Aaaah! The Auto Industry...
The House giveth and the Senate tooketh away....
So... the Big 3 show up filled with arrogance to demand tax payer money so they can continue with business as usual. Which includes making sure the unions in this country no longer exist, along with the middle class.
So... they are turned down because they have no plan of action, just an extended hand.
So... they come back a bit more humble and they almost... almost... got what they wanted.
Today was the final straw and they walk away empty handed, so George W. Bush is thinking that maybe what they are asking for should, and might have, to come out of the insanely unsupervised and major league squandered tax payer dollars allocated to Hank Paulson to "save" the financial institutions.
I am betting they'll get it and there will be no oversight or a plan in place. Just the way they want it and the way this whole financial crisis has been mishandled by Hank Paulson and his buddies. More on the financial later....
In the meantime, I learn the following:
Ford is opening a plant in Mexico. Yes, where the labor is cheap, Unions non-existent and the government if far more corrupt than ours. Ford apparently has the $15 MILLION that it takes to build this factory while not bothering to consider that they already have factories in the USA with skilled, capable and ready to produce workers. Instead, laying them off is the company financial plan that resonates with Ford executives.
It is offensive to see that the Ford Fiesta will be built in Mexico to be sold in the USA.
"Ford's plans in Mexico also include moving one of its factories from large truck to small car production, and opening a new diesel engine line at another plant."
"The decision to invest in Mexico will be a blow to the United Auto Workers union, which reached a cost-cutting agreement with Ford in a bid to make US plants more competitive."
The full article can be read here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7428952.stm
In the meantime, we have Volkswagen opening plants in the USA with an investment of 1 BILLION dollars. By 2011, Volkswagen plans to be producing and selling 110,000 vehicles in the US.
You can read the full article here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/15/business/main4263424.shtml?source=related_story
Let's not forget about the lovely car I wrote about in a previous post, the Ford Fiesta's ECOnetic which is not only produced in Europe, but sold in Europe and give 65 miles a gallon. A car that Ford has no intention of building or selling in the USA.
Check it out, it is not a golf cart or a vehicle for the vertically challenge. It would look good here too and it would sell like hotcakes.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099060491065.htm?campaign_id=rss_topEmailedStories
How about GM? How are they doing? Well, thank you for asking, apparently they are doing fine since their Russian plant is costing them $300 MILLION dollars and they will be building SUV's, a highly sought after vehicle in a fuel rich Russia. It is their status symbol and they can't get enough of it.
Would it be a stretch of the imagination to use the plants we have here, with the qualified and trained employees they have here, to build it here, and ship it there?
No, I guess it is easier to ask for tax payer's dollars and move their operations over seas.
here is the article: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/11/07/224691.html
AIG
When is a bonus, not a bonus? When you use different words to describe a stinking rose. Let's call it.... "A retention payment". Yes, that sounds good. So when you are making 4 million a year, your boss wants to hand you another million as a "retention", so you stick around for another year and "earn" another 4 million of tax payer dollars for the next 12 months.
These people will stay on until the well runs dry. YOU, the taxpayer, own 90% of AIG. These are in effect, government employees since it is no longer a privately financed company and yet, they are paid more than the Senators, the Congressmen or the President.
*note to self.... apply for employment as executive with AIG*
Back to reality.... According to AIG spokesperson, they need to make these payments to retain "the talent". I ask you, what talent? If they had any they would not be in the situation they are in.
I suggest we all screw up royally at work and do our best to bring the company to the brink of disaster and test the company loyalty to us by seeing what our "retention" check would be. Wanna bet that we are shown the door by the real talent in the company?.
The financial bailout was a bad idea then, and it is a bad idea now. We are witnessing the most blatant bank robbery in the history of the world and they don't even bother to wear ski masks to do it.
Meanwhile, our neighbors, family and friends have lost their jobs and we have reached the highest unemployment rate in the history of this country.
There is no middle class anymore, just the wealthy lining up their pockets in total glee with taxpayer's dollars.
I am sure their holidays will be jolly since the business of making money is still going strong.
Bank of America, Stanley tools and Sara Lee are going to cut thousands of jobs. Sara Lee is going to be outsourcing hundreds of jobs. KayBee toys is closing their doors.
Joy to the World! (Maybe some will trickle down in our direction)
Maybe, just maybe, someone is going to realize that the greatest consumers in the planet cannot fulfill their mandate without paying jobs? Without a roof over their heads? Without financial security and a future to look forward to? Without their retirement savings having been plundered?
Just a thought.
PEACE to all
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
How to get a job in this economy
Here is an incomplete list of what is awaiting some of our neighbors, friends and family this holiday season. Hint: It is not good.
Sharper Image is going bye-bye and following in the footsteps of more familiar and affordable places, like CompUSA, Linens & Things, Mervin's, etc.
Major Layoffs are in the works for Sony who will be cutting over 15, 000 jobs, 3M is letting over 1,800 workers world-wide, Dow Chemical and Dupont are going to let go almost 10,000 people. Circuit City already filed for bankrupcy and closed down a huge number of stores and the few that are left are not that secured.
Other retailers have seen and felt the crunch consumers are in and acted accordingly by closing doors, places where luxury items are found are going bye-bye too, we can all say our collective goodbyes to Zales and Wilson's leather and one I have always meant to go in but now will not get the chance, Fashion Bug.
(T)RUSTED SKILLS need to be sharpened.
Aside from the fact that there are fewer opportunities available and greater competition, the basics of getting a job in this economy are the same as always:
Personal presentation, Resume presentation and use of language (both verbal and written)
1. Personal presentation
We all know the old axiom; "you only get one chance to make a first impression" and yet, sometimes we fail miserably due to lack of time or forethought.
Presenting ourselves is the first package we are selling, true it is unfair, but the fact is that a well groomed individual that is dressed appropriately for the job is the first impression that sticks in the interviewer's mind as well as those of the staff that we maybe working with.
I'll give you an example; my boss once refused to interview a lawyer because she was dressed in what she interpreted as "nightclub" clothes and would send the "wrong" signal to the board of directors. In other words, it would reflect poorly on my boss. Her judgement would be in question and she would be the one fighting scrutiny and perceptions. Being a "good fit" for any company starts with how we present the whole package and the first part of the package we are selling is ourselves. The contents of the package comes shortly afterwards and is revealed by body and verbal language.
In these days of economic upheaval, we need all the help we can get and even though it is not fair to make assumptions about people because of the way they show up dressed to an interview, the fact is that this is not going to change any time soon. In my opinion, why take a chance? Those first steps should be carefully orchestrated to our advantage and not to the advantage of our competition.
Resume
I can't tell you how many people's resumes ended in the "no way, not now, not ever" pile because of the improper use of grammar and spelling errors. Some of us think that these spelling errors can be easily remedied with a spell checker, unfortunately, many of us make the mistake of assuming that the spell checker knows what we mean to say and since the word is spelled correctly, we must have done the job right.
Nothing can be further from the truth, since many words with similar spelling carry different meanings. How many times did we meant to say "too" (as in "also") and wrote "to" (as in going somewhere)? That maybe an excusable error among friends but one that denotes lack of education or carelessness to a prospective employer.
Verbally speaking.... (Redundancy). How we express ourselves matters and if we say things such as "the installation is adequate" when we mean to say "the insulation is adequate", we may get a quizzical look and elicit an unwanted impression from our interviewer.
I like to try things first and see if they work for me. Espindle is one of those things that costs nothing to try out and for the first time ever, I am actually advertising something that I have chosen to advertise. Espindle is the first product I have chosen to endorse because a) it is free to try for 10 days and b) sharpening those job hunting skills never goes out of style.
ON THE NEWS
OBAMA
Let's leave the man alone. Let's wait to pounce on him once he takes office, say... around January 20th?. Let's all demand perfection on the 21.
PAULSON
Another day, another dollar. Or in his case, the other half of the gizillion dollars this Congress sought to give him to stimulate the economy without oversights, a plan, or a clue.
Are we sufficiently sick to our stomachs yet? I know I am.
The BIG 3
Thank Goodness it is over! we are loaning them the money with restrictions and oversight. Wish we had done that with Paulson and friends. Don't you?
CHICAGO
Lovely city, great people and .... a governor that wants to sell the vacant seat in the Senate left by Obama to the highest bidder.
What works here? Fitzgerald! the Attorney General that seems to be determined to make sure this bozo does not hold another job in government. Glad to see we are cleaning house in a bipartisan way and we are getting all these trash out to the curb.
Some days, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is not an incoming train. (At least for us)
Unfortunately, there are some very real human beings sitting in a freezing cold warehouse demanding that the company that fired them without sufficient warning pays them what is owed to them.
This Governor was making the news by backing them up in their time of need. Who better than their Governor?. And now the guy gets arrested and some seem to think that the timing not only sucks, but is incredibly suspect. I am not given to conspiracy theories and like to have the facts on hand.
The fact is that Governor Rod Blagjevich was arrested based on how openly he has been taped demanding money for favors. For Goodness sake! when are these people going to realize that it is a lot harder to rewrite history now than it was in the past due to the advance tehcnology that recalls verbatim everything we have ever said and done at the push of a button?
Speaking of clueless idiots... Have you heard about John Thain? He is the CEO for Merril Lynch and seems to think that he is entitled to $10 million dollar bonus after he (and his team) lost over $10 BILLION dollars last year. The disconnect between the reality for millions of Americans whose pensions they squandered and lost and these CEO's lifestyle is bigger than anything we can think of. (A black hole million years away from the Milky Way seems about right)
Clueless does not begin to address this type of mentality and their sense of entitlement is in dire need of mental health services. (or a firm hand with a sharp stick, followed by a long stretch in prison).
This type of disconnect seems to afflict everyone in those circles, apparently the words "Are you kidding me?" do not flow freely from the lips of those in charge of handing out bonuses to these embezzlers, so instead, they are just "reluctant" and "considering it". You can read about it here.
THINGS WILL GET BETTER
Yes, much better and we are going to do it together, so let's all hang in there and keep the faith.
PEACE
Sharper Image is going bye-bye and following in the footsteps of more familiar and affordable places, like CompUSA, Linens & Things, Mervin's, etc.
Major Layoffs are in the works for Sony who will be cutting over 15, 000 jobs, 3M is letting over 1,800 workers world-wide, Dow Chemical and Dupont are going to let go almost 10,000 people. Circuit City already filed for bankrupcy and closed down a huge number of stores and the few that are left are not that secured.
Other retailers have seen and felt the crunch consumers are in and acted accordingly by closing doors, places where luxury items are found are going bye-bye too, we can all say our collective goodbyes to Zales and Wilson's leather and one I have always meant to go in but now will not get the chance, Fashion Bug.
(T)RUSTED SKILLS need to be sharpened.
Aside from the fact that there are fewer opportunities available and greater competition, the basics of getting a job in this economy are the same as always:
Personal presentation, Resume presentation and use of language (both verbal and written)
1. Personal presentation
We all know the old axiom; "you only get one chance to make a first impression" and yet, sometimes we fail miserably due to lack of time or forethought.
Presenting ourselves is the first package we are selling, true it is unfair, but the fact is that a well groomed individual that is dressed appropriately for the job is the first impression that sticks in the interviewer's mind as well as those of the staff that we maybe working with.
I'll give you an example; my boss once refused to interview a lawyer because she was dressed in what she interpreted as "nightclub" clothes and would send the "wrong" signal to the board of directors. In other words, it would reflect poorly on my boss. Her judgement would be in question and she would be the one fighting scrutiny and perceptions. Being a "good fit" for any company starts with how we present the whole package and the first part of the package we are selling is ourselves. The contents of the package comes shortly afterwards and is revealed by body and verbal language.
In these days of economic upheaval, we need all the help we can get and even though it is not fair to make assumptions about people because of the way they show up dressed to an interview, the fact is that this is not going to change any time soon. In my opinion, why take a chance? Those first steps should be carefully orchestrated to our advantage and not to the advantage of our competition.
Resume
I can't tell you how many people's resumes ended in the "no way, not now, not ever" pile because of the improper use of grammar and spelling errors. Some of us think that these spelling errors can be easily remedied with a spell checker, unfortunately, many of us make the mistake of assuming that the spell checker knows what we mean to say and since the word is spelled correctly, we must have done the job right.
Nothing can be further from the truth, since many words with similar spelling carry different meanings. How many times did we meant to say "too" (as in "also") and wrote "to" (as in going somewhere)? That maybe an excusable error among friends but one that denotes lack of education or carelessness to a prospective employer.
Verbally speaking.... (Redundancy). How we express ourselves matters and if we say things such as "the installation is adequate" when we mean to say "the insulation is adequate", we may get a quizzical look and elicit an unwanted impression from our interviewer.
I like to try things first and see if they work for me. Espindle is one of those things that costs nothing to try out and for the first time ever, I am actually advertising something that I have chosen to advertise. Espindle is the first product I have chosen to endorse because a) it is free to try for 10 days and b) sharpening those job hunting skills never goes out of style.
ON THE NEWS
OBAMA
Let's leave the man alone. Let's wait to pounce on him once he takes office, say... around January 20th?. Let's all demand perfection on the 21.
PAULSON
Another day, another dollar. Or in his case, the other half of the gizillion dollars this Congress sought to give him to stimulate the economy without oversights, a plan, or a clue.
Are we sufficiently sick to our stomachs yet? I know I am.
The BIG 3
Thank Goodness it is over! we are loaning them the money with restrictions and oversight. Wish we had done that with Paulson and friends. Don't you?
CHICAGO
Lovely city, great people and .... a governor that wants to sell the vacant seat in the Senate left by Obama to the highest bidder.
What works here? Fitzgerald! the Attorney General that seems to be determined to make sure this bozo does not hold another job in government. Glad to see we are cleaning house in a bipartisan way and we are getting all these trash out to the curb.
Some days, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is not an incoming train. (At least for us)
Unfortunately, there are some very real human beings sitting in a freezing cold warehouse demanding that the company that fired them without sufficient warning pays them what is owed to them.
This Governor was making the news by backing them up in their time of need. Who better than their Governor?. And now the guy gets arrested and some seem to think that the timing not only sucks, but is incredibly suspect. I am not given to conspiracy theories and like to have the facts on hand.
The fact is that Governor Rod Blagjevich was arrested based on how openly he has been taped demanding money for favors. For Goodness sake! when are these people going to realize that it is a lot harder to rewrite history now than it was in the past due to the advance tehcnology that recalls verbatim everything we have ever said and done at the push of a button?
Speaking of clueless idiots... Have you heard about John Thain? He is the CEO for Merril Lynch and seems to think that he is entitled to $10 million dollar bonus after he (and his team) lost over $10 BILLION dollars last year. The disconnect between the reality for millions of Americans whose pensions they squandered and lost and these CEO's lifestyle is bigger than anything we can think of. (A black hole million years away from the Milky Way seems about right)
Clueless does not begin to address this type of mentality and their sense of entitlement is in dire need of mental health services. (or a firm hand with a sharp stick, followed by a long stretch in prison).
This type of disconnect seems to afflict everyone in those circles, apparently the words "Are you kidding me?" do not flow freely from the lips of those in charge of handing out bonuses to these embezzlers, so instead, they are just "reluctant" and "considering it". You can read about it here.
THINGS WILL GET BETTER
Yes, much better and we are going to do it together, so let's all hang in there and keep the faith.
PEACE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Big 3 Bailout
ON THE BIG 3
It has been on every channel:
How did the Big 3 arrive to the hearings? ~ In private jets. Outrage at the lack of connection between the lives of most Americans and the fact that they are arriving in luxury to beg for money. Except that they weren't begging, they were expecting it and demanding it.
Their level of perceived arrogance has not escaped the public. The latest poll shows that over 60% of the public does not want to bail out these people with loan that will pay interest.
To be honest, this is money we are likely to get back, as opposed to Paulson's dealings with the financial and insurance companies. Our great-grandchildren will most likely be paying off this horrific giveaway.
The Big 3 arrived the second time around for their begging/demanding session with Congress by more modest, less polluting ways, but is it too late? Are Americans too fried to give a damn anymore about big corporations when they are loosing, or have lost, their homes and jobs?
Who is bailing out the economy and rushing to make sure that the individual American does not have to hit in shame the food banks and food stamps just to have something on the table? Where is the rush to action?
Perhaps this is the reason we are sick and tired of these companies and their plights due to their lack of leadership, foresight and self control.
ON MEDICAL.
It is happening around the country; your parents or your kids, maybe even yours, medications are no longer approved by the insurance company you pay into. The elderly and disabled are on Medicare and they change to part D (XYZ) on a yearly basis to obtain the most coverage. A formulary is used by most to determine which way to go.
The book looks like a phone book, the paperwork and amount of scrutiny is time consuming and there are time limits in which to make this decision and can only be changed on a yearly basis.
Nothing prevents the pharma portion from changing what they cover, how much and how often. Now, to add insult to injury, the are pitting the medical offices against the patients by demanding prior authorization for a medication the ill person needs and has had covered for years.
The pharmacist states that it is no longer covered and to call the insurance company or pay out of pocket (no reimbursement on the horizon either).
The insurance company tells you to call the doc and have them request authorization, the doc calls the insurance co., and they say there was never a problem and to just have the patient call the pharmacy to refill the order.
You call the pharmacy and they call the insurance company who states to have the patient call the doctor's office and request authorization.
This was a typical day in the life of a spousal caregiver. Unfortunately, this one day was GroundHog Day because it lasted 2 weeks.
Smarty pants that I am, I started this before the meds run out completely, you see, my oldest has asthma and she could just drop dead if she has no inhaler and the attack is severe and in school. Nice, huh?
Well, then there is also the husband's meds. The ones that are supposed to alleviate one thing, and in exchange will produce all sorts of nasty side effects that will cause additional physical distress.
I find out from the doctor's office that the elderly people they provide services for are doing without their medication because they are being denied medications left and right. They are complaining that their reimbursements stink and often times they are not getting paid.
And yet, the medical community balks at the idea of a National Health Care system. Go figure!
Most of us are performing daily miracles and we have never asked for help or sympathy, but we sure as hell would appreciate not having to fight with an insurance company over covered benefits.
THE RICH & THE GOLD DIGGER.
I just read an article about "toxic wives" and how quickly the rats abandon a sinking ship. It is funny and sad all at once. Funny because of the macabre nature of these relationships and the sad because maybe at some level, the poor sap was under the impression that he was loved as a human being, not an ATM. The article is titled: Recession; when the money goes, so does the toxic wife. It is very well written and it gives us a little perspective on what their lives are truly like. Ah! to have those money problems! poor saps!
NEW ORLEANS? IS THAT NOT TAKEN CARE OF YET?
Nope! not yet, we still have people living on the streets, cardboard boxes and tents. Clean up is not done, displaced residents are unable to come home (what home?) and the FEMA trailers are a toxic disaster that are not being maintained because the formaldehyde and other cancer causing agents are too dangerous for government employees, volunteers and vendors to reside in or to work on.
Of course, it is perfectly fine for Katrina victims to reside in and raise their little ones there for years on end too. The health problems and increase in cancers, such as leukemia and breathing disorders are all in their heads, just like our economic woes.
I am sure you heard Bill Graham telling you we were a Nation of whiners and it was all imaginary (maybe that is the real reason McCain lost this election, because this bozo was his financial guru.... and Lord! even the most staunch Republican found this to be insulting).
Which brings us to the next financial whack-over-the-head to the average American....
CREDIT CARDS
Apparently, credit cards are now going to decide what your credit limit really is, without telling you.
You see, they need to protect themselves against your luxury spending (probably the way you are feeding your family and paying the heating bill).
Please be aware that there is a clause in your contract with them (the only part that needs to be honored, you see?) and if you go above your credit limit, there will be hell to pay, by way of penalties, increased percentage rate will be automatic (their current 28% is not enough), and Gulp! they could denmand payment in full (Ha! if you had it, why would you be using a credit card?) and close your account... and send the collection agencies against you... and put liens on your assets... and... Well, you get the idea.
Please check your balance and current credit limit before they get you in a new technicality.
KATRINA AND IKE
Katrina's disaster is not the only thing that has not been taken care of. If you live in Texas you know full well that you got 30 miles of debris with rotting corpses that has not been cleaned up as promised by your favorite son (the one that is moving back in with you come January). Maybe the fact that Bush is moving back to Texas, that alone will light a fire under him to clean up the mess that Ike left behind. One can only hope. Read about it here, straight from Texas.
Katrina is just going to have to wait, all those billions of dollars meant to help people have disappeared as quickly as the billions "missing" in Iraq and the Billions Paulson can't account for... WHAT? Paulson? Say it is not so....
PAULSON
Apparently, the Treasury does not know where the 700 billion went or are going, or how much is left and there is no oversight and no accountability (which is how we got into this in the first place).
If you wish to read the full report, you can find it here.
In the meantime, Paulson keeps fighting to get the remainder and continue to inflate the banks with money they are not lending to the consumers but the Congress is not happy with the above report and a monkey wrench is being thrown into Paulson's... Plan? ... does he have one? ... is he making it up as he goes along?... The Associate Press article fully describes the GAO report in more easy to understand terms, but the bottom line is that the lack of transparency and accountability are a sort of concern (ya think?), and there is a disturbing stubborness to continue to pay executives a king's ransom just for being their arrogant selves..... Oh, boy!
GEORGE W. BUSH
More than a lame duck, an inefficient, ineffectual and incompetent moron. On his latest interview with Charlie Gibson he stated that the most regretable thing in his administration had been the faulty intelligence that led to the war in Iraq.
Fair enough, now shut up and don't say another word.... but no, he continues to answer questions. Charlie Gibson flat out asked him, "... if he had knowledge that there were no weapons of mass destruction would we not gone to war with Iraq?" This is the point where someone in a dark suit should have come in and claimed "urgent matters" and end the interview, but no, he had to answer with: "I don't know, it is not a do-over".
Okay now, The Weapons of Mass Destruction was the ONLY reason to go into Iraq, so if the intelligence had stated that there would not be any, this guy thinks that we would have gone into Iraq anyway?... he is not certain that we would not have.
Can you say OIL baby? OIL, that is all this was about and we could not even manage this right. Oh, wait, we did. H.burton is swimming in it. Good job!
PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA
Thank God we are going to have grownups running the show. Great new team filled with not only intelligent people but people who have demonstrated their skills and abilities and have the same goal in mind: The American People. Who would have thunk it? civil servants at the beck and call of the people. Someone should write a Constitution about a government being by and for the people. Maybe it will happen.
The best part of this new Administration is that is not filled with incompetent fools that are kindergarten chums, or drinking buddies of yester- year... or a cousin of a good friend. We are actually getting grown ups!
WAL-MART FRENZY
Who is responsible?
I am going out on a limb on this one, but I am willing to say that it is the store because they lacked security, they build up a frenzy of a mob mentality and did not take their employees safety into consideration.
Others will disagree, but I think that when a mob mentality is fostered and people behave badly (like beating up people because they are of different religion, race, ethnic background, etc), then those who incite that mood and encourage that attitude are responsible, period.
Really, how desperate are times where a man gets trampled to death so some "lucky" shopper can purchase outdated technology for $20.00 less?
No crowd control, no training and lots of hours of people in line. Wally World is at fault in my opinion.
Okay folks! Have a good evening and as always...
PEACE to you all
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
http://www.wellspouse.org/ for support and information
It has been on every channel:
How did the Big 3 arrive to the hearings? ~ In private jets. Outrage at the lack of connection between the lives of most Americans and the fact that they are arriving in luxury to beg for money. Except that they weren't begging, they were expecting it and demanding it.
Their level of perceived arrogance has not escaped the public. The latest poll shows that over 60% of the public does not want to bail out these people with loan that will pay interest.
To be honest, this is money we are likely to get back, as opposed to Paulson's dealings with the financial and insurance companies. Our great-grandchildren will most likely be paying off this horrific giveaway.
The Big 3 arrived the second time around for their begging/demanding session with Congress by more modest, less polluting ways, but is it too late? Are Americans too fried to give a damn anymore about big corporations when they are loosing, or have lost, their homes and jobs?
Who is bailing out the economy and rushing to make sure that the individual American does not have to hit in shame the food banks and food stamps just to have something on the table? Where is the rush to action?
Perhaps this is the reason we are sick and tired of these companies and their plights due to their lack of leadership, foresight and self control.
ON MEDICAL.
It is happening around the country; your parents or your kids, maybe even yours, medications are no longer approved by the insurance company you pay into. The elderly and disabled are on Medicare and they change to part D (XYZ) on a yearly basis to obtain the most coverage. A formulary is used by most to determine which way to go.
The book looks like a phone book, the paperwork and amount of scrutiny is time consuming and there are time limits in which to make this decision and can only be changed on a yearly basis.
Nothing prevents the pharma portion from changing what they cover, how much and how often. Now, to add insult to injury, the are pitting the medical offices against the patients by demanding prior authorization for a medication the ill person needs and has had covered for years.
The pharmacist states that it is no longer covered and to call the insurance company or pay out of pocket (no reimbursement on the horizon either).
The insurance company tells you to call the doc and have them request authorization, the doc calls the insurance co., and they say there was never a problem and to just have the patient call the pharmacy to refill the order.
You call the pharmacy and they call the insurance company who states to have the patient call the doctor's office and request authorization.
This was a typical day in the life of a spousal caregiver. Unfortunately, this one day was GroundHog Day because it lasted 2 weeks.
Smarty pants that I am, I started this before the meds run out completely, you see, my oldest has asthma and she could just drop dead if she has no inhaler and the attack is severe and in school. Nice, huh?
Well, then there is also the husband's meds. The ones that are supposed to alleviate one thing, and in exchange will produce all sorts of nasty side effects that will cause additional physical distress.
I find out from the doctor's office that the elderly people they provide services for are doing without their medication because they are being denied medications left and right. They are complaining that their reimbursements stink and often times they are not getting paid.
And yet, the medical community balks at the idea of a National Health Care system. Go figure!
Most of us are performing daily miracles and we have never asked for help or sympathy, but we sure as hell would appreciate not having to fight with an insurance company over covered benefits.
THE RICH & THE GOLD DIGGER.
I just read an article about "toxic wives" and how quickly the rats abandon a sinking ship. It is funny and sad all at once. Funny because of the macabre nature of these relationships and the sad because maybe at some level, the poor sap was under the impression that he was loved as a human being, not an ATM. The article is titled: Recession; when the money goes, so does the toxic wife. It is very well written and it gives us a little perspective on what their lives are truly like. Ah! to have those money problems! poor saps!
NEW ORLEANS? IS THAT NOT TAKEN CARE OF YET?
Nope! not yet, we still have people living on the streets, cardboard boxes and tents. Clean up is not done, displaced residents are unable to come home (what home?) and the FEMA trailers are a toxic disaster that are not being maintained because the formaldehyde and other cancer causing agents are too dangerous for government employees, volunteers and vendors to reside in or to work on.
Of course, it is perfectly fine for Katrina victims to reside in and raise their little ones there for years on end too. The health problems and increase in cancers, such as leukemia and breathing disorders are all in their heads, just like our economic woes.
I am sure you heard Bill Graham telling you we were a Nation of whiners and it was all imaginary (maybe that is the real reason McCain lost this election, because this bozo was his financial guru.... and Lord! even the most staunch Republican found this to be insulting).
Which brings us to the next financial whack-over-the-head to the average American....
CREDIT CARDS
Apparently, credit cards are now going to decide what your credit limit really is, without telling you.
You see, they need to protect themselves against your luxury spending (probably the way you are feeding your family and paying the heating bill).
Please be aware that there is a clause in your contract with them (the only part that needs to be honored, you see?) and if you go above your credit limit, there will be hell to pay, by way of penalties, increased percentage rate will be automatic (their current 28% is not enough), and Gulp! they could denmand payment in full (Ha! if you had it, why would you be using a credit card?) and close your account... and send the collection agencies against you... and put liens on your assets... and... Well, you get the idea.
Please check your balance and current credit limit before they get you in a new technicality.
KATRINA AND IKE
Katrina's disaster is not the only thing that has not been taken care of. If you live in Texas you know full well that you got 30 miles of debris with rotting corpses that has not been cleaned up as promised by your favorite son (the one that is moving back in with you come January). Maybe the fact that Bush is moving back to Texas, that alone will light a fire under him to clean up the mess that Ike left behind. One can only hope. Read about it here, straight from Texas.
Katrina is just going to have to wait, all those billions of dollars meant to help people have disappeared as quickly as the billions "missing" in Iraq and the Billions Paulson can't account for... WHAT? Paulson? Say it is not so....
PAULSON
Apparently, the Treasury does not know where the 700 billion went or are going, or how much is left and there is no oversight and no accountability (which is how we got into this in the first place).
If you wish to read the full report, you can find it here.
In the meantime, Paulson keeps fighting to get the remainder and continue to inflate the banks with money they are not lending to the consumers but the Congress is not happy with the above report and a monkey wrench is being thrown into Paulson's... Plan? ... does he have one? ... is he making it up as he goes along?... The Associate Press article fully describes the GAO report in more easy to understand terms, but the bottom line is that the lack of transparency and accountability are a sort of concern (ya think?), and there is a disturbing stubborness to continue to pay executives a king's ransom just for being their arrogant selves..... Oh, boy!
GEORGE W. BUSH
More than a lame duck, an inefficient, ineffectual and incompetent moron. On his latest interview with Charlie Gibson he stated that the most regretable thing in his administration had been the faulty intelligence that led to the war in Iraq.
Fair enough, now shut up and don't say another word.... but no, he continues to answer questions. Charlie Gibson flat out asked him, "... if he had knowledge that there were no weapons of mass destruction would we not gone to war with Iraq?" This is the point where someone in a dark suit should have come in and claimed "urgent matters" and end the interview, but no, he had to answer with: "I don't know, it is not a do-over".
Okay now, The Weapons of Mass Destruction was the ONLY reason to go into Iraq, so if the intelligence had stated that there would not be any, this guy thinks that we would have gone into Iraq anyway?... he is not certain that we would not have.
Can you say OIL baby? OIL, that is all this was about and we could not even manage this right. Oh, wait, we did. H.burton is swimming in it. Good job!
PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA
Thank God we are going to have grownups running the show. Great new team filled with not only intelligent people but people who have demonstrated their skills and abilities and have the same goal in mind: The American People. Who would have thunk it? civil servants at the beck and call of the people. Someone should write a Constitution about a government being by and for the people. Maybe it will happen.
The best part of this new Administration is that is not filled with incompetent fools that are kindergarten chums, or drinking buddies of yester- year... or a cousin of a good friend. We are actually getting grown ups!
WAL-MART FRENZY
Who is responsible?
I am going out on a limb on this one, but I am willing to say that it is the store because they lacked security, they build up a frenzy of a mob mentality and did not take their employees safety into consideration.
Others will disagree, but I think that when a mob mentality is fostered and people behave badly (like beating up people because they are of different religion, race, ethnic background, etc), then those who incite that mood and encourage that attitude are responsible, period.
Really, how desperate are times where a man gets trampled to death so some "lucky" shopper can purchase outdated technology for $20.00 less?
No crowd control, no training and lots of hours of people in line. Wally World is at fault in my opinion.
Okay folks! Have a good evening and as always...
PEACE to you all
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
http://www.wellspouse.org/ for support and information
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
It must be the holiday season
Everyone is getting a billion or so.
Maybe it will really trickle down this time.
Hope springs eternal.
Big 3
If it weren't for the fact that they kept saying that the American Public demanded SUV that sucked a gallon of gas with every inch, I would be more inclined to be kinder, but the fact is that the American Public has never been given a chance or choice by the automakers.
When an electric car cost more than a downpayment on a house, it makes people opt for a lower priced alternative and keep polluting the air with "cheap" gas.
My guess is that when they all figure a way to charge $3.00 per Kilowatt, we will have our choice of electric cars and available in every color.
If it weren't for the fact that not rescuing these companies would cost millions in unemployment benefits and send the supporting industries into a tailspin, I would not be so incline to loan them the money (not that anyone asked me, but just in case my opinion is required at some point).
I am still rankled by the opening of a GM Russian plant, here is why:
"By Paul Abelsky
Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp., the world's biggest carmaker, opened a $300 million factory in Russia as it looks to compensate for slumping sales in western Europe and North America.
The plant in the Shushary district on the outskirts of St. Petersburg will produce 70,000 Chevrolet Captiva sport-utility vehicles and the Opel Astra, with plans to manufacture the Chevrolet Cruze compact car next year.
``Our strategy is to become the leading manufacturer in Russia,'' Carl-Peter Forster, GM's chief for Europe, told reporters during the plant opening today. ``For us Russia is not an emerging market. Russia emerged long ago.''
The new plant ``is an example of a good investment project that's oriented toward the future,'' Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters. He called on GM to boost output at the plant.
Forster said the production schedule won't be revised now as the car market has soured. The new plant will employ 981 people, and that may increase to 1,700 next year. .... " This is an excerp from Bloomberg.com and many thanks to Paul Albelsky for the detailed report.
Based on this article, I am of the opinion that GM already has factories here and people who know how to build cars. Therefore, logic follows that instead of spending $300 million over there, they could have SAVED it here. Also, producing over 70,000 cars MADE IN AMERICA would go a long way to boost our sagging economy, furthermore, we would actually be EXPORTING something.
Some of us are willing to settle for American lapel pins made in America instead of China. (less lead is always a good thing)
The second part of this story is the continued lying about being years away from producing a fuel effecient car, since FORD already makes a car in Europe that gives 65 mpg and according to them, they can't afford to sell it here.
Here is the linky with a lovely picture of a car (Ford Fiesta ECOnetic) I would love to own (in that same color is fine).
Let's say they are right as rain (just go along with it for a minute) and they really cannot afford to sell it here. How about BUILDING it here? is that also a far reach for them?, Once again, we would be EXPORTING something and all dependent industries would benefit greatly. More production, more jobs, better economy.
If all of this does not smack of bringing our country to a screeching halt and reversing our economy, education and citizens towards the 19th century.... Oh, wait! it has to be further back than that, that was the era of industrialization....
..My bad!
What Congress needs to do
In my not so humble opinion is beat the crap out of Paulson and demand a cohesive plan from him. They obviously know how to do this since they have requested the same from the Auto Makers.
On the financial bailout, we are all just wondering how long is it going to take before our collective heads explode.
First off, Citi Group was bailed out in the middle of the night to the tune of over 300 BILLION dollars. No problem. We can print more money, we still have trees left and when those are gone, they'll start a collection in our neighborhoods while taxing us for having one too many.
In case we are loosing track of how much money has gone out, let me refresh your memory by simply stating that to date, it has been almost 8 TRILLION dollars (7.8 or something like that).
I don't know if you can stomach this or not, but here it goes:
As soon as Wells Fargo gets sold, the big wigs will receive a compensation package deemed to be earmarked as severance pay, of over 28 BILLION dollars, a large (enormous, actually) portion will go to the largest shareholder at Citibank. If this guy was poor before, he would not be after that.
The kicker is that this particular shareholder is the richest man in the world and he is still entitled to the 98 million dollars. His name is Prince Alwaleed (Saudi Arabia, of course) and he needs this money, let alone deserve it, like the middle class deserves to be homeless and unemployed.
In his defense (ha!) he made the supreme effort of injecting a large amount of money to increase his stake in the bank AFTER the government agreed to shower CitiBank with our tax dollars. You can read about here.
But hey! as long as the tax payers have a pint of blood left, we are doing our patriotic duty.
Or are we? ~ Maybe we are just too tired to print out all this stuff and shove it down Congress throats.
All I can see is the current administration making sure that there is not a single penny left before they leave office. Time is running out and drastic measures need to take place. Paulson is moving as quickly as he can.... Gosh Darn it! there is some loose change left in couch, Paulson is not doing his job!
Laugh if you can, it seems that is all we got left ... for now. That pint of blood will be gone shortly if this current administration has its way. They have sough to undermine work that took over 20 yrs to protect our lands and maintaining our National Treasures free from greed. In the middle of the night (do you see a pattern here? Just like thieves) during the busiest political day (November 4th, the day we revolted and chose to elect someone who gave us hope for the future and a departure from the hell the past 8 yrs have been for middle America) they truly have it in for our Country, its land and its people, here is an excerpt from the Huffinton Post that preceded an interview with Robert Redford by Rachel Maddow:
"The Bureau of Land Management cynically chose November 4 to announce a last-minute plan to lease huge swaths of majestic wilderness in eastern Utah for oil and gas extraction one month before President-elect Obama takes office.
As its clock runs out, the Bush administration also is trying to open-up drilling all over the Rockies and Alaska, to green-light oil shale leasing, and to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Though sad, it's no surprise, coming as it does from the same crowd that designed a misguided national energy policy in secret meetings with the oil, gas and coal industries."
You can read the full article at the huffington post website. (nicely linked for your convenience)
But if land and our environment are not of interest to you, don't worry, they have more up their collective sleeves and they are far from done, no, not yet. The highlighted link will take you tog to Bill Moyer's Journal and it explains quite well how other things you may consider hard fought for and now permanent are not so permanent and we must fight even harder.
I hope we are not too tired because until these thieves leave office, we need to be extra vigilant. For instance; your medical leave, your work safety regulations are all at risk of going Buh-bye and the citizen surveillance would increase by allowing the locals to do what the Feds are doing.
Whoa! I guess George Orwell was not that far off the mark, was he?
And I hate conspiracy theories because I like to have cold hard facts to base my opinions on, but when the hard cold facts are in front of us and the conspiracy no longer feels like a bunch of renagades cooked this up in a collaborative effort of midnight talks while "spacing out" on home grown "herbal remedies".... well, ... it is downright frightening to have elected officials have such disregard for the law and so blatant in their efforts to undermine a government that is "for the people" and has now become their playground.
So, before Bush and his band of crooks leaves office we are going to be in worse shape than we have been so far. If you did not think it was possible because there is not enough time, you have understimated their determination and the lure of greed that awaits them once they leave public office.
Or maybe... there is really a true conspiracy and the whole effort to "divide and conquer" is not a bad dream but a nighmare that even Russians think is going to happen. According to Mr Paranin, a political Russian Analyst, the United States will split up into several parts.
You can read about it all here and even though, I was going to dismiss this bit of news as some ideological nonsense, after reading his reasoning for making this prediction more than once, I am not so sure that this could not happen.
For years, it has been politically necessary to pit citizens agains each other based on inconsequential things, but by repeating the mantra long and hard, it became news and hatred and prejudiced abounded against one another.
The perpetuation of stereotypes just added fuel to the flames and now we have people in this country believing that we have elected a muslim (so what? there is freedom of Religion right? Not so, apparently, we are all free to be Cristian and nothing else). Personally, I like freedom from Religion a lot better, but to each its own.
We have others who believe that everyone in the South and Central part of the country is uneducated, unsophisticated and completely arrogant in their missinformed ways.
We have those in the middle and south thinking that those in the East and West have no moral values and no God.
Let's hope these, and other, attitudes will go by the wayside and we can come together as a Nation and work towards the common good, because I still have faith and hope that we can acommplish this.
No, I am not naive, I do remember Katrina and its aftermath, I do remember 9/11 and its horrific set backs, but what I remember most was the entire country helping one another. And that my friends, is AMERICA.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
PEACE to all.
Maybe it will really trickle down this time.
Hope springs eternal.
Big 3
If it weren't for the fact that they kept saying that the American Public demanded SUV that sucked a gallon of gas with every inch, I would be more inclined to be kinder, but the fact is that the American Public has never been given a chance or choice by the automakers.
When an electric car cost more than a downpayment on a house, it makes people opt for a lower priced alternative and keep polluting the air with "cheap" gas.
My guess is that when they all figure a way to charge $3.00 per Kilowatt, we will have our choice of electric cars and available in every color.
If it weren't for the fact that not rescuing these companies would cost millions in unemployment benefits and send the supporting industries into a tailspin, I would not be so incline to loan them the money (not that anyone asked me, but just in case my opinion is required at some point).
I am still rankled by the opening of a GM Russian plant, here is why:
"By Paul Abelsky
Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp., the world's biggest carmaker, opened a $300 million factory in Russia as it looks to compensate for slumping sales in western Europe and North America.
The plant in the Shushary district on the outskirts of St. Petersburg will produce 70,000 Chevrolet Captiva sport-utility vehicles and the Opel Astra, with plans to manufacture the Chevrolet Cruze compact car next year.
``Our strategy is to become the leading manufacturer in Russia,'' Carl-Peter Forster, GM's chief for Europe, told reporters during the plant opening today. ``For us Russia is not an emerging market. Russia emerged long ago.''
The new plant ``is an example of a good investment project that's oriented toward the future,'' Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters. He called on GM to boost output at the plant.
Forster said the production schedule won't be revised now as the car market has soured. The new plant will employ 981 people, and that may increase to 1,700 next year. .... " This is an excerp from Bloomberg.com and many thanks to Paul Albelsky for the detailed report.
Based on this article, I am of the opinion that GM already has factories here and people who know how to build cars. Therefore, logic follows that instead of spending $300 million over there, they could have SAVED it here. Also, producing over 70,000 cars MADE IN AMERICA would go a long way to boost our sagging economy, furthermore, we would actually be EXPORTING something.
Some of us are willing to settle for American lapel pins made in America instead of China. (less lead is always a good thing)
The second part of this story is the continued lying about being years away from producing a fuel effecient car, since FORD already makes a car in Europe that gives 65 mpg and according to them, they can't afford to sell it here.
Here is the linky with a lovely picture of a car (Ford Fiesta ECOnetic) I would love to own (in that same color is fine).
Let's say they are right as rain (just go along with it for a minute) and they really cannot afford to sell it here. How about BUILDING it here? is that also a far reach for them?, Once again, we would be EXPORTING something and all dependent industries would benefit greatly. More production, more jobs, better economy.
If all of this does not smack of bringing our country to a screeching halt and reversing our economy, education and citizens towards the 19th century.... Oh, wait! it has to be further back than that, that was the era of industrialization....
..My bad!
What Congress needs to do
In my not so humble opinion is beat the crap out of Paulson and demand a cohesive plan from him. They obviously know how to do this since they have requested the same from the Auto Makers.
On the financial bailout, we are all just wondering how long is it going to take before our collective heads explode.
First off, Citi Group was bailed out in the middle of the night to the tune of over 300 BILLION dollars. No problem. We can print more money, we still have trees left and when those are gone, they'll start a collection in our neighborhoods while taxing us for having one too many.
In case we are loosing track of how much money has gone out, let me refresh your memory by simply stating that to date, it has been almost 8 TRILLION dollars (7.8 or something like that).
I don't know if you can stomach this or not, but here it goes:
As soon as Wells Fargo gets sold, the big wigs will receive a compensation package deemed to be earmarked as severance pay, of over 28 BILLION dollars, a large (enormous, actually) portion will go to the largest shareholder at Citibank. If this guy was poor before, he would not be after that.
The kicker is that this particular shareholder is the richest man in the world and he is still entitled to the 98 million dollars. His name is Prince Alwaleed (Saudi Arabia, of course) and he needs this money, let alone deserve it, like the middle class deserves to be homeless and unemployed.
In his defense (ha!) he made the supreme effort of injecting a large amount of money to increase his stake in the bank AFTER the government agreed to shower CitiBank with our tax dollars. You can read about here.
But hey! as long as the tax payers have a pint of blood left, we are doing our patriotic duty.
Or are we? ~ Maybe we are just too tired to print out all this stuff and shove it down Congress throats.
All I can see is the current administration making sure that there is not a single penny left before they leave office. Time is running out and drastic measures need to take place. Paulson is moving as quickly as he can.... Gosh Darn it! there is some loose change left in couch, Paulson is not doing his job!
Laugh if you can, it seems that is all we got left ... for now. That pint of blood will be gone shortly if this current administration has its way. They have sough to undermine work that took over 20 yrs to protect our lands and maintaining our National Treasures free from greed. In the middle of the night (do you see a pattern here? Just like thieves) during the busiest political day (November 4th, the day we revolted and chose to elect someone who gave us hope for the future and a departure from the hell the past 8 yrs have been for middle America) they truly have it in for our Country, its land and its people, here is an excerpt from the Huffinton Post that preceded an interview with Robert Redford by Rachel Maddow:
"The Bureau of Land Management cynically chose November 4 to announce a last-minute plan to lease huge swaths of majestic wilderness in eastern Utah for oil and gas extraction one month before President-elect Obama takes office.
As its clock runs out, the Bush administration also is trying to open-up drilling all over the Rockies and Alaska, to green-light oil shale leasing, and to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Though sad, it's no surprise, coming as it does from the same crowd that designed a misguided national energy policy in secret meetings with the oil, gas and coal industries."
You can read the full article at the huffington post website. (nicely linked for your convenience)
But if land and our environment are not of interest to you, don't worry, they have more up their collective sleeves and they are far from done, no, not yet. The highlighted link will take you tog to Bill Moyer's Journal and it explains quite well how other things you may consider hard fought for and now permanent are not so permanent and we must fight even harder.
I hope we are not too tired because until these thieves leave office, we need to be extra vigilant. For instance; your medical leave, your work safety regulations are all at risk of going Buh-bye and the citizen surveillance would increase by allowing the locals to do what the Feds are doing.
Whoa! I guess George Orwell was not that far off the mark, was he?
And I hate conspiracy theories because I like to have cold hard facts to base my opinions on, but when the hard cold facts are in front of us and the conspiracy no longer feels like a bunch of renagades cooked this up in a collaborative effort of midnight talks while "spacing out" on home grown "herbal remedies".... well, ... it is downright frightening to have elected officials have such disregard for the law and so blatant in their efforts to undermine a government that is "for the people" and has now become their playground.
So, before Bush and his band of crooks leaves office we are going to be in worse shape than we have been so far. If you did not think it was possible because there is not enough time, you have understimated their determination and the lure of greed that awaits them once they leave public office.
Or maybe... there is really a true conspiracy and the whole effort to "divide and conquer" is not a bad dream but a nighmare that even Russians think is going to happen. According to Mr Paranin, a political Russian Analyst, the United States will split up into several parts.
You can read about it all here and even though, I was going to dismiss this bit of news as some ideological nonsense, after reading his reasoning for making this prediction more than once, I am not so sure that this could not happen.
For years, it has been politically necessary to pit citizens agains each other based on inconsequential things, but by repeating the mantra long and hard, it became news and hatred and prejudiced abounded against one another.
The perpetuation of stereotypes just added fuel to the flames and now we have people in this country believing that we have elected a muslim (so what? there is freedom of Religion right? Not so, apparently, we are all free to be Cristian and nothing else). Personally, I like freedom from Religion a lot better, but to each its own.
We have others who believe that everyone in the South and Central part of the country is uneducated, unsophisticated and completely arrogant in their missinformed ways.
We have those in the middle and south thinking that those in the East and West have no moral values and no God.
Let's hope these, and other, attitudes will go by the wayside and we can come together as a Nation and work towards the common good, because I still have faith and hope that we can acommplish this.
No, I am not naive, I do remember Katrina and its aftermath, I do remember 9/11 and its horrific set backs, but what I remember most was the entire country helping one another. And that my friends, is AMERICA.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
PEACE to all.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
AUTO BAILOUT
How many companies can the tax payers continue to bail out?
I don't mind bailing out the auto industry or Wall Street.
What I do mind is the lack of a cohesive plan in which people are held accountable and the consequences are dire.
Mr. Paulson has already squandered half the loot and has single handedly decided that the homeowners are not part of whatever plan he hatches that day.
The auto industry went to apply for their bailout money today and they all flew in their corporate jets.
The total lack of disconnect between their actions and their lifestyle is mind blowing.
Both parts of this bail out (the wall street crooks and the automobile thugs) don't seem to think that their livestyles and their way of thinking needs to change in any way. All they want is to continue as usual and feel a sense of entitlement to tax payers dollars.
All 3 CEO's spent over 30K flying in their own private jets.
I just found out that GM is opening a multi-million dollar factory in Russia to build European cars there.
It is a good thing that the Auto Bailout Vote was cancelled today.
The majority of the people in this country are fed up. They have been bled dry and to make matters even worse, there is no one advocating for their needs in Washington.
The Big 3 has blamed everyone but themselves for their inability to successfully manage a very competitive business.
For years they have complained about the cost of health care and have done NOTHING to advocate National Health care. They have blamed the Unions and the workers. They have the ability and as I stated in another post about cars they are making, and selling, in Europe that exceed the 60 mile a gallon litmus.
They could have refitted their plants to make the SAME cars they are already making, and selling, in European markets. But as we used to say when we were kids..... "something is rotten in Denmark" because their stubborn defiance to make any changes here are high indicators that they want these companies to fail in the United States.
Their lifestyles can't possibly change that much, after all, they all have more money that God.
I have a feeling that Europe is where they want to be and sell their vehicles here. Of course, made elsewhere. We are nothing more than open wallets, unfortunately, we are now empty wallets and the consumer power of the past has not only been eroded over the years, but it has come to screeching halt.
Retailers are sweating bullets, their stores closing, the importers can't sell their wares here either since the AMERICAN consumer is broke, unemployed and loosing their homes.
Are we all aware that the Energy Department has $250 BILLION dollars for the auto industry, exclusevely earmarked for innovation?
It is obvious that they would squander that money and produce nothing. How do we know this? because they are asking to release that money into a loan (to be paid much later, I'm sure) and not worry about the nonsense of innovation.
Is Bio Fuel the way to go?
Solar Energy?
Electric power?
How about building connecting thingys .... oh, I don't know... like the railroads in Japan with their bullet trains...
How about ANYthing that works? That would be innovation and we can't have that.
When they refer to the workers it is always with disdain, as a good old (very young, actually)l queen saying "let them eat cake".
I say "Off with their heads". Let these companies sink and, like a Phoenix. a new industry rise up from the ashes unencumbered by corruption and complacency.
PEACE to all.
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
I don't mind bailing out the auto industry or Wall Street.
What I do mind is the lack of a cohesive plan in which people are held accountable and the consequences are dire.
Mr. Paulson has already squandered half the loot and has single handedly decided that the homeowners are not part of whatever plan he hatches that day.
The auto industry went to apply for their bailout money today and they all flew in their corporate jets.
The total lack of disconnect between their actions and their lifestyle is mind blowing.
Both parts of this bail out (the wall street crooks and the automobile thugs) don't seem to think that their livestyles and their way of thinking needs to change in any way. All they want is to continue as usual and feel a sense of entitlement to tax payers dollars.
All 3 CEO's spent over 30K flying in their own private jets.
I just found out that GM is opening a multi-million dollar factory in Russia to build European cars there.
It is a good thing that the Auto Bailout Vote was cancelled today.
The majority of the people in this country are fed up. They have been bled dry and to make matters even worse, there is no one advocating for their needs in Washington.
The Big 3 has blamed everyone but themselves for their inability to successfully manage a very competitive business.
For years they have complained about the cost of health care and have done NOTHING to advocate National Health care. They have blamed the Unions and the workers. They have the ability and as I stated in another post about cars they are making, and selling, in Europe that exceed the 60 mile a gallon litmus.
They could have refitted their plants to make the SAME cars they are already making, and selling, in European markets. But as we used to say when we were kids..... "something is rotten in Denmark" because their stubborn defiance to make any changes here are high indicators that they want these companies to fail in the United States.
Their lifestyles can't possibly change that much, after all, they all have more money that God.
I have a feeling that Europe is where they want to be and sell their vehicles here. Of course, made elsewhere. We are nothing more than open wallets, unfortunately, we are now empty wallets and the consumer power of the past has not only been eroded over the years, but it has come to screeching halt.
Retailers are sweating bullets, their stores closing, the importers can't sell their wares here either since the AMERICAN consumer is broke, unemployed and loosing their homes.
Are we all aware that the Energy Department has $250 BILLION dollars for the auto industry, exclusevely earmarked for innovation?
It is obvious that they would squander that money and produce nothing. How do we know this? because they are asking to release that money into a loan (to be paid much later, I'm sure) and not worry about the nonsense of innovation.
Is Bio Fuel the way to go?
Solar Energy?
Electric power?
How about building connecting thingys .... oh, I don't know... like the railroads in Japan with their bullet trains...
How about ANYthing that works? That would be innovation and we can't have that.
When they refer to the workers it is always with disdain, as a good old (very young, actually)l queen saying "let them eat cake".
I say "Off with their heads". Let these companies sink and, like a Phoenix. a new industry rise up from the ashes unencumbered by corruption and complacency.
PEACE to all.
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
Thursday, November 13, 2008
NO MONEY FOR YOU!
Take a good look at this car and then read the section on American Auto makers.
But first, let's talk about our economy and the BAILOUT:
Paulson is getting on my nerves, so I am sure he is getting on everyone else's.
No money to homeowners. The banks will get the money to buy out other banks and thus, create a monolopy.
No money for you.
The bailout $$ may not be enough for them.
No money for you.
The economy is in the tank and consumers can't consume because they have no money. Therefore, stores are closing, companies are laying off people and the unemployment rate is skyrocketting. The banks are not easing up the credit lines to consumers even though they are getting a truck load of "free money" and the feds are lending them $$$ at 1 percent.
But guess what? it is your money and somehow you are at fault. Perhaps it is your "whinning" ways, or the fact that you are not patient enough while you try to figure out how to feed your kin or keep that roof in your posession.
No money for you.
The liquid assets he said he was going to buy, he is not buying now.
Accountability? (surely you jest! these are professionals, they don't need no stinking accountability).
They are more like bank robbers, but it is all just a variety of words to gloss over the word FRAUD!!!!!
Paulson has already gone through more than half the money and he only has $60 Billion left. He has gone on a shopping spree of bank stocks and has financed their mergers. He has also made sure that all those CEOs got compensated in the style they have become accustumed, but you?
No money for you.
None of the bailout money has gone to the foreclosure market and the very real people that comprise our communities.
No money for you.
It is YOUR money, but hey! Screw you. You are nothing.
I am telling you folks, start raising holly hell again and call your representatives because this sucks worse than a really bad foreign film with subtitles that gets rave reviews by critics because they want to seem sophisticated.
The fact is that you know it is crap. You have seen the film, you understood the film and you know it is crap. But they are telling you it is all good and you know nothing, so therefore....
... NO MONEY FOR YOU!
... And you know why? Because the airline industry has seen that we are passing out money and so is the auto industry and everyone wants some and you know what?
No money for you.
Read about it in greater detail in this Forbes article (just click on Forbes) or if you prefer, you can read Amit R. Paley's article in today's Washington Post in which lack of oversight is stressed and how they claim the Administration and all these Republicans who balked at the idea of handing over all this money without oversight, are now claiming it is too late to find someone qualified.
Are they joking? If there was no one qualified, why on earth hand over billions?
(Because when you are committing FRAUD, robbing people blindly and robbing their faces in it, the last thing you want is someone competent taking inventory and making you accountable)
AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS
Major bunch of liars who have no integrity and are in bed with the oil industry. (my opinion and it is based in facts that will follow)
They will get bailed out, just not now. We are going to wait and drop this ton of horse manure on the next administration.
Ford has a beautiful little car that I'd love to own. It runs on Diesel and gives 60 miles (YES!!! 65 miles to the Gallon). It will only be sold in Europe. You can read about it in a Huffington Post article.
No money to homeowners. The banks will get the money to buy out other banks and thus, create a monolopy.
No money for you.
The bailout $$ may not be enough for them.
No money for you.
The economy is in the tank and consumers can't consume because they have no money. Therefore, stores are closing, companies are laying off people and the unemployment rate is skyrocketting. The banks are not easing up the credit lines to consumers even though they are getting a truck load of "free money" and the feds are lending them $$$ at 1 percent.
But guess what? it is your money and somehow you are at fault. Perhaps it is your "whinning" ways, or the fact that you are not patient enough while you try to figure out how to feed your kin or keep that roof in your posession.
No money for you.
The liquid assets he said he was going to buy, he is not buying now.
Accountability? (surely you jest! these are professionals, they don't need no stinking accountability).
They are more like bank robbers, but it is all just a variety of words to gloss over the word FRAUD!!!!!
Paulson has already gone through more than half the money and he only has $60 Billion left. He has gone on a shopping spree of bank stocks and has financed their mergers. He has also made sure that all those CEOs got compensated in the style they have become accustumed, but you?
No money for you.
None of the bailout money has gone to the foreclosure market and the very real people that comprise our communities.
No money for you.
It is YOUR money, but hey! Screw you. You are nothing.
I am telling you folks, start raising holly hell again and call your representatives because this sucks worse than a really bad foreign film with subtitles that gets rave reviews by critics because they want to seem sophisticated.
The fact is that you know it is crap. You have seen the film, you understood the film and you know it is crap. But they are telling you it is all good and you know nothing, so therefore....
... NO MONEY FOR YOU!
... And you know why? Because the airline industry has seen that we are passing out money and so is the auto industry and everyone wants some and you know what?
No money for you.
Read about it in greater detail in this Forbes article (just click on Forbes) or if you prefer, you can read Amit R. Paley's article in today's Washington Post in which lack of oversight is stressed and how they claim the Administration and all these Republicans who balked at the idea of handing over all this money without oversight, are now claiming it is too late to find someone qualified.
Are they joking? If there was no one qualified, why on earth hand over billions?
(Because when you are committing FRAUD, robbing people blindly and robbing their faces in it, the last thing you want is someone competent taking inventory and making you accountable)
AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS
Major bunch of liars who have no integrity and are in bed with the oil industry. (my opinion and it is based in facts that will follow)
They will get bailed out, just not now. We are going to wait and drop this ton of horse manure on the next administration.
Ford has a beautiful little car that I'd love to own. It runs on Diesel and gives 60 miles (YES!!! 65 miles to the Gallon). It will only be sold in Europe. You can read about it in a Huffington Post article.
That is the picture you first saw when you got here. Is that a lovely number, or what? It is called the ECOnetic.
Too bad, we can't have it.
Their big claim is that it is a Diesel car. Never mind that there is such a thing as clean diesel and it has been used in Europe for years. Never mind that Volgwagons are sold here (Diesel, you know?). Honda will be selling a Diesel Accord next year in the US.
As a matter of fact.... A few years ago..... GM made a car in China that was over 50 miles a gallon.
They know how to do it, they just don't. Regulations in Europe require that the car be built to minimize damage to a pedestrian in case of accident and thus, their cars are lighter because they have more fiberglass and lighter materials, therefore that contributes to their higher gas mileage.
In addition, of course, to the ENGINES that are different and made by AMERICAN Auto Makers and ... Did I mention that they KNOW HOW TO BUILD it and be competitive here?
I heard a gentleman on the radio this morning stating that it is the American public's fault because they are not buying AMERICAN cars.
I don't know how much blame and personal responsibility you are willing to absorb, but I am DONE. It is not my fault and I owe them nothing.
If you have 20K to put into a car, chances are you will look for safety and gas mileage. Putting up with low gas mileage and yourself in debt by purchasing a 40K American made vehicle does not make sense to you and your family.
By the way, both our cars are American cars, but that is besides the point. I have owned a Toyota before and I loved it. It was small and required very little maintenance. I run it into the ground and was very sad to let it go after I put in over 100K miles on it.
That was 20 yrs ago.
No American car lasted that long in those days, nor did it save gas like my little Toyota did. Brand new, out of the lot... less than 6K.
The bottom line is that every time the auto makers are requested to review the way they make cars, they have tons of excuses for not doing so. I bet you have heard several of them:
"We just don't have the technology" (Horse Pucks!... they are building them and selling them in Europe, and have been doing so for years)
"This type of Gas mileas improvement takes years of engine development..." (no, not really, it is already being done and driven in .... EUROPE!... Hellooooo!)
"No one is Silicon Valley or anywhere in California can build a car that runs on Electricity, we have been hearing this type of talk for years and it is not possible for an electronic company can compete with GM. Building a car is not easy and Detroit knows better".... (Well, not exactly... there is an actual electric car. As a matter of fact, there are several, just not massed produced)
Obama wants a car Czar to oversee the BAILOUT of auto industry and he has the expectation that they would have a plan and a real direction before this happens.
Now..... Let's pretend for a minute that this was required of Paulson BEFORE we handed him a nickle.... Would you say we would be in a better position financially now?
I am inclined to think so.
PEACE to all.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
We are not alone.
I wanted to share this because it is pretty impressive and I don't know anyone in this country that follows the politics of other Nations are closely as the world has followed our election.
Enjoy!
http://obama2008.s3.amazonaws.com/headlines.html
Is that amazing or what?
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com and for total support and understanding http://www.wellspouse.org/
PEACE to all
Enjoy!
http://obama2008.s3.amazonaws.com/headlines.html
Is that amazing or what?
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com and for total support and understanding http://www.wellspouse.org/
PEACE to all
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The new administration
Here are some of the recent appointments to make a smooth transition and of course, the constant complaining about choices made.
I would just love it if people started to "suck it up" and give someone that has been running for the highest office in land a brake! ~ This president elect needs to take a vacation and spend quality time with his family before the inauguration, because as the current president stated: "we want this new administration to hit the ground running" by promising a smooth transition.
Obama has been running a magnificent, worthy of emulation, grass root campaign. If nothing else makes it into the history books, this definitely is something worthy of admiration from an organizational and tactical point of view.
From Politico.com we get the following information:
Robert Gibbs, a top aide to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on his campaign and in his Senate office, will be named the White House press secretary, a top Democratic official said. Gibbs was usually the senior official on Air Obama, the campaign plane. As communications director of Obama's Senate office, Gibbs was a key strategist in Obama's rapid move to the national stage.
Transition planning is still at an early stage and the job has not been formally offered or accepted, officials said....
Mr. Emmanuel is the new chief of staff and he is the new red meat for the so called "republican party"
The full report can be read in the CBS website , below is an excerpt:
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., sponsor of the de-funding amendment, noted that five years ago Cheney claimed executive privilege in refusing to release details about his meetings with oil industry executives to discuss energy policy. "Now when we want to know what he's doing as it relates to America's national security in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and after the fact, the vice president has declared he is a member of the legislative branch." Therefore, Emanuel said, "we will no longer fund the executive branch of his office and he can live off the funding for the Senate presidency." The vice president presides as president of the Senate. Hoyer, asked if the amendment would pass, said, "I don't know about that." But he said "we shouldn't fund him in both branches. I think there's going to be consideration of an amendment and that will be discussed." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaking Sunday on Fox News Sunday, said Cheney's move was "the height of arrogance." She said it might not be a bad idea that money for Cheney's office be held up until he decides whether or not he's in the executive branch. Cheney's spokesperson Lea Anne McBride said Emanuel's amendment was "pure politics."
Why did I say: "the so called Republican Party?".
Because it is not the party of most republicans. It needs to be renamed to the "Evangelical Party".
Many Republicans would agree that the Republican party was the party of self determination, little to government involvement in people's lives and had a fierce determination in protecting individuals rights and privacy.
This has not been the case in the past 8 years. The Republicans have seen something in this administration that to their core, they repudiate and made them blush in embarrassment. Not a single Democratic Administration could equal the excess of wanton greed, lack of accountability and complete disregard for the laws of the land that the current Bush Administration has exhibited.
It is unfortunate, because the new generation does not know the real republicans. They were the types that one could admire at many levels by their ability to succeed by their own efforts without trampling over the rights and hard work of others.
Some of us old-timers remember that party. This new generation knows the Republican party as the "wing nuts", "the religious freaks". They are viewed as fanatical radicals that are foaming at the mouth with anger and hatred not because a black man is the new president, but because this new president will set back all their hard work to take over our government.
When someone insist that Christianity be part of the equation in government, we have lost something we thought we had on pretty solid standing: Separation of Church and State.
This separation was done on purpose, to protect one from the other. So far, the protection to the religious right has not wavered from the government's point of view. There has been no intrusion and no taxation.
However, the Religious right has done their best to infiltrate their agendas into the political arena with the audacity that a civil servant MUST prove its Christian faith.
THERE should be no religious litmus test. We need our government officials to live 2 separate lives; one of public service to all and, one of personal private faith. One should not taint the other. This is the only way to serve ALL the people, not just the privileged few.
It is the height of arrogance to have these "talking heads" pass judgment on those seeking office based on their religious agendas. I ask you, who made these people an authority in these matters?
It is unbelievable to me that someone like Glen Beck, who is on television with his own show and on CNN could be so arrogant to make the statement that Conservatives (you know, the REAL ones) voted for McCain with the expectation that he would die in office and they would have Palin (someone who can be manipulated by the religious right) in his stead.
You can listen to it here.
And here is the transcript:
Today, radical right-wing blog Red State launched “Project Leper,” an attempt to professionally punish McCain staffers whom Red State’s Erick Erickson perceives to have wronged Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Erikson told Glenn Beck today, “Palin was the best thing that happened to” the McCain campaign. To which, Beck agreed, saying many conservatives told him they supported McCain in hopes he would die in office:
BECK: I mean, I have to tell you if I heard once, I heard 1,000 times from people, and I never said this, never said this on the air because you just don’t say these things, but I heard a million times from people, “I’m going to vote for John McCain and, you know, I mean, he’s old. Maybe we get Sarah Palin in the first term.” You know what I mean?
ERICKSON: Exactly
This is disgusting and the implications of the total disregard for our government and for people who are not like them is downright frightening.
I am delighted that this time around we said NO to these types of agendas. My guess is that after we allowed these people to run our government into the ground, we had ENOUGH!.
Let's face it, if you believe the "end of days" is coming soon and you'll be ascending into the heavens you don't care much how you rape and pillage this earth, since you are not vested in its wellness or the remainder of humanity. (We don't get a one way ticket, we get to stay here).
What is OPERATION LEPER?
It is a movement to protect Sarah Palin as a viable candidate for 2012 and to eradicate any republican official from future office. Not because they are not good republicans but because they are not towing the new party line, the evangelical and radical agenda.
Make no mistake, Sarah Palin has proven herself to be the perfect candidate on two counts; the right to life and the right to bear arms. Period. That is all that is required to lead these people and this country.
No, you don't need to know anything about other countries because they don't matter, we like being isolationist (did you not know this?). We are Mavericks (we do as we please and don't bother with the possible consequences). We insist that those below us are more godly in their behaviour than God, but those above them are not subject to the same rules.
Family values are very strict and everyone who raises their children properly would make them proud of their new batch of "Christian Soldiers" (I repudiate this label with every inch of my intellect).
Jesus Christ was the ultimate social reformer and the kindness and love towards ALL people has never been equaled by any other figure in history. (maybe Ghandi or Mother Teresa, but no one has had as much grip on the human soul and social conciense).
In my opinion, the Religious Right is WRONG and does not speak for Christ or in his stead. HE would be appalled by what has been done in HIS name and the way these people live their lives in hypocrisy.
Remember Palin's daughter? It is okay for her to be pregnant out of wedlock (as well as Palin herself with their first child), but your daughter is nothing more than a whore and you are a lousy parent (should you find yourself in the same situation).
The difference between these types of people and those who are more broad minded is that we know that things do happen, things that are not planned for and that is just a fact of life. We roll with the punches and make the best out of difficult situations.
We don't pass judgment. It is what it is and we are okay with it.
When we do raise our voices to object is when they are calling other people names and while being smirky and derogatory towards others who are in those situations. Then we start comparing apples to apples and they get mad and start taking names, making a list and checking it twice.
OPERATION LEPER:
This link will take you a short version and sources are highlighted in blue.
I feel sorry for Mrs. Palin. No one should be used and abused to serve other people's agendas and I find her to be very persuadable because of her deep convictions in her religious beliefs. Unfortunately, she is not well versed in the larger world environment that in this day and age, is a must to hold any political office.
Many bloggers on cyberspace are better informed than she seems to be.
PAULSON (AGAIN) AND THE BAILOUT (FOLLOW UP)
Apparently our tax dollars is a major cornucopia and with Thanksgiving around the corner.... you would think they would get down on their knees and give thanks to... YOU, the taxpayer.
Instead, they are going to have a wonderful holiday season by using YOUR money to give themselves dividends, salary increases, golden parachutes and whatever tickles their fancy.
The credit to the banks has been eased to the point of being a joke, but to the consumer? no, not to the consumer, they have better and bigger things to do with YOUR money, like purchasing other banks who are in trouble and re-enacting the underwater drama of big fish eats little fish.
In this game, you and I are the plankton, so thus far, we have not entered the picture.
You can read all about it here and don't be shocked if your credit rating is fantabulous and you are having a hard time getting the bank to refinance your home, getting a home equity or car loan, or just getting a better rate on your credit card, because the banks have not extended these courtesy to their customers, just each other.
HOW ABOUT A NOVEMBER SURPRISE?
Did you think we were out of the woods? That Bush had packed his bags and was going to disappear quietly into the night?
We could only hope.
Unfortunately, there are a three months or so, left in this "free for all" administration and they have put on their roller skates and are racing towards a big finish.
What now?, you ask.....
Since we have screwed up the government and the Constitution, now we have to screw up the environment to the best of our abilities. The Bush Administration is rushing to relax environmental protections to benefit the power plants and the mining of uranium and coal near National parks.
If you are concerned about these further deregulation, you may want to read all about it in greater detail here.
PEACE to all
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com
I would just love it if people started to "suck it up" and give someone that has been running for the highest office in land a brake! ~ This president elect needs to take a vacation and spend quality time with his family before the inauguration, because as the current president stated: "we want this new administration to hit the ground running" by promising a smooth transition.
Obama has been running a magnificent, worthy of emulation, grass root campaign. If nothing else makes it into the history books, this definitely is something worthy of admiration from an organizational and tactical point of view.
From Politico.com we get the following information:
Robert Gibbs, a top aide to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on his campaign and in his Senate office, will be named the White House press secretary, a top Democratic official said. Gibbs was usually the senior official on Air Obama, the campaign plane. As communications director of Obama's Senate office, Gibbs was a key strategist in Obama's rapid move to the national stage.
Transition planning is still at an early stage and the job has not been formally offered or accepted, officials said....
Mr. Emmanuel is the new chief of staff and he is the new red meat for the so called "republican party"
The full report can be read in the CBS website , below is an excerpt:
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., sponsor of the de-funding amendment, noted that five years ago Cheney claimed executive privilege in refusing to release details about his meetings with oil industry executives to discuss energy policy. "Now when we want to know what he's doing as it relates to America's national security in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and after the fact, the vice president has declared he is a member of the legislative branch." Therefore, Emanuel said, "we will no longer fund the executive branch of his office and he can live off the funding for the Senate presidency." The vice president presides as president of the Senate. Hoyer, asked if the amendment would pass, said, "I don't know about that." But he said "we shouldn't fund him in both branches. I think there's going to be consideration of an amendment and that will be discussed." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaking Sunday on Fox News Sunday, said Cheney's move was "the height of arrogance." She said it might not be a bad idea that money for Cheney's office be held up until he decides whether or not he's in the executive branch. Cheney's spokesperson Lea Anne McBride said Emanuel's amendment was "pure politics."
Why did I say: "the so called Republican Party?".
Because it is not the party of most republicans. It needs to be renamed to the "Evangelical Party".
Many Republicans would agree that the Republican party was the party of self determination, little to government involvement in people's lives and had a fierce determination in protecting individuals rights and privacy.
This has not been the case in the past 8 years. The Republicans have seen something in this administration that to their core, they repudiate and made them blush in embarrassment. Not a single Democratic Administration could equal the excess of wanton greed, lack of accountability and complete disregard for the laws of the land that the current Bush Administration has exhibited.
It is unfortunate, because the new generation does not know the real republicans. They were the types that one could admire at many levels by their ability to succeed by their own efforts without trampling over the rights and hard work of others.
Some of us old-timers remember that party. This new generation knows the Republican party as the "wing nuts", "the religious freaks". They are viewed as fanatical radicals that are foaming at the mouth with anger and hatred not because a black man is the new president, but because this new president will set back all their hard work to take over our government.
When someone insist that Christianity be part of the equation in government, we have lost something we thought we had on pretty solid standing: Separation of Church and State.
This separation was done on purpose, to protect one from the other. So far, the protection to the religious right has not wavered from the government's point of view. There has been no intrusion and no taxation.
However, the Religious right has done their best to infiltrate their agendas into the political arena with the audacity that a civil servant MUST prove its Christian faith.
THERE should be no religious litmus test. We need our government officials to live 2 separate lives; one of public service to all and, one of personal private faith. One should not taint the other. This is the only way to serve ALL the people, not just the privileged few.
It is the height of arrogance to have these "talking heads" pass judgment on those seeking office based on their religious agendas. I ask you, who made these people an authority in these matters?
It is unbelievable to me that someone like Glen Beck, who is on television with his own show and on CNN could be so arrogant to make the statement that Conservatives (you know, the REAL ones) voted for McCain with the expectation that he would die in office and they would have Palin (someone who can be manipulated by the religious right) in his stead.
You can listen to it here.
And here is the transcript:
Today, radical right-wing blog Red State launched “Project Leper,” an attempt to professionally punish McCain staffers whom Red State’s Erick Erickson perceives to have wronged Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Erikson told Glenn Beck today, “Palin was the best thing that happened to” the McCain campaign. To which, Beck agreed, saying many conservatives told him they supported McCain in hopes he would die in office:
BECK: I mean, I have to tell you if I heard once, I heard 1,000 times from people, and I never said this, never said this on the air because you just don’t say these things, but I heard a million times from people, “I’m going to vote for John McCain and, you know, I mean, he’s old. Maybe we get Sarah Palin in the first term.” You know what I mean?
ERICKSON: Exactly
This is disgusting and the implications of the total disregard for our government and for people who are not like them is downright frightening.
I am delighted that this time around we said NO to these types of agendas. My guess is that after we allowed these people to run our government into the ground, we had ENOUGH!.
Let's face it, if you believe the "end of days" is coming soon and you'll be ascending into the heavens you don't care much how you rape and pillage this earth, since you are not vested in its wellness or the remainder of humanity. (We don't get a one way ticket, we get to stay here).
What is OPERATION LEPER?
It is a movement to protect Sarah Palin as a viable candidate for 2012 and to eradicate any republican official from future office. Not because they are not good republicans but because they are not towing the new party line, the evangelical and radical agenda.
Make no mistake, Sarah Palin has proven herself to be the perfect candidate on two counts; the right to life and the right to bear arms. Period. That is all that is required to lead these people and this country.
No, you don't need to know anything about other countries because they don't matter, we like being isolationist (did you not know this?). We are Mavericks (we do as we please and don't bother with the possible consequences). We insist that those below us are more godly in their behaviour than God, but those above them are not subject to the same rules.
Family values are very strict and everyone who raises their children properly would make them proud of their new batch of "Christian Soldiers" (I repudiate this label with every inch of my intellect).
Jesus Christ was the ultimate social reformer and the kindness and love towards ALL people has never been equaled by any other figure in history. (maybe Ghandi or Mother Teresa, but no one has had as much grip on the human soul and social conciense).
In my opinion, the Religious Right is WRONG and does not speak for Christ or in his stead. HE would be appalled by what has been done in HIS name and the way these people live their lives in hypocrisy.
Remember Palin's daughter? It is okay for her to be pregnant out of wedlock (as well as Palin herself with their first child), but your daughter is nothing more than a whore and you are a lousy parent (should you find yourself in the same situation).
The difference between these types of people and those who are more broad minded is that we know that things do happen, things that are not planned for and that is just a fact of life. We roll with the punches and make the best out of difficult situations.
We don't pass judgment. It is what it is and we are okay with it.
When we do raise our voices to object is when they are calling other people names and while being smirky and derogatory towards others who are in those situations. Then we start comparing apples to apples and they get mad and start taking names, making a list and checking it twice.
OPERATION LEPER:
This link will take you a short version and sources are highlighted in blue.
I feel sorry for Mrs. Palin. No one should be used and abused to serve other people's agendas and I find her to be very persuadable because of her deep convictions in her religious beliefs. Unfortunately, she is not well versed in the larger world environment that in this day and age, is a must to hold any political office.
Many bloggers on cyberspace are better informed than she seems to be.
PAULSON (AGAIN) AND THE BAILOUT (FOLLOW UP)
Apparently our tax dollars is a major cornucopia and with Thanksgiving around the corner.... you would think they would get down on their knees and give thanks to... YOU, the taxpayer.
Instead, they are going to have a wonderful holiday season by using YOUR money to give themselves dividends, salary increases, golden parachutes and whatever tickles their fancy.
The credit to the banks has been eased to the point of being a joke, but to the consumer? no, not to the consumer, they have better and bigger things to do with YOUR money, like purchasing other banks who are in trouble and re-enacting the underwater drama of big fish eats little fish.
In this game, you and I are the plankton, so thus far, we have not entered the picture.
You can read all about it here and don't be shocked if your credit rating is fantabulous and you are having a hard time getting the bank to refinance your home, getting a home equity or car loan, or just getting a better rate on your credit card, because the banks have not extended these courtesy to their customers, just each other.
HOW ABOUT A NOVEMBER SURPRISE?
Did you think we were out of the woods? That Bush had packed his bags and was going to disappear quietly into the night?
We could only hope.
Unfortunately, there are a three months or so, left in this "free for all" administration and they have put on their roller skates and are racing towards a big finish.
What now?, you ask.....
Since we have screwed up the government and the Constitution, now we have to screw up the environment to the best of our abilities. The Bush Administration is rushing to relax environmental protections to benefit the power plants and the mining of uranium and coal near National parks.
If you are concerned about these further deregulation, you may want to read all about it in greater detail here.
PEACE to all
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Help with info
No politics today, but need information if you have it.
I am new at High Definition TV (except for what I see at the retailers shops) and I am confused about the digital signal switch over that takes place in February.
I am wondering if subscribing to a High Definition package would be a waste of money. If the signal is digital, would not all programming come in High Definition in a HDTV (1080p)?
According to the person that answered the phone at Dish Network, she said there would be no difference in the picture quality and I thought it was odd since it behooves them to try to sell the "upgrade".
Should I wait?
Right now we only have analog tv with a subscription to Dish (basic stuff, so we can get reception)
Other searches on the net are saying that only some channels are in HD and a subscription in needed.
Thank you in advance and PEACE to all.
http://spousalcaregiver.com
I am new at High Definition TV (except for what I see at the retailers shops) and I am confused about the digital signal switch over that takes place in February.
I am wondering if subscribing to a High Definition package would be a waste of money. If the signal is digital, would not all programming come in High Definition in a HDTV (1080p)?
According to the person that answered the phone at Dish Network, she said there would be no difference in the picture quality and I thought it was odd since it behooves them to try to sell the "upgrade".
Should I wait?
Right now we only have analog tv with a subscription to Dish (basic stuff, so we can get reception)
Other searches on the net are saying that only some channels are in HD and a subscription in needed.
Thank you in advance and PEACE to all.
http://spousalcaregiver.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
YES!!! WE DID!!!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
A new era, a new time in our lives that means so much to so many. White, Black, Native American, Hispanics, Asians and all of us that are such a mixtures of so very many that braved prejudice, hatred and isolation by telling the world: "I'll love who I want and I stand my ground because this is my right".
I am one of those offsprings and I am forever grateful to the brave ancestors that made it possible for me to watch this moment with children of my onw.
Forever grateful to Obama's family.
Children that don't understand the concept of prejudice and racism. Children that are indignant about unfairness in life and who always reach out to help others.
This is a Victory for all of us.
America.... What a wonderful country!
PEACE
A new era, a new time in our lives that means so much to so many. White, Black, Native American, Hispanics, Asians and all of us that are such a mixtures of so very many that braved prejudice, hatred and isolation by telling the world: "I'll love who I want and I stand my ground because this is my right".
I am one of those offsprings and I am forever grateful to the brave ancestors that made it possible for me to watch this moment with children of my onw.
Forever grateful to Obama's family.
Children that don't understand the concept of prejudice and racism. Children that are indignant about unfairness in life and who always reach out to help others.
This is a Victory for all of us.
America.... What a wonderful country!
PEACE
Monday, November 3, 2008
The most important vote of my life
It happens tomorrow and after this, I doubt I'll have a blog about politics anymore.
Like most Americans that have followed this election from beginning to end, I am suffering from exhaustion, or as they call it, Voter Fatigue.
This will be short today.
When I heard how sick Senator Obama's grandma was, I prayed that she'd make it past the election so she could see the final results.
We all need a witness for our lives and who better than people we love and love us in return?
I just want to send warm condolences to Mr. Obama. May she rest in peace in the knowledge that millions of people wish you well and are behind you every step of the way.
PEACE
Like most Americans that have followed this election from beginning to end, I am suffering from exhaustion, or as they call it, Voter Fatigue.
This will be short today.
When I heard how sick Senator Obama's grandma was, I prayed that she'd make it past the election so she could see the final results.
We all need a witness for our lives and who better than people we love and love us in return?
I just want to send warm condolences to Mr. Obama. May she rest in peace in the knowledge that millions of people wish you well and are behind you every step of the way.
PEACE
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Bail out rip off and World voting (if they could)
How is YOUR bailout TAX dollars being handled?
You would hope that it has been done in a responsible manner, with care and concern and much appreciation for your hard earned money.
Hope springs eternal, but the cold facts are that people feel "entitled" to continue living their lifestyle on your dime.
Here is an excerpt from Bloomberg.com:
Five straight quarters of losses and a 70 percent slide in its stock this year haven't stopped Merrill Lynch & Co. from allocating about $6.7 billion to pay bonuses.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, both still on track for profitable years, have set aside about $13 billion for bonuses after three quarters, down 28 percent from a year ago. Even some employees at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which declared the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history last month, will get the same bonus they received a year ago.
The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, a $700 billion taxpayer bailout, public outcry over excessive pay and the demise of three of the biggest securities firms won't deter Wall Street from offering year-end rewards to employees on top of their salaries, compensation experts say.
``Critical producers and critical managers will be retained with the same bonus they had last year,'' said Robert Sloan, head of U.S. financial-services recruiting at Egon Zehnder International, a New York-based executive-search firm. ``The others will see sharp cuts.''
Goldman, the biggest and most profitable Wall Street firm until it opted to become a bank holding company last month, has set aside about $6.85 billion for bonuses, or an average of $210,300 for each employee, down 32 percent from $339,400 a year ago. Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest securities firm until it also converted to a bank, has $6.44 billion for bonuses, or $138,700 per person, down 20 percent from last year. Both firms accrue a fixed percentage of their revenue for compensation, so the decline in bonus pools matches the drop in revenue.
Merrill's Compensation
The money Merrill has set aside for bonuses equates to an average $110,000 for each of its 60,900 people, up from $108,000 a year ago because more than 3,000 jobs have been cut.
The bonus figures are based on estimates that about 60 percent of the compensation and benefits expenses reported by the companies will be paid in year-end bonuses, as occurred in past years. Average bonuses aren't an indication of how much any employee will receive, since payments range widely from assistants to top traders. Bonuses aren't paid until the end of the fiscal year, so firms could choose to reallocate the funds.
``We are in the process of determining appropriate levels of year-end compensation, and no decisions have been made,'' said Mark Lake, a spokesman at Morgan Stanley. Ed Canaday, a spokesman for Goldman in New York, declined to comment.
Merrill spokeswoman Jessica Oppenheim said the firm's accrued bonuses aren't down as much as those at Goldman and Morgan Stanley because the firm reduced expenses last year, when it also had a loss. Compensation costs are down 18 percent this year, compared with the first nine months of 2006, Merrill's last profitable year.
You can read the rest of the article here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aVann0.cv9Tw&refer=home
GOLDMAN AND COMPANY....
... Are not exempt for the lust of greed and reckless abandon with which they pamper themselves with your money.
Below is an excerpt from the article and the full article can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1081624/Goldman-Sachs-ready-hand-7BILLION-salary-bonus-package--6bn-bail-out.html
Goldman Sachs is on course to pay its top City bankers multimillion-pound bonuses - despite asking the U.S. government for an emergency bail-out.
The struggling Wall Street bank has set aside £7billion for salaries and 2008 year-end bonuses, it emerged yesterday.
Each of the firm's 443 partners is on course to pocket an average Christmas bonus of more than £3million.
The size of the pay pool comfortably dwarfs the £6.1billion lifeline which the U.S. government is throwing to Goldman as part of its £430billion bail-out.
As Washington pours money into the bank, the cash will ...
JUST FOR FUN
A guy in Iceland put up a website to get votes from all over the world on our Presidential election. The list is in alphabetical order and it is amazing how many people have not only voted but are following what happens in our country. Check it out, just having all those international flags on one page makes it worthwile.
If the world could vote:
http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/
PEACE to us all. http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
You would hope that it has been done in a responsible manner, with care and concern and much appreciation for your hard earned money.
Hope springs eternal, but the cold facts are that people feel "entitled" to continue living their lifestyle on your dime.
Here is an excerpt from Bloomberg.com:
Five straight quarters of losses and a 70 percent slide in its stock this year haven't stopped Merrill Lynch & Co. from allocating about $6.7 billion to pay bonuses.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, both still on track for profitable years, have set aside about $13 billion for bonuses after three quarters, down 28 percent from a year ago. Even some employees at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which declared the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history last month, will get the same bonus they received a year ago.
The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, a $700 billion taxpayer bailout, public outcry over excessive pay and the demise of three of the biggest securities firms won't deter Wall Street from offering year-end rewards to employees on top of their salaries, compensation experts say.
``Critical producers and critical managers will be retained with the same bonus they had last year,'' said Robert Sloan, head of U.S. financial-services recruiting at Egon Zehnder International, a New York-based executive-search firm. ``The others will see sharp cuts.''
Goldman, the biggest and most profitable Wall Street firm until it opted to become a bank holding company last month, has set aside about $6.85 billion for bonuses, or an average of $210,300 for each employee, down 32 percent from $339,400 a year ago. Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest securities firm until it also converted to a bank, has $6.44 billion for bonuses, or $138,700 per person, down 20 percent from last year. Both firms accrue a fixed percentage of their revenue for compensation, so the decline in bonus pools matches the drop in revenue.
Merrill's Compensation
The money Merrill has set aside for bonuses equates to an average $110,000 for each of its 60,900 people, up from $108,000 a year ago because more than 3,000 jobs have been cut.
The bonus figures are based on estimates that about 60 percent of the compensation and benefits expenses reported by the companies will be paid in year-end bonuses, as occurred in past years. Average bonuses aren't an indication of how much any employee will receive, since payments range widely from assistants to top traders. Bonuses aren't paid until the end of the fiscal year, so firms could choose to reallocate the funds.
``We are in the process of determining appropriate levels of year-end compensation, and no decisions have been made,'' said Mark Lake, a spokesman at Morgan Stanley. Ed Canaday, a spokesman for Goldman in New York, declined to comment.
Merrill spokeswoman Jessica Oppenheim said the firm's accrued bonuses aren't down as much as those at Goldman and Morgan Stanley because the firm reduced expenses last year, when it also had a loss. Compensation costs are down 18 percent this year, compared with the first nine months of 2006, Merrill's last profitable year.
You can read the rest of the article here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aVann0.cv9Tw&refer=home
GOLDMAN AND COMPANY....
... Are not exempt for the lust of greed and reckless abandon with which they pamper themselves with your money.
Below is an excerpt from the article and the full article can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1081624/Goldman-Sachs-ready-hand-7BILLION-salary-bonus-package--6bn-bail-out.html
Goldman Sachs is on course to pay its top City bankers multimillion-pound bonuses - despite asking the U.S. government for an emergency bail-out.
The struggling Wall Street bank has set aside £7billion for salaries and 2008 year-end bonuses, it emerged yesterday.
Each of the firm's 443 partners is on course to pocket an average Christmas bonus of more than £3million.
The size of the pay pool comfortably dwarfs the £6.1billion lifeline which the U.S. government is throwing to Goldman as part of its £430billion bail-out.
As Washington pours money into the bank, the cash will ...
JUST FOR FUN
A guy in Iceland put up a website to get votes from all over the world on our Presidential election. The list is in alphabetical order and it is amazing how many people have not only voted but are following what happens in our country. Check it out, just having all those international flags on one page makes it worthwile.
If the world could vote:
http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/
PEACE to us all. http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
Monday, October 27, 2008
OLD FAT WOMEN FOR PEACE
This symbol of PEACE created by: Katharine HamnettOLD FAT WOMEN FOR PEACE
A wonderful video that a friend shared with me and now I have the pleasure of sharing with you.
Hope you enjoy it and after today's news of a horrific plot to decapitate African-Americans with the chosen site of a high school and move up the ladder to murder Barrack Obama, I think we can all join in with these ladies and say "Knock it off, we demand JUSTICE & PEACE".
So I leave you for now with my most fervent wish: PEACE to all.
Hope you enjoy it and after today's news of a horrific plot to decapitate African-Americans with the chosen site of a high school and move up the ladder to murder Barrack Obama, I think we can all join in with these ladies and say "Knock it off, we demand JUSTICE & PEACE".
So I leave you for now with my most fervent wish: PEACE to all.
*****************************
I am back to post the following about what happened regarding the death plot against Senator Obama.
Skin heads had plotter to murder him after murdering 88 African Americans from a predominantly black high school. 14 of those were to be beheaded. The last one would be Barrack Obama, whom they were going to drive into with a car while shooting at him.
It is all pretty gruesome and downright frightening.
However, I have learned something about these metally deficient morons. The number 8 and 14 are meaningful to them based on their distorted ideology that combines Hitler with their concept of protecting their white children from being contaminated by non-whites.
Two 8's represent Heil Hitler and I have to stop talking about these animals because it is making me nauseous, but if you care to read a complete explanation, you can read more about it here.
************************************************************
McCain tied to racists groups and Sarah Palin as Governor of Alaska telling the Separatists Group that they are "Doing a great job".
Here is video of Paul Begala who has researched McCain extensively and written a book about him.
That is enough for today. PEACE.
http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Early Voting
YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE, YOUR RIGHT!
I can't urge you enough to vote early if your state offers early voting. Many people have found errors in their voter records, have not been allowed to vote because they had moved, or because they had been purged from the voter records.
Thankfully, they have time to rectify the situation and still have their votes counted. If they had waited until Election Day, they would have obtained a provisional ballot and by most accounts, Provisional Ballots are not counted.
CLOTHES HORSE
Yes, women are held to a different standard. Period.
It does not matter how intelligent we are, how capable or how resourceful, the first thing people notice is how we look.
It should not be that way, but it is, so let's just accept it, because for all the protesting that goes on, we want to look nice, we do make a pretty package sometimes, and it should be noticed because Darn it! we are beautiful, sexy creatures and we have brains too!
What is hard to reconcile is the wasteful amount of money from tax payers supporting the Republican party to dress this woman AND her family!
When Cindy McCain spends 300K on the outfit (including the jewelery, please, let's be fair, the woman has incredibly expensive rocks...) it is perfectly fine and dandy because she was born and raised into wealth and this is their style of living and IT IS HER MONEY, so you go girl! spend it as you please, you do not owe anyone an explanation or need to apologize for flying throughout Arizona in your own private jet because as you stated "it is the only way to get around Arizona".
Even if I disagree with that last statement, because I have personally DRIVEN all over Arizona and my friends who work and live there do their commutes on a daily basis by CAR, I think that if Cindy McCain likes the pleasure and the comfort of travelling in her own private jet, it is her prerogative.
She owes us nothing.
However, this Sarah Palin and her family are the corporate welfare poster child.
In less than six (6) weeks, the RNC (Republican National Committee) has blown $150,000. See? the problems is that a) The cost of putting as many disgusting, repulsive and vilifying ads in Colorado is actually the same amount but since the RNC has run out of money and McCain is not getting any more contributions, they couldn't.
$150 thousand.... on clothing... for 6 weeks worth of what?
Until people starting talking about it, no one thought one thing about it. Now they say they will donate the clothes to charity.
I, for one, would like to see the trip of these travelling clothes after this woman and her family are done using them. Do you think we are going to see better dressed homeless people? Are we going to be able to pick them off the rack at Savers or Goodwill or the Salvation Army?.
I think not, but as Sarah said: "Perhaps so!"
This welfare Queen is irritated by the fact that people are paying attention, and the reason for this is that her welfare ways come all the way from the time she was Mayor and continued through her long (not!) career as Governor of Alaska.
From inflating her Wassila experience and neglecting to state that she had left a town with a surplus into practical bankruptcy, to building a sports complex that was not needed, to claiming that her husband... "Toooood!!!" had built their Alaska mansion with his bear hands and that of a couple of friends (he did not, the same people who built the Sports Complex built their home ... for "free"?)... Humm! I wonder how much the Sports Complex cost was padded to include the building of their luxury home?
How about charging the tax payers of Alaska $17,000 dollars to commute from work to HOME (you know, the home her hubby built with his own hands)?
More corporate welfare:
$20,000 to fly her daughters to events which they were not invited.
Over $40,000 to fly family members on vacations and family outings.
$10,000 to "help" defray the heating cost of her home last year.
This year, residents of Alaska (every man, woman and child) will receive $1,200 MORE each from the Oil Company's surplus tax Mrs. Palin signed off on. Let's see.... 5 kids, mom and dad.... humm... this year they get an additional $8,400! So, we add the previous $10,000 (which they still get) and we all know how to add... so....$18,400 straight to this family.
*I wonder how long I'd have to live in Alaska to qualify as a "resident"?... maybe if I just had a P.O. box at the post office..... *
You can read in greater detail right here.
Halloween is a-coming and I am suitably scared...
What I find scary beyond words is that this woman has ditched McCain as her running mate and is now running solo and vying for her political career, which includes a Presidential run in 2012.
Her little girl standing in front of a rally and being prompted to take the microphone and say: "vote for my mom". As if Sarah was running on her own. (Well, she is)
They say the rats are the first ones to jump ship and this is no exception. Her handlers are calling her a Diva that trusts no one and only believes in herself and what she wants to do. The proof is that they know she is not ready to go on her own and she is damaging McCain's campaign (which apparently she forgets, he is the one we would be voting for, not her).
LABEL, LABELS... OR IS IT LIBEL?
Sarah Palin can't wait to lable Obama as a terrorist every chance she gets, but when it comes to herself, she clearly states that she will not be labeled as a "feminist" or anything else because, well, labels are just not right.
When asked if she would label as "Domestic Terrorist" abortion clinic Bombers, she could not bring herself to do so and McCain had to jump in and clarify it and get her out of that deep hole she kept digging herself into. He failed miserably.
You see, calling some parts of America as the "real America" and labeling others as "Anti-America" is just fine, but when it comes to herself, she has standards.... Double Standards!.
If you have the ability to follow her diatribe and watch McCain's body language and facial expressions at the same time, please take a look at this interview with Brian Williams. If it wasn't because these two feel entitled to the most powerful office in the land, this piece would be very funny. Instead, it is downright frightening!
BAIL OUT FOR HOMEOWNERS?
Yeah... yeah, that's right... let the money go directly to the banks with the "intent" that they would renegotiate with the homeowners.
Let's see... this Congress has decided that the HONOR system with thieves and crooks, oportunistic, souless bastards is a good idea. How wrong can they be?. Well, plenty wrong, to use very poor Grammar....
They have decided that all this "free" tax payer money would go a long way on creating their own private Monopoly and start buying all the other weaker banks. And just like in Monopoly, it is nothing but paper so it does not hurt anyone, right?
Read about it in greater detail, right here.
Are we sutitably frightened yet? C'mon folks, get into the spirit of things and start screaming in fear because we are totally screwed.
More on political thoughts at a later time. If you know someone who is a spousal caregiver please direct them to http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/ for useful resources and help.
Thank you for following my blog.
Wishing you PEACE
I can't urge you enough to vote early if your state offers early voting. Many people have found errors in their voter records, have not been allowed to vote because they had moved, or because they had been purged from the voter records.
Thankfully, they have time to rectify the situation and still have their votes counted. If they had waited until Election Day, they would have obtained a provisional ballot and by most accounts, Provisional Ballots are not counted.
CLOTHES HORSE
Yes, women are held to a different standard. Period.
It does not matter how intelligent we are, how capable or how resourceful, the first thing people notice is how we look.
It should not be that way, but it is, so let's just accept it, because for all the protesting that goes on, we want to look nice, we do make a pretty package sometimes, and it should be noticed because Darn it! we are beautiful, sexy creatures and we have brains too!
What is hard to reconcile is the wasteful amount of money from tax payers supporting the Republican party to dress this woman AND her family!
When Cindy McCain spends 300K on the outfit (including the jewelery, please, let's be fair, the woman has incredibly expensive rocks...) it is perfectly fine and dandy because she was born and raised into wealth and this is their style of living and IT IS HER MONEY, so you go girl! spend it as you please, you do not owe anyone an explanation or need to apologize for flying throughout Arizona in your own private jet because as you stated "it is the only way to get around Arizona".
Even if I disagree with that last statement, because I have personally DRIVEN all over Arizona and my friends who work and live there do their commutes on a daily basis by CAR, I think that if Cindy McCain likes the pleasure and the comfort of travelling in her own private jet, it is her prerogative.
She owes us nothing.
However, this Sarah Palin and her family are the corporate welfare poster child.
In less than six (6) weeks, the RNC (Republican National Committee) has blown $150,000. See? the problems is that a) The cost of putting as many disgusting, repulsive and vilifying ads in Colorado is actually the same amount but since the RNC has run out of money and McCain is not getting any more contributions, they couldn't.
$150 thousand.... on clothing... for 6 weeks worth of what?
Until people starting talking about it, no one thought one thing about it. Now they say they will donate the clothes to charity.
I, for one, would like to see the trip of these travelling clothes after this woman and her family are done using them. Do you think we are going to see better dressed homeless people? Are we going to be able to pick them off the rack at Savers or Goodwill or the Salvation Army?.
I think not, but as Sarah said: "Perhaps so!"
This welfare Queen is irritated by the fact that people are paying attention, and the reason for this is that her welfare ways come all the way from the time she was Mayor and continued through her long (not!) career as Governor of Alaska.
From inflating her Wassila experience and neglecting to state that she had left a town with a surplus into practical bankruptcy, to building a sports complex that was not needed, to claiming that her husband... "Toooood!!!" had built their Alaska mansion with his bear hands and that of a couple of friends (he did not, the same people who built the Sports Complex built their home ... for "free"?)... Humm! I wonder how much the Sports Complex cost was padded to include the building of their luxury home?
How about charging the tax payers of Alaska $17,000 dollars to commute from work to HOME (you know, the home her hubby built with his own hands)?
More corporate welfare:
$20,000 to fly her daughters to events which they were not invited.
Over $40,000 to fly family members on vacations and family outings.
$10,000 to "help" defray the heating cost of her home last year.
This year, residents of Alaska (every man, woman and child) will receive $1,200 MORE each from the Oil Company's surplus tax Mrs. Palin signed off on. Let's see.... 5 kids, mom and dad.... humm... this year they get an additional $8,400! So, we add the previous $10,000 (which they still get) and we all know how to add... so....$18,400 straight to this family.
*I wonder how long I'd have to live in Alaska to qualify as a "resident"?... maybe if I just had a P.O. box at the post office..... *
You can read in greater detail right here.
Halloween is a-coming and I am suitably scared...
What I find scary beyond words is that this woman has ditched McCain as her running mate and is now running solo and vying for her political career, which includes a Presidential run in 2012.
Her little girl standing in front of a rally and being prompted to take the microphone and say: "vote for my mom". As if Sarah was running on her own. (Well, she is)
They say the rats are the first ones to jump ship and this is no exception. Her handlers are calling her a Diva that trusts no one and only believes in herself and what she wants to do. The proof is that they know she is not ready to go on her own and she is damaging McCain's campaign (which apparently she forgets, he is the one we would be voting for, not her).
LABEL, LABELS... OR IS IT LIBEL?
Sarah Palin can't wait to lable Obama as a terrorist every chance she gets, but when it comes to herself, she clearly states that she will not be labeled as a "feminist" or anything else because, well, labels are just not right.
When asked if she would label as "Domestic Terrorist" abortion clinic Bombers, she could not bring herself to do so and McCain had to jump in and clarify it and get her out of that deep hole she kept digging herself into. He failed miserably.
You see, calling some parts of America as the "real America" and labeling others as "Anti-America" is just fine, but when it comes to herself, she has standards.... Double Standards!.
If you have the ability to follow her diatribe and watch McCain's body language and facial expressions at the same time, please take a look at this interview with Brian Williams. If it wasn't because these two feel entitled to the most powerful office in the land, this piece would be very funny. Instead, it is downright frightening!
BAIL OUT FOR HOMEOWNERS?
Yeah... yeah, that's right... let the money go directly to the banks with the "intent" that they would renegotiate with the homeowners.
Let's see... this Congress has decided that the HONOR system with thieves and crooks, oportunistic, souless bastards is a good idea. How wrong can they be?. Well, plenty wrong, to use very poor Grammar....
They have decided that all this "free" tax payer money would go a long way on creating their own private Monopoly and start buying all the other weaker banks. And just like in Monopoly, it is nothing but paper so it does not hurt anyone, right?
Read about it in greater detail, right here.
Are we sutitably frightened yet? C'mon folks, get into the spirit of things and start screaming in fear because we are totally screwed.
More on political thoughts at a later time. If you know someone who is a spousal caregiver please direct them to http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/ for useful resources and help.
Thank you for following my blog.
Wishing you PEACE
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