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 !
Showing posts with label world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, January 5, 2009
WILL U.S. FALL APART IN 2010 ?
Recently the Wall Street Journal ran a piece about Russian Professor Ignor Panarin's 1998 prediction that the U.S. would virtually disintegrate in 2010. One's initial reaction is to laugh, but, on second thought, it may be informative to hypothesize a bit before dismissing Prof. Panarin's premise entirely.
There is no need to detail the fact that the U.S. is facing the most severe financial crisis in it's history; a crisis that has had a global impact and implications. So what about 2010 or 2012 ? It may well be that the U.S. Dollar, by 2010, will no longer be the world standard for finance.There has been movement to shift oil pricing from the U.S. Dollar to the Euro. Oil and Natural Gas for many years into the future will be the base resource for industrial growth and survival. Electricity production, and heat for habitation will be dependent on these two primary natural resources. Just by shifting the pricing of oil to Euros, the U.S. dollar would be devalued by
33%.
What does this mean for the U.S. lets look at some current facts, an forget about Wall-Street. Virtually every continental ( exclude Alaska and Hawaii ) State ( 48 ) in the U.S. is in the RED. The shortfall in California is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $43-45 billion. Washington has no funds to cover State deficits, so who an how are the municipal and other State bonds
( outstanding debts ) going to be paid ? So much for the borrowing capability of States. The global market of municipal, State and U.S. Federal debt just got more expensive. As an investor, how much of a change is one willing to take for a 6%, 8%, 10%, 12% possible non-return ? If the municipalities, State and Fed's can't squeeze it out of citizen taxpayers, where is the money to pay the interest on the debts going to come from ?
Compounding matters for States in particular, is the burgeoning expense of providing basic services. Citizenship is not a requirement for welfare, medical care, education etc. So as states cut other services, police, fire protection, road maintenance etc., the costs of welfare sector services will continue to rise ( as unemployment increases, the demand for welfare sector services will also increase ). In short, most local and State governments are bankrupt. Does State bankruptcy result in the break-up of the United States ? Who knows, perhaps Professor Panarin's views on the future U.S. are not so far fetched.
There is no need to detail the fact that the U.S. is facing the most severe financial crisis in it's history; a crisis that has had a global impact and implications. So what about 2010 or 2012 ? It may well be that the U.S. Dollar, by 2010, will no longer be the world standard for finance.There has been movement to shift oil pricing from the U.S. Dollar to the Euro. Oil and Natural Gas for many years into the future will be the base resource for industrial growth and survival. Electricity production, and heat for habitation will be dependent on these two primary natural resources. Just by shifting the pricing of oil to Euros, the U.S. dollar would be devalued by
33%.
What does this mean for the U.S. lets look at some current facts, an forget about Wall-Street. Virtually every continental ( exclude Alaska and Hawaii ) State ( 48 ) in the U.S. is in the RED. The shortfall in California is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $43-45 billion. Washington has no funds to cover State deficits, so who an how are the municipal and other State bonds
( outstanding debts ) going to be paid ? So much for the borrowing capability of States. The global market of municipal, State and U.S. Federal debt just got more expensive. As an investor, how much of a change is one willing to take for a 6%, 8%, 10%, 12% possible non-return ? If the municipalities, State and Fed's can't squeeze it out of citizen taxpayers, where is the money to pay the interest on the debts going to come from ?
Compounding matters for States in particular, is the burgeoning expense of providing basic services. Citizenship is not a requirement for welfare, medical care, education etc. So as states cut other services, police, fire protection, road maintenance etc., the costs of welfare sector services will continue to rise ( as unemployment increases, the demand for welfare sector services will also increase ). In short, most local and State governments are bankrupt. Does State bankruptcy result in the break-up of the United States ? Who knows, perhaps Professor Panarin's views on the future U.S. are not so far fetched.
Monday, October 20, 2008
U.S.A. - a Ntion in Peril
The political and economic hurdles facing the U.S. are intertwined. The U.S. is a "class" society as indicated by the recent "financial" crisis created in and by the U.S. ultra rich "Wall-Street" class. The U.S. Congress passed "bail-out" legislation over the objection of the majority of main-street citizens, benefiting "Wall-Street" to the tune of over $700 billion U.S. dollars, slapping democracy in the face and merely paying lip-service to the struggling and diminishing U.S. middle-class. "Wall-Street" greed has infected world economies, resulting in a world economic crisis calculated to diminish the U.S. middle-class, and emerging middle-classes world wide .
In the U.S. the class struggle will take center stage during the upcoming U.S. Presidential election; stripped of rhetoric U.S. Republicans represent "Wall-Street" and the Democratic party represents middle-class "main-street". An anomaly in the U.S. Constitution [ adopted in 1789 ] precludes the President of the U.S. being selected by popular vote of the people. This anomaly coupled with a corrupted U.S. judicial system skews the election of the U.S. President in favor of "Wall-Street" Republicans, by eliminating over 49.9% of the popular vote and highlighting the fact that the U.S. was not created or structured as a "democracy". Regardless of who becomes the U.S. President, 2009-2012, the electoral anomaly will continue to cripple the U.S. in asserting the principles of democracy at home and abroad.
In the U.S. the class struggle will take center stage during the upcoming U.S. Presidential election; stripped of rhetoric U.S. Republicans represent "Wall-Street" and the Democratic party represents middle-class "main-street". An anomaly in the U.S. Constitution [ adopted in 1789 ] precludes the President of the U.S. being selected by popular vote of the people. This anomaly coupled with a corrupted U.S. judicial system skews the election of the U.S. President in favor of "Wall-Street" Republicans, by eliminating over 49.9% of the popular vote and highlighting the fact that the U.S. was not created or structured as a "democracy". Regardless of who becomes the U.S. President, 2009-2012, the electoral anomaly will continue to cripple the U.S. in asserting the principles of democracy at home and abroad.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
GENOCIDE OF THE AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS
BUSH " MISSION ACCOMPLISHED " - GENOCIDE OF THE AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS
Bush is finally on the verge of success for his Presidency, the financial genocide of the American middle-class. Bush and his administration have been both tactical and skillful, and have used the well honed tools of fear and panic to enlist media and congressional support for his crusade to eliminate the U.S./American Middle-Class. The trial balloon was the choreographed " WMD " panic that stampeded congress to give Bush authority to invade Iraq. Now just prior to an election that his Republican party might lose, the final Act "..grave financial crisis.." is playing out; the greatest transfer of national wealth in the history of the world is set to unfold. The U.S. Treasury is being looted once and for all for the benefit of the super-rich, well connected, social elite that long for Imperial recognition AND death to the middle-class. WMD's and Iraq, proved the U.S. Congress has no backbone or fight when it comes toconfrontation with Bush and his ultra-wealthy buddies, the Masters of the Universe. Out gunned and out-spent the U.S. Congress is about to foldand transfer it's last vestige of power to the new U.S. Imperial Presidency. The rest of the world must stand aghast as the prospect that their nations, rights, economies, and territories are next on the menu for the creation of the U.S. Imperial Empire.
Bush is finally on the verge of success for his Presidency, the financial genocide of the American middle-class. Bush and his administration have been both tactical and skillful, and have used the well honed tools of fear and panic to enlist media and congressional support for his crusade to eliminate the U.S./American Middle-Class. The trial balloon was the choreographed " WMD " panic that stampeded congress to give Bush authority to invade Iraq. Now just prior to an election that his Republican party might lose, the final Act "..grave financial crisis.." is playing out; the greatest transfer of national wealth in the history of the world is set to unfold. The U.S. Treasury is being looted once and for all for the benefit of the super-rich, well connected, social elite that long for Imperial recognition AND death to the middle-class. WMD's and Iraq, proved the U.S. Congress has no backbone or fight when it comes toconfrontation with Bush and his ultra-wealthy buddies, the Masters of the Universe. Out gunned and out-spent the U.S. Congress is about to foldand transfer it's last vestige of power to the new U.S. Imperial Presidency. The rest of the world must stand aghast as the prospect that their nations, rights, economies, and territories are next on the menu for the creation of the U.S. Imperial Empire.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
CROOKS & THIEVES
Let's take a look at Republicans and the Republican Administration : lower taxes, small government, no regulation, private companies, capitalism, let market forces determine who survives.
Reality: largest expansion of Government in history - Bush created Dept. of Homeland Security, in your face, listening to your phone and e-mails, no restraints on invasion of privacy; largest debt in history - trillions of dollars; privatization of utilities = higher prices and poor service to average household; lower taxes - only if your income is based on capital gains from stock options and you make over $225,000.; capitalism, let the market determine what business survives - except in cases where billionaire Republican CEO's are concerned, then the Republicans take $85 billion of taxpayer dollars so their Republican buddy CEO's and Board members can buy 200 foot yachts and add an 8th mansion to their lists of houses. IN SHORT REPUBLICANS ARE FRAUDS, THEY HAVE DEFRAUDED THE TAXPAYERS, AND JOHN MCCAIN IS A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THIS CRIME SYNDICATE. McCain got a pass on the Keating Five, 1980's Savings and Loan scandal/ cost taxpayers $124billion; one of his sons was on the Board of the recently failed Silver State Bank, who knows what connections McCain and family had with another recent Arizona Bank failure - 1st National Bank of Arizona, and how about his wife's, Cindy's, business and family interests, any AIG connections ?
Every average citizen with an once of savvy should small the rats, liars and hypocrites that make up this bunch of Republican thieves. Vote for McCain and one might as will empty their pockets out so John and friends can buy new jets, mansions and yachts. Palin, as Gods representative, is along for the gravy train. Health Care for the nation - to expensive, socialism, would cost $30-40 billion; $85 billion for your billionaire buddies -capitalism's finest hour; that's the Republican way.
Reality: largest expansion of Government in history - Bush created Dept. of Homeland Security, in your face, listening to your phone and e-mails, no restraints on invasion of privacy; largest debt in history - trillions of dollars; privatization of utilities = higher prices and poor service to average household; lower taxes - only if your income is based on capital gains from stock options and you make over $225,000.; capitalism, let the market determine what business survives - except in cases where billionaire Republican CEO's are concerned, then the Republicans take $85 billion of taxpayer dollars so their Republican buddy CEO's and Board members can buy 200 foot yachts and add an 8th mansion to their lists of houses. IN SHORT REPUBLICANS ARE FRAUDS, THEY HAVE DEFRAUDED THE TAXPAYERS, AND JOHN MCCAIN IS A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THIS CRIME SYNDICATE. McCain got a pass on the Keating Five, 1980's Savings and Loan scandal/ cost taxpayers $124billion; one of his sons was on the Board of the recently failed Silver State Bank, who knows what connections McCain and family had with another recent Arizona Bank failure - 1st National Bank of Arizona, and how about his wife's, Cindy's, business and family interests, any AIG connections ?
Every average citizen with an once of savvy should small the rats, liars and hypocrites that make up this bunch of Republican thieves. Vote for McCain and one might as will empty their pockets out so John and friends can buy new jets, mansions and yachts. Palin, as Gods representative, is along for the gravy train. Health Care for the nation - to expensive, socialism, would cost $30-40 billion; $85 billion for your billionaire buddies -capitalism's finest hour; that's the Republican way.
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
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
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.
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.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The Limitations of Democracy - U.S.A. Brand
Democracy, power to the people via general suffrage of the citizenry enjoys broad rhetorical appeal. As a "theory" democracy suggests that the " majority " is equivalent to the best rule. The U.S.A. was not constituted as a democracy because the founding fathers recognized the limitations of a democracy. John Stuart Mill, in his essays On Liberty outlined the limitations by reference to the "tyranny of the majority " where reason is subordinate to rhetoric and style. Over the years the U.S. has strayed from the path ( Constitution, 1789 ) established as the foundation for a nation; in 1870 suffrage was extended to males of color and servitude, and in 1920 females were given the right to vote. Today, in the U.S., with the exception of certain convicted felons, virtually every U.S. citizen over 18 has the right to vote. Ballots are printed in many languages, the is no educational or literacy requirement, the ability to read and write is not required. Absentee ballots by mail are counted, and there is no verification process to determine who actually filled out and submitted a absentee or mailed ballot. In the U.S., voting is a flawed process at best, and a flawed process that has lead to flawed results.
Rhetoric and style have given rise to leaders who have dark pasts: Hitler and Mussolini in the 1930's were able to seduce their nations, and lead them to ruin. General suffrage, and the U.S.A. brand of democracy, is an incubator for fascism. Naive populations can be whipped into a frenzy by idealistic rhetoric or religious referent. The danger in today's nuclear world should be obvious. The U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 is an example of how things can go wrong. Today the U.S.A. is on another nuclear threshold, and a naive population swayed by rhetoric and style, is poised to unleash the "Armageddon paradigm " ending the majority of viable civilization in the name of God. The U.S.A. has thrown logic and reason aside, opting for rhetoric, style and religious zeal to determine who pulls the nuclear trigger.
Rhetoric and style have given rise to leaders who have dark pasts: Hitler and Mussolini in the 1930's were able to seduce their nations, and lead them to ruin. General suffrage, and the U.S.A. brand of democracy, is an incubator for fascism. Naive populations can be whipped into a frenzy by idealistic rhetoric or religious referent. The danger in today's nuclear world should be obvious. The U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 is an example of how things can go wrong. Today the U.S.A. is on another nuclear threshold, and a naive population swayed by rhetoric and style, is poised to unleash the "Armageddon paradigm " ending the majority of viable civilization in the name of God. The U.S.A. has thrown logic and reason aside, opting for rhetoric, style and religious zeal to determine who pulls the nuclear trigger.
Monday, September 1, 2008
CAUTION WORLD - Hockey Mom Has Finger on Nuclear Trigger
Living outside the U.S. has become more dangerous with each passing day. The invasion of Iraq demonstrates that U.S. foreign policy boils down to a military "preemptive" first strike, shock and awe, bombs away assault on whom ever Washington perceives as a potential threat to U.S. business or military interests. During the invasion of Iraq, the Bush Administration exercised restraint in not using the nuclear option, largely do to the unpopularity of the war in the U.S. The nuclear option was first used by the U.S. in 1945 as a means of obtaining an "unconditional surrender " by Japan and the U.S. has been the only nuclear power to exercise this holocaust "option". The U.S. War College has run computer scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons in the Middle-East, Asia, and Eastern Europe, and U.S. nuclear assets have been deployed and stationed adjacent to these target regions.
Only in America ( the U.S.A. ) would a hockey-mom be in a position to pull the nuclear trigger killing millions of innocent civilians in other parts of the world. Other nuclear powers have more sense of responsibility then exercised in the U.S., and our NATO allies should take note of this uniquely U.S. anomaly.
Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his Presidential running
mate demonstrates that U.S. politics is prone to pandering to the primal feelings of a self-absorbed, naive and ignorant population. Yet a population that has the power to put
a hockey mom's finger on the nuclear trigger.
Only in America ( the U.S.A. ) would a hockey-mom be in a position to pull the nuclear trigger killing millions of innocent civilians in other parts of the world. Other nuclear powers have more sense of responsibility then exercised in the U.S., and our NATO allies should take note of this uniquely U.S. anomaly.
Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his Presidential running
mate demonstrates that U.S. politics is prone to pandering to the primal feelings of a self-absorbed, naive and ignorant population. Yet a population that has the power to put
a hockey mom's finger on the nuclear trigger.
Friday, August 15, 2008
U.S./Georgia vs. Russia - Background Facts
The Bush Administrations & McCain campaign pronouncements on the Georgia v. Russia, situation should taken with a grain-of-salt; fortunately European governments in the know are not so quick to pull the trigger.
The Soviet Union ( U.S.S.R ) fell apart in the 1990's; part and parcel to the break-up many of the component historical states sought complete independence, and many of the regions within those components wanted separate recognition and identity, e.g., Kosovo. Some of the regions within the historical states, have ethnic enclaves and comprise relatively small areas of land; Kosovo for example comprises around 4,100 acres of land. In the U.S. these enclaves would be considered mere neighborhoods where persons of particular ethnic backgrounds live and congregate, e.g, Little Italy in New York; but inspite of size, the U.S. has been skilled in igniting and exploiting regional European ethnic divides. European NATO members have been left to police the pieces, with little cost to the U.S., and bear the burden and the majority of the costs associated with long term deployments.
The U.S. has had and maintained a "divide and conquer foreign policy " for years, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations. The break up of the Soviet Union presented the U.S. with numerous opportunities to aggressively pursue this "divide and conquer " policy. One of the strategies employed by the U.S. has been to "groom" potential leaders for placement as heads of emerging foreign states, and by financially supporting and encouraging independence claims of ethnic groups. The U.S. rush to recruit and groom future leaders of U.S.S.R. fall-out states , including $100's of millions in U.S. aid, often funneled through CIA fronts, has touched and re-shaped the geo-politics of Europe. Big Oil has had a major say in U.S. foreign policy, dictating specific geographic regions of priority concern. Those geographic regions given U.S. priority co-incidentally have oil, natural gas, and/or pipelines as a Common Thread. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and GEORGIA all share this Common Thread. One of the objects of Big Oil is to choke off Western Europe from access to cheap Russian oil and natural gas and the Bush Administration has dutifully responded with its "get tough" with Russia policies. Western media have again been sucked in by the U.S./ Bush Administrations "cold war" rhetoric, the mask obscuring the true purpose: BIG PROFITS for Big Oil and U.S. military contractors.
Consistent with the U.S. "divide and conquer" foreign policy, the U.S recruited Mikheil Saakashvilli, educated him at New York law schools, and provided him with a position in a prominent New York law firm, until it was opportune to send him back to Georgia, with U.S. intelligence and financial support, to position Saakashvilli so that he, in 2004, would be elected President of break-away Georgia. The U.S. also financed (in the neighborhod of $400 million U.S. taxpayer dollars ), armed and trained Saakashvilli's supporters, currently referred to Georgian forces, 2000 of whom were deployed to Iraq.
From 1922 to August, 2008, two ethnic enclaves/ regions of historical Georgia, had operated autonomously : South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In the summer, 2007, the U.S. sent over 1000 U.S. marines and special forces to Georgia to "conduct military exercises " with the Georgian forces. This was a "veiled " U.S. excuse to plan and provide Georgian forces with armament, ammunition and other military equipment, ordnance and intelligence, so that Georgian forces could invade the autonomous regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, staged to occur corresponding to the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing where the U.S. knew Prime Minister Putin and President Bush would be in attendance. The Georgian forces ( U.S. proxy ) invasion and carnage in South Ossetia, was calculated to embarrass Russia on the World Stage and diminish the spotlight on China [ kill two birds with one stone approach]; McCain was penciled in as a third party beneficiary. As with many of the Bush Administrations calculations, things have not worked out as planned; and thousands of civilians in the region have suffered or died and towns have been destroyed.
The by-lines of Bush Administration do not represent the whole truth of matters. The U.S. public deserves to know that there are opposing views and how $100's of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent abroad to further the financial gains of Big Oil and U.S. military contractors. The Bush Administration has discarded the U.S. mantle of peace-maker, and has turned the U.S. into the worlds No.1, For-Profit "trouble-maker".
The Soviet Union ( U.S.S.R ) fell apart in the 1990's; part and parcel to the break-up many of the component historical states sought complete independence, and many of the regions within those components wanted separate recognition and identity, e.g., Kosovo. Some of the regions within the historical states, have ethnic enclaves and comprise relatively small areas of land; Kosovo for example comprises around 4,100 acres of land. In the U.S. these enclaves would be considered mere neighborhoods where persons of particular ethnic backgrounds live and congregate, e.g, Little Italy in New York; but inspite of size, the U.S. has been skilled in igniting and exploiting regional European ethnic divides. European NATO members have been left to police the pieces, with little cost to the U.S., and bear the burden and the majority of the costs associated with long term deployments.
The U.S. has had and maintained a "divide and conquer foreign policy " for years, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations. The break up of the Soviet Union presented the U.S. with numerous opportunities to aggressively pursue this "divide and conquer " policy. One of the strategies employed by the U.S. has been to "groom" potential leaders for placement as heads of emerging foreign states, and by financially supporting and encouraging independence claims of ethnic groups. The U.S. rush to recruit and groom future leaders of U.S.S.R. fall-out states , including $100's of millions in U.S. aid, often funneled through CIA fronts, has touched and re-shaped the geo-politics of Europe. Big Oil has had a major say in U.S. foreign policy, dictating specific geographic regions of priority concern. Those geographic regions given U.S. priority co-incidentally have oil, natural gas, and/or pipelines as a Common Thread. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and GEORGIA all share this Common Thread. One of the objects of Big Oil is to choke off Western Europe from access to cheap Russian oil and natural gas and the Bush Administration has dutifully responded with its "get tough" with Russia policies. Western media have again been sucked in by the U.S./ Bush Administrations "cold war" rhetoric, the mask obscuring the true purpose: BIG PROFITS for Big Oil and U.S. military contractors.
Consistent with the U.S. "divide and conquer" foreign policy, the U.S recruited Mikheil Saakashvilli, educated him at New York law schools, and provided him with a position in a prominent New York law firm, until it was opportune to send him back to Georgia, with U.S. intelligence and financial support, to position Saakashvilli so that he, in 2004, would be elected President of break-away Georgia. The U.S. also financed (in the neighborhod of $400 million U.S. taxpayer dollars ), armed and trained Saakashvilli's supporters, currently referred to Georgian forces, 2000 of whom were deployed to Iraq.
From 1922 to August, 2008, two ethnic enclaves/ regions of historical Georgia, had operated autonomously : South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In the summer, 2007, the U.S. sent over 1000 U.S. marines and special forces to Georgia to "conduct military exercises " with the Georgian forces. This was a "veiled " U.S. excuse to plan and provide Georgian forces with armament, ammunition and other military equipment, ordnance and intelligence, so that Georgian forces could invade the autonomous regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, staged to occur corresponding to the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing where the U.S. knew Prime Minister Putin and President Bush would be in attendance. The Georgian forces ( U.S. proxy ) invasion and carnage in South Ossetia, was calculated to embarrass Russia on the World Stage and diminish the spotlight on China [ kill two birds with one stone approach]; McCain was penciled in as a third party beneficiary. As with many of the Bush Administrations calculations, things have not worked out as planned; and thousands of civilians in the region have suffered or died and towns have been destroyed.
The by-lines of Bush Administration do not represent the whole truth of matters. The U.S. public deserves to know that there are opposing views and how $100's of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent abroad to further the financial gains of Big Oil and U.S. military contractors. The Bush Administration has discarded the U.S. mantle of peace-maker, and has turned the U.S. into the worlds No.1, For-Profit "trouble-maker".
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.
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.
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 __
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 __
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