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[Frenchfry]

BLOOMBERG THUMBS NOSE AT PUBLIC
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Some politicians grow in office. Others merely bloat.

You can mark down Michael Bloomberg as a bloater. He’s the billionaire who’s been mayor of New York City for two terms, and now he desperately wants to hold onto the office for another four years. How desperate is he? He publicly broke his word, sold his soul, and turned his back on the will of the people to get another shot at the mayorship.

You see, standing in the way of hizzoner’s political ambition was a little speedbump called term limits. New Yorkers have voted not once, but twice, to restrict their mayors and city council members to two consecutive terms. The people of this great city are pretty adamantly behind this proviso – so much so that Bloomberg himself once championed it. “We cannot ignore their will,” he insisted.

But that was sooo yesterday. Today, bloated by hubris, Bloomberg has declared himself indispensible. Citing the ongoing Wall Street collapse, he claims that the city itself cannot survive the tumult without his steady business hand on the tiller. So, he declared magnanimously, the city council must expand the term limits law to three terms.

It was not an easy sell. For one thing, the mayor had been pushing hard for the change months before Wall Street took a dive, so his “key man” rational was pure hokum. Second, the move was grossly unpopular – 89 percent of New Yorkers said that any proposed change should be decided by a public vote, not by city council fiat.

Usually, the council majority is a rubber stamp for the mayor, but this time he had to use all of his political muscle to squeeze out a 29 to 22 victory – a “victory” that was greeted by shouts of “shame on you" from the public gallery. Bloomberg now says he’ll spend $80 million to win next year's race, and it sounds like he’ll need every dime of it.

“Council Backs Bloomberg Bid To Run Again,” The New York Times, October 24, 2008.

"Dispensable Arrogance," Washington Post, October 12, 2008

[Frenchfry]

WHAT WE COULD DO WITH $700 BILLION
Thursday, November 6, 2008
by Jim Hightower


With his usual keen insight, George W recently offered this comment about the Wall Street collapse: “Anyone who makes bad decisions should fail.”

One wonders if he ever looks in the mirror.

His own bad decisions aside, however, he’s now rushing up to Wall Street bankers who made terrible decisions and is stuffing their pockets with billions of our tax dollars to keep them from failing. Sending an even worse moral message, Bush is attaching no strings to this reward for incompetence and malfeasance. The bankers do not even have to use the bailout money to increase business and consumer loans that would help our economy. Instead, generous George lets them apply the windfall as they see fit – they can fatten their own banks’ balance sheets, buy up other banks – or even use it to pay fat dividends to themselves (it's estimated that $250 million from the bailout will go to such executive dividends this year alone).

And these are people who’ve been trying to tag Barack Obama as a socialist! We’re talking about at least $700 billion here, coming right out of our public treasury. Imagine if that sum was invested for public purposes – what could it achieve?

We could repair all of America’s deteriorating bridges, roads, and levees – projects that would create a million or more good jobs.

We could launch a “Green Deal” to make all of America’s homes and buildings energy efficient – all of FDR’s New Deal public works projects, for example, cost only half as much as Bush’s Wall Street bailout.

We could replace the Hubble telescope, put a new international space station into orbit, and launch a new Apollo-style exploration of our planetary system – all for less than the bailout’s cost.

You might recall that we've always been told that there’s no money to do such big American projects. Really? Then where did they find that $700 billion they're now handing out to Wall Street?

“Raising the Grades: Small Steps for Big Improvements in America’s Failing Infrastructure,” www.asce.org, 2008.

“No Magic From the GOP,” The Washington Post, October 11, 2008.

“This Bailout Doesn’t Pay Dividends,” The New York Times, October 21, 2008.

“Oh, what the government could do with the financial bailout billions,” Associated Press, October 2008.

[Frenchfry]

ONE MOTHER MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Friday, November 7, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Ordinary Americans can make a big difference, even against great odds, when they dare to stand up and challenge The Powers That Be.

Cheryl Harris dared to confront two of the biggest powers: the Pentagon and its favorite corporation, Halliburton. “I’m not going to sit around quietly,” she said determinedly early this year. What prompted her defiance was the death of one of her sons in Iraq. Ryan wasn’t killed by the enemy he’d been sent to fight – but by the shower in his own barracks. He was electrocuted, apparently suffering a long and painful death.

Ms. Harris asked questions. She got lies. Army officials blamed Ryan, saying he’d gone into the shower with “a small appliance.” She knew her son better than that, so she kept pushing for real answers. With the help of a lawyer, she eventually uncovered the fact that this shower was connected to a water pump that had been improperly wired.

KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary that has been paid $24 billion by the Pentagon to do such basic work in Iraq as electrical wiring, had known 11 months prior to Ryan’s electrocution that there were severe electrical problems in that building. KBR officials, however, scoffed at Ms. Harris, saying that their contract with the Pentagon included no responsibility to prevent such deaths.

Now, though, the corporate scoffing has subsided substantially, for Cheryl Harris’s insistent activism reached Congress, which forced the Pentagon to investigate. It turns out that Ryan is not the only victim; 18 of our soldiers have died from electrocution in Iraq. The investigation reveals a pattern of shoddy electrical work, KBR has now been found guilty of “serious contractual noncompliance” for jobs it has done in Iraq, and the Army has recently reopened its investigation into Ryan’s death.

All because one mother would not stay quiet. She dared to question authority, then she questioned their answers.

“Pentagon Finds Company Violated Its Contract on Electrical Work at Bases in Iraq,” The New York Times, October 25, 2008.

“Green Beret electrocuted in shower on Iraq base,” www.cnn.com, May 28, 2008.

[Borat]

Here we go AGAIN...Frenchfry, THE ELECTION IS OVER, YOUR CANDIDATE WON SO GIVE IT UP ALREADY.  IS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS OR GOES WRONG IN THE NEXT 4-8 YEARS GOING TO BE GEORGE BUSHES FAULT? 

[katy scarlett]

Here we go AGAIN...Frenchfry, THE ELECTION IS OVER, YOUR CANDIDATE WON SO GIVE IT UP ALREADY.  IS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS OR GOES WRONG IN THE NEXT 4-8 YEARS GOING TO BE GEORGE BUSHES FAULT? 

JMO, but according to the Dems yes, everything will be Bush's fault until the economy is better then it will be because of whatever the dems do. But if the shoe was on the other foot the Repubs would be doing the same thing. Its never either party's fault its always because of something the other party did or didnt do.

[PXaiver]

JMO, but according to the Dems yes, everything will be Bush's fault until the economy is better then it will be because of whatever the dems do. But if the shoe was on the other foot the Repubs would be doing the same thing. Its never either party's fault its always because of something the other party did or didnt do.

Excellent observation....

[Frenchfry]

REAL CHANGE DEPENDS ON US
Monday, November 10, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Obama elected! Job done, right?

Uh… not quite. If last week’s sweeping vote for change is to mean anything substantive, We The People have stay alert and on the move. And the job begins now.

Like fresh-poured concrete, the shape of Obama’s presidency is going to set up quickly, and we can’t be lulled into thinking that casting a ballot is all that democracy requires of us. Now is not the time to crank back in our La-Z-Boys, trusting Obama to do the heavy lifting for us. Wall Street, the war machine, Republican Congress critters, weak-kneed Democrats, and other powerful forces of business-as-usual policies will be all over him. These insiders intend to shape him in their mold.

We have to be the counter force – an aggressive and vociferous Loyal Opposition pushing insistently and persistently from the outside. We must stand up and speak out on every move the insiders make; we must propose and propel progressive ideas and ideals; and we certainly must expose and vigorously oppose any capitulations that he’ll be pressured to make to the corporate powers. If his presidency is to be worthy of the deep potential of this political moment in our history, you and I have to step up.

It’s real change we’re after, a fundamental shift in national direction and policy: Get our troops and our national reputation out of Iraq, provide good health care for all, end “tinkle down” economics, reign in corporate greedheads, reinvest in America’s infrastructure, deal with global warming, no more torture, get serious about green energy, restore our stolen liberties – and generally reinstate the Common Good as our nation’s governing ethic.

Obama himself has often said that he is not the change, we are. Through him, we opened the White House door to the possibility of change last Tuesday. Now, we must see it through

[Chips]

WTF

again

[bloo II]

REAL CHANGE DEPENDS ON US
Monday, November 10, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Obama elected! Job done, right?

Uh… not quite. If last week’s sweeping vote for change is to mean anything substantive, We The People have stay alert and on the move. And the job begins now.

Like fresh-poured concrete, the shape of Obama’s presidency is going to set up quickly, and we can’t be lulled into thinking that casting a ballot is all that democracy requires of us. Now is not the time to crank back in our La-Z-Boys, trusting Obama to do the heavy lifting for us. Wall Street, the war machine, Republican Congress critters, weak-kneed Democrats, and other powerful forces of business-as-usual policies will be all over him. These insiders intend to shape him in their mold.

We have to be the counter force – an aggressive and vociferous Loyal Opposition pushing insistently and persistently from the outside. We must stand up and speak out on every move the insiders make; we must propose and propel progressive ideas and ideals; and we certainly must expose and vigorously oppose any capitulations that he’ll be pressured to make to the corporate powers. If his presidency is to be worthy of the deep potential of this political moment in our history, you and I have to step up.

It’s real change we’re after, a fundamental shift in national direction and policy: Get our troops and our national reputation out of Iraq, provide good health care for all, end “tinkle down” economics, reign in corporate greedheads, reinvest in America’s infrastructure, deal with global warming, no more torture, get serious about green energy, restore our stolen liberties – and generally reinstate the Common Good as our nation’s governing ethic.

Obama himself has often said that he is not the change, we are. Through him, we opened the White House door to the possibility of change last Tuesday. Now, we must see it through

I totally agree with this article, especially the bolded part, but I always wonder HOW we can do that? I don't feel that contacting my state rep is really effective. I feel that if The People are to have a more powerful voice, then there needs to be a more direct communication path to the real movers and shakers. Any ideas?

[Frenchfry]

PUBLIC WORKS, WORK
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Here’s an idea: Instead of wasting our tax money on Wall Street slicks who don’t use it to help anyone but themselves, why don’t we use our public funds to build something in America?

Like what? Like bridges that are in disrepair, schools and libraries that need upgrades and expansion, high-speed rail networks to connect our population centers, energy-saving technologies for every home and building, public transportation for all of our cities, state-of-the-art internet systems everywhere, and public park repairs and expansions.

America has important work that needs to be done. America also has millions of workers who need good jobs. Let’s combine the two needs so we can lift our country up and move forward together.

“There is no better time than today” to launch a major public works program. That’s not a quote from some lefty do-gooder, but from the head of the National Association of Business. Corporate executives are now joining labor leaders, mayors, and other progressives who see the urgent need to invest in and rebuild America, creating new infrastructure and new middle-class opportunities all across our land.

George W and his gang of laissez-fair ideologues oppose this. They assert that such a bold national undertaking would take too long to help with the current financial collapse. Hello, George – state and city transportation officials say they could have 3,000 highway projects and $8-billion-worth of mass transit projects underway in less than 90 days. Let’s get the money to them! This is not a time for more ideological claptrap from right-wing theorists. It’s a time to restore America’s can-do spirit, turning our grassroots people loose to build.

This should not wait until next January. Congress should come together now, this month, and begin to move money where it’ll do some real good for everyone in America.

“Public Works Projects Promoted at Hearing,” The New York Times, November 30, 2008.

[Chips]

WTF

[Frenchfry]

BIG OIL’S CHARM OFFENSIVE
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Exxon Mobil wants you to know that it cares about poor African children. Several are featured in a recent TV ad touting Exxon’s donations to a charitable effort in Africa to fight malaria. Chevron wants you to know that it's a caring corporation, too. It’s running a TV ad touting its concern about alternative energy, featuring a touching tagline that says: “This isn’t just about oil companies. This is about you and me.”

Why the push to show Big Oil’s gentle side? Because new profit figures show yet another quarter of the ongoing money grab by these giants. Exxon’s take for the three summer months, for example, was nearly $15 billion – the most profit of any corporation in history. So the money grabbers are putting on masks of altruism, hoping we won’t notice their pockets bulging with our dollars – and hoping we won't demand that Congress take away the billions of dollars they get each year in tax subsidies.

To see the true heart of the oil barons, however, don’t look at their ads – look at their production numbers. While prices rose in the past year, pinching consumers hard, the big refiners deliberately cut back on gasoline production to hold prices up. While diesel shortages were squeezing the economic life out of U.S. truckers, the refiners ignored domestic need because they could get a higher price by shipping American diesel to Europe, South Africa, and Australia.

Worse, though, is Big Oil’s failure to use its windfall profits for development of new oil supplies. The corporations claim that they need enormous profits in order to explore for oil – yet last year the Big Five spent only $10 billion on exploration, while dumping $55 billion into the pockets of their top executives and major investors.

Oil company image ads aren't fooling anyone. Their attempts to appear touchie-feelie are as hopeless as hanging an air freshener on the tail of a hog.

“ Exxon’s $14.83 billion income in quarter sets U.S. record,” Austin American Statesman, October 31, 2008.

“Chevron Gifts Top $37 Million,” Austin American Statesman, October 31, 2008.

“Oil companies ad blitz strives to polish image,” Austin American Statesman, October 30, 2008.

[Frenchfry]

HELP STOP MOUNTAINTOP MINING MADNESS
Thursday, November 13, 2008
by Jim Hightower

Industrial polluters are very skilled at perverting our language when they want to eliminate regulations that protect us and our environment from their rampant destruction. Rather than saying honestly that they’re out to kill anti-pollution regulations – they speak soothingly of “easing,” “modifying,” and “relaxing” the rules. This sounds like a mattress ad.

They're at it again. Pushed by Appalachia’s coal barons, George W’s office of surface mining is trying to rush through a rule change that would be one of the most destructive imaginable. It involves a horrendous, ruinous mining method called mountaintop removal. “Removal” is another Orwellian euphemism, disguising the industry’s brutal practice of simply blowing up the tops of ancient Appalachian mountains, then callously shoving the massive piles of rubble down the mountainside, burying everything below.

The one deterrent – often ignored by coal corporations – is a rule prohibiting this rubble from being dumped within 100 feet of valley streams. Rather than enforce this clear regulation, however, Bush & Company have recently proposed to “clarify” the meaning of “Don’t Do That.” The new language says the coal giants can dump their waste right into streams, so long as they try to minimize the damage “to the extent possible.”

In other words: Free for all – blast away! This is a grotesque departing gift from the Bushites to corporations that have been loyal campaign funders. It would encourage more mindless decimation of our mountains and the burying of hundreds of miles of streams beneath tons of coal waste.

Still, there is hope for sanity. The EPA must okay the rule change, there are moves in Congress to stop it, and both Barack Obama and John McCain say they oppose it. To join this fight, connect with this grassroots group: www.ilovemountains.org.

“More Sadness for Appalachia,” The New York Times, October 21, 2008.

“Mines to Get Freer Hand to Dump Waste,” www.washingtonpost.com, October 18, 2008.

“Federal Officials Seek to Relax Rules for Dumping Mine Waste,” www.nytimes.com, October 19, 2008.

“Stream Buffer Zone Action Alert,” www.itsgettinghotinhere.org, October 7, 2008.

“A Sick Parting Gift: Bush Administration Gutting Protections Against Mountain Top Removal,” www.itsgettinghotinhere.org, October 21, 2008.

“In the name of profits for King Coal Our oldest mountains are being blown away,” Hightower Lowdown, November 2005.

[Chips]

WTF

[Frenchfry]

PRICING FANS OUT OF THE GAME
Friday, November 14, 2008
by Jim Hightower


Generations of Americans have enjoyed whiling away an afternoon or evening with friends and family at the ballpark, joining in the old sports tune, "Take me out to the ballgame." But if you’re an average Joe or Jill today, you’ve been taken out of the ballgame by corporate owners who now cater to upscale customers, pricing the experience beyond the reach of regular folks.

Look at the new Yankee Stadium. It will only have half as many bleacher seats as the venerable old stadium next door. The old ballpark, now being bulldozed, was known as "The House That Ruth Built,” because The Babe drew thousands of working class fans to each game, filling those bleachers.

But the new edifice is reaching for a much higher-end demographic than Joe Sixpack, boasting more than three times as many luxury skyboxes as its more egalitarian predecessor. The draw is no longer to the game itself, but to the scene – a chance for Wall Streeters, corporate chieftains, politicians, and other suits to see and be seen, to schmooze with each other in the splendid isolation of the pricey boxes.

Team owners have also come up with a new financial gimmick that shuts out average fans. Even to get a chance to buy season tickets for the games in such new football stadiums as the one the New York Jets will soon use, a gamer must first purchase a PSL – personal seat license. These go for $5,000 or more. This doesn’t get you an actual seat at the games, just the “license” to buy tickets – which sell for roughly $120 per seat, per game. So a family of four wanting season tickets to root for their team must pay $20,000 for PSLs, then shell out $500 for four tickets to each game. And that doesn’t count gas, parking, hot dogs, a cold beer, and souvenirs.

Forget “Take me out to the ballgame” – regular folks are just plain getting taken.

“The changing face of the sports fan,” www.cnn.com, October 8, 2008.