching over $3.00 a gallon once again (in spite of the ever expanding "War on Terror" which continues under the Democrats, costing this country literally billions), and many Americans are now homeless and jobless due to both the mortgage crisis, and outsourcing and insourcing which has gone on and continues in the name of competing in the "global economy."
I have news for Mr. Obama. Competition is not the answer.
In fact, that is what has gotten us into this mess, competing for global dominance, rather than protecting the sovereignty and economy of the good old U.S. of A.
Competing in the global market place has cost this country both its industrial base, and even its own land and resources in the name of "free trade" and simply expanded the stock portfolios and holdings of the few at the cost of the many.
Not exactly what our founders had in mind for this country.
Reinstituting protectionist policies will reverse this trend, and bring America back to the forefront once again. Investing U.S. dollars in our domestically owned businesses and start ups, rather than global corporate conglomerates will bring new jobs to these shores, rather than those of China or India.
China and India can provide their own jobs for their own citizens in developing new industries, rather than piggybacking on the jobs and livelihoods of Americans. And with respect to India, Britain can shoulder their share of building that country's economic future as a former member of the British realm.
Our deficit can be cured rather simply by calling in all our foreign aid debts to all those countries we have supported and funded for over a hundred years, and ending a war that never should have gotten this far to begin with and beginning to secure our own borders from the devastating impact and effects of those open borders on both the property, lives and jobs also of Americans.
Regulating the U.S. banks sufficiently, the ones who create the mortgage meltdown and crisis to begin with in selling loans to U.S. homeowners and home buyers which were not even based on the U.S. currency but the London interbank exchange rates would be a start.
Placing sufficient controls on the Wall Street wheeler dealers who also had a hand in this recession/depression yet whose CEOs salaries have continued to climb also might make a significant impact on placing such salaries and benefits in the hands of those who should have such authority - the shareholders and owners of those global corporate conglomerates, including the small, domestic investors.
And hiring economists whose primary focus are on building up the U.S. economy, and not that of the world's would definitely help.
In short, reestablishing the true Rule of Law in this country once again, our Constitution which was written by Americans for Americans.
Rather than continue on this path that will only lead to the destruction of this country at the hands of foreigners, and foreign governments.
It is "competition" which will create new jobs, and salvage the piss poor U.S. economy, an economy which has been on a downward spiral for literally decades under both political parties. Gas prices are now inching over $3.00 a gallon once again (in spite of the ever expanding "War on Terror" which continues under the Democrats, costing this country literally billions), and many Americans are now homeless and jobless due to both the mortgage crisis, and outsourcing and insourcing which has gone on and continues in the name of competing in the "global economy."
I have news for Mr. Obama. Competition is not the answer.
In fact, that is what has gotten us into this mess, competing for global dominance, rather than protecting the sovereignty and economy of the good old U.S. of A.
Competing in the global market place has cost this country both its industrial base, and even its own land and resources in the name of "free trade" and simply expanded the stock portfolios and holdings of the few at the cost of the many.
Not exactly what our founders had in mind for this country.
Reinstituting protectionist policies will reverse this trend, and bring America back to the forefront once again. Investing U.S. dollars in our domestically owned businesses and start ups, rather than global corporate conglomerates will bring new jobs to these shores, rather than those of China or India.
China and India can provide their own jobs for their own citizens in developing new industries, rather than piggybacking on the jobs and livelihoods of Americans. And with respect to India, Britain can shoulder their share of building that country's economic future as a former member of the British realm.
Our deficit can be cured rather simply by calling in all our foreign aid debts to all those countries we have supported and funded for over a hundred years, and ending a war that never should have gotten this far to begin with and beginning to secure our own borders from the devastating impact and effects of those open borders on both the property, lives and jobs also of Americans.
Regulating the U.S. banks sufficiently, the ones who create the mortgage meltdown and crisis to begin with in selling loans to U.S. homeowners and home buyers which were not even based on the U.S. currency but the London interbank exchange rates would be a start.
Placing sufficient controls on the Wall Street wheeler dealers who also had a hand in this recession/depression yet whose CEOs salaries have continued to climb also might make a significant impact on placing such salaries and benefits in the hands of those who should have such authority - the shareholders and owners of those global corporate conglomerates, including the small, domestic investors.
And hiring economists whose primary focus are on building up the U.S. economy, and not that of the world's would definitely help.
In short, reestablishing the true Rule of Law in this country once again, our Constitution which was written by Americans for Americans.
Rather than continue on this path that will only lead to the destruction of this country at the hands of foreigners, and foreign governments.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Mr. Obama: More Jobs In December? Duh!
Gearing up once again (already) for the 2012 run for the roses, Barack Obama announced from a politically determined location in the hard hit industrial north that the economy is improving and December saw the unemployment rate "dip" to 9.4% from 9.8% the month before.
Since December is a month when there are additions of lower paying temporary retail jobs in the private sector for the holiday season, this announcement should come as no surprise to most Americans whose reaction most likely was similar to mine.
A "duh" moment.
Mr. Obama credits the recently passed legislation reducing tax burdens on capital expenditures for businesses, and other perks which were included in the extension of the Bush tax cuts, including those for the wealthy and large, global corporate conglomerates, as the source rather than the obvious.
Of course, with little monies earmarked for American small businesses and start ups, this new job growth can only be a political maneuver on the part of Washington since nothing really has changed at all in the housing market, banking industry or Wall Street to address the actual problems which created this depression/recession to begin with.
Absolutely nothing.
Except pass more and more backdoor taxes in the form of those global carbon taxes, and health care taxes favoring global industry at the cost of the average American which have not kicked in as of yet, but will impact each and every American on a massive basis in just a few short months, or years.
There has been little, if any, of the promised redlining of our huge bureaucratic public sector jobs and their costs, especially in that newly created massive drain on the public post 9-11, Homeland Security, which also has increased the costs and time for most Americans to even travel in all those new airport taxes for all those body scanners that are now being utilized, while our southern and northern borders remain open and the hugely expensive Middle Eastern war continues.
But what can you expect from a so out of touch Washington that is so far left leaning that the Constitution is not only a "thing of wax" but has been utterly destroyed progressively, and never more so than since the 1960's under both political parties' leadership.
Get ready for more spins, since it appears it is "looks" and "lies" that will once again be a major factor in the next election cycle.
Some things NEVER change.
Since December is a month when there are additions of lower paying temporary retail jobs in the private sector for the holiday season, this announcement should come as no surprise to most Americans whose reaction most likely was similar to mine.
A "duh" moment.
Mr. Obama credits the recently passed legislation reducing tax burdens on capital expenditures for businesses, and other perks which were included in the extension of the Bush tax cuts, including those for the wealthy and large, global corporate conglomerates, as the source rather than the obvious.
Of course, with little monies earmarked for American small businesses and start ups, this new job growth can only be a political maneuver on the part of Washington since nothing really has changed at all in the housing market, banking industry or Wall Street to address the actual problems which created this depression/recession to begin with.
Absolutely nothing.
Except pass more and more backdoor taxes in the form of those global carbon taxes, and health care taxes favoring global industry at the cost of the average American which have not kicked in as of yet, but will impact each and every American on a massive basis in just a few short months, or years.
There has been little, if any, of the promised redlining of our huge bureaucratic public sector jobs and their costs, especially in that newly created massive drain on the public post 9-11, Homeland Security, which also has increased the costs and time for most Americans to even travel in all those new airport taxes for all those body scanners that are now being utilized, while our southern and northern borders remain open and the hugely expensive Middle Eastern war continues.
But what can you expect from a so out of touch Washington that is so far left leaning that the Constitution is not only a "thing of wax" but has been utterly destroyed progressively, and never more so than since the 1960's under both political parties' leadership.
Get ready for more spins, since it appears it is "looks" and "lies" that will once again be a major factor in the next election cycle.
Some things NEVER change.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
21st Century Health Care in America: Paying More, Getting Less?
With the ongoing challenges which are now being raised in many states throughout the nation regarding the recent passage of the Obama Administration's Health Care Reform Act, this boomer has watched the progression in health care delivery from the 1960's to today, and can truthfully say that while costs have exploded in those four decades, the degree of care for the American public overall has seen better days.
In order to reduce costs for many of the public and private health care clinics and hospitals, more and more Americans are not receiving the care they deserve, but what will reduce the bottom lines for the nationalized corporatized health care system that is predominant across the nation after Nixon's HMO legislation passed in the 60's. Many even public clinics and hospitals are now "owned" through various contracts by "private" corporate entities as they have become privatized, even after their initial building costs and research grants were funded by the American public.
Upon even emergency room visits, more and more patients are being seen initially by not medical doctors or those with advanced diagnostic degrees, but by physician's assistants or other support staff but at costs that far exceed those fees and charges in the past for trained physicians and without the expertise to accurately diagnose complex medical conditions.
Throughout many states, there are even signs posted at many of these emergency clinics and hospitals advising that they are not accepting new Medicare patients. Thus, the future for the boomers and their offspring at this point in America's history has not even begun to be addressed by those in Washington or at the state levels in just why health care costs have risen so out of proportion to the cost of living even though the entire HMO concept and "free market" privatized clinics were sold to the public in order to reduce costs and provide better care when that legislation was proposed back in the 60's.
Instead, it has resulted in numerous trips to several different doctors or providers in order to get accurate diagnosis, or physicians more geared toward treating the symptoms rather than the disease and using medications which many times create even more problems or different health issues in concert due to drug interactions and complications.
Changes are needed, but not the changes that Washington appears to be focused on in merely consulting the "stakeholders" in corporatized medicine. But the American public that is paying a larger share than ever before for their health care costs, both nonemergency and emergency.
How much of the health care dollars now provided by the taxpayers and insurers are now being earmarked for all those ads on television mostly directed toward choosing a hospital for maternity and childbirth needs? Or elective procedures?
Or advertising their facilities and services for non-English speaking patients for all those federal and state grant monies in providing care for non-citizens at the general public's ultimate expense? Or the increased costs in those ten to twenty page bills passed on to the public for those highly paid lobbyists at the state capitols and Washington?
It appears to this boomer in the end, the Health Care Reform Act is more similar to the mandatory auto insurance laws throughout the nation, with the same mindset and ultimate costs in increased taxation for all in passing on governmental functions, such as the settlement of property claims, or life and death issues to the financial sector, banks and insurers who will be more concerned with THEIR bottom lines and business needs, rather than quality of care.
I mean, unlike mandatory auto insurance, an unpaid or disallowed claim has a greater likelihood and much higher percentage of eventually ending in death or bankruptcy rather than a fender bender so the analogy used in order to include that "mandatory" provision left much out in regulating both those costs, and the provision and most likely will also then, as with the insurance laws, end up again costing the taxpaying public more in providing all the courts that will be needed in order to address those "breach of contract" or "wrongful death" actions.
Progress in this area, as with it appears so many others in the new millineum to many Americans, just may come at a much greater cost than even in those Nixon years.
And it appears to this boomer that the great Health Care Reform Act just may become the precursor to the Great Health Care AND Bank bailout of 2025 or sooner, when this patient dies.
In order to reduce costs for many of the public and private health care clinics and hospitals, more and more Americans are not receiving the care they deserve, but what will reduce the bottom lines for the nationalized corporatized health care system that is predominant across the nation after Nixon's HMO legislation passed in the 60's. Many even public clinics and hospitals are now "owned" through various contracts by "private" corporate entities as they have become privatized, even after their initial building costs and research grants were funded by the American public.
Upon even emergency room visits, more and more patients are being seen initially by not medical doctors or those with advanced diagnostic degrees, but by physician's assistants or other support staff but at costs that far exceed those fees and charges in the past for trained physicians and without the expertise to accurately diagnose complex medical conditions.
Throughout many states, there are even signs posted at many of these emergency clinics and hospitals advising that they are not accepting new Medicare patients. Thus, the future for the boomers and their offspring at this point in America's history has not even begun to be addressed by those in Washington or at the state levels in just why health care costs have risen so out of proportion to the cost of living even though the entire HMO concept and "free market" privatized clinics were sold to the public in order to reduce costs and provide better care when that legislation was proposed back in the 60's.
Instead, it has resulted in numerous trips to several different doctors or providers in order to get accurate diagnosis, or physicians more geared toward treating the symptoms rather than the disease and using medications which many times create even more problems or different health issues in concert due to drug interactions and complications.
Changes are needed, but not the changes that Washington appears to be focused on in merely consulting the "stakeholders" in corporatized medicine. But the American public that is paying a larger share than ever before for their health care costs, both nonemergency and emergency.
How much of the health care dollars now provided by the taxpayers and insurers are now being earmarked for all those ads on television mostly directed toward choosing a hospital for maternity and childbirth needs? Or elective procedures?
Or advertising their facilities and services for non-English speaking patients for all those federal and state grant monies in providing care for non-citizens at the general public's ultimate expense? Or the increased costs in those ten to twenty page bills passed on to the public for those highly paid lobbyists at the state capitols and Washington?
It appears to this boomer in the end, the Health Care Reform Act is more similar to the mandatory auto insurance laws throughout the nation, with the same mindset and ultimate costs in increased taxation for all in passing on governmental functions, such as the settlement of property claims, or life and death issues to the financial sector, banks and insurers who will be more concerned with THEIR bottom lines and business needs, rather than quality of care.
I mean, unlike mandatory auto insurance, an unpaid or disallowed claim has a greater likelihood and much higher percentage of eventually ending in death or bankruptcy rather than a fender bender so the analogy used in order to include that "mandatory" provision left much out in regulating both those costs, and the provision and most likely will also then, as with the insurance laws, end up again costing the taxpaying public more in providing all the courts that will be needed in order to address those "breach of contract" or "wrongful death" actions.
Progress in this area, as with it appears so many others in the new millineum to many Americans, just may come at a much greater cost than even in those Nixon years.
And it appears to this boomer that the great Health Care Reform Act just may become the precursor to the Great Health Care AND Bank bailout of 2025 or sooner, when this patient dies.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Global Governor Obama Visits India
Global Governor Barack Obama's trip to India has received wide press reporting this past week, a trip which was undertaken within 24 hours of Tuesday's election and apparently another scheduled vacation week after spending most of the last few months on the campaign trail for various Democratic candidates.
I'm just wondering, have the American taxpayers been paying for all the political junkets, and these vacations to foreign countries this past two years?
I mean, it does appear that the jobs of the foreign ambassadors at this point are nothing more than "cake" jobs at the expense of the taxpayers, since during this entire Administration both Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton have been out of the country more than they have been in it.
While the United States is still mired in one of its deepest recessions ever (absent the propaganda in the mainstream media pointing to the recession "officially" ending in June 2009, since they clearly must be referring to the global economy and not that of the United States in any coherent manner whatsoever).
The latest reports on the added new jobs since October pointed to the retail sector, restaurants and bars, and medicine primary. Of course with the holidays coming up, these "seasonal" jobs for the most part will be gone by January.
Mr. Obama has been also attempting to put a spin on the number of U.S. jobs that have been outsourced to India during this week long vacation. And just what a few billion dollar trade deals with the U.S. will eventually provide in the way of jobs for Americans.
I wonder what jobs the East Indians can provide for Americans? I mean, their entire tech industry has been one huge massive gain for that country's economy after all the monies both this and the last Administration has poured into Silicon Valley only to have those taxpayer sums then used to hire the East Indian workforce for the most part.
I mean, even the food stamp program in many states is "administered" by companies that are hiring workers from the call centers in New Delhi.
Heads up, Mr. Obama: Global governance is what is killing this country.
And the East Indian workforce needs far less a stimulus than that of the U.S. workforce. I mean, I'm sure all those cell phone companies are making a bundle off the East Indian workforce and the U.S. citizens both that could be then used to reduce the U.S. citizens tax burdens by imposing once again those "import" taxes on foreign goods and labor and reducing the personal income taxes of all but the top 10% earners, since those earners are the ones also gaining their profits at the public's general expense in these free trade deals, and also those taxpayer grants and gimmes.
I mean, it takes Americans twice as long on their cells now to clear up some of those billing errors in those calls to New Delhi. So the U.S. citizens are being hit with treble damages on those cell phone bills as it is.
First for the jobs lost, second for the added call time on their bills, and third for those "income" and added assundry taxes even on those bills passed off to the public that the Indian workforce are not required to pay but they are.
Maybe it's time to phone home for a reality check.
I'm just wondering, have the American taxpayers been paying for all the political junkets, and these vacations to foreign countries this past two years?
I mean, it does appear that the jobs of the foreign ambassadors at this point are nothing more than "cake" jobs at the expense of the taxpayers, since during this entire Administration both Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton have been out of the country more than they have been in it.
While the United States is still mired in one of its deepest recessions ever (absent the propaganda in the mainstream media pointing to the recession "officially" ending in June 2009, since they clearly must be referring to the global economy and not that of the United States in any coherent manner whatsoever).
The latest reports on the added new jobs since October pointed to the retail sector, restaurants and bars, and medicine primary. Of course with the holidays coming up, these "seasonal" jobs for the most part will be gone by January.
Mr. Obama has been also attempting to put a spin on the number of U.S. jobs that have been outsourced to India during this week long vacation. And just what a few billion dollar trade deals with the U.S. will eventually provide in the way of jobs for Americans.
I wonder what jobs the East Indians can provide for Americans? I mean, their entire tech industry has been one huge massive gain for that country's economy after all the monies both this and the last Administration has poured into Silicon Valley only to have those taxpayer sums then used to hire the East Indian workforce for the most part.
I mean, even the food stamp program in many states is "administered" by companies that are hiring workers from the call centers in New Delhi.
Heads up, Mr. Obama: Global governance is what is killing this country.
And the East Indian workforce needs far less a stimulus than that of the U.S. workforce. I mean, I'm sure all those cell phone companies are making a bundle off the East Indian workforce and the U.S. citizens both that could be then used to reduce the U.S. citizens tax burdens by imposing once again those "import" taxes on foreign goods and labor and reducing the personal income taxes of all but the top 10% earners, since those earners are the ones also gaining their profits at the public's general expense in these free trade deals, and also those taxpayer grants and gimmes.
I mean, it takes Americans twice as long on their cells now to clear up some of those billing errors in those calls to New Delhi. So the U.S. citizens are being hit with treble damages on those cell phone bills as it is.
First for the jobs lost, second for the added call time on their bills, and third for those "income" and added assundry taxes even on those bills passed off to the public that the Indian workforce are not required to pay but they are.
Maybe it's time to phone home for a reality check.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Obama Holds Another Summit on Education
Desperately attempting to get the teachers unions back into the Democratic fold, Barack Obama held another summit on education, this time directed at bolstering the budgets and enrollment figures of the nation's community colleges.
As one who lived for many, many years in a state that has a first rate community college system, Arizona, this push toward encouraging the "middle class" to focus on the more "affordable" community colleges merely is another sign that America's economy isn't getting better but worse, and using the education card another ploy to looking like we are doing something, when really doing nothing at all to help the middle class or support small business startups or emerging industries outside the tech and public employee fields, but offer them "options" and "alternatives" for their increasingly lowered standards of living.
The article quoted the substantial savings that these colleges offer, with averages of "only" $2,500 annual tuition costs.
When I graduated high school in Arizona, that rate was free or nearly so per credit hour as opposed to the $10.00 per credit hour that was being levied at the three major Arizona universities (1970's tuition was $160.00 per semester for a full course load at ASU or $320 per year). The junior college option was less than $3.00 per (before political correctness was the order of the day), or - although the cost of living from the 1970's to today has soared in housing, food, gas and other costs, education appears to be at the top of the list. Even though many of those teachers now at least in Arizona can retire after a mere 20 years, collect benefits, and then resume their teaching careers at other schools.
Or work at the community job center while collecting their retirement.
In fact, more and more it does appear that scholarships and grants are being used as sales tools since few grants cover full tuition anymore as the remaining costs most students or their parents must come up with are well above the COLA from the 70's to today. Although most Americans have been paying for those colleges and their operating costs through their property taxes and a host of other taxes passed on to the public for their costs - including rebuilding and expanding campuses that have been facing decreasing enrollments which is why so many foreigners now are being educated at America's top universities also at the taxpayer's expense.
It appears our four year universities are going to be reserved more and more for the well-heeled, and foreigners for that out of state, out of country tuition higher tuition due to also currency fluctuations, while the American middle class and state residents who have paid for those universities for decades are encouraged to utilize the community colleges for their offspring instead.
Not really such a bad idea as is becoming more clear for other reasons, since the classrooms in those colleges are far smaller for the most part and also since most students commute with no dorms or housing costs involved for the majority of those colleges, less of a chance that their child's roommate just might wish to hone his video skills also and broadcast via worldwide webcam what he or she engages in during his downtime.
It was also announced that there has been created another public-private partnership between government and corporate America.
This time with McDonald's and the Gap.
And the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Obviously, it appears that some of the upcoming high school students just might not be able to work those summer jobs at McDonald's or the Gap since it would appear that those jobs will now take an "associates" degree in order to even get through the application process. Maybe that is also why there is becoming more and more push toward year around schools so that parents are then shouldered with all those extraneous costs for getting those degrees outside even tuition rather than encouraging Junior to at least earn his own spending money for their splurges on their sports memorabilia, bookstore purchases, or fraternity and sorority dues or costs.
And don't think of not encouraging your college student to enroll for those technology classes, since the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also contributing for this cause, since they will definitely need that skill so they at least can go through the application process post graduation after obtaining those degrees for any future positions for any position, including the larger retail chains.
Of course, since Microsoft has been the largest also beneficiary of the Obama and previous administrations "Americans Get Educated in Science and Technology" agenda with those massive government contracts at the taxpayer's expense with all those annual upgrades involved in keeping up with "new and improved" software, this demonstration of generosity simply means this Foundation would be then simply returning a great deal of the taxpayer's monies spent privately and through their tax bite back to the schools that have and continue to purchase their product - so really, Mr. Gates is simply utilizing some of his profits from those government contracts to "give back" to the schools those taxes they received that then used a great deal of their annual budgets to purchase those software upgrades.
The competitive edge also was used so that this country can continue to compete in this "global" economy, since we are now "socializing" education with a "science based" focus internationally as the populace becomes more and more "programmers" and data inputers for those mainframes.
While of course outsourcing many of the former industrial jobs and suppliers for those retailers to China, to those jobs provided to those poorer individuals in those countries instead who are working without having to go through the HAL process.
It does seem kids today are being taught and educated primarily to use computers, rather than their brains and critical thinking skills more and more outside the governmental agendas for the 21st century, as when those computers "crash" or are unavailable most major retail corporations and the government itself screeches to a halt. Or banks. Or airlines.
Here is an example of just how "tight" this partnership with the high tech gadget industry actually is. This is from a government website in a city in the western United States for their hiring needs with respect to the application process:
Application Process:
The City of ________________has an online job application system. It uses state-of-the-art technology which gives our candidates greater flexibility in the application process. (for the advantage of the candidates?)
Applications are only accepted through our online application system.
Human Resources will not accept or consider applications that are mailed, emailed, faxed, or dropped off at our office. (and just where is the stated "flexibility in the application" process?)
As a boomer, I'm still having trouble relating to the terms "human resources" rather than "personnel" since, while it may seem to be "politically correct in this "science based technology," era, I think a new terminology is needed here. Instead of "Human Resource" Departments, maybe the term should simply be modified to reflect the true nature of what corporate America and those government offices are actually is looking for.
The "Input Department" and electronic paper pushers for those far off "district" and regional offices, since more and more it is even computers based on software programs with a mathematical formula that are hiring and determining those "humans" it might need as "resources."
Including even who gets an interview.
Online applications are now the "new age" voicemail of the past. Human Resources doesn't wish to speak with you, until you go through their computers for screening and are deemed by "Hal" to be worthy. Or any employment agency, governmentally funded or otherwise.
This now in addition to calling for year around schooling in order to also "compete" in the global community.
I wonder when Uncle Sam will be listed on the "new" birth certificates at America's hospitals, since it appears that after the first five years, your children are not your children at all merely a potential human resource for global corporate interests - with many states are also initiating measures in order to deny public employment positions to those children who are homeschooled (this is not, however, discrimination) and any and all that don't get with the current jobs focus need not apply, but then again try arguing that fact when submitting your welfare or SSI application for your social services "benefits," rather than borrowing money once again to get "re-educated."
The computer has spoken. ONLY computer educated and friendly applicants need apply. Although the actual job itself just may not need much in the way of keyboarding. Or applicants will need then retraining on individualized software programs anyway.
It is, after all, a science to learning how to flip burgers or assist a customer on a clothing purchase at this point, and the corporate HALs are now hooked up to the banking HALs and government HALs and will be checking on your credit scores and traffic tickets in addition to your skills, job history and education.
I hope McDonald's and the Gap are just as supportive of raising that minimum wage in order to cover the advance degrees now needed for some of those positions that formerly were available to those who either could not afford to pursue degrees, or simply are more creative individuals rather than robotic material, in any event that might have an independent thought on just how to build a better mousetrap (another passé' expression at this point, it would appear).
I mean those business majors and graduates and their parents are now working side by side at McDonald's, so why should that industrious or hardworking free-thinking dropout who needs to go to work to help his formerly middle class parents pay the rent, or earn his own extraneous college expenses get a job without having to become indentured to his state government or the bankers and fill out those mandated computer loan applications, and committing the cardinal sin of not being prescreened by going through HAL and his cousins?
The competitive working environment is no longer a jungle out there in any event, it's now a network.
And "private/private" partnership also.
The other day I was in a local McDonald's and plastered all over the walls were cute drawings by some of the local grammar school students in grades K-4 with the message "Buy a burger Tuesday and help us get technology for our classrooms."
I wonder when teaching penmanship and handwriting will soon become relegated to the educational scrap heap, along with those dictionaries (who are now going out of print), since HAL can even help you avoid those awful phonics lessons, word lists and spelling tests.
What's wrong with U? Those online urban dictionaries instead now have the HAL and NEA seal of approval.
And wasn't Lincoln homeschooled?
As one who lived for many, many years in a state that has a first rate community college system, Arizona, this push toward encouraging the "middle class" to focus on the more "affordable" community colleges merely is another sign that America's economy isn't getting better but worse, and using the education card another ploy to looking like we are doing something, when really doing nothing at all to help the middle class or support small business startups or emerging industries outside the tech and public employee fields, but offer them "options" and "alternatives" for their increasingly lowered standards of living.
The article quoted the substantial savings that these colleges offer, with averages of "only" $2,500 annual tuition costs.
When I graduated high school in Arizona, that rate was free or nearly so per credit hour as opposed to the $10.00 per credit hour that was being levied at the three major Arizona universities (1970's tuition was $160.00 per semester for a full course load at ASU or $320 per year). The junior college option was less than $3.00 per (before political correctness was the order of the day), or - although the cost of living from the 1970's to today has soared in housing, food, gas and other costs, education appears to be at the top of the list. Even though many of those teachers now at least in Arizona can retire after a mere 20 years, collect benefits, and then resume their teaching careers at other schools.
Or work at the community job center while collecting their retirement.
In fact, more and more it does appear that scholarships and grants are being used as sales tools since few grants cover full tuition anymore as the remaining costs most students or their parents must come up with are well above the COLA from the 70's to today. Although most Americans have been paying for those colleges and their operating costs through their property taxes and a host of other taxes passed on to the public for their costs - including rebuilding and expanding campuses that have been facing decreasing enrollments which is why so many foreigners now are being educated at America's top universities also at the taxpayer's expense.
It appears our four year universities are going to be reserved more and more for the well-heeled, and foreigners for that out of state, out of country tuition higher tuition due to also currency fluctuations, while the American middle class and state residents who have paid for those universities for decades are encouraged to utilize the community colleges for their offspring instead.
Not really such a bad idea as is becoming more clear for other reasons, since the classrooms in those colleges are far smaller for the most part and also since most students commute with no dorms or housing costs involved for the majority of those colleges, less of a chance that their child's roommate just might wish to hone his video skills also and broadcast via worldwide webcam what he or she engages in during his downtime.
It was also announced that there has been created another public-private partnership between government and corporate America.
This time with McDonald's and the Gap.
And the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Obviously, it appears that some of the upcoming high school students just might not be able to work those summer jobs at McDonald's or the Gap since it would appear that those jobs will now take an "associates" degree in order to even get through the application process. Maybe that is also why there is becoming more and more push toward year around schools so that parents are then shouldered with all those extraneous costs for getting those degrees outside even tuition rather than encouraging Junior to at least earn his own spending money for their splurges on their sports memorabilia, bookstore purchases, or fraternity and sorority dues or costs.
And don't think of not encouraging your college student to enroll for those technology classes, since the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also contributing for this cause, since they will definitely need that skill so they at least can go through the application process post graduation after obtaining those degrees for any future positions for any position, including the larger retail chains.
Of course, since Microsoft has been the largest also beneficiary of the Obama and previous administrations "Americans Get Educated in Science and Technology" agenda with those massive government contracts at the taxpayer's expense with all those annual upgrades involved in keeping up with "new and improved" software, this demonstration of generosity simply means this Foundation would be then simply returning a great deal of the taxpayer's monies spent privately and through their tax bite back to the schools that have and continue to purchase their product - so really, Mr. Gates is simply utilizing some of his profits from those government contracts to "give back" to the schools those taxes they received that then used a great deal of their annual budgets to purchase those software upgrades.
The competitive edge also was used so that this country can continue to compete in this "global" economy, since we are now "socializing" education with a "science based" focus internationally as the populace becomes more and more "programmers" and data inputers for those mainframes.
While of course outsourcing many of the former industrial jobs and suppliers for those retailers to China, to those jobs provided to those poorer individuals in those countries instead who are working without having to go through the HAL process.
It does seem kids today are being taught and educated primarily to use computers, rather than their brains and critical thinking skills more and more outside the governmental agendas for the 21st century, as when those computers "crash" or are unavailable most major retail corporations and the government itself screeches to a halt. Or banks. Or airlines.
Here is an example of just how "tight" this partnership with the high tech gadget industry actually is. This is from a government website in a city in the western United States for their hiring needs with respect to the application process:
Application Process:
The City of ________________has an online job application system. It uses state-of-the-art technology which gives our candidates greater flexibility in the application process. (for the advantage of the candidates?)
Applications are only accepted through our online application system.
Human Resources will not accept or consider applications that are mailed, emailed, faxed, or dropped off at our office. (and just where is the stated "flexibility in the application" process?)
As a boomer, I'm still having trouble relating to the terms "human resources" rather than "personnel" since, while it may seem to be "politically correct in this "science based technology," era, I think a new terminology is needed here. Instead of "Human Resource" Departments, maybe the term should simply be modified to reflect the true nature of what corporate America and those government offices are actually is looking for.
The "Input Department" and electronic paper pushers for those far off "district" and regional offices, since more and more it is even computers based on software programs with a mathematical formula that are hiring and determining those "humans" it might need as "resources."
Including even who gets an interview.
Online applications are now the "new age" voicemail of the past. Human Resources doesn't wish to speak with you, until you go through their computers for screening and are deemed by "Hal" to be worthy. Or any employment agency, governmentally funded or otherwise.
This now in addition to calling for year around schooling in order to also "compete" in the global community.
I wonder when Uncle Sam will be listed on the "new" birth certificates at America's hospitals, since it appears that after the first five years, your children are not your children at all merely a potential human resource for global corporate interests - with many states are also initiating measures in order to deny public employment positions to those children who are homeschooled (this is not, however, discrimination) and any and all that don't get with the current jobs focus need not apply, but then again try arguing that fact when submitting your welfare or SSI application for your social services "benefits," rather than borrowing money once again to get "re-educated."
The computer has spoken. ONLY computer educated and friendly applicants need apply. Although the actual job itself just may not need much in the way of keyboarding. Or applicants will need then retraining on individualized software programs anyway.
It is, after all, a science to learning how to flip burgers or assist a customer on a clothing purchase at this point, and the corporate HALs are now hooked up to the banking HALs and government HALs and will be checking on your credit scores and traffic tickets in addition to your skills, job history and education.
I hope McDonald's and the Gap are just as supportive of raising that minimum wage in order to cover the advance degrees now needed for some of those positions that formerly were available to those who either could not afford to pursue degrees, or simply are more creative individuals rather than robotic material, in any event that might have an independent thought on just how to build a better mousetrap (another passé' expression at this point, it would appear).
I mean those business majors and graduates and their parents are now working side by side at McDonald's, so why should that industrious or hardworking free-thinking dropout who needs to go to work to help his formerly middle class parents pay the rent, or earn his own extraneous college expenses get a job without having to become indentured to his state government or the bankers and fill out those mandated computer loan applications, and committing the cardinal sin of not being prescreened by going through HAL and his cousins?
The competitive working environment is no longer a jungle out there in any event, it's now a network.
And "private/private" partnership also.
The other day I was in a local McDonald's and plastered all over the walls were cute drawings by some of the local grammar school students in grades K-4 with the message "Buy a burger Tuesday and help us get technology for our classrooms."
I wonder when teaching penmanship and handwriting will soon become relegated to the educational scrap heap, along with those dictionaries (who are now going out of print), since HAL can even help you avoid those awful phonics lessons, word lists and spelling tests.
What's wrong with U? Those online urban dictionaries instead now have the HAL and NEA seal of approval.
And wasn't Lincoln homeschooled?
Friday, September 17, 2010
BP, Driller Announce Busted Well Fixed
In an announcement today by the Associated Press, the driller hired to drill the relief well and plug the busted well which resulted in the deaths of 11 Americans five months ago stated that by Sunday he intends to finalize the sealing by pouring concrete in the bottom of the damaged well through the relief well thus curing the problem for good.
It was also stated that over 206 million barrels of oil have been released into the Gulf since the disaster occurred in late April.
I wonder, if only half of those millions of barrels of oil made their way to the Port of New Orleans and sailed out to Britain for refinement, just how much profit did BP and its "partners" make on this disaster at the current market price of $74.00 per barrel?
My calculator doesn't have that many zeros, but suffice it to say that Mr. Obama's "capping" the damages and claims process for all those fishermen, shrimpers, and other American industries and small businesses that will be feeling the impact of this disaster for years to come appears that Washington's new methods of bailing out foreign global corporations on the backs of Americans has sunk to a new low surpassing even AIG's bailout under the Bush Administration.
And more and more are finding themselves without any "change" whatsoever, other than those foreign citizens simply working here as resident aliens for the major foreign and globally based European industries.
And I wonder just how much Washington and the state governments will eventually profit from all that extra oil when it is sold back to the American public through their U.S. distributors in those energy and gas taxes for their primarily work related or domestic transportation costs.
And just where does it afford the government to "outsource" America's precious mineral resources to foreigners and foreign governments anyway, while we are still in the Middle East also at this point fighting a war that also is benefiting the "global" economy and European interests most of all, at the cost of Americans?
It was also stated that over 206 million barrels of oil have been released into the Gulf since the disaster occurred in late April.
I wonder, if only half of those millions of barrels of oil made their way to the Port of New Orleans and sailed out to Britain for refinement, just how much profit did BP and its "partners" make on this disaster at the current market price of $74.00 per barrel?
My calculator doesn't have that many zeros, but suffice it to say that Mr. Obama's "capping" the damages and claims process for all those fishermen, shrimpers, and other American industries and small businesses that will be feeling the impact of this disaster for years to come appears that Washington's new methods of bailing out foreign global corporations on the backs of Americans has sunk to a new low surpassing even AIG's bailout under the Bush Administration.
And more and more are finding themselves without any "change" whatsoever, other than those foreign citizens simply working here as resident aliens for the major foreign and globally based European industries.
And I wonder just how much Washington and the state governments will eventually profit from all that extra oil when it is sold back to the American public through their U.S. distributors in those energy and gas taxes for their primarily work related or domestic transportation costs.
And just where does it afford the government to "outsource" America's precious mineral resources to foreigners and foreign governments anyway, while we are still in the Middle East also at this point fighting a war that also is benefiting the "global" economy and European interests most of all, at the cost of Americans?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Top Stories: Obama Jobs Bill, Buffalo Wings Contest
The two top stories this Labor Day weekend were enough to send many Americans outdoors for the last barbecue of the season.
Obama's "Jobs" bill, and the "top" story about the woman who won the New York Buffalo Wings eating contest stuffing her face with 181 wings in 12 minutes.
America, don't you just love it?
Mr. Obama's bill from early reports is focused on providing jobs once again for the construction industry primarily in rebuilding and shoring up our bridges, roadways and railways. Although a great deal of our infrastructure at this point has been privatized which through our "global" economy is owned by foreigners, and of course the real beneficiaries of this jobs bill will be, once again, the large government contractors listed on the global exchange.
While we are already deep in debt rebuilding Iraq, and also the Gulf region after Katrina, Rita, Ivan, Gustav and Deepwater Horizon, and wonder if in the reporting of the new jobs created there will also be offsets in those lost due to those disasters during election time?
I mean, those now unemployed fishermen and shrimpers are the ones now cleaning up the beach down South, for the most part. Trash cleanup jobs seem to be the largest sector which has benefited from what has occurred in Louisiana especially these past five years.
And I'm wondering with all this construction and rebuilding just how much carbon will be spewed into the atmosphere, resulting then also in increased taxation on Americans for those carbon debts in their energy bills locally? Or increased gasoline taxes or those airport taxes on travel which have been collected for decades at both the state and federal levels.
What is the true costs of this bill after the offsets for past taxes collected, and future increases in the provisions of this bill? Are increases in state taxes that will also be levied against the states for the "grants" for this new bill and passed down to the citizenry also part of the fiscal impact study?
As far as the Buffalo wing contest, interesting that with all the focus on obesity that such an event received such wide reporting. I mean this contest based on a throw away part of the chicken must have put most in that audience off wings, at least for a time. I mean, 181 wings in 12 minutes? I wonder, did she swallow those last dozen or simply pack them in her cheeks? Who was counting the bones, since a recount just might in order here. Who can chew and swallow that fast?
I thought the story was missing quite a few details on the winner's chicken wing scarfing technique.
I wonder how that story played in Kansas?
Obama's "Jobs" bill, and the "top" story about the woman who won the New York Buffalo Wings eating contest stuffing her face with 181 wings in 12 minutes.
America, don't you just love it?
Mr. Obama's bill from early reports is focused on providing jobs once again for the construction industry primarily in rebuilding and shoring up our bridges, roadways and railways. Although a great deal of our infrastructure at this point has been privatized which through our "global" economy is owned by foreigners, and of course the real beneficiaries of this jobs bill will be, once again, the large government contractors listed on the global exchange.
While we are already deep in debt rebuilding Iraq, and also the Gulf region after Katrina, Rita, Ivan, Gustav and Deepwater Horizon, and wonder if in the reporting of the new jobs created there will also be offsets in those lost due to those disasters during election time?
I mean, those now unemployed fishermen and shrimpers are the ones now cleaning up the beach down South, for the most part. Trash cleanup jobs seem to be the largest sector which has benefited from what has occurred in Louisiana especially these past five years.
And I'm wondering with all this construction and rebuilding just how much carbon will be spewed into the atmosphere, resulting then also in increased taxation on Americans for those carbon debts in their energy bills locally? Or increased gasoline taxes or those airport taxes on travel which have been collected for decades at both the state and federal levels.
What is the true costs of this bill after the offsets for past taxes collected, and future increases in the provisions of this bill? Are increases in state taxes that will also be levied against the states for the "grants" for this new bill and passed down to the citizenry also part of the fiscal impact study?
As far as the Buffalo wing contest, interesting that with all the focus on obesity that such an event received such wide reporting. I mean this contest based on a throw away part of the chicken must have put most in that audience off wings, at least for a time. I mean, 181 wings in 12 minutes? I wonder, did she swallow those last dozen or simply pack them in her cheeks? Who was counting the bones, since a recount just might in order here. Who can chew and swallow that fast?
I thought the story was missing quite a few details on the winner's chicken wing scarfing technique.
I wonder how that story played in Kansas?
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The New Obama BP Settlement Czar
The New Obama Price Is Right BP Settlement Czar
It has been interesting watching the "no change" change which has occurred under the Obama Administration, at this point, which Administration is more like the Bush Administration than even the Bush Administration.
Case in point: With all the campaign rhetoric about "redlining" unnecessary federal agencies and employees, the Obama Administration has been appointing "czars" outside Congressional authority right and left ever since he took office.
But the red pencil must have gotten lost since the majority of jobs which have been created during both the Bush and Obama Administrations have been primarily government jobs mainly in civil spying networks (homeland security jobs, programs and degrees now offered at local colleges throughout the country "certified" by the Department of Homeland Security, no less - even online degrees in this "new" field are being solicited by "new" DHS "accredited" universities).
And of course the biggest sector of jobs created during this recession has been for collection and foreclosure lawyers, mortgage "counselors" (former realtors or bankers) and bill collectors and "credit counselors."
And with the still open Southern borders, the gadget and identity theft industries are booming.
The newest czar:
A well-known and well-heeled lawyer appointed by Mr. Obama to oversee the BP claims from the "reserve" account which BP was ordered to provide also under presidential decree, which was supposed to cover mainly the emergency costs and losses which were affecting those businesses and people living within the affected regions of Louisiana.
Of course, due to the failure to cap those wells sufficiently for over four months, that oil has now spread all the way to Florida, from all reports.
The lawyer chosen was the same lawyer who oversaw the "claims" process over those affected by 9-11.
And, of course, the terms have changed with respect to the filing of claims.
Those filing it now appears in order to get any compensation at all, must sign waivers waiving their Constitutional rights to sue at a later date if their losses multiply, agreeing then that they will not sue BP independently for any additional sums - and must prove their actual losses without taking into consideration potential future losses, and whose settlements will be based upon this czar's using the distance the claimant is or was from the disaster as the primary basis for the final settlement.
So we have a presidentially appointed new "czar" rewriting our Constitution through his own independent judgment and criteria by simply royal edict, as an appointed baron over the Gulf Region, as it were.
Although, of course, the ramifications from this disaster, if Exxon Valdez is any indication, could impact that region and by extension the entire nation for decades to come since this spill has not been contained and the clean up efforts are still ongoing.
And will be for some time.
Appears to this writer that that "reserve" account was established by the Obama Administration most of all in an attempt to attempt instead to "slap" BP, protect or "mitigate" their losses for its protection and the "global economy" in which most of those on the Hill are also significantly invested in those global oil, gas and energy stocks.
Along with many of the unions, public employee's pension plans, etc., etc.
Once again, protecting the "corporate" (and in this case a foreign global corporation illegally given mineral rights to America's precious offshore reserves) over the lives and livelihoods of the "Joe the plumber" average American and poorer and middle class small business owners, who are not significantly invested in this "global" economy at their expense, but touting this reserve initially as a slap at BP and "redress" for those affected.
Although there are still reported over 300 lawsuits pending, most likely for corporate interests which can afford all those advance costs in order to pursue their claims thrush the courts, or as class actions (which were also mandated somehow outside Constitutional authority through federal court rules in order to mitigate some of those losses once again obviously, after publicizing that over 2/3rds the federal district court judges would have to disqualify themselves due to their own personal oil holdings).
My question also is just where in the Constitution does it give the president the authority to bypass the civil process on damages and losses, or attempt to deny those individuals their right to have their "day in court" in front of a jury of their peers, in using this carrot on a stick for the protection of this British global giant who is now responsible for the loss totally of over 40 American lives?
Or the courts in consolidating many of those cases, which may or may not be at all similar in the degree for which those losses will or might be ongoing.
And, for all intents and purposes, it will be every single American impacted in one way or another paying for this disaster whether at the pump, or through their businesses, or gas taxes when after all the dust has settled, those gas prices begin to rise once again along with those federal and state taxes on Americans own oil reserves sold back to them then by the British under those "free trade" leases.
And how can the extent of those damages for most of these individuals be determined when the clean-up efforts are still ongoing, and the actual ramifications of this tremendous oil spill have yet to even begin to be realized?
Since, of course, it will be the entire nation that will be paying the costs for this in higher gasoline prices across the board since BP is a former holding of the British royal family, and does hold the "rights" through a great many of these leases to literally the majority of oil reserves throughout the world.
Outside, of course, those which they lost when the Shah of Iran was removed from power back in the 1970's, and for which it appears at this point that that loss is not something the Crown has forgotten - hence, why Iran continues to be marginalized and targeted at this point due to its development of nuclear power outside royal edict and sitting on a bucket load of oil reserves lost also due to a change in power way back when (and the Brits, royals and their bankers, hold the majority of leases also on most of those nuclear reactors in the world through their ownership of stock in the holding companies for most of those reactors).
I wonder just how much of the Presidential, Congressional and judicial pension plans are invested in AIG, BP and energy stocks, anyway or state and federal public employees at this point?
And just how many extra barrels of oil those Brits were able to scam under those leases the last four months while these "efforts" to contain the spill were continuing?
It has been interesting watching the "no change" change which has occurred under the Obama Administration, at this point, which Administration is more like the Bush Administration than even the Bush Administration.
Case in point: With all the campaign rhetoric about "redlining" unnecessary federal agencies and employees, the Obama Administration has been appointing "czars" outside Congressional authority right and left ever since he took office.
But the red pencil must have gotten lost since the majority of jobs which have been created during both the Bush and Obama Administrations have been primarily government jobs mainly in civil spying networks (homeland security jobs, programs and degrees now offered at local colleges throughout the country "certified" by the Department of Homeland Security, no less - even online degrees in this "new" field are being solicited by "new" DHS "accredited" universities).
And of course the biggest sector of jobs created during this recession has been for collection and foreclosure lawyers, mortgage "counselors" (former realtors or bankers) and bill collectors and "credit counselors."
And with the still open Southern borders, the gadget and identity theft industries are booming.
The newest czar:
A well-known and well-heeled lawyer appointed by Mr. Obama to oversee the BP claims from the "reserve" account which BP was ordered to provide also under presidential decree, which was supposed to cover mainly the emergency costs and losses which were affecting those businesses and people living within the affected regions of Louisiana.
Of course, due to the failure to cap those wells sufficiently for over four months, that oil has now spread all the way to Florida, from all reports.
The lawyer chosen was the same lawyer who oversaw the "claims" process over those affected by 9-11.
And, of course, the terms have changed with respect to the filing of claims.
Those filing it now appears in order to get any compensation at all, must sign waivers waiving their Constitutional rights to sue at a later date if their losses multiply, agreeing then that they will not sue BP independently for any additional sums - and must prove their actual losses without taking into consideration potential future losses, and whose settlements will be based upon this czar's using the distance the claimant is or was from the disaster as the primary basis for the final settlement.
So we have a presidentially appointed new "czar" rewriting our Constitution through his own independent judgment and criteria by simply royal edict, as an appointed baron over the Gulf Region, as it were.
Although, of course, the ramifications from this disaster, if Exxon Valdez is any indication, could impact that region and by extension the entire nation for decades to come since this spill has not been contained and the clean up efforts are still ongoing.
And will be for some time.
Appears to this writer that that "reserve" account was established by the Obama Administration most of all in an attempt to attempt instead to "slap" BP, protect or "mitigate" their losses for its protection and the "global economy" in which most of those on the Hill are also significantly invested in those global oil, gas and energy stocks.
Along with many of the unions, public employee's pension plans, etc., etc.
Once again, protecting the "corporate" (and in this case a foreign global corporation illegally given mineral rights to America's precious offshore reserves) over the lives and livelihoods of the "Joe the plumber" average American and poorer and middle class small business owners, who are not significantly invested in this "global" economy at their expense, but touting this reserve initially as a slap at BP and "redress" for those affected.
Although there are still reported over 300 lawsuits pending, most likely for corporate interests which can afford all those advance costs in order to pursue their claims thrush the courts, or as class actions (which were also mandated somehow outside Constitutional authority through federal court rules in order to mitigate some of those losses once again obviously, after publicizing that over 2/3rds the federal district court judges would have to disqualify themselves due to their own personal oil holdings).
My question also is just where in the Constitution does it give the president the authority to bypass the civil process on damages and losses, or attempt to deny those individuals their right to have their "day in court" in front of a jury of their peers, in using this carrot on a stick for the protection of this British global giant who is now responsible for the loss totally of over 40 American lives?
Or the courts in consolidating many of those cases, which may or may not be at all similar in the degree for which those losses will or might be ongoing.
And, for all intents and purposes, it will be every single American impacted in one way or another paying for this disaster whether at the pump, or through their businesses, or gas taxes when after all the dust has settled, those gas prices begin to rise once again along with those federal and state taxes on Americans own oil reserves sold back to them then by the British under those "free trade" leases.
And how can the extent of those damages for most of these individuals be determined when the clean-up efforts are still ongoing, and the actual ramifications of this tremendous oil spill have yet to even begin to be realized?
Since, of course, it will be the entire nation that will be paying the costs for this in higher gasoline prices across the board since BP is a former holding of the British royal family, and does hold the "rights" through a great many of these leases to literally the majority of oil reserves throughout the world.
Outside, of course, those which they lost when the Shah of Iran was removed from power back in the 1970's, and for which it appears at this point that that loss is not something the Crown has forgotten - hence, why Iran continues to be marginalized and targeted at this point due to its development of nuclear power outside royal edict and sitting on a bucket load of oil reserves lost also due to a change in power way back when (and the Brits, royals and their bankers, hold the majority of leases also on most of those nuclear reactors in the world through their ownership of stock in the holding companies for most of those reactors).
I wonder just how much of the Presidential, Congressional and judicial pension plans are invested in AIG, BP and energy stocks, anyway or state and federal public employees at this point?
And just how many extra barrels of oil those Brits were able to scam under those leases the last four months while these "efforts" to contain the spill were continuing?
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