The stupid hurts.
Read about it here.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
This is why I think Rick Sanitarium belongs in one
SANTORUM: [Referring to Obama] When he goes around and tries to divide America and aligns himself with Occupy Wall Street. Says, this dividing of America, 99-1. You know it’s not 99-1. It’s anybody that makes money and pays taxes and everybody who doesn’t. That’s the 99-1. It’s anybody who goes out and succeeds in America versus those who should have that wealth redistributed.
It’s unclear why Santorum thinks that the ratio of people who pay taxes to those who don’t can be described as 99:1, which would be wildly inaccurate. By attacking people who supposedly don’t pay taxes, he is likely referring to Americans who are too poor to pay federal income taxes. The truth is, while there are many Americans who are too poor to pay federal income taxes, particularly during the Great Recession, it is also true that if you look at state and local taxes, the working poor actually pay a higher percentage of their income in these taxes in every state except for Vermont.
Here.
I am unclear as to why peeps who call themselves 'populists' always manage to distort the message of the Occupy movement and fail to grasp simple concepts such as if you are poor, you don't pay federal income taxes. Maybe someonce could clarify this for me. Anyhoo, I'm still waiting for a hint that Republicans want to create jobs which would move poor folks out of poverty and save the middle class. Lately, all they've been doing is griping that impoverished Americans don't pay enough taxes. Lawdy!!
It’s unclear why Santorum thinks that the ratio of people who pay taxes to those who don’t can be described as 99:1, which would be wildly inaccurate. By attacking people who supposedly don’t pay taxes, he is likely referring to Americans who are too poor to pay federal income taxes. The truth is, while there are many Americans who are too poor to pay federal income taxes, particularly during the Great Recession, it is also true that if you look at state and local taxes, the working poor actually pay a higher percentage of their income in these taxes in every state except for Vermont.
Here.
I am unclear as to why peeps who call themselves 'populists' always manage to distort the message of the Occupy movement and fail to grasp simple concepts such as if you are poor, you don't pay federal income taxes. Maybe someonce could clarify this for me. Anyhoo, I'm still waiting for a hint that Republicans want to create jobs which would move poor folks out of poverty and save the middle class. Lately, all they've been doing is griping that impoverished Americans don't pay enough taxes. Lawdy!!
GOP Lawmakers Pass Bill Making Public School Curriculum Optional
As the country shifts its attention from the Iowa caucus to the upcoming primary in New Hampshire, the state’s Republican legislators are busy passing some of the most radically conservative laws in the country. Today the GOP-controlled Senate passed HB 542, which allows parents to pull their children out of any school lesson that the parent objects to, forcing the school to design an alternative lesson. Their House colleagues approved the measure earlier last year.
The measure is so extreme that even the conservative Union-Leader editorial board denounced it in July:
House Bill 542 would have amended state law to “Require school districts to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course material based on a parent’s or legal guardian’s determination that the material is objectionable.” Though that sounds appealing at first blush, it is so broad that it would make public education essentially an a la carte menu.
It is true that public schools are too inflexible and don’t allow enough choice. They would benefit greatly from the competition that comes from charter schools and vouchers. But this bill put the burden on each public school to create a curriculum catered to each family’s individual tastes. Schools would have to provide alternatives to any instruction a family opposed, and a family could oppose anything for any reason. That is neither workable, nor sensible.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/01/05/397818/new-hampshire-end-education/
The measure is so extreme that even the conservative Union-Leader editorial board denounced it in July:
House Bill 542 would have amended state law to “Require school districts to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course material based on a parent’s or legal guardian’s determination that the material is objectionable.” Though that sounds appealing at first blush, it is so broad that it would make public education essentially an a la carte menu.
It is true that public schools are too inflexible and don’t allow enough choice. They would benefit greatly from the competition that comes from charter schools and vouchers. But this bill put the burden on each public school to create a curriculum catered to each family’s individual tastes. Schools would have to provide alternatives to any instruction a family opposed, and a family could oppose anything for any reason. That is neither workable, nor sensible.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/01/05/397818/new-hampshire-end-education/
Wall Street - a raw deal for the 100 percent
The stunning reality is that five years into the financial meltdown, it's business as usual on Wall Street - outlandish rewards for insiders with downside for almost everyone else. Occupy Wall Street protesters are right - something is wrong - but they're not sure what. Here's what I say: A rigged game affects not just the 99 percent, but everyone, and with global repercussions.
I recently had a chance to explain these problems on "Street Soldiers," a radio program devoted to keeping inner-city residents "alive and free." It's not the usual forum for an independent investment adviser who has managed more than $1.5 billion in assets for clients from the 1 percent. The radio show host wanted his listeners to hear from a Wall Street "soldier" who had broken ranks to publicly challenge his industry's out-of-control practices. Maybe I could explain what is wrong on Wall Street and why CEOs get eight-figure bonuses while hardworking Americans lose their homes and jobs.
Make no mistake - as I told the listeners - I'm a hard-core capitalist. But capitalism has been hijacked, and I'm infuriated. For capitalism to work, people who assume risk should reap the rewards of success, but they also must suffer when losses occur.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/28/EDQN1MHHJI.DTL#ixzz1ib6d9TXW
Not so long ago, I believed in the 'too big to fail' mantra. The behavior of Wall Street and large banks since they received their bailouts makes me wonder. The bailouts probably saved our economy from a depression, but now we need to move on to phase two, punishing those who almost brought our economy to depression and who did ruin many peoples' lives.
I recently had a chance to explain these problems on "Street Soldiers," a radio program devoted to keeping inner-city residents "alive and free." It's not the usual forum for an independent investment adviser who has managed more than $1.5 billion in assets for clients from the 1 percent. The radio show host wanted his listeners to hear from a Wall Street "soldier" who had broken ranks to publicly challenge his industry's out-of-control practices. Maybe I could explain what is wrong on Wall Street and why CEOs get eight-figure bonuses while hardworking Americans lose their homes and jobs.
Make no mistake - as I told the listeners - I'm a hard-core capitalist. But capitalism has been hijacked, and I'm infuriated. For capitalism to work, people who assume risk should reap the rewards of success, but they also must suffer when losses occur.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/28/EDQN1MHHJI.DTL#ixzz1ib6d9TXW
Not so long ago, I believed in the 'too big to fail' mantra. The behavior of Wall Street and large banks since they received their bailouts makes me wonder. The bailouts probably saved our economy from a depression, but now we need to move on to phase two, punishing those who almost brought our economy to depression and who did ruin many peoples' lives.
10 Ways Right-Wing Christian Groups Will Likely Shove Religion Down Your Throat This Year
From the halls of Congress, where the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly urged public schools to post “In God We Trust” displays in classrooms, to the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., that was attended by 3,000 fundamentalist Christian activists, the Religious Right’s influence loomed large.
Since 2012 is an election year, we expect the Religious Right to use this growing influence to wage an all-out war to shape the U.S. government into a body that will do its bidding.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the biggest challenges, issues and concerns that Americans United expects to confront in the coming twelve months.
http://www.alternet.org/story/153657/10_ways_right-wing_christian_groups_will_likely_shove_religion_down_your_throat_this_year_?page=entire
Since 2012 is an election year, we expect the Religious Right to use this growing influence to wage an all-out war to shape the U.S. government into a body that will do its bidding.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the biggest challenges, issues and concerns that Americans United expects to confront in the coming twelve months.
http://www.alternet.org/story/153657/10_ways_right-wing_christian_groups_will_likely_shove_religion_down_your_throat_this_year_?page=entire
Rick Santorum Claims Gay Marriage Caused the Recession
Rick Santorum is clearly eating fruit from a very different morality tree than the rest of us. Dare we say it, we think (it) might be rotting the poor chap’s brain.
Irresponsible mortgage and insurance companies preying upon the most impoverished homeowners in our country? Bankers and Wall Street financial specialists robbing Americans blind? Corporations refusing to raise the average worker’s dollar, even as CEO’s award themselves billions in annual bonus money?
No, no. None of these things led the the economic collapse of our nation, and the world at large. It was the gays, of course!
http://unicornbooty.com/blog/2011/08/17/rick-santorum-claims-gay-marriage-caused-the-recession/
Irresponsible mortgage and insurance companies preying upon the most impoverished homeowners in our country? Bankers and Wall Street financial specialists robbing Americans blind? Corporations refusing to raise the average worker’s dollar, even as CEO’s award themselves billions in annual bonus money?
No, no. None of these things led the the economic collapse of our nation, and the world at large. It was the gays, of course!
http://unicornbooty.com/blog/2011/08/17/rick-santorum-claims-gay-marriage-caused-the-recession/
Credit Card Interest Rates Hit Record Highs
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to pay off your credit card debt, be advised that it's getting harder all the time. That's because credit card interest rates climbed to record highs last month, reaching an average of 15.22 percent, according to the consumer information site CreditCards.com.
The rising rates reflect an ongoing push-and-pull between the people who use credit cards and the companies that distribute and collect on them. With the economy stuck in low gear, and with an increasing number of Americans working low-paying jobs that keep them living paycheck to paycheck, customers appear to be leaning on credit cards more and more.
In 2011, credit card users built up a collective $64 billion in debt -- a sum much greater than in either of the two previous years, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/credit-card-interest-rates_n_1183248.html
Access to healthcare ruins nations, per Rick Sanitarium
Rick Santorum touted his opposition to the Affordable Care Act early this morning during an event in Manchester, New Hampshire and drew a clear distinction between his long-standing opposition to universal health care and the past positions of Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. “I’ve never been for government-run health care, never. Unlike the other two folks who are running here, who have supported individual mandates, who have supported top-down government health care, I never have,” he said.
The former Pennsylvania senator also implied that widespread access to health care is “what’s destroying most countries in the world” and mocked President Obama for passing reform that offered insurance to “everybody”.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/01/05/398330/santorum-mocks-obama-for-extending-health-care-coverage-to-everybody/
The former Pennsylvania senator also implied that widespread access to health care is “what’s destroying most countries in the world” and mocked President Obama for passing reform that offered insurance to “everybody”.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/01/05/398330/santorum-mocks-obama-for-extending-health-care-coverage-to-everybody/
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Soaking the Retired
When Andrew Cuomo was campaigning for governor of New York he promised that, if elected, he would not raise taxes. He would cut services and fund state programs only existing tax revenue.
He hasn’t entirely kept that promise as governor, but he’s done a pretty good job being creative with what he’s got. Part of this plan, however, apparently means giving state (or state-affiliated) employees reduced benefits and making them pay more out of pocket. Those connected to the state universities object.
More here.
Give ‘Em Hell, Barry
“You know, you never want to say, ‘It’s all them,’” President Obama told Barbara Walters last week, “But I do think that right now at least, in the Republican Party there are a couple of notions. Number one is that compromise is a dirty word. Number two, anything that Obama’s for, we’re against.”
Come on, Mr. President, what is this “you never want to say it’s all them” crap? You’re acting like you’re taking your political strategy from Dr. Phil ‘s relationship advice. Maybe you should watch The Fighter instead. Study Mark Wahlberg . Listen to the disturbed recovering addict played by Christian Bale . Lose touch with your Venusian side, Mr. President. Get ready to rumble.
At some point in the next few months, Mr. President, you’ve got to stop the sulky griping about the Republicans in Congress. Really, the only way it could get worse if you shrugged at the end and sniffed “Just saying.” You need to work up something resembling a full-throated Harry S Truman battle cry (“”I don’t give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.”) Because here’s the thing: you’ve been a pretty good president. When you’ve been left alone to act unilaterally, you’ve shattered Al Qaeda into a shattered shell, brought Osama bin Laden American justice, and backed a controversial plan that ousted Gaddafi without losing a single American life.
More here.
Come on, Mr. President, what is this “you never want to say it’s all them” crap? You’re acting like you’re taking your political strategy from Dr. Phil ‘s relationship advice. Maybe you should watch The Fighter instead. Study Mark Wahlberg . Listen to the disturbed recovering addict played by Christian Bale . Lose touch with your Venusian side, Mr. President. Get ready to rumble.
At some point in the next few months, Mr. President, you’ve got to stop the sulky griping about the Republicans in Congress. Really, the only way it could get worse if you shrugged at the end and sniffed “Just saying.” You need to work up something resembling a full-throated Harry S Truman battle cry (“”I don’t give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.”) Because here’s the thing: you’ve been a pretty good president. When you’ve been left alone to act unilaterally, you’ve shattered Al Qaeda into a shattered shell, brought Osama bin Laden American justice, and backed a controversial plan that ousted Gaddafi without losing a single American life.
More here.
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