New York on security alert amid warning of 9/11 terror threat. I don't care anymore. Every freakin' year as we approach September 11th a news story announces some terror plot meant to disrupt observation of the anniversary of what US citizens simply call 9/11. Every year the threat level gets raised yet again. And every year it amounts to nothing.
I think most of us recall the story of the boy who cried wolf. I just don't care anymore.
For the record, I still don't buy the official line as to what really happened that day. I don't claim to know what did happen, but what we've been sold isn't it.
This is the modern day JFK event. Most of the world seems 99.9% certain that the CIA orchestrated that one (while details vary). Most US citizens still like to live in denial about it. The level of disinformation surrounding September 11th leaves a familiar flavor.
But as for these annual terror alerts, I just don't care.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Two Views of the Same Event
Read both of these stories about the same event. Yes, read both of them.
Longshoremen expected to return to work in wake of federal court order
Long History Of Longshore Labor Unrest On West Coast
I realize that both stories have a certain amount of bias, but the FOX version would make a good substitute for ipecac.
Longshoremen expected to return to work in wake of federal court order
Long History Of Longshore Labor Unrest On West Coast
I realize that both stories have a certain amount of bias, but the FOX version would make a good substitute for ipecac.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
America; Love It or Color It
Hey kids! Let's all take out our propagandist coloring book and learn what Right Wing Extremists think we should all believe about 9/11!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
In Solidarity with Verizon Workers
Verizon Strike Highlights Union Effect on Middle Class Jobs. As someone working in a non-union shop, I appreciate all the struggles of the union workers. Their strength and success makes conditions at my place of work better. Fight on!
Friday, August 19, 2011
For the Anarchists
Seventy-five years ago the Spanish anarchists were in a fight with Spanish fascists... and winning! May workers one day rediscover their inherent strength.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Rich Guy Says, "Why isn't the government taxing the fuck out of me?"
That isn't exactly what Warren Buffet says, but it summerizes his sentiment as expressed in the New York Times.
Stop Coddling the Super-Rich - NYTimes.comWow! This country must be facing some serious shit if a billionaire is telling people that the rich must be taxed if we are to make it through.
"I have worked with investors for 60 years and I have yet to see anyone — not even when capital gains rates were 39.9 percent in 1976-77 — shy away from a sensible investment because of the tax rate on the potential gain. People invest to make money, and potential taxes have never scared them off. And to those who argue that higher rates hurt job creation, I would note that a net of nearly 40 million jobs were added between 1980 and 2000. You know what’s happened since then: lower tax rates and far lower job creation."
Friday, August 12, 2011
South Africa becomes newest nation to make USA look like backwards hicks.
While citing the deep inequality between rich and poor, South Africa makes the United States look ill.
BBC News - South Africa unveils universal health care scheme
BBC News - South Africa unveils universal health care scheme
'The private sector is held up as an example of good service and quality of care - and this is mostly justified. What is not justified is the price tag that comes with certain forms of private health care provision,' he said.In other news, with the United States' credit rating getting a downgrade, for the first time in history all nations with a AAA credit rating have socialized medicine.
'This is not only a burden to people using private health services, but a disservice to our country as a whole because it distorts pricing across the board.'
Sunday, August 07, 2011
When Religion Controls the State
Some people are easily convinced that the United States is controlled by the Zionists and will do whatever Israel tells them to do. They are also easily convinced that Obama is a Muslim who does whatever the Arab world tells him to do. They don't trust the Pope much either. Many of these same people, without even a hint of irony, would support the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Divide and Suffer
What we have is 90% of the people versus 90% of the money, and the money is winning hands down.
It wins because it pits the people against each other. It makes imaginary divisions between the ethnicities and pits those perceived as Mexicans or Asians or other immigrant groups against those who consider themselves 'Real Americans™' because they immigrated before everyone else was doing it.
It splits the people into ideological opponents based on two political parties that historically aren't that different from each other when it comes to capitulating to the wants and desires of those who have the money. It splits them into some weird left and right scenario hoping nobody will ever think to look up.
It divides the poor from the impoverished calling one group the middle class and the other a bunch of welfare loafers. It constantly draws attention to the small amounts being siphoned off to help those who are part of the 90% of the people while hiding the ever growing wealth in the 90% of the money.
It wins by selling people the idea of some day being a part of that super fantastic rich lot. Strike it rich at the casino, winning lotto ticket, smart investing, or maybe just in the right place at the right time. Then they will be the ones with the wealth and the power and they sure as hell wouldn't want anyone taking that prize away from them.
As they say, ain't no war but the class war. If you made less than a million last year, you know which side you're on.
90% of the people can totally take down the 90% with the money.
It wins because it pits the people against each other. It makes imaginary divisions between the ethnicities and pits those perceived as Mexicans or Asians or other immigrant groups against those who consider themselves 'Real Americans™' because they immigrated before everyone else was doing it.
It splits the people into ideological opponents based on two political parties that historically aren't that different from each other when it comes to capitulating to the wants and desires of those who have the money. It splits them into some weird left and right scenario hoping nobody will ever think to look up.
It divides the poor from the impoverished calling one group the middle class and the other a bunch of welfare loafers. It constantly draws attention to the small amounts being siphoned off to help those who are part of the 90% of the people while hiding the ever growing wealth in the 90% of the money.
It wins by selling people the idea of some day being a part of that super fantastic rich lot. Strike it rich at the casino, winning lotto ticket, smart investing, or maybe just in the right place at the right time. Then they will be the ones with the wealth and the power and they sure as hell wouldn't want anyone taking that prize away from them.
As they say, ain't no war but the class war. If you made less than a million last year, you know which side you're on.
90% of the people can totally take down the 90% with the money.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Commie Pinko Teabaggers
They said taxes were too high. They said they wanted a flat tax with no loop holes. They said they wanted less government control of their money. They said they were fiscal conservatives.
So I lay out the voluntary tax model for them. I explain how the government offers their constituents a bill of goods and services while people can pick and choose what they will and will not support. Then they send in as much as they are willing to give to the things they deem important.
They hated the idea. They called it the dumbest idea they had ever heard. Somehow I had managed to out-conservative the conservatives exposing them as Communists. Yes, they wanted government services (mostly military, medicare, and social security) but they wanted everybody to pay for it.
Communists!
Of course what they really wanted was for somebody else to pay for everything they wanted from the government. They were dead certain that the rich and the poor (people other than them) weren't paying their fair share. Yet they maintained that you can't tax businesses because doing so forces jobs out of the country. We had to capitulate to the demands of business for our own good.
Fascist Commies!
Guess I won't be getting their vote in 2012. Fine. I wouldn't want a bunch of fascist commies voting for me, anyway.
So I lay out the voluntary tax model for them. I explain how the government offers their constituents a bill of goods and services while people can pick and choose what they will and will not support. Then they send in as much as they are willing to give to the things they deem important.
They hated the idea. They called it the dumbest idea they had ever heard. Somehow I had managed to out-conservative the conservatives exposing them as Communists. Yes, they wanted government services (mostly military, medicare, and social security) but they wanted everybody to pay for it.
Communists!
Of course what they really wanted was for somebody else to pay for everything they wanted from the government. They were dead certain that the rich and the poor (people other than them) weren't paying their fair share. Yet they maintained that you can't tax businesses because doing so forces jobs out of the country. We had to capitulate to the demands of business for our own good.
Fascist Commies!
Guess I won't be getting their vote in 2012. Fine. I wouldn't want a bunch of fascist commies voting for me, anyway.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Trickle Down!
Trickle Down Economics
definition: The feeling that you are constantly getting pissed on.
definition: The feeling that you are constantly getting pissed on.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
1 > 85+
Today's top story:
Violent death of at least 85 people at the hands of a conservative Christian in the largest terrorist attack in Norway since WWII is completely overshadowed by 1 drunk celebrity snuffing it.
Violent death of at least 85 people at the hands of a conservative Christian in the largest terrorist attack in Norway since WWII is completely overshadowed by 1 drunk celebrity snuffing it.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Income Disparity
Today a person explained to me how the wealth disparity in the United States is the greatest in recorded history. Even worse than at the height of the Roman Empire or just before the French Revolution when people rose up and put the heads of the wealthy on pikes.
Ponder, if you will, a radically simple solution. Let's do away with minimum wage laws and replace them with maximum wage laws. Nobody can make more than 10x what the lowest paid individual makes.
Simple, isn't it? Current National minimum wage is at $7.25/hour. Instead let's say that nobody can earn more than $72.50/hour. Assuming a 40 hour work week, that means a CEO couldn't earn more than an estimated $150k ($150,000) per year. Horrifying! At least it would be horrifying to the average CEO that currently makes $11.4M ($11,400,000) a year. But if our current minimum wage assumes that a full time worker can actually live on $15,000 a year, I feel certain the CEOs could figure out a way to survive. After all, they are so smart that they deserve to get paid huge sums.
But some people just love to make loads and loads of money. We can't just take that away from them. No problem! Two simple solutions. (I do love simple solutions.)
First, they can work tirelessly to raise the bottom income. If the lowliest worker saw a moderate increase to just $10/hour, a CEO could then earn over $200,000 a year! Raise it to $20/hour and the top dogs could bring home $400,000. And you can bet the minimum would go up fast if it directly affected the maximum.
The second option for people who just can't make enough money is to let them earn as much as they want. That's right, you can't actually cap their genius money making capabilities. They were born to horde cash! So every dollar earned over the 'maximum' gets taxed at a 75% rate. They still get to make more than everyone else and it helps to fund the government services we have all come to expect. Is that so much to ask? I bet everyone making less than $150,000 a year (roughly 95% of Americans) would find this acceptable.
Or we could just put rich people's heads on pikes.
Ponder, if you will, a radically simple solution. Let's do away with minimum wage laws and replace them with maximum wage laws. Nobody can make more than 10x what the lowest paid individual makes.
Simple, isn't it? Current National minimum wage is at $7.25/hour. Instead let's say that nobody can earn more than $72.50/hour. Assuming a 40 hour work week, that means a CEO couldn't earn more than an estimated $150k ($150,000) per year. Horrifying! At least it would be horrifying to the average CEO that currently makes $11.4M ($11,400,000) a year. But if our current minimum wage assumes that a full time worker can actually live on $15,000 a year, I feel certain the CEOs could figure out a way to survive. After all, they are so smart that they deserve to get paid huge sums.
But some people just love to make loads and loads of money. We can't just take that away from them. No problem! Two simple solutions. (I do love simple solutions.)
First, they can work tirelessly to raise the bottom income. If the lowliest worker saw a moderate increase to just $10/hour, a CEO could then earn over $200,000 a year! Raise it to $20/hour and the top dogs could bring home $400,000. And you can bet the minimum would go up fast if it directly affected the maximum.
The second option for people who just can't make enough money is to let them earn as much as they want. That's right, you can't actually cap their genius money making capabilities. They were born to horde cash! So every dollar earned over the 'maximum' gets taxed at a 75% rate. They still get to make more than everyone else and it helps to fund the government services we have all come to expect. Is that so much to ask? I bet everyone making less than $150,000 a year (roughly 95% of Americans) would find this acceptable.
Or we could just put rich people's heads on pikes.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Cops & Robbers
Cops vs. Criminals? Try Cops vs. Citizens.
Cops don't bust criminals. They can't bust criminals. Not if we wish to maintain the notion that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Contrary to popular opinion (even I am prone to forgetting this), 'innocent until proven guilty' is not a right. Placing the burden of proof on the accuser rather than the accused is, however, a standard practice in our legal system. A damn good one at that!
Cops bust people. A court of law that could very well involve a Constitutionally guaranteed jury of one's peers determines if a crime was committed. Until that time, we should presume the person(s) innocent.
The next time you look through mug shots, observe an arrest, or even hear of one in the news try to think of 'the perp' as just another citizen or at the very least 'the accused'.
Or perhaps you like the idea of cops viewing everyone as potential criminals. Who am I to judge, jury or execute?
Cops don't bust criminals. They can't bust criminals. Not if we wish to maintain the notion that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Contrary to popular opinion (even I am prone to forgetting this), 'innocent until proven guilty' is not a right. Placing the burden of proof on the accuser rather than the accused is, however, a standard practice in our legal system. A damn good one at that!
Cops bust people. A court of law that could very well involve a Constitutionally guaranteed jury of one's peers determines if a crime was committed. Until that time, we should presume the person(s) innocent.
The next time you look through mug shots, observe an arrest, or even hear of one in the news try to think of 'the perp' as just another citizen or at the very least 'the accused'.
Or perhaps you like the idea of cops viewing everyone as potential criminals. Who am I to judge, jury or execute?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Gay Marriage in Old New York
BBC News - New York state approves gay marriage
As long as we have states that recognize same sex marriage the federal government needs to as well. I hear the disparity between state and federal tax codes makes it a real bitch to file.
We could make this whole thing super easy by outlawing ALL marriage. Then only outlaws would have in-laws.
New York has become the sixth and most populous US state to allow same-sex marriage.I think we are reaching a point where this movement is snowballing. Coincidentally I also approve of snowballing. Whatever floats your boat.
As long as we have states that recognize same sex marriage the federal government needs to as well. I hear the disparity between state and federal tax codes makes it a real bitch to file.
We could make this whole thing super easy by outlawing ALL marriage. Then only outlaws would have in-laws.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
War on (Some) Drugs
BBC News - Central America drugs war: Clinton pledges more funds
Too simple?
Mrs Clinton said funding for the fight against transnational organised crime in the region would be increased from $260m in 2010 to almost $300m this year.Or we could legalize all drugs, tax them, generate millions in revenue, and no longer give a rat's ass about foreign drug cartels.
Too simple?
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Jesse Ventura on Good Morning America
As much as I like Jesse, I don't think I could support him as part of a Ron Paul ticket. I'd be willing to entertain him as a Presidential candidate, though. Especially if I was on the ticket as VP.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Americans
Next time someone tells you that they are Proud to be an American, share this.
Friday, March 11, 2011
What Do You Mean 'Tunnel Vision'?
Let me start with a disclaimer*: In no way do I mean for this to support one party over another. I offer this as an illustration of how we trap ourselves in the reality tunnels we wish to perceive.
Study this chart. What do you see? Do you draw any conclusions based on this data?
I shared this chart with working class individuals of various political persuasions to get their reactions. As expected, those who tend to favor Democrats see this as 'proof' that Republicans lie about the 'tax and spend' agenda of their favorite party.
Those who favor the Republican party did not respond as I expected. I expected them to dismiss the data, call it misleading, claim that Republican administrations inherited terrible budgets and got it all straightened out just in time for Democrats to come along, take all the credit, and then ruin it all over again. Instead I repeatedly got reactions so coherently summed up by one individual when he said...
*A posting that starts off with a disclaimer probably has a hidden agenda, offensive material, or both.
Study this chart. What do you see? Do you draw any conclusions based on this data?
I shared this chart with working class individuals of various political persuasions to get their reactions. As expected, those who tend to favor Democrats see this as 'proof' that Republicans lie about the 'tax and spend' agenda of their favorite party.
Those who favor the Republican party did not respond as I expected. I expected them to dismiss the data, call it misleading, claim that Republican administrations inherited terrible budgets and got it all straightened out just in time for Democrats to come along, take all the credit, and then ruin it all over again. Instead I repeatedly got reactions so coherently summed up by one individual when he said...
Whoa! Obama sure didn't waste any time ruining our economy.Turns out I have no comprehension of how the conservative mind works. Any ideas for research that can help me better understand this phenomenon?
*A posting that starts off with a disclaimer probably has a hidden agenda, offensive material, or both.
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