chuck kottke

Glad to hear Will got a day off to be with his family - that's sweet.:) I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoy his drum solo nearing the end of Every Teardrop is a Waterfall - the perfect ending to an uplifting and inspiring song.:drummer::sunny:

> Well, in hard economic times, government I believe has a role to play as the purchaser of last resort, and the super wealthy need to pay their fair share of taxes, in the end it's good for them too (they can profit when the economy rises again). I'd rather the government spend our dollars on the needed infrastructure improvements, on education and reducing costs of getting an education, on peace corps and shifting the military industrial base towards peace supplies (water pumps and desalination equipment, jobs for Americans and jobs in places where the equipment and improvements will boost people out of poverty), on secure retirement and affordable health care for all citizens. So I see things differently than Ron Paul does, I believe President Obama will do the right thing if the pressure for change is immense enough to trump the greed. I would hope a more progressive candidate will run against Obama, if for no other reason than to move the agenda in the right direction. Q"Too long we've been driven by greed where people get bailed out and still earn millions in bonuses. People need to be accountable for their actions. And I feel he is an overall true and honest politician wanting to do good. I know that may sound naiive, but his track record has been consistant and also often talks about topics that bring confrontation even though it's not the popular thing to do (for example how he said we brought on 9/11 to ourselves)" > I agree, and yes, the top executives have often not only gotten the bailout money, but given themselves millions in bonuses on top of it! It is an outrage what has happened, that's for sure. Laws well & fairly written and agencies with the power, funding, and staff to carry out their duties and hold those criminals accountable. As William Black points out, his agency is severely underfunded, so white collar crimes often go unchecked. That must change. I haven't studied fully Ron Paul's funding or record, so I haven't much to go by on that account, just what he says and where he stands on issues. I shall look and see. But I am glad to see his bravery and honesty when it comes to speaking the truth about things like the causes for 9/11, that is a refreshing thing to see! > Above all else, I know from experience that when a matter becomes so clear and the demand for reform so great from the vast majority of we citizens, any sane politician will choose to do the right thing over the greed thing to get elected, and we will reach that point. To make it resoundingly clear, a rallying point for liberty and justice, I believe it is worthy of being written as amendments to the constitution.

Movements of great resonance cannot be quenched by ignorance or greed; their power is within us, they are our collective soul.

> I believe you are correct that a few (and I believe many) amendments are regularly ignored, but those things we hold dear, when put to paper as the highest law of the land, are only temporarily ignored, but provide fundamental rock-solid ideas that resonate within each and every one of us in times of repression or awareness. Their timeless truth never fades, they are concise statements of our basic rights, they will always be honored in the court of public opinion. > I'm not afraid to talk about Ron Paul, just too many endless conversations with one of my cousins about Ron Paul makes me a little weary of subject matter relating to Ron Paul.:laugh3: Nothing personal, I think he has some great points, love the fact that he has the most individual donations, but I prefer to have a government that's not quite so lean. But candidates in general are constrained by the fact that so many take the corporate money - one can't get far when all the avenues to progress are blocked by greed. Hence, I seek something higher, and when a vast majority are galvanized by clear demands for reform and justice, any candidate who does not do what is right will be swiftly voted out of office. Having an amendment makes it a matter of permanent concise record, and a bell of justice for all to see, to ring, to rally around. > Thinking about basic human rights and the constitution brought this to mind:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xevGz8_MBKk]Price of Silence - YouTube[/ame] " Listen. These are not just words tattooed on paper. No prison cell, no border fence, no torture well will stop our plea. No stone, no stain will mar the river of our dignity. My child for you today our voice befriends the winds. Listen." >> Raise your voices to the sky; the price of silence is much to high. <<

>> Welcome Renske to coldplaying! :sunny: Glad you've discovered Coldplay, and their fantastic concert shows! December is coming up quick, hope you enjoy the experience!!;) Ah, a good student deserves a reward - the concert will be the best then. ? Majoring in criminology, maybe you can go to work investigating the white collar crimes that have taken place in the investment and banking sector? We certainly could use more investigators!! Keep studying hard, but enjoy the breaks when they arrive. And glad you could join in!

A good news program tonight on Democracy Now! Amy Goodman interviewing Cornel West & Michael Moore on Occupy Wall Street: A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 900 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the United States.

^^ Because Obama owes the big banks for his election campaign, and the rest just wish they could tap further the deep pockets of Goldman and Bank of America, et. al. for theirs. In essence, systemic corruption. Now if Obama wants to set things strait and stop taking the Wall Street campaign cash, good for him - then he would be free to act decisively for reform. I have been reading what Matt Taibbi has to say about Occupy Wall Street in Rolling Stone Magazine: My Advice to the Occupy Wall Street Protesters | Politics News | Rolling Stone And his suggestions for reform demands are as follows: 1. Break Up Monopolies 2. Pay for your own Bailout 3. No Public Money for Private Lobbying 4. Tax Hedge Fund Gamblers 5. Change the way bankers get paid Today's news on Occupy Wall Street through Rolling Stone: Today in Occupy Wall Street | Julian Brookes | Rolling Stone

The real problem, spelled out in clarity, by an investment manager: Who Rules America: An Investment Manager's View on the Top 1% One crucial quote states the problem concisely: "I think it's important to emphasize one of the dangers of wealth concentration: irresponsibility about the wider economic consequences of their actions by those at the top. Wall Street created the investment products that produced gross economic imbalances and the 2008 credit crisis. It wasn't the hard-working 99.5%. Average people could only destroy themselves financially, not the economic system. There's plenty of blame to go around, but the collapse was primarily due to the failure of complex mortgage derivatives, CDS credit swaps, cheap Fed money, lax regulation, compromised ratings agencies, government involvement in the mortgage market, the end of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, and insufficient bank capital. Only Wall Street could put the economy at risk and it had an excellent reason to do so: profit. It made huge profits in the build-up to the credit crisis and huge profits when it sold itself as "too big to fail" and received massive government and Federal Reserve bailouts. Most of the serious economic damage the U.S. is struggling with today was done by the top 0.1% and they benefited greatly from it."

:laugh3: Why not, it's a moment to remember?;) The 1%, who are the monsters, eat 99% of the cookies, leaving only crumbs for the rest of us..;) Seriously, the average CEO in the US makes over 262X what the average worker does, isn't that a wee bit imbalanced? Just take a look at this article from UC Santa Cruz - Who Rules America: Wealth, Income, and Power The wealth isn't just concentrated in the top 1%, it's concentrated in the top 0.1%! A quick excerpt: "This document focuses on the "Top 1%" as a whole because that's been the traditional cut-off point for "the top" in academic studies, and because it's easy for us to keep in mind that we are talking about one in a hundred. But it is also important to realize that the lower half of that top 1% has far less than those in the top half; in fact, both wealth and income are super-concentrated in the top 0.1%, which is just one in a thousand." Allowing plutocrats to run this country is absurd and undemocratic - the Plutocats all come from the planetoid Pluto, a very cold place where they're so far away from reality, all they see of earth is a tiny shimmering dot in space. Keep the Plutocrats from plundering again - limit their alien powers over our government.

Find out what it's all about, go beyond the news and get the real scoop: Occupy Wall Street | NYC Protest for American Revolution

The movement to state our right to fair elections is afoot: We the PeoplePublic Citizen Home Page

Hm, it seems the problem is in the process, where exactly though and perhaps on multiple levels, the problems exist. Jay, just send yourself up there, and help inform the protesters then! However you look at it, the problem exists, and it has damaged the global economy, set up great inequities as well. I think things are hard enough for a good 20% of the population or more, Pressure mounts when that many people are hurting, that many are unrepresented and the income inequalities are so extreme. If bankruptcy was the option, I wonder if the psychological effect would have sent all the markets crashing hard, as fear and panic is not easily quantified? Perhaps though hitting bottom would have spurred on a press for answers and a real press for change like never before, but at a huge toll on us all. I found one interesting sources of news on the topics at hand: Hot News & Views | AlterNet The protesters need our help, if anyone has the ability to bring peanut butter down to them on the street: Occupy Wall Street Needs Your Peanut Butter I stopped by Zuccotti Park this afternoon to drop off some drop off some clothes and other supplies, and asked what the folks down there were short on. Here are some needful things you can bring by to show your support (here or in your town’s Occupy site): peanut butter (the vegetarians need protein) any pre-made dish with beans (same reason) sliced bread (unsliced loaves are a pain as they have to be cut) utensils/paper cups and plates blankets socks dog food (canine occupiers have to eat, too) thermoses

Bienvenida! :)****** :sunny: ******* Glad you could join in, don't worry if you make a few mistakes, heaven knows it's a huge leap to go from language to language; I'm lucky to manage a few words in Spanish or Portuguese ;).

What if we had built the studio that Paul wanted for JL? Always wonder what might have been, had things gone differently, had I known what to say.

Well that's true - GM did undo all their work on the electric years back, but have made significant progress is the right direction recently with the Chevy Volt, which as it turns out is basically the same as the Opel Ampera with a few variable features, but made in Detroit whereas the Opels, I assume, are German made. Chevrolet Volt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Also, the Opel Ampera is quite the sleek sports machine, a huge break from the traditional Opel look: Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera: What Are The Differences? Where the Chevy Volt is more contemporary looking - clean, smooth, and efficient. But even if you drive a greater distance, given that 83 km is all-electric before the engine kicks in, you'll get great mileage on what little is needed for fuel-powered driving, and the rest is electric, which can be from wind or solar or geothermal, and other green sources.

They can't be done yet, they've just gone in the oven! I would expect they take a while to bake, their crust has to get a golden brown colour and the air scented with baking bread from the bakery.. it could take a while!:P

A crackling fire, Norwegian wood, isn't it good.

Welcome!!! Hope you have success seeing them too! :elephant:

>> Hm, well my life took another turn years back, when my dream of working as a plant geneticist began to look more like a nightmare for the planet and for its inhabitants, that soured my interest in working for giant agri-chem corporations. I never really recovered from that realization, just took up handy work and dabbling in growing organic fruits and vegetables, caring for elderly parents, and sort of settled in here. I am more of a dreamer, dreaming of a future where we answer the broader ethical dilemmas we face today. A ship adrift on an ocean of thought, willing to go where the winds of change free our minds to sail on new routes. Chris may be right though in a general sense:laugh3: Can't claim the good looks, and only brief moments of brilliance, but the rest of the fans make up for all I'm lacking. Like Veterinary majors with jobs lined up.;)

Is Mike Gravel right? Is direct democracy the answer here?? Controlling the excesses of elites, a more equitable economic arrangement seems long overdue in this land of the haves that work the system and the halves that work the mines.

:laugh3: How true that is! From the Canadian tar sands strip mining & the cutting of the boreal forest , to the huge climate change & mountaintop removal impacts coming from big coal here, to the deforesting of the Amazonian rain forest Future threats to the Amazon rainforest , those bent on money and power over ethical business practices and environmentally sound businesses need to be checked. What did congressman Mike Gravel have to say? "the problem is greed, plain and simple."

>> Oh sure, bankers didn't force anyone to sign ARM loans and such, but they created the perfect trap for unsuspecting citizens, making it all sound like "when banks compete, you win!" in the TV ads, and creating financial terms so complicated, even many in the field couldn't explain it well. Catches buried within the loans that after so many months, some loans reverted to marked increases in rates, suddenly making those who could afford it unable to make payments. Loans without collateral? Why was that ever allowed? Deregulation run amok, that's what I see. This at a time when workers have seen their real earnings stay flat, while real-estate skyrocketed in price. So to allow these things to happen and to have pulled so many in risked not only those who took the bait, but those who bought these AAA rated securities made up of these shaky loans (even investors in Hong Kong got burned), imagine that - a ratings agency allowing these shaky loans to be bundled and sold as AAA rated securities, the highest rating available, these things were supposed to be as rock solid as granite. And they were the exact opposite. Then, the derivatives that were tied to these things suddenly began to shake as well, a bizarre market worth 20X what the real market is worth, it's like a casino on a casino, bets on the betting, and if that ever collapsed, who knows what might have happened. Big Risk: $1.2 Quadrillion Derivatives Market Dwarfs World GDP - DailyFinance > Sure banks didn't force anyone to go to college where tuition is high, but to earn a descent salary, this is where young citizens are encouraged to go, and if that burden is too great, then it slows the economy since it dampens spending, life choices are delayed, thus so are purchases. Shouldn't we ease the costs born by students, who after all are busting their buns to get their degrees and working on top of it? They're willing to give it their all, are the future leaders, thinkers, inventors, technologists, technicians - the heart and soul of the high tech economic future - I believe too much burden is being put on their shoulders, and it's dampening down the number of applicants to places of higher education, not where we ought to be as we rely on well educated citizens for our modern society to function. I think partly this is a general political issue, since those with great wealth continue to press for further reducing their own taxes from an already low, low tax level, and then the burden for costs shifts to everyone else who hasn't the money to buy into politics. That is undemocratic and is undermining our future. At the end of the day, these people are asking for justice and fairness in the system in which we all exist in, and ending the handouts and corporate welfare to the super-wealthy. And since the Citizens' United case opened the floodgates of cash into politics, we need to restore our democracy by wording and supporting an unambiguous amendment to the Constitution - money is not free speech, corporations are not people, elections must be fair for citizens to rule their own government. Public Citizen Home Page We the People I love the idea of people starting small businesses, preferably worker-owned democratic enterprises! But there has to be enough money in people's pockets to buy the goods and services being offered, and those currently working ordinary jobs, the 99% who are not the pure investor class, need to be paid better, and the tax costs shifted more towards the wealthy, plain and simple. The government can help stimulate the restoration of the economy, since it is the purchaser of last resort, and purchasing things that actually improve our infrastructure as well as money spent on peace initiatives pays back in ways that cannot be quantified by money returned alone - less suffering and more prosperity, less anger and more love results from these sorts of expenditures. No more bridge collapses in Minneapolis, aid for watering the dry places where people are in need elsewhere in the world. We make more friends with real improvement measures - Peace Corps over War any day, jobs and contentment are the bridge to lasting peace.

>> You're welcome! Weather is similar here - cold drizzle today, buffeted by winds. I knew a few veterinarian majors eons ago, recalling how their study was pretty much the same as a doctors' education would be. Cats, Dogs, Horses, Humans - all pretty similar! Hope you land that job you want as a Vet! I hold a degree in molecular biology, but went through many of the same things as pre-med majors, veterinarian medicine majors, biology majors, nursing majors, so I have some understanding of the field you're plowing. Keep warm in the cool night, soon the rain will blow away, and sunny skies returned to Quebec!:sunny::sunny::sunny:

>> First off, what I hear from sources like Democracy Now! and Thom Hartman is that the corporate media cherry-picked ding-a-lings to interview, intentionally to give the impression that the protesters were all naive and inept. Now I did hear some very articulate quotes of protesters on these news programs, but none on the corporate networks, who are all incidentally controlled by bigger entities like GE, Westinghouse, etc. The newsrooms know how to please the bosses, that's what they did in the run up to the Iraq wars, and I suspect they would see profit in doing the same this time as well. All that said, it is good to hear your praise of posters here, something which boosts our esteem even more so! ;) I think they're articulating issues, not all solutions as of yet, so naturally campaign finance reform, though it is the elephant in the room, goes largely unseen. I'm sure Russ would agree, were he here to give his opinion on the matter. I think they're making this about the bankers because of the financial mess we're in - the Wall Street financial tremor led to the near collapse of the financial system and widespread panic, which soured the economy, throwing millions of Americans out of work (unemployment visibly is around 10%, the added chronically unemployed may put it more towards 17%+), and over three million home owners lost their homes in 2009, & not much rebound. Housing Forecast: More Foreclosures, Home-Price Declines - TIME Now since a lot of the loans put out there were baited with honey on TV, sold to unsuspecting buyers with the terms as clear as mud, and are aptly termed by Black as "liars loans", and even if it was up to the buyers to think "gee, that sounds too good to be true, I better be careful!", it still happened and pulled the economy close to complete collapse. Unfortunately many were pulled in, many completely befuddled by the variable nature of the loans, and hence, this is what you get when the top investment "banks" invest heavily in politicians. AARP is, yes, the biggest lobby on the hill, but without AARP, seniors would be, as they were in the past, unable to muster the capital to keep their pensions secure and secure their social security retirement income. So when the name of the game is money in politics, and we haven't a better option, then yes, even the masses of average Americans do get organized to fight for their benefits, lest even the crumbs be stolen away by the fat cats. If campaigns were publicly funded, airwaves made available for all, take the big money out of it, then AARP may not be so necessary as a bulwark against poverty in old age. And the pharmaceutical companies are quite rightly to blame as well, given their cozy relationships and revolving doors with Washington. But even they did not cause this recession, and then Wall Street side-steps prosecution like they own the club called government, which is what pisses so many people off. The majority of bankers who work beneath the top fat cats may be in the 99%, but as we all know from what ENRON did, the top floor was a ceiling to all below, and boy, what a ruse did they pull on everyone! Hence, the need for a full investigation, full disclosure of the facts, a full accounting of the nature of the derivative markets and the liars loans that were sold dripping wet with honey to so many unsuspecting Americans. Pardon my rant, but I just feel that we all need to recognize that what must be done is first a consideration for those harmed, how deep it is, and what concerns they have - we're talking about millions of people affected in some very serious ways, and this recession may be around a while...