Hey Barry:
It is good that you are concerned about American jobs, because Lord knows we need some more.
But I am concerned that you are taking some wrong turns to get more jobs.
SAN FRANCISCO MARCH AGAINST THE KOREAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Wrong turn number one is a new Free Trade agreement with South Korea. The well documented history of FTA's is that they reduce total American jobs - they do not increase them. While there may be some few jobs generated as a result, on balance they reduce total US employment.
There will be a march in San Francisco next Saturday January 29, 2011. The march will go from Nancy Pelosi's house to the Korean consulate. People from a wide spectrum of political opinion will march to protest the FTA with Korea. Organizers are expecting academics, students, business leaders, union representatives and perhaps even Tea Baggers to participate.
To join the march supporting American jobs, please RSVP to Ian Fletcher at ian.fletcher@usbic.net for location and other details.
JOB KILLER IMMELT HEADS PANEL TO CREATE AMERICAN JOBS
Wrong turn number two is the appointment of GE's CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a panel about creating American jobs. "General Electric (NYSE: GE) is hostile to the union movement and is committed to outsourcing American jobs to foreign (cheaper) workers", according to an article in the International Business Times [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/103735/20110121/immelt-jobs-unions-outsourcing.htm#].
It just does not make any sense Barry. You really need to work on your econs in DC so they get a better understanding of the relationship between trade and US jobs.
Their ignorance is hurting us on Main Street. It may help the plutocrats on Wall Street, but it hurts us, Barry.
I'm worried.
Your pal,
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Time Travel: Really
Hey Barry,
Two Australian physicists, University of Queensland's Jay Olson and Timothy Ralph, claim that the basic physics of quantum particles suggests that time travel may be possible someday.
Read it here: http://gizmodo.com/5736217/scientist-discovers-time-teleportation
Never a dull moment.
Your pal,
Two Australian physicists, University of Queensland's Jay Olson and Timothy Ralph, claim that the basic physics of quantum particles suggests that time travel may be possible someday.
Read it here: http://gizmodo.com/5736217/scientist-discovers-time-teleportation
Never a dull moment.
Your pal,
Monday, January 17, 2011
National Security: Status of the Country
Hey Barry:
READERSHIP OF THIS SPACE
Before reviewing my personal list of United States national security issues, I'll take a moment to acknowledge that this space has an international audience as well as an American one. Half the readers are from the US while the balance is from other countries including Netherlands, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Germany, Ukraine, France, Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland. The proportion of international readers has been increasing lately.
GOAL OF THIS SCRIBE
So Barry, as you work on your address on the State of the Union, you most likely have your speech down pat and are just putting on the finishing touches. Probably your goal is to be as balanced as possible and to encourage hope about our future.
My goal here is a little different - I will try to be as realistic as possible without being overly cynical.
I began this exercise in 2007 by commenting on a list of nine items critical to the national security of the United States. An update of that list follows.
SUPPERRICH: GROWING THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
A new item has come to the head of the list: The biggest threat to our future is the continuing creation of a class of super rich billionaires. As addressed in earlier posts, this trend has created a plutocracy which will be with us for generations. These vast fortunes take on a momentum of their own and corrupt the systems the Founding Fathers installed to prevent just the problem we face today.
At the same time this new class of billionaires has been created, the living standard of most Americans has remained the same or declined slightly from the 1970's. For example, African Americans have seen half of the total wealth they accumulated as a group since the civil war eliminated due to the recent housing bubble.
Without direct action to tax away the big fortunes and ensure the prosperity of the middle class, the United States will decline as a nation and a force for good in the world.
This situation is especially troubling for your administration since one of your campaign issues was specifically to address this issue.
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Second on my list of national security issues is political corruption. This issue damages national security if private interests can sway public policy to favor private gain over public good. The United States of America is thoroughly corrupt. Money interests routinely gain laws that favor them over the greater public good.
MILITARY/INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Third is the military industrial complex. While the negative effect of this issue is somewhat subsumed under the income disparity issue above, the concentration of interests designed to promote war and wasteful government spending for weapons is still a major threat to our security. Your administration and Defense Secretary Gates have made some laudable moves to control this question, but so far the results are not adequate to remove this issue from the critical list. The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act is only a start.
ENERGY POLICY
Fourth is energy. Although your administration has worked diligently to revise our national energy policy, political corruption has thwarted most of your proposals. This is a clear case where private interests act against the national interest.
UNION MEMBERSHIP
Fifth are unions. I perceive this issue as a means to counteract the influence of the plutocracy and to assist the middle class achieve a better living standard. I have not seen any progress in this area; of course, it is entirely possible I have missed it.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act helps women and the Health insurance reform helps families and small businesses. But, the health insurance reform does not bring the USA up to first world standards and will be attacked by the REPS.
ELECTION FRAUD
Sixth are elections. Electronic voting machines are susceptible to fraud and there has been no significant movement to restore more trustworthy voting methods. We are vulnerable to election fraud.
JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
Seventh is judicial independence. This question remains critical and there is little movement to repair it. Congress continues to block judicial appointments for spurious reasons. This inability to appoint an adequate number of judges compromises the integrity of the process.
TRADE DEFICIT
Eighth is our trade deficit. As a nation we continue to run a substantial trade deficit. Ultimately this imbalance will be corrected whether we correct it deliberately or wait for financial forces to make the adjustment. If we do not act deliberately, we will suffer greater hardship by letting outside forces make the adjustment for us. A continuing infatuation with the economic theory of Free Trade prevents us from examining the question honestly. It is past time to re-examine our trade policy.
BANKS
Last, but not least, our banks have continued to run amok. The recent housing bubble resulted from shoddy or criminal bank practices and brought ruin to millions of families worldwide. While you did pass a bank regulation act that promises better regulation, the law is not adequate to the task. We will see further crises until and unless the regulations are strengthened.
A banker told me that the next bubble will be in tech stocks. Already there are cubicle farms of people doing nothing while an IPO is being written. The founders' game plan: pocket the cash and disappear.
Your appointment of Elizabeth Warren is a notable bright spot.
OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES
In addition to the above challenges, we face a number of issues that demand immediate attention; among these are: huge and unsustainable budget deficits; the present and future fiscal crisis at the city, county and state levels that will reduce local services such as police, fire and schools [see article about Camden NJ - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/18/national/a055102S83.DTL]; lack of domestic demand sufficient to promote domestic growth while that growth is required to overcome the budget deficits; a political deadlock with parties who refuse to act in the national interest; the looming shadow of a European financial meltdown; and, actively fighting two major wars drains our treasury, undermines political support of your government and kills our young people. There are others of course, but these spring to mind immediately.
We are with you Barry. We know your plate is full.
Just keep telling what we can do to help you.
Your pal,
READERSHIP OF THIS SPACE
Before reviewing my personal list of United States national security issues, I'll take a moment to acknowledge that this space has an international audience as well as an American one. Half the readers are from the US while the balance is from other countries including Netherlands, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Germany, Ukraine, France, Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland. The proportion of international readers has been increasing lately.
GOAL OF THIS SCRIBE
So Barry, as you work on your address on the State of the Union, you most likely have your speech down pat and are just putting on the finishing touches. Probably your goal is to be as balanced as possible and to encourage hope about our future.
My goal here is a little different - I will try to be as realistic as possible without being overly cynical.
I began this exercise in 2007 by commenting on a list of nine items critical to the national security of the United States. An update of that list follows.
SUPPERRICH: GROWING THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
A new item has come to the head of the list: The biggest threat to our future is the continuing creation of a class of super rich billionaires. As addressed in earlier posts, this trend has created a plutocracy which will be with us for generations. These vast fortunes take on a momentum of their own and corrupt the systems the Founding Fathers installed to prevent just the problem we face today.
At the same time this new class of billionaires has been created, the living standard of most Americans has remained the same or declined slightly from the 1970's. For example, African Americans have seen half of the total wealth they accumulated as a group since the civil war eliminated due to the recent housing bubble.
Without direct action to tax away the big fortunes and ensure the prosperity of the middle class, the United States will decline as a nation and a force for good in the world.
This situation is especially troubling for your administration since one of your campaign issues was specifically to address this issue.
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Second on my list of national security issues is political corruption. This issue damages national security if private interests can sway public policy to favor private gain over public good. The United States of America is thoroughly corrupt. Money interests routinely gain laws that favor them over the greater public good.
MILITARY/INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Third is the military industrial complex. While the negative effect of this issue is somewhat subsumed under the income disparity issue above, the concentration of interests designed to promote war and wasteful government spending for weapons is still a major threat to our security. Your administration and Defense Secretary Gates have made some laudable moves to control this question, but so far the results are not adequate to remove this issue from the critical list. The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act is only a start.
ENERGY POLICY
Fourth is energy. Although your administration has worked diligently to revise our national energy policy, political corruption has thwarted most of your proposals. This is a clear case where private interests act against the national interest.
UNION MEMBERSHIP
Fifth are unions. I perceive this issue as a means to counteract the influence of the plutocracy and to assist the middle class achieve a better living standard. I have not seen any progress in this area; of course, it is entirely possible I have missed it.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act helps women and the Health insurance reform helps families and small businesses. But, the health insurance reform does not bring the USA up to first world standards and will be attacked by the REPS.
ELECTION FRAUD
Sixth are elections. Electronic voting machines are susceptible to fraud and there has been no significant movement to restore more trustworthy voting methods. We are vulnerable to election fraud.
JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
Seventh is judicial independence. This question remains critical and there is little movement to repair it. Congress continues to block judicial appointments for spurious reasons. This inability to appoint an adequate number of judges compromises the integrity of the process.
TRADE DEFICIT
Eighth is our trade deficit. As a nation we continue to run a substantial trade deficit. Ultimately this imbalance will be corrected whether we correct it deliberately or wait for financial forces to make the adjustment. If we do not act deliberately, we will suffer greater hardship by letting outside forces make the adjustment for us. A continuing infatuation with the economic theory of Free Trade prevents us from examining the question honestly. It is past time to re-examine our trade policy.
BANKS
Last, but not least, our banks have continued to run amok. The recent housing bubble resulted from shoddy or criminal bank practices and brought ruin to millions of families worldwide. While you did pass a bank regulation act that promises better regulation, the law is not adequate to the task. We will see further crises until and unless the regulations are strengthened.
A banker told me that the next bubble will be in tech stocks. Already there are cubicle farms of people doing nothing while an IPO is being written. The founders' game plan: pocket the cash and disappear.
Your appointment of Elizabeth Warren is a notable bright spot.
OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES
In addition to the above challenges, we face a number of issues that demand immediate attention; among these are: huge and unsustainable budget deficits; the present and future fiscal crisis at the city, county and state levels that will reduce local services such as police, fire and schools [see article about Camden NJ - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/18/national/a055102S83.DTL]; lack of domestic demand sufficient to promote domestic growth while that growth is required to overcome the budget deficits; a political deadlock with parties who refuse to act in the national interest; the looming shadow of a European financial meltdown; and, actively fighting two major wars drains our treasury, undermines political support of your government and kills our young people. There are others of course, but these spring to mind immediately.
We are with you Barry. We know your plate is full.
Just keep telling what we can do to help you.
Your pal,
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Christina Taylor Green, R I P, and Daniel Hernandez
Hey Barry
Great speech yesterday - brought tears to my eyes, lotta tears.
At the same time you gave us hope for the future with your talk about Christina Taylor Green and Daniel Hernandez.
While we have children and young adults like these, we have a bright future.
Also, I am reminded that the tragedy or a very similar one was inevitable and will probably be repeated.
There are a couple of reasons that these tragedies will happen again.
First, our gun laws are quite simply insane. The RICH folks who sell death on our streets have corrupted Congress and the state legislatures so that they are unable to pass laws that will stop the killing.
The best tribute to Christina's memory will be effective gun control.
Second, our mental health care is ineffective. Insurance companies fight to deny coverage for mental issues because treating mentally ill people is expensive.
I believe that your health insurance program extends coverage for mental issues.
As a tribute to both Christina and Daniel, please do not let that coverage be deleted.
And, as difficult as these two issues are, they are just the tip of the societal malaise iceberg which exists in the U S of A. You can get a handle on that iceberg by reading Daniel Parenti on 'DIRTY TRUTHS' here: http://www.michaelparenti.org/HiddenHolocaust.html
We have a lot of work to do Barry.
Lotta work.
Your pal,
Great speech yesterday - brought tears to my eyes, lotta tears.
At the same time you gave us hope for the future with your talk about Christina Taylor Green and Daniel Hernandez.
While we have children and young adults like these, we have a bright future.
Also, I am reminded that the tragedy or a very similar one was inevitable and will probably be repeated.
There are a couple of reasons that these tragedies will happen again.
First, our gun laws are quite simply insane. The RICH folks who sell death on our streets have corrupted Congress and the state legislatures so that they are unable to pass laws that will stop the killing.
The best tribute to Christina's memory will be effective gun control.
Second, our mental health care is ineffective. Insurance companies fight to deny coverage for mental issues because treating mentally ill people is expensive.
I believe that your health insurance program extends coverage for mental issues.
As a tribute to both Christina and Daniel, please do not let that coverage be deleted.
And, as difficult as these two issues are, they are just the tip of the societal malaise iceberg which exists in the U S of A. You can get a handle on that iceberg by reading Daniel Parenti on 'DIRTY TRUTHS' here: http://www.michaelparenti.org/HiddenHolocaust.html
We have a lot of work to do Barry.
Lotta work.
Your pal,
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Political Vitriol and Death
Hey Barry:
The recent shooting in Tucson causes me to pray for the victims and families; and, to reflect on our political discourse in general.
As far as I am aware, there is no causal link established at this time between national politics and the shootings, but lots of folks have commented on the seeming lack of civility in our discussion today.
As historical background, politics in the US of A have been even more overheated, personal and vitriolic in the past. It is a tradition. Our rhetoric today pales in comparison with historical campaigns.
For example, John Quincy Adams was in a nasty fight with Andrew Jackson that involved name calling and the respective families. It was not pretty. And, recall that we even had a Civil War about politics. In that light, today's 'excesses' can appear mild.
But, the world is different now, and we are less tolerant.
And, there are a lot of whack jobs with access to firepower that was unimagined in the 18th and 19th centuries. So, perhaps a little civility can be a good thing.
I confess to some past excesses in this space. They spring from a frustration about issues which seem critical but appear to be ignored. And, today's REPS have mastered the art of unpleasant politics while the today's DEMS have seemed tame. But, it is not for me to balance the scales.
It is my considered opinion that the most critical issue affecting our national security today is an accumulation of wealth and power in too few hands unbalanced by patriotism or control.
It is not about the people who collect the wealth and power - it is the accumulation itself. Our system guarantees that some will collect wealth and power and that those people will exercise that power to the detriment of the national interest. There are only two things which can mitigate that inevitability: first, the generous instincts of the possessors; second, national government policies which actively attempt to reduce its influence.
Our continuing failure to limit the pernicious effects of wealth concentrations is harbringing the decline of our country's fairness, influence and power.
On top of that, those with power have a vested interest in preventing amelioration of their power. They also possess the means and will to prevent any effective limits on themselves.
That leaves the rest of us dependent on their conscience and good wishes. I for one do not rely on the charitable impulses of a plutocratic class.
It is time for the national goverment to take a stand on this issue and assert control over the great fortunes.
That's you Barry.
Your pal,
The recent shooting in Tucson causes me to pray for the victims and families; and, to reflect on our political discourse in general.
As far as I am aware, there is no causal link established at this time between national politics and the shootings, but lots of folks have commented on the seeming lack of civility in our discussion today.
As historical background, politics in the US of A have been even more overheated, personal and vitriolic in the past. It is a tradition. Our rhetoric today pales in comparison with historical campaigns.
For example, John Quincy Adams was in a nasty fight with Andrew Jackson that involved name calling and the respective families. It was not pretty. And, recall that we even had a Civil War about politics. In that light, today's 'excesses' can appear mild.
But, the world is different now, and we are less tolerant.
And, there are a lot of whack jobs with access to firepower that was unimagined in the 18th and 19th centuries. So, perhaps a little civility can be a good thing.
I confess to some past excesses in this space. They spring from a frustration about issues which seem critical but appear to be ignored. And, today's REPS have mastered the art of unpleasant politics while the today's DEMS have seemed tame. But, it is not for me to balance the scales.
It is my considered opinion that the most critical issue affecting our national security today is an accumulation of wealth and power in too few hands unbalanced by patriotism or control.
It is not about the people who collect the wealth and power - it is the accumulation itself. Our system guarantees that some will collect wealth and power and that those people will exercise that power to the detriment of the national interest. There are only two things which can mitigate that inevitability: first, the generous instincts of the possessors; second, national government policies which actively attempt to reduce its influence.
Our continuing failure to limit the pernicious effects of wealth concentrations is harbringing the decline of our country's fairness, influence and power.
On top of that, those with power have a vested interest in preventing amelioration of their power. They also possess the means and will to prevent any effective limits on themselves.
That leaves the rest of us dependent on their conscience and good wishes. I for one do not rely on the charitable impulses of a plutocratic class.
It is time for the national goverment to take a stand on this issue and assert control over the great fortunes.
That's you Barry.
Your pal,
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Political? Rep Gabrielle Giffords (D. AZ) Shot
Hey Barry:
A person in Tucson shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D. AZ) and several other people at a rally today. Reports are that the assailant used an automatic weapon.
No idea of reasons or motives yet, but it makes one stop and think.
Is this the result of hyperpartisan politics, or something else?
Your pal
A person in Tucson shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D. AZ) and several other people at a rally today. Reports are that the assailant used an automatic weapon.
No idea of reasons or motives yet, but it makes one stop and think.
Is this the result of hyperpartisan politics, or something else?
Your pal
Friday, January 7, 2011
Bank Regs - Not Working
Hey Barry:
Well, it's looking like the bank regs are not working. The point of the regs was, I think, to prevent any more bubbles caused by banks buying stuff with free money from the FED.
But, here we are with the Golden Sox guys buyin up Facebook in a secret deal with our money. They get all the upside and we take the downside. Since the money is free to them and since we take the losses, they can bid up the price of whatever they want until it crashes and we are holding the bag again.
Wot the hell, Barry. Not supposed to be that way. If there are any more of these deals, we are sure of another economic crash. Plain as the nose on my face[book].
Jon Stewart calls it out here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/stewart-facebook-goldman-_n_805701.html?ir=Business
If this don't get fixed, itsa nother nail in our coffin.
We countin on y'all up there to put a stop to this casino banking with our money.
Your pal,
Well, it's looking like the bank regs are not working. The point of the regs was, I think, to prevent any more bubbles caused by banks buying stuff with free money from the FED.
But, here we are with the Golden Sox guys buyin up Facebook in a secret deal with our money. They get all the upside and we take the downside. Since the money is free to them and since we take the losses, they can bid up the price of whatever they want until it crashes and we are holding the bag again.
Wot the hell, Barry. Not supposed to be that way. If there are any more of these deals, we are sure of another economic crash. Plain as the nose on my face[book].
Jon Stewart calls it out here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/stewart-facebook-goldman-_n_805701.html?ir=Business
If this don't get fixed, itsa nother nail in our coffin.
We countin on y'all up there to put a stop to this casino banking with our money.
Your pal,
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Keith Horn: Time to Get Prosecutorial
Hey Barry
I suppose you know what I am concerned about by now. Well, seems like it takes forever for an idea to percolate through the fog in the main stream media. So, maybe singing the same old song aint so bad.
Here my song today:
The BILLIONAIRES in the person of Keith Horn are tryin to buy our government lock, stock and barrel. They made a big down payment by buying a lot of REPS in the mid-term elections.
As a side note, now I understand why the REPS is sellin out the country. Is not for a game, is for the cash. Jes real simple, the REPS is for sale and they been bought. Shoulda seen it comin, is not a mystery.
It's documented by Peter Stone, Center for Public Integrity, and Michael Isikoff, NBC News at this URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40913123/ns/politics
Now you and I, we know xactly what the BILLIONAIRES gonna do with their country - they gonna loot it. They gonna pass lotta laws taking away our future and our financial security so they can buy bigger villas. No more social security or medicare. No more minimum wage or bank regulation. No more health care. No more competition. No more jobs. And, especially, NO MORE DAMN UNIONS. Say bye bye to comfort and hello to misery. Our streets gonna be like streets in the movie 'Book of Eli'.
We can live here long as we keep quiet and work for whatever they feel like payin us. Gonna be jes like Guatemela or any other banana republic - a few real RICH folks who own it all and lotta poor suckers scroungin for a livin.
So Barry, that's what we know. Big question is this: Whatta we gonna do about it?
It's the defining moment of our history, right here and right now.
I don't have the answer, Barry, because it's up to you. It is all up to you. Your time at the plate.
I can tell you a story about how they doin it in Russia. Maybe that will give you an idea or two. We can't do the same, but it is a good approach.
Russia got the same problem we do - few real rich and lotta real poor. Some of their RICH got a little greedy as RICH will do. They tried to buy the government. First they steal assets from the country and then they try to buy the government so they can have bigger villas. Really annoyed the government.
Thas exactly what's happening here Barry. BILLIONAIRES steal assets and now they buyin the country so's they can have bigger villas.
Gibbon and 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' all over again.
So what did Russia do bout it? Well they 'encouraged' couple of those folks to leave the country, which they did.
But one of them, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, would not give up. So, they put him in jail in England and they just sentenced him to prison for a long time.
See, when some folks get too big for their britches, they gotta be taken down. Cause if they not taken down, they take the country down.
That's where we at right now, Barry. Is time for us to get prosecutorial. Put these guys in their place. Let's put Keith Horn in jail. He so RICH, is guaranteed he done some crimes somewhere, sometime.
We waitin on ya Barry.
Your pal,
I suppose you know what I am concerned about by now. Well, seems like it takes forever for an idea to percolate through the fog in the main stream media. So, maybe singing the same old song aint so bad.
Here my song today:
The BILLIONAIRES in the person of Keith Horn are tryin to buy our government lock, stock and barrel. They made a big down payment by buying a lot of REPS in the mid-term elections.
As a side note, now I understand why the REPS is sellin out the country. Is not for a game, is for the cash. Jes real simple, the REPS is for sale and they been bought. Shoulda seen it comin, is not a mystery.
It's documented by Peter Stone, Center for Public Integrity, and Michael Isikoff, NBC News at this URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40913123/ns/politics
Now you and I, we know xactly what the BILLIONAIRES gonna do with their country - they gonna loot it. They gonna pass lotta laws taking away our future and our financial security so they can buy bigger villas. No more social security or medicare. No more minimum wage or bank regulation. No more health care. No more competition. No more jobs. And, especially, NO MORE DAMN UNIONS. Say bye bye to comfort and hello to misery. Our streets gonna be like streets in the movie 'Book of Eli'.
We can live here long as we keep quiet and work for whatever they feel like payin us. Gonna be jes like Guatemela or any other banana republic - a few real RICH folks who own it all and lotta poor suckers scroungin for a livin.
So Barry, that's what we know. Big question is this: Whatta we gonna do about it?
It's the defining moment of our history, right here and right now.
I don't have the answer, Barry, because it's up to you. It is all up to you. Your time at the plate.
I can tell you a story about how they doin it in Russia. Maybe that will give you an idea or two. We can't do the same, but it is a good approach.
Russia got the same problem we do - few real rich and lotta real poor. Some of their RICH got a little greedy as RICH will do. They tried to buy the government. First they steal assets from the country and then they try to buy the government so they can have bigger villas. Really annoyed the government.
Thas exactly what's happening here Barry. BILLIONAIRES steal assets and now they buyin the country so's they can have bigger villas.
Gibbon and 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' all over again.
So what did Russia do bout it? Well they 'encouraged' couple of those folks to leave the country, which they did.
But one of them, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, would not give up. So, they put him in jail in England and they just sentenced him to prison for a long time.
See, when some folks get too big for their britches, they gotta be taken down. Cause if they not taken down, they take the country down.
That's where we at right now, Barry. Is time for us to get prosecutorial. Put these guys in their place. Let's put Keith Horn in jail. He so RICH, is guaranteed he done some crimes somewhere, sometime.
We waitin on ya Barry.
Your pal,
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mike Rogers [R, Mich] - Lovin That Torture
Hey Barry:
Looks like the BILLIONAIRE's lap dogs can't wait to hit and water board some defenseless folks. Mike Rogers, the new chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is drooling already:
Readt it here: http://www.examiner.com/public-safety-in-national/new-congress-brings-new-hope-for-us-national-security
"....Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan was named chairman the U.S. House intelligence committee beginning today, when the U.S. Congress reconvenes......Rep. Mike Rogers, a decorated FBI agent, has often criticized the Obama administration's interrogation policies for terror suspects as being too restrictive......."
Holy cow. Please make sure he gets the memo: Torture DOES NOT WORK.
I wrote bout this in 2009
June 2009
Hey Barry:
So here's an expert who says that we should talk to the terrorists.
What an idea. You were right all along.
His name is John Arquilla and he works for the Navy.
Read it here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/02/EDH517TKBD.DTL
Your pal
And, in 2008:
Republicans - Love that Torture
News reports are that all the Reps except McCain support torture - even more than Bush.
Perfect campaign material:
If you like torture vote Republican.
If you like freedom and dignity vote Democrat.
[OK,in case you missed the memo:
Torture hurts American national security:
1.It is illegal under US law
2. It is against American values.
3. Tortured people will say whatever they think the torturer wants to hear to make the pain stop, so the information is false
4. The military may act on false information and waste time and lives
5. It gives our enemies license to torture our troops.]
Your pal
Looks like the BILLIONAIRE's lap dogs can't wait to hit and water board some defenseless folks. Mike Rogers, the new chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is drooling already:
Readt it here: http://www.examiner.com/public-safety-in-national/new-congress-brings-new-hope-for-us-national-security
"....Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan was named chairman the U.S. House intelligence committee beginning today, when the U.S. Congress reconvenes......Rep. Mike Rogers, a decorated FBI agent, has often criticized the Obama administration's interrogation policies for terror suspects as being too restrictive......."
Holy cow. Please make sure he gets the memo: Torture DOES NOT WORK.
I wrote bout this in 2009
June 2009
Hey Barry:
So here's an expert who says that we should talk to the terrorists.
What an idea. You were right all along.
His name is John Arquilla and he works for the Navy.
Read it here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/02/EDH517TKBD.DTL
Your pal
And, in 2008:
Republicans - Love that Torture
News reports are that all the Reps except McCain support torture - even more than Bush.
Perfect campaign material:
If you like torture vote Republican.
If you like freedom and dignity vote Democrat.
[OK,in case you missed the memo:
Torture hurts American national security:
1.It is illegal under US law
2. It is against American values.
3. Tortured people will say whatever they think the torturer wants to hear to make the pain stop, so the information is false
4. The military may act on false information and waste time and lives
5. It gives our enemies license to torture our troops.]
Your pal
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Select Committee on Energy
Hey Barry:
I know you think that energy independence is one of our top national security issues AND that it isn't going anywhere. Energy problems will be with us for a long time.
But, chances are the REPS will just ignore it - after all the BILLIONAIRES don't want anyone messing with their cash cow.
Here's a link to the staff report on the energy committee; some day we will have to pay attention - no one sayin we aren't warned:
http://theenergycollective.com/oshadavidson/49286/challenge-isn-t-going-away-clean-energy-jobs-and-national-security
It's another case where the national interests conflict with BILLIONAIRES' money.
Wanna bet who wins?
Your pal,
I know you think that energy independence is one of our top national security issues AND that it isn't going anywhere. Energy problems will be with us for a long time.
But, chances are the REPS will just ignore it - after all the BILLIONAIRES don't want anyone messing with their cash cow.
Here's a link to the staff report on the energy committee; some day we will have to pay attention - no one sayin we aren't warned:
http://theenergycollective.com/oshadavidson/49286/challenge-isn-t-going-away-clean-energy-jobs-and-national-security
It's another case where the national interests conflict with BILLIONAIRES' money.
Wanna bet who wins?
Your pal,
Monday, January 3, 2011
Lunar Eclipse Video - Gorgeous
Hey Barry:
Here's a link to a video of the lunar eclipse - stunning: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-12/video-last-nights-lunar-eclipse-time-lapsed
Your pal,
Here's a link to a video of the lunar eclipse - stunning: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-12/video-last-nights-lunar-eclipse-time-lapsed
Your pal,
Friday, December 31, 2010
Snowy Hell
Hey Barry:
With the New Year coming up quickly, there will be some major issues on your plate. I know this is not news to you, but I want to remind you of the major problem underlying most other issues. Hopefully, you'll keep it in mind as you work.
That problem is the control that RICH people have over our nation's resources. It isn't just that they make a lot of money with that control; that is bad enough. No, it is that they actively deny life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the rest of us.
Just in case you think I am over stating, please read this column by David Sirota: 'A snowy glimpse of America's future' at this link: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/12/a_snowy_glimpse_of_americas_fu.html
Looks like that's where we are headed Barry.
I'd like it to be different and I know you would too.
So, Barry, please tell us what can WE do to get a different future.
Happy New Year.
Your pal,
With the New Year coming up quickly, there will be some major issues on your plate. I know this is not news to you, but I want to remind you of the major problem underlying most other issues. Hopefully, you'll keep it in mind as you work.
That problem is the control that RICH people have over our nation's resources. It isn't just that they make a lot of money with that control; that is bad enough. No, it is that they actively deny life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the rest of us.
Just in case you think I am over stating, please read this column by David Sirota: 'A snowy glimpse of America's future' at this link: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/12/a_snowy_glimpse_of_americas_fu.html
Looks like that's where we are headed Barry.
I'd like it to be different and I know you would too.
So, Barry, please tell us what can WE do to get a different future.
Happy New Year.
Your pal,
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Reflections
Hey Barry:
This time of year is a reflection time for me with lots of family and friends gathering. I hope it is the same for you.
So, this is a reflective note about the background for my comments in this space.
I have read about economic theory and current events since 1960 with a focus on the interaction of national government policies and economic growth. In the early 1990's I created a set of 34 national economic policies which affect growth in just about any political structure. Beginning in 1995 I have published student analyses of how well various national government policies promote economic growth. Each study is written under my direction by a native student of the country about which she or he writes.
Clicking on the link above takes you to MIEPA's home page which contains links to each of about 40 country analyses as well as some other studies published there.
LIST OF 34 ECONOMIC POLICIES
The link titled 'INTRODUCTION AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS' [http://www.mkeever.com/intro.html] presents a description of all the policies and some background on the site.
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY STUDIES
Each economic analysis of a country is linked to the country name. For example the study of the USA written in May of 2010 is titled UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [http://www.mkeever.com/usa.html]
Some of the studies were written a few years ago; they remain on the site until another student writes an update. Some students fear for their lives and families and so choose to remain anonymous.
MANUAL ON WRITING COUNTRY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Some folks may be interested in exactly how the policy studies are written. This link gives a complete methodology: 'POLICY ANALYST APPLICATION - JOBS GROWTH THEORY' [http://www.mkeever.com/apply.html]
ECONOMIC SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES
I sponsored an essay contest in 2000 for expositions of alternative economic systems. The market based, capitalistic system which is widely used is not the only effective method of organizing economic behavior.
Several very interesting ideas and case studies were submitted and the winning essays are published under the link titled: 'THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES (T.A.A.) PROJECT' [http://www.mkeever.com/taa.html].
BALANCED TRADE
I wrote an essay on an alternative international trade theory titled: 'BALANCED TRADE: TOWARD THE FUTURE OF ECONOMICS' which is published at this link: [http://www.mkeever.com/essay.html]
It is worth considering for the United States. Since publishing that essay, I have provided some limited assistance to Ian Fletcher in his efforts to suggest alternative trade theories as published in 'FREE TRADE DOESN'T WORK: WHAT SHOULD REPLACE IT AND WHY' [www.freetradedoesntwork.com]
MORAL ECONOMICS
Sadly, economic theory does not address the social implications of market actions. Under economic theory, you as a consumer do not know or care who produced the products you use. They may have been produced by unionized workers with health insurance and a pension or they may have been produced by tubercular children working 10 hours per day for starvation wages.
The essay titled 'MORAL ECONOMICS' is an attempt to reconcile economic theory with morality: [http://www.mkeever.com/moral.html]
BANK REGULATIONS
Here's my take on the subject: 'BANK REGULATION IN THE UNITED STATES' February 2009 [www.mkeever.com/bank_regulation_usa.doc]
PREDICTING DISASTERS
Lastly, I am concerned that there appears to be no systematic attempt to predict future economic booms and busts. I made a video about a method to create such a mechanism and the scripts and links are in the site: 'ECONOMICS 2.0, DODGING DISASTERS, PART 1 AND PART 2' [http://www.mkeever.com/dodgingdisasters.html]
Thank you for your attention.
Happy New Year!
Your pal,
This time of year is a reflection time for me with lots of family and friends gathering. I hope it is the same for you.
So, this is a reflective note about the background for my comments in this space.
I have read about economic theory and current events since 1960 with a focus on the interaction of national government policies and economic growth. In the early 1990's I created a set of 34 national economic policies which affect growth in just about any political structure. Beginning in 1995 I have published student analyses of how well various national government policies promote economic growth. Each study is written under my direction by a native student of the country about which she or he writes.
Clicking on the link above takes you to MIEPA's home page which contains links to each of about 40 country analyses as well as some other studies published there.
LIST OF 34 ECONOMIC POLICIES
The link titled 'INTRODUCTION AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS' [http://www.mkeever.com/intro.html] presents a description of all the policies and some background on the site.
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY STUDIES
Each economic analysis of a country is linked to the country name. For example the study of the USA written in May of 2010 is titled UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [http://www.mkeever.com/usa.html]
Some of the studies were written a few years ago; they remain on the site until another student writes an update. Some students fear for their lives and families and so choose to remain anonymous.
MANUAL ON WRITING COUNTRY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Some folks may be interested in exactly how the policy studies are written. This link gives a complete methodology: 'POLICY ANALYST APPLICATION - JOBS GROWTH THEORY' [http://www.mkeever.com/apply.html]
ECONOMIC SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES
I sponsored an essay contest in 2000 for expositions of alternative economic systems. The market based, capitalistic system which is widely used is not the only effective method of organizing economic behavior.
Several very interesting ideas and case studies were submitted and the winning essays are published under the link titled: 'THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES (T.A.A.) PROJECT' [http://www.mkeever.com/taa.html].
BALANCED TRADE
I wrote an essay on an alternative international trade theory titled: 'BALANCED TRADE: TOWARD THE FUTURE OF ECONOMICS' which is published at this link: [http://www.mkeever.com/essay.html]
It is worth considering for the United States. Since publishing that essay, I have provided some limited assistance to Ian Fletcher in his efforts to suggest alternative trade theories as published in 'FREE TRADE DOESN'T WORK: WHAT SHOULD REPLACE IT AND WHY' [www.freetradedoesntwork.com]
MORAL ECONOMICS
Sadly, economic theory does not address the social implications of market actions. Under economic theory, you as a consumer do not know or care who produced the products you use. They may have been produced by unionized workers with health insurance and a pension or they may have been produced by tubercular children working 10 hours per day for starvation wages.
The essay titled 'MORAL ECONOMICS' is an attempt to reconcile economic theory with morality: [http://www.mkeever.com/moral.html]
BANK REGULATIONS
Here's my take on the subject: 'BANK REGULATION IN THE UNITED STATES' February 2009 [www.mkeever.com/bank_regulation_usa.doc]
PREDICTING DISASTERS
Lastly, I am concerned that there appears to be no systematic attempt to predict future economic booms and busts. I made a video about a method to create such a mechanism and the scripts and links are in the site: 'ECONOMICS 2.0, DODGING DISASTERS, PART 1 AND PART 2' [http://www.mkeever.com/dodgingdisasters.html]
Thank you for your attention.
Happy New Year!
Your pal,
Friday, December 24, 2010
Super Shopper Obama
Hey Barry:
Sometime ago I asked that you shop for us very carefully with the RICH tax cuts you had to fund.
Is jes a cryin shame that we have to use cash to buy something good for the country from the BILLIONAIRES. Not what the Founding Fathers had in mind. Not by a long shot.
But Barry, you a Super Shopper. Holy cow. You bought a whole lot of very good things for the country. Y'all made the Reps squirm and cut a very good deal for us. Thank you.
There are so many things y'all did that nobody has published a list that I can find. Seriously, the main stream media is just overwhelmed.
Even the kid sponsored web site list [ http://whattheheckhasobamadonesofar.com/?q=29] can't keep up.
Anyways, we all thank you for the good things.
Keep up the good work in January.
Your pal,
Sometime ago I asked that you shop for us very carefully with the RICH tax cuts you had to fund.
Is jes a cryin shame that we have to use cash to buy something good for the country from the BILLIONAIRES. Not what the Founding Fathers had in mind. Not by a long shot.
But Barry, you a Super Shopper. Holy cow. You bought a whole lot of very good things for the country. Y'all made the Reps squirm and cut a very good deal for us. Thank you.
There are so many things y'all did that nobody has published a list that I can find. Seriously, the main stream media is just overwhelmed.
Even the kid sponsored web site list [ http://whattheheckhasobamadonesofar.com/?q=29] can't keep up.
Anyways, we all thank you for the good things.
Keep up the good work in January.
Your pal,
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Putin Sings Fats
Hey Barry:
Y'all gotta see this - Vladimir Putin singing Blueberry Hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV4IjHz2yIo
The Russians are definitely winnning the courage race.
Merry Christmas.
Your pal,
Y'all gotta see this - Vladimir Putin singing Blueberry Hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV4IjHz2yIo
The Russians are definitely winnning the courage race.
Merry Christmas.
Your pal,
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
New Science: Teleportation May Be Real
Hey Barry:
Seems that Physicists Andrew Cleland and John Martinis from the University of California at Santa Barbara created a gadget that may make 'Beam me up Scotty' a reality someday.
Along with some other exciting new science, you can read it here: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/17/beam-teleportation-years-biggest-breakthrough/
Maybe our grandkids can live in the Star Trek world.
Merry Christmas,
You pal,
PS: The comment below is so interesting, in a tongue-in-cheek way, that I am appending it to the original post:
Cisco2035 has left a new comment on your post "New Science: Teleportation May Be Real":
Possibly some of us may be able to use it by the 2030s.
http://cisco2035.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/facts-about-teleportation/
Seems that Physicists Andrew Cleland and John Martinis from the University of California at Santa Barbara created a gadget that may make 'Beam me up Scotty' a reality someday.
Along with some other exciting new science, you can read it here: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/17/beam-teleportation-years-biggest-breakthrough/
Maybe our grandkids can live in the Star Trek world.
Merry Christmas,
You pal,
PS: The comment below is so interesting, in a tongue-in-cheek way, that I am appending it to the original post:
Cisco2035 has left a new comment on your post "New Science: Teleportation May Be Real":
Possibly some of us may be able to use it by the 2030s.
http://cisco2035.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/facts-about-teleportation/
Monday, December 20, 2010
Bad Man McConnell
Hey Barry:
Let's be clear about this: McConnell is just plain bad for the country.
Cynthia Tucker nails it here: http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/2010/12/20/republicans-unpatriotic-resistance-to-new-start/?cxntfid=blogs_cynthia_tucker
Nothing more to say.
Your pal,
Let's be clear about this: McConnell is just plain bad for the country.
Cynthia Tucker nails it here: http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/2010/12/20/republicans-unpatriotic-resistance-to-new-start/?cxntfid=blogs_cynthia_tucker
Nothing more to say.
Your pal,
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Rough Ridin Estate Tax
Hey Barry:
Sometime the REPS forget where they came from.
Here's what Theodore Roosevelt had to say about big fortunes and the need for an estate tax, as quoted by Tim Rutten in the LA Times: 'Like many thoughtful Americans of his era, he believed the disproportionate accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few would make a mockery of our meritocracy and, ultimately, of our democracy. In 1910, he summed up those feelings.
"We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used," Roosevelt said. "It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community.... The really big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the mere fact of its size, acquires qualities which differentiate it in kind as well as in degree from what is possessed by men of relatively small means. Therefore, I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and … a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate." '
Your pal,
Sometime the REPS forget where they came from.
Here's what Theodore Roosevelt had to say about big fortunes and the need for an estate tax, as quoted by Tim Rutten in the LA Times: 'Like many thoughtful Americans of his era, he believed the disproportionate accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few would make a mockery of our meritocracy and, ultimately, of our democracy. In 1910, he summed up those feelings.
"We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used," Roosevelt said. "It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community.... The really big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the mere fact of its size, acquires qualities which differentiate it in kind as well as in degree from what is possessed by men of relatively small means. Therefore, I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and … a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate." '
Your pal,
Get It While The Gettin's Good
Hey Barry:
Y'all on a roll. That's good.
Get everything you can while you can.
Come January, even blowing your nose will be a battle royal. I'd love to think the Reps will actually put the good of the country ahead of the RICH - but, I'm a pessimist.
Merry Christmas.
Your pal,
Y'all on a roll. That's good.
Get everything you can while you can.
Come January, even blowing your nose will be a battle royal. I'd love to think the Reps will actually put the good of the country ahead of the RICH - but, I'm a pessimist.
Merry Christmas.
Your pal,
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Carried Interest
Hey Barry:
There is a thing in the tax revisions that did not get changed. It is a killer.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/15/BUSR1GQ3CI.DTL
I'm not talking about the estate tax, which is bad enough.
It is the carried interest provision which lets the super rich treat income as capital gains.
According to columnist Andrew Ross, here's what folks say about it: '"hyperconcentration of rewards at the top" (the top 1 percent and up), and a corresponding "hyperinequality" with the rest of the nation.'
We really need to do something about this one, Barry. We need more income equality and less capital formation - capital fomation is another word for the RICH getting richer. Too much capital fomation and too little wages is a problem for us right now.
Your pal
There is a thing in the tax revisions that did not get changed. It is a killer.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/15/BUSR1GQ3CI.DTL
I'm not talking about the estate tax, which is bad enough.
It is the carried interest provision which lets the super rich treat income as capital gains.
According to columnist Andrew Ross, here's what folks say about it: '"hyperconcentration of rewards at the top" (the top 1 percent and up), and a corresponding "hyperinequality" with the rest of the nation.'
We really need to do something about this one, Barry. We need more income equality and less capital formation - capital fomation is another word for the RICH getting richer. Too much capital fomation and too little wages is a problem for us right now.
Your pal
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Let rich pay to fix deficit, say Americans
Hey Barry:
A new Bloomberg poll has reported that most Americans want the rich to pay more taxes to help with deficit reduction.
Read it here: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/insight/stories/2010/12/12/let-rich-pay-to-fix-deficit-say-americans.html?sid=101
I don't think there are many mysteries in DC - no secrets about economics. We all get it.
Your pal,
A new Bloomberg poll has reported that most Americans want the rich to pay more taxes to help with deficit reduction.
Read it here: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/insight/stories/2010/12/12/let-rich-pay-to-fix-deficit-say-americans.html?sid=101
I don't think there are many mysteries in DC - no secrets about economics. We all get it.
Your pal,
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Richard Holbrooke: R I P
Hey Barry:
Sadly, Richard Holbrooke passed yesterday.
May he rest in peace secure in the knowledge of his contribution to peace and saving lives.
He will be very hard to replace.
Your pal,
Sadly, Richard Holbrooke passed yesterday.
May he rest in peace secure in the knowledge of his contribution to peace and saving lives.
He will be very hard to replace.
Your pal,
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The WashBeltBox
Hey Barry:
We love you and we need you. You're the only one we have and we are not going to let you go.
Yes I know we can be a pain sometimes, but you have heard the saying: "You only hurt the ones you love." Well, that's us.
So, here's the thing. You are locked in some struggle with the BILLIONAIRE's lap dog known as the Reps.
But Barry, that struggle is taking place inside a paper box - I'll call it the WashBeltBox - that is sinking into a very deep tidal pool.
What we want Barry, is for you to break out of that box and kill the SOB who is holding the box under water. Here's an idea about how to do it: raise the income tax to a 90% marginal rate on taxable incomes over $1 million and the estate tax to 100% on any estate over $100 million.
We know it's a job for Superman and that you ain't Superman, but like I said, you are all we got.
We are hurting and we are afraid that we will drown inside the WashBeltBox unless you break out and save us.
It is not about what you can pry from the Reps, it's about saving our country from drowning.
Your pal,
We love you and we need you. You're the only one we have and we are not going to let you go.
Yes I know we can be a pain sometimes, but you have heard the saying: "You only hurt the ones you love." Well, that's us.
So, here's the thing. You are locked in some struggle with the BILLIONAIRE's lap dog known as the Reps.
But Barry, that struggle is taking place inside a paper box - I'll call it the WashBeltBox - that is sinking into a very deep tidal pool.
What we want Barry, is for you to break out of that box and kill the SOB who is holding the box under water. Here's an idea about how to do it: raise the income tax to a 90% marginal rate on taxable incomes over $1 million and the estate tax to 100% on any estate over $100 million.
We know it's a job for Superman and that you ain't Superman, but like I said, you are all we got.
We are hurting and we are afraid that we will drown inside the WashBeltBox unless you break out and save us.
It is not about what you can pry from the Reps, it's about saving our country from drowning.
Your pal,
Sunday, December 5, 2010
BILLIONAIRES: Open Letter
Hey Barry:
Here's an open letter to our BILLIONAIRES; please read ahead.
DEAR BILLIONAIRE:
I am writing you because you are very RICH.
To see whether you are RICH, click on this link.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html
If your name shows up anywhere on the Forbes web site or your net worth exceeds One Billion Dollars, you are RICH. You are not RICH if you are worth less than One Billion Dollars.
Your money gives a special place in the world, a place that is different from just about everyone else. You probably don't even notice how different you are because you don't have much contact with people who work for a living. Most of the people you see are either just like you or people who make a living by telling you how wonderful you are. It is no surprise that you have a different world view than most people.
There are some issues that arise from your wealth. These issues are not about your intelligence, looks or personality; they are about your impact on us. They exist for every RICH person regardless of personal circumstances.
As a background to my comments, my family history includes several Presidents and goes back to the early 1600's in this country. Of course, it also includes some undesirable folks as well, just like any family. If you'd like some details, I will put you in touch with my cousin Bev who keeps track of all that.
So, I will put on my Uncle Sam Yankee Doodle Dandy Top Hat and I will try to speak to you as the voice of the soul of America.
Our country was founded in a Revolution against tyranny and aristocracy. It was an attempt to allow average people a good life, including material comforts as well as freedom from control by powerful people.
Now, I am pretty sure you think that you embody the best characteristics of that revolution. After all, you gained your wealth by following the rules. And, you achieved the American dream of doing well in a free country.
But, you are dead wrong if you think that. Here's why you are wrong:
Your extreme wealth gives you the ability to change the rules to your benefit. You do not play fair by the nature of your ability to change the rules. And, it seems that most of the rules changes you support serve to make you even richer. You have the means to hire very good people to help you gain influence. Perhaps you even make political contributions and have the ear of Senators and Representatives. That alone makes you special.
Surely you can see where this is going, but just in case you do not, here it is: As a RICH person, you are PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ILLS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Most of the ills anyway, not all of them, but most.
You have the means and influence to change our country for the better or the worse. And you have used those means to make our situation worse while making your fortune bigger.
Over the past 50 years or so, you have systematically dismantled most of the rules and regulations that protect average working Americans from economic misfortune.
You have taken our livelihood and self respect. Now you are trying to take away the dreams of our grandchildren by borrowing to give you a tax reduction.
The United States of America is like a big, welcoming and forgiving family. We extend forgiveness as much as we can. But, that forgiveness has limits.
When we are pushed too far, we react by withdrawing our support. Eventually, we create rules to prevent bad behavior. When someone breaks the rules, we punish them.
Now it comes that you as the RICH among us have gone too far. You have broken the rules and we will punish you.
As the people who make the things we need to live life, you poison us with your products, you foul the air we breathe and the water we drink. You steal from us. You take away our financial security. You borrow from our grandchildren to pay for your sailboats and villas. Your employees work diligently to corrupt our political system so we cannot get a fair shake. You act like a bad wife and treat us like a wallet. You take our money and scold us when we do not give you more. You show no respect for our country while our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers die to protect our country.
We are tired of you and we are ashamed of you.
You are the bad relatives we shun.
We will be happier if you leave our country, you are not welcome here.
Here's how Andrew Carnegie puts it: 'The man who dies rich dies disgraced.'
You are disgraced.
Here's an open letter to our BILLIONAIRES; please read ahead.
DEAR BILLIONAIRE:
I am writing you because you are very RICH.
To see whether you are RICH, click on this link.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html
If your name shows up anywhere on the Forbes web site or your net worth exceeds One Billion Dollars, you are RICH. You are not RICH if you are worth less than One Billion Dollars.
Your money gives a special place in the world, a place that is different from just about everyone else. You probably don't even notice how different you are because you don't have much contact with people who work for a living. Most of the people you see are either just like you or people who make a living by telling you how wonderful you are. It is no surprise that you have a different world view than most people.
There are some issues that arise from your wealth. These issues are not about your intelligence, looks or personality; they are about your impact on us. They exist for every RICH person regardless of personal circumstances.
As a background to my comments, my family history includes several Presidents and goes back to the early 1600's in this country. Of course, it also includes some undesirable folks as well, just like any family. If you'd like some details, I will put you in touch with my cousin Bev who keeps track of all that.
So, I will put on my Uncle Sam Yankee Doodle Dandy Top Hat and I will try to speak to you as the voice of the soul of America.
Our country was founded in a Revolution against tyranny and aristocracy. It was an attempt to allow average people a good life, including material comforts as well as freedom from control by powerful people.
Now, I am pretty sure you think that you embody the best characteristics of that revolution. After all, you gained your wealth by following the rules. And, you achieved the American dream of doing well in a free country.
But, you are dead wrong if you think that. Here's why you are wrong:
Your extreme wealth gives you the ability to change the rules to your benefit. You do not play fair by the nature of your ability to change the rules. And, it seems that most of the rules changes you support serve to make you even richer. You have the means to hire very good people to help you gain influence. Perhaps you even make political contributions and have the ear of Senators and Representatives. That alone makes you special.
Surely you can see where this is going, but just in case you do not, here it is: As a RICH person, you are PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ILLS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Most of the ills anyway, not all of them, but most.
You have the means and influence to change our country for the better or the worse. And you have used those means to make our situation worse while making your fortune bigger.
Over the past 50 years or so, you have systematically dismantled most of the rules and regulations that protect average working Americans from economic misfortune.
You have taken our livelihood and self respect. Now you are trying to take away the dreams of our grandchildren by borrowing to give you a tax reduction.
The United States of America is like a big, welcoming and forgiving family. We extend forgiveness as much as we can. But, that forgiveness has limits.
When we are pushed too far, we react by withdrawing our support. Eventually, we create rules to prevent bad behavior. When someone breaks the rules, we punish them.
Now it comes that you as the RICH among us have gone too far. You have broken the rules and we will punish you.
As the people who make the things we need to live life, you poison us with your products, you foul the air we breathe and the water we drink. You steal from us. You take away our financial security. You borrow from our grandchildren to pay for your sailboats and villas. Your employees work diligently to corrupt our political system so we cannot get a fair shake. You act like a bad wife and treat us like a wallet. You take our money and scold us when we do not give you more. You show no respect for our country while our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers die to protect our country.
We are tired of you and we are ashamed of you.
You are the bad relatives we shun.
We will be happier if you leave our country, you are not welcome here.
Here's how Andrew Carnegie puts it: 'The man who dies rich dies disgraced.'
You are disgraced.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Wonderful: Warren Workin Wonders
Hey Barry:
I am really happy that Elizabeth Warren is on the job. Your appointment of her is one of your best moves so far, ranking up there with health insurance and financial reform.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/03/MNPF1GL4FR.DTL&type=politics
One of her first moves is to coordinate the States' Attorneys General actions in enforcing consumer protections regulation in financial matters.
The next step will be giving her some real authority, but huzzahs for the first step.
Your pal,
I am really happy that Elizabeth Warren is on the job. Your appointment of her is one of your best moves so far, ranking up there with health insurance and financial reform.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/03/MNPF1GL4FR.DTL&type=politics
One of her first moves is to coordinate the States' Attorneys General actions in enforcing consumer protections regulation in financial matters.
The next step will be giving her some real authority, but huzzahs for the first step.
Your pal,
Friday, December 3, 2010
Big Chill in China
Hey Barry:
Some folks are sayin that China's economy is heading for the tank and that we will follow.
Read it here: http://www.zerohedge.com/article/why-chinas-leading-indicators-are-big-flashing-warning-light-albert-edwards-tripple-dip-head?
There are even graphs - they look kinda like a roller-coaster.
What a time to be the President - the Reps is throwin a tantrum style hissy fit and the world's economy is looking for the toilet.
Stay steady Barry, don't panic on us. Y'all doing the right things.
Your pal,
Some folks are sayin that China's economy is heading for the tank and that we will follow.
Read it here: http://www.zerohedge.com/article/why-chinas-leading-indicators-are-big-flashing-warning-light-albert-edwards-tripple-dip-head?
There are even graphs - they look kinda like a roller-coaster.
What a time to be the President - the Reps is throwin a tantrum style hissy fit and the world's economy is looking for the toilet.
Stay steady Barry, don't panic on us. Y'all doing the right things.
Your pal,
Schakowsky's Budget Plan
Hey Barry:
Rep Jan Schakowsky D-IL wrote a budget plan that saves Social Security and stabilizes the middle class.
Y'all can read it here: http://schakowsky.house.gov/images/stories/1202_Schakowsky_Deficit_Reduction_Plan.pdf
Here's what it proves Barry: fixing the budget problem is not accounting or rocket science, it is politics.
Specifically, it is the politics of RICH taking too much and giving back nothing.
We need you here Barry, don't let the Reps sell out the country for a ribbon from the BILLIONAIRES.
Positively depressing.
Your pal,
Rep Jan Schakowsky D-IL wrote a budget plan that saves Social Security and stabilizes the middle class.
Y'all can read it here: http://schakowsky.house.gov/images/stories/1202_Schakowsky_Deficit_Reduction_Plan.pdf
Here's what it proves Barry: fixing the budget problem is not accounting or rocket science, it is politics.
Specifically, it is the politics of RICH taking too much and giving back nothing.
We need you here Barry, don't let the Reps sell out the country for a ribbon from the BILLIONAIRES.
Positively depressing.
Your pal,
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Warming For Real - Arctic Methane
Hey Barry:
Hoping y'all get serious on global warming in the Cancun meet.
Seems that the warming happening already is about to release lots of methane into the air. Ice and permafrost have kept the gas trapped in ice for thousands of years, but it's about to be released.
When the gas is released, we'll warm up faster.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/28/MNAN1GCV8F.DTL
Your pal,
Hoping y'all get serious on global warming in the Cancun meet.
Seems that the warming happening already is about to release lots of methane into the air. Ice and permafrost have kept the gas trapped in ice for thousands of years, but it's about to be released.
When the gas is released, we'll warm up faster.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/28/MNAN1GCV8F.DTL
Your pal,
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Trash Talkin the Reps
Hey Barry:
Been thinking about what exactly the Reps want. Not an easy question, but I have an idea.
Here it is: The Reps is playing a game. They want to score points with voters and win elections. If they win, then the team owners - da BILLIONAIRES - will give them a ribbon.
They score points by sayin stuff that voters seem to like. Of course they don't believe a word of what they say - they are just actors for hire playing a part.
The BILLIONAIRE owners have a clear vision of the end game: each one gets a government guaranteed monopoly on some critical product or service and the employees work for less than minimum wage. The Rep employees will create laws and policies that will give the BILLIONAIRES those things when they win power.
The Reps practice their chops all the time, after all they need lots of work to be able to say their lines convincingly.
So, Barry, you a player. Do what do you do in a game: y'all trash talks the opposition to take away their concentration. Take away their focus and you win. The team wins which has the most focus.
Should be real easy to mess up the Reps focus because all of what they say makes zero sense in the real world. Jes call them on it, point by point.
Here are some areas to trash talk the Reps:
JOBS - Reps dont know jack about jobs. All they know is that the owner BILLIONAIRES tell them to say that cutting taxes creates jobs. It does not - it just makes the owners richer.
NATIONAL SECURITY - Reps think that means to give BILLIONAIRES more favors. Any time you do something to help real people in the country, the Reps is gonna holler about 'National Security'.
FREEDOM - When they talk about Freedom, Reps mean that there should be no government interference in the markets. Let the owners do whatever they want, then the owners will be FREE. Free to pay less than minimum wage is about as far as that argument goes.
FREE MARKETS - See Freedom above. The classical economic theory of 'laissez faire, laissez passer' was thoroughly deconstructed by Keynes. But, it still hangs around because the owners like the idea.
I am sure you have the idea here. Remember that as soon as you call the Reps on any one of their talking points they will just make up another one, so y'all need to be nimble. Call em on each and every one of their lines. Make em explain each idea.
Underlying point here is this: there will be zero bipartisanship on areas of national interest as long as the Rep owners think the Reps can score points with voters by saying their lines.
Your pal,
Been thinking about what exactly the Reps want. Not an easy question, but I have an idea.
Here it is: The Reps is playing a game. They want to score points with voters and win elections. If they win, then the team owners - da BILLIONAIRES - will give them a ribbon.
They score points by sayin stuff that voters seem to like. Of course they don't believe a word of what they say - they are just actors for hire playing a part.
The BILLIONAIRE owners have a clear vision of the end game: each one gets a government guaranteed monopoly on some critical product or service and the employees work for less than minimum wage. The Rep employees will create laws and policies that will give the BILLIONAIRES those things when they win power.
The Reps practice their chops all the time, after all they need lots of work to be able to say their lines convincingly.
So, Barry, you a player. Do what do you do in a game: y'all trash talks the opposition to take away their concentration. Take away their focus and you win. The team wins which has the most focus.
Should be real easy to mess up the Reps focus because all of what they say makes zero sense in the real world. Jes call them on it, point by point.
Here are some areas to trash talk the Reps:
JOBS - Reps dont know jack about jobs. All they know is that the owner BILLIONAIRES tell them to say that cutting taxes creates jobs. It does not - it just makes the owners richer.
NATIONAL SECURITY - Reps think that means to give BILLIONAIRES more favors. Any time you do something to help real people in the country, the Reps is gonna holler about 'National Security'.
FREEDOM - When they talk about Freedom, Reps mean that there should be no government interference in the markets. Let the owners do whatever they want, then the owners will be FREE. Free to pay less than minimum wage is about as far as that argument goes.
FREE MARKETS - See Freedom above. The classical economic theory of 'laissez faire, laissez passer' was thoroughly deconstructed by Keynes. But, it still hangs around because the owners like the idea.
I am sure you have the idea here. Remember that as soon as you call the Reps on any one of their talking points they will just make up another one, so y'all need to be nimble. Call em on each and every one of their lines. Make em explain each idea.
Underlying point here is this: there will be zero bipartisanship on areas of national interest as long as the Rep owners think the Reps can score points with voters by saying their lines.
Your pal,
Saturday, November 20, 2010
For the Immigrants
Hey Barry:
This is not for you, but read ahead.
Sometimes I hear about something that I cannot forget and am compelled to write about. In this case I cannot repeat the exact information, but can only expand on the general theme.
These thoughts are directed toward the men in the many communities that immigrate to the US of A.
I think it is important to try to communicate some ideas about our country on some sensitive questions. I do not intend to castigate all immigrants since the vast majority are decent law abiding citizens. And, there are many Native born Americans who fall into these errors; it is worse for the Americans because they know better.
We welcome you here and we are glad that you have chosen to honor us by coming here with your families. We have some knowledge of the hardships that you have endured to make the journey. We are a nation of immigrants, after all.
In America, all religious faiths are free to worship in their own way. There is no government or state religion and we make it a matter of law that no religion is favored over any other religion. Even those with no faith are free to follow their conscience without censure or restriction.
Having said that, we do not tolerate any violence from members of one religious faith toward members of any other faith. We consider that a hate crime and the perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
These practices apply equally to people of different races and national origins.
Regardless of your faith or custom, women are considered absolutely equal with men in every aspect of life. If she chooses, your wife is free to leave you at any moment. You are not allowed to make any effort of force or violence to make her stay with you if she wishes to leave. If you do so, you will be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts. This is so regardless of your immigration status.
If your wife is afraid that you may beat her and your children, a private, non-governmental organization composed entirely of women may help your family leave you; the organization also will prevent you from finding out where is your family.
If you persist in tracking them down you will be prosecuted as a criminal.
The age of consent for sexual relations is 18 years of age. If you engage in sexual relations with any child under that age, you will be considered a criminal and also a person unworthy of civilized society. When you go to prison, the other prisoners will probably kill you.
This is especially true if the child is a member of your family.
There are many other areas of life in which the government has the right to interfere in your family life if the government has evidence that children are not being treated properly.
Although our ideas are still evolving on the subject of homosexuality, the majority of Americans share the belief that homosexuality is not a choice or a lifestyle but a biological imperative as strong as a heterosexual's desire to have children.
We do not tolerate violence directed toward homosexuals or people who 'appear' to be so.
Your pal,
This is not for you, but read ahead.
Sometimes I hear about something that I cannot forget and am compelled to write about. In this case I cannot repeat the exact information, but can only expand on the general theme.
These thoughts are directed toward the men in the many communities that immigrate to the US of A.
I think it is important to try to communicate some ideas about our country on some sensitive questions. I do not intend to castigate all immigrants since the vast majority are decent law abiding citizens. And, there are many Native born Americans who fall into these errors; it is worse for the Americans because they know better.
We welcome you here and we are glad that you have chosen to honor us by coming here with your families. We have some knowledge of the hardships that you have endured to make the journey. We are a nation of immigrants, after all.
In America, all religious faiths are free to worship in their own way. There is no government or state religion and we make it a matter of law that no religion is favored over any other religion. Even those with no faith are free to follow their conscience without censure or restriction.
Having said that, we do not tolerate any violence from members of one religious faith toward members of any other faith. We consider that a hate crime and the perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
These practices apply equally to people of different races and national origins.
Regardless of your faith or custom, women are considered absolutely equal with men in every aspect of life. If she chooses, your wife is free to leave you at any moment. You are not allowed to make any effort of force or violence to make her stay with you if she wishes to leave. If you do so, you will be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts. This is so regardless of your immigration status.
If your wife is afraid that you may beat her and your children, a private, non-governmental organization composed entirely of women may help your family leave you; the organization also will prevent you from finding out where is your family.
If you persist in tracking them down you will be prosecuted as a criminal.
The age of consent for sexual relations is 18 years of age. If you engage in sexual relations with any child under that age, you will be considered a criminal and also a person unworthy of civilized society. When you go to prison, the other prisoners will probably kill you.
This is especially true if the child is a member of your family.
There are many other areas of life in which the government has the right to interfere in your family life if the government has evidence that children are not being treated properly.
Although our ideas are still evolving on the subject of homosexuality, the majority of Americans share the belief that homosexuality is not a choice or a lifestyle but a biological imperative as strong as a heterosexual's desire to have children.
We do not tolerate violence directed toward homosexuals or people who 'appear' to be so.
Your pal,
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
78 Supremes Kill Usury Laws
Hey Barry:
Seems the Supremes have been seizing our money for a long time.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/11/12/supreme-court-ruling-killed-usury-laws-credit-card-rates/?cmpid=prn_baynote-js_How_a_Supreme_Court_Ruling_Killed_Off_Usury_Laws_for_Credit_Card_Rates
OK, OK, it aint all the Supreme's fault - they are just following the Constitution about keeping national business out of the State's hands.
But in this case the effects of that practice have hurt us all.
Of course, the Consitutional remedy is for the Congress to pass a national usury law.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........
I needed a good laugh Barry.
Your pal,
Seems the Supremes have been seizing our money for a long time.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/11/12/supreme-court-ruling-killed-usury-laws-credit-card-rates/?cmpid=prn_baynote-js_How_a_Supreme_Court_Ruling_Killed_Off_Usury_Laws_for_Credit_Card_Rates
OK, OK, it aint all the Supreme's fault - they are just following the Constitution about keeping national business out of the State's hands.
But in this case the effects of that practice have hurt us all.
Of course, the Consitutional remedy is for the Congress to pass a national usury law.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........
I needed a good laugh Barry.
Your pal,
Friday, November 12, 2010
Aint No Free Lunch
Hey Barry:
Looks like the BILLIONAIRE water boy REPS are demanding a tax cut.
Well, allrighty then.
Surely the BILLIONAIRES know one thing: there aint no free lunch.
If you spend some $40 Billion per year of our money for the BILLIONAIRES, we want something for it.
In fact, we want at least four things for it.
Here's my particular wish list, Barry; but, you probably have your own.
Use my list or use yours, but y'all gotta tell us exactly how you made them sweat after the deal is made.
1. New law letting unions organize and strike.
2. Controls on money leaving the country administered by the FED.
3. Easing of mortgage loan requirements
4. Prohibition preventing commercial banks from buying equity in companies
All of us out here know xactly whas goin on with the REPS. Is NOT a secret. And, we are totally on your side, Barry.
If they want something from us, they gotta pay for it, Barry.
Its your job to make them pay and then tell us about it, so we can laugh a little. We need a laugh, Barry.
Your pal,
Looks like the BILLIONAIRE water boy REPS are demanding a tax cut.
Well, allrighty then.
Surely the BILLIONAIRES know one thing: there aint no free lunch.
If you spend some $40 Billion per year of our money for the BILLIONAIRES, we want something for it.
In fact, we want at least four things for it.
Here's my particular wish list, Barry; but, you probably have your own.
Use my list or use yours, but y'all gotta tell us exactly how you made them sweat after the deal is made.
1. New law letting unions organize and strike.
2. Controls on money leaving the country administered by the FED.
3. Easing of mortgage loan requirements
4. Prohibition preventing commercial banks from buying equity in companies
All of us out here know xactly whas goin on with the REPS. Is NOT a secret. And, we are totally on your side, Barry.
If they want something from us, they gotta pay for it, Barry.
Its your job to make them pay and then tell us about it, so we can laugh a little. We need a laugh, Barry.
Your pal,
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Stuck in Misery
Hey Barry:
In the world's economy today, we are all one. What happens in Japan happens in Germany and the USA too.
If the experience of Japan is relevant to the US, then it is likley that property values will continue to fall for several years.
Here is how the Global Property Guide puts it in 2009 [http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Asia/Japan/Price-History]:
"In Japan, land prices serve as a proxy for home prices..... Land prices are used as a measure of residential property values partly because Japan is earthquake-prone, making the value of land more significant than the houses built on them.
On a national level the price of land has been falling since H2 1991. Since the second half of 2007, land price decreases in Japan have accelerated. Land prices slid 3.4% (4.9% in real terms) in H1 2009 from the previous year."
See also: http://www.imes.boj.or.jp/english/publication/edps/2003/03-E-15.pdf, a Bank of Japan study of Japan's asset values by Shigenori Shiratsuka* in 2003, especially graph of falling land values on page 20.
If the whole economy is based on property values, then we in the USA face a long term decline. I think that the economy is based on property values.
Our reaction to the housing crisis has been to make it more difficult to borrow on houses. While this reaction has been well intentioned in order to overcome past exuberant and fraudulent practices, we face a continuing property value decline until lending practices are made easier.
Think about it, Barry, the only thing that will turn around the housing price decline is to make borrowing easier.
Y'all know I am NOT saying we go back to 2003, but we stuck in misery until borrowing gets easier.
And, Barry, ya just gotta make them banks focus on lending and get out of the stock market. Holy cow, this is not rocket science here.
Your pal,
In the world's economy today, we are all one. What happens in Japan happens in Germany and the USA too.
If the experience of Japan is relevant to the US, then it is likley that property values will continue to fall for several years.
Here is how the Global Property Guide puts it in 2009 [http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Asia/Japan/Price-History]:
"In Japan, land prices serve as a proxy for home prices..... Land prices are used as a measure of residential property values partly because Japan is earthquake-prone, making the value of land more significant than the houses built on them.
On a national level the price of land has been falling since H2 1991. Since the second half of 2007, land price decreases in Japan have accelerated. Land prices slid 3.4% (4.9% in real terms) in H1 2009 from the previous year."
See also: http://www.imes.boj.or.jp/english/publication/edps/2003/03-E-15.pdf, a Bank of Japan study of Japan's asset values by Shigenori Shiratsuka* in 2003, especially graph of falling land values on page 20.
If the whole economy is based on property values, then we in the USA face a long term decline. I think that the economy is based on property values.
Our reaction to the housing crisis has been to make it more difficult to borrow on houses. While this reaction has been well intentioned in order to overcome past exuberant and fraudulent practices, we face a continuing property value decline until lending practices are made easier.
Think about it, Barry, the only thing that will turn around the housing price decline is to make borrowing easier.
Y'all know I am NOT saying we go back to 2003, but we stuck in misery until borrowing gets easier.
And, Barry, ya just gotta make them banks focus on lending and get out of the stock market. Holy cow, this is not rocket science here.
Your pal,
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
W T F, Barry
Hey Barry:
Some kids have put up a web site that lists some of the things you have done so far.
It's kinda cool, but a little obscene, so use the link above and be warned.
Your pal,
Some kids have put up a web site that lists some of the things you have done so far.
It's kinda cool, but a little obscene, so use the link above and be warned.
Your pal,
Saturday, November 6, 2010
REPS are LYING
Hey Barry:
Let's be clear about something.
Tax cuts do NOT create jobs.
When the REPS say that tax cuts create jobs, they are LYING.
It is really hard to get some truth into the fog machine the REPS keep running.
Here's the truth: businesses create jobs when businesses have a lot of sales.
Tax cuts when there is no increase in demand just save the owners money, and then they buy a yacht - see Larry Ellison - they do NOT hire people because they pay less taxes.
The REPS keep repeating the phrase that tax cuts create jobs. It is a LIE.
It was Lenin who said that a lie repeated often enough becomes accepted as truth.
So, the REPS are repeating Communist propaganda because they are following Lenin.
Do not be fooled by the rhetoric, Barry.
Your pal,
Let's be clear about something.
Tax cuts do NOT create jobs.
When the REPS say that tax cuts create jobs, they are LYING.
It is really hard to get some truth into the fog machine the REPS keep running.
Here's the truth: businesses create jobs when businesses have a lot of sales.
Tax cuts when there is no increase in demand just save the owners money, and then they buy a yacht - see Larry Ellison - they do NOT hire people because they pay less taxes.
The REPS keep repeating the phrase that tax cuts create jobs. It is a LIE.
It was Lenin who said that a lie repeated often enough becomes accepted as truth.
So, the REPS are repeating Communist propaganda because they are following Lenin.
Do not be fooled by the rhetoric, Barry.
Your pal,
Friday, November 5, 2010
Winter is icumen in
Hey Barry:
Supposin we actually have a deflation.
It will feel like a big freeze - you won't be able to move. You will be stuck where you are. You will have only what you have and no more.
If you can survive on what you have you'll be in good shape, but some of us will freeze to death - in reality and metaphor.
Here's how Ezra Pound puts it:
Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
An ague hath my ham.
Damm you; Sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
So 'gainst the winter's balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm,
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.
Your pal,
Supposin we actually have a deflation.
It will feel like a big freeze - you won't be able to move. You will be stuck where you are. You will have only what you have and no more.
If you can survive on what you have you'll be in good shape, but some of us will freeze to death - in reality and metaphor.
Here's how Ezra Pound puts it:
Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
An ague hath my ham.
Damm you; Sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
So 'gainst the winter's balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm,
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.
Your pal,
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Buckle Up, Folks
Hey Barry:
Watched your newscast after the mid-term elections yesterday. Understand that you're down a little. But, don't be. Your are fighting the good fight and results will come - just not as fast as right now.
Besides, the DEMS drop off is not that different from earlier elections and completely expected.
There are one or two things I think you should take care of soon, before the new Congress is sworn. And there is another huge problem looming on the horizon.
Extending unemployment insurance and ending the Bush tax cuts are two things you should accomplish soon.
But, the big problem is a deflation that may be coming. Benny and the FED are shoveling money out the door as fast as they can. They are concerned about a Japanese style deflation and also concerned that the new Reps will hamstring any effective action by the Federal Government to restore aggregate demand.
The current recovery is fragile. It still needs some help. The help can come from additional consumer demand, business investment and/or federal stimulus.
CONSUMER DEMAND
Increasing consumer demand requires more jobs and more income for consumers. I know you are totally all over that. You have consistently called for keeping the middle class tax cuts - which will support demand.
BUSINESS INVESTMENT
You probably remember that Keynes called the spirit which moves businesses to invest 'animal spirits'. By that he meant that businesses move in a herd - like sheep. It just takes one firm to make a move, then the rest will follow. Maybe you can jawbone some CEO into making a big investment - can't hurt.
STIMULUS
If Bernanke is right that Congress will not approve any more federal stimulus spending, we may be looking at a deflation and continued high unemployment.
RADICAL SOLUTION
In my radical moments, I think the solution is to empower unions to strike for higher wages, prohibit commercial banks from investing in businesses, break up all the monopolies and oligopolies, enact a 90% income and 'death' tax on the RICH, restrict the free movement of capital out of the country and create a tariff wall so that businesses cannot move all our jobs to China and Malaysia.
And then I wake up.
So Barry, where does that leave you and me?
I think we keep on fighting the good fight and recognize that some events are too big to change; we take our small victories where we can.
It's gonna be a hell of a ride, Barry, buckle up them seat belts.
Your pal,
Watched your newscast after the mid-term elections yesterday. Understand that you're down a little. But, don't be. Your are fighting the good fight and results will come - just not as fast as right now.
Besides, the DEMS drop off is not that different from earlier elections and completely expected.
There are one or two things I think you should take care of soon, before the new Congress is sworn. And there is another huge problem looming on the horizon.
Extending unemployment insurance and ending the Bush tax cuts are two things you should accomplish soon.
But, the big problem is a deflation that may be coming. Benny and the FED are shoveling money out the door as fast as they can. They are concerned about a Japanese style deflation and also concerned that the new Reps will hamstring any effective action by the Federal Government to restore aggregate demand.
The current recovery is fragile. It still needs some help. The help can come from additional consumer demand, business investment and/or federal stimulus.
CONSUMER DEMAND
Increasing consumer demand requires more jobs and more income for consumers. I know you are totally all over that. You have consistently called for keeping the middle class tax cuts - which will support demand.
BUSINESS INVESTMENT
You probably remember that Keynes called the spirit which moves businesses to invest 'animal spirits'. By that he meant that businesses move in a herd - like sheep. It just takes one firm to make a move, then the rest will follow. Maybe you can jawbone some CEO into making a big investment - can't hurt.
STIMULUS
If Bernanke is right that Congress will not approve any more federal stimulus spending, we may be looking at a deflation and continued high unemployment.
RADICAL SOLUTION
In my radical moments, I think the solution is to empower unions to strike for higher wages, prohibit commercial banks from investing in businesses, break up all the monopolies and oligopolies, enact a 90% income and 'death' tax on the RICH, restrict the free movement of capital out of the country and create a tariff wall so that businesses cannot move all our jobs to China and Malaysia.
And then I wake up.
So Barry, where does that leave you and me?
I think we keep on fighting the good fight and recognize that some events are too big to change; we take our small victories where we can.
It's gonna be a hell of a ride, Barry, buckle up them seat belts.
Your pal,
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
California is NOT For Sale
Hey Barry:
I'm proud to be in a state where we don't sell out.
Meg tried to the tune of $160 million - no sale.
Go home and roll around in your money, Meg.
Leave us be.
Your pal,
I'm proud to be in a state where we don't sell out.
Meg tried to the tune of $160 million - no sale.
Go home and roll around in your money, Meg.
Leave us be.
Your pal,
Monday, November 1, 2010
USA: Top Heavy and Fallin
Hey Barry:
So, exactly where are we as a country today? It's a big question. And, the answer is not good Barry.
Basically we are a two class society, Barry.
The top 20% of RICH folks own 93% of the USA's financial wealth - total wealth less value of the house.
Read it here: http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
Let me repeat that: the RICHEST 20% own 93% of total wealth.
Barry, most of the time 93% means ALL OF IT.
You an me - we aint got squat.
Let's look ahead and see what is likely to happen.
This condition cannot continue as it is.
Something's gotta give. We gonna tip over.
Where will we be after we fall, Barry? That's the question.
As an indication, I'm going to quote Kevin Phillips from his book WEALTH AND DEMOCRACY, 2002. Let's see if you can guess what country and time he is describing. Oh, I will change a few words here and there:
The country had "...come to be an extreme contrast of rich and poor...Our condition is one in which we have rich who loll at ease, or poor who beg, and we a lack middle class whom neither wealth nor poverty prevents their pursuing the rightful kind of business...."
This could describe San Francisco yesterday. Or England in the 1900's.
But it actually describes Spain in 1600 [Martin Gonzalez de Cellorigio]. Shortly after that was written Spain ceased to be an international power and was relegated to second class status as a country.
That's our future Barry.
The only way out is to change the income and wealth distribution so that we have a middle class.
Your pal,
So, exactly where are we as a country today? It's a big question. And, the answer is not good Barry.
Basically we are a two class society, Barry.
The top 20% of RICH folks own 93% of the USA's financial wealth - total wealth less value of the house.
Read it here: http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
Let me repeat that: the RICHEST 20% own 93% of total wealth.
Barry, most of the time 93% means ALL OF IT.
You an me - we aint got squat.
Let's look ahead and see what is likely to happen.
This condition cannot continue as it is.
Something's gotta give. We gonna tip over.
Where will we be after we fall, Barry? That's the question.
As an indication, I'm going to quote Kevin Phillips from his book WEALTH AND DEMOCRACY, 2002. Let's see if you can guess what country and time he is describing. Oh, I will change a few words here and there:
The country had "...come to be an extreme contrast of rich and poor...Our condition is one in which we have rich who loll at ease, or poor who beg, and we a lack middle class whom neither wealth nor poverty prevents their pursuing the rightful kind of business...."
This could describe San Francisco yesterday. Or England in the 1900's.
But it actually describes Spain in 1600 [Martin Gonzalez de Cellorigio]. Shortly after that was written Spain ceased to be an international power and was relegated to second class status as a country.
That's our future Barry.
The only way out is to change the income and wealth distribution so that we have a middle class.
Your pal,
Supremes Keep Disclosure
Hey Barry:
While they did not exactly acknowledge a mistake or make amends, the supremes just upheld disclosure rules for political actors.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/01/national/w070520D46.DTL
Now you can have Attorney General Holder enforce the rules aggressively.
It's something we need Barry.
Your pal,
While they did not exactly acknowledge a mistake or make amends, the supremes just upheld disclosure rules for political actors.
Read it here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/01/national/w070520D46.DTL
Now you can have Attorney General Holder enforce the rules aggressively.
It's something we need Barry.
Your pal,
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