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Health Care For Us, Or Wealth Care For Them?

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:59:54 +0000

I must confess to being a bit of a simpleton in some ways, so could someone please explain to me what the health care summit and the health care reform act have to do with reforming health care? And since when does someone “win” a summit meeting? I had to check the definition of the phrase to make sure I’m not crazy for asking that question. Personally, I’m a little stuck on a few ideas, one being that “fixing the health care problem” means that, well, someone will be fixing the health care problem, not just making sure that we all have an equal opportunity to take part in it. And by “it” I mean “the problem”. I feel odd finding myself aligning with a lot of Republicans (although I have pretty liberal social attitudes, I think I’ve formed my own little political party in my head) on an issue like the individual mandate. If I’ve already opted to not give my money to an industry that generates 20% of its revenue from my boss wanting me dead, why would I start now? Oh yeah. Because I’d get a tax penalty if I didn’t. This is starting to feel a little creepy. After being told that my tax dollars would be used to bail out the gambling-addicted banking and insurance industries, now I’m being told that if I don’t give them business, I’ll pay more taxes? Why do I feel like I’m trapped in some weird revolving door? Oh. It just might be the combination of the Goldman Sachs Government (they were negotiating a deal to acquire the treasury department last year, you know) and the influence peddling of the the Media Lobbying Complex. I’m glad I read a lot. It keeps me alertly apolitical. Everyone seems to have an informed opinion on health care, but if you really want to know what’s wrong with health care, ask a nurse.

It Takes A Pillage

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:22:51 +0000

If you’re amongst the nation’s 14 million unemployed, maybe you should see if you can get a job delivering the plasma screen TV’s and cases of champagne that bailed out bankers will be buying to celebrate another year of million-dollar bonuses. Finally, even people like billionaire investor George Soros say you should be angry about the obscene bonuses received by Wall Street. In spite of the fact that the White House “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg is imposing restrictions on certain companies’ compensation, it’s largely agreed that this is pointless, because what bank executives don’t get in salary and cash bonuses, they get through stock options and other benefits. So while New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo releases a study (see No Rhyme or Reason: The ‘Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’ Bank Bonus Culture) that looks in detail at how bailout recipients Merrill and Citigroup both lost more than $27 billion in 2008 but still somehow justified paying nearly $9 billion in bonuses, and while Treasury Department watchdog Neil Barofsky continually points out the appalling misuse of bailout funds, 2009 bonuses at companies like Goldman Sachs will be double what they were in 2008. Call me naiive, but I remain astounded at the idea that one can run global economy into the ground and get a bonus for it. I was originally going to use the analogy of a man with gambling problem for today’s little rant, and thought it a little corny. But Nomi Prins – author of It Takes a Pillage: Behind the Bailouts, Bonuses, and Backroom Deals from Washington to Wall Street – did just that in The Nation piece Meet the Hazzards. I’ve been prattling on about bailout injustice and public apathy for months, but it seems there’s finally some organized unrest in Chicago; it’ll be interesting to see if The Showdown in Chicago or the SEIU party crashers will get any attention.

I’m A Recovering Hope Addict

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:42:28 +0000

My Obama buzz is wearing off. Even though I was pacing myself, I got just a little too high on the idea of change he promised. So far, I’m feeling a little bit like I voted for a Clinton. As this November 14 CBSNews.com piece points out, 37 of 41 staff or transition team members have close ties to the Clinton administration. You’d expect a certain amount of this — it would only be logical to have some seasoned White House staff on board — but it appears I’m not alone in my concerns. I have to admit I’m not stunned by Obama’s weekly chats either. One would think his team would be more aware that he’s not campaigning any more, and can stop using the more moronic sound bites like “Wall Street vs. Main Street”. On the other hand, I’m excited that he seems genuinely focused on re-building both America’s infrastructure and its image abroad. I’d like to be more upbeat on this topic, but I’m really tired of saying to myself “at least this is better than [insert morally bankrupt politician name]“. He campaigned heavily on the theme of real change, and that’s exactly why I voted for him. Anybody else feeling the jones?

Sympathy For The Devil

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:34:17 +0000

As you float along in a mild state of panic, slashing your food budget and wondering what will happen with your mortgage and your kids’ futures, have a heart and take a moment to think about the gold diggers and the men whose money they love, won’t you? It’s bad enough those poor Wall Street bankers are having to cut back on their mistresses, now their wives are turning on them too. Apparently, the heart-wrenching story in that last link could have been avoided by taking a cue from other cultures. See this how to beat your wife clip on YouTube (someone please verify the authenticity of the subtitles; that is downright creepy). Yes, divorces are on the rise on Wall Street. But don’t judge these people as materialistic and vain; according to Psychology Today, love has NEVER been a good reason to marry. Maybe these guys should have spent less time looking at their financial calculators and more time looking at their divorce calculators. As a male, things could be worse though. Just ask a Redback Spider.

George Bush on the Economy: “Wall Street Got Drunk”

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:48:32 +0000

Well, if that isn’t the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. If you watch this exclusive clip (he thought all cameras were off) you’ll get to hear Bush joking not only about Wall Street getting drunk, but also joking about how rough it’s been for him being on government pay for 14 years. Gee George, if only all the rest of us had to suffer a $400,000.00 yearly salary, free luxury housing, private air and ground transport, and full time security teams, as well as access to virtually anything else we want in the world, we could join you for a chuckle. To see some excellent clips of George himself being drunk, check out this YouTube compilation. Or this one to see where it all began. My suggestion for the new 2008 GOP slogan: “Ish thuh ick-onomy, shtoopid….”