Friday, October 21, 2011

Occupy Movement is about the rights of all Americans

It is the right to have an equal share of the American pie and enjoy the benefits of a lifestyle that is affordable because we earned it and continue to work for it.  When this right is threatened by big business and the wealthy, whose greed have so far denied a sharing of the wealth, people rise up in revolution.  And that is what the Occupy Movement is all about.  There is no need to dissect this struggle by the mainstream media for a central meaning.  

The Huff Post exclaims that a “confused” media is calling for the protesters to narrow everything down to “one specific demand.”  It’s the “rights” stupid.  That covers just about every faction of Occupy from an end to corporate greed to the needs of gays and lesbians.  But the HP goes on to appease the mainstream media with a listing of why the demonstrators are criticizing the system.  

Herbert Hoover
The GOP wants fewer restrictions on big corporations, yet wants to repeal Roe v. Wade that would restrict a woman’s reproductive rights.  We witnessed the insistence by a group of racial bigots for President Obama to produce his long-form birth certificate, but wouldn’t do the same of a Republican like Rick Perry.  We saw the banks get bailed out with our tax dollars, then reward their CEOs with multimillion dollar bonuses.  We observe where the police are more likely to arrest Occupy protesters than a Baptist Church group that pickets soldiers funerals.

And finally, we live in a nation where our government makes more opportunities available to big business than to the individual American. 

HP makes two points that demonstrate both the strength of the Occupy Movement and its substance.  First, the demonstrators make no demands of the institutions in control because they are rallying to diminish and modify the power held by those institutions.  Second, even though all the protests revolve around rights, there are still a number of complaints of everyday citizens that make up the whole.

Here's a video of Keith Olbermann expressing the distress of the occupy movement:
In another Huff Post article, they cite the fact that Occupy protesters are hitting the mark with millions in this country who are upset over such a “One-sided economic recovery.”  It sounds to me like they are echoing Howard Beale’s famous line from the 1976 movie Network: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.”  As Rev. Al Sharpton said of the movement earlier, it’s all about economic inequity.

It was Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who, trying to avert the disaster of another Republican, Herbert Hoover, used millions of borrowed dollars to bail out the banking system.  Hoover’s administration’s policies led to another financial calamity that had to be rescued by Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt.  But when Bernanke failed to attach any restrictions to those loans, the banks simply sat on the money and the economy continued to spiral down.   Yes, that’s what the Occupy Movement is angry about.


I urge you to read the above two Huff Post articles, as well as two of my previous posts here and here 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

More gun sense and nonsense

This is the first in a series of articles on topics in the news that point out the utterly senseless and irresponsible way that guns are viewed and handled in this country, along with those that show a balanced approach to gun control.  In January of 2011, The Daily Beast made the following statement: “You're five times more likely to die from a gun in Arizona than Hawaii.”  They went on to list the “20 Deadliest Gun States,” which ranked Mississippi number one, Arizona 2nd.  Number 50 was Hawaii.

On the plus side, California Gov. Jerry Brown just signed a ban on open handgun carrying in public in the most populous state.  The law “makes it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed and unloaded gun in public or in vehicles, with violators facing up to a year in prison or a potential fine of $1,000 when the law takes effect on Jan 1.”  The bills sponsor, state Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, said, "It's not if somebody is going be shot, it's when somebody is going to be shot.”  One delusional Arizona sheriff said the law would not reduce gun violence.

On the minus side in Arizona (as usual), U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, still infested with foot-in-mouth disease, said, “In Arizona sometimes to gain office you have to have shot someone. I'm joking, of course.”  This, after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was shot in a mass shooting that took six lives.  This is also the same numb-nuts that in 2010 said Blacks were better off under slavery.  Pathetic.

In another plus, Walmart decided to tighten their control over the selling of firearms.  The chain has ordered its stores to hold approval on firearms sales until a Brady Law criminal background check is complete, no matter how long it takes.  The big-box retailer’s strengthening of its management of gun purchases has pissed off the National Rifle Assoc. (NRA).  Wayne LaPierre, Exec. VP of the NRA has a way of dealing with these kinds of situations, and I wouldn’t doubt that Walmart could be seeing less NRA members in the future.  Just my opinion.    Kudos for Walmart.

But in returning to the minus category, we go to Tennessee where the state rep. that recently sponsored a bill that passed which would allow guns in bars was arrested in his car, with a gun, drunk.  This red neck hypocrite by the name of Curry Todd stood before the Tenn. Legislature and all but guaranteed “that permit holders and law-abiding citizens would not drink while carrying a gun.”  Todd was driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone where police reported he "was very unsteady on his feet, almost falling down at times."  Pathetic.

The last entry is a combination plus/minus and is perhaps the most serious of all.  A plus to NY Rep. Carolyn Maloney, for making us aware of a bill going through the house that is both dangerous and misguided: H.R.822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.   A minus for the fact the Act would authorize a person who has a permit to carry a concealed firearm in one state, like Arizona, to carry a concealed handgun in another state where the laws may be very different, like {the} state of New York.”  If this kind of reciprocity from Arizona makes its way through other forms of federal firearms laws, the whole country could end up with anyone walking around city streets with concealed weapons, without a permit or license of any kind, and with absolutely no training.

The following video by the Brady Gun control campaign is a must watch.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

One progressive’s take on the “Occupy” movement


Tea Party Protest

There is one thing that is clear to me after looking at videos and still shots from both the Occupy movement and the Tea Party.  There is no comparison between the participants, with Occupy standing head and shoulders above the pathetic TPers.  I was prompted to look into this after reading an article exclaiming Occupy Wall Street could be the left’s Tea Party.  I am sure the Occupy movement wants to distance itself as far as possible away from the Tea Party.

Now, when it comes to developing a cause that would oppose the Tea Party, that is where comparisons are meaningful.  There is talk of how the Occupy protests will affect the way democracy is consummated in the future, not just in the U.S., but all over the world.  Most of what the Tea Party stands for is cutting taxes, drastically limiting government, and getting rid of President Obama.  It is simply a new conservative twist, although more radical, of the George W. Bush policies that didn’t work and put us in the current economic situation.

Robert Borosage, Co-founder of Campaign for America's Future, said, “I think this {Occupy} is a classic progressive, independent grassroots movement that will both build its own independent force, its own agenda and moral voice. And then you'll see that try to find expression and accrue champions of that in the electoral arena.”  The key to Occupy is getting out the vote in 2012, both the protesters and those apathetic progressives that have been sitting out elections.

Comments heard on the (Wall) street: Shane Stoops… Q. “How long will you stay here?”  A. “I’m definitely committed until we are either arrested or beaten to death.”  Sade Adona…Q. “What would be mission accomplished?”  A. “The acknowledgement is good enough for me…” 

Jon Reiner…Q. “What do you hope this movement becomes?” A. “My hope would be that, like all great social movements, that it gets so large in number and influence that it fundamentally changes the priorities of our elected officials so that they believe then that it’s their obligation to serve individuals and not corporations."



Violent Arnold, who heads Company Works, a multicultural leadership development firm in St. Paul, Minn. Says, “…the group likely has more leadership than meets the eyes.”  She adds that every group that comes together has some form of leadership, “But the current leadership of top-bottom is not working, and that’s why they’re protesting.”  Actually the leaders are there, you just won’t be able to identify them.

Dr. Alan Manevitz, New York clinical psychiatrist, says, “Psychologically speaking, these protests are mentally healthy -- whether they accomplish anything or not.”  They have already accomplished a great deal.  The Occupy movement has gotten the attention of President Obama, and he would do well to pay more attention and provide more support.  The GOP is furious over the fact that Occupy has gained more media attention in a month than the Tea Party has since its inception.  And the Democrats, well, they are just standing around and praying the whole thing will last through 2012.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

It’s the jobs…stupid

President Obama didn’t say that.  I did, with no remorse for the comment.  It was directed at Rpublicans in Congress who are keeping more people from going back to work and preventing those already jobless from getting the benefits necessary to find work by opposing the President’s Jobs legislation.  We are in this situation because GOP policies don’t work, having had 8 years under George W. Bush to force them down the throats of the American public.

The White House has provided some interesting material to bloggers and other media nationwide designed to get the President’s jobs bill before the American public so they can dare Republicans and some reluctant Democrats not to back it.  If I were jobless, or had a relative or even knew someone who was jobless—and I do—I would tell my congressional representative to pass this bill…or else.  And I will.



Yes.  Enough is enough!  It’s time to back the “no-sayers” into a corner and make them accountable for not supporting Obama in his drive to put folks back to work.  And here’s how he’ll do it:

·       Tax cuts for small business
·       Putting workers back to work while rebuilding America
·       Extension of unemployment insurance
·       Tax relief for the American family
·       Fully paid for by Long-Term Deficit Reduction Plan

Go to the White House page and see how The American Jobs Act affects your state.  You can also see what the Act means to schools and download fact sheets: Comprehensive, Short.  There is an overview on the major points of the bill including, Tax Cuts, Rebuilding America, Pathways to work, Tax Relief and Method of paying for the program.  If you are up to it, you can read the entire 199 pages of the Act at this site.

The President says his jobs act will create 1.9 million jobs which should be music to the ears of the jobless.  That crescendo you hear building from the working class should resonate with the obstructionists in the GOP as a warning that, come 2012, they are the people who will most likely go to the polls.  But this isn’t about an election or politics at all, this is about survival.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Is “Occupy Wall Street” making its point?

The Occupy Wall Street movement has moved out of New York and has reportedly spread to as many as 1,500 cities worldwide that have either already started demonstrations or are in the planning stages.  In the U.S. they have now reached Denver, Seattle, San Diego, Washington, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit and Phoenix, as well as others.  What is not encouraging is the fact that several people have been arrested in the process.  I also just watched a video from New York showing possible police brutality. 

When the company owning the property on which the protests are being held decided to “clean up the park,” they were flooded with threats from NY city officials who wanted them to wait.  In the process, announcements were made of the plan to remove the crowd.  This led to chaos.  Mayor Bloomberg is investigating the situation.  From pictures of the demonstrations I have seen so far, the group seems to be neat, which is an endorsement of their organization.



Some have compared the “Occupy” movement with the Tea Party, which I abhor.  One TP wacko commented that “Occupy is no Tea Party,” primarily referring to the size of crowds.  Of course there are less people at this stage.  With the TPers’ mentality, many at a double-digit level, all Glenn Beck has to say is follow me to Washington, and he is immediately connected to the hook in their noses.  The Occupy folks are able to think for themselves, naturally putting more thought into their participation.

But seasoned activists say there is a “difference between an emotional outcry and a movement.”  Andrew Young who worked with Martin Luther King commented that the difference is organization and articulation.  I can see why Young would see the departure from articulation due to the number of demands being made by the protesters with no apparent central theme like integration.  But you have to be at least somewhat organized to achieve coverage of at least some 1,500 cities in a movement barely over a month old.

Others adding their input were Rev. Al Sharpton who thinks the Occupy group does have a central theme and it is economic inequity.  The Rev. Jessie Jackson said, “…the protest was a growing success,” adding the, “…protest could become a powerful movement if it remains disciplined, focused and nonviolent — and turns some of their pain into voting power." 

Turning out the vote will be a key measure of the accomplishments of Occupy.  That applies to both the former young non-voters and the apathetic progressives.

U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina is the third-highest ranking Democrat in the House and he firmly believes the movement will produce political change.  He also disagrees there is no meaningful theme and likened the Occupy protests with the civil rights era where he commented, "They all knew something was wrong."  It’s hard to put into words your frustrations, Clyburn remarked, which seems to have been mirrored by the look on many faces seen in pictures of the Occupy demonstrations.  But most feel that time will galvanize this into the progressive revolt that is necessary to rid Washington of an incompetent Congress and clean up the corporate world.

Friday, October 14, 2011

American public wants President Obama’s tax on wealthy

It was the expected outcome and the Senate blocked Obama’s jobs bill with all Republicans voting against it primarily due to the 5 percent tax on the rich that was included.  But just a day after the vote, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll says Americans want our government to tax millionaires to get the job market moving.  What makes this so appalling is the fact that the GOP has put their stupid ideology of no taxes over the wishes of their constituents. 


When asked the simple question should Congress pass the legislation, 30 percent said yes, 22 percent no.  But when given the details of how the bill would help the jobless by cutting payroll taxes, funding new road construction, and extending unemployment benefits, 63 percent favor the bill, only 32 percent oppose it.  At the same time they were told it would financed by a tax on the wealthy.
 
Additionally, 64 percent think the rich cats and corporation should definitely pay their fair share.  On the other side of the issue, 31 percent think taxing the rich and corporations is bad, saying it will take away money that would be invested to grow the economy.  It is interesting that 20 percent of those polled were by cell phone, thus, probably a younger group.  Regardless of the mix, the public has made its statement, and many will remember come 2012.

The numbers these political hacks—including 2 Democrats that did not support the President’s Jobs Bill—will have to face are 6 million Americans whose unemployment benefits will run out in 2012, some as early as January.  Although the Millionaire Tax may be another step toward Social Democracy (like Social Security and Medicare), drastic measures are needed in the current economy, and it is time that the U.S. begin the level the playing field between the wealthy and the working class.



The unemployed have been out of work now an average of 40.5 weeks, a record as of this past September.  And there are economists that claim extending the jobless benefits would stimulate the economy since the money is usually spent right away.  In the first instance, those with benefits ending in January 2012 will be out of luck if the deadline to file isn’t extended.  This also applies to those currently receiving federal benefits.

Republicans say they will pick and choose parts of the bill to pass on their terms, but it is time for President Obama to stand firm and demand the 5 percent tax on the rich with the assurance the American people are behind him.  In my opinion, his rapid drop in some polls is due to the fact that he hasn’t dealt with the GOP in a forceful way, and it could have a major effect on his reelection in 2012.  Right now it isn’t about politics, it’s about putting people back to work.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The American public has basically dismissed the U.S. Congress according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll

Is the next step getting rid of this gang of incompetents?  Are we mad enough to vote them out and start all over again?  There may be a few worth keeping so it might be best to have a straw vote first to determine the good ones from the bad ones.  We could hold it in Iowa where they know about this sort of thing.  Or is the apathy of the American public so bad that only the few that raise their voices will actually come out to vote?

The WP/ABC poll found that only 14 percent of the public approves of the job Congress is doing.  How pathetic can it get?  What’s worse, sixty-two percent “strongly disapprove” while another 20 percent “somewhat” disapprove.  Only 3 percent of Americans “strongly approve” of the job Congress is doing.  The unrest is divided between parties: “Just 18 percent of Democrats, 13 percent of independents and 13 percent of Republicans approve of Congress.”

Following the recent congressional debt ceiling fiasco, Keith Olbermann did the following excellent commentary (You Tube) on Congress which is a must-see:



 One Mass. Democrat said, “As a normal, average American, it’s discouraging that these are the people leading the country.”  But he also thinks President Obama needs more time to achieve his goals.  Obama could also use some cooperation from a close-minded, disruptive GOP (my comment).  The President’s approval rating has also slipped to 42 percent from 47 percent.

That three percent that strongly approve of Congress are the ones that worry me.  Do they live in caves with no radio, TV or newspapers, or are they just ignorant?  Any thinking individual that has witnessed what is going on in Washington lately and doesn’t see a bungling bunch of blockheads running this country has their head in the sand.  We need a 100 percent agreement on this issue and maybe even the apathetic will listen.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Millionaire tax another step toward a Social Democracy?

President Barack Obama has been called a socialist—which he isn’t—but he can be commended for introducing the 5 percent Millionaire Tax to help the jobless.  Although many corporate sharks make the claim that it is starvation or greed that makes people work, others believe they do it for enjoyment if it is meaningful, and to live a comfortable lifestyle. 

Security and contentment.  Robin Hood reinvented.  Sharing of the wealth so that we eliminate poverty in the richest nation in the world.  Social Democracy.

The GOP continues to oppose any new taxes, especially those on the wealthy who are, of course, their biggest contributors.  Big business boosters like representatives Paul Ryan and John Boehner and Sen. Mitch McConnell have all dismissed Obama’s attempt to get the job market going again when polls show that even Republican voters support higher taxes on the wealthy.  Maybe these constituents haven’t made it clear enough to their representatives, but, even then, the no-tax ideology is so engrained in the GOP it may never go away.
 
The President wants to spend $447billion adding new jobs to the economy, while extending and expanding a payroll tax cut.  There is infrastructure spending that is sure to create jobs, and the money will also provide aid to states suffering economically.  The Senate surcharge would affect all income of $1 million, and it applies to both capital gains and salaries. 

Sen. Harry Reid says the tax will generate $450 billion.  Sen. Charles Schumer said, "Republicans will be hard-pressed to explain why they'd allow teachers and firefighters to be laid off rather than have millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share."  Democrats in general dared Republicans to block the plan.  With the tax threshold at $1 million, it would probably prevent levying a tax increase on small businesses.



This same concept would apply to corporations in a Social Democracy by bringing them under greater democratic control by using regulations and tax incentives to encourage companies to act in the public interest.  This would include discouraging them to export jobs out of the country and polluting the environment.  Corporations must be held accountable, and unions can be a major factor in this effort.

Social Democracy isn’t a dirty word and it is not un-American.  We made it where we are through the struggles of the working class that established a minimum wage, unemployment benefits, all the way to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.  While there are no pure models of Social Democracy, countries like Sweden, Canada, France and the United Kingdom have adopted programs that are clearly of that philosophy.

But the task at hand is to pass President Obama’s 5 percent Millionaires Tax to get jobs moving in the U.S.  I would hate to be a Republican voting against this bill, and then returning to his or her district to face a constituency out of work, knowing full well their representative has put the personal interests of the rich ahead of them finding a job.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Bizarre Arizona politics: State Sen. Russell Pearce afraid Olivia Cortes will rock the boat - Cortes forced to opt out of recall race

I know that many of you throughout the U.S. are hooked on Arizona politics.  After all, what better way to get a good laugh?  Today is no different. If you are following the recall election of the infamous State Sen. Russell Pearce, the first in Arizona’s history, you know there was a sham candidate by the name of Olivia Cortes.  I say “was” because she pulled out of the race Oct. 6, many say at the behest of Pearce and his gang of thugs.

If you haven’t been watching, Cortes was recruited by Greg Western of the Phoenix East Valley Tea Party to siphon off votes from Pearce’s only other opponent, Jerry Lewis.  Western, the EVTP chairman, has repeatedly said, as has Cortes, that he doesn’t know who is putting up the money for her candidacy.  Cortes had no organization and would not speak to the media.  This was all challenged in court recently by Phoenix attorney Tom Ryan who wanted her off the ballot.

But the ruling by Judge Edward Burke found Cortes did no wrong, thus, no reason to throw her off the ballot.  But when it came to the testimony of Greg Western, who just before backing Cortes professed to be an ardent supporter of Russell Pearce for years, Burke lowered the boom.  He said:

"His {Greg Western} testimony that he has no idea who designed, posted and paid for campaign signs supporting Cortes or who paid the professional circulators is too improbable to be believed.  The court finds that Pearce supporters recruited Cortes, a political neophyte, to run in the recall election to siphon Hispanic votes from Lewis to advance Pearce's recall-election bid."

An Arizona Republic newspaper opinion commented: “There can scarcely be a voter anywhere in the {Maricopa} county, much less {Pearce’s} District 18, who doesn't know that Cortes has been propped up by supporters of recalled Senate President Russell Pearce to draw votes away from his principal competitor, Jerry Lewis.”  Stephen Lemons, who writes the Feathered Bastard blog for the Phoenix New Times quoted Ryan as saying, "The Pearce forces did not want this hearing to go forward tomorrow…”



Lemons continues that Ryan’s co-counsel Micheal Wright said it was all part of a deal he and Ryan had offered Cortes' lawyer Anthony Tsontakis before the first hearing where she was forced to testify: i.e., Cortes pulls out and the lawsuit is dropped.  "This morning, they asked if the offer was still open," added Wright.  Of course there is still the question of whether laws were broken in Cortes’ candidacy and Pearce, his supporters and family will have to answer to this soon.

Laurie Roberts, an Arizona Republic columnist, had some interesting observations on the “Si se puede!” slogan that apparently originated with the mysterious crew that put up the Cortes candidacy signs.  The term is Spanish for “Yes it is possible or Yes it can be done.”  Apparently not in the case of Cortes.  For one thing, Roberts says Cortes didn’t even know what the word “incumbent” meant until last week.  Further, the columnist thinks Judge Burke basically called Greg Western a liar.  Her opinion is that after this fiasco, Jerry Lewis will probably get all the Hispanic vote.

The recall election date is November 8, and it is hard to imagine anything else as bizarre as the events that have already happened that could occur in the next four weeks.  But, then, this election is being held in Arizona and we all know that anything can happen—and usually does—there.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Is “Occupy Wall Street” the real revolution for the real people?


The “Occupy” movement has been called the progressives’ answer to the Tea Party.  There is no comparison between the two factions, obviously in philosophy, but also in substance and intellect.  From some of the TP videos I have witnessed, those poor clods are definitely dealing with double-digit IQs. 

Look at the Wall Street folks and then look at the gun totin’, dimwitted, racist bigots that have been captured on You Tube of the Tea Party demonstrations.  Although not universally representative, this bloc has not been officially rebuked by the organization.  The young, and older, people at Liberty Plaza in New York would make TPers look like boneheads. 

So now that we have this dissimilarity established, what do these people want?  They aren’t quite sure yet but then, the movement is only around a month old.  The one thing they are sure of is they want the power of Wall Street and the financial community diluted.  Some signs screamed "Less is More" and "Capitalism is evil."  Sounds like candidates for a Social Democracy.

But there is a clear-drawn comparison here, and it is with Independent voters.  Not in philosophy but rather in the momentum of the movement.  Independents don’t lay down a partisan creed, but rather stand for a multitude of ideologies.  Today they represent 40 percent of the voting population and they are growing on a daily basis with crossovers from Republicans and Democrats. 

“The group's lack of specificity serves a purpose because it invites outrage over a full spectrum of societal grievances,” says Bill Dobbs, another activist from the 2004 Republican National Convention demonstrations.  But “Occupy’s” thrust is without question directed at the greed of Wall Street and corporations and their accountability.  And they are willing to put their freedom on the line: 700 people were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Some did voice their specific concerns.  One said it was “corporate influence in politics;” another wants the money to be spent on “meeting people’s needs.”  Similar demonstrations have already been planned or carried out in Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston.  During the day Sunday, I heard one news report that shows the “Occupy” concept has gone worldwide.  It will be very hard to contain this movement if the White House and Congress don’t act quickly.


Friday, October 7, 2011

Model airplanes in the hands of terrorists?


Most guys remember building model airplanes, especially if you are in the Senior set.  Maybe even some gals.  It was fun seeing the model come to life as you added the pieces of balsa wood with pins to hold them in place.  You probably had a Xacto knife for the precision work of cutting the pieces.  And when the body was ready, it was time to apply the paper fuselage and administer a liquid covering that would both protect and make the paper taut. 

You were finished, and then many of us hung the plane somewhere in our room so that we could marvel over our accomplishment.  Others put together a rubber band mechanism during construction of the body that, when wound tightly, would keep the model airborne for a short period of time.  Never once did I think that in the later development of this concept, some deranged individual would come up with the idea to place explosives inside to make it a terrorist weapon.

Of course, in those days there was no terrorism, at least as we know it today.  We had wars but they were fought on the ground, in the air and at sea, away from America.  Terrorism has brought the war to the United States, and it is something we are finding hard to come to grips with.  In 2008, Time Magazine reported that George W. Bush had spent $1 trillion fighting terrorism.  I am sure President Obama is currently spending at least at a similar rate.

And then recently some unhinged guy from Boston was arrested and accused of plotting to bomb the U.S. Capitol and Pentagon with a remote-controlled model airplane loaded with explosives.  Just the latest Jihad against America, a mujahid bent on destruction.  These are not the same balsa wood models we’re used to building, according to the FBI.  These are “military-jet replicas, 5 feet to 7 1/2 feet long, guided by GPS devices and capable of speeds over 100 mph.”

The feds have known about this for a while and are keeping their eyes open, obviously.  And some counter-terrorism experts and model airplane hobbyists say it would be near-impossible for Rezwan Ferdaus, the culprit, to do serious damage.  Others say that serious damage is possible but that it would be difficult to achieve.  However, the flying of these models into federal buildings isn’t the only problem here.  The larger challenge is keeping up with the new methods used to wreak havoc by the terrorists.

 The two planes planned for use by Ferdaus were the F-4 Phantom and the F-86 Sabre ranging in price from $6,000 to $20,000.  This proves these people are backed financially, and the meticulous pre-planning using GPS for targeting shows the degree of their organization.  He had planned to stuff 24 pounds of C-4 explosive in the planes and was arrested when trying to buy it.  Explosives expert James Crippin says that much fire-power could do serious damage, but others commented it would have to be a direct hit, like through a window.



The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee says recent advances in model airplane technology could make this even more attractive to the terrorists.  Manufacturers will innocently continue to develop and upgrade their products, playing right into the hands of the radicals.  Just like the gun industry feeds the never-ending avidity for more dangerous weapons.  The only answer to this complex problem is more regulation.

It has been established that terrorists will take advantage of any new technological advances to kill Americans.  They have come up with so many new methods recently that the frightening thing at this point is when they decide to step back and look at their arsenal and determine just how to combine all these channels for maximum effect.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Will the NRA condone blasting human remains out of one of “their” guns?


Yeah, it’s true.  Two yokels from Alabama have come up with a way to stuff the human remains of your loved ones into the gun shells of everything from a handgun to a shotgun.  They say it is the “perfect way for avid hunters to honor their loved ones for eternity.”  These guys are Alabama game wardens, Thad Holmes and Clem Parnell, and Holmes said, "We know how strange it sounds to people who aren't comfortable around guns, but for those who are, it's not weird at all." 

Guns or no guns, this is weird.  It seems to me like you are adding violence to an already solemn situation.  The two men liken it to people who take loved ones’ ashes and spread them from planes or in areas favored by the deceased.  I’m afraid I do not agree with this comparison.  But, then, I am also an advocate of controlling guns and certainly at least partially biased in the matter.

The company started in July and just shipped its first two orders.  If you want to blow your beloved away in a hollow point, it will cost you $850.  There don’t appear to be many restrictions but you can’t use some National parks without a permit.  You can also read the rules of etiquette at this site.  If there are any loved-one-leftovers after loading the shells, the company, Holy Smoke, will return it with your order.  Then you can go on your merry way firing family all over town.

And speaking of stupid gun ideas, watch the following Rick Perry comment:


My intention here is not to dishonor the dead, rather, to point out the fact that the macabre love of guns has taken a new and hilarious turn that does seem to fit the personalities of some zealous gun nuts.  My question is how Wayne LaPierre, Exec. V.P. of the National Rifle Assn., will react to this move.  The NRA has had its share of ridicule and this seems to be just another of those good-ole-boy zany ideas.

Thad and Clem say they have interest from law enforcement, fire departments, the military, even those interested in memorializing their pets in this manner.  Far be it from me to put down a couple of ambitious entrepreneurs, especially when the economy is faltering the way it is.  Particularly when Alabama comes in 45th in the nation for average income.  Also, you might be interested that Daily Beast ranks the state 10th in the “most armed” classification.

It begins to look like there is no stopping the appalling love for guns, and the owners and their constant crutch, the NRA, from having them in all settings of our every day lives.  But it is also hard to understand how, with the daily reports of gun violence across the country, these self-centered, unconscious fakers can continue to spout…there aren’t too many guns out there.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Morgan Freeman attack of racism on Tea Party does raise some skeletons

Morgan Freeman was interviewed on the Piers Morgan TV Talk Show calling the Tea Party movement “a racist thing.”  He added, “Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term.  What underlines that?  Screw the country. We're going to {do} whatever we can to get this black man outta here.”  In the Huff Post he commented on how this group has illustrated there is still hate remaining in America.

To be fair, the racism aspect should only be attributed to a low-life faction of the Tea Party.  God knows, the group is already a bunch of certifiable wackos without adding the racial mix.  But it was apparently bad enough that the NAACP voted to repudiate the racist element of theparty in July of 2010.  They said, “We take no issue with the Tea Party movement. We believe in freedom of assembly and people raising their voices in a democracy. What we take issue with is the Tea Party’s continued tolerance for bigotry and bigoted statements…”

I did some research on signs carried by Tea Party racists in their demonstrations and it clearly fits the charge made by Morgan Freeman.  Slogans like, “Cap Congress and trade Obama back to Kenya,” “The zoo has an African and the White House has a lyin African,” and a picture of three monkeys, papa and mama with Obama’s face superimposed over the baby monkey.  I thought I had left this behind when I exited the South over four decades ago.

Ron Schiller, former executive with Nat’l Public Radio joined the melee against the Tea Party.  He was caught on ahidden camera by James O’Keefe, who brought down ACORN, saying the TPers were “scary” and “seriously racist.”  Schiller also called the GOP anti-intellectual saying, “…that America did not have enough "educated, so-called elite" citizens…”  Schiller added about tea partyers, "I mean, basically they ... believe in sort of white, middle-America, gun-toting. I mean, it's scary. They're seriously racist, racist people."



No Tea Party article would be complete without a mention of Arizona State Sen. Russell Pearce who is up for recall next month.  It seems that accused scam candidate Olivia Cortes, who was recruited and backed by Arizona TPers to run against Pearce just to dilute the vote against the other candidate, Jerry Lewis, and who was completely discredited under oath in court recently, is in trouble. 

According to a column by LaurieRoberts in the Arizona Republic, Cortes “doesn't know who's behind the "Sí, se puede!" campaign signs - the new slogan, apparently, of conservative Republicans everywhere.”  “She doesn't know who paid for the petition circulators who obtained most of the nominating signatures needed to get her onto the ballot.”  “She doesn't know who designed her website, the one that went up the day the lawsuit challenging her candidacy was filed.”  “She'd never seen one of her two news releases - the "racism is alive" piece, written by a tea-party activist and quoting Cortes as saying Latinos should be outraged at those who question the legitimacy of her campaign.”

There’s more you can read on the Roberts site, above.

The racism comment is completely laughable considering the source, but the whole Cortes affair just shows how far the Tea Party will go to fulfill their mission of bringing down the United States.  Pearce is, of course, an avid tea partyer, and dirty politics are something he thrives on.  Hopefully, Arizona will be getting rid of him in November.  Too bad we can’t do the same with the Tea Party.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Is there a conspiracy in the running and control of the state governments?

This is the first in a series of articles on two ultra-secret organizations that have been accused repeatedly of dictating the laws that govern the United States, the Illuminati and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Are there one or more secret organizations that exert control over business executives, politicians, state legislatures and governors, even the President, wielding enough power and domination by corporations, to literally run the United States?  A very credible organization, The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) says yes. 

For the last several months they have been reporting on an organization by the name of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and their findings are bone-chilling.  An ALEC whistleblower recently released records that included copies of 800 model bills approved by corporations you can see here.  You will be shocked at the amount of proposed anti-consumer legislation including things like eroding the rights of workers by limiting their union privileges.  Favoring banks and predatory lenders over what is good for the consumer.

There’s more.  Bills from ALEC corporations and their legislative partners that would privatize Medicare, deregulate health insurers, protect negligent doctors, and cut holes in the safety net.  Bills that would decrease the power of the American voter in favor of giving corporations even more power to use their vast financial resources to influence elections in our democracy. 

Bills that would have taxpayers subsidizing the profits of the private prison industry by putting more people in for-profit prisons and keeping them in jail for longer. The bills also would put more guns on streets and interfere with local law enforcement decisions about how best to interact with immigrant communities.  Bills that would privatize public education, crush teacher's unions, and push American universities to the right.

There’s much more and you can see it at ALECExposed.org.



Don’t make the mistake of thinking ALEC is a lobby or even a front group.  It is much more controlling and devious than either.  According to CMD, “Through ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line.”  To hell with the consumer.  ALEC has its own governing board but “says that corporations do not vote on the board.”  However, corporations do fund almost all of ALEC's operations. 

Legislators, a majority of which are conservative Republicans, birddog these proposals and introduce them to their state legislatures at home as their own dazzling ideas.  No mention is made that ALEC conceived and drafted these laws that are 100 percent pro-business.  The CMD says that there are some 1,000 of these bills introduced every year with one in five enacted into law.  This means that at least 200 laws are passed annually in this country that originate strictly from the viewpoint of big business.

Although ALEC describes itself as non-partisan, according to CMD, “The facts show that it currently has one Democrat out of 104 legislators in leadership positions. ALEC members, speakers, alumni, and award winners are a “who’s who” of the extreme right.”  The organization claims 2,000 legislative members and 300 or more corporate members.  Is it legal?  CMD says “ALEC’s operating model raises many ethical and legal concerns. Each state has a different set of ethics laws or rules.”

NEXT TIME: More about ALEC and CMD’s drive to dump the organization.

FUTURE POSTS: Is there a connection between ALEC and the Illuminati?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Frightening numbers from the U.S. Census on poverty

In 2010 the nation’s poverty rate was 15.1 percent or 46.2 million people doing without food, living on the streets or suffering a multitude of other challenges to their dignity.  That’s a 14.3 percent increase over 2009 and you can bet that this increase includes many of those who are out of work due to the recent economic crisis.  These are current figures from the Census Bureau

There are some that have been in poverty for years; a disgrace.  Others are simply homeless and happy on the street; also a disgrace that we allow it to happen.  Child poverty rose from 20.7 percent to 22 percent; clearly the worse disgrace of all.  For those age 65+ the numbers were basically unchanged at 9 percent, but also surging in 2009 during the economic downturn.

Median income was even down 2.3 percent to $49,445, and there are 49.9 million Americans without health insurance.  Health reform was passed by a mixed Congress in 2010 but the major aspects of the legislation don’t take effect until 2014.  One benefit was available last year and that allows young adults 26 and younger to obtain coverage from their parent’s health insurance.

There was some sunshine in media coverage from a local columnist, E.J. Montini, who writes for the Arizona Republic in Phoenix.  Montini met a panhandler called Mr. Lucky on the street who asked him for change and the reporter gave up 57 cents, including two pennies.

Mr. Lucky treasured the pennies because he would place them where others could find them and experience the old saying: “Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck.”  That’s why he was called Mr. Lucky.  This man’s generosity flies in the face of Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and the state Legislature refusing to extend federal unemployment benefits to the unemployed.  On top of that, the Arizona Court of Appeals had to overturn a Phoenix ordnance prohibiting panhandling.

Crunching numbers in ethnic groups, Hispanics in poverty increased from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent.  Blacks, from 25.8 to 27.4.  Whites from 9.4 to 9.9.  Asians were flat at 12.1 percent.  Mississippi had the highest rate of poor followed by Louisiana, D.C., Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona.  A public policy professor at the University of Chicago says the worst may be yet to come due to the increased demand for food stamps this year and the significant numbers of those unemployed more than 26 weeks.

If the American economy continues to spiral down, and unemployment remains high, those affected will eventually come to the conclusion that their future might well be better off in a Social Democracy.

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