Monday -- same old, same old

I've been thinking about writing one truly inspired piece for this blog -- until then, business as usual (I should run for office - I'd make a good, though ineffective politico).

Great news (HA!) from "Some Assembly Required":
(as always, please follow link to original)


Twas Ever So: An FBI inserted an agent provocateur into a local mosque; he was reported to the FBI for trying to instigate a terrorist attack.

Business As Usual: During the housing boom about 50% of mortgage loans to blacks and Latinos were high cost 'products' while only 11% of whites got stuck with the deceitful, designed-to-fail mortgages. When the collapse came, blacks and Latinos lost their homes at twice the rate whites did. Get used to it, there's more to come as the rich white folks take over completely.

Losing the War: The Irish 'rescue' did not lower their debt one cent, nor make their interest rates tolerable, but it will require them to send 10% of their national income to foreign banks and bondholders for a decade or two. It's not repayment, it's reparations.

Priorities: The US cannot afford to provide minimum benefits to millions of the unemployed (at a cost of $60 billion), but can give the top 2% of taxpayers $750 billion for Christmas. The Fed had enough money to bail out big European banks, but not enough to rebuild the US infrastructure. The US can continue to pay for unwinnable wars, but not for decent healthcare. And so it goes.

There is much more -- go there and read it for yourself.

weather

By the way, in case you wondered -- global warming/climate change IS REAL.

It is also MAN MADE.

End of story.

Music from our past

So, I was talking to my partner today - not about politics, by the way. I asked if she had ever heard of "The Silver Masked Tenor" or John McCormack -- she said NO. Can you believe that?

Back in the 1920's "The Silver Masked Tenor was so popular that when the orchestra appeared at some theaters he needed a POLICE ESCORT. Talk about a rock star!

Growing up in Jackson Heights, Oueens, -- which was then an Irish neighborhood -- we were all involved with things Irish-American. There was almost automatic support for the IRA, a healthy disregard for Priests, The Catholic Church, and a need to go to midnight mass on Christmas EVE -- even if very drunk. If I recall correctly, the story went around that one of the boys vomited into the baptismal font one Christmas Eve. Though of the generation before me, even I had heard of the GREAT Irish tenor - John McCormack -- anyway, here's some music

(By the way, back then the vomit incident was looked on as "boys will be boys", good clean (?) fun. Today they might well arrest you for that.)

Here is a little music from the 20's and 30's








Here is The B.F. Goodrich Sivlertown Cord Orch. with, Mary Lou - vocal by "The Silver Masked Tenor"



By the way, "The Silver Masked Tenor" was Joseph M. White

Wikileaks

So, I've been reading stuff by folks opposed to Wikileaks. Some Brits, some USA folks. Not gov't types, not even well-to-do folks who fear some of their double-dealing might be exposed (how, I don't know) -- just regular folk.

Don't quite understand it. Do not understand why they want to prosecute, why they want to "get rid of " Assange.

It's beginning to sound like, look like, read like, some cheesy spy novel from the late 60's, early 70's.

Here I thought this "new" administration was going to be more "transparent" -- what a load of crap.

When will we learn. "look at what they do -- not what they say".

The Obama folks are no better on civil liberty than were the Bush folks. Everyone screams and yells about The Constitution -- but EVERYONE wants to toss it aside when it suits THEM.

IDIOTS!!

Isn't it fun living in a police state?

Always remember what the right wing types say. "If you don't do anything 'wrong', you have nothing to worry about". That's like saying -- if you do not attempt to use your freedom -- you still have it (or, what we allow you to have).

Another thing to remember -- THEY can always REDEFINE "WRONG" -- and they do it all the time -- look at what is now called "terrorism", once "vandalism". Look at all the stuff you did as a kid (if you're over 50) that is now a "felony".

"Land of the free, home of the brave" -- when's the last time you heard that?

How about -- "The American Way", or "American Know how"?

Heck, now we can't even build a bridge unless it pays for itself RIGHT NOW! The concept of "future" is foreign to our "leaders". So is upkeep of "the commons" (the WHAT???).

I guess the rich and super-rich will have their private water, private police, private schools, private towns, etc., etc. -- all this in their "private, gated communities".

How's that feel all you "common folk" out there? Do you realize YOU are becoming a member of "the proletariat" -- maybe even becoming a "lumpen prole"?

All of this generation raised on "self esteem". All these folks who are WONDERFUL without ever doing ANYTHING -- "self esteem" without ever EARNING it --- gosh, how will they all feel when they discover THEY are just like everyone else?

How will they feel when THEY discover they are part of the 90% of "losers" in this "winner take all" society?

Golly-gee, I'm really happy I'm 71 and not 31.

Read at your own risk!!

We're not insane - here from Crooks and Liars (please follow link to original) is something ASTOUNDING!! It seems we have returned to the very worst days of the cold war - with no massive "evil empire" opposing us. Here is just the headline:


"December 04, 2010 11:00 AM
Students Warned Not To Link To Or Even Read WikiLeaks If They Want A Federal Job. Is This Still America?"

How about that -- DO NOT READ THIS -- or we will BLACKLIST you! Isn't that just AMAZING?

Tell me again how "they hate us for our freedom".

Who the hell is this Obama person??

insane society

No wonder so many folks take all sorts of medication -- the PEOPLE tend to be sane --- it's the country that's insane --- and, of course, those who buy into the crap they're being fed.

Yesterday I thought we might actually be "turning the corner", I thought we really might be in the early stages of a recovery - a real one.

All the news tells me -- NO!

It is reaaly a shame.

To my friends in Europe, to those in Spain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, France -- I wish you well. I hope your EU does not dissolve, I hope you are not thrown into a series of wars, fighting for what is "rightfully yours", fighting to become "neo-Switzerlands", severely limiting immigration, further marginalizing your foreign workers.

(and to think, Europeans would tsk-tsk about racial problems in the USA -- especially when they had no minorities in their country. I suspect their record is no better than ours)

Just let the kids starve . . .

I finally got back to the computer -- went to "Atheist Oasis" -- a blog for atheists.

My goodness, what sort of strange political crap could I possibly find there?

Perhaps some snarky comments about the latest revelations in the never-ending, ongoing, Roman Catholic Church, child rape-a-thon. Other than that -- or some news about some Strange Southern Pastor -- I thought it might be a refuge from our insane government -- you know, the one that doesn't want to govern, presided over by "the incredible shrinking President' (thank you Paul Krugman).

But nooooooo !!! (please follow link to original)


Just let the kids starve . . .
Posted on December 1, 2010 by Stardust

So much has pissed me off in the last few days. The greedy-ass Republicans have voted to stop extending unemployment benefits to those who are out of work, and now this…

Republicans block child nutrition bill

WASHINGTON – House Republicans have temporarily blocked legislation to feed school meals to thousands more hungry children. Republicans used a procedural maneuver Wednesday to try to amend the $4.5 billion bill, which would give more needy children the opportunity to eat free lunches at school and make those lunches healthier. First lady Michelle Obama has lobbied for the bill as part of her “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity.

*snip*

The bill would provide money to serve more than 20 million additional after-school meals annually to children in all 50 states. Many of those children now only receive after-school snacks. It would also increase the number of children eligible for school meals programs by at least 115,000, using Medicaid and census data to identify them.

The legislation would increase the amount of money schools are reimbursed by 6 cents a meal, a priority for schools that say they don’t have the dollars to feed needy kids.

I think they would rejoice if all the “problem” people just died.

As I.C. commented in the thread at Yahoo News:

We just invented a new gun, and it costs $30,000. The government needs to buy lots and lots of them. This is good for America.

Feeding hungry kids produces nothing, so we cannot waste money on lunches for American children. What an outrageous idea!

At least, guns produce more wars and more money for weapon manufacturers. You don’t understand that simple fact? Just ask a Republican.

Selfish fucks."


I couldn't have said it better myself!

Modern Life

Does anyone else think we are now living in some dystopian comedy? A place where it's so absurd you have to laugh -- even as real people really die?

Kafka is alive and well.

Wikileaks blocked for federal workers

Americablog has a cute little post all about how -- well, here, read it for yourself.

As has been said many times in the past, "you can't make this stuff up" -- theater of the absurd! (please follow link to original)

Wait, wait, perhaps there is some sense to this -- after all, you don't want Federal Workers knowing stuff -- do you? Why, they might learn their pay has been frozen for two years, right?

Have we ALL lost our minds?


Saturday, December 04, 2010
WikiLeaks blocked for federal workers because it's classified
by Chris in Paris on 12/04/2010 01:30:00 PM
Never mind the fact that the same data can be read at the NY Times or The Guardian website. Talk about security theater! At least people like Joe Lieberman are satisfied because now the US government is just like China with its censorship policy towards federal workers.

The Obama administration is banning hundreds of thousands of federal employees from calling up the WikiLeaks site on government computers because the leaked material is still formally regarded as classified.

The Library of Congress tonight joined the education department, the commerce department and other government agencies in confirming that the ban is in place.

Although thousands of leaked cables are freely available on the Guardian, New York Times and other newspaper websites, as well as the WikiLeaks site, the Obama administration insists they are still classified and, as such, have to be protected

Fast approaching

Being a glutton for punishment -- after eating (handle it better on a full belly) -- I went to "When Giants Fall". Now, you know their stock in trade is BAD NEWS ------------------ BUT, did I think it would be THIS BAD?? (please follow link to original)


"End Is Nigh for EU

At what point is an economic union no longer viable? When one out of 27 members gets into serious financial trouble? Or two? Maybe three? How about if six of them -- over 20 percent -- are at risk? Seems like that would make it almost impossible for the arrangement to survive. If you buy that -- and I do -- then the perspectives featured in the following Business Insider report, "Citi: Ireland, Greece And Portugal Are Insolvent, Spain Will Be Soon, Italy And Belgium Are Threatened," suggest the end is nigh as far as the European Union is concerned.

His Sovereign Debt Crisis Update names six countries in or on the brink of insolvency (via FT Alphaville).

Greece: "Greece is de facto insolvent, in our view, all the more so after the recent debt and deficit revisions. As long as Greece remains sufficiently compliant with the conditionality of its EU/IMF program, sovereign debt restructuring is likely to be postponed at least until mid-2013, when its EU/IMF programme expires. At that point, it likely will be transferred to the EFSF or its successor. Whether its debt will be restructured at that stage, including haircuts, will depend on factors beyond the sustainability of its debt."

Ireland: "Accessing external sources of funds will not mark the end of Ireland’s troubles. The reason is that, in our view, the consolidated Irish sovereign and Irish domestic financial system is de facto insolvent. The Irish sovereign cannot from its own resources ‘bail out’ the banks and make its own creditors whole. In addition, a fully-fledged bailout (permanent fiscal transfer) from EA partners or the ECB is most unlikely. Therefore, either the unsecured non-guaranteed creditors of the banks, and/or the creditors of the sovereign may eventually have to accept a restructuring with an NPV haircut, even if it is not a condition for accessing the EFSF or the EFSM at present.

Portugal: "After an Irish agreement with the EU/IMF, the market’s attention is likely to turn to Portugal’s sovereign, which at current levels of interest rates and growth rates, is less dramatically, but quietly, insolvent, in our view. We consider it likely that it will need to access the EFSF soon."

Spain: "For now, the markets have put Spain in Italy’s sovereign risk class when, in our view, it should be closer to Portugal and Ireland once its banking sector problems are recognised. We argued before that the EFSF should be much larger (€2trn). Should Spain need assistance, it will stretch the resources of the EFSF, perhaps beyond its current limits. There may be some room to expand the size of the EFSF. But, in our view, once Spain needs assistance, the support of the ECB will be critical (by purchasing Spanish sovereign debt through its Securities Markets Program — SMP — and funding Spanish banks using Spanish sovereign debt or sovereign-guaranteed financial instruments as collateral or by making loans to or purchasing the debt of the EFSF, legally a limited liability company that could even be made an eligible counterparty of the Eurosystem for this purpose). In the longer term, there may be a need for large-scale restructuring of the debt of the Spanish banking sector and possibly the sovereign."

Italy and Belgium: "At longer horizons, high debt levels and political instability in Italy and Belgium may yet give rise to fundamentally warranted sovereign debt crises, while self-justifying crises are possible even in the near term, despite roughly balanced structural primary budgets."."


Happy, happy -- Merry Christmas. What could be worse?? --- Tune in.

Class And Social Security

My next stop was "Conscience Of A Liberal" - Paul Krugman's blog. Heck, after reading all these "rabble-rousers", I thought it might just make sense to read what a NOBEL PRIZE winning economist has to say. Here is a little sample: (please follow link to original)


"Class And Social Security

Digby sounds the warning: a fair number of “centrist” Democrats – probably including the Incredible Shrinking President — seem willing, even eager, to join up with Republicans in cutting Social Security benefits and raising the retirement age. As she says, this is idiotic even in narrow political terms: in the very next election, Republicans will run ads in which they pose as the defenders of Social Security, while Democrats are the meanies who want to take away your retirement.

The question you have to ask is, why are Democrats such suckers on this issue?

The proximate cause is that cutting Social Security is one of those things you’re for if you’re a Very Serious Person. Way back, I wrote that inside the Beltway calling for Social Security cuts is viewed as a “badge of seriousness”, which has nothing to do with the program’s real importance or lack thereof to the budget picture; that column elicited a more or less hysterical reaction, which sort of proved the point. (Looking back at the column, I was surprised to see that it was about the ISP himself; tales of a debacle foretold.)

But why Social Security? There was a telling moment in 2004, during one of the presidential campaign debates. Tim Russert, the moderator, asked eight or nine questions about Social Security, trying to put the candidates on the spot, while asking not once about Medicare, which serious people – as opposed to Serious People – know is the real heart of the story. Why the focus on Social Security?

The answer, I suspect, has to do with class.

When medical expenses are big, they’re big; even the very affluent are grateful when Medicare pays the bills for their mother-in-laws bypass or dialysis. The importance of Medicare, in short, is obvious to all but the very rich.

Social Security, by contrast, is something that matters enormously to the bottom half of the income distribution, but no so much to people in the 250K-plus club. A 30 percent cut in benefits would represent disaster for tens of millions of Americans, but a barely noticeable inconvenience for VSPs and everyone they know. A rise in the retirement age would be a vast hardship for people who do manual labor, but if anything a gift to VSPs, who don’t want to step aside in any case. And so on down the line.

So going after Social Security is a way to seem tough and serious — but entirely at the expense of people you don’t know."


Now, I really want to cry. He is spot on. He just told the truth --- HOW DARE HE!!!

Will all my cherished illusions be destroyed?

Notice how no one uses that good old phrase, "The American way" anymore? Notice how "Homeland" has become the "word of choice" when talking about the USA? Anyone else totally disgusted with the singing of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at almost every baseball game? What in HELL has happened to MY COUNTRY?

Every day, I'm happier that I'm seventy-one, and not thirty one.

next I read "some Assembly Required"

After going to "firedoglake", I went to "Some Assembly Required" -- just go there -- you might well cry too. Below will be a couple of samples from that blog - just to whet your interest --- as for me, I think I'll go read some positive "spin" (if I can find any) -- just to make some of the pain go away. At the same time, every time I read that crap -- I want to vomit.

Our "leaders" are so "protected" from the trials of "ordinary people" (but, you say, there are no "ordinary people" - isn't everyone "special" - at least that's what all the "self-esteem" gurus said, right?) that they do not have a clue. Obama is no more attuned to the plight of "the masses" than was George W. Bush, the worlds oldest and dimmest frat boy.

(Kids, if you want to be involved in a growth industry -- go become a "shrink" -- that's going to be a booming industry -- especially after all these "special" young folks realize they are just regular schlubs like everyone else.)

Anyway, she said, here are your samples. (Given all the news, you might actually be better off watching football - or some hi-def nature show)


Footnote: While we watch the wringing of hands and pleading voices of the GOP as they try to make the Bush tax cuts for those with incomes over a million dollars permanent, remember that the cost of those tax cuts over the next 75 years is equal to the entire Social Security shortfall over the same period.

Secret Stash: An unreported catastrophe is unfolding in the US housing market. While the media plays up whatever positives it can find – like the latest Case Shiller index which is only down a little in quarter ended in September – real-time data that portrays a housing market drowning in inventory that is likely to experience steep declines in prices and sales in the near future

Crocodile Tears: Will raising the capital gains tax from 15% to 20% cause a stock market crash? Maybe, but why do you care? For most of us, 5% of nothing is nothing.

(please follow link to original)

Go To Firedoglake

Today, one of my very first stops on line was "firedoglake", a wonderful blog where Jane Hamsher presides. First headline I saw was: "White House Brags about Exporting our Pyramid Schemes to Korea". Below is, "Jamie Dimon, Chamber of Commerce and UAW Congratulate President Obama on the Glorious Occasion of His NAFTA-Style Korea Trade Agreement"

I think these posts set just the right ton. Pravda-like declarations. When will our "corporate masters" announce our first "five year plan" to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure?

Heck, even "neo-fascists" can use the terminology the long dead left.

Please follow link to firedoglake

Rep. Grayson on the Limbaugh/Beck/Palin Tax Cuts

Alan Grayson -- a DEMOCRAT!!

Update on Banks

It is now 8:05 PM CST -- so far no banks eaten by FDIC. Let us hope it stays this way.

Endgame - from "Some Assembly Required"

Ah yes, our "uber-capitalists", "Masters Of The Universe" -- the people who do not know when enough is enough, the good folks who seem to want a return to serfdom, to a feudal system run now by giant corporations, are beginning to privatize Europe - one little step at a time, one little bite at a time. The "Shock Doctrine" is healthy and at work in Ireland -- soon enough Spain, Portugal, Greece (except they tend to get "difficult"). Perhaps soon afterward -- Italy, France, Belgium ---- even Germany (even if they don't "need" it ---- they seem to like pain, austerity, etc. - if it is "framed" correctly). Why do I get the feeling that these monopolists will not stop until ALL the people rise up against them? Why does it seem they are too stupid to know when enough is enough. what sort of horrible war will we all have to go through to once again become citizens of a world where we are, once again, PEOPLE (IE: "human beings") instead of "Human Resources", "Human Capital", or (more simply) "wetware"?

This from "Some Assembly Required" - please follow link to original)


"Endgame: Ireland and Spain are moving into step two of the shock doctrine program, offering up airports, electrical systems, natural gas systems, and even national lotteries to the privatization gods."

“A World Upside Down? Deficit Fantasies in the Great Recession”: Thomas Ferguson and Robert Johnson Expose Unnecessary Deficit Hysteria

This from, new deal 2.0 (please follow link to original)


“A World Upside Down? Deficit Fantasies in the Great Recession”: Thomas Ferguson and Robert Johnson Expose Unnecessary Deficit Hysteria
Thursday, 12/2/2010 - 8:43 am by Roosevelt Institute | 4 Comments

This paper demonstrates that the current hysteria over deficits in the US is unjustified. Markets for even long term US government debt are strong.

Key findings:

· Claims that economic growth falls off at anywhere near current US levels of debt to GDP are untrue. Neither is it the case that cutting deficits magically stimulates the economy. And stories about 90% limits are untrue.

· The CBO August 2010 budget revision implies that the U.S. is less endangered than most analysts claim.

· Private oligopolies in health and defense spending, along with the possibility of another banking crisis, are the real threats to the deficit, not entitlements.

· Social Security is in essentially no danger for decades and does not require any fix.

· It would be easy to stimulate the economy with a program of public investment that would substantially reduce public debts in the long run.

Read Working Paper 7: “A World Upside Down? Deficit Fantasies in the Great Recession“

Disney town of Celebration records second violent death in a week

I know it wasn't Mickey -- but, both Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck are suspects.

Please, just imagine living in a DISNEY town! The horror, the horror!


Authorities are investigating a violent death in the central Florida town built by Disney, just days after the first murder in its 14-year history was reported.

A man apparently killed himself after shooting at police in Celebration.

Craig Foushee, 52, barricaded himself in a house for more than 14 hours, according to Osceola county sheriff's office. Police found him dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twis Lizasuain, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, said there was no connection with Foushee's death and that of Matteo Patrick Giovanditto, who was found dead in a housing complex on Tuesday. Giovanditto's murder was the first ever reported in Disney's master-planned community for 11,000 residents.

Giovanditto lived alone and had been killed over Thanksgiving weekend, authorities said.Neighbours hadn't seen him for days, so they filed a missing person's report, then went into his apartment a day later and found him.

Bishop to face trial May 4 in child porn case

case you had forgotten -- they're still with us -- once again, The Holy Roman Catholic Church is living up to its hard earned reputation -- child rapers, and wannabe child rapers.

good to see they haven't lost their touch. (please follow link to original)


Bishop to face trial May 4 in child porn case


1 hour, 13 minutes ago

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Roman Catholic Bishop Raymond Lahey is set to face trial May 4-6 on child pornography charges.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin in late April and run into May, but that was changed Friday during a court hearing.

Lahey's lawyer, Michael Edelson, told the judge he won't need as many days as first thought.

Lahey, 70, was not in court.

The former head of the diocese in Antigonish, N.S., was charged in September 2009 with possessing and importing child pornography. He was arrested after border agents searched his laptop at Ottawa airport as he arrived from Britain.

Police say they found hundreds of files and dozens of videos on Lahey's laptop, many of them showing young males engaged in sex acts.

Treason

All the Anti-American crap being bandied about by our Republican members of Congress is TREASON.

High Treason. Crimes against the people of the United States of America.

It's really sad that many, if not most, folks blame the wrong people.

It's shameful to have such an uneducated populace.

tell the truth

Headlines in ALL newspapers tomorrow should read: "Republicans Vote For Middle Class Tax Increases" -- then:

"In an unprecedented act of arrogance, Republicans in Congress voted to INCREASE taxes on the struggling middle class -- until they get their way. With high unemployment, a depressed economy, and a disappearing middle class, Republican "lawmakers" showed the world they would let the nation founder, further depressing the economy, unless the very rich they represent are given a continuation of a "temporary" tax cut that will add 700 billion to our deficit.

They would let children starve, families fall apart, unless the richest of the rich can continue to reap the benefits of a tax cut that DID NOT WORK as intended.

All this reporter can say is: UNAMERICAN"

Go to "The Rude Pundit"

Even though I rarely read "The Rude Pundit" - I still look in at times. Today is one of the times to look in - especially the post titled. "This Ain't Rocket Science" posted 12/02. Clear, concise, to the point. Please follow link - and read it.

something different, original, new -- or maybe a bit of the usual crap, stuff we've come to expect.

O.K. now, here I am, looking for something, something to put up on this thing I call a blog -- so, I go to places like Raw Story or Some Assembly Required - maybe they might just have a headline that leads me to something I (that's me, I) can write about -- instead of just forwarding canned reports.

I've been unable to watch the news, been unable to watch Olbermann or Maddow -- every time they cut away to almost any lying sack of shit political leader, I begin to mumble. It gets louder. Very soon I'm channeling my inner Lewis Black -- with snorts, noises, and my yelling back at the TV set.

At that point, I leave and go watch MLB Network, or some nature show with a calmly droning narrator.

eventually I get up -- go to the computer -- and, here I am ------------------ Then I see headlines like: "Nigeria to charge Dick Cheney in bribery case", or, "Drugmaker used ghost writers to author work bylined by academics". Next comes, "Feds tracking credit cards, store purchases without warrant: report", and "SWEDEN PROBING ASSANGE FOR SEX WITHOUT CONDOM".

That's just the beginning. Next I go to "Some Assembly Required" and read, "Perspective: The Deficit Commission was set up to devise ways to trim the US budget deficit. As you evaluate their recommendations, keep in mind that the deficit is primarily caused by: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for the rich. Medicare, and the economic downturn caused by greedy, short sighted Wall Street bankers. So naturally the commission's suggested cure is to cut Social Security.", and "Made In America: In bailing out Wall Street somehow the fed gave the most money to two European banks - Deutsche Bank got $29o billion and Credit Suisse got $287 billion. The Fed shoveled more money into foreign banks via currency swaps with foreign central banks who passed the money on to their banks. And non-banks made out pretty well, including Caterpillar, General Electric, Harley Davidson, McDonald’s, Toyota and Verizon.".

At this point --- why go further? Why even bother?

Our electorate voted for a young, non-traditional (by this I mean, "Not an old white man") candidate -- and found they got an old white man in drag. So, here I am, back to sputtering, back to questioning every move this supposedly "Democratic Administration" makes, every word they say.

I understand why they hate Nancy Pelosi so much -- she's a REAL Democrat, one of the few.

There's little more to say --- perhaps Firedoglake says it best in a piece titled: "Late Night: The FUTURE Is… REVEALED! Holy Toboggans!" -- it was put up Weds Dec1.

go read it.

Tax 'em

Tax the RICH -- I've been told they can afford it.

Now, I have a question. I'm really serious. It is:

If things continue to get worse, which will be more valuable?

Gold?

or

Bullets?

The Good Old USA and Ireland

By the way, in case anyone here in the old USA wondered -- The Irish got truly SCREWED in this latest bailout. The banks are whole (sort of), the foreign bondholders are whole -- the average Irish citizen is totally SCREWED.

Imagine that, the general public, the average citizen, footing the bill for some bankers shenanigans.

Can you imagine that?

Why, that could NEVER happen in the USA -- could it?

The average citizen would NEVER be asked to foot the bill for a bunch of fraudsters -- would we?

We would never be asked to lose much of our social safety net -- like social security, medicare, medicaid, or unemployment insurance -- because a bunch of rich guys gambled away our economy -- would we?

Nah, never could happen -- especially with our "watchdog media" -- right?

Are you laughing yet?

light day today

Slow day for me today on line. Did some yard work, went shopping, etc., etc. Just day to day chores -- it's just that they become a much bigger deal as I age.

Damn!

It really annoys me when what was once a typical busy day now leads to my feeling wiped out.

Next snot-nosed kid who tells me, "Age is just a number.", is going to get my purse across his (or her) head --- well, not really -- I've actually retained SOME impulse control.

It struck me recently -- not that long ago I'd work 10 or so hours, come home, eat, go back out to one or another club, get home LATE (early in the AM - I'd stop at Slim's Bagels just off the LIE, and munch the rest of the way home) - sleep fast, and go back to work.

This was long after I quit drinking - when I was WELL into my fifties.

At about 70 it was as if I hit a wall.

Now, if I were to THINK about doing that, I'd have to rest at least one day (maybe two).

I don't dislike being old(er), it's just that more things take more planning.

We still go to concerts -- there are times I think we are the oldest folks there -- but the next day tends to be a "light" day.

Anyway, more to come tonight -- most likely music ---------------------- if I were to get started on commentary, I'd be up all night. (Damn, isn't McCain a REALLY old fart?)

Unemployed? Must be ALL "your fault".

Yep, that's right. If you are unemployed -- it must be your fault. In fact, today's business section of The Dallas Morning News says many want ads SAY, "unemployed need not apply". It seems quite a few companies will not hire you if you don't have a job already. They feel it must be your fault.

So, let's see, unemployment insurance has not been extended. Republicans think these lavish benefits keep you from getting a job. At the very same time, many businesses will not hire you if you actually ARE unemployed.

By the way, it is NOT illegal to discriminate against the unemployed.

Isn't this a peachy situation? Middle class -- nah, not anymore. Can you say, "serfdom"? Can you say, "homeless"? Can you say, "the USA has lost its way"? I thought you could.

Now, does ANYONE really give a damn? No! No they do not -- until THEY lose THEIR job. Isn't that interesting?

No, they do not -- until "social unrest" begins to roil their placid existence. Can't have that "rabble" upset us, can we? Does it matter that the "rabble" were your neighbors six months ago? No, of course not -- after all, they were, not worthy/overextended/poseurs/"not our kind"/etc., etc., etc.

Shame on us ALL!!

Unemployment Insurance Extension

Our wonderful Senate allowed unemployment benefits to lapse for almost one million people. No heart. No guts. No connection to real America.

We will NEVER balance the budget by SHRINKING the economy -- tax receipts fall faster than savings. You actually have to grow the economy.

Unemployment benefits are a very small part of our total budget.

VERY strange! These ideologues, these morons are running the country. Shame on all of us for allowing this to happen.

Let's hope our oligarchs wake up in time.

TAX THE RICH !!

and the CHURCHES too -- and, bring the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Close Guantanamo too. If that's not enough why not bring the troops home from Germany, etc.

Our Empire is tattered, frayed, and we will soon be a nation of very rich, and poor.

"Third World America"

Does anyone really want that?

Perhaps Ted Rall is right.

NYC Slashes Funding For Homeless Youth

I no longer live in N.Y. -- I live in Texas. As a result I often get my news second hand.

Now, I know cities and states are facing a budget crunch -- there's less money coming in, real estate is worth less, lower tax receipts, etc., etc., etc. At the same time, everyone says Wall Street is doing VERY well.

Imagine my surprise when I read this in Joe.My.God. (please follow link to original)


NYC Slashes Funding For Homeless Youth

On Thanksgiving Eve, the Ali Forney Center received a grim letter from New York City's Department of Youth and Community Development.

Due to a combination of City and State budget reductions for FY11 and FY12, DYCD has made the difficult decision to reduce Runaway and Homeless Youth Services funds by $969,407 and $700,000, respectively, beginning this fiscal year. In order to preserve residential services for young people in need of a safe place to stay, DYCD has decided to modify Street Outreach and Drop-In Center Services. As a result of the combination of State and City reductions, Street Outreach Services will be reduced by 50% in FY11 and eliminated in FY12. Drop-In Center services funded by the City Council will be reduced by 50% in FY11 and DYCD’s Borough-based Drop-In Centers in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens will be reduced by one-third in FY11 and 23% in FY12. The Staten Island Drop-In Center will be reduced by 10% in FY12

Ali Forney Center executive director Carl Siciliano:

LGBT youth make up 40% of New York City's homeless youth population. Every night there are hundreds who suffer on the streets with nowhere safe to go. While I agree that housing is the most crucially needed service, outreach workers and drop-in centers are a lifeline for kids who are stranded on the streets without shelter. These reductions frankly constitute an attack on the safety and welfare of our most vulnerable youth.

I have been in contact with members of the City Council who are outraged by the cuts and want them overturned. I have been asked to have as many people as possible turn out for a DYCD-sponsored Forum on Homeless LGBT Youth this Wednesday at 5:30pm at 1 Center Street, so the City can see that people are upset by these cuts. In order to show your support for our youth in a time of crisis, I am asking each one of you to make every effort to attend.

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This is just WRONG. Homeless youth are often young people who have been THROWN OUT by their everloving parents. They have been cast away, left to make it on their own, left to the tender mercies of so many of the "mentors" who prey on children. With no place to stay, thrown away, IF they make it to adulthood they are the folks who are "raised by wolves". They are often unsocialized, feral youth.

Saving 1 or 2 million dollars today might well cost us all 8 or 10 million down the road.

Perhaps it's best they learn now that NO ONE can be trusted -- EVER. Of course, if you want a "civil society" (whatever that means) it might be best to spend that money now.

Amid all this joyous holiday news, we learn our President, the "Great Hope" of all us Democrats has made another skillful pre-emptive collapse on the popular stand AGAINST continued tax cuts for the rich.

I find it amazing that he is ALWAYS the one willing to "negotiate", willing to make "concessions", while NEVER asking for concessions from his opponents. Very Strange.

So, homeless kids get the shaft while MULTI-MILLIONAIRES reap the benefits. Homeless kids must make "concessions" when the only thing they have to bargain with is their lives.

Multi-millionaires get to keep way more than anyone needs -- while over 40 million American CITIZENS are on food stamps -- and homeless kids suffer the consequences of a recession they have nothing to do with.

It's time to raise the taxes on the rich. Time to expand all social services. Time to cut back -- severely -- on "Faith Based Initiatives". Bring back real WELFARE. After all, it was an outgrowth of The Great Depression -- time to recognize the needs of the "formerly middle class". Remember, these poor slobs actually BELIEVED in the "American Dream", now that they have lost it -- they don't know what to do, how to negotiate all the various "support groups" out there. Bring back that big Government Agency, all the Poverty Programs, raise taxes on those who are still doing well -- try to make this America again.