An American Christmas 2009

This is America this Christmas in many area's, way too many!! This was one of the 60min reports tonight.

Wilmington, Ohio's Long Recession

60 Minutes Revisits A Town Hit Hard By The Recession; Have Things Improved Nearly A Year Since Our First Report?



This week marks the third Christmas of the Great Recession. The decline that began in December 2007 has destroyed more than seven million jobs. But that's just the half of it: millions more have had their hours cut to part time or have just quit looking for work. Altogether, that comes to 17 percent of the workforce.

There are pockets of severe unemployment all across the country in places like Wilmington, Ohio. 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley first reported about Wilmington this time last year, when its major employer was closing....>>>>>

Where is All that Private Capital that sits at the top, promised to trickle down if only we'd let the powerful and best of the best Reap the Wealth of Our Labors?

Changing The Jobs Debate with Dean Baker & John Nichols

The Nation's John Nichols , author of "Tragedy & Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy" calls the unemployment crisis a "social, economic and political threat," writing of the growing sense of urgency within an administration facing a purported recovery that hasn't extended to everyday people. Around the country, decaying manufacturing towns and communities are suffering in ways that are hidden by the statistics, and a rising GDP doesn't do much for Main Street. Economist Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of "Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy" wrote:...>>>>> {or at Blip TV}

In all this time of collapsing, and bailing out those who caused it as well as their economics of the expanded reaganomic ideology, there has been Extremely Little to None private capital being reinvested to grow the economy! We were sold the idea that that's exactly what we would get, constant flow of investment from the top trickling down to bring economic stability. It was the Extreme Con some stated it would be, and we're still collapsing only slower!!

Band of brothers: Homeless in Charlotte

Jobless, homeless, all this small band has is each other

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – With no work, no home and few prospects, all Roy Hawkins, Mark Corbett and Drew Everhart have is each other.

“We’re pretty much what you’d call a brotherhood,” said Corbett, 48, sitting in the makeshift camp he set up in the woods about an hour’s walk from the center of Charlotte in January 2008 and which has been his home ever since. “We look out for each other and we share what we have.”

Hawkins, 44, has been with him on and off since then, since he received his prosthetic leg three months ago. He lost the lower half of his leg in an accident in April.

“When you lose your leg, you lose your livelihood,” Hawkins, an electrician, said.

Everhart moved into the camp about three months ago. He ended up in Charlotte around a year ago after an accident on a construction job. Corbett is also a construction worker, with few possibilities for full-time work because the U.S. housing crisis and the recession it spawned have wiped out many construction jobs.

“There’s nothing out there for us right now,” Corbett said. “But things will get better soon.”...>>>>>

Veterans Employment Council

White House Creates Council On Veterans Employment

Last night the President signed an Executive Order creating an interagency Council on Veterans Employment to advise the President and Administration on how to set the bar for hiring and employing veterans.

The Council will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, with Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry serving as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.

In statements prior to the signing, all involved gave their reasons for why the initiative is so important to them...>>>>

For Immediate Release November 9, 2009
Executive Order

- - - - -
Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, I hereby order as follows:..>>>>

Tax the rich to pay for health care?

Wolff: "Rich people do not make an economy strong. What makes the country wealthy is its people."

The Blue Dogs refuse to support the House health reform bill as long as it includes the surtax on the rich. Some Democrats have backed away from their previous statements regarding surtax, fearing they would not be able to pass the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has 7 Blue Dog Democrats. Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics, says we need to.

Johnny & Jane Marchin Home to........

Johnny comes marching home — to no job
Out of Iraq’s frying pan, into an economic fire

Why do we still continue to ignore the fact that women serve, Johnny comes marching home and similar, in greater numbers and are a big part of our military operations? They have always been a Big part of the Military Family and an Important part!

The gathering might have been even more boisterous were it not for the realization that these Guardsmen are coming home to face a new enemy — a swooning economy that has landed like a KO’d heavyweight on the canvas of their home towns......

Sgt. Russell See of Elkhart said he found out in April that his job as a welder at Valmont Industries had vanished, a development that was communicated via an e-mail from the human resources department........

Another of the many promises this Nation doesn't keep, though in tough times holding the jobs for those who serve in the Guard can be real tough for a small business. And the big corporations don't have the money left, even if there's work needed to be done to help their bottom lines and give to investors, after the hugely gross compensation packages, gross amount of company perks and those really gross bonuses even for total failure!

And why aren't they spending that money, keeping the reaganomics/free market promise of 'trickle down' to those that produced the products and services? Teabaggers pay attention!

While they serve, their civilian jobs are protected by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), but that is no help when layoffs occur, unless discrimination can be demonstrated......

Oh, and how many of their kids are serving...

he figures he has only eight months or so to either find a job or consider what is now almost unthinkable — signing up for a third tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan......

Probably not many at all, no need to if sending the same fighting soldiers back over and over!

And oh again, speaking of the younger family members of the wealthy, as well as so many more. Just some more of those who are serving you as well:

The Shock Doctrine

"The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine" advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.

"At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq'' civil war, a new law is unveiled that will allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves… Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly outsources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater… After a tsunami wipes out the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts… New Orleans residents, scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be re-opened." Klein not only kicks butt, she names names, notably economist Milton Friedman and his radical Chicago School of the 1950s and 60s which she notes "produced many of the leading neo-conservative and neo-liberal thinkers whose influence is still profound in Washington today." Stand up and take a bow, Donald Rumsfeld.

There's little doubt Klein's book--which arrived to enormous attention and fanfare thanks to her previous missive, the best-selling "No Logo: No Space, No Choice", No Jobs", will stir the ire of the right and corporate America. It's also true that Klein's assertions are coherent, comprehensively researched and footnoted, and she makes a very credible case. Even if the world isn't going to hell in a hand-basket just yet, it's nice to know a sharp customer like Klein is bearing witness to the backroom machinations of government and industry in times of turmoil. --Kim Hughes --This text refers to the "Hardcover edition".

This Is Your Community Too!!

Is Anybody Listening?

Many have already heard about the kids from Pomona California Village Academy High School, many have probably caught their little eight minute video that has launched them into the National Spotlight and Political Debate on what this Country is now going through. But this isn't new it's just affecting many more kids and families now, with more added each day. Kids can't learn and achieve any dreams they might have if their families are struggling and their living those struggles daily.

Last night on the PBS News Hour they showed a report on these kids and their videoed thoughts and feelings, that report is directly below.

Correspondent John Larson
Produced by: Karen Foshay; Edited by: Alberto Arce, Michael Bloecher, "Lil" Joe Whiting
Published On: March 19, 2009 4:41 PM

KCET SoCal Connected

It was a class project born out of a discussion of the American Dream. Five months later, it made it into a speech given by President Obama. “it” is an eight minute video titled, “Is Anybody Listening.” It’s the first person accounts of students struggling with foreclosures, hunger and the threat of becoming homeless.



The video feels like a twenty-first century version of a Dorothea Lange portrait. One student told us his American dream is modest - to have a refrigerator full of food. The goal of making the video was to get the attention of the nation’s leaders, specifically the President. It took a few months, but just last week, the video made it to the White House and President Obama told the students in a speech he is listening and promised to fight for their right to the American Dream. Although there is no assurance the President’s promise will change the lives of these Pomona kids, they are hopeful and for now are declaring “mission accomplished.”

If you are interested in helping the teenagers in the video, please contact Rick Motz at Village Academy High School, (909) 397-4900×2600.

KCET SoCal Connected Homepage

KCET SoCal Local

We live in an economic ideology called capitalism. We are taught that if we work hard, and in any job, develop the skills needed we can prosper and advance. Capitalism is supposed to be a system of sharing the profits of the work that goes into the making of or the services rendered. A bottom up economy, hard work, quality products and services, the bottom line grows and all should share in the benefits of that growth, from the top down.

These kids are no different than kids before them or that will come. All are endowed with gifts, each unique. Some will want and need the further education afforded in our universities and colleges, others will want to put there gifts to the test in many area's of employment, hobbies, and lives. All will continue to learn the lessons of life by living and growing. Most will find they have even more gifts as they mature. Most will want, and should get, the respect for what they do in their lives and in what they do in their working lives.

In just 8 minutes, the students from Village Academy High in Pomona articulated the struggles of millions of Americans. They did it by making a video called, "Is Anybody Listening?" and you'll be surprised to find out who is.

Is Anybody Listening - Where It All Began

Some how we've allowed that system to corrupt itself, businesses buying out smaller businesses to make huge corporations thus taking competition away by shutting down some as they absorbed others discarding the workers as they expanded, the money changers and business executives started reaping huge wages, benefits and business perks worried more about the money side and the investor than in quality product and customer service. This has left those producing he work with falling starter wages and stagnation in growth wages no matter how much is givin to their jobs as prices of commodities have risen.

The kids from Village Academy High in Pomona get the chance to meet President Obama.

Obama Visit

We once had a growing economy, workers had to fight for some of their share, and continue fighting, but it did grow, their was a sharing in the success on all levels.

How do I know, I grew up in it and than joined it. Workers would get raises on their quality of work, where most worked became their second families, their would be pretty much regular raises, I've known small investors, who did so on long term investing in companies, that reaped more wealth from those investment, than what they're meager wages produced, able to leave huge sums to their children. I watched as small businesses grew into larger and larger corporation, not through buyouts but quality work and service.

As our new President says, and many understand, a strong economy is bottom up not top down, if there really is that much money at the top for the money changers and business executives than that's where it's frozen, as the workers have become commodities to be brought in or discarded according to number figures on paper, everything is tossed aside for a bottom line percentage.

Bill Moyers Journal - Economy

March 20, 2009

Bill Moyers sits down with socialist historian Mike Davis for his critique of the government's response to the economic crisis and how he thinks it compares to Roosevelt's New Deal. Mike Davis is a writer and historian, who currently teaches creative writing at University of California, Riverside.

Watch the discussion

More about Mike Davis.

"We need more protests. We need more noise in the street. At the end of the day, political parties tend to legislate what social movements and social voices have already achieved in the factories or the streets or in the civil rights demonstration."

American Dissenters Dissident voices from Tom Paine to Ralph Nader.

Bill Moyers talks with Marta Peláez, president and CEO of Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc., a domestic abuse shelter in San Antonio, TX, for perspective on the human face of the economic downturn and how it may be pushing more families over the edge.

Watch the discussion

More about Marta Peláez

"Last year, at this same time, I had 68-70 on my daily census, women and children. Today, I just called this morning, we had 184 women — 114 of those people are children."

How to Safeguard Your Community Against Domestic Violence

What's One Thing Needed.......

Workers must once again unite, we've seen enough obscene behavior from the money changers and those they help as well as our representatives.

One place leaders can and should come from is the ranks of our returning soldiers, already well disciplined, many with great leadership qualities, and having experienced the worse man can bring on his fellow man.

We will find business and rank and file workers, leaders all, within those ranks!

Tent City {Bushvilles} Dwellers Being Booted Out....

Will the city have the Housing required for some 2,000 people, and if so what happens next as more and more find themselves without!!



Huffpost wants to know about other 'Tent Cities':

There are reports of tent cities popping up across the country as unemployment rises in a worsening economy. The biggest and highest-profile shantytown is in Sacramento, where hundreds of newly-homeless tent residents are cooking soup in old coffee cans.

We want to know where else this is happening.

HuffPost readers: Is there a tent city near you? Have you noticed a newly-formed community of people living together in improvised housing in a public space? Email us! Send any information you've got (or pictures) to Huff Post.com.

Sacramento's KCRA reported this week that city officials plan to shut the tent city down.

Michelle: "It Hurts!!", "It Hurts!!"

I went over to ABC News to see if they had posted a video report that I caught last night, never got to that as this is what I found, and will be airing this morning on GMA.

Exclusive: 'It Hurts,' Says First Lady of Military Families on Food Stamps

First lady Michelle Obama wants military families to know they have a friend in the White House, she told "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview today at Fort Bragg, N.C. -- her first network television interview since her husband took office.

"It hurts. It hurts," the first lady said of hearing about military families on food stamps. "These are people who are willing to send their loved ones off to, perhaps, give their lives -- the ultimate sacrifice. But yet, they're living back at home on food stamps. It's not right, and it's not where we should be as a nation."

It is so refreshing to actually watch as those in this new administration, especially the First Family members, speak the words of the real needs that should have come from those in the previous administration, especially as to anything connected to our Military and their Families as we sent them into two, now long running, occupations! All they gave us, and our soldiers as well as their families, were "Go Shopping!" and 'Magnetic Ribbons'!

And when they do you can read the dedication to those words and thoughts in the faces of those speaking, and the want to Really make a difference by doing what already should have been but wasn't even thought of.

Mrs. Obama's comments to ABC News followed an emotional private meeting with military families at Fort Bragg. The first lady traveled to North Carolina to hear their stories about the support services that are available to them and what can be done to better serve those who serve their country.

"I think that's one of my jobs, is to try and shed some light on some of these issues," she said, "to not just be in that conversation with military spouses and hear those stories, but to take that information back to the administration to share it with the nation, so that we can think again about how we can better support these families."

Working with and for military families is at the top of the first lady's agenda as she settles into her new role in the White House -- so for her first trip outside of Washington, she chose to highlight the struggles of the nation's servicemen and servicewomen.

The Military and their Families can really believe they have more than just a Friend in the White House, and that what wasn't before will be fought for to be now!

Lets hope the Country follows their Lead, especially as to this generations New Veterans, it hasn't since after World War II, and the Veterans Administration administrative offices have been nothing but political appointee's, from the very top down, and especially these last eight years as they vigorously sent our troops into two Wars, Incompetence and Corruption Reigned!

Michelle Obama begins advocacy as first lady

First lady Michelle Obama reads to children at the Prager Child Development Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., where she met with relatives of service members.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — The nation owes not only gratitude but tangible assistance to the nation's military and their families, and she'll make that a focus of her time in the White House, first lady Michelle Obama says.

Underscoring her commitment to the plight of America's military families, Mrs. Obama used a trip to Fort Bragg as a stage for her first television interviews since the inauguration. One with ABC's "Good Morning America" was to air Friday.

In the interview she said she wanted military families to know they have a friend in the White House.

On the local news here they showed a short clip of Michelle reading to the children. See the cute young lady standing next to her in the above pic, this is one youngster that will never forget this meeting, in the clip she seemed to be constantly talking to Michelle, touching her, and striving to savor the moment. Michelle kept smiling as she gave her answers to her questions and wrapped her arm around her. All the kids were enjoying this moment and Michelle's reading to them.

A footnote:

Here's Really Hoping

The obstructionist 'rushlicans' will Not Stop the Real Need to move forward in Giving Our Veterans that which should have always been, What They Are Owed For Our Service To Country especially after their Wars of Choice!!

Costs of the Military Industrial Complex and War/Occupation, Unquestioned!!

Rep. Barney Frank Goes There. . .

Frank: "I don't understand from my conservative friends, building a road, building a school, helping to get health care, that's wasteful spending. But that war in Iraq, that's going to cost us over a trillion dollars, yeah, I wish we hadn't done that we would have been in a lot better shape fiscally."

Frank: "The problem is that we look at spending and say, "Oh, don't spend on highways. Don't spend on health care. But let's build Cold War weapons to defeat the Soviet Union when we don't need them. Let's have hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars going to the military without a check."

Some of you may not remember this, but President Obama gave a speech titled "The Cost of War" during the campaign, here's the video and a partial transcript:

In the comments some people are pointing out that this is the argument that needs to be made, well we need to put it out there then. Please DIGG this diary so more people can see the video of Frank and the one of President Obama.

DIGG it here

What is a 'Stimulus Package' especially as to Infrastructure and Program Investment? It's our federal tax dollars, that should have already been coming back to our states, in maintaining and improving that which we had already built and developed. Spent wisely it brings returns back to the communities and the country. These monies have not been returning, as they should have, as we spent and wasted them on that which brings wealth and power to the few, pushing off to later dates the really needed. Thus causing those cost to skyrocket way above what should have been and passing on these costs to coming generations and wasted interests on that which is now borrowed to fix that which should already have been!

Paulson's $140 Billion Surprise

It's a little-known story about the financial crisis. During the frenzied events of the fall, Henry Paulson rewrote a piece of the tax code to expedite mergers. The quiet alteration amounts to an estimated $140 billion windfall for big banks. Some critics say Paulson's move was too autocratic, others argue that it was much more than that-that it was downright illegal. Will Tim Geithner and the Democrats attempt to correct the wrong?

Nine Steps to Peace - Deepak Chopra to President Barack Obama

Nine Steps to Peace for Obama in the New Year

Thursday 01 January 2009

by: Deepak Chopra

The face of peace.


Steps the incoming president can take to build a peace-based economy.

The following is a memo to Barack Obama from Deepak Chopra.

You have been elected by the first anti-war constituency since 1952, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected after promising to end the Korean War. But ending a war isn't the same as bringing peace. America has been on a war footing since the day after Pearl Harbor, 67 years ago. We spend more on our military than the next 16 countries combined. If you have a vision of change that goes to the heart of this country's deep problems, ending our dependence on war is far more important than ending our dependency on foreign oil.

The most immediate changes are economic. Unless it can make as much money as war, peace doesn't stand a chance. Since aerospace and military technologies remain the United States' most destructive export, fostering wars around the world, what steps can we take to reverse that trend and build a peace-based economy?

1. Scale out arms dealing and make it illegal by the year 2020.

2. Write into every defense contract a requirement for a peacetime project.

3. Subsidize conversion of military companies to peaceful uses with tax incentives and direct funding.

4. Convert military bases to housing for the poor.

5. Phase out all foreign military bases.

6. Require military personnel to devote part of their time to rebuilding infrastructure.

7. Call a moratorium on future weapons technologies.

8. Reduce armaments like destroyers and submarines that have no use against terrorism and were intended to defend against a superpower enemy that no longer exists.

9. Fully fund social services and take the balance out of the defense and homeland security budgets.

These are just the beginning. We don't lack creativity in coping with change. Without a conversion of our present war economy to a peace economy, the high profits of the military-industrial complex ensures that it will never end.

Do these nine steps seem unrealistic or fanciful? In various ways, other countries have adopted similar measures. The former Soviet army is occupied with farming and other peaceful work, for example. But comparisons are rather pointless, since only the United States is burdened with such a massive reliance on defense spending. Ultimately, empire follows the dollar. As a society, we want peace, and we want to be seen as a nation that promotes peace. For either ideal to come true, you as president must back up your vision of change with economic reality. So far, that hasn't happened under any of your predecessors. All hopes are pinned on you.

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

Deepak Chopra is acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind-body medicine. He is the author of over 50 books, including "Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment" and "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old"

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'If You Go After the Wrong People, You Convert Moderates into Extremists'

"almost homeless"

Wearing 'almost homeless' sign, ex-executive seeks work

Paul Nawrocki says he's beyond the point where he cares about humiliation.

Paul Nowracki, jobless since February, stands on New York corners with a sign announcing his job search.

That's why he weekly takes a 90-minute train ride to New York, where he walks the streets wearing a sandwich board that advertises his plight: The former toy-industry executive needs a job.

"Almost homeless," reads the sign. "Looking for employment. Very experienced operations and administration manager."

Wearing a suit and tie under the sign, Nawrocki -- who was in the toy industry 36 years before being laid off in February -- stands on Manhattan corners for hours, hoping to pass resumes to interested passers-by.

"When you're out of work and you face having nothing -- I mean, having no income -- pride doesn't mean anything," Nawrocki said. "You need to find work. I have to take care of my family."

People look but don't often stop. A woman in the jewelry business paused as Nawrocki stood with his sign outside Grand Central Station recently.

"I feel sorry for him. I wish I could help him," she said. "I'll pray for him. I'll give him a prayer card."

U.S. nonfarm payrolls plunged by an astonishing 533,000 in November -- the worst job loss in 34 years -- the Labor Department reported Friday.

In addition to the 533,000 lost jobs, an additional 621,000 workers were pushed into part-time work and 422,000 simply dropped out of the labor force.
"This is almost indescribably terrible," wrote Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist for High Frequency Economics. "The pace of job losses is accelerating alarmingly."
Over the past three months, 1.26 million jobs have been lost, a pace of job destruction exceeded only once since 1945.
"The threat of a widespread depression is now real and present," said Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland.

And once again the devastating proof of the incompetence of those We Pay!

The Forgotten Storm

This week, almost three months after Hurricane Ike battered Texas, it was clear that the rebuilding and repair is happening far slower than the rest of the country imagines it to be. David Stall, the Shoreacres city manager we spoke with had a poignant observation in our Evening News piece when he mentioned that it seems like when the lights came back on in Houston, people just began to think that everything was all better. The facts are that for his community, and several others along the Texas coast, life is far from normal.

Coastal Texans pitch tents near padlocked FEMA trailers

When Hurricane Ike swallowed their beachfront home and all of their belongings, Darlene and Mark Pagels tried to hold it together.

They borrowed underwear and shoes. They slept in one-hour shifts at a local hospital. They ate free meals in a tent outside their church. And they waited, through September, then October, for a mobile home from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

When a FEMA trailer finally landed on the Pagels' property last week, it came with a padlocked door – and orders that they not move in until inspectors gave them the OK.

As the Economy Tanks Rapidly, and we still have Soldiers being killed and maimed in two occupations, add to All the rest that has happened, and not happened from the countries elected leaders, what is on the mind of the one sitting in the Oval Office and on our dime, along with his most loyal supporters, same ole same ole, Nothing, except what is most important to them:

‘Bush Legacy Project’

There’s an ongoing Bush legacy project that’s been meeting in the White House, really, with senior advisers, Karl Rove, Karen Hughes has been involved, current senior Bush administration advisers and they are looking at how to sort of roll out the President’s legacy.

As the minions of spin and propaganda are given their marching orders and talking points from this meeting of the goper minds, making sure it's spread far and wide and stated over and over, embeding the re-visionist history into the minds of their 'brownshirts', and hoping the historians, nixon reducs, but much bigger task!

Where bush retires to, clearing phony brush is to taxing:

Where bush, and cronies, need to live for us to deter future crimes:

We Can't make It Here

Brother Can You Spare a Dime

"Spreading The Wealth"!! That's How This Country Grew!!!!

I was born in '48 and grew up in the time after WWII and the rapid growth of not only a Great Economic Expansion but the Envy of the World to the American Worker and our Products and Services. We had the power and wealth hungry who tried to suppress but we also had intelligent business minds and workers willing to fight that brought about growing wages, safety in the work place, respect for the worker, and so much more, which gave respect and expansion to not only the employer but the companies, The company owners, the executives, the worker, and for those public companies shareholders were all reaping the rewards of that wealth sharing, that's what built the strong and ever expanding middle class and helped some break out of that and join the upper crust of the wealthy. It was the Only Successful way a true capitalist society that can achieve and expand further. Decent expanding wages for a workers hard work and company dedication gives them the ability to purchase goods and services which in turn gives growth and prosperity to other companies and workers.


This is what this writer is pointing out, as others do

Actually, it has been part of the American economic system since its founding

What is the present day GOP trying to sell everyone with statements like this: "You can spread butter on toast, we can share the love, but we are not going to share the wealth," said the Republican gubernatorial candidate. And why are so many buying this crap?


The PBS Newshour did a series of reports this past week, 10-20 to 10-24-08, on an important subject that really needs to not just be discussed, we've been doing that for years, but needs immediate implementation, meaning it should have started many yesterdays ago, many. In this series, on the first day, Ray Suarez made this statement:

"In the first half of the last century, Americans went on an infrastructure-building spree, and we've made good use of the things that were built, but we've been reluctant to pay to replace and repair thousands of miles of bridges, tunnels, roads, instead choosing to cross our fingers and rely on the good work of our parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents."

My highlight but think about what those that came before built for us, I do, as I watch our economy get rid of the businesses that built replacing with lower wage jobs of service, even the growth jobs in the 90's are now fetching less at start and stagnant wages after.


In waiting for each days report I happened on an interview with one I economist I admire, why because when he spoke he knew what he was talking about and spoke it in terms that most could understand. That was Paul Volcker and he said this in the interview:

"It seems to me what our nation needs is more civil engineers and electrical engineers and fewer financial engineers"

You can find writeup on the interview here at a site I happened on called BloggingStocks, which led me to the Charlie Rose interview with Volcker which I will place the links and interview video below.


But this is the NewsHour series that I think is a must see, and stop talking about, but do not only because it's past time for the need but because of the jobs it will create and with decent wages will spin off even more jobs and much needed growth. Each of these are covering different infrastructure needs, and after watching this first one I wish they would have covered other subjects but when it comes to infrastructure the list is very long and growing, not just repair but new.


This series was done in conjunction with others and they have a site set up called Blueprint America covering their subject material and added material.

Part 1 Aging Bridges Among Country's Infrastructure Woes

As the economic crisis continues, a similar crisis looms in the country's aging infrastructure. In the first of a series of reports, Ray Suarez takes a look at Pennsylvania's bridge problem and how it may impact future economic recovery efforts.

You can find the transcript here.

I live in the south now and because it isn't as cold here, and probably also because of the clay soil, they don't bury their water or drain pipes very deep. Well apparently we've long crossed the line of replacing lines, it seems to happen on an almost weekly basis, on bright sun shiny days and warm nights, they have a water main break, some creating huge damage and taking days to repair, most creating traffic tie ups which waste time and fuel.


Over the years all we've heard is talk after talk after talk........about things like Infrastructure, alternet energy sources, better vehicles that get huge amounts of millage per gallon of gasoline {on that one what do we have but vehicles with ever expanding toys that drivers shouldn't be playing with but still getting single to teen miles per gallon}, there's a long list of talk, and that's all we've been doing Talking!

Part 2 Increased Decay Strains Budget-strapped New Orleans Port

Even before Hurricane Katrina, the structural flaws of the port of New Orleans, combined with increased shipping volume, strained the infrastructure resource. Ray Suarez examines the port's struggle to fund improvements and keep up with its competition.

You can find the transcript here

Look around your communities and listen to the reports, I know there are problems that are just being, and have been, patch work projects, Major upgrades and improvements are way past due and patching only creates more wasted time and monies.


Speaking of just talking, in the report above they mention the Panama Canal. I was stationed there prior to Vietnam, from '68-'70, and they were talking than about needed expansion and or another canal.

Part 3 Population Growth Burdens Roads, Schools and State Programs

Amid explosive population growth, Arizona tackles the traditional problems of urban sprawl as it tries to create a new model for livable communities. Ray Suarez reports on the Valley of the Sun's transition in the face of growing infrastructure demands.

You can find the transcript here

Part 4 Chicago Airport Faces Serious Growing Pains

Ray Suarez examines Chicago O'Hare Airport's battle to increase its capacity and problems with the entire air traffic system.

You can find the transcript here

They don't have the report from friday up on the site yet, not even the transcript, there was a companion report talking to experts that is up but I'll try and continue this post with another adding in what I was originally going to write for this one. But here's the Charlie Rose interview with Paul Volcker which according to the site took place on 10/09/2008.





Once again:

"It seems to me what our nation needs is more civil engineers and electrical engineers and fewer financial engineers," Volcker said.

There's alot of talk about 'Communism', 'Socialism', and 'Marxism' coming from the Presidential Campaign of one who is married to a very wealthy woman, inherited wealth, and according to reports his choice of a running mate isn't doing to shabby neither, but still that campaign figured it could use their donated monies to purchase some extremely expensive duds for the lady.


The question is why this talk, apparently to further spin the meanings of those words as their talking heads, the rush, and the off shoots of his and now fox having been trying for years to do, if you read the definitions they point to the rovian, and others, goal, a One Party, weak representation, Single Person Leader, short of dictatorship or dictatorship, U.S. Government!!

com.mu.nism
Show Spelled Pronunciation [kom-yuh-niz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
2. (often initial capital letter) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
3. (initial capital letter) the principles and practices of the Communist party.
4. communalism.
Origin:
1835–45; < F communisme. See common, -ism

But the most eye-opening of them all came, it would appear, when the Alaska Governor somehow drew a connection between Barack Obama's tax policy and an encroaching, nightmarish, communist government. Which is exactly what they themselves are trying to achieve, reason for the Double Speak about taxes, not wanting the middle class to receive any cuts and making sure they don't pay their fair share! And the thing is regular folks are falling right into their propaganda and actually arguing for them, against themselves, again!

so.cial.ism
Show Spelled Pronunciation [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Compare utopian socialism.

Origin:
1830–40; social + -ism

To McCain supporters, it's his way or socialism


Not wanting to make what they deserve from their hard physical and mental work, dedication to well I don't see much of that, do see workers giving only up to what the employer is willing to give them or not caring much at all, doing just enough to pass till payday.

Marx.ism
Show Spelled Pronunciation [mahrk-siz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
the system of economic and political thought developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, esp. the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society.

Alot of folks are looking back on what Marx and Engels were sellin and thinking hey they might have had something their, but like the so called 'conservatives' have done to the word 'liberal', many who denigrate haven't a clue what it means let alone even know 'conservative', have turned that word description into a dirty word, or they've tried while destroying 'conservative' and 'republican'.


And what are their wants:

fas.cism
Show Spelled Pronunciation [fash-iz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
3. (initial capital letter) a fascist movement, esp. the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
Origin:
1915–20; < It fascismo, equiv. to fasc(io) bundle, political group (see fasces ) + -ismo -ism

With a new descriptive word label coming soon from one of their think? tanks!!

Chomsky on the economy

Noam Chomsky: Current crisis demonstrates anti-democratic nature of financial system

October 21, 2008



In part two of their interview, Paul Jay asks Prof. Noam Chomsky to weigh-in on the dominant subject of the day, the economic crisis. While Prof. Chomsky agrees that the current crisis is a very serious one that will have broad implications for the broader society, he points out that the foreseeable Medicare-induced economic crisis will "dwarf" the current one in magnitude. Furthermore, Prof. Chomsky develops his contention that democracy is hindered by unrestrained free markets. While on the other hand, state-restricted markets are democratic by design in that they allow people take control--through their government--of financial institutions to force them to include externalities and risks to the broader population in their decision-making. These factors are such that profit-seeking enterprises will not accommodate them when left to their own volition, given that free markets do not put a price on these externalities.

The Real News Network Home

The Next Financial Mess!!

Dealing in Debt!!


Everyone, almost, is in a complete Rage at what is happening, and has been allowed to happen by not only soft regulation but the ease on any regulation in the Banking Industry, Morgage Industry, Wall Street, and in a Rage you should be.


But want a better picture of the who got us here any why, leave your computer and go to the nearest mirror and take a Good Hard Long Look at the reflection coming back, Yep Folks, it's most of you, and the rest of the shit hasn't yet hit the fan, but it's quickly coming!


Remember the clowns you hire to represent you in Washington, and local and state, are your clowns, you pay them.


Have been wondering why this hasn't been touched on in the Financial Crisis and Greed that's bringing down the House of Cards known as Wall Street!


ABC 'Nightline' finally brings it out in the light of day


Are Credit Card Companies Dealing in Debt? MBNA Insiders Question Former Employers' Practices.


But they only cover one side of this coin, the side us individuals only want to see, the other side.

You hear about the mortgage meltdown all the time, but as more and more Americans become saddled with huge credit card debt they cannot pay, the next crisis point may come in plastic. Last night, we brought you exclusive interviews with former credit card company employees trained to lead customers to take on more debt -- even if they couldn't handle it. Tonight, ABC News correspondent Vicki Mabrey takes a close look at what consumers need to do to protect themselves from a credit card crisis.

You can find the same video at the 'ABC Night Line' site link above.

Colombo said employees worked 10-hour shifts, four days a week and had set goals -- sell $25,000 an hour, which translates to $250,000 a day, $1 million a week, $4 million a month.

While these snakes go about their business, admit it folks, some of you welcome these offers of jacking up your line of credit, or quick borrowing, makes you feel richer and able to pickup more crap, or do things, that you don't need or couldn't do nor thought of doing.


How many of you have the newest do-dad that just came down the pike and is agressively advertised as a must have without telling you the why you must have while charging you a monthly fee that you seem to always be going over.

Americans owe $960 billion in credit card debit, according to the consumer advocacy group Americans for Fairness in Lending

.


While some are extremely wasteful it causes others to get into financial trouble just trying to exist:

On the other end of the phone were people like Josh and Jennifer Grant, parents of two young girls, Sierra and Sydney, who live in Waterville, Maine. Josh Grant is a self-employed trucker, Jennifer Grant works at a local hospital. They're $28,000 in debt.

Sitting at the family's kitchen table, Josh Grant pulled out his latest bill -- every few days he spends hundreds of dollars on fuel for his 22-wheel truck. He pays his bill weekly -- a total of $6,600 last month. But he spent $7,299 on fuel. That's how his bill grows -- not from spending on lavish dinners or expensive vacations, but from the high cost of diesel as he tries to make a living.

As he's showing"Nightline" the bill, we discover that he has gone $54 over his $21,000 credit limit -- and been charged a $39 over-limit fee.

"I didn't even see that, to be honest with you," he said. "When you get charged for being $50 over it's tough to swallow." They hope to pay off their debt in five to ten years. "That would be a good scenario," Jennifer Grant said.

Hitting Those Who Sacrifice for Country:

But what bothered Colombo most, she said, was being discouraged from telling military families that they were eligible -- by law -- to have their interest rates frozen at prime, currently 5 percent.

"We were told you cannot offer the Soldiers and Sailors Act rate unless they specifically ask. They must say 'Hi, I'm calling, my husband's on active duty, I'm aware of Soldiers and Sailors Act. What do I need to do?' But most Americans aren't aware of it," Colombo said.

Everyones got their stories and those are growing in numbers, rapidly, in the negative territory, and will only keep growing!


Those who fall for these economic policies, especially coming from the Right, Reagonomics, Trickle Down, Applauding the Wealthy as economic hero's as they grow even more so, are either totally ignorant of how this country and it's economy was built or understand that but think there's an easier way, with alot less physical and mental work, and we can spend spend spend without worries of bills bills bills.


Even the fools in residence, the White House and Much of Congress, thinks the World is always going to be Economically Rosy, No Problems.


Have a devestating Criminal Terrorist Attack, killing and maiming, "Hey Go Shopping Folks!".


Have Wars of Choice and Total Destruction of Others while Occupying, killing and maiming, "Hey Go Shopping Folks!".


Have everything Finally start collapsing, the house of empty air and cards falling, "Hey Go Shopping Folks!".


We once had an economy and workforce that was the envy of the world, we still live like we have that, actually we live and act like we have even more than that, but the facts prove different, but "Hey Go Shopping Folks!"
.

There's two political parties that share the power, which one preaches the false economics now collapsing, and have for years and implemented as they had the power, and which one enables!!