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I got another one: paleoanthropically ugly. But does that mean as ugly as an old man, or as ugly as some species that's an ancestor of modern humans?
food for thought after hearing thom this am about minimum wage or the lack of...
the living wage based on los angeles cost of living: my entries are bare minimums, no retirement planning, no entertainment, no savings! I did include healthe insurance.
single person per month:
rent/mort $1500 cheaper if you want to live, say, in compton, but not much!
home ins $150
gas avg. $40
elec avg $100
cable avg. $120
water avg. $50
cell phone avg $50
food/mac and chs$280
hygine $50
car pyment $150
auto ins est $150
hlth ins avg $300
TOTAL HOLD ON TO YOUR NUTZ! $2965 dvide by 160 hrs = $18.531 per hour
200hrs = $ 14.825
240hrs = $12.354
329.444 = $9.00
soooooooooooo....the new work week for the average working poor person to survive just above poverty in L.A. will be 82.361 hours!!! sooooooooo with 168 hour in a week the new working poor will have just enough time to eat thier mac and cheese, guzzle down a pabst brush teeth go to sleep wake up and do it all again and live the new American dream. yikes, welcome to the kids of the futures new world.
I believe the numbers are all bogus and contrived. I believe they are trying to fish for more suckers to loosen up what money they have to "invest" in the crook pyramids scheme that is Wall Street. The government can pump in money to make the stock market numbers look good. But they are just trying to create another bubble and the Wall Street banks will all be lined up at the trough for more handouts from taxpayers in the next "bailout" round. The banks know this more than many because they, themselves, will not open up their purse strings to invest in making loans to Americans. If you listen to all those right-wing bullish economists who are really propagandists and marketing hypsters instead of those economists like Michael Hudson and people like Nomi Prins then you will be caught, once again, loosing your money to the banksters.
...its all a case of social embezzlement, duh. Think about it. I had a really heated yet civil conversation with 2 rebumblicans yesterday. i don't know one real well but I know the other. The one i know has a sole proprietorship, sells stuff. Bitches all the time about taxes and unions, watches a lot of the little red dog network. One day this person inadvertantly disclosed to me that 2 times a year they have a clearance sale. yippie! well to make a long story short this person hocks the wares, as many as possible for cash only, charges sales tax and then doesn't pay it? Now how many of you spouting on this blog are as honest as this person i know? Not only are they cheatin' the man they are also cheating the costumer. quantify that by a nation by where countless bitch and complain and then turn around and cheat and what do you have? You get a thing called the "tea Party" and then you get something even bigger to fight it, called "OWS". Once again, who might I be? Just a guy who slugs away at a desk doing tax compliance stuff for working stiffs wages, wondering where ethic went and wondering why its so difficult for the erudite to solve a simple problem. my latest tax brainstorm? eliminate "all" loopholes and deductions. ALL of them! everybody pays tax. don't forget while the rich get richer on the tax code so do the poor at....my expense and I am sure another 50 % or so! sux man, i tell it sux!!!
One way to disseminate propaganda is to pretend that they are on your side..looking out for your interests...and it is very difficult, sometimes, to detect the ruse. The ruling elite has very cunning people that look out for their interests. Many web sites, youtube videos, blogs, and news media initially sound like they are representing your interests but are, in fact, trying to subvert them. They start off telling you things that sound like they are progressive (a progressive or liberal sounding name)..or get you all excited and upset over a few things that sound like sort of what you believe, but then ease you into their ultimate goal of subverting your best interests and supporting those of the ruling elite. Be very careful and do a lot of background checks into the kinds of associations these people have (who funds them, who most participates and what they say or do, etc.) in order to find out who they truly represent. If the web site has links...check those links out..then check those link's links out to see if any lean toward the right. If the web site is an organization try to see if it posts it's members and then do a search on those members to see if they are right wing. It's tricky but be vigilant! I was initially taken in by Americans Elect until I found out who founded it and who he was and what he has done.
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"The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
The websites started sprouting up in 2009. Some of these new sites go by the moniker "Reporter" as with the Franklin Center's Wisconsin Reporter that was launched in January as a website and wire-like service. Others have taken the shared name of "Watchdog.org," or "Statehouse News." The websites all offer their content free to local press -- many of the news bureaus send out their articles to state editors every day. The sites also offer free national stories that media can receive daily by subscribing.
The websites are coordinated and funded by a new non-profit group that calls itself the "Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity." The Franklin Center told the Center for Media and Democracy that it does not disclose its funders, but some of its funding can been uncovered from foundation reports. Franklin acts as a hub that distributes funding that it receives from right-wing institutions such as the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance. The North Dakota and DC-based center works with reporters embedded in conservative think tanks and others who have their own news bureaus.
According to Media Transparency, a media watchdog group that was acquired by Media Matters Action Network in 2008, the Bradley Foundation's clear political agenda and network has allowed it to have extensive influence on public policy. The media group notes that while the Foundation's "targets range from affirmative action to social security, it has seen its greatest successes in the area of welfare 'reform' and attempts to privatize public education through the promotion of school vouchers." The Bradley Foundation gave the Franklin Center $190,500 last year.
The Franklin Center was launched with the help of Sam Adams Alliance, which calls itself "SAM." The CEO of SAM, Eric O'Keefe, has been featured at events funded by David Koch's right-wing group called "Americans for Prosperity" (AFP). "
http://www.truth-out.org/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-sou...
Respectfully this is a cut and dried situation and it has to be looked at in a proper light. The last three months of falsified trumped up weak economy is directly attributed to John Boehner and the John Galt effort. For over a year Republican politicians throughout this country have testified over the airwaves that the stimulus did not work. To clarify this in accuracy ,where ever the stimulus was applied in methodical fashion it worked. When the stimulus was abused by the John Galt Republicans in their districts it failed. Just like the housing market the five worst foreclosure rates are states that were held by Republican majorities during the Bush administration. The John Galt Republicans are trying to deconstruct our society and the economic infrastructure of this country to consolidate their corporate grip. In the case of the young man who was forced out of his home to live in his car, like so many other Americans caught in the middle of this Republican assault on decency. I say to you Mr. Hartmann please do not let the opportunity of reconstruction pass us by. My words to the young man and every other American who is caught not by their own doing in these unfortunate circumstances is simple, organize organize organiz. in your church for your community with your friends. Reconstruct this country one vote at a time God bless the 99 ers and to hello with the 9% ers in the John Galt Congress, support your representatives in Congress that stand up for the 99ers. Have a nice day thank you
Conservative: "But Michael Moore, you're rich, you made it big from capitalism..so what are you complaining about?" This was what Piers Morgan was trying so hard to get Michael Moore to admit to. But he didn't succeed.
Michael Moore: "I do very well -- and for a documentary filmmaker, I do extremely well. That, too, drives conservatives bonkers. "You're rich because of capitalism!" they scream at me. Um, no. Didn't you take Econ 101? Capitalism is a system, a pyramid scheme of sorts, that exploits the vast majority so that the few at the top can enrich themselves more. I make my money the old school, honest way by making things."
Of the $3 million Michael Moore got in 1989 for his documentary Roger and Me he paid $1 million in taxes (33%...how many other rich people pay that much of their income percentage-wise?). He didn't look for tax loopholes...he just paid his taxes. Then he set up a foundation to give away another million dollars. With the remaining million he paid off his debts, the debts of friends and family members, bought his parents a new refrigerator, helped rebuild a black church that had been burned down in Flint, gave a thousand turkeys at Thanksgiving, bought film making equipment for the Vietnamese, annually bought 10,000 toys to give to Toys for Tots at Christmas, bought himself a new American-made Honda, and took out a mortgage above a Baby Gap in New York City. What remainded went into a simple, low-interest savings account.
He said "I made the decision that I would never buy a share of stock (I didn't understand the casino known as the New York Stock Exchange and I did not believe in investing in a system I did not agree with)."
"Finally, I believed the concept of making money off your money had created a greedy, lazy class who didn't produce any product, just misery and fear among the populace. They invented ways to buy out companies and then shut them down. They dreamed up schemes to play with people's pension funds as if it were their own money. They demanded companies keep posting record profits (which was accomplished by firing thousands and eliminating health benefits for those who remained). I made the decision that if I was going to earn a living, it would be done from my own sweat and ideas and creativity. I would produce something tangible, something others could own or be entertained by or learn from. My work would create employment for others, good employment with middle class wages and full health benefits."
October 27th, 2011 7:46 AM
Life Among the 1%
By Michael Moore
Read the rest of Michael Moore's blog at:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/life-among-1
Capitalism is a system, a pyramid scheme of sorts, that exploits the vast majority so that the few at the top can enrich themselves more. And the few get away with it because the vast majority of people start from the bottom to begin with (unlike the majority of wealthy people who inherited their wealth, or got very lucky, or sociopaths who had no problem stealing from others). And the vast majority of people have all they can do just to survive and ensure the survival of their families. There is a bit of a cushion (or buffer) between the very wealthy and the majority of people who are just barely surviving...the so-called middle class...and especially the upper middle class which has most of the more aggressive hopefuls of becoming rich themselves. They are the ones who suffer the grand delusions of grandeur, the hopeful useful idiots or capos* of the rich. They are used by the rich to keep the downtrodden from making a better life a reality for themselves. They control the propaganda and use psychological tricks to keep the lower classes from challenging the high classes. They use ridicule and scare tactics and disinformation. And whereas I would not put everyone who fits the definition of middle class or upper middle class as capos or greedy...I single out those that do tend to support the greedy actions of the top 1%. And not all capitalism is bad if it is regulated and controlled to support the common good rather than making a few people extremely rich. Laissez faire captialism is very bad and lets the sociopaths destroy those who are not as lucky or maniacally driven.
"But where do you point the finger without getting called a conspiracy theorist, or labelled a nut?" - Pat Prachter
Pat Prachter, that is a very good question you have brought up. One must always be ready to be labeled just about anything by those who, in themselves, have no idea even how to think rationally. But that is the chance each of us must take, depending upon our stance. If we decide our goal is to assist others with our talents, our understanding, and wisdom generated over many lifestreams, then we must do so for the good of the oneness of creation of which we are all a most valuable part. When we assist others, we help ourselves on the road of our own evolution. (And here we are not talking about having evolved from apes and the like, though one may wonder when they look at the White House and its occupants).
If others, on the other hand, wish nothing but ill upon their brothers and sisters, no matter the color of their skin, their beliefs (for we must all grow into universal reality), their ethnicity, their status within the present economic system, etc., then they will label ones such as ourselves and others, including you, my friend, as a conspiracy theorist, a nut, crazy, a heretic, and such nonsense.
I would say to you Pat, that it is important to stand behind that in which you believe, and what should that belief be?
That belief should be which most benefits your brothers and sisters. And if you act upon such belief then it does not matter if the ones who wish continuous harm on others, label you this or that, for you know rightfully so that you are above that sort of slander and their words do not matter.
Remember, the schoolyard bullies who had nothing to add to the education, wellbeing, or happiness of their classmates?
Well, you get my point. Are such ones really worth listening to? And there will always be those ones, Pat, who do the evil and then yell "conspiracy!" to ridicule those who have found them out and, heavens forbid, told others.
Treat such ones with a grain of salt and continue in your progression in building a far different and better world, working in the oneness with your talents, for you will always come out on top.
Right on, SanLuisWill!!!
You agree with Ron Paul on the wars but not much else??? So, then you'd like Hitler or Mussilini, or Stalin or Mao, except in the cases where there was war involved? You like tyrants but not war? Wow, ok, hey at least your honest. That's cool, as for now the US is still sort of a free country, and valueing freedom I'd welcome a discussion of your weird (and unexplained) anti freedome/justice views.
Sorry to hear about that marine who got hurt from the thug police. Anyway, at least he got hurt at home fighting for something he believes in. With all due respect, I wonder if these are the people that he wants to get hurt for..? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGL-Ex1CD1. Oh and BTW, isn't it partly these thug police who's salary you wanna keep paying with even more and more of mine and your money??? Seems a bit ironic to me...
It's all talk until someone has them by the nads.
They don't fear us because the vote is impotent.
Most of you posters in this forum amaze me. You all complain about one thing or another wrong with this world, then talk the issues to death without having come to a consensus of how to deal with the mess you are in. I cannot help but to compare you to a bunch of mud wrestlers that really like what they are doing to each other, so as you wrestle with one another you finally become exhaused and begin yelling at each other to get out of there, for some of you can hardly breathe any more. You do however know that you have to combine with whatever strength is left in each of you to get out of this slimy situation.
At last someone approaches near the edge of the mud pool with a life line, calling to you at the top of his voice to please pay attention, and promises to throw you a life preserver and pull you all out one by one. But you mud wrestlers would pay no attention to the man, for you are so focused on breathing and getting the mud out of eyes and ears, and as the story goes, you finally drowned choking on mud.
You see, rather than wasting your time arguing with each other, you ought to direct your energies to getting the forces on your side that can do something about the miserable situation you all are in as 99%'ers. Cygnus1 and I have both suggested to get your own military and police forces to back your cause, and you ignore our advice and keep talking about Republican vs. Democratic party electoral chances, and which party you might wish to vote for after the formers' demise, knowing full well that either and all will sink your boat, and knowing that all are puppets of the 1%'ers. This attitude will finally drown you in the mud you are wallowing in.
So, don't even bother to ask what can be done about your messy American and/or world situation if you are not willing to listen to intelligent advice with potential to get you out of it. This may sound like we are offended for not being credited with the attention our advice deserves. Well, not really. We are sorry for you, for we know, that without heeding our adivce to the tee, you will never get out the mud pool of self destruction.
So go back now over our postings from the last two weeks or so. Read them in sequence without all the chatter of other people's opinions. Sit back and think about what we have said, and see for yourself that THEREIN LIES YOUR REDEMPTION FROM THE MESS YOU ARE IN.
Thank you 2950-10K! My quote was from the book "Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders, An Autobiography". And, yes he was a true American, and a true Patriot!
I'm sure that he read Matthew 25...
George
I voted no, but I like to try and remain optimistic.
Cygnus1: I really feel your concern and passion about this. As things have unfolded, I get the recurring sense that nothing is really as it seems; the political scene is full of actors rather than real politicians, playing roles that defy logic and common sense. On 'The Big Picture' tonight Thom announced that the committee of 12 are already talking about 3 billion in cuts to medicare, when everyone knows the vast majority of Americans are opposed to this.
When I saw your rant about how this government is not a U.S. government, I totally get it. This cannot be, and yet it's happening. But where do you point the finger without getting called a conspiracy theorist, or labelled a nut?
We should do like the tobacco companies and demand that those who believe like Peter Ferrara to produce the bad mortgages that caused the financial cancer that destroyed our economy. They can't.
George, I just read your post and echo the sentiment you feel...Roosevelt was a great and TRUE AMERICAN!
It's been said Teddy Roosevelt carried an ancient Athenian owl coin around in his pocket. Obviously this little piece of material culture served as a token reminder of when and where DEMOCRACY took root and the importance of this concept to him. He got it....he understood the true meaning of "We The people!" Cleisthenes would have been proud of this Bull Moose progressive trying hard to pass along the torch of DEMOCRACY.
Roosevelt was a true progressive, audiences would stand and cheer as he shouted out statements such as "We PROGRESSIVES believe that human rights are supreme over all other rights and we must FREE OUR GOVERNMENT FROM THE CONTROL OF MONEY IN POLITICS." A bullet in the chest couldn't even dampen his firey passion at public speeches. He once spoke for an hour and a half with one lodged in him.....Mount Rushmore material for sure!
This money in politics crap has always blocked and prevented application of progressive wisdom, and as a result "pure democracy," has never really taken hold. How many times must humanity relive the idiocy where greed and power by the few creates misery for the many? I say it's the 99%ers turn to make things right, but not to worry, the 1%ers will still remain fat and happy as a result.... indeed ALL WILL BE HAPPY or at least less miserable.
My guess is DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM is almost upon us and once it takes root humanity can move forward and progress once again.
I didn't say she was insulting me...
David, I'm not trying to insult you, plus I could never top the insults you do to yourself. That jibberish you try to pass for "intelluctual" thought is an insult to anyone who wants to see real changes made. Me and millions more like me, are the ones who are going to bring about any changes, but I dont' think anyone will line up to follow you. In fact, if you are the typical progressive, we'll run the other way. I'm not surprised about you dear departed grandmother insulting you. She is probably ashamed of you as well.
Somehow I think that if it was you getting abused you would say, "The police have no right to do this to me, I don't care who told them to, and if the law says they can shoot a tear gas cannister into my face and fracture my skull, the law is wrong." But it's not you with a fractured skull, not you getting tear gassed, and not you getting beaten and arrested; you seem quite willing to excuse the police doing those things to other people.
And regarding your outrage over the comparison of our demonstration-busting police to the Nazi German police and military, well, if the hobnail boot fits... The german police and military said, "We were told to kill people, so we killed them. We were just obeying orders, so it's ok." And the courts at the Hague hanged them for doing it, the logic being this: when a superior tells you to do something wrong, you have the right AND the obligation to refuse to do that wrong thing. But you are saying that as long as the police are not murdering people they can do whatever they are told to do, whether it's right or wrong. And again, if they were doing it to you, you would NOT be saying it's ok, I approve.
So, you say that Thom's program contents are "turning you away," even though you would like to listen to his program, if he would just be more in favor of the police and less in favor of American citizens. In other words, if Thom would just turn into Glen Beck, you would feel more comfortable listening to Thom's program. Well, let's run that one past Thom and see if he would be willing to say things like, "I don't need any facts, I don't need to understand anything about history. I just wrote something on a blackboard, and that proves I'm right." The thing is, I don't think Thom will do that. But let's ask him, just to be sure.
Theodore Roosevelt was a true leader, inspired from within and not the flag carrying politician leader who witnesses a marching band of citizens wanting change, then jumps in front with the flag waving, proclaiming leadership. Theodore Roosevelt led from example with guts, and glory. He promoted change.
When entrancing the Milwaukee Auditorium for his speech in front of the audience, Teddy Roosevelt announced to the stunned audience that he had been shot, proclaiming: "It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose!" He then proceeded to speak for 80 minutes before reluctantly going to a Milwaukee hospital for treatment. He was a Patriot.
It was not the general public that pushed Theodore Roosevelt to save our environment, pushing for the National Park System which we all enjoy today. He had a vision for the future including the responsibility of the corporation.
And for the working persons, his seeing the abuse of the working person proclaimed: "... his labor - was a perishable commodity; the labor of to-day - if not sold was a perishable commodity; the labor of to-day - if not sold to-day - was lost forever. Moreover, his labor was not like most commodities - a mere thing; it was part of a living, breathing human being."
Yes, great idea: paint signs on the tents. And on everything else. This whole thing reminds me of Ghandi's march to the sea for salt.
MaryMary, do what you do, my grandmother gives better insults than you. And she's dead.