Problem: GM, Ford and Chrysler on the brink of bankruptcy.
Solution: First, fire all CEOs, presidents, and vice presidents. This will free up more than enough capital to make the companies solvent. Second, Tariffs! No more free trade! Fair trade is what is needed. As long as goods can be purchased from overseas for pennies on the dollar jobs will be sent there and our manufacturing infrastructure will become extinct. (So many people were quick to dismiss Ross Perot as that crazy little man with a funny voice, but he saw this coming with the signing of NAFTA. "That giant sucking sound . . .")
Problem: Hannity, Rush, and the rest have all complained that the reason American auto makers can't make a profit is the unrealistic CAFE standards imposed on them by the government. Sponsored by auto makers and big oil, these right wing nut clowns (sorry, . . .that's not fair to clowns.) want us to believe that the technology for cleaner emissions and higher MPG just isn't there. The poor poor American auto industry is being unfairly targeted by our evil oppressive government causing irreparable harm. Give me a break. First of all the Right loves to accuse government of over stepping it's boundaries when it comes free market enterprise, but feels that it is well within them when it comes to environmental and civil liberty protections. Secondly, they are just out and out lying about the technology. In 1969 Subaru manufactured and sold a car in the U.S. that got 66 miles per gallon. In 1969! It was called the 360.
Check it out : http://adventurebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2008/05/03/1467619-in-1969-subaru-was-getting-66-miles-per-gallon
Congress in it's infinite wisdom or lack thereof under W's leadership passed a mandatory directive to the auto makers. All cars must have a minimum of 35 mpg by 2020. Oooooh, bold vision! LOL Talk about lowered expectations. That's like JFK telling America that before the next decade we will put a man on the top of the empire state building.
You know we had an electric car that was starting to catch on but once the auto industry realized that it adversely affected their profit margin they not only scraped future production, they recalled every single one and had them destroyed. They could still make a profit just not as large of one as they'd like. It makes me wonder just how much influence companies like Exxon, Chevron, Shell and the rest had. During the past decade American auto manufactures have been pushing the SUV and the Monster truck on the buying public while the Japanese have been ahead of the curve producing fuel efficient cars.
DaG Out
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Man the Life Boats!
Secretary Paulson,
Would you please give back the 350 billion you extorted from tax payers. Please. The American people overwhelmingly told their representatives in congress not to give it to you but, they ignored us. (kind of like you ignored the whole over sight thing) Sir, please. It's obvious that you aren't spending the money wisely. You are not helping the mortgage crisis which is why you asked for the money in the first place. The money you are spending is going to the banks and financial institutions to pay for executive bonuses and vacations. The rest is unaccounted for as you will not make public who is receiving the $. Interesting to note that a lot of merger talk is going on amongst institutions who were just last month on the brink of going under. Mergers require capital Mr. Paulson, and I suspect a lot of the bailout $ is going to underwrite these mergers.
Sincerely,
A pissed off tax payer
Here's where I have to re-tract a little of the venom spewed in the last post:
While Goldman Sachs, AIG, and other wall street companies cannot be allowed to fail . . . GM, Ford, and Chrysler are apparently expendable. As many as 3 million jobs will be lost if this auto industry collapse comes to fruition. Previously I said let them fail, it's upper management's fault and they get what they deserve. I didn't take into consideration the 3 million jobs that will be affected. I wasn't aware that this would be a loan. A $25 billion loan that the auto industry can use to retool their factories for the green revolution. It makes no sense to flush tax dollars down the toilet of Wall Street and then ignore an actual job producing industry in need. The American worker has put in more hours and is producing at a higher level than anytime in our history only to have those efforts pillaged by corporatist who want to justify their positions.
If the auto industry's unions were full of Republicans instead of Democrats I wonder if this would even be an issue. Let's not give them $25 billion with no strings attached like we did with the $750. billion to Paulson. (I still can't believe that happened. Not two weeks after receiving the first installment he lets congress know that the $ wasn't going to used the way he said it was. He changed his mind. AAARRRGH!!!!)
Let's not make that mistake again. In order for GM, Ford, and Chrysler to receive this loan they must agree to a few of these stipulations: 1. Not one dollar is to go overseas. No foreign steel would be used. 2. A mandatory streamlining of executive positions. Way to many chiefs and not enough Indians. 3. Executive compensation must be limited. (Remember Lee Iocca's bailout 20 or so years ago? He only drew a $1.00 salary that year. Let's see these bloated fat cats show that kind of integrity.) There needs to be a lot of oversight and re-structuring. In the fifties a mid level manager came from the ranks and knew what those under him did. They actually could fill in if someone called in sick. Today the white collar worker couldn't run the simplest machine on an assembly line.
The Federal Reserve (330 of the wealthiest families in the world) would like nothing more than to see the American auto industry go by the way side. The union supported labor force and their "workers rights" is the prickly thorn bush that stands between them and a one world global economy. If they can get Bush to remove that brush pile, cheap labor and rising profits will abound for all those at the top. In the on going redistribution of wealth from the working class to those at the very top of the economic food chain: our government has allowed financial institutions to embezzle the retirement savings, only to loose all of their booty in bad unsecured credit swaps. What's worse? Instead of plugging the hole in the hull of the ship, we're taking pick axes to it. Instead of bailing out the water, we're scooping it up out of the sea and pouring it into the ship. I've sent out distress signal after distress signal only to hear static and right wing talk show host call this the Obama recession. I've shot flare after flare into the night sky only to have congress say, "Ooooh . . . Ahhhh . . .how pretty!"
DaG Out
Would you please give back the 350 billion you extorted from tax payers. Please. The American people overwhelmingly told their representatives in congress not to give it to you but, they ignored us. (kind of like you ignored the whole over sight thing) Sir, please. It's obvious that you aren't spending the money wisely. You are not helping the mortgage crisis which is why you asked for the money in the first place. The money you are spending is going to the banks and financial institutions to pay for executive bonuses and vacations. The rest is unaccounted for as you will not make public who is receiving the $. Interesting to note that a lot of merger talk is going on amongst institutions who were just last month on the brink of going under. Mergers require capital Mr. Paulson, and I suspect a lot of the bailout $ is going to underwrite these mergers.
Sincerely,
A pissed off tax payer
Here's where I have to re-tract a little of the venom spewed in the last post:
While Goldman Sachs, AIG, and other wall street companies cannot be allowed to fail . . . GM, Ford, and Chrysler are apparently expendable. As many as 3 million jobs will be lost if this auto industry collapse comes to fruition. Previously I said let them fail, it's upper management's fault and they get what they deserve. I didn't take into consideration the 3 million jobs that will be affected. I wasn't aware that this would be a loan. A $25 billion loan that the auto industry can use to retool their factories for the green revolution. It makes no sense to flush tax dollars down the toilet of Wall Street and then ignore an actual job producing industry in need. The American worker has put in more hours and is producing at a higher level than anytime in our history only to have those efforts pillaged by corporatist who want to justify their positions.
If the auto industry's unions were full of Republicans instead of Democrats I wonder if this would even be an issue. Let's not give them $25 billion with no strings attached like we did with the $750. billion to Paulson. (I still can't believe that happened. Not two weeks after receiving the first installment he lets congress know that the $ wasn't going to used the way he said it was. He changed his mind. AAARRRGH!!!!)
Let's not make that mistake again. In order for GM, Ford, and Chrysler to receive this loan they must agree to a few of these stipulations: 1. Not one dollar is to go overseas. No foreign steel would be used. 2. A mandatory streamlining of executive positions. Way to many chiefs and not enough Indians. 3. Executive compensation must be limited. (Remember Lee Iocca's bailout 20 or so years ago? He only drew a $1.00 salary that year. Let's see these bloated fat cats show that kind of integrity.) There needs to be a lot of oversight and re-structuring. In the fifties a mid level manager came from the ranks and knew what those under him did. They actually could fill in if someone called in sick. Today the white collar worker couldn't run the simplest machine on an assembly line.
The Federal Reserve (330 of the wealthiest families in the world) would like nothing more than to see the American auto industry go by the way side. The union supported labor force and their "workers rights" is the prickly thorn bush that stands between them and a one world global economy. If they can get Bush to remove that brush pile, cheap labor and rising profits will abound for all those at the top. In the on going redistribution of wealth from the working class to those at the very top of the economic food chain: our government has allowed financial institutions to embezzle the retirement savings, only to loose all of their booty in bad unsecured credit swaps. What's worse? Instead of plugging the hole in the hull of the ship, we're taking pick axes to it. Instead of bailing out the water, we're scooping it up out of the sea and pouring it into the ship. I've sent out distress signal after distress signal only to hear static and right wing talk show host call this the Obama recession. I've shot flare after flare into the night sky only to have congress say, "Ooooh . . . Ahhhh . . .how pretty!"
DaG Out
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Through the Looking Glass
I don't remember ingesting mushrooms but, I must have because the shit I'm seeing has got to be a hallucination. Did I just see the colonel Klink look-a-like: Hank Paulson tell us that he changed his mind? All the things he told congress that he was going to do with the $700 billion dollar bail out . . . he's not going to do. None of the money was going to help those whose homes were being foreclosed . . .instead he's going to divvy it up amongst his old running buddies and their banks. He's going to let American Express become a bank so that they can get their hands on my money. American Express, whose slogan used to be " Don't leave home without it." Now should be "Don't foreclose on a home without writing us a big check." I'll get into the auto industry's hat in hand a little later.
Okay let me get this straight: if you or I walk into and bank, hand the teller a note that says, "Give me $100,000.00 or there's gonna be hell to pay." I will be arrested, charged with bank robbery, and when found guilty be given a mandatory sentence. I will spend time behind bars. Now, if I steal millions of stock holders and tax payers money, I just need to call this Paulson guy, and he can get congress to give me more? No arrest. No jail time. Man, am I in the wrong business.
How is this being allowed to happen? I thought Bush's lack of intelligence was an "Emperor has no clothes" scenario but, this heist in broad daylight of our money is like nothing I've ever seen. Nobody's throwing a fit! It's astounding! How about we just stop and say what the fuck do you think you're doing?!!
Apparently the financial world didn't come to an end like we were told it was going to do unless we gave Paulson $700 billion. It just brought out every Tom, Dick and Harry with their hat in hand. Sure, the economy is in a shambles but lining the pockets of those who mismanaged and embezzled trillions of dollars, is not going to do a damn bit of good. Bush is heading out of the white house door with all the silverware and the china. Baldy lets the world know that he's changed his mind on how best to spend our money and the stock market drops over 400 points. Who is this guy???? Oh yeah that's right . . . an ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs that Bush recommended for Secretary of Treasurer.
Ben Bernanke, the Pernell Roberts look-a-like and Bush appointed Chairman of the Federal Reserve keeps printing money by the trillions knowing that every new dollar printed lessens the value of your savings and mine. The Fed is not releasing the identity of the banks and loan institutions that it has lent 2 trillion dollars to (in addition to the 85 billion it loaned AIG) nor is it telling us what bad debts the banks are using as collateral. Is there no end to this? I'm not an economist nor are any of my friends but, I have read a few articles in my day, and when an economy is flooded with unbacked dollars it causes inflation. (the devaluing of the dollar) This has happened on a much smaller scale in the past with devastating repercussions. The amounts the Fed is printing now is an unprecedented multi billion and trillion dollar amount. If 2 + 2 still equals 4 in this ALICE IN WONDERLAND world we find ourselves in, then we are going to have inflation on steroids. What doesn't add up is that people like Paulson and Bernanke and the majority of Congress know this and haven't put a stop to it.
Why hasn't the media put a spotlight on the naked emperor?! His naughty bits are dangling all over the place! While I've been accused of being a conspiracy nut in the past you can't tell me that you think that this is all on the up and up. Even my main man, Obama has me pissed off. I was gonna give him a few months leniency before ripping into him but, he blew it when he voted for the first $700. billion bail out. Now the American auto manufactures are asking for their welfare . . . followed by the airlines, I'm sure.
Okay Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Putting the pension plans and health care expenses aside, if you had made vehicles that Americans wanted to drive instead of gas guzzling Apartment complexes on wheels you might have weathered this storm. If you would have spent a little more money on R&D instead of thousands of white collar positions that exist only to regurgitate 30 year old marketing ideas, you might have weathered this storm. But Noooooooo! You've offered zero innovations that would have made your companies competitive in today's market place. Now, you come to the American people for a hand out. A hand out that will be like giving a wino 2 bucks who will just buy some thunder bird and who will be back tomorrow wanting more. You need to fire all of your CEO's and upper management. If you're a VP of anything at Ford, GM, or Chrysler you've got to go. If you couldn't be forward thinking enough to prepare for an alternative fuel market place then you're either incompetent or in cahoots with Big oil. In either case you're doing your company, it's workers and the United States of America great harm. So bye bye ass holes!!! And oh yeah . . .Where's my flying car?!
So, back to our government's Chief Embezzling Officers: Paulson and Bernanke. Since they can just change there mind on how our money is spent, print money willy nilly, and refuse to make public who they're giving it to. I propose that all of us follow Paulson's lead and collectively change our minds. As long as there is zero accountability of the spending of our tax dollars, a continuing redistribution of our tax dollars to poorly managed corporations and financial institutions, and a systematic devaluation of our tax dollars . . . come April 15th let's not give them any more. IMHO this is an attack on the citizens of the United States. Through lies and legislation congress and chancellor Paulson are contributing to this nation's economic collapse. We the people are severely limited in our ability to stage a revolution like the one in 1776. Our government has far superior weapons and technology on it's side, but what about a tax revolt? I'm just asking.
DaG Out
Okay let me get this straight: if you or I walk into and bank, hand the teller a note that says, "Give me $100,000.00 or there's gonna be hell to pay." I will be arrested, charged with bank robbery, and when found guilty be given a mandatory sentence. I will spend time behind bars. Now, if I steal millions of stock holders and tax payers money, I just need to call this Paulson guy, and he can get congress to give me more? No arrest. No jail time. Man, am I in the wrong business.
How is this being allowed to happen? I thought Bush's lack of intelligence was an "Emperor has no clothes" scenario but, this heist in broad daylight of our money is like nothing I've ever seen. Nobody's throwing a fit! It's astounding! How about we just stop and say what the fuck do you think you're doing?!!
Apparently the financial world didn't come to an end like we were told it was going to do unless we gave Paulson $700 billion. It just brought out every Tom, Dick and Harry with their hat in hand. Sure, the economy is in a shambles but lining the pockets of those who mismanaged and embezzled trillions of dollars, is not going to do a damn bit of good. Bush is heading out of the white house door with all the silverware and the china. Baldy lets the world know that he's changed his mind on how best to spend our money and the stock market drops over 400 points. Who is this guy???? Oh yeah that's right . . . an ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs that Bush recommended for Secretary of Treasurer.
Ben Bernanke, the Pernell Roberts look-a-like and Bush appointed Chairman of the Federal Reserve keeps printing money by the trillions knowing that every new dollar printed lessens the value of your savings and mine. The Fed is not releasing the identity of the banks and loan institutions that it has lent 2 trillion dollars to (in addition to the 85 billion it loaned AIG) nor is it telling us what bad debts the banks are using as collateral. Is there no end to this? I'm not an economist nor are any of my friends but, I have read a few articles in my day, and when an economy is flooded with unbacked dollars it causes inflation. (the devaluing of the dollar) This has happened on a much smaller scale in the past with devastating repercussions. The amounts the Fed is printing now is an unprecedented multi billion and trillion dollar amount. If 2 + 2 still equals 4 in this ALICE IN WONDERLAND world we find ourselves in, then we are going to have inflation on steroids. What doesn't add up is that people like Paulson and Bernanke and the majority of Congress know this and haven't put a stop to it.
Why hasn't the media put a spotlight on the naked emperor?! His naughty bits are dangling all over the place! While I've been accused of being a conspiracy nut in the past you can't tell me that you think that this is all on the up and up. Even my main man, Obama has me pissed off. I was gonna give him a few months leniency before ripping into him but, he blew it when he voted for the first $700. billion bail out. Now the American auto manufactures are asking for their welfare . . . followed by the airlines, I'm sure.
Okay Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Putting the pension plans and health care expenses aside, if you had made vehicles that Americans wanted to drive instead of gas guzzling Apartment complexes on wheels you might have weathered this storm. If you would have spent a little more money on R&D instead of thousands of white collar positions that exist only to regurgitate 30 year old marketing ideas, you might have weathered this storm. But Noooooooo! You've offered zero innovations that would have made your companies competitive in today's market place. Now, you come to the American people for a hand out. A hand out that will be like giving a wino 2 bucks who will just buy some thunder bird and who will be back tomorrow wanting more. You need to fire all of your CEO's and upper management. If you're a VP of anything at Ford, GM, or Chrysler you've got to go. If you couldn't be forward thinking enough to prepare for an alternative fuel market place then you're either incompetent or in cahoots with Big oil. In either case you're doing your company, it's workers and the United States of America great harm. So bye bye ass holes!!! And oh yeah . . .Where's my flying car?!
So, back to our government's Chief Embezzling Officers: Paulson and Bernanke. Since they can just change there mind on how our money is spent, print money willy nilly, and refuse to make public who they're giving it to. I propose that all of us follow Paulson's lead and collectively change our minds. As long as there is zero accountability of the spending of our tax dollars, a continuing redistribution of our tax dollars to poorly managed corporations and financial institutions, and a systematic devaluation of our tax dollars . . . come April 15th let's not give them any more. IMHO this is an attack on the citizens of the United States. Through lies and legislation congress and chancellor Paulson are contributing to this nation's economic collapse. We the people are severely limited in our ability to stage a revolution like the one in 1776. Our government has far superior weapons and technology on it's side, but what about a tax revolt? I'm just asking.
DaG Out
Monday, November 10, 2008
No Truth Just Consequences
Dear right wing conservative talk show hosts,
I am writing you today in hopes to appeal to your Christian sensibilities that you claim to cherish. Please sirs and madams, stop telling your listeners that Barack Obama and his policies are dangerous to this country. You can not say with any degree of certainty (although you have) that President elect Obama will do this country harm anymore than I can say with certainty (although I have) that you lie when you say that Sarah Palin is intelligent and would have made a great vice president. You folks are paid propagandists hired by those who want to protect their wealth. Your job is to spread fear and disinformation to the uneducated masses in order to keep this country divided. When you use phrases like " What scares me about Obama . . ." and "What I fear Obama will do. . ." and in Hannity's case, "America will cease to exist." . . . you give the impetus to hate groups and narrow minded individuals to act aggressively. Just look at the Palin rallies. While your rhetoric and propaganda is wrapped in the American flag (made in China) and "America First" bumper sticker mentality, your words of unwarranted distrust are incendiary and must be tempered with reason. When you stir up fear in people they make bad decisions. Please please please sirs and madams, if there be a shred of decency within you understand the volatile state of mind in the McCain/Palin base. They are angry at this election's outcome and when you add to that the incredible anxiety our nations feels as we head into tough economic times, you have the recipe for tragedy. Should one of these people, or one of your listeners , God forbid, attempt to harm our new president, will you not feel partly responsible?
If you truly are a "great American" you understand how far we've come and how fragile the advancement. Your professed fear of the Obama administration pales in comparison to my fear of what would happen to this country if he is taken from us by an assassin's bullet. You're playing with fire in a tinder box soaked in kerosene.
Liberal doesn't equal radical. Democrat doesn't equal Atheist. Obama doesn't equal terrorist!
I am not asking you to quit your job or flip your party allegiance, I ask only that when you criticize president elect Obama please use the same amount of respectful language that you chose during the scant few times you disagreed with president Bush.
Sincerely,
DaG
From Telegraph.co.uk: Nov. 10 2008
Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama
Sarah Palin's attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against the future president, Secret Service agents revealed during the final weeks of the campaign.
DaG Out
I am writing you today in hopes to appeal to your Christian sensibilities that you claim to cherish. Please sirs and madams, stop telling your listeners that Barack Obama and his policies are dangerous to this country. You can not say with any degree of certainty (although you have) that President elect Obama will do this country harm anymore than I can say with certainty (although I have) that you lie when you say that Sarah Palin is intelligent and would have made a great vice president. You folks are paid propagandists hired by those who want to protect their wealth. Your job is to spread fear and disinformation to the uneducated masses in order to keep this country divided. When you use phrases like " What scares me about Obama . . ." and "What I fear Obama will do. . ." and in Hannity's case, "America will cease to exist." . . . you give the impetus to hate groups and narrow minded individuals to act aggressively. Just look at the Palin rallies. While your rhetoric and propaganda is wrapped in the American flag (made in China) and "America First" bumper sticker mentality, your words of unwarranted distrust are incendiary and must be tempered with reason. When you stir up fear in people they make bad decisions. Please please please sirs and madams, if there be a shred of decency within you understand the volatile state of mind in the McCain/Palin base. They are angry at this election's outcome and when you add to that the incredible anxiety our nations feels as we head into tough economic times, you have the recipe for tragedy. Should one of these people, or one of your listeners , God forbid, attempt to harm our new president, will you not feel partly responsible?
If you truly are a "great American" you understand how far we've come and how fragile the advancement. Your professed fear of the Obama administration pales in comparison to my fear of what would happen to this country if he is taken from us by an assassin's bullet. You're playing with fire in a tinder box soaked in kerosene.
Liberal doesn't equal radical. Democrat doesn't equal Atheist. Obama doesn't equal terrorist!
I am not asking you to quit your job or flip your party allegiance, I ask only that when you criticize president elect Obama please use the same amount of respectful language that you chose during the scant few times you disagreed with president Bush.
Sincerely,
DaG
From Telegraph.co.uk: Nov. 10 2008
Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama
Sarah Palin's attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against the future president, Secret Service agents revealed during the final weeks of the campaign.
DaG Out
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Soup kitchens dead ahead!!!
WASHINGTON – The nation's jobless ranks zoomed past 10 million last month, the most in a quarter-century, as piles of pink slips shut factory gates and office doors to 240,000 more Americans with the holidays nearing. Politicians and economists agreed on a painful bottom line: It's only going to get worse.
The unemployment rate soared to a 14-year high of 6.5 percent, the government said Friday, up from 6.1 percent just a month earlier. And there was more grim news from U.S. automakers: Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., American giants struggling to survive, each reported big losses and figured to be announcing even more job cuts before long.
Thank you presidents Bush, (1 and 2) Clinton, and Reagan for opening our doors to free trade and removing all the tariffs that kept jobs here in the U.S. Thank you for giving tax breaks to those companies who employ their work force from overseas and south of the border. Thank you for allowing them to avoid taxes by using offshore P.O boxes as their accounts receivable addresses. Thank you for allowing them to hide their profits in Swiss bank accounts. Thank you for supporting the economy of China, Pakistan, India, and Russia while eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs here in the states. I could go on but, I'm really starting to get pissed off and my doctor told me that I need to avoid stress.
Beginning with Reagan and Bush I, temporarily slowed by Clinton but then regained speed when Bush II took the helm: CORPORATE profits have been steadily increasing breaking past performance records while CEO's have enjoyed the largest gap in compensation between themselves and their employees. (In 2007 - CEOs were paid 300 times that of the average American worker) Excessive CEO pay takes dollars out of the pockets of shareholders—including the retirement savings of America’s working families. Moreover, a poorly designed executive compensation package can reward decisions that are not in the long-term interests of a company, its shareholders and employees. When companies file bankruptcy they let go all the workers, get a pass on paying outstanding debt, but somehow find the cash to pay their CEOs millions of dollars in bonus and severances. Under an Obama administration will there be a resurgence of Unions and a return to some sort of economic sanity in the CEO/employee wage gap?
Home prices are down 20% nationwide since their peak in July 2006, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. Economist Nouriel Roubini of New York University, who accurately predicted the housing slide and credit crisis, expects another 20% decline in home prices next year. Patrick Newport of economic forecasting firm Global Insight projects a 15% drop.
We're entering uncharted waters here. Never in my lifetime has home ownership been a bad investment. If this Roubini guy is right a house purchased in 2006 could lose 40% of it's value by 2010. Are you kidding me? Conservative estimates are that your home will lose 30% of it's value by 2010. Many of us have been upside down in our vehicles but, never have we been upside down in our homes. Let's hope our new captain knows how to use a sextant because not only are we entering uncharted waters but the sun has set, it's dark out, and the GPS is on the fritz.
As mentioned before president elect Obama is going to have his hands full trying to juggle much needed change in the way government is run and this current economic disaster that has been 28 years in the making. There will be no easy solutions, no magic stimulus package that will cure these ills. The bright side is that at least we have a chance under this new administration. Already the senator from Illinois has recruited not only former Goldman Sachs and other financial institution's CEOs as part of his economics team, he has brought in two very pro Union/worker's rights advocates who fly directly in the face of these career financial finaglers. David Bonier and Robert Reich will offer up ideas and suggestions in labor's best interest and not the CEO's. Lest anyone think that I am waving poms poms and shouting, "Give me an O!" you need to know that I think the economic stimulus package being proposed by Obama is a complete waste of time. Might as well squirt a little perfume in a septic tank. It ain't going to make a fart in an outhouse worth of difference in the economy. If anything it's going to add to the inevitable inflation because we're just going to print more money.
Okay, can't end this post without giving props to OB14me. Did you hear the "mutt like me." comment he said while talking about what kind of dog he was going to get for his girls? You gotta love this from an elected official. Self deprecating humor and the ease that he can talk about race is very cool. ( Okay maybe that was a little cheer leader-ish)
DaG Out
The unemployment rate soared to a 14-year high of 6.5 percent, the government said Friday, up from 6.1 percent just a month earlier. And there was more grim news from U.S. automakers: Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., American giants struggling to survive, each reported big losses and figured to be announcing even more job cuts before long.
Thank you presidents Bush, (1 and 2) Clinton, and Reagan for opening our doors to free trade and removing all the tariffs that kept jobs here in the U.S. Thank you for giving tax breaks to those companies who employ their work force from overseas and south of the border. Thank you for allowing them to avoid taxes by using offshore P.O boxes as their accounts receivable addresses. Thank you for allowing them to hide their profits in Swiss bank accounts. Thank you for supporting the economy of China, Pakistan, India, and Russia while eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs here in the states. I could go on but, I'm really starting to get pissed off and my doctor told me that I need to avoid stress.
Beginning with Reagan and Bush I, temporarily slowed by Clinton but then regained speed when Bush II took the helm: CORPORATE profits have been steadily increasing breaking past performance records while CEO's have enjoyed the largest gap in compensation between themselves and their employees. (In 2007 - CEOs were paid 300 times that of the average American worker) Excessive CEO pay takes dollars out of the pockets of shareholders—including the retirement savings of America’s working families. Moreover, a poorly designed executive compensation package can reward decisions that are not in the long-term interests of a company, its shareholders and employees. When companies file bankruptcy they let go all the workers, get a pass on paying outstanding debt, but somehow find the cash to pay their CEOs millions of dollars in bonus and severances. Under an Obama administration will there be a resurgence of Unions and a return to some sort of economic sanity in the CEO/employee wage gap?
Home prices are down 20% nationwide since their peak in July 2006, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. Economist Nouriel Roubini of New York University, who accurately predicted the housing slide and credit crisis, expects another 20% decline in home prices next year. Patrick Newport of economic forecasting firm Global Insight projects a 15% drop.
We're entering uncharted waters here. Never in my lifetime has home ownership been a bad investment. If this Roubini guy is right a house purchased in 2006 could lose 40% of it's value by 2010. Are you kidding me? Conservative estimates are that your home will lose 30% of it's value by 2010. Many of us have been upside down in our vehicles but, never have we been upside down in our homes. Let's hope our new captain knows how to use a sextant because not only are we entering uncharted waters but the sun has set, it's dark out, and the GPS is on the fritz.
As mentioned before president elect Obama is going to have his hands full trying to juggle much needed change in the way government is run and this current economic disaster that has been 28 years in the making. There will be no easy solutions, no magic stimulus package that will cure these ills. The bright side is that at least we have a chance under this new administration. Already the senator from Illinois has recruited not only former Goldman Sachs and other financial institution's CEOs as part of his economics team, he has brought in two very pro Union/worker's rights advocates who fly directly in the face of these career financial finaglers. David Bonier and Robert Reich will offer up ideas and suggestions in labor's best interest and not the CEO's. Lest anyone think that I am waving poms poms and shouting, "Give me an O!" you need to know that I think the economic stimulus package being proposed by Obama is a complete waste of time. Might as well squirt a little perfume in a septic tank. It ain't going to make a fart in an outhouse worth of difference in the economy. If anything it's going to add to the inevitable inflation because we're just going to print more money.
Okay, can't end this post without giving props to OB14me. Did you hear the "mutt like me." comment he said while talking about what kind of dog he was going to get for his girls? You gotta love this from an elected official. Self deprecating humor and the ease that he can talk about race is very cool. ( Okay maybe that was a little cheer leader-ish)
DaG Out
Thursday, November 6, 2008
One step forward and two steps back
While our country opened the door to one group of it's citizens, it slammed it shut on another. The very same ballot that gave an African American the keys to the White House, foreclosed on gay America's dream house. It truly is baffling. What is it that straight America is so afraid of? What do they think is going to happen if two people of the same sex marry each other? It's like all other moral issues: if you don't think it's right . . . if it goes against your religious teachings, then don't do it. If God is offended . . .let the Deity deal with it. It's really none of your business. The bible specifically states that we should not judge others, that's God's gig. I don't recall God taking a sick day and asking his followers to fill in and pass judgements . . .so knock it off!!!
Where do you get off imposing your religious beliefs on others? Where does the state get off putting this issue on a ballot and allowing a majority to decide on the civil rights of a minority? In the word of Jeff Dunham's "Peanut", "What the hell?!"
When trying to figure out why something is happening politically one needs to follow the money. so, when you see who is funding the Proposition 8 initiative you find themajority of the funding came from the Mormons. Californians Against Hate released figures Tuesday showing that $17.67 million was contributed by 59,000 Mormon families since August to groups like Yes on 8. The surge in support has been an attempt to boost the church's social standing among the greater religious community.
Apparently the Mormons are tired of being looked down upon by the Catholics, Christians and the evangelicals. I guess they want to be as socially relevant as the big boys. By funding anti-gay legislation, they can divert attention away from their history of polygamy and "magic underwear"and unite all religions under the anti-gay flag. Funny how those who profess to be morally superior to homosexuals belong to the same cult that encouraged the slaughter of hundreds of thousands during the crusades, tortured thousands during the Inquisition, drowned and burnt women whom they believed to be witches. No wonder the Romans fed them to the lions.
If God really gives a shit about "the sanctity of marriage", why hasn't he or she strike down all the Catholics, Christians, and evangelicals that have gotten divorced? Where's the ban on breaking a vow you made before God? I've yet to see that turned into a proposition!
I wanted to be able to just celebrate this past election.and feel good . . . really good about where we were headed for a change but, this whole proposition 8 thing just pissed on my parade. The ironic twist in this election is the very group (African Americans) that turned out in record numbers to vote 95% to 5% in favor of Obama, also voted 69% to 31% in favor of Prop 8. If I were Rush Limbaugh I would tell my listeners that blacks are racist and anti-gay. The exit polls show that to be true but, it's like eating a great big shit sandwich when I agree with anything Rush says. A lot of false information was put out there by the Knight's of Columbus and Focus on the family that inferred Obama supported prop 8. He most definitely did not. Also a lot of the money that went to fund Obama's campaign would have gone to defeat Prop 8.
The wording of all these propositions are intentionally confusing as well. At a glance: a voter sees Prop. 8 "gay marriage" vote yes or no. In order to support equality a voter had to vote "no". It's very awkward for a voter to cast a negative vote in order to achieve a positive outcome. This may not be the entire reason for the passing of the ban but, it more than likely contributed to it. These sweet and sour historic election results emphasizes the need for true equality in this country. Prop 8 should never have been put on the same ballot as a presidential race.
We have managed to evolve enough as a society to vote for content of character but still can't seem to get past the notion that everyone's bread must be buttered on the same side.
DaG out
Where do you get off imposing your religious beliefs on others? Where does the state get off putting this issue on a ballot and allowing a majority to decide on the civil rights of a minority? In the word of Jeff Dunham's "Peanut", "What the hell?!"
When trying to figure out why something is happening politically one needs to follow the money. so, when you see who is funding the Proposition 8 initiative you find themajority of the funding came from the Mormons. Californians Against Hate released figures Tuesday showing that $17.67 million was contributed by 59,000 Mormon families since August to groups like Yes on 8. The surge in support has been an attempt to boost the church's social standing among the greater religious community.
Apparently the Mormons are tired of being looked down upon by the Catholics, Christians and the evangelicals. I guess they want to be as socially relevant as the big boys. By funding anti-gay legislation, they can divert attention away from their history of polygamy and "magic underwear"and unite all religions under the anti-gay flag. Funny how those who profess to be morally superior to homosexuals belong to the same cult that encouraged the slaughter of hundreds of thousands during the crusades, tortured thousands during the Inquisition, drowned and burnt women whom they believed to be witches. No wonder the Romans fed them to the lions.
If God really gives a shit about "the sanctity of marriage", why hasn't he or she strike down all the Catholics, Christians, and evangelicals that have gotten divorced? Where's the ban on breaking a vow you made before God? I've yet to see that turned into a proposition!
I wanted to be able to just celebrate this past election.and feel good . . . really good about where we were headed for a change but, this whole proposition 8 thing just pissed on my parade. The ironic twist in this election is the very group (African Americans) that turned out in record numbers to vote 95% to 5% in favor of Obama, also voted 69% to 31% in favor of Prop 8. If I were Rush Limbaugh I would tell my listeners that blacks are racist and anti-gay. The exit polls show that to be true but, it's like eating a great big shit sandwich when I agree with anything Rush says. A lot of false information was put out there by the Knight's of Columbus and Focus on the family that inferred Obama supported prop 8. He most definitely did not. Also a lot of the money that went to fund Obama's campaign would have gone to defeat Prop 8.
The wording of all these propositions are intentionally confusing as well. At a glance: a voter sees Prop. 8 "gay marriage" vote yes or no. In order to support equality a voter had to vote "no". It's very awkward for a voter to cast a negative vote in order to achieve a positive outcome. This may not be the entire reason for the passing of the ban but, it more than likely contributed to it. These sweet and sour historic election results emphasizes the need for true equality in this country. Prop 8 should never have been put on the same ballot as a presidential race.
We have managed to evolve enough as a society to vote for content of character but still can't seem to get past the notion that everyone's bread must be buttered on the same side.
DaG out
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Wrong again. Thank God!
I don't know what to say. It still seems like a dream. This won't be a real Daggy kind of post. No military in the streets. No e-voting machine warnings. No shadow government conspiracy theories. I'm too jazzed and amazed. Something good happened. Monumentally good! I think we just witnessed a country moving forward: truly seeing a man's character and not the color of his skin. Or was it just because I predicted the other guy would win? (remember my abhorrent prediction record) It appears that a majority of the U.S. voters have made MLK Jr.'s dream come true. It fills me with such hope. When my sons call me me to say they are moved, feel patriotic, and feel a sense of pride having actively taken part part in our democratic process it just makes me well up. I'm sure it helps that we all backed the winner. The winner who taught constitutional law, graduated first in his class at Harvard, and holds politically progressive ideas instead of neo-con might makes right ideas . . . prefers the end of war instead of war profiteering . . . prefers equal rights for all and not constitutional amendments to ban same sex marriages . . . believes all Americans have the unalienable right to life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness and not just the upper 1% . . . wants to give back civil liberties instead of stripping them away . . . thinks that you can disagree with him without actually supporting terrorists . . .wants to unite our country and not divide us by saying you're either with us or against us . . . sees problems and wants to address them instead of pretending like everything is fine if we just don't ask questions. . . .and best of all, wants to help rebuild a middle class instead of destroying it.
Simply remarkable. Even if he is only a figure head and won't be able to get done all that he promised, his election is such a huge step in the right direction. I mean the man can actually speak in complete sentences and not make up words that don't exist. How refreshing! And let's not forget(because this is no small detail) he will more than likely get to nominate 2 or maybe even 3 Supreme court justices! Hooray!! Balance. Oh sweet sweet balance! I hope his first nominee is a 30-35 year old liberal woman judge with radical leftist affiliations, who legislates from the bench, had two or three abortions, and is a professed atheist.
Also . . .(snicker) Sarah Palin has to go back to Alaska. Bye bye Brainiac. (I'm not as cool as Obama, I can be shitty) When I saw her crying during McCain's concession speech I don't think it was because they didn't win. I think it was because she knows she has to go back to Alaska. She was on Saturday Night Live for crying out loud. She's tasted celebrity and that shit's hard to give up.
Now all the Right Wing talk show hosts will have 4 years of trying to dig up whatever new dirt they can on Obama. Apparently Ayers, Wright, Resko, and Khalidi weren't enough to keep him out of the White House. Not even accusing him of wanting to gas Jews. Do you suppose we've seen the last of Joe the Plumber as well? One can only hope. I guess they could always find and intern with good oral skills to disgrace and embarrass Obama. Then try to impeach him for lying about the relationship. Just for the entertainment value . . .I hope it's a white girl. Cable news ratings go up when a blond haired white girl is involved in some kind of scandal.
Poor poor president elect, I do not envy you. The mess you've inherited can only be compared to FDR's 1st term. Although he at least had a massive manufacturing base to work with. You on the other hand get the largest budget deficit in the history of our country, the largest national debt in history, the largest out sourcing of jobs in history, the worst environmental pending disaster in out 232 years, the worst financial institution disaster in history, a infra structure much need of repair, a health insurance crisis like never before, a frozen credit market, a terribly depressed housing market, and last but certainly not least a considerable amount of radical white supremacist whack jobs that would like nothing more than to see you . . .well you know.
You have guts Mr. President. You have brains, guts, and more balls than all the Brunswick Lanes in the Midwest.
Indiana turned blue!! Indiana!!!! The comet should hit any day now.
Fox News was hysterical tonight. The forlorn look on all their faces as they had to report that Barack was winning was priceless. When they had to say Obama won, you could have heard a pin drop. The only moment when they spoke glowingly was when the were commenting on how gracious McCain was giving his concession speech. I almost vomited when the architect Karl Rove tried to put a positive spin on the election acting as if he thought this was good for America. Note to Karl: It is good for America but, when you did everything in your power to prevent it then act as if you're kinda of glad it happened . . . . You could at least have the decency to act perturbed. Your side lost!!! You and your Rove clones under handed robo calls and guilt by association smears failed!!! Quit trying to glom off our side's defeat of you! Pond scum.
So, America there just might be hope for us yet. I'm a big fan of our new president . . .at least for now. After Mr. Obama takes office, I'll give him a few months or so to get his feet wet before getting too critical, but be forewarned Mr. President elect , if you don't start kicking ass and taking names in a timely fashion - DaG will turn on you like apple cider left out in the sun.
DaG Out
Simply remarkable. Even if he is only a figure head and won't be able to get done all that he promised, his election is such a huge step in the right direction. I mean the man can actually speak in complete sentences and not make up words that don't exist. How refreshing! And let's not forget(because this is no small detail) he will more than likely get to nominate 2 or maybe even 3 Supreme court justices! Hooray!! Balance. Oh sweet sweet balance! I hope his first nominee is a 30-35 year old liberal woman judge with radical leftist affiliations, who legislates from the bench, had two or three abortions, and is a professed atheist.
Also . . .(snicker) Sarah Palin has to go back to Alaska. Bye bye Brainiac. (I'm not as cool as Obama, I can be shitty) When I saw her crying during McCain's concession speech I don't think it was because they didn't win. I think it was because she knows she has to go back to Alaska. She was on Saturday Night Live for crying out loud. She's tasted celebrity and that shit's hard to give up.
Now all the Right Wing talk show hosts will have 4 years of trying to dig up whatever new dirt they can on Obama. Apparently Ayers, Wright, Resko, and Khalidi weren't enough to keep him out of the White House. Not even accusing him of wanting to gas Jews. Do you suppose we've seen the last of Joe the Plumber as well? One can only hope. I guess they could always find and intern with good oral skills to disgrace and embarrass Obama. Then try to impeach him for lying about the relationship. Just for the entertainment value . . .I hope it's a white girl. Cable news ratings go up when a blond haired white girl is involved in some kind of scandal.
Poor poor president elect, I do not envy you. The mess you've inherited can only be compared to FDR's 1st term. Although he at least had a massive manufacturing base to work with. You on the other hand get the largest budget deficit in the history of our country, the largest national debt in history, the largest out sourcing of jobs in history, the worst environmental pending disaster in out 232 years, the worst financial institution disaster in history, a infra structure much need of repair, a health insurance crisis like never before, a frozen credit market, a terribly depressed housing market, and last but certainly not least a considerable amount of radical white supremacist whack jobs that would like nothing more than to see you . . .well you know.
You have guts Mr. President. You have brains, guts, and more balls than all the Brunswick Lanes in the Midwest.
Indiana turned blue!! Indiana!!!! The comet should hit any day now.
Fox News was hysterical tonight. The forlorn look on all their faces as they had to report that Barack was winning was priceless. When they had to say Obama won, you could have heard a pin drop. The only moment when they spoke glowingly was when the were commenting on how gracious McCain was giving his concession speech. I almost vomited when the architect Karl Rove tried to put a positive spin on the election acting as if he thought this was good for America. Note to Karl: It is good for America but, when you did everything in your power to prevent it then act as if you're kinda of glad it happened . . . . You could at least have the decency to act perturbed. Your side lost!!! You and your Rove clones under handed robo calls and guilt by association smears failed!!! Quit trying to glom off our side's defeat of you! Pond scum.
So, America there just might be hope for us yet. I'm a big fan of our new president . . .at least for now. After Mr. Obama takes office, I'll give him a few months or so to get his feet wet before getting too critical, but be forewarned Mr. President elect , if you don't start kicking ass and taking names in a timely fashion - DaG will turn on you like apple cider left out in the sun.
DaG Out
Monday, November 3, 2008
As the day grows nearer I can't shake this sick feeling in my stomach. They're going to steal this one too. There is no doubt. I thought democracy had a chance when I was under the assumption that a mere 51 % of all votes were cast on e-voting machines but when I found out that 90% of all votes cast are counted by e-voting machines . . .the air went out of my sails.
Even though it seemed an insurmountable task I truly held out a sliver of hope when I realized that this election is bringing out huge numbers to the polls. Could it be possible that democracy will actually take place? The answer is an unequivocal "No." What we have today and have had since the 2000 election is in essence a poll tax. You may remember the poll tax from the old days in the south when white men couldn't lynch enough blacks to suppress their votes they devised a thing called the poll tax. This made it very difficult for all but the very successful blacks from voting. Back then you could count the number of wealthy blacks living in the south on one hand. Poor black folk couldn't afford to pay, white folks could so . . .(you see how this worked.) Eventually it was found to be unconstitutional and the Southern white man had to come up with a new scheme.
The new voter suppression scheme that has been in effect since 2000 is the lack of places to vote and the limited availability of voting machines and or ballots. This method has been extremely prevalent this election. While white upper middle class suburbia is simply a wash with polling places and voting machines (even if they are those damn e-machines) the inner city and less affluent areas (poor black folk) find themselves waiting in 3 to 5 hour lines at the far too scarce polling places with one or two working machines. Working people can not afford to take a day off to vote, wealthy people could take a week off if necessary. This is the 21st century's version of the poll tax.
Add to this the media's involvement with setting up the populace for the inevitable McCain win. The head lines over the week end and today have turned into McCain campaign advertisments. Calling him the "Under Dog" and reminding the readers how he could pull off the upset. Rather than focusing on all the voter suppression techniques being utilized this election, the corporate media is determined to make a stolen election seem legit. They are laying the ground work for the American voter to accept that McCain won fair and square.
There's not enough Maalox in the world to settle my stomach. The points I bring up are not some in depth, behind the scenes, in the dark recesses of some shadow government's back room. these things are out in the open. It's right under our very noses and it stinks!
DaG Out and very depressed
Even though it seemed an insurmountable task I truly held out a sliver of hope when I realized that this election is bringing out huge numbers to the polls. Could it be possible that democracy will actually take place? The answer is an unequivocal "No." What we have today and have had since the 2000 election is in essence a poll tax. You may remember the poll tax from the old days in the south when white men couldn't lynch enough blacks to suppress their votes they devised a thing called the poll tax. This made it very difficult for all but the very successful blacks from voting. Back then you could count the number of wealthy blacks living in the south on one hand. Poor black folk couldn't afford to pay, white folks could so . . .(you see how this worked.) Eventually it was found to be unconstitutional and the Southern white man had to come up with a new scheme.
The new voter suppression scheme that has been in effect since 2000 is the lack of places to vote and the limited availability of voting machines and or ballots. This method has been extremely prevalent this election. While white upper middle class suburbia is simply a wash with polling places and voting machines (even if they are those damn e-machines) the inner city and less affluent areas (poor black folk) find themselves waiting in 3 to 5 hour lines at the far too scarce polling places with one or two working machines. Working people can not afford to take a day off to vote, wealthy people could take a week off if necessary. This is the 21st century's version of the poll tax.
Add to this the media's involvement with setting up the populace for the inevitable McCain win. The head lines over the week end and today have turned into McCain campaign advertisments. Calling him the "Under Dog" and reminding the readers how he could pull off the upset. Rather than focusing on all the voter suppression techniques being utilized this election, the corporate media is determined to make a stolen election seem legit. They are laying the ground work for the American voter to accept that McCain won fair and square.
There's not enough Maalox in the world to settle my stomach. The points I bring up are not some in depth, behind the scenes, in the dark recesses of some shadow government's back room. these things are out in the open. It's right under our very noses and it stinks!
DaG Out and very depressed
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