Who's Who?

1848 original American Trust Co./Mercantile Trust Co. of San Francisco (Harriman)

3/12/1881 American Trust Co., Boston; controls Union Safe Deposit Vault (UBS + UP RR)

1/1/1927 American Trust Company (acquired The Acummulating Fund Assn. 1854)

8/1929 Goldman Sachs took control of American Trust

3/25/1960 Wells Fargo and American Trust merged

When we bailed out AIG, Goldman was the only one to be paid 100 cents on the dollar. Thanks Hank!

The talking heads CNBC, etc. always saying the Goldmans trading desks the best traders in the world. Never have a losing week. Last year it was found out Goldman was front running their large clients. Paid a fine and told "Don't do it again" .

Add up all you have heard bad about GS multply by 10,000 and you won't be close.

Kim Jong-un's name should be (according to standard transliteration) written Kim Jeong-eun. "Eo" indicates a short o sound, i.e. /aw/, and "eu" indicates a short u sound, i.e. /uh/. It's disappointing to hear journalists pronounce the last syllable /oon/ out of lack of simple research. (All I did is look him up on Wikipedia to see how it's written in Korean.)

"Two guys got shot 6 years ago, therefore everyone should be armed."

It is funny how these people want drastic means of protection from gun violence (because it's an excuse for them to carry guns), but want no protection from corporate malfeasance in the form of regulation of the corporations' activities, even though the death toll is faster and higher.

And while the world is ruled by Goldman Sachs...other insidious pipsqueaks, like the idiot in Kentucky, who just happens to be a Baptist minister and long-time Democratic state representative, has helped make it illegal in the state of Kentucky (using the Patriot Act) to be an atheist. In Kentucky, you have to "acknowledge the security by the Almighty God--or risk 12 months in prison."
With Democrats like that....who needs enemies?

http://www.alternet.org/belief/year-jail-not-believing-god-how-kentucky-...

What is a religion???????

A religion is a kind of organization. Nothing more.

It's purpose is to remain in existence. It has members and a hierarchical leadership in most cases. It's biggest claim to fame is that it considers itself the sole authority of morality. It is a powerful force because it controls our beliefs. Our behavior is a product of our beliefs. Change to outward behavior lasts for a short time. Change to beliefs means the person will act in every circumstance the way you want them to. Constantine certainly understood this.

Spirituality as you know is a totally different thing. Spirituality is not an organization.

Separate church & state......not Spirituality & state.

Your politics is your Spirituality - demonstrated.

Wow. If Norquist is a multi-millionaire how come he lives in a row house on Capitol Hill worth less than a million dollars?

The Teapublican scoundrels haven't budged an inch. I don't see how offering Romney's plan of capping deductions, "ONLY" if the Democrats agree to do entitlement reform is even a Norquist pledge violation. The super rich would easily find a way to get around the cap problem, otherwise Romney would never have suggested it. Entitlement reform amounts to raising the age to a point at which many will die before collecting a penny on a program they paid into for 40 plus years and at the same time turning the fund over to the crooks on Wall Street.

Until we the voters, in two years, rid the House of the teabag rats, expect continued mass obstruction with the media blaming the democrats. The situation is truly an abomination of democracy and the will of, "We the People."

We need to redirect the voting habits of hard working, under paid citizens, the ones unknowingly voting themselves into continued and worsening hardship. They need to know the republican agenda is about suppressing their freedoms in order to further the wealth and power of a few.

In my own experience talking with tea party members and other misinformed individuals the problem is clear, it's mainly FOX and related corp. media causing this miscarriage of democracy. So how do we reach these misinformed voters before the midterms? I say one by one, the fight is still full blown, we can't let up now.

So are you saying that all of our economic woes are because of Democrats and those who support the philosophy of the Democratic Party?

Is Paul Ryan your poster child for a Ayn Rand society?

If history has taught us anything its that a"balance" must be maintained...Too far Left or Right will only cause "good ideas" to be washed away with greater problems.

When it comes to our countries social issues ALL of us suffer by one sided agendas. What we are faced with today is the result of diminished expectations; the bar has been lowered, a sense of entitlement from both the Left and Right, and the resistance by Left and Right extremist to stop pointing fingers like bratts on the play ground.

Will It Be The United States Constitution or Grover’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge? You are probably wondering what this “choice” is all about and just what this “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” is? The “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” is the brainchild of a Washington D.C. tax-exempt lobbying group called “Americans for Tax Reform” formed in 1985 at the “personal non-official” request of President Reagan. The principal proprietor of this tax-exempt lobbying organization is Grover Norquist. He and his associates lobby and coerce virtually all Congressional members to sign the “Grover Pledge”. The current results of Grover’s efforts are very impressive with 238 Representatives and 41 Senators signing or 52.1% of all Congressional representation, sadly, a majority. The core belief of “Americans for Tax Reform” is: “Americans for Tax Reform opposes all tax increases as a matter of principle. We believe in a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government’s power to control one’s life derives from its power to tax. We believe that power should be minimized.” This all sounds pretty reasonable if you do not like or believe in paying taxes. You may even want your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives to align themselves with the “Grover Taxpayer Pledge”. The actual “Grover’s Pledge” is presented below with U.S. Senator Ron Johnson used as the example, and yes, this is the same Senator Ron Johnson that vacated the U.S. Senate to protest, on the steps of the Supreme Court, to have “The Affordable Health Care Act” struck down as unconstitutional. “I Ron Johnson pledge to the taxpayers of the State of Wisconsin, and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.” Other Wisconsin U.S. Representatives that have signed the “Grover Pledge” include: Paul Ryan, Jim Sensenbrenner, Tom Petri, Sean Duffy and Reid Ribble. So far, this all seems relatively harmless for Wisconsin and the nation, until you consider the “Constitution of the United States” and the “Congressional Oath of Office”. The “Grover Pledge” then becomes a matter of very real concern, if not outright rage. Every elected official in the U.S. Congress takes the following “Oath of Office” with Senator Ron Johnson used as the example. “I, Ron Johnson, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” So what’s the problem? Well, it is the enduring Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.” When our Representatives signed Grover Norquist’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” and actually comply with it, they are in direct violation of their “Oath of Office” to “support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic”. Here’s why: Based on a review of these matters, it is very clear, that Grover Norquist and his “Americans for Tax Reform” organization are essentially un-American and a borderline treasonous domestic enemy as they lobby and politically coerce our elected officials to swear an oath, a solemn pledge, to an irrelevant unelected tax curmudgeon named “Grover” and his tax-exempt lobbying group. Before we consider why our “Wisconsin Grover Pledgers” would commit such a diabolical act, let’s think about why this could be harmful or even devastating to the nation. -The first and most important reason is simply the ability of the Congress to meet the fundamental requirements of the Federal Government. This could include the enormous outlays for the preparation and mobilization for war. -It could also deprive the nation of funds to counter large national disasters like the “Banking Crisis” of 2007-2008. -It could inhibit, in a variety of other ways, the President and Congress from providing for the general welfare of the nation including: Our National Security, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, Federal Courts, FEMA, Student Loans, Veterans Hospitals, USDA food inspections, The Post Office, Roads, Bridges, Railroads, Financial Oversight and Regulation, Insurance Regulation, Environmental Regulation, Indian Affairs, Air Traffic Control Systems, Federal Aviation Administration and a variety of other national responsibilities. -It could and indeed has affected the financial credit rating of the nation, when the obstinacy of the “Grover Pledgers” cost the United States it’s AAA credit status and ultimately will cost the nation more in interest expense on the national debt. While pledging “limiting or reducing taxes” is a legitimate political position, that pledge should and must be made as part of the election process to the respective electorate. It certainly cannot be made to some guy named “Grover” that operates a tax-exempt coercive lobbying group in Washington DC! The solemn political alignment, via a sworn oath with “Grover”, by our Wisconsin representatives; Ron Johnson Paul Ryan, Jim Sensenbrenner, Tom Petri, Sean Duffy and Reid Ribble, irrefutably demonstrates the inadequacy of their individual and collective thinking on our Constitution, our debt, our tax system and the Constitutional responsibility they swore an oath to as elected representatives. There can be no doubt, whatsoever, we as Wisconsin Citizens, are owed a public apology from all of our Wisconsin “Grover Pledge Signers”, if not their immediate resignation. We must demand, in the strongest terms possible, including possible direct legal action, that these “Grover Pledge Signers” rescind their so easily given oath and solemn pledge to “Grover’s Americans for Tax Reform”. We, the electorate, never authorized, via ballot or referendum, this utterly diabolical, treasonous and illegitimate act. We must also remember that all our “elected representatives” achieve less than a 30% endorsement from all eligible voters as our elections typically have an approximate 50% turnout of eligible voters. An election winner typically garners 48-58% of total votes cast. This result represents only 24-29% of all eligible voters, which certainly is not a popular mandate, even though many if not all elected officials act as if it were. Surely, the serious issues facing our nation dwarf “Grover” and his “unconstitutional, treasonous and un-American tax pledge”. This should serve as great motivation for all of us to get out and vote in every future election. Wisconsin citizens tire of our “Grover Pledge Signers” ceaseless evasion of their sworn national duty and responsibility. To all our Wisconsin “Grover Pledge Signers”, I would suggest: Please end your collective “Grover Derangement”! Get to work with your Democratic colleagues to provide Wisconsin and our nation with rational tax policy, sustainable expense reduction and fiscal policy. An honest bipartisan effort will move us to a long- term balanced budget by permitting us to compete globally, grow economically and create jobs. If you simply cannot gather the personal inner strength to do this, resignation is and always has been a viable and honorable alternative. And “Grover Pledge Signers”, always remember and never ever forget: • Ideas are debatable. • Character is not. • And you all work for all the People of Wisconsin, not some guy called “Grover”. Now gentlemen, get to work! NB: I apologize profusely to the real “Grover”, residing at 123 Sesame Street, New York, New York for any possible confusion, distraction, turmoil, shame, or mortification with the tax curmudgeon Grover Norquist and all the Wisconsin “Grover Pledge Signers” referenced above.

I think it is SO fair and decent of Lindsey Graham to agree to raise taxes on the billionaires. Bloody well fair dinkum, Lindsey- you're one in a billion.

Yessir, one in a billion, that's what you are, Lindsey, old boy. I mean, how many politicians would agree to force billionaires to pay a little teensy, tiny bit of tax? And what does Lindsey want to give the billionaires in return for paying that miniscule tax? Why, he wants nothing at all.

Well, nothing other than all of the trillions of dollars that are now in and will be in the social security and medicaid funds. And of course he also wants to give the postal service's entire retirement fund to the billionaires.

I'm at a loss for words, Lindsey. I just don't know how to thank you.

No, wait- I DO know how to thank Lindset. I think he should be prosecuted for being a witch, put in a dunking stool, and then pilloried in front of Lincoln's statue in Washington DC. But no, that kind of punishment is so two centuries ago. I think Lindsey should be tarred and feathered, poked with sticks, and run out of America on a rail. No, that punishment is from the early part of the last century, and good ol' Lindsey is all about the America of today, so let's give give him a totally today kind of thank-you: I think he should be prosecuted for consistently breaching his duty to the American people and for constantly breaking his oath of office, because instead of protecting America from all enemies foreign AND domestic, he has himself become a terrorist bent on America's destruction. Which brings up the interesting possibility of Lindsey Graham being sent to Guantanimo and waterboarded for a few years. Hm... An idea whose time has come? I don't know, let's put it to a vote. We could ask Hugo Chavez and some ex-Guantanimo detainees to personally hire the people who program the voting machines, because then we'd know the votes would be tabulated properly and fairly.