Month: July 2010

Take Me To Your Leader

The one semi-bright part of the new Fin Reg is the creation of a consumer protection division…..you may not be aware of it because when the Law was signed by Obama there was a pissing contest going on about the USDA employee and what she said or did not say…so the bill was signed in a bit of obscurity.

There is already a bunch of discussion about who should lead this institution…..I have a personal opinion and it would be Elizabeth Warren who currently is head of the Congressional Oversight Committee……why would she be a good choice…..

Liberals say the choice to run the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is obvious: Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard University law professor who first proposed an office to protect ordinary borrowers and savers in a journal article three years ago. She’s spent years battling banks that gouge their customers.  (USA Today)

The Harvard Law School professor was one of the founding writers of CreditSlips, a blog that’s “a discussion on credit, finance and bankruptcy.” Her posts ended shortly after she headed to Washington in the fall of 2008 to head the Congressional Oversight Panel, monitoring TARP.

“Bullshit — Professionally Speaking” on Jan 7, 2009, Warren weighed in on a piece of academic contract law writing called “Bullshit Promises” that focused on misleading contract language. (The paper, of course, was a reference to Harry Frankfurt’s 2005 book, “On Bullshit.”) “I don’t get to post very often right now, but sometimes I can put on my academic robes and talk about a new piece of scholarship,” Warren wrote. “And what better thing to talk about when wearing academic robes than bullshit?”  (WSJ)  (I threw this one in just because I like her way of thinking)

This is one of the reasons I like Warren….she is a NO nonsense person that has NO problem telling like it really is….good or bad.  There are those that worry about her impending nomination because of her zeal for transparency….they seem to think that she would possibly make it harder for working people to get credit….I think it is just BS…we need a person that is NOT afraid to go out and tell the truth about the situation…we already have enough yes men in Washington…I say give the reins of the agency and let her do what she does best……find real answers to real problems…..

The Economic Engine Of The US

From the VOMITORIUM

It is all so much BS!

We have hear all the attacks on the Prez and his jobs agenda….all the crap about it is small business that creates all the jobs and that small business should be a priority for the Obama admin……you have heard it all…….the Dems are failing the American people by NOT emphasizing small business and the creation of jobs…..

But wait!  The Repubs have a better idea right?

From the AP:

Senate Republicans in the United States blocked a bill to increase small business lending Thursday, dealing a setback to the jobs agenda of President Barack Obama.

The bill would create a $30 billion (U.S.) government fund to help community banks increase lending to small businesses, combining it with about $12 billion in tax breaks. Democrats say banks should be able to use the lending fund to leverage up to $300 billion in loans to small businesses, helping loosen tight credit markets.

Then if small business is the engine of our economy, why would they block a bill to help loosen up credit for the small businesses in this country?  Good question…..

Much of the bill had bipartisan support, but Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Democrats were blocking GOP amendments.

What would those amendments be?  Glad you asked……

GOP amendments included measures to beef up border security, impose a government spending cap and lower the estate tax, which is scheduled to return next year with a top rate of 55 per cent on estates larger than $1 million.

One Republican amendment would repeal a new tax reporting requirement for businesses that was included in the massive health care overhaul enacted last spring.

The amendments have NOTHING to do with small business….if the GOP is so hot for the small businessman then why would they scuttle a bill that would help the businesses and jobs?  It is an easy one to answer……politics…..nothing short of politics…it is NEVER about loosening credit for small business…it is about seeing that the Dems have nothing when it comes election time…..this screwing of small business helps Repubs and does NOTHING to help the American people…..Can you see the game for what it is now?

You want an idea of how the deficit expands so rapidly?  Earmarks!  You know those add-ons to bills…..the pork……what does border security have to do with small business?  What does a spending cap mean when you add on so much new spending?

Special interests and pure gamesmanship and small business is just a pawn in this elaborate game of politics…..

A Sad Day For Vets

Daily Agitator

This is one of the most disgusting stories this year!

Lots have been said about the care of vets and their treatment…..remember the sad condition of the vet hospital in Washington?  Remember the high number of suicides?  Remember the church that protests at the funerals of fallen soldiers?  The list goes on and on….all this is shabby and should be a crime but there is one that I could hardly believe when I first read it………this piece was posted on the Newser website:

It turns out that insurers handling death benefits for American soldiers have got a sweet scam going that enables them to keep profiting from the money even after it is supposedly paid out to families. They tell bereaved relatives that they’ve opened a convenient, interest-bearing account for their money that’s a nice, safe place to keep it and they give them a “checkbook.” But it’s not a normal checkbook, they don’t open individual accounts for each soldier, and they skim off most of the interest the money is making—giving beneficiaries 1% while it’s earning 4%.The military families are getting less than half the interest they would in a normal account, Bloomberg reports. Not only that, the money held in these general corporate accounts at Prudential or MetLife, isn’t insured by the FDIC. Prudential says they make it clear to military families that they can take their money out anytime they want, but an insurance law professor isn’t impressed. “It’s institutionalized bad faith,” he says. “It’s turning death claims into a profit center.”

Read more: http://www.newser.com/story/96760/insurers-rip-off-families-of-fallen-us-soldiers.html#ixzz0v6QzD2fA

Remember the names of the insurance companies….write them and let them know how you feel about their tactics toward the families of fallen soldiers…..this is what capitalism is all about?!  This is just a horrible thing to do to families after their loss.  This is CRIMINAL and these a/holes should be prosecuted and prosecuted hard……As a veteran who lost 9 of my closest friends in war…I find this offensive and unacceptable in all ways….there is a special place in Hell for pricks like these companies!

Hit ‘Em Hard!

The Dems seem to have found their cajones that have been lost in the past 18 months…..the following is a new DNC ad for the upcoming elections …it shows a little imagination that I thought that they were missing…there has been numerous times I thought that the Dems needed to go on the attack and they would wimp out and let it pass trying to smooth it over with some lame talking points…….but now they show some cajones….

http://bit.ly/cZtdaC

http://bit.ly/9uk5iV

Will this work in the coming elections?  Only if the people are paying attention and check the facts….ALWAYS  check the facts!

Can The Addict Be Weaned?

Daily Agitator

It is all the rage now on the airwaves, everybody has jumped on the bandwagon of trying to break the US addiction to oil.  All I can say is…..GOOD LUCK with that.

First a little history in case you are not aware of the facts about our energy issues…..

From Info Ink page, “Will The Addict Return?”

If you can remember back to the 70’s when there was an energy addiction that made for an energy crisis.  We all started to think of ways to kick our oil habit like alt energy, wind, solar and other energy saving measures and for awhile we were moving in the right direction and were kicking the monkey on our backs.  But unfortunately we fell off our wagon.  The pushers, the oil companies, in the 80’s made the price of gas and oil cheaper and we stated thinking that we were not all that bad for the addiction.  It was something that we could live with.  We wanted our 4 gallon to the mile Hummers.  We began feeding our need heavier than before.

So the idea of a more liberal alt energy program as something new is just ignorant…….every president since Jimmy Carter has had the plan to break our dependence and so for we are more heavily addicted with the passing of each president.  The question to ask is, “Are we truly serious about breaking our dependence on foreign oil?”

You, personally, may be….but the government is NOT!  As usual, the government is offering a band-aid for a gunshot wound….absolutely NO one in Washington is truly supporting a total independence……they were not in the 70’s and they are NOT today.

Americans have talked a mean game, but NO where are they prepared to give up their addiction.  As long as the drug of choice is inexpensive enough to allow them to drive a car that gets 4 gallons to the mile then they will continue to use and use and use…..no matter how good the intention…actions speak louder.

So, to answer the question, “Can the addict be weaned?”….the answer is yes but it will be painful….and that is politically bad and will not be used….they will continue to offer up incremental changes that does little to solve the addiction problem….like the CAFE……does little about consumption of the drug…..the addict is here to stay and the government will make sure of it, as long as they work as paid agents for the suppliers of the drug….. oil industry.

A Side Note:  The new Energy bill is living proof of how the oil industry has its tentacles into the process……here is the new bill synopsis:

The bill includes as its centerpiece “oil spill response” legislation that would: require BP to pay for damage from its spill; require oil companies to invest in new spill cleanup and prevention technologies; improve federal spill response; reform the Minerals Management Service; and update maritime laws.

But other aspects of the bill, according to a draft summary of the legislation, step into other energy arenas by:

  • Providing incentives for turning the nation‘s heavy truck fleet to natural gas and toward electrification of the nation‘s transportation sector.
  • Promoting “clean energy job creation” providing $5 billion of rebates to encourage homeowners to make efficiency upgrades as part of the Home Star program.
  • Fully funding a Land and Water Conservation Fund over the next five years to ensure that vital US lands and waters are protected into the future from climate change damage.
  • Increasing the $1 billion liability cap of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to $5 billion and increasing fees to pay for it by requiring that oil companies pay 49 cents per barrel into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

This bill is a FAR cry from the bill promised by the Prez and his boyz…..it is weak…it is wimpy….it is impotent!   Nothing to control emissions…..EMISSIONS……that is the main problem that needs to be addressed and nothing……..all I can say is that the money spent by energy companies was well used….

So “Can the addict be weaned”?….. NOT BY THIS BATCH OF COWARDS!

Another side note:  the new Chevy electric car will start at $41,000…..yea!  That should get the Americans to think about a change……how many working people can afford that price?

Destination: Democracy

College of Political Knowledge

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  Afghan Politics/Afghan democracy

I recent did a post on what is needed in Afghanistan…that would be authoritarian democracy or a guided democracy if you will…why?  Because a democracy in the American sense of the word is NOT possible in Afghanistan.  The American concept of democracy is just laughable in the country…..why would I make such a statement?  I am glad you asked…..

First, there are a few necessities for a western style democracy…..

The first necessity is a strong middle class…extremes in wealth can deter the development of real democracy and a large segment of poor removes them from the participation that is needed from a true democracy.

Second, the state needs to have a set value of doctrines that can illustrate benefits to all…..

Third, participation must be encouraged at all levels….

Fourth, elites are necessary, especially political elites that have a working relation with business, industry and agriculture…..

Fifth, a market economy…a mixed economy, not dependent on one sector or another for its survival….

None of above conditions can be met in Afghanistan, as it is today and thusly NO democracy can be had……NO representative style democracy.  First Afghanistan does NOT have a strong middle class….lots of poor uneducated people.  Second, I do NOT know of a set of values for the whole country….political participation is encouraged but only as far as the vote goes……the only elites in the country are Karzai and some form of war lord…..no intellectuals, educators, corporate types…just war time bullies and maggots…..finally…there is NO economy other than war and drugs without a solid economy the life of the country is at stake.

This brings us back to the original post weeks ago…if you want a democratic Afghanistan then the only way it can be accomplished as it is today is through a “guided democracy” or a benevolent dictator, an authoritarian dictator….

Sorry…the truth hurts!

France Is Cool….UK Is Corrupt

From the VOMITORIUM

I thought that one of my more ardent readers would appreciate this piece…..Quin of Quintessential Havoc (my blogroll will get you to this insightful blog)…….I could not resist….sorry

There seems to be accusations flying around Europe about corruption and government…..a tried and true defense against corruption is point the finger elsewhere……the malignant midget speaks….

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended himself against allegations of corruption by bringing up the Westminster expenses scandal.

“France is not a corrupt country,” he said.

“The political class, left and right alike, is in general honest. French public officials are people of great rigour.

“The most recent political scandal took place in Britain, not France.”

But apparently Sarkozy missed the latest news….

Police are questioning France’s richest woman, her lawyer told CNN Monday, as they investigate claims one of her advisers gave envelopes of cash to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Labor Minister Eric Woerth.

Bettencourt’s former book-keeper, Claire Thibout, elaborated on the allegations in an interview this month with a French investigative website.

She said she prepared envelopes of cash that were to be given to Sarkozy and Woerth, who previously worked in the Budget Ministry and was in charge of reforms to France’s retirement system.

There you have!  There is NO corruption in France, but in the UK it is another story altogether…….kinda rules out the theory of the EU as one big happy family, huh?

God, I love this stuff!

It’s Those Damn Give-a-ways!

Daily Agitator

That would be what we call “entitlements” some see them as the government giving away the treasury to those who do nothing more than sponge off the government.  Entitlements like unemployment, welfare, Medicare, Social Security, et al……you know those things that are the bitch that is killing the economy and the country….well that is what some would have you believe.

The two biggest “entitlements” are Social Security and Medicare….but I have a problem with the conservative argument against entitlement programs….first, I will agree that some of the programs are give aways….I could argue that these programs are the price the state has to pay for the privilege of ruling over the people…..but that would be yet another post that few will read and even fewer would understand……

Sorry…I digress…..

I am weary of the flap trap of conservs that keep calling SS and Medicare as entitlements….that term denotes something that is given to the people…..and given denotes something for nothing…..which is total bullsh*t!

Social Security and Medicare are NOT entitlements…they are however contributions into a pool for later action….and yes it will go broke in a couple years….not because people are getting stuff free but rather because the pricks in Washington have been robbing the pool blind to fund all sorts of garbage like wars and other such notable programs…in other words…it is NOT the people that are killing the system but rather the assh*les that run our lovely country…the same a/holes that YOU vote for every 2 or 4 or 6 years.

Since these programs were signed into law…the Repubs have been trying to find a way to eliminate them…they could not vote them out of existence so the siphoned funds away from them until they were insolvent, which will make it easier to find ways to eliminate them.

Wait a godd*mn minute!  The pundits that say we need to make hard choices, that it will hurt and that Americans will have to give up something…..great! , As long as the a/holes making 6 figures do their part in this f*ck job then I say good…but we know that they will NOT be touched by any of these so-called austerity programs…it will fall on the shoulders of people that already live with austerity programs…..I am so tired of the so-called “experts” telling hard working Americans that they are gonna be f*cked….and they do not with a smile…..

So SS and Medicare are NOT some weird little entitlement program….they are obligations the country/government have to the people they play like a cheap flute.  Basically, these cowards are looking for ways to NOT honor the obligations they have to the people.

Keep voting for these guys and you will be a party to the scam these politicians are playing on the country….and by all means…keep listening to the wealthy telling you that YOU have to make the sacrifice…they smile all the way to the bank.  Think about the guys and gals in Washington that live in exclusive neighborhoods, that should comfort you while you dine on rice and cat food…..

Fallacy: “Of The People”

College of Political Knowledge

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  Political History/Government/

Paper #24

A government of the people, for the people and by the people……but is it?  In the grand scheme of things, especially politics, the people are everything…..at least that is the illusion that is portrayed….and yes, I said illusion!

All government rest on the consent of the governed…at least that is the illusion that we all live with…..look at the beginnings of the country…it took almost a generation for the people to actually vote for a president…….it was 1824…I am sure we can find a wealth of excuses for this delay, but the simple one would be that after so long the established way to pick a president was totally accepted..the electoral college.  For 36 years it was NOT that important that the people have a voice in the choosing of the leadership of this country….that gave the illusion of popular support time to take hold.

All government needs illusion.  No?  Take a look at the past presidential election…Obama promised to bring change if elected and so far all his change has not come to fruition but the rhetoric has strong…giving the illusion of change when in actuality NOTHING has changed…not in FinReg, not in war, not in health care, so far not anywhere.  All American political history is choke full of illusion.

All government needs illusion……

The illusion of that the American people have an actual voice…..the illusion that the the elected representatives of the people are the people…..the illusion that politicians are the servants of the people……the illusion that all men are created equal….all government needs illusion.

If one pays attention to the politics of the US then they are seeing just how much of an illusion that government is…..they will see the reps voting in THEIR best interests not the country’s……this is not a new phenom but rather something that has been occurring since the very beginning of this country……the only good thing to point to is that the internet has made it more possible to check these guys and their claims instantly…..thanks to the worldwide web their illusions and misdirections are easily detected and exposed……it is a shame that it is NOT used more.

The Great State Of Mississippi

Recently a friend of mine from years ago contacted me saying that he was thinking of moving to Mississippi with his family….he asked what I would recommend and where…the following is the note I sent him….

Education…..

Mississippi’s graduation rate for the Class of 2009 dipped to 71.4 percent from 72 percent, according to numbers released from the state Department of Education on Thursday.

Obesity…..

The percentage of adults classified as obese went up in 23 states, but Mississippi, with 32.5 percent, stayed atop the latest annual rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health. The same survey put the state’s adult obesity rate at 31.7 percent in 2008.

In addition, 44.4 percent of Mississippi children ages 10 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese, the study found.

Mississippi ranks #50 as best places to live…….it ranks 50th in savings…..49th in best educated children…..49th in health care…..ranks last in Gross State Product……or per capita dollars…….state infrastructure is falling apart…….just to mention a few of the “bennies” of living in the state…….

Poverty and ignorance rule the state and its governmental apparatus…..low income jobs are the best you can do…….would I suggest living in the state?  Not if you want to make a good living…I live here because of a 92 yr old father and a daughter and granddaughter……and a lady friend that has an excellent job (one of us needs to work)….if not for the things mentioned…I would be outta here like shit through a goose!

I can say that the Coastal counties would be the place to go, if one HAD to move to the state…..but since the oil spill….not so much.  All in all a cultural wasteland.