Whether or not one feels a “bailout” should be made, has to be made otherwise we will turn into the next great depression. To renege is to cut one's own nose to spite one's own face.
Capitalist purists want the marketplace to rule and self correct, which will mean business failures, bankruptcies and foreclosures and an unemployment rate that will jump up to the high teens.
Usually the purest are at the other end of the totem pole where an economic crisis is an inconvenience, not devastation.
The Citigroup "bailout" is a better crafted one in that the Government will be given preferred stock for its contribution (The U.S. can actually make money). This is our new economy, created by another supply side crash and burn, where our government has a financial share in many big businesses, rather than just a "say." A limited socialism, if you will, as the medicine for casino capitalism.
It was refreshing to hear the President elect’s honesty in stating our economy will get worse before it gets better. He left out we will no longer be able to resort to financial gimmickry - junk bonds, dot com's and real estate bubbles to over inflate our economy and its financial values.
Finally, I love the moderate and experienced course the President elect is taking on his Cabinet choices. Being a Hillary supporter, it’s nice to see the old Clinton gang together again.
David DiBello
Monday, December 1, 2008
Top 12 Notre Dame Excuses for Loss to USC
Top 12 Notre Dame Excuses for Loss to USC
12. Nine total Yards Offense in First Half still an awful lot of running over thirty minutes
11. Players had Third Quarter in the First Down Pool
10. Stayed out Late night before at OJ Simpson Museum and Celebrity Bus tour
9. Supposed to be “the Harlem Globetrotters” of College Football, then all these tough schools showed up
8. Goal was six ties too so record could be spooky 6-6-6.
7. Team got swept up in “Bailout Fever” and expected to be spotted 32 points
6. Oh, that USC! (Players thought University of Southwest Connecticut)
5. Wanted to see if Knute Rockne actually could roll over from six foot under after all these years
4. Other schools have really cool alumnae, while all ND has is Regis Philbin!
3. “Win one for the Weiss Guy” just not as motivational
2. All the good players went to Ball State this year enticed by a Letterman autograph (NCAA violation?).
1. Hey we’re Notre Dame; they’re allowed to tackle us?
David DiBello
12. Nine total Yards Offense in First Half still an awful lot of running over thirty minutes
11. Players had Third Quarter in the First Down Pool
10. Stayed out Late night before at OJ Simpson Museum and Celebrity Bus tour
9. Supposed to be “the Harlem Globetrotters” of College Football, then all these tough schools showed up
8. Goal was six ties too so record could be spooky 6-6-6.
7. Team got swept up in “Bailout Fever” and expected to be spotted 32 points
6. Oh, that USC! (Players thought University of Southwest Connecticut)
5. Wanted to see if Knute Rockne actually could roll over from six foot under after all these years
4. Other schools have really cool alumnae, while all ND has is Regis Philbin!
3. “Win one for the Weiss Guy” just not as motivational
2. All the good players went to Ball State this year enticed by a Letterman autograph (NCAA violation?).
1. Hey we’re Notre Dame; they’re allowed to tackle us?
David DiBello
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Michael J. Fox had it all and was struck with his illness, his cross to bear, and chose through his ability and resources, to become an advocate for Parkinson’s disease. While most choose to get lost in the unfairness of it all, the loss of an acting career, he as Christopher Reeves chose more productive alternatives.
Listening to them ask for contributions for their specific concern, one would want to exhaustingly say, “Enough already.” But we suddenly realize why these men became afflicted with such a challenge – this is their calling; they had an acting career, but God wanted more of them, and He knew He would get more from the qualities of these two men.
In the late 80’s, the heydays, I left a restaurant carrying my doggie bag because my eyes were bigger than my stomach. A young homeless man asked me for help, so I gave him my food, expecting him to throw it down and be angered that I didn’t give him cash. Instead I got, “Oh man is that food, thank you, thank you.” We were taught they ALL wanted money for alcohol and drugs.
In the early 90’s, a seedy looking woman on 31st street and Lexington, two children in tow, was pleading for money. I passed her by in a hurry, then I thought, it’s Friday night and I’m off to meet friends at a bar; I’ll be drinking while this woman, with tears in her eyes, is crying for help. So I multiplied the number of drinks I thought I was going to have by $5, and felt I should give her something. I handed her $20, hey it was the roaring nineties for some, and rushed off to my destination. My background music was this woman yelling, “God bless, you sir, God bless you, God bless you!” that everyone on Lexington Avenue heard it to the point I was blushing, something I was not prepared to do on a Friday night.
I was taught that once I handed her the money, she would waste no time and make a beeline to her crack dealer, her children just being a ploy. Two hours later she was still there hoping for more money for her children.
Recently I became blessed to witness this cross of life and the contradiction that exists. I applied to day labor, which means you come with a passport and wait in a colorless, makeshift room and sit on folding chairs if lucky, to wait with 100 other “indigent” people in the hopes of being chosen to clean dishes, carry all sorts of junk, or sweep streets. As I sat in this room, I saw all men from the night before who slept in the streets, a hallway, or a shelter if they were lucky, and if they didn’t fear getting beaten, robbed or raped.
Now I was told that they “want to be homeless, and don’t want to work.” Did this information not filter down to these men, men who wanted to make enough money that day so they can sleep peacefully in a SRO motel?
I also have become privy to the welfare system, that government money tree handout, which provides $144 a month in food stamps to a single person, an allotment of $230 towards rent a month, and you get to clean the public highways for about $136 a month. All “benefits” toll, it’s less than minimum wage – way less.
I was told that people easily take advantage of the welfare system to buy jewelry and fancy clothes, yet I saw no signs of this, no one “vogue-ing” through the hallways waiting on endless lines of bureaucratic red tape; no one snickering in the belief they are going to get over on a system that has a maze of paperwork requirements in an effort to trip an applicant up and disqualify them like some perverse “gong show.” The belief of abuse is so indoctrinated that even the welfare personnel asks for your cell phone number, which is an oxymoron considering the requirements to accept benefits.
I am reminded of an episode of MASH where the jeep Hawkeye told Margaret Houlihan “never let it be said I didn’t do the least I can do.” The government will provide “the least that they can do,” certainly not anything life sustaining. Something to think about while obeying our regimen of showering and shaving, dressing for work, eating the appropriate meals, remembering vitamins just to maintain the minimum standard to viable as a human.
We all have our cross to bear at times we all get a cross to bear, and sometimes this cross becomes a calling. It is said that God gives us a cross we can handle, and no more. Ronald Reagan professed in the belief of “tithing,” giving of one-tenth of one’s earnings, a suggestion from the Bible. The fact that we find it impossible to “tithe,” despite having two spouses both working should tell us something about how our economy is these days, and has changed from a few decades ago. It was in the eighties when “laissez faire” and “supply side” were unleashed that created the “decade of greed,” and multiplied the homeless populations tenfold. One can form their own conclusion, but we simply have to listen to the words of our Saint-elect, Holy Father’s words: “Unbridled capitalism with no moral compass is destined for ruination.”
As for everything I was told over the years, I have learned that in most nearly every case people aren’t homeless because they want to be, and not all resort to alcohol and drugs. We hypnotize ourselves with this belief to justify not “doing anything.” As thinking, feeling human beings, we know better. The guilt, like a party crasher, comes with no RSVP required.
I am not naïve to think people don’t use drugs or alcohol, or have become so hopeless, or long term unemployed they no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel. They have forgotten how to work, forgotten what it was like to have structure in their lives, if they ever had it at all. Some have used drugs or alcohol to get to this mess; others have gotten into this mess and resorted to drugs and alcohol for some comfort, a last ditch pain management regimen once hope, a pre-requisite for existence, is lost.
Others are mentally ill, many have suffered from broken homes with no parental guidance or financial support, and others have been sexually or physically abused. Many had their fortunes stolen or conned, construction jobs were closed, and businesses failed, many stretched beyond any unemployment benefits. Some became too old for the work force, had no training, and others became physically ill with no health insurance.
Of the most inane statements that we utter in an effort to diffuse any action on our part is the senseless belief that one needs to “pull themselves up by the bootstraps.” We must encourage people to not quit or lose hope, but if the Mayor of New Orleans can throw in the towel and bail because he lacks resources, what chances do people with no family history, intellectual ability or economic means have? To date I have never heard of a drowning man simultaneously save himself, never heard of someone screaming, “Help, help…oh, never mind.” Bootstraps are pulled up with “a little help from a friend.”
Our job is not to wonder how people got where they did, there are many as I stated, but our goal is compassion. It is at this time of year that we don’t become angered about how hard everything is, or what we don’t have, but take stock and be grateful for what we do have – the other side of that half empty glass. It is at this time that we thank God for our families, our safety nets, and our physical and mental gifts, and utter the phrase, “There but for the Grace of God go I.” Our focus is not ego and pride, but love and understanding, or at least acceptance; when we see a building on fire, we don’t start a debate on how it happened, we run to put out the fire.
The picture isn’t pretty; it’s not supposed to be, just like a natural disaster is devastating, not a major inconvenience. Hate the unfairness or injustice; don’t hate the victims, or the sight of homelessness. It looks the way it does, because it is what it is, and there is no way to make it antiseptic.
God made it easy for us; leave the judgment to Him, our job is compassion and help. While we struggle up Maslow’s pyramid, going from our basic needs to those back rubbing, ego-injecting urges, remember others are so far down on the pyramid they are being buried by it. If we are worried about “where the money goes, or how it is being used,” remember our responsibility ends at the “giving” stage, and a brief reread of the Serenity prayer would help here. Add to this the suggestion that we shouldn’t be so conveniently cynical; this will only lead to unsubstantiated self-justification; and guilt, no matter how we try to deny delivery.
It’s that old totem-pole theory – not to forget others as we climb our way up, keeping in mind that old philosophy of “what goes up, must come down.” Like watching football or baseball games in my 46th year on this earth, I’ve had it with the gifts – the sweaters, shirts, ties, cologne, CD’s – while others need food and clothing, the basics of life.
There is a belief that we should “give till it hurts,” only knowing then how much of a threshold until the giving reaches a substantive point, a real effort. But no such sacrifice is called for here, just a simple act of compassion and charity. While I do not take refuge in the notion that we should feel better about ourselves by witnessing the misery of others, a false value, it does give us some insight in knowing how much we actually do have in our lives; we can put down those daily grievances about not getting that promotion, not getting that girl, not being able to afford that car, live in that house or be physically appealing as we would like, and start to get a little perspective as to what we do have, and start counting those blessings. We would surely come away with the knowledge that we have so much, while others have so little, not even the minimal human requirements, and that should be unacceptable for any rationale, human being.
We will sense a greater fulfillment from knowing our brothers and sisters have a little hope in their lives; people who need people. It will open up a wall of emotions, and I’m sure we will start to sense the frustration Mr. Schindler felt towards the end of that movie, that another watch or ring or chain, or CD or IPOD or DVD could have helped feed and comfort dozens.
The Bowery mission is a good place to start; your local church, synagogue, mosque or community center soup kitchen is another. Holy Cross on 42nd street has the Crossroads Pantry, and there is the Metropolitan Community Church on 36th Street that hands out food 5 days a week, but sometimes just chocolate bars and cheese crackers, and that’s a disgrace in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
Unconditional giving; one will be surprised “what’s in it for them.” And “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Listening to them ask for contributions for their specific concern, one would want to exhaustingly say, “Enough already.” But we suddenly realize why these men became afflicted with such a challenge – this is their calling; they had an acting career, but God wanted more of them, and He knew He would get more from the qualities of these two men.
In the late 80’s, the heydays, I left a restaurant carrying my doggie bag because my eyes were bigger than my stomach. A young homeless man asked me for help, so I gave him my food, expecting him to throw it down and be angered that I didn’t give him cash. Instead I got, “Oh man is that food, thank you, thank you.” We were taught they ALL wanted money for alcohol and drugs.
In the early 90’s, a seedy looking woman on 31st street and Lexington, two children in tow, was pleading for money. I passed her by in a hurry, then I thought, it’s Friday night and I’m off to meet friends at a bar; I’ll be drinking while this woman, with tears in her eyes, is crying for help. So I multiplied the number of drinks I thought I was going to have by $5, and felt I should give her something. I handed her $20, hey it was the roaring nineties for some, and rushed off to my destination. My background music was this woman yelling, “God bless, you sir, God bless you, God bless you!” that everyone on Lexington Avenue heard it to the point I was blushing, something I was not prepared to do on a Friday night.
I was taught that once I handed her the money, she would waste no time and make a beeline to her crack dealer, her children just being a ploy. Two hours later she was still there hoping for more money for her children.
Recently I became blessed to witness this cross of life and the contradiction that exists. I applied to day labor, which means you come with a passport and wait in a colorless, makeshift room and sit on folding chairs if lucky, to wait with 100 other “indigent” people in the hopes of being chosen to clean dishes, carry all sorts of junk, or sweep streets. As I sat in this room, I saw all men from the night before who slept in the streets, a hallway, or a shelter if they were lucky, and if they didn’t fear getting beaten, robbed or raped.
Now I was told that they “want to be homeless, and don’t want to work.” Did this information not filter down to these men, men who wanted to make enough money that day so they can sleep peacefully in a SRO motel?
I also have become privy to the welfare system, that government money tree handout, which provides $144 a month in food stamps to a single person, an allotment of $230 towards rent a month, and you get to clean the public highways for about $136 a month. All “benefits” toll, it’s less than minimum wage – way less.
I was told that people easily take advantage of the welfare system to buy jewelry and fancy clothes, yet I saw no signs of this, no one “vogue-ing” through the hallways waiting on endless lines of bureaucratic red tape; no one snickering in the belief they are going to get over on a system that has a maze of paperwork requirements in an effort to trip an applicant up and disqualify them like some perverse “gong show.” The belief of abuse is so indoctrinated that even the welfare personnel asks for your cell phone number, which is an oxymoron considering the requirements to accept benefits.
I am reminded of an episode of MASH where the jeep Hawkeye told Margaret Houlihan “never let it be said I didn’t do the least I can do.” The government will provide “the least that they can do,” certainly not anything life sustaining. Something to think about while obeying our regimen of showering and shaving, dressing for work, eating the appropriate meals, remembering vitamins just to maintain the minimum standard to viable as a human.
We all have our cross to bear at times we all get a cross to bear, and sometimes this cross becomes a calling. It is said that God gives us a cross we can handle, and no more. Ronald Reagan professed in the belief of “tithing,” giving of one-tenth of one’s earnings, a suggestion from the Bible. The fact that we find it impossible to “tithe,” despite having two spouses both working should tell us something about how our economy is these days, and has changed from a few decades ago. It was in the eighties when “laissez faire” and “supply side” were unleashed that created the “decade of greed,” and multiplied the homeless populations tenfold. One can form their own conclusion, but we simply have to listen to the words of our Saint-elect, Holy Father’s words: “Unbridled capitalism with no moral compass is destined for ruination.”
As for everything I was told over the years, I have learned that in most nearly every case people aren’t homeless because they want to be, and not all resort to alcohol and drugs. We hypnotize ourselves with this belief to justify not “doing anything.” As thinking, feeling human beings, we know better. The guilt, like a party crasher, comes with no RSVP required.
I am not naïve to think people don’t use drugs or alcohol, or have become so hopeless, or long term unemployed they no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel. They have forgotten how to work, forgotten what it was like to have structure in their lives, if they ever had it at all. Some have used drugs or alcohol to get to this mess; others have gotten into this mess and resorted to drugs and alcohol for some comfort, a last ditch pain management regimen once hope, a pre-requisite for existence, is lost.
Others are mentally ill, many have suffered from broken homes with no parental guidance or financial support, and others have been sexually or physically abused. Many had their fortunes stolen or conned, construction jobs were closed, and businesses failed, many stretched beyond any unemployment benefits. Some became too old for the work force, had no training, and others became physically ill with no health insurance.
Of the most inane statements that we utter in an effort to diffuse any action on our part is the senseless belief that one needs to “pull themselves up by the bootstraps.” We must encourage people to not quit or lose hope, but if the Mayor of New Orleans can throw in the towel and bail because he lacks resources, what chances do people with no family history, intellectual ability or economic means have? To date I have never heard of a drowning man simultaneously save himself, never heard of someone screaming, “Help, help…oh, never mind.” Bootstraps are pulled up with “a little help from a friend.”
Our job is not to wonder how people got where they did, there are many as I stated, but our goal is compassion. It is at this time of year that we don’t become angered about how hard everything is, or what we don’t have, but take stock and be grateful for what we do have – the other side of that half empty glass. It is at this time that we thank God for our families, our safety nets, and our physical and mental gifts, and utter the phrase, “There but for the Grace of God go I.” Our focus is not ego and pride, but love and understanding, or at least acceptance; when we see a building on fire, we don’t start a debate on how it happened, we run to put out the fire.
The picture isn’t pretty; it’s not supposed to be, just like a natural disaster is devastating, not a major inconvenience. Hate the unfairness or injustice; don’t hate the victims, or the sight of homelessness. It looks the way it does, because it is what it is, and there is no way to make it antiseptic.
God made it easy for us; leave the judgment to Him, our job is compassion and help. While we struggle up Maslow’s pyramid, going from our basic needs to those back rubbing, ego-injecting urges, remember others are so far down on the pyramid they are being buried by it. If we are worried about “where the money goes, or how it is being used,” remember our responsibility ends at the “giving” stage, and a brief reread of the Serenity prayer would help here. Add to this the suggestion that we shouldn’t be so conveniently cynical; this will only lead to unsubstantiated self-justification; and guilt, no matter how we try to deny delivery.
It’s that old totem-pole theory – not to forget others as we climb our way up, keeping in mind that old philosophy of “what goes up, must come down.” Like watching football or baseball games in my 46th year on this earth, I’ve had it with the gifts – the sweaters, shirts, ties, cologne, CD’s – while others need food and clothing, the basics of life.
There is a belief that we should “give till it hurts,” only knowing then how much of a threshold until the giving reaches a substantive point, a real effort. But no such sacrifice is called for here, just a simple act of compassion and charity. While I do not take refuge in the notion that we should feel better about ourselves by witnessing the misery of others, a false value, it does give us some insight in knowing how much we actually do have in our lives; we can put down those daily grievances about not getting that promotion, not getting that girl, not being able to afford that car, live in that house or be physically appealing as we would like, and start to get a little perspective as to what we do have, and start counting those blessings. We would surely come away with the knowledge that we have so much, while others have so little, not even the minimal human requirements, and that should be unacceptable for any rationale, human being.
We will sense a greater fulfillment from knowing our brothers and sisters have a little hope in their lives; people who need people. It will open up a wall of emotions, and I’m sure we will start to sense the frustration Mr. Schindler felt towards the end of that movie, that another watch or ring or chain, or CD or IPOD or DVD could have helped feed and comfort dozens.
The Bowery mission is a good place to start; your local church, synagogue, mosque or community center soup kitchen is another. Holy Cross on 42nd street has the Crossroads Pantry, and there is the Metropolitan Community Church on 36th Street that hands out food 5 days a week, but sometimes just chocolate bars and cheese crackers, and that’s a disgrace in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
Unconditional giving; one will be surprised “what’s in it for them.” And “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Notre Dame: A Pampered Classism
Once again we will observe a college benefiting from name recognition having beaten teams with a combined won lost record (excluding their loss to ND) of 22 and 41, a .350 winning percentage, yet preordained to a bowl game. Would this be true if they were the Indiana Fighting Cardinals?
Of course pride is consumed in their title, having allegiance from American Catholics and those of Irish decent, however their behavior, pelting fellow student players with snowballs was one of a ghetto mentality, certainly not befitting of what is believed to be one of the finest learning institutions in the nation. Is this how members of a “higher value” college act when things don’t go their way, or turn out wrong?
It is time we ended the façade of placing this university, its students and alumnae on a pedestal and let them experience the real world on its merits, starting with a more balanced schedule, and ending with them rewarded bowl games based on their achievements, not their personae.
This year ND benefited by a Michigan team that fumbled seven times, and a San Diego State team that fumbled at the goal line and has been outscored by their opposition 446 to 231.
No other school enjoys a TV Contract to broadcast all its games. In addition to ND’s “bowl game in waiting” status, is this fair, or even honest to every other college that competes on a level playing field?
We have given a ten year contract to a coach who has assembled a few good talent, while the rest remain at division two level at best (can you imagine?). I am sure he will certainly feel the wrath of alumnae that feels there is only one outcome for them, unlike the rest of America.
It must be a bitter pill to swallow, to face challenges like the rest of us without having the luxury of a “fixed” outcome.
David DiBello
Of course pride is consumed in their title, having allegiance from American Catholics and those of Irish decent, however their behavior, pelting fellow student players with snowballs was one of a ghetto mentality, certainly not befitting of what is believed to be one of the finest learning institutions in the nation. Is this how members of a “higher value” college act when things don’t go their way, or turn out wrong?
It is time we ended the façade of placing this university, its students and alumnae on a pedestal and let them experience the real world on its merits, starting with a more balanced schedule, and ending with them rewarded bowl games based on their achievements, not their personae.
This year ND benefited by a Michigan team that fumbled seven times, and a San Diego State team that fumbled at the goal line and has been outscored by their opposition 446 to 231.
No other school enjoys a TV Contract to broadcast all its games. In addition to ND’s “bowl game in waiting” status, is this fair, or even honest to every other college that competes on a level playing field?
We have given a ten year contract to a coach who has assembled a few good talent, while the rest remain at division two level at best (can you imagine?). I am sure he will certainly feel the wrath of alumnae that feels there is only one outcome for them, unlike the rest of America.
It must be a bitter pill to swallow, to face challenges like the rest of us without having the luxury of a “fixed” outcome.
David DiBello
Who's to Blame for Big Three Failure?
Forgive me, but I didn't hear of a rash of hi jackings or kidnappings in the 90's or early 2000's forcing Americans to buy Hummers and gas guzzling SUV's. Thanks to auto leases, even our second car was new, which put us more into debt.
Like with our stock, we bougth with reckless abandon while bowing at the alter of gluttony, giving no consideration to frugality. Where does balme for our current economic condition lie?
Of course the Big Three Auto Manufacturers played on the vulnerabilities and lust of their market, and via collusion with Big Oil, kept producing cars that had mileage rates that dated back to our Oil crisis of the Seventies.
As buyers, we didn't learn a thing. So while we are pointing fingers at GM it is important to remember the words of former Mayor Jimmy Walker who refered to his administration's corruption during his resignation speech: "I'm not the only fool here; you voted for me!"
To quote another famous pundit: "The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves."
Like with our stock, we bougth with reckless abandon while bowing at the alter of gluttony, giving no consideration to frugality. Where does balme for our current economic condition lie?
Of course the Big Three Auto Manufacturers played on the vulnerabilities and lust of their market, and via collusion with Big Oil, kept producing cars that had mileage rates that dated back to our Oil crisis of the Seventies.
As buyers, we didn't learn a thing. So while we are pointing fingers at GM it is important to remember the words of former Mayor Jimmy Walker who refered to his administration's corruption during his resignation speech: "I'm not the only fool here; you voted for me!"
To quote another famous pundit: "The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
We are now concerned with a Candidate's Clothing Allowance?
Obviously bad decision on the RNC's part to purchase all Sarah's clothes at once, especailly while espousing "brotherhood with Joe," but even "Six Pack" and "the Plumber" know how to dress when attending a wedding, their own or another's.
Have we gone from revealing a candidates tax return to detailing their clothing allowance? How much has Barack, Joe and John spent on their clothes?
Shouldn't we expect a VP candidate to dress the part? Is it that much money given the budgets? If one divides $150,000 by $21 million, the amount Barack has spent on polling, would we blink an eye? The campaign funds are now in the "BBBBBBillion dollar range, so if 1% were allocated to clothing, that would leave a spending allotment of $10 million dollars. $150,000 is 1.5% of that amount.
Even Dave the Accountant spends more money on clothes.
We have a Left Wing attack group led by Chris Matthews high standards of speech Sarah should have hade before second graders (should she have gone into detail about the clouture rule, or fillibusters - any thinking adult would be logically confused).
We have Keith "the sportscaster" Olberman laughing nightly at something only he finds amusing or defines as such, and lectured by Bill "I beat my African American Girlfriend within an inch of her life in a coke induced rage" Maher, regarding right and wrong.
Too bad they both couldn't stick to issues instead of these sophomoric locker room attacks.
A word of warning to Obama: no matter how bad the economy, your surrogates are making it very hard to vote for you.
David DiBello
Have we gone from revealing a candidates tax return to detailing their clothing allowance? How much has Barack, Joe and John spent on their clothes?
Shouldn't we expect a VP candidate to dress the part? Is it that much money given the budgets? If one divides $150,000 by $21 million, the amount Barack has spent on polling, would we blink an eye? The campaign funds are now in the "BBBBBBillion dollar range, so if 1% were allocated to clothing, that would leave a spending allotment of $10 million dollars. $150,000 is 1.5% of that amount.
Even Dave the Accountant spends more money on clothes.
We have a Left Wing attack group led by Chris Matthews high standards of speech Sarah should have hade before second graders (should she have gone into detail about the clouture rule, or fillibusters - any thinking adult would be logically confused).
We have Keith "the sportscaster" Olberman laughing nightly at something only he finds amusing or defines as such, and lectured by Bill "I beat my African American Girlfriend within an inch of her life in a coke induced rage" Maher, regarding right and wrong.
Too bad they both couldn't stick to issues instead of these sophomoric locker room attacks.
A word of warning to Obama: no matter how bad the economy, your surrogates are making it very hard to vote for you.
David DiBello
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
The wealthy in America are jumping behind their latest mascot, Joe the Plumber (as if his interest is at their heart), crying foul that Democrats are seeking to tax their hard “accumulated” money and give it to the working class, the source of their profit. This Robin Hood defense skims over the fact pointed out by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Commerce, that since 1980, they have gone from possessing 8% of the total wealth to 20%, while the working class has had their salaries stagnate due to the global competition and threats of outsourcing.
In actuality the working class is questioning how the wealthy got their earnings. O’Reilly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned about working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage earners working for below poverty wages. We are disturbed with unchecked CEO pay to the ignorance of stockholders. Such is the case with Richard Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, who was on the very same compensation committee that did his hiring and created his contract. Collusion by like kinds?
The wealthy scoff at the notion that paying taxes, or making an additional sacrifice to this country by paying slightly more, as Patriotic. It seems military service and risking one’s life and blood is the only form of sacrifice, but their ilk isn’t doing that either. It’s a win-win; enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. Their sacrifice is limited to flag lapels and rhetoric, or the canard of capital infusion which that have a personal gain, while McCain talks of “walking the walk.”
The nature of capitalism dictates money makes money, and the “haves” possess the upper hand. Capitalism is like a crap game, where wealthy players risk more, bit have more exposure to winning on every role, while the budget conscience can only contribute a little to risk, and have smaller returns. It is the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” theorem where the wealthy watch their nest eggs grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save.
The working class is losing defined pension plans while contributing more towards health premiums as employers continue to divest of these previously paid obligations. Our economy is now based on wealth not work, as the working class relies on old money to survive, many times at the expense of their children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations pitted against one another.
While being the best form of economics, Capitalism is not perfect and needs to be regulated. We eliminated monopolies which inhibited competition and marketplace rules, to the behest of business which approves of unfairness when it benefits them.
The irony is ignorance of working class plight will lead to a boycott by default due to loss of disposable income and consumer confidence, which will eventually discomfort the wealthy. This is the reason for stimulus packages as trivial as their effect. Not keeping enough money in the hands of those who need to spend will have a boomerang effect. Only when Mr. O’Reilly can no longer sell his product will he realize whose money he does have.
If we restored Clinton era taxes I doubt the wealthy will go into austerity mode. Our budget was balanced, the economy was humming and our dollar was worth a dollar. Like the luxury tax during Bush Sr.’s tenure, no wealthy person is going to start brown bagging lunch, or accept “no” as an outcome because there is a 10% surcharge on purchases. Donald Trump will not say no to the purchase of a new Yacht because the adjusted sales price is 10% higher.
And what is McCain suggesting for us “Joe the Plumber types?” An extension of the Bush tax cuts that have widened the divide in classes, more tax cuts for Big Business and further divestiture of employer paid benefits like health care and pensions which create an additional cost for us average Joe’s. Let’s not forget that had our Social Security been backed by the stock market, something supported by McCain, we average folk would be experiencing a Depression now.
Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn, of which the unlicensed “Joe the Plumber” is still one, and would stay that way under McCain.
David DiBello
The wealthy in America are jumping behind their latest mascot, Joe the Plumber (as if his interest is at their heart), crying foul that Democrats are seeking to tax their hard “accumulated” money and give it to the working class, the source of their profit. This Robin Hood defense skims over the fact pointed out by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Commerce, that since 1980, they have gone from possessing 8% of the total wealth to 20%, while the working class has had their salaries stagnate due to the global competition and threats of outsourcing.
In actuality the working class is questioning how the wealthy got their earnings. O’Reilly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned about working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage earners working for below poverty wages. We are disturbed with unchecked CEO pay to the ignorance of stockholders. Such is the case with Richard Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, who was on the very same compensation committee that did his hiring and created his contract. Collusion by like kinds?
The wealthy scoff at the notion that paying taxes, or making an additional sacrifice to this country by paying slightly more, as Patriotic. It seems military service and risking one’s life and blood is the only form of sacrifice, but their ilk isn’t doing that either. It’s a win-win; enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. Their sacrifice is limited to flag lapels and rhetoric, or the canard of capital infusion which that have a personal gain, while McCain talks of “walking the walk.”
The nature of capitalism dictates money makes money, and the “haves” possess the upper hand. Capitalism is like a crap game, where wealthy players risk more, bit have more exposure to winning on every role, while the budget conscience can only contribute a little to risk, and have smaller returns. It is the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” theorem where the wealthy watch their nest eggs grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save.
The working class is losing defined pension plans while contributing more towards health premiums as employers continue to divest of these previously paid obligations. Our economy is now based on wealth not work, as the working class relies on old money to survive, many times at the expense of their children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations pitted against one another.
While being the best form of economics, Capitalism is not perfect and needs to be regulated. We eliminated monopolies which inhibited competition and marketplace rules, to the behest of business which approves of unfairness when it benefits them.
The irony is ignorance of working class plight will lead to a boycott by default due to loss of disposable income and consumer confidence, which will eventually discomfort the wealthy. This is the reason for stimulus packages as trivial as their effect. Not keeping enough money in the hands of those who need to spend will have a boomerang effect. Only when Mr. O’Reilly can no longer sell his product will he realize whose money he does have.
If we restored Clinton era taxes I doubt the wealthy will go into austerity mode. Our budget was balanced, the economy was humming and our dollar was worth a dollar. Like the luxury tax during Bush Sr.’s tenure, no wealthy person is going to start brown bagging lunch, or accept “no” as an outcome because there is a 10% surcharge on purchases. Donald Trump will not say no to the purchase of a new Yacht because the adjusted sales price is 10% higher.
And what is McCain suggesting for us “Joe the Plumber types?” An extension of the Bush tax cuts that have widened the divide in classes, more tax cuts for Big Business and further divestiture of employer paid benefits like health care and pensions which create an additional cost for us average Joe’s. Let’s not forget that had our Social Security been backed by the stock market, something supported by McCain, we average folk would be experiencing a Depression now.
Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn, of which the unlicensed “Joe the Plumber” is still one, and would stay that way under McCain.
David DiBello
It’s Audacious for Republicans to Complain
The McCain camp and Republicans are now spreading fear that Democrats in control of the Presidency and both houses of Congress is a danger to Americans because they will remain unchecked and shape policy as they see fit. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that what the Republican Party had for the 6 years from January 2001 to January 2007?
Many also criticize Democrats for not doing anything during the 1 and ½ years they were in charge of the House and Senate (barely) failing to mention that the Veto power remained in a Republican President’s hands stymieing all Democrat efforts, not possessing a super majority to overturn veto’s or overcome the cloture rule in the Senate requiring 60 votes to avoid filibuster.
Isn’t it time for another party to have a chance at running government and getting things done on behalf of the people? Perhaps the Republican Party is subconsciously saying of Democrats what they know true of themselves – unchecked, corruption flourishes. Look at Tom Delay, Denny Hastert, Ted Stevens, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby (who fell on his sword at Cheney’s request), Randy “Duke” Cunningham, all of whom served at great sacrifice on behalf of the American people, leveraging their power to personally and financially flourish, making their sacrifice a scam.
Add to it out of control behavior of Bittars, Craig, Foley and Fossella and maybe it is time for a change, placing people in charge who will take the business of the American People seriously and not look at Congress as their own little playground, where they feel above the law and preoccupied with their own gravitas.
A Republican President and Republican Congress have put us in this current economic supply side mess, reversing the Glass-Steagall act led by anti-whiner Phil Gramm, tightening personal bankruptcy laws but overlooking usury of credit institutions, and creating a Medicare prescription drug plan after efforts to block purchases of drugs from overseas failed. This is ironic from a party that believes in the law of supply and demand, and underscores their preoccupation with business and the rich over the good of all Americans.
The Republicans are really afraid that it’s no longer their turn, and they can no longer line their pockets with measures and bills that are pro business, pro wealthy and anti American worker. They must learn to work and play well with others.
David DiBello
RESEARCH FOOTNOTES
cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the United States and included banking reforms, some of which were designed to control speculation.[1] Some provisions such as Regulation Q, which allowed the Federal Reserve to regulate interest rates in savings accounts, were repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980. Provisions that prohibit a bank holding company from owning other financial companies were repealed on November 12, 1999, by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Many also criticize Democrats for not doing anything during the 1 and ½ years they were in charge of the House and Senate (barely) failing to mention that the Veto power remained in a Republican President’s hands stymieing all Democrat efforts, not possessing a super majority to overturn veto’s or overcome the cloture rule in the Senate requiring 60 votes to avoid filibuster.
Isn’t it time for another party to have a chance at running government and getting things done on behalf of the people? Perhaps the Republican Party is subconsciously saying of Democrats what they know true of themselves – unchecked, corruption flourishes. Look at Tom Delay, Denny Hastert, Ted Stevens, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby (who fell on his sword at Cheney’s request), Randy “Duke” Cunningham, all of whom served at great sacrifice on behalf of the American people, leveraging their power to personally and financially flourish, making their sacrifice a scam.
Add to it out of control behavior of Bittars, Craig, Foley and Fossella and maybe it is time for a change, placing people in charge who will take the business of the American People seriously and not look at Congress as their own little playground, where they feel above the law and preoccupied with their own gravitas.
A Republican President and Republican Congress have put us in this current economic supply side mess, reversing the Glass-Steagall act led by anti-whiner Phil Gramm, tightening personal bankruptcy laws but overlooking usury of credit institutions, and creating a Medicare prescription drug plan after efforts to block purchases of drugs from overseas failed. This is ironic from a party that believes in the law of supply and demand, and underscores their preoccupation with business and the rich over the good of all Americans.
The Republicans are really afraid that it’s no longer their turn, and they can no longer line their pockets with measures and bills that are pro business, pro wealthy and anti American worker. They must learn to work and play well with others.
David DiBello
RESEARCH FOOTNOTES
cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the United States and included banking reforms, some of which were designed to control speculation.[1] Some provisions such as Regulation Q, which allowed the Federal Reserve to regulate interest rates in savings accounts, were repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980. Provisions that prohibit a bank holding company from owning other financial companies were repealed on November 12, 1999, by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
SEAN HANNITY – UNIFORMED OR JUST LYING?
SEAN HANNITY – UNIFORMED OR JUST LYING?
I’d be the first to drive Alec Baldwin to the airport next time he has a political tantrum, but the drama graduate might have hit upon something suggesting dual college dropout Sean Hannity spent too much time in Construction and not enough time reading an economics book.
Hannity’s latest pro business propaganda is that small businesses will pass on taxes to the consumer. In other words, owners will say “how dare you tax me, now take this sucker,” to the very market he wishes to attract. Is this cutting your nose to spite your face?
As a Financial Controller in small business for twenty five years, I know something about finances. Small business from its inception pays little to no taxes because it is working off start up investments as costs. A small business owner contributes their own capital, and once a bank is secure with an owner’s equity stake in the company, extends financing and a line of credit to purchase equipment and essentials to conduct business.
Most businesses do not turn a profit in the first few years of its existence, surviving off its startup funds and bank credit. There are no profits, so there are no taxes!
There are enough business deductions, loss carry forwards and ACRS depreciation (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for those operating under the accrual accounting method to write off capital expenditures faster than its economic life, again allowing for no profits even if shown on their income statement.
However, this isn’t required because businesses are allowed to keep two sets of books – accrual for financial statements and cash basis for taxes, writing off all capital expenditures immediately. This allows a business to keep a bank happy regarding their risk due to profits, and allows more time to a company before paying taxes.
The most important feature of small business is that a majority are “S” Corporations –owners who use the corporate shield as protection against liability but whose profits are passed along to the owner who pays taxes at lower individual rates.
Hannity believes small business will fight any attempt at EVER paying taxes by extortion, inflating the price of their product or service out of the market with a tax pass-along’s once profitable. This is understandable if taxes were a fixed rate regardless of profit, but it is only a percentage of profit, which means an owner will always be ahead, unless greed (not enough profit) is factored into the equation. In that case, my suggestion to business is put your “big boy” pants on and pay your patriotic obligation like all we “average Joe’s.”
Sean further ascribes to the “look at the hand at the end of your arm” belief system in compassionate conservatism when it comes to “hand outs.” While we are all “created equal” in terms of dignity, we deviate as far as IQ and ability. Many come from broken, abusive or poor homes, have no resources and are not blessed with the upbringing of the St Pius X high school graduate Hannity.
My suggestion to Sean is to lose the diatribe and practice some humility; and crack open a business book or two before speaking.
David DiBello
I’d be the first to drive Alec Baldwin to the airport next time he has a political tantrum, but the drama graduate might have hit upon something suggesting dual college dropout Sean Hannity spent too much time in Construction and not enough time reading an economics book.
Hannity’s latest pro business propaganda is that small businesses will pass on taxes to the consumer. In other words, owners will say “how dare you tax me, now take this sucker,” to the very market he wishes to attract. Is this cutting your nose to spite your face?
As a Financial Controller in small business for twenty five years, I know something about finances. Small business from its inception pays little to no taxes because it is working off start up investments as costs. A small business owner contributes their own capital, and once a bank is secure with an owner’s equity stake in the company, extends financing and a line of credit to purchase equipment and essentials to conduct business.
Most businesses do not turn a profit in the first few years of its existence, surviving off its startup funds and bank credit. There are no profits, so there are no taxes!
There are enough business deductions, loss carry forwards and ACRS depreciation (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for those operating under the accrual accounting method to write off capital expenditures faster than its economic life, again allowing for no profits even if shown on their income statement.
However, this isn’t required because businesses are allowed to keep two sets of books – accrual for financial statements and cash basis for taxes, writing off all capital expenditures immediately. This allows a business to keep a bank happy regarding their risk due to profits, and allows more time to a company before paying taxes.
The most important feature of small business is that a majority are “S” Corporations –owners who use the corporate shield as protection against liability but whose profits are passed along to the owner who pays taxes at lower individual rates.
Hannity believes small business will fight any attempt at EVER paying taxes by extortion, inflating the price of their product or service out of the market with a tax pass-along’s once profitable. This is understandable if taxes were a fixed rate regardless of profit, but it is only a percentage of profit, which means an owner will always be ahead, unless greed (not enough profit) is factored into the equation. In that case, my suggestion to business is put your “big boy” pants on and pay your patriotic obligation like all we “average Joe’s.”
Sean further ascribes to the “look at the hand at the end of your arm” belief system in compassionate conservatism when it comes to “hand outs.” While we are all “created equal” in terms of dignity, we deviate as far as IQ and ability. Many come from broken, abusive or poor homes, have no resources and are not blessed with the upbringing of the St Pius X high school graduate Hannity.
My suggestion to Sean is to lose the diatribe and practice some humility; and crack open a business book or two before speaking.
David DiBello
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
NO HOW, NO WAY, NOBAMA
Hillary showed off her life long experience and devotion last night with a wonderfully powerful "to the point, laying the facts on the line" speech, which will be underscored by Bill Clinton, who possesses the "Kavorkya" when it comes to political discourse. They have displayed one fact - buyers' remorse that this Democrat party deserves.
Hillary showed she knows all the facts, and during the debate season knew how to respond with truthfulness as to handling this country's problems, especially with regard to the Iraq war (Biden agrees with Hillary, mind you). Unfortunately, this Democrat party was hijacked by the radical left wing who can't handle the truth!
They are going down the McGovern Carter yellow brick road that “wishes problems away” in the hope the world would just suddenly “be the way it should be” like magic, while polls show Hillary with a 49-43 advantage over McCain as Barack's lead slips to a dead heat.
One good thing will come from this convention; we can now tell our children if they run a lemonade stand, they too can become President, because we are nominating a community organizer with the background credentials of Sonny Carson.
Fortunately, the Democrats will control both houses of Congress with large margins, tying the hands of a Republican President. Vote McCain and wait for the 2012 train to undo the mess the Democrats (and Hillary) have made now.
David DiBello
Hillary showed she knows all the facts, and during the debate season knew how to respond with truthfulness as to handling this country's problems, especially with regard to the Iraq war (Biden agrees with Hillary, mind you). Unfortunately, this Democrat party was hijacked by the radical left wing who can't handle the truth!
They are going down the McGovern Carter yellow brick road that “wishes problems away” in the hope the world would just suddenly “be the way it should be” like magic, while polls show Hillary with a 49-43 advantage over McCain as Barack's lead slips to a dead heat.
One good thing will come from this convention; we can now tell our children if they run a lemonade stand, they too can become President, because we are nominating a community organizer with the background credentials of Sonny Carson.
Fortunately, the Democrats will control both houses of Congress with large margins, tying the hands of a Republican President. Vote McCain and wait for the 2012 train to undo the mess the Democrats (and Hillary) have made now.
David DiBello
Sunday, August 24, 2008
This is Barack's Judgment?
In his wisdom or ego, Barack thought it best not to consider Hillary as VP though 50% of the Democrat vote lies in her supporters' hands? Is this intelligent?
Regardless of what a good selection he made, Joe Biden and Barack will have an uphill struggle to put those votes in their column, many of whom are centrist and will simply revolt to McCain despite Hillary's protestations to the contrary; you can't tell voters how to act, and if they feel disresepcted, the die is cast.
Instead of focusing on Independents and crossover Republicans, Biden and Barack will be spending time stopping the hemorraghing of Clintonians. Hopefully they will convince these disaffected voters that the Democrat platform is more conducive to their needs.
However, with a projected overwhleming victory by Democrats in Senate and Congressional races which will tie the hands of A McCain Presidency, perhaps Clinton supporters will roll the dice for 2012, seeing that ticket splitting will do no harm because of a lame duck Republican President from day one.
A Hillary selection would have energized the masses, thrown the convention wild, unlike Biden, who garnered 250,000 primary votes. The novelty of his selection will fade fast. To further show what an unwise choice Democrats made, can you imagine an experienced Hillary teamed up with a seasoned Biden. It would be no contest.
One still wonders what deal was struck with Hillary anbd Barack for her to walk away so easily? Shouldn't she have had leverage with the other half of the primary vote, or was it Barack holding the threat of "her never getting elected in the future" if she didn't support him now?
We are left with the battle cries of inexperienced at the top of the ticket, who has already floored us with his shortsighted judgment.
David DiBello
Regardless of what a good selection he made, Joe Biden and Barack will have an uphill struggle to put those votes in their column, many of whom are centrist and will simply revolt to McCain despite Hillary's protestations to the contrary; you can't tell voters how to act, and if they feel disresepcted, the die is cast.
Instead of focusing on Independents and crossover Republicans, Biden and Barack will be spending time stopping the hemorraghing of Clintonians. Hopefully they will convince these disaffected voters that the Democrat platform is more conducive to their needs.
However, with a projected overwhleming victory by Democrats in Senate and Congressional races which will tie the hands of A McCain Presidency, perhaps Clinton supporters will roll the dice for 2012, seeing that ticket splitting will do no harm because of a lame duck Republican President from day one.
A Hillary selection would have energized the masses, thrown the convention wild, unlike Biden, who garnered 250,000 primary votes. The novelty of his selection will fade fast. To further show what an unwise choice Democrats made, can you imagine an experienced Hillary teamed up with a seasoned Biden. It would be no contest.
One still wonders what deal was struck with Hillary anbd Barack for her to walk away so easily? Shouldn't she have had leverage with the other half of the primary vote, or was it Barack holding the threat of "her never getting elected in the future" if she didn't support him now?
We are left with the battle cries of inexperienced at the top of the ticket, who has already floored us with his shortsighted judgment.
David DiBello
Friday, August 22, 2008
“There was an Old Senator”
“There was an Old Senator”
By David DiBello
There was an old Senator
Who need not live in a shoe
Fact he had so many homes
Was it many or just a few?
He felt three million dollars
Was just petty cash
And those growths on his skin
Were all part of a rash
He served our country
With dignity and pride
And came home to celebrate
With a girl on the side
He once was associated
With the Keating Five
At a point in his life
When he wanted to run and hide
He thought the economy
Was doing just fine
And all those complaints
Nothing more than a sour whine?
He wants Oil Companies
To drill, drill, drill
While consumers and taxpayers
All foot the bill
Against Bush Tax cuts
But then changed his mind
A balanced budget
Is for a faraway time
And a hundred year war
Is all part of the deal
As Republicans gear for Election Day
And another big steal?
By David DiBello
There was an old Senator
Who need not live in a shoe
Fact he had so many homes
Was it many or just a few?
He felt three million dollars
Was just petty cash
And those growths on his skin
Were all part of a rash
He served our country
With dignity and pride
And came home to celebrate
With a girl on the side
He once was associated
With the Keating Five
At a point in his life
When he wanted to run and hide
He thought the economy
Was doing just fine
And all those complaints
Nothing more than a sour whine?
He wants Oil Companies
To drill, drill, drill
While consumers and taxpayers
All foot the bill
Against Bush Tax cuts
But then changed his mind
A balanced budget
Is for a faraway time
And a hundred year war
Is all part of the deal
As Republicans gear for Election Day
And another big steal?
Friday, August 1, 2008
OBAMA’S ARROGANCE
In the middle of the 2007 season, Jose Reyes of the Mets suddenly announced, “we are so good, we sometimes get bored.” An interesting comment coming from a member of a team that hadn’t won any championships at that point, and while having many game victories, had a fewer than ten game lead over the second place team with most of the season remaining to be played at the time. Seasoned Met fans remember the 1984 through 1991 years, and a team of underachievers that barely won one World Series.
I was reminded of this as I watched Barack Obama give his speech before a throng of Germans that made one reminiscent of Dr. King’s speech before a DC crowd decades ago. The speech was wonderful, with a highlight being his declaration of love for America in spite of our mistakes. It gave those overseas a sense that we as a people have humility; we are not the heavy handed tyrants in foreign affairs portrayed over the last eight years.
But why was this man delivering this speech and what weight did it have? He is not an elected leader, so there is no power behind his punch. In time if not elected he will just be some weird guy who came to Europe in a “meet and greet” beauty tour that Europeans can tell about to their grandchildren.
Obama is walking a fine line between Presidential and Pretentious. Meeting world leaders and touring countries, meeting citizens in small groups and listening to their grievances is all part of a “getting to know you” strategy needed to be seen capable of being in charge with foreign policy credentials.
However addressing the masses for the whole world to see and telling them what to expect while simultaneously reminding them he isn’t in the White House yet might have crossed that line in the sand. Obama returns to America, the land where any other Democrat would have an eighteen point lead in these times of economic demise, seeing his lead over McCain actually narrow to a virtual dead heat with his opponent, while losing ground amongst independents.
While many Americans feel each candidate is equally arrogant, many believe arrogance of self confidence to be good, whereas an arrogance of taking voters for granted, which is what Obama presumes, to be insulting. Like Jose Reyes of the Mets, Obama seems bored with the need to campaign against the old guy, and wants to start making plans to paint the town red, and the White House black and it’s still only summer. Yes Ludicrous would not make a good VP selection, and is just another on the list of people Obama will need to disown.
His four point cushion, which has been consistent over the weeks, makes his VP selection scream “Hillary,” the candidate that holds the other half of the 36 million votes cast in the Democrat primary, and where any alienation of her voter base will be certain victory for McCain. Add to this the large number of undecided voters that could break either way providing a major surprise for either candidate, and we have a tossup election again, something where Democrats haven’t fared well recently. Of course Democrats have made many foolish mistakes in past nominees and campaigns, and having a candidate walk around like he has already won might be right up there with all the others.
David DiBello
I was reminded of this as I watched Barack Obama give his speech before a throng of Germans that made one reminiscent of Dr. King’s speech before a DC crowd decades ago. The speech was wonderful, with a highlight being his declaration of love for America in spite of our mistakes. It gave those overseas a sense that we as a people have humility; we are not the heavy handed tyrants in foreign affairs portrayed over the last eight years.
But why was this man delivering this speech and what weight did it have? He is not an elected leader, so there is no power behind his punch. In time if not elected he will just be some weird guy who came to Europe in a “meet and greet” beauty tour that Europeans can tell about to their grandchildren.
Obama is walking a fine line between Presidential and Pretentious. Meeting world leaders and touring countries, meeting citizens in small groups and listening to their grievances is all part of a “getting to know you” strategy needed to be seen capable of being in charge with foreign policy credentials.
However addressing the masses for the whole world to see and telling them what to expect while simultaneously reminding them he isn’t in the White House yet might have crossed that line in the sand. Obama returns to America, the land where any other Democrat would have an eighteen point lead in these times of economic demise, seeing his lead over McCain actually narrow to a virtual dead heat with his opponent, while losing ground amongst independents.
While many Americans feel each candidate is equally arrogant, many believe arrogance of self confidence to be good, whereas an arrogance of taking voters for granted, which is what Obama presumes, to be insulting. Like Jose Reyes of the Mets, Obama seems bored with the need to campaign against the old guy, and wants to start making plans to paint the town red, and the White House black and it’s still only summer. Yes Ludicrous would not make a good VP selection, and is just another on the list of people Obama will need to disown.
His four point cushion, which has been consistent over the weeks, makes his VP selection scream “Hillary,” the candidate that holds the other half of the 36 million votes cast in the Democrat primary, and where any alienation of her voter base will be certain victory for McCain. Add to this the large number of undecided voters that could break either way providing a major surprise for either candidate, and we have a tossup election again, something where Democrats haven’t fared well recently. Of course Democrats have made many foolish mistakes in past nominees and campaigns, and having a candidate walk around like he has already won might be right up there with all the others.
David DiBello
Friday, July 25, 2008
Ir's still got to be Hillary!
So far Latinos are the only group of Hillary's primary voters gravitating en masse to Obama. Clinton is still holding onto a large chunk of her 18 million votes, many of which will vote McCain if she is not slected VP, becuase she represents the center of her party, and working class democrat voters. Whether that number is 10% or 25%, which would be deadly, she is the choice that stops the hemmoraghing and seals the deal for Obama.
The fear of losing radical liberal democrats with her selection is minimal, since that group will definitely not vote McCain, and either stay home or vote some distant third party candidate, so the net effect is still in Hillary's court, and in Obama's best interest.
Given an economy in the tank and the weariness of the war, the Democrat should be up by 18 points at least. Instead he is at a steady 46 to 41, plus or minus the margin of error - a dead heat. That's not good for the Democrat, especially one who has to combat preceptions of inexperience, and an economic agenda many will liken to that of Carter's Presidency.
There is not one candidate mentioned that would stop the disenchantment of Hillary voters, and not one that could guarantee the victory Obama seems to be taking for granted.
David DiBello
The fear of losing radical liberal democrats with her selection is minimal, since that group will definitely not vote McCain, and either stay home or vote some distant third party candidate, so the net effect is still in Hillary's court, and in Obama's best interest.
Given an economy in the tank and the weariness of the war, the Democrat should be up by 18 points at least. Instead he is at a steady 46 to 41, plus or minus the margin of error - a dead heat. That's not good for the Democrat, especially one who has to combat preceptions of inexperience, and an economic agenda many will liken to that of Carter's Presidency.
There is not one candidate mentioned that would stop the disenchantment of Hillary voters, and not one that could guarantee the victory Obama seems to be taking for granted.
David DiBello
Friday, July 18, 2008
Following Whoopi’s “Logic?”
Why the special treatment for the “n” word? Going forward all married men can now refer to their wife as a “c***sucker” so long as this marital definition is restricted to their wife alone, by them alone, and no one else refers to their wife as one. I am sure the life span of all marriages will significantly decrease if this behavior is adopted, because women will be hard pressed to understand this declaration.
If I as an Italian American refer to a fellow Italian as a Guinea or WHOP, that doesn’t make me a person expressing my anger within my own element, it makes me a classless individual.
There is no reason to use the “n” word, or any other derogatory expression in speaking to one another; it is not a cultural definition, it is animalistic behavior.
Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg is suffering not from a shriveling up of her “punjamba,” or “moonjambo,” or whatever she calls her special place; she is experiencing flashbacks from her years on the street which is now having an effect on her brain pan.
People who grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s worked too hard to get people together, acknowledging we are one, and discarding the hate words, and beliefs, of the past. We lived through the sounds of the O’Jays, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and the soul sounds of Philadelphia that taught us about peace and love and living together.
There is no acceptable reason, no cultural definition, to restore such degrading and debasing words or images. It simply displays the limitations of the person who cannot express themselves positively, or is simply full of hate.
David DiBello
If I as an Italian American refer to a fellow Italian as a Guinea or WHOP, that doesn’t make me a person expressing my anger within my own element, it makes me a classless individual.
There is no reason to use the “n” word, or any other derogatory expression in speaking to one another; it is not a cultural definition, it is animalistic behavior.
Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg is suffering not from a shriveling up of her “punjamba,” or “moonjambo,” or whatever she calls her special place; she is experiencing flashbacks from her years on the street which is now having an effect on her brain pan.
People who grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s worked too hard to get people together, acknowledging we are one, and discarding the hate words, and beliefs, of the past. We lived through the sounds of the O’Jays, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and the soul sounds of Philadelphia that taught us about peace and love and living together.
There is no acceptable reason, no cultural definition, to restore such degrading and debasing words or images. It simply displays the limitations of the person who cannot express themselves positively, or is simply full of hate.
David DiBello
Thursday, July 17, 2008
New Yorker Uses Fear As Satire
The New Yorker has attempted to dilute the irrational beliefs of certain segments of the electorate by poking fun at the Obama myths. Although one understands the satire, it doesn't mean we need to see it or proliferate its thoughts or ideologies of critics. Many will interpret it as underscoring their inane beliefs.
Their cover has always been satirical, but they went to a level of stupidity with the last one. In short, it was stupid, but like sex, stupid sells. A look at our current crop of celebrities only confirms this behavior. And judging from magazine sales, the New Yorker needs a whole lot of stupid, which is exactly what has been happening with the circulation sales of this week's edition.
As Bernard McGuirk, Imus' producer said on O'Reilly Wednesday night, had the satire been about McCain regarding his age, or liver spots, or heroism, or short fuse, no one would have said a thing, because we would interpret it as obvious satire, having known McCain for some time now, and having his actions overcome any satire.
With Obama and spouse, we don't know them as long, so many misconceptions already exist, and any satire about them cuts at that fine line between being humorous, or perhaps a bit of the truth. A large part of the electorate still believes he took his oath of office for the Senate on a Koran, while a larger segment believes he is a Muslim in spite of the controversy over Rev Wright and Barack's 25 year association with his Church. Which is it?
Therefore, when satirizing the Obama's, there is sensitivity between the truth and fiction, and any attempt at humor is seen as playing upon people's fears.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
Their cover has always been satirical, but they went to a level of stupidity with the last one. In short, it was stupid, but like sex, stupid sells. A look at our current crop of celebrities only confirms this behavior. And judging from magazine sales, the New Yorker needs a whole lot of stupid, which is exactly what has been happening with the circulation sales of this week's edition.
As Bernard McGuirk, Imus' producer said on O'Reilly Wednesday night, had the satire been about McCain regarding his age, or liver spots, or heroism, or short fuse, no one would have said a thing, because we would interpret it as obvious satire, having known McCain for some time now, and having his actions overcome any satire.
With Obama and spouse, we don't know them as long, so many misconceptions already exist, and any satire about them cuts at that fine line between being humorous, or perhaps a bit of the truth. A large part of the electorate still believes he took his oath of office for the Senate on a Koran, while a larger segment believes he is a Muslim in spite of the controversy over Rev Wright and Barack's 25 year association with his Church. Which is it?
Therefore, when satirizing the Obama's, there is sensitivity between the truth and fiction, and any attempt at humor is seen as playing upon people's fears.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
WALL STREET AND MAIN STREET: THE TWO AMERICAS
(written 4/20/08)
In case one missed the news of the week, it is as follows: Magazine publishers sent reeling in first quarter; Wachovia posts $393 million loss; Blockbuster to buy Circuit City, and Delta and Northwest merge creating potential job losses; Retail chains caught in a wave of bankruptcies, and finally Citigroup posting a $5 Billion loss, declaring they will cut 9,000 jobs.
Wall Street’s response? They finished the week with a 524 point gain. Why not? Lost jobs improve a company’s P&L and balance sheet which investors love. That’s part of the dichotomy of a capitalist country no longer based on work, but wealth. A mere reminder a similar market increase occurred based on a Bear Stearns bailout which secured wealth.
The admonishment of working hard and saving money to become an investor no longer applies. Wages have stagnated and workers fear losing their job. Consumer confidence is disappearing. Costs haven’t stagnated, eating away at salaries and we are now bearing the burden of paying for baby boomers, our own social security in jeopardy. Firms, struggling to find a better balance sheet have terminated defined pension plans and workers now contribute more out of pocket funds towards their retirement, an add on cost. We have a negative .5% savings rate, which means we officially survive on credit. What happens when that dries up?
The “greatest generation” purchased homes that were half of their final salary before retiring. Today if someone buys a modest home for $250,000 somewhere in Timbuktu and earns a salary of $80,000, they will never retire making the same, let alone double the original purchase price of their home.
Add to the problem the disparity that 90% of wealth is held by 5% of the population, and the fact we no longer produce (10% of workforce is in manufacturing – an all time low) but have become a service economy (easily shopped overseas) and Main Street is getting clobbered.
Something will need to be done or prepare for a lollapalooza of a recession, the kind that is a depression for those who lose their jobs.
Possible solutions? Gear tax cuts towards those who need the money and will place it into service, keeping our economic wheel turning, rather than giving tax cuts to the wealthy to become wealthier. This is not an assault on the wealthy, but rather a way for them to share their patriotism, the way low and middle income families do when they send their children to war.
Like the recent tax rebate to workers to stimulate the economy, money must be put in the hands of the masses who need to spend to survive.
Declare outsourcing of American jobs as unpatriotic as flag burning. Solve the healthcare crisis which accounts for 80% of all bankruptcy filings. Spend tax dollars on education as easily as we do on making war, otherwise our future will be catastrophic.
Global competition with no safe guards has resulted in the “dumbing down” of American standards to that of the third world countries we compete against.
Our current generation will be bailed out by the old money of our parents. What will become of our sons and daughters who are already being told they will not have the standard of living as past generations? How will they survive on shrinking income and rising costs for their basic needs?
We have isolated the two Americas John Kerry spoke about. Perhaps we should take a cue from Martin Sheen to his son Charlie in the movie “Wall Street”: Its time you learned to create things rather than live off the buying and selling of others hard work.
David DiBello
In case one missed the news of the week, it is as follows: Magazine publishers sent reeling in first quarter; Wachovia posts $393 million loss; Blockbuster to buy Circuit City, and Delta and Northwest merge creating potential job losses; Retail chains caught in a wave of bankruptcies, and finally Citigroup posting a $5 Billion loss, declaring they will cut 9,000 jobs.
Wall Street’s response? They finished the week with a 524 point gain. Why not? Lost jobs improve a company’s P&L and balance sheet which investors love. That’s part of the dichotomy of a capitalist country no longer based on work, but wealth. A mere reminder a similar market increase occurred based on a Bear Stearns bailout which secured wealth.
The admonishment of working hard and saving money to become an investor no longer applies. Wages have stagnated and workers fear losing their job. Consumer confidence is disappearing. Costs haven’t stagnated, eating away at salaries and we are now bearing the burden of paying for baby boomers, our own social security in jeopardy. Firms, struggling to find a better balance sheet have terminated defined pension plans and workers now contribute more out of pocket funds towards their retirement, an add on cost. We have a negative .5% savings rate, which means we officially survive on credit. What happens when that dries up?
The “greatest generation” purchased homes that were half of their final salary before retiring. Today if someone buys a modest home for $250,000 somewhere in Timbuktu and earns a salary of $80,000, they will never retire making the same, let alone double the original purchase price of their home.
Add to the problem the disparity that 90% of wealth is held by 5% of the population, and the fact we no longer produce (10% of workforce is in manufacturing – an all time low) but have become a service economy (easily shopped overseas) and Main Street is getting clobbered.
Something will need to be done or prepare for a lollapalooza of a recession, the kind that is a depression for those who lose their jobs.
Possible solutions? Gear tax cuts towards those who need the money and will place it into service, keeping our economic wheel turning, rather than giving tax cuts to the wealthy to become wealthier. This is not an assault on the wealthy, but rather a way for them to share their patriotism, the way low and middle income families do when they send their children to war.
Like the recent tax rebate to workers to stimulate the economy, money must be put in the hands of the masses who need to spend to survive.
Declare outsourcing of American jobs as unpatriotic as flag burning. Solve the healthcare crisis which accounts for 80% of all bankruptcy filings. Spend tax dollars on education as easily as we do on making war, otherwise our future will be catastrophic.
Global competition with no safe guards has resulted in the “dumbing down” of American standards to that of the third world countries we compete against.
Our current generation will be bailed out by the old money of our parents. What will become of our sons and daughters who are already being told they will not have the standard of living as past generations? How will they survive on shrinking income and rising costs for their basic needs?
We have isolated the two Americas John Kerry spoke about. Perhaps we should take a cue from Martin Sheen to his son Charlie in the movie “Wall Street”: Its time you learned to create things rather than live off the buying and selling of others hard work.
David DiBello
KILLING US SOFTLY WITH THEIR OIL
Forget Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Hamas ulterior motive or Al Quada’s next plan of attack. The Mid East is tearing apart the fabric of our economy without lifting a finger; simply raise the price of oil. The worst part of this equation is American oil companies are co conspirators in this covert war, catering to the American addiction with no desire to change our fix or harm their revenue stream. OPEC is using America as their puppet in their economic war.
What about those tax subsidies usually granted businesses for capital improvements? What have oil companies done to explore new avenues of energy and eliminate our reliance on oil, other than lip service from our current President? Wouldn’t those subsidies be best given to Detroit to mass produce flex fuel and hybrid cars, the kinds that give us 50 miles per gallon?
Oil companies despise that remedy the way a drug dealer hates hearing when a “client” checks into rehab. Theirs’ isn’t the only greed at fault for putting our country at such risk. Environmentalists have tied the hands of our ability to drill for oil within our regions, a short term fix that continues dependence on oil, just not foreign.
Liberals are equally to blame. If they are so concerned about “no blood for oil” shouldn’t making America less reliant on foreign oil be a priority, even if it means yielding in principle, for the time being, regarding off shore drilling? Wouldn’t baby steps save lives?
Let’s not forget the American consumer now enjoying Santayana’s caveat about forgetting past mistakes. We endured the oil crisis and gas rationing of the late seventies, and what did we learn? Get right back up on that high horse with SUV’s and Hummers, and live like there’s no tomorrow.
Welcome to tomorrow. We are playing right into the hands of our enemies who are killing us from within by virtue of our own greed and fiscal mismanagement. If we think the Mid East is at war with us, wait until China no longer wishes to finance out debt because the value of our dollar has made us an extreme credit risk.
Now we are told Oil companies will use extortion if America wishes to reintroduce the windfall profits tax, a sort of rebate to America for their price gauging. Let them threaten to pass on taxes, because if done, they will feel the wrath of the American public, as will any politician who foolishly tries to justify such blackmail.
After six years of war against terrorism, we still haven’t learned that the biggest bomb we could drop on our enemies is to dry up their source of funds. Instead, and because of American greed, they are doing it to us. We continue to drive whistling off to work, living on credit, and diverting funds meant for living expenses by paying oil companies who pay the Mid East. Are we really winning the war? Better yet, do we know we are in one, and are losing from within?
David DiBello
What about those tax subsidies usually granted businesses for capital improvements? What have oil companies done to explore new avenues of energy and eliminate our reliance on oil, other than lip service from our current President? Wouldn’t those subsidies be best given to Detroit to mass produce flex fuel and hybrid cars, the kinds that give us 50 miles per gallon?
Oil companies despise that remedy the way a drug dealer hates hearing when a “client” checks into rehab. Theirs’ isn’t the only greed at fault for putting our country at such risk. Environmentalists have tied the hands of our ability to drill for oil within our regions, a short term fix that continues dependence on oil, just not foreign.
Liberals are equally to blame. If they are so concerned about “no blood for oil” shouldn’t making America less reliant on foreign oil be a priority, even if it means yielding in principle, for the time being, regarding off shore drilling? Wouldn’t baby steps save lives?
Let’s not forget the American consumer now enjoying Santayana’s caveat about forgetting past mistakes. We endured the oil crisis and gas rationing of the late seventies, and what did we learn? Get right back up on that high horse with SUV’s and Hummers, and live like there’s no tomorrow.
Welcome to tomorrow. We are playing right into the hands of our enemies who are killing us from within by virtue of our own greed and fiscal mismanagement. If we think the Mid East is at war with us, wait until China no longer wishes to finance out debt because the value of our dollar has made us an extreme credit risk.
Now we are told Oil companies will use extortion if America wishes to reintroduce the windfall profits tax, a sort of rebate to America for their price gauging. Let them threaten to pass on taxes, because if done, they will feel the wrath of the American public, as will any politician who foolishly tries to justify such blackmail.
After six years of war against terrorism, we still haven’t learned that the biggest bomb we could drop on our enemies is to dry up their source of funds. Instead, and because of American greed, they are doing it to us. We continue to drive whistling off to work, living on credit, and diverting funds meant for living expenses by paying oil companies who pay the Mid East. Are we really winning the war? Better yet, do we know we are in one, and are losing from within?
David DiBello
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
The right wing wealthy in this country are raising the specter of unfairness in claiming that Democrats are seeking to tax them and give their hard earned money to the lower class of the population. They are waging a Robin Hood defense, skimming over the fact that their class, as in the ‘80’s decade of greed, have benefited overwhelmingly while only representing a small fraction of the country. In actuality the working class is questioning how they got those earnings in the first place.
Bill O’Reilly nightly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned by any of this ilk about hard working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage workers who haven’t gotten an increase in 16 years and work hard for below poverty wages. No mention is made about unchecked CEO pay, agreed upon via the collusion of non employee board members who themselves are of the same ilk as the candidate CEO – wealthy white males mostly – to the ignorance of the stockholders.
The wealthy have manipulated corporations into not only paying golden parachutes, but golden coffins for those executives who die in office. Not only do CEO’s enjoy higher proceeds from life insurance policies, their estate receives salaries if they die where the working class would be left flailing in the wind, with lower death benefits to boost.
Everything is done to protect the wealth of this class. Not only do they benefit by paying significantly less these past eight years, they have no representation in the military. It’s a win-win; don’t fight and enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. A kind of income protection at socialized government level wages, with veterans treated as yesterday’s news when fighting ends. Their sacrifice, if any, is limited to the pin of a flag lapel piercing their Armani suit and a hand held over their heart as they recite diatribe they will never live up to.
Thanks to capitalism, the “haves” always have the upper hand. Capitalism, while being the best form of economics, also needs to be tweaked. We created rules to eliminate monopolies, a direct violation of the competition addendum, to the behest of business, which seems to like unfairness when it is to their advantage. They have beaten down the working class by eliminating their defined pension plans and reducing more employee health premiums via payroll deduction.
The nature of capitalism dictates that money makes money, so those with more money watch their nest egg grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save in a "rich get richer" ponzi scheme. This is why our economy is now based on wealth not work, and old money is dictating the rules over the working class struggling to survive, many times at the expense of their very own children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations now pitted against one another.
Suppose the working class got wise and boycotted outlandishly priced items like Yankees tickets, or clothing and electronics, or automobiles. If we cancelled our cable and Fox News' revenue decreased, Mr. O'Reilly would eventually find out whose money he does have, after his assistants get laid off first. The haves will threaten layoffs not of their own, management or high priced prima donnas making more money in one year than twenty men in a lifetime, but of the vendors and ticket takers first – high class blackmail termed “negotiation” when done from behind a white collar. Of course with the addiction of wanting one’s son to see a ballgame, the “haves” can revel like drug dealers at the trough. Protection is needed to defend against the inequities and injustices perpetrated by the wealthy.
There’s a solution. Restore Clinton era tax schedules, the ones where the budget was balanced while the economy was humming along, with the exclusion of the first $20,000 of income for all taxpayers in calculating tax obligation. On paper there can be no declaration of unfairness, yet the wealthy will argue that the first $20,000 means nothing to them. They still want the inequity that currently exists on the tail end, the level of income few Americans get to reach thanks to the fact that the purse strings of American firms are held by the “haves,” and they don’t want to see anyone touch their nest egg, no matter how unfair. They rather pit working class against each other, giving them the illusion that they can one day be at their level with hard work, a scam due to current cost of living increases along with our induction into a global economy with no protection for the American worker who currently competes with third world wages.
Let’s forget all that. Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn.
David DiBello
Bill O’Reilly nightly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned by any of this ilk about hard working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage workers who haven’t gotten an increase in 16 years and work hard for below poverty wages. No mention is made about unchecked CEO pay, agreed upon via the collusion of non employee board members who themselves are of the same ilk as the candidate CEO – wealthy white males mostly – to the ignorance of the stockholders.
The wealthy have manipulated corporations into not only paying golden parachutes, but golden coffins for those executives who die in office. Not only do CEO’s enjoy higher proceeds from life insurance policies, their estate receives salaries if they die where the working class would be left flailing in the wind, with lower death benefits to boost.
Everything is done to protect the wealth of this class. Not only do they benefit by paying significantly less these past eight years, they have no representation in the military. It’s a win-win; don’t fight and enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. A kind of income protection at socialized government level wages, with veterans treated as yesterday’s news when fighting ends. Their sacrifice, if any, is limited to the pin of a flag lapel piercing their Armani suit and a hand held over their heart as they recite diatribe they will never live up to.
Thanks to capitalism, the “haves” always have the upper hand. Capitalism, while being the best form of economics, also needs to be tweaked. We created rules to eliminate monopolies, a direct violation of the competition addendum, to the behest of business, which seems to like unfairness when it is to their advantage. They have beaten down the working class by eliminating their defined pension plans and reducing more employee health premiums via payroll deduction.
The nature of capitalism dictates that money makes money, so those with more money watch their nest egg grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save in a "rich get richer" ponzi scheme. This is why our economy is now based on wealth not work, and old money is dictating the rules over the working class struggling to survive, many times at the expense of their very own children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations now pitted against one another.
Suppose the working class got wise and boycotted outlandishly priced items like Yankees tickets, or clothing and electronics, or automobiles. If we cancelled our cable and Fox News' revenue decreased, Mr. O'Reilly would eventually find out whose money he does have, after his assistants get laid off first. The haves will threaten layoffs not of their own, management or high priced prima donnas making more money in one year than twenty men in a lifetime, but of the vendors and ticket takers first – high class blackmail termed “negotiation” when done from behind a white collar. Of course with the addiction of wanting one’s son to see a ballgame, the “haves” can revel like drug dealers at the trough. Protection is needed to defend against the inequities and injustices perpetrated by the wealthy.
There’s a solution. Restore Clinton era tax schedules, the ones where the budget was balanced while the economy was humming along, with the exclusion of the first $20,000 of income for all taxpayers in calculating tax obligation. On paper there can be no declaration of unfairness, yet the wealthy will argue that the first $20,000 means nothing to them. They still want the inequity that currently exists on the tail end, the level of income few Americans get to reach thanks to the fact that the purse strings of American firms are held by the “haves,” and they don’t want to see anyone touch their nest egg, no matter how unfair. They rather pit working class against each other, giving them the illusion that they can one day be at their level with hard work, a scam due to current cost of living increases along with our induction into a global economy with no protection for the American worker who currently competes with third world wages.
Let’s forget all that. Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn.
David DiBello
REPUBLICANS LIVE UP TO STEREOTYPE
Long before the Republican think tank, led by the free talking articulate Phil Gramm, revealed their true mindset, being we workin’ folk are nothing more than a bunch of whining er…witches, the common belief of the GOP is that they stand for big business only. Yet under the rules of “give them another chance” we fell for the big talk of mom and apple pie under the guise of anti flag burning and “save our straight marriages” amendment, and were enthralled with the heavy handed John Wayne / Ronald Reagan cowboy mentality, even if John Wayne and Ronald Reagan only served in the movies. Republicans certainly talk the talk, but are rarely there to do the heavy lifting.
Their new savior, or snake oil salesman, was George W. Bush, a one term governor who seemed to work well with the other side of the aisle (being outnumbered in Texas)and spoke of a conservatism that reached out to the people Phil Gramm has a distaste. We believed the big tent would include us wee folk, the kind that do the daily grind getting those profits for the aristocracy, because candidate Bush spoke of fairness and inclusion in the American dream.
First we had to stand lock step for a big tax cut, the kind we saw during Reaganomics which was great for awhile, then ended in a Black Monday overdose in 1987. A funny thing happened on the way to supply side heaven this time: we weren’t getting trickled on. The Global Economy panacea worked against the American wage earner, the little guy with eyes glowing and hands held out in anticipation. The big guy got the first slice of the pie – a big slice – but this time there were no crumbs leftover.
The remedy? We tightened restrictions on the filing of bankruptcies by irresponsible people, the 80% who ran up credit debt to cover medical bills under our current healthcare arrangement that needed to be reined in. What about the usury of lending institutions? Nothing. When it comes to big business and interest – the sky is the limit.
There was some light. We munchkins were awarded a Medicare prescription program because George suddenly could feel our pain, that and he couldn’t get the Republicans in Congress to block Americans from buying overseas drugs.
When big business is at risk, no amount of Government intervention, the kind that causes an enormous overdraft of the nations’ checking account, is unwarranted. Why not, with the current tax cut plan, the wealthy won’t foot the bill, at least not in proportion to what they should. They want a flat rate tax with no sacrifice of paying extra on behalf of the country, although they talk of sacrifice regarding military service – where they are also AWOL. A win-win for the big guys!
A Bear Stearns bailout? No problem. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – come on down! It seems Government intervention is only bad for the little guy, like with Katrina, or stagnant Pell Grants and Minimum Wage, or the 47 million uninsured, or people who lose their pensions due to corporate malfeasance, or when jobs are shipped overseas and there is no relief for the American worker.
When Thailand was ravaged with a typhoon, it seems America was lagging in a response until some bad press. What was the rush; there were no oil wells there, no threats of nuclear proliferation, no need for regime change?
Whenever government bails out big business with taxpayer money, the little people are used as a dangling carrot, threatened with their own financial demise if they do not support such an effort. One can say extortion. If business is failing, as with Citigroup and numerous financial institutions, who gets laid off first, the CEO or those far below?
We are at the end of another supply side movie, the part that holds the morale of the whole story. Only this time we had a stingy con artist in the lead role, one who forgot you have to give a little to get a lot. We are currently in a stock market free fall, and the fluid in our half full economic glass is shrinking. We have a future consisting of energy, healthcare and tuition crisis totally ignored for eight years. We have a war that has gone on for too long because instead of addressing it with the right troop level in the beginning, Republicans went for simultaneous tax cuts, limiting our fighting resources. Makes one wonder exactly who bore the sacrifice of this war the past seven years?
Really, we weren’t expecting a kinder, gentler conservatism now, were we? Sen. Gramm is right on one accord. We tend to whine and complain, but there is only one glaring reality - We voted for them.
Now go ahead…vote McCain. He offers the same.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
Their new savior, or snake oil salesman, was George W. Bush, a one term governor who seemed to work well with the other side of the aisle (being outnumbered in Texas)and spoke of a conservatism that reached out to the people Phil Gramm has a distaste. We believed the big tent would include us wee folk, the kind that do the daily grind getting those profits for the aristocracy, because candidate Bush spoke of fairness and inclusion in the American dream.
First we had to stand lock step for a big tax cut, the kind we saw during Reaganomics which was great for awhile, then ended in a Black Monday overdose in 1987. A funny thing happened on the way to supply side heaven this time: we weren’t getting trickled on. The Global Economy panacea worked against the American wage earner, the little guy with eyes glowing and hands held out in anticipation. The big guy got the first slice of the pie – a big slice – but this time there were no crumbs leftover.
The remedy? We tightened restrictions on the filing of bankruptcies by irresponsible people, the 80% who ran up credit debt to cover medical bills under our current healthcare arrangement that needed to be reined in. What about the usury of lending institutions? Nothing. When it comes to big business and interest – the sky is the limit.
There was some light. We munchkins were awarded a Medicare prescription program because George suddenly could feel our pain, that and he couldn’t get the Republicans in Congress to block Americans from buying overseas drugs.
When big business is at risk, no amount of Government intervention, the kind that causes an enormous overdraft of the nations’ checking account, is unwarranted. Why not, with the current tax cut plan, the wealthy won’t foot the bill, at least not in proportion to what they should. They want a flat rate tax with no sacrifice of paying extra on behalf of the country, although they talk of sacrifice regarding military service – where they are also AWOL. A win-win for the big guys!
A Bear Stearns bailout? No problem. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – come on down! It seems Government intervention is only bad for the little guy, like with Katrina, or stagnant Pell Grants and Minimum Wage, or the 47 million uninsured, or people who lose their pensions due to corporate malfeasance, or when jobs are shipped overseas and there is no relief for the American worker.
When Thailand was ravaged with a typhoon, it seems America was lagging in a response until some bad press. What was the rush; there were no oil wells there, no threats of nuclear proliferation, no need for regime change?
Whenever government bails out big business with taxpayer money, the little people are used as a dangling carrot, threatened with their own financial demise if they do not support such an effort. One can say extortion. If business is failing, as with Citigroup and numerous financial institutions, who gets laid off first, the CEO or those far below?
We are at the end of another supply side movie, the part that holds the morale of the whole story. Only this time we had a stingy con artist in the lead role, one who forgot you have to give a little to get a lot. We are currently in a stock market free fall, and the fluid in our half full economic glass is shrinking. We have a future consisting of energy, healthcare and tuition crisis totally ignored for eight years. We have a war that has gone on for too long because instead of addressing it with the right troop level in the beginning, Republicans went for simultaneous tax cuts, limiting our fighting resources. Makes one wonder exactly who bore the sacrifice of this war the past seven years?
Really, we weren’t expecting a kinder, gentler conservatism now, were we? Sen. Gramm is right on one accord. We tend to whine and complain, but there is only one glaring reality - We voted for them.
Now go ahead…vote McCain. He offers the same.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
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