Showing posts with label finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finance. Show all posts

Friday, March 26, 2010

WHAT THE NEW U.S. HEALTH CARE LAW SAYS & MEANS

Regardless of the political rhetoric an hype, the middle-class [ those with annual earnings between $35,000. and $88,000. ] as always, will shoulder the burden and pay the price for Health Care reform. The HC Bill does not prevent Health insurers from increasing premiums related to rising health and prescription drug costs, and mandates substantial new risks that insurers will translate into significant premium increases. Let's face reality, something Congress fails to do when passing legislation. The new law mandates that folks cannot be excluded because of preexisting conditions AND eliminates caps on payouts for care. Sounds great, but the reality is that Health Insurers are in business, a business for PROFIT, even through technically incorporated as a non-profit. The bottom line: premiums are going to SKYROCKET !!!

Congress says “...don't worry middle class and poor...” we have you covered; we will subsidize your health care premium costs, on a sliding scale, of course; less for the family making $88,000 annually, more for the family making $30,000 or less annually, by taxing the rich, defined as those making more then $200,000.00 annually. Sounds great, but Congress and most U.S. High School graduates are not good at math. Using government figures this translates into around 900,000 high earners who will be subject to a 3.8% tax generating at best $ 3 billion to 3.5 billion in added revenue. This new tax will be a drop in the bucket when the costs of adding 31 million now uninsured, plus an additional 12 million who will become uninsured ( as a result of the recession and unemployment ); 41 million NEW insureds. In the next two years ( 2012) there is a probability of immigration reform, that will add an additional 20 million to the subsidy roll. The realistic number of persons entitled to a government health subsidy( your taxpayer dollars ) by 2014, jumps to 63 million.

Under the new law, the average family of four ( 4 ) minimum monthly health insurance premium will be in the $1000.00 range; $12,000. 00 a year plus co-pays. 75% of the new 63 million enrollees' will be subsidized; 47million 250thousand ( 47, 250,000 ) x ( times ) a 50% subsidy means the government (you the taxpayer via Congress) will have to come up with a minimum of $2 trillion 835 billion dollars by 2014 to fund the program, and this does NOT INCLUDE the costs of medicare.

The other reality is that by 2012, according to U.S. Government figures, 23% of the U.S. Population ( estimated to be 350 million ) will be over 65 years of age and on medicare: 80 million 500 thousand medicare beneficiaries. Even by CUTTING MEDICARE payments to $6,000 per year per senior [ currently around $9900.00 a year per medicare senior is paid to Medicare Advantage providers ] and by REDUCING COVERAGE[to bare bones/guaranteeing early death ] the government will have to come up with an additional $ 483 billion dollars pushing the 2014 deficit to OVER $3,200,000,000,000.00 TRILLION FOR HEALTH CARE ALONE.

How about coverage: on PAPER everyone will have coverage; but try and find a M.D. who will accept the medicaid or medicare payment as total payment for his or her bill. Go on, go ask your doctor.

Crank up the presses, the dollar........ will it be worth 10 cents ? What is our banker ( China ) going to say ? Hello, … another bankrupt nation headed toward third world status.

Monday, July 27, 2009

“Israel to Bomb Iran - A story of the trail that wags the dog”

The Obama administration is learning that it is the tail ( Israel ) that wags the dog ( U.S.A. ) when it comes to the middle-east, flow of oil, and world finances.
Israel, since it's recognition in 1947, by then U.S. President Harry Truman, as a de-facto State of the U.S., has received more U.S. aid and subsidies than any other U.S. State and virtually every other Nation. In direct U.S. aid, Israel has received well over $400 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars; in addition, the U.S. has provided Israel with nuclear technology and military ordinance worth the billions of dollars. Bottom line, Israel is the most powerful U.S. State and is U.S. proxy abroad.

As the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates indicates, the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and his Defense Chief Ehud Barak, intend to bomb Iran, resulting in the interruption of the flow of Iranian oil to China and other Asian customers. Israel is U.S. foreign policy. The bombing of Iran will interrupt oil flow and markets, permanently de-stabilize the middle-east with U.S. troop occupation for the foreseeable future. The world will be plunged into a full blown financial depression.

What is amazing is the silence of China. China stands to lose the most, politically and financially, from this planned chaos. One would think that China would assert itself as a world power, enter into defense/security agreements with Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc. ( fashioned after U.S. /NATO agreements ) and deploy troops and equipment accordingly, in order to check Israel, prevent the further de-stabilization of the middle-east, and to avert civilian catastrophe in the making. The Israeli bombing of Iran will trigger the collapse of world financial regimes, rendering the dollar of little value, and substantially diminishing the value of dollar assets held by China.

China has been reluctant to assume the roll of "peace maker" in a world tumbling into disorder under the leadership of the U.S. The U.S. thrives on and cultivates chaos and disorder. There is no single nation, with the exception of China, that has the capability of bringing order and common sense to the bargaining table. Hopefully, China will recognize it's roll and responsibility as "peace maker" before it is to late; now, appears appropriate.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

G-20 HUFF & PUFF

The G-20 meeting has accomplished little to nothing toward resolving the global financial discord. One major stumbling block is the U.S. posture and neo-Keynesian approach to resolving the U.S. recession, stimulus ( government ) spending. As the main world reserve currency, the U.S. dollars use impacts global trade and the value of all other currencies in play. The U.S. posture and U.S. resistance to the regulatory approach favored by most European and Asian nations, is the harbinger of a prolonged global recession now cascading to depression.

Had the U.S. approached the G-20 with an open minded plan, some agreement may have been possible at the March meeting. Instead the U.S. appeared armed with Obama rhetoric and good will, but no acceptable "plan" to address world concerns.

In November, 2008, as the ugly head of recession was prominent in the U.S., common sense and straight forward suggestions were posed to the U.S. congress: Cap interest rates at 12 % simple interest per annum, 6 % on 20 year home loans; eliminate "day trading", and require that stocks be held for a minimum of 13 months; restrict commodities trading to end users only; limit financial instruments to traditional stocks and bonds; repeal Pub.Law 106-554(1)(a)(5) [ Commodities Futures Modernization Act ] and re-institute Glass-Steagall [ Banking Act of 1933 ] provisions. In addition, it was suggested to the U.S. congress, that there be modifications to the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, requiring among other things, that banks rates have a universal rate range of .05% and minimum reserve requirements of 20% be established.

Had the U.S. appeared and presented G-20 members with a "plan" based on components designed to stabilize financial markets, e.g., retail interest cap, central bank rate range of .05%, elimination of " day-trading" of stocks, and restriction of commodities trading to end users, there may well have been something concrete and tranquilizing emerging from the G-20, March, 2009, meeting. As it is, G-20 accomplished little except as a format for G-20 leaders to get to know President Obama. World financial markets remain in disarray, as the global recession deepens giving rise to political instability in certain G-20 participants. What a mess the U.S. Congress has gotten the world into.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

THE TEMPORARY WORKER

The U.S. is writing a new chapter in the book of employment. The global financial crisis created by unregulated private U.S. financial sector interests is raising havoc not only with the lifestyles of hundreds of millions around the world, but on what has been traditionally thought of as employment. Gone forever are the days when a U.S. worker could expect to be employed by a private company for ten (10), fifteen (15) years or longer. Retirement from a single employer ( except for government jobs ) has become virtually extinct. The U.S. and parts of the world that follow the U.S. model are now embarking on the path of the " TEMPORARY WORKER ".

The " temporary worker " bodes well for U.S. companies and foreign firms that follow U.S. models, in that "retirement " no longer presents a "cost" to the company. Federal, State and Local Governments will survive as the refuge for employee "retirement". This shift will be reflected in the increasing "cost" of government that translates directly into increased taxes on the population in general.

Taxes and the increased "cost" of government reduce, and do not contribute to real GDP. Employment by governmental entities, is not productive nor market employment, because taxes are not optional. Market forces, and choice, play no part in government employment. And, unlike other enlightened countries, the U.S. has an open border, open employment policy: if you get to the U.S., you can be employed. This new era, ushered in by the current recession (depression) provides the foundation for the new "temporary worker" status for all U.S. private sector workers. It includes employment created by American Recovery Act deficit spending as the employment by private firms contracted for "stimulus" programs only lasts as long as Washington continues to dole out money. Such employment is "temporary" and will not create a climate for real jobs in the private sector. All one has to do is look at the data complied by good old "Uncle Sam" over the past 10 years. The fastest growing sector in the U.S. is government related jobs, i.e., the U.S. has become the land of BIG GOVERNMENT.

The new "temporary worker" will have little job security, and therefore, will live, as many U.S. workers now do, on a pay-check-to-pay check basis. Banking and credit institutions will have to adjust lending practices accordingly. The idea if home ownership and a 20 or 30 year mortgage predicated on a steady income stream, will likely fall by the way side except for the wealthiest 1% to 2% of the population. In short, the U.S. will retreat to lifestyles and expectations reminiscent of 1910. Although this is not the aim of the Obama administration and U.S. congress, will become the reality as a consequent of their misguided actions. The surviving private sector will continue to struggle to underwrite the increasing cost of Big Government, and will fill diminished ranks of workers from the increased pool of "temporary workers" though-out the world decreasing the hourly value and wage of every worker, and significantly reducing the employment of U.S. citizens.

Don't tear up, nostalgia aside, HELLO ....TEMPORARY WORKERS !

Monday, March 9, 2009

TO BIG TO FAIL

Washington has overlooked and continues to ignore the part the failure to enforce U.S. Anti-Trust laws [ 15 U.S.C. 1 et.seq. ] has played in the economic collapse ( current recession/depression ) of the U.S. and the collateral damage it has caused to the world community. As far back as 1890 [ Sherman Act ] it was recognized that a company or corporation could grow to a point of suffocating free markets. Since the 1960's Washington has been a rudderless ship when it comes to preventing acquisitions and mergers that tend to create monopolies that stifle free markets; and, this failure has lead to the creation of the " TO BIG TO FAIL " now U.S. Government/Taxpayer bail out of the likes of AIG, Wall-Street, Big Banks and G.M. U.S. politics and ideological differences prevented the U.S. from vigorously enforcing Anti-Trust laws long on the books. Main-street U.S.A. and the average Joe & Jane of other nations have paid the price of U.S. Government lethargy.

Had Washington enforced anti-trust laws long on the books [ Sherman Act 1890;Clayton Act 1914 ] AIG, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, CityBank etc. would never have grown to the size that would imperil the U.S. "TO BIG TO FAIL" taxpayer bail-out would never have come into play. Fingers continue to point to the U.S. housing bubble, and sub-prime mortgage collapse as the cause of the current economic crisis. These were indeed factors and the probable trigger for the current crisis. However, had the U.S. anti-trust laws been vigorously enforced mega-banks (Bank of America ) and mega insurance and financial institutions (AIG, Goldman Sachs, etc. ) would never have achieved the size and dominance to significantly impact the U.S. and world economies. Size does matter, bigger is not better; by containing the size of institutions, not only is competition enhanced, but the failure of a single institution will not cause market collapse.

There is entirely too much outside political influence in Washington ( lobbyists, PAC's, etc. ) for the U.S. to function except at a remedial level, far below what is required to effectively be a leader in today's world.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

United States the Pied Piper of Financial Doom

by http://socrates911.blogspot.com


The world is aware that the United States suffered a depression in the 1930's which resulted in a number of Congressional regulatory acts [ Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 included ], complimenting existing Anti-Trust laws, and designed to prevent a future financial collapse in the U.S.A.

Full implementation of these regulatory acts occurred after WWII, and provided a basis of stability for U.S. banks and financial institutions. As banks, financial institutions and corporations gained political influence over Washington, the regulators became, under political pressure from both Democrats and Republicans, lax in the enforcement of these 1890-1936 laws. Beginning with the Reagan administration, there was increased pressure to " deregulate ". Laws that allowed the U.S. to become the Pied Piper of the world, financial world in particular, were increasingly modified or repealed during the ensuing years 1960-2005. The U.S. enjoyed economic prosperity previously unknown in the world, enticing foreign governments, banks, financial institutions and investors to " buy in " and finance the "AMERICAN DREAM " by purchasing financial contrivances dreamed-up by Wall Street, and continuing to buy U.S. Government, Treasury issues.

The lesson learned, follow the U.S. Pied Piper and you will be doomed.
Unless and until the U.S. re-enacts bank and financial regulatory legislation created in the 1930's and strictly enforces the Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts preventing mergers, the U.S., regardless of any "stimulus" Washington conjures up, will not be able to pull itself out of the depression it now faces. The rest of the world and particularly the remaining members of the G8 ( minus the U.S. = G7 ) need to develop compacts independent of the U.S. The U.S. is no longer the leader and has little to offer other nations except to buy U.S. debt so that the U.S. can purse its narcissistic interests and military objectives.

What the U.S. needs to do, but does not have the Congressional will to do, is to “man-up” to the fact that it alone has lead fellow G8 nations and other less fortunate nations, to the brink of financial collapse. The U.S. needs to co-ordinate its Anti-Trust laws, bank, financial and insurance regulations and regulatory agencies with those of other G8 nations. Agree on central bank borrowing rates that are within 1/2 % of rates established by other G8 Central banks, agree on a universal retail interest cap at 12% simple interest, and restrict the sale, assignment, transfer of stock and financial instruments, including commodity contracts, requiring, among other things, that stocks, bonds, warrants and the like must be held for a period of not less then 13 months. One of the main, but little discussed components, of the global financial mess the U.S. has created, was and is market volatility. Mechanisms to stabilize global financial markets will be necessary before there can be any true recovery. The U.S. “stimulus” is inward looking, and makes no provision for new and required stability and regulatory mechanisms; the caveat to the rest of the G8 club, and other nations, is to look else ware for leadership.

Monday, February 9, 2009

PERSPECTIVE IS LACKING IN THE OBAMA "STIMULUS"

President Obama does not need to tell main-street U.S.A. that the U.S. is experiencing HARD TIMES and that their immediate future is bleak. The average U.S. citizen is living the nightmare. Everyone understands that something needs to be done; accordingly, citizens look to Washington for answers. But lets look the data that President Obama is presenting: an $800 billion, now $900 billion, and, with interest carry, over $1.3 to $1.6 trillion "stimulus" on top of the $700 billion passed TARP program of 2008, added to the $126 billion 2008, AIG bail-out.

Some perspective is needed: it took George Bush 8 years to run up the U.S. National debt to $1.2 trillion dollars. President Obama has been in office for 21 days and proposes that we MORE THEN DOUBLE the national debt. So, rhetoric aside, what does this mean. It means, among other things, that the U.S. dollar, your and my savings, Social Security and other benefits have been devalued, i.e., it will take more dollars to buy the same food, fuel, medical and health services then it did in 2008.

President Obama, and Congress will not pin-point the number of private sector jobs that will actually be created by DOUBLING the national debt. Rhetoric should not be confused with actual private sector job creation. Government jobs, because they are directly taxpayer funded, actually add to the national debt, and do not contribute to the economic growth of the U.S. We are headed to 15% nationwide unemployment; Obama pontificates that the "stimulus" will create 4 million jobs. If we take a slim $800 billion as the proposed "stimulus" package base figure, and assuming that 4 million jobs will be created, that means that it will take $200,000.00 for each job created. Wouldn't be much simpler to pay each unemployed head of household $50,000.00 to pay off their debts and bills ? That would amount a treasury expenditure of a mere $ 200 billion and it actually help troubled homeowners, plus save the taxpayers over $600 billion. Another thought, would be to suspend the payment of Federal Income taxes for everyone making under $250,000.00 a year, for one (1) year, a tax holiday ? No treasury expenditure required; yet talk about "stimulus ".

We all know Washington is not composed of the best, brightest or even those with common sense. That is why the Obama/Pelosi "stimulus" consists of over 650 pages, of loop holes, so persons and business other then the average main-street U.S. citizen (we are the one's suffering) and those with political influence can get the "big" pay-off. The "stimulus" bill proposed by the Obama/Pelosi team is nothing more then a ruse, to direct taxpayer funds to privileged persons, corporations, States and Cities with the right political connections, just as the TARP bail-out of the Bush administration was designed to benefit those on Wall-Street and in the banking community who pushed the U.S. economy off-the-cliff. In short, it is Washington doing business as usual.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

TO THE POINT 6 page STIMULUS - 650+ page HR #1 is GARBAGE

SHORT TITLE - [ DRAFT ] RECOVERY & MODERNIZATION ACT

1.0- PREAMBLE: The Constitution of the United State of America provides that citizens and voters of the United States shall govern and rule by an through duly elected representatives. Article I, Section 8, Subsections 1- 6, and subsection 18, vest Congress with the power and duty to control the money, credit and commerce of the United States, this power was intentionally with-held from the Executive Branch and President of the United States.

2.0- PURPOSE - Emergency: Congress and the citizenry of the United States have been confronted with an unprecedented financial crisis, affecting the value of the dollar, the stability of domestic and world markets, and adversely impacting the public, health, safety and welfare of the United States and its citizenry. These circumstances are declared an Emergency requiring Congress to immediately act to protect and preserve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the United States; and to so do, requires the re-structure Federal agencies and the regulation of banks, financial and credit institutions, and related markets; accordingly, any and all laws that are inconsistent with the purpose and/or provisions of the Act, including but not limited to Public Law 110-343 and P.L. 106-554 are, by this declaration, hereby expressly revoked, terminated, amended and/or modified, as may be required, so as not to be contrary to and/or inconsistent herewith.

2.1 - EFFECTIVE DATE: This Act shall be and immediately become law, in effect, on the day and date of the signature of the President, or any veto over- ride by Congress.

2.1. 01 -Expenditure Pre-Approval Required : The payment, expenditure and
/or disbursement of any funds, credits, monies, sums and/or amounts by the Secretary of the Treasury as authorized by Public Law 110-343 are hereby expressly terminated, and any further or future payments, expenditures and/or disbursements of U.S. Treasury funds, credits, monies, sums or amounts per Public Law 110-343 shall, on a case by case draw basis, require the prior written approval of any expenditure in excess of twenty-five million dollars, from a Special Joint Senate-House sub-committee composed of four (4) members ( 2 Democrats/2 Republicans). The Secretary of Treasury shall, on a case by case specific dollar amount request basis , present to said Special Joint Senate-House sub- committee details, terms and conditions, specific uses and purposes for the loan of Treasury funds to specific identified corporations and/or entities, together with a GAO assessment as to likely hood of repayment by the debtor entity or entities.
FURTHER, no draw against Treasury /Taxpayer funds duly appropriated by Congress, shall be authorized without the case-by-case pre-approval by said Special Joint Senate-House sub-committee as provided herein. This pre- approval provision shall not apply to States and/or public entitles with regard to appropriations for Public infrastructure projects.
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3.1 - Existing APR and Sub-Prime Mortgages: It shall be unlawful for any bank, company, entity or person, for a period of 3 years from the date of this Act, to charge or collect any interest on such indebtedness that exceeds the original rate charged to the U.S. citizen home borrower; further, after three years, the maximum adjusted interest that may be lawfully charged on such home, provided the original U.S. citizen debtor actually uses and occupies the home as his or her sole residence, shall be limited to 6% simple interest, and the overall term of the loan shall be limited to 20 years; the full amount of which home loan shall become due and payable on the sale, transfer, rental, lease, or vacating of the home as the sole and only residence of the original U.S. citizen debtor.

3.1.01 - Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae: Mortgages, Deeds of Trust or other security instruments held by, or for the benefit of Freddie Mac and Fannie May, on individual homes used and occupied as the sole and only residence of U.S. citizens within the United States, when in default, but before foreclosure, abandonment or surrender by the citizen debtor occupant, shall be entitled to consideration for enrollment in a "Rent to Own" re-negotiation of the original debt incurred for the purchase of said Home.
(a) - Basic Structure of Rent to Own: Rent to Own is an option for qualified
U.S. citizens who are in default and faced with foreclosure ( requiring them and family to move out of their only home and residence) of properties in which Freddie Mac and/or Fannie Mae have an interest. Prior to foreclosure
Freddie Mac and/or Fannie Mae shall review the financial positions of U.S. citizen debtors in default to determine a realistic monthly payment, to be denominated "rent", considering the current market rate for comparable
rental properties and the citizen debtors ability to pay; in the event appropriate terms that will allow the citizen debtor and family to remain in the subject home ( which shall be occupied as the citizens debtors only residence ) can be achieved, then the subject citizen debtor shall execute a Warranty, Grant Deed other Deed fully re-conveying title to the home residence to Freddie Mac and/or Fannie Mae, and Freddie or Fannie then shall extend to the citizen a three (3) year Rental Agreement with option to re-purchase said home, at a price equal to the outstanding balance of the original loan on said residence.

3.2 - Federal Usury : It is hereby unlawful for any institution, bank, credit card company or affiliates, person or entity to charge more then 12% simple interest for any consumer loan or extension of consumer credit to any person in the U.S., and/or to impose fees that exceed the 12% limitation. and any amounts that exceed such limitation shall be void. Violations of this sub-section are defined as "racketeering" subjecting any violator to the penalties and provisions set-forth in 18 U.S.C. & Pub.Lw.98-473, together with any civil penalties and/or causes of action that may be applicable under the state laws where the debtor resides.

3.3 - Stock & Commodities Markets: It shall be unlawful to trade, barter, sell, pledge or hypothecate stock or stock certificates in or within the United States, or in any company, corporation, entity, or person doing business in or with the United States, that are held for a period of less than 13 months; FURTHER, it shall be unlawful for any company, corporation, entity, or person doing business in or with the United States that is not the end user to trade, barter, sell, assign, or pledge commodities or contracts.
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3.3.1- Violations: The RICO ACT, 18 U.S.C. #1951-1968 is amended to include Section 3.1, 3.2, & 3.3 hereof as a definition of racketeering subjecting any violator, to the penalties provisions of 18 U.S.C. and/or all property and assets, obtained or suspected to be obtained by or related to any violation of section 3.1, 3.2 AND 3.3 of this act shall be fully subject to the Civil Forfeiture Provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1982, Pub.L. 98-473, as amended. Further, the standard of proof shall be based on the preponderance of evidence and court decisions, laws or provisions to the contrary are hereby declared null and void and of no force effect whatsoever.

4.0 - EXTENSION OF MONEY AND/OR CREDIT OF THE UNITED STATES OR U.S. TREASURY: NO MONEY,CREDIT OR GUARANTEE OF THE UNITED STATES OR U.S. TREASURY SHALL BE EXTENDED TO ANY PRIVATE BANK, FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, COMPANY, ENTITY OR PERSON EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS:
4.1- Security Required: No loan, extension of credit, or guarantee of the United States shall be extended to any bank, financial institution, company, entity or person except on the basis of a dollar-for-dollar security for the same in the form tangible personal or real property located within the United States having a real mark to market value, minus 15%, equal to the base amount of the loan, credit or guarantee extended by the U.S. Treasury. The cost of any such loan, credit or guarantee of the United States, shall include the full costs of administration of any such loan, credit extension or guarantee.

4.1.01 - Other Terms of Loan, Extension of Credit or Guarantee: The maximum period of any loan, credit or guarantee of the United States shall be limited to an cumulative total of no more then five (5 ) calendar years. Any and all banks, financial institutions, companies, entities or persons qualifying for and extended any loan, credit or guarantee of the United States, shall file tax annual tax returns and render accounting on calendar year ( January 1 to December 31 ) basis. Accrual accounting or reporting shall be unlawful and is hereby defined as " racketeering " subject to the provisions and penalties and civil forfeiture as provided by 18 U.S.C. #1951-1968 & Pub.Lw. 98-473;
further, any and all loans, extensions of credit and/or guarantees of the United States extended to any qualified bank, financial institution, company, entity or person, shall bear interest at not less then 1.5% above the Federal Reserve bank rate, and such interest shall be paid to the U.S. Treasury on a monthly basis during the period of the loan, extension of credit or guarantee Any default on the monthly payment of interest to the US. Treasury, or default on the repayment of the principle shall result in the automatic forfeiture, by confession of judgment, off all security for the loan, extension of credit or guarantee.
a) Compensation Limitations: During the period of any loan, extension of credit or guarantee of the U.S., every Board of Directors member of any borrower shall serve without pay, compensation or per diem, and the highest executive salary paid shall not exceed the U.S. Government Service, GS 15 amount. Violation of this sub-section is hereby declared and defined as " racketeering " subject to the provisions and penalties and civil forfeiture as provided by 18 U.S.C. #1951-1968 & P.L. 98-473.
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4.1.02 - Qualified Security: Qualified security for any loan, credit extension or guarantee of the United States extended to any bank, financial institution, company, entity or person, shall be all tangible, physical assets, personal and/or real property located or situated in the United States in which any CEO, CFO, President, Executive Vice President, and any Board of Directors member serving any bank, financial institution, company, entity or person seeking a loan, money, credit or guarantee from the United States, between the years 2002- 2008, has any interest in; AND/OR, the stock, warrants, options, bonds, real and personal property of said banks, financial institutions, companies, entities and/or persons. When socks and/or warrants are pledged and encumbered as a qualified security, the Treasury Department shall prepare and hold properly executed subordinated convertible debentures for controlling voting and ownership rights to and in said stock, warrants, options of such entities extended money, credit or guarantees of the United States.

5.0 - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [F.D.I.C. ] Coverage Increases: Existing laws, rules and/or regulations providing qualified banks and institutions with F.D.I.C. insurance coverage are hereby amended, by this reference, and coverage is increased to $250,000.00 per individual, per account, per bank or institution, and increased to $500,000.00 on retirement , IRA and/or Roth accounts.

The Secretary of Treasury and head of the F.D.I.C. are hereby directed to immediately extend coverage to all qualified institutions for individual and personal account coverage in and to the foregoing limits, and modify rules and regulations as necessary to provided for the same, and the premiums paid to the F.D.I.C. by qualified institutions for F.D.I.C. accounts shall accordingly be raised. Further, the Secretary of Treasury and the F.D.I.C. are hereby directed to modify, amend or enact such other rules and regulations as may necessary to implement account coverage increases consistent with this Act.

6.0 - Unemployment Compensation Extension - 12 months : Existing laws, rules and /or regulations providing of unemployment compensation, by this reference, are hereby modified to extend existing compensation to qualified U.S. citizens for an additional twelve ( 12 ) twelve consecutive months; and to extend equal compensation to U.S. citizens who become unemployed subsequent to the passage of this act, and who are otherwise qualified to receive unemployment compensation.

6.1 - U.S. Citizens receiving unemployment compensation shall also be eligible to receive food stamps and Medicare concurrent with their receipt of unemployment compensation

7.0 - Infrastructure Renewal & Improvement: Within 30 days after this act becomes law, States may submit specific proposals, including a list of contractors, construction
Page 4 of 6//// DRAFT/ RECOVERY & MODERNIZATION

blueprints, and costs for repairs and/or improvements to the Federal Interstate Highway system within said State. Priority shall be given to Federal Interstate Highway project within the limits of appropriations provided in this act for infrastructure renewal. All submittals under this section shall be made to the Secretary of Treasury.

7.1 - Other Public Works Projects: within 180 days after this act becomes law, and subject to the availability of unused appropriations, Cities, Towns and other public entities may submit specific proposals, including a list of contractors, construction blueprints, and costs for repairs and/or improvements to public works within said City, Town or public entity.

7.2 - Public Safety - within 30 days after this act becomes law States, Cities, Towns and other public agencies, subject to the availability of unused appropriations, may submit specific proposals including costs and numbers of police, firefighters and emergency responders that will be provided.

8.0 - Alternative Energy: It is hereby mandated that the U.S. shall become energy
independent by 2019. Energy independence means, for the purposes of this act,
that the U.S. shall import from foreign sources, no more then 15% of its energy, and/or fuels needs. In order to achieve energy independence Congress directs and authorizes
the Secretary of Treasury to receive proposals for U.S. engineered, designed and built projects, facilities and products to attain energy independence; further, the Secretary of Treasury is directed to modify and amend the Tax Code, rules and regulations
to provided for, among others that may be appropriate, to following tax credits.

8.1 - Dollar-for- Dollars federal tax credits shall be provided to each individual
and business for costs of the conversion of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles to compressed natural gas ( CNG ), hydrogen, electric power and for the instillation of machinery and equipment to provide natural gas ( CNG ), hydrogen, electric power for vehicles along the Federal Interstate Highway system, and public highways and roadways within the United States.

8.2 - Public Utilities : Regulated Public Utilities within the U.S. shall be given a 75% federal tax credit for the construction, retro-fitting, and or conversion of electric power generation facilities to solar, wind, clean coal; and the same 75% federal tax credits shall be available to any U.S. business and/or U.S. citizen that coverts to existing facilities, including but not limited to residential, farm, businesses, to use solar, wind, or alternative bio-mass fuel, for power.

9.0 - Citizen Tax Relief : U.S. citizens residing within the United States shall be immediately entitled to the following tax relief for the tax years 2008, 2009, 2010,2011, 2012:
9.1 - The Alternative Minimum Tax and rules and regulations related thereto
are hereby abolished. Further, individuals who's gross adjusted income exceeds $250,000.00 per year shall pay 20% tax on all income exceeding $250,000.00;
9.2 - Losses: Individuals and businesses commencing with tax year 2008, shall be entitled to write off up to $250,000.00 per year for losses, against income, and carry unused losses forward to tax years 2009-2012;
Page 5 of 6///// DRAFT/ RECOVERY & MODERNIZATION

9.3 - Education Tax Credits: Individual U.S. Citizens shall be entitled to take year 2008-2012 a $2000.00 per year per individual or dependent, tax credit against income for tuition paid to a U.S. accredited school, technical institution, college or university, this credit shall apply to primary, K-12, accredited schools, as well as accredited extended learning institutions.

10.0 - APPROPRIATIONS: The following appropriations of treasury funds are hereby authorized and approved to fund the provisions of this act as hereby provided.

10.1 - General Appropriation of $_____________________ as a drawing
account for the express purposes provided for in this act.

10.1.01 - Limitations:
(a) Lending to private institutions, including U.S. banks, financial services,
and corporations maximum consolidated limited to $______________;
(b) Unemployment Compensation & Medicare Coverage for unemployed
$______________;
(c) Infrastructure Renewal and Improvement................$______________;
(d) Alternative Energy ..................................................$______________;

11.0 - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST : It is hereby enacted and declared unlawful for any individual and/or person who is an official of or employed by the U.S. Government and/or any agency or sub-division, or agency sub-contractor, to have any financial or other interest, direct or indirect, of any kind and or nature whatsoever, in any company, corporation, financial institution, or entity that is granted a loan, extension of credit or guarantee of or from the U.S. Treasury, or Government.

11.1 - Violations: Violations of this section 11.0, of this Act are defined as "racketeering" subjecting any violator to the penalties and provisions set-forth at 18 U.S.C. #1957-1969 and Pub.Lw. 98-473.

12.0 - ENFORCEMENT/CONCURRENT JURISDICTION: All State Courts of General Jurisdiction as well as U.S. District Courts, shall have concurrent jurisdiction relating to the enforcement of any provision of this Act; any violation or alleged violation of this act shall be prosecuted within the United States. State Courts shall have no authority to review the validity of any part, provision or portion of this Act. The authority of Federal District and Appellate Courts to review the validity of this Act or any part, provision or portion of this Act is hereby expressly revoked pursuant to the Powers of Congress, provided by Article 1, Section 8, sub-section 9, of the U.S. Constitution.

13.0 - SAVINGS CLAUSE: The provisions of this Act are separate and severable; should any part or provision of this Act be adjudicated unconstitutional by the full 9 judge panel of the U.S. Supreme Court, then the rest and remainder shall remain in full force and effect.



Page 6 of 6////// DRAFT/ RECOVERY & MODERNIZATION

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Sad Truth About Obama's " American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan"

Many in the U.S and around the world had high hopes that there would be a turn around in the way Washington did business when the Obama administration took over on January 20, 2009.

Unfortunately, Washington machine politics has deep roots that remain and transcend the Presidency. The Obama cabinet and the Obama stimulus package, titled " American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan " are two examples of entrenched Washington politics. The 650+ page bill rammed through the U.S. House Representatives is nothing more then the consolidation of eight years of programs that went nowhere under the Bush Administration. Washington is master of resurrecting old programs, attaching flashy labels, and peddling them to the public as something they are not.

One doubts whether President Obama has, himself, read the 650+ bill the House passed on party lines. Congress, now controlled by Democrats, is no more capable in "getting it right" then when the Bush Administration was at the helm. Both the 110th Congress and the current 111th Congress are throwing massive amounts of borrowed dollars, and HOPING something sticks, to bring the U.S. out of the economic meltdown we all face. Congress hopes to accomplish a turn around without making any structural or systemic modifications to a financial system that has failed. Without modifying the Federal Reserve system in place since 1913; without instituting specific restrictions and regulations on banking, financial services, business consolidations and entering into international compacts with G8 nations and central banks to stabilize currency fluctuations and interest rates, the Obama plan will accomplish little, except to spur inflation and increase the cost of consumer goods and services.

The U.S. burdened by arcane procedures, entrenched ideologies, and politics, have doomed main-street USA to hard, very hard times for the next 4+ years. The Obama/Democratic Washington steam shovel has started to dig the hole much deeper by cranking up the printing presses and doubling the already mega-strophic national debt; soon the U.S. dollar will be at par with third world currencies.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

CHINA SYNDROME

Corporate greed and undue Washington influence jump started the parade, shipping U.S. jobs and technology offshore. The Nixon administration opened the doors for corporations in China; following administrations, and Congress, long noted for it's myopia, passed NAFTA and other "Free Trade " agreements emasculating U.S. manufacturing and production capabilities, and U.S. employment. Now the nascent Obama administration, through Timmy Geithner the new Secretary of Treasury, is blaming U.S. economic woes on China's failure to re-value the yuan per U.S. "demands".

China and the value of the yuan are not the problem, U.S. corporate and financial interests influence on Congress, coupled with the inherent shortsightedness of our 535 federal legislators is where the root of the financial crisis rests. The Obama stimulus plan, illustrates that the U.S. government has no real clue how to fix the cascade into depression, 15% unemployment, and the hardships U.S. main-street is facing over the next 4 + years.

There is nothing to be gained by bad mouthing China. The U.S. made China, at first reluctant, a partner in the plunder of cheap labor to fatten the gluttony and greed of U.S. corporate titans. Now China is not just a partner for the production of goods, but the banker of the U.S.. Now is not the time to get on a high-horse and criticize China. From a political and structural standpoint, China is better suited to effectively respond to "crises " then the cumbersome system the U.S. has to wade through. The U.S. is poised to float the most massive debt in the modern world. Who is going to "buy" the debt of a country that produces arms, munitions, the instruments of war, and that invades others at will; but has little else to offer ? The only hope the U.S. has is that China, and other Asian nations will continue to buy U.S. debt obligations.

It would be much wiser, to work with our partner, China, and develop practical plans that would be beneficial to both countries, and forget currency valuations. Example, assign U.S. creditor interests in G.M. and Chrysler to China - when G.M and Chrysler, or Ford, ask for more bail-out funds, refer them to China. It would be in the mutual interests of both the U.S. and China, for China to produce parts for cars assembled in the U.S. for U.S and China markets. The U.S. can't take back all the jobs that Congress has allowed to be exported, but we can work with our partners abroad, to have a two-way, as opposed to a one-way, street.

The Obama administration has had one hell of a load of crap dumped upon it. It will take more then hope and a prayer to make any headway and start to dig out from under this pile. Now is not the time to start poking at China.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

A SINKING SHIP - SAGA OF THE U.S. ECONOMY

Main-street U.S.A. has long been aware that there were big troubles brewing in the economy. The how's and why's were not apparent, but rising prices, zero or minus wage gains and cut-backs in hours were signs main-street recognized as being "not good". Mediocrity was pervasive at the executive levels of corporate America, coupled with the mediocrity of Congress. The most prized positions in corporate America, those with title, disproportionate incomes, perks and outrageous bonuses, not for performance, but because of connections, had much to do about the collapse of the U.S. economy. Congress aided and abetted the collapse by its arcane rules promoting those with longevity to committee chairs regardless of competence in the subject area of the committee. The reluctance of Congress to pass a term limit amendment was and is the breeding ground where the brightest 10% of members are virtually drowned by the 90% who are incompetent. The same holds true for the captains of corporate America. Add to the mix a team captain who was not playing with a full deck, George Bush, and it's know wonder the true colors of those raping the system were not sooner exposed.

Adding insult to injury, main-street U.S.A. is still paying the price for this combined corporate and government incompetence. Businesses continue to close, unemployment accelerates, and all the while Treasury Secretary Paulson continues to loot the U.S. Treasury so corporate executive rapists can continue their glutinous ways. Those in the U.S. possessed with a modicum common sense have to be asking: why throw good money after bad ? why pay and essentially reward bad behavior and poor performance ?. That is what is being done by giving billions of taxpayer dollars to the corporations and executive management teams that got us in this mess in the first place.

Chapter 7, not Chapter 11, is where AIG, the financial firms, and others in the bail-out line should be. Why prolong and aggravate the pain for main-street by first looting the U.S. Taxpayer/Treasury ? A very few, very rich, are the only beneficiaries of Congresses myopia. The election of Obama was main-streets signal to Congress that the public wants a NEW GAME, not simply another quarterback. Corporate America, Wall-Street and Congress have to quit their addiction to "trickle-down Reaganomics ". Yet, there is no sign that Congress is willing to take the "throw cash" needle out of their arms and consider unique solutions to the problems they have had a heavy hand in creating, e.g., Public Law 106-554 Sec.1(a)(5), the Commodity Futures Modernization Act.

Congress can't seem to grasp a very simple concept: jobs, good jobs are the foundation of a sound economy. Who should be funded, bailed-out, at taxpayer expense; it's a no brainer - the middle-class, main-street taxpaying U.S. citizen. HOW, by extending fed rate ( the rate banks pay the Fed to borrow money ) funds to the major Unions and employee groups, like the UAW, for the purpose of purchasing the plants, equipment and other assets of bankrupt corporations, the likes of G.M., Chrysler and/or Ford. Employee owned corporations are not that novel of an idea. The loss of jobs, only temporary, and can be adequately covered by extending unemployment benefits. The U.S. taxpayer is paying, and should be getting some direct benefits. Congress, and it appears, soon to be President Obama, may be sticking their heads in the sand, by continuing to beat the existing bail-out/stimulus horse to death. Main-street deserves more from the "Master's of the Universe".

If the sinking ship has any chance of being saved, it will be by taking a completely different approach: Congress promoting and funding Union and Employee owned corporations formed to purchase the assets of Chapter 7, corporations; and cutting off all bail-out funding to the likes of AIG and others lining up for Treasury Bail-Out funds. Corporations that require taxpayer bail-out funding to exist should be allowed to fail, that is why there is Chapter 7, of the U.S. Bankruptcy laws.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

OPEN LETTER TO U.S. CONGRESS GONE INSANE

RE: Bail-Out/ Congressional Disconnect from Main-Street

Dear Senators and Congressmen:

It appears that the focus of Congressional attention has been on Wall-Street and the financial woes created by Ben Bernanke, Henry Paulson ( in his prior capacity as CEO of Goldman Sachs ) and Wall-Street associates, regarding liquidity within the financial community. Congress has disconnected from the happenings and realities of Main-Street. You are making a serious mistake delegating your Constitutional authority under Article I , Section 8, sub-sections 1-6, to the Secretary of Treasury, and marginalizing Congress in the process.

Before you jump to shore-up Wall-Street to the tune of $700billion to well over a Trillion taxpayer dollars, you might wish to take a look of what is happening on main-street. THERE IS A RUN ON THE BANKING SYSTEM HAPPENING AS I SPEAK. THIS WILL ONLY ACCELERATE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX ( 6 ) MONTHS, exceeding the capacity of the F.D.I.C. to cover insured accounts, and requiring Congress to provide additional $$$billions so that main-street, will not be left out-in-the-street, regarding their personal accounts.

In addition, there will be mounting strains on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation( PBGC ) as plants shut-down, corporations file for bankruptcy and premiums paid to PBGC dry up. Although not yet a direct obligation of the U.S. Government/ Treasury, when 400,000 + ex-employees now potentially covered, are told that there are not sufficient funds available to pay the fund guaranty of $4,312.50 per month ( $51,750.00 per year ) there will be major social unrest, and Congress will need to come-up with additional $$$billions. The public will not tolerate, being left-out and left-behind when you bail-out the Wall-Street millionaires, who, the minute they get Treasury Bail-Out $$$billions, will have that money transferred off-shore in an instant. Congress needs to take a break, go back home, go out on the street and open your eyes to see what is really going on in the main-street financial world; people are lining up at banks and withdrawing their money. You underestimate the public’s understanding of the circumstance. The average citizen has lost confidence in the system, and does not trust Congress.

Bailing-Out Wall-Street will not have the affect you are predicting. When bail-out money is transferred off-shore, it will provide no liquidity to the domestic U.S. economy. If you think there is a credit crunch now, wait until you bail-out Wall-Street, you will see U.S. unemployment climb past 15% as foreign banks and investors recover their losses from U.S. Treasury Bail-Out funds, and major U.S. financial institutions and investors transfer Bail-Out funds offshore, leaving Main-Street U.S.A. out-in-the-cold.

The draft 106 page bill, is 106 pages of loopholes, so that no person can be held accountable for the greatest looting of a public treasury in world history. There is a vast difference and a distinction between Regulation and oversight; Treasury, the SEC, HUD have always had oversight/look the other way, what has been lacking is Regulation. This proposed draft is an insult to Main-Street.

Congresses haste and myopia in failing to look down the road is likely to cause the collapse of the entire system. It would be prudent for Congress to with hold-off looting the Treasury for the benefit of a few on Wall-Street, until you have a firm handle on F.D.I.C. and PBGC obligations coming within the next 6 months.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

THE U.S. CONGRESS HAS VOTED ITSELF IRRELEVANT

Times were much different in 1789 when the Constitution of the United States
was ratified. A fledgling new nation born of independent thought, created a system of government relevant to that time. One where 95% of the power was held by Congress, as representative of the citizenry of the then newly created 13 States. Now 300 plus years later the wheels are falling off the 1789 Constitution, a Constitution not designed to address the issues, problems and speed of the 21st Century world.

Instead of directly addressing the need for a new Constitution crafted to reflect modernity and the governance of a nation of 50 States and over 300 million people, Congress has allowed circumstance to dictate changes in the structure of governance of the United States. The transition has been slow, subtle, unguided, and painful to the populace. The abdication of Congress began with the delegation of it's authority, and, as more and more authority was delegated to Executive agencies, Congresses relevance has accordingly depreciated.

Two threshold events within the past 8 years have signaled the death of Congress as provided in the Constitution of 1789. First was the delegation of authority to declare War ( 1789 Constitution, Article I, Sec. 7(11) ) to President Bush, based on the claim of President Bush of the existence of WMD's in Iraq, and, within the past 24 or so hours the "Grave Financial " threat and "crisis" on Wall-Street presented by the Bush Administration, and the hurry-up huddle of Congress to delegate Article I, Sec.7 (2)(5)authority to the Secretary of the Treasury. Congresses own action over time have rendered it irrelevant tot he function of the U.S. government.

In 1995 a rational approach to this transition in the structure of the U.S. government was sent to every member of the U.S. Congress as well as the then President Clinton: "New Atlantis-The Re-Engineering of America" an outline of a modern Constitution, where the Executive Branch ( President) proposed laws, subject to the modification or veto by Congress. In substance, what is happening today as Congress is contemplating and likely to sign off on the Bush Administration plan to bail-out Wall-Street, Foreign Banks and investors, at U.S. taxpayer expense. New Atlantis outlined a structured process for Congressional approval, as opposed to the free-fall and free-form rush to judgment that is currently taking place where Congress is presented with a "crisis" by the Bush Administration demanding immediate action, e.g., WMDs'/Iraq and now the financial "crisis" and bail-out mania.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

AIG Bail-Out - OUTRAGEOUS FRAUD !!!

AIG Bail-Out - OUTRAGEOUS FRAUD !!! The system is in melt-down and this action will only benefit wealthy investors - a colossal depression is around the corner and 99.9% of the population will suffer so the very, very few can continue to live a life of luxury, jets, yachts and mansions.

What has been overlooked in sales presentations of the $85 billion AIG taxpayer bailout, is the fact that when the U.S. Treasury lends money to private enterprise, it means that the $85 billion is not available for domestic programs like schools, social security, medicare and health care, veterans benefits, etc. So without increasing individual taxes, federal programs directly benefiting citizen taxpayers will have to be cut or curtailed. Further, this private corporation, AIG, may be tied in with Berkshire-Hathaway/Warren Buffett's conglomeration of companies, and will be getting my taxpayer money at a bargain basement rate, when taxpayers have to pay 18% to 24% interest on credit cards and other forms of consumer debt. THERE IS NO FAIRNESS IN THIS BACK-ROOM DEAL.

AIG should have to pay retail interest on this bridge loan, essentially a subordinated convertible debenture, at a minimum of 12%, and the interest rate to credit card holders and other forms of consumer credit, by Federal law, should be capped at 12%. Further, hurricane IKE and other U.S. disaster victims, should be lent money at the Fed bank rate. As it stands, the AIG bail-out, is a transfer of wealth from the public/middle-class to the wealthiest 1/25th of 1% of the U.S. population; bottom line, the U.S. middle-class has been mugged, beaten and robbed and the U.S. Treasury has been looted ! It's the Republican way.

http://socrates911.blogspot.com

Monday, September 15, 2008

TURMOIL IN U.S. ECONOMY -John M. Keynes is Dead

The " perfect storm " for the U.S. has been brewing during the lacks stewardship of the Bush Administration, and administration stead fast in the belief that J.M. Keynes was alive and well; and the green light given to the U.S corporate and financial communities that anything goes. The pied piper and followers, both in the U.S. and abroad, are beginning to face reality as the house of cards created by the amalgamated U.S. government and financial community begins to unravel. No regulation, War and the largesse of the U.S. toward it's friends and allies abroad echoes the history of fallen Nation states and Empires.

In today's multi-national, cultural and economic world, the current U.S. financial crisis is the foot and not the crest of the wave of failures yet to come. Failures when pealed back, reveal the limitations of the U.S. "brand" of governance and "democracy"; governance that is bought, sold and traded on a regular basis. For the rest of the world, the U.S. distress flare, should signal that the U.S. is broken, broke and sinking.

Two officers vie to Captain the sinking ship; one born of generations past, of privilege and 100's of millions in personal backing; one cut from common cloth. Either will face obstacles not seen before: trillions in national debt, a population increasingly illiterate, lacking skills and employment. A population of entitlement; and corporate, financial and services communities steeped in greed. Yet there is no blueprint for evacuation, plenty of words, but rhetoric is no lifeboat. John Keynes is dead, but his followers are not; this, crippled by a U.S. Congress composed of some 635 individuals competing for power, means the U.S. ship, for all practical purposes, is dead in the water
.
The history of how the U.S. arrived at this threshold is important as a lesson that the form of government, provides little shield against greed and corruption; what is needed for all, is set-aside for the benefit of a few. What the U.S. needs is a new constitution, one updated to reflect the realities of the 21st century. One that contains applications as well as rights.

In the short run, with focus on the current financial meltdown, swift action and a blueprint is called for; a blueprint that, among other things, spells out:
1) That interest charged in excess of 15% should be uncollectible;
2) That banks, savings and loans, credit unions be restricted in function
to lending and that such institutions be required to keep a minimum
reserve of 20% in U.S. Government treasury securities; and that all belong to the F.D.I.C.. In addition, no bank, savings and loan, or credit union should partner, be affiliated with any entity that engages in the sale or brokerage of stock, bonds, mutual funds or other investments; FURTHER, all banks, savings and loans, credit unions and all F.D.I. C. insured institutions should hold and retain all security related to the loans granted by each institution, and the same cannot be subscribed, sold, transferred or subordinated to any other type of instrument or transaction.
3) That the export of U.S. capital be restricted to the purchase of actual goods, materials, mineral and natural resource products; arbitrage of commodities be prohibited; that the trading on stock, bonds and other instruments be regulated and restricted: all stock and bond sales should be held by the buyer of a period of not less then 13 consecutive months; 15% of the sales price of stock should be rendered to the corporation issuing the stock; Stock and bond transfer fees shall not exceed $50.00 per transaction.
4) Federal Reserve bank rate of funds shall be tied to the EU Central bank rate, and should not very more then .25% from the EU central bank rate.
5) Except for the purchase of one residence in the U.S., no citizen or individual person should be extended credit or incur debt in excess of 30% of his or her average net U.S. reported early earnings ( over 3 year period ); and no person or entity should be permitted to collect any debt or obligation that exceeds the 30% limitation.
6) Every individual person 18 years or older in the U.S. should be required to establish, in a U.S., F.D.I.C. insured bank, savings and loan, and/or credit union, a Personal Retirement Account
( PRA ) and a Personal Health Account (PHA);a minimum of 6% of all earnings should be deposited on a monthly basis in the PRA, and a minimum of 3% of all earnings should be deposited on a monthly basis in a PHA, withdrawals from such accounts should be restricted and limited; amounts and accruals on such accounts should be tax exempt.

The initial restructuring of the U.S. banking and financial community as blueprinted above, will provide stability to U.S. and related financial markets, and will strengthen the U.S. dollar. In addition, it will preserve individual U.S. equities. The survival of the U.S. economy, and challenge for the next U.S. president will be to embrace and effectuate systemic changes to a system long outdated. The question is: which current candidate, John McCain or Barack Obama, is willing to step-to-the-plate and endorse a particulars specific blueprint addressing the financial meltdown the U.S. is experiencing, and plug the hole that is sinking the U.S. ship.

http://citizenswakeupcall.blogsport.com

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Bail-Out of Fannie and Freddie - U.S. in World of Hurt

Another Bail-Out: Financial bail-outs go back a few years, remember the Savings & Loan crisis ?
The brains in Washington, Republican administrations in particular, and those at the Federal Reserve, once again have lead U.S. taxpayers astray and put a few more nails in the U.S. financial coffin. In short, the brains don't get it, they are poor custodians of the public trust; markets in reality are not the elixir that Adam Smith, John Keynes and followers dreamed of. Life has changed, Keynes is dead; the Fed Reserve and Washington brains have failed to understand the basic mechanisms of the modern world. It takes both capital and oil to keep modern economies humming along.

What the bail-out of Fannie & Freddie, by us U.S. taxpayers, means, is that in addition to the U.S. dependence on foreign oil, we, the U.S. have become dependent on foreign capital to keep this country afloat. One of the basic and fundamental underpinnings of an economy is SAVINGS !
Any freshman should remember this from Econ 101. So what do the brains in Washington and at the Federal Reserve do..... they promote the export of manufacturing jobs. NAFTA, GATT all the programs designed to line the pockets of the super rich 1/2 of 1% of the U.S. population with gold, have effectively killed the savings engine of the middle-class; and without domestic savings, a country, the U.S. in the instant case, is dependent on foreign capital for real growth in the economy. The Republican penchant for killing off the middle-class, and the Bush administrations folly of war, have accelerated the U.S. one-way road to dependence on foreign capital and foreign oil. Manufacturing jobs, not retail, service or government jobs, contribute real value, via personal savings, to an economy.

Washington and the Bush Administration are desperate , taxpayer bail-outs are simply additional band-aids masking a fatal wound that has been self-inflicted. The U.S. financial house is made of cards, should any of the major foreign contributors stop propping up the U.S. house of cards, by with holding capital, i.e., not buying U.S. Treasury securities, the house of cards will fall down. Thank you George Bush, your appointed designate John McCain, is poised to put the last nail in the coffin. And the 1/2 of 1% super-wealthy in the U.S. truly thank you for pulling off the greatest scam and transfer of wealth in modern history.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Georgia - Here We Go Again - Common Thread= OIL

The recent rant of McCain regarding the Russian/Georgian situation reinforces his prior pledge, if elected, to engage in " 100 year[s] of war in the middle east ". As with Bush, McCain advocates diplomacy from the barrel of a gun, a gun for hired by Big Oil. NOTE McCAIN'S OPEN REFERENCE TO THE OIL PIPELINE IN THE REGION. As in the case of Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, the common underlying thread is OIL or pipelines transporting OIL.

McCain, Bush and crew have privatized the U.S. military, under the guise of U.S. interests, as the hit men for BIG OIL. We U.S. citizens will never know how many millions are being funneled into secret foreign bank accounts of Bush, Cheney, McCain, U.S. Generals and Admirals, by BIG OIL, in payment for their "services" in the middle-east.

People have short memories, President Eisenhower warned about the takeover of the U.S. Government by the military and industrial ( Big Oil ) interests. Here we go again, committing U.S. taxpayer dollars and American blood so that Big Oil and its execs can enjoy BIG PROFITS.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Mortgage Band-Aid Will Not Fix Economy

Let's face it, the U.S. economy is poised for collapse do to the ignorance of Congress, the President and his band of thieves. OK, maybe Congress, the President and followers are just naive, but the fact is that everyone with common sense knows that the mortgage bail-out band-aid is not going to fix anything and very few homeowners will benefit from this taxpayer give-away. The current crisis is nothing more then a warmed over version of the Savings & Loan mess of the 1980's. Congress passed another bail-out, nothing was fixed. De-regulation and privatization is at the bottom of the Savings & Loan crisis as well as the current sub-prime mortgage crisis. Had de-regulation and privatization not occurred, it is very probably that U.S. citizens and taxpayers would not be paying for corporate greed again.

Take a hard look.... did the de-regulation of utilities ( gas, electric, water, phone ) resulting lower prices or better service to we peons ( general public )....NO. Who benefited...company execs. Did banking de-regulation result in better service and lower costs...NO. Who benefited....
bank execs.

A little history will put things in perspective: 1930's depression..cause corporate greed;
Congress and the Roosevelt admistration enacted regulations; 1980's the Reagan administration started hipping away at regulations ( Saving & Loan crisis ) and the current George Bush
finished emasculated the remainder of government regulation...Sub-Prime Mortgage crisis.

Times have changed, ideology meets reality. It took the U.S. over 20 years to get back on it's feet after the 1930's depression. But things were different, WWII, ended the Marshall Plan provided 100's of millions to U.S. factories to produce goods to rebuild Europe, resulting in increasing wages to U.S. workers, who in turn, were able to save. Basically, little or no capital was exported from the U.S. TODAY, and over the past 8 years, the U.S. has been exporting good paying jobs, there is virtually no personal savings, inflation has a strong foothold, and the U.S. has been exporting capital and unprecedented rates; war in Iraq $13 billion a week, foreign oil..billions,the purchase of goods the U.S. no longer manufacturers ...billions. Bottom line... thanks to Congress and President Bush, the U.S. no longer has a financial foundation to re-build the economy on. The mortage bail, now law, is just another nail in the coffin.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

PEOPLE POWER

D. Citizen Blog ~ Wake Up Call ~ People Power

Politicians have lead the U.S. astray and into bankruptcy ! The old U.S. Constitution, over time, gave every citizen the right to vote. Unfortunately, many citizens entitled to vote have not registered to vote, or simply don't vote because they don't believe they will have any effect on the outcome. And let's face it, until very recently, things have been pretty good, so citizens have not kept a watchful eye on what is going on in our State legislatures and in Congress.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED, things are getting worse, much worse and will continue downhill if we, as U.S. citizens, continue to be lead like sheep by Politicians in our State legislatures, and those in Congress and the White House. Regardless of your party affiliation, Politicians are motivated by personal greed and aspirations for power that leave the average citizen and voter in the dust. Politicians and Court Judges have become the masters and we are simply surfs of no consequence except to pay taxes.

Politicians, the White House and Courts have run this once great country into the ground. The combined lack of 'common sense' in our State capitols and in Washington, D.C., is astounding - THERE IS NONE. Greed and personal interest have dictated, and lead the U.S. economy to virtual collapse. The reliance on "Ivy Leaguers" has proven to be a disaster for the majority of citizens.

OK, we all know what is wrong, but how to "fix it". Back in 1995, anticipating a
collapse, a pamphlet titled " New Atlantis, The Re-Engineering of America " was published and sent to every U.S. Senator and Congressman, and the President and V.P.; as with other things sent to Washington, D.C., unless accompanied by a non-traceable 'donation' of $10,000.00 to $100,000.00 or more, it went directly into the trash. OUR 'HAND-OUT' FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE ROOT OF U.S. PROBLEMS.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAVE THE U.S. ?
1st, register to vote, and vote for a party or person who is not an incumbent, preferably a third party. Why, because the Democratic/Republican party log jam must be broken or it will continue to be business as usual, meaning nothing of substance will get done, $billions will be wasted, and individual citizens will all go broke feeding the hogs in State Capitols and in Washington, D.C. Remember, of all the matters of concern and importance to citizens, what merited the last
( 27th ) U.S. Constitutional Amendment ? CONGRESSIONAL SALARIES.
WASHINGTON, D.C. , does not give a crap about you or me; their pay is number 1.

*Does the U.S. Constitution ( yr. 1789 ) need to be updated ?
Yes__

No __

Monday, July 21, 2008

The McCain Elite - Power/Wealth/ & Slaves

Let's take a look at Senator John McCain. I'm no scholar or pundit, just an ordinary guy, but the McCain campaign ' Straight Talk Express ' is a dog that doesn't hunt. The guy is a warrior, great grandson of a Mississippi plantation slave owner, grandfather and father were 4 star Admirals, great uncle was a General, this 'poor' boy married into hundreds of millions. So he knows or has any clue of what the average U.S. citizen goes through or faces, COME ON GIVE ME A BREAK !
What John McCain knows is how to kill, how to make profits for his wealthy friends by passing out war ( defense ) contracts and how to bankrupt the U.S. and citizens by the constant foreign deployment of U.S. troops [ '100 year war'... McCain's own words ]. McCain could care less about U.S. troops as demonstrated by his vote against and lack of support for U.S. Veterans. Bottom line, this guy is bad news for every U.S. citizen hoping for gainful employment. Ordinary working stiffs are far below McCains social class and he has no sympathy for enlisted veterans, or junior officers, who he considers as nothing more than cannon fodder.

I am an old fart senior, but call see through all the McCain hoop-la - McCains Arizona buddies, Senator Jon Kyl and Congressman Trent Franks and others voted against the recent Medicare bill - if you are middle class , McCain could care less; when your wife declares a yearly income of over $6,000,000.00 + do you thank any of us in the middle class are of concern, we are all dispensable and can easily be replaced by illegal aliens who will work for less then minimum wage in McCains friends factories, or on McCains friends plantations; the rest of citizens between 18-45 will be sent off to some McCain contrived foreign war.