WikiLeaks: Vatican pressured Ireland to grant immunity in child rape cases

So, does anyone STILL oppose the Wikileaks revelations? This direct from AmericaBlog - please follow link to original


WikiLeaks: Vatican pressured Ireland to grant immunity in child rape cases
by Chris in Paris on 12/11/2010 11:31:00 AM
So what is worse between Ireland caving to Vatican pressure on such a disgusting affair or making this information available to the public? In most, if not all, of these cases it's easy to see how those in power are upset that their secrets are being aired out. But for everyone else, it's just as easy to see why the public has a right to know. This black box in government should be offensive to anyone who prefers democracy. If freedom haters like Joe Lieberman want to prosecute someone, it ought to be those who were actually violating the law or blocked justice.

Requests for information from the 2009 Murphy commission into sexual and physical abuse by clergy "offended many in the Vatican" who felt that the Irish government had "failed to respect and protect Vatican sovereignty during the investigations", a cable says.

Despite the lack of co-operation from the Vatican, the commission was able to substantiate many of the claims and concluded that some bishops had tried to cover up abuse, putting the interests of the Catholic church ahead of those of the victims. Its report identified 320 people who complained of child sexual abuse between 1975 and 2004 in the Dublin archdiocese.

A cable entitled "Sex abuse scandal strains Irish-Vatican relations, shakes up Irish church, and poses challenges for the Holy See" claimed that Vatican officials also believed Irish opposition politicians were "making political hay" from the situation by publicly urging the government to demand a reply from the Vatican.

Killing Social Security

This from Michael Collins by way of The Economic Populist - please follow link to original

Killing Social Security
Submitted by Michael Collins on Fri, 12/10/2010 - 23:45


Michael Collins

We are at a unique moment in our history. The decadence of those in charge has reached menacing proportions.

(Washington, Dec 10) Bill Clinton showed up at the White House for an "impromptu" press conference to discuss the president's tax compromise with the Republicans. Clinton disclosed that "I make a lot of money now" and, as a result, he would benefit from the program. Then he endorsed the compromise calling it the best deal Obama could make. Clinton was particularly high on the Social Security payroll tax reduction. "According to all economic analysis, [this is] the single most effective tax cut you can do to support economic activity. This will actually create a fair number of jobs. I expect it to lower the unemployment rate and keep us going." (Image)

Across town, United States Senator Bernie Sanders was telling the simple truth that Obama and Clinton avoided. Reducing the Social Security payroll tax from 6.2% to 4.2% as a one year tax holiday presumes that the normal rates will be restored at the end of the one year period. Who would restore those rates? The very same party that passed the Bush ten year "temporary" income tax reductions. That same party, the Republicans, now claims that ending the Bush temporary tax cuts represents the greatest tax increase ever. Just as they forgot that those tax cuts were temporary, the new Republican majority will forget the payroll cuts were temporary. Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) agree that ending the tax holiday will be portrayed as a tax increase.

Social Security has a dagger at its heart. In 2011, we will have a president who won't even fight for Social Security when he has a majority in Congress and a House of Representatives with a veto proof majority that won't repeal any tax cut until Hell freezes over.

The citizens of this country have been betrayed by the smoothest con artists around for the benefit of the ultra rich, with the ultimate demise of Social Security assured by a rock solid majority of Republican extremists waiting in the wings to occupy the 112th Congress.

Where's the opposition?

The nation's largest organization for seniors, AARP, endorsed the Obama payroll tax cuts. The organization did this despite the fact that the Obama compromise offers little in the way of benefits for seniors.

The allegedly liberal publication, Mother Jones, just ran a piece by Obama apologist Kevin Drum claiming that there's every reason to believe that the payroll tax holiday will be over in just one year promised in this deal. It's another example of tortured logic listing Republican avarice and concluding they'll honor their word.

The self styled advocates for a FDR revival, New Deal 2.0, ran two opinion pieces supporting the Obama deal. One argued it was that the president "probably did the best he could" while the other actually praised the deal claiming that this was the "best deal" that Obama could get. A third piece noted that Obama didn't know much about FDR's Social Security proposal but left the president untouched on the Trojan Horse payroll tax reduction. What would FDR do? Capitulate and equivocate. Hardly.

The largest organization representing seniors, 40 million strong, just caved. They and the president got some cover by two organizations that advertise as being of the left who also caved.

That leaves Senator Sanders, those who will support him for real filibuster, focused advocates for the program, and citizens of the United States. The House Democratic Caucus rejected Obama's proposal to some fanfare. But their objections were on how the bill was rolled out and specifics like a $5 million threshold for any estate tax.

Addictions 101

Two key features of the bipartisan political establishment are an addiction to stealing money from the people for their patrons, the corporate and ultra rich elite, and total denial that taking the peoples' money to satisfy this relentless craving is both harmful and morally unacceptable.

The Money Party is at the peak of its craving for more money earned their old fashioned way, through expropriation from the masses. They will not be denied. They are Hell bent on making their once false prophesies that Social Security is bankrupt into a living reality.

We are nothing to them.

END

Japan probe overshoots Venus, heads toward sun

Wow! Another case of "unintended acceleration" -- Was the probe built by Toyota?


TOKYO – A Japanese probe to Venus failed to reach orbit Wednesday and was captured by the sun's gravitational pull in a setback to Japan's shoestring space program, which will have to wait another six years to try again.

The failure in the crucial orbital insertion stage of the probe was a big letdown for Japan, which has never suceeded in an interplanetary mission but has marked some major successes in space on a relatively tight budget that is focused primarily on small-scale science projects.

The probe, called Akatsuki, which means dawn, reached Venus on Tuesday and fired its engines in an attempt to reach an elliptical orbit. Mission officials said they briefly lost contact after that and determined Wednesday that Akatsuki's engines did not fire long enough to attain the proper orbiting position.

The probe would have been the first that Japan had put in orbit around another planet. Japan launched a failed mission to Mars in 1998 that was plagued by technical glitches and finally abandoned in 2003.

Still, officials said communication had been restored and Akatsuki appears to be intact and functioning as it heads off into an orbit around the sun.

"Unfortunately, it did not attain an orbit," said Hitoshi Soeno of JAXA, Japan's space agency. "But it appears to be functioning and we may be able to try again when it passes by Venus six years from now."

Akatsuki was designed to monitor volcanic activity on Venus and provide data on its thick cloud cover and climate, including whether the planet has lightning. The probe is equipped with infrared cameras and other instruments to carry out its mission.

The 25 billion yen ($300 million) Akatsuki probe was to maintain an elliptical orbit around Venus ranging from passes 190 miles (300 kilometers) from the planet's surface to outer swings 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) away that would allow it to comprehensively monitor weather patterns.

The failure disappointed scientists around the world.

By monitoring the climate of Venus, it was hoped that lessons could be learned about climate change and global warming on Earth.

"The Planetary Society regrets that the innovative Akatsuki spacecraft seems to have missed its opportunity to lock into an orbit of Venus," said Bill Nye, executive director of the U.S.-based private group that supports space exploration. "Although Akatsuki has already accomplished some remarkable things on its voyage, this setback reminds us how difficult space exploration can be."

Japan has long been one of the world's leading space-faring nations. It was the first Asian country to put a satellite in orbit around the Earth — in 1970 — and has developed a highly reliable booster rocket in its H-2 series.

Japanese scientists had been hopeful of success with the Venus probe after the country recently brought a probe back from a trip to an asteroid.

Russia, the United States and the Europeans have successfully explored other planets. The Russian space program has been sending missions to Venus since 1961 with more than 30 attempts. Its early missions were marred with many failures.

In recent years, Japan has been overshadowed by the big strides of China, which has put astronauts in space twice since 2003 and was the third country to send a human into orbit after Russia and the United States.

Japan's space program has never attempted manned flight.

Unlike many space programs, it cannot rely on military budgets or projects to develop its rocket capabilities. Public interest is also relatively low, an issue the Akatsuki mission tried to address by packing more than 200,000 names of supporters into the probe as part of a publicity campaign.

JAXA's budget for last year was 180 billion yen ($2 billion), and the agency is seeking a slight increase for fiscal 2011. Japan's spends about one-fourteenth of what the U.S. spends on space exploration, and less than half of what the EU spends, according to Japanese government estimates.

"Akatsuki was an ambitious project considering the price," said Makoto Miwada, a JAXA spokesman. "For years our budget has been at about the same level. Unless we get more funding it will not be enough to increase our activities and we will be soon overtaken by China and India."

President Obama Gets Leading Proponent of Social Security Privatization and Bubble Economy to Tout Budget Deal

Here's a fun little story. Gosh, it's just a heartwarming little thing (please follow link to original)

President Obama Gets Leading Proponent of Social Security Privatization and Bubble Economy to Tout Budget Deal

Saturday, 11 December 2010 09:18

That could have been the lead of a front page Washington Post news story reporting on a press conference in which former President Bill Clinton touted the budget deal that President Obama negotiated with the Republicans. Remarkably, President Clinton's record on these issues was never mentioned in the article. As many former aides have acknowledged, President Clinton had been considering a variety of options for partially privatizing Social Security in the beginning of 1998 when the Lewinsky scandal exploded. With his presidency in jeopardy, Clinton had to rely on his core constituencies -- labor, the African American community, women's organizations -- all groups that would have been infuriated by an effort to privatize Social Security. As a result, Clinton was forced to abandon this effort. President Clinton also set the economy on a path of bubble led growth, touting the stock market bubble that drove growth in the late 90s. He also pushed for the financial de-regulation that helped clear the way for the abuses of the housing bubble era. In addition, he also actively promoted the high dollar policy that led to the enormous trade deficit, which was another major imbalance distorting the economy's growth path. During his campaign, President Obama openly criticized this bubble-led growth path. Competent news reporters would have pointed out the irony that at this moment Obama now appears to be embracing the economic legacy he criticized. They also would have pointed out that Obama is relying on a Democratic president who was actively planning to privatize Social Security, ostensibly to curb fears that his deal could lead to the privatization of Social Security.

Food Stamp Rolls Continue to Rise

I read that 1 in 7 Americans are now on food stamps. That's a damn shame.

I also saw a breakdown by state, showing what % of their population is on food stamps. It makes for interesting reading.

Food Stamp Use, by State

Click on the top of any column to resort the chart.

State	Number of people on food stamps Sept. 2010	Year-over-year change	Month-over-month change	Percent of population on food stamps
U.S. total	42,911,042	16.2%	1.2%	14%
Alabama	849,785	12.8%	1.2%	18%
Alaska	81,196	15.4%	-0.1%	11.6%
Arizona	1,044,410	10.9%	-0.3%	15.8%
Arkansas	483,309	8.4%	0.7%	16.7%
California	3,466,974	17.7%	1.2%	9.4%
Colorado	424,878	16.8%	0.1%	8.5%
Connecticut	364,341	22.8%	1.4%	10.4%
Delaware	124,755	21.9%	2.6%	14.1%
District of Columbia	128,759	16.4%	1.7%	21.5%
Florida	2,881,019	25.8%	2.5%	15.5%
Georgia	1,693,976	16.4%	0.7%	17.2%
Hawaii	147,250	15.7%	1.2%	11.4%
Idaho	214,378	39.1%	1.2%	13.9%
Illinois	1,839,051	18.6%	8.5%	14.2%
Indiana	857,992	13.3%	0.6%	13.4%
Iowa	352,164	10.9%	0%	11.7%
Kansas	291,126	18%	0.6%	10.3%
Kentucky	804,538	8.7%	-0.1%	18.6%
Louisiana	864,112	10.3%	0.9%	19.2%
Maine	237,530	9.6%	0.1%	18%
Maryland	616,102	20.4%	1.5%	10.8%
Massachusetts	785,435	12.2%	1%	11.9%
Michigan	1,884,751	15.2%	0.4%	18.9%
Minnesota	455,852	17.2%	0.7%	8.7%
Mississippi	601,432	8.7%	1.1%	20.4%
Missouri	928,183	7.9%	0.1%	15.5%
Montana	119,039	15.8%	0.1%	12.2%
Nebraska	169,385	14.5%td>	0%	9.4%
Nevada	314,253	28.7%	1.5%	11.9%
New Hampshire	110,576	20.4%	0.6%	8.3%
New Jersey	690,075	27.2%	1.9%	7.9%
New Mexico	390,154	20.1%	0.6%	19.4%
New York	2,895,995	13.3%	0.8%	14.8%
North Carolina	1,476,207	18.2%	2.3%	15.7%
North Dakota	61,229	7.1%	0.3%	9.5%
Ohio	1,683,877	11.9%	0.8%	14.6%
Oklahoma	613,531	14%	0.9%	16.6%
Oregon	738,702	13.2%	0.7%	19.3%
Pennsylvania	1,644,259	13.2%	0.3%	13%
Rhode Island	150,450	26%	1.3%	14.3%
South Carolina	832,651	11.3%	0.3%	18.3%
South Dakota	99,504	14.9%	0%	12.2%
Tennessee	1,267,478	8%	0.5%	20.1%
Texas	3,837,839	24.6%	0.9%	15.5%
Utah	269,819	25.9%	3.8%	9.7%
Vermont	87,838	7.7%	1%	14.1%
Virginia	826,277	13.8%	0.7%	10.5%
Washington	1,006,518	16.4%	0.8%	15.1%
West Virginia	343,764	5.1%	-0.6%	18.9%
Wisconsin	762,287	21.3%	0.6%	13.5%
Wyoming	35,615

Notice: Alabama- 18%, Arkansas- 16.7%, Georgia- 17.2%, Kentucky- 18.6%, Louisiana- 19.2%, Mississippi- 20.4%, etc., etc., etc., etc.

Has anyone noticed many of these states are also hotbeds of Tea Party activity? Notice that they are also very anti-government.

Now, I understand being anti-damn-near-everything if you feel you've been screwed -- but, damn, how can you elect someone like Rand Paul when 18.6% of the population depends on the HATED Federal Government for FOOD.

I really understand all the anger against an unresponsive government -- but opposing the very folks who give you a major portion of your food, medical care, and those damn scooters so many Tea Party supporters seem to ride around on seems short sighted.

If you have a plan for something better. If you are willing to give up your perks (like food, medical care, etc.) for some "greater good" -- I'm with you, but just saying "we don't like YOU!", then electing someone who intends to destroy whatever safety net YOU have left, when you are no longer able to do it for yourself, seems questionable.

Will these supporters of "personal responsibility" blame both "them", and "others" when what they VOTED FOR bites them in their rather generous asses?

You can bet on it.

James Moody is gone - RIP

We lost a GIANT!

James Moody, a jazz saxophonist and flutist celebrated for his virtuosity, his versatility and his onstage ebullience, died on Thursday in San Diego. He was 85.

Jackie McLean + Roy Hargrove tribute to Charlie Parker

Sep 1992, tompkins square park, New York City. with Billy Higgins, Roy Hargrove and Jackie McLean
a tribute to charlie parker

Confirmation - Sadao Watanabe and Jackie Mclean

johnny hartman - You're Too Beautiful

Alabama - John Coltrane

So What - Jonh Coltrane and Miles Davis

WikiLeaks supporters download ‘Low Orbit Ion Cannon’ software en masse - and comments

I really haven't followed every twist and turn of the Wikileaks debacle -- except to note the US Government is acting like they are finally admitting this IS a Police State. Such over reaction simply because we have been embarrassed and exposed.

This from Raw Story (please follow link to original): Security experts see surge in downloads of spam used to attack sites hostile to WikiLeaks

MasterCard closed sign 006b WikiLeaks supporters download Low Orbit Ion Cannon software en masseWikiLeaks supporters on Friday downloaded increasing amounts of the spam-shooting software used to attack companies seen as hostile — a development that could challenge even Internet giants such as PayPal and Amazon.com during the crucial Christmas shopping season.

U.S. data security company Imperva says downloads of the attack program used to bombard websites with bogus requests for data have jumped to over 40,000, with thousands of new downloads reported overnight.

"It's definitely increasing," Imperva Web researcher Tal Be'ery said in a telephone interview from Israel.

The freely available software is a critical part of the campaign by "hacktivists" seeking to take revenge on sites they believe have betrayed WikiLeaks, the group that has outraged American officials by publishing hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables and military intelligence reports.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So far, they have had an effect on those attacked.

This led me to think (A dangerous and sometimes unsuccessful undertaking): The right wing often brags about "having all the guns" (That's not quite true - but that is another story.).

It might not make a difference.

Our next war might be fought largely with computers. If you want to begin, promote, and maybe even win a revolution against a "Western Democracy" -- just destroy its computers and networks. If you can't break into gov't computers -- you can still bring civil society to a halt. Couple that with - say - folks not buying ANYTHING for three days - and there is a full blown problem.

So, when the right-wing threatens/brags about all their guns -- just tell them the next revolution will be fought with more than guns --------- just make sure you are out of range.

151

So far, two banks eaten by our FDIC. Waiting for more.


Press Releases
Polonia Bank, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Assumes All of the Deposits of Earthstar Bank, Southampton, Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

Earthstar Bank, Southampton, Pennsylvania, was closed today by the Secretary of Banking of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Polonia Bank, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, to assume all of the deposits of Earthstar Bank, except for certain out-of-state certificates of deposit (CD).

The four branches of Earthstar Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of Polonia Bank. Depositors of Earthstar Bank will automatically become depositors of Polonia Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Earthstar Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Polonia Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Polonia Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Earthstar Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2010, Earthstar Bank had approximately $112.6 million in total assets and $104.5 million in total deposits. Polonia Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Earthstar Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Polonia Bank agreed to purchase approximately $77.1 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain most of the assets for later disposition.

The FDIC and Polonia Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $45.8 million of Earthstar Bank's assets. Polonia Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-822-1918. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/earthstar.html.

On Monday morning, the FDIC will mail checks to those customers with out-of-state CDs, as long as the funds were not used as collateral for a loan.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $22.9 million. Compared to other alternatives, Polonia Bank's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Earthstar Bank is the 151st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Pennsylvania. The last FDIC-insured

150

Press Releases
Level One Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, Assumes All of the Deposits of Paramount Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

Paramount Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, was closed today by the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Level One Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, to assume all of the deposits of Paramount Bank.

The four branches of Paramount Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of Level One Bank. Depositors of Paramount Bank will automatically become depositors of Level One Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Paramount Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Level One Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Level One Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Paramount Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2010, Paramount Bank had approximately $252.7 million in total assets and $213.6 million in total deposits. Level One Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Paramount Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Level One Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Level One Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $233.1 million of Paramount Bank's assets. Level One Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-881-7816. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/paramount.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $90.2 million. Compared to other alternatives, Level One Bank's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Paramount Bank is the 150th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the fifth in Michigan. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Mainstreet Savings Bank, FSB, Hastings, on July 16, 2010

Some Assembly Required and some comments

Here are some tid-bits from "Some Assembly Required" - as always follow link to original. In addition, i've made my comments.


Angel Tree: Next time you pass the kettle, remember that Obama and the GOP are wrapping up bundles of $100 bills for the nation's billionaires while one in seven Americans is trying to stretch his food stamps to the end of the month.

In the Old Country: Ireland is massively in debt to the IMF/EU because it (stupidly) bailed out its banks. Now AIB, one of the bailed out banks, is paying the people who ruined both the bank and the country €40m in bonuses because – you've heard this before – if they don't the clever boys and girls who sank an entire country will go to work elsewhere. Where?

Coal in their Stockings: Millions of private sector workers in the UK are losing up to 25% of their retirement income as part of the government's program to save the investors. They had been expecting a 4.5% hike in their pensions.

A Christmas Story: Officially there are over 15 million people in the US and another 9 million are “part time for economic reasons”. The real numbers are anyone's guess. Over 6 million have not had a job in over 6 months. Soon over 2 million will lose their unemployment benefits, having been idled for over 99 weeks. Nearly all recent "job growth" has come from the part-time economy – jobs that average $20,000 a year. For Christmas, and every month thereafter for the next six years the economy needs to create 235,120 new full-time jobs a month to get the unemployment rate down to pre-recession levels.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, does ANYONE out there think our governments even think about the welfare of the mass of people - all the workers who attained middle class status because of (shudder) UNIONS.

Now, "the working poor" has become "the non-working poor", and many formerly "middle class" folks are the new "sorta' working poor".

Welcome to this Brave New World -- except, our leaders seem to prefer a more 1984 type of life for us all.

I really wonder why our corporate leaders want to turn us all into proles and lumpen proles? Don't they know the proletariat can become very troublesome? As our quality of life erodes, as we see our children doing worse than we did -- don't they think the anger will grow?

Do they really believe they can control this with Rush and Glenn Beck? If they gin it up enough, don't they think it will explode?

If insurrection starts, it can easily become revolution. When a revolution starts, no one really knows its direction -- there is no way it can be directed -- especially when there are so many unresolved grievances out there. The USA treats its workers like replaceable machines -- with little paid vacation, no sick leave, no maternity leave, NO RIGHTS, for the bulk of workers. Even those who have some measure of protection, see that under attack. The rich pit one group of workers against another. Instead of RISING up, it seems we want to bring EVERYONE down to the absolute lowest level.

By the way, I wouldn't worry too much about customer service and tech support jobs that have migrated offshore -- not to worry, soon our pay scales will be such that it will pay to bring them BACK -- if we have any folks educated enough to do them.

Did I mention EDUCATION? That's another story. Not now.

Krugman and comments

Some thoughts from Paul Krugman. (please follow link to original)


Social Insurance History

Hmm. Paul Rosenberg catches the president rewriting history — and, revealingly, doing so in a way that makes the case for timid, incremental action, while waving away the actual history of bold strokes.

Specifically, Obama said this:

This is why FDR, when he started Social Security, it only affected widows and orphans. You did not qualify. And yet now it is something that really helps a lot of people. When Medicare was started, it was a small program. It grew.

Under the criteria that you just set out, each of those were betrayals of some abstract ideal.

This is all wrong: both programs were huge from the start. From the beginning, Social Security applied to all private-sector workers, except those in agriculture, domestic service, or casual employment — and yes, those exceptions happened to exclude the majority of African-Americans. Still, it was by no means a small program that grew big. Medicare covered everyone 65 and older right from the beginning, although initially it only provided hospital insurance.

It is, as Rosenberg says, odd that Obama doesn’t know this history.
--------------------------------------------------------

There seem to have been many times when Obama does not know history. There have been times when I've scratched my head, wondering where he got his "facts" from. I wonder what sort of "Constitutional Scholar" he was?

It's all very strange. What isn't strange anymore is why he now attacks his liberal base instead of the Republicans who obstruct EVERYTHING. He told us he'd put an end to partisan rancor. I think that means he will give in to those who show the most discipline, are the most militant. That is the party of the rich -- the Republicans. He has done, and is doing that. he's done it all along -- prisons still open, civil rights not yet restored, wars going stronger than ever, financial fraud and Wall Street crime and criminals not even slapped on the wrist, watered down health care - that seems to make only the insurance companies healthier. A whole series of policies and actions that are to the right of where the REPUBLICANS were not that long ago. The liberal base elected him. He doesn't need them any more.

Mr. Obama does not seem to give a damn about principle. Nor does he seem to care what happens to "average people".

It's clear our corporate leaders want us to be reduced to serfdom. Obama seems to see his place as a functionary. Congress has been bought and paid for.

I guess we are getting "change we can believe in" -- it's just not exactly the "change" we expected. For many it's disbelief. For others it's, "I told you so!".

Just some Obama thoughts

Keith Olbermann has been very strong in his opinions about the Obama "December To Remember" Tax Cuts -- the ones that actually PUNISH those making 20 - 40 thousand per year while giving away the store to millionaires. Oh yeah, it also puts social security funding at risk - which fact seems to be ignored by many.

I applaud Olbermann for this.

At the same time, I cannot forget how he actively dissed Hillary while STRONGLY supporting Obama. I could not understand it at all. Hillary has supported a far more liberal agenda than did Obama. She became N.Y. State Senator and worked her a** off to do a good job. She is a bit of a "wonk", and really gets into issues.

Obama is a man. It seems that made him "better" in the eyes of many.

Nothing he said during the primary campaign gave me the impression he would, or COULD do a better job than she could. Some of the stuff he said absolutely frightened me -- IE: admiration for Ronnie Raygun and ending the excesses of the 60's and 70's. One of my first thoughts was -- if not for those "excesses" you would not be running for President, nor would you be a Senator.

Both Olbermann and Maddow supported Obama. I for one, could not quite understand it. His statements did not jibe with the progressive image his staunch supporters promoted. There was a disconnect.

We see the results today. We saw them first during the health care fight where he seemed to "compromise" without even taking an initial progressive stance. We saw them with some of the appointments he made (LARRY SUMMERS??? - what was that all about?). We even saw it with the homophobic Mega Church Pastor Rick Warren who gave the invocation at his inauguration.

Mr Obama said he was a "fierce advocate" for LGBT folks -- the only problem is that he didn't say WHAT he advocates for us all.

Now, the administration has pulled out all the stops -- all sorts of folks are out there "explaining" how this tax cut is the very best thing since sliced bread (which WAS a really good thing).

Why are all these folks out there MAKING EXCUSES for The President? Can't he speak for himself? After all, he is a very eloquent speaker.

Do you think he realizes we are really tired of being played? Do you think he is afraid we understand he is far more a Republican than he is a Democrat?

I'm afraid those who don't quite realize it yet, well THEY WILL.

I see nothing "progressive" from this administration. More for the millionaires -- nothing for the rest of us --- after all, what is a "recovery" with HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT -- gosh, that's a "recovery" for the rich. A "recovery" for "The Financial Markets", a "recovery" for the OWNERS of the means of production. It's not a "recovery" for the bulk of us -- because there are NO JOBS. That makes having a job a LUXURY. That keeps people rooted. It keeps us in place, and "in our place".

Did I mention real estate is still in the tank, and looks like it will be for at least a couple more years. Did you realize their home is where most "middle class" folks have most of their wealth?

Can you say -- "we are screwed" - and, Obama is NOT the PERSON to help us.

What a shame - such "HOPE", such promise -- such a tool of his financial masters. Such a Republican.

Pearl Harbor and other stuff

It is now Dec. 9th. December 7th went by -- and for the first time I didn't even MENTION Pearl Harbor. WWII is fading from our national memory the same way WWI faded from my generations memory.

Today, unless you study history (or watch the History Channel), WWI is gone and forgotten. WWII is still being fought on some cable channels. At times I wonder why -- then I realize IT'S THE LAST WAR WE WON (unless you count Grenada).

It seems the attack on Pearl Harbor won't "live in infamy" -- though I think it should. I also think Jerry Della Femina's book about the advertising industry, should be remembered. For those who don't remember it: "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor" - 1971.

Today, the Japanese nation is our friend - as is Germany. Interesting, isn't it.

Obviously we can't have a day to celebrate our entrance into WWII, but we should be able to mourn those who died in that attack.

It was a sneak attack - a "pre-emptive strike" if you will. In fact it could have been considered "shock and awe". Gosh, where did that strategy get the Japanese?

Well, eventually, after much pain, it led to a whole new industrial base. Brand new factories. New technology. So, they started making BETTER stuff -- leaving us to play "catch-up" for years.

Today, our new "Masters Of The Universe" seem to like pushing paper as opposed to actually getting dirty and MAKING THINGS. I think that's the reason we lost our manufacturing base -- the money guys didn't think it was cool enough. It was so "old tech". So like how their Grandfather made money - so uncool. Plus, you had to know all this factory stuff, and deal with actual, real, working types -- EVERY DAY.

Truly uncool.

Isn't anyone else tired of these dicks?

Sen Bernie Sanders Amazing Speech DEC 02 2010

Thanks to facebook, to one of my facebook friends, I was turned on to this speech by Senator Bernie Sanders.

This has to go VIRAL. Post, repost -- it has to be seen.

Massive Child Sex Cover-up in German Catholic Church Implicates the Pope

This from Atheist Oasis -- interesting, no? There's so much CRAP going on in the world that we seem to have forgotten all about The Roman Catholic Church, AKA - Child Rapists International.

Listen folks, we really have to multi-task here. The RC-rapists have gotten away with this stuff for much too long.

Let's stay awake here.

Massive Child Sex Cover-up in German Catholic Church Implicates the Pope

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Ray Garton

On December 3, Deutsche Welle printed a story about an investigation into child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. It revealed a massive cover-up that’s been going on, at least, since 1945.

The lawyer heading up the investigation, Marion Westpfahl, said at a press conference on Friday that the available records pointed to huge gaps in the documentation between 1945 and 2009. She added this hinted strongly at a “systematic system of cover-up,” in which few abuse cases were criminally prosecuted.

“Only 26 priests were convicted for sexual offences,” Westpfahl explained to reporters, saying she found 365 files containing evidence that “acts of abuse had taken place in an almost commonplace manner. … We have to assume that there is a large unknown number [of abuse cases],” she said. “We are dealing with the extensive destruction of files.”

In the 13,200 files available, Westpfahl found evidence damning “159 priests, 15 deacons, 96 religion teachers and six pastoral employees, with rural areas particularly affected.” Those, of course, are only the obvious ones.

During the period from 1977 to 1982, this archdiocese was in the charge of then Archbishop Josef Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI, CEO of the world’s largest child rape organization, known as the Catholic church. According to Westpfahl, the years under Ratzinger were especially poorly documented.

This means that the man who is now pope was actively involved in the protection of child rapists and the cover-up of the rape of an unknown number of children.

Current Archbishop Reinhard Marx reacted to this investigation by saying, “As a church, we ask forgiveness for those things done by our church employees.”

Tell it to your savior, Mr. Marx — we aren’t listening anymore.

How much longer must this go on? It first reached the attention of the American media in the 1980s when daytime talk show hosts like Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey. That wasn’t when it first started happening, of course, that’s just when we started talking about it openly. It’s been going on much longer than that, and it’s still going on — right in front of our eyes. And yet Kiddierapists-R-Us (aka the Catholic church) is allowed to continue this abominable practice with impunity.

This ongoing systematic rape of children and sheltering of child rapists is a crime against humanity that is every bit as immoral as the slavery that was the norm in early America and the systematic mass murder committed by the Nazis in Germany in the first half of the 20th century. If time travel were possible, how far in the future would we have to go before we finally found human beings who looked back on our indifferent complicity in this massive destruction of lives with horror and disgust?

It’s only a matter of time before the Catholic League’s abominable, inhuman director, Bill Donohue — who regularly defends the church’s child rapists by claiming that their victims are “gold diggers” — comes forward with another imaginative defense of the men who ruthlessly fuck little children, and the church that protects them.

What do we know about Donohue, anyway? I’ve been unable to find much and I’m not even sure if he’s married. What does Donohue do in his spare time? Does he spend much time with children? After all, you have to wonder about a man who so vehemently defends child rapists and tries to cast the blame in every conceivable direction but the right one.

Where is law enforcement? Where are the men and women whose job it is to investigate, arrest and convict criminals? If the Catholic church were a chain of daycare centers, these priests, bishops and teachers would be in prison faster than you could rattle your rosary. But it’s a denomination of the Christian religion, and in our culture, we don’t touch religion. If you want to get away with a crime — just about any crime you can imagine — you’re perfectly safe if you do it under the cover of religion. Not only are you exempt from paying taxes, but you wear the cloak of righteousness, and if you’re lucky, you have eager, panting lapdogs like Bill Donohue to growl and bark in your defense.

Something is very, very wrong here. And we don’t seem to be doing anything about it.

John Lennon

John Lennon was killed 30 years ago today.

Here's Lennon:

straws and camels backs

The "December Compromise" of (formerly) Democratic President Barack Obama is just another "straw". At this point, this "Camel's" back is just about broken.

I'm really upset. Really, really, upset.

We who claim to be "progressive" need a new party. This "two party" system has devolved into the far right and the still very right, but not quite as bad.

I do not think I can deal with this stuff any longer. What is the sense of politics, or for that matter economics, when the "leaders" just go ahead and do any damn thing they please -- without any concern for their Citizens or even the well being of the Nation?

Then Mr. Obama SCOLDS his base because we are unhappy with the fact he didn't even seem to try.

He seems to UNDERSTAND what the birthers, Tea Baggers, Republicans, Right-Wing-Christians, seem to say -- BUT, if the base complains -- he tosses us all aside.

Assange has been arrested -- we seem to be trying to get our hands on him. In addition, the response to Wikileaks has been so over the top that I really can't understand it.

Is this the "transparency" CANDIDATE Obama promised us? Keep all Bush laws in place, keep our "secret" prisons open? Keep the apparatus of state secrecy and repression in place?

Now it's time to ask -- seriously -- WHO RUNS THIS PLACE? WHO REALLY RUNS THIS PLACE?

Now, for a couple of tid-bits from "Some Assembly Required":


Proverb: Two wrongs do not make a right. If raising taxes is wrong and increasing the budget is wrong, then most assuredly the December Compromise is wrong. Anybody remember why we're waist deep in the Big Muddy?

On Message: Big Sister will be there, at the Walmart checkout, hanging out in the mall, watching you register at the hotel, blasting security reminders at you from ever-present TV screens. Ubiquitous, like Santa. Wait for the Two Minutes Hate.

Fair Taxation? Federal taxes are the lowest in 60 years, which gives you a pretty good idea of why America’s long-term debt ratios are a big problem. Also tells you how serious the Republicans are. If the taxes reverted to somewhere near their historical mean, the deficit problem would be solved at a stroke.

(please follow link to original)

Ice And Fire Update

To all those advocating AUSTERITY: this from Krugman's blog - Conscience Of A Liberal (please follow link to original)


Ice And Fire Update

Iceland is growing again. Of the excessive peripherals — Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia — Iceland had by far the biggest excesses, with a totally ludicrous buildup of debt. Yet through the magic of default and devaluation, it’s actually doing better than the other three.

One of the remarkable things about the crisis of the past three years is that it has ended up strengthening the political hand of hard-money, austerity-imposing orthodoxy — yet the reality is that heterodoxy has worked much better in practice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

So, Ireland which was O.K. until the bubble burst did "the right thing" - and they are screwed for at least 10 years. Iceland who followed a different course -- are now officially out of recession.

Gee-whiz, punishing an entire nation for the sins of the bankers is not only wrong - it doesn't seem to work.

Perhaps it's because the Icelandic folks are considered more "serious" than are the Irish -- after all, you rarely hear a joke that begins, "An Icelandic chap walks into a bar ..... " --- well, do you?

slow day for me -- real busy for Obama, the truculent schoolboy

I was putting up a post about dead zones in our oceans, sounds, gulfs, estuaries, etc. -- but then,we had to go out. Something silly, like a doctors appointment. Anyway, all is well, or will be well as long as she takes her meds.

My good intentions all went out the window when I suggested we eat out. We will both have to watch our diet more carefully from now on. Tonight was a celebration. We are still doing better than many, and it looks like we can chug along for quite a few years -- then again, who knows.

Pres. Obama did not have a very good day. EVERYONE accused him of caving in to the Republicans. The White House switchboard was swamped. Anyone FAINTLY "progressive", along with some who are not, opposed the capitulation.

Even worse than the result is the fact he did not appear to work for the best interests of THE NATION. The best interests of "The American People".

That's a shame. He also does not seem to know who we are, and what we think. Then he got all sarcastic with his base, and with the left.

I guess it's not just the LGBT/T folks who have been thrown under the bus. How's it feel folks? Remember. WAIT. BE PATIENT. (isn't that what y'all have been telling us all along?)

My poor country.

The Rule EVERY President Must Remember

So, Obama met with HIS (?) Democratic Leaders -- and announced he was caving in to the Republicans on the tax cut issue. Isn't that wonderful?

Here, the Dems had a strong majority of THE PEOPLE behind them -- so, of course, cave in to the Republicans -- after all, what else would you do? Especially after you were elected to put an end to sweetheart deals for the richest folks in the country.

"Remember, to be President, you have to remember one thing -- when they tell you to JUMP, you ask, "WHICH WAY, AND HOW HIGH? (oh dear, wait -- that's TWO things, will that be O.K.?)".

TX GOP Official Opposes Jewish House Speaker: Christians ‘Are The People That Do The Best Jobs’

Here we go ................. now some folks might just understand why so many Jewish folks were strong trade unionists, strong Democrats, strong civil libertarians for so many years.

But ---- it begins, right here in Texas.

We no longer have to pretend -- our Tea Party leaders have called for a "Christian Conservative" to lead the Texas Republican Party. not the current leader. So, they formed a Conservative Christian Coalition (Konservative Kristian Koalition?) to replace the current JEWISH Speaker of The House (Texas) Joe Strauss with a strong Christian -- because, no matter how conservative, no matter how right-wing, no matter who or how -- why, dang it! He's a JEW!!

Read and weep (follow link to original at Think Progress)

TX GOP Official Opposes Jewish House Speaker: Christians ‘Are The People That Do The Best Jobs’

Last month, several Tea Party activists formed a right-wing coalition to oust Rep. Joe Straus (R) as Texas House Speaker. They began circulating emails with anti-Semitic messages against Straus, who is Jewish. The groups ran robo-calls and sent out e-mails demanding a “true Christian leader,” and calling Straus’ opponent, Rep. Ken Paxton (R), “a Christian Conservative who decided not to be pushed around by the Joe Straus thugs.”

Last week, the Texas Observer’s Abby Rapoport reported that she had obtained an email exchange between two members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) — Rebecca Williamson and John Cook. “We elected a house with Christian, conservative values. We now want a true Christian, conservative running it,” Cook said in one of the emails. “Since the SREC governs state Republican Party affairs,” Rapoport wrote, “this marked the first time an elected party leader had semi-openly called for a ‘Christian conservative’ Speaker.” Cook then explained his views to Rapoport in a subsequent telephone interview:

“When I got involved in politics, I told people I wanted to put Christian conservatives in leadership positions,” he told me, explaining that he only supports Christian conservative candidates in Republican primary races.

“I want to make sure that a person I’m supporting is going to have my values. It’s not anything about Jews and whether I think their religion is right or Muslims and whether I think their religion is right. … I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They’re the people that do the best jobs over all.”

Cook insisted he is not prejudiced against Jews:

“They’re some of my best friends,” he said of Jews, naming two friends of his. “I’m not bigoted at all; I’m not racist.” [...]

“My favorite person that’s ever been on this earth is a Jew,” he said. “How can they possibly think that if Jesus Christ is a Jew, and he’s my favorite person that’s ever been on this earth?”

“Ah, I see,” the Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen observed, “It’s not ‘about Jews,’ it’s just that Cook doesn’t think Jews can do the job well because they’re Jews.” Benen addded, “Someday, folks will have to understand that ‘some of my best friends are [fill in the blank with a minority group]‘ is a cliche repeated by bigots. I would have hoped that was obvious by now.”

O.K. -- All at once -- CAN YOU SAY NAZI??

Oh -- I know why

Yep, I know why we elected him -- our leaders, the oligarchs that run the place thought it would be a good idea.

Young, smarter than GWB, knows enough to follow instructions. Heck, no matter what you do (or don't do) you end up rich(er).

Just follow the orders -- errr, "suggestions" of your "economic team" -- and YOU will be O.K.

The rest of the country -- who knows, who cares.

Obama to meet with Democratic leaders

I just saw that headline -- IMAGINE THAT!!! "Obama To Meet With Democratic Leaders" -- WOW!!

Isn't that absolutely amazing? A PRESIDENT meeting with leaders of the party he supposedly belongs to!

A President actually meeting with leaders of the party that worked its ASS off to get him elected.

Better we worked that hard for Hillary. I don't care what Bill did or was, she has to be better than this doofus.

How about our dear Pres. letting Hillary take all the heat over all the Wikileaks crap?

Not one word from "Mr. Above-It-All" -- former "Leader of The 'Free World'.". How did we elect someone like him?

WHY???

This from tday's N.Y. Times op-ed pages

This is Professor Krugman's Op-Ed Column from today's New York Times - please read.

(as always, please follow link to original)

Let’s Not Make a Deal

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: December 5, 2010

Back in 2001, former President George W. Bush pulled a fast one. He wanted to enact an irresponsible tax cut, largely for the benefit of the wealthiest Americans. But there were Senate rules in place designed to prevent that kind of irresponsibility. So Mr. Bush evaded the rules by making the tax cut temporary, with the whole thing scheduled to expire on the last day of 2010.

The plan, of course, was to come back later and make the thing permanent, never mind the impact on the deficit. But that never happened. And so here we are, with 2010 almost over and nothing resolved.

Democrats have tried to push a compromise: let tax cuts for the wealthy expire, but extend tax cuts for the middle class. Republicans, however, are having none of it. They have been filibustering Democratic attempts to separate tax cuts that mainly benefit a tiny group of wealthy Americans from those that mainly help the middle class. It’s all or nothing, they say: all the Bush tax cuts must be extended. What should Democrats do?

The answer is that they should just say no. If G.O.P. intransigence means that taxes rise at the end of this month, so be it.

Think about the logic of the situation. Right now, the Republicans see themselves as successful blackmailers, holding a clear upper hand. President Obama, they believe, wouldn’t dare preside over a broad tax increase while the economy is depressed. And they therefore believe that he will give in to their demands.

But while raising taxes when unemployment is high is a bad thing, there are worse things. And a cold, hard look at the consequences of giving in to the G.O.P. now suggests that saying no, and letting the Bush tax cuts expire on schedule, is the lesser of two evils.

Bear in mind that Republicans want to make those tax cuts permanent. They might agree to a two- or three-year extension — but only because they believe that this would set up the conditions for a permanent extension later. And they may well be right: if tax-cut blackmail works now, why shouldn’t it work again later?

America, however, cannot afford to make those cuts permanent. We’re talking about almost $4 trillion in lost revenue just over the next decade; over the next 75 years, the revenue loss would be more than three times the entire projected Social Security shortfall. So giving in to Republican demands would mean risking a major fiscal crisis — a crisis that could be resolved only by making savage cuts in federal spending.

And we’re not talking about government programs nobody cares about: the only way to cut spending enough to pay for the Bush tax cuts in the long run would be to dismantle large parts of Social Security and Medicare.

So the potential cost of giving in to Republican demands is high. What about the costs of letting the tax cuts expire? To be sure, letting taxes rise in a depressed economy would do damage — but not as much as many people seem to think.

A few months ago, the Congressional Budget Office released a report on the impact of various tax options. A two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts, it estimated, would lower the unemployment rate next year by between 0.1 and 0.3 percentage points compared with what it would be if the tax cuts were allowed to expire; the effect would be about twice as large in 2012. Those are significant numbers, but not huge — certainly not enough to justify the apocalyptic rhetoric one often hears about what will happen if the tax cuts are allowed to end on schedule.

Oh, and what about confidence? I’ve been skeptical about claims that budget deficits hurt the economy even in the short run, because they undermine confidence in the government’s long-run solvency. Advanced countries, I’ve argued, have a lot of fiscal leeway. But anything that makes permanent extension of obviously irresponsible tax cuts more likely also sends a strong signal to investors: it says, “Hey, we aren’t really an advanced country; we’re a banana republic!” And that can’t be good for the economy.

Last but not least: if Democrats give in to the blackmailers now, they’ll just face more demands in the future. As long as Republicans believe that Mr. Obama will do anything to avoid short-term pain, they’ll have every incentive to keep taking hostages. If the president will endanger America’s fiscal future to avoid a tax increase, what will he give to avoid a government shutdown?

So Mr. Obama should draw a line in the sand, right here, right now. If Republicans hold out, and taxes go up, he should tell the nation the truth, and denounce the blackmail attempt for what it is.

Yes, letting taxes go up would be politically risky. But giving in would be risky, too — especially for a president whom voters are starting to write off as a man too timid to take a stand. Now is the time for him to prove them wrong.

This From Paul Krugman - Read, Then Go To HIS BLOG!

This from Paul Krugman -- please go to his blog -- bookmark it -- read every day -- call me in the morning (please follow link to original - there is a picture of Dr. Krugman at the top - he looks spiffy, and smart - in a professorial sort of way)


December 6, 2010, 10:36 am

Overmatched

Wolfgang Munchau suggests that we need a German word — ueberfordert — to describe the condition of Europe right now. I think he’s wrong about the lack of an English equivalent; “overmatched” seems fairly close. European leaders, and the European system, just seem not up to dealing with the crisis.

But then, who in the West is? It has been 22 months since I gave vent to a growing sense of despair about the US response; events have not, I’m sorry to say, proved me wrong.

One thing that is peculiarly distressing to people like me, by the way, is the determination of key players to rewrite history. Wolfgang Schaeuble tells us that “deficits were one of the main reasons for the crisis”; in what universe? Ireland and Spain were running surpluses on the eve of the crisis; the US crisis was clearly driven by private-sector, not public-sector debt; unless you define the crisis entirely in terms of Greece, this makes no sense at all.

So we’re ueberfordert, both in terms of will and in terms of intellectual clarity.

Update: And no, deficits were not behind the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. Again, Ireland and Spain began running deficits only after the bust; it was the runaway banks and the private-sector bubbles that did it