soundingbalance

An Open Letter to President Obama, et al.

2012-01-24T17:58:00.001-07:00

An Open Letter to President Obama and All Members of the United States Congress, and even...The Various and Assorted Residents of K Street – Lobbyists, all – who work for the Financial, Food, Pharmaceutical, Insurance and Heathcare Industries to cuckold the United States Government and to control, sicken and then treat, and then control all over again the American People:

Greetings!

“Future Generations” is a favored, even time-honored phrase among careerists like yourselves - politicians and lobbyists and then politicians again, and then Advisers and Federal Board Chairs and Federal Agency Regulators - and, with good reason. Who doesn’t care about their Grandchildren?

Even – because we all have Hearts, truly, you do, I know you do – other people’s Grandchildren.

This is true: you can cop and carp with High Dudgeon about Nancy Pelosi’s Invitation to all of her Grandchildren to join her at Her Podium as the first Madam Speaker of The United States House of Representatives, but did anyone not become at least choked up? C’mon.... This may be the only Issue that remains “fresh” no matter who you are. I know you are completely undefended when it comes to the love you have for your Grandchildren, born and unborn.... I know you even love mine. True Love is like this: incorruptible, even through repeated use. And yet....

And yet, we – you and me, the Grandparents (even Great-Grandparents) - have failed to “walk our talk” on many issues that are presently impacting our Grandchildren. Yup, there are the TreeHuggers among us, but there is also a solid contingent from the ROTC that trained my classmates and yours in the late Sixties and even the campus Young Republicans. Lemme ask you as question: How the HELL did the health and stability of Our Home become a partisan, political issue? (All you Lobbyists just stay the hell quiet for a minute while these other guys look at themselves in the sheen of their desks.... ) Age is that “thing” that, better than any sidler on Seinfield, creeps up behind you and looks you straight in the mirror of that sheen on your desk And. Demands. An. Accounting.

An accounting for Being A Grandparent Without Integrity.

Of all the Issues you and I could actively address Now and Everyday until we die (or, as we Tree Huggers say, “Make Our Transition....”), what might you suppose is the only one that counts?

Seriously. There is only one.

Nope, it’s not Jobs. Jobs are important, but you have to be alive to work.Nope, it’s not Healthcare. But you’re getting warmer.Seriously. Let’s not play political guessing games here. We insult Our Children’s Children. Your Grandson. My Granddaughter. No sarcasm. What mattered most the moment your grandson was born? What did you wait for? Hope for? Cry for?

Yeah, It’s the Earth: the Air we Breathe...the Water we drink...the Food we eat...the Life we create.Here. On Our Home. Spanning the Globe. And right now, there’s a whole lot more Agony. Not so much of the Ecstasy.

Bill Maher is right: How in the hell did the health and stability of Our Home become a partisan, political issue?

Doesn’t matter. The Questions's rhetorical. The Answer isn't. We have to make this right, and make it right In. This. Moment. Right Now. Read or talk to Bill McKibben, and we aren’t even living on “Earth” anymore. Climate Change has so completely progressed that an entirely new name for Our Home is required: Eaarth.

Here’s the only thing that does matter: Our Great-Grandchildren will not even have Eaath if we don’t act with Integrity, Right Now, in this moment and admit: 1) That Climate Change is A Fact, not "A Controversy”, and 2) That with every mouthful of meat or fish or cheese we eat, with every glass of milk we drink, we contribute to the massive deforestation, incomprehensible ocean dead zoning, lethal poisoning and general destruction of Our Home. Planet Earth. EarthRise from Apollo 8. If you’ll permit me, Our Mother. Who is dying.

My granddaughter has asked me, pleadingly, accusingly, “How could you let this happen?”What does your grandson ask you?

Some of those K Street guys just offer to finance your Campaign? One of The Churches texting you with an offer of Absolution or complete Salvation if you vote to insure the profitability of their Non-Profit that somehow has the “right” to “invest” in The Dairy Industry and buy Cattle Futures? Yes, The Lobbyists and Career Political "Advisers" are all invested in the continuation of the entire, greed-riven economic system.

Notice I dropped the “socio-“ from that "-economic" word.

They’re not interested in “society”. Not ours anyhow. Not down here among those they call “Peasants”. And, certainly not the World’s. But I invite you to ponder a general fact as an American Nobleman who was actually elected in a democratic election by The People: if you’ve been eating the Standard American Diet for any part of your lifetime, you’re sick: you’ve got some stage of Coronary Artery Disease. And, if that disease is in your Heart’s Arteries? You can pretty much count on it being in your other Arteries, too. Like, for example...your Brain’s.

By the way, your Grandson eat the Standard American fare? Beef for Dinner? Pies and Cakes and Ice Cream for Dessert and in between? Lots of chips and dips and pizza and burgers and fries? Well, he’s probably got some stage of Coronary Artery Disease, too.

So. We’re killing our Home, and fighting about “who started it”, and we’re killing our kids and denying it. As I said, we’ve failed as a generation to act with Integrity.

So what does he ask you, your Grandson?

Okay, I’ll go first. My Granddaughter is 14. She’s studying Trig. She uses two smartphones. She wanted an iPad for Christmas. And, of course, she googles.

Recently, she emailed me about this 2008 United States Human Society Summary Report concerning the Methane, among other Greenhouse Gas Emissions, that is produced by Animal Agriculture and its impact on our climate and the health of our planet. She wrote:

NOTE WELL: Animal Agriculture is responsible for 18% (AT LAST COUNT) of all GHG Emissions. The farm animals industry produces: 37% of Methane emissions which has more that 20 times the global warming potential of CO2; and, 65% of nitrous oxide – Think Fertilizer and Manure - like LAKES OF BULLCRAP - that they call “Manure Lagoons”.

We're breathing this shit. It's in our Food! I am really angry. How did you adults do this? Climate Change is real. You don’t have to win a Nobel to know that. Even I know this. It’s responsible for weather events like flooding and drought, the melt of glaciers in the Himalayas, Greenland and the Artic, for Dead Zones in the ocean and loss of plant and animal life. Use a computer, for godssake. At least use one for mine. And stop using the Name of God as your excuse for seeing Reality.

More than Ten BILLION animals are “grown” and killed in the US alone every year just so we can eat meat, milk and eggs. Worldwide, the number is more than 60 Billion; that’s more than SIX MILLION ANIMALS KILLED EVERY HOUR. That’s a crime. How can we possibly need that much meat?

Plus, here in America these animals are confined and treated in some of the cruelest ways I’ve ever read about just to “grow” and “produce” our food. How we treat them is another crime. Around the world, we’re deforesting and desertifying the planet just to graze cattle: 70% of forests in the Amazon have been clear cut. Go Here for more.

Americans eat a toxic diet of animal protein and its fats, refined and processed sugars and carbohydrates and almost no vegetables or fruits. In fact, if you’re an American between 10 and 70, you’re probably in some stage of Vascular Disease. That's you Dad. The biggest killers in the US – heart disease, cancer, stroke/hypertension, diabetes and obesity – can all be controlled by nutrition alone. And, as you know, when I was born, I had neo-natal diabetes. Mom still has it. I’m not getting it again. Ever. Have you read The China Study? It’s Required Reading for Living. Buy it. At the link.

The most powerful thing we can do to save the planet from Global Warming and protect the animals is to Stop. Eating. Animal Protein. My friends and I have started. Every day. Grannie Annie taught me how to make Green Smoothies. You should call her and ask her to help you to, but right now, all I’m asking you is, Will you give up Milk and Meat on Monday’s with me?

She included in her “SEND” list every one of her Contacts, including her father, who by his own admission “loves Bacon” and would not even consider tasting a Green Smoothie.

It’d be great right now if you’d just turn around and told those Lobbyists whispering in your ear to shove it. I’m not presenting some kind of State of the Union “Summer Stock” Moment for you here. The truth is you and I are being lapped by our kids... And, you were elected, after all; The Suits behind you weren’t.

I did some research after getting my granddaughter’s email: going Meatless and Milkless just one day a week is the equivalent to driving 1160 fewer miles per year. You go Vegan for a full year, and its as if you drove 8000 fewer miles. During World War I, “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesday” were part of our national effort as American citizens to conserve resources. Meatless and Wheatless was Patriotic. Now, thanks to Sid Lerner, Meatless Mondays Is Movement. Take a look at the Roster of Participants: celebs, of course, like James Cameron and Jessica Simpson, Ed Begley, Jr., John Tesh, Oprah...but some unexpected players, too: Toyota and institutional food service provider, Sodexo, Swedish Health Services in Seattle, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and his wife, Wendi, The McGraw-Hill Green Team, Johns-Hopkins University, The Franciscan Center of Baltimore, The Food Channel, EVEN The University of Wisconsin at – wait for it – GREEN BAY!! You will not be alone. In fact, you’ll be joining quite a Party. Personally, I’m hoping for a celebration that soon includes The White House with this Campaign Promise for an Obama Second Term: The South Lawn of the White House will become The People’s Organic Garden and Orchard.

The results of all Americans, say, going Vegan, have not been modeled yet; up to now, change in nutrition from an animal-based diet to plant-based diet was not considered as a possible policy element in effectively addressing Climate Change. This, no doubt, because of various Industry calculations against the obvious solution of changing one's diet to address a problem caused by diet; ask one of those Lobbyists on your sofa. So, I can't tell you what the impact of going Meatless on Mondays will have on Methane or all the other Greenhouse Gases (GHG), including CO2, but, here's what we do know: if all Americans ate no meat or cheese just one day a week it would be like not driving 91 billion miles, or taking 7.6 million cars off the roads, according to the Environmental Working Group’s Meat Eater’s Guide Report, released July 18, 2011. Given this research and modeling, it’s not a stretch to say that if all Americans went Vegan, we would at least have a chance to achieve the internationally recognized goal of limiting GHG emissions from Agriculture in 2050 to 2005 levels. Oh, yeah: there are Grandchildren in other countries....

You wanna live long enough to see 2050? Breathe the air and smell the roses then? Eat Plants. Seriously. I read The China Study after getting that email from my Granddaughter. You can actually begin to cure that Coronary Artery Disease that you and your Grandson both have just by eating a plant-based diet. And the cure starts immediately. That's the thing: you and me going Meatless on Mondays requires nothing but you and me making a Choice. No Hearings by Committees, no Environmental Impact Statements, no Appropriations Bills, no Constitutional challenges. You and I can right now just put down our knives, pick up our forks, and begin to save the Planet for our Grandchildren around the world. Be Grandparents with Integrity. Seriously. Even save ourselves....

Think Through the Cuts

2011-03-19T12:10:00.000-06:00

Howard Dean is out this morning with a succinct assessment of Republicans in the U.S. Congress who are hell-bent on cutting some 50 Billion Dollars from the Federal Budget: "Republicans have gone from being fiscally irresponsible to morally reprehensible in only a few short months. Their goal appears to be the death of civil society by a 1,000 cuts." He details this assessment:

Republicans are pushing for well over $50 billion in cuts to the budget, which would result in the loss of 700,000 jobs nationwide according to leading economists. They won't even consider cutting the $53 billion the Republicans have used to subsidize the oil industry or eliminating projects out of the defense budget that even the Pentagon says it doesn't need and doesn't want. Instead, they want cuts on everything from local law enforcement to community health centers, from food assistance to low-income women, infants, and children to rural development investment. And of course, they made it clear over and over again, that cutting Social Security benefits must be on the table.

You can Add Your Name to Democracy for America's Petition at the link, which I did, but, seriously, doncha think it's time cut the Meme with which Republicans and their Billionaire and Multi-Millionaire allies have lied, frightened and propagandized Americans?

Come On!
Think Through the Cuts!
Let's just let it rip here for a minute and rip through what is being proposed: They want no Government at all. Strangle it. Kill it.
They want No Taxes at all?
Fine.
Done.
You're on your own. No Government to "interfere" with your Life.

We'll get a Feudal Society.
With Lords who own the Land (true Landlords). Remember, the Billionaires in Billionaireville? They own your home now. They are Chase, and Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. You say "no paper"? Forget it. Tax Cuts just wiped out the entire Judiciary. You have no Right in any Court of Law. The Landlords are "The Law". It takes money to run the Courts. Nope. Now, you just get to lease tiny patches of ground, and you and I will be true Tenants. Or Sharecroppers.

And, we'll always be in Debt.
We'll use anything and everything we have to pay our Rent. We'll even sell our Wives and Children, our Hearts and Souls. Wives and Children will be property again, of course.

And, don't think for a minute that The Churches will not become Landlords...they already are: Think The Roman Catholic Church - the Temporal Church, that is - and, The Mormon Church, The Jewish State around the World, The Prosperity Protestants and Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, et al.

The Rich will continue to control our lives, in other words, We The Peasants.

Like that picture? Great. You just cut away. Nullify all Taxes. And stand up for "Fiscal Responsibility" that fails in every conceivable respect to collect Revenues from those who are in the Top One and Two Percent of this country. That starts with the 400 Billionaires. It includes the "merely affluent" Multi-Millionaires and their poorer Cousins, the Millionaires.

This is how it will happen.
All you have to do to see it is "Think Through the Cuts".
Watch:

1. Fire Departments, privatized. You want a fire out, you have to pay a monthly or yearly Fee. Add this to your Budget. And just think for a minute how hugely impractical it is to have "competition" among "Fire Departments". Then, ask: Is Fighting a Fire a Business? Obviously, No.

2. Police Departments, privatized. You want help in an emergency? You're being attacked for what food you're able to buy at the store, or are growing in your backyard garden? You have to pay a monthly or year Fee. Add this to your Budget.

You want Pinkerton or Triple Canopy or Blackwater aka Xe patrolling your neighborhood? You have so much time on your hands that you can round up and organize a Neighborhood Patrol? No job, so you're growing your own and you have time to defend your land with your own Smith & Wesson? Think this sounds like "The American Dream"? Fine...champion cuts, and defend the Rich who will charge you through your ass to get Services the Government once provided when...you paid Taxes.

3. All Schools, PRIVATE. Not only will you have to pay Tuition, Room and Board for your kid - and forget then any help coming at you from your oldest on that Neighborhood Patrol to protect your Garden - your children simply will not be educated if they do not "Test Well". Yup. IQ, Skills, whatever. Your kid isn't a Landlord's kid, or part of what will be the Landed Gentry or Aristocracy? Then, you're a Peasant. No education. Ever. Oh, and Tuition? That'll be steep. Like, the Landlord having rights to your Wife whenever he wants to fuck her because she'll be property again, too.

Like this Feudal Society so far? Gets better. In fact, we've already started the next element, no matter what The Obama Administration tells you about Healthcare Reform. Yup, the next one is...

4. Health Care, Absolutely privatized. NO Medicare. NO Medicaid. Nothing. Nada. Except...what you might be able to get through, say, Catholic Charities, or Catholic Church owned Hospitals, but, you won't get anything if you do not pass the Inquisitor's Questions. In fact, when we get to the Inquisition returning, you'll just be burned at the stake if your fail. That'll be your Healthcare. Think I'm exaggerating? Well just take a look at the proposed legislation that in the moment seeks to compel the IRS to audit any woman who has an abortion to determine if she paid for this medical procedure - which is still completely legal in this country, despite there being less and less access to doctors and nurse-practitioners who are capable of performing it - with monies received as Tax Returns.

Let's repeat, shall we - All Together Now - that absolute privatization of Health Care through complete defunding of all Government Health Care Programs means NO MEDICARE. Tax Cuts proposed currently to the Health Care Reform Bill passed by The 111th Congress and signed into law by Barack Obama will start us all in that direction.

Continuation of the Bush Administration Tax Cuts for the those Rich Americans and Corporations - "persons" now according to Citizens United - is NOW resulting in States facing "budget crises". And therefore, NO Medicaid. Well, yeah. Privatize Healthcare at the State level and you get No Medicaid.

But...as Michael Moore so eloquently pointed out, and Wisconsinites have stood up for to cheers from around the World, "America is not Broke." Neither is Wisconsin. Neither is Michigan. Neither is Ohio. Or Indiana. Or YOUR state.

But, all of our Governments - that "collective" that provides SERVICES that the vast Majority of us do need and want, those Governments, all all levels, do need Revenues. Money. Cash. Money the 400 Billionaires have. Not to mention what the "merely affluent" Multi-Millionaires can put their hands on. In other words, Taxes For the Rich. Including the Corporate Persons.

Let's go on. Oh...quick though on Healthcare. Let's put to rest the Lie that "Illegal Aliens" are draining our Emergency Rooms. In the name of all that is Truly Holy - not what a bunch of men in Red Hats say it is - Let us Say Together: We the Peasants are draining our Emergency Rooms because the Health "Insurance" Corporations are in business to deliver dividends to their Shareholders first, last and foremost, and not Health Care to us. Got it? We the Peasants are The Problem. The Corporations would love to find, dare I say, a Final Solution for us, but in the meantime (and because the frankness of such language is inflammatory) they simply deny most Claims presented. Even Now. Yes, even now...because that is their financial obligation. By Fiduciary Duty. Grossly stated through generalization - a license I'm taking right now to make a point - it is largely legal for health insurance corporations to let us Peasants die.

Okay. So...that's working out well for us, isn't it?
No one would want Healthcare for All with a Single Payer System would they?
A National Healthcare Service that would care for everyone. Period. Nah. Let's just keep going with Tax Cuts, and make sure that Healthcare becomes completely and absolutely privatized because "Government is just evil".

Moving on....Let's talk Utilities.

5. Water. Privatized. Period. You wanna a drink? Pay up. This is no fantasy. Happening, Babe, Globally. And, at a state in which you live: here's American Water which, when I last looked, was engaged in talks with one of three companies in Europe already doing big business in The Business of Water. But, now, the Crowd at Private Water's Table is simple Huge. For current information, check out Water at AlterNet, and Tara Lohan's book. Hell, google it...you'll find lots on your own about your own state.

6. Energy. Well, this gets us to the Big Issue, doesn't it? Electricity, Gasoline, Heating Oil. Batteries. More Batteries. Fuel Cells. Nuclear Reactors. Solar. Wind. Alternatives. All Privatized. You choose your Company. You pay their Fee. Monopolies? Nothing you can do about that. The Markets Rule. You just pay The Fee. For every single use you have. Pay a private Electrical Company, like, say ENRON...which also has a Fiduciary Duty to its Shareholders...because with privatization, all regulation, all characterization of an entity or organization as a "Utility" goes down the drain. So to speak.

And remember, there's no Government, so, there's now Judiciary, and...no Legislature either, so, no Laws. No Relief for you and me, We the Peasants. So...you pay their charge, every month to keep your lights on. Or, keep your generator running. Or, your tractor in the Fields. Or your car the Roads. If you have a car. If you can afford the Roads...because, I haven't even gotten to Roads and Bridges yet. Libraries, Weather and Natural Disaster Forecasting and Relief, Animal Shelters and Control, Wildlife Preservation and National Parks, Forests and Historic Sites...Parks. Clean Water. Clean Air.

Yeah. So you can pay all the Fees and Costs every month.
Without Government.
Or, not.
You're poor to pay any Fees for Water and Food and Energy, then you just scrap the Dirt. Eat the Grass. Or, as the Irish were once told, "Eat Your Children".

Like this American Dream?
Without Government?

Okay. That's enough.
It's exhausting.
I'm exhausted anyway.
You should be, too.

The very thought of the Fees and Operating Costs associated with any one of these Services that the Majority of Americans want access to at a Reasonable and Shared Cost is the Purpose of Government. Can we all get this? The purpose of Government is to organize a Society, and yes, to regulate when necessary the Society's Economy. There's nothing "evil" about any of this. (And Adam Smith never said that governments shouldn't regulate sectors of the economy, and besides he was writing in the mid-1700s...things have changed.) In fact, the power of the Union we create through our communities and municipalities, states and nation is what allows us to do business with other Peoples in all venues to solve the problems common to all of us in our Humanity, to share the abundance that is our inheritance as Children of The Stars, Daughters and Sons of Mother Earth.

Too pagan for you?
Fine. We're all Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I won't burn at the stake. I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth...but even Jesus said that the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, and I can find nothing anywhere in The Catholic Living Bible or any of The Creeds that says we should plunder and exploit the earth and environment for no reason other than satisfaction of our Ego's Greed and Hubris. In fact, there is a Commandment or two that mandates "honoring" your Mother and Father and prohits coveting your neighbor's wife. So...if we're all made from Dust...isn't the earth our Mother? And, if you're not to covet the property of your neighbor, then how the hell to you get some kind of sanction for competition in the first place? Just askin'.

FOX Lies.
Ronald Reagan was controlled by the Rich.
And, Grover Norquist and Dick Armey and Ari Fleischer are Rich.

Government is not Evil.
Diversity and Pluralism are not Sins against The Founding Fathers and Christ.

We the People are the Government! We the People are Citizens of a Union that was created out of diversity, and is Pluralistic by its very nature. "The Government" is what we create, in part, when we pool our Resources - Revenues - in the form of Taxes. If this is morally reprehensible to the Koch Brothers, The Churches of the World, the rest of Billionaireville and their ilk then maybe, just maybe, we need to divide up right now. Just untie the states of America right now. Let Jesusland be the Deep Red South and the Pagans of California and Boulder communicate via Internet and Satellites. (Oh, yeah, I forgot privatization of Communications...any one for Nacchio/Quest Squared?)

Think Through the Cuts.
Add to the List of Services we'll all lose.
Then add to the List Again.

Or Not. But then, prepare yourself. Prepare your children and their children for a Feudal Society. Poorer than poor. No sharing of the Wealth. No shared Abundance. No shared sense of our Common Experience and Belief in creativity and excellence that necessarily is Ours when Individual and Shared Responsibilities, Duties, Privileges and Rights are Balanced. Nope. None of that. But, you won't pay Taxes.... Think through the Cuts. Think through cutting down America to a thing that isn't even a Third Tier Nation, but annexed and owned by Foreign Corporations that are viewed as American "persons". But, you won't pay Taxes....

Think Through the Cuts.
Add to the List of Services we'll all lose.
Then add to the List Again.
And say ABSOLUTELY. NOT.

Koch Connection: Scalia and Thomas

2011-03-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

The frank connection between Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas and Charles and David Koch is now more than just a topic of conversation: Corporate Accountability is just one organization among several, Common Cause and The Story of Stuff among them, that is calling upon Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the Justices and their connection to Charles and David Koch.

Brilliant!

AND why not consider a Movement to Impeach both Justices as well? Somewhat similar to the "Recall RepubliCorps Politicians" Platform in Wisconsin, it has a nice ring to it for 2012, doesn't it?

Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films are also in the hunt as well with their newest campaign, Koch Brothers Exposed; "Become a Producer" of the comprehensive series at the link, get a T-Shirt with Shepard Fairey's take on the KOCH-topus and spread the word to others.

And, come back soon: More on The 400 Richest Americans on the way....

Wisconsin: Rules of Recall Elections

2011-03-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board makes the following Recall Information concerning recall elections of Senators and the state's Governor available on it's website.

Detailed: Wisconsin's Special Election Cycle 2011

2011-03-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Wisconsin Spring Election Cycle, April and May, 2011, was going to be a simple - and probably not well participated in - Election of Incumbent Judges. Here's a list of all Offices up for re-election, which lists only incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court, two Court of Appeals Judges and a number of Circuit Court Judges.

Then, Governor Walker announced on February 22, 2011 a Special Election on May 3, 2011 to fill three seats in the Wisconsin Assembly, which were vacated when three Assemblypersons accepted positions in The Walker Administration.

Now, the Spring Election Cycle is a rallying cry for The People. All Judicial Candidates, including those who recently won the February 15, 2011 Primary, will be scrutinized in an unprecedented way regardless of how "non-partisan" they claim to be. The races for Assemblyperson are now "The Tip of the Recall and Repeal Spear".

Wisconsin's Special Election, 2011

2011-03-10T11:39:00.001-07:00

The Spring Election Cycle in Wisconsin includes: April 5, 2011 - A Primary Special Election (if Necessary) and A Special Election - May 3, 2011
At Issue: the election of Assemblypersons in Districts 60, 83 and 94. The following List of Registered Candidates running for office shows that the majority of candidates are Republicans. Note Well: The LAST day to register to vote for this Special Election Cycle was March 8, 2011, the day BEFORE Governor Walker and the RepubliCorps rammed through their illegal Collective Bargaining-stripping Bill. GOTV efforts for this Special Election are underway, presumably, along with Caucuses and Meetings to hold Recall Elections of at least five current RepubliCorps Senators.

Wisconsin elects its Justices to its Supreme Court, it's Judges to the Bench; here are the Results of the Primary that was held on February 15, 2011:
Winner: Supreme Court: David T. Prosser, Jr.Columbia County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 2: W. Andrew VoigtGreen Lake County Circuit Court Judge: Jon R. Wilsnack Marathon County Circuit Judge: Mike MoranMilwaukee County Circuit Judge, Branch 18: Pedro ColonPolk County Circuit Judge, Branch 2: Daniel P. SteffenSheboygan County Circuit Judge, Branch 3: Angela W. SutkiewiczWinnebago County Circuit Judge, Branch 6: Daniel J. Bissett All Candidates are registered as "Non-Partisan". Research in progress as its not clear who these "Winners" will run against, if anyone, in May.

Firefighters: $192,000 WITHDRAWN from MNI Bank

2011-03-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Firefighters have withdrawn $192,000 from MNI Bank in demoninations of $5 and $10. They are asking EVERYONE to do the same in support of LABOR.

MNI BANK is one of Scott Walker's Biggest Supporters.

MOVE YOUR MONEY.
Move Your Money and deposit it into your Credit Union, or Local or Community Bank.

UPTAKE: Assemblypersons NOT Allowed into The Capitol

2011-03-10T10:44:00.002-07:00

Uptake is confirming that the Wisconsin Capitol has been completely shut down, and even Assemblypersons are not being allowed into the Capitol to conduct the State's business.

WTF?

Wisconsin Democratic Assemblypersons Not Being Allowed to Vote?

2011-03-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

Current feed from Uptake LiveSTREAM shows Democratic Assemblyman making a statement that he is unable to enter the Capitol to vote Against the Union Stripping Bill that the Senate rammed through last night.

The People are now Marching Around the Capitol.

Jesse Jackson: Speaking Truth

2011-03-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ah, TruthForce. Jesse Jackson speaking with the People, praying with the People in Wisconsin.

Public Hearings in Wisconsin: For LIVE fee of The Citizens of Wisconsin speaking their Truth in hearings organized by The People, go to The People's Mic. Wisconsinites have been asked to come to The People's Mic and "tell their story", testify, bear Witness.

Firefighters in Madison calling for: MOVE YOUR MONEY Move your money where? To Local Banks, Community Banks and Credit Unions.

April 5, 2011: Elections occurring across the country, Municipal and County. More Coming.

LABOR: National Mobilization Day

2011-03-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

On April 4, 2011 a National Mobilization Day will be held, as organized by SEIU and, presumably, all other sister and brother Unions.

For More, SEIU is LIVE via Twitter and Blogs. Updates coming: Protests in Wisconsin are being matched in Ohio.

Wisconsin LABOR: Rallies and Petitions for Recall HERE

2011-03-10T09:50:00.001-07:00

TODAY: Rallies in Wisconsin as organized by SEIU. And, ONLINE Petition for Recalls of Wisconsin's Republican Senators and Governor Scot Walker.

IMPORTANT: Even if you are from Out of State, sign the Petition for Recalls. It asks if you're willing to Contribute Funds for the Movement: YES!

Wisconsin: Who's House? Our House

2011-03-10T08:50:00.002-07:00

Who's House?
OUR HOUSE!

LiveStreaming WISCONSIN

2011-03-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

In the moment, LiveStreaming what is happening in Wisconsin's Rotunda via The Uptake.

Notably: Chats and Tweets coming in in support of The People from around the World.

Commentary from Reporter, currently discussing General Strike.

MSNBC: covering only Carlos Slim's 74 Billion Dollars, 23.1% of US Homeowners UNDERWATER in their Mortgages.

And The Rich are surprised by what's happening in Wisconsin?

Checking in now on our Sister States in Ohio, Indiana, Montana, Idaho....

The 400 Haves

2011-03-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

When Michael Moore spoke in Madison on March 5, 2011, he succinctly described the chasm between The Haves and The Have-Nots:

Today just 400 Americans have the same wealth as half of all Americans combined.

Let me say that again. 400 obscenely rich people, most of whom benefited in some way from the multi-trillion dollar taxpayer "bailout" of 2008, now have as much loot, stock and property as the assets of 155 million Americans combined. If you can't bring yourself to call that a financial coup d'état, then you are simply not being honest about what you know in your heart to be true.

So, who are these 400 people? Some you know, and can probably name immediately: Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Charles and David Koch, probably William Koch, The Waltons - aren't there four? or is is Five? - The Google Guys, The Facebook Guy, The Apple Guy. But who else is on The List?

Here they are, The Forbes 400 The Richest People in America. To make The 2010 List, you had to reside in Billionaireville.

Its a list worth studying, as much or more for the Industry or Business in which the person is involved as for the state in which they reside, and then, of course, their names.

How many live in your state of residence? What do they do? Think they might "own" a few Senators in your state? Your Mayor? Think they might dine occasionally with Charles and David Koch? Rupert Murdoch?

Note as you review this list how many are involved in Energy - Oil and Gas - and its derivative industries, e.g. Tires (Discount Tires) and Pipelines (lots and lots of pipelines). Travel. And, how many are involved in "Green Industries"? And, remember, according to Robert Frank's "memoir" of his Journey through Richistan, these people don't always "play well with others". The Koch Brothers, in fact, have allowed us to see just how troubled some of these people and their families are, how consumed they can become by ideology, psychopathology, amorality.

You might also note who is not listed here that probably should be, but isn't for "security reasons", e.g. ex-Presidents and Vice-Presidents.

More coming.

We the People DEMAND: Our Second Bill of Rights

2011-03-09T23:09:00.002-07:00

Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Republicans today followed the Orders of their Corporate Masters, Charles and David Koch and their allies, and rammed through illegal legislation to strip public employees of their Right to Collectively Bargain.

This is not about any "Budget Crisis". As Michael Moore has pointed out: America is NOT Broke: the Wealth of our Nation is simply in the hands of a mere 400 men and women who own as much as 155,000,000 Americans do all together. They are the Haves. They include The Kochs. They want to Privatize and Own all of our Resources, Our Very Souls.

They started years ago by stripping Air Traffic Controllers of their Right to Collectively Bargain, and, when Air Traffic Controllers went out on Strike, President Reagan fired them. Scott Walker would love to do the very same thing in Wisconsin.

Since then, We the People, The Labor of America, have seen our Jobs, our Resources, Our Homes, Our Ideas, our Government and the Services we want, expect and pay taxes for Privatized, while we have been left in Debt and struggling to survive financially. We are The Have-Nots. This is Our Economic Truth. But, this is our Spirit, this is our Courage, and the Force of Truth:

We are Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is America.
We are America.
This is Our Time.
And it is now time to Demand, to Fight for and to Win our Second Bill of Rights, Our Economic Bill of Rights.

On January 11, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt delivered this Message to the United States Congress on the State of our Union:

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.[Emphasis added]

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.

Student Walk-Out Friday

2011-03-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

On Friday afternoon, nationwide, at 2:00 pm - where ever you happen to live - students will Walk Out to protest the illegal and unethical "passage" of legislation in Wisconsin that stipped public employees of their Right to Collectively Bargain.

Stay Tuned.

The Koch's Raw Power Pushes The People's Critical Mass

2011-03-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

"BREAKING" hardly covers all that is being reported out of Wisconsin in the moment, but it is clear that Three R's - Remedial Relief, Recall of all Republicans and Revolution by The People - are all being considered, talked about, acted upon.

Wisconsin's Democratic Senators, as reported in the moment, are discussing whether they will stay where they are, no doubt to preserve and not waive any rights required in order to seek remedial relief from Wisconsin's Supreme Court, or to return to the state. Meanwhile, AlterNet is reporting that "Recall" is now the path that will be followed by The People. During Laurence O'Donnell's The Last Word, it was reported that The Recall Effort had already taken on additional and unprecedented, tsunami-like support. While MoveOn immediately sent out emails to members to request immediate, emergency contributions to raise $500,000, that goal was reached so quickly that the goal was raised to $750,000.

To say one is "shocked" is to tell the truth, and to reveal as well, how much we still all want to believe in The Rule of Law. As we catch our breath, what most will say is this: We are not "shocked" so much as we are Awakened to the massive corruption that has corroded our polity, our politics and our discourse as well as the raw power that Charles and David Koch, and their allies known and unknown, have just exercised. For, Scott Walker and his Republicans did not act of their own accord, but in response to the Beck and Call of their Corporate Masters.

I predict many, many people will travel to Wisconsin tomorrow. The weekend will see Rallies nationwide. Bank of America will see more from USUncut. In Washington, DC, the Budget Cuts that Republicans "discuss" without a thought of how people will be impacted, and suffer, by their "fiscal discipline" after thirty and more years of ravaging our nation's and it's state's coffers and crying "...deficits do not matter....", will hear from and see The People.

Raw Power is a risky and dangerous tactic to use in any climate. It almost always underestimates the immeasurable and enduring Spirit that lives and loves at the core of every man, woman and child - the Life Force - as well as the Force that is Truth. In conflicts between the two, Raw Power always loses, but not without sacrifices by those who carry only Truth as their absolute defense. In present clime, there will be sacrifices willingly made, for The People know they have nothing now to lose.

BREAKING: Financial Times Reports Companies "Get" Climate Change

2011-03-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Financial Times is reporting that:

Twenty US companies have agreed to take more account of environmental issues, such as water use and greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of investor resolutions, in a sign of increased pressure on industries such as power generation and oil and gas production.

The companies named include US Pension Funds in "California, New York and Connecticut; Calvert, a sustainable investment company; and religious groups such as the Adrian Dominican Sisters, have filed environmental resolutions." The list does not include any one of the Koch Companies, but one would assume that Charles and David Koch are watching as they continue their push in Congress to annihilate the Environmental Protection Agency. They may wish to pay attention to at least one gentleman's take on "The Market's View" of Climate Change, however: according to FT, "Kevin Parker, global head of Deutsche Asset Management, described the Mercer report as a “watershed event” in shareholders’ views of the threat of climate change. He said:

The nature of the risks that these investors are considering is inherently long-term. And they get it. They understand that climate change is a quantifiable, long-term risk that is extremely germane to their asset values.

Once again, and in "The Market", the Force of Truth.

[UPDATED] State by State: Assessing The Koch Influence

2011-03-06T23:33:00.003-07:00

Scroll down for UPDATE: additional information regarding RIMS Multipliers as explained and offered for order and sale by the US Dept of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis.

To understand the connections and alliances Charles and David Koch have established across the United States through their so-called philanthropic work – for, if in the world of “Freedom” and “Free Enterprise” there is for the Laborer “no such thing as a Free Lunch”, then, there is no such thing as a Gift, either – we need to be aware first of the business presence and activities of Koch Industries, Inc. across the nation.

In a Koch Industries, Inc. October 2010 Press Release issued by Harrah Analytics and titled, Koch Companies Creating Jobs Nationwide the number of individual Laborers and Workers employed by Koch Companies is documented. See, Page 1 [emphasis supplied by me because Koch Companies may view these employments as “jobs”, but, in fact, each employment is an agreement between a Koch Company and an individual man or woman who is, quite probably, a father or mother as well, and certainly the son or daughter of a Senior Citizen, and possibly the brother or sister of someone who is unemployed for some reason...they are not “jobs”.]

On page three of this Press Release, the presence and identity of Koch Companies as of October 2010 in the United States is documented, at which time Koch Companies were present and doing business in all but five states in the Union: Maine, Vermont, South Dakota, Idaho and Utah. Today, Koch Companies are present and doing business in Utah also. As one reviews the Press Release, maps are available that show the number of jobs created in each state of the Union; the Koch Companies doing business in each state – and, one should note that there are almost always more than three companies actively engaged - ; and, finally, there is on pages 5 and 6 a chart that documents the number of persons “directly” employed by Koch Companies, and then, “the number of jobs created indirectly” by Koch Companies. Currently, the website of Koch Industries, Inc. claims that over 50,000 people are employed directly in 46 states and the District of Columbia by Koch Companies, while a total of some 203,000 people are employed indirectly.

By any measure, this is an extraordinary business presence.

Around the Globe the Companies of Koch Industries, Inc. have a pervasive presence as well: in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, including the Pacific Rim, and Australia. The global map found at the link, which is interactive, appear to have the most current information available to the public concerning Koch Companies in The States.

Keeping in mind The Koch Calculus and the only role advocated by The Koch Brothers in a (perfect) world of privatized goods, services and commodities around the world, the slush fund of Cash Payments that Koch Companies make to employees and, presumably, anyone else who will never become an owner of the company but may be persuaded by the offer of a “Cash Bonus” to produce like one, together with the business presence of Koch Companies in all but four states in the Union, we can begin our assessment of The Koch Brothers and their Worldview on America and Her People.

Let’s begin with a brief review of the Honors and Awards received by Charles Koch, “As a reflection of Mr. Koch’s business leadership and community involvement....” For starters, Charles is the recipient of The Adam Smith Award from the American Legislative Exchange Council. Otherwise known as ALEC, the Federalism-promoting, Regulatory-trashing, Free-Market venerating fellowship of state legislators and corporate honchos, this is its stated Mission:

...to advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty, through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America's state legislators, members of the private sector, the federal government, and general public.

...to promote these principles by developing policies that ensure the powers of government are derived from, and assigned to, first the People, then the States, and finally, the Federal Government.

...to enlist state legislators from all parties and members of the private sector who share ALEC's mission.

...to conduct a policy making program that unites members of the public and private sectors in a dynamic partnership to support research, policy development, and dissemination activities.

...to prepare the next generation of political leadership through educational programs that promote the principles of Jeffersonian democracy, which are necessary for a free society.

Leaving to the prolific and wickedly brilliant Joshua Holland the task of skewering the “Mission” description of nearly all things “Jeffersonian”, we’ll move to the question, Any chance Charles Koch influences or controls this group?

Consider first the Membership of The Board of Directors – all State Legislators - , then its Leadership – more State Legislators - and with each the inescapable association he or she has with Koch Industries, Inc.:

Sen. Curt Bramble, Utah: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: Less than 250, or 117; “Total Jobs”*** in Utah: 307

Rep. Steve McDaniel, Tennessee: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Chemical and INVISTA; Persons Employed Directly: 500 –1499, or 905; “Total Jobs” in Tennessee: 3626

Rep. Harold Brubaker, North Carolina: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Fertilizer/Nitrogen, Flint Hills and INVISTA; Persons Employed Directly: 1500 – 2499, or 1691; “Total Jobs” in North Carolina: 6529

Rep. Ray Merrick, Kansas: Koch Companies: Koch Industries, Inc., Koch Pipeline, Koch Chemical, Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills, INVISTA, Koch Supply & Trading, Koch Minerals, Koch Fertilizer; Persons Employed Directly: 2500 or more, or 2501; “Total Jobs” in Kansas: 5727.

Sen. Jim Buck, Indiana: Koch Companies: Koch Minerals, Koch Chemical, Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 250 – 499, or 388; “Total Jobs” in Indiana: 1222.

Sen. Bill Raggio, Nevada: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific and Koch Chemical; Persons Employed Directly: Less than 250 (per 2010 data) or 124; “Total Jobs” in Nevada: 311.

Sen. Kent Cravens, New Mexico: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific and Koch Minerals; Persons Employed Directly: Less than 250 (per 2010 data) or 147; “Total Jobs” in New Mexico: 147.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, Nevada: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific and Koch Chemical; Persons Employed Directly: Less than 250 (per 2010 data) or 124; “Total Jobs” in Nevada: 311.

Rep. Jim Ellington, Mississippi: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 1500 – 2499, or 1888; “Total Jobs” in Mississippi: 7570.

Sen. Chip Rogers, Georgia: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Chemical, INVISTA and Flint Hills; Persons Employed Directly: More than 2500, or 8020; “Total Jobs” in Georgia: 32,349.

Sen. Billy Hewes III, Mississippi: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 1500 – 2499, or 1888; “Total Jobs” in Mississippi: 7570.

Sen. William Seitz, Ohio: Koch Companies: Koch Chemical and Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 25 – 499, or 493; “Total Jobs” in Ohio: 1777.

Spkr. Bill Howell, Virginia: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, INVISTA, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Mineral, Flint Hills; Persons Employed Directly: 1763; Total Jobs” in Virginia: 6219.

Rep. Curry Todd, Tennessee: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Chemical and INVISTA; Persons Employed Directly: 500 –1499, or 905; “Total Jobs” in Tennessee: 3626.

Sen. Owen Johnson, New York: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Chemical, INVISTA, Koch Supply & Trading, Koch Industries, Inc.; Persons Employed Directly: 25 – 499, or 367; “Total Jobs” in New York: 899.

Sen. Susan Wagle, Kansas: Koch Companies: Koch Industries, Inc., Koch Pipeline, Koch Chemical, Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills, INVISTA, Koch Supply & Trading, Koch Minerals, Koch Fertilizer; Persons Employed Directly: 2500 or more, or 2501; “Total Jobs” in Kansas: 5,727.

Sen. Michael Lamoureux, Arkansas: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific and Koch Chemical; Persons Employed Directly: Persons Employed Directly: 2500 or more, or 3122; “Total Jobs” in Arkansas: 12,200.

National Chairman, Rep. Noble Ellington, Louisiana; Koch Companies: Koch Chemical, Koch Fertilizer, Flint Hills and Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 500 – 1499, or 1279; “Total Jobs” in Lousiana: 5,541.

Second Vice Chairman
Rep. Dave Frizzell, Indiana: Koch Companies: Koch Minerals, Koch Chemical, Georgia-Pacific; Persons Employed Directly: 250 – 499, or 388; “Total Jobs” in Indiana: 1,222.

Rep. John Piscopo, Connecticut: Koch Companies: Koch Chemical; Persons Employed Directly: Less that 250, or 19; “Total Jobs” in Connecticut: 45.

Secretary
Rep. Linda Upmeyer, Iowa: Koch Companies: Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills, Koch Pipeline and Koch Fertilizer; Persons Employed Directly: 250 – 499, or 326; “Total Jobs” in Iowa: 944.

Rep. Liston Barfield, South Carolina: Georgia-Pacific, INVISTA and Koch Chemical; Persons Employed Directly: More than 2500, or 2,680; “Total Jobs” in South Carolina: 11,283.

Immediate Past Chairman, Rep. Tom Craddick, Texas: Koch Companies: Matador Cattle Company, Koch Pipeline, Koch Minerals, Koch Chemical, Georgia-Pascific, Koch Supply & Trading, Flint Hills, Koch Fertilizer, INVISTA; Persons Employed Directly: More than 2500, or 5,625; “Total Jobs” in Texas: 32,964.

*** Harrah Analytics provides the following information in its description of Analysis Methodology and Further Information: The Direct employment numbers were supplied by Koch Industries, Inc. for each U.S. facility. The employment at each facility was assigned a Bureau of Economic analysis industry code. Direct employment was multiplied by the industry direct effects employment multiplier. Multipliers were obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, RIMS II (regional Industrial Multiplier System).

UPDATE:Regarding the use of RIMS Multipliers by Harrah Analytics to obtain figures concerning "Total Jobs", the following questions need to be asked and answered:
1. In 2010 and 2011 when these analyses were each conducted, for which "Regions" were RIMS Multipliers ordered?
2. What method was used to create or determine each Region?
3. Was a Benchmark series or Annual Series ordered?
4. What was the total cost for each RIMS order placed by Region, and, by Industry?
5. If RIMS II Multipliers were used in each analysis, how is the term "employee" defined by Koch Industries, Inc.? Does it include independent contractors? What method did Koch Industries, Inc. use, in fact, to determine the number of persons it "directly employs" in any given industry, in any given state, and in any given region?
The Koch Industries, Inc. website does not document when Charles Koch received The Adam Smith Award from ALEC. Suffice to say that if he received it in 2010, he would have been responsible as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc. for employing some 31,400 people directly through Koch Companies.

Now, to the question: Would this fact influence any one or some of the members of ALEC?

More: Might any one of these State Legislators be the recipient of a Koch Company “Cash Bonus”?

Beyond ALEC’s Board of Directors and its Leadership, ALEC is governed as well by The Private Enterprise Board, where Mike Morgan, of Koch Industries, Inc. is a member:

National Chairman Mr. W. Preston Baldwin, Centerpoint360

First Vice Chairman
Mr. W. Preston Baldwin, Centerpoint360

Second Vice Chairman
Mr. Pat Thomas, UPS

Treasurer
Ms. Sandy Oliver, Bayer Corporation

Secretary
Mr. John Del Giorno, GlaxoSmithKline

Board Members
Ms. Sano Blocker, Energy Future Holdings
Mr. Don Bohn, Johnson & Johnson
Mr. Jeff Bond, PhRMA
Mr. Bill Carmichael, American Bail Coalition
Mr. Derek Crawford, Kraft Foods, Inc.
Mr. Matt Echols, The Coca-Cola Company
Mr. Michael Hubert, Pfizer Inc
Ms. Teresa Jennings, Reed Elsvier
Mr. Ken Lane, DIAGEO
Mr. Kelly Mader, Peabody Energy
Mr. Bernie McKay, Intuit, Inc.
Mr. Mike Morgan, Koch Industries, Inc.
Mr. Kevin Murphy, ExxonMobil
Mr. David Powers, Reynolds American Inc.
Ms. Maggie Sans, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Mr. Ron Scheberle, Chairman Emeritus
Mr. Russell Smoldon, Salt River Project
Mr. Toby Spangler, Altria Client Services, Inc.

Now, besides “jobs created” in the 46 states in which Koch Companies are present and doing business, we have begun a Roster of the Corporate Cousins, Friends and Allies of Koch Industries, Inc. No doubt we will add to this Roster, but for now, it is revelatory in and of itself for two reasons: the Corporate entities themselves, and the Board of Directors for each. Obviously, we’ll want to know how many Directors sit on the Boards of more than one of these corporate “persons”, and specifically how many Boards of Directors Mike Morgan, or someone else from Koch, sits on.

More details in my next.

Technical Difficulties and Working Analyses and Conclusions

2011-03-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Encountering technical difficulties as I am, the next section of the Koch profile will not publish until Monday.

Suffice to say in the meanwhile that I would suggest the following: All moves by Wisconsin's Scott Walker and the Republican Assemblypersons and Senators regarding the Budget Repair Bill and the proposed Wisconsin State Budget (as well as moves by the state governments in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and the US Congress) be analyzed with what I am calling The Koch Calculus: Privatization = Free Enterprise Free Enterprise = Universal Freedom Therefore: Privatization = Universal Freedom
In English, Privatization of all Goods, Commodities and Services provided by the government - any government, anywhere around the globe: community, local, state, federal; indigenous, clan, tribal; city/state; provincial, national; parish, county, state, etc. - equals Free Enterprise. Free Market Enterprise - that is, Markets that trade and flow absolutely without Regulation - equals Universal Freedom, which is divinely inspired, and may be called "God's Gift to Mankind", or words to that effect. Therefore, Privatization of all Goods, Commodities and Services equals Divinely inspired Universal Freedom for All. And, thus, the place and role of government, even one "by, for and of The People" becomes clear: it should do nothing, but for safeguarding "The Market", the ultimate protection of Universal Freedom.

Based upon evidence reviewed thus far it appears that, at root, this Worldview, The Koch Calculus, which is openly held by The Koch Brothers, is absolute and intolerant of any opposing analyses or Worldviews, however informed or inspired themselves, be they economic or religious, political or spiritual. And, in the same way, so are The Koch Brothers absolute and intolerant of anyone opposing their Worldview and the analyses and conclusions flowing from it.

The Koch Brothers hold to and apply The Koch Calculus to all opportunities, situations and circumstances. Because they are Social Creatures (if admittedly not quite perfect) by virture of being Human, they cloak, even disguise, their application of The Koch Calculus, under commercially brilliant presentations of laudable mantels: "doing Good" with (often) "generous grants", offering "scholarships" and "opportunities", insuring "safeguards" and "preservation", along with the more prosaic, but frank "donations". Then, they market their "Goodness" as demonstrable Morality and its implicit Authority to be challenged by nothing and no one.

With this "Moral Authority" they then promote - and market - the softer "values" and "viewpoints" of their Opposition, or Sworn Enemies. Examples of such "values" include, but are not limited to: Education, Diversity and Tolerance, Charity itself, and the care, concern even rescue for "those most vulnerable in our society" including children, the hungry, the disabled, the weak, the elderly; and The Arts. Perhaps the "value" most insidiously corrupted of all is stewardship for and custodianship of The Environment: Clean Water and Air, Space, Mother Earth, Herself. Any and all - including Her - are, or should be, Commodities for market and sale, this being Universal Freedom itself, divinely inspired by the only God that exists (that of the Judeo-Christian mythology and tradition).

In promoting and marketing the "values" of their Opposition - which may be reduced, according to the lesser elements of The Koch Calculus, to "Resources" required by Privatization - the Koch Brothers and their companies co-opt language, methods, apparent goals, spokespersons and even programs. In doing so, they use representative "Enemies" to their own advantage and ends. Often, it appears, such individuals, associations, organizations, other corporate entities (non-profit and profit) along with governments of any size anywhere in the world become profoundly beholden to The Koch Brothers; and, thus, helpless to uphold their own Truth. In this way, The Koch Brothers, through their Companies, come to enjoy "ownership" and "control" of said individuals, entities, states, governments; which is to say, Resources.

Thus, it may be asserted and successfully argued that Universal Freedom for "All" results most often in Ownership of, or Controlling Interests in, The "All" by The Koch Brothers and their corporate entities, with Serfdom or Sharecropper status being the true result for the "All", or the Owned.

Details to follow on Monday. Thanks for your patience.

UPDATED & EXPANDED] KOCH Industries, Inc: The Board of Directors

2011-03-01T23:25:00.001-07:00

The Board of Directors of KOCH Industries, Inc. is composed of only three men, two brothers and a guy who is likely their Chamberlain or Jester, or both, but likely not just a Third Wheel named David L. Robertson, who holds the titles of “President” and “Chief Operating Officer”. The Third Guy used to be E. Pierce Marshall, a Houston, Texas investor; and, according to this 1998 Forbes Profile of Charles Koch only these three men own any voting shares. Sources say Charles and David each own 42% of Koch Industries, Inc.

Koch Industries, Inc. is a privately held corporation; which is to say, its shares are not traded on any public exchange. That is not to say, however, that it does not sell its stock to private investors, which immediately gives rise to a range of possibilities, both industrial and personal. On the flip side, by both current website acclaim and in the past, Charles Koch asserts that Koch Industries has re-invested 90% of its profits in the business. The other 10 percent? Koch hasn’t said, but one would certainly have to assume that some of that 10 per cent is invested in other companies, privately-held or publicly traded. [Note: Given that there are some nine other “Koch Companies”, all of which are privately-held, and all of which return profits that presumably are invested in publicly and privately traded business organizations, one may futher presume that all Koch Companies are active Industrial Players on the various Exchanges. And, one should note well: Charles and David Koch own their own trading company, Koch Supply & Trading .]

Both Charles and David Koch, like their father, Fred, are engineers by professional training. Charles and David are graduates of MIT, and Charles bears both the carriage of and the reputation for the arrogant certainty that may be the hallmark of the engineer’s worldview: differing viewpoints and opinions are rather more ‘entertainment’ than anything to be seriously considered. The craft of the politician, the art of the lawyer, the theories of the quantum physicist are viewed, almost by professional imperative, with disdain if not characterized, outright, as anathema.

In his choices of economic theoriests, Charles Koch hews to absolutists as well. In the Forbes profile Charles Koch is described as

...a voracious reader, heavily influenced by the so-called Austrian School of free market economics. His texts are: Ludwig von Mises' Human Action, Friedrich A. Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty and, though he's not technically a member of the Austrian School, Joseph Schumpeter's Business Cycles. Over 30 years Koch has distilled these readings into a theory -- Market Based Management. The company has built an entire curriculum around it, printed in several three-ring binders.

“MBM” – an unfortunate acronym to be sure – is now a part of the Koch Industries, Inc. corporate culture. Under the Five Dimensions of MBM and its Guiding Principles, all employees are characterized and viewed as entrepreneurs, even though not one of them will ever be a Shareholder of the company (one exception: apparently some employees become owners of non-voting shares). Forbes asked how this worked in practice: “How do you get employees to think like owners when they’re not and know they never will be? With Cash.”
Immediately, one becomes deeply interested. Cash?

How Much?
How Often?
Under what circumstances?
Is this part of the Koch Culture? Generally known among those employed?

The Forbes profile contines:

It’s not unheard of for top Koch executives to get million-dollar bonuses.

Does the IRS know? Does anyone else?

But even rank-and-file employees see immediate rewards for profitable actions. Just over a year ago [1997], the company earmarked about $30 million to expand its pipeline in Minnesota. In the Koch spirit, a team of seven operators and engineers took it upon themselves to do the job for less. They ran computer simulations and adjusted pump pressures here and there. Within a few months, the pipeline's capacity was up 15%, with only about $1 million spent. The company cut each team member a check averaging 15% of his yearly pay.

Labor gets cash bonuses? How often? Does this effect FICA? Worker’s Compensation? Not to mention: the range of these Cash Bonus Payments is simply remarkable. A million bucks here, $30,000 there. Are Secretaries in on this, too? How could they not be? I have to say though that if this one example is typical, Management is yet again profiting off the backs and labors of Labor while even those who demonstrate that “ol’ entrepreneurial spirit” and knock it out of the Park get the short end of the stick. Consider: if each of the seven operators and engineers in the above referenced example was paid $200,000, the total, the amount paid in Cash to all seven – 15% of their regular salaries – would still only amount to $210,000, or $30,000 each. One simply cannot help but wonder aloud to Labor, “Ever consider a Union?”

And, just by the way, while we’re on the subject, how often is “Cash” used to achieve, well, anything when - in Tea Party language – the “Common Sense” response to Management’s “proposition” is, “WTF? Why would I bust my ass for you?”

As well, “Cash Payments” must be added as yet another “investment” possibility in the array of options referenced above for Profits earned. Obviously, “Cash” can mean almost any desired outcome. “Cash” can buy a lot of desired information. “Cash” can be used…well, much to the jealousy of VISA and MasterCard , Cash can be used “Anywhere”, and for “…anything”, a subject to which we will return in detail.

Charles and David Koch, Directors of the Koch Industries, Inc. Board, oversee a family business that no longer involves all family members. But the information concerning this family is conflicted. Everyone seems to agree there are four brothers: Fred, Charles, David and William. According to Money, the brothers four were sons of a “Monarch”, a man who “didn’t play ball.” By Money’s account, Freddie is the oldest (which makes some sense since the brothers’ father was “Fred”), but, according to brother William, aka Bill, Freddie was the victim of homosexual blackmail by brother Charles, who is the next eldest. According to Money, Charles, although “second in line”, was named “Heir-Apparent” by the boys’ father, Fred because, one assumes, Freddie is Gay. Bill and David are actually “third in line” because they are twins, but Charles always played with David, sided with him in all disputes, and bullied Bill, for which actions Bill has always resented Charles in a big, big way. Bill was so distressed by Charles as a child that Charles was sent away to Boarding School. Good times. In 1997, Money called it “one of the biggest family feuds in business history.”

When Fred Koch died – rather grandly according to Money: in a duck blind, of a massive heart attack, immediately after shooting a duck when he turned to comment to a companion on his great shot (talk about Karma), his sons took all under his Will. And then, the Good Times really began to roll. Arguments and allegations, lawsuits and lies, defenses and truth; for, if as a litigious society we’ve learned anything it’s this: in every lawsuit anyone ever files or defends, there is good deal of Truth, and a whole lot of ass-covering at the same time.

In 1998, Forbes documented a 13 year lawsuit waged by Bill against David and Charles. Bill lost. Afterwards, according to Charles and David , Bill took revenge with a variety of public displays, though Charles and David never had any hard proof of this. As reported by Money as well, Bill alleged that his brothers had commited theft of oil from the US government and certain Tribal Nations, which allegations were taken up by Congressional Committees. In addition,

Federal grand juries have investigated alleged environmental violations at refineries in Texas and Minnesota. Hundreds of oil spills and pipeline leaks have brought on federal civil suits in Houston and Tulsa.

Hundreds Of spills? Oil theft? Yes, Indeed. And, ocassion perhaps for more “Cash Payments”.

According to Jane Mayer’s 2010 profile about the brothers in The New Yorker:

"In 1999, a jury found Koch Industries guilty of negligence and malice in the deaths of two Texas teen-agers in an explosion that resulted from a leaky underground butane pipeline. (In 2001, the company paid an undisclosed settlement.) And in the final months of the Clinton Presidency the Justice Department levelled a ninety-seven-count indictment against the company, for covering up the discharge of ninety-one tons of benzene, a carcinogen, from its refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. The company was liable for three hundred and fifty million dollars in fines, and four Koch employees faced up to thirty-five years in prison.

SourceWatch reports:

If convicted, the company faced fines of up to $352 million, plus possible jail time for company executives. After George W. Bush became president, however, the U.S. Justice Department dropped 88 of the charges. Two days before the trial, John Ashcroft settled for a plea bargain, in which Koch pled guilty to falsifying documents. All major charges were dropped, and Koch and Ashcroft settled the lawsuit for a fraction of that amount.

Mayer concludes,

The Koch Petroleum Group eventually pleaded guilty to one criminal charge of covering up environmental violations, including the falsification of documents, and paid a twenty-million-dollar fine. David Uhlmann, a career prosecutor who, at the time, headed the environmental-crimes section at the Justice Department, described the suit as “one of the most significant cases ever brought under the Clean Air Act.”

SourceWatch follows the Cash:

Koch had contributed $800,000 to the Bush election campaign and other Republican candidates.
Alex Beehler, assistant deputy under secretary of defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, previously served at Koch as director of environmental and regulatory affairs and concurrently served at the Charles G. Koch Foundation as vice president for environmental projects. Beehler was later nominated and re-nominated by the Bush White House, to become the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Inspector General.

Charles and David eventually bought out their brothers, or so it is reported. Bill Koch founded his own energy company in 1983, Oxbow and gained individual fame and recognition when he won The 32nd America’s Cup in 1992. He is also infamously known: for being arrested for domestic assault, the ensuing divorce of his first wife, and litigiousness that has involved evasion of payment of taxesin Massachusetts and Florida. He also loudly opposed the construction of a Wind Farm on Cape Cod where he owns a waterfront estate.

According to Mayer’s report, Freddie moved to Monaco and “bought historic estates in France, Austria and elsewhere, filling them with art, antiques, opera scores, and literary manuscripts.”

The secrets of any family can reveal as much as intrigue, particularly the emotions – anger, shame, jealousy, fear - with which they are held. Of all the secrets revealed thus far, however, perhaps one of the most significant are the circumstances of Fred Koch’s “success”. According to Money the senior Koch was, by any measure, a brilliant engineer who developed a method of refining gasoline from crude oil, which he fully expected to be his ticket to fame and forture:

But a consortium of big oil companies, which owned similar patents, sued him for patent infringement and prevented him from selling his process in the U.S. To make a living, Fred spent the Depression years in Russia, helping Stalin expand his petroleum industry. He also spent a lot of time in U.S. courts fighting the oil companies; in 1952 he finally won a $1.5 million settlement after it came out that the companies had bribed the judge handling his case.

Talk about a Lesson in Cash Payments.

Apples don’t fall far from trees, and the sons of Fred Koch, particularly Charles and Bill seem to have dropped right next to the trunk when it comes to brains, drive, and fight. When it comes to Worldviews, however, something of a split becomes visible. Its not that Bill is a liberal by any means – witness his contempt for paying taxes of any kind and suing any and all governments that would try to collect from him – but, compared to his father, Fred, a Charter Member of the John Birch Society, he is. Freddie was disowned, according to family lore for “stealing $700”, but it seems everyone knows it happened because he’s Gay. Meanwhile, Charles and David have taken up Fred’s penchant for the station of Lordship, or even King, and the wholly undemocratic notion of The Divine Right of Kings. Interestingly, it was the economist Joseph Schumpeter, one of Charles’s chosen mentors, who, in discussing what motivates the Entrepreneur wrote:

First of all, there is the dream and the will to found a private kingdom, usually, though not necessarily, also a dynasty. The modern world really does not know any such positions, but what may be attained by industrial or commercial success is still the nearest approach to medieval lordship possible to modern man. Its fascination is especially strong for people who have no other chance of achieving social distinction. The sensaation of power and independence loses nothing by the fact that both are largely illusions. Closer analysis would lead to discovering an endless variety within this group of motives, from spiritual ambition down to mere snobbery….

Then there is the will to conquer; the impulse to fight, to prove oneself superior to others, to succed for the sake, not of the fruits of success, but of success itself. From this aspect, economic action becomes akin to sport – there are financial races, or rather boxing –matches. The financial result is a secondary consideration, or at all events, mainly valued as an index of success, and as a symptom of victory.

From, Schumpeter: A Biography, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1991, I, pp. 117-18. This is what Charles Koch studies. Over and over. One of the three principal sources that inspired him to create “MBM”.

Within this publicly reported context then is the Billionaireville corporate empire that is Koch Industries, Inc. and its governing Board of Directors. By their Biographical Information, both Charles and David present Awards and Honors that are fairly typical; their Board Memberships, however, further illuminate their individual worldviews and prejudices, or at least the script they have created to so persuade the world of same. Charles Koch allies himself with hard and tough going concerns and philanthropies; David associates with those whose Mission is Medicine and Research and The Classical Arts. Tough or tender, both men continue to reveal an orthodoxy that tolerates no dissension with their worldview and concepts of “Freedom”, “Liberty” and “Free Enterprise”, and connections and alliances with other like-minded people and their corporate brethren.

Details forthcoming.

[UPDATING] LIVE STREAM: Scott Walker's Budget Address

2011-03-01T14:48:00.002-07:00

UPDATE:

OVERALL PROPOSAL: PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION, CORRECTIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ELIMINATION OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF CONFUSED.

OVERALL PROPOSAL: 4.2 BILLION IN CUTS TO MEDICAID, EDUCATION, CORRECTIONS WITH "PUBLIC/PRIVATE CORPORATION" CREATED TO CREATE JOBS.

MY OVERALL IMPRESSION: WALKER/KOCH INDUSTRIES, INC IS PROPOSING PRIVATIZATION OF WISCONSIN. STRAIGHT SHOCK DOCTRINE/NEO-LIBERALISM: CRISIS: "WE'RE BROKE", PRIVATIZATION WILL SAVE US, LOANS/GRANTS WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT THE INTEREST RATES ARE NOT PUBLICIZED.

MY OVERALL QUESTION: HOW THE HELL IS THIS NOT A BETRAYAL OF THE "PROMISE" WALKER RE-COMMITTED TO AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADDRESS? THAT IS: We must keep our Promise to The People that they will always come first.

_____________

Scott Walker - was he legally elected Governor? - will give his Budget Address at 4 PM CENTRAL. AOLNews is one outlet offering LIVE STREAM. At the Link.

Rep. Hulsey speaks here to protesters about the Budget Address, saying that he and other Assembly Dems are going to begin Hearings (this morning at 8AM) on the Budget Proposal with Citizens testifying about how Walker's it attacks "...our Families, our Freedom and our Future...." He goes on to say that he hopes "thousands of people are in this building" [in the Capitol] when Walker gives this address.

No word in the moment on whether Citizens of Wisconsin have been allowed into the Capitol to hear Walker's Address. No coverage yet found on the Hearings begun this morning in Wisconsin's Capitol.

On Wisconsin: Reject Walker, Tax the Rich, Accept (Beg For) Federal Aid

2011-03-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

In Wisconsin, Minnesota Mark Dayton's proposal to tax the rich will undoubtedly resonate tomorrow, if it is not already. Dayton, it should be noted, is not just proposing an increase in taxes on the rich; he's proposing a Wealth Tax as well:

Dayton's budget plan would increase taxes to 10.95 percent on Minnesota families earning over $150,000 a year (or single adults earning more than $85,000). He would also add an additional 3 percent surtax on the super-rich - those earning more than $500,000 - for the next 3 years.

Brilliant.

Meanwhile, AP's Review and Analysis of the Walker Proposed Budget Cuts in Wisconsin, which proposal is expected to be formally revealed tomorrow, makes clear that Governor Walker seeks not just to destroy Wisconsin's Public Employee Unions, but devastate the state's working Middle Class. AP clearly states that the proposals Walker is making are not the only governing options available; instead, Walker, like Mark Dayton, could propose an increase in taxes on the rich, including corporations, and accept Federal Aid.

Since the beginning of the year, however, Walker has overtly done just the opposite: he's granted tax cuts to the rich, insured that taxes on income and sales cannot be raised without a 2/3rds majority vote, and he's rejected all Federal "aid" in the form of the proposed High Speed Rail project. One can conclude that, given the thousands of workers Koch Industries, Inc./Georgia-Pacific employs in Wisconsin, that this Wisconsin is the first "laboratory" in which the Koch Brothers' Agenda of "Freedom" and "Free Enterprise" along with "Market Based Management" - which is apparently applicable in everything you can possibly do while here on Earth - is dictatorially rammed down the throats of the Wisconsin polity and Her Working Class.

Market Based Management, by the way, is the creation of Charles Koch, a registered intellectual property, even, and you'll read much more about it here in the coming installments about each one of the Koch corporations. Suffice to say in the moment, It's everywhere. "MBM" - an unfortunate acronym to be sure - as it applies in the current Labor struggles in Wisconsin dictates that the "right people" must be in the "right roles" with the "right authority" and then they must be held accountable. This, just one of "The Five Dimensions of MBM". And, as Scott Walker pursues his scorched earth "No Negotiations" policy to annihilate Unions, he demonstrates his devotion to The Guiding Principles of MBM, and specifically the credo to, "Embrace change. Envision what could be, challenge the status quo, and drive creative destruction." Note to all Gentle Readers: anyone who comes within even a hair's breadth of even one of the Kochiteuthis websites will quickly appreciate the pervasive veneration of the notion of "freedom" which is only possible, according to Kochiteuthis, in the midst of a "Free Enterprise System". Good news for laid off Wisconsin Teachers? If they're the "right people" they might find the "right role" with Georgia-Pacific or Koch Pipeline in Wisconsin where they could help the Koch Brothers creatively destroy Mother Earth.

This is just the ruthlessness of Neo-Liberal Economics. Evidence-based proof of Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine. "We're broke," Walker said on Meet the Press. And he's taken it upon himself to deliver the bad news. So everyone in Wisconsin should just panic, lay down and take it because there's just no other choice: No more education in Wisconsin. Forget health-care if you're poor, or farm for a living. Don't expect infrastructure repair, let alone modernization. Just serfdom or possibly Sharecropper status in a "career" with Koch Industries' Georgia-Pacific. And if you're a child in Wisconsin today? Well, according to Scott Walker's plan you'll grow up, if you survive childhood illnesses, without much education, fewer skills, but hey, no public debt. So. You're good.

As if all of this is not enough, an unprecedented wave of retirements is happening now in Wisconsin because Walker's proposed increases in costs for health benefits and contributions for retirement pensions could result in older workers losing benefits completely. The "brain drain" across the public sector, from Teachers to Lawyers to Scientists and Engineers who have enjoyed a career in public service looks to be massive.

Governor Walker's proposed Budget Cuts can only be described as Insane. Citizens of Wisconsin, of America, would be reduced to Serfdom, truly, stripped of Dignity and Hope as well. This cannot stand. It has no place in the Common Weal of America where just one of our drives is to create Community: a shared experience of learning and sharing and working and living together that is not valued by solely by Profits returned on a parent corporation's investment. And, where another of our drives is to stand up and against any Power - no matter how well intentioned - that would dictate to any one of us how we should be "free".

It's time to formally pursue a recall of Scott Walker as Wisconsin's Governor.
It's past time to Boycott every single Koch corporation there is, starting with Georgia-Pacific.
And it is Our Time to demand that The Wealthy, including corporations and banks, pay Taxes: Yo! Rich People! Including you Corporation "Persons": We need the Money. Pay Up!

Inside Job, Required Viewing, Matt Taibbi, Require Reading

2011-02-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Just as Robert Greenwald and Michael Moore have proven up the well-known axiom over and over and over again, so now does Charles Ferguson: One Picture = 10,000 Words
Take a look here at just the Trailer for Oscar's 2011 Choice for Documentary Film, Inside Job:

And, if you haven't read Griftopia by Matt Taibbi, do yourself a favor and sit down with the man, and listen. Meantime, if you've not already enjoyed his latest on AlterNet, another great piece, another great question: Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail?

Heavy Karma: WI GOP Rushes Anti-Union Vote

2011-02-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

IIn Wisconsin's Assembly (their House of Representatives), the Koch Brothers/ScottWalker Anti-Union Bill has been passed, but this is how that happened, and even if you've seen this once, it's worth a re-look:
This is Legitimate? No Right of Review? Appeal? Geez! If this happened to The Packers on the football field there'd be a Boycott of the entire NFL! Definitely inspires, "Until you do Right by Us...Nothin's gonna go Right for you."

Don't Mourn! ORGANIZE!

2011-02-28T11:02:00.003-07:00

Don't waste any time in mourning, Organize...."
-- Labor Activist, Joe Hill

BOYCOTT: The Fierce Bodhisattvas at Anonymous.org have taken up the Cause of investigating Charles and David Koch, Koch Industries, Inc. and its corporate cousins (known on this Blog as Kochiteuthis).

Anonymous.org, in support of all Working Men and Women and Union Brothers and Sisters and The Middle Class of America has called now calling for a Boycott of Koch products. Importantly, this list will grow. For now, please consider Boycotting any and all products for your Home that are manufactured by Georgia-Pacific:

Bath Tissue

Angel Soft® Quilted Northern Ultra Plush® Quilted Northern Soft & Strong® Soft n' Gentle®

Building / Remodeling

Blue Ribbon®
Clutter Cutter®
DensArmor Plus®
DensDeck®
DensGlass®
DensShield®
DryPly®
FireGuard®
GP Lam®
Hushboard®
Nautilus®
Ply-Bead®
Plytanium®
Southern Gold®
Sta-Strait™ Thermostat®
ToughRock®
Wood I Beam™
XJ 85™

Cups & Tableware

Dixie®
Insulair® PerfecTouch® Ultra™ Vanity Fair®

Home and Office Papers

Advantage® Image Plus® Spectrum®
Napkins
Mardi Gras® Vanity Fair® Zee®

Georgia-Pacific also manufactures and sells a broad range of Products for Your Business. At the Link you can get more detailed information for the products listed below at each one of their specified "home pages" in these major categories:

GP Professional
Dispensing systems and hygienic products such as paper towels, napkins and liquid soap, used in commercial settings like restaurants, schools and hospitals. Absorbent "nonwovens" used in specialty products.
GP Professional Home Page (at the link above)

Bleached Board and Kraft
Bleached paperboard, used in food service items; and kraft paper, used to make grocery bags, yard bags, shopping bags, pet food bags and brown wrapping paper.
Bleached Board and Kraft Home Page (at the link above)

Building Products
Plywood, oriented strand board and other wood panels, engineered board products, lumber, gypsum board and other related products.
Building Products Home Page (at the link above)

Cellulose and Pulp
A variety of pulps which are used to manufacture wide-ranging products, including fine writing, printing and computer paper, diapers and feminine hygiene products, baby wipes and other disposable wipes, coffee filters and tea bags.
GP Cellulose Home Page (at the link above)

Chemicals
Wood adhesives, industrial resins, formaldehyde, paper chemicals, pine chemicals and ethyl alcohols used in four key markets - building products, paper making, industrial and specialty applications.
Chemicals Home Page (at the link above...and you should use Formaldehyde anyway!)

Dixie®
Tabletop food service products including cups, plates and bowls, cutlery, food wraps, cartons and trays, and more - for use at home, as well as in restaurants and other away-from-home settings. (Use a Dishwasher for Mother Earth'ssake!)

Gypsum
Wallboard and other gypsum-based products like fire door components, plaster, sheathing, tile backer, roof board and joint systems. Used in construction, repair and remodeling.
Gypsum Home Page (at the link above)

Packaging
Containerboard, a corrugated or solid cardboard, used to make corrugated boxes, bulk bins, water-resistant packaging, reusable shipping pallets, and high-finish and preprinted packaging for point-of-sale displays.
Packaging Home Page (at the link above)

Paper
Papers for personal, home and business use, in copy and fax machines as well as ink jet and laser printers. Also a wide variety of printing and imaging papers for commercial uses, including high-speed copying and offset or digital printing.
Printing and Imaging Home Page (at the link above)

Paper, Plastic & Metal Waste Recovery and Recycling
Harmon Associates is one of the world's largest pure traders of recycled fiber. In addition to sourcing fiber for customers, including GP's consumer products and packaging mills, Harmon recovers plastic and metal grades.
Harmon Associates Home Page (at the link above)

Wood and Fiber Supply
More than 300 foresters are part of GP's Wood and Fiber Supply organization that provides timber valuations, environmentally sound advice and formal forest management assistance for qualifying landowners.
Wood and Fiber Supply Home Page(at the link above)

SUMMIT ON JOBS: March 10, Washington DC, organized by The Campaign for America's Future, Here.

Revisit Brave New Films: The Campaign Against The War on Greed is worth a re-look. Can't wait for their take on Charles and David Koch, Koch Industries, Inc. and their corporate cousins aka Kochiteuthis.

Newest Numbers: Rallies to Save American Dream

2011-02-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

With the latest tweet out of Madison that protesters are being allowed to stay overnight, it's fitting that another victory be recorded: MoveOn.org is now reporting via email that yesterday 40,000 people virtually marched Online along with the 100,000 protesters in Madison and the 50,000 protesters rallying across the country.

Math-wise, that's 190,000 people. And, they came together in less than four days. AND, they were organized by volunteers.

Time for a little Celebration Break. Here's Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello performing, The Ghost of Tom Joad (for those unfamiliar with John Steinbeck's extraordinary novel about "the cruelest year", The Grapes of Wrath, a clip from the film which was adapted from it follows.

Tom Morello played for Wisconsin this past week. His interview and more video at the link.

Civics 101: Elections Do Not Vitiate the Right To Assemble, Petition for Relief

2011-02-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

A reminder (and Note to Haley Barbour): Just because a person or a party is elected doesn't give him or her or It "Carte Blanche" to do whatever the hell they bloodyhell want!

The First Amendment protects our Right to Assemble peaceably to Petition for Redress and Relief from our Grievances.

In other words, Democracy respects this fact of Life: Everything Changes.

The People, Citizens all and Persons who are resident here, have the Right to constantly participate in the governance to which they have consented. And, if they no longer consent, We have the Right to act: Assemble, Speak, Engage.

We may pursue Truth.
Engage the Force of Truth.
Demand that Truth be respected.

We may engage in Civil Disobedience.
We may protest.
We may demand change in our elected Officials, both their actions, and their election.

Democracy is Dynamic. Just as The People who engage in Democracy are.

[UPDATE] Koched Up Walker Asserts New Demands: "Assurances", Collective Bargaining "COSTS"

2011-02-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: This post was created while watching NBC's Meet the Press. Here is the Transcript.

"We need assurances..." What? This the new demand? Janesville? Other Cities? "[The Unions in the past two weeks have been]Rushing through new contracts...to avoid the cuts...." Sounds like the Gov is asserting Kochiteuthis's new demand now, saying that he (that would be Charles and David) cannot accept the concessions of the Unions in Wisconsin because, in the last two weeks, the Unions have gone to their local governements to get new contracts that would avoid the increases in payments to Pension Funds and HealthCare Plans.

Geez, Louise, as they say in Wisconsin: The Whores of Kochiteuthis are all over Sunday Talk today!

What's wrong with Collecive Bargaining? David Gregory asks Walker. The Governor who was punk'd avoids the entire question, saying, "It's about the fact that as a local official...I tried to do modest changes...to avoid layoffs. The Union said forget it. And to me layoffing people is justs acceptable." Later, when confronted again, he finally says, "Collective Bargaining Costs."

Gregory asks about inconsistencies in the Governor's Bill, "You say...we're gonna pass the Bill, but if you're a cop or a firefighters you don't have to join in. Is this a value judgement about jobs?" Walker responds, "No, but it's about Public Safety. Even if there's one jurisdiction [without a response to a Fire or a Crime], I can't afford to have a gap in Public Safety."

Does he even know what's happened in Madison in the last 24 hours?

I say, You might wanna get ready for a Gap, Governor: ever heard of The People organizing with the Cops to insure their own Safety? And Welfare? Against assaults from The State? Does he read any blogs? (Knitting, blogging, knitting, whatever...Hat Tip to Madame DeFarge and Eleanor Roosevelt).

Finally, Gregory cross-examines about the state "being broke": "If you're serious about the state being broke, you have a deal. Why not accept the deal and separate it out from Collective Bargaining? Because, Kochiteuthis's Koched Up Walker says, "Collective Bargaining has a cost. And the fourteen State Senators need to come home...."

Nope.
Don't think they're coming home, Governor.
And you have a State of the State, I understand, on March 1.
At the Capitol.
In Madison.
At The People's House in Wisconsin.
Where the Cops and Firefighters are sleeping with your Enemy: We The People.

Nice day to take back America...Yes.
We.
Can.

Corporate Sluts on Amanpour's This Week

2011-02-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Right there in broad daylight, Whores for Americans For Properity, Jan Brewer (R - Gov - AZ) and Nikki Haley (R - Gov - SC) are just Koching it up. First, they tried to shame the "despicable Democrats" who "left their states" in Wisconsin and Indiana; then, they said that those legislators actually did exactly what the public employees didn't have a right to do: They've gone on Strike!

Pay attention, Ladies.

Meanwhile: Deval Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (D - Gov) is out saying "there's another way to solve a state's problems "with Labor at the Table" and John Hickenlooper of Colorado is walking a very, very safe - and worried? - line, more or less agreeing with Deval Patrick. Hickenlooper may, or may not know, that his hit against Teachers and Education took it's own hit from The People in a show (more than 3000 strong) of Solidarity with Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon.

Hickenlooper says he wants to do the Math?

Here's the Math, The People's Math:
TAX THE RICH. IMPOSE A WEALTH TAX on the richest One and Two Percenters. ENFORCE THE CODE AGAINST and COLLECT TAXES FROM CORPORATIONS

And, yet another Truth: The People ARE the Government. As the Wisconsin Police Union spokesperson said yesterday night, Governors work for The People. Not - "Governors Brewer and Haley - Charles and David Kochiteuthis.

Truth Force: WI Police Union: "Mr. Walker: We Work for These People"

2011-02-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Truth Force, or satyagrapha, is the foundation of non-violent resistance. Ghandi led the first non-violent protest in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1906 (on September 11), and later led Indians in peaceful protests to the liberation of India from British Colonial Rule. In the US, Martin Luther King, Jr. followed Ghandi's teachings in leading non-violent protests to achieve Voting Rights and Civil Rights for African-Americans. Around the world, Satyagrapha, has been used most recently in Tunisia and Egypt; and, in the last eleven days Madison, and across the US.

Throughout a protest, changes occur as various political groups, entities and civic organizations, including Unions, join and participate. Tonight, Wisconsin's Police Union joined its Brothers and Sisters and spoke The Spirit of Madison. Watch:

Posted late February 26, 2011, on Raw Replay

"Mr. Walker...if you're listening....This is not a budget issue; this is a Civil Rights Issue. We know pretty well now who you work for. Lemme tell you who we work for. WE work for All of these People. We are not here, Mr. Walker, to do your bidding. We are here to do their bidding. And, Finally, Mr. Walker. This is is not Your House. This is all of OUR House.

We are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For
and We are Everywhere

Americans for Properity (MI): "Take Unions Out At the Knees"

2011-02-26T23:06:00.001-07:00

Published late February 26, 2011 by Think Progress: Chief of the Michigan Americans For Prosperity, Scott Hagerstrom, speaking just recently at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference), outs the Tea Party strategy to "...take out Unions at the knees...." Charles and David Koch aka Kochiteuthis fund Americans for Prosperity.

[UPDATED] In Pictures: Rallies 'Round the Nation

2011-02-26T21:21:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: In this profile of The Roberts Court and the Top Four Victories it has given to Corporate America, Jim Hightower reviews the Lilly Ledbetter decision, two environmental hits, and, of course, Citizens United.

In the process, Hightower reviews the Roberts Right Wing Majority with the help of Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary and its definition of Lawful, saying: "For these extremist judicial activists, 'lawful' is whatever they will it to mean, even if their rulings defy logic, reality, the will of the people, the Founders' clear intentions, legal precedent, common sense, and any sane measure of justice."

Hear, Hear! I say, and would add only the following observation: All five justices of the Roberts Right Wing Majority is a Roman Catholic. And, The Church, that is, the temporal Church, it seems to me anyhow, has managed to cobble together the three elements that comprise Power: 1) A State, 2) A Non-Profit Corporation, and 3) A Bank.

The Church enjoys national governance as The Vatican, a sovereign nation, complete with Diplomatic Immunity, among all the other privileges and protections accorded nation-states. The Church itself is also a non-profit, tax exempt corporation in the United States, and now, under Citizens United can participate as a "Person" in any one of the US election campaigns, donating at will. And, finally, the Church has a bank: The Institute for Religious Works, which, as it happens, has been involved in the last year in some rather high profile money-laundering investigations.

Parting Questions: If Charles and David Koch a/k/a Kochiteuthis own Scott Walker - he among how many other Governors of the several United States - do you suppose it's possible that Pope Benedict and The Roman Church own The Roberts Court?

AlterNet has some great photos of the Rallies held around the nation today. My favorite is the one submitted by Kristin in Olympia, Washington (second page) in which the Constitution is replicated, but with the following as the opening three words: We the Corporations. Brilliant.

Since, I've been trying to find the text of this sign, and in the process, discovered Move to Amend, the site of the Movement devoted to amending The Constitution of the United States to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United. In other words, to overrule "We the Corporations". Take a look at this site. Learn a little Corporate Law here. Review the decision. Take a look at what's happening in your state. Find out about events upcoming. Most Importantly, Sign the Motion to Amend.

{UPDATED} Over Three Thousand in Denver

2011-02-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: MoveOn has reported that today over 100,000 people rallied in Madison while across the nation another 50,000 people rallied in support and to put their own State Legislatures and Governors on Notice.

Truth, as has been said by many more than just I, will Always out. And it travels fast. There's that thing Mark Twain said about Truth and Lies and Lies traveling faster than Truth can get its pants on; oft-quoted with elan, or desperation, by those mourning reality, feeling helpless even, and not organizing - or, just Breathing - to change it.

What Twain didn't remark upon is this: Truth Endures. As often as not, Quietly. But when it decides to act, watch out.

Truth, in fact, is eternal. And, in Denver today, there was a lot of Truth to witness.

First Truth: Truth acted today, and not just in the form of Speech from the podium: The People here are bearing Witness To Wisconsin. With. Their. Feet. In three days, 1000 people formally signed up to attend today's Rally to Save the American Dream and to Stand With Wisconsin. Today, per Denver's Police Department, More than Three Thousand People stomped, cheered, chanted, and let each other know that they understand Who's responsible for the economic meltdown and Great Depression II we are experiencing. And, just by the way, with far more than just chants of "Wall Street". [And, downtown, US Uncut demanded that Bank of America - among the Wealthy at Large - pay their Taxes.]

Second Truth: The People have nothing to lose now. And, I'm not just talking about "financial security". Their very HOPE having gone by the wayside over the days and weeks of the Obama Administration is reborn now in Themselves. If Obama wants to put on his comfortable shoes and walk with us, great; better: that he would put them on and lead without Fear or Excuse. But whatever...The People now are doing for Themselves, Changing for Themselves what until Wisconsin they believed they couldn't, or shouldn't, or, would just wait "a little longer" for the guys we elected to do.

Third Truth: The People are very, very clear about the power - and tyranny - of Charles and David Koch economically and ideologically. And they also have a rather surprising collective memory of WHEN all of this crap appeared on The People's Radar Screen: Reagan. Air Traffic Controllers. Reagan busting the Union. Reagan, like Walker, "owned" by Koch, or something like Koch.

Fourth Truth: Today, it was clear in Denver that The People in short order are discussing with each other an even more enduring Truth: The People built America. Not the Financiers. It's been easy up to this point for the Money Men - who use and risk only Other People's Money - to convince many of The People that without them, their Banks, their Stock Markets, their "economic engines" America just would fall down and die. Not even exist. But that gig is up. Way up.

Today, The People said that Their Children in the best Public Schools anywhere is America; that an Infrastructure of bridges, roads, utilities, parks, wireless communications is America; that government provided Services from Healthcare for all to Libraries and Postal Services is America; that the Homes and Communities we build together every day is America.

More organizing coming. Meantime, I'm off to follow up on Kochiteuthis.

Today: UPRISING [Correction: Re: Weather]

2011-02-26T08:58:00.001-07:00

Definitely: A Good Day for an Uprising.

Weather across the country for over 30,000 of us marching in every state Capitol and in 16 other cities just about perfect. Though, I'm told the thunder in lightening across Kansas is so bad that FedEX and UPS have postponed deliveries.[Correction: weather is severe across the upper mid-West, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.]

Union Proud, Union Strong... Marching today in memory and honor of my father in law, AFL-CIO Railroad Machininists Union with a Tip of the Hat Local 669 Pipefitters gave me this past Tuesday, when they made me an honorary member. And, bringing with me a Captain of one of our Fire Districts and his wife. All of us: Union Proud, Union Strong. All of us, you and me: The Human Union.

(BTW: You've heard that Rush, O'Reilly, Hannity and every other major talker from any perspective is...a Union Member? Yup.)

More after.

[UPDATED] Corporate "Persons" and Us: How Unequal Are We?

2011-02-25T11:18:00.002-07:00

UPDATE: US Uncut with Press Release, Fun Facts and BLOG. Everything you need to know to Sit-In in protest against Bank of America tomorrow: What to say in 30 Seconds or less about US Uncut, what to say to police, the opposition. Brilliant. In 50 Cities tomorrow, at this writing.

You simply have to go to Mother Jones and look at these charts and graphs. Dave Gilson and Carolyn Perot present evidence that shatters all illusions about how much Wealth the richest One and Two Percenters in this country hold. And, how much you and I do not. Not even in our best and most benign imaginings.

Remember what I said months ago: Corporations are Pirates. And, Captain Jack and his minions outed their motto: Take What Your Can. Give Nothing Back.

With the work of Gilson and Perot, you can easily see who supports this country and Who. Does. Not. Through the taxes you pay, Individual Taxes and Payroll, America receives money in Her coffers. Corporate "Persons", who in the context of Taxation are suddenly are shed of the "individual" characterization - do not. In fact: Corporate Pirates act on their Motto: Take What You Can. Give Nothing Back. Or, in Legalese, "avoid" taxation.

Keep these charts handy. They're important Evidence in our ongoing exploration of Kochiteuthis. Meantime, Be Inspired! From the information on these charts, make Signs for tomorrow's Rallies: Save the American Dream and USUncut: Rally to Make Corporate Tax Dodgers Pay!.

Yesterday, I covered the rallies to Save the American Dream; today, given the brilliant work of Gilson and Perot, it's more than appropriate to consider how corporate "Persons" - like, just for example, the Big Six Banks - Take. What. They. Can.

(A brief word here on the "Legalese" noted above: In 1980, when I studied Corporate, Estate & Gift and Individual Income Taxation to fulfill the requirements of a Business Emphasis in my law school education the professor of Corporate Tax said this, "Avoidance of Taxes is legal. It is here that you will learn how to achieve that, and with some skill, if not artfully. Evasion of Taxes is illegal. Often, the distinction - which makes one hell of a difference to the IRS - is the first Lesson we underscore in meetings with our corporate clients through the CFO and COO.")

First Point: Times Change, Tactics often do to. But, "avoidance" as a Term of Art continues to be used and is worthy of both serious suspicion and deft and profound Cross-Examination.

Second Point: Just because its "Legal" doesn't mean its Moral. Corporate "persons" exist, but they have no Conscience, regardless of what their Annual Reports and Public Relations Departments say about their "Social Responsibility" and "Eco-Friendliness". All you have to do is read Financial Times for a week - the hard copy version, not online - to discover the vast, and no doubt profitable industries, that have been created to prove up - and sell to you, and me, The Consumers - the "Social Responsibility" and "Green" or "Eco-Friendly" awareness and their "campaigns". Remember: somebody has to buy their stuff! Which often ends with you and me as Consumers. But, Corporate "persons" have no Conscience. They have Boards of Directors and Governance. And those people have a Motto. And, they often, artfully "avoid" the Truth. No higher education is required to figure out that not even Jiminy Cricket's large and happily singing shadow is around, whispering in the ears of CHASE or Goldman Sachs, CITI or Bank of America, Wells Fargo or Morgan Stanley. Disguised under even more "Legalese" is Their Motto: it is "our fiduciary duty to our Shareholders" to "return a Profit" and "pay dividends".

Meantime, you and I and America Herself gets screwed.

Third Point: Times Change, Strategies often do not. Immediately after I finished my legal education, Reagan passed all kinds of laws "reforming" taxes. Implementation of the strategy to accord Corporations the power and wealth necessary to create a Global Economy and a working Oligarchy, while eviscerating the integrity and power of any "Nation-State" and her government - read: Her Citizens - had begun.

So.
Lots to choose from for tomorrow in the way of Rallies and Protests.
Lots to Say as Citizens.
More to do.

Now is Our Time.
Our Time.
"Yes. We. Can."

Remember that? "Fired UP. Ready to Go!!" That's OUR Song. The People's. One woman at a Rally spontaneously shouted it out. Our Song's Spirit is the Spirit of Madison. And that Spirit is Our Power.

Make a Sign.
Never, ever underestimate the Power of Spirit.

Beat a Drum.
Never, ever underestimate the Truth of Heart.

Sing the Song.
Never, ever underestimate the Connection we each share as Human Beings with each other, Breath to Breath.

Peace.

More than Kochtopus: Kochiteuthis

2011-02-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

If Goldman Sachs is, as Matt Taibbi says, “...a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money.”, then the corporate entity that Charles and David Koch created is the Kochiteuthis. In Jane Mayer's profile of Charles and David Koch, she writes, "...in political circles, their ideological network is known as the Kochtopus." This characterization is simply too narrow, even naive.

Like the largest of the Giant Squids of pirate lore, The Cracken, known in scientific circles as Architeuthis (pronounciation here), Kochiteuthis lives and moves around the globe with ten different tentacles: eight of similar size and reach, and two very long ones that it uses to attack, exploit, maim, control and kill its prey. Until it encountered The Spirit of Madison, it moved at depths so far below the surface, so beyond our radar, that its movements were accurately described by Mayer as "covert". No more.

Kochiteuthis has been sighted.
Outed.
Its attacks sourced.
Its identity as one virulent Cause of America's pain and suffering understood.

You may take the attacks of Kochiteuthis personally: if you do not agree - if you do not "believe" - that "Freedom" means surviving, even thriving on the ruthless exploitation that marks absolutely unregulated Capitalism, you are an enemy of Kochiteuthis. If you do not agree - if you do not "believe" - that government is best where it is not, then you are the prey of Kochiteuthis. If you do not agree - if you do not "believe" - that no worker has a right to a Job, that no "Laborer" has a right to a Living Wage, that no person is entitled to a safe working environment, that no one is entitled to Respect, or Dignity...or Economic Justice. Then, you are an enemy of Kochiteuthis.

So, sure, take the attacks of Kochiteuthis personally.

Even as you do, check your cupboards, your closets, your home. You undoubtedly use a consumer product sold by one of its tentacles: Any BRAWNY paper towels in your kitchen? Northern Toilet Paper in your bathroom? How about that StainMaster carpet you want? Any Lycra in your yoga pants? CoolMax in you running shorts?
And that's just for starters.

Besides you and me taking Kochiteuthis personally, other corporate empires do, too. Not that that's much comfort to you and me on the face of things - Do we care that Monsanto and Koch Fertilizer compete for market share? - but keep this in mind, for what a little research into the world of Richistan reveals about the lifestyles and secrets, competitions - and even wars - between the residents of Billionaireville is a lot. And, when you are overwhelmed by the grief that can rise up in the face of Economic Oppression and Injustice - what Warren Buffet famously called the creation of a nation of sharecroppers - it's important to understand that "organizing" (not mourning) into a robust, politically savvy community involves, as well, the hard work of educating ourselves about the power we have as Pawns and Peasants on the Oligarchy's chess board. When we understand that corporate powers are warring against one another every single day, and often using their measure of control of us to declare "points" or even victories, we may, by our own Choices, set them against one another.

What follows is the first installment concerning the corporate empire created by Charles and David Koch. How many more installments there will be is anyone's guess. There is a lot to cover. There are many "moving parts". Kochiteuthis is active in a variety of For-Profit Markets, not the least of which is the "Marketplace of Ideas", in which they have acted with apparent ideological integrity, even philanthropic grace, to achieve their Mission: to dominate, if not control completely, the Worldview and Choices of all, from you and me as Consumers to their neighbors in Billionaireville to even other corporations. The measure of their success? Profits, of course, or, in the words of Charles Koch "real long term value".

So. Let's begin with Contact Info, or, Introductions. Kochiteuthis has a "tentacleprint" which you can view here. On this global map, which you can enlarge and shrink at will, you will see the prints of its ten tentacles. Each is named on the map, and given it's own sign and color so you can visualize Kochiteuthis's reach. Each of these tentacles is listed and briefly described below, and where available, links to websites are provided:

1) Koch Industries, Inc., in corporate-speak, the Conglomerate, parent company; for our purposes, the first of the very longest tentacles.
2) Flint Hills Resources, described as “A Leading Refining and Chemical Company"
3) Georgia-Pacific where “Life’s Simple Necessities” are made, including: BRAWNY paper towels, DIXIE cups, NORTHERN and ANGEL SOFT toilet papers
4) INVISTA, whose consumer brands include CoolMax, Lycra and StainMaster Carpet
5) Koch Chemical Technology Group, which serves the hydrocarbon, petrochemical, and chemical industries
6) Koch Fertilizer one of the largest producers and marketers of nitrogen fertilizers
7 Koch Minerals, located at # 2525 Harrodsburg Rd, # Lexington, KY 40504
8) Koch Pipeline Company which owns or operates crude oil, refined petroleum products, chemicals and natural gas liquids pipelines in Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin
9) Koch Supply & Trading which offers, in corporate-speak, Trading Services to investors in the following areas of Energy and Financialization: Crude Oil, Refined Products and Derivatives, Natural Gas Liquids and Olefins, Natural Gas, Power and Emissions, Metals, Financial Services including Derivatives Swaps, Interest Rates, Foreign Currency, and Exchange Trade Commodities, and Freight. [NB: KS&T has its own shipping company, Koch Shipping Inc. for “logistical concerns” of commodities shipping] For our purposes, the second of the longest tentacles
10) The Matador Ranch which is owned by Matador Cattle Company which is a division of the Koch Agriculture Company; at the Ranch services include Hunting, a Hunting Pro Shop, Deer Genetics and Lodging.

Next: A detailed look at each one of Kochiteuthis's tentacles.

Brother and Sister Veterans Included

2011-02-24T11:55:00.003-07:00

Lest we forget, many of our Brothers and Sisters are Veterans. From their Petition:

Nationally, over 2 million veterans are also members of unions – many of them in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and other states that are considering taking away a union’s right to negotiate. For those veterans, this is a matter of having a fair wage, benefits, and decent health insurance. It is for them that we’re standing up.

Sign the Petition in Support of our Veterans who are Union Members and who support our Union Brothers and Sisters.

Americans In Support of AMERICA: THIS SATURDAY

2011-02-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Take Action!
Find a Rally!
Make A Sign!
With our Brothers and Sisters, Raise Your Voice! Beat a Drum,
Your Pots and Pans! (Molly Ivins is raising Hell with Us in Heaven!)
Sing Our Song: Yes! We Can

With our Brothers and Sisters, Hold Hands:
She teaches your child, He protects you from harm,
She serves your meal, makes your bed, cleans your room,
He fixes your toilet, collects our trash, builds our homes.

With our Brothers and Sisters, Hold Hearts:
He finds you, rescues you, breathes for you
When your heart has failed, she brings you back

With our Sisters and Brothers, Hold Hope:
Individually we work, Together through our labor we Create,
A Community we build, Our Life we Share: Dreams we Know
We Uphold
Breath to Breath, Heart to Heart,
Hold your Brothers and Sisters
We Are One

This is Our Spirit:

Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill Protest from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

This is our Power.

This Saturday, February 26, 2011, Rallies Across the Nation: Americans in Support of America, To Save the American Dream. Go! Take a Friend, Go with a Brother and Sister.

Wisconsin "Budget Repair Bill" Protest Pt 2 from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

[UPDATED] What We Need to Make More Noise About: The Other Stuff in the Wisconsin Bill

2011-02-24T03:03:00.007-07:00

UPDATE: The Spirit of Madison has added the new Lobbying Offices of Kochiteuthis to its protest locations. Story with Video at the link.

Additional coverage and analysis of that portion of Wisconsin SB 11 that sets up Kochiteuthis for No-Bid contracts to purchase and/or lease Wisconsin utilities. At the link.

Here, PDF Copy of the Bill.

Simply put, it’s worse, far, far worse than just a “non-negotiable” move to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. And we all need to holler loud and strong about these issues, too.

The Very Existence of Unions

For Unions and and Democrats in the Midwest, this is an existential struggle, and one worth waging.” So said the New York Times Editorial Board yesterday. Righto, they were, but failed to cite that provision of the Scott Walker/Koch Brothers legislation that would force public sector unions to hold re-certification votes every year, which would put their very existence on the line annually. According to Matthew Rothschild, “The unions realize that this is a threat to their very existence."

Privatization of Energy

First some background on Wisconsin energy resources from Milwaukee Examiner's Amy Lou Jenkins:

Wisconsin imports all its coal and oil, yet has the potential to produce all its energy using renewable resources. Scott Walker continues to chase away cleaner energy options. Firmly entrenched in the paradigms of fossil-fuel based automotive transportation, he single-handedly killed high-speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison. Now Walker is setting his sights on killing wind-energy and has has proposed legislation would require wind turbines to be constructed with a 1,800-foot setback from neighboring property lines.

Walker’s bill includes a provision which allows the sale of "any state−owned heating, cooling, and power plant ... with or without solicitation of bids." Furthermore, consultation with the state’s independent utility regulator would not be required. Dave Johnson, reporting yesterday for PRWatch, goes on:

And just who is the likely recipient of no-bid state sales of publicly-owned heating, cooling and power facilities? That would most likely be companies controlled by the brothers David and Charles Koch, owners of Koch Industries, and big financial supporters of Governor Scott Walker. The Koch brothers have also funded groups that are attempting to create a crisis atmosphere over the state's budget, leading up to the attempt to pass this bill that could result in the low-cost transfer of state assets to their company.

The Brothers Koch recently expanded their lobbying presence in Wisconsin. The lobbyists for Koch Companies Public Sector registered with the state on January 5, two days after Walker's inauguration. A total of seven lobbyists will now represent the interests of the Koch Brothers and their corporate cousins in Wisconsin; Koch Industries, which owns the Georgia-Pacific Corporation and the Koch Pipeline Company, operates gasoline supply terminals and a toilet paper factory in Wisconsin. (More details on this in my next post.)

"It's curious that the Kochs have apparently expanded their lobbying presence just as Walker was sworn into office and immediately before a budget was unveiled that would allow the executive branch unilateral power to sell off public utilities in this state in no-bid contracts," says Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy.

Maybe not so curious after all.

Bait and Switch

Over at the National Journal, Tim Fernholz has a nice run-down of why Scott Walker's union-busting bill offers a classic example of bait-and-switch:
While Walker argues that his budget-repair legislation must be passed soon to avoid job cuts, the most controversial parts of his bill would have no immediate effect.
The state’s entire budget shortfall for this year -- the reason that Walker has said he must push through immediate cuts -- would be covered by the governor's relatively uncontroversial proposal to restructure the state’s debt...

Gutting Medicaid

The bill also contains a provision that centralizes power over the state's public health programs with a measure that the legislature's legal analyst warns may be a violation of the separation of powers doctrine. According to Tim Fernholz: The bill also employs “emergency” powers that would allow the governor’s appointed Secretary of Health to redefine the foundations of the state’s Medicaid program, Badgercare, ranging from eligibility to premiums, with only passive legislative review. The attorney in the legislature’s non-partisan reference bureau who prepared the bill warned that a court could invalidate the statute for violating separation of powers doctrine.

The legislation, the lawyer wrote in a “Drafter’s Note” about the bill, would allow the State Department of Health Services to “change any Medical Assistance law, for any reason, at any time, and potentially without notice or public hearing … in addition to eliminating notice and publication requirements, [the changes] would leave the emergency rules in effect without any requirement to make permanent rules and without any time limit.”

The Cap Times reports that the Medicaid provision, which is part of the budget-repair bill, "would give the Walker administration unprecedented power to revamp the state's BadgerCare programs without following the legislative processes, public vetting, and even state laws normally required." Usually, any changes to BadgerCare would have to undergo legislative approval. Now, according to Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), which is part of the Save BadgerCare Coalition, the bill would give the Department of Health Services the ability to rewrite Medicaid policy with limited input from the Legislature or the public. The proposal also allows the Administration to use "emergency" rules to quickly make changes to overrule existing statutes.

And large, unchecked cuts to BadgerCare can hurt the economy. As Kara Slaughter, legislative director for Wisconsin Farmers Union notes, "access to health insurance is the make-or-break factor for many independent farms." Many have told her they would not be farming were it not for BadgerCare, since they do not have access to employer-provided health care options.

Walker hasn't been shy about voicing his distaste for the Medicaid program and some suggest that he deliberately put the sweeping Medicaid provisions in with the other controversial measures, like the union-busting, so that people wouldn't notice.

Cuts to Municipalities

Many local governments are upset by the bill which not only affects the ability of public workers to bargain, but also makes drastic cuts in many basic services and municipality funding. The Mayor of Madison led a march with local public employee union members to the Capitol. Likewise, many local administrators who see their budgets being cut have been sympathetic to workers taking time off to attend the protests.

Power v. Spirit

Red versus Blue, Dems versus Republicans, Haves versus the Have Nots: Class. And, at the top of the last, a fight for power among the oligarchy. Paul Krugman speaks to the dominance of oligarchal power just as Warren Buffet has, saying, "There's class warfare, all right," Mr. Buffett said, "but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."

But, just for a moment, let’s chat about Warren Buffet’s class in Richistan: Do you suppose Charlie Koch and his little brother David are not competing with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet? Think about that for a moment. Billionaireville may be a small neighborhood, but...do you suppose they’re all, well, shall we say, “Good Neighbors?”

When viewed in this light, the meagre competitions between politicians are simply scraps in another venue of the power plays executed by The Oligarchs against one another. In this light, any one who is not living in Billionaireville is a member of our Class: The Class of We the People – we, the “peasants” as Michael Moore so famously revealed we are called in his film, Capitalism: A Love Story. And as Peasants, we are all nothing more than pawns on the Oligarchal Chess Boards. That is unless, or until, we choose to be Americans: Men and Women of Integrity and Community, We the People, who embrace and uphold Social Responsibility and the Welfare of the Common Weal as well as Individual Responsibility and Achievement. Citizens of sanity who understand that engaged fiscal responsibility is not possible without a functioning moral code, and who, as Americans embrace the opportunities, risks and challenges of a pluralistic our society.

What for Charlie and his little brother David this is nothing but another move in a chess game for more Power is, for Us, about the Human Spirit: We are all Different. And, We are All One.

So. Much Much more to talk about...

KOCHED

2011-02-23T12:53:00.001-07:00

This is the brutal, bad, Beelzebub Truth: Americans are being koched. More: Americans are being koched in the name of "America".

Truly: WTF? How do you work to decimate the economic well-being of The Citizenry in the name of some myth, or, put more benignly, an historical view of a nation?

Answer: WTK

Facts from the Wisconsin ground are being posted and tweeted in real time; in the moment, as far as Working Women and Men are concerned, Brothers and Sisters of UnionHearts, it can be said that the The Billionaire Brothers Koch - Charles of Wichita, Kansas and David of New York - have been outed as Financiers of the so-called "Tea Party", Americans for Prosperity, and the union-busting strategies currently being executed in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. "No" to Negotiations. "No" to Collective Bargaining. Absolutely "NO" to Unions of any kind. But, in the fine print of the legislation, there are Sweetheart Deals for The Kochs.

David and Charles Koch are "koching" America.

Of course, Charles and David Koch are not alone. Per the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, they are joined by their "corporate cousins": Koch Industries, Inc., a global corporation with significant interests in all fifty states but for Idaho and North Dakota; Flint Hills Resources, Georgia-Pacific (and it's many philanthropic Foundations and Institutes), INVISTA, Koch Chemical Technology Group, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals, Koch Pipeline Company (a major player in Wisconsin which stands to benefit from the little discussed provisions of Gov. Scott Walker's Collective Bargaining busting Bill that would, at a minimum, allow Koch Pipeline to enjoy no-bid contracts with the state), Koch Supply & Trading and Matador Cattle Company.

We are being, shall we say, "Group Koched". Compatriots of The Kochs is ALEC. In Indiana, there's even a loose-lipped (loose cannon) Deputy Attorney General who's tweeting about using "live ammunition" on protestors. When questioned about his tweets, he was not only unremorseful, he was defiant.

Plants? All part of a strategy? Tactical errors or plans? Listen to Governor Scott Walker here for a complete discussion of "The Strategy".

Beezlebub? Or Orthodoxy in action? Ideology out of control? Or a demonstration of Corporate power joined with the State to control A People? Mythology canonized? Or outright Facism?

Many questions. A complex search for many, many answers. Beezlebub may well have spoken through The Brothers Koch and their cousins, but, it seems The Angels and Ministers of Grace are defending We, The Citizens of the World: The Brothers Koch - all of them - have been outed. And this is the ground of sounding balance: In all things: Truth, for Truth will always out.

Details on all of the above in the coming hours.

Taking Back America, Inc.

2010-03-28T13:51:00.001-06:00

You want America back, Leader Boehner? You and yours, including the perniciously spoken Sarah Palin, had better address yourselves to your corporate "Hell, No! You can't!" Masters.

We are a pluralistic society, diverse in race, ethnicity, creed, religion and sexual orientation. At least in word, if not fully in deed or Law, we respect the equality of the sexes. And, there is, as evidenced by the verbal and physical assaults against members of The People's House, including Emanuel Cleaver, Barney Frank and John Lewis, much much much more work to be done on each and all of these fronts when it comes to upholding the Constitutional guarantees of Due Process and Equal Protection of the Laws for ALL persons in our country. More: America's diversity and pluralism continues to grow and be it's defining characteristic. As Charles M. Blow says this morning, Welcome to America: The Remix.

THIS, in the moment, is our country: a social experiment that, until the frank Financialization of it beginning some forty years or more ago, was working, growing - with some expected pains from time to time - expanding and strengthening. If any person now feels outrage at "the way things are" to the extent that he or she is screaming, "I want my country BACK!", they would be well-advised to take a detailed look at the plans and practices of the multinational/transnational corporations - including Financial Holding Companies AND Bank Holding Companies and ALL Insurance Companies, that are often owned by such FHCs and BHCs - and then, consider changing their conclusions.

America: The Remix is happening Demographically.

America, Inc. is also happening with our Aid and Abetment: Our Personal Debt: our very own Credit Cards and Mortgages and Auto Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit. Even our Cash via our Debit Cards! And, The Voter - that's you Citizen! - who realizes he or she is NOT a Shareholder will begin immediately to take action against the corporate powers that are taking over our country and our Government in a Neo-Mercantilist fashion.

Every time the corporate management of America, Inc. is bucked or denied, even the littlest bit - as with the Healthcare Reform Bill, which was all but a Republican bill in concept and detail - they reel and rebel. Those who represent us, our elected officials, in some principal ways do not enjoy the power you and I do, for we are, in the view of the Corporations, nothing more or less than indentured servants who consume. Simply put: Indebted Consumers. The minute we begin to stop spending, we vote in a more powerful fashion than we ever do at the Ballot Box.

In the end, its all about the Economics of corporations that own nation-states and their governments, and their current debate on which of those enterprises is "too big to fail". Should the majority of Citizens begin to track this reality, We the People would, and quite easily so, Take Our Country back. So, a diversion is necessary, and the TP'ers and their Hate have been created and stoked - not to mention funded - by a variety of astro-turf non-profits created by...America's corporate owners. As far as America, Inc.'s Management is concerned anything that takes the attention away from them is more than just a "good thing": it's Profitable.

Republican Leaders could restore far more than just their credibility if they quite literally laid down their lives on the corporately-held line to, indeed, take our country back, but not from We the People, but from the corporations that now own us.

(As an important aside, we should note that the Monarchies of the former empires of Britain, The Netherlands/Holland and Spain all had corporations, too: the Trading Companies. And things didn't go well for those empires either.... HT: Kevin Phillips, and all of his brilliant work, including American Theocracy and Bad Money.)

State of Journalism

2010-02-08T17:12:00.002-07:00

In the 2009 film State of Play, the corporate military arm of the United States Government is found in the character, Pointcorp, a thinly disguised personification of the real corporation, Blackwater, which has created its own Alias - Xe - and now, in real life, really is vying for a $1Billion contract to become the official trainers of the Afghan National Police. (No doubt, following the Supreme Court's January 21, 2010 decision in United Citizen it's doing far more than vying just for that contract, but, I digress....)

In the film, Jeremy Scahill's reporting about Blackwater is brought to life within the plot lines as the privatization of the United States Military, and its growing domestic Portfolio is the subject of Russell Crowe's reporting. Crowe is Cal McCaffrey, one of the "old school" reporters who views bloggers and their yellow journalism (read: screeds, screams and gossip, let alone out and out lies) with more than just the contempt and disdain of a reporter who (presumably) has won the Pulitzer Prize. McCaffrey refuses to write the story unless, and until, he has all the facts, and has cross-verified each one of those. He'll do anything to get the facts, but he won't write anything that's just a hunch, that's just a part of the story, that will just grab headlines. And then, he encounters Reality, dished up without a sterling service by Cameron Lynne, his Editor, played by Helen Mirren.

McCaffrey and Lynne now work for a corporate boss: the Globe (either the Washington Post or The New York times) has just been sold (and presumably) changed organizationally from a privately held corporation to one that is now publicly traded. Shareholders must be paid Dividends. Profits are paramount. No matter the cost. No matter who gets hurt. And, people do get hurt. But, that's for you to enjoy as you watch (or re-visit) the film.

The point Lynne makes to McCaffrey is the point we all need to bear in mind no matter where we are reading any story: it is being published for profit. And, this is how that is done: paraphrasing now Cameron Lynne, as she upbraids McCaffrey who has just asserted that he couldn't write the story that has just been published by a competitor and sucked the oxygen, seemingly, right out of the planet:

Right. But we could have published it, and we'd have had The Story. And, when the little bimbo retracted her statement, we could have published that. And that would have been a story. And when you'd have gotten all your Facts together, we could have published that and THAT would have been a story. And when you were wrong about something you overlooked, we could have published that and THAT would have been a story. We. Have. To. Publish. Stories. No matter how "ready" they are for publication. We have a corporate Board now that is just breathing down our necks for Profits, and if we don't sell this bloody paper every eight hours of every day, we won't - none of us - be writing anything BUT blogs.

So, there you have it. In a nutshell: We all need to study up on the economic theories and systems Paul Krugman and Robert Reich have been teaching for years and Financial Times reports on each day. Because everything can be reduced now to what works, and doesn't work, for the corporations that own everything from our grocery stores to our newspapers, from our insurance policies to our physicians, from our cars and to the banks that finance, from our churches and synagogues to our military and our government.

Understand this, and you'll understand your own financial life.
Understand this, and you'll understand why the only way out of this is by not playing, and paying, in the Corporate-owned world.

CREDO Action/Working Assets Joins Alan Grayson

2010-01-27T11:00:00.002-07:00

In a clear and strongly worded email this morning, CREDO Action/Working Assets asked it's members and those on its "List" to join Congressman Alan Grayson's efforts to Save Democracy through it's own Petition, which specifically includes a brief summary of each of the Bills proposed by Rep. Grayson. The email also states that the Democratic Leadership in Congress is set to decide upon a legislative package responsive to the Citizens United decision in the next few weeks.

Who Owns CBS?

2010-01-25T17:51:00.001-07:00

BTW: Who owns CBS?

Pinocchio's First Wish

2010-01-25T16:36:00.001-07:00

As noted in my very first post about the Citizens United decision, the "Freedom of Speech" guaranteed to corporations by this decision includes not-for profit corporations:

So now, religious non-profits, 501(c)(3)'s like The Roman Catholic Church and The Church of Latter Day Saints and Ted Haggard's old New Life Church and The Family on C Street, along with other non-profits like the "political action committee" non-profit James Dobson organized as a 501(c)(4) organization,[emphasis added by me here], can all spend unlimited amounts on any election any where in the country.

Today, CBS announced it would run during its broadcast of the Superbowl an "issue" advertisement paid for by Dobson's Focus on the Family. This advertisement will covertly advocate the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the abolition of a woman's right to make choices about her own reproductive health, including whether to carry a pregnancy to term.

According to Tana Ganeva over at Alternet,

The exact content of the ad is under wraps. All we know so far is the inspiring theme: "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." And that, according to James Dobson, founder of the right-wing evangelical organization, the ad comes at a time when "families need to be inspired." And that Focus on the Family probably shelled out 3 million (that's how much CBS is charging for 30 second spots), money gathered not from the coffers of the struggling organization, which has had to lay off hundreds of employees, but private individuals who channeled their money through Focus on the Family to fund the ad.

Now, there are petitions being circulated throughout the Net to protest CBS's decision to run this ad, and yes, you need to leave this site and sign at least the one found at the link. But, before you do, please seriously consider this: again, not discussed so far as I can thus far, Citizens United also sets forth with crystalline clarity the criteria that The Roberts Court will be applying - and probably is at this very writing - to overturn any and all decisions deemed "wrong" - for any reason - by The Vatican Government d/b/a the "pastoral church" (better known as the Roman Catholic Church) through its beholden Toadies: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Kennedy.

You gasp...?
You wish to protest this allegation?
Stop.

Just think about this for a few minutes.

Think about who is Pope right now, for starters.
Think about the wealth that is titled in, owned by, invested and managed through the heirarchy of The Vatican Government.
Not the pastoral church...no.
The Vatican Government.

And now, think about the corporation organization of every Roman Catholic parish in the United States of America: a non-profit, 501(3)(c) corporation. Think about the rest of the churches in America, and how they are organized. And, think about the date...is this not an election year?

For those of you wishing to check the criteria for overturning any decision in the future, please refer to page 47 the decision itself: Our precedent is to be respected unless the most convincing of reasons demonstrates that adherence to it puts us on a course that is sure error. "Beyond workability, the relevant factors in deciding whether to adhere to the principle of stare decisis include the antiquity of the precedent, the reliance interests at stake, and of course whether the decision was well reasoned." [citations omitted here] We have also examined whether "experience has pointed up the precedent's shortcomings."
Mark my words, folks, the rules of law cited in Citizens United as controlling authority for the overturning of Austin are the precedent upon which Roe will be overturned. And the timing of this case will coincide with the Mid-terms, if possible. AND, it matters not a whole lot - based upon the reasoning of the Citizens United decision - whether the facts or rulings of the lower court, or even the appeal filed, specifically present anything that would give rise to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The Roberts Court just needs something to hang its Opinion on. Pinocchio's first wish has been granted; now, we go to his second....

I know.
When I began this post, is was choking back tears. There is in my background a story that would make you weep, my mother's story.
But, friends, we don't have time to cry, or mourn.
We have to organize!

Suggestions for just that, in my next.

More on "The Pinocchio Project"

2010-01-25T11:48:00.004-07:00

Citizens United v. FEC, now more commonly referred to as The Pinnochio Project [see also, Blogrunner's Comments and Index of References and Commentary here], is reviewed and analyzed today by Mark Roe, Professor, Harvard Law School, where he teaches Bankruptcy and Corporate Law, in today's Financial Times:

Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that the legal blocks on corporations and labour unions advertising for and against political candidates violates free speech principles.

Constitutional law scholars, the media and the public will debate whether corporations are entitled to free speech protections and Congress may revisit campaign contribution limits and public funding.

But the potential corporate, business and economic consequences of the decision, assuming it stands, are profound. Conservative and business media have thus far favoured the decision as helpful to business; but it is not at all clear that it is favourable to the economy. It is likely to hurt the dynamism of the American economy, perhaps severely.

The Court’s decision will strengthen the hand of incumbent interests over unorganised emerging interests. That is not good. Incumbent business interests often see upstarts as competing unfairly, as needing to be regulated, and as deserving of being suppressed. Incumbent businesses like politicians to squelch new entrants. With their chequebooks now opened up, they will support politicians who seek to regulate and suppress upstarts.

Upstarts do not have money yet to finance their own political campaigns, they are disorganised, and they don’t yet know the ropes in Washington and the state legislatures. They are new, weak, and inexperienced.

Consider whether it would have been easy for upstarts with weak funding to emerge to counter-balance, for example, efforts IBM would have been able to make under this new regime to suppress new competitors decades ago? Could Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs in his garage, really have matched IBM in campaign funding back then?

The campaign finance decision will encourage pernicious corporatist tendencies. Consider the most recent example of these tendencies: unions and incumbent corporate interests in the motor industry managed to get about $80bn in subsidies last year. Even without the ruling in favour of direct campaigning, the steel industry has often been able to suppress international competition. If incumbent industries’ corporate and union leaders see a common cause in Washington, we should expect them to use the campaign process further to increase their friends in Congress. There was always a public-oriented rationale – the economy needs this or that industry – but now there will be more muscle behind the campaign.

These two possibilities are not good for the dynamism of the American economy: politicians can suppress upstarts and they will now have more reason than before to curry favour with incumbent business interests. Yet, new entry when the old guard stumbles or sits on its laurels is what keeps the American economy moving. It has been one of our few advantages over continental European economies during recent decades, as politicians there were more beholden to existing industrial sectors and less interested in encouraging upstarts and innovation.

The ruling will also strengthen further the hands of managers and directors inside large American companies. They, after all, are the ones who decide whether to contribute to political campaigns, not shareholders.

Corporate and securities law in the US already strongly favours managers over shareholders. Usually, it is just fine that shareholders are distant from the corporation and its directors; shareholders don’t know the company’s business, while directors and managers do. But when directors or executives stumble, American shareholders (in contrast to British and other nations’) today have only weak tools to influence or replace the faltering chief executive.

Senators or regulators who want to weaken managers and strengthen the hand of shareholders, as several have sought to do in the past couple of years, face a tougher time. Chief executives and directors now have another powerful tool to punish politicians and regulators who cross them.

Combine these two scenarios – strengthened managers inside a company who can now secure more rules to protect their position, and incumbent businesses (and allied unions) having more power to suppress upstart competition – and we have a prescription for potential sclerosis.

True, if a populist Washington decided to attack the foundations of capitalism directly, business interests would better be able to defend themselves now. But even if there are whiffs of populism in the air today, none of it threatens core capitalist institutions. With the corporate campaign finance ruling, it is even less likely to do so. In that dimension, the Court’s decision is good for American capitalism.

In all other business and economic dimensions, it is not.

More From Congressman Alan Grayson

2010-01-24T12:37:00.004-07:00

Following is the most recent letter from Congressman Alan Grayson:

Thanks to so many of you for contacting Chairman Conyers Friday and thanking him for helping to save our democracy. His office was overwhelmed with calls and e-mails. One of his staffers said that it was "like working the phones at a telethon."

I've been thinking a little more about the Supreme Court's decision. This ruling gives foreign powers more rights than U.S. citizens. Imagine that! Aramco, a corporation owned by the Saudi Arabian government, will have enormously more influence in choosing your senator than you will. That's one thing that I meant when I said that "if we do nothing, you can kiss this country goodbye."

This will not stand. It cannot stand. There are too many Americans who love this country and won't allow it to happen. And you are one of them.

We are making a movement. If you have a moment, please forward this email to five of your friends, and ask them to sign our petition at SaveDemocracy.net. And then a mighty voice will rise up from the land.

Courage,

Alan Grayson
Member of Congress

Please sign the Petition if you've not done so already, and please pass forward this page to your Friends, Fans and contacts.

Sign the Petition: Save Democracy

2010-01-21T22:21:00.002-07:00

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Fl) has created a Petition, Save Democracy:

I support the "Save Our Democracy" Package:
We cannot have a government that is bought and paid for by huge multinational corporations. We need a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Please sign at the link, and then make it viral.

Off to read the Opinions.

What We're All Reading Tonight: Citizens United v. FEC

2010-01-21T21:57:00.002-07:00

As my printer continues to churn out the pages of this Opinion, I am reading the various reactions already published. Worthy of note, I think, is this observation, made in the review of the case published by The Wall Street Journal:

While nonprofits were exempt from campaign-finance regulations if they limited their fund-raising to donations from individuals, Citizens United fell under McCain-Feingold rules because it accepted business contributions. Thursday's ruling swept away such distincitons, freeing both for-profit and nonprofit entities to spend freely on political ads.

So now, religious non-profits, 501(c)(3)'s like The Roman Catholic Church and The Church of Latter Day Saints and Ted Haggard's old New Life Church and The Family on C Street, along with other non-profits like the "political action committee" non-profit James Dobson organized as a 501(c)(4) organization, can all spend unlimited amounts on any election any where in the country.

Now, check me on this, but it's my best recollection that the five Justices who decided this case are all Roman Catholics.... And, while I'm thinking out loud, what happened with this decision to Separation of Church and State? just...gone with a 501(c)(3) filing?

Awakening to Reality, Acting with Courage

2009-10-30T11:11:00.003-06:00

I have just signed a Petition (circulated by CREDO/Working Assets) that demands the removal of Joe Lieberman from the Senate Chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. In doing do, I wrote the following letter, which I have since been encouraged to share. I do so willingly, but more, with the same Hope I experienced last November when I cast my Vote - along with 54% of my Citizen-Sisters and Brothers - for "Yes. We. Can.": for Change: we believed in then, and want to Believe in as much today. And more: with a new Hope: that the Obama Administration, that the Democratic Majorities in The People's House and in the United States Senate will recognize that some of their membership have become so dazzled by the Brilliance of their political prowess as to become blinded to The People and Their Causes that they were, as a matter of law, elected to Serve.

Senators Reid, Durbin and Schumer,

With all due respect allow me to assert that to the extent you allow Joe Lieberman to control whether Americans will receive what they voted for last November by an indisputable, and compelling Majority (54% of the voting public), you will demonstrate just as indisputably and compellingly your own corruption. That Joe Lieberman is controlled by the Insurance Cartel, as well as other corporate interests of the Military Industrial Complex, has been clear for years. You each now must demonstrate your own integrity and courage in the face of your own past Faustian Deals. In short: Fall. On. Your. Swords. for America and Her People.

Gentlemen: much has been made of "death" in the melodrama that is the Media - in Rome, it would have been The Circus - but, Gentlemen, "Death" has never been the Enemy; the Enemy, Gentlemen, is suffering.

And, Americans are suffering.
Right Now.
Because they cannot get to others who can relieve their pain, and live with them through what can be for many the harrowing changes of sickness, and aging, and what for others is becoming the Tragedy of childbirth, the Heartbreak of Childhood.

Healthcare for All should never have been "a dream that will never die" in America.

Healthcare for All should have been long ago recognized as part and parcel of Life in America. A reality. A non-negotiable, market-immune element of the Society and Community we create out of our respect and honor for every individual who, living The Dream of America, insures that, "America Will Never Die."

Remove Joe Lieberman from his Chairmanship. And. Get. This. Done.: Healthcare FOR ALL Americans.

Respectfully,
Annie Morrissey

You need not "imagine Death".
You need not engage in any Dickensian reviews of Ghosts from the Past or Future.
All you need to do is this: look into the eyes of your beloved, your son, your daughter, your friend. Now: imagine this: You. Cannot. Do. Anything. But Watch Them Suffer.

Now.
Act.
As and For America.

Now: Nationalize. The. Banks.

2009-03-02T08:52:00.002-07:00

I'm only gonna say this one more time: Nationalize. The. Banks.

Point: We need bankers, not banks. What we've had since for the past thirty years or so - specifically helped along by the repeal of Glass-Steagall - is an array of gambling houses called "Investment Banks". Anyone with a computer can show you the new Bankers: They Are Us: We the People. P2PBanking. Uncrunch.org. And more: Craigslist. Barter. Even the New York Times has a page now called "Household Budgeting", and in the last installment (link to come, as I'm on the go) professionals shared stories of trading professional services for professional services.

As for the gambling houses? As I've said, "You won. Congratulations. We the People have no more Money to play with. None." Didn't these guys ever play Monopoly as kids? No Credit Derivatives in that game, one duly notes....

Time for the New Paradigm to be created. Now. Nationalize. The. Banks.

Three Words: NATIONALIZE THE BANKS

2009-02-23T09:29:00.005-07:00

There's no other reasonable option now: the U.S. Government MUST nationalize the Banks, beginning with Citi and Bank of America.

Forget about the DOW and NASDAQ for the time being; they're both trailing indicators, and as The Oracle of Omaha has said about his own Berkshire-Hathaway, day to day share values per The Markets have not so much to do with the value of "the farm". In Fact: the Obama Administration has to take the lead on a "new Paradigm", the one my grandmother held sacred: Invest to Hold, look for steady, long-term, balanced growth, and conservative profits. If "Capitalism" is really the economic model the World wants to keep, then today, it must be deconstructed failing Bank, by failing Bank.

Cable chatter on the "business" channels is hyperbolic and panicked. Who would listen to these guys even on good days? But on the "bad days", well, these are the guys who are clearly losing their heads in a crisis. What they need to be told, in no uncertain terms is this: You needn't fear any longer about losing your shirts; you already have.

And millions and millions of your vaunted "consumer base" are Citizens who voted for a change - a paradigmatic change if necessary - to right the Ship of State. FT reported early this morning on China's recent discussions, internally and externally, that America needs to be a whole lot "nicer" to them; China's international Bank is making it clear that it will not buy America's "paper" forever.

That Citi and BofA are both lending to their best customers on this day is no surprise; they never stopped lending to their best customers: How do you suppose some of the Dividends paid in the Third Quarter were managed? But, to those customers to whom they extended credit before their Ponzi Scheme began to be revealed? Not a dime.

The U.S. Government must set up something along the lines of the Resolution Trust Corporation to "reset" The Game of Monopoly the likes of Larry Kudlow and Raging Santelli are so hot to chatter about.... Point: the Captains of Industry "won"; Americans have no more "money" to play with. Until that simple fact is realized, no amount of cash infusions from China or the U.S. Treasury will help. Indeed, President Obama and his Team have a choice: will they act to see that Americans are assisted in "servicing personal debt" so that they can participate in our society, including our economy, or simply assist giants who constructed the Ponzi Scheme in the first place.

Oh, yes, and just By the Way? We all need to be saying this: We are in a Global Depression.

Say it.

Just say it.

Once we hit Bottom, we can begin, truly to recover.

Obama in Mesa: On the Foreclosure Crisis - Not Enough

2009-02-18T10:46:00.004-07:00

Nope. This is not enough. In fact, it's way too little.

Elizabeth Warren explains:

We have known that we are in a foreclosure crisis for more than a year now. And with each passing day, it's thousands of families who are moved out of their homes and thousands more who-- who hang on the edge trying to scramble and find a way not to fall over. And yet, we have offered them nothing but empty promises; hope for homeowners, other fancy named programs, big estimates on how many people are going to be helped. And what do the numbers eventually show? The number of people we've helped can be measured in the hundreds in an area in which we're talking about literally now, millions of foreclosures.

The sense of urgency, I-- I don't know how to make it more intense than it is. These are families. These are families with children. These are older people who can't sell their homes and move to other facilities that they need to. These are-- these are people who can't leave Ohio to take a job in South Carolina because they can't sell their homes.

This is a freezing up of the economy, not on Wall Street, but down at the family level. If we don't fix that problem, we cannot fix our economy. We just can't.

This is, therefore, a disappointment, to say the least.

More in my next.

Obama On Stimulus One, Signed in Denver

2009-02-17T13:25:00.006-07:00

A game-winning Three Pointer.

Namaste.

Corporate Media Spreading Lies Again on MTP [UPDATED]

2009-02-08T09:07:00.004-07:00

Importantly, crucially, REMEMBER: Corporate Media is making sure - making Damn Sure - that their propaganda is screamed from the burning rooftop (to use Claire McCaskill's analogy) that is our Economy. We are in a War: Corporations versus Individuals.

Don't get angry. Don't get sucked in. Just Call Your Senators, and All Moderates that are "on the fence" or willing to talk. (Go to Links below for Calling Senators)

[UPDATE] Okay. It's hard not to get angry at this: Ensign and Pence have no idea what is happening in the States. Do they not realize that California is ready to declare Bankruptcy? States will absolutely let police and firefighters go...there is no money left!

Ah: Pence concedes the point: Government spending does stimulate economy. (All spending I might add....)

Point to Make in Your Calls: How much do you make? Most of us, MOST American Households, earn between $60,000 and $80,000 with TWO incomes. We the People are The Working Poor. We don't need tax cuts, we need money. Jobs. Assistance. A "tiding over". We have no savings. We have not credit. People are hungry. And my bet is that the Unemployment Rate as we speak, when under-employed Citizens and Citizens who've fallen off the the Unemployment Rolls are counted, not to mention heard, is at least 20%. Twenty Percent.

Call.
Find an Economic Recovery Meeting. Go.
Propose: A March on Washington for Economic Justice

Robert Reich Calls Out Gingrich, GOP

2009-02-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

Brilliantly, as usual, Robert Reich called out The Gnewt on THIS WEEK saying that the recalcitrance and intransigence of the Congressional Republicans on The Stimulus Package is founded upon their Strategy for Mid-terms 2010: that is, "We wanted Tax Cuts, not Spending. See? Things are not better. Not like they promised. So elect us. We'll make it better. And Cut Taxes."

We ALL need to talk about this Fact: regardless of what is passed in this (first) Stimulus Package, we very likely will NOT see huge changes to the Economy for at least two years. Yes, there will be Jobs created, but Times are Going to Be Tough. We're in a deep, deep hole that took at least eight years and as long as thirty years to create. What we're working for here, what we're looking for are measures - And No Half Measures - to prevent a Depression. Knowing this, Reich asserted, that Republicans have already determined that they will campaign (beginning now, my thought) for the Midterms by saying, "We didn't vote for this, we wanted Tax Cuts, and if they'd cut taxes, and not spent like drunken Democrats, we wouldn't be in this fix."

Reich hit the nail on the head. Gingrich and George Will were stuffed, and now, we all can go out and work to stuff these this strategy and all of its Talking Points associated with it.

Michael Steele on THIS WEEK Redefines "JOBS"

2009-02-08T08:18:00.002-07:00

LOL...oh my god...Michael Steele has just redefined "jobs": if it's "just work" it's not a "job"...a "job" he says "doesn't end...."

Is anyone really paying attention to these people?

Steele on PELL Grants, "...I'm not against Pell Grants but how does a Pell Grant get me a job?" Uh...Pell Grants are for students and school....

Claire? Claire McCaskill! Here's another IDIOT! You're on, Senator...to the floor of the Senate! It's time to call out the idiots in the Senate.

Uneffingbelievable....

Oh yes...will someone please yank Miss McConnell into the library and show him the Economic History of the Great Depression. FDR's New Deal worked until he tried to compromise with the GOP and backed off the Program....Krugman recounts this in his interview with Joe Scarborough, another Idiot.

Experts on The Senate's "Compromise": Not Big Enough, Cutting What Works and Plain Dumb in Places [UPDATED] [2d UPDATE]

2009-02-07T10:33:00.007-07:00

Adam S. Posen Deputy Director of the Peterson Institute for Interational Economics (not exactly a bastion of "Liberal" thought, read his Bio, folks) commments with fluency on the Senate's "compromise", and specifically notes that the Senate's cuts in monies for Teachers, Firefighters and other public servants and the addition of a $15,000 tax credit for people to "buy homes" are - I'm paraphrasing here - just plain dumb. Read more at the link. AND (please note well): The Package Needs to Be Bigger. Paul Krugman has been hitting this note for awhile: BIGGER. Here he is on MorningJOE Friday, February 6, 2009:

[SECOND UPDATE] At the link Paul Krugman's Blogged on the Senate Bill with specificity. Note well in your comments to Senators and Reps during your Calls.

Hitchhiking once again on Hillary's coinage of the Obama Administration's theme of "Smart Power", I'd suggest it needs to be a whole lot "Smarter", too. Memo to The United States Senators: You really need to drop your contempt for The People's House, and listen to Madame Speaker, and less to the Corporatocracy that is whispering in your ears even now about Campaign 2010. Media Coverage - that is Corporate Coverage of the Stimulus Package - has been replete (no surprise) with inaccuracies and outright lies. Read: Republican Talking Points!

Let's All Shout it Out Now Together: All Government Spending is Stimulative! Mention this when you call your Senator. While you're on the phone, please take a moment to Call moderates who need our attention as well.

For more, on the Media's Corporate Bias, go here.

And, finally, if I hear one more man (Republicans all, led by John BoNER and egged on by the spitting Chris Matthews) speak disparagingly, if not contemptuously and with the High Dudgeon, about the "inappropriateness of the Contraceptives portion" of the House Bill, I will personally escort him to the nearest office of any Ob/Gyn to let him discover the medical costs any woman under the age of 55 incurs to 1) pay for the doc's professional services just to have an Annual Examination, and 2) to obtain and then pay for Birth Control. What just exactly do you NOT UNDERSTAND about the links between the physical, emotional and mental well-being of any woman - not to mention the couple involved - who does not and is not stressing about becoming pregnant? About having to address this financial crisis with a pregnancy? Have you been paying absolutely No Attention to the number of women who have told their heart-rending stories concerning the question of abortion and financial resources? If you're ready to offer A Modest Proposal of your own, say it. You are ALL wealthy white men, many of whom pay for The Little Blue Pill...and many of you have insurance coverage for that little prescription. I would curse you to eternal damnation myself if, by your own profound ignorance and sexual irresponsibility you had not already so condemned yourselves.

A Note to Madame Speaker and Rep. David Obey: In Conference Committee, return the Contraceptives Section to the Joint Bill, call it a Tax Cut: "Dependent Deduction Prevention". JesusMaryandJoseph.... And to Cecile Richards: Send out another Petition, and I will sign it. Meantime, I'm sending you what little I can spare for more action.

I have to stop. My rage and roar are rising...soon I'll be spinning in my chair like Keith used to (nice touch with the reasonable, moderate voice, man...and you've got a great voice....)....

more later.

Sixteen Days...Plus One

2009-02-06T23:30:00.003-07:00

How many years, do you suppose, or even hold certainly to be true, does a parent have to bond with his son? How many days or decades does she have to teach a Moral Code? Why in the name of God am I even asking these questions?

Because in the midst of psychic pain - and surely these are days of psychic pain, not only in the nation's capitol, but across the land - any one of us, from presidents to paupers, will cry out for some kind of comfort. From one tradition of Masters we may take this Teaching as "comfort": "Nothing Matters. And so...we act as if Everything Matters."

To the point: Certain schools of psychology hold that only the first year of human life matters when it comes to bonding, attachment, even learning a moral code; other schools set the mark at five years, while others mark at nine. Those who encounter inescapable trauma or abuse of any kind may bond irrevocably with those who abused or injured them in a matter of days. Those who encounter goodness and goodwill, care and companionship may bond instantaneously or only after sixteen days. Members of Congress, Freshmen, that is, of the "One Hundred and Elevenityth" Congress circled this number before the end of January, well before the current phase of the ongoing struggle for Economic Justice. The Obama Administration has now been resident among The Washington Beltway Elite, including the MayberryHouseholders of McLean, for a time sufficient to induce unexpected "bonds" and "good will", "attachment", even "loyalty".

Thus, an observer, determined to be at least pragmatic if not wholly objective, marking today as it is the Sixteenth Day Plus One for all members of The Obama Administration and more for Congress, asks: How many of the Freshman Congressional Class have already sold out? How many have "bonded" with unexpected "friends" and "allies". How many have already betrayed Principles once believed with certainty to be "stronger than oak....? This, it seems to me, is the Mystery and Curse of the human Ego: how brittle Principle in the face of Ego's needs?

The Obama Administration then is offered a caveat: in the language of pragmatists, Uphold Truth, Trust No One, and Act as if Everything Matters. And proffered this hypothesis: The apparent struggle now occurring between President Obama and Congress and between Republicans and Democrats is nothing more or less than American Corporatocracy waging war against any and all who would wrest Power and Control away from it.

Allow me to amplify: we know the Republican Party is populated and influenced (if not controlled) by individuals and groups holding the worldview of Neo-Conservatives (also known as Neo-Liberalists in economic circles). We know that those elected to public office receive monetary support from an array of multi-national corporations. We also know that those controlling corporations are represented by Lobbyists, and that for years now, the whole of the Washington "Beltway" has been at least influenced, if not controlled by, these corporate players. This is not news; this is reality. It was part and parcel of the 2008 Presidential Campaign. But, the Mythology of American runs strong in our collective consciousness, and the Myth of Democracy can cloud any assessment of reality. It can even allow us to "forget ourselves...."

Add to the Myth the experience of Human Ego, and you have a recipe for Catastrophic Failure of Principle. Any Principle. Any Moral Code. Any stated goal. The Rule of Law. Even a Constitution. Our Constitution.

Even Ourselves.
Who we are.

"Democrats" came together in November, 2008 and in the eighteen months and more before as "We the People": a diverse Coalition of Americans hungry (even starving) for renewal of the American Myth: "Change We Can Believe In", sure, but at bedrock, Belief in Themselves: In Our Own Voice, In Our Own Power.

And, the Rule of Law. Our Constitution. The Security that is born of the Trust that all persons - All Persons - will be held accountable equally under the Law, that all persons - All Persons - will be afforded Due Process under the Law.

How rich this Legacy truly is...our Mythology is, truly, Inspired.

And yet, this inspiration has been devastated unequivocally by that line of decisions in the Common Law and those statutes and Rules and Regulations of any number of Agencies that characterize Corporations as "Persons". Corporations in American Law enjoy protections and privileges and exercise power, monetary and otherwise, that no individual person can ever equal.

Thus, within the context of President Obama's proposed Economic Reinvestment and Recovery Act we discover ourselves today - pragmatically speaking - engaged in a War: that of individual human beings, Citizens and Non-Citizens alike, otherwise known as "We the People" - against Corporations. The Economic Recovery Act is part and parcel of the struggle for Economic Justice that has existed, according to Economic Historians, for as long as The Art of Exchange has included "money"; but in "our time", it is a struggle for our Nation and our government.

Consider further: The Corporatocracy is waging this War for Economic Pre-eminence and Control, not to "destroy Government" as Grover Norquist asserted was the goal of Neo-Conservatives, but, rather, to be "The Government": as George Bush said, to "...be the Dictator", as Dick Cheney/David Addington asserted, to be "The Fourth Branch of Government"...as we discovered in December, 2000, they are capabale of a coup, even a judicial coup d'etat.

This fight, this War, will never end, so long as corporations are considered "persons" under the law; yet, even if that legal fiction were obviated tomorrow, The Corporatocracy would work to find (or create) ways to battle against and "govern" (i.e. control) us. When the President speaks of "remaking America" and "remaking our economy" and commands the energy and will of millions of Americans to stand up and participate in our governance as Citizens, this is the battle to which we are being called. If in the Mythology of "democracy" there are no "days off" for Citizens, in the reality of the war of Corporations versus Individuals, every day we do not fight for Ourselves - and the Economic Justice that fight necessarily involves - is a day we submit to indebtedness to Corporations, and enslavement by them; a day when we identify ourselves as Consumers, not Citizens, and bow to, not vote for, Corporations as "our leaders".

Sixteen Days...plus one. There is so much to do. And, we don't have much time: sooner rather than later, human beings with Egos intact will make friends and deals, promises for ambitions, and sell-out. We have maybe until March. Not to win, just not to Lose.

And every day after that?
Nothing matters...so we act as if Everything Matters.

The Senate Screws We the People...Again....

2009-02-06T17:20:00.004-07:00

Toooooo Rich. Reid on floor of the Senate makes clear that getting something "that would Pass" was more important than, Pardon Me All to Effing Hell, doing something responsive to We the People! The Dems have a Majority in the House, and working Majority in the Senate, and Reid and the rest of these..."D for Dingbats" are on the defensive.

My rage and disgust is inexplicable.

Senators: The Middle Class HAS NO DISPOSABLE INCOME if they have Ordinary Income at all!! Just because you "believe" the money doesn't belong in the Bill, doesn't mean its not "stimulative"! How can you possibly say that refusing to fund public schools - and pay teachers - does not generate or keep jobs? Do you not understand that the people whom you say might now, with a "tax cut", buy a refrigerator, DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY FOOD??!!

Senator Collins: just because you worked hard on it doesn't mean its worth spit! What is it with you people? You think you're the only people in the nation who "worked hard" this week? You know: We the People pretty much SPOKE ABOUT "BI-PARTISANSHIP" on November 4. And after this week of Rush and Cheney and Sessions and Grifney...well, all that "Bipartisanship" crap begins to look like something we're all going to have to earn, and not just hand out like a well-mannered social hostess....

Dollars in the tax payers pockets...yeah: how about MORE in Food Stamps? How about NOT cutting Unemployment Relief? Senator Collins: the "saving of our economy" is about MORE than just traditional Jobs. We need to quite literally remake the 21st Economy in and with a 21st Economy worldview with all its technology, tools, and modalities. Pandemic Flu? You don't think FEMA might employ a few people? You don't think CDC will employ and train a few people? You don't think R & D now might now lead to jobs in a year?

Fine: You wanna Revolution? You're gonna get one.... The only person speaking with any sense today is the Speaker of the House.

AP & HuffPost: "Tenative Agreement Reached, $780B Stimulous"

2009-02-06T16:20:00.002-07:00

JesusMaryandJoseph. These Senators have absolutely no idea how angry We the People are. None. Tentative or not, this is no way big enough to address what we know is happening, per "The Numbers" today. But lemme just say this, sans numbers: A nineteen year old young man suicided this morning...because his parents no longer have the funds - and we know there are no loans - to pay for college. He's just one of the latest "numbers"....

When's the March of "The Numbers" on Washington?

We the People: Call Your Senators Now

2009-02-06T10:27:00.002-07:00

Let's Review (again): Republicans, as a Party, are interested ONLY in Power; They will, as a Party, do anything - ANYTHING - to hold onto it, protect it, augment it, acquire it, including the infamous "...create our own Reality...", which as we know now, translates into the creation of We The People's suffering and loss.

Compare Here the House Bill to the Senate Bill, and note how the Senate has decreased spending that would directly, and immediately, benefit We the People: Health Education and Labor, Housing and Transportation, Agriculture, the Interior and the Environment, Assistance to the Unemployed and (notably, by a difference of $12B) Health Insurance.

Call your Senators NOW (they are scheduled to vote on this in about two hours, at 1 pm EST) and tell them you are unhappy and disapprove of these revisions; let them know you want The People - and not Big Business - to benefit first and foremost from this package. The Bill, if passed, will go to Conference Committee where it will be "marked up"; let your Senators know that you want the Final Bill to reflect changes that benefit We the People: more spending on Health Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Food Stamps and Immediate Aid, along with more spending on Infrastructure and billions of dollars less in tax cuts.

We understood on November 4 that we won only the opportunity to work for Change that will benefit and protect our Children and Their Children.

Let's Get to Work.

Making Good Out of Dumb

2009-02-05T15:30:00.003-07:00

As proposed, it does appear that the so-called Ensign Amendment is flawed, but it also appears that it may well be a "Dumb Plan" based upon a "Good Thought". So, any takers on the "Good Thought"?

For your consideration, and hitchhiking on Niall Ferguson's opinion/analysis piece in yesterday's FT, why not fix and augment the Ensign/McConnell (Enrichment Plan for the Rich and their Bankers) with elements that address the needs of average homeowners who may or may not be facing unemployment, as well as our national need to invest in and train professionals and craftspersons in mathematics, science, engineering, healthcare and education?

Some suggestions: for current homeowners with mortgages of any kind, simply convert the current interest rate to Four Percent. Period. The End. Straight Across the Board. Achieve this by issuing "Coupons" as Ferguson points out has been done in the past for Bonds, and do it - I underscore this - with Zero Points assessed and absolutely no Fees. There, Senator Schumer: no advantage to Banks, like J P Morgan Chase, which just bought up WaMu, just as one example.

Effect this Coupon Issuance where ever possible - which most likely will include at least one half of all mortgagees - via the Net. Only one line of Code, I'm told, would flip the rate of interest any Mortgagee currently pays, as found on their Account Details online. Point: What we are facing right now is a Twenty-First Century problem, created at least in part by computer trading (and the logrithmic computer models created specifically for trading twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including those "creative" Products known broadly as Credit Default Obligations); I'm sure we can all agree that we need to use Twenty-First Century Technologies to solve it.

More: the Postal Service, I understand, is facing a shortage of some Two Billion pieces of mail this year, and such pieces of mail make money for the Postal Service. Those Mortgagees who do not wish to do business online, but receive their Mortgage Statements and paystubs through the mail, and pay by check, will be doing the USPS a service through such a Program as well.

Next: Incent Education with Additional Interest Rate Cuts.

If a Mortgagee/Homeowner agrees to apply for and attend vocational, trade or occupational training in any one of the Industrial Arts (including but not limited to carpentry, masonry/bricklaying, general construction and contracting, plumbing, electrical and broadband/digital/satellite technologies), they receive a Coupon for Two Percent Interest on their Mortgage. The interest rate applies only so long as they remain actively enrolled in school and earn a C Average; upon graduation, the interest rate is deemed permanent.

If implemented in 2009, such a Program would have technical professionals and craftsperson ready to work in 2010 and 2011, when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan as currently proposed begins to trigger the need for this trained and ready Labor Force.

And: Incent University and College Education.

Again, if a Mortgagee/Homeowner agrees to apply for and attend college or University to obtain a four year degree in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Healthcare or Education, they receive a Coupon for Three Percent Interest on their Mortgage. If they agree as well to serve the Public/Community (Obama's proposal during the Campaign) upon graduation for a time certain (say, four years), they receive a Coupon for Two Percent Interest. If they agree to commit to such Community Service work for a longer period - say, ten years - and attend a state university or college, they receive a Full Grant for Tuition, and Two Percent Interest on their mortgage. Now you've created a population of scholars and professionals.

It occurs to me that graduate Mortgagees/Homeowners of such Programs might discover employment in states other than where their homes are located. Because the general incentive for education would be lost if the interest rate afforded students became transferable, graduate Mortgagees/Homeowners would be free to sell their home, but their financing/interest rate could not be assumed or transferred to any Buyer.

It also occurs to me that many homes are jointly owned by spouses/partners, and many couples might well decide that going to school at the same time would be beneficial, even advantageous to their personal goals. For such Mortgagees/Homeowners, I'd suggest a Coupon for One Percent Interest while they are both attending school, and when at least one of them completes their education, shift that premium interest rate back to Two or Three Percent, depending upon the Program in which the continuing student-spouse/Mortgagee/Homeowner is enrolled.

Finally, for students who do not yet own homes, but would also respond favorably, if not enthusiastically, to an incentivized Student Loan Program, I'd suggest that Sallie Mae be bought out by the government, and that a similar incentive program be created to encourage both education and homeownership. Working on some suggested details now.

As the President has said, "...let's not let the Perfect become the enemy of the Essential."

We Have SCHIP; More: The President Calling the Plays

2009-02-04T16:16:00.004-07:00

Today, President Obama signed SCHIP legislation, saying:

In a decent society there are certain obligations not subject to tradeoff or negotiation and Healthcare for our children is one of those obligations.

Through this Bipartisan effort, he continued, the healthcare of seven million children will be insured, along with that of an additional four million children in need; and finally, the ban on states insuring the healthcare of legal immigrant children if they choose to do so is lifted.

President Obama went on to say that signing SCHIP is a critical first step, and a "down payment" on "...my promise to cover every single American." He then rejected soundly the assertions of Supply Siders that the currently proposed Economic Recovery Act, which includes the extension of healthcare benefits for unemployed Americans, is deficient and fails to include enactments of "conservative" economic policy promoted by Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain and his supporters (read: More Tax Cuts). He noted that voters soundly rejected such economic policies and worldviews in November. He concluded saying that the proposed Economic Recovery Act "may be improved, but Congress must act quickly, and not make the Perfect the Enemy of the Essential."

Better.
Much Better.
Getting back to playing Our Own Game.

Rookie Mistakes on The Visitors Court

2009-02-03T23:33:00.003-07:00

We have, none of us, no time to waste, so let me just come to the point: Republicans are living in the Democrats' heads (Rent Free, I might add), and Democrats are no longer playing Their Own Game. This starts with the President, trickles down and across to various nominees for the President’s Cabinet, includes The Leadership in Congress and every “progressive” talking head, pundit and cable host currently broadcasting, AND most of We the People as well.

What?
We just got stupid?

No. But we sure are being naïve. And hometowned. Not to mentioned amnesiatic.

Let’s Review.

The Obama YES WE CAN Team planned and executed a brilliant Presidential Campaign. Out of Chicago.

The Obama YES WE CAN Team planned and executed a brilliant grassroots campaign empowering We the People. On the Net.

The Obama YES WE CAN Team played with the DNC and MoveOn and Veterans and Women and Hispanics and Gays and every other member of The Coalition to fire back at any – ANY – attack leveled by any Republican, any Neo-Con, any naysayer.

Since moving to Hay-Adams and Blair House, however, The Obama Team – no longer in Chicago, and pretty much off the Net but for Inauguration party planning until recently receiving the NSA issued ObamaBerries – has been playing – and completely screwing up – on the D.C. Court. Please! Let’s Say It All Together Now: WE. ARE. THE. VISITORS. And unless we play our own Game just like we were on our home court, we are gonna be hometowned to death and Lose. Every. Single. Point.

Seriously.

Beginning with today’s series of apologies and withdrawals: if anyone reading this believes that the Daschle Debacle was about Daschle, he or she is a Democrat who has taken up recreational smoking or good Jordon Cabernet to continue the celebration. Or has just completely forgotten Chicago Politics. This nomination was never ever gonna go through “smoothly” because THIS nomination is about UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. Ultimately.

Any questions?

Next: The Governor of Illinois. Impeached.
Do you seriously think any of that was really about the Governor? Or impeachment? Did we just forget everything we learned in the last two years about Republican use of Diversion? And Distraction? Did we just forget everything we know about Republican use of the oblique hit? The Taint by Association?

Do we not know in our bones that Republicans are, in fact, actively pursuing a Strategy to see Barack Obama fail? (Yes, Rush Limbaugh read the Playbook outloud. But, why are you outraged? This is a surprise? Come on…..)

Any one still thinking they could take any of the D.C. Beltway B.S. seriously?

This is about MONEY.
Big Money.
The Biggest Money.
Big Pharma. Even Bigger Insurance Companies. Even Bigger: Real Estate Ventures. Holding Companies. Holding Companies of Holding Companies.
And their Lobbyists.

We didn’t just cover this in the last two years; We Won On This!

And What? Now, we just forget about it? Roll over and surrender? Invite everyone over for tea and jam sandwiches and beg for forgiveness when someone somewhere in the pantheon of Democratic Stars and Success stories is caught being political? For not paying taxes?

SERIOUSLY?

We’ve witnessed War Crimes and Torture and invasions of other countries, illegal wars, the complete devastation of Government and the piracy of Business to the ruin of all in the last eight years and now, NOW, we’re groveling at the feet of the other team because of taxes?

Yes.
I am yelling.
If I were there in person, I’d slap you upside the head.
Snap.
Out.
Of.
It.

Yes, President Obama said today what he said on the Campaign trail: he is not perfect; he will make mistakes; and, he will always tell We the People the Truth. Well done. And, in the moment of mistakes, admissions will be made, and steps taken to not repeat the mistakes. Okay. As far as it goes.

But we don’t need any more stinkin’ apologies.
From Anyone!
Just Make It Right.
And then move on!
Life doesn’t end because you make a mistake. Or get hit. Didn’t Mama Biden say it? Go out there and smack the other guy in the nose, and then get up, and get to school. With him.

Here’s The Deal: America has lost all semblance of Moral Authority because our Leaders have utterly failed to make Amends when they’ve been caught betraying other nations. The World doesn’t want our ‘apologies’. In fact, most of us in the world of Reality – the kind we have to deal with and cannot ever possibly make up – have little use for apologies. What we all need in the face of injury or harm, including betrayals of any kind, is action: action that Makes Things Right. Sets an Example. Doesn’t just meet The Bar of Ethical and Excellence Standards, but exceeds it uniquely. Falling on one’s sword is dramatic, but usually not terribly Heroic; the Hero is the man or woman who, once run through by the opposition, stands up, pulls out the sword, honors the point, and then, makes it right with those splashed by the blood, often by illuminating the yet to be expressed Truth, and then, by continuing to fight.

In the case of Tom Daschle, the Amend is making good on The Promise of Healthcare, which has little to do with Tom Daschle because anyone nominated is going to be run through. Ask Hillary.

In the case of the Governor of Illinois, the Amend is at least standing up and calling out the Republicans on launching an oblique attack on the Administration, and the creation of Distraction and Diversion in the first seven days of this Presidency. I mean, this had to be one of the lowest, cheapest and dare I say it, most racist displays of Republican politics we’ve seen in a while.

In the case of The Economy. Better say it outloud, because everyone on the vaunted Obama Economic Team has said as much – in writing no less – in recent months: No One Knows What to Do. Not in a “this is guaranteed” kind of way. Because…No One Has Ever See This Before.

What we do know is this: Fear grabs people’s Hearts and Minds as surely when they are living in Richistan as when they’re living under a Bridge. People Panic, Hide and Hoard. If they’re already under the Bridge, they hide and hoard Food and Space. If they’re in their Counting Houses, they hide there (look how many completely bailed on Davos) and hoard time and airspace, column inches and lecterns to preach the virtues of, richly, Supply Side Economics. Those with the paid for high profiles like Miss McConnell and Steve Forbes and the Money Honeys have been sent out with Marching Orders and Talking Points to beat the drum for American Capitalism.

Which of course is about so much more than just Economics.
Point: those most terrified of what is truly crashing down around all of us are those who believe (still) that the Worth of the Individual is determined by their Wealth: men and women who must rationalize, therefore, the Godly righteousness of Their Profits at any Cost, even "crime".

Weren’t we just saying something about Moral Authority? And Amends? Not just apologies?

Because The World, just by the way, is having none of this American Melodrama. At the outset of The Obama Administration, some fourteen days ago, neither did The President. Indeed, America's top diplomat, now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton underscored the President Obama's Theme for the First One Hundred Days when she testified (before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) that the Obama Administration’s Foreign Policy would be Economic as much as it is Diplomatic.

Brilliant! And, How could it possibly be otherwise?
And then, the Obama Administration sends Valerie Jarrett and Lawrence Summers to Davos, with Professor Summers so low profile as to be practically absent. Following Davos, Wen Jiabao moves without apology on a multi-legged “Journey” across the West during which he defends the Yuan and asserts the sensibility of China’s own stimulus package, condemns Henry Paulson and the other Supply Siders, and…The Obama Administration is caught apologizing? About Taxes?

We. Can. Do. Better.
Yes, We Can.
We damn well better.

The Obama Administration had better start now – as in Right Now – to play their Game. On D.C.’s Home Ice. And Own It.

The Obama Administration had better start now to rely again upon We The People. Here, on the Net. There, on the Ground. We can shout down and push back any “loyal opposition” Miss McConnell and Eric Cantor wish to present. This isn’t just “Yes We Can”, Mr. Obama: this is Yes, We Did. Talk to us, Tell us What you Need to get this Legislation, all Legislation, passed.

We want our soldiers out of Iraq. Now.
We want Healthcare for All. Now.
And, we want Jobs Now.

Which is to say: We want a Domestic Economic Policy that makes for a sensible Foreign Policy; indeed: we want a Domestic Policy that allows We the People - through you, as our President - to Make Amends with the World.
And then, Move On with the World to balance things out for all of us. Buy America? Great...let's Make America, too...and then Buy India and China and Pakistan. Because Globalization is here; what is not is Social Democracy. Neither Wealth nor the World will be sustained without Balance, so (note to the Wealthy), the big compromise is obvious: if you want even a bit of your Wealth, you'll need to give up on your greedy take of Our World.

To this last, there have been some brilliant suggestions made by the likes of Warren Buffet and George Soros and Paul Krugman. We are in a “Pearl Harbor” kind of emergency; writedowns MUST be made and yes, some Banks will fail. The Stimulus Package MUST be larger, much larger. And, it must be coordinated. With the EU. And China. And Russia. And South America. And, yes, the Middle East. Jobs and Spending is part and parcel of it. And it may just be that people need to be paid to go to school. Wouldn't it be something if, in the midst of Remaking Globalization we rediscovered the treasure of the human heart and mind?

The DC Beltway still believes the court on which they’ve played for years is still home to the greatest game and the greatest players ever seen. They’re wrong.

The Game has moved to The World, and some of the greatest moves made are those made by We The People. Worldwide. America's winning Team is the one out of Chicago, the one that partnered with The People in a bid to play fairly with The World. It'd be damn nice to see them playing Our Game tomorrow.

It Was A Riff

2009-01-22T16:51:00.002-07:00

Oy! Do we need to remind each other to read a little history? Ask a few questions? Before we jump to conclusions based upon ignorance? And then demonstrate that ignorance through posts and emails "SENT" without a second thought?

My fellow Citizens: Citizenship comes with responsibilities and duties, not just rights and privileges.

Surf the Net and you'll find post after post written by self-identified "white people" who are declaring (in BOLDFACE OFFENDED Caps, "I/We ARE NOT Racists!!!!" This hue and outcry (including from the likes of Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck...even Brit Hume got into the act) in reaction to the Reverend Joseph Lowery's riff in his Inauguration Benediction on the old blues tune, Black, Brown and White written by and performed here by Bill Broonzy:

Yes, of course, every person who has posted and emailed some statement of self-righteous ignorance about the closing paragraph of Rev. Lowery's Benediction is protected by the First Amendment of The Constitution of the United States to exercise his or her Right to Freedom of Speech. I would die for your right to exercise this right in this moment. And - and this is an important "and" - just because you exercise your Right to Free Speech, does not mean that what you say is historically, logically, or even reasonably defensible in the Public Commons of Conversation and Debate. If we speak, it is incumbent upon us as Citizens of the United States to not only exercise our Right to Free Speech, but to do so with reason and deliberation. And, be prepared to defend our opinions; at the very least, do a little homework before we go around shooting off our mouths about what we think.

Joseph Lowery was, as always, brilliant, beneficient, loving and kind, wise...and prescient.

Yup, I'm In. Are You?

2009-01-21T21:54:00.003-07:00

Let's make it a habit.

Joe Biden at The Commander in Chief Ball: Our Sacred Obligation

2009-01-20T19:04:00.002-07:00

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have only one sacred obligation: to care for our troops when we send them to war, and to care for our troops when we bring them home from war...."

At the Neighborhood Ball: "We Are Neighborhood People" UPDATED

2009-01-20T18:35:00.004-07:00

Complimenting the First Lady's beauty first, our President then thanked all of Us, We the People who worked neighborhood by neighborhood to nominate and elect him to the Presidency. And then, he said, "...we're gonna need you tomorrow, and next month, and next year, and the year after that..." and "...together, we're gonna change America."

UPDATE: "...remember what we said during this campaign, Yes We Can. And, Yes We Will. Provided we do things together."

We've only just begun.

In the People We Trust (Edited)

2009-01-20T01:22:00.002-07:00

Well.
I’m still a little stressed.
If I hear one more person (pundit or Goddess, Cassandra included) say something like, “…no one else in our history has come to the Presidency with the massive problems facing him, not even FDR….”, I think I’ll have to return to this Blog once a week.

Clearly We the People didn’t get the Lesson of the Campaign: At no other time in history do We the People have in our hands information technologies – and a host of applications – that empower us not only to express our Consent and Dissent to officials we have elected to represent us in our democratic Republic, but more: to take back our Government through our creation and activation of a de facto direct democracy. We can do this.

We are.

Memo to: Congressional Representatives, and Senators…. You’d best come to grips with your irrelevancy, unless you begin to spend most of your time in your Districts and States, listening to and discussing – even debating – the questions confronting all of us. Because We the People are voicing our views now as we learned we could in the last, very long Presidential Campaign.

In short, “the massive problems facing him” are facing Us.
We the People.
And, if We the People do not take the same Oath of Office that Barack Hussein Obama takes tomorrow – big Hat Tip to Arianna Huffington - we surely will fail ourselves, but most tragically, we will fail the very idea of America. This was the point of the Presidential Campaign, wasn’t it?

To reclaim our democracy? To repair it? To rebuild it?
To atone and make amends for the harms committed against it?
To do what it takes to insure that no Judicial coup d’etat occurs ever again? To do whatever it takes to insure that any Citizen is allowed - and protected - to exercise The Franchise, and to insure that the Vote of any Citizen is counted?

Everything did not just magically get “all better” on November 4, 2008.
Nothing will just magically be alright tomorrow afternoon.
It is We the People who have so, so much work to do….

Which brings me to Eric Holder, the Torture that has been committed against others in my name, and yours, the difference between criminalizing Policy and prosecuting criminal acts, and, politics. I continue to reserve judgment, largely, but I was heartened as I listened to Eric Holder’s testimony. Not because he is “independent”. (Any person who gets as far as any one in Congress, in the President’s – any President’s – Cabinet, or, even on the Bench is not independent. Period. Let’s dispense with this mythology, shall we? Such naiveté does not behoove an Informed Citizenry; and as an informed Citizen, I know as well as you do that people who get this far are not independent at all, even as they are socially skilled – some even true Social Adepts - and well-versed and practiced in the Art of Negotiation, otherwise known as Favor and Trade, Service and Obligation).

No, I was heartened as I listened to Eric Holder testify because of his demonstrated ability to exercise judicial temperament and political savvy, as well as prosecutorial analysis, skills and judgment; and, at Barack Obama’s mastery at communicating broad themes that are at once declaratory and non-committal, concise and cryptic. Surely if “post-partisan politics” means anything at all it means no longer criminalizing – either in rhetoric or as a matter of law – the worldviews and policies of others. In which of course there is the inherent spaciousness of reciprocity. And, surely if any one is not above the law, and if the Holder Department of Justice will allow the Facts and the Law and the Evidence to take it [the DOJ] where they will, individuals employed in the Bush/Cheney Administration will be prosecuted. There is no other logical end.

As politicians, however, the men and women we elected to represent us are waging with some competency a Chess Game both predictable and unfortunate. You’ll recall Eric Holder testifying (in the context of the Marc Rich Pardon) that the Pardon Procedure itself is sorely in need of review, and revision. But, as it is, in this very moment of writing, George W. Bush can issue Pardons to anyone – including himself – he believes to be vulnerable to such prosecution. A Pardon that is absolute, and would preclude and prevent any and all remedial relief available to us, We the People, through the Judicial System we currently enjoy. It would be a shame to lose such relief in a moment of strategic stupidity. (And, clearly, Barack Obama and David Plouffe and David Axelrod do not engage in strategic stupidity.)

More: Vendetta is a Dish Best Served Cold. This, a rather Old School view, I admit, but one that is both old and still a trusted because it works. (And any trial lawyer knows it’s rarely a good idea to ask the question you know the answer to until the person is in a place in which he has no choice but to answer the question.)

Finally, for now: High Dudgeon being what it is, and the Media being what it continues to be, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity are the charges many well-reasoned and respected voices are demanding must be brought against Bush/Cheney Administration members, and prosecuted. And, they’re right. But Rahm Emmanuel would undoubtedly love to tell us – in no uncertain terms - that our timing stinks. Even as did Eric Holder, in his stated independence, but, I think more importantly, given his judicial worldview, all such demands – every single one – have been taken under advisement. By Mr. Obama.

Fair enough.
I’m not satisfied, but I’m mollified.
But only as to the “sexy” issues of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

Just as important, and as aversive as the other issues are enticing, are the Crimes and Civil Wrongs committed over and over and over again by Bush Administration political appointees and Agency Directors to gut systematically and completely the bureaucracy of our government. Just a couple general examples: at the SEC, the closure of many, many District Offices (how do you spell No Enforcement of Financials? Including the likes of ENRON, Worldcom, etc.); at ICE, the systematic inclusion of prohibitive “backlogs” and “wait lists”, not just a year or two, but five years, eight, eleven, yes, even eleven years, just to process the appropriate form. Immigration doesn’t happen because Bush/Cheney Administration hires at ICE – lead by the beautiful and related (to former Joint Chiefs Chief, Richard) Julie Meyers – made certain it wouldn’t.

We know about the long list of Bush/Cheney Administration lies, scandals, cover-ups, manipulations, and yes, even crimes (watch Keith Olbermann for a nightly recap of the latest, read The Nation for summaries, google a keyword for any Cabinet level Department and you’ll find something that will just refresh your memory of what you heard or read during these last eight years of negligence and crime.) But, the day to day fracturing, demoralizing, disempowering of our Civil Servants is the great – indeed, Massive – national wound that, left untreated, could very well result in systemic failure across our land.

Remember: Bush/Cheney took the Oval Office with the blessing and plans of Grover Norquist, who simply wanted to see government killed, “…drowned in the bathtub.” America Waterboarded. Violently killed. And, they’ve been at it, in the most insidious of ways: by removing all power, all authority, to apply and/or enforce any Rule or Regulation. To effect this end, they have crippled, co-opted, silenced, and spied upon the activities Civil Servants - career professional - through Our Government.

Not prosecutable, you say? Possibly not. I’ll leave that to Eric Holder to determine after he reviews the facts and law and evidence. Suffice to say that if the U.S. Attorney Scandal is just another Variation on the Theme of politicizing government agencies the Bush Administration needed or wanted, while “killing” those they didn’t (FEMA, anyone?), many more actions may be prosecuted, and perhaps, in the beginning, it may be more politic to do so. Meanwhile, it seems to me there are thousands of jobs – well paying and with perks - that is, Civil Servant jobs that we desperately need to refill immediately! Simply put: a well functioning civil service is the lifeblood of We the People governing ourselves, right? And Bush/Cheney drained the lifeblood right out of our government. And the remedy for the Economy – Job, Jobs, Jobs – and Government as the Spender of Last Resort – may be right under our noses in The Civil Service and Agency Bureaucracy. And let us say it loud right now in affirmation, "The Consent of the Governed is Back!"

Yup, We the People have massive problems in our country. We took a brilliant step in solving them when we elected Barack Obama President and Joe Biden Vice President. But it’s clear to me now that as much as America’s Mythology invites us all “to trust” our new President – and all the calmness and inspiration, intelligence and leadership he offers – the only ones we can trust are those we have been waiting for all along: Ourselves.

So…next week, I’ll see how stressed I am again. About the “sexy crimes” and the mundane negligence, the long running scandals and the acts, decisions, commitments and creations born of our new found Hope: In We the People we Trust.

In US we Trust.
Yes, We Do.

Remember: It's About YOU

2009-01-19T13:49:00.002-07:00

Take the Oath:

We Can Do This.

We Cannot Afford Not To.

Why the Hold on Holder?

2009-01-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Why the hold on Eric Holder's nomination for Attorney General? Pretty simple. Pretty straightforward: To Cover the Asses of the BushCheney Crime Cabal. Period.

Not convinced?
Go deeper. Look for the back channel deals and promises. Cornyn's the only one left - besides Kay Bailey Hutchison - to carry on.

Action Item? Email, write and petition: No "Pardon Deal" for any member of the BushCheney Crime Cabal. And Immunity for turning state's evidence? I'd leave that to Eric Holder as We the People's chief prosecutor.

Obama Through Holder: Will He Uphold Truth?

2009-01-14T21:12:00.003-07:00

Well…I’m a little stressed.
Just like you.
Just like most of We the People.

And not just because the failing Banks are screwing us now as much as they can (29.999% APR on your Credit Card anyone?) because they can.

I’m stressed about Attorney General Designee Eric Holder’s Confirmation Hearing tomorrow. Because for all the deregulation of (take your pick) in the last three or more decades, no President and Vice-President – and they’ve all lied, and all been held, more or less accountable - until Bush/Cheney have been successful at “deregulating” Truth.

Since the now infamous (though somewhat redeemed) Lee Atwater managed Bush 41’s Presidential Campaign, Truth has been politicized, in some campaigns more than others. But in no two Presidential Campaigns, in no other Administration save for the Bush/Cheney Regime has Truth been treated as a deregulated Commodity to be marketed and sold just like Oil. And Gas. Media and Communications Consortiums. Religion. Family Values. Bigotry and Prejudice. Hatred and Hierarchy. Guns and War. Money, Wealth and Debt. And Wagers on all of it.

For eight years we have witnessed the overt deregulation of and contempt for Truth. And thus, for Justice. The axiom oft repeated decades ago by brand new baby Defense Attorneys armed with Gideon and Miranda, that “…anything is legal until you get caught…” went right out the window and was replaced with Nixon’s Rule of Law: If the President does it, it’s legal. And Cheney and Rumsfeld have been devotees of this man made creed ever since.

On some level, I’m certain, George W. Bush is stunned no publisher is interested in his Memoirs; and, I’m just as certain, he would be stunned to know that entire communities of lawyers would be pay money to take his deposition. To cross-examine him before an international Court and Jury.

On another level though, Bush and Cheney do have some appreciation for the “durability” of their premeditated deregulation, politicization, contempt for Truth, as well as their current marketing campaign of their tenure in office; witness the ongoing activities in Israel and around the globalized Financial Community (to name just two environments) in which Bush/Cheney is actively working to “commit” (read: hamstring) the next President, and Congress, to application or at least the consequences of their worldview, ideology and decisions.

One major snag – another example of, in Bush’s words, “things not going according to plan – involves Susan J. Crawford’s statement today that Bush/Cheney, through the authorization of Donald Rumsfeld, tortured Mohammed al-Qahtani. Mr. Al-Qahtani, 30, is accused of involvement in the 9/11 attack; but because he was tortured, he cannot be tried.

Obviously, Ms. Crawford neither received, or agreed with, the Bush/Cheney “Memo” concerning “Truth” – not to mention John Yoo’s work on Torture - nor did she take any “Oath of Loyalty to the President” (as did Monica Goodling and others).

So tomorrow, President-Elect Obama’s credibility will be on trial through the testimony of his nominee for Attorney General, Eric Holder. Simply put: Will Barack Obama uphold Truth?

Or, will he uphold the lies and crimes of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney?

You can argue your way in countless different directions on this, and lose every time, because Truth is the only reason Barack Obama was nominated by Democrats and elected by We the People.

Change We Can Believe In = Truth

Because, Mr. Obama, if you aren’t going to uphold Truth, you are not up to the epic task before Us as a People, as a Nation.

Is there any moral difference between the criminality - the moral depravity - of Slavery and Torture? Between the creation of Debtors and Sharecroppers out of Laborers and Owners? Are we to return to the stratified Classism of our forebears? Those of the Nobility – Loyalists and Royalists – casting their bloodlines and inherited wealth against any Person - any Patriot - who would dare trespass upon their lands? Their Plans? Their Fortunes? Their Protections and Immunity from any and all prosecution?

An Epic Task we face.
We need banking; we do not need Banks.
Everything is, indeed, as Hillary Clinton underscored in her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, influenced, if not determined by, economics. But nothing about Economics works unless The System and Its Players are “confident” (this a consensus across the line of experts from “Money-Honeys” to Professors Krugman and Reich). Or, as its known and named out here on The Street by Citizens: Truth. (And so far….well, there hasn’t been a whole lot of Truth about the Depression we are living in, has there?)

So: The Epic Task before Us is that of upholding Truth.
And, where the President we have elected in the man of Barack Obama is unable or unwilling to uphold Truth, We the People will: Yes, We Can: We do not Torture in the United States of America, and we do hold those who do and have accountable as a matter of law.

We do not enslave People in the United States of America, not by ownership of persons, or by indebtedness, and we do hold those who do and have accountable as a matter of law.

We are no longer asleep.
We elected Mr. Obama to help us, to lead us as We the People take back our Nation. And where he will not lead Us, We will lead him.
Yes, We Can.

Will Mr. Obama rise to the occasion that is his Presidency?
Perhaps.
Many people, from children charged at the age of 9 or 11 for the well-being of siblings to physicians, newly licensed and meeting with their first patient, and countless others of us in vocations and professions across the board, experience The Moment: the first time we realize we truly are responsible, and People really are listening to us, counting on us, trusting us.

For most of us, it’s just that, a bright shining moment, and then it’s gone.

The rest of our living is imbued with the quotidian realities of what needs to be done, and achievement.

For others, a very few others, epic periods give birth to like-sized leaders: men and women who in The Moment grow into the opportunity to breathe the energy of Truth into individuals and communities, families and nations, sister and brother leaders, comrades and peers: to inspire: The Many in The Moment to uphold Truth in every moment thereafter.

So, we’ll see.
But, I’m a little stressed.
About Eric Holder’s Confirmation Hearing tomorrow.
And the ongoing lies of the Captains of Banking and Industry who continue to roll Citizens through the crime, if not the sin, of Usury, and the economic depravity of Lies that continue to destroy “confidence” in The System.

Voting for Change Now

2009-01-13T09:24:00.003-07:00

As Hillary tells the truth about "disagreements within the current Administration" about the need to reach Agreements (and enforce them) with regard to deterring Nuclear Proliferation, it's worth mentioning that "Change" was never gonna come to We the People without We the People participating in America....We know this.

From Mother Jones to The Nation to Financial Times, the our time surely has come to make certain power does not corrupt Barack Obama too quickly or too severely, but it surely will, and it truly is up to We the People to hold him and his Administration to account throughout the next four years.

If you feel strongly that the BushCheney Regime is also held to account - along with voicing your opinions regarding Change We Can See - go to Change.org and VOTE every day.

The Obama 'Call', The Obama 'Look Away'

2009-01-12T23:23:00.005-07:00

The airwaves have been filled in the last twenty-four hours with discussions concerning a simple question: Will The Obama Administration investigate The Bush Administration for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity? President-Elect Obama has been saying things like, "...I want to look forward, not backward..." and, "...I don't want CIA professionals to be looking over their shoulders...."

Tonight, I received Michelle Obama's letter and video about The Obama's "Call to Service". January 19, 2009, Michelle and Barack Obama will serve the nation by volunteering somewhere in DC; Michelle's letter quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.,:

"If you want to be important -- wonderful. If you want to be recognized -- wonderful. If you want to be great -- wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness."

And then, she asked me - and thousands and thousands of other Americans - to answer the Obamas's Call to Service: to volunteer somewhere in America next Monday.

I have only one question in response: How do you look into the eyes of American Citizens and ask them to participate, to exercise their Citizenship to repair America, to serve, but in the meantime, look away American Citizens who are asking, Will you hold accountable those who not only did not serve us, but violated their Oath of Office, The Constitution of the United States of America, and injured us, and The World?

How?

I was just wondering....

I get the whole concept of "making things right" after all hell breaks loose like a tornado, or a hurricane, and destroys everything in its path. I get doing what needs to be done in the moment, and not focusing on the past. But, and this is a big 'BUT', that only works when the injuries and damages caused are focused upon, and not the liabilities for the wrongs caused. In some worlds, that works, repairing, that is, the harm, and "going foward."

But - The Big But here - The United States of America is a Nation of Laws, not men. And before we get to Harm, we do look at Liability. Because We the People agreed to this principle: We will be governed by the Rule of Law, not the Rule of Men.

So...call me crazy, but...I think we've got a pretty big problem with this whole "forward thinking" rhetoric: it contains what could be The Obama Administration's First Big Lie.

Oh, and I really don't like being 'looked away'. Especially by those individuals I voted for to serve We the People....

America needs a completely independent investigation and prosecution of The Bush Administration. We the People need to apply the Statute of Rome. The United States of America needs to submit to the International Criminal Court. We the People need to begin acting like a Nation among Nations, and as a People among all Peoples in the World.

We the People need to Change, and see Change in ways - all ways - that We and All People around the World can Believe in. Right. Now.

Protect THE VOTE

2008-11-03T07:04:00.004-07:00

So. You're there, at your Polling Place tomorrow and...trouble. An Election Judge says you're not registered, questions your identification, questions your signature, whatever: Stay Focused! Do what you can, certainly, to exercise your Franchise right there and then, but know that you are not alone, and protect THE VOTE! Alternet provides a nice summary of things you need to do, and people you can call to do just that:

Thinking about the possibility of a stolen election

Things might go smoothly in the election, but many doubt that it will. There have already been tens of thousands voter complaints from all over the country.

If voter suppression spreads, machines break down, lines last for many hours, and aggressive legal tactics are employed and together they appear to put the election in jeopardy, it will be vital that tens of thousands of people are mobilized as quickly as possible.

AlterNet will supply readers with instant, accurate information if the vote has to be protected.

But to be serious about fighting back against an election at risk requires an election challenge process in concert with the campaign. It can not function as a PR exercise. Candidates shouldn't concede prematurely.

Citizen assemblies would have to be generated immediately so people can testify as to where the system broke down on election day. And people who report problems actually need to leave very detailed contact information, so they too can be contacted by attorneys. In Ohio in 04, Kerry asked the OH Dem Party if they could pull together evidence in 24 hours to show how the vote was stolen and they replied no. He then conceded.

As AlterNet's Steve Rosenfeld writes, "1-866-OUR-VOTE (administered by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) and 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (administered by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund). These hotlines have legal staff that will answer questions in real time and give advice, regardless of political affiliation. They have 10,000 volunteer lawyers who will answer questions, log problems and take legal action if necessary."

So, write down the phone numbers, plug them into your cell or just memorize them, as you wish, but go to The Polls prepared: Anticipate Trouble! Because, Brothers and Sisters, Citizens, All, remember: Those in Power never relinquish Power without a fight, and this Election is truly a Ballot Box Revolution.

Si Su Puede!
Yes We Can....
VOTE!

And Enjoy it!

One Word: VOTE

2008-11-02T19:35:00.002-07:00

Every poll, every pundit, every prognostication...
Every Wish, Every Dream, Every Promise: Nothing
but Smoke and Ash
unless
We the People
VOTE

No matter what it takes

Take off work, don't go to school,
Take the kids, take a chair, Pick up Friends, Drive those who have no ride,
Call, Remind, Nag, Beg, Implore: Get there!

Stay in Line:
Do NOT Leave until it is Done:
Your Exercise of Your Franchise

This is Who We the People Are: Citizens Who Are Voting, speaking Now,
Upholding Our own Truth

All of it, everything else, up to this moment falls away.
The only thing that matter now is You and Your Vote: America
desperately needs you,
Your Voice,
Your Hope,
Your Choice: One Word:

VOTEObama!

McCain's Truth: "HEHHHEEEEHHHH!"

2008-10-04T14:23:00.004-06:00

First, there was this:

Then, when Sarah Palin "exceeded" the "vast variety of sources" that expected her to perform, yet again, as a failing Junior High School student, John McCain met all expectations of those aware of his affairs and infidelities:

I have only this echo to offer in response:

McCain-Palin Signal Embrace of "Unitary Executive"

2008-10-02T23:04:00.004-06:00

John McCain and Sarah Palin have in the last twenty-four hours clearly signaled their embrace of the BushCheneyRumsfeldYoo Regime's Unitary Executive Theory, their intent to continue its Practice, and their desire to expand the powers of the "Unitary Executive".

Yesterday, during an interview with the editorial board of the Des Moines REGISTER, John McCain "joked" that he'd always aspired to becoming "...a Dictator" in the same way that George W. Bush has. This is terrifying enough....

....but tonight, Sarah Palin asserted her support for expansion of Vice Presidential powers, in the Senate and otherwise:

PALIN: No, no. Of course, we know what a vice president does. And that's not only to preside over the Senate and will take that position very seriously also. I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are. John McCain and I have had good conversations about where I would lead with his agenda. That is energy independence in America and reform of government over all, and then working with families of children with special needs. That's near and dear to my heart also. In those arenas, John McCain has already tapped me and said, that's where I want you, I want you to lead. I said, I can't wait to get and there go to work with you. * * *

IFILL: Governor, you mentioned a moment ago the constitution might give the vice president more power than it has in the past. Do you believe as Vice President Cheney does, that the Executive Branch does not hold complete sway over the office of the vice presidency, that it it is also a member of the Legislative Branch?

PALIN: Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president's agenda in that position. Yeah, so I do agree with him that we have a lot of flexibility in there, and we'll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation. And it is my executive experience that is partly to be attributed to my pick as V.P. with McCain, not only as a governor, but earlier on as a mayor, as an oil and gas regulator, as a business owner. It is those years of experience on an executive level that will be put to good use in the White House also.

No mention from the Good Governor about Executive Orders signed by Bush as President to delegate various powers to Cheney as Vice-President, no discussion of Article II of The U. S. Constitution, no discussion of Cheney as de facto "Chief of Staff for George W. Bush, no discussion of The Office of Legal Counsel, its powers and responsibilities. And, besides McCain's statements yesterday, no word from the McCain Campaign about The Unitary Executive Theory.

And yet, the last twenty-four hours open a previously closed window on the McCain-Palin view of governance and power, and it appears crystal clear now that they intend to "govern" as BushCheneyRumsfeldYoo have "governed" these last eight years. This is what is beyond terrifying.

If you did not believe until yesterday and tonight that the very idea of "America" is at risk, you'd best believe that now, for now you have Evidence.

It's too late to reconsider the Pelosi/Conyers/Reid Pact to take Impeachment off the table, but its not too late to begin speaking right now about the mandatory Duties and Responsibilities of those we elect to our Federal Government to impeach those who commit High Crimes and Misdemeanors. And, We the People need to be strongly considering how we want our Government to spend its time "governing": do we want yet another four/eight years of de facto Dictatorship? Or do we want to take back our Republic and its representative democracy? The latter is the only kind of Change I can believe in. Anything else is just POW medals and lip tatoos on a Dictator Pig.

Is John McCain Dying?

2008-09-30T10:26:00.002-06:00

Maureen Reagan died of Malignant Melanoma when she was 60 years old. John McCain has already been diagnosed with "Stage II - Malignant Melanoma", and he's had Malignant Melanoma removed four times.

At least one physician describes the melanoma McCain continues to suffer from as "deep", which of course begs the question, "Are Lymph nodes involved? Were they removed?" And is John McCain currently suffering from Stage III or Stage IV cancer?

McCain suffers from a host of other physical disorders, including high blood pressure and problems with his kidneys. Thus, the status of his physical health is questionable and of considerable concern.

The "history" he provides himself - most notably at his Convention in August- September, 2008 - concerning his experience as a POW and being "broken" gives rise to the reasonable assumption that he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

So...is John McCain dying?
Crucially: Is John McCain Fit for Command?

John McCain we've recently learned is quite a gambler. According to one pundit/reporter, "his game is craps." He plays high risk. He calls this "being a Maverick"...and takes great pride in his impulsive (many have already said "erratic" and "reckless" and "nonsensical" and "ludicrous") decision-making style. Hence: Sarah Palin for Vice President.

McCain's behavior in the last ten days with regard to the Financials and the Real Economy prove up his ignorance of the subject generally, demonstrate his impaired capacity to critically analyze facts, evidence his gravely flawed judgment and give rise yet again to questions concerning his mental health and overall fitness for command.

Setting aside for the moment our assessment of John McCain as Unfit for Command, let us focus on the probability (The Gamble) that, if elected, John Sidney McCain will die in office; and, that Sarah Palin will become President. We the People must therefore know much, much more about Sarah Palin's views. We strongly urge Gwen Ifill to put to Governor Sarah Palin the following Questions:

Governor, How do you view the U.S. Constitution? Specifically, what is your understanding of Article II of the U.S. Constitution? Please respond with in as much detail as possible.

Please provide a comprehensive description of the Financial Foreign Policy you would pursue in a Palin Administration? Identify your Top Five domestic priorities in a Palin Administration?

How do you view the charge to and responsibilities and duties of the Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Justice? Of those Justices currently on the Federal Bench, whom do you most admire?

What is your understanding of Amendment 25 of the U.S. Constitution? What is your understanding of the First Amendment's "Establishment Clause"?

Meanwhile, it is absolutely imperative that We the People receive full and complete disclosure of John McCain's physical and mental health records.

Crisis Management

2008-09-25T22:23:00.002-06:00

Talk to the average American – mom or dad – in the grocery store check out line today and you’re likely to hear some confusion, and a whole lot of frustration. Out of a suit and tie, the “financials” behave – still – just like the “real economy” always has.

Politicians – especially the kind like John McCain who seemingly specialize in “crisis management” – have missed half of what average Americans really want. Dems talk about America’s Promise and the “Dream”, while Republicans rant about security and protection and smaller government. Entrepreneurs and salaried workers alike shake their heads in disgust as they swipe their credit cards in anger just to buy milk and bread and apples for the coming week. (Just before they swipe again for Gas.)

Yes, there’s frustration, and about twenty different moving targets for it. Listen to talk radio, and you can go mad with the incoherence of statements made by good-hearted men and women who are just trying to find some way to cope with their own helplessness, even panic. Keep listening, and you’ll be struck by the insight and prudence of Debtors working overtime in America. Sit around a kitchen table with a mom in Denver or a dad in Cleveland, a sister in Bakersville or a brother in Atlanta and my bet is you’d hear them all agree on this one point: “If I had more, I’d pay more….”

Setting aside for the moment Warren Buffet’s accurate characterization of Free-Market-Trickle-Down-Friedman/Reaganomics-America as a “Sharecropper’s Society”, and we can all agree that average Moms and Dads (hockey or otherwise) would all willingly pay balances in full if they had the cash. But we don’t. So, it’s pretty damn hard to understand how bankers and their corporate clients can get not just attention, but a full blown audience with the Congress and the President and both candidates for President when they claim the same damn thing.

Not enough cash? Not enough credit?
Weren’t we just told we were whining?
That thoughts of recession were “in our heads”?

So what gives?

Other than the average American mom or dad apparently getting effed again by “their own government”, what’s really going on in America this Friday?

What we learned years ago when we truly had no money at all were the First Rules in the basic set of rules followed by every banker in the land: 1) no money gets no loan (in other words: those who need cash will never be the one’s to get cash); 2) lots of money will always get a loan (in other words: those who need no cash will always be the ones to get cash); which leads us to 3) OPM: Other People’s Money will always be used by those who have cash to make more money: money loaned costs the Interest charged…and “Other People’s Money” will always be the cash deposited by those who have nothing from paycheck to paycheck but what they deposit from one month to the next…and loaned to those who don’t really need it. So…in the middle of swiping that credit card at the grocery store, and ponying up coupons for the milk and the bread and the apples, the average American mom or dad understands this: the “crisis” created by bankers and their corporate clients, the “whining” heard across the land about “frozen credit markets” and dire prognostications of “depression” is truly mental: the Richest among us – not one of them “average American moms and dads” – are throwing a tantrum about having to break their own Rules. To wit: their own cash can still get them loans, but OPM is costing far more than they are willing to pay (the interest rates of both the Fed and the LIBOR - London Interbank Overnight Rate - are far higher than they are willing to pay), and worse, placing their own money at risk is tantamount to blasphemy in their Houses of Worship of The Almighty Profit. What’s a banker or corporation to do? Don’t borrow and banks lose money. Borrow and lower Profits. Use your own money, and risk losing more than you’d pay for. Don’t use your own money and lose everything.

The “Crisis on Wall Street” feels to the average American more like just more of the same: that is, what we go through every night at the kitchen table. If we had more cash, we’d pay down more debt, buy more clothes for the kids, take in a movie, and set aside some for a new refrigerator. And if we had more cash, we could even get more credit.

The root of the problem we keep hearing is “greed”. And, asserted by some of the world’s greediest people. (Warren Buffet we all note has simply used his own cash to buy what the greediest have forsaken in their demands for Our People’s Money…the Taxpayer version of OPM).

The heart of the solution we hear nothing about is “service”: “To serve” straightforwardly means “to work for”. Government of the People, by the People, for the People is meant first of all to serve the People. This is our True North as a People: We the People do this, and we’ll be protected in both foreign and domestic affairs. It’s not more complicated than that, which is to say: Americans working for Americans. First. Americans working for Americans first in community. Americans working for Americans first building what We in community need: wells and reservoirs, family farms and roads and bridges and houses and schools, clinics and hospitals. We do this, and shops and businesses will thrive, too.

We do this, and Ego (and it’s Giant Twins Ambition and Greed) will become actual Forces for Good; service requires Energy and Direction. We do this and the “crisis management” style of “leadership” will be revealed to be the psychopathological response it is. We do this and We the People, organized around the work we do for one another in community, will thrive.

We do this and “rich” and “poor” are joined in a common task. We do this, and the fiscal and monetary decisions we make as a People will not just overcome the existing chasm between HAVES and HAVE-NOTS in America, but will insure today and tomorrow Economic Justice for All.

It’s just not much more complicated than that. Out of a suit and tie, spread out across the kitchen table, cash and credit behave the same. Only the costumes and disguises of people can make is appear to be something different. The truth is this: Americans across the board need help, help we can give to one another if we'll commit first to working for one another.

We need to create jobs for one another. Working to create new energy technologies and industries with one another. We need to create new roads and bridges with each other. We need to build new schools and hospitals together.

We need cash. We need credit. We need time.
And together, we can write and create laws to give each other all three.
Competing against each other, sure, there's a crisis.
Working Together, there is none.

"Money is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread about, encouraging young things to grow." Ephram Levi, from Hello, Dolly!

Sarah Palin Named as a "Prophet"

2008-09-21T20:55:00.002-06:00

Two significant points found in today's Vancouver SUN: Sarah Palin has been anointed a "Prophet" by J. Lee Grady, editor of the prominent Christian magazine, Charisma; and, apparently Sarah Palin knows - perhaps knows very well - Assemblies of God member and former Attorney General of the United States, John Ashcroft.

As a number of journalists have reported now, the speech Sarah Palin delivered at the RNC Convention had been written before she was chosen by McCain for the VP slot. But, then there's this nugget: by the end of July - weeks before McCain chose Palin to be his running mate - Bush DOJ Terrorism Lawyer Edward O'Callaghan left DOJ to join the McCain Team, and now is advising the attorney who represents Todd and Sarah Palin in the "TrooperGate" Investigation. And, when not so advising Palin private council, O'Callaghan is doing everything he possibly can to shutdown the TrooperGate Hearings and Investigation.

Anyone else confused by the timing here? As in: perhaps the speech was written long ago but, even then, specifically for Sarah Palin because - at least that long ago - she knew, even if McCain did not, that she would be named John McCain's running mate. And... therefore, legal counsel of the highest power (someone from Ashcroft's old DOJ) would be needed. Enter O'Callaghan.

Which leads us to ask: Which came first? The Prophet or the VP pick?

You, The Voter

2008-09-21T16:57:00.002-06:00

So, are you registered?

Are you sure? Check Here. While you're at it, you can request an Absentee Ballot or find out your Polling Place for Early Voting.

And, if it turns out you're not registered like you thought you were, you can do that, too.

Check It Out. And Pass It On!!

Are You a Constitution Voter?

2008-09-20T23:46:00.002-06:00

The idea of "America" is articulated first in our Constitution.

This election, we are voting on whether we're going to re-commit ourselves, as Citizens, to America, Her guarantees of our Freedoms and our responsibilities individually and as a People in exercising such Freedoms.

Will we renew our Commitment to America? Or, instead, re-affirm the violations of America and of all of Us - We the People - that the BushCheney regime has committed? The destruction of Habeas Corpus? Torture? Domestic Spying? Unlawful Taxation - indeed "taxation without representation" - in the form of "operating costs" that "fair trade" multi-national corporations incur every day, and then pass along to Us? The "privatization" of what once were municipally owned and operated utilities, including Water, Telephone, Gas and Electricity. The cost you pay to drive on roads and highways in the form of "tolls", traffic violations (including parking!), and motor vehicle registration. Oaths of Loyalty to the President, and not to the United States of America.

I could go on.
No doubt, you already have: Veterans Rights (Healthcare, Education, Compensation, more...) Heathcare, including Reproductive Healthcare, Privacy, including the Right to practice the Religion of your Choice, Education, Freedom of Speech without "zones" and with Unions....

....Here's the Issue: Are you a Constitution Voter? When it comes to your Citizenship as an American, is there anything else as important as The Constitution of the United States?

This year, we vote on America: not just "We the People", but The Idea of WE THE PEOPLE.

Are you For the idea of America?
Or Against?

Are you For the Experiment that is our imperfect Union?
Or Against?

Take a look again at the document that announces and protects your freedoms, and then consider TAKING THE PLEDGE that will be delivered to Candidates of all parties running in all races across the country:

I Am a Constitution Voter
* I believe that no one -- including the President -- is above the law.
* I oppose all forms of torture, and I support both closing the Guantánamo Bay prison and ending indefinite detention.
* I oppose warrantless spying.
* I believe that government officials, no matter how high-ranking, should be held accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution.
* I believe that the Constitution protects every person's rights equally -- no matter what they believe, how they live, where or if they worship, and whom they love.
* I reject the notion that we have to tolerate violations of our most fundamental rights in the name of fighting terrorism.
* I am deeply committed to the Constitution and expect our country's leaders to share and act on that commitment -- every day, without fail.

TAKE THE PLEDGE HERE and let your fellow Citizens know you're fighting for them in this way right now.

World's Citizens Call for Solutions to Global Financial Crisis

2008-09-19T09:32:00.003-06:00

Citizens of the World are coming together here to petition heads of state and government leaders around the world. They demand that the causes of the current financial instability across all financial markets be addressed; specifically, the elements of Debt and Risk, Transparency and Incentives. Facilitated by AVAAZ the Petition reads:

To European, US and world leaders:

We urge you to take a lead in fixing the fundamental flaws and loopholes which made the global financial crisis possible, including basic problems of debt and risk, incentives and transparency. We need you to work together to protect the public good by framing stronger rules for all parts of the global financial system. Be bold, and we will support you.

To Sign the Petition, go HERE. Links are available along with Address Book Tools to send invitations to your friends and family.

From WaPO Global: Post-American Capitalism?

2008-09-19T06:57:00.004-06:00

In his discussions with Ron Suskind, who wrote The Price of Loyalty, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill spoke compellingly of the role U.S. financial foreign policy plays in international relations generally, and specifically, as a tool of U.S. diplomacy. At least before March 19, 2003....

Mr. O'Neill, you'll recall, was fired from his post at Treasury by his old friend Dick Cheney (through, yes, George W. Bush) when he voiced his objections to the Tax Cuts dictated by the CheneyBush regime and another old friend, Alan Greenspan.

Now, as Wall Street melts like the Wicked Witch of the West herself, Dr. Ali Ettefagh and others comment on whether the model of American Capitalism has been destroyed as well.

Dr. Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. He is the co-author of several books on trade conflict, resolution of international trade disputes, conflicts in letters of credit, trade-related banking transactions, sovereign debt, arbitration and dispute resolutions and publications specific to the oil and gas, communication, aviation and finance sectors. Dr. Ettefagh is a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of The Development Foundation, an advisor to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and an advisor to a number of European companies. Dr. Ettefagh speaks Persian (Farsi), English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Turkish. He writes:

The American money machine became lost in the woods after the Cold War. It embarked on a new path as a rogue and insubordinate creature, ignoring the need to prepare for a rainy day and the potential for a downturn. It was a rogue missile out of control; a pyramid scheme of debt, with financial institutions charging fees for every misguided layer they added until they lost sight of what was happening at the foundation: bad loans being issued to people who could not afford them.

The system increasingly turned away from sound and balanced regulation and lobbied to set aside lessons learned from prior scandals. Eventually the hype turned into a self-perpetuating feeding frenzy. Suddenly, in a single day, there was no more bull. Merrill Lynch’s thundering herd was sold off at a bargain basement price (in an all-paper, no-cash deal) to Bank of America -- itself one of the struggling firm’s major creditors, and now relieved of the need to stand in the creditors’ line after Merrill’s potential bankruptcy. Lehman Brothers’s tough-talking rodeo steers went bankrupt with a spectacular bang and bounced payroll checks issued to its London employees the Friday before. Cowboy capitalists at AIG, America’s largest insurance company, were dialing for dollars from anyone that might have $70 billion or so to spare. All this as the New York Fed president and the Treasury Secretary (a former Wall Street man himself) were moonlighting as weekend "investment bankers" to stave off a total meltdown and a system-wide implosion. And the lawmakers? Well, they did their job long ago by junking regulations and laws that called for control and supervision after the Great Depression.

Lehman Brother’s bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch’s forced sale are not only devastating events for Wall Street, but also exemplary of a massive moral bankruptcy. Many thousands of employees and investors saw their savings, not to mention their jobs, evaporate. As at many Wall Street investment banks, every Lehman employee, from the most senior executive to the humblest secretary, received roughly half of her compensation in stock, which she were not allowed to convert to cash but could borrow against to buy homes. Many did, and now their collateral is worthless. Thousands are suddenly scrambling for work, struggling to pay for homes they bought when they thought they were rich. Investment banks are huge employers, and the demise of three in a year -- including Bear Stearns -- has left the New York finance world angry and considerably poorer. Other investors are helpless as they see their wealth ruined at an astonishing rate.

The lasting image of Wall Street's preceding systemic scandal, the insider-trading crimes of the mid-1980s and the collapse of Drexel, is that of a crying trader being led off the trading floor in handcuffs. Tears dribbled down onto his red suspenders as his peers looked on, with both pity and terror that they might be next. But those distant Gordon Gecko years, when punishment followed crime and when mightiest financiers went to prison, no longer guide the post-Enron mix of lobbies and crony capitalism. The financial sum of those scandals and the massive Resolution Trust Corporation loss of half a trillion dollars in the 1980s pale in comparison to the colossal heist committed against ordinary investors, taxpayers and foreign investors in these early years of the 21st century. This time around, the perpetrators are some of the world's biggest financial "institutions" and government-sponsored entities, all unaccountable in a void of supervisory regulation. Alas, the top executives walk away with bonuses as they shrug off the very collapsed system that they created.

So, where are the handcuffs, the trials and the plea bargains for a few months at a "Club Fed" prison? Can someone please remind me what happened to accountability, fiduciary responsibility and due and proper care for other people’s money? One has to assume that in this collapsed house of cards the meltdown goes beyond mere mismanagement. It has passed the point where incompetence has converged with criminal behavior. But where is the regulator? Is he just a toothless, brainless sock puppet busy yelling, "Drill, baby, drill"?

It is astonishing to observe from abroad that the punishment is so severe for ordinary American citizens who default on their taxes, but that reckless financiers, who set the banking system on fire and cost those taxpayers billions, can walk away just marginally poorer. Some of these executives assured us that their businesses were sound, then turned around and trawled for hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds for an immediate rescue as they held the entire financial system hostage. How can they not be guilty of a crime? And how could such greedy behavior, which has endangered both their employees and duped millions of people into trusting their bull trademark, serve as a model for long-term financial security or lead others?

The rest of the world will be a close observer of this fiasco. We will ponder whether the perpetrators will face a more severe judge than mere market forces. Until then, the more cautious and conservative are bound to stay away from taking risks on a model that is light on regulatory structure and independent supervision, but long on hypocrisy. That model that has lost its way and lost face for its home country.

From Hungry, Miklos Vamos, novelist, screenwriter and talk show host, writes:

Here in Hungary, modern capitalism began in 1990. An earlier capitalist period in the early 20th century ended when the Soviet Union forcibly introduced socialism.

American-style capitalism was not a useful model during that first period; what we had was closer to slightly industrialized feudalism. After all, America was really far away, across a continent and then an ocean; how could we aspire to its ideals? When the modern period began the American style was no model, either; the country was too poor to even hope to achieve a similar kind of success. Now, believe it or not, the gap between our two economic system is even wider.

For small banks in other parts of the world, news of Wall Street companies in crisis inspires more of a feeling of gloating. Small banks and other financial institutions live in a permanent danger of insolvency or bankruptcy; to see the big ones in trouble is a comforting sensation.

It's not the American model of capitalism that we envy here; it's American democracy. That's the model to which our young and fragile democracy should aspire.

I think it was the American model of democracy that was envied and should be modeled. The Hungarian democracy is young and fragile.

Mr. Vamos is one of the most read and respected writers in his native Hungary. He has taught at Yale University on a Fulbright fellowship, served as The Nation’s East European correspondent, worked as consultant on the Oscar-winning film Mephisto, and presented Hungary’s most-watched cultural television show. Vámos has received numerous awards for his plays, screenplays, novels and short stories, including the Hungarian Merit Award for lifetime achievement. The Book of Fathers is considered his most accomplished novel and has sold 200,000 copies in Hungary.

Several commentators have asserted that should John McCain be elected President, former Senator Phil Gramm - author of the Enron Loophole and other deregulatory legislation - would become Treasury Secretary. I've not yet heard or read any rumors about who McCain might try to appoint to State, but we should all assume that Team McCain now would be Team McCain upon election, and that, in the words of Sarah "Lipstick" Palin herself would place America in an even greater "world of hurt"....

The Palin/Hannity Interview - Part I

2008-09-18T21:13:00.002-06:00

My assumption - always my assumption - is this: When possible the interview is scripted. At least "open book". The best interviews are the ones who make it all look spontaneous.... So, here is Sarah (her signature as Governor, by the way is "Sarah"...just Sarah. Like Cher. Or Madonna....) being a Parrot. Unfortunate.

In this much more friendly environment, her demeanor and body language are far more authoritative - if you're pursuaded by a kind of Going-for-the-Yellow-"Trivial Pursuit"-Answer kind of way - than it was with "Charlie" (note: she never once in this calls Sean Hannity, "Sean").

But as a Parrot, its clear that she has absolutely no comprehension of what she's repeating. There's no discussion of Friedman Economics. No discussion of Free Market Policies. Not even a reference. No discussion of the history of regulation and regulatory agencies in the US in 1933. Not even a whisper. No discussion of Capitalism's Free Enterprise and the Robber Barons at the turn of the century (the 19th). Sarah sticks to her script (and Sean does, too). One begins to wonder how many "AttaGirls" (and Boys) they're both working for here....

There is not one specific fact or statement of intent in this entire six minute plus presentation. Not one. McCain may dislike Mitt Romney but at least Mitt Romney has some understanding of Credit Derivatives. Oh, and FreddieMac and FannieMae. (It would be too much to expect anyone to ask or answer questions about the relationship between AIG's former CEO Hank Greenberg, a Bush "Pioneer", McCain supporter, close friend of Henry Kissinger, and probably not Eliot Spitzer's Number One Fan...and Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, the House most closely associated with Big Oil...and this little tidbit I found over at RNC Blog:

As of March 16, 2007, AIG Investments, a division of AIG, completed the purchase of 100% of the stock of P&O Ports North America from Dubai-based DP World.

Which is confirmed here.

Stay tuned. The more we talk about the Economy, the more we will talk about...politics.

Here's....Sarah! See what you think:

Alaska Women Rally AGAINST Palin [UPDATED]

2008-09-18T14:25:00.003-06:00

On or about September 13, 2008, Alaskan Women rallied against Sarah Palin:

Today, Team McCain announced that Palin's scheduled swing through a series of California Fundraisers has been canceled and rejected the assertion that the scheduling change had occurred because McCain-Palin continues to trail Obama-Biden in the state by 16 points.

In the wake of McCain's own intentional snub of Spain today, what I'm wondering is this: Could there be a move afoot to derail the entire GOP Ticket? And if so, how would they replace McCain-Palin and still comply with FEC and other controlling Rules and Statutes?

UPDATE No. 1: Seattle Times is now reporting that Palin has canceled her trip to Seattle next week.

"Wake UP, America!!"

2008-09-15T13:07:00.004-06:00

For Eight Years, the Pirates among us have lived by Their Code: Take What you Can, Give Nothin' Back.

This is not Our Code, not America's Code.

We know this.
And yet, many Americans have been asleep.
Wake up, America!

Today, Wall Street encountered Karma. Pirates smelled The Cracken. Treasures of all kinds - Oil and Gas and OPM, even Promises of "Security", insurance and "safety" - were cursed.

Many Americans began waking up today: 401K Funds, Mutual Funds, Pensions, College Funds, even Trusts - "conservatively invested monies" - all lost value today. From Richistan to "middle class", from "comfortable" to getting by, from employed to food stamps, from healthy to dying: "Wake Up, America!

Fellow Citizens, Brothers and Sisters, The Honorable Dennis Kucinich, Congressman (D), 10th District - Cleveland, Lakewood, Parma - Ohio:

And the Barn burned down. Peter Finch could not have delivered it any better.

The McCain Supreme Court

2008-09-15T06:57:00.002-06:00

Friends of Nino Scalia will be nominated and appointed, unless we elect a veto-proof Democratic Majority in the U.S. Senate. What does this mean? Allow me to explain.

When Antonin Scalia was interviewed by Lesley Stahl, he explained his "judicial philosophy" which he calls "Originalism" (and others of us may accurately term "Orthodoxy"):

Asked what's wrong with the living Constitution, Scalia tells Stahl, "What's wrong with it is, it's wonderful imagery and it puts me on the defensive as defending presumably a dead Constitution."

"It is an enduring Constitution that I want to defend," he says.

"But what you're saying is, let's try to figure out the mindset of people back 200 years ago? Right?" Stahl asks.

"Well, it isn't the mindset. It's what did the words mean to the people who ratified the Bill of Rights or who ratified the Constitution," Scalia says.

"As opposed to what people today think it means," Stahl asks.

"As opposed to what people today would like," Scalia says.

"But you do admit that values change? We do adapt. We move," Stahl asks.

"That's fine. And so do laws change. Because values change, legislatures abolish the death penalty, permit same-sex marriage if they want, abolish laws against homosexual conduct. That's how the change in a society occurs. Society doesn't change through a Constitution," Scalia argues.

Now, compare the language Jeffrey Toobin reads from McCain's speech with regard to "democratic change" and that of Antonin Scalia, in his remarks to students at Oxford:

I'm not saying no progress. I'm saying we should progress democratically," Scalia says.

Back at the Oxford Union, Scalia told the students, "You think there ought to be a right to abortion? No problem. The Constitution says nothing about it. Create it the way most rights are created in a democratic society. Pass a law. And that law, unlike a Constitutional right to abortion created by a court can compromise. It can…I was going to say it can split the baby! I should not use… A Constitution is not meant to facilitate change. It is meant to impede change, to make it difficult to change."

Anyone been in a non-Jesuit Roman Catholic Church lately? Talked to a priest? Or an Archbishop about "change" and "progress"? Questioning the Magesterium? Try it. You'll probably here something quite similar to what Nino says about "change"....

John McCain intends to appoint Nino's choices to the Court so Nino won't feel bad anymore at the end of Term (remember, it was Nino who insured that Bush was selected to the Presidency of the United States...they both - McCain and Scalia - have a lot at stake here...and Nino hunts, too...do you suppose he and Sarah and Cheney have been in a Blind together?). Here's Nino talking about his despair while on The Court: "You’ve apparently had some down times in your tenure on the court so far. And I’m pointing to the term of 1995-96 when you wrote to former Justice Blackmun at the time, and here's what you said: 'I am more discouraged than I have been at the end of any of my previous nine terms.' You also wrote that you were beginning to repeat yourself, and you did not see much 'use in it anymore,'" Stahl remarks.

"Gee, I hadn’t remembered that I’d written it," Scalia says.

"It says, 'I am beginning to repeat myself,'" Stahl says.

"That's true. That is something that gives me some concern. I mean after a while, you know, I’m saying the same things in today’s dissent that I said in a dissent 20 years ago," Scalia explains.

"Around that same time you wrote, 'The court must be living in another world. Day by day, case by case it is busy designing a Constitution for a country I don't recognize,'" Stahl says.

"Yeah. That's how I felt," Scalia says.

"Past?" Stahl asks.

"It’s been less dire in more recent years," Scalia replies.

"In other words, you’ve had down times," Stahl asks.

"Yeah, I think so. I’m happier sometimes than at other times. And the end of a term, I don’t care what term it is, it’s usually a disappointment," Scalia says.

That's because - until recently - he was often on the losing side in cases he cared about most. Over the last several years Scalia has reached outside the court, speaking out publicly about his philosophy, in hopes of influencing the next generation. It’s a role he relishes.
More to the point, and ever so more importantly: McCain will appoint Nino's friends to satisfy the far Right, reactionary wing of the Republican Party, including the Council for National Policy and its members.

Jeffrey Toobin reads a second excerpt from McCain's May 6, 2008 Address that is also written in Nino's voice, for it was he who authored a Dissenting Opinion in the Simmons case in which he excoriated Kennedy and the Majority for, in part, citing International Law, the Constitutions of other Nations, and the reliance of Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria and China (among other nations) to execute individuals, including children, as "punishment".

The make-up of The Supreme Court for the next two generations at least, and possibly even four, will be decided in this Election. It's impossible to over-emphasize how important this is to our nation, to our Union. The Council for National Policy wants to impose its "Culture of Life" worldview upon all of America: children and wolves may be executed, but human blastocysts may not; a human being is priceless before it's born, but a young girl may be violently abused - raped - and forced to complete her pregnancy; we are to "respect life", but species endangered by Capitalistic endeavors may be extinguished from the face of the earth. In a word: a Theocracy: the abolition of the separation of Church and State, and supremacy of Divine Law. In the process of achieving this goal, Roe v. Wade will be overturned, along with Roper v. Simmons.

On The View last week, Whoopi Goldberg asked John McCain if she had to be worried about being returned to slavery...McCain laughed, said she had a good point, and then said, "No." But, he won't be on the court, will he? And he certainly can't discuss the dynamic tension that existed - and should now - between the three co-equal branches of government as the civil rights movement was born...and cases involving the Commerce Clause were decided by The Court.

When we cast our votes this year, let's consider ALL that's is at stake, and not just whether the candidates are "just like us and all of our friends...."

Morning Notes

2008-09-15T05:57:00.002-06:00

So McCain-Palin is playing so-called "Victim Card" (when did we get all these "cards" anyway?")

She's a victim of "sexism" (that is, anyone who dares question her credentials, competence, experience or references) and "intellectuals" (anyone smarter than she is) and "haters" (anyone who disagrees with her).

Meanwhile, he's the victim of being a POW: most recently the asserted "reason" he doesn't "do emails".

Gloria Steinem said this: she's Phyllis Schlafly, only younger. And, I will say this: each of these women, Steinem, Schlafly and now Palin, have become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams asserting, selling and using the tenets of their Feminist/Anti-Feminist worldview as weapons and defenses, never quite getting to the issue of Economic Justice, which in this election, is the Touchstone. Which is to say: Economic Justice - the kind you can measure, the kind you can count, the kind you take to the Bank, and leave with, too. For All: Americans who work and right now, today, are taking home less than they did in 1999. Americans who are in Foreclosure because the Mortgage Banker they dealt with sold them a note at the highest interest rate he or she could find. Because they weren't "educated". Because they weren't white.

Obama/Biden begin to achieve Economic Justice by assessing the opportunity costs of the Iraq War/War on Terrorism, and begin repairing our economy with infusions of capital to Americans who are working and mothering and partnering and parenting: Tax Cuts: $1000, for some 90% of all of Us. (Yes, wealthy Americans: your taxes will return to pre-Bush/Cheney levels.)

And, at least one POW, Phillip Butler, asserts that John McCain is not fit for command, and not because McCain "can't do emails because of his POW injuries" and apparently refuses to use his wealth and station as a United States Senator to investigate and obtain voice recognition software and other IT assists that would allow him to email:

I have great compassion for McCain and Palin as individuals. As candidates running for the highest offices of the land, however, I'd like them both to "...get off The Cross...." We really do need the wood.

Enough is Bloody Enough

2008-09-14T21:17:00.002-06:00

The difference between Sarah Palin and George W. Bush?

Lipstick.

She hires cronies, fires dissidents. She's worked for the "working people", and used sleight of hand in government accounting. She cut property taxes, and raised sales taxes. She didn't "tax and spend": she borrowed and spent, leaving Wasilla for the first time in debt. To the tune of $22 Million USD.

She Lies.

She governs in secrecy, and holds above all else, Loyalty. She uses Email accounts to hide what she does not want the "working people" to see.

She Lies.

She takes revenge, conducts vendettas. Acts as if she is above and beyond the Rule of Law.

She's an "Alexan":

In the past three decades, socially conservative Oklahomans and Texans have flocked north to the oil fields of Alaska. They filled evangelical churches around Wasilla and revived the Republican Party. Many of these working-class residents formed the electoral backbone for Ms. Palin, who ran for mayor on a platform of gun rights, opposition to abortion and the ouster of the “complacent” old guard.

She takes care of her "base":

The new mayor also tended carefully to her evangelical base. She appointed a pastor to the town planning board. And she began to eye the library. For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral.

“People would bring books back censored,” recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. “Pages would get marked up or torn out.”

Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship.

She Lies.

She is absolutely part of "the old boy network": she raised money for Senator Ted Stevens, she's not just accepted, but hired Lobbyists to obtain Ear Marks.

She Lies. And she hates The Media:

Ms. Palin discovered that the state Republican leader, Randy Ruedrich, a commission member, was conducting party business on state time and favoring regulated companies. When Mr. Murkowski failed to act on her complaints, she quit and went public.

The Republican establishment shunned her. But her break with the gentlemen’s club of oil producers and political power catapulted her into the public eye.

“She was honest and forthright,” said Jay Kerttula, a former Democratic state senator from Palmer.

Ms. Palin entered the 2006 primary for governor as a formidable candidate.

In the middle of the primary, a conservative columnist in the state, Paul Jenkins, unearthed e-mail messages showing that Ms. Palin had conducted campaign business from the mayor’s office. Ms. Palin handled the crisis with a street fighter’s guile.

“I told her it looks like she did the same thing that Randy Ruedrich did,” Mr. Jenkins recalled. “And she said, ‘Yeah, what I did was wrong.’ ”

Mr. Jenkins hung up and decided to forgo writing about it. His phone rang soon after.

Mr. Jenkins said a reporter from Fairbanks, reading from a Palin news release, demanded to know why he was “smearing” her. “Now I look at her and think: ‘Man, you’re slick,’ ” he said.

She Lies. And, she grandstands:

Not deeply versed in policy, Ms. Palin skipped some candidate forums; at others, she flipped through hand-written, color-coded index cards strategically placed behind her nameplate.

Before one forum, Mr. Halcro said he saw aides shovel reports at Ms. Palin as she crammed. Her showman’s instincts rarely failed. She put the pile of reports on the lectern. Asked what she would do about health care policy, she patted the stack and said she would find an answer in the pile of solutions.

“She was fresh, and she was tomorrow,” said Michael Carey, a former editorial page editor for The Anchorage Daily News. “She just floated along like Mary Poppins.”

And, she's never been in the National Spotlight before. She knows nothing about economic issues; she failed to tell Charlie Gibson anything coherent about the economy in general, and she failed to identify three things she would "reform" when she became Vice President.

She knows nothing about international relations, foreign affairs, international law or global economics. She "believes" "seeing" is "knowing", as in, "I can see Russia from my house...."

And, she lies.

She claims "privacy" for herself and her family, "choice" for her daughter and herself, but would - in a heartbeat - deny Privacy and Choice to any other family, any other woman, any other daughter when it comes to the most intimate, the most private, the most sacred questions of all.

She frequently is out of the office, unavailable to conduct business:

Many lawmakers contend that Ms. Palin is overly reliant on a small inner circle that leaves her isolated. Democrats and Republicans alike describe her as often missing in action. Since taking office in 2007, Ms. Palin has spent 312 nights at her Wasilla home, some 600 miles to the north of the governor’s mansion in Juneau, records show.

During the last legislative session, some lawmakers became so frustrated with her absences that they took to wearing “Where’s Sarah?” pins. Many politicians say they typically learn of her initiatives — and vetoes — from news releases.

Mayors across the state, from the larger cities to tiny municipalities along the southeastern fiords, are even more frustrated. Often, their letters go unanswered and their pleas ignored, records and interviews show.

Last summer, Mayor Mark Begich of Anchorage, a Democrat, pressed Ms. Palin to meet with him because the state had failed to deliver money needed to operate city traffic lights. At one point, records show, state officials told him to just turn off a dozen of them. Ms. Palin agreed to meet with Mr. Begich when he threatened to go public with his anger, according to city officials.

At an Alaska Municipal League gathering in Juneau in January, mayors across the political spectrum swapped stories of the governor’s remoteness. How many of you, someone asked, have tried to meet with her? Every hand went up, recalled Mayor Fred Shields of Haines Borough. And how many met with her? Just a few hands rose. Ms. Palin soon walked in, delivered a few remarks and left for an anti-abortion rally.

This week, Paul Krugman trenchantly observed that the way McCain-Palin are campaigning, one Lie after another, over and over and over again, foreshadows the way McCain-Palin would govern. But, as the Truth outs about how Sarah Palin has governed in Alaska and how she's Lied all on her own, and as the Truth outs about John McCain, and how he's lied his entire life, what becomes clear is this: Bush/Cheney and the Delay/Frist - Boehner/McConnell Congress and the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts have laid the predicate and precedents for absolute impunity and immunity for all Loyalists. No one, regardless of crime or violation, will ever be held to account. The goal of destruction of government set forth by Grover Norquist, the Council for National Policy and others, has been achieved.

There are over 305 million people living in the United States. The world, according to Financial Times is entering a global recession. Just read that paper for the last week.....

Only a civil government - one hopes for a democratic government - is large enough to serve and protect, to provide basic services to and to care for those "least among us". To wage Peace on our behalf. And even, when necessary, to employ us.

The "change" we can believe is not "reform" that is brought to the nation's capital by another two "products" well-packaged and marketed to us by direct mail specialists. We don't need, Mel Brooks might say, "...no stinkin' 'Mavericks'!"

The Change we can Believe in is US: Ourselves: WE the People.

So has Barack Obama said on the campaign trail. So Barack Obama said so many years ago on the South Side of Chicago. We are, right now, in this campaign with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, restoring Our Government to be in Service to Us all. Equally. Without discrimination because of race, color, class, creed, poverty or wealth, disability, sexual orientation or age. To heal this nation.

It's About Us.
You.
We need only each other: to compete against, surely, to achieve some of our best outcomes and inspire even more, and to cooperate with just as surely, to insure that we will bring out some of our best work, our best creativity, our enduring Hope. Both competition and cooperation to bring out our best selves, the best of who we are as a People.

It's up to Us.
The Government we create together for us all can do this all.
Those who are indebted, even now, to Bush/Cheney and Delay/Frist, Rehnquist/Roberts and even Boehner/McConnell, that is, McCain/Palin, Can Not.

We are the Change we can Believe in.
We can do this.
The difference between Them and Us?
Way more that Lipstick: Us. And a little thing called The Constitution.
No one like us: Us.
No Pitbulls or Mavericks or some other animal; no stereotyped "mom" or pigeon-holed dad; no BBQ eating, beer drinking, latte-sipping, brush-clearing, duck hunting, moose murderin, lipstick wearing, POW-9/11 surviving man or woman. Nope: Just Us: We ARE the People. Americans. And: according to the Law of the Land, Our Constitution, We Are the Government. Not Them.

We ARE doing this.
Keep going. Don't Stop.
Keep going. Don't Believe the Lies.
Keep going: only we can save ourselves from what today we are all facing.

The Laughingstock Reveals He Who Is Unfit for Command

2008-09-14T14:44:00.002-06:00

This is, without question, Comic Genius:

Seriously: only a man unfit for command - and man who will be more probably dead in four years than alive - would choose an individual so obviously unqualified and incompetent to be his Vice-President. That, or the Cabal - being too clever by half - has yet again pulled its own Curtain away from its undisclosed location, to reveal its inner workings, decision-making, and true control and puppeteering of those it selects as its "Face".

The Truth will always out.

Vote: Divine Law or Rule of Law? [UPDATED with Links Re: CNP]

2008-09-08T23:55:00.004-06:00

Short and sweet (this is your clue), a Two Part Question (Essay, Open Book):

1) Which is supreme in the United States of America, “Divine Law” (also known as “Natural Law”) written by God, or some other Higher Power OR the “Rule of Law” written by human beings? AND 2) Why is the First Part of this Question irrelevant in the United States? Or, is it, and Why?

Time’s up.

Answers: Supremacy of any code of laws – regardless of alleged or believed author - in the United States of America is irrelevant in theory because of the Constitutionally mandated separation of religious doctrine and/or dogma from the laws of the several States and the Union itself; however, because of attacks on this “wall” separating the practice of various religions and our governments, the question of supremacy is now being overtly and covertly debated in our current Presidential and General Election campaigns. Those who deny this do so at their own peril.

Sinclair Lewis wrote that when Fascism came to America, it would do so wrapped in the Flag, carrying the Cross. Ladies and Gentlemen: The Warrior, John Sidney McCain, and The Cross, Sarah Louise Heath Palin.

They’ve been planning this for -- well, let’s just guesstimate, and say since the Scopes trial. Not McCain and Palin, per se, but those they represent, those who control them now. This could include any one or any group among Fundamentalist Christians across the country, such as James Dobson, even Ted Haggard, New Life Church congregants, Bob Hagee, Pastors Parsley and Osteen...members of the National Evangelical Association, anyone associated with Doug Coe, members of The Family, The Council for National Policy. Businessmen and Businesswomen. Advocates and devotees of Friedman Free Market Capitalism. Globalization's disciples. (More here on the Council for National Policy and it's vetting of Sarah Palin during their meeting in Minneapolis just before the RNC Convention; background on CNP here, including Membership Directories.)

As for timing, it could easily have been years before the Scopes trial, around the signing of the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. The one before Thomas Jefferson made it back from France, raised seven kinds of hell, and insisted upon, among the other nine, the First Amendment: the one that tells the Roman and Greek Churches that their respective Teachings, the Magesterium itself, will be held in respect, but without meaning in the affairs of State in the United States. Ditto: The Ten Commandments and The Talmud, Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and Eightfold-Path, Hinduism’s Vedas and Upanishads. Ditto, Too: Mythologies of the Druids and Wiccans, prohibitions and commandments of the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Including even just made up stuff. In fact: All religious practices, rituals, dogmas. All religious beliefs.

Men and women in the United States – none Divine, but all equal before the laws written by men and women - shall be accorded the due process and the equal protection of its Laws. And “Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

But of course, “Nothing,” as an old partner of mine used to say, “…is ever simple.” We all need to keep this mind. God knows – if there is a Higher Power of this appellation – many, many of us over the years of our nation’s history have not. If you wish to, you can read the case law (try FindLaw, or the Supreme Court itself), essays (any Law School), scholarly articles (any Law Review, professional magazine or quarterly)…heck: just use “The Google”. For some of us, it is nothing less than compelling reading, enduringly enlightening about how we think and believe and move through our days and nights, a grim and haunting series of pictures of what injury We the People can cause when we miss the marks of our Citizenship and abridge the Freedom of our fellow Citizens, even as we assert the Freedom to exercise our own.

Lesson? A Question: Is Freedom ever absolute?

Most times, wiser fools that we have said that folks get along when they offer one another respect for their views, no matter how different they may be. And that goes for the listening as well as the telling, in the silence as well as the speech.

But of course most times like that happen only with a whole lot of practice. And even wiser fools than we can speak out of turn, listen when they could have spoken.

Freedom: Does it require Practice? And, when we fail in our society to do our part as Citizens, just how do you view the Rule of Law we have – written by men and women – in our nation of Laws – not a nation of men and women – to guide us back to Balance? Back to governance?

In theory, it is The Rule of Law by which we govern ourselves: a government of The People, created by The People, for The People as first outlined in our Constitution.

Sounds more than good in theory. Works better than well in practice, provided everyone agrees upon the Code of Laws that control, that will decide and do govern us, in all of our relationships.

Here’s the rub, on this 8th day of September, 2008: that agreement upon the governing Code of Laws is dangerously eroded; indeed, there are forces at work in our society, in our relationships, that are quite committed to destroying not only the agreement we did have, but to asserting the supremacy of God’s Law upon all Citizens of the United States of America.

Witness the Platform of the Republican Party, and the views and opinions – as known on this date - of the Republican candidate running for President and his running mate: every single issue triggers the debate framed in "The Essay Test" above. The Republican Party and its Candidates answer their "Essay Question" with overt and covert assertions of the supremacy of Divine Law. Period. And necessarily, the repeal of any separation – wall or line or thought – between Church and State.

Briefly, let’s take a look at a short list of issues (you can add your own as we go along), and ask: Divine Law? Rule of Law? Separation of church and state?

Healthcare and Reproductive Healthcare: I truly don’t mean to be flip here, but this is what I understand from the Republican Party and John McCain and Sarah Palin: Before you are born, you are priceless; after you’re born, you’re worthless, until you prove your worth. This is so because God has commanded it.

Life Begins at Conception. Period. God’s Law.

To use birth control of any kind is a sin against God – at least one church’s teaching, that of the Roman Catholic Church, and one followed by the Bush Administration: those forms of Birth Control that actually prevent implantation of the blastocyst in the uterine wall are forms of Abortion. God’s Law is supreme, and no one – no man, no woman, no child – may violate God’s Law without Punishment.

Termination of a pregnancy – a medical procedure – is tantamount to murder of a human being, whose life began at conception. This is the teaching of a number of Orthodox Christian churches and Fellowships, as per the Word or Commandments of God. Thus, God’s Law, and not the Rule of law written by men and women, controls.

To receive healthcare is to participate in The Marketplace: one purchases the Services of a Professional who is engaged in the Business of providing medical care. Thus, to receive Healthcare, one must prove himself or herself worthy of such care by “earning the right” through earning the Dollars necessary to pay for the Services Rendered. The discipline of hard work and the fruit of one’s labor is a prerequisite to receiving the Blessings and Grace of God through The Market. The Economic System known as Capitalism facilely complements the teachings of Orthodox Christianity in this specific segment of The Marketplace: those who are worthy will receive care, those who are not, will not. The Free Market corrects, controls and solves all problems of society in alignment with the Commandments of God and Teachings of Jesus.

Environment and Energy God gave Adam dominion over all the Earth’s creatures. Christianity and Judaism both proffer this Teaching. Capitalism allows man to exercise this dominance to serve his own needs and to create The Free Market Society. Dominance is the hallmark of man in relation to the earth. Competition is the hallmark of The Free Market Society, which in turn allows any player and his or her business organization to demonstrate dominance in the economy. Dominance is Success. Success is measured in Dollars. Worth of an indvidual corresponds to the number of Dollars earned. Period.

“Global Warming” is a lie created by misguided, faithless people (often Liberals). Climate Change just part of the natural cycle of the earth, but because a new and profitable Market can be created out of the misguided population’s demand for “reversal of Global Warming”, various new trading systems and agreements can be established, including, for example, Cap and Trade Systems, that will first and foremost do nothing to harm other segments of our current Free Market Society.

The Energy Markets are an enormously profitable and powerful segment of the Free Market Society, all of which demonstrate dominance and control over various products, but especially commodities, including Oil, Natural Gas, Metals, Salts, and even Water. Those who participate in these Markets are particularly worthy in the eyes of God because of their successful dominion over the earth as measured by Profitability. Oil and Natural Gas Markets, crucial as they are to our Freedom and correlative standards of living in the U.S., must be protected from baseless regulation and laws, taxes, fees and other forms of legalized theft. Water – “Blue Gold” – is the newest commodity entering The Free Market, and all efforts at privatizing water must be supported.

Education God’s Laws and the Theory of Intelligent Design – also known as Creationism – must be taught in our public schools. The Scopes Trial decision was wrong, as a matter of God’s Law.

Children, too young to prove their worth in The Free Market – must be accorded the opportunity to so prove in their Education. Thus, schools must be privatized through a Voucher System, so as to allow parents to decide what school their child will attend, and to afford their child the best opportunity to prove his or her worth as a Citizen. Besides, schools and teachers are best when they compete in the Education Market.

The Economy Citizens are Children of God, Sinners saved by Jesus Christ. Hard Work is the hallmark of the humble man (or woman) saved by Jesus from sin. The Free Market is man’s creation, born of his Free Will – His Freedom – the greatest gift he can receive from Almighty God.

The Free Market is inspired by God through his creation, Man, and therefore, should never be regulated or abridged by any force, source or law. The Free Market evidences Man’s Freedom and his Worth. Every individual may compete for his or her life and liberty in The Market; it is in the Market that every individual may pursue happiness.

Reform of Government The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both inspired by God and are informed by Divine Law. Our government must be as small as possible so as to not compete with either God’s Law, or with The Free Market Society. As many agencies of our government as possible must be shuttered. The work of destroying our government must continue in this way, along with demonstrated incompetence by more of God’s Warriors, our fellow Republicans. As we achieve this goal, we can further integrate Faith Based organizations to meet the needs of worthy Children of God.

Foreign Policy No country but the United States of America was created by God Almighty. Our Freedom is God’s Gift to all of us as Children of God. No country but America can demonstrate true democracy and its freedoms – especially The Free Market Society – and only America can export true freedom, including the Laws of God, to other countries. As in Iraq, this is our Task from God.

The List goes on, of course. Some subjects you may think do not fit as well, others very well. But that's it for today's Class. Check out the RNC Platform. Check out Sarah Palin’s known Beliefs and Views. Check out John McCain’s website. You may find issues you hadn’t considered are clearly being governed by the RNC/McCain/Palin understanding of Divine Law’s Supremacy, while others not listed here, such as Judicial Philosophy are so clearly governed by this belief as to warrant little discussion.

The point? Clearly, a Question:

What Kind of America Do You Want? A democracy? Or a theocracy? A society in which the economies serve the citizens? Or a society in which the citizens work for the economy? A wall between Church and State? Governance of men and women by the Rule of Law written by men and women? Or a declaration of Divine Law as the Supreme Law of the land?

Due November 4: Your Vote.

The Alleged |"9/11 Tribute"

2008-09-04T18:45:00.001-06:00

Never should have been shown. Indeed.

Thank you, Keith.

Markets: The Palin Plummet?

2008-09-04T16:59:00.002-06:00

The US Markets plummeted today, the DOW closing down 2.99% to 11188, the S&P down 3% and the NASdaq down 3.2%; this, after the third night of Republicans singing paeans - almost literally - to John McCain's character, and nary a word about the economy.

Only Fred Thompson, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman have discussed dollars without sense, the first to sarcastically say, "Listening to the Democrats, you'd think we were in the Great Depression!, and the second and third to maddeningly intone the Capitalistic Catechism of "hard work" and "opportunity" of "individuals" in a "great country" (and never mentioning their own personal experiences with business and/or managerial failure or firing).

Today, while CNBC tagged the cause of the plummet as "initial jobless reports", and another 33,000 jobs lost, FT's lede covered projected losses at American Express and Capitol One because of rising defaults. Additionally, back to school retail sales? Lower than expected.

This, of course, is Kitchen Table Economics: will we pay American Express this month or the mortgage? School shoes or supplies? The Electrical Bill or part of Capital One? And groceries? Wait...what about gas? The character of Americans is surely being tested by country run by Republicans. Let's not forget that The United States Senate only appears to be controlled by Dems because that infamous former Democrat, Republican Convention Keynote Speaker, Joe Lieberman (I-CT), caucuses with the Dems; practically speaking, he almost always votes with the Republicans on national security issues, and where he doesn't, say on a few of those social issues, Republicans have filibustered their way to blocking Democrat sponsored legislation.

So how does this all connect to Palin? Caveat Emptor. And right now, everyone's assessing the new product called "Palin".

Note well.
More in my next.

Reviews and Notes

2008-09-04T02:04:00.004-06:00

First, who owns AP? Editor and Publisher notes its growing bias here.

In Detroit, of eleven on a Free Press Voter Panel eight say "NO" to Palin, while, not surprisingly, the resounding chorus over at Rupert Murdoch's "Wall Street" Journal was pro-Palin. Comments at WaPo, at this hour are mixed.

Tellingly: The Financials are in the crapper at this writing, the DOW down nearly 250, with the S&P down nearly 25 and the NASdaq down almost 50.

Required Reading continues to be Palinguage over at That Minority Thing as readers offer numerous comments of with and perspicuity.

Mediating Worldviews at the Kitchen Table

2008-09-04T01:06:00.000-06:00

By now, we should be used to the Propaganda Twist perfected by Karl Rove et al.: use every media outlet available to publish repeatedly your own “Talking Points”. This afternoon, Carly Fiorina, Marcia Blackburn and a host of other lieutenants for the GOP fanned out through St. Paul to announce dispositively that everything swirling around Sarah Palin, especially the rumors concerning her vetting, all of that, "...is the Media's Fault! "And!" - foot-stamping across the Great Plains could be heard here - "We're NOT gonna take it anymore!!" (Anyone for a "gosh-darn-it!" here?)

Inane. Before Karl Rove, before Lee Atwood, inquiry into background, experience, credentials and references was part of the cross-examination that is the Campaign for President. Only since the unbridled use of Propaganda have questions about a person's credentials been irrelevant to "the issues".

But code has always been used to discriminate against those not part of what the late, great George Carlin incisively called "The Big Club"...and most of us are not part of it. Remember: This is all a Puppet Show...the Puppeteers are writing the scripts for everyone involved in this 2008 Republican Convention.

It's safe to say the Puppeteer Pirates never expected Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination for President. Based on reporting to date, it's also safe to say that John McCain didn't speak for the campaign - yet again - when he called Sarah Palin and told her she was his pick. But, the Puppeteers own the Media, and with this megaphone in hand, they can adapt - quite obviously - in a very short time to unanticipated successes, such as Barack Obama's historic Acceptance Speech last week in Denver, and the fundraising that no doubt followed it. Just one of those moves of adaptation was on display all day today when the Corporate Media picked a fight with itself through The McCain Campaign. Everywhere, employees of the Media, anchors, reporters and pundits alike, were scrambling in response to Fiorina, et al. to defend themselves. And, in the process, of letting Sarah Palin down off of her own petard.

Remember: Power will not let go of Power easily. Consider the Black Pearl as your metaphor here....

Another move demonstrated tonight was the demonstration of rage at all who disagree with and dissent from the Neo-Conservative worldview as voiced and implemented by Bush/Cheney/McCain. The Project for the New American Century and American Enterprise Institutes are not dead. And, they certainly are not silent. The Sarah Palin debut tonight was largely written by Bush aide, Matthew Scully, and it showed. For eight years those of us who have asserted opinions and views differing from George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have been cast out as unpatriotic, disloyal, unAmerican, traitors. Given Senator McCain's relationship now with the Puppeteers, why would we have expected to hear anything different tonight?

The marked tones taken by Rudy Guiliani and Sarah Palin tonight, though, seemed to give voice to a rage that has not been heard recently. Clearly, there is concern among those in power that they are weakened, if not threatened. And, they are striking back.

It is of crucial import that those of us who disagree with the Neo-Conservative worldview and philosophy take nothing that is said about Barack Obama and Joe Biden, or any of us, personally. It is exactly when we defend against their attacks that we given credence to them. Better always to use the energy of the attack against the attackers. And, countless times tonight, the attackers led with their chins.

The great vulnerability that we all share right now is financial. All Americans, whether they are in denial or not, are facing economic peril. And, as Paul Krugman noted, one of the great translators of economics is Bill Clinton; but, there isn't one Democratic Party supporter of Barack Obama who doesn’t have the ability to speak clearly and evocatively about the financial crisis we are facing in America. This is the Democratic Party's greatest strength in all of its Campaigns this year, not just the Presidential Campaign; and, we all need to be speaking from coordinated and specifically targeted Briefing Books.

Lots can be said about Money. Facts, for certain, statistics that stagger. Lots of numbers. Even the Republicans acknowledged, "It's the Economy, Stupid...." through Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman, both speaking tonight. But what no one has said, from Krugman to Clinton to Fiorina to Whitman is this: in that kitchen at that table in that tableaux so frequently drawn by politicians and pundits alike, We the People fight with our wives and husbands most often about money, and how it’s effecting our kids…and, worse, that we are feeling terrified, even panicked...and ashamed.

Most people blame themselves…because they simply do not know enough to accurately assess their situation, and understand that others are as much or more to blame for their current circumstances. And, even if they do understand, the complete absence of or helplessness to find any avenue of remedial relief obviates the import of any such analysis.

Panic and Shame can be just as debilitating as any concern or frank fear that somewhere someone might strike our country in another terrorist attack.

So, before anyone can connect with us in that kitchen at that table, we need to hear, indeed, we need to know two things: first, that there's a way out, and second, that we are, and forever will be, worthy of respect and love.

Talk about a different worldview!

Republicans, devotees quite often to the Ayn Randian "rugged individualist" worldview would probably retort that anyone encountering a financial meltdown, that is, anyone with any guts, or honor, would just shoot themselves in the head. Their view of an unwed and pregnant white teen on food stamps might be more positive than that same unwed teen being Mexican or black and applying for Assistance, but they would still not embroider that image of “welfare statehood” with respect and honor. No, for them, the Judgment of anyone who would “take” from the government as “lazy”, “dishonorable”, etc. is far more important. Crucial, in fact, to the “right” view they hold as their own. And, their view of an unmarried white girl pregnant with a child of mixed race is probably not anything fit for post-racial enlightenment either.) Palinguage is the new Orwellian Lexicon of political code.

In a world of compassion and fresh starts, that is, an economic world composed of both the Real Economy and the Financials, the reality of human failings and character flaws is built into every good model.

Goodness, interestingly, is not a word used often by rugged individualists. There's the "right" way and the "wrong" way, their way, and ours, but rarely if ever the Galbraithian nod to a society of "goodness". That harshness gives way to a climate of self-righteousness and rage, as we witnessed tonight, and of idealization of the "inspired individual" with no thought, acknowledgment or gratitude for the society in which the inspiration was experienced. For such to occur, the relationships that necessarily create the economics of our lives would have to be acknowledged as a predicate.

For those of the Republican/Neo-Con/Rugged Individualist worldview, relationships exist only in and by the blessing of the Divine in families. Even "country" is understood to be monolith, solid and unchanging. Any one not a Believer is lost. Period. To Family, to Country. To Community. Any one truly Saved will be able to and will shine in their witness and evidence of Forgiveness in the cold-cash form of Prosperity. And the full Christian/Capitalist Circle of worthiness is drawn.

Those who subscribe to the Christian faith in whatever denomination they choose can undoubtedly describe this more accurately than I, and surely can speak to fellow Believers with open-hearted connection. This is what I see, and remember, from a childhood spent in the Presbyterian Church, and an adulthood spent exploring and discovering the mythology and mysticism offered in every great inspirational tradition. I integrate the teachings and study of law and jurisprudence along with various Teachings of a variety of Masters to focus upon the connection we have with each other, indeed, the interdependence. And for every act of Ego necessary to move through life in our world, I look for balancing act of the eternal Collective. Just a disclaimer as I conclude.

For in the midst of the incitement to righteousness and rage tonight, as well as attack on Americans not held to be "true" Americans in view of those adulating and idealizing the Myth created by the script written by Scully and others, its easy to feel hurt. Angry. Demoralized. Hurt not because we're out of ideas or hope, angry not because so many lies and propaganda was pronounced, demoralized not because we've heard this every day since the election in 2000 became a contest between the obviously reasonable and legal "count all the votes" path and just announcing the Republicans' transition team (and worse)...but because we are all Americans. And when Americans treat other Americans this way, it's just not difficult to understand how and why Americans are now torturing other Citizens of the world.

Sarah Palin accused Barack Obama tonight of being willing to jeopardize the physical safety of Americans by "reading their Rights" to terrorists. This is pure Scully/Bush rhetoric. It is absolutely false. And, it is also the clear-eyed language of those intent upon nullification of our Constitution and complete vitiation of Good Government. What it misses is this parallel construction and truth: the Puppeteers of Bush/McCain are willing to jeopardize the financial safety and security of Americans by insuring the absolute power of corporations and neutering, if not completely destruction, of any kind of government.

Two worldviews. Two views, really, of humankind and all that inspires the world. And it feels, right now, like we're on the verge of a divorce from one another. It may be that the greatest mediation we need to engage in is the conversation I suggested at the outset: Kitchen table by Kitchen table, talking about the shame and panic that underscores the greatest fear in the lives of the vast majority of Americans today: the money fear, and the attack on personal financial security.