This is what austerity looks like... and it's just the beginning.
By louisehartmann
Only 4 days after the March 1st Sequester deadline, people around our nation are already starting to feel the pinch of austerity. Customs and Border Protection reduced overtime for TSA agents over the weekend, and delays at some airports were up 200%. According to the statement released by that agency, “lanes that would have previously been open due to overtime staffing were closed, further exacerbating wait times at airports.” Additional workforce reductions are expected in the coming weeks, so airport officials say the problem will get even worse.
And TSA agents aren't the only ones feeling the pain. The Georgia Department of Labor issued a press release Monday to inform people receiving extended unemployment benefits that they will soon see a 10.7% reduction in their weekly checks. In Georgia, the maximum amount someone can receive under EUC benefits is only $330, and the average is just $260. A ten percent cut in those benefits won't just hurt struggling families, but will have a larger impact to the local economy as people will have less money to spend.
Even in Republican's most cherished industry – defense – people are feeling the pain of austerity. Yesterday, General Dynamics, a company that constructs U.S. Navy ships, warned employees that over 1,000 people will be laid off indefinitely in April, because of the sequester. In less than a week, Republican austerity measures are already wreaking havoc on working people throughout our nation.
It isn't difficult to see how cuts like these will have a broad impact on our economy. We need to be investing in our nation, not cutting off people's economic lifelines. That's why we need to support the Congressional Progressive Caucus's Balancing Act, which invests in America's future, instead of dooming us to austerity.
Comments
#2
This would be a good time to get rid of unnecessary restrictions in airport security: 3 ounces of liquid, taking off your shoes, government-mandated nudity, etc.
#3
It would also be a good time to abort the building of that $2billion NSA spy center in Utah that is destined to spy on Americans. It is supposed to be completed by September of this year. Then they will fill it full of very costly spy equipment. Maybe it would be better if they just used it to house herds of sheep. The indignation that some of us who travel have to undergo at airports will be nothing compared to the violation of our privacy that will take place once they get that operation going. We won't be able to TAS without NSA knowing about it. (TAS....take a s...t / NSA..National Security Agency) Sorry about the scatological innuendos...especially the NSA one...but really, I just don't GAS (Give a s..t). Think the NSA can unencrypt that one?
#4
Mathboy - you are an idiot of the highest order. And, yes I still resort to name calling when it is appropriate.
It would not surprise me to read during this time, that some fringe paramilitary group came down from the mountains they live in and invaded Washington to clean up and clear out these idiots that were elected by the illiterate voters of this so called democracy. This President caved into the demands of the Republicans that represent the wealthy of this nation when he and his Democrats signed off on a mere 5% increase in Capital Gains. Once the Republican whores stripped Obama of any means to bargain with these people, (I use the word people in the loosest manner, they should be referred to as scum), all they have to do is sit back and let the austerity (Sequestration) measures become so intolerable that the soda jerk in the Whitehouse caves in and agrees to cut Social Security and Medicare even more than Obama has already done with his worthless and inadequate health care bill. The Democrats will follow right behind their leader and sign whatever he puts in front of them. The President and the Democrats are equally at fault for even creating this Sequestration bill. I still believe the right and the left conspired to come up with a way to shove austerity down the throats of the American Public and still have the ability to persuade the illiterate Americans it is not their fault. It is always the poor and the elderly that get stuck with having to pay the bills of this defunct government because they represent the lowest threat ratio to the scum politicians when it comes to keeping their jobs in one of the most corrupt governments in the World. I never thought I would live long enough to see the American political machine become so corrupt and cheap to buy. If you’re a Billionaire or Multi-millionaire the politicians will line up in Washington to do whatever you want, if the check is large enough.
#5
As Parastoo has indicated, and as the Iranians have already shown...they can hack into drone guidance systems and hijack drones. When they start crashing into populated centers one day...you can thank the authorities for putting them in the skies over our cities. And it may not even be the Iranians who are hacking them, not the Chinese, not the Russians..but those who live a little closer to home.
#6
"It is possible to know the intention and the mission of the drone by using the Russian-made “sky grabber” device to infiltrate the drone’s waves and the frequencies. The device is available in the market for $2,595 and the one who operates it should be a computer-know-how."
"Using devices that broadcast frequencies or pack of frequencies to disconnect the contacts and confuse the frequencies used to control the drone. The Mujahideen have had successful experiments using the Russian-made Racal.”
http://cryptome.org/2013/02/al-qaida-drones.pdf
"SkyGrabber: Is hacking military drones too easy?"
"Insurgents in Iraq used SkyGrabber – cheap Windows software – to hack unmanned Predator planes, the Pentagon says."
"US defense officials admitted to The Wall Street Journal that insurgents in Iraq have used SkyGrabber, a downloadable program, to hack into video feeds from Predators planes."
http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2009/1217/SkyGrabber-Is-hac...
#7
It's true, the Republicans have been driving this. But Obama signed it, and a lot of Democratic Senators voted for it.
This is not a do-nothing Congress; it's not even the gang of idiots we like to describe them as. These are people in hock to very rich corporations, run by some of the greediest people on the planet. The great majority of our elected officials are corrupt - from Obama on down - and it's difficult to see what, short of deplorable, terrible violence will effect any change at all.
Just for context - I voted twice for Obama. But his choices for economic leadership in both terms and his easy willingness to hurt the poor leave me with no other conclusion. I want to like him, I DID like him; but I think he's either never been up to the job, or he's simply as corrupt as the next guy.
#8
Just heard a bit of today's show Re: appropriate names for Republican party How about Repugnant-con party
#9
So here's the deal. The Republicans want to cut spending on everything (except the military industrial complex) so let's ALL do that. Everybody close your wallet and stop spending on everything and let's all see just what happens.
waiting...
waiting...
waiting..
Yep that's right the WHOLE nation just stops in its tracks. The economy is based on the FLOW of money. If the flow stops, everything stops. Currently, trillions of dollars have stopped in the hands of the wealthy and the corporations. They're waiting for "someone else" to start spending but "someone else" doesn't have the money anymore. All "someone else" has, is mountains of debt because "someone else" kept spending even after their salaries were cut (in real terms) and their jobs were sent overseas. Now the wealthy and the corporations even want "someone else's" social support payments cut as well. The wealthy and the corporations, in their insatiable drive for ever higher and higher rates of profit have finally achieved what they set out to do. They have captured the bulk of the available money into their hands and now are unwilling to let go of any of it. They expect to keep all the profits and not have to spend anything to earn those profits. They expect "someone else" to cover ALL their costs. All aided and abetted by a captive political class.
Contemporary Capitalism 101.
#10
Cuts in Defense industry contractors means nothing to me. Those jobs never should have been created in the first place. I don't know how many time's I proudly turned down working for those harbingers of death in my lifetime. I do know I never once regreted making that decision. These contractors and their employees are a drain on our Nation and produce nothing but hate, death, and enemy's around the world and here at home!
Repeal free trade, bring our really important manufacturing base back home, and retrain those Defense exemployees to do something productive with their lives.
Our Defense Industy scares me more than any enemys we've had in my lifetime. They don't make me feel safe at all. The one time they could have been usefull, 9/11, WHERE WERE THEY? I say fire them all!
#11
They announced that they are letting on knives today in order to allow more observation of possible explosives. It looks as if austerity is already a reality/
#12
As far as concerns about Medicare and Medicaid are concerned, simply extend both to all citizens and problem solved. They too will have a surplus in no time!
#13
They are most likely paid for by KKKarl Rove.
#14
I for one have been saying this for months now. I think it is the way to go. MEDICARE FOR ALL!!!!!
#15
Palindromedary ~ "Skygrabber" LOL I love it. It just goes to show how high-tech con artists like our "Defense Industry" can so easily trick wealthy puppet masters to pour all their money and faith into technologies that they don't have the slightest clue as to how they work, and sell them a huge bill of goods that falls flat on its face when screwtinized by opponents who work for a living and are loyal to a cause. It's so reminiscent of that ancient fairy tale, "The Emperor Wears No Cloths."
By the way, I tried to peruse that link you posted last night but got muddled down in the code words like Parasoo. If possible could you paraphrase and dumb down that website for those of us out of the loop? Thanks!
#16
yup!
#17
niiiiice!
#18
Ken Ware Wrote: "Mathboy - you are an idiot of the highest order. And, yes I still resort to name calling when it is appropriate."
Thanks Ken! Finally you said something I can respond to. Addressing Mathboy this way is uncalled for and below you. It was funny. Almost a complement to someone who endeavours to be an idiot, but not necessary. Besides, Mathboy's comments in this particular forum have merit as well as Palindromedary's comments about cutting the huge spy center.
Can I take it that you feel current Airport security is really necessary. You feel safer walking through full body x-ray machines, having your luggage randomly searched, surrendering all your first amendment rights that I believe you risked your life fighting to preserve? Because if that is what you are saying, I certainly don't!
Neither did Jesse Ventura. A former Navy Seal and Governor who recently renounced his own country and left the country after being denied regress in Court after suing for being patted down in an Airport in a way that he felt violated his rights and was an affront to his dignity. I think if a man like Governor Ventura feels the same way as Mathboy, you might want to at least offer Mathboy a good explanation as to his ranking amongst Idiots. I too would appreciate your insight. Thanks again!
#19
The militarey could arbitrarily cancel ALL contracts with security personel companies and replace them with Military police. The TSA could be laid off for sufficiebnt contiguous days to take care of their 10% (or whatever is required) and the border control could all be furloughed in the same manner. This would so disrupt transportation by air and the border states who have been promoting the necessity of sequestration and saying it wouldn't affect anyone would think differently.
Pain applied in the right places could be very effective. I think Congress would shortly change their mind.
When the budget debt limit date comes up, threaten to do the same to hons debt to current limits!
#20
I think elegant villas being transformed into fortified castles is what austerity will eventually look like. Maybe General Dynamics can do the conversions!
But in all seriousness I also think that as more and more feel the economic pain being inflicted by the Billionaire Party, words like Capitalist, Conservative, Right Wing, Tea Party, Republican, Religious Right, will all become synonymous with poverty and hardship and be despised. The three words, Congressional Progressive Caucus, will become widely regarded as an uplifting bastion of hope for social and economic progress.
#21
Paul Krugman and other good economists agree. You said it well, Thom. This is the worst time to go austere. The debt/GDP is not bad and government needs to keep spending. The infrastructure demands it.
#22
Palindromedary ~ Thanks for the link to the qaida-drones article. It was most enlightening. It almost looked like an intelligence report from the ally forces in WWII. They are obviously intelligent, committed and resolved. I hate being a citizen of the bad guys. I guess in the end it will make each and every one of us and our future Generations more well-rounded people.
#23
"jwhitmill" says " I voted twice for Obama....I want to like him, I DID like him; but I think he's either never been up to the job, or he's simply as corrupt as the next guy."
I'm with ya, comrade. I feel your pain. - Alice I.W.
#24
Mathboy has stated: " This would be a good time to get rid of unnecessary restrictions in airport security: 3 ounces of liquid, taking off your shoes, government-mandated nudity etc."
I've had many occasions to disagree with Mathboy, but this isn't one of them. So Ken, please be specific. What exactly in his comment do you find objectionable enough to dismiss as "idiotic"? I have to concur with DAnneMarc here; like him, I see plenty of merit in Mathboy's remark.
At this point I'd go out of my way to find an alternative to the ordeal that air travel has become. Prior to 9-11, flying was fun. Not anymore. What makes airport "security" especially intolerable is that it protects no one. As Thom has stated, it amounts to nothing more than security theater. It is simply bogus. There's no justification for subjecting the public to this demeaning charade. - Aliceinwonderland
#25
DAnneMarc: That link I gave from Cryptome.org was allegedly a rather long and braggadocio message from a hacking group called Parastoo possibly named after a famous Iranian actress. Parastoo is Farsi for Swallow (no jokes now! it's like the little bird Swallow). English was obviously not his/her/their first language.
They hacked into some servers, several of which hosted databases from IHS in Colorado. IHS Inc is global information and analytics provider which includes Janes, a publisher of security and defense info. They provide very sensitive material to the Pentagon and other Pentagon related companies. IHS admits to breaches of their servers over a 6 month period but they claim that no real security sensitive info was breached...yeah, right!
Reading Parastoo's message shows some of the things they managed to get including something like 1.2 Terabytes of information some of which included aerial photos of nuke sites, drone bases, credit card numbers and other sensitive personal data on hundreds of thousands of past customers including hundreds of thousands of people connected with the military...the Pentagon...and the companies that do business with the pentagon. They also hacked IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).
Parastoo also indicated that they have the ability to interfere with the flight capabilities of drones and I'm sure that the drone that they captured in Iran gave them a lot of information through reverse engineering as well. Although, I've also learned that many groups that are considered 'the enemy' by our Pentagon War Criminals have been, for quite a long time, watching the video feeds through satellite signal captures, from these drones as they flew over. The idiot War Mongers never even encrypted the signals...something to do with signal latency and ability to react in sufficient time to do a successful kill. Encryption would have complicated that..so they didn't use it.
I have also been reading that lots of Americans are really hot under the collar about the use of drones in the US. Some have shot them out of the sky. But a more clandestine way would be to jam their control frequencies causing them to crash. When they start using them to spy on us...and worse..to assassinate us...and they WILL one day...then we would be really stupid to welcome these things in our skies.
They always start off with "oh, they aren't armed"! "They won't be used except under the most dire consequences!"
But they've already used them to go after suspected cattle thieves and in capturing Dorner. They may not have sent a Hellfire missile into that shack but they sure did use a military grade incendiary to roast him alive.
But if you read some of the gobbledygook legalese that these masters of deceit use you pick up on the very non-specific terms they use that may very well one day justify assassinating anyone who bad-mouths the government. When they murder civilians and call them Viet Cong or even, now, Al Qaida...they'll get around to justifying murdering citizens in the US who are, in their eyes, aiding and abetting 'the enemy' just by objecting to their murderous war crimes. They have already, many times now, baited people into acting in a manner that the authorities could then call "acts of terrorism" and use it to justify their worthless jobs.
http://www.ehackingnews.com/2012/11/parastoo-hackers-breached-iaea.html
http://freebeacon.com/anti-israel-hacking-collective-strikes-again/
#26
Causing these drones to crash would not necessarily be a good idea in populated areas...people could get hurt. In the case of the one known case of shooting down a drone....A pro-bird organization was using the drones to get evidence against a group of people who were releasing cages of pigeons for target practice. The drone flew above shotgun range but the shooters switched over to a high powered rifle and blasted the drone out of the sky. I suspect it was not in a populated area. What!? A left-wing organization was using drones? What is this world coming to?
They even sell a $300 toy drone that could be used to spy on neighbors. But that birder drone cost something like $8,000. Some communities have actually banned drones and police departments had to cancel their orders. Awwww too bad!
The reason drones are so popular...when used in battle in other countries..is because they can kill without risking the lives of the soldiers. Many Americans don't really give a hoot whether they are murdering civilians as long as they are 'over there'.
Another reason is because the drones are way less expensive than the piloted vehicles and even the pilot training is way more expensive than many drones. The military industrial complex that make these drones are drooling at the mouth at the prospects of a massive production of an entire Air Force of remote controlled drones. We'll be able to commit war crimes and kill millions of civilians in so many more countries now.
It won't be long till they have armies of robots and drone mice and insects that are being controlled telepathically from human operators. Yes, that sounds pretty ridiculous! I agree. But read this article and you might stop laughing. I was like ROTFLMAO (Rolling on the floor...laughed my @$$ off).
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23221-first-mindreading-implant-gi...
#27
Lately, there is a photo going around the media of Barak Obama with a look of extreme exasperation on his face in reference to "the sequester". Every time I see that photo, I hear John Boehner's voice in the background, "Checkmate".
#28
There is a disturbance in the force. Laughing and giggling to myself about the state of affairs, especially the economy the worst since the depression yet the stock market is flying high corporate profits better than ever, though some of us feel like we are falling in economic free fall. Foreclosures are not as bad, though bankers walk away with billion dollar bonus plans while the little guys’ credit is shot to hell because or layoffs that Congress needs to make to fix their screw up.
The war in Afghanistan winding down after ten years with elections now they hate America and want Americans to leave after we blow a trillion dollars in reconstruction by Black Water Halliburton Bush war profiteering, unemployment creeping up slightly but the sequester cuts off benefits. Congress blames it all on President Obama yet they the Congress are responsible to legislate appropriation. In Photo ops for the news people Baynor keeps saying the president is supposed to do it. Here news people fail to educate the public that the president does not appropriate those issues the Congress does. It is the media they brought America to where we are at now.
MSNBC Maddow telecast suggesting that the Iraq war was hoax, now that’s news you can use. Don’t forget about every hour or so a military person commits suicide because of post-traumatic stress, should be called post hoax stress. Or, maybe that’s why young military man dumping secrets to wiki in the internet. Or another pops up to shout Islam Allah is great while he shoots a dozen solders. Remember while watching a pharmaceutical commercial most Americans are in real time stress that warns you about their prescription drugs might cause you to commit suicide. The Looney tune of twenty four hour news CNN FOX MSNBC.
America is in a truth deficit.
#29
Palindromedary ~ Thanks again! Once again, you are a virtual "arsenal" of facts. I haven't had a chance yet to check those new links; but, I did check out that AP released captured intelligence report you posted earlier. Sounds like the other side has plenty of contingency's for those nasty little drones. Simple ones at that. I had no idea these drones had no encryption. The technology was rushed so fast it wasn't perfected yet, eh? That's hilarious! So you're telling me their sitting ducks for anyone with a laptop, a transmitter, and a large umbrella? No wonder all those 4 star Generals resigned under President Bush. Who wants to be led by the incompetent. The Pentagon is being run by Schmucks. Only a desperate Schmuck would authorize the use of such flawed devices to keep an illegal war going--basically gambling that the "enemy's" are stupider than they are. Not a good bet!
I wouldn't be too concerned about the Pentagon killing us with robots or drones or mice. It's obvious that this technology has already been compromised by the "enemy." I'm sure that they are more capable, motivated, and committed to simply perfecting the encryption flaw and using the damn things against the "good guys." The troops numbers and loyalty is almost exhausted. There are no other resources for the War Criminals to resort to. Unless, of course, you know something I don't know, I think this war charade is coming to an abrupt, sloppy end. Our War Machine is running out of gas. How many imperialistic empires have survived in history very long after loosing the loyalty of their troops? Murdering your own citizens is the last straw. When the solders hate their own Government more than the "enemy" the party's over. Start shooting rockets into the home towns of the solders and you become the enemy. How many strikes can be made before the truth is revealed and gets back to the solders? Black ops, mysterious drug overdoses that happen quietly in the middle of the night are one thing; a rocket blast that obliterates an entire city block is quite another. Sure, you could blame it on a gas line explosion; but, how many gas lines explosions will it take before something is leaked to the public. (Pardon the pun)
BTW I told my cats about those dreadful robot mice. They said, "Bring them on, baby!" LOL
#30
Woe woe woe...Slow down DANNEMARC!!! Ken Ware DID NOT risk his life fighting to preserve the first ammendment, or our Independence. In fact not one single war since the Revolutionary war - including WW II - has been fought because of a threat to our independence as a soverning nation.
Further more Vietnam was nothing but a BIG FAT lie congered up by fat cat corporatist who were worried that some one else could gain control of S.E. Asia and its rich resources...Hmmm how queer that Americans continue to ALLOW these corporatist slim bags to do the samething in the Middle East.
On another note I to took your encouragement to write the president...Your rant was inspireing and I did use some of it to strengthen my own thoughts.
Cheers!
#31
The name's Rat....James Rat...with a 'lice'-sense to kill. I am smarter than the usual rat because I've been trained in a secret U.S. government program where I can communicate with my human masters through ESP (Extra Sensory Perception). I can sneak into anyone's bedroom while they sleep and defecate bio-engineered plague-stuff on his bed. No one will ever suspect that intelligence operatives were responsible. Fa loves Pa! (from Day of the Dolphin)
DAnneMarc: ROTFLMAO about those cats! Heeeerrree Kitty, Kitty!
#32
Well put MEGALOMANIAC...Well put.
#33
Palindromedary ~ Just finished looking at the last links. That story about Parastoo (a singing bird, like a stool pigeon I take it) was a bit disturbing. I don't trust Israel that much and if there's cause for concern about there nefarious nuclear activity that is a problem. I think Ken Ware would call Parastoo, 'a group of Nerds of highest order.' I wonder if their base is built in their mother's garage and if they've ever kissed a girl. I can't imagine the commitment it took for them to get as far as they did. Kudos Parastoo. Now, blow your whistle!
The rat brain research article was fun too. I personally have difficulty controlling myself with my own brain. I couldn't imagine using it to control a robot, mouse, insect, or even a small light bulb. Personally the entire research looks bogus to me. We will never fully understand the way the brain works. Besides, both those poor rat subjects were being reworded in the same way for doing the same thing. Those stupid wires attatched to their heads had nothing to do with it. That's animal abuse, not science. Probably funded by those same Pentagon Idiots that put the encryption-less drones in combat. Give me a break! If you want to impress me take a reading of the rat's brain when it confronts my cat, Xena, The Warrior Princess of cats. Now that would be some serious brain activity. Recreate those "thought patterns" in an enemy and you'll win any war! LOL
#34
MMmmNACHOS Wrote: "Woe woe woe...Slow down DANNEMARC!!! Ken Ware DID NOT risk his life fighting to preserve the first ammendment, or our Independence."
No, No, No, Woe woe woe...you slow down MMmmNACHOS. Take a deep breath and go back and reread what I wrote. I'm not appealing to my belief of what Ken did in the war, nor your belief of what Ken did in the war, but rather Ken's belief of what Ken did in the war to support my position. It simple logic. In order for him to disagree with Mathboy, he has to overcome a personal conflict of his own interests. Why do you think he hasn't responded to my question in such a long time? Its Critical Thinking Aikido 101. Checkmate!
Besides, the truth isn't the same to everyone. Whatever an individual believes is the truth to them.
#35
You are right, truth is truth...Ain't no gett'n 'round it. BUT!!!What a person "believes" is rarely based on reality and is merely the exploiting of "personal opinion" which is more about self than reality. Personal beliefs, lack reality, leading to greater problems by way of misinformation and/or half truths.
And yes I did read your post carefully before I posted my reply. And yes I do understand what you were getting at...Wanting to engage Ken Ware. However, my reply was more to say lets be truthful (realistic) and stop glorifying those who "believe" they were/are "protecting our liberties and independence" by fighting in unnecessary wars that the U.S. Government Inc. exploites through lies and propaganda.
'Nother soldier
'Nother Sucker...That's what "I believe", but that isn't reality.
#36
Until the Democrats are the majority in both houses AND the White House, America's at a standstill. Non-Republicanazis defaulted in 2010 by allowing the White-wing party a majority. If you take what they give you, you deserve what you get; It's common knowledge.
#37
Ignoring sequestration spring weather arrives early to DC. Congress & the president fear immanent disaster due to nature's extravagance & advise austerity. It's what they do.
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Would someone confirm these numbers for me?
Sequester is to cut spending by 1.2 trillion over 10 years.
If all Bush tax cuts were left to expire, revenue would have increased by 6.0 trillion.
The few cuts they let expire or made modifications to, increasd revenue by 0.6 trillion.
The 0.6 trillion in tax increases are what the Boehner and McConnell are claiming as their great compromise.