Our Conure at 26 mos., "whats up", okay, thank you! :)
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Like sheep to the slaughter.
Like the General in the movie, "Dr. Strangelove". :) Its funny but leaves a person with a strange feeling of its reality.
It may be in the food from McDonald's or Taco Bell that puts them into an alternate state of unconsciousness.:)
Your so right!!. Terrific solution. Thats one big solution to the problem.
Make them pay for their freedom "Iraqi Freedom", like we have, maybe then they'll get serious enough to protect it at all cost, or risk getting annexed by Iran one day, and thus losing it all. The US could support their needs by selling them what the US deemed whats necessary in providing them armaments, and provide training, with contracts that would generate revenue as opposed to handing out government contracts, and our money to corrupt corporations like Haliburton.
Russia is doing this for Iran and Venezuela big time with some of the most sophisticated weaponry in the world. Chavez is empowering himself to become the next Hitler. Those who oppose him will take their own fate into their hands. From what I understand they will at the very least be fined..........Fined!, I guess then they'll have to appear before some court, where a Kangaroo will be seated on the bench, or will look like one.
Like Putin's courts who oversaw the case of Mikhail Khordovasky. Putin stole everything from this man, his wealth, his company, then thru him in prison. He may die there. He took the orphanage from his family that he had built, and the orphans his father and mother were taking care of since they were little whose parents had been murdered by rebels, some were killed by the Russian military indirectly. I don't know what happened to all of them?
Its good we all made it to the 4th grade. :)
Yeah man!
The first round?......, every US military family, and every American taxpayer. Bend over for their first black Knee Boot. Go fight an unjustified war with no exit plan for Iraq we initially heard, even if takes a hundred years. Kinda reminds me of the strategy the Germans used in Stalingrad, and Kursk for the sake of their ruler.
The total cost for Iraq/Afghan wars $5t plus..............and at the cost of American lives, and those who are now geriatric with shortened lives, and maimed men and women cannot be measured with money.
Who were we supposedly after in the first place?......who was the one responsible for the attack?.........he's been long forgotten. And the timing of going after Saddam at the exact same time for having WMD, but not Iran the US knew was after them.
This alone would have convinced Saddam that the US might soon be knocking on his door if he took this route, but we know now he wasn't. We invaded a country based on lies. ............He had already been nutured by Desert Storm. In devasting fashion.
There was enough evidence against them, the most terrorist nation in the world moving in that direction, but yet the US was idle on that situation. Who was, is, and will be the greatest threat in that region?. Iran is at the core, and at the heart of the extremism, and the US knows it. In 10 years the military hasn't solved the problem in Afghanistan, nor Iraq, nor will it in 10 more years.
We do though have larger issues on our own border. Had, has, and will. The cost for Afghanistan is still growing in lives, and into the billions, with no end in sight. If we couldn't accomplish the real, and should have been the only mission in 6 months we should have pulled out. The Russians are no pushover, but they eventually threw in the towel, and never looked back.
Tack on another $3t from the bailouts, and all that has surrounded Wall Street, and publicly traded corporations, and we're at $8t plus. This was the kind of Greed from this Free nation that was displayed here at home when our men and women were dying in the Middle East.
What are some politicians asking for now?, not really asking, if they could they would just do whatever they want. They would like everyone now to bend over and accept their 2nd knee boot, especially the old, the sick, and the disabled. When our politicians minds, and hearts have waxed this hard having caused these ills here and abroad while derelict in their duties, and responsibilities here at home, which allowed 911 to happen in the first place, should at the very least be brought down. Our markets were filled with corruption partly caused by deregulations, or the lack of enforcement therof from all our regulatory agencies, even our rating agencies we know now were corrupted, and all for money, and during war time..........it was a great distraction for them, and 911 didn't change anything, if anything the corruption grew.
What do some of these politicians ask now?.........whatever else they can take, even the rights men and women have died for time and again. Something we call freedom. I hope this answers in part some of the questions about who will bail us out. We have to look no farther than our mirrors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Assets_Relief_Program
http://www.upi.com/Related-News/Check_credit_market_to_see_if_bailout_works/6-493ed32ac4547/
http://247wallst.com/2008/09/21/bail-out-legisl/#
The Royal family ... there is a bloodline descendant of King David
http://www.asis.com/users/stag/royalty.html
http://www.britam.org/Tribesman/GeneaologyDavid.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Israelism
Royal Insight
http://www.royalinsight.net/content/british-monarchy-royal-residences
Break Time! "enjoy".
Most here have probably have probably read about all this at one time or the other but its still relevant. A look behind the scenes. This was the man with Cheney that got us into Iraq, added $5t to the national debt, and counting, and ten years of war, and counting.
http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
The Republican Party seems to have some future plan, and perhaps the dream of becoming some great war machine. "They might need it!". Like Gaddafi, if they want to continue down their pathway.
The only ones they want to answer to is themselves, and the major corporations who they contract with. If they could just eliminate any and all unions, social programs, and the voice of the people, and can get all the money coming their way it could allow them to increase the military, and advance their tools of war. even it meant enacting the Draft when they felt the need to engage in some war, like the ones we have going on today.
The government for years have been controlled to a large extent by corporations/lobbyist, the DOD, and the Pentagon. The main reason we went to war in WW1 was due to the money the US loaned out. Woodrow Wilson wanted to make sure we got it back.
What would be the determining factor this time?. If we can't pay back whats been borrowed, will it be to keep the wolves away from the door?.......nah!, we'll just take the war to them :). Who knows where its all going, we're into unchartered waters, uprisings are occurring in Europe and all around the Middle East. I doubt that its for a call to western democracy, and our democratic, and capitalistic ideas.
Interesting viewpoints:
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/reasons/World%20debt.HTM
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=5964
Sorry, I can get off on a rant. Not that its my intention, I can't help myself:)
All we can do is to wait and see what happens?. The government has dug this country into a deep hole. They have suceeded in doing alot of things ass backwards, and now they want us to believe they can fix it, and everything will be peaches in about 10 years. They won't feel it if they keep their elected positions, but brother we're going to, as if we haven't already. I just felt it at the pump. Approx $40 for 10 gallons.
We'll get there by starting with this as your article pointed out-
Rep. Paul Ryan’s ambitious proposal is to cut $5.8 trillion from projected spending through fiscal 2021. The budget also cuts individual and corporate income taxes by more than $4 trillion below current projections.
When giving a look at what the republicans want vs. what we have consider this?. If you have grand parents, or parents who may be up in the years, and with health problems, or without any that aren't foreseen?. Many who have lived through many wars, even the Great Depression, and recessions. Some who may have lost pensions from companies they worked for, or to the infamous S&L scandal. Institutions that were the best at one time to have a savings with. Maybe some who worked hard and trusting, and decided to invest in the market through various venues, only to lose a portion or all of it.........its not hard to fathom considering how corrupt companies can be, and the market place is.
At best its a good place to lose money, lots of it, thats taken years, and years to earn through hard work to the racketeers of Wall Street, and the Hedge-funds that play on stocks every market day. If not them its the Insiders who use these publicly traded companies as if it were their own personal ATM's filled with cash just for the taking.
We don't have to go far to see it all in black and white, and its outcome over the last several years, and its not the first time. If its not enough Deregulating the banking industry, and the lack of enforcement thereof, its the derivatives market calculated to be over a quadrillion in bets at risk. In addition to all this we've had 3 of the most prominent rating agencies selling their intergrity for profit, just like Arthur Anderson, just like Madoff, just like the SEC. But yet there is no change. If anything the next time it will be easier for this to happen again.
At the top of all this its the Federal Reserve Bank and their secret society who lie, cheat, and steal as much as the rest. Greenspan knew what was going on, and sponsored it, so did Paulson, Bernake, Geitner, and so did Cox, as well as Mary Shapiro. Each and everyone of them is guilty.
But getting back to where I started with all this, how many here would like to take on the burden of support, health care cost, the hospital bills for our grand parents or parents?, perhaps rehab or the cost of costly pharmaceuticals when your trying your best to take care of yourself, and your immediate family?. What if any here have a child thats born with disabilities, or out of any of these scenarios some debilitating disease arises?. I pray none here have to experience any of this, or becomes wiped out financially when faced with the unsuspecting, but its there. People use to not live as long either because of having to go off to war, health care wasn't affordable, and hospitals were as abundantly available, and for the lack of technology. But because people are living longer today the politicians, especially the likes of Alan Simpson degrades them. IMO he has lived way to long. But he enjoys his career political pension, social security, and government health care...........He's a bonifide shithead!.
Something else to take into consideration, and though I have my own shortcomings, I don't admire Clinton, but he was running a surplus until Bush came into office following the Supreme Courts decision to give him the election. Just so happened Clarence Thomas was nominated by his father. Whatever the case we saw what happened to the surplus and trillions more, and the lives he spent, and the families he's grieved, and injured from his bullshit. I won't go there but we know Iraq was unjustified. We shouldn't have involved ourselves in Libya either IMO thats a European issue.
The point I'm driving at is that most who have wanted to become politicians had first the desire to become rich, if not already, and grab the power of owning that position for reasons of self service. It can open many doors, and none walked thru are to serve the American people or this country. There's just not enough money to go around because of the social programs that are in place, but just think of they weren't?........Just think if that money could be spent on other things, unlike our infrastructure, unlike our border issues, unlike more police to fight the war on crime, and gangs, unlike making our schools better, unlike strenghthening us as a nation. Better yet to give it abroad, to the Pentagon, and government contracts, and corporations, and subsidies to the wealthiest corporations who became wealthy on the backs of the American people.
Not one of these politicians know who you, me, your loved ones are, here, or in the service they give, or have died, or are suffering life long injuries inflicted by serving this nation up close and personal, nor do they really give a shit. It wasn't from a padded seat in DC thats empty most time, and permanently when they are campaigning for another elected position on the tax payer, and corporate dollar that may help to open up even something more abroad to profit from. The cost of more jobs lost, jobs that aren't here anymore to generate the kind of tax revenue the seek today..........So what were they thinking????
Choose your fight carefully when it comes to the bigger picture. Ask yourself is it their ideas, like the ones thats caused all this countries problems, or is it yours?.......
They always go after the weakest links, and the gullable American people who even today still want to believe their horseshit. Just like the Bailouts, and how deserving it all was. What indictments came out of all this?.......Madoff, Stanford?........scapegoats, now its the American people, the elderly and the disabled, and in many cases the Vets............the people that they really want to make pay for all their horrid decisions..............
The avg Ceo pay just under $10m today. Lieberman got his wish with no public option, the insurance State that he serves. Biden got his wish giving the Credit Card companies what they wanted, and changed the bankruptcy laws for the individual. But yet it gets no better for publicly traded corporations, even the Credit Card companies if ever need be?............, and or to big to fail. I could go on but for those who took the time to read this I appreciate you listening to my point of view, and ask yourself one question?........What has Washington not only done for you lately, but during your life over the last several decades?. McCain is doing well he owns 7 homes at last count.
He helped to make his girl Sarah very rich by giving her a stage. Are there any among us that can top this?, or have been approached by any advertisers who are willing to pay for you for your decision to the tune of $45m a year?........with the hope that the public will pursue their products as they drive them down our throats everytime we turn on the tv. Even if its just to see what these dirty policitians are up to now?
I'm not missing anything. Believe me I have listened, and watched to much of this stuff. Not just recently but over the years. If you believe the rhetoric of the republican party, that they are watching out for you as an American, and a taxpayer, and your interest, good luck. They Republicans would like to bring this country back to the days of Hoover. It evolves around greed my friend, and it fierce. This will eventually cause this country to fall, as we witnessed under the Bush Administration. "But on a much larger scale", and we've been headed there for years.
If you go over the National Debt over the last several decades, you'll conclude that the Republicans own most of it. I have issues with the Democrats as well, I'm somewhere down the middle, and I have a hatred for most politicians who have been in the service of the country, "rather themselves", since Eisenhower left office. Its all about them, this bullshit story we keep hearing about passing all the bad shit down to their children, and or grand children is utter total bullshit, just ask Chelsey, or Ron Reagan Jr., or Sen.Kohl or any of these career politicians if this makes for a good argument when it references them?.
Its unbelievable how much corporate tax revenue has been lost to Wisconsin via the Corporate Vegas Loophole. It gets no better than zero tax, not one red cent. Walmart had been just one of many riding this ban wagon. Every company public or private who was and is headquartered in this State, and who may have subsidiaries in the State had, and has to pay their fair share. Our State has lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to this corporate welfare program. Gov.Walker has ripped into everyone who is union and placed the blame on them for this States $3.1b shortfall. Nothing like the $400b at AIG, and not even close to the $186b this government gave to them to party and and pay bonuses with as they were able to take care of their bets, like the one with Goldmans.
I would imagine his hope would be to destroy every union so companies can set up non union shops he hopes will move to WI. so they can enjoy all the benefits of corporate welfare, and the tyranny they can represent without representation.
This loophole was supposedly shut down, but only after the residents, and Wisconsin born companies became aware of it. It sounds like Gov.Scott Walker wants to re-institute it. His motto reads, "Open For Business". Like his Office!. Like Ryan's!
Publicly traded multi-nationals which makes up the largest percentage of companies incorporate in countries like Ireland, and Sweden with little more than a post office box, or an unused office to get around paying their fair share of US taxes..........GE is a good example. Their assets are here, but their mailboxes or empty offices are abroad. They may hire one person to answer the phone...........and our government has created this path through their various tax loopholes that allow this. Never understate what Lobbyist can succeed at.
Iran-Contra-Affair
http://www.answers.com/topic/iran-contra-affair
The “military-industrial complex:” revolving door for ...
Today, generals command as many contractors as they do soldiers
http://americasfailureiniraq.com/2011/01/05/the-%e2%80%9cmilitary-industrial-complex%e2%80%9d-revolving-door-of-retired-generals/
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.php/national-security/1487-usa-today
http://articles.boston.com/2010-12-26/news/29319170_1_generals-defense-firms-private-sector
Henry Paulson stated to the Senate Banking Committee that the American tax payer was already on the Hook, and he needed $780B. He needed the money asap, so he could hand it out, hand over fist to all of Wall Street, "but surely not without a price".
At the top of the list Goldmans $23b. Then AIG $186B, and whoever else needed a hand out whether they needed it or not, and the matters would later be discussed at the High End Resorts wine rooms, or spa's.
Looks like the American people are being forced now to swallow that hook, the line, and the sinker, and they hope it hurts during elimination.
First they came for our soldiers, then came our tax dollars, now they're coming for our beds. America 2011.
Robins Hood - Steal from the poor and give to the rich. Ironic isn't it?
As good as it can be spoken. Only the rich can afford to be a republican. If a person is that greedy, mean, and hateful deserves to be. Your right on point. The republicans in general are bought and paid for, like many of our so called democrats. The writing is on the wall, and has been for years. Just look at the company the Bush family keeps. The Bin Ladens!. Its all about money and all about power. Remember, "The contract with America"?
The republicans want to take this country and its people back to the days of Hoover, before there were unions, and the rich controlled the government and the markets as they do today.
Between Rush, Alan Simpson, Dick Armey, and Newt Gingrich and the rest of this crew its not hard to understand what these people are all about. I would like nothing more than to have an opportunity to punch each one of these shitheads in the nose. They hate the American people, and Simpson reaps a nice pension for being a career politician that came with all the perks, thanks to the American people, and the soldiers which have keep him free to spend it. He also gets SSI, because as he stated, he had to take it. You know, it was forced upon him. He like the others are very tight with the Bush family.
http://www.southernstudies.org/2011/03/voices-meet-the-scandal-plagued-billionaire-behind-newt-gingrich.html
http://www.teapartypatriots.org/BlogPostView.aspx?id=506f6cce-9231-4ca8-bd33-970d6bc687a2
http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/27/alan_simpsons_secret_plan_to_save_social_security/
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/alan-simpson-cut-veteran-disability-payments/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014698-503544.html
And thats not all. Its kinda like the wife or girlfriend picking a no sense fight, then taking it to the next level, when you've done nothing wrong. She then tries to make it look like its your fault. Next thing she might even have you believing it, and why she is doing whatever she's doing, or about to?. Behind the facade she has a genuine reason for the show, whatever it might be?.
This is the same kind of psychology the politicians attempt to use on the American people. It really matters less they hate the American people, and their intent is to make the American people pay for all the shit they've done or have caused to happen with varying results which are typically as bad as the plans that were behind them.
Whether its for some war they want to pick, or whatever they do or don't do, and none of it is for the benefit of the American people. Just look at what its done to this country, and the state its in, recovery may not even be feasible this time.
It comes with a cost, they, and their club members are exempt, because they make it this way, and from the brutal reality of their decisions that impacts the rest of us.
What job promises the king of retirement that Congress has passed for themselves?, and obtained in a relative short period of time?.
Unless we're a Ceo of some publicly traded corporation where the corruption is a given right, or lucky enough to hit the lottery (good luck), most Americans have to work till they drop dead.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/economy/the-true-cost-of-the-bank-bailout/3309/
http://www.businessinsider.com/deindustrialization-factory-closing-2010-9
http://leftword.blogdig.net/archives/articles/November2010/07/The_Truth_Is_Coming_Out___Republicans_Hate_Social_Security.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-r-talbott/tarp-uncovered-the-real-c_b_746959.html
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/ssmd-m14.shtml
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/06/two_conservatives.html
:) The benches could be great for backyard cookouts. Not so long ago there was discussion about removing our one tall bridge near the lake as opposed to replacing, or repairing it.
Several years ago a strange dip formed in the south bound lanes. It looked strange, and for sometime cars and trucks were allowed to keep using it until they made the decision to repair it before something happened. The bridge is still standing but the road that goes over it could use alot of work.
If they take it down I guess they'll have to consult the Army Of Engineers to do what they know to do best when there's no bridge to cross a river during war when they need to get to the other side. They may have to construct a weigh station while they're at it.
Our last Mayor did cobblestone downtown at crosswalks, and made it nearly impossible to turn at any corner due to no turn signs. Its rough to drive across, and ices up the winter, when its wet its slippery, and a person can turn an ankle. For women with high heels they need to walk on the outside of the crosswalks or risk loosing a heel. Don't know what the idea behind this was about other than we're to look like the old country?. If he hadn't been so busy have sex with his secretary he could thought this thru. She should have hit him in the head with one of those bricks, instead she filed a lawsuit. Guess who paid for his legal battle, and settlement?. Not him!. He moved back to Chicago.
Well said...........how many times have we heard a suicidal bomber whose intent was to murder claim that it was for God?, and heaven awaited them.
For many of us, we've been lucky if we've held on to jobs, or even got a cost of living increase during the recession that has been plaguing the country for the last decade. But for one highly specific area of banking, the hedge fund manager, not only have paydays been increasing, they're now five times as big as they were just ten years ago.
Via the New York Times:
Ten years ago, when the hedge fund industry was much smaller than it is today, it took 25 hedge fund managers to earn a combined annual payday of $5 billion.
Last year, it took only one.
...
Last year was very lucrative for some of the biggest and best-performing hedge funds’ chiefs. Wealth was so concentrated that a mere 25 people pocketed a total of $22.07 billion, according to this year’s annual ranking by AR Magazine, which tracks the hedge fund industry. At $50,000 a year, it would take the salaries of 441,400 Americans to match that sum.
But just because these executive are cashing big checks doesn't mean that they have big tax bills. Sure, they are likely giving Uncle Sam more money than you are, but as a percentage of their income they are no where near close to what you pay. Wonkroom writes:
[H]edge fund managers benefit from preferential tax treatment that middle-income Americans don’t. Due to what’s known as the carried-interest loophole, the income that hedge fund managers receive if their funds make money is treated as capital gains — rather than ordinary income — and gets taxed at the capital gains rate of 15 percent. Even though the pay is performance-based compensation (just like any other performance-based bonus made by any other worker), hedge fund managers receive a tax break on that income. This results in hedge fund managers paying less in taxes on this income than middle-class workers, who are subject to a 25 percent top marginal tax rate.
So a hedge fund manager that is making $1 billion a year is really only probably bringing home $850,000,000. That makes you feel better, right?
When the Republicans say that rich people need to have their taxes but because they pay most of the taxes, remember that this is what they are talking about -- someone who makes one billion dollars only gets to keep $850,000,000 of it, and the GOP thinks that they should be able to many millions more. Where as someone who makes $50,000 should be forced to lose collective bargaining rights to ask for more than 2 percent in a raise for the following year.http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/top-25-hedgefund-managers-make-almost-1-billion-each-and-pay-less-taxes-than-you-do/
You can believe what you will but imo its just a matter of time before this country will fall, if not in my lifetime or yours its headed in that direction. We've had nearly 30 years of republican leadership, and many of the democrats have helped with their agenda. Even today the RNC believes that Reagan some president, according to Rush, and Beck who has also stated that Cheney is also a great man.
Bailouts are reserved only for those of Publicly traded corporations, such as AIG, and hedgefunds like Goldman?. This has nothing to do with productivity, its fraud and corruption.
What did the Reagan admin/ The Bush Admin (both) do for the people of this nation, or this country?. He may have helped Germany, the Contras, but little for the working class, and he did hurt the unions. Or, maybe we should be a nation without unions like at the turn of 20th century.
I'm not supporting the Clinton's either, and the role he played in deregulation and many of the other decisions he made. We watched a Waco farmhouse burn that killed over 20 children, the ones they claimed to be protecting. David Koresh could have been captured in town prior to all of it.
There's enough to go around for both parties. Anyone who has witnessed all thats occurred since JFK till present in particular this last decade and the last several years, and can come to terms that our leadership whether democrat or republican has served this nation well, and has strengthened us both politcally, and economically especially the working class needs to re-examine those conclusions. You and I didn't drive this nation into $14t in debt, our so called leaders have the thinkers, the decision makers built their beds in corruption, the legal crime family. When Reagan took office our ND was $850b when he left it climbed to over $2t, and its been more of the same ever since. We as a people will pay for it, and in more ways than one.
CEOs Need Mo
By william czander (about the author) Page 1 of 4 page(s)
http://www.opednews.com/articles/CEOs-and-Their-Need-for-Mo-by-william-czander-100916-457.html
For almost 20 years corporate America has resembled the Wild West. CEO's and their executives, Wall Street bankers, and others have been quietly engaged terminating millions of jobs, stealing pensions, breaking up companies, committing fraud, outsourcing, and engaging in incomprehensible risk taking, all for the purpose of outrageous personal gain. This is the second of three articles that will explore the cultural, psychological and psychodynamic motivations for this behavior.
(This is the second of a three part series )
Enter the Finance CEO's
All professions go through evolutionary change over time. Over the years disciplines were favored and valued among corporate boards. There was a time when engineers were valued, then marketing and then the finance people moved into the top positions as the discipline of choice among CEOs. As finance trained executives represented a new group of CEO's B-schools jumped on the bandwagon. Professors of economics and finance climbed to central positions in business schools and substituted the words of "self interest" and "incentive to profit" for "greed." The Ronald Regan concept of "trickle down" economics prevailed, and promoted the belief that allowing the wealthy to "have more" would be good for the economy, and if the rich got richer, their wealth would benefit the lower classes. In the face of such odds, more of the nation's pool of talented students decided there was no point in becoming a doctor or an engineer, when one could be a banker. During the heyday of business school growth, 1970 to 1990 Harvard graduates who entered finance career jumped from 5 to 15 percent while those going into law and medicine fell from 39 to 30 percent (Goldin and Katz, 1999).
Before 1980 one rarely saw an MBA in manufacturing and it was even rarer to find someone with an MBA in finance running a manufacturing plant. But in the 1980's and 90's things changed dramatically, as MBA's entered manufacturing, not as blue collar supervisors but as CEO's, with ties to banking, hedge funds, and Wall Street. These finance trained MBA's managed over a 20 year period; to destroy American manufacturing, severely injure retail and almost destroyed the economy.
How did they do it?
Scheiber (2009) uses the American automobile industry as an example of how they did it. He says that when they took over the reins, "these (finance) executives were frequently numb to the sorts of innovations that enable high-quality production at low cost." However, it was not numbness that led to bankruptcy. The failure was a function of a combination of greed, loyalty, and what they knew, their discipline. They followed the dictates of their discipline and the stockholders who hired them. Consequently they focused exclusively on increasing the "bottom line." The union leaders called them "bean counters" who were only concerned with the numbers. They had no investment in the company other than what it could do for those who hired them. Their loyalty was to the stock holders, hedge fund companies, banks and corporate raiders. In addition for these finance trained MBA's, numbers were their friend and people (employees) were their enemy.
Consider this- When the marketers, designers, and engineers ran the automobile industry their sails were full. They knew the market and what types of cars would sell. When the finance CEOs took over they put GM on the road to bankruptcy. Why? They did what they knew best, they followed this "bottom line" approach and they created the most cost efficient method to run their companies, it was called "spreadsheet management," and later on called "dashboard management." Roger Smith ran GM from 1981 to 1990 with an MBA and a heavy background in finance. Smith was categorized as the evil Iago in the documentary "Roger and Me." He was the first of the finance people sit in the catbird seat at GM. He showed little concern for the company, and absolutely no concern for its community or employees. He started the outsourcing and offshoring movement that led to the termination of 30,000 employees and the destruction of the once proud city of Flint, Michigan. Smith was followed by Rick Wagoner and Fritz Henderson both finance CEOs who made certain their stockholders and their executives got rich as they destroyed the company. This pattern was not unique to the automotive industry; financiers were a plague to all manufacturing industries.
With a combination of sophisticated compensation consultants, a background in finance and little knowledge of the industry they were expected to lead these CEO's focused on cost cutting: the termination of employees, closing of factories followed by outsourcing, and offshoring, and they avoided spending for R&D and long range objectives. It was their formula to get their stockholders, hedge funds, Wall Street bankers and of course themselves wealthy. At GM consultants designed compensation packages so that their clients; CEO's and their stockholders could reap short term bonanzas. According to Jacoby (2008), in the early 1990's after executive compensation was heavily tied to stock ownership and options the promised bonanza was delivered. Between 1996 to 2000 GM delivered more than $20 billion to shareholders, $13 billion in multiple repurchases and $7 billion in dividends. He maintains that if GM had used that money for research and development it would not be in bankruptcy in 2009. In the process GM's CEO, Rick Wagoner became a rich man. In 2007 he received a 42 percent increase in compensation, to $6.6 million and added $4 million to his retirement plan, while his company lost $38.7 billion. GM President Fritz Henderson received a 44 percent raise, and Vice Chairman Bob Lutz a 36 percent raise in compensation for 2008.
Before these guys looted the company GM sold half of all cars in the US, now it sells 20 percent (Lowenstein, 2008). But who really suffers as CEO's get rich? In July 2008 GM got the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, to eliminate health care coverage for salaried retirees over the age of 65. It planned a new wave of buyouts among its 32,000 salaried employees while freezing their salaries for the remainder of 2008 and 2009. Since 2000 GM has terminated 13,000 white collar jobs and 40,000 union jobs (NY Times, 2008 a). In July, 2008 another 1,760 workers lost their jobs as GM closed two truck plants (Vlasic, 2008). In the second quarter of 2008 GM reported a $3.3 billion buyout of 19,000 hourly workers. Despite losing $30.9 billion in 2008 Wagoner made over $14.9 million, $3 million in cash and $11.9 million in stock and options that plummeted to $682,000 in value as of March, 2009. Since 2006, Wagoner's company has lost $82 billion. Under Wagoner's leadership, GM lost tens of billions of dollars, took billions in taxpayer-financed aid, and cut tens of thousands of jobs, including terminating another 47,000 employees in 2009. He retired (fired by Obama) in 2009 and walked away with a retirement package of $20 million.
Since 2000 more than half of all American CEO's compensation packages consisted of bonuses and stock options. These CEO's saw their only objective as "maximizing short-term shareholder value" and then "get the hell out of Dodge." What these CEO's did not learn in B-school were the consequences of their cost cutting/short term strategy and the hurt they could inflict on men, women and children throughout the country.
Home Depot is another example of how "number crunchers" ruined a company while enriching themselves. Bob Nardelli a numbers executive from General Electric with zero retail experience was recruited by Board Director Ken Langone an investment banker. Nardelli's compensation package was negotiated by Dennis Donovan a lawyer and his long time GE compatriot. During Nardelli's five years at Home Depot he earned about $200 million in salary, bonuses, stock, stock options and other perks. When he was fired he received an additional $210 million to go away. Nardelli rewarded Donovan by making him the highest paid HR VP in history. Donovan also negotiated a contract for himself where "cessation of a direct reporting relationship with Mr. Nardelli" gets him $15 million to $20 million, plus retirement benefits, stock options and compensation already earned.
While Nardelli and Donovan were looting the company he gave his hourly workers salary increases that ranged between 10 and 75 cents an hour. During his 6 year tenure the company's stock fell 7.9 percent while the stock of its competitor Loews increased 188 percent. He was such a bad manager that during his tenure he managed a 100 percent turnover of all 170 of his top retail executives and then replaced them with ex-GE and military people. After Nardelli left, Home Depot continued to slide. In 2007 profits fell 24%, however, his replacement Frank Blake a GE alum received a $500,000 bonus, in addition to $8.28 million in compensation. Under Blake, in January, 2008, Home Depot announced a 10% cut in employees at its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. In April, 2008 he announced another cut, the termination of 1,000 in-store human service managers, and the closing of 15 stores and another termination of 1,300 employees as its revenue decreased 7.8 percent, same store sales dropped 8.7 percent and profits dropped 34 percent. In January, 2009 he announced an additional termination of 7,000 employees and he closed Expo and HD Supply and more stores and Home Depot stock dropped 34 percent, and guess what?--Blake gets a 29 percent increase in compensation.
Like Nardelli, Blake, and other CEO's they hire the best consultants to make certain compensation packages have reachable goals or targets that will enrich executives. There is wide spread belief among academic researchers and business writers that CEO compensation should be aligned to corporate performance however, the counter argument is this will reward short term profitability. Consequently I found that current compensation practice results in short term bottom line results (like GM's) where CEO's push their employees to take short-term risks with little regard for the long-term effects. This view became particularly visible during the crisis of 2008 and led to a movement by business writers, politicians and others to suggest that CEO compensation should be changed to consist of restricted stock and other forms of long-term compensation designed avoid rewarding short-term performance. But compensation consultants have made sure that this was a "toothless tiger." According to Cooper, Gulen and Rau (2009) this proposed system of compensation implies a positive relationship between long-term incentive pay and future firm performance. In fact they discovered the higher the CEO long term compensation the lower the shareholder returns. In addition, there is ample evidence showing that the pay of a CEO has little or no relationship to how well a company does. As a matter of fact I are beginning to see studies suggesting there is an inverse relationship between CEO compensation and shareholder earnings, that is, the higher the CEO's long term compensation the less shareholder return. In agreement Bebchuk (2009) found that more a CEO's compensation increases the lower the company's future valuation and market valuation. Other research concluded that CEO's who average $24 million in annual compensation left their shareholders poorer by an average of $2.4 billion a year. This means that compensation consultants and their lawyers draft complex contracts containing an array of metrics to legitimize outrageous compensation with an eye towards sweeping it by a board of directors who are often "asleep at the wheel" and where conflicts of interest are rampant. A sure sign that something is amiss is when the boards give their CEO's guaranteed bonuses.
Terminate Employees and Get a Raise
There are some writers who believe there is some special form of psychopathology at play with a CEO who makes millions, if not billions, as they engage in massive layoffs. They believe that there are very few people in the world capable of engaging in this work and then sleeping well at night. I doubt it. What these writers lose sight of are the bonds that exist among members within the executive constellation and the powerful culture that has been created over time. Collectively their B-school education, corporate training and preparation, and the actual climb up the corporate ladder creates a condition where the practice of "management" takes on a specific function. The truth of the matter is no one knows how to manage a corporation and leadership cannot be taught. What I do know is the field of management is beset by "best practices" and whatever is in vogue (go to the business section of any bookstore). I also know that executives are copy cats and they carefully study what other top or celebrity executives do. So where did this present form of "management practice" come from where executives came to believe it is acceptable and even good management practice to obtain a raise while terminating employees?
Bailouts-Bailouts-Bailouts!!! To the tune of trillions to save what?..............oh yes!, Our Economy, and to protect "our" way of life, and for most who really have to work for our standard living, substandard or otherwise. How many trillions has our "leaders" spent for Iraq, and Afghanistan?. How many American lives?, over 4000 killed, and for who and what?, and 2 of the longest wars in history. Who were the real beneficiaries, and who was to get a stake, and profit from its supposed outcome?, The soldiers who died?, their families?, our government?, the American people?, """Hardly"""......... Now!!! they're are all up in arms about what all this has done to the National Debt. What lying hippocrates!. Its really all about who they serve, and its not the American people.
Americans were told they were on the hook by Paulson, and now our Countrymen, our people, are being told to get ready, and bite down hard on the bullet. Our republican leaders agenda will cut, slash, dice, and chop any and all programs that we may benefit from, even infrastructure replacement or repair, you know the little necessities that may help get us to our destination, and perhaps thru it, and home again?. This is just the beginning of things to come.
Here in our State it may even be our parks that we may want to have lunch at, we may next see a sign that reads closed till further notice, never mind getting fined for smoking in one like NY.
$550 million in 10 days for Libya.........
Agree. England is getting called something new,"Britainistan". It appears that they have finally acknowledged that they've joined the wrong club, the EU is diminishing their sovereignty. Germany, the country that may very well become the head of the EU in the future if for no other reason than its financial resources that the other countries need. Its also taking issue with their Muslim population, and how they dress, especially the women who must deal with the public, like "No Buka's". Like every where they move and populate they demand to have a voice in government to the point of being demanding, and testy. Guess we'll see how all this unfolds?.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_Six_Million_Really_Die%3F
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~baustin/holocamp.html
http://www.ankerjorgensen.dk/auschwitz/
http://www.dachau.oskarschindler.dk/
http://www.ushmm.org/research/library/bibliography/?lang=en&content=daily_life
http://holocaust-history.org/hungarian-photos/
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/RESOURCE/document/document.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Holocaust
:))))!!!! You know your country really has some deep seated issues when the government begins bombing its own country, and its people. Unlike the days of the sword. If you look up, and at the bottom of the wing it reads Libya, your screwed!
Unlike here where they tax everything they can conjure up, like soda, cigs, and the latest thing I was hearing before Doyle stepped down was the gas cows expelled. To bad they can't figure out how to encapsulate it maybe this could be the next big thing in bio fuel...........and it might even help with tailgaiters?. :)
When I hear comments like this I can swing to the other side :). It doesn't take much to sway me when I'm in total agreement. The bottom line its us, and them no matter which party. Bush, Cheney, Alan Simpson, Dick Armey, aren't about you, me, and America, they're shitheads, and their love is money, and power. Who I wish would follow this suggestion. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20083.html
Let us look at the slew of democrats who were, and are primarily in it for themselves. We would be hard pressed to find one that isn't a crook. How many among them do what their constituents elected them to do?. Like Obama. If nothing more he has seen the world, in Style.
The Clinton admin was full of corruption. Overall they have sold this country, and its people down the road, and in the process made themselves millionaires with retirement plans, and perks like no other.
Its about them, and the friends they keep and align themselves with, like the Bin Laden's, like the Wall Streeters, like Goldman's, their corporate buddies, and the lobbyist.
Look at the stuff Bloomberg has imposed on New Yorkers. Not only can't a person smoke in a bar or anywhere else, but now its the parks, and the beaches. Sounds like some the stuff Hitler imposed because he was a non smoker. He even thought he would defeat the US because FDR, and Churchill smoked. Smokes I gather are over $14 a pack in NY, its created a black market, like during prohibition. On the east coast its this, on the west coast their moving toward legalization of drugs, and if they need to.
But at least they aren't suffering thru rolling blackouts. Bush and Cheney insisted on being good neighbors to Lay, and Skilling.
Tobacco was once a currency, now its oil. What people don't seem to get is what freedoms are they willing to give up?. Now its unions, at the sake of bailing out millionaires, multi billionaires what next will be on the chopping block?. Maybe our heads?
Japan's ugly sin since WW2 A country that has taken something that it can never give back from all that live on this planet, and their government sponsored it. Before the earthquake, I like many witnessed these horrors in some form. Its hard to shake this off. Commercial whaling, and on this scale is beyond imaginings, but it was there. To kill any of these creatures is murder plain and simple, and we're losing them at an alarming rate.
Our land is polluted, our air and waters are contaminated, our forest, and woodlands even in our mountains is all but disappearing, like our gorilla, and creatures like them. Our country is not guiltless either.
What happened there could very easily happen here.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23048534/ns/world_news-world_environment
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/assignment_7&id=7466363
http://www.eia-international.org/files/reports19-1.pdf
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100622a3.html
http://bluevoice.org/news_notfood.php
http://www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/whales/
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2011/03/japanese-response-to-whaling-fleet.html
http://rtseablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/japans-whaling-industry-setback-what.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_whaling
Obama hasn't done alot since he's been in office, nor has he lived up to what he campaigned on. What's changed for the American people and the country?. Looks to be business as usual, and the unusual. When the working class Americans haven't given enough, "punish them!". This president has surrounded himself with the same ole shitheads. For example: Biden, Hillary, Mary Shapiro, Geitner, and ex employee's of Goldmans, and the likes of Alan Simpson whose lived to long, very tight with the Bush's he appointed on his deficit commission.
Afghanistan is still kicking.
His treatment of Israel, and his lack of support to Egypt's Mubarak who was a friend to the US, and Israel. In my opinion
This guy has picked up alot of baggage, and is showing himself to be weak with broken promises. We've seen alot of this over the last 5 decades.
If there are any more great ones like FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower who had the leadership our people, our country, and the world benefited from we've yet to see them, and probably never will again.
Bernie Sanders of Vermont (I) I find to be interesting. But for most its the membership into the elite club of where money is made. Its the perks, security, retirement packages, and status is whats all important. And perhaps book sales at the end of their career for all those who can't wait to buy them, for some odd reason?
http://costofwar.com/en/
http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=military+deaths%2Fwounded+from+Iraq%2FAfghanistan+as+of+March+2011%3F&fr=ush1-finance&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=military+deaths%2fwounded+from+Iraq%2fAfghanistan+as+of+March+2011%3f&d=4832628653883572&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=961ca4a7,1b195c94&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=DpwfmpyQUSqj1zDmTY1Dwg--
http://www.myantiwar.org/view/211527.html
You're right. The working class always gets the last bullet. I could see it all coming.................unjustified wars as opposed to the ultimate attack on Afghanistan to pay for 911 which should have been decisive regardless of Pakistan and its borders if they chose to harbor terrorist. Wall Street and the trillion(s} in bailouts rewarding all the slime bags who care less about this country and its people. They would sell their mothers if it meant million in bonuses. Our government sponsors crime, and unjustified wars, and its all about corporate profits, and political payouts directly, and indirectly.
Biden paid out $2m to family members for "helping him" during his presidential campaign from contributions. Money that should have went to the committee. It pays to run win or lose.
Another interesting point thats been made about those who seek the presidential office or any other office while getting paid on the taxpayers dime. They need to resign/step-down prior to doing so. Be made to give up that seat!.
Think about it?...........they're getting paid to campaign, and not doing the job they were elected to do, "as if they do anyway". These campaigns can last for 2 years and little to no time is spent in DC. The cost is what $180k a year with all their perks to the taxpayer?. It would be like you, or I taking off from our jobs to seek a higher position then expect our employer to keep us and pay our salaries while doing so. Just another thing the American people let them get away with, what fools we are.
Also remember the connection between his administration, the Iatola, and the Contra's. Against Congress this was all taking place in secrecy. I voted for him the first term, but he lost my support during his first term. He wasn't who he proclaimed to be, nor stood on his platform. He was just another typical politician, who lied to get into office, another supporter of the elite.
extel that's the point. Both parties are guilty. Would it matter if this were over an eight year period when we look at the compounded interest?. The debt was $850b when Reagan took office.
Does $10 or $11 trillion sound any better than $14 or $15?. Just look at our country today, and then remember what we witnessed under Bush's watch, what all was involved, and what he left for any incoming president. Our country is drowning in the manure these people have dumped on us. Our government has been dumping on us as a people, our countrymen, our military servicemen and women from uncalled for wars, and and our country is suffering the latter stages of cancer since Eisenhower left office, even our infrastructure is crumbling.
No matter what they do or its outcome the American people are always the ones who get the last bullet. China, with its communist government is our countries banker. Thinks there's something wrong with this picture?. Should we be in bed with communist leaders?. Its ironic when we consider what Korea was all about, and Vietnam, and for the last 10 years Iraq was in the forefront, and the cost has been astronomical in loss of life, and money.
The nations of the world allow pirates to hold ships and people hostage for ransom and there's no call for any to attack this problem. Let us not forget the story of Black Hawk Down. While we've been engaged with Iraq, and Afghanistan Iran has grown in defense, and Pakistan can be a time bomb for what could unravel there. Shit we don't even clean up our own backyard before deploying troops elsewhere in the world, thus taking on battles that weren't ours to begin with.
Like our support of Bin Laden while they were fighting the Russians. What did we get out of that deal?.......Thugs, and a country that supplies the world for its heroin addications.
http://cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm
http://eimc.lefora.com/2009/05/23/revenue-breakdown-obamas-spending-spree/
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html
http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html
http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html
http://www.stocktradingtogo.com/2009/01/28/obama-stimulus-package-breakdown/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3882464/
Absolutely!. People should really hear the rhetoric instead of just listening to it. The only way things get passed in Congress is when both sides agree to it. Just like the bailout. The government has grown into an auction house, and at times without an auctioneer. Its like to gangs fighting over turf for those who will support their next campaign.
Maybe I should move to Vermont! :)
Here we are again at the straw drawing to see which ones of the same old shitheads, and millionaires at that plans to run for president. Its not enough that we get them for 2, 4, or 6 years we have to keep seeing them to our death or theirs, depending which comes first. Many of them will continue to serve till their 90 or 100 if they can keep getting elected just so they can get as much as they can. If they weren't rich going in they will be when they leave, or in jail.
If they truly wanted to help this country they would be in it to serve this nation like most of our military does, especially those overseas who lay their lifes on the line everyday. If they survive when their tour of duty is over they leave, having contributed all they could. Like Washington did. Then get on with their lives.
Just like many of our teachers who may want to be, but lack what it takes to be one, or at least a good one. They get the job, and they lack the teaching skills students could benefit from. Not everyone was born to teach. I think we all have experienced some of this, either in our grammar school, high school, and even college. Some make learning fun, and challenging, and pull you to class, and others can complicate the subject, and make coming to class a choir. "Like my Early World History Teacher". :):), he spoke in monotone. I hated him and his class. :). Its not an easy job, and some students can be just as big a problem.
Not me, I was an angel! "Not".:) But, I always respected my instructors. I think I realized early on, the task they had at teaching a class. Most mean well.
They should be the first to recognize it though if it isn't working, and the students grades are poor, and remain poor. I'm sure many do but choose to keep the position without any repurcussions. It only means their not getting thru, and lack what it takes to get thru..............
Like the larger majority of our politicians who make about as much sense as one of the stooges teaching at Harvard. But seeing what Harvard has produced, like Skilling, and the many that make up Wall Street could be an important improvement.
Isn't it ironic that Congress voted to limit the president to 2 terms, but they have voted down term limits on themselves. They can make it a life career if they're are willing to prostitute their office for campaign contributions, graft, and get the money backers behind them. Like Lieberman did. We will grow old listening to their horseshit stirred with lies. The horseshit doesn't smell so bad until they start stirring it, then the flies appear.:)
America's Gaslands. If it hasn't been BP its others in our Ocean. If it hasn't been Prince William Sound there's more drilling sought for in Alaska. Next it will the Antarctic, maybe the deforestation of every kind of woodland, or mountainside?. Whatever the case I found this film to be as disturbing as watching the bridge to collapse in Minnesota.
http://video.pbs.org/video/1452296560/
http://www.mymoviereels.com/watch-gasland-2010-full-length-movie-online-free/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasland
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gasland
morning benz.
When I looked up the Nat'l Debt and how much of it was accumulated under the Republicans, I found that Reagan took us from $850b to over $2t, then old man Bush took us from $2t to over $4t. Bush/Cheney soaked this country for $5.1 trillion, and when he left this nation owed over $11t and led this country down the path of war based on lies. The both of them have the blood of our soldiers on their hands. Just how much money did the Bush Sr., and Jr. spend on just warring with Iraq?. I didn't look up those figures, but we know its into the trillions.
Both of them made sure their buddies got their fill of government money giving out contracts to all their buddies who supported them, or who they could make money from via the taxpayers. We then have to take a good look at those he or his father put into position. Cox was nominated by old man Bush, and for good reason. When we look at the whole picture, the publicly traded corporations/Wall Street, the non regulated Hedgies, and the financial institutions/banks, along with Greenspan and his pumping of deregulation, and his support of these complex derivatives that could swallow every countries financial system many times over its not hard to understand what facilitated all this. The Treasury, and the Fed, were tuned, and used for their personal use.
The S&L collapse we are all still paying for, and it just didn't happen because of a few. The Bush family was up to their necks in it. Clinton was up to his neck with Dot com.s as was Cox. The Deregulation Bill he signed eventually led the market into a crash, and the market has never recovered, and many were wiped out. Before Bush left office between he, Paulson, Cox, Bernanke they managed to get a Bill passed for all those bailouts, and with full knowledge that $780b was just the beginning for what they would really wind up dishing out. Geitner who is nothing more than just another member of this club, and was a key player in all this, has taken this bailout to more than $3t.
Is it not obvious that the total bailout was just a rollover from what was initially asked for?. Since Reagan the National Debt escalated to $11t prior to Obama, and this doesn't account for the more than $2.4t that was added to the bailout. Even now there may be more given out?. This was occurring behind closed doors. Just look what the Republicans have done to this nation, there's no words that can formulated for the disgust thats felt for what Bush/Cheney has done to this country. But they couldn't have done all they did if they didn't have those that were willing to throw their towels in with them.
All we've got since Eisenhower left office has been the rule of power, and for the war mongers who've created a government of full blown corruption that has destroyed us from within, and who've had allowed the corporations, financial institutions, The Pentagon, The Defense Department, The Department of the Interior, our regulatory agencies, and Government contractors here and abroad feed off us monetarily and morally like parasitic worms. At its root is all about money, and manipulation.
Nothing was learned about the S&L's. We left Kuwait after Desert Storm successfully, and nothing was learned from that. We didn't learn anything, from the attempts to bring down the World Trade Center. We didn't learn from Russia's war on Afghanistan fighting their war, their way, in fact we helped defeat Russia so we could give tyrannical rule to the Taliban, and a country reponsible for as much as 80 to 90% of the worlds heroin trade. 911 was the payback. How much worse does it get from 10 year old wars?. We should have been able to do what we needed to do in less time that it took us in Kuwait. But this government is into fighting nice, and rebuilding countries at the US taxpayers expense while our own infrastructure is collapsing around us, and a war waging at our very borders. It eventually trickels down to each and everyone of our major cities, even our small towns.
No responsible government, Federal or State would allow its country to become overwhelmed with illegals, "but ours does". Who ultimately pays for it?. Whats been the repurcussions this far?. Its insane to think that illegals can work, get a home loan, a car loan, a drivers license, and the people behind giving this to them. Given the CDO's, the CDS policies written without the capital to back these gambling bets is it any wonder?. "There was always the Treasury that would". If it wasn't Arthur Anderson, it was this countries 3 rating agencies who were being bought like whores on the street.
Who has yet been indicted other than Madoff, or Stanford?, who were the 2 biggest scapegoats. All those who were involved in sucking the money out of the economy, and bringing ours and those abroad to its knees, and raking in millions, ten of millions, hundreds of millions, and even billions are still at it. Still employed, making it on the way up as they did on its way down.
Financial Reform, at the very least means the government will take all this and shove it up the American working peoples Butt, and it won't be the first time!. The republicans will attack on all fronts because now this countries broke!!. Broke as the family on the street who've lost their home, and jobs, and retirement funds. No money for schools, no money for parks, or the things people are dependent on in our cities, and States who managed to open up the vegas corporate loopholes that allowed corporations like Walmart, and Microsoft to get out of paying their corporate taxes they rightfully should have paid to the States where they operated. Guess who pays for that?. Guess whose responsible for the hundreds of millions in money losses just here in Wisconsin?.
There will many to get reimbursed who were clients of Madoff, but no one else, well other than those who received the bailouts. They rest of us will to get a bailout, in boats that have had holes punched in them.
After 50 years of this shit I would think that every American would see this entire picture. This country was on good footing after Eisenhower left office it was a success story, having pulled through the Depression, and the War. Just look at what so many of these shitheads have managed to do since. There were good things put in place for the American people, and without the people with good minds, and souls with honor, and diginity to run it, its people wind up at the Capital cities to protest what more they want to take away, as their corporate friends gorge themselves with their defiled money, and tax benefits so they further their support to all that make it all possible.