Finally Some Good News for Congressional Democrats

There is some good news for Democrats this week. Gallup polling is revealing a six-point lead in what is called the generic preference. This means more people prefer to vote for the Democrat in their district than the Republican if the election were held now.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141440/Democrats-Jump-Six-Point-Lead-Generic-Ballot.aspx

Owe Money -- Get a "Go to Jail Card"

A major Minnesota newspaper details a significant increase in arrests and incarceration for people who owe money on credit cards and to other businesses. While it seems that in most cases these debts have been outstanding for some time, the use of law enforcement to arrest and jail people is increasing. This at a time of widespread economic hardship.

The practice of jailing people for owing money is reprehensible, Draconian, medieval, barbaric. It should be stopped at once. What kind of country are we, when we jail people for owing what are often small amounts of money. If there are persons who willfully ignore their debts, a process of warnings should be developed and enacted into law. One suggestion is for persons to be allowed to fill out forms for garnishing wages at the time of arrest and prior to any jailing. Putting a person in jail in many cases only delays the repayment of the debt.

Shame on these heartless companies for jerking police around and getting them to do their bidding in this manner!

Secret Operations Threaten to Overshadow Elected Government

Here you will find a short article about a new Washington Post series on the vast intelligence-gathering network which has grown up after the attacks of September 2001. While much of this has been reported in one way or another by the alternative press over the years, this new series appears to gather a fairly extensive overview of information. This secretive operation is so hidden that no one knows for sure how much money is being spent. But the simple fact that 850,000 Americans have top secret clearances, according to this article indicates the huge size of this operation. To say this is not appropriate in a democracy is an understatement! Protect America, sure, but this is not the way to do it.



http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/press-release/wpo_washington-post-investigates-
the-intelligence-world-responsible-for-america-s-safety-1048978.html

What Gives the IMF the Right?

Immediately after the election of 2004 (results of which were officially contested on the floor of Congress), G. W. Bush began a campaign to partially privatize Social Security. His effort was strongly opposed and ultimately failed miserably.

Now comes word that an unelected body of bureaucrats wants to reduce Americans' hard-earned Social Security benefits. The article referenced below tells well of the putrid nature of the IMF's culpability regarding our continuing financial crisis.

This latest effort to undermine Americans' security must be fought with the same vigor as the fight against Bush's plan of a half decade ago. Indeed this effort must be fought with the same vigor as a foreign invasion albeit with different means.



http://www.truth-out.org/the-attack-real-black-helicopter-gang-the-imf-is-coming-your-social-security61291

Media Effectively Barred from Oil Spill Special Zones

This referenced article tells about what amounts to a ban on photos and eye-witness reports of oil spill containment efforts in the Gulf. At least that is what is reported here.

Where, in fact, is the sense of crisis at this time? What can we expect in the next weeks or months before the so-called rescue wells are in operation? It is critical that the media have access to these areas so we the people will know just what is going on.


http://fubarandgrill.org/node/97

Let Us Remember the Founders

As we come to the 234th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, let us remember those who had such an elevated and beautiful vision of what America could be. This would be a land of opportunity, purpose and equality. Although these goals would be under continuous development in the decades ahead, it was these persons and no others which set us on our course to freedom and justice. Men like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Monroe, James Madison, George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Patrick Henry, supported by "wives behind the throne," led the fight through their courage and eloquence.

I am reposting the link to some photos of "our founders" who recently appeared to voice their opinion on current matters of importance. Indeed, the fight for human dignity is by no means over. The forces of privilege and tyranny, often wearing the clothes of opportunity and advantage, are still very much with us. This week-end is as good a time as any to reflect on our Founding Fathers and Mothers and just how much of a sacrifice they made for us. May we be up to their sacrifice.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/42735292@N06/sets/72157624268930937/show/

Rep. Kennedy Rips National Press

Rarely have I seen or read of such a passionate speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on the subject of the national press. Certainly persons on the right have been passionately critical. But less often have persons on the left -- normally staunch advocates of freedom of the press -- been this critical with this kind of vehemence. Patrick Kennedy is to be congratulated for his speech.





N.B. I have no control over the ads appearing with this video. --TMP

Several Founding Fathers and One Founding Mother Apparently Visit Washington

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42735292@N06/sets/72157624268930937/show/

Click on post title or cut and paste the link above for a special slide show.


See post below for further information.

Something Cheerful!

"George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Betsy Ross" have re-appeared in Washington, this time protesting the influence of big money on politics! The article whose link appears below tells more.

It is about time our founding fathers and mothers got involved in the continuing cesspool which is otherwise known as American electoral politics. While there are certainly many, many wonderful people in elective office, the system which brings them there is all-too often corrupt and untrustworthy.

Hear ye, all citizens, the patriots of old* have returned to the fray! Their appearance is long-overdue.


*As you will see from the article, our Patriot Progenitors appear with actors under the clothes. But I don't want to spoil the fun.


http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/30/protesters-dressed-as-founding-fathers-crash-d-c-fundraisers/

Another Lion of the Senate Passes

Early this morning, in the wee hours, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia died after being in declining health for some time. This great lion of the Senate, who stood for the Constitution even when it wasn't popular, will be sorely missed. I will have more to say about Robert Byrd later.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/us/politics/29byrd.html?hp

Toronto Out of Control. Or Was It?

Here is a provocative account of what is being described as a riot in Toronto. Allegations are flying back and forth. It seems from the eye-witness reports given at this link that police were negligent (purposely?) in not stopping the actions of the Black Bloc. Astonishing and powerful reading.


http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/judes/2010/06/toronto-burning-or-it

New Report on Bush-era Torture Raises Question of Human Experimentation

Here is a quick post to direct you to a report on a report, one which raises serious questions of unethical and illegal human experimentation on detainees under the Bush Administration. It is time for the Obama Administration to step up to the plate and investigate if they have the nerve to reverse policy as stated by Mr. Obama himself.

No American should put up with anything less than a criminal investigation of this kind of activity!



http://www.truthout.org/human-experimentation-heart-bush-administrations-torture-program60199

Another Oil Company Plays Hardball

Bill Moyers in an article on his program's web site alerts us to another oil company disaster. Chevron has sued in court for access to out-takes of a movie critical of the company. In most cases, courts have ruled that journalistic film out-takes are the equivalent of a reporter's notebook. But now some judge in New York has given Chevron access to supposedly make sure the documentary was "fair." This is an outrageous ruling. If upheld it will chill both documentarians and sources. One wonders: Where are we getting these judges, perniciously ignorant of long-standing First Amendment law?



http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2010/05/bill_moyers_michael_winship_ch_1.html

Calls for a Return to Glass-Steagall Continue

An important economist has written an article in the Financial Times of London.
Roubini declared, "It is time for radical reform of finance. The majority of proposals on the table are inadequate or irrelevant. Large financial institutions must be unbundled; they are too big, interconnected and complex to manage. Investors and customers can find all the traditional banking, investment banking, hedge fund, mutual fund and insurance services they need in specialized firms. We need to go back to Glass-Steagall on steroids."


(unconfirmed but from a usually-reliable source)

Socialism Revisited

Socialism is a term fraught with controversy and contradiction. In its clearest meaning, it is a way of organizing society in order to preserve and protect the rights and needs of people. It is under this definition that some even opposed the
Revolutionary War. That is, they were more desirous of protecting their own interests tied to the British crown.

We see this same line of reasoning today: I have to protect my own interests even if that means others must suffer. It is an old story.

The question is whether the major alternative to socialism, capitalism, can any longer be made to work. That is, can the social costs of preserving capitalism be ameliorated to the extent that the profit system can survive.

Those who have studied the matter doubt capitalism can survive. At a minimum, the kind of market-driven capitalism we have had for the last many years simply cannot garner the kind of political support necessary.

What we are getting instead is a very minimal increase in the regulatory regime in Washington. And the proposal to give watch-dog authority to the Federal Reserve seems, at the least, a matter of letting the fox guard the hen house. These things do in fact need to be said. Congress has not effectively dealt with the problem due to inherent conflicts of interest having to do with the financing of elections (which includes the heavy use of corporate media).

The article referenced below advocates for socialism. While I am not an advocate of state-run socialism, a la the former Soviet Union, I do value a new approach. Call it progressivism, communitarianism, or simply Christianity-put-into-practice, it is clear our current system is not only unethical but unsustainable. I will attempt to present more evidence for this bold assertion in the days, weeks, and months ahead.


http://www.truthout.org/the-case-socialism59538