if you can’t avoid shopping at the box stores and malls at least use up those unspent gift cards and points and remember don’t buy any more gift cards. SPREAD IT!
An Alternative
I believe in justice and like to be fair, since Black Friday gets more than enough free advertising by the news media and so little for Buy Nothing Day, I’d like to add another alternative approach into the mix called,Steal Something Day. Personally, I’m more interested in supporting small local merchants and stealing does have its risks, not to mention allows tax write offs for the big box stores which we, the consuming public, eventually pay for in higher prices, however, the idea behind Steal Something Day certainly gives pause and responds to the injustices supported by large corporations.
Send your suggestions, I’ll add them here or link to your site.
From Chris: Patchwork Shirt: buy several shirts at a thrift stores, cut them up, sew them together to make a new shirt.
From Macki: Write a haiku that sums up the person you’re giving it to, use a fancy font type or write it on 120lb water color or handmade paper. some examples
From Dave: Take the label off an Old English 800 40 oz bottle, make a new label artistically drawn and dedicate it to the person you’re giving it to.
From Greg: Pick up one or several mini bread pans or a fancy pan from a craft or kitchen store, make a variety of sweet breads; cranberry, banana, apple, pear, etc… wrap them up in wax paper dress them up with a ribbon and give them away as gifts.
From Angela: Give the gift of service; pet care, home cleaning, wash their car, computer services, etc… If you clean someone’s toilet they will certainly remember that gift! Combine this with Macki’s idea.
as long as you’ve got your health… . . Estimating the Risk of Food Stamp Use and Impoverishment During Childhood Between the ages of 1 to 20 years, nearly half (49.2%) of all American children will, at some point, reside in a household that receives food stamps. Households in need of the program use it for relatively short periods but are also likely to return to the program at several points during the childhood years. Race, parental education, and head of household’s marital status exert a strong influence on the proportion of children residing in a food stamp household.
The best way to give thanks is by giving of your time to help another human being.
Taliban trying to turn US troops into heroin addicts
Insurgents in Afghanistan are using heroin as a tactical weapon against US forces, hoping to emulate the drug problems that plagued US troops in Vietnam and Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s, says a new investigative report.
In a report at the Daily Beast, author Gerald Posner cites “an internal US intelligence report” that “concluded [insurgents] are targeting American troops in an effort to undermine their effectiveness, while raising cash to pay for new recruits and weaponry.”
The report brings up inevitable comparisons to the Vietnam War of the 1960s and 1970s and the Soviet war in Afghanistan that ended two decades ago. It also raises the possibility that the conflict in Afghanistan will spill over into the streets of America as returning troops bring their addictions home with them.
… Are Americans Fighting and Dying in Afghanistan for Chinese Profits? China’s Winning Bid For Copper Rights Includes Power Plant, Railroad
China Metallurgical Group agreed to invest billions of dollars in the project and related infrastructure development — including the construction of a coal-fired electrical power plant and what would be Afghanistan’s first freight railway.
By the estimates of some geologists, deposits at Afghanistan’s Aynak copper field in Logar Province make it the world’s largest undeveloped copper field.
Goldman Sachs Abandons Kittens (really)
Goldman proves once again that they will makes promises they never intend to keep. They will exploit and take advantage of even the weakest of creatures to fill their coffers.
“I know I could slit my wrists and people would cheer,” CEO Lloyd Blankfein told reporter John Arlidge.
On Goldman Sachs they are “a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money” Matt Taibbi
“And as far as doing God’s work, I think the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same self-interested sorts Jesus threw out of the temple.” -Maureen Dowd
From SNL Really with Seth and Amy “Can you not read how mad people are at you? When most people saw the headline ‘GOLDMAN SACHS GETS SWINE FLU VACCINE’ they were super happy until they read the word ‘vaccine.’” -Amy Poehler
Matt Taibi on Goldman Sachs “a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money.”
some suggestions
switch banks – join a credit union – as the big banks raise their rate upwards to 30% on credit cards you can find some great rates at a credit union – most hover around 6% and 8%. If you’re credit isn’t so great you can find a rate around 13%. better than double that to the big banks – remember you are shelling out interest and fees right into the pockets of these crooked thieving CEOs. Why not pay yourself instead? There are no CEOs and wasteful connected crooked board members to deal with at a credit union – the people who work at these institutions are part owners, when you join you also become part owner. Everyone is watching out for each other. You also gain at the end of the year – instead of bonuses going to people who use hard sell tactic to unsuspecting and naive consumers you gain honest money because everyone is watching each other. You split the profits and share the wealth. You can also attend the open meetings where decision are made and you get to have your say, speak up or get educated on finance. No one is out to stomp on anyone to get ahead at a credit union. It’s a civilized business, but you have to take the first step. You Got The Power!
Stop buying products Made in China. Yes, it’s tough, we’ve lost so many of our jobs to China, there are so many of their products you think they owned the stores we shop in, but make an effort, try and find products made in America or at least in a democratic nation, not a communist nation that treats it’s people like chattel, your purchase encourages only bad behavior in their government. I found socks today actually made in the USA the cost compared to the one’s made in China .49 more and they were better made. Worth it! You Got The Power!
Stop shopping at box stores, I know this is tough, but if you have no choice ask to speak to the manager, then ask him or her where they keep the product made in the USA. If they hear those words enough they will make their way up the food chain. Remember business wants to sell to the demand not leave stock sitting on the floor. You Have The Power!
Also, try resale shops, even ebay, support each other. It takes a little more effort to do, but we have to start somewhere, we have to dig or build our way out of this mess together. The little things add up – ask any person of wealth how they got or stay wealthy.
Support the local grocer and co-op. It costs a bit more, but give it a go, bring it into your consciousness when making a list or thinking about dinner. Start by trying to waste less food. Hook up with friends by having a pot luck instead of eating out several times during the week, then take what you saved and give it to a food bank, or add it to you credit union savings account, even if it’s only a few dollars. You’ve Got The Power!
If you choose to donate most churches will provide you with an envelop where you can write on the front, For Food Bank Only. Did you know that many Catholic Parishes in urban areas have come together and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner to the homeless?
If you have any more saving or sharing tips to help dig us out and unite US citizens against the crooks and corruption please leave them in the comments. Let’s spread these things around.
Thanks
Update: more tips Catherine Austin 2 stop watching MSM
move corruptions out of your life
know there is no privacy, be careful who you share your details with
do not break the law
simplify your life
Get Smart ask what’s really going on
pull family closer, organize
network with like minds
read history
build equity including; healthy and knowledge
buy commodities – think long term and sound investments
demonetize
Dear Senator Dodd and Members of the Senate Banking Committee,
Greetings,
We bailed out the banks, currently we are giving them 0% on borrowed money, our wealth, and their greed will not allow them to give the American Public a break.
This is an Act of War on the American People by the Corporate Lending Institutions.
The time has come for the US Congress to protect all American Citizens. this time bailing out the Public Citizen.
I’m afraid Sen. Dodds cordial request to the Federal Reserve doesn’t go far enough. This will require an immediate act by President Obama.
I purpose a Public Debt Relief Option:
1. The Federal Government assumes all credit card holder debt – They, Congress, have the power to cut a deal with the Banks. Since these ungrateful institutions exaggerated their needs then quickly profiting off the backs of the American People it is the least our Government can do to help make amends.
2. If a citizen owes $12k to the bank and they sign up for the Public Debt Relief the Federal Government will pay the banks $8K. Two-Thirds of what is owed.
3. The American Citizen will now no longer have a credit debt to that Bank.
4. The Credit Card is now also closed.
5. The American Citizen utilizing this public debt option now owes the Federal Government $8k plus 3% interest.
6. Monthly installments will be made, no more than 17% of net income, automatic deductions from wages optional and IRS returns kept. Late fees of 1% within the first 30 days, 3 strikes maximum.
7. By law, once the debt has been paid this transfer will not affect one’s credit rating unless late more than 3 times.
8. However, until the debt is paid in full to the Government, Banks must be regulated with a hands-off policy to that debtor.
9. If a bank or a lending institution violates this policy they will be fined the amount offered in their letter of credit invite.
10. When the economy turns around; unemployment numbers below 4%, and depending on an individual’s income, the 3% rate can go up to as high, but no higher than 8% until that debt is paid.
This is a one time debt relief option only.
Since the Banks wish to terrorize the American Public with these new and higher interest rates, plus throw all the toxic waste on the backs of our children, which they created and Congress allowed, under these heretofore stressful conditions the Banks have decided to ignite incendiary financial bombs all across the nation, thus destroying our peaceful coexistence and happiness and forcing the American People into indentured-servitude for decades to come.
It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to step in, take action and protect the American People from these Financial Predatory Terrorists.
Anything less will put the American People and the nation in grave danger and in harms way.
The American People, in general and in great numbers want to be and act responsibly, but they also want a fair shake, they are a hearty people and believe in justice.
These are tough times, the majority of citizens, unlike the banks and corporations, are not looking for a hand out, they want to work and be productive, but the cards are stacked against them now and their freedom to move forward and provide for their families is systematically being suppressed through financial means.
This is a shock to all liberty loving people, President Obama has to act immediately. He must show the same mercy the previous Administration showed towards the banks now upon the American People.
He must avoid the coming calamity set into motion by the The Wall Street Banks and the Federal Reserve.
Time is running out, On 30 November 2009 Banks will be raising interest rates across the board on the American People. During these tough economic times the American People have relied on credit cards to make ends meet, pay utilities, rent or mortgage, medical bills and buy food. They are not using their cards for frivolous things, but due to unemployment the majority of Americans are now using their credit cards for survival.
This is a direct attack on the well being of citizenry throughout the nation.
As commander and chief and head law enforcement for the peace and well being of this nation I implore President Obama to act now and freeze all credit card interest rates.
Those who are at a rate beyond fair, 5% above prime, must be given the opportunity to receive a fair rate. Debt must be repaid, but not at the price of forcing the American People into indentured-servitude or death.
We must be fair and we must learn from our mistakes if we want to be a nation that can trust our government, business and each other again.
Unless you’re waiting for Goldman Sachs, Bernanke, Geithner and the Bankers on Wall Street to spontaneously grow halos and wings there are few options left to avoid indentured-slavery.
Nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year – one every 12 minutes – in large part because they lack health insurance and can not get good care, Harvard Medical School researchers found in an analysis released on Thursday.
“We’re losing more Americans every day because of inaction … than drunk driving and homicide combined,” Dr. David Himmelstein, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard, said in an interview with Reuters.
Overall, researchers said American adults age 64 and younger who lack health insurance have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those who have coverage.
The findings come amid a fierce debate over Democrats’ efforts to reform the nation’s $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry by expanding coverage and reducing healthcare costs.
I am profoundly pessimistic about the US recovery and here’s why. At this late date, and looking at all those who surround Obama; the very same people who surrounded Bush and Clinton btw, we are being sucked dry by a massive parasite.
Not only does this parasite deprive the host, us, from nourishment, but in order to survive the parasite takes over the host’s brain, ours, to make the host think the parasite is important to the host’s, our, survival. Even to the detriment of the host itself, us.
I know, sounds like something out of Star Trek or Red Dwarf, I know
In order to get rid of the parasite we will have to undergo a painful procedure, the hard work of organizing and stocking the operating room. The only tools that will work to rid us of this parasite are our feet, a pitch forks, some rope and constant vigilance. However, there is only a small window of opportunity and it’s closing fast.
Sure, we can keep this parasite under control for a little while with a short term relief made of some fancy words, but keep in mind that this possible cure is also being distributed by the parasite. Maybe the cure has good intentions, but maybe it has been convinced like the host.
Regardless, if we wait much longer the parasite will destroy the host, us, and from the looks of these big wide, open and empty streets it might be time to get used to the charms of the local peasantry and put on your feudalism.
The New Job Expectation and Motto of the US should be, “Shut up, and be glad you’re alive. Now, get back to work or you’ll be replaced.”
What a terrible atmosphere this is creating, Americans living under greater stress and fear to provide for themselves and their families. Apparently, this is just how corporations like it, and while President Obama wants to improve our image in the world we’re not looking so good to each other right now.
Hard to convince me we are not under the throngs and duress of a Corporate Financial Coup.
1. Fact – President Obama has surrounded himself with people from Goldman Sachs his largest campaign donor. Quid Pro Quo?
2. Fact – President Obama hired and reappointed the same people in Federal Reserve under Bush, the people who failed the system, the one we are suffering under now.
3. Fact – President Obama is backing down, he’s changing his mind and allowing corporate tax cheats to get a pass.
4. Fact 1 & Fact 2 President Obama has allowed Big Pharma and Big Insurance to continue their theft while Fact 3 still, 44,000 uninsured Americans die needlessly every year due to lack of health care; that’s 120 people each day. If that many Americans died in Iraq or Afghanistan we’d lay complete and utter waste to those countries.
5. …and speaking of Afghanistan, FACT even after the announcement of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize President Obama decided only days later to quietly send 1300 more troops to Afghanistan.
Democrats FAIL.
Time for a change, time for a Third Party and the time to start is now, because apparently the good will of the people and their vote for change meant nothing.
Someone should have mentioned to the Nobel Committee before they voted, you reward good behavior after the fact, not what you think someone says they might do.
Now before the Obama droolers are all over my dissatisfaction with this president, let me remind them Bush and a Democratic Congress bailed out the Too Big To Fail Banks FACT within a week and that bailout money is still going towards bankers bonuses (President Obama - FACT a. Before and Fact b. After) and profits while Americans are losing their jobs and homes; FACT one every 13 seconds; and that number will double by year’s end; that’s one every 6.5 seconds.
Meanwhile, the rest of us pay for these losses, bankers toxic waste, dumped on us by these big banks as they continue to FACT get fees for foreclosing on us all. (looking for a better and more credible sources, but banks are charging the homeowners and ultimately collecting those fees from the tax payers).
Here’s a good question the American People haven’t even wrestled with, “What are our priorities as a nation and as a people?” Are we still in, “As long as it’s not me” mode heading towards “You’re on your own buddy” abdication?
Finally, to the die hard Obama supporters, the bloom is off the rose and here’s a no-brainer piece of advice to the Teabaggers, LGBT Community and Health Care Advocates Protesters, find a way to join and hold hands or right now, this is as good as it gets.
The first batch of artworks from the collection that once filled the corridors of Lehman Brothers’ offices will be hitting the auction block on November 1. And while the works by David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg may be small potatoes for museum curators, the collection provides the opportunity for aspiring patrons of the arts to pick up brand-name artists for under $2,000. Bankers looking for an elegant office decoration — and one with a conversation-starting provenance — should check out the catalogue at freemansauction
Obviously, Lehman’s creditors, who have lost most of their money, are hoping Freeman’s will be able to generate more proceeds than have been estimated. Freeman’s will also be auctioning off another 30 lots of European fine paintings, from the Lehman collection, on December 6, and another 500 lots, or so, also from the Lehman collection, on February 12 of next year. These two subsequent auctions are not expected to generate much in the way of proceeds either, according to Henry, perhaps between $280,000 and $430,000 from the two sales.
The modest valuations on these first groups of artworks from the Lehman collection stand in sharp contrast to the priceless art collection once owned by Robert “Bobbie” Lehman, one of the patriarchs of the investment bank. When Lehman died in 1969, his foundation donated some 3,000 of his artworks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on Fifth Avenue. The museum has called that Lehman collection “one of the most extraordinary private art collections ever assembled in the United States.” The Robert Lehman wing of the museum opened in 1975.
The collection being sold by Freeman’s is also not part of the personal collection of Dick Fuld, the former CEO of Lehman, and his wife, Kathy. The Fulds sold a group of 16 artworks through Christie’s last November for around $13.5 million below the $20 million the auction house guaranteed the couple. Kathy Fuld is on the board of the Museum of Modern Art.
Still, the 283 lots that Freeman’s will be selling early next month do include any number of iconic images by many familiar artists. For instance, there is a group of 10 Berenice Abbott photographs of New York City street scenes (as well as one of the Flatiron Building) on which Freeman’s has placed a seemingly modest price range of between $6,000 and $10,000. There is a set of nine Walker Evans photographs of the Brooklyn Bridge, priced at $1,000 to $1,500. There is a Christo print of wrapped buildings in lower Manhattan ($1,000 to $1,500) and a signed Alexander Calder print ($800 to $1,200). There is a 1973 David Hockney print of spring flowers in a vase that Freeman pegged at between $7,000 and $10,000.
A Roy Lichtenstein print, “I Love Liberty” from 1982, is estimated to fetch between $15,000 and $25,000. The Lichtenstein is one of the few lots being sold subject to a reserve price, or floor, so that if a minimum bid is not received the artwork will not be sold. Most of the collection, however, will just be sold without a price floor, which may be why Freeman’s has put relatively low price ranges on a number of the pieces.
There are also a number of prints by artists such as Jim Dine, Louise Bourgeois, Claes Oldenburg, Wayne Thiebaud, Yaccov Agam, Alex Katz, Robert Motherwell, Louise Nevelson, Frank Stella, Robert Indiana, and Andy Warhol. In many ways, the collection is very typical of what Wall Street banks and law firms use to line the many walls of their offices. There are also a slew of works by lesser-known artists as well as French, Indian, and Chinese artists.
Although the dollar amount is relatively small, selling the collection is a bit of a coup for Freeman’s. Usually, one of the three titans in the auction art market, Christie’s, Sotheby’s (BID), or Phillips, would be expected to sell such a collection. But Kelly Wright, an art advisor to Lehman, conducted a beauty contest earlier in the year and Freeman’s was selected. “We are very excited about it,” Henry said. “This is a very important provenance in the art world and there are number of top quality artworks being sold in good condition.” Of course, Freeman’s will get its pound of flesh. The auctioneer will add 25% on the first $20,000 of the hammer price of each lot, and 20% on the portion from $20,001 through $500,000.
In its glossy and colorful 250-page catalog, Freeman’s does acknowledge, briefly, the circumstances that led to the sale: “The company’s history ended abruptly in September 2008, when it was forced into bankruptcy during the recent financial crisis.” Not quite as dramatic sounding as the fall of the Medici, a previous patron of the arts whose banking empire was undone by fiscal mismanagement, but nevertheless a sign of our times
I don’t know who these people are or if they are real – here’s a google serach on US militias found Colorado militia not sure this is the group. Another was this U.S. National Militia Directory and on the wiki
I don’t condone this and also have a hard time believing anyone would be this stupid to broadcast their ill intentions over You Tube. But whether you believe Tim McVeigh acted alone or not tensions in the US are high, people are angry about many thing in the nation, so watch and take warning around government buildings just in case.
IBM scientists are working on ambitious research where nano-sized holes will be drilled into computer chips and DNA passed through to create a ‘genetic code reader’.
IBM said that experts from nanofabrication, microelectronics, physics and biology are working together to master a technique where a long DNA molecule passes through a three nanometer wide hole (a nanopore).
As the molecule passes through the nanopore one unit of DNA at a time, an electrical sensor can ‘read’ the DNA.
The challenge of the silicon-based ‘DNA Transistor’ would be to slow and control the motion of the DNA through the hole so the reader could decode what is inside it.
IBM claimed that if the project was successful it could make personalized genome analysis as cheap as $100 to $1,000, and compared it to the first ever sequencing done for the Human Genome Project, which cost $3 billion.
For any doubter out there, ‘Big Blue’ has released a video of its own discussing the possible implications, and some of the processes involved:
Interesting, and slightly scary, stuff.
from Ken Eakins
he.ro – ˈhɪəroʊ – [heer-oh] –noun, plural
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
I’ve been watching a number of videos on the Debtor’s Revolt on the You Tube and I came across this video. Upper Middle Class
I pegged the guy as a republican, I’ll skip, for now, how I came to that conclusion, but what I hope this video and the words following will do is advocate something we need as Americans to think about very carefully, that we are all citizens of this nation and that we need each other to survive and prosper.
That said, the first question I have in response to this video is, did this man lower his rents to help his exiting tenants or did he do this in order to avoid empty apartments, avert bigger loss, stay afloat essentially, cover his ass?
Here’s the low down, the banks don’t care if this guy defaults on the loan because the tax payers, the rest of us, through Congress, will bail the banks out.
What this man has is potential toxic waste – the banks win if he defaults, they got their fees and will get more. Any money “lost,” our government, we the tax payers, will fund with our savings and pensions.
Does this man understand that? Does he care?
If Bank Of America (BOA) lowers his rate who’s rate will they increase to make up the loss? The vulnerable family trying to make ends meet? The elderly? The college student? Yours?
Other than some bad PR, BOA is not being hurt, they made a bundle on the last bailout, they are only hurting us and as long as Congress keeps looking the other way they will find what ever fall guy they need to mitigate the heat or change their name. Meanwhile, they continue to keep stealing our savings, create more jobs loss and lower our standard of living.
If this man’s property is resold BOA will get their fees again and they hope the new owner will also default, it is how they get more of our savings, by picking our pockets one at a time and now tossing us all into the bottomless abyss of debt-money from China and the Saudis; both countries with abysmal labor and human rights violations.
We’re all just about broke, we will never pay China or the Saudis back. This is a new Ponzi Scheme brought to you by Wall Street yet again, and it’s not only hurting us and our children, but also our reputation in the world.
The American people are just starting to figure this scam out, China and the Saudis will only buy up so much more of our debt without requiring political favors or the ability to make large investments in the US. We are being forced to sell our county, our land and our wealth to inimical foreign interests. We are losing our country, soon followed by the lose of our security and our rights.
The banks are making billions off these losses and they are buying up our local solvent institutions or forcing them out of business, this Democratic Congress has done nothing, but allow them to act with impunity. Madoff was small potatoes.
President Obama hasn’t done anything other than make idle threats. I suspect, that like President Bush, President Obama is surrounded by the same people from Goldman Sachs and Wall Street who are gambling with our future and masterminding a good part of this scam. (see: indentured-slavery)
Not only are the banks too big to fail, they are stealing the country’s wealth; your life savings and our children’s future. This massive debt is leading to pay cuts and job loss, it is lowers our standard of living and is dividing us by class and political angst.
This is a financial coup.
If our government wanted to help its people, they would start by breaking up these behemoth banks, give these foreclosed and investment properties to Americans without homes first or subsidizes fair and affordable housing based on income.
Remember what Ronald Reagan said about home ownership – “it supplies stability and rootedness.”
Do we want to sell our country’s borders to the highest bidder regardless of their corrupt track-record?
Unfortunately, the actions of Congress demonstrate they won’t do anything short of a revolt and why should they? They gave up on us long ago when former politicians were allowed to lobby and infiltrated out system of governance for quid pro quo pay backs. Public service is now a mere career step to bigger and better things and the American People are divided, they on their own without representation, traveling down the road of a dog eat dog society.
So I pose my question to this BOA customer, why should hard working people, those also in debt, losing their own homes, education, jobs, health care, working without a living wage help you?
So we can continue to preserve the status quo?
I would be weary of this man’s investment plight, should he not also be advocating affordable housing, living wage jobs, universal health care and free education for all his countrymen and women?
In these hard and very vulnerable times shouldn’t we also be helping our neighbors, secure our country and preserve the rights for all.
I hesitate and wonder… once relieved will this man go back to serving these corporate masters, the wealthy socialist elitists on Wall Street?
I may be pre-judging this American citizen, however, in this economy, in our current society is his outrage, his plea for help, is his only interest to cover his ass?
Is he hoping this video will call to arms the viewer, his fellow Americans to put pressure on BOA in order to be one of the lucky and then quickly renew his membership in the “As Long As It’s Not Me” club?
Stay tuned…
____
____ The Debtors Revolt Trickle Count Down To The Collapse
Lower Middle Class – 4 June 2009
The Middle Class – 8 September 2009
Upper Middle Class – 30 September 2009
Update
Right now it would seem that if the vast majority of the American People wanted a change to our financial system, this crisis, the streets in DC and the State Houses would be full of outraged citizens with pitch forks and rope. Apparently, the brand of capitalism the people in the US want is a combination of sink or swim, as long as it’s not me and you’re on your own Pal. Until that attitude changes a lot of Americans are going to need a good strong pair of Chinese made boot straps.
okay, if we can’t eat um maybe they can come up with few good ideas…
At a little noticed meeting with Senate Democrats, Warren Buffett, the famous investors’ guru, told the lawmakers that rich people are not paying enough taxes.
A tax increase for the very wealthy? Many of the Senators backed away from that recommendation, even though it came from the world’s second richest man.
That is just one reason why Mr. Buffett plays a central role in my first work of fiction, Only the Super Rich Can Save Us! The title is derived from an exchange between Buffett and a woman from New Orleans. Buffett is leading a convoy of critical supplies right after Katrina to help the fleeing poor stranded on the highways without food, water, medicine and shelter. At one stop, Buffett was distributing supplies when a grandmother clasped his hands, looked right into his eyes and cried out: “Only the super-rich can save us!”
Her words jolted Buffett to his core. Arriving back at his modest home in Omaha, he knew what he had to do.
The next scene is early January 2006. Buffett and 16 enlightened super-rich elders gather at a mountaintop hotel in Maui, and devise an elaborate strategy to take on the corporate goliaths and their Washington allies, and to redirect the country toward long overdue changes.
What follows is a top-down, bottom-up mobilization of Americans from all backgrounds in a head-on power struggle to break the grip of the corporate titans on our government.
With four out of five Americans believing that the U.S. is in decline, imagining the super-rich powerful engine revving up an organized citizenry is a precondition to revitalizing democracy.
Tom Peters, the best selling author of In Search of Excellence summed up my book’s objective by calling it a work of fiction that he would love to see become nonfiction.
Step by step, week by week, Buffett’s super-rich, who call themselves “the Meliorists” build their campaigns—first privately and then openly launching their initiatives during the 4th of July weekend with media, fanfare and parades.
Turning real, well-known people into fictional roles does not mean that their past achievements and beliefs are overlooked. To the contrary, I extend their achievements and beliefs to a much more intense level of what I believe they wish to see our country become.
Over the years, I have spoken to many super-rich and found many of them discouraged and saddened about our nation’s inability to solve major problems—a society paralyzed because the few have too much political and economic power over the many.
Buffett, in my ‘political science fiction,’ to use my colleague Matt Zawisky’s phrase, selected people like George Soros, Ted Turner, Ross Perot, Sol Price, Yoko Ono, William Gates Sr., Barry Diller, Bill Cosby, Joe Jamail, Bernard Rapoport, Leonard Riggio, Phil Donahue, and others because each brought unique experience, determination, money and rolodexes to that secluded Maui hotel where they met every month.
The “Meliorists” address the enormous mismatch of resources between citizen groups and the corporate supremacists. This time the entrenched CEOs are challenged by the retired or elderly billionaires and mega-millionaires who know the ways and means of business and political power, and can throw the resources, smarts and grass-root organizing talent against the corporate behemoths, who are not reluctant to counterattack.
In 1888, a Bostonian by the name of Edward Bellamy published a tremendous bestseller about a utopian U.S. in the year 2000 called “Looking Backward.” The book inspired the then-growing progressive movement.
Obviously, Bellamy’s utopian dream was not actualized. In my book, I show not a utopian society but a primer for how the super-rich, as a catalyst, could provide the means for millions of Americans to upgrade their quality of life and their livelihoods while confidently building civic and political institutions to hold and extend their gains.
I mean this book to interest anyone searching for ways to make fundamental, sustainable change. With this book you could see how your favorite big issue could be handled strategically and tactically. If you just want to escape your despair over our national gridlock and peer into the possible, into what could happen now if enough people and progressive super-rich come together, this book is for you, too.
Every week, leading reformers in our country produce documentations, diagnoses, denunciations of injustice and proposals to address it. Little happens. Too many mismatches. We need major catalysts. But first, we need imaginations rooted in fulfilling available potentials—transformations for us and for posterity.
By the way, my fictional Meliorists have a task force on posterity as well.
muslims hate commies, but some did help the nazis, and nazis hate the muslims and the commies and the pacifist. the commies hate the nazis and the muslims and they don’t know what a pacifist is. the pacifist sorta like the commie, but commies don’t believe everything has spirit so pacifist only like the sharing part of the commies and pacifists don’t like the nazi’s, cause a lot of pacifist are jews, pacifist like the muslims but not the ones who blow things up, as i said, the muslims hate the commies and most don’t remember the nazis unless you bring up the jews and muslims are completely confused by pacifist, but all in all there is good, bad and mislead among all ideologies, so to the loonie-toon republicans, please make up your mind.
House Moves To Extend Unemployment Benefits “Despite predictions the Great Recession is running out of steam, the House is taking up emergency legislation this week to help the millions of Americans who see no immediate end to their economic miseries.
A bill offered by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and expected to pass easily would provide 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for more than 300,000 jobless people who live in states with unemployment rates of at least 8.5 percent and who are scheduled to run out of benefits by the end of September. “ more
While I think an extension on benefits is helpful – it’s one of those tiny band-aids in the box seldom used and never sticks.
This extension is nothing in comparison to what we gave and are still giving the Financial Crack Whores on Wall Street.
Sure, this will extend the life a couple of months for some average Americans to pay their bills on time like, minimum credit card payments which, ironically go directly into the pockets of the Financial Crack Whores, but Americans are starting to tire of treading just to keep their heads above water.
What Congress needs to address and have all, but failed to do are on the bigger issues – housing and jobs.
A good and patriotic start would be to lower and freeze the salaries of these Financial Crack Whores, they are still raking in profits off of free tax payer money. small solution below
It’s been a year and Congress hasn’t even begun to untangle the knots in this gnarly ball of thread. It’s time for a serious investigation of these institutions. Open Their Books!
Congress needs to get money flowing on Main Street not Wall Street by supporting tax incentives to companies that hire Citizens of the United States, expand and crating new business IN THE US and bailout the disadvantaged homeowners and get our people out of tents and living off the streets. It would have been far better if Congress gave the money directly to the middle class and poverty stricken Americans, with limits (housing, bills, education, savings), instead of constantly filling the pockets and bailing out the wealthy. This would have set us on a quicker path to restoring our nation’s economy.
We all need this card.
The Justice Department also needs to devote time to get our priorities and the crooks in order.
Congress needs to do a lot more than extend benefits. Like the American People, Congress needs to get to work.
We know it can be done, almost a year ago, inside a week, we saved the world from a financial collapse, right?
… small solution…
bring all current credit card debt interest rates down to 2% above prime; bankers got a better deal on their bailout and with this program still make a profit. Those who sign up can not apply for more credit until the amount owed is paid in full. When all credit card debt is paid back then bank salaries can be renegotiated.
If we don’t start coming up with solutions fast societal morals will begin to deteriorate spiraling downwards towards a country that embraces only every man for himself.
All that stands in the way of Universal Health Care in America are the greed of the medical- industrial complex, the lies of right wing propaganda machine, and the gullibility of the voters who believe those lies.
Let’s not let volume beat reason.
Dear Senator Dodd and Members of the Senate Banking Committee,
Will your D.N.A. be the new barcode?
House Moves To Extend Unemployment Benefits
