Occupy Christmas

#OCCUPYXMAS begins | Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters


Just a small step to save the middle class.

Still a Long Way To Go

Negative Equity Continues Fight Against Housing Prices - 24/7 Wall St.

I just don't see this getting better until demand returns and with the middle class resources dropping that is likely to take a while.

Farming Raise?

Farming Pays Big: Higher Income & Asset Values Drive Farming in 2011 into 2012 - 24/7 Wall St.


Not being a farmer and grossly farm ignorant this still looks like a winner for the agricultural sector. Can farming really pay at the family farm level?

Daily Dose Vacation.

This hasn't been much of a daily dose for a few days.  I have been enjoying grandchildren and other family and that just crowded out everything else.  My sister, Teresa, is in the hospital with some serious heart problems and half of my family is dealing with that.  Uncle Sterle made it to his 90th birthday giving that family 3 over the age of 90 now.  We are seriously blessed and hope that you are also.

I have posted some photos on my facebook page that you may find entertaining so check them out.  I'll try to get back in the groove tomorrow and give you some stuff to look at.

Go Gabby!!

Gabrielle Giffords serves Thanksgiving meal at military base - CSMonitor.com

This girl totally rocks!

Kick It.

"How You Like Me Now," The Heavy, Live on Soundcheck - YouTube


A little rock to wind up the turkey day

Don't Slash the Poor

GOP Contenders: Don't Slash Military Budget : NPR

If our leaders can't agree on something as piddling as the deficit deal then something must happen. It was the GOP that drove this debacle with the attaching of the supercommittee to the debt limit deal. Why should the poor bear all of the costs of deficit and debt reduction when it was the rich who benefited from it. Such crass disregard for the poor is abysmal.

The Empire Strikes Back

Suppressing Nonviolent Dissent | Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters

Your Government at Work

Washington Lobbyists Offer to Undermine Occupy Wall Street for Banks


The lobby for Wall Street is desperate to short circuit the aspirations of the Occupy movement because it seeks to move the focus of the deficit and debt debate away from placing the burden on the common folks and putting it on the backs of the people who created it.

All Over the World

Police Burn Tents To Clear Cairo's Tahrir Square : NPR

Walk On By

VIDEO: After Pepper-Spraying, A Powerfully Silent Protest At UC Davis : The Two-Way : NPR

This in reaction to the pepper spraying of the students when the Chancellor of the University walks by.

Dispersal! Why?

Video: Police pepper-spray passive students - CBS News

I have to admit that it is better than using live fire to disperse a crowd but the question is "does the crowd need to be dispersed?"

Pepper spray is still not a very good option when used to deny the constitutional rights of citizens.

"Great Society Conflict Veteran's Blues."

John Prine: A Look Back At One Man's War : NPR

If you are familiar with Prine's work you will recognize this song referencing a long ago conflict but relevant as ever today. Breaks your heart.

Make You Feel My Love

A powerful rendition of the Bob Dylan song. Adele shows off the mastery of her voice in a emotional performance. She has been sidelined for problems that will require vocal surgery so it may be a while before we hear any new stuff from her. Enjoy.

Make You Feel My Love

What's the Deal? Understanding the Occupy Movement.

There is a lot of pressure on the Occupy movement to state its demands and select leaders to present them and negotiate with whomever there is to negotiate. The talking heads who inhabit the inner beltway in DC just can't come to grips with exactly what it is that is being protested and demanded. I have that problem also but I think I am beginning to get a glimmer of what the deal is. The causative factor is largely the same things that set off the Tea Party movement a couple of years ago. That movement, however, focuses its solutions in a different direction. The Tea Party is intent on changing the players in the game by electing people to Congress and lesser offices who strictly adhere to its philosophy which is as varied as the ideals of the Occupy movement.

The Tea Party has not established a formal leadership which has sometimes hindered it but, in general, has allowed it to exist in varied forms without coming into contradiction with itself. The Occupy movement is, for now, following that pattern but the solutions it seeks is not the same as the Tea Party movement.

I want to say up front, before I dig into this that, as an economic system, capitalism is superior to the alternatives. To paraphrase Churchill, it is the worst in the world except for all the rest. However, capitalism does not exist as a one size fits all economic philosophy and therein lies the rub. To comprehend completely the goals of the Occupiers and the complaints of the Tea Party one has to examine a couple of things about capitalism itself.

When we think about what capitalism is I think it is the version in which goods are produced and sold. Workers sell their time in order to purchase goods which creates demand. Demand moves up the food chain along with the money that the workers spent until it reaches the manufacturer at which time the manufacturer must decide how much product to make to satisfy demand without negatively affecting profits. In this model capitalism is self-moderating and regulates itself it a brutal but effective way.

The problem is that this is not the model we have for capitalism today. Ask yourself, “what happens when the manufacturer wants to increase profits but demand does not exist?” In the former model the answer is obvious but now we find that another answer is to artificially increase demand. Demand is increased by making larger the size of the market (globalization) or by creating credit for the consumer to use. This model will only succeed if the markets continue to increase and consumers consume more. Population growth will allow for some market expansion but not enough to create a market for the stockholder equity in the manufacturer that will promise exponential growth in equity. This market cannot effectively regulate itself but instead will create possibility for large failures and market uncertainty. Ron Paul calls this “Crony Capitalism” and it is able to exist only because of influence peddling and lobbying for rules that will create a favorable business climate. Examples would be lobbying for specific regulations from Congress or tax loopholes that will favor certain businesses. Now we no longer are allowing for the worker to receive enough wages to continue creating demand at a level at which the stock price continues to grow. We have created a mechanism in which a disproportionate fraction of the wealth is concentrated in the top tiers of financiers to reward ever increasing stock equity rather than as a salary for effectively managing a company.

With the demand for ever increasing stock equity comes not only the trading of the stocks but also the new market for derivatives which are contrivances by which the natural forces of risk management are thwarted. Effective lobbying has created tax loopholes so that profits are not taxed at regular income levels and, also, the capital requirements are decreased providing financial institutions with more money that can be leveraged. The problem here is that when risk management fails there is not enough capital on hand to cover the losses. This is not a true consumer driven capitalistic system. It is skewed to favor those at the helms of those giant financial corporations, the bondholders and the stockholders.

Additionally it makes our lawmakers responsive to the funders of their campaigns rather than the American voter.

This figure tells the tale. Some 40% of our Gross Domestic Product (some say 60%) is driven by the financial industry. This industry just creates money and credit. While critical in today’s global economy is carries far too much influence and has the capability of crashing the entire system. The profits on these transactions is not taxed at the same rate or in the same way as are regular profits. All of this has the effect of allowing a concentration of wealth and power in the very peak of the 1% of the population. This removes that wealth from middle class access. “Oh, but they will reinvest it and create more jobs if we just leave them alone!” That is patently not true.

So, I will join you in cheering for capitalism but I want it to be the capitalism that does not depend on favorable legislation and buddies in Congress to succeed. I want it to be the kind that rewards labor with fair pay and establishes a level playing field for all citizens. There are industries that are critical to our national security that may require assistance to survive in a genuine capitalistic economy. These should be the only exceptions to the basic rules of capitalism. If a business cannot operate in the black it needs to fail. If a business can become too big to fail then it should not be allowed to grow that large.

The last leg of this is a military that is used to protect the property rights of giant international corporations. Property rights are critical to our society but not when securing them by the use of military force is detrimental to the country at large. This type of military operation is the other means of skewing the forces of capitalism by decreasing resources available to our citizens and by creating political climates in which a business may not be able to succeed otherwise. This cost is borne by the American taxpayer and it has created an enormous industry in war materiel and paramilitary security.

This is what the Occupy movement is about. Not just changing the players in the same old game but changing the game itself. If the game is crooked then the players don't matter. There are a few general demands the Occupy movement has but not so many because the answers are so very intricate and will require reexamining the way we have done business for over a century. This is what Occupy wants and , if I understand it, it is what the Tea Party wants also.

Prostituted Politics

LAWRENCE LESSIG / Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress - and a Plan to Stop It | The Booksmith

 I watched this guy on Charlie Rose the other night and he is on the right track.  In my opinion, he just does not go far enough.

U.S., Australia announce greater military cooperation - CNN.com

U.S., Australia announce greater military cooperation - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/video/?international/2011/11/16/nr-us-aussie-military-ties-foster.cnn


This is an example of a mutually beneficial agreement that will reinforce the intent of the United States to remain a significant presence in this area. The military expansion of China and its growing influence in the world cannot be ignored. The Aussies have always been great allies.

Channeling Ayn Rand

On Capitol Hill, Rand's 'Atlas' Can't Be Shrugged Off : NPR

While the conservatives can't get enough of Ayn Rand very few of them have bothered to read her works. After doing so I seriously doubt that many will support her vision of a dog eat dog society where only the rich and those without morality can survive.

Rand herself ended her life in a hospital, dying of lung cancer, for which she insisted that her smoking was not causative. Oh yes. She was broke. Our government footed the bill.

Hair on Fire

Occupy movement makes sense to Ron Paul — RT

I have to admit to surprise but his position is in line with what I am learning about Occupy and what Paul calls "crony capitalism." I intend to do some research to clear up some popular misconceptions about the pure motivation of the Occupy movement.

Truth

Truth spoken by a man who was a hard liner in the CIA in dealing  with the terrorists.  His opinion here is the unvarnished truth from one who knows.

More...like China?

Bachmann: America Should Be Less Socialist… Like China | TPM 2012


The GOP should be a little more selective in its choices. This woman is off the rails.

Occupy Harvard Yard

http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/adbusters-blog/occupy-harvard.html

More Debates

Gingrich, The Only Candidate Who Wants More Debates, Is Ready For Another | TPM 2012


You know things are getting bad when Newt looks good. Been there, done that.

Time to Change Direction :

Deaths At Occupy Camps Bring Push To Pack Up : NPR


this one is starting to get out of hand. Violence is marring the message and threatening to take over the otherwise peaceful protest. It appears that the deaths have nothing to do with the movement. It seems that the tent cities are beginning to attract homeless people and drug users and sellers. We cannot afford to have this movement misused. It is too important to the people.

Made Loud To Be Played Loud

Listener Picks: Songs You Turn Up To 11 : All Songs Considered Blog : NPR



This has been a really cool part of NPR's 11/11/11 commemoration. Several of my favorites. I am included the clip of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" just because Pete Townsend is crazy even though his lyrics are sometimes indecipherable. And Keith Moon is just an awesome drummer still unrivaled. Another is Led Zep's "Kashmir" by which I am dating myself. In this one Jimmy Page is bowing the guitar. Check out some of the others. LOUDLY.  Release your inner headbanger.

There is also a clip from The Ramones with some simple straightforward garage rock and some AC/DC although I much preferred them when Bon Scott was still alive.  I just don't think that Brian Johnson has the same energy and vocal depravity that Scott had.

Crank it Up.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

The Affordable Care Act continues to be a hot topic and is likely to be a central focus of debate in next year's general campaigns. The Obama administration has not done a good job of promoting the benefits of the legislation and there is a lot to be said that has not been said. Of course, many of the provisions will not take effect until 2014, two years after the elections. The Republican candidates have almost universally promised to repeal the act although that will not be quite as simple as signing a piece of paper.

During the debate over the bill I, along with many others, strongly promoted a single payer bill but, at the very least, a public option. It contains neither in a nod to the power of the insurance lobby's desire to increase profits at very little risk.

Now we are engaged in negotiations between the two major political parties over ways to reign in the federal budget deficit and to pay down the national debt. The last deal that extended the federal government’s power to borrow included the formation of a super-committee charged with coming up with $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the next 10 years which is still a drop in the bucket. There is an attempt to strike a grand bargain similar to the one that President Obama and Speaker Boehner almost had a few months ago. It would consist of about $2.2 trillion in cuts and $1.4 trillion in new revenue. The budget cuts have been pretty much identified but the GOP steadfastly refuses to participate in any talk of new revenue even though just about everyone who is an authority on the subject says the deal will not be enough without some attention to revenue.

The new revenue is proposed to consist of both an increase in taxes on revenues over a certain amount and elimination of tax loopholes known as tax expenditures. These include such things as the home mortgage deduction and the deduction that companies use to cover employee health care plans. The latter is the one I want to talk about.

Companies that furnish health care to employees are allowed to deduct that amount from their tax liability. People who enjoy the benefits of this tax expenditure probably don't know this and believe that their employer just pays for it out of pocket. Not so. As a tax expenditure the cost is borne by each and every taxpayer in the form of higher taxes. It is simple. In order to make up for the revenue lost by allowing this deduction to companies the taxpayer is required to pony up the difference.

The opponents of the Affordable Care Act were fond of quoting the statistic that some 83% of people were satisfied with their health care which conveniently ignored the fact that bout 47 million people lacked coverage and access to adequate health care. My opinion is that this is a statistic driven primarily by self interest and a lack of understanding of how their health care is financed. As testimony I offer the now famous television clip of some Tea Party activist telling a government official to keep his government hands off his Medicare.

No matter what you think, you do not pay enough into Medicare to pay for the benefits you will receive and companies do not fund your health care package out of their pockets. It is the American taxpayer that pays for both. Now, the question here is: how do you feel about being taxed to pay for other people's health care? If your employer covered the cost the company would have to accept lower profits and that is just not going to happen. The alternative is to pass the costs on to you which is what the Lexington/Fayette County Urban County Government attempted to do. That was met with such a hue and cry that the City Council overruled the Mayor and ponied up additional millions of tax dollars to cover the increased costs.

So, I have to ask. If your (and my) taxpayer dollars are being used to finance other people's employee furnished health care benefits with the companies pocketing the benefit then what is the difference in using taxpayer dollars to benefit all citizens instead of the number that are fortunate enough to enjoy such a benefit? And how do you feel about your tax dollars being used to fund someone else's employer furnished health care? And what is the logical argument to support such an action? My understanding is that many are ideologically driven to oppose any government interference in heath care but that is exactly what is happening now but with the insurance companies getting a cut of the pie and your tax dollars which increases costs?

So, how about writing to me and explain how using tax dollars to fund employer furnished health care is any different from using tax dollars to pay for health care?

That's my take. What's yours?

Second Look

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the OWS Protests | Politics News | Rolling Stone

More Jail Time?

Riverside County to charge prisoners $142 per day - Nov. 9, 2011

So, do you jail the ones that don't pay and begin the charges all over again? Just plain stupid.

Here Come the Judge!

Health Law Survives Test in Court of Appeals - NYTimes.com

And this by Judge Silberman, a conservative appeals judge. No doubt, it will not allay the anxiety of the anti-Obama crowd but it seems that the chances for survival of the Affordable Care Act have improved.

Uh! Uh!

It just seems like it would be important to be able to remember things.  Here, Governor Perry demonstrates his oratorical skill and keen grasp of the situation.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sun Power

'Power For The Planet': Company Bets Big On Fusion : NPR

When you hear people going off about whether or not to dig rock out of the ground and burn it then something like this shows just how petty our outlook is. We are refusing to let go of technology that is hundreds of years old to grasp at a technology that would free mankind from pollution and environmental danger while powering us to the stars. It is perhaps nearer and more possible than we think.

Those Aussies!!

Australia Approves Tax On Greenhouse Gas Emissions : NPR

Hmmm. What do they know that we don't?

The New Jim Crow

Voting limits put democracy in peril - CNN.com

Something that should strike fear into the hearts of every American regardless of race, color or ethnic origin.

No! To the union busters.

Ohio Voters Reject GOP-Backed Union Limits : NPR

a glimmer of hope for a realization of union benefits in Ohio.

Adele

The Surgery That Saves Silenced Singers : NPR


We can really hope that this surgery can save this voice. I can't imagine what it is that allows white English woman to sing with a soulful quality that seems to be lost in its native milieu. On Adele's current release, 21, the best of her songs are down tracks. She has a couple of hits but Take it All may be my favorite.  Set Fire to the Rain is a close second and really showcases her vocal talents.  However, One and Only may be the most soulful.

Show Me the Money!!

Oil Lobby Pumps Up To Impress Super Committee : NPR

the deal is not where the money is but instead where the money goes. For instance, from the oil companies to the congressional campaigns.

Cake? What cake?

Mike Bloomberg's Marie Antoinette Moment | Matt Taibbi | Rolling Stone


Taibbi is the heir apparent to Hunter S. Thompson in his role as reporter for Rolling Stone. He pulls no punches with his in your face style.

This article cuts to the core of the mortgage bubble and identifies the culprits. It is a must read.

Smokin' Joe

Former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier has liver cancer – USATODAY.com

The bull to Ali's butterfly. I have never seen fights any more dramatic than the three bouts between those two. In the "Thrilla in Manila", which Ali won in a decision, Ali suffered a broken jaw and other injuries which would have ended the fight for another man. Their styles were as different as daylight and dark with Frazier steadily plodding in his attack and Ali dancing just on the edge of danger, waiting for the opening to strike. Nobody since has ruled the ring like these two.

Fade Away

Former "60 Minutes" Commentator Andy Rooney Dies - YouTube

Rooney just quit his spot on 60 minutes a short while ago.  He was one of the last of the old print journalists that migrated to television.  Rooney and those other guys were genuine reporters as compared to the showmen of today.  He'll be missed.

Again!!

Occupy Oakland: second Iraq war veteran injured after police clashes | World news | guardian.co.uk

Tax Dodge

Lawmakers to supercommittee: Don’t tax employer-sponsored healthcare plans - The Hill's Healthwatch


This tax expenditure is one of the reasons that people don't understand the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. If businesses had to bear the costs of their insurance plans not many would continue to provide health insurance. That would leave millions without access to health care. What they aren't saying is that this is a hidden tax on the American people. The taxpaying public is being required to pay for other people's health care plans. It just smells.

Peter Fuller removed from duty as a top Afghanistan commander for remarks to POLITICO - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com

Peter Fuller removed from duty as a top Afghanistan commander for remarks to POLITICO - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com

These may be inappropriate remarks for a commander but one can hardly dispute the accuracy of the comments. The Afghan government is NOT a friend and has much more in common with the Pakistanis who also are NOT friends.

TIME TO GO.

Congressional Debates

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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The Return of Jack Abramoff

Jack Abramoff, he of the perpetual five-o-clock shadow, has a new book out on how to end the influence of lobbyists and their clients on our political system. Mr. Abramoff was sentenced to prison in 2006 for mail fraud and conspiracy related to his lobbying activities for which he received tens of millions of dollars for work that was either not done or poorly done. He headed up one of the most effective lobbying organizations in Washington DC and contributed fortunes to the legislators he was hired to influence. He said that he spent hours walking and thinking while in prison on how to clean up government and has come to some conclusions. Being who he is led me to think that he may have some insight into the cancer that eats at our political process.

He concludes that we need to completely eliminate, by making it illegal, anyone engaged in lobbying to contribute to campaigns and to extend the prohibition to gifts, dining, travel or any other thing of value. He goes on to suggest that anyone who has held public office should be barred from being employed by anyone over whom that legislator has exercised authority. Choose one, lobbying or public service. Abramoff goes on to castigate many of the legislators who sat in judgment of him in Congress recalling that many of them had accepted his money without compunction in earlier times.

I sincerely hope that Mr. Abramoff has had his “Come to Jesus” moment and that his eyes have been opened to the dark and dastardly ways that he contributed to the prostitution of our political system. I hope that he can now use his insider's knowledge to bring down the corrupt system of financing elections that sells government to the highest bidder.

My only complaint is that Mr. Abramoff doesn't go far enough. I have long espoused the complete removal of contributions from independent sources to political campaigns. I would make it illegal to contribute any thing whatsoever to any candidate and I would attach a penalty significant enough to deter any consideration of breaking this law. In addition I would publicly fund elections, spare me the cries of “welfare for politicians”, the system we have now costs us far more than publicly funding campaigns. I would also limit campaigning to debate form sponsored only by groups that have a demonstrated interest in public affairs and which would be subject to oversight by the FEC. The networks, who use the public airwaves, would be required to furnish time for broadcasting these debates. Once we have removed the stain of money from legislative affairs government will be returned to the people since the people will once again be the most important variable in being elected.

Of course, the Supreme Court has held that money equals free speech. A wrongheaded decision if I have ever seen one since it would follow that more money equals more free speech and undermines the notion of equality and fair competition. However, I don't think that the Court would go so far as to thwart the will of the people if satisfactory legislation to accomplish this were passed.

The recent Republican debates have drawn criticism for causing the polls to vary wildly and for making it difficult to raise money. In response to that I cry, Hallelujah! Let the people see what happens when ideas compete and some of the failings of the candidates become plain to see. In this manner people can better choose the correct candidate deserving of his or her vote. I certainly would not only cheer this for the Republicans but also for the Democratic Party or any other party with candidates offering themselves for election. Then most certainly for the candidates in the general election. What a difference that would make. Just think, no more incessant hyping or mudslinging on television or radio. If the candidate wants to try that in the debate then have at it. I think the people will find it so repulsive as to negate any point the candidate has tried to make.

Jack Abramoff comes off as a person offended that the people he had bought turned on him. Perhaps there is an element of revenge and pettiness involved but that does not make unworthy his prescription on how to avoid such behavior in the future. Some of the most effective work has been done by people who have turned from a life of selfishness and wrongdoing. If some who castigated them be castigated themselves then so much the better.

This is one of the things that the “Occupy Wall Street” movement is protesting. It is criminal how those with money and influence are able to buy legislation that allows them to unfairly compete with those who don't have those resources.

My take on Jack Abramoff and political campaigning. What about you. How do you feel about the money in campaigns?