Indifference

Next Tuesday's elections are more important than any I can remember in my lifetime -- and that includes when I was on the ballot. That's saying something.

Now I know politicians say all the time, "This is the most important election." But this one really is that important. The stakes really are that high.

The consequences of you not voting -- or not doing everything in your power to ensure your friends, family, and neighbors vote -- could be monumental.

America is at a crossroads, and control of Congress may be decided by a handful of razor-thin House and Senate races. Dozens of governorships and thousands of state legislative seats are up for grabs, with major implications on whether we can draw fairer maps for the next decade.

Make no mistake: The direction of the country will come down to who turns out and who stays home. And the greatest threat to our democracy is indifference.

Indifference is exactly what cynical politicians want from you. They're counting on it. Their success depends on convincing you that your vote doesn't matter. They know their agenda is unpopular, so the only way to keep power is by shrinking the electorate.

Don't let them.

If you're mad at politicians trying to take us back to the days of health insurers denying people with pre-existing conditions of care ... Vote.

If you're sick of politicians giving huge tax cuts to billionaires, only to tell you we have no choice but to slash Medicare and Social Security ... Vote.

If you're upset with politicians denying basic climate science as our communities continue to pay a steeper and steeper price ... Vote.

If you're outraged by politicians refusing to pass common-sense gun laws in the face of a tragic epidemic ... Vote.

If you're frustrated with politicians failing to adequately stand up for the rights of immigrants, or women, or LGBTQ Americans ... Vote. Vote. Vote.

Barack Obama





 Indifference is a Choice | Intentional Encounter

Intentional Encounter

 

WHEN IS A CONSPIRACY NOT A THEORY?

Please take a moment and read the following information that was reported in the Huffington Post. It is all rather disturbing as it hints much larger issues. Is there a conspiracy? Or is it just a theory?

“U.S. CORPORATIONS POST RECORD PROFITS - When corporate America sits down at its Thanksgiving table this Thursday to remember when the pilgrims received their IPO from the native population and then used their start-up money to do away with indigenous redundancies over the proceeding centuries, it'll have 1.66 trillion reasons to be thankful -- that's the record profits that big business pulled down at an annualized rate over the past three months. In the early days of the Obama administration, the Dow hit a low of 6,626. It's now over 11,000. Yet we keep being told that this is THE MOST ANTI-BUSINESS WHITE HOUSE EVER!!! (What would pro-business look like? Three trillion in profits?)

BUSINESS FURIOUS AT WHITE HOUSE FOR DOUBLING ITS WEALTH - Major corporations are dug in against the White House, furious at the size of their profit statements and bonus checks and angry that the Dow has nearly doubled on Obama's watch. Politico tells us that Obama had better start being nicer to big business: "After business leaders sank millions into the midterms to defeat Democrats, a chastened Obama administration is seeking reconciliation with the corporate community. But after two years of building frustration, the executives say they won't be won over by another round of private lunches and photo opportunities at the White House. If President Barack Obama has any hope for a truce with corporate America in time for his 2012 reelection campaign, he needs to drop the name-calling, try to see their point of view better and step up with some specific proposals. 'No amount of relationship-building is a substitute for policy,' said Johanna Schneider, executive director for external affairs at the Business Roundtable, which was once one of the administration's most enduring corporate allies. 'We have to see some concrete policies that will help grow business because everyone's goal is to grow jobs. This isn't hocus-pocus. There are concrete steps to take for job growth,' she added." No, job growth is not, actually, the goal of big business. Their goal is to post big, fat profits and grow their share price. Which is exactly what they've been doing. If they want to create jobs, they can spend the more than trillion dollars they have sitting on the sidelines and, you know, start hiring people.” [HuffPost's Peter Goodman]

When thinking about this information it is easy to be reminded of the hundreds of billions of dollars in bail out money that went to banks and large corporations. It is easy to remember that the “Fed” just printed off $600 billion to give to banks so that ‘they can make loans.’ It is easy to remember the $100 billion to bail out Greece; the $150 billion for Ireland and who knows how much for Portugal and maybe Spain. The point is that well over $1 TRILLION has been given to banks and large corporations and that is showing up as corporate profit.
To pay for this, what is happening? Governments and politicians are calling for extending retirement ages, decreasing benefits, reducing social net programs, cutting jobs, keeping tax cuts for the rich, increasing employee contributions to health care, freezing wages and a variety of other attacks on the lower and middle class pocketbooks.  And yet, large corporations are making trillions in profit!
Is it just possible that governments and big business are creating a massive climate of fear? Is it possible that these same people are creating a situation that would make all of the ‘doomsday’ prophecies concerning 2012 self-fulfilling?  Form follows thought and quantum physics is now telling us that thoughts create our physical reality. By creating near panic economic situations, will this new sense of fear and despair not manifest as disaster and chaos? Further, with no real action concerning climate change, are the cards being stacked against all but the rich? Is there a conspiracy to create situations in which many will die; the lower class close to being eliminated; and, the middle class being relegated to fill their shoes? We have a dumbing down of our educational systems; major increases in odd diseases; the fattening of our youth and adults; and, foods and products filled with chemicals that can only cause even more disease and reliance upon…well, reliance upon who?
Keep this in mind: This is all about paper. Money is merely paper. We are not talking about gold, silver, land, diamonds, rubies or even goats. We are talking about pieces of paper, the value of which is based upon common consensus. When I was a teenager, a gallon of gas cost 35 cents. That same gallon of close is around $3.00 today. It is the same gas and the cost to produce it has not risen that much.  The markets are fond of saying that the price of gas has risen or fallen because of demand. In other words, if we want it more, we have been willing to pay more. If we drive less, the price goes down. All a matter of consensus by someone as to value. Paper money has no intrinsic value; it is really backed by nothing. There has been much talk about deficits and all of the supposed problems they incur. But really, if the 'Fed' can print $600 billion and pump it into the banks, why can't they print the same and free itself or the consumer from debt? Right, I can hear the scream of economists now. But economics is really a fantasy and not a science. No one gets stuck dead by the god of money if they keep prices low if demand rises. All it would take is for all nations to agree that they will print the money to pay off their debts and agree that the money will retain its value. Everyone wins and the debt is gone.
So much more could be said here but the bottom line is that there are really no 'laws' of economics. Is it worth ruining the lives of countless millions over the supposed value of a piece of paper? Is it worth letting the world be run by the few people making trillions and the expense of the many? Is it right that a few unknown investors rate the value of a county's money and make or break that nation? Since when have we, the people, said that our lives would be dictated by so called 'market forces,' which is really just another name for the rich?
Many of the 2012 prophecies pointed to a time when choices had to be made. It appears that Big Business and the many governments they control have made their choice. They have opted for a massive global population reduction and an increased reliance not on government, but rather, the Company Store. However, their choice does not have to be final. The sheer numbers of people, choosing a more rational and sane world can alter events. How the masses respond to these disturbing events will determine events that may well culminate in a few short years. Something to really think about. Please, think about it. It is the only way out.
How to deal with all this will be the subject of future posts.

FORTY YEARS OF TALK-NO ACTION

How long can we wait? Unless something is done NOW-and it may even be too late-this generation will not pass without experiencing more environmental nightmares!

PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS

PASSING THIS ALONG AS AN FYI FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED!  The download is at the bottom.


It's been less than four months since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act -- and, because of reform, about 1 million uninsured Americans are expected to receive coverage by next year. And that's just the start.

A new bill of rights for patients is starting to take effect, and the worst abuses of the insurance industry are coming to an end. As the President recently announced, the Patient's Bill of Rights will ban rescission of coverage, stop discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions, and place restrictions on annual limits.

This is an incredibly important first step for reform, and we need your help. We've put together an information sheet that breaks down exactly what the Patient's Bill of Rights does. To start spreading the word in your own community, print it out and pass it along to your friends, post in your local coffee shop and grocery store, or bring it along with you when going door-to-door.

There are those who still aren't sure about health reform, but as the law takes effect, we have a new opportunity to convince the skeptics. OFA supporters are the very best communicators and organizers in communities all across the county -- you can bring the debate out of D.C. and into your town, and this information sheet is a great tool we believe will help.

The Affordable Care Act works to put consumers back in charge of their health coverage and care. And because of the Patient's Bill of Rights, Americans can know that their insurance will be there when they need it most.

The more information sheets we put in visible places, the stronger the message we'll send about our support for health reform and President Obama. Share it with your friends. Mail it to your family members. If you're a medical professional, post it in your office or waiting room. Be creative -- anything you do will be a huge help in making sure Americans understand what the new law does for them.

Will you help us make the case for change? Download your information sheet and share the Patient's Bill of Rights with five friends today:

http://my.barackobama.com/patientsbillofrights

“Starting in September, some of the worst abuses will be banned forever. No more discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions. No more retroactively dropping somebody’s policy when they get sick if they made an unintentional mistake on an application. No more lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on coverage. Those days are over.” – PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

President Obama announced a Patient’s Bill of Rights made possible under health reform—a basic set of consumer protections that end some of the health insurance companies’ worst abuses.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights:
•    1. Prevents insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick. Right now, insurance companies can retroactively cancel your policy when you become sick if you or your employer made an unintentional mistake on your paperwork.
•    2. Stops insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Beginning in September, discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions will be banned—a protection that will be extended to all Americans in 2014.
•    3. Prohibits setting lifetime limits on insurance policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. No longer will insurance companies be able to take away coverage at the very moment when patients need it most. More than 100 million Americans have health coverage that imposes lifetime limits on care.
•    4. Phases out annual dollar limits on coverage over the next three years. Even more aggressive than lifetime limits are annual dollar limits on what an insurance company will pay for your health care. For the people with medical costs that hit these limits, the consequences can be devastating.
•    5. Allows you to designate any available participating primary care doctor as your provider. You’ll be able to keep the primary care doctor or pediatrician you choose, and see an OB-GYN without referral.
•    6. Removes insurance company barriers to receiving emergency care and prevents them from charging you more because you’re out of network. You’ll be able to get emergency care at a hospital outside of your plan’s network without facing higher co-pays or deductibles or having to fight to get approval first.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights starts to take effect this fall—but the benefits for individuals and families under health care reform don’t stop there. Over the course of the next several years, the historic health reform law will make care more affordable, hold insurers accountable, and finally give all Americans the coverage they deserve.

To learn more about what’s in the health care reform bill, please visit:
WHITEHOUSE.GOV

How Obama Governed by Earl Ofari Hutchinson – Now Available

Hopefully, many of you watched the State of the Union address. There is no question that President Obama is a great speaker. When he was elected, the nation was a buzz with hope and promise. A year later, political reality has set in. It is clear to this writer that we may well be in a time of political grid lock. The main goal of the right is to block the plans of the left and they will do whatever is necessary to stall and defeat any legislation proposed by the President. After all, there main goal is to try to recoup their losses in the next mid-term election. A time of promise has become a time of blockage. Who is caught in the middle, you and I. But, what else is new? The following book may shed some light on where the President and you and I stand in this great political debacle. Hopefully, we will not stand with our heads in the sand or our backs to the wall. Has the 'defining moment' become the 'moment of crisis?' Read the book and decide for yourself!

How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge. Author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson takes a no-political holds barred look at President Barack Obama’s first year in office. He answers one compelling question: Did he fulfill the massive and sweeping promise he made to restore hope and effect change in America?

This promise energized millions, reshaped the nation’s political tapestry, and propelled the first African-American into the White House. Hutchinson examines where and how Obama kept his promise, and where and how he failed to keep it. He examines in laser detail the attacks and counterattacks from the GOP and the Democrats. He delineates the differences and similarities between Obama and Bush in waging the war on terrorism. He assesses the towering battles over health care, the economy, racial attacks, the GOP counterinsurgency, Afghanistan, and the Henry Louis Gates flap. He provides readers with a guide as to how Obama will continue to govern.

He examines the attacks and counterattacks from the GOP and the Democrats on Obama. He delineates the differences and similarities between Obama and Bush in waging the war on terrorism. He assesses the towering battles over health care, the economy, racial attacks, the GOP counterinsurgency, Afghanistan, and the Henry Louis Gates flap. He provides readers with a guide as to how Obama will continue to govern.

How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge offers a virtual political clinic on the crisis and challenges that the nation and its first African-American president faced his first year in the White House.

About Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Dr Earl Ofari Hutchinson featured interviews and comments on race and politics have appeared in: Time Newsweek New York Times ABC’s World News Tonight. He has been a guest analyst on: Fox News John Gibson Show, O’Reilly Show, Hannity & Colmes, Glenn Beck Show, PBS Lehrer Report, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and CNN News Shows. He is the National Political Writer for New America Media and a regular contributor to: the Huffington Post

His three most recent books are:
* How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge
* How Obama Won
* The Ethnic Presidency: How Race decides the Race to the White House

To book Earl Ofari Hutchinson for an interview and/or commentary on the promise and pitfalls of Obama’s first year in office. Call 1-323-383-6145 to schedule. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst. Hutchinson is the author of ten books on race and politics in America.

Title – How Obama Governed
Author – Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Author’s website link – http://www.howobamagoverned.com
Publisher – Middle Passage Press
Genre or category – US Politics
ISBN-10: 1439259925
ISBN-13: 978-1439259924
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/How-Obama-Governed-Crisis-Challenge/dp/1439259925

200 DAYS

Following the election, President Obama was hailed as a savior by some, and a devil by others. Those on the political left hailed his election as a victory for peace, tolerance and the end of worn out dogma. Those on the right shuddered in their three piece suits and cried that this was certainly the End Times.

Critics of his first 200 days say that he has failed to achieve anything except driving the nation deeper into debt. He has not achieved consensus on health care, climate change legislation or our true role in Afghanistan and has put having a beer before the crucial issues facing our nation.

There are apologists on the left who blame the right for any failures and delays and who claim that any financial concerns are merely a holdover from the eight years of the Bush administration. If we have learned anything from our political history, it should be that truth is rarely found in the right or the left. For that matter, it is not even found in the middle, as that seat on the political spectrum is the result of compromise, where bits of truth come together to form a consensus which is merely a place of acceptance, not one of truth. Each side gets a little, but the solution is not necessarily the right thing to do, it is the expedient thing to do.
Have President Obama's first 200 days been a success, despite political failures? My answer is yes. Not because all kinds of new and progressive legislation has been passed; not because we are now at peace in the Middle East; and not because our budget has been balanced. It is a success because we are now talking about the crucial issues that affect our nation and the world. We are talking about climate change, health care reform, education reform, and about others ways to solve political tensions, other than by use our military might. We are thinking about new ways to do things, new approaches to pressing issues, and new solutions outside the old political boxes. To me, this is encouraging.

As a Republican, I voted for Mr. Obama. The old ways were crumbling and doing business as usual was no longer acceptable. There was little chance for dialogue, and information that was crucial for decision-making was fabricated or suppressed. Shoot first and ask questions later were no longer an option. Our nation and our planet is at the edge. The decisions we make now will determine if we rise or fall. The real issue is not have we passed programs in 200 days, it is that we are trying to solve the issues and not hide them in some CIA vault. The remaining problem is that we cannot talk about solutions forever. Decisions must be made now. We know that the ways of the past were a failure. Politicians from both sides of the aisle must now come together and decide. If Obama fails, we all fail!

THE ECONOMY OR THE ENVIRONMENT?

There are those who would have us believe that resources and actions must be devoted to solving the world’s financial crisis at the expense of all else. These same people would also have us believe that addressing the issue of climate change and the environment must be put aside in light of this new priority. A recently released poll indicates that the issue of climate change has dropped to position number 20 as far as issues concerning the American public. It is clear that the economic stress has taken a bite out of concern for the environment. However, can we afford to lose sight of what is happening to the climate? Are the issues of the economy and the environment really separate issues? Can we have one without the other?

What is currently going on in the environment? Keeping in mind that everything is happening faster than scientists have predicted, a brief snapshot is as follows: Major Arctic and Antarctic shelves have collapsed which may make it possible for land glaciers to now slip into the ocean; Major rivers around the world are losing water; Icelandic glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate; the Bering Sea may soon be ice free in the summer; The magnetic North Pole is rapidly shifting; the oceans are being depleted of fish; tropical diseases are moving further north and south from the equator; species are dying off at an alarming rate (this time period has been labeled the 6th great extinction); the earth’s population may have already reached its sustainability limit; bird migrations are changing; storm severity is increasing; wildfires are more frequent; droughts and crop failures are spreading; sea levels are rising; drinking water is disappearing, and need I go on?

How can anyone possibly believe that we can address economic issues at the expense of climate change issues? Economies run on resources. If the forests go, there is no wood for houses; if the fish die, there is no fishing industry; if re-emerging diseases start killing everyone off, there is no one to buy the products; if storm severity keeps increasing, all the insurance bail out money is wasted; if crops fail, there is no agricultural industry. Industry would have us believe that getting the economy back on track is achieved by giving more money to banks and freeing up credit. The sad part is that politicians have bought into this argument and they keep giving them more money, but the economy still worsens. They do not want our precious dollars to go into new green companies or concepts because they are not yet prepared to gobble up those dollars. And a result, they have convinced many that it comes down to a choice, the economy or the environment.

President Obama has taken a more holistic approach to solving our major public policy issues. He seems to understand that you cannot treat the disease with a Band-Aid. All facets of life are interrelated and the health of the whole is equal to the sum health of the parts. What will it ‘profit’ us to regain an outdated economy at the expense of quality of life? Are we that selfish that we are willing to sacrifice the planet for a few more years of buying junk? The change that is coming is coming fast. It is not centuries away. It is happening now and may soon, if it has not already, be beyond the most valiant efforts to alter. The brain cannot function without a heart; the economy function without an environment. By our continued focus upon the things of life, we are losing any notion of the essence of life. It is way past time to put away our childish things and to concentrate upon a world at peace with itself and its environment. Blessings to the Earth!

OBAMA AND FDR: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY

There are many who are comparing the actions of President Franklin Roosevelt with those of President Obama regarding the handling of our economic depression. I use the word depression because if we are not there, we will be soon. The following is a brief summary of FDR’s actions:

“FDR declared a "banking holiday" to end the runs on the banks and created new federal programs administered by so-called Alphabet Agencies. For example, the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) stabilized farm prices and thus saved farms. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) provided jobs to unemployed youths while improving the environment. The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) provided jobs and brought electricity to rural areas for the first time. The FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) and the WPA ( Works Progress Administration) provided jobs to thousands of unemployed Americans in construction and arts projects across the country. The NRA (National Recovery Administration) sought to stabilize consumer goods prices through a series of codes. Through employment and price stabilization and by making the government an active partner with the American people, the New Deal jump-started the economy towards recovery (fdrlibrary.maris.edu).”

Many Republicans argue that FDR’s actions actually prolonged the depression in the 30’s, created a new era of ‘big government’ and stifled the ‘free’ economic market. Many on the right of the political economic spectrum also say that Obama will and even should fail because he is not focusing on the economy. Instead, he is wasting time dealing with such silly issues as healthcare and education reform, stimulating alternative energy production and being concerned with environmental issues.

Our bodies, life, politics, economy and society are holistic. You cannot separate the parts from the whole. If a person is ill, it is necessary to examine not only the immediate symptom, but all factors that contribute to the illness. A heart attack may be the result of a combination of diet and stress in one’s life. While you can ‘treat’ the immediate issue of the heart attack, if the other issues are not resolved, the likelihood is that the heart attack will occur again. Issues in politics and society are holistic. Poverty cannot be solved simply by giving people money. Concerns regarding family values, cultural traditions, employment history, education and even health come into play. Obviously, very few politicians get elected or are effective if they only deal with single issues and not the complete array of problems confronting our society.

One cannot solve our economic crisis simply by focusing on banks. We have already seen that to be true. We cannot solve the crisis by focusing on credit; that has been obvious. Those who say focus on the economy only are the same ones that had no problem with giving money to the banks and who also have big problems with new rules or regulations. After all, we do not want to disrupt the ‘free’ economy. I am not really sure what economy they refer to. If by free they mean let business do as they please, one cannot help but see that this very attitude created our current issues. Do they mean that business should be free to have their products produced in Chinese sweat shops? Do they mean that business should be allowed to produce crap that must be replaced soon after the purchase? Do they mean that business should be free to destroy the basic eco-fabric of the planet in order to keep profits and bonuses high? Do they mean free to charge usurious interest rates? Do they mean free to convince you that you need products that have no lasting value? By focusing on the economy do they mean to simply deal with the issues of huge corporations, at the expense of the small businessman?

In order to deal with our economic crisis, I think president Obama is right. Our economy is not AIG or CitiBank. A truly functioning economy is based upon an educated consumer. People must be healthy to be productive. We cannot continue to destroy the environment else we may have profit, but no world in which to spend it. Some would argue for the quick fix. This will not work. Our issues are to complex and too braid to think we can go back and do things the way they were done in the past. Our economic body must be addressed holistically. FDR saw this in the 1930’s. Was he totally correct? Maybe not. However, he saw that the depression required more than just fixing banks. Yes, we have to deal with energy, the environment, agriculture, education, healthcare and a total review of our economic rules and regulations if we are to have any chance of reviving our economy. If we do not do these things now, there may never be another chance in the future.

"YOU CAN'T GET THEY'AH FROM HE'AH"

If a tourist asks a Down-easterner from Maine directions, he might be told, “You can’t get they’ah from he’ah.” This phrase was popularized by the infamous Bert and I created by the late Marshall Dodge in the late 50’s. Try to ask anyone what it means and you will get as many answers as respondents. The definition I will use is that “the road you are on won’t take you where you want to go.”

President Obama has a new vision for America but we must understand that the road we are on will not take us where we want to go. The paradigm we cling too will not manifest the new vision. Take a look at the economy. The efforts by former

President Bush were to stay the course and give more money, our money, to the very institutions that generated the crisis. While President Obama seems to have a better grasp of the true nature of problem, we are still talking about giving more money to those same institutions. You simply cannot get economic recovery on that road. Simply put, people do not need more credit. It is the abuse of credit lending institutions that is the genesis of the problem. How is the average American helped if they go deeper into debt? The real problem is that we cannot get rid of our bills because of the high interest rates for credit cards, mortgages, auto loans and the like. You pay and pay but the balance never goes down. This road is a dead end for the consumer.

President Obama’s vision is unattainable if we insist on travelling on a road that will not get us they’ah. Peace in the Middle East will not be achieved by travelling on the same road. We will not have universal health coverage by travelling the same road. We will not manifest the idea of ‘love thy neighbor’ by travelling the worn out religious road. We will not educate our children by travelling the same road. To achieve the new vision we need a new paradigm, a change in the fundamental thought process. The President talked about “worn out dogma.” He gets it. But, do the pundits, economists, educators, health workers, environmentalists or the consumer get it? It is not just a matter of doing business as usual; it is about a whole new business. You can only fix an old car for so long and then it fundamentally breaks down. Pills and wasted surgery will only hold off the pain or disease for so long; then the body breaks down. You can only preach righteousness for so long while you allow genocide, strife and poverty and then the system breaks down. You can talk a good deal about reducing carbon emissions and about alternative energy, but the system is breaking down. The old patches and band-aids are no longer functional, they are worn out and the bleeding is showing on the gauze.

We do not need to talk about sacrifice. That is also a ‘worn out dogma.’ What it really means is that you and I have to suffer while the heads of corporations get bonuses and expensive retreats. The old paradigm says that if you sacrifice, maybe your children will have a better life. Sorry, that worked for several thousands of years, but it is worn out. There are no shortages of money. There are no shortages of ideas. There are no shortages of job potential. There are no shortages of knowledge to convey to our school children. There are only shortages if we believe in them and, the ‘worn out dogma’ wants you to believe in them. That has been their “Secret.”

Just the other day I received in the mail numerous requests by banks offering to give me all kinds of credit. We still see the ads for new cars, pills for scores of new dysfunctions and enticements to invest in this or that fund. Religions are issuing new lists of sins, stirring up old hatreds, and condemning any action that even hints of free choice. This is worn out dogma. Sociologists say we need to break the cycle of poverty. The new paradigm says we need to create a cycle of prosperity. The worn out dogma says we need to preserve the jobs of auto workers. The new paradigm says we need to employ people in new modes of getting people and goods from point ‘a’ to point ‘b.’ The old way is to search for new oil and gas. The new way is to say we need to develop new, sustaining, non-polluting forms of energy. The old way says take a pill. The new way says to focus on a healthy body, mind and spirit. The old way says to go to church every Sunday. The new paradigm says that wherever you are, you are on holy ground.

If we truly want change, we must abandon the old roads. They have taken us to this point, but as any Mainer will tell you, filling the potholes does not last very long. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and tear up the old raid and build a new one because “you can’t they’ah from he’ah.”

THE BABY BOOMER LEGACY

Many have said that the election of Barack Obama represents the end of the era
of the baby-boomer generation. I beg to differ. In fact, the election of Obama is the fulfillment of the baby boomer generation.

As we pass the torch of power, boomers can feel a sense of redemption when Obama takes the oath of office. In truth, our moment in history will be recorded as the one that most altered the course of history. Arising from the ashes of World War II, boomers literally rocked the world in the 60's and 70's. Rejecting the ideology of those who came before us, we declared that LOVE' is the answer to all of our questions. We institutionalized our historic commitment to equality for all. From civil rights to gender rights, we broke the back of hatred and bigotry. We said 'no' to separate but equal' and proclaimed that no topic is sacred and beyond question. We raised
the 'red flag’ on environmental destruction. We 'caught a glimpse' of the true nature of our relationship to each other and the world in which we live; but, our failing was that we became consumed by consumption.

As the 'age of technology' took hold we were fascinated by all things new. Gadgets and gizmos, a speeding lifestyle, and life on the go with fast food and fast cars were as enticing to us as it was reported to be to the Atlanteans of ancient lore. We thought we could do both; conspicuously consume and erase our sin by pushing for bottle bills. Money flowed like water from a garden hose as we were enticed to buy more, toss away, and then buy some more. Gold cards, Platinum cards, and equity lines of credit enabled us to spend double, triple our wages. And so what, government was doing it, why not us? To fight rising prices we sent our production to foreign workers who received pennies a day in sweat shops. As long as the gadgets and the credit kept flowing, we could ignore the cries of child labor in remote places of the world. Our money was the standard for the world and our military kept it that way. Mess with us and the newest technology and super weapons would set you straight.

But, in the deep recesses of our memory, we felt the growing pains of the seeds that we planted in the 60’s and 70’s. Something was not quite right. We were haunted by the memories of ‘love-ins,’ the toppling of a president that had gotten out of control, civil rights marches and the recurring dream of Camelot. And even though the never really free market system continued its daily barrage on our senses to spend, spend, and spend – deep down inside – we began to question. What was with all of the new diseases? Why do our children not want to learn? What is happening to all of those species that once populated our lakes, forests and jungles? Why is the weather acting so strange? What is happening to our culture? Why are crime rates getting out of control? What is that spilled oil really doing to our environment? Are you sure those materials are safe? Who really did make that sweater? Where are all of the jobs going? Why is it getting more difficult to pay all of those credit cards?

Our peaceful but shaky world shattered on 9/11. Our attention and questioning was diverted and we rallied to fight the new enemy. But who where the enemy? We could not find them. In a state of fear and paranoia, we gave away freedoms, money and lives. And, as my good friend Marvin Wilson would say, Owen Fiddler came to town. It was time to pay the fiddler, the piper and the ferryman. Stretched beyond our means to a level that only the bankers knew and even encouraged, the money tree was chopped down. We all know the story; it plays out in the news every day. We, the “baby boomers,” brought ourselves to a state of collapse. We made thing so bad that only the most ignorant would say we could stay the course. Had all of this not happened, we would have awakened one morning to find that our ecosystem had collapsed and that there was nothing we could do to alter the continuation of the “Sixth Great Extinction” that would soon include the human species. By bringing our lifestyle to an abrupt halt, we had to take notice.

Barack Obama’s election was our crowning achievement. Not because he is some super human savior that will solve all of our problems, but because he represents the re-emergence and manifestation of the dreams of those aged ‘flower children.’ Because of our errors and our ignorance, we have allowed the Lady of the Lake to return Excalibur. Not to President Obama, but to us. But we are not yet finished. We must still lead our children to the Promised Land, even if many of us will not enter it. This is not in any religious sense, but rather in the sense that we must continue to teach and remind the new generations not to repeat our mistakes. This is our parting gift,our legacy; we have shown the world how not to live.

HOW OBAMA WON

Despite early skepticism, President–Elect Obama defeated all of the odds to win the 2008 election. Why and how did this happen? Is Obama the right man to lead us toward 2012? Was his vision of our future just what the seers ordered in what many feel this is the Time Troubles? Does his election mean that, perhaps, America is back on the right track to regaining world confidence that we can lead others into a new golden age? HOW OBAMA WON, by Earl Hutchinson, explains the how’s and why’s of Obama’s victory in a brave new look at our 44th President. Only time will tell if Obama is the right choice, but Hutchinson tells us now why the choice was made.
CHAPTER 3 (Excerpt) - t Was Still the Economy Stupid
In a two minute nationally paid campaign broadcast billed as a "presidential style" talk to the nation in mid September, 2008, Obama talked about one issue, and one issue only, the economy. There wasn't much new in his talk. But it really didn’t have to be anything new. Polls by then showed the economy; or rather the train wreck of the economy was really the only thing on voter’s minds.
Obama again vowed to cut taxes for the middle-class, clean up Wall Street's mess, and create lots of jobs for everybody. He aimed to firmly seize back the high ground on the defining issue of economic misery of the middle and working class, the Bush-GOP caused economic misery that is. This was widely regarded as his sure fire ticket to the White House. It was a play on the old political truism that it's the economy stupid that wins or loses presidential elections.
From day one of campaign 2008 the enshrined article of political faith was that voters were so furious at Bush for causing massive plant closings, farm failures, corporate bungling, fraud and corruption, the housing collapse, soaring gas prices, and the wholesale flight of jobs to the far corners of the planet, that all a Democratic presidential contender had to do to win was pass the breath test on Election Day. It of course wasn’t quite that simple.
How Obama Won is a provocative, hard hitting critical assessment of the issues, events, forces, politics, pressures and controversy that shaped and ensnared Barack Obama in his historic 2008 presidential campaign.

Political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson examines the impact of race and gender, campaign strategy, the key political players, the nature of presidential politics, the changes in the Democratic and Republicans parties, the importance of the black, Hispanic, youth, women and blue collar white worker votes, the role of corporation and special interests in American politics.

Hutchinson tells what the first African-American to win the White House means to America and the world.

How Obama Won

Hutchinson tells why:
• Race was not a factor in Obama’s win

• The Iraq war and the terrorism were not compelling issues in the campaign

• Sarah Palin hurt McCain

• Many blue collar whites and rural voters supported Obama

• Obama was able to top McCain in fundraising

• Ultraconservatives did not unite behind McCain

• The economy ultimately sunk McCain

• Obama’s win will and won’t change politics in America
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst.

He is a frequent guest analyst on:

The John Gibson Show

O'Reilly Show

Hannity & Colmes

Glenn Beck Show

PBS Lehrer Report,

NPR's Talk of the Nation

Various CNN News Shows.

He is the National Political Writer for New America Media and a regular contributor to: the Huffington Post, and BlackAmericaWeb.Com

E-book of How Obama Won is NOW Available - https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=2174906
How Obama Won by Earl Ofari Hutchinson: Win A FREE Copy of How Obama Won http://tinyurl.com/8jjbhm -- It’s easy to enter to WIN a FREE book

A CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS: 2102

When I read the blog that follows (Excerpted here with the url for the entire post), I was reminded of a conversation that I had with Marvin Wilson and Steven Martin on my BlogTalkRadio show. We were discussing the book, THE TRUTH, and what we foresaw as events centering on the year 2012. I mentioned that we are at a stage where there is a “Confluence of Events.” In other words, many things are happening in the world at the same time. Individually, these events have happened before, but the difference is that now they are happening all at once.
In the past, there have been periods of global warming and massive cooling. There have been disruptions in the natural order of things. In the past there have been political, social, economic and environmental upheavals. But, in the past, these events tended to occur singularly or in related groupings. For example, the Depression of 1929 was an economic event that was followed by major political events. George Washington had to deal with a “mini-ice age” when crossing the Delaware. There have been periods of climatic calamity which had major economic impacts. But today, things are a bit different. Many events are’ flowing together’ simultaneously. Thus, we have a confluence of events.

The world is dealing with major climatic, social, economic and political events all at once. While the recent focus has been on economic issues, climate change is still accelerating at un-predicted rates. Many social systems are crumbling and religious institutions are fighting for survival. The world political stage is changing dramatically and war looms as a real issue in many parts of the globe. All of these events are happening at a time when prophesy says such events are heralding in a ‘new age’ for humanity.
(From: http://shamanismoflight.blogspot.com/2008/12/2012-shamanic-odyssey.html)
“According to the Mayan way of measuring and keeping time we are at the end of one age of the Sun, each age lasting 5125 years.

To understand more or less how the Mayan calendar works requires study but we can say as an overview that the Mayans counted and measured many more cycles than we do.
And they inter-relate these cycles as if they were cogs of a giant machine giving each day a unique combination of influences that take into account not only the movement of the Earth, Sun and Moon but also Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and, furthermore, much wider cosmic movements at a galactic level. This system is much more accurate and precise than other calendar systems in other cultures, giving the Mayans the honor of having been the experts in the movements of the celestial bodies and of time.

Their study of these movements in space and time also gave rise to very interesting observations about the distinct influences that affect the Earth and the Solar System in which we are traveling through the great galactic spaces.

For the Maya the 21st December 2012 will be the end of a 5125 year creation cycle. A cycle that began in 3114 BC in our calendar. It is the end of a 13 Baktun round and the beginning of a new creation… or in modern terminology it’s the end of one age and the beginning of a New Age. It also corresponds to an alignment of our solar system to the centre of the galaxy.

What this will mean for us who are alive in this time witnessing the events that take place on the planet will depend on many things, not least our state of consciousness.
It is interesting to also note the extent to which the dates of the Mayan calendar co-inside with other information as much on the scientific side as on the side of prophecies in various cultures.
According to the Incas we are presently entering a new Pachakutik or a new era on this planet. According to traditional elders in Peru the process of the new Pachakutik began in 1990 and this process of changing Pachakutiks takes 22 years… being completed in August 2012…The Hopi elders have also said that the Earth is in a time of purification and preparation that began in 1998 and will end in… 2012.

Seneca elders also say that we are in the midst of a 25 years purification period that will end in 2012. In South Africa an 80 year old Zulu Shaman has spoken of a certain star with a long tail that will return thousands of years after it was last seen, causing big climatic and weather changes. He said it would return in the year red bull which corresponds to 2012 in our calendar. The Maoris say that at the beginning of time the Earth and sky were pushed apart by the Gods of the sea, the wind and war and that they will eventually crash back together in the year 2012.
Studies of the I Ching have revealed that this system of prediction reaches a kind of zero point in the year 2012.

A number of reported Near Death Experiences have also spoken of being shown visions of the future in which there were dramatic changes on the planet by the year 2012.
Especially interesting are studies with children that have had near death experiences and reported changes on the planet with relation to climate, society and consciousness, all pointing toward 2012.

Changes in the Earths Geomagnetic field are being noted by scientists who say that the Geomagnetic field is dropping and in recent times, dropping at an ever increasing rate. When it reaches zero point there will be a reversal of planetary polarity. The Canadian government has been monitoring the North Pole and say that it has been moving since 1904 but since 1974 its moving 4 times faster than before. Meanwhile, French Geologists have noted areas where polarities are being reversed in the ocean to the south of South Africa. They say that the magnetic fields are disappearing around the poles and that there are huge masses of molten iron beneath the earth’s surface at the poles that are rotating in a reverse direction, weakening the magnetic fields.

Siberian geologist Dr Alexey Dimitriev has studied at length increased solar activity and the Earth’s magnetic field and concludes that a reversal is underway and this he says, also relates to temperature changes and the frequency of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods etc which have increased by 600% in the past 40 years. Dimitriev says, also that the solar system is moving through a plasma cloud… (Plasma is like a gas of electrons) and that this also is affecting the climate, the geo-magnetic field and other planetary and atmospheric elements.
At the centre of a tornado or hurricane vacuums are created that are related to phenomena such as fire balls and other lights. The frequency of these kinds of phenomena is also in the increase although physics doesn’t fully understand why.

In reality there are many different types of phenomena that are presenting themselves and pushing the boundaries of what we know in relation to the mechanics of the universe and to more than one of the more open minded scientists around say that we are heading toward some kind of zero point that will lead to dramatic changes and also great revelations as to the nature of many of the mysteries still not understood by our science.”

The above is a fairly good summary about the context of 2012 prophecies. Much of what is mentioned about science can be verified at various NASA and other scientific sites. The UN’s IPCC can certainly verify the very real climate shifts that are occurring. So where does this lead us? Is 2012 the end of the world? I, for one, do not think so and neither do most mystics nor secret societies believe the “end” is near. However, there is consensus that dramatic changes are happening and that the pace of change is quickening. The actual direction of that change will have its course set by mass consciousness. If society adopts an attitude of fear, the times may be real rough. On the other hand, if people decide that it is truly time for the old ways, the old paradigm, to go the way of the dinosaur, we may well enter a new age of enlightenment.

Over the coming months, much will be said about 2012. In January, the History Channel will have another show about Nostradamus and his predictions concerning 2012. In all likelihood, they will not get it right since their last show on the Books of Nostradamus caved in to the peddlers of fear. There is no question that the religious right is using 2012 as a means to frighten people into thing that these are the “End Times.” Again, buying in to that fear may well be self-fulfilling. The key here is to keep an open mind. Examine all of the data and mania that will be surfacing in greater depth in 2009 and try to see the positive in all things. For example, new retail sales reports will soon show that that holiday spending at the end of 2008 was a disaster. While that sounds bad, another look may indicate that the consumer has finally decided to end its spending spree that has almost decimated the world’s environment. That is a positive thing. With new priorities being set by the Obama administration, it may well be possible that, despite near economic collapse, we may not be entering a time where our public priorities have now veered in a more positive direction. Will the Phoenix arise from the ashes of the burning old world? Only time will tell.

THE DOG WHISPERER ECONOMY

Most people are familiar with Cesar Millan and his show, “The Dog Whisperer” that airs on the National Geographic channel. Cesar is a basic miracle worker when it comes to the canines. In a typical scenario, a dog owner has a dog that is out of control. It bites, barks, displays neurosis, attacks, chews, runs away or has a host of other problems from depression to over exuberance. At their wits end, the dog owner calls in Cesar to work his magic and that is exactly what he does. At the end of each show, pet and owner find peace and harmony.

There is a persistent theme at the heart of Cesar’s miracles. What is almost always revealed is that the root of the problem is not the dog, but the dog owner. Owners are found to lack authority, i.e. not the pack leader; over indulge or smother the animal in too much affection; give in to the pet’s demands; act in fear when confronted with other dogs or negative situations, and they generally have no control over the dog. All of these failings lead to the host of issues that make both dog and owner miserable.

So what the heck does this have to do with the economy? The most important bit of wisdom that Cesar imparts to his clients is that it is the pet owners “perception’ or mindset that creates the problem. The solution always rests upon the thoughts of the owner and not the acts of the dog. It is obvious to all that the U.S. and world economies are in a mess. Official recession was announced for E.U. nations, job losses are escalating, consumer spending is at all time lows, retailers are in a panic, mortgages are still collapsing, the auto industry is on the verge of bankruptcy, credit is stalled, and governments simply do not know what to do. The G8 has become the G20 and will probably become the G120 if things continue on their downward spiral.

The economy, represented by the corporate giants, has become the mad dog in need of taming. But what are governments doing? Just like Cesar’s clients, government is not the pack leader, over indulges, spoils and is fearful of the economy and those who have wielded economic power since the Industrial Revolution. Just as with the dogs, all that does is create more neurotic, selfish and out-of-control behavior. They are pouring billions of bones, i.e. dollars, into kennel of insatiable beasts and the negative behavior goes unchecked and exacerbated.
So what might Cesar suggest? The first thing would be that governments, but really the people, must become the pack leaders and assume authority and dominance over the beast. The people must change their mindset of fear and act with confidence. They must understand that the pet (economy) is not in control, they are. If we have seen nothing else from the economic debacle it should be that the state of the economy is ‘totally’ one of perception. People perceive the problem and according to the Law of Attraction, the problem grows because that is where the mental energy flows. In the book, “Polarizing Your Life Toward Perfection,” once the weeds are eliminated from your mental garden, you make room for new positive thoughts and realities to grow and flourish. With all of the news hype about consumer and investor confidence heading for the bargain basement, there is little wonder that things are getting worse.

If we follow the advice of Cesar Milan, we should see that consumers are now in a position to greatly alter economic, social, political and environmental policy. In the past, consumers have allowed economic forces, the dog, control our lives. The economy demanded and like “good’ pet owners, we gave. The result has been usurious interest rates, poor lending practices, mindless spending, over flowing landfills, environmental degradation and a life at the mercy of the economic elite. President-elect Obama knows the power of a people who take control of their lives. We have seen that if an enlightened public will asserts itself, change follows. The current pause in the economy is a wonderful thing. We are now given a chance to reassess our priorities and our lives. With what dollars we have, we can demand quality, eco-friendly, and green products and services. If we do not buy cars that are gas guzzlers, Detroit will have to produce better cars if they want our money. If we do not accept loans and credit cards at 19.9% interest, they will have to offer lower rates. If we demand an end to poisoning our children with plastic food containers, they will have to produce something better. If we do not indulge fast food chains that are ruining the health of our children, they will have to come up with something better. If we do not produce lasting products, we do not buy them. If they insist on using child labor to produce their products, we do not buy them.

The consumer can now become the economic “pack leader” and forever alter the course of the world. Consumers can demand that no money be given ‘unless’ economic change is part of the package. It is our money, our taxes that now controls the pack. Use this resource wisely and a new reality will be created in which the dog and its owner live in peace and harmony. I hope Cesar Milan is offered a post in the Obama administration!

BLOGGERS UNITE FOR REFUGEES!

We tend to think of refugees as people in some distant land with whom we may sympathize but for whom we can do little. Here are some things to consider. With global climate change, we are seeing refugees everywhere, even from Katrina in Louisiana. The destruction of thousands of homes from wildfires in the West, creates refugees. In a way, the massive unemployment numbers and mortgage foreclosures are creating refugees. You see, the issue is not just in remote places of the world. The issue is here, too. Perhaps one day you will need help. It is time to throw away the blinders and see and stop what is happening to those around the world and here at home with regard to human suffering. With the election of Obama, it is my hope that Americans will once again take the lead in caring for our brothers and sisters everywhere.
Here are just some of the places where you can help and learn more!
UK Refugee Services
http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=81617

Lutheran Refugee Services
http://www.lirs.org/

Aotearoa-New Zealand Refugee Services
http://www.refugeeservices.org.nz/

United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrant Children
http://www.refugees.org/

Church World Service Immigrant & Refugee Program
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Immigration/index.html

Women's Commission for Refugee Women & Children
http://www.womenscommission.org/

Additional Links/Resources
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/protect?id=3b8265c7a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statelessness
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/road_to_refuge/default.stm

OBAMA: NO MESSIAH, BUT...

As a Republican, I voted for Barak Obama. I did not necessarily vote for all of his program ideas, but I did vote for his vision and his leadership. However, Americans must be aware of a looming danger with respect to the election. Americans suffer from the Messiah Complex.

This is not meant in a religious context, although it does apply there as well, but rather with respect to our growing trend to rely upon someone else to save us from our ‘selves.’ Americans have moved away from any sense of self-reliance to a state of total dependence concerning almost every facet of life. Since the Great Depression, people have sought the solutions to problems from the government. There is no question that in some areas this has been justified, but the growing reliance on Washington to meet every social, economic, environmental and societal need with a ‘program’ has diminished our freedom.

Freedom implies responsibility. To be free, you must accept the consequences of your choices and your actions. The eight years of the Bush Administration is evidence of what can be lost when the people fail to take responsibility for their lives, their country and their nation’s policies. Economic chaos, failed foreign policies, educational mayhem and climate degradation are but a few areas in which reliance on others have not served our best interests.

President Obama cannot solve all of your problems, nor should he. He will not save you from mass commercialism. He will not, as he said, turn your TV’s off and insist your child does school work. He will not turn off your lights to save energy. He will not demand that ‘you’ demand eco-friendly products. He will not buy your non-polluting detergents and cleaners. He will not make you stop using plastic sippy cups and baby bottles that are poisoning your children. He will not stop you from feeding your family junk foods that are turning our youth into ‘Generation ADD.’ He will not make you or your children exercise to burn off the pounds of excess fat. He will not mend broken relationships. He will not make you love your neighbor and treat others with respect and dignity.

People must come to understand that the solution to life’s most pressing issues come from within. On the one hand, Obama is the product of a seed that was planted by many who feel that the world is ready for a new vision; a vision that proclaims that we can live in balance and harmony with our selves and our environment. But Obama is just one plant that has come to fruition. This one plant cannot feed all of the masses. The vision that has slept within us all must now see the light of day if we are truly to create a new reality. The messiah within must rise from the ashes and declare that it is now ready, willing and able to take responsibility for the world in which we live. Do not lay it at the feet of Barak Obama. If you do, the worst of what has been foreseen for 2012 may well come to pass.
With the election of 2008 we have been given an opportunity and, hopefully, it is an opportunity not lost on the general population. We, not Barak Obama, can show the world that we once again embrace the principles of our ‘founding fathers.’ We can take the lead is solving the issues of poverty, global warming, human degradation and economic slavery. It is we, The People, who must embrace Obama’s vision and make it a reality. Obama is the catalyst but he is not the savior. It is we, The People, who must do the saving and once again take the lead in making this a better world.

GIVE THE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE!

The trickle down theory does not and has not worked. It is time to give the money to the people and not big corporations and the “used to be” giants of Wall Street. We have seen all kinds of moves on the part of Wall Street backed government officials to bailout toxic debt and the flailing stock market. If you do not have a degree in advanced economics, most of what these officials are doing and saying sound like gibberish. In fact, it is gibberish!

World-wide bailouts are not working. They were destined to failure from their inception. The Bush refrain that we must “give it time to work” is a ploy to keep the public from discovering the real truth. The economy is broke, something is very wrong. Laissez-faire economic theory from the 18th Century is not going to work. The early assumption of capitalism was that if left unfettered and not regulated, business could grow and prosper and all would benefit. To an extent, that was correct. There is no doubt that the early greatness of early Western capitalism made many millionaires and it did help create a middle class. Of course, this was done on the shoulders of third world nations as their resources were plundered and the working class that suffered innumerable abuses. Fortunately, these abuses and monopolies were exposed and the plethora of worker protection, child labor, occupational safety and ant-trust laws presumably corrected such abuses.

Then came the emergence of Reagan economics and the move to de-regulation let loose the ugly Wall Street beast. Under the guise of free trade, globalization became the mantra of corporate giants and conservative economic gurus. Business boomed, jobs moved overseas, third world workers worked for pennies a day and all was well in the profit column. The issue is basic, capitalism is based upon the notion that consumers will endlessly consume and keep the wheels of business rolling. If they do not consume, ad campaigns are created to “convince” consumers that they “need” the new gadgets, gizmos and widgets if they are to keep their jobs and to claim the right to be called American. And, if all else fails, which it did, you entice, induce, cajole and scam the consumer to go deeper into debt to keep companies in the black.

All of this implies a contract between business and consumer. The contract says that business will produce quality goods at a fair price and allow credit at reasonable rates. The consumer agrees to be paid a fair wage for its work, borrow to keep the money flowing, pay its bills and consume happily ever after. This “contract has now been broken” by the huge corporations and the finance industry. The products are inferior. Workers are not paid a fair wage. Loans are made at ridiculous rates. Consumers have been hoodwinked by massive and aggressive “buy this product’ campaigns that leaves one’s head spinning. Business has lost the trust and faith of the consumer.

Government has also broken its contract with its people. It has allowed industry to prey upon unsuspecting, naïve and gullible consumers. It has allowed industry to steal from the poor and middle class in order to increase its wealth beyond all imagination. It has left business unchecked and unregulated and given it free reign to do as it wills to accumulate riches that have only benefited the few at the expense of all. This system has now collapsed and all but the business and government understand this. Government has ‘given’ billions to the tycoons of industry because they are not making enough money. And, they cannot understand why the system is still failing. Our good money is being thrown into a corporate black hole from whence it will never emerge.

Based upon the TED spread, look it up on Google, this index that should be around 0.5 is now approaching 5.0. The TED Spread is the difference between what banks pay to borrow from each other for 3 months and what the Treasury pays. This is where credit is locked into a virtual traffic jam. What is the solution? Stop wasting our money bailing out banks and business and put the money in the hands of the consumer. With that money we will pay our bills, pay our mortgages, save, invest and consume. That is how you get the money going again and build confidence. In the meantime, regulate those that broke their trust, reduce mortgage and credit card interest rates and produce 21st Century products that will save and not enslave our planet, us and our children!

U.S. SENATE, MCCAIN, OBAMA SELL OUT!

Shame on the U.S.Senate and our presidential candidates for voting for the Wall Street bail out bill. Shame on them for adding $150 Billion to the $700 Billion for "pork barrel" projects. Those being foreclosed will be giving money to the very banks that caused the foreclosures. The bill that was passed is the same one rejected by the House; the difference being "sweeteners" aimed at buying off congressman.

While a registered Republican who voted for Bush, I will still vote for Obama since McCain and his "Joe six pack" (more on that later) running mate are not a viable option, I am deeply bothered that Obama did not have the 'profile in courage' to stand up to the monied interests of Wall Street. There is basically nothing in this bill that will end the current credit crunch that is choking both small and large companies. Even AT&T cannot get more than an overnight loan. The nation 's leading economists, while somewhat divided, oppose the Bail Bill. The former head of the FDIC opposes the bill. The minority head of the Senate Banking Committee opposes this bill. None of these people were asked to help formulate its provisions.

How can the Senate approve such an expensive piece of legislation without even a hearing and without consultation of experts that are not on the President's payroll? Does the fall of Rome come to mind? At one tine the Roman Senate was the keeper of the Republic. It decayed into corruption, in-fighting and special interests and as a result Rome under the thumb of ruthless and incompetent emperor's. Rome fell from within. The barbarians were only icing on the already rotten cake.

And now, the U.S. Senate, once one of the most admired institutions in the world, has fallen to the will of special interests and a president gone rabid. Did I mention Rome? While tax breaks for wooden arrows, mental health insurance, tax breaks for alternative energy and other issues may have merit, do they belong in a bill that the Bush said if it did not pass our economy would become toxic? The 'candy factory,' the American taxpayer, is running out of sweetener. We are running out of money. Many experts have offered many alternatives to this corporate giveaway. To say there is no time to talk and explore alternatives is just a ruse. Politicians know that if there is any serious discussion, the sham being fostered on Americans would be exposed for what it is; a plan that will truly lead us to economic ruin. Did I mention Rome? Surely, there are stop gap measures that could be taken to shore up the economy while a serious discussion occurs. Even now, the FDIC, working with the President and Treasury, have the power to insure "all" of the assets and deposits held by banks. Certainly short term and lower cost alternatives exist that would allow intelligent discussion. The 'toxic' debt is not going anywhere, they will still be around in a few months while proper debate is taking place. Certainly, there are less costly actions that can be taken to give American citizens confidence that their money is safe.

The burden now falls to the House. Will they have the courage and fortitude to put the skids on this bill that leads to nowhere? Will intelligence and reason win out ou will the Age of Reason officially come to an end? Did I mention Rome?

MONEY, MONEY EVERYWHERE BUT NONE FOR YOU AND ME!

Forget all those campaign promises of tax breaks. With the Feds giving trillions of dollars to bail out banks and corporations using your tax dollars any promise to reduce middle class taxes is impossible. Amidst the news that the nation’s “best economic minds” are going to solve the current financial crisis, the clear observation is that it is these very minds that permitted the crisis to occur. I am not in the least bit reassured that our financial future is in good hands. Furthermore, it is greatly dis-heartening that neither Obama, nor McCain can offer any better alternatives.

The American public is now in the middle of the same old refrain, more money for huge corporations at our expense so that they can continue to make more money. Between the funds for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bear Stearns, AIG and who knows who else, the Feds are committing at least $4.1 TRILLION to salvage these institutions. This is being done, we are told, to salvage the free market system: a system which, since massive deregulation, has run rampart in its effort to consolidate control over the world economy. Under the guise of globalization and free trade, these companies have grown to a proportion that would make even the economist of the early twentieth century shudder.

All that these great minds have managed to do is to give more money to those who created the problem. It is like giving more bullets to Russia because they used them up in Georgia and want to use more somewhere else. The claim is that there is little alternative. This makes no sense. If this same amount of money was given to every American household, they would get close to $15,000 per household. If just given to family households, the amount would be about $57, 000. With this money in the hands o9f the consumers, mortgages could be caught up and other debts paid down. Good for banks and good for the consumer. The government could even have deducted out mortgage payments and then distributed the balance. What would happen if the Feds mandated that all mortgage interest rates be dropped to the prime lending rate? Banks would still make some money and people could afford to make payments rather than suffer foreclosure. How about mandating that credit card interest rates be kept to 8% rather than 15-24%? Consumers could pay the bills and the banks make money. How about, like we have done for poor countries, forgive the mortgages of those under a certain income level? Keep people in the homes and refinance at a real low rate? The point is that there are alternatives worth exploring other than having our money chase bad money. Keep in mind that this $4 Trillion will not spur new economic growth nor create jobs. All it is doing is making sure that big corporations survive. What is even worse is that in this process, companies like Bank of America has gotten even bigger and now controls a greater amount of money. What does that do to help the taxpayers? What happens if they get into trouble?

As taxpayers, we are being hit from all sides. The cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, billions needed for storm damage recovery and now our very bank accounts are put in jeopardy. How can we ever expect to improve education and health care when hundreds of thousands are losing their jobs, food and fuel prices are soaring and many have been relegated to a day-to-day existence? Our economic system is broke and the “laws of economics” need to be re-written. We need a consumer based system that puts customer and taxpayer first, not the mega-rich. There is plenty of money but there seems to be none for us.