That Labor
Ironically the hammering man outside the Seattle Art Museum is out of commission. A bolt broke and they can't get a replacement for two weeks. How appropriate.
Okay I'm early with this so sue me.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Happy Labor day
No not that Labor!
That Labor
Ironically the hammering man outside the Seattle Art Museum is out of commission. A bolt broke and they can't get a replacement for two weeks. How appropriate.
Okay I'm early with this so sue me.
That Labor
Ironically the hammering man outside the Seattle Art Museum is out of commission. A bolt broke and they can't get a replacement for two weeks. How appropriate.
Okay I'm early with this so sue me.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Court rules against Ashcroft
The 911 detainees are suing Ashcroft for violating the constitution. My question, what part of the constitution didn't the last administration violate? Oh that's right there was that ammendment about the repeal of prohibition.
Ashcroft lawsuit
I get the funny feeling that between this, the torture memos, and the bribery and blackmail case involving the Turkish government that this is all going to come to a head some day. It will get to the point where you won't know which trial to watch. And you thought Watergate was a big deal.
In other news Obama is trying to give help for retirement savings plans. Good luck with that one. First I know exactly how the right will try and spin this. One of the plans is to have tax refunds sent as a savings bond. I can hear it now. Obama wants your retirement funds the right will scream so he must be a communist. But no if you actually get a refund check at the end of the year you'll notice that they put a card in with it encouraging you to buy U.S. savings bonds. It's been that way for several years now. But most people have been conditioned to just throw that out as another advertisement headed for the recycle. But the biggest problem with any plan is that those of us in the middle and bottom have seen our earning power drop over the last eight years. And any savings is set aside for a medical emergency not retirement. The republicans have a solution for that called a "medical savings account". But here's the fine print on that one. You need to use the money in the account before the year ends or you lose it. Hey isn't that called stealing? And how do I know if I'm going to get sick in any one year? I guess this is just another way for the rethugs to make their insurance buddies richer. So if your employer offers you one of these plans run do not walk or sign anything unless it's to opt out.
Ashcroft lawsuit
I get the funny feeling that between this, the torture memos, and the bribery and blackmail case involving the Turkish government that this is all going to come to a head some day. It will get to the point where you won't know which trial to watch. And you thought Watergate was a big deal.
In other news Obama is trying to give help for retirement savings plans. Good luck with that one. First I know exactly how the right will try and spin this. One of the plans is to have tax refunds sent as a savings bond. I can hear it now. Obama wants your retirement funds the right will scream so he must be a communist. But no if you actually get a refund check at the end of the year you'll notice that they put a card in with it encouraging you to buy U.S. savings bonds. It's been that way for several years now. But most people have been conditioned to just throw that out as another advertisement headed for the recycle. But the biggest problem with any plan is that those of us in the middle and bottom have seen our earning power drop over the last eight years. And any savings is set aside for a medical emergency not retirement. The republicans have a solution for that called a "medical savings account". But here's the fine print on that one. You need to use the money in the account before the year ends or you lose it. Hey isn't that called stealing? And how do I know if I'm going to get sick in any one year? I guess this is just another way for the rethugs to make their insurance buddies richer. So if your employer offers you one of these plans run do not walk or sign anything unless it's to opt out.
Friday beaver and CIA torture review
CIA report (pdf) It's been out for a while but I finally got around to skimming just the index. Just by the index anyone with half a brain would conclude two things. First that this info is not only about Gitmo, but a few other places around the globe. And second that there were other techniques used that weren't even disclosed. They're blacked out.
Holter should know that this is not going to be a limited investigation. You don't let the godfather off the hook and go after some street thugs who might work for him. It will be like an onion peeled back for the world to see. I figure it will take some time but it will come out.
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Death Chamber of Commerce
Once again the republican cronies are spreading lies. Now it's through the Chamber of Commerce. "Will some Washington politicians blow up your health care?" is the opening page.
Here's the lies:
1.Lie: Millions of Americans could be forced into a one size fits all government scheme.
Fact: If a public option were passed it would force private plans to lower costs therefore cutting their profits. Even Medicare a public plan is not a one size fits all plan.
2. Lie: The takeover will mean tax hikes, higher premiums and massive Medicare cuts hitting seniors.
Fact: Private plans would have to raise rates to make the same or more profits. The Medicare "cuts" they speak of is by cutting the waste in the system and make it more efficient. No cuts to seniors.
3. Lie: Hundreds of billions will added to the exploding federal deficit, meaning still higher taxes and fewer choices in our childrens future.
Fact: The only ones getting a tax increase would be those making over $250 K a year. Had we not gone into Iraq we would have had all the money needed for a plan. The democrates had to fight for SCHIP the program for children's health care. They wanted to expand that program but Bush and the republicans quashed it.
4. Lie: We pay more and get less care
Fact: With no public option you will pay more and get less as more and more people lose their coverage forcing insurers to raise rates and cut losses (the sickest patients).
5. Lie: Our childred are burdened by crippling debt and higher taxes.
Fact: I don't seem to recall as a kid paying for what FDR spent during the depression years. That fell on the very rich who were taxes at a 90+% tax rate. But these guys are just too greedy to part with even 1% to help the middle or lower classes.
6. Lie: Healthcare that Americans are satisfied with is replaced by a risky scheme that leaves politicians in charge.
Fact: I don't know that Americans are very satisfied with the present private plans that are impossible to understand and always seem to have a way of not covering what you need. I don't seem to recall a politician comming to the hospital when my mother or grandmother was in the hospital under Medicare to tell the doctors how to do things or what they'd cover.
The flyer goes on and on about deficits and taxes the usual screaming points of the right wing and asks me to contact my senators. Well I already did and I told them we need a public option and that the republicans don't want anything other than the status quo. So I told them to proceed without republicans and get a bill passed.
Here's the lies:
1.Lie: Millions of Americans could be forced into a one size fits all government scheme.
Fact: If a public option were passed it would force private plans to lower costs therefore cutting their profits. Even Medicare a public plan is not a one size fits all plan.
2. Lie: The takeover will mean tax hikes, higher premiums and massive Medicare cuts hitting seniors.
Fact: Private plans would have to raise rates to make the same or more profits. The Medicare "cuts" they speak of is by cutting the waste in the system and make it more efficient. No cuts to seniors.
3. Lie: Hundreds of billions will added to the exploding federal deficit, meaning still higher taxes and fewer choices in our childrens future.
Fact: The only ones getting a tax increase would be those making over $250 K a year. Had we not gone into Iraq we would have had all the money needed for a plan. The democrates had to fight for SCHIP the program for children's health care. They wanted to expand that program but Bush and the republicans quashed it.
4. Lie: We pay more and get less care
Fact: With no public option you will pay more and get less as more and more people lose their coverage forcing insurers to raise rates and cut losses (the sickest patients).
5. Lie: Our childred are burdened by crippling debt and higher taxes.
Fact: I don't seem to recall as a kid paying for what FDR spent during the depression years. That fell on the very rich who were taxes at a 90+% tax rate. But these guys are just too greedy to part with even 1% to help the middle or lower classes.
6. Lie: Healthcare that Americans are satisfied with is replaced by a risky scheme that leaves politicians in charge.
Fact: I don't know that Americans are very satisfied with the present private plans that are impossible to understand and always seem to have a way of not covering what you need. I don't seem to recall a politician comming to the hospital when my mother or grandmother was in the hospital under Medicare to tell the doctors how to do things or what they'd cover.
The flyer goes on and on about deficits and taxes the usual screaming points of the right wing and asks me to contact my senators. Well I already did and I told them we need a public option and that the republicans don't want anything other than the status quo. So I told them to proceed without republicans and get a bill passed.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Mixed nuts and bolts
I see people are starting to leave Floruba. Seems the high cost of living and low wages are driving people out. Isn't this how republicans want it? Where do they think their groundskeepers and pool boys are going to live? In another state and commute? To top it off the cost of electricity, hurricane insurance and property taxes are about set to go up. Dang Dana looks like you got to the party late on this one.
Looks like they're going to build a pipe line from Alberta Canada down to the midwest. They'll be pumping the oil from the oil sands up there some of the dirtiest oil in the world. My guess is that we're setting up for when we get out of Iraq and they don't sell us any of their oil. The problem with the sand oil is that it takes more energy to extract it than you get out of it. Hummm. Where have I heard of that happening before? Oh yes it's the same for nuclear energy. What ever happened to the clean renewable energy that Obama was all for?
Here's a tie in to the above. Our state is now giving out funds for training for out of work folks like myself. For things like weatherization and "green jobs". I even got a letter in the mail saying I could get $5300 covered. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but training for what? There aren't any jobs out there other than on call fill in positions or jobs that require a specific four year degree. And Boeing just laid off another 200 last week.
Just went to help a relative with some dental work. We need to fix this broken system fast. Went to the office and they had (I kid you not) four people just to handle the paperwork. It landed up costing him $4700 and that was with a discount plan and that was only for 1/2 the work. To boot this was the cheapest place he could find. I wonder if eyeballs and teeth will be part of the health care plan?
Looks like they're going to build a pipe line from Alberta Canada down to the midwest. They'll be pumping the oil from the oil sands up there some of the dirtiest oil in the world. My guess is that we're setting up for when we get out of Iraq and they don't sell us any of their oil. The problem with the sand oil is that it takes more energy to extract it than you get out of it. Hummm. Where have I heard of that happening before? Oh yes it's the same for nuclear energy. What ever happened to the clean renewable energy that Obama was all for?
Here's a tie in to the above. Our state is now giving out funds for training for out of work folks like myself. For things like weatherization and "green jobs". I even got a letter in the mail saying I could get $5300 covered. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but training for what? There aren't any jobs out there other than on call fill in positions or jobs that require a specific four year degree. And Boeing just laid off another 200 last week.
Just went to help a relative with some dental work. We need to fix this broken system fast. Went to the office and they had (I kid you not) four people just to handle the paperwork. It landed up costing him $4700 and that was with a discount plan and that was only for 1/2 the work. To boot this was the cheapest place he could find. I wonder if eyeballs and teeth will be part of the health care plan?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Bad taste in ads
Photo shows multiple planes flying into buildings in NYC.
The caption in the upper right reads The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 911 the planet is powerful respect it. Sponsored by WWF.
The problem? It was not sponsored by WWF who asked that this ad be removed.
Thought I'd save a copy of it. Hat tip to Keith Olbermann and staff.
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