Monthly Archives: December 2010

The Watering Hole: Tuesday, December 7th – Julian Assange arrested

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picture source: merkuronline.com

The BBC reports:

The founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been arrested by the Metropolitan Police.

The 39-year-old Australian denies allegations he sexually assaulted two women in Sweden.

Scotland Yard said Mr Assange was arrested on a European arrest warrant by appointment at a London police station at 0930 GMT.

He is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court later. (read all)

Don’t mess with the High and Mighty.

Don’t get me wrong here. If Julian Assange is a rapist, he will have to suffer the consequences. So should every rapist in Sweden or elsewhere. But do they? In 2007 only 13% of the 3’535 cases of rape reported to the police resulted in even the start of legal procedures, let alone a trial or conviction. I wish the police everywhere would be as adamant as in this case when it comes to dealing with rapists. Rich man’s son Carl Hirschmann in Switzerland was out on bail in no time. He’s haunting the clubs once again.

Take a look at Mikhail Chodorkowski. He’s in a labour camp in Siberia serving a nine year sentence and is again accused for some more crimes, to make sure he stays where he’s at. His real crime? Not tax evasion or fraud (though you don’t get to be the richest man in Russia by being a nice and straightforward fellow), you just don’t go to jail for that when you’re really rich in Russia (or elsewhere). He challenged Vladimir Putin politically.

Don’t mess with the High and Mighty.

Both Julian Assange and Mikhail Chodorkowski are answering to legitimate charges and no celebrity bonus should apply. But both are treated differently than others who have allegedly or really committed the same crimes.

Question: Wikileaks has published classified information from the Afghan  and Iraq war. Wikileaks has published the diplomatic cables. Both time their plans were announced beforehand and no action taken. Now wikileaks announces to publish secret e-mails from a bank. And a cyber war between those who cave to government pressure and the witty hacker community starts on their behalf. Now why would that be?

This is our Open Thread. You know what to do. The internet is still the place to voice your opinion, I don’t know for how much longer, however.

The Cut That Isn’t a Cut

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As you may have heard, President Barack Obama and the Republicans (who, oddly enough, are not, technically, in power yet), have struck a deal extending the Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy (their official name) for another two years. In return for these tax “cuts”, the Republicans have agreed to extend unemployment benefits for currently unemployed people for another thirteen months along with a few other helpful things for the poor. The stage has been set to make this a campaign issue for 2012. Do you support extending tax “cuts” for millionaires and billionaires who don’t need them? Or do you finally agree that rich people do not use their tax savings to create jobs? But is anybody really going to be paying less in taxes because of this? Not necessarily.

In Washington, DC, and only in Washington, DC, a “cut” is merely a Continue reading →

Watering Hole: December 6, 2010 – Say It Ain’t So, Kitty

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First, they came for my retirement 401K/IRA.  Then, they devalued my investment properties.  Now, they want to dismantle the only thing between me and living on the streets.  They want my Social Security.

Instead of focusing on a commission to create jobs which would increase tax revenues and increase demands for goods, Obama decided that it was better to go along with the Tea Party’s and Club for Growth wishes reducing Government spending so he opted for a Deficit Commission instead.

So how does the recommendations from the Deficit Commission (Cat Food Commission) effect seniors?  Here’s how…

The plan calls for eliminating most popular tax breaks, while preserving smaller breaks for mortgage interest on primary residences, charitable contributions and employer-paid health insurance. While broadening the tax base, it would lower individual and corporate tax rates from a maximum of 35% to no more than 29%.

It includes higher Medicare copayments and reduced Social Security benefits for many future retirees, as well as an increase in the retirement age from 67, where it’s headed in 2027, to 69 by 2075. Both defense and domestic spending would be slashed, and new rules put in place to lock in those reductions.

Really?  They want you to work until you drop dead on the job.  If you do manage to survive,  there could be a boost for the cat food industry.

Fortunately for Americans, the recommendations did not receive the 14 votes that were needed to move these recommendations to Congress for a vote.  Some members of the commission had this to say:

… co-chair Erskine Bowles (transcribed more or less verbatim). Saying that the the threat of these deficit is “real”, he said: “The solutions will be painful, and there is not easy way out but at the end of this journey America will be a better place.”

The bi-partisan insanity was represented by Senate Budget Chair Kent Conrad: “Other than the terrorist threat to America, this is the greatest threat to America.”

That’s a bit frightening.  In my opinion, high unemployment with few available jobs is a greater threat to America.

This is our Open Thread.  Feel free to Speak Up!

(All politics are local)

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Sunday Roast: Rebooting the American Dream, Chapter 3

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Chapter Three of Thom Hartmann’s book, Rebooting the American Dream: 11 Ways to Rebuild Our Country, is called “Stop Them From Eating My Town.”

It’s pretty self-explanatory, actually:  Shop locally and stop giving taxpayer-funded welfare to the giant multinational corporate vampires who are sucking this nation dry.  Thom explains:

As I noted in my book Unequal Protection,1 when I shop in downtown Montpelier,

Vermont, and buy a pair of pants, for example, at the Stevens Clothing Store on Main Street, at the end of the day the store’s owner, Jack Callahan, takes his proceeds down to the Northfield Savings Bank and deposits them. From Stevens, I walk next door to Bear Pond Books and buy today’s newspaper, a magazine, and a copy of Thomas Paine’sRights of Man, a book that is as fascinating today as when it was first written in 1791. 

At the end of the day, Bear Pond’s manager, Linda Leehman, will take my money down to the Chittenden Bank and deposit it.

From Bear Pond I go to one of the dozen or so local restaurants and exchange some of my cash for a good meal. At day’s end that cash, too, will end up in one of Montpelier’s local banks.

The next day Montpelier’s banks are richer by my purchases, as are Stevens, Bear Pond, and the restaurant. If my daughter, a Web designer, wanted to start her own design firm in an office on Main Street (or from her home), she could visit one of those banks, and, if her credit was good, they could loan her some of the money that was deposited with them the night before from the townspeople’s purchases.

If her work is good, Stevens or Bear Pond or the restaurant may decide they want to hire her to design their Web site, using the profits they made from my—and others’—purchases to pay for her work. She’ll put her money into the local bank, increasing its deposits available for local lending. Thus, by keeping money within the community, the community grows. This is how communities in America and most of the rest of the world have historically grown.

So simple and American Dream-ish, isn’t it?  It totally makes sense, so why aren’t we doing it? Well, our politicians (at every level) aren’t exactly on our side, are they?

Clearly, we need to reverse this trend and stop the corporate Godzillas from tearing up our local towns and local economies. First, let’s take away all the local, state, and federal government incentives and subsidies that these chain operations feed on and which are not usually available to local small businesses. Second, enact measures to stop multinationals from evading U.S. taxes by moving their operations and assets to low-tax countries, and break up the giant trusts that have come to dominate every aspect of our economy. Third, implement and promote policies—through federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration—that provide help and know-how as well as financial incentives to small, independent, local businesses.

Thom illustrates the way they do things in India, where 98% of the shops are family owned and run.  Damn, that is inefficient — but it’s WORKING.  Read more about it here.

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Gaypocalypse Now..

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From TPM:

Jon Stewart last night lampooned Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) on his continued stalwart opposition to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, even after the Pentagon released its review indicating that a repeal of the ban on openly gay men and women would have little to no effect on military readiness.”McCain’s like one of them Japanese soldiers living on Okinawa in 1949, still fighting because he doesn’t realize the war ended a long time ago,” Stewart said. “And, for some reason, even though he’s been alone for years and years on this island, doesn’t like gay people.”

The Watering Hole: December 3 – Get Up, Stand Up!

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I’m posting a tidbit from recent history, and beings it’s Friday and MUSIC NIGHT…

From Wikipedia Commons

All the below information is from Wikipedia:

On December 3, 1976, two days before “Smile Jamaica“, a free concert organised by the Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley in an attempt to ease tension between two warring political groups, Marley, his wife, and manager Don Taylor were wounded in an assault by unknown gunmen inside Marley’s home. Taylor and Marley’s wife sustained serious injuries, but later made full recoveries. Bob Marley received minor wounds in the chest and arm. The shooting was thought to have been politically motivated, as many felt the concert was really a support rally for Manley. Nonetheless, the concert proceeded, and an injured Marley performed as scheduled, two days after the attempt. When asked why, Marley responded, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”

The Smile Jamaica Concert was held on December 5, 1976, at the National Heroes Park, Kingston, Jamaica, performed by Bob Marley & The Wailers. Only 2 days after Marley had almost been killed by gunmen in his house, but survived and was driven up in the Blue Mountains. Nevertheless Marley agreed to perform one song for the 80,000 people in attendance, but it turned into a whole 90-minute performance despite his injuries. All Wailers performed except Bassman Aston “Familyman” Barret. A guest Bass player performed in his place. The performance included a horn section. The set list for the show was as follows 1. War/ No More Trouble/ Get Up Stand Up 2. Crazy Baldhead/ Positive Vibration 3. Smile Jamaica 4. Rat Race 5. TrenchTown Rock 6. Keep on Moving 7. Want More 8. Them Belly Full 9. Jah Live 10. Rastaman Chant 11. Rebel Music 12. So Jah Seh

Marley left Jamaica at the end of 1976, and after a month-long “recovery and writing” sojourn at the site of Chris Blackwell’s Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, arrived in England, where he spent two years in self-imposed exile.

There is a message in these lyrics somewhere.. To you Democrats in Congress, I say: Get up, stand up, and DON’T GIVE UP THE FIGHT!!

DON’T—BACK—DOWN!!

(UPDATE: I haven’t even posted this yet, and it appears the Dems are folding before they even attempt to fight.. Discouraging. It appears it is up to President Obama now to take a stand for what he promised when running for the office he now holds. That’s just not making me feel any better..)

This is our open thread. Add your thoughts!

The Watering Hole: December 2 – Pompeii is Falling Down

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Anyone following the news on 12/01 should know that the ancient city of Pompeii is being eaten by the elements. Pompeii offers a snapshot of Roman living in the first century of the Christian Era.

The city was buried in volcanic ash in 79 CE. Its ruins were rediscovered in the early 18th century and gradually excavated into the 20th century. Beyond bomb damage in WWII, the city remained a pristine picture until the time immediately following the war. Materials were removed for construction of personal structures, albeit at a slow pace until Italian Antiquity’s stepped into the fray, banning removal of additional material from the site.

One thing that should be realized is that Italians should not be allowed to take part in the preservation of their history. Preservation consisted of opening a profit center for tourists and closing down areas as they went into decay. These closed areas are presently suffering most from the elements. While the ruins were once protected by the layers of ash that destroyed the city itself, the historical record is being ravaged by the elements and the wear brought on by tourism now that the ash has been removed. My family visited the site in 1985 and we could see the damage effected by pumice being ground underfoot into the ancient marble plazas. Even I had a ‘Felix Unger’ moment as we visited.

This is our Open Thread. Please feel free to add your thoughts on this, or any other topic that comes to mind.

Rachel Maddow: To Serve Man..

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From The Rachel Maddow Show last night. Rachel talks about the meeting between the GOP and President Obama that took place yesterday, and uses a very interesting analogy—Rod Serling style—to describe what was discussed..

Rachel shows a clip of a passionate speech on the Senate floor from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), and follows the clip with an interview of Sanders.

Sen. Sanders is one of the very few senators I have the utmost respect for. He doesn’t spew talking points, and speaks out forcefully, honestly, and logically, and when he says something, he means it.

SOoooo good. Rachel Maddow at her best.