From Michelle Bachman: "I'll tell you one thing, if I was ever to run for president of the United States, I think the first thing I would do in the first debate is offer my birth certificate, so we can get that off the table." Don't worry, honey, we know there ain't any other country around that could produce a similarly "viable" Presidential candidate or that would see such a ridiculous "issue" crop up in the first place!
I know this is futile (RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! - that should have been my blog title), but seriously do we have to see SO much speculation, handicapping, and all that crap on the 2012 Prez election that is still EIGHTEEN MONTHS away? I mean jeez, a woman could get pregnant, have a baby, and do it all again another time! Fucking chill!
Well it certainly didn't take me long to chase off one of the (two) staff we had at Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly (oh yeah, we're working on re-branding!). Just as I was starting to fear that this young woman would be "difficult," she gave me a two-week notice as she had a "really good" offer to move on for more money. On the plus side, that means I will have selected 2 of the 3 folks helping me, so yay on that. (rubbing hands together evilly while thinking how to chase off the last one)
Okay, seriously now, are GOPigs so selfish and concerned with their tax breaks that this all-too-typical GOP front runner's comment isn't laughed all the way to the loser line: "Now is not the time for a president who wants to think; now is the time we need to act." - Rudy Giulani This is trumped only by Newt Gingrich's recent "Obama is weak! I would immediately institute a 'no-fly' zone over Libya," only to COMPLETELY reverse himself once Obama did that. Seriously, ANYONE that "respects" Newt Gingrich deserves as much scorn and ridicule as the man himself.
Here's an example of something ridiculously obvious and should be easy to fix to help CA's budget "difficulties" - apparently, the state hasn't been good about enforcing the maximum paid vacation time a retiring/fired/moving on state worker can collect. It's bad enough that the cap is 640 hours (or 16 fucking weeks!), but that recent individual hogs could collect over HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in unused vacation time in the past year, is just obscene. In fact, with an exception of something like 2 weeks, I don't see why we couldn't implement a "use it or lose it" policy for state workers in regards to vacation time. Vacation should be to help you rest & re-charge to be able to continue doing your job--not as a gravy train golden parachute.
BTW, can someone remind me why we're still kissing Pakistan's ass and sending them so much money? It's been WELL documented that the money and "aid" we're sending is being "re-directed" (i.e., stolen). They continue to threaten and imprison our people. They loathe and abuse us over there (barely 21% of the country has a decent opinion of the U.S.). And so on. I mean, seriously, I'm all about "helping thy neighbor" and what not - but not the neighbor that's stealing your shit, beating and killing you, and basically saying "Fuck you!" in response to your assistance. Is this supposed to be more change we can believe in? Oh wait, it's same old same old.
Moving west, isn't it nice how NATO/the U.S. has decided to help support the Libyan rebels? Lord knows, we gotta prop peeps that stand up against an oppressor - oh wait, it depends on if we "like" the oppressor. In Yemen, there is a very similar dynamic going on as in Libya - long-time despot (30+ years) dealing with daily protests and demands for his ouster, brutal crackdowns and attacks on his own people, etc. But you won't see us stepping in any time soon for a "no-fly" or similar over there. And why? Well, the Yemeni despot is a U.S. buddy/ally. Whew! Permission to continue persecuting your people granted, big guy! Shoot 'em up! Obama is too busy pressuring European "allies" to not prosecute Bush/Cheney for war crimes coz.....well......coz that would bring about change we can believe in. Can't have that.
Finally, although this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, I saw a really good analysis on the Tea Party, particularly the demographics of the folks involved, that basically sums up the "movement" as one of the selfish. Makes sense, then, for them to be in the "GOP Big Tent." Tea Partiers are overwhelmingly white, middle class, older, and employed--in other words, the demographic MOST likely to have health insurance already. We won't even mention their supposedly "Christian" identification since the selfishness they espouse is so VERY "un-Christian.
The article sums up their/GOP "anti-guvmint" policies as the distinction between the government that works for "us" and then that liberal government that "redistributes" to "them." For "us," we've already got our "Socialist" Medicare, our Social Security, our Defense contracts providing "make work" (i.e., welfare) jobs, etc. etc. etc.
But BY GAWD, if you try to give anything to "them" (i.e., non-white and/or poor), well then it's doomsday and it's time to get the guns and hurl the racial epithets and protest and mis-quote founding fathers, and threaten violence coz by golly by giving to "them" you just might, MIGHT, have to take something from "us," and by golly just cuzzin I go to church don't mean I really believe in that Socialist crap that Jesus spews. Humph!
3/16/11
Brought to you by the letter A
Assholes – is it just me or is there an increasing number of assholes these days? I’m being totally serious here. Latest example: just last night, I was crossing a street, with the light/little white walking pedestrian, and I was almost run over by a big ass 70s-style SUV turning the corner.
I stopped in surprise/fear/dread/etc., the guy barely stopped in time to avoid hitting me, and so I continue on my way, a quick glance and frown at him, and then walk off shaking my head, silently cursing Mr. Can’t-Be-Bothered-To-Pay-Attention, and he speeds around the corner and yells out something at me I can’t quite catch save for the word ??? but clearly slamming ME for having the effrontery to be in the crosswalk with the right of way when he needs to turn a corner. I mean, WTF? As “evil” as I am, when I fuck up like that, I at least have the decency to apologize or—at the very least—be abashed and do/say nothing. But no, this guy has to be an asshole about it. And, like I say, this is only a tame example, but the most recent.
I’m sure anyone reading this can up with more examples of recent dickhead behavior, but what I want to know is what is it that has led to this? I’m not naïve enough to think there have been halcyon days in the world when there were no assholes—and certainly never such a time in America—but it honestly does seem like the “per capita” percentage has increased. WHY?
Anger – sort of in conjunction with the above, and perhaps at least a possible explanation (or, alternately, simply a chicken-egg loop), is the marked and oft-noted explosion of ANGER. Everyone just gets SO. ANGRY. SO. EASILY.
I myself am admittedly guilty of this, but I am able to rationalize it thusly: the things that *I* get angry about are “bad” things like racism, homophobia, hypocrisy, torture, etc. Yet, incredibly, the people who rant and rage and vent their STUPENDOUS anger the most loudly are the very folks engaging in such things as I am angry about: hypocrisy, torture, etc. It’s kind of surreal.
Apples - Mmmmmm, Apples
Americans - I’m tired of people trying to play “the American card” when talking about immigrants or how Obama is trying to destroy the “real” America or whatever else seeps into the gaping maw that passes for their brain. And I’ve noticed that the people most often likely to play said American card are the ones who think they are the “real” Americans and people like me who complain about some of the outrageous things our country does should just “love it or leave it” and are obviously UN-American.
What makes it most appalling (to me me me) is that I could stack my “American credentials” up against virtually anyone in this country and come out on top: I have multiple branches of my family tree spreading back to the very early days of this country - in fact well before it even became a country! I’ve got German blood, Irish, Dutch, English, Austrian, Canadian, Scottish, etc. Hell, I even have Cherokee Indian blood on one side and am descended from Pocahontas on another! I’ve “served my country” (albeit in Peace Corps, not in the military), I’ve “progressed” from humble roots/living on welfare, I vote regularly, contact my elected representatives regularly, don’t bitch about paying my fair share in taxes to keep the country’s infrastructure and safety net going, etc. etc. etc.
And yet, SOMEHOW, *I* am “un-American” coz I want our leaders held accountable for illegal activities (conducting torture, leading us to war under false pretenses, etc.), because I think the Constitution actually does include such things as “promoting the general welfare” of our citizenry as laid out in the fucking preamble to the fucking document, coz I want our Democracy to be beholden more to the lesser amongst us rather than artificial entities like corporations. I mean, seriously, what am I missing here?
When did “American” suddenly start meaning “Angry Asshole”???
HUH?? WHEN??
(running from the room in tears)
I stopped in surprise/fear/dread/etc., the guy barely stopped in time to avoid hitting me, and so I continue on my way, a quick glance and frown at him, and then walk off shaking my head, silently cursing Mr. Can’t-Be-Bothered-To-Pay-Attention, and he speeds around the corner and yells out something at me I can’t quite catch save for the word ??? but clearly slamming ME for having the effrontery to be in the crosswalk with the right of way when he needs to turn a corner. I mean, WTF? As “evil” as I am, when I fuck up like that, I at least have the decency to apologize or—at the very least—be abashed and do/say nothing. But no, this guy has to be an asshole about it. And, like I say, this is only a tame example, but the most recent.
I’m sure anyone reading this can up with more examples of recent dickhead behavior, but what I want to know is what is it that has led to this? I’m not naïve enough to think there have been halcyon days in the world when there were no assholes—and certainly never such a time in America—but it honestly does seem like the “per capita” percentage has increased. WHY?
Anger – sort of in conjunction with the above, and perhaps at least a possible explanation (or, alternately, simply a chicken-egg loop), is the marked and oft-noted explosion of ANGER. Everyone just gets SO. ANGRY. SO. EASILY.
I myself am admittedly guilty of this, but I am able to rationalize it thusly: the things that *I* get angry about are “bad” things like racism, homophobia, hypocrisy, torture, etc. Yet, incredibly, the people who rant and rage and vent their STUPENDOUS anger the most loudly are the very folks engaging in such things as I am angry about: hypocrisy, torture, etc. It’s kind of surreal.
Apples - Mmmmmm, Apples
Americans - I’m tired of people trying to play “the American card” when talking about immigrants or how Obama is trying to destroy the “real” America or whatever else seeps into the gaping maw that passes for their brain. And I’ve noticed that the people most often likely to play said American card are the ones who think they are the “real” Americans and people like me who complain about some of the outrageous things our country does should just “love it or leave it” and are obviously UN-American.
What makes it most appalling (to me me me) is that I could stack my “American credentials” up against virtually anyone in this country and come out on top: I have multiple branches of my family tree spreading back to the very early days of this country - in fact well before it even became a country! I’ve got German blood, Irish, Dutch, English, Austrian, Canadian, Scottish, etc. Hell, I even have Cherokee Indian blood on one side and am descended from Pocahontas on another! I’ve “served my country” (albeit in Peace Corps, not in the military), I’ve “progressed” from humble roots/living on welfare, I vote regularly, contact my elected representatives regularly, don’t bitch about paying my fair share in taxes to keep the country’s infrastructure and safety net going, etc. etc. etc.
And yet, SOMEHOW, *I* am “un-American” coz I want our leaders held accountable for illegal activities (conducting torture, leading us to war under false pretenses, etc.), because I think the Constitution actually does include such things as “promoting the general welfare” of our citizenry as laid out in the fucking preamble to the fucking document, coz I want our Democracy to be beholden more to the lesser amongst us rather than artificial entities like corporations. I mean, seriously, what am I missing here?
When did “American” suddenly start meaning “Angry Asshole”???
HUH?? WHEN??
(running from the room in tears)
3/3/11
Economic Survivor - The Great Republican Shakedown
I saw this "great" editorial cartoon recently that showed a fat old white guy, standing on a beach with a Mai Tai, wearing a skirt/sarong entitled "Wall Street Wheeler Dealers" waving goodbye to a raft of "everyday folks" with a sail that said "Lost Jobs, Lost Homes, Lost Pensions."
The folks on the raft were saying "Why are WE voted off the island? HE is the one who burned down the village!" And a little GOP elephant replied, "He OWNS the island." And that just about sums it up, doesn't it? Let a black man steal a TV and by god he'll go to jail, but let a bunch of Wall Street fat cats destroy the lives of millions, and, well, they'll just get a bigger bonus!
Saw another one with CA Gov. Jerry Brown being asked "What about the 800 pound gorilla in the room?" to which he responds "Which gorilla is that?" as he's surrounded by several large gorillas, with labels like "Politics," "Prop 13," "Public Pensions," Prisons/Guards," "Initiative System," and "Voter Ignorance."
Personally, I think that last one sums it up and of course leads to all the rest. When Glen Beck is validated as a "news source," we're doomed to government of the ignorant, by the ignorant, for the ignorant.
In the meantime, it's not hard to see the long, thoughtful planning of the eternally-selfish Republicans: deregulate everything, then when business people destroy the economy, use the new crisis to say stuff like "We can't afford environmental protection! We can't afford unions! Or public broadcasting! Or renewable energy! Or trains! Or heating assistance! Or Americorps! Or legal aid! Or health care! Or or or whatever all else we never liked!"
While I like to paraphrase and borrow other folks' nice points, I have to quote at length here from a recent piece by Robert Reich (Clinton's Labor Secretary), as I think he sums it up pretty well:
The truth is that while the proximate cause of America’s economic plunge was Wall Street’s excesses leading up to the crash of 2008, its underlying cause — and the reason the economy continues to be lousy for most Americans — is so much income and wealth have been going to the very top that the vast majority no longer has the purchasing power to lift the economy out of its doldrums. American’s aren’t buying cars (they bought 17 million new cars in 2005, just 12 million last year). They’re not buying homes (7.5 million in 2005, 4.6 million last year). They’re not going to the malls (high-end retailers are booming, but Walmart’s sales are down).
Only the richest 5 percent of Americans are back in the stores, because their stock portfolios have soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has doubled from its crisis low. Wall Street pay is up to record levels. Total compensation and benefits at the 25 major Wall Street firms had been $130 billion in 2007, before the crash; now it’s close to $140 billion.
But a strong recovery can’t be built on the purchases of the richest 5 percent.
The truth is, if the super-rich paid their fair share of taxes, government wouldn’t be broke. If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker hadn’t handed out tax breaks to corporations and the well-off, Wisconsin wouldn’t be in a budget crisis. If Washington hadn’t extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich, eviscerated the estate tax, and created loopholes for private-equity and hedge-fund managers, the federal budget wouldn’t look nearly as bad.
And if America had higher marginal tax rates and more tax brackets at the top — for those raking in $1 million, $5 million, $15 million a year — the budget would look even better. We wouldn’t be firing teachers or slashing Medicaid or hurting the most vulnerable members of our society. We wouldn’t be in a tizzy over Social Security. We’d slow the rise in health-care costs, but we wouldn’t cut Medicare. We’d cut defense spending and lop off subsidies to giant agribusinesses, but we wouldn’t view the government as our national nemesis.
The final truth is, as income and wealth have risen to the top, so has political power. The reason all of this is proving so difficult to get across is the super-rich, such as the Koch brothers, have been using their billions to corrupt politics, hoodwink the public, and enlarge and entrench their outsized fortunes. They’re bankrolling Republicans, who are mounting showdowns and threatening shutdowns, and who want the public to believe government spending is the problem.
They are behind the Republican shakedown.
These are the truths that Democrats must start telling, and soon. Otherwise the Republican shakedown may well succeed.
The folks on the raft were saying "Why are WE voted off the island? HE is the one who burned down the village!" And a little GOP elephant replied, "He OWNS the island." And that just about sums it up, doesn't it? Let a black man steal a TV and by god he'll go to jail, but let a bunch of Wall Street fat cats destroy the lives of millions, and, well, they'll just get a bigger bonus!
Saw another one with CA Gov. Jerry Brown being asked "What about the 800 pound gorilla in the room?" to which he responds "Which gorilla is that?" as he's surrounded by several large gorillas, with labels like "Politics," "Prop 13," "Public Pensions," Prisons/Guards," "Initiative System," and "Voter Ignorance."
Personally, I think that last one sums it up and of course leads to all the rest. When Glen Beck is validated as a "news source," we're doomed to government of the ignorant, by the ignorant, for the ignorant.
In the meantime, it's not hard to see the long, thoughtful planning of the eternally-selfish Republicans: deregulate everything, then when business people destroy the economy, use the new crisis to say stuff like "We can't afford environmental protection! We can't afford unions! Or public broadcasting! Or renewable energy! Or trains! Or heating assistance! Or Americorps! Or legal aid! Or health care! Or or or whatever all else we never liked!"
While I like to paraphrase and borrow other folks' nice points, I have to quote at length here from a recent piece by Robert Reich (Clinton's Labor Secretary), as I think he sums it up pretty well:
The truth is that while the proximate cause of America’s economic plunge was Wall Street’s excesses leading up to the crash of 2008, its underlying cause — and the reason the economy continues to be lousy for most Americans — is so much income and wealth have been going to the very top that the vast majority no longer has the purchasing power to lift the economy out of its doldrums. American’s aren’t buying cars (they bought 17 million new cars in 2005, just 12 million last year). They’re not buying homes (7.5 million in 2005, 4.6 million last year). They’re not going to the malls (high-end retailers are booming, but Walmart’s sales are down).
Only the richest 5 percent of Americans are back in the stores, because their stock portfolios have soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has doubled from its crisis low. Wall Street pay is up to record levels. Total compensation and benefits at the 25 major Wall Street firms had been $130 billion in 2007, before the crash; now it’s close to $140 billion.
But a strong recovery can’t be built on the purchases of the richest 5 percent.
The truth is, if the super-rich paid their fair share of taxes, government wouldn’t be broke. If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker hadn’t handed out tax breaks to corporations and the well-off, Wisconsin wouldn’t be in a budget crisis. If Washington hadn’t extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich, eviscerated the estate tax, and created loopholes for private-equity and hedge-fund managers, the federal budget wouldn’t look nearly as bad.
And if America had higher marginal tax rates and more tax brackets at the top — for those raking in $1 million, $5 million, $15 million a year — the budget would look even better. We wouldn’t be firing teachers or slashing Medicaid or hurting the most vulnerable members of our society. We wouldn’t be in a tizzy over Social Security. We’d slow the rise in health-care costs, but we wouldn’t cut Medicare. We’d cut defense spending and lop off subsidies to giant agribusinesses, but we wouldn’t view the government as our national nemesis.
The final truth is, as income and wealth have risen to the top, so has political power. The reason all of this is proving so difficult to get across is the super-rich, such as the Koch brothers, have been using their billions to corrupt politics, hoodwink the public, and enlarge and entrench their outsized fortunes. They’re bankrolling Republicans, who are mounting showdowns and threatening shutdowns, and who want the public to believe government spending is the problem.
They are behind the Republican shakedown.
These are the truths that Democrats must start telling, and soon. Otherwise the Republican shakedown may well succeed.
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