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My state, county, and federal reps know me by name. The solution to crimes in high places requires democracy. As St. Molly said, there is a class of people who are too rich to go to jail.
The current local problem we're working on is Waste Management's efforts to roll over our county board and expand our landfill to take garbage from 17 counties in addition to our own. We're in court on that. The board specifically prohibited residents from contacting board members because that would be "lobbying."
Caller to Alan Colmes claimed he was an advertizing exec of a firm that specialized in outdoor natural types of shots. said they have never seen this money before. Said the corporations are paying as much for Nov Election Day ads as Super Bowl Day ads.
Buffett: Billionaires Should Give Up Half Their Wealth
Newsmax.com
Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffett are launching a campaign to get other American billionaires to give at least half their wealth to charity.
Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said in a letter introducing the concept that he couldn't be happier with his decision in 2006 to give 99 percent of his roughly $46 billion fortune to charity.
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Interesting......
BP America is a registered US Corporation, isn't it? How hard would it be for their parent FOREIGN Corporation to send it enough money this Fall, for the propaganda to win the election of those who would support BP America? Technically that would be illegal (in spite of the "Citizens United" decision), but how could any Prosecuter even FIND the paper-trail showing how the money transfers were converted to campaign contributions?
Steve
re: #16: Im in Texas. Does the beach have to have water? I got lots of sand...
Remember that BP was in charge of Alyeska, the "safety" contractor responsible for mitigation of oil spills in Prince William Sound. BP trained first responders, Chugach indians, then fired them. Their plan also called for equipment to be at the accident scene within five hours. The ship was more than 12 hours away in a dry dock.
The Exxon Valdez wasn't the only problem, the claimed safety system and lack of oversight was responsible. They still are.
I have been disappointed with Obama's inaction, but! If Mike Papitano (sp?) thinks the 20B escrow fund is beyond belief, I may have to reconsider.
Join this demonstration at your local beach on June 26th.
http://environment.change.org/blog/view/join_hands_at_the_beach_in_a_nat...
Flash from Madrid: "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is STILL DEAD!!"
WOW- what bastards, after 21 years in her home, then the mortage gets sold and Bank of America kicks her out of her home!?
@river61 re #1: BP has never been interested in doing the best job possible. Why should they change now? Here's a similie that I have in line for my next Tee Shirt:
Obama is like a ship at sea, with propellers pointed in alll directions and powered by engines that run on money. He wistfully peers toward desirable ports with a sigh.
Makes you wanta cry . . . DEMs are defending the big bankers screwing up the economy at our expense . . . AND creating the potential need for another big-money bail-out by the taxpayers. This legislation would only affect the twenty-five or so banks gambling with our deposited moneys . . . AND these DEMs are planning to screw folk coming and going.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/behind-closed-doors-house-dems-push-to-weaken-wall-street-reform.php
More un-left wing-nuttery on the Oil Volcano:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/gop-rep-barton-i-apologize-to-bp-for-tragedy-of-obama-administrations-20-billion-shakedown.php
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/tea-party-candidate-in-nc-says-bp-feds-conspired-to-create-spill-video.php
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/say-what-gopers-slam-white-house-over-bp-gulf-spill-fund.php
So it might be a good idea to throw tar balls back to the other side based on caller Susan from Alaska who got 'nothing' from REAGAN/GEORGE BUSH SR as President.
@ Gene Savory RE #4:
Everybody except of the progressive-oriented 70% of his base.
@Gene, I'm aware of that Obama is the Presidential equivalent of Musak. I'm calling for him to please progressives, I doubt he will, but I can dream that I may spark a desire among progressives here enough to discuss my idea, to point out the pros and cons of it.
We should be putting forth more solutions and discussing them, perfecting them and then taking them to our party meetings. If 60% of the people here on Thom's site actually did go to their party meetings then perhaps, just perhaps we will bring about something of value. However, if the best we can do is say, "it won't work", "they won't listen", "nobody cares", "its pointless", etc... then we may as well douse ourselves in gasoline and burn ourselves in the street in an act of futility. I have no desire to go down that path, and I haven't the time or patience to wait for any politician to hand me the answer. Thom said it best yesterday, the constitution doesn't talk about leaders, it talks about representatives, so get out there and set the table with the issues you want represented.
I'm not just saying this to Gene, this is for everyone here... don't be a nabob of negativity, its counterproductive. Take action in anyway possible no matter how small and no matter how personal. If for no other reason than to preserve your sanity, don't let them beat you down, we're better than that. We are the Government, we make the decisions, we are in control and things get done when we focus together, we have to stop allowing the 1%'ers to divide us.
Now then, what are your solutions?
N
More cell biology, APS scientist Bob Park sez: there is no claim so preposterous that an expert cannot be found to support it. (paraphrase)
There are millions of people trying to sell radiation "protection." It's a safe bet - kind of like wearing an amulet to protect yourself from tiger attacks at the North Pole.
@beezu re:Cell Phone Radiation and Children
You can find millions of assertions pro and con on the issue, even claims that cell phone radiation may have a positive effect on Alzheimer's patients.
So far as I know from following the American Physical Society's coverage of the issue, this an issue that scares anybody who has a visceral reaction to the word "radiation."
See http://www.searchum.umd.edu/search?q=cell+phone+radiation&btnG=Search&si...
You get more radiation flying in Class A airspace (18,000 ft +).
Evidence after the event.
It shocks me to see emails after a shameful event occurs. I would love to see miniature drones flying in all of the offices of Government and Multinationals spying on emails and phone calls of the so called leaders of these institutions. Then the Amercian people might be able to stop the madness before it happens.
In '04, Rep. Joe Barton said oil rigs are so safe, a gum wrapper wouldn't fall off...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/joe-barton-bp-apologist-i_n_615874.html
Cell Phone Radiation and Children
Recently, the City of Lake Oswego sent out a notice regarding an application for a cell phone antenna to be built on an existing light pole on the premises of Waluga Jr. High Schools athletic field. This would not be the first time a project like this has happened on school grounds in the city. The district makes a considerable amount of revenue on these antenna on school properties and believes that there will be no significant adverse health effects for the children studying and playing beneath them.
There are studies that show there could be negative health effects from these kinds of antenna and the radiation they put out. Lake Oswego believes that the FCC's findings (which are not comprehensive) show that they operate at acceptable safe levels. Many of the neighbors feel that these antenna should be placed elsewhere-- far away from developing school children. In nearby Wilsonville, the city has apparently begun outlawing and dismantling these antenna on school grounds because of safety concerns.
Here is the link to the City of Lake Oswego's planning page where the relevant documents regarding this issue are stored:
http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/plan/Land_Use_App/2010/LU_10_0006/LU_10_0006.htm
Thom,
I believe it's not in our best interest for BP to go under right now, we need them to remain solvent so that they keep their commitment to repair the leak and to reimburse the coastal communities. Do you think that the President is attempting to keep BP close so that they do the best job possible, it might not be advised to piss them off right now. Just a thought.
River
As I've said before, Obama is like a ship at sea, with propellers pointed in alll directions that are powered by engines that run on money. He wistfully peers toward desirable ports with a sigh.
@Maxrot #2:
Obama's worried about pleasing EVERYBODY.