tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post4505946957393041426..comments2024-03-28T16:08:29.578-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Hypocrisy In the Age of ObamaKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-66368938546159320102013-07-31T19:18:31.694-04:002013-07-31T19:18:31.694-04:00Here's a guy who's not only looking to fix...Here's a guy who's not only looking to fix Florida but your sh*t too: http://slate.me/13qTm8f<br /><br />Menschen like Alan Grayson and my 75 year old mother aren't giving up just because the going is tough.Yes, there is intelligence in FLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-46102638587311785882013-07-30T15:37:31.698-04:002013-07-30T15:37:31.698-04:00@Neil (and @all):
Thanks for the UNICOR and Slave...@Neil (and @all):<br /><br />Thanks for the UNICOR and SlaveryFootprint info.<br /><br />Here's something related, how U.S. prisoners were for years exposed to toxic materials via their "employment" in electronics recycling:<br /><br />http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2010/2010-10-22-091.html<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/science/earth/27waste.html?_r=0<br /><br />http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/o1010.pdfFred Drumlevitchhttp://www.freddrumlevitch.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-65963083840886792202013-07-30T12:27:04.895-04:002013-07-30T12:27:04.895-04:00@Karen, what about a movement for Trickle-Up Econo...@Karen, what about a movement for Trickle-Up Economics? This is not a new concept. Henry Ford believed in what may be called Trickle-Up Economics. Ford paid his workers top wages, and in turn the workers spent the money buying cars and creating economic activity. <br /><br />http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/10/1035007/-Trickle-up-economics<br /><br />Daily Kos: "In 1914, Henry Ford paid his workers $5 a day, that was double the average wage for manufacturing jobs at the time. He did this because he wanted his workers to buy his cars."<br /><br />@Fred, thanks for posting links exposing the American prison industrial complex. <br /><br />UNICOR looks like a work-around the Thirteenth Amendment, through the exception clause "as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted". Duly convicted? In our corrupt legal system? Check out U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga’s congressional webpage for UNICOR. "UNICOR operates 81 factories in federal prisons across the country with sales totaling over $600 million in the last year alone." And the NYT piece How Many Slaves Work for You? and Slavery Footprint. <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution<br /><br />Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution<br /><br />Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.<br /><br />Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation<br /><br />---------------<br /><br />U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga’s congressional webpage for Federal Prison Industries/UNICOR <br /><br />http://huizenga.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=58023<br /><br />Federal Prison Industries, also known as, UNICOR, is a government-owned corporation that employs federal prisoners to manufacture products and perform services to fulfill contracts that are sold to executive agencies and departments in the federal government. Examples of these products and services include clothing and textiles, office furniture, electronics, fleet and industrial products, recycling, and services such as call center and help desk support. UNICOR operates 81 factories in federal prisons across the country with sales totaling over $600 million in the last year alone.<br /><br />------------<br /><br />New York Times: How Many Slaves Work for You?<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/opinion/how-many-slaves-work-for-you.html<br /><br />Slavery Footprint<br /><br />http://slaveryfootprint.org/<br /><br />Prison labor booms in US as low-cost inmates bring billions<br /><br />http://youtu.be/CySzoJFkTA8<br /><br />------------------<br /><br />UNICOR We’re life changing<br /><br />http://www.unicor.gov/<br /><br />UNICOR Federal Prison Industries, Inc.<br /><br />http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/unicor.jsp<br /><br />What Is UNICOR? Federal Prison Industries (commonly referred to as FPI or by its trade name UNICOR) is a wholly owned, Government corporation established by Congress on June 23, 1934. Its mission is to employ and provide job skills training to the greatest practicable number of inmates confined within the Federal Bureau of Prisons; contribute to the safety and security of our Nation’s Federal correctional facilities by keeping inmates constructively occupied; produce market-priced quality goods and services for sale to the Federal Government; operate in a self-sustaining manner; and minimize FPI’s impact on private business and labor.Neil Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12580744990628852454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-90166747589790980632013-07-29T17:47:48.976-04:002013-07-29T17:47:48.976-04:00In today's e-mail I have received requests for...In today's e-mail I have received requests for donations to keep various liberal congresspeople in office who are trying to survive attacks from the right wingers, from Mark Kelley to help them fight against several congressmen being attacked by the NRA for wanting to install background gun checks and remove dangerous weapons from sale, from the reporter who has been observing every day of Manning's trial for which a judicial decision <br />will be made tomorrow, and other pleas for help for officials who are trying to bring sanity back and with details of how they are trying to survive the money and power being waged against them, ad infinitum.<br />It is a sordid picture of what is happening to the country and hopefully enough people will be able to keep our various representatives afloat with assistance. Money talks as we know and reading these different stories of the same battle for survival of democratic values by good people is most discouraging.<br /><br />No wonder Bush, Obama have not fought to create a fair taxation system which <br />would be a threat to their plans. And by doing so, even projects they <br />institute to help matters (like Obamacare) can never be properly implemented especially since it is tied to the private interests.<br /><br />Even so called enlightened people don't seem to be able to grasp the <br />implications of how money and power is used to kill any possibilities for <br />improvement in their lives. Maybe it has to get much, much worse before the balance shifts. There are more and more comments and columns and articles being published in the main press about such concerns but not until real organized protest becomes activated, it will remain at a standstill. And the current atmosphere of fear and anxiety will escalate. Perhaps a few more <br />exposures of what is going on a/la Snowden and other incidents a/la Trayvon Martin, may create the needed turmoil. We will have to wait and see and speak up meanwhile to outshout the enemies of democracy. We need more Karens around to accomplish this.<br /><br /><br />Pearlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-69172482193946203632013-07-29T15:50:01.170-04:002013-07-29T15:50:01.170-04:00That's ok Zee, you gotta roll the dice. It'...That's ok Zee, you gotta roll the dice. It's what it's all about.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-72503303477503447312013-07-29T14:37:11.392-04:002013-07-29T14:37:11.392-04:00due process: (1) a course of formal proceedings ...<b> due process: (1) </b> a course of formal proceedings (as legal proceedings) carried out regularly and in accordance with established rules and principles—also called <i> procedural due process. </i> <b> (2) </b> a judicial requirement that enacted laws may not contain provisions that result in the unfair, arbitrary or unreasonable treatment of an individual—also called <i> substantive due process. </i> <br /><br />--Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition<br /><br />Under either the first or the second definition, it certainly sounds to me like the courts are involved in administering “due Process.”<br /><br />Oh well, Holder was appointed by a <i> faux </i> professor of constitutional law/President, and he's turned out to be a <i> faux </i> U.S. Attorney General. What more could one expect?Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-72570665852410431722013-07-29T14:11:08.465-04:002013-07-29T14:11:08.465-04:00Typical of this Age of Obama, Attorney General Eri...Typical of this Age of Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder actually made the statement that "The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process". We thought we had 5th and 6th Amendment rights, but according to the Obama administration, those don't actually involve courts. (Heads up, Ed Snowden) <br /><br />Convening a Terror Tuesday meeting to go over the Disposition Matrix to select an American citizen to be killed, tortured, or held indefinitely is 'due process'. The Obama administration has also successfully blocked every citizen attempt to challenge the constitutionality of sections of the Patriot Act, NDAA, and FISA in court, claiming State Secrets privilege and denying that citizens have the legal standing to sue. Congress has also been complicit and now they can't even exert themselves to bring perjury charges against DNI Clapper for clearly and deliberately lying in order to mislead the public. <br /><br />Congress and the administration have all failed to uphold their oaths to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. But to add insult to injury, they also deny us the ability to preserve, protect, and defend it ourselves in court. They've locked the courthouse doors and left the Constitution to rot as they continue to hack away all its pieces. <br /><br />A government that prohibits its own citizens from using the judicial system is not just stupid, it's CRIMINAL. It would be better for our country if we could settle all this through our judicial system, but that is no longer possible. They know they would lose, so they won't allow it. <br /><br />Sadly, the only thing left for the people is 'Due Process' - our own version. It's inevitable.annenigmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-89058883364528821332013-07-29T13:59:32.374-04:002013-07-29T13:59:32.374-04:00Obamacare is such a ripoff for the American public...Obamacare is such a ripoff for the American public unless I have made a serious math error or logic has failed me!<br /><br />According to this article, <br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/detroit-looks-to-health-law-to-ease-costs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1&<br /><br />under Obamacare<br /><br /><i> “ [a] couple who are both 55 with a combined income of $60,000 might have to pay $5,700 a year, or 42 percent of their total premium... [A]dditional out-of-pocket costs of up to $6,350 per person could apply, depending on how much medical care they needed.” </i> (So the actual cost of the policy is an astounding $13,571 for two people <i> without </i> the subsidy!)<br /><br />I'm not saying the following to crow, but to illustrate what a really lousy deal Obamacare is.<br /><br />Mrs. Zee and I currently pay $2,666 per year for what some people would consider a “Cadillac health care plan,” (or nearly so), under insurance provided by my former employer, the rates for which are the same for both current employees <i> and </i> retirees. So we're paying only 47% of what the Obamacare couple will be paying—after the subsidy, mind you—and there's no guaranteeing that the latter will be buying a “gold” or “platinum” policy. (Our annual out-of-pocket, or “stop-loss” caps are comparable.)<br /><br />When Mrs. Zee and I transition to Medicare, we will be paying—as nearly as I can understand it—about $2812 per year (unadjusted for inflation). I'm not sure exactly what the $147 per year charge for the Medicare Part B “deductible” is, but I've added that in twice (for two people) to the base cost of $2,518 for Medicare Part B for two people. Perhaps someone out there can explain to me the $147 per year cost for the “deductible.”<br /><br />http://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-costs.html<br /><br />Which goes to show that whether under a quality, private group insurance plan or under the government's Medicare plan, the costs to provide quality health care are the same, thanks to the power of volume purchasing. <br /><br />The cost of individual policies will continue to be outrageous, no matter who picks up what part of the bill.<br /><br />How on earth can Obamacare be considered a good deal for the American people? Yes, I know that a lot of people who are currently uninsured or uninsurable owing to pre-existing conditions will now be eligible for coverage, and that ain't chopped liver.<br /><br />But by going through private insurers and offering individual policies—instead of using the power of volume purchasing—the government—meaning us'ns—will be ripped a new one, fiscally speaking.<br /><br />Single-payer NOW! (And good luck to the people of Detroit.)<br /><br />(I know, James, it's naïve of me to hope, but hope I must.)Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-7836561097787365022013-07-28T17:35:13.453-04:002013-07-28T17:35:13.453-04:00Fixing Florida? Reminds me of that Dutch kid and t...Fixing Florida? Reminds me of that Dutch kid and the dike. The little bastard had it easy. A look at all the golf courses will tell you that. All those big assed, bigoted racists chasing that little ball around in their psychedelic shorts and shirts will tell you that.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-70238579315810502852013-07-28T17:25:28.368-04:002013-07-28T17:25:28.368-04:00Yeah, if you want to commit a successful crime you...Yeah, if you want to commit a successful crime you gotta have at at least one cutout. Trouble with just the one is that is you might have to kill the cutout, which requires another cutout. Too complicated, that's why they use multiple cutouts in the first place - they've learned from the experiences of others, bless their larcenous little hearts. Capone would love them. <br /><br /> James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26330560807941488152013-07-28T12:45:30.113-04:002013-07-28T12:45:30.113-04:00@Zee (and @all):
A possible explanation for why W...@Zee (and @all):<br /><br />A possible explanation for why Walmart fruits and veggies were/are more affordable than elsewhere:<br /><br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/prison-labor_n_2272036.html<br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/06/prison-labor-pads-corporate-profits-taxpayers-expense<br /><br />http://truth-out.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1808:martori-farms-abusive-conditions-at-a-key-walmart-supplier<br /><br /><br />While Martori Farms, one of Walmart's suppliers, claimed in the July 2012 Guardian article that it was not using prison labor during that (2012) growing season, the Truthout article makes clear that they had previously.<br /><br />I have no idea whether any Walmart produce is currently being supplied by companies that use prison inmate labor. But it is common practice for many industries to employ a sequence of subcontractors --- and such offloading can facilitate a retailer's "plausible deniability" and evasion of responsibility for exploitive production or distribution practices.Fred Drumlevitchhttp://www.freddrumlevitch.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-34563428204544787722013-07-28T11:20:58.607-04:002013-07-28T11:20:58.607-04:00Florida? You want us to fix Florida? That's a ...Florida? You want us to fix Florida? That's a good one, Anonymous!<br /><br />P.S. Check out the hilarious twitter feed that chronicles the true-life exploits of the world's worst superhero, Florida Man:<br /><br />https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan<br />Willnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-13849375564595777032013-07-28T09:44:33.246-04:002013-07-28T09:44:33.246-04:00Boycotters/armchair philosophers (you too, Karen),...Boycotters/armchair philosophers (you too, Karen), you want to really make a difference in the lives of the common folk and actually change things? Relocate your lefty progressive a**es to Florida (or insert other wacko state) and either run for office (local, state or national) or vote for those who have a heart and some brain cells. P.S. I love this blog and I live in Florida. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-22163928181477218292013-07-28T01:43:36.458-04:002013-07-28T01:43:36.458-04:00Brilliant, Karen, but forgive me if I point to a t...Brilliant, Karen, but forgive me if I point to a typo in your headline or title for the piece. The second word should have been "IS," not "in," right?Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-84156752484566798712013-07-28T00:01:33.464-04:002013-07-28T00:01:33.464-04:00McCompany Store. You can do this.McCompany Store. You can do this.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885426575922045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-83259660989003270042013-07-27T18:21:48.878-04:002013-07-27T18:21:48.878-04:00@Karen--
I can understand the Progressive anger d...@Karen--<br /><br />I can understand the Progressive anger directed at Wal-Mart as far as its employment practices are concerned—non-union, low pay, a preponderance of part-timers who receive few or no benefits, the undercutting of long-time, local merchants, <i> etc. </i> —but when it comes to selling “healthy food” at a low price, well, I think Wal-Mart actually <i> succeeds </i> there. <br /><br />It doesn't happen often, but when it's particularly convenient—as in “it's on our way home”— Mrs. Zee and I may well stop at either a local Wal-Mart Neigborhood Store or even a Supercenter to pick up some type of food or other.<br /><br />Wal-Mart uniformly has the best prices in town, even for food. (As proof, if you will permit a bit of “profiling” on my part, those who are shopping there are not, typically, the same customers that you would find at Smith's, Albertson's, Sprouts or Trader Joe's; they are clearly “lower income.” )<br /><br />But my observation: the healthy food is <i> there </i> to be purchased: fresh vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, Mexican and yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, and the like; plenty of fresh meat; plenty of fresh fruit; and the usual array of other “healthy” foods that would complement a meal composed of a meat, vegetables and some form of carbohydrate, <i> i.e. </i> rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams, pasta, <i> etc. </i><br /><br />In short, what Wal-Mart offers to the public in the way of <i> food </i> is no better and no worse than what I might find here in Albuquerque at Smith's, Albertson's, Sprouts or Trader Joe's. ( We'll ignore Whole Foods, which is a store strictly for the rich and/or the snobs among us. I go there only to buy “Humboldt Fog” cheese, and then, only rarely.) Each of these stores has its totally unhealthy “snack section” offering—in abundance—Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew, Cheetos, potato chips, <i> chicharròns </i> (deep-fat-fried pork rinds, a local favorite), pretzels and the like, and rich sour cream (and Hatch green chile!) dips to go with all of these. But the <i> healthy </i> foods are there, too, just like any other <i> unionized </i> grocery store. <br /><br />Please don't take this as any kind of endorsement of Wal-Mart's hiring practices. I'd like to see fewer “McJobs,” too. But in terms of the “healthy” food that it offers to the public—at the best price possible—Wal-Mart seems to do as well—perhaps better than—any other store. <br /><br />They may be trying to poison us with lead-tainted Chinese-made candy, but not with real food. <br /><br />Just my humble observation.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-61473548365911759562013-07-27T17:03:36.907-04:002013-07-27T17:03:36.907-04:00I think it's time for some George Carlin again...I think it's time for some George Carlin again. No, not the American dream video. This one's about the hubris of humanity & our laughable attempts to "save the planet."<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL8HP1WzbDkWillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-67232922521596053642013-07-27T14:23:57.522-04:002013-07-27T14:23:57.522-04:00I couldn't tell whether the article I pulled u...I couldn't tell whether the article I pulled up about Michelle Obama Sings Praises of work of Urban Alliance you pinpointed in your column, was a sardonic report or elitist praise for what was involved. The photo of all the well dressed speakers and audience in an expensive setting was also interesting. Beyond having interns learning to dress well they are also pointed in the direction<br />of becoming replicas of the people teaching them.<br /><br />And then this from Michelle: "Don't suffocate your voice or your experience or background. That's why I talk about being from the South Side. Don't turn your back on what got you here," she said. "You can do this, girl, you can<br />do it."<br /><br />Talking about not turning one's back on what got you here from our First<br />Lady is beyond unbelievable given her track record since their South Side days.<br /><br />Great column which sends chills through one's mind and body.<br />Pearlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-55271898054082982652013-07-27T13:57:45.381-04:002013-07-27T13:57:45.381-04:00Living in this country is such a surreal experienc...Living in this country is such a surreal experience. I feel like Alice, gone through the looking glass.The Black Swannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-56209508172776974772013-07-27T13:44:54.059-04:002013-07-27T13:44:54.059-04:00It's mind numbing isn't - the hypocrisy. M...It's mind numbing isn't - the hypocrisy. Mind numbing in its crassness, a sort of pratfall. How could anyone fall for it? Do they? Really? Or is it that they, we, have nowhere else to go. A desperate attempt to preserve hope?James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-9529502579932551242013-07-27T13:18:26.669-04:002013-07-27T13:18:26.669-04:00You're getting better all the time, Karen.You're getting better all the time, Karen.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.com