McKenzie Friend

The Conservativites and the Liberalites: A Biblical Mad Lib.

2009-06-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

And certain men which came down from [Washington] taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of [a GOP conservative], ye cannot be saved.

When therefore [Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert]... had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that [Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert], and certain other [liberal comedians] should go up to [New York] unto the [Fox News Network] about this question...

And it came to pass...a certain [Ann Coulter] possessed with a spirit of [direful predicting] met [them], which brought her masters, [Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity], much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Jon Stewart and [the liberal media] and cried saying these men are the servants of the most high [President Obama] which shew unto us the way of [socialism].

And this did she many days. But [Jon Stewart] being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of President Obama to [release] her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters [Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity] saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and drew them into the marketplace unto the [conservative congressmen], And brought them to the [Conservative Supreme Court Judges], saying, These men, being ['liberals'] do exceedingly trouble our [nation], And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being [conservatives].

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the Conservative Supreme Court Judges rent off their clothes, and commanded to [water board] them. And when [the conservatives] had [enhancedly interrogated] [Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert], they cast them into [Gitmaea detention camp], charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner [detention block], and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight [Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert jamboreed], and [waxed wittily] unto [the Obama Administration]: and the [other detainees] heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the detention camp were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Excerpted from Acts 15:1-2 & 16:16-26

Parent Disputes Efficacy and Ethics of Advocacy Organizations for the Disabled

2009-06-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

To all members, "cronies", and families,

I have been telling these things all these years. What is the difference between so called advocacy organizations like ODDC, ARC and AIG or AMA (American Medical organization)? Nothing.

All of them are greedy and protecting their own interest …

Like ... used to say, they are like “Fox guarding the hens”.

I am still waiting for the answer to my simple question from those so called directors, champions of disability world to show us just one program that is benefiting the AVERAGE and regular families …Only if you are in “bed’ with the organization, you child gets everything…. Just like AIG, all these advocacy organizations are “tightly” run by the “brother and sisters" or cronies. That is why they are not working.

Am I wrong? Go ahead and dispute it. .That what you all beuracats are good at it. Just talk and don't do a damn thing.

As a parent of an autistic child, I have been asking these people to work on so called “appropriate education’ for the children ….nothing... What is so improtant than getting a job for these children. We still have 75% unemployment rate among these popualtion. ...why???????

All we get a note from these organizations in e-mail is . ....Support this bill and support that bill...call you senators..... Just like our crooked senators (Exception: Senator Bernie sanders and russ Feingold) creating fake bills, and telling us that they are working for American people. It takes 6 months to process the grievance, although…so called law say, It should take less than 60 days.

Once again, WE DONOT NEED MORE MONEY for our programs. WE SHOULD ELIMINATE these so called programs and get quality people. I challenge every body in the disability world to talk to me face to face. ..I have been asking and challenging this for the last three years or so (if they have spines). Yes, I did ask the same questions in the Oregon PIP meeting in 2006 too, and am still a member of PIP…I really don’t know what does it mean or being a member of this useless organization. Perhaps, I am the only one voice, but I speak for the regular families with disabled children everyday becasue I work with them every day as a volunteer.

You can see the best and wasteful bureaucratic system in Oregon ... This is why we are on the bottom when we come to mental health. We have the second highest unemployment (next to Michigan ). At least, Michigan has car industry problem. What is our problem? ……. Unqualified people in the job. Or “cronyism”. Go ahead and look around your own office and convince yourself. I am an instructor in biology and Anatomy & physiology at community college & and a geneticist too, and I get evaluated by my students every term. if I don't produce result, my grant will be taken away in a second! Who is evaluating these bureaucrats or the human service people...? Oh. I Forget. It is “self evaluation" done by their own organization…just like in public school. You wonder why our public school are performing so poor. What is human service, by the way? serivce to whom? Am I wrong about this.

There is no difference between what is happening in the financial world and what is happing in our Disability world! Our children are going down the tube and nobody REALLY care….yes. I am seeing..That is very sad thing.. All we do is “window dressing” and "bandaging" the problem, and making things more complicated than it is so that average family has a hard time to fight against the bureaucracy…it is so shameful.

Philip

Olmstead's Anniversary and Disability Civil Rights.

2009-06-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

Olmstead's Anniversary and Disability Civil Rights.
Information Bulletin #287 (6/09).

June 22, 2009, marks the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Olmstead ruling for disability civil rights. Some people have made an analogy between the Olmstead decision and the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Let's
compare them.

Nearly ten years after the black civil rights movement's victory in Brown, incremental, albeit not overwhelming, progress had occurred. Nonetheless, some people thought the black civil rights struggle had stalled.

Nearly ten years after the disability civil rights movement's victory in the Olmstead decision, incremental progress has occurred as well.

But still, more than 313,000 people with disabilities in nursing homes (23% of the total) want to live in the community, and yet are denied their civil right to integration, primarily because of Medicaid's historical bias in favor of segregation. Many of them are on "waiting lists" for their civil rights. Can you imagine a "waiting list" for
black civil rights?

While the black civil rights movement achieved its share of victories, it took the March on Washington for Congress to enact both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And even then, it took the U.S. Department
of Justice to take the right actions and really enforce these civil rights.

Remember that Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibited federal subsidies for racially segregated institutions.

So why not similarly rectify segregation for people with disabilities? Does not the Olmstead decision, together with the ADA/Section 504, already provide the necessary handles to prohibit federal subsidies to States that limit services
only to segregated institutions, thus denying real choices that would enable 313,000 people to reside in the community.

Some say the disability civil rights issue of ending unnecessary segregation must wait. But as Dr. King wrote, "For years now I have heard the word 'Wait.' It rings in the ear of every Negro [person with a disability who is unnecessarily institutionalized] with piercing familiarity. This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never'."

Last year when some disability advocates wanted an explicit reference to ending unnecessary segregation included in the ADA Restoration Act, they were politely told that other issues were the focus: "wait."

This year when people with disabilities with the lowest incomes, who are entirely dependent on Medicaid, have demanded to end unnecessary segregation by having the Community Choice Act included in any health reform legislation, they have
been told that the CCA is not the focus of health reform "Wait."

The "Wait" to end unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities in institutions may soon turn into a "Never" for civil rights.

How hard is it to understand and accept that, but for the denial of civil rights, many institutionalized people with disabilities would live in the community with adequate programs and supports, especially since its cheaper for the federal government and states to provide such programs and supports in the community?

How hard would it be to enact a Disability Civil Rights Act in 2009 to end unnecessary segregation just as Congress did with the Civil Rights Acts in the 1960s? A Disability Civil Rights Act in 2009 to end segregation could not be as
inflammatory as enacting the Voting Rights Act of 1964.

Will U.S. Attorney General Holder look to how U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy addressed ending discrimination in the 1960s? General Holder could start by looking at the 313,000 people with disabilities living in nursing facilities
who have said they do not want to be unnecessarily institutionalized. He could inform states that Olmstead and the ADA/504 require providing real choice for people with disabilities who are segregated and want to live in the community.

What do we have to do to create the atmosphere of the 1960s for the disability civil rights struggle in 2009?

Written by: Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at
http://www.stevegoldada.com
with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects. To
contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada@cs.com or call
215-627-7100.

-- ----------------------------------------------------------------

POLITICS V. DIPLOMACY

2009-06-07T11:49:00.001-07:00

Secondary to POTUS' trip to the Middle East last week, there has been much televised political inquiry after the following fashion:"why [would] we have to reach out to the Muslim population" when "we were the ones attacked on September 11th". The simple answer: IT'S CALLED DIPLOMACY SECONDARY TO THE PURSUIT OF PEACE. I know... it's hard to pursue peace and your own personal power agenda at the same time. That's why you (Rush Limbaugh et al.) are not the President.

When's Gov't Government?

2009-05-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Government recently decided that a youth and his parents cannot navigate their own healthcare course but must be told how to proceed under penalty of law if they fail to comply with judicial mandate. In other words, the anti-terrorist, anti-socialist aspects of the government allow a miscellaneous judge to force a family to comply with a particular healthcare regimen and terrorize them, first because their point of view diverged from the Government's and second, because they failed to follow-through with a disingenuous judicial mandate.

Political agenda forced upon an individual that is a U.S. citizen with the guarantee that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" is, in my opinion, terrorism not to mention exceedingly disingenuous in light of their favoring a for-profit healthcare system that tramples on the hypocratic oath and our civil rights if we don't have insurance (or even sometimes when we do) or enough money to pay our hospital bills. The GOP trunk might be fighting against a nationalized healthcare plan or 'socialized medicine' but its branches are busy being hypocritical by forcing its citizens to pursue a healthcare regimen that they don't want to pursue. Healthcare ought not to be for profit but neither should a judge's political or personal agenda ever usurp an individual's (or parent's) right to choose for themselves whether or not to follow a particular (healthcare) course.

Emails Amongst Freegans

2009-05-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Agreed. Capitalism with its inherent caste system is BAD. I hope that as we evolve, predation, in all its forms, will cease. (With regard to Nature, predation certainly has its place but in a higher concept of life I like to think every life has a place which cannot be usurped. Human beings, though, definitely have no business indiscriminately killing animals for profit because if meat were not a readily available food source, consumers would adapt.) Capitalist ideology is fundamentally flawed in that it relies on a vast portion of the population to be uneducated and impoverished to do the work/take the jobs that those with better educations or family/sex/race advantages not only would not take but rely on to 'serve' them.... blue collar portion of population thereby becomes indentured servantry. If everyone were educated equally, businesses that currently take advantage of the existing structure would cease to exist and likely a prevailing balance would be imposed... capitalism basically fosters large scale imbalance within society and the low and middle class feel the effects of that balance. (education and healthcare should never be for-profit. they are foundational civil rights upon which a balanced society is built,)

AM wrote:
Yes, but in the food chain, even one animal consuming another (assuming the animals are native to the area they are in) helps both species equally in keeping a balance to the ecosystem. When a lion kills an antelope, s/he assists that antelope's species on the whole by keeping the balance. When the antelope eats a plant (whatever they eat) it assists that plant population by keeping it in check and assists other plant populations by keeping them from being overrun, etc. Human capitalism is very different.

When we exploit and prey upon nonhuman animals, they are purpose bred in filthy and environmentally destructive conditions doing the exact opposite of this. Even hunters are often hunting animals that were bred and kept later to be released for sport killing (despite the fact that many hunters claim to be controlling the animal populations).

Those humans being "preyed upon" usually do not benefit, nor do their ancestors, from being preyed upon. In fact, the way capitalism preys in the lower class, it often prevents others from growing or "progressing" or whatever you want to call it. This is not to say that one class is less evolved than another, but that one is far more robbed than another.

Exploiting impoverished sweatshop workers for new Nikes does not help those workers. It often prevents them from ever getting out of where they are, despite what large corporations would like you to think.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness" -Chinese Proverb

On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 11:55 AM, JC wrote:

capitalism has a caste system built in which promulgates a class
distinction in our society. not that we are 'taking something
from someone less fortunate' but more like we rely on those lower
(because of 'minority' status or lack of education or sufficient
wealth) in the caste to serve us while we in turn serve some
higher up on the chain... so yeah could say capitalism is kind of
a civilized version of the food chain in that those at the top are
sustained by those at the bottom and most of us that are in the
middle are caught between sometimes being 'preyed' upon and other
times 'preying' upon because our society dictates the confines
within which we can live and participate and to breach those
confines, while fostering long range change, can turn an
individual's life upside down because they operating outside of
the conventional norm. 'freegan' movement is the slow change in
the larger social conscience that will eventually usher in a new
paradigm for living...

AM wrote:
"Remember what you do is as bad as any
person who buys that same stuff. So, no matter how you slice
it.....freegans are as guilty of partaking in the same sinful
system that they claim to abhore."
With all do respect, this is completely wrong. Something taken
from a dumpster that was headed to a landfill or something
given to a used clothing store is not the same as buying
something new, creating more demand for it, and directly
supporting the unethical measures it took to make it. That's
pretty much the base of freeganism.
While I respect that you treat your workers well, I also
wonder the cost of some of the things you sell- where were
parts made and so on. I was unable to find all of your
businesses online so I couldn't figure it out myself. That is
not a shot at you. It's more of an observation that it's
nearly impossible to live in a capitalist society without
taking from someone less fortunate in order to get something
we technically would not need if we knew how to live. But we
don't so we get things we don't need (myself included) in
order to survive in this system. Try wearing the same thing to
work every day for a week. Even if you don't stink, it looks
weird to people, because we live in a society where you should
change once or twice a day. Something so simple can cause
someone to lose his/her job on occassion.
I also agree with Shoegirl on the slavery deal. Since I am
already writing a book, I will share a quote I like from
anarcho-primitivist, Kevin Tucker:
"Domestication being really the key issue... it's consumer
cycled. I would say slavery, and some people say wage slavery
isn't slavery and capitalism isn't slavery. Just like any
other form of civilization isn't technical slavery. If that is
the case... try to leave the system. See just how hard it
really is and then you'll understand it's just a different form."
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness"
-Chinese Proverb

Inadvertent Terrorist

2009-04-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

What's worse: a group which main agenda it is to attack another group the ideals of which seem in contradistinction to its own OR
a group which main agenda it is, despite its office, to self-service the personal ego of its individual members without any regard or allegiance to the constituents it serves?? More simply put: what's worse, the extreme practicing Muslim or the extreme practicing politician? Well, at least the politician didn't have the plane flown into a New York skyscraper... he just had it buzz its skyline for the fun of it... and at only a fraction of the cost to the taxpayer.

Homeowners Insurance and Pit Bull Breeds Don't Mix

2009-04-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Homeowners pay to gamble that they will not need to file a claim. Insurance companies gamble in order to get paid that they won't need to pay. Insurance companies will not gamble, however, on your dog if it is of a particular breed. They will simply not insure your home. Aren't the insurance companies gambling that the homeowners they already insure won't ever acquire a particular breed of dog such as Pit Bull? Aren't they gambling that new homeowners that they insure didn't lie to them about the breed of dog they own? Aren't they gambling that their inspectors will catch on in every instance of 'illegal' dog ownership? Is it therefore pointless for insurance companies to ban coverage for homeowners which have particular breeds of dog or do they just want to test our poker face?

It is, it is a glorious thing. To be a Pirate King

2009-04-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

Let us not exploit the Somali youth who is currently being brought to 'justice' here in America. Let us not make this youth from an impoverished land bear the burden of piratedom. We recently honored the ten-year anniversary of the Columbine tragedy wherein American youths victimized their peers... Is his crime worse?

Reportedly, the parents of the Somali youth, (whose exact age is yet undetermined) indicated that their son was recruited or drafted into the Somali pirating enterprise within the last two weeks. Do we really want to exploit he who is so obviously already exploited at the hands of his countrymen? Do we really want to use him to send an international message of intimidation to these thieves?

This Somali boy is just that, a boy, and the underlying mentality of piracy is childishness born of deprivation and poverty. We Americans ought to challenge ourselves to help rehabilitate an [African] citizenry that has suffered long. Let us not denigrate and condemn this boy as a representative of the immorality of piracy but rather let us honor him as an emissary for his people that we may come together to address a violent practice that undermines and oppresses humanity far more than material lack. Let us come together to be exposed to a deeper truth that we ought to care more for the greater welfare and be less impressed by material wealth, the promise of which holds Americans and Somalis alike, under its duress.

If we are going to try this one (likely misdirected, poorly educated, impoverished and fearful) youth with the crime of piracy under the law of the nations, let us seriously consider adding additional charges for Bernie Madoff as well has the growing collection of reprobate corporate executives and government officials in this country lest we cap the cap of hypocrisy that we, as a country, have lately donned. Also under the law of nations, the non-prohibition of slavery is a crime. How can America hold this young man accountable for a breach of an aspect of the law of nations when, not so long ago, America itself acted so woefully in contravention to one of its tenants? If these pirates did not honor boundaries and committed a war-like act on the high seas then let us, at the very least, before we prosecute this one woebegone youth, examine the actions of our own using the same lens which with which we examine him and his people.

Do the words, "God Bless America" mean that impoverished nations are not God blessed? If yes, then America should seek to extend the arms of blessing to those less fortunate lest we lose the very favor we allege we operate under. Let us assist the impoverished mindset that would rally itself around W.S. Gilbert's 1879 call that "It is... a glorious thing. To be a Pirate
King." And if we assist ourselves in the bargain then we have all profited and the gain will exceed any freighter-sized haul.

2009-04-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Banks can't readily afford to pay the interest rate imposed by the gov't on The Bailout money (that they are obliged to take). As a result, they are raising customer fees. But who would volunteer to pay the banks twice? The involuntary tax payer... That's who.

2009-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Is the U.S. Gov't the actual 'pirate'? Is the story out of Somalia ironic? Are our earnings the Govt's ill-gotten booty?

Ode to the American "Nobles"

2009-04-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

[Politicians & Big Business are] so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from [the powers' that be] table that [they've] missed [their] God-given right to something better.

There is a difference between [them and] us. [They] think the people of this country exist to provide [them] with position. [We] think [their] position exists to provide [us, the people] with freedom...

adaptation of William Wallace speech

RESPONSE TO CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS STATEMENT RE: PRESIDENT OBAMA REMARK ON JAY LENO

2009-03-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

I read your official statement "regarding US President Obama's comment on the tonight show with Jay Leno" wherein you stated that "words hurt and words matter." I am the parent of a child with Autism who has participated in the Special Olympics with her school, and I want to say that I am NOT hurt in any wise by the President's remark. The president's verbal faux pas on the Jay Leno show was nothing more than that. I call on your organization, which supports people with special needs, to render a positive affirmation of forgiveness to those of us who suffer from a disabling condition known as 'being human' which sometimes causes us to make errors, verbal or otherwise. You are using this happenstance as an opportunity to draw attention to your cause and "help dispel negative caricatures about people with intellectual disabilities." As I have here pointed out, and as we can see with all of the financial scandals our country is living through right now, what we really need to dispel is any tendency toward elitism wherein segregation reigns and the wellbeing of any group is promoted over that of another. To use the President's remark to promote an agenda, however altruistic you may believe it to be, is, in my opinion, dangerous. While I would love to see the day when prejudice (against those with disabilities such as my daughter's) is a nonentity, I hope I have enough vision to realize that with the election of a President of African American descent, the country moved a long way toward realizing a future where we are no longer conscious of any inclination toward segregation of any kind.

READ SPECIAL OLYMPIC CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT BELOW:

“President Obama called last night and expressed his regret and he apologized. He said that he did not intend to humiliate Special Olympics athletes or people with intellectual disabilities. He was sincere and heartfelt, and said that he is a fan of our movement and is ready to work with our athletes to make the United States a more accepting and welcoming country for all people with special needs.

“Words hurt and words matter. Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities. And using 'Special Olympics' in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.

“This is a teachable moment for our country. We are asking young people, parents and leaders from all walks of life to engage in conversation and help dispel negative caricatures about people with intellectual disabilities. We believe that it’s only through open conversation and dialogue about how stereotypes can cause pain that we can begin to work together to create communities of acceptance and inclusion for all.

“Special Olympics is not a program, but a worldwide movement operating 30,000 events a year in more than 180 countries. Every one of them is a chance for people of all ages to get involved, to think differently about attitudes and perceptions they may have about people with intellectual disabilities, and to make a difference.

“And so we challenge people to join our 'Spread the Word to End the Word' campaign, a youth-led national awareness effort that will launch on March 31, where we are asking people to pledge their respect for people with special needs. We’re asking people to sign our 'R-word' pledge, to join in our Unified Sports programs, to volunteer, and to be fans of our athletes and our movement.

“Additionally, we challenge policy leaders at all levels to commit to improving the support and resources for people with intellectual disabilities in areas such as healthcare, education, housing and recreation.

“Finally, we invite the President to take the lead and consider hiring a Special Olympics athlete to work in the White House. In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world."

Obiter Dictum

2009-03-18T15:22:00.001-07:00

With regard to AIG and Bernie Madoff et al, it seems the Government's oversight is not terribly insightful. In fact, it's now readily apparent that the Government is acting within the vacuum of delusion and denial. In the words of Gordon Ramsay, the great sorter-out of the self-deluded, 'f**k me.' I know the Government is not operating a 'kitchen nightmare' but they are definitely cooking our collective goose. Distasteful though the idea of big business, operating on the backs of many for the financial good of the few, is, more odious the idea that our Government (likely secondary to a mafia-like relationship with the financial elite), incapable of managing American affairs, has absconded with a large portion of our earned income in a futile effort to plug the hole in the proverbial dike. I, perforce, draw two conclusions: 1) Our government is no more able to properly manage the Country's interests than (as they point out) the executives of failed businesses (such as AIG) are able to manage their companies. 2) Our government is a scaled up version of a 'Bernie Madoff' which would seek to take our earned income (FICA; Social Security) and never pay us a return. This certainly is a nightmare the sorting out of which is difficult to envision, however I think I have insight enough to recognize the pivot point we are on and to hope that the American people will overcome the scheme of those self-seekers who would separate themselves from the collective good in the name of personal wealth.

CAPITALISM OR CASTE SYSTEM?

2009-03-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

Inherent to Capitalism is an economic caste system. Within this caste system exists a “minority” class of (now increasingly becoming the middle class) which share such characteristics as the lack of, or inability to access, such social advantages as: education and healthcare. Education and healthcare, in this country, have always been regarded as for-profit machines versus a moral entitlement or human right.

In a robust economy the for-profit machine operates in a state where financial inequality is obscured and tolerated. Now, in the midst of the prevailing economic state of affairs, we begin to see that what formerly seemed robust was neither viable nor sustainable. Just look at Washington and its for-profit senate seats, or AIG and its for-profit bailout "Senator Bernie Sanders called 'completely unacceptable' the $165 million in bonus that American International Group doled out doled out to its executives over the weekend despite accepting billions in government aid to stay afloat" or the 'big three' car companies and their collective bailouts or even Bernie Madoff (ponzi schemer extraordinaire) and the 'virtual bailout' he received when the federal trade commission failed to appropriately audit his company, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Come to that, aren't high dollar government earmarks a fiscal bailout for programs that, while possibly positive in and of themselves, ARE NOT A NATIONAL PRIORITY? We begin to perceive the monstrosity we built at the expense of many for the good of the few.

In the great vying for favor that is the American capitalist economy, large institutions are now shamefully being shown to mostly profit the executives at their collective helms. These executives, formerly perceived to be powerful, are now shown to have been nothing but thieves and profligates who did not possess a modicum of foresight or any sense that they are part of a national community whose self interest ought, at least in part, to lie with the investment in its fellows and the future of its children. Did the 'big three' car companies, secondary to world awareness and market insight, long ago begin investing in alternative fuel options and prototype their vehicles based on such a model? Why are the banks investing taxpayer bailout monies in foreign countries?

Now many banks are practicing usury by charging their patrons exorbitant interest rates on their credit cards while concomitantly operating on the billions of taxpayer dollars “lent” them by the Federal government at an interest rate of zero. Isn’t this a perversion that shows us the true nature of the capitalist machine that would seek to operate at the expense of the middle or working class (minorities for all intents)? What about the non-executive workers at these banks who likely belong to the middle class? Aren’t they basically being asked to administrate exorbitant interest rates to their fellow citizens (perhaps their own family members) while concurrently being a taxpayer AND upholding the policy of their employer? Is the Federal government perforce making hypocrites out of these bank employees? And doesn’t that make a mockery of their very employment that, too, would fly in the face of those great many that now find themselves unemployed? Is it better to be employed by the bank as an hypocrite or is it better to be unemployed? A moral question and possibly one that will become increasingly more valid.

Is the taxpayer a ‘lending institution’ for the federal government (even though that taxpayer will never receive any interest on their money (FICA and Social Security taxes) loaned to the government? Doesn't the government profit if the taxpayer dies before he can claim a disability or retirement pension (even though the retired or disabled taxpayer will STILL have to pay for healthcare part in the form of parts B and D Medicare and supplemental insurance for the exorbitantly high part A co-pay)?? Yes, the government is using collective taxpayer hard-earned, sweated-for, money to bail out crooks like AIG and not to prevent crooks like Bernie Madoff from stealing (FTC failure). "Lending" the government money I'll likely never get back (I have to be 70 to collect Social Security retirement), seeing the government earn interest off of my money and then give it to banks who want to stick it to me in the form of exceedingly high fees and interest rates...yeah I definitely see the capitalist caste system at work and I know my place.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FORMATION OF A NEW GOVERNMENT

2009-03-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

WANTED:

VOLUNTEERS

DEPARTMENT:
All Offices of Government

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The desire to foster change for the achievement of the greater good.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Abilities and willingness to learn from experience; Ability to use discretion and sound judgement; Ability to set aside ego or personal agenda and direct actions to achieve the greater good; Empathy with the various walks of life; Inherent drive to see projects through to their end; Ability to advocate for right; Ability to know when another’s expertise is more valuable than your own; Confidence; Ability to recognize and set aside ANY personal agenda; Intuition; Independence of Mind; Imagination; Reliability; Scrupulousness; Be even-handedness; The ability to be fearless and non-conventional; The ability to be reasonable and direct; Have a warrior spirit.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Build the systems of government for a new country; Implement critical new policy decisions; Desegregate the country including breaking down barriers to growth; Seize on every opportunity to implement growth and be a positive agent for change; Redefine conventional terms of national infrastructure; Redefine conventional political infrastructure; Constantly question the status quo and guard the front lines of Energy, Education, Healthcare and all Industry that would define our collective state of affairs; Take ownership of fractured systems without a personal agenda in order to reform; Recognize and become superior to all forms of denial in order to keep your eye on the essential goal of reformation and a higher state of existence for all; Forge robust and stable relationships and unions with nations and peoples; Establish respectful communications the succinct nature of which will always have the aim of clarifying common ground; Develop unique solutions to complex problems thereby assisting in popular enlightenment and engendering and operationalizing a new cultural view of truth, justice and equality; Be committed to achieving a balance and seek out all opportunities to balance ailing systems of government, culture, society, economy and law; Specifically address the system of Social Security and redefine or eliminate its role; Reform the ideologies behind For-profit Healthcare and For-profit Education and recognize healthcare and education as inherent civil rights; Rid Capitalism of it’s inherent caste system; Sever all relationships with special interest in order eliminate the disease of corruption; Assist with the ushering in of a new unity of consciousness to facilitate an atmosphere of equality.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS:
You need not be a US citizen to volunteer
You need not subscribe to any particular creed or doctrine however you should subscribe to the notion of peace as a foundation for systems building

EDUCATIO DEBITUM

2009-03-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

One of the only ways that I can get assistance with mitigating the debt of my federally funded school loan is to die.

Since I have not been able to pay my school loan and my living expenses simultaneously for sometime, I have left my loan in a state of forebearance while the interest continues to accrue at a rate of 9%. My interest rate is high because when I consolidated my school loans I was a youth and didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know then that I could not refinance my school loans to a lower interest rate unless I took out another school loan in order to re-consolidate. However, I couldn’t readily do that because I was working full time. Now I can’t do it because I am so deeply in debt that the devil wouldn’t give me credit let alone the federal government.

The government is worse than the devil because it seeks to profit at my expense all of my live long days. The government of the United States of America would, I know see, perpetrate a scheme on its citizen students more direful than that of the most underhanded government official (who have been shown, in great number, to: lie and make false claims, pander, favor-trade, tax-evade and misappropriate funds). The scheme to which I allude is as follows:
The government of the United States, which wants its [voting] citizenry to get good jobs in order to contribute to the economy and make it stronger, does not recognize a public collegiate education as a civil right. Consequently, young Americans, who want to become fruitfully employed but who cannot afford the four year tuition at a public college, must take out school loans such as the federal Stafford Loan. The college graduate then enters into an employment contract and his earnings begin to be taxed. (Too, the employer makes him pay more and more of his own healthcare premium out of pocket because the United States Government does not regard healthcare as a civil right any more than it does education.) The youthfully unwary college graduate may or may not know to consolidate his loans at the lowest possible fluctuating rate. Once the school loan is consolidated at whatever rate it is no longer negotiable (unlike home loans [ironically made by a financial industry that failed to appropriately regulate its lending criteria). Now the graduate is stuck paying taxes AND paying his school loan which is, perforce, paying for his education twice especially since Stafford loans are tax-payer funded.

An awful contemplation awaits the increasing awareness of the college graduate who, once he enters the work force, begins to slowly realize that he exists purely to invest in the United States Government which UTTERLY FAILS to invest in him. Not only does he have to pay taxes and health-care costs, he has to pay for the education which affords him a job the very earnings of which the government consistently takes. In effect, Uncle Sam says, “son, I want you to pay me in order to pay me.”

And now, the President of the United States, who was recently voted into office has already within the first month of his administration BAILED OUT...who? Low income people? Needy care-takers? People with disabilities? The unemployed who are in debt up to their eyeballs but are still struggling to pay it despite the financial and lending industry that would seek to profit from their ignorance or desperateness or fear?

No he bailed out the Super Big Business Bunch who sought to make personal fortunes at the helm of their companies. Oh and he says he wants to artificially stimulate the economy because consumers can no longer afford to consume which is good right? because then they will no longer borrow money from banks which therefore could no longer charge exorbitant fees and interest rates which means that lenders will need another bail out so they can keep operating except consumers are still in debt so they still can’t afford to consume so the car companies go down anyway despite all the money that was given them so now that money is... where? I don’t know, some fat cat’s pockets, I guess, but not my pockets because I still can’t afford to pay my school loan the accumulated interest of which has outstripped the principle so that gets me back to where I started: The only option I have to be “bailed out” of my school loan is to facilitate my own demise because only then can the debt be discharged but, oh, if I’m dead I can’t pay taxes anymore.