The Bartoy Blog

Stimulate The Economy -- Forgive Student Loans!

2009-01-25T09:50:00.002-06:00

Now, I might not have a Ph.D. in Economics, but it seems a bit illogical to think that putting a nation of debtors further into debt is a good way to "jump start" the economy. But, wasn't that the intention of that $700 billion dollar bailout?

A bunch of Wall Street investment banks and their henchmen were able to create a scheme to get rich off of bad debt. When their house of cards finally fell apart, the government rewarded these crooks by giving them our tax dollars to loan out to us. That's right. The government thought it a great idea to infuse these criminals with more cash so that they would give out more loans and get the American People more in debt.

It seems that the strength of this nation is measured by its insurmountable debt. Of course, I am oversimplifying the matter. But, really, am I that crazy to think that throwing a bunch of money at corporations in hopes of the American People becoming more indebted to them is a terrible idea?

Instead of believing in some type of magical "trickle down" or "debt to success" program, I have another plan to propose to our leaders. Take the money that you are so willing to hand over to corporate America and hand it over to the American People instead. That is, make an investment in the people and let the prosperity be felt in all sectors of society.

My idea is simple. Take our tax dollars and pay off all current student debt in the United States.

Right now, some individuals and families are paying over half of their monthly income towards student loans. A great majority of folks are paying at least a quarter of their monthly incomes. And, these people are generally on long term payment plans that allow individuals to pay less in the short term but pay more than double the cost of the initial loan in the end.

With all of this real wealth going to lenders, the educated lower and middle classes are unable to contribute meaningfully to society. They are unable to use their education to start new businesses, take important (but lower paying) jobs, or even invest in a home or land. These individuals, who have partially fulfilled the promise of America, are unable to see their dreams become a reality. They are being held back by debt. And, that debt is holding back our country.

If we were to free these individuals from their debt, we would first of all infuse a good deal of money to the lenders. So, yes, they could get more folks in debt. But, we would also be freeing up the real wealth of individuals to be invested into new businesses and ideas that will create new jobs and further opportunities. We would also be giving families a chance to invest in themselves and invest in their future through the purchase of homes and the many other accoutrements of success.

By investing in these Americans, we are indeed investing in America.

Sure, this is another scheme to help our ailing economy. But, it is a scheme that has definite positive benefits and potentially great impacts. To me, this is much better than a scheme that is all hopes and prayers.

The logical next step would be to ensure that no American is allowed to accumulate such debt for their education. I think that will be our next greatest hurdle. But, if we can alleviate the current crisis of student debt, we will have taken that first step towards an investment in the American dream.

Please join our Facebook group to further discuss this idea. And, if you support this plan, please contact your representative and senators. Also, sign your name on this petition that will be sent to President Obama. We need to invest in each other so that we can truly invest in our future.

[This post was first published at Orato.com. You can read the original here.]

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Environmental Catastrophe in Tennessee -- Please Help Us!

2008-12-24T09:17:00.003-06:00

An environmental catastrophe of enormous proportions has just occurred in Tennessee. You have probably heard nothing about this event as it is getting almost no coverage beyond the local area. The absolute silence from the media has finally rocked me from my bloggy silence.

On Monday, over 500 million gallons of toxic coal ash sludge was released from a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power plant when dike at the a waste pond completely failed. Constructed in the 1960s, the dike had previously small failures over the course of its history, but nothing of this magnitude had occurred. The toxic sludge destroyed twelve homes, but no one was injured by the torrent of toxins that rushed through Harriman, Tennessee and into tributaries of the Tennessee River. The toxic sludge has already resulted in a tremendous fish kill that immediately followed in its aftermath. The TVA is now promising to work through the holidays to test the sludge, which without question contains mercury and high levels of heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic.

This catastrophe has now released toxins directly into tributaries of the Tennessee River, which provides drinking water for Chattanooga as well as hundreds of other downstream communities in Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.

Just to put this disaster into perspective, the Exxon Valdez released just under 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. The catastrophe at Harriman, Tennessee is almost 50 times greater than that in Alaska. And, I bet that you haven't heard a word about it in the news.

How can an environmental catastrophe of such magnitude occur and our media be so silent?

If you think that I am exaggerating about the devastation, look for yourself:

Everyone who reads this must act as the media and get the word out. Please do your part to spread this news to all of your friends, family, and even your local media. It is going to take serious citizen action to bring the attention of the nation to this catastrophe.

I suggest that you start by sending a clear message to Tennessee Governor Bredesen by signing this petition.

Then, please send emails to everyone that you know. I have actually drafted an email that you can feel free to use below. We need to get the word out in any way that we can. Please help us.

The Volunteer State needs all the volunteers that it can get!

Send this message to everyone that you know:

Greetings all,

First of all, I want to apologize for the mass email. But, we have just had an enormous environmental disaster in Tennessee and the media is keeping silent. I am not sure if there is a "conspiracy" behind the silence, but the magnitude of this disaster and the lack of coverage is absolutely shocking.

On Monday, a retaining wall failed at a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant in Roane County and sent 500 million gallons of sludgy coal ash into tributaries of the Tennessee River. Coal ash—the waste product left over after coal is burned—contains mercury and dangerous heavy metals like lead and arsenic. Twelve homes were engulfed in the slide, and the water supply for Chattanooga and other downstream communities in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky is now threatened.

Just to put this into perspective, the Exxon Valdez spilled just over 10 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound in 1989.

So, I would say that this disaster can officially be termed a catastrophe.

Yet, aside from local coverage in Tennessee, the word does not seem to be getting out.

You can see aerial footage of the spill here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnJUSHpTm-E

And, there is some local coverage of the catastrophe at these links:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081223/GREEN02/812230370

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081224/GREEN0201/812240420/0/GREEN02

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081223/GREEN02/81223065/0/GREEN02

I urge you all to take action and send a message to Tennessee's Governor Bredesen by signing this petition:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/coal_spill_tn/?r_by=-735925-8zgM.Hx&rc=paste

I also please ask that you spread the word about this catastrophe. If we do not get the word out, I think that this one will be buried as we enter the holiday news season.

It is unbelievable that this is not on the front page of every paper in this country. Please help.

I hope that you all are well.

All my love,

Kevin M. Bartoy.

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Dirty Dispatches: Getting Ready For The Lean Times

2008-10-27T14:00:00.004-05:00

With the crispness of fall starting to fill our evenings, we are seeing the end of our growing season. Kevin spent a lot of time in the garden over the last month or two, preparing it and us for winter. He collected seeds, cut cooking herbs, picked tomatoes and peppers, and turned over some of the beds before planting them with compost crops. He kept busy in the kitchen as well, drying and jarring herbs, canning tomatoes, making pesto and chopping bell peppers for freezing.

Canned tomatoes

Chopped bell peppers for freezing

Ready for the winter

Herbs drying on the line above the kitchen cabinets

Dried herbs

A few weekends ago, Kevin surprised me with some of the beautiful zinnias that have been adorning the front end of the garden so we could enjoy them inside.

While most other flowers, trees and bushes around our yard and garden have shed most of their foliage, the zinnias are hanging on and still adding a touch of bright color to our outdoor space.

Dried lavender makes our kitchen smell summery still

Our freezer is full of veggies from our garden as well as produce shared by friends. Pesto, bell peppers, poblano peppers, eggplant, swiss chard. We've got enough greens to keep us going for a while.

The compost crop beds have sprouted and seem to be doing well, just in time for the first freeze of the year forecast for tonight. I'll let Kevin explain the benefits and intricacies of compost crops in the next installment of Dirty Dispatches.

Happy Autumn to all!

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A Short Silence

2008-10-27T08:41:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting an update.

Things around the farm have gotten a bit overwhelming. Ben seems to think that 3 am to 5 am is a perfectly reasonable time to keep Mommy and Babbo awake. And, Babbo reached his breaking point with sleep deprivation.

So, it was time to take a deep breath and find a little zen.

With that said, the blog has gone a tad by the wayside. I hope that you all haven't fretted the couple of weeks of quiet. And, I think that this silence should be short.

But, we will see.

"I don't know about you, but I practice a disorganized religion. I belong to an unholy disorder. We call ourselves 'Our Lady of Perpetual Astonishment.'"
-Kurt Vonnegut

Creating Confidence In A Corrupt System

2008-10-14T06:20:00.006-05:00

Well, it seems as if the financial meltdown is over for the moment.

Our government doled out over $100 billion of our money to AIG. They threw another $700 billion of our tax dollars at other financial institutions. And, now, they are providing $250 billion of our hard taxed cash to nine banks to partially nationalize them.

If you ever thought that throwing money at a problem was not a great solution, please don't tell that to the American People. After this large influx (read waste) of our tax dollars, the stock market rallied to have its largest single-day gain in history. It appears that Americans breathed a sigh of relief and seemed willing to get things back to the status quo.

So, has anything changed?

Not really.

The only thing that has truly changed is the confidence of investors. For some reason, the government shovelling our tax dollars into a corrupt economic system has made people happy. That is, happy enough to give more of their own money to this same system that has bilked us for hundreds of billions of dollars. But, when confidence soars, so does investment. When investment soars, so does the Dow. And, when the Dow soars, our economy looks fantastic.

This is nuts. Absolutely nuts.

Does anyone else out there see this system for the farce that it truly is?

Our economy is such an absolute joke that it has now taken the nationalization of nine major banks to get us "back on track." That's right. In this bastion of the "free market," we have socialized our financial system to avert ruin and create confidence.

So, let me get this right. It is great policy to nationalize our financial institutions, but it would be terrible to nationalize health care?

I forgot. All those poor folks would be sucking the teat of government and stealing our money. That would be terrible. Obviously, it should only be rich folks who are allowed to do that.

This cluster fuck, euphemistically called a "meltdown," gave us the opportunity to rethink business as usual. But, it seems that we tossed that opportunity out the window right with tax dollars that our children's children's children will still be paying off.

I don't have the answers. But, I can honestly tell you that throwing money at the problem is nothing more than a bandaid that will get us back to the status quo.

We need to start investing in each other, in community, in our environment, and in our future and that of our children. We need to stop giving billions of our tax dollars to financiers who have no accountability whatsoever to the American People. These vultures are only interested in profits and not people. So, in reality, we are paying for the potential to be even more screwed in the future.

I know that the numbers of billions involved in this "bailout" seem so much like fairy tale amounts. But, as a dear friend pointed out to me, Al Gore's ten year plan to make the United States energy independent and powered solely by green technologies had a price tag of only $80 billion.

Trust me, I wouldn't have been saying "only" a few weeks ago. But, now, the accounting has changed.

Now, perhaps I am some idealistic dreamer, but knowing that my country was investing in energy independence for our future would definitely give me more confidence. Knowing that our country was investing in the American People through a socialized health care system would give me more confidence. Knowing that our country was investing in free education for all of its citizens would give me more confidence.

But, "investing" hundreds of billions of our dollars in the crooks that started this whole crisis does absolutely nothing to boost my confidence.

Perhaps I am the only one who thinks this way. And, I am sure that at the opening bell, the Dow will prove this fact to be true.

So, congratulations America, you have found your confidence, you have bankrupted this country, and you have gotten us back on track to the status quo.

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Guest Blog: Demand Labelling For "Frankenfoods"

2008-10-13T06:25:00.002-05:00

In another attempt to circumvent the right of people to know what they are putting into their bodies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is attempting to approve genetically engineered animals for human consumption without your knowledge.

That's right. The FDA will allow these foods to be sold in supermarkets without any labeling as to the genetic modification of the product. So, independent of what you think of GMOs, you will not be allowed to choose whether they are in your diet or not. And, the prime reason for not labeling these goods will be to help sales. Your right to know is being sold out for profit.

Today, Jean Halloran of the Consumers Union provides the opportunity for you to make your voice heard on this issue. I hope you take action and spread the word. When we don't even know what we are eating, something has gone seriously awry.

If the Wall Street bailout was hard to swallow, the government is preparing a Halloween trick that just may be impossible to stomach.

The Food and Drug Administration is opening the way for grocery stores to sell food made from genetically engineered animals. And the agency is proposing that these products, called "Frankenfoods" by some, be sold to you without your knowledge.

Sign our online petition demanding that food from genetically engineered animals be labeled. We have the right to know what we are eating!

Genetically engineered animals are not a far-off, exotic concept. It's happening right now. Goats are engineered with spider genes to produce silk in their milk. And pigs carry mouse and bacterial DNA to improve their digestion.

The jury is still out on whether food from these animals is safe for humans or the environment. And the ethics of such changes have yet to be considered.

The FDA says they will conduct a safety review before these foods can be sold for human consumption. But consumers won't know if they're buying genetically engineered food, because the agency isn't going to require a label.

We know what's in the can of soup we buy because the label tells us. Shouldn't we know if the meat we buy comes from a pig with another animal's genes, or whether our milk has insect DNA in it?

Sign our petition and show the FDA that Americans want to know what's in their food!

We have until November 18 to collect signatures. Please spread the word to others so they can sign too. Let's stop this Halloween trick before it starts.

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How Much Do You Trust Your Government?

2008-10-10T05:50:00.003-05:00

There seems to be a fine line in America between "healthy skepticism" and "conspiracy theory." That line seems to get even thinner as the Bush Administration continues its redefinition of the Executive Branch of government.

Recently, in an extremely underreported story, the United States Army's 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team was deployed for one year of active duty on United States' soil. This Combat Team is now being called the Consequence Management Response Force, or CCMRF, euphemistically pronounced "sea-smurf." This unit is under the command of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), which was first created in 2002 to "provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts." This is the first time that USNORTHCOM has been assigned an active unit.

In initial reports of this deployment, Army Times reported that this force would be used to help in the invent of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or "civil unrest and crowd control."

Since the original Army Times report on this deployment, spokespeople from the United States Army have somewhat countered the idea that this active combat unit would be used to carry out law enforcement duties or assist civil authorities with "civil unrest and crowd control." Army Times has even carried a correction to their initial report, which had elaborately described lethal and non-lethal crowd control capabilities of this unit, to state that this unit would not be allowed to use their non-lethal crowd control weapons on United States' soil.

So, why has the United States Army and the Pentagon de-emphasized the involvement of this unit in law enforcement?

Well, it's simple. It happens to be illegal.

That's right. Our Founding Fathers were quite frightened by standing armies. They were particularly afraid that a standing army in the United States would be misused to destroy the democracy which they were forging. So, in fact, our Founding Fathers were the first conspiracy theorists out there. Think about that for a second as you try to label the folks raising red flags about this deployment as paranoid.

Two acts established early in our country's history reflect the concern of our Founding Fathers and of our later political leaders who followed closely in their tradtion. The Insurrection Act of 1807 governs the ability of the President of the United States to use federal troops to quell insurrection or rebellion. The later Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits federal troops from exercising law enforcement powers on United States' soil.

Since at least 2006, President Bush has sought to circumvent these laws by amending provisions to defense spending bills. The 2007 Defense Authorization Bill substantially altered the Insurrection Act of 1807 by giving the president broad powers to use federal troops as a police force in times of natural or manmade disasters as well as any other time at which the president determines that local officials could not keep public order. The amendment also said that the president could act against "insurgents" or "those obstructing the enforcement of the laws."

Although these amendments to the Insurrection Act of 1807 were later stripped in subsequent defense authorization bills, President Bush has consistently used the pocket veto and signing statement to reassert the power of the president to use federal troops on United States' soil. Going even further, in 2007, President Bush signed National Security Presidential Directive 51, which provides the president enormous powers in declaring a catastrophic emergency and essentially imposing martial law on this country. This is especially frightening given that the definition of a "catastrophic emergency" would be left up to a single individual. In yet another overstep of the Executive Branch, Ol' GW refuses to listen to Congress and the American People on this matter and exerts a power that goes against the core of our democratic principles outlined by our Founding Fathers.

This situation is exactly what our Founding Fathers had feared.

It is now possible for a single person, either the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense, to order federal troops to enforce "law and order" on American soil.

And, what safeguards are in place that protect the American People from a military occupation and a destruction of our democracy?

Well, there are none.

When asked about safeguards or potential abuses, United States Army Colonel Michael Boatner, future operations division chief of USNORTHCOM, stated that "our soldiers are trustworthy" and therefore "American citizens can be confident that there will be no abuses."

So, now, here is my question restated: How much do you trust your government?

Or, perhaps, more appropriately, should you trust your government more than the Founding Fathers did?

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Qlogging with Italo Calvino

2008-10-09T06:26:00.003-05:00

Perhaps it is appropriate that I first became acquainted with Italo Calvino through his edited volume of Italian folktales. He once said, "Myth is the hidden part of every story, the buried part, the region that is still unexplored because there are as yet no words to enable us to get there. Myth is nourished by silence as well as by words." And, as I moved from reading his collection of folktales to his original fiction, I realized that his work and his life were permeated by myth.

I consider Calvino's Invisible Cities to be one of the best books ever written. Calvino's magical realism explodes across the pages as we are treated to an imaginary conversation between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan. Calvino uses visions of cities to explore the possibility and potential of human life. He creates a vision of a world that could be and perhaps will be. It is truly a masterpiece.

There is something about the magical. It offers us a vision of the extraordinary. But, at the same time, given that it has been imagined, it provides a possibility for that vision to become the ordinary. Without magic, we have no potential. And, without potential, there is no change.

I hope that you find the magic in this brief visit with Italo Calvino.

"What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspiration is nothing other than finding the right road empirically, following one's nose, taking shortcuts."

"I am prisoner of a gaudy and unlivable present, where all forms of human society have reached an extreme of their cycle and there is no imagining what new forms they may assume."

"The inferno of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the inferno where we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the inferno and become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and demands constant vigilance and apprehension: seek and learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give them space."

"'Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.' Polo answers: 'Without stones there is no arch.'"

"The ideal place for me is the one in which it is most natural to live as a foreigner."

"Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places."

"The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts."

"Melancholy is sadness that has taken on lightness."

" ... and every Wednesday the perfumed young lady slips me a hundred-crown note to leave her alone with the convict. And by Thursday the hundred crowns are already gone in so much beer. And when the visiting hour is over, the young lady comes out with the stink of jail in her elegant clothes; and the prisoner goes back to his cell with the lady's perfume in his jailbird's suit. And I'm left with the smell of beer. Life is nothing but trading smells."

"The unconscious is the ocean of the unsayable, of what has been expelled from the land of language, removed as a result of ancient prohibitions."

"A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say."

"The ultimate meaning to which all stories refer has two faces: the continuity of life, the inevitability of death."

"The struggle of literature is in fact a struggle to escape from the confines of language; it stretches out from the utmost limits of what can be said; what stirs literature is the call and attraction of what is not in the dictionary."

"It is not the voice that commands the story: it is the ear."

"What makes lovemaking and reading resemble each other most is that within both of them times and spaces open, different from measurable time and space."

"Memory really matters ... only if it binds together the imprint of the past and the project of the future, if it enables us to act without forgetting what we wanted to do, to become without ceasing to be, and to be without ceasing to become."

I Hope That Whitney Houston Was Right

2008-10-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

And, indeed, children are our future.

If so, there may be a reason to have a little hope despite our current political and economic situation.

If you haven't done it already, I encourage you all to declare yourself a "Constitution Voter."

That is, take the pledge from the American Civil Liberties Union that declares that you believe in and will vote for the following principles.

I believe that no one -- including the President -- is above the law.
I oppose all forms of torture, and I support both closing the Guantánamo Bay prison and ending indefinite detention.
I oppose warrantless spying.
I believe that government officials, no matter how high-ranking, should be held accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution.
I believe that the Constitution protects every person's rights equally -- no matter what they believe, how they live, where or if they worship, and whom they love.
I reject the notion that we have to tolerate violations of our most fundamental rights in the name of fighting terrorism.
I am deeply committed to the Constitution and expect our country's leaders to share and act on that commitment -- every day, without fail.

Be a Constitution Voter!

Guest Blog: McCain or Obama? Coke or Pepsi?

2008-10-08T06:13:00.002-05:00

As Nashville went on shutdown for the presidential debates last night, I really began to think about how our elections are much more of a media circus than they are a political event. This got me thinking even more about the recent votes by Senators McCain and Obama for the horrendous bailout of Wall Street. And, this got me wondering whether any election in America can result in real change.

Just over the course of my lifetime, I have seen elections become increasingly divisive. And, in this election, it seems that the rhetoric has been even further amped up. The blind adherence to candidates shown by supporters on both sides is truly frightening. It is frightening because emotions have trumped reason and pride has replaced politics.

I see a nation energized yet divided. The media is in a feeding frenzy. Any misstep or misstatement by a candidate is front page news. Reporters are using metaphors from boxing matches. Something is seriously wrong.

As we move into the final stages of the election cycle, our attention is not on the robbery of the American People known as the bailout or the fact that an American combat brigade has been deployed on our home soil to assist in cases of natural disaster, terrorist attacks, or "CIVIL UNREST".

Is our attention being turned away from a real coup that is happening here? Should we start to pay closer attention to a government that is no longer accountable to the People? Do we need to realize that it is going to take more than a ballot in November for things to really change?

These are some of the questions that I was pondering when I ran across this statement made by Richard K. Moore. I was truly impressed by the perspective that he presented. And, this perspective is exactly what is missing in our current media circus.

I truly wonder how many of us out there are having these same feelings and doubts. I know that there must be a few in the woodwork.

I am amazed at how many of you have been sending me messages about the elections, most of them telling me how bad McCain is, and the rest campaigning for Obama as if he was the second coming. I've been trying to figure out why this is. Neither candidate is proposing to end our policy of military aggression, both support the financial bailout/sell-out, neither talks about the Patriot Acts and the destruction of the Constitution, neither has any kind of recovery plan in the manner of an FDR, and neither talks about any substantial issues in their campaigns. Obama's main advisor is Zbigniew Brzezinski, the architect of modern US aggressive imperialism. The Democrats have totally supported Bush at every step, and it was the Democrats, more than the Republicans who pushed through the bailout fiasco. I'm not arguing for McCain or the Republicans, not at all, but I have a very hard time understanding why people think a Democrat President will make any kind of real difference in how the country is run.

I do have a theory, however, about where all this energy comes from, this irrational support for Obama on the one side, or McCain on the other. The game works this way ... The Republicans field a President-Vice-President team that liberals will hate, and the Democrats field a team that conservatives will hate. That's the reason for Palin. She has nothing at all to offer other than the fact that she's totally abhorrent to anyone with any kind of liberal sensibilities. Fear and loathing are strong motivators, and I think this explains why people allow themselves to be captured by the pointless electoral circus.

It's a very effective game. It is not necessary that anyone actually like their own candidates, it is only necessary that they fear and hate the other candidate. There is no necessity for either candidate to express any kind of vision or comprehensive program, because people are mainly concerned that their candidate score debating points against the hated opponent. To the extent either candidate has anything positive to say, that is limited to stroking the egos of their supporters, spouting meaningless rhetoric that appeals to their constituency's psychological profile. The sign of a good con man is that he appears to be trustworthy and honest to his mark (constituency). As Walter Cronkite put it, when asked what makes for a good news anchor, "the ability to lie convincingly".

It is important to understand what the actual job description of the Presidency is, post-JFK. It has nothing to do with running the country or making decisions. That is all handled by the Cabinet and other advisors, people who are selected by the ruling elite and are not elected. These advisors are typically on loan from the major corporations, law firms, and financial institutions, and their loyalties remain with their 'real' employer, and with the elite agendas laid down for them. Cheney is a perfect example of this, on loan from Halliburton, and using his position to assign extremely lucrative government contracts to that company – while at the same time pursuing the agendas of the banking elite. Everyone in Washington knows that Cheney has been the real CEO of the 'Bush' regime, up until this recent bailout coup.

Henry Paulson (King Henry I) is an even better example, being part of the elite financial community. His loyalties are entirely with Wall Street, and the bailout bill gives him, as Secretary of the Treasury, essentially dictatorial powers over the US economy. 1913 is the year the banking elite achieved behind-the-scenes control over America, and 2008 is the year they achieved direct control. Paulson's new role is comparable to that of Herr Krupp in the Third Reich, who was made OberFührer of all industry in Germany and the occupied territories. This kind of direct dictatorial control is a clear sign of fascism. If you haven't seen Naomi Wolf's recent videos, I recommend watching them ASAP, while we still have YouTube and the Internet. As she says, we are now in the 1933 Nazi scenario, just prior to the Storm Troopers dissolving by force the democratically elected parliament (Reichstag).

Naomi Wolf, The End of America

Naomi Wolf, Give me Liberty

As for the Presidency, that is actually a PR job, an advertising job. Both as a candidate and as a President, the job description is to make speeches and to present US policy with an appropriate spin. That's one of the reasons we sometimes have actors like Reagan or Schwarzenneger for politicians – actors are experts at playing roles, learning lines, and projecting personas on cue. In Bush's case, it is intentional that he talk like a fool, because then people assume his personal idiocy is responsible for disastrous policy. Anything to keep you from looking behind the curtain, to see who's really at the controls. Anything to make you think the next election offers hope.

If Obama wins, he'll put a liberal spin on policy, just as Clinton did. Interventions will be 'humanitarian', and policies will be to 'help the little people'. If McCain wins, he'll put a conservative spin on policy, like a Bush or Reagan would do. Interventions will be a show of 'US strength', and policies will be to 'make America strong'. The underlying policies themselves will be decided for other reasons and by other people. A change of Presidents is like a change of advertising campaigns for a soft drink; the product itself still tastes the same, but it now has a new 'image'.

Elections are one example of a media circus. The OJ Simpson Trial was another example, as was the Monica Lewinsky affair, neither of which was an event of any real significance or interest. There's usually one useless media circus or another underway at any given time, designed to capture the public imagination and attention, while the real business of empire and politics goes on outside the circus tent. Television is our version of the Roman Colosseum.

At this particular time, on the verge of economic collapse and martial law, we cannot afford to be distracted by this or any other circus. Naomi Wolf expresses the urgency of the moment very eloquently. She's the Paul Revere of our day, sounding the alarm (first video), and she also has useful ideas about popular rebellion (second video). The title of her new book is, Give Me Liberty, A Handbook for American Revolutionaries. Among other things, she talks about how we need to begin dialoging with one another in our communities, overcoming left-right divisions.

To paraphrase a saying I recall from childhood, Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country. The elections are nothing but a distraction, and that's what they are designed to be. Our attention needs be elsewhere, and below are some more sources worthy of your concerned attention.

Jim Kirwan, Tomorrow The Coup?

Rep. Brad Sherman, on the White House's threat to install Martial Law (video)

Robert Fisk, "The Warrior Creed"(video)

Naomi Klein, Wall St. Crisis Should Be for Neoliberalism What Fall of Berlin Wall Was for Communism (video and transcript)

CBS News, Wall Street's Shadow Market (video)

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Guest Blog: We're All Suspects

2008-10-07T06:06:00.004-05:00

So, first, the Bush Administration bilks the American People of $700 billion. Now, these same corrupt officials are stripping away the final shreds of our civil liberties. And, this time, they are doing it under the radar.

With all of the talk about the financial crisis and the elections, little attention has been given to the new FBI guidelines that have just been put in place. These guidelines are perhaps the final salvo of the Bush Administration against our civil liberties. And, they lay the groundwork for a fascist state apparatus.

Luckily, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is on the case. But, they need our help to speak out against these new guidelines. So, today, we welcome Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU, who will give you an opportunity to take action to fight for your civil liberties.

Bush and Mukasey are at it again. They’ve announced dangerous new FBI guidelines that will severely jeopardize the personal privacy of innocent Americans. These regulations need no congressional approval and are terrifying.

Just how far can the FBI go without any factual basis for suspecting improper -- let alone illegal -- activity?

Under far-reaching new guidelines proposed by Attorney General Michael Mukasey, the answer is frightening. All the FBI has to do to put you or any American under prolonged physical surveillance is assert an “authorized purpose” such as detecting or preventing crime or protecting “national security.”

Sound familiar?

It’s the same Bush/Cheney/Gonzales/Mukasey “just trust us” policies that have been eroding our rights for the past eight years.

And like with Bush’s government spying and torture programs, there’s a belief that government officials can ignore the law. In fact, we have good reason to suspect that the FBI has been violating its own internal guidelines all along and is now pushing these new guidelines to cover up past wrongdoing.

That’s why we need to demand an investigation now, before these outrageous guidelines are implemented. The Inspector General’s office at the Department of Justice has proven to be an unbiased, internal watchdog that has consistently exposed wrongdoing. We need to urge the IG to do it again.

Act now. Sign our petition to the Department of Justice Inspector General. Urge an immediate investigation into whether the FBI has been engaging in out-of-control investigative activities.

These new guidelines would allow the FBI to interview you, your friends and your family under a false pretext. The FBI could recruit secret informants and have them infiltrate peaceful protest groups. And the FBI could initiate investigations based on little more than race, ethnicity or religion.

The FBI could also search commercial databases for personal details about your life with no real reason.

And all of this would be allowed without an ounce of evidence that you or anyone else has done anything wrong.

The last thing we can afford is to let the FBI claim out-of-control investigative powers in the closing months of the Bush administration.

Please act today to help us challenge this dangerous plan to put your personal privacy at risk.

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Still Feeling Screwed

2008-10-06T06:13:00.003-05:00

I don't know if I am the only one out there at this point who still feels absolutely kicked in the nuts about this bailout package.

This has to be the largest robbery of the American People in history. And, folks seem content to just allow it to happen. In fact, I have gotten many emails from various interest groups telling me how great the tax incentives will be for this or that.

That's right. I just got an email from some normally level headed folks who are now touting the great contributions that this bailout package will make for renewable energy in this country. It truly boggles my mind. But, I suppose that this is how Washington, D.C. works. You can steal from someone as long as you give them a small sliver of the pie.

When are folks going to wake up and see that our entire system is a sham and a scam?

Under penalty of law, we are forced to pay taxes. Then, our taxes are used to fund wars that we do not support, to bailout out corporations that are screwing us over, and to bankroll pet projects for politicians throughout the country.

The system is little more than a wealth redistribution program. But, instead of wealth being redistributed to everyone, it is being redistributed into the hands of the wealthy. So, in actuality, it is a wealth concentration program.

Frankly, I don't know if there is anything that can be done about it though. I am at a complete loss.

The folks in Congress are all part of the problem. A recent study has placed the median net worth of a United States Senator at $1.7 million and a United States Representative at $675,000. Do you actually think that these crooks are looking out for our interests? How can someone that is so wealthy actually "represent" the majority of people who are not?

Well, I can answer that last one. They can't and don't.

Do not think that the election next month will mean a damn thing. Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama voted for this bailout. Both of them have net worth of well over $1 million.

It is simply just another case of the rich duping us once again.

We hear how this election is historic in that it includes an African American and a woman. Really? Maybe that is historic, but just don't equate "historic" with "different."

While we get caught up in the issues of race and gender in this election, we forget the even more important issue of class. If we want to see real change and a real historic election, we need to be voting for a guy who makes $40,000 a year and a woman who is a stay-at-home mom.

But, of course, in our undemocratic two party system, we will likely never have that choice.

The elections are controlled by the parties. The parties are controlled by the party elite. The party elite are richer than a cheesecake stuffed with fois gras, wrapped in chocolate, and fried in lard.

Sometimes, I have to take a step back and call bullshit.

But, in this case, I would rather be offering solutions.

I just can't seem to find any.

So, I guess I will start my Monday still feeling screwed.

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Sunday Morning Coffee with Robbie Fulks (Redux)

2008-10-05T13:38:00.003-05:00

After quite a few weeks of looking at what Nashville used to be, we are going to skip over what Nashville has become and go right to what Nashville should be.

Robbie Fulks is a prime example of everything that is wrong with music today. He is an extremely talented and creative musician who loves what he does. So much so that he is willing to scrape by just to keep doing it. He isn't looking for that million dollar contract or the cover of Rolling Stone. I am sure that he would take it. But, I doubt that is what he is shooting for. He just loves to make music. And, you can tell it.

So, why is he an example of all that is wrong? Shouldn't he be an example of all that is right?

Well, I suppose that he is an example of all that is right with music, but he is also an example of all that is wrong with the music industry.

I was pretty shocked when I went to Robbie Fulks' website the other day and found that you can actually hire him out for birthdays, weddings, bah mitzvahs, and other celebratory occasions. He didn't mention anything about celebrations, so he might be up for the occasional funeral or break up as well.

Robbie Fulks for hire? And, at reasonable prices?

Talk about a world gone awry. When a musician of Robbie Fulks' caliber is selling his services for private parties, I know that something is seriously off kilter in the music industry. Britney Spears is out buying another multi-million dollar mansion, Jessica Simpson is humping a Cowboy and making a country record, and Christina Aguilera is getting paid a bundle to do some shaky ass crap. But, Robbie Fulks has to hire himself out to the highest bidder? This is nuts.

I think that it is fitting to end our visit with the founding artists of country music by looking at what country could have become. Robbie Fulks is everything that it could have been and should have been but never will be. And, it never will be because Nashville sucks.

So, as Robbie Fulks has poetically said, "Fuck this town."

Fulks has been previously featured on Sunday Morning Coffee, but I really can't say enough about him. I think that he could likely fill as many Sunday Morning Coffees as I could find YouTube videos. This guy really blows me away.

I just hope you all enjoy him as much as I do. And, if you do, buy his records, buy his merchandise, or hire him for a bris. Just get out there and support this great musician.

Corporations have fucked up music just about as bad as they have fucked up this country. So, vote with your dollar and fight the power through song!

Robbie Fulks, "Scrapple":

Robbie Fulks and Robbie Gjersoe, "Rock Bottom Population 1":

Robbie Fulks, "The Buck Starts Here":

Robbie Fulks, "Fixin' To Fall" and "She Took A Lot Of Pills":

Gotta love slam dancin' toddlers

Robbie Fulks and Robbie Gjersoe, "Let's Kill Saturday Night":

It's Funny 'Cuz It's True

2008-10-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

With all the doom and gloom, I thought you all could use a tad bit of humor. But, then again, maybe we shouldn't be laughing at this.

Want Some Pork With That Bailout?

2008-10-03T05:47:00.003-05:00

On Monday, the House of Representatives rightly rejected the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

Almost every economist agreed that throwing money at our current crisis was not a level-headed solution. At best, it would have been a stop gap measure. At worst, it would have been a massive windfall for Wall Street at the expense of the American taxpayer.

Have we forgotten the last mess that happened after the Bush Administration threw us into crisis mode to get its way?

Despite the fact that Wall Street lost nearly $1.1 trillion after the House rejected the bailout, the markets seem to have somewhat recovered and stabilized. Washington Mutual earned the dubious distinction of being the largest bank failure in history and our economy barely burped. We have no immediate plan on the table, but it does not seem as if we are so close to collapse that we don't have time to formulate a more reasonable and informed solution.

There may be a crisis here, but we definitely have time to formulate the right fix for the problem.

Yet, instead of taking a step back and calling in experts to help develop a long term solution, our politicians are, well, playing politics.

This bailout legislation began as a three-page request from the White House. It rightly ballooned to over 100 pages in the House as legislators sought to add necessary restrictions and oversight to Ol' GW's blank check. But, now, the bill, which just passed the Senate, has morphed into a 451 page treatise on pork in politics. That's right, 451 pages!

Now, the size of the bill may not be bad if the extra tonnage puts in place measures to make this "bailout" into more of a long term solution. However, these pages are simply filled with ridiculous and random add-ons as politicians scramble to load this bill with an estimated $110 billion dollars in tax provisions. It seems as if every politician and every lobbyist has decided to use this crisis legislation as a vehicle for their personal interest.

Am I exaggerating?

Well, please tell me how an "exemption from excise tax for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children" is going to help us rebuild our economy? Or, how a tax break for television producers who film in the United States is helping to stabilize the mortgage crisis? Or, how a $100 million tax break for race track owners will put us on the road to financial solvency?

This is Washington at its absolute worst. Actually, this is Washington at its most ridiculous.

Sad thing is that it seems as if this bill is now going to pass the House. So many of those "fiscal conservatives" who voted against the bailout in the House seem to have been swayed by the smell of pork. In fact, I am sure that each and every one of them may add a few helpings of sauce to the hog before they consummate this barbeque of epic proportion.

Does anyone else feel as if the system is absolutely fucked? Seriously. Our government has now officially turned into a theatre of the absurd.

It was bad enough when our politicians were going to spend $700 billion of our tax dollars to bailout corrupt and greedy corporations. But, now, these same politicians have taken advantage of this "crisis" to tack on an additional $110 billion for special interests.

This is beyond insane! And, what is truly frightening is that this is politics-as-usual in the United States.

Instead of calling your representatives to oppose this bill, perhaps you should send them your latest car payment, credit card statement, or power bill. They might just be able to get it tacked on to this bill in the House.

Just don't send them your latest mortgage bill. They wouldn't know what to do with it.

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Qlogging with Hunter S. Thompson

2008-10-02T05:55:00.007-05:00

Hunter S. Thompson has been a great influence in my life. I encountered him in my first year of college. I think that many of us encountered him in our first year of college. Sent out of the womb. Viewing the world without blinders. Seeking new filters for this reality. Thompson at once offered solace and insanity. His drug-induced visions punctuated by gunshots, whores, and strange Samoan lawyers seemed like the only rational response to a world gone mad.

While many write him off as a gun wielding sycophant, his insight to America, politics, and journalism are without equal. His "gonzo journalism" called into question the possible objectivity of any observer years before this became a mantra in academic circles. He injected himself into the story and in so doing became part of history. This process also provided a more realistic and perhaps honest style of journalism that is sadly missing from today's talking heads.

It is not that Thompson is trying to do journalism through "shock and awe." It is simply that he does not give a mammal's ass for convention. If he offends a few folks in the process of his work, so be it. The offended would probably not understand. But, those who critically reflect on their feelings of offense can find insight not only in his words but also in themselves.

Maybe the dirty words turn you off. Maybe the thoughts scare you. Maybe the reality is just too much. But, today, we qlog "with the music at top volume and at least a pint of ether" as we share a few moments with Hunter S. Thompson.

"So much for Objective Journalism. Don't bother to look for it here — not under any byline of mine; or anyone else I can think of. With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms."

"Objective journalism is one of the main reasons American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long."

"Gonzo journalism is a style of reporting based on William Faulkner's idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism -- and the best journalists have always known this. True gonzo reporting needs the talents of a master journalist, the eye of an artist/photographer and the heavy balls of an actor. Because the writer must be a participant in the scene, while he's writing it -- or at least taping it, or even sketching it. Or all three. Probably the closest analogy to the ideal would be a film director/producer who writes his own scripts, does his own camera work and somehow manages to film himself in action, as the protagonist or at least a main character."

"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."

"Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairy-tale artist, you have to get your knowledge of life from somewhere. You have to know the material you're writing about before you alter it."

"Being shot out of a cannon is always better than being squeezed through a tube."

"Myths and legends die hard in America. We love them for the extra dimension they provide, the illusion of near-infinite possibility to erase the narrow confines of most men's reality. Weird heroes and mould-breaking champions exist as living proof to those who need it that the tyranny of 'the rat race' is not yet final."

"A word to the wise is infuriating."

"History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of 'history' it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time -- and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened."

"Call on God, but row away from the rocks."

"There are times, however, and this is one of them, when even being right feels wrong. What do you say, for instance, about a generation that has been taught that rain is poison and sex is death? If making love might be fatal and if a cool spring breeze on any summer afternoon can turn a crystal blue lake into a puddle of black poison right in front of your eyes, there is not much left except TV and relentless masturbation. It's a strange world. Some people get rich and others eat shit and die."

"Groveling is wrong for the soul, like grappling with whores in a drugstore."

"America ... just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable."

"Morality is temporary, wisdom is permanent."

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world, a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us. No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid little rich kids like George Bush?

"They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and hate mongers among us; they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis.

"And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck them."

"Paranoia is just another word for ignorance."

"In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: Not necessarily to Win, but mainly to keep from Losing Completely."

"I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes."

"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, fear of getting down-sized or fired because of the plunging economy, fear of getting evicted for bad debts or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer."

"In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity."

"The towers are gone now, reduced to bloody rubble, along with all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any other country. Make no mistake about it: We are At War now — with somebody — and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives."

"We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws."

"First, there's a huge difference between being arrested and being guilty. Second, see, the law changes and I don't. How I stand vis-à-vis the law at any given moment depends on the law. The law can change from state to state, from nation to nation, from city to city. I guess I have to go by a higher law. How's that? Yeah, I consider myself a road man for the lords of karma."

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Guest Blog: The Middle Class Must Not Be Forced to Bail Out Wall Street Greed

2008-10-01T06:18:00.004-05:00

In a previous post, I made my feelings about Senator Bernie Sanders quite clear. As the first socialist elected to the United States Senate, he is an historic figure. Yet, it would seem that mainstream media either treat him as an aberration or as a "liberal" member of the Democratic Party. Our two party blinders will not allow us to see a third, fourth, or fifth way.

So, today, I would like to add Senator Sanders' perspective on our current economic crisis and a possible solution to it. Yesterday, we heard the historical perspective to this crisis from Douglas Rushkoff. Now, Senator Sanders offers us a way to relieve the crisis that does not place a financial burden on those least able to afford it and least responsible for this current mess.

If you agree with this position, I urge you all to become citizen co-signers of Senator Sanders' petition to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson.

At the very least, I am happy to offer another perspective outside of the mainstream on our current situation and possible solutions for it.

For years, as a member of the House Banking Committee and now as a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I have heard the Bush Administration tell us how “robust” our economy was and how strong the “fundamentals” were. That was until a few days ago. Now, we are being told that if Congress does not act immediately and approve the $700 billion Wall Street bailout proposal these “free marketers” have just written up, there will be an unprecedented economic meltdown in the United States and an unraveling of the global economy.

This proposal as presented is an unacceptable attempt to force middle income families (and our children) to pick up the cost of fixing the horrendous economic mess that is the product of the Bush Administration's deregulatory fever and Wall Street's insatiable greed. If the potential danger to our economy was not so dire, this blatant effort to essentially transfer $700 billion up the income ladder to those at the top would be laughable.

Let us be clear. If the economy is on the edge of collapse we need to act. But rescuing the economy does not mean we have to just give away $700 billion of taxpayer money to the banks. (In truth, it could be much more than $700 billion. The bill only says the government is limited to having $700 billion outstanding at any time. By selling the mortgage backed assets it acquires -- even at staggering losses -- the government will be able to buy even more resulting is a virtually limitless financial exposure on the part of taxpayers.) Any proposal must protect middle income and working families from bearing the burden of this bailout.

I have proposed a four part plan to accomplish that goal which includes a five-year, 10% surtax on the income of individuals above $500,000 a year, and $1 million a year for couples; a requirement that the price the government pays for any mortgage assets are discounted appropriately so that government can recover the amount it paid for them; and, finally, the government should receive equity in the companies it bails out so that when the stock of these companies rises after the bailout, taxpayers also have the opportunity to share in the resulting windfall. Taken together, these measures would provide the best guarantee that at the end of five years, the government will have gotten back the money it put out.

Second, in addition to protecting the average American from being saddled with the cost, any serious proposal has to include reforms so that we end the type of behavior that led to this crisis in the first place. Much of this activity can be traced to specific legislation that broke down regulatory safety walls in the financial sector and allowed banks and others to engage in new types of risky transactions that are at the heart of this crisis. That deregulation needs to be repealed. Wall Street has shown it cannot be trusted to police itself. We need to reinstate a strong regulatory system that protects our economy.

Third, we need to address the needs of working families in this country who are today facing very difficult times. If we can bail out Wall Street, we need to respond with equal vigor to their plight. That means, for example, creating millions of jobs through major investments in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and creating a new renewable energy system. We must also make certain that the most vulnerable Americans don’t freeze in the winter or die because they lack access to primary health care.

Finally, we need to protect ourselves from being at the mercy of giant companies that are "too big to fail," that is, companies who are so large that their failure would cause systemic harm to the economy. We need to assess which companies fall into this category and insist they are broken up. Otherwise, the American taxpayer will continue to be on the financial hook for the risky behavior, the mismanagement, and even the illegal conduct of these companies' executives.

These are the last days of the Bush Administration, the most dishonest and incompetent in modern American history. It is imperative that, at this important moment, Congress stand up for the middle class and for fiscal integrity. The future of our country is at stake.

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Keep Your Eye On Ecuador

2008-09-30T17:00:00.003-05:00

In yet another People's Revolution in Latin America, voters in Ecuador have overwhelmingly endorsed a new constitution proposed by President Rafael Correa to build a more just society. And, with the world financial markets in panic, who would better lead a country than a person with a Ph.D. in Economics. That's right. President Correa is also Doctor Correa, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ecuador now joins the ranks of Venezuela and Bolivia as nations that have experienced a surge in democracy that has allowed the voices of the risen People to be heard.

And, that is why I urge you all to keep your eye on Ecuador!

I know that it is difficult in the United States to find a source of news beyond our own borders, but please do some hunting. The victories forged through democratic elections in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador have put the powers that be in Washington, D.C. on red alert (literally). Influenced by Cold War hysteria and corporate interest, the United States is without a doubt ready to launch efforts to destabilize these countries.

Before you write me off as a conspiracy theorist, just remember that the United States has a long interventionist history in Latin America. Most recently, the United States was involved in the 2002 coup against the democratically-elected President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. It has also been rumored that the United States is behind the recent violence that has erupted across Bolivia.

So, let's not forget to keep an eye on Ecuador. Hopefully, in so doing, we can also keep our government's sticky fingers out of Ecuador's new democracy.

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Guest Blog: Riding Out The Credit Crisis

2008-09-30T05:56:00.007-05:00

Following on the heels of yesterday's blog and yesterday's failure of the bailout package in the House of Representatives, I wanted to post an interesting article that Jenny forwarded to me. This piece by Douglas Rushkoff was originally published in the May 2008 edition of Arthur Magazine. Written prior to the present crisis, Rushkoff's analysis places our economic meltdown in historical perspective and exposes our economy as the house of cards that it is.

With everyone running around in panic mode trying to throw billions of dollars at the problem, this article allows us to take a step back and take a deep breath. The real problem is much bigger than a credit crisis. The real problem is the foundation of our speculative economy. And, as someone who has spent much of the summer tending the garden and canning tomatoes, I like Rushkoff's conclusion that the solution lies in rediscovering what is real.

There's two kinds of people asking me about the economy lately: people with money wanting to know how to keep it "safe," and people without money, wanting to know how to keep safe, themselves.

Maybe it's the difference between those two concerns that best explains the underlying nature of today's fiscal crisis.

Is what's going on in the economy right now really worse than anything that's happened in the past few decades? Are we heading towards a bank collapse like what happened in 1929? Or something even worse?

On a certain level, none of these questions really matter. Not as they're being phrased, anyway. What we think of as "the economy" today isn't real, it's virtual. It's a speculative marketplace that has very little to do with getting real things to the people who need them, and much more to do with providing ways for passive investors to grow their capital.

This economy of markets was created to give the rising merchant class in the late middle ages a way to invest their winnings. Instead of actually working, or even injecting capital into new enterprises, they learned to "make markets" in things that were scarce. Or, rather, in things that could be made scarce, like land.

That's how speculation was born. Speculation in land, gold, coal, food...pretty much anything. Because the wealthy had such so much excess capital to invest, they made markets in stuff that the rest of us actually used. The problem is that when coal or corn isn't just fuel or food but also an asset class, the laws of supply and demand cease to be the principle forces determining their price. When there's a lot of money and few places to invest it, anything considered a speculative asset becomes overpriced. And then real people can't afford the stuff they need.

The speculative economy is related to the real economy, but more as a parasite than a positive force. It is detached from the real needs of people, and even detached from the real commerce that goes on between humans. It is a form of meta-commerce, like a Las Vegas casino betting on the outcome of a political election. Only the bets, in this case, change the real costs of the things being bet on.

That's what happened in the housing market and the credit market—which, these days, are actually the same thing. Here's the story, in the simplest terms:

Bush's tax cuts and other measures favoring the rich led to the biggest redistribution of wealth from poor to rich in American history. The result was that the wealthy—the investment class—had more money to invest, or lend, than there were people and businesses looking to borrow.

The easiest way to bring more borrowers into the system—and to create more of a market for money—was to promote homeownership in America. This is precisely what the Bush administration did, touting home ownership as an American right. Of course, they weren't talking about home ownership at all, but rather pushing people to borrow money tied to the value of a house.If people could be persuaded to take mortgages on homes, real estate values would go up for those already invested (like land trusts and real estate funds) and banks would have a market for the excess money they had accumulated.

In short, there was a surplus of credit in the system. Americans were encouraged to borrow in the form of mortgages, which created demand for the credit banks wanted to sell. In many cases the credit itself wasn't even real, but leveraged off some other inflated commodity that the bank or investor may have owned.

Banks and mortgage companies invented some really shady and difficult-to-understand mortgage contracts, designed to get people to borrow more money than they could . Banks didn't care so much about lending money to people who wouldn't be able to pay it back, because that's not how they were going to earn their money, anyway. They provided the money for mortgage companies to lend, and in return won the rights to underwrite the loans when they were packaged and sold to other people and institutions.

So a bank might provide the cash for a bunch of loans, but then get it back, plus a huge commission, when those loans were packaged and sold to someone else.

Lots of people take out mortgages, and housing prices rise. This is used as evidence to convince more people that real estate is a great investment, and more people buy into the housing bubble. Lots of these people put little or no money down, and buy mortgages whose interests rates are going to change for the worse. But they believe the price of their home is inevitably going to go up, and pin their futures on the idea that they can refinance their mortgage before their rate changes. Since the house will be worth more, the mortgage for what they owe should be easier to get; it will represent a smaller percentage of the new total cost of the house.

Of course, this was dumb. Banks didn't really care (because they weren't holding the bad paper) but the people investing in those "mortgage-backed securities" were slowly getting wise to the fact that many of the borrowers were in over their heads. What to do? The credit industry went ahead and lobbied Washington to change the bankruptcy laws. While corporations could claim bankruptcy and stop paying for their retirees' health coverage, individuals would no longer be able to claim bankruptcy, and even if they did, they would still owe their creditors the money they borrowed, forever. The credit industry spent over $100 million lobbying lawmakers for the new provisions.

Then, just like the credit industry predicted, loans start going bad. (The industry labels these loans "sub prime" because they want to make it look like the borrowers were somehow less-than-respectable people. But the term really just refers to a less-than-respectable loan.) As homeowners default on their mortgages, housing prices start to go down. This, in turn, makes it impossible for people to refinance their mortgages when they thought they would; in fact, now many homeowners actually owe more on their home than the home is worth. How can you refinance a million-dollar loan on a house that is only worth half that? You can't, so instead you have to hold onto the variable-rate loan that you foolishly bought from the predatory lender. The rate rises higher and faster than you can pay it.

Lenders go ahead and start foreclosing on properties, kicking out the mortgage holders who can't pay. But this creates another problem: what to do with the house? It's not even worth the outstanding portion of the loan, in many cases. And even if they can sell it, how to distribute the money? No one even really knows whose mortgages belong to whom, as they've been sold as parts of packages, again and again, to different lenders, pension funds, money markets...you name it.

This leads to what became known as the "credit crunch" or "liquidity crisis." No one feels good about lending money anymore because so much of it was tied in one way or another to these bad mortgages. The creditors don't want to take possession of all these foreclosed homes, and they turn to the government for help.

Under the guise of helping homeowners "stay in their homes," the government starts bandying about various "relief packages." The Treasury department and the Fed are actually taking a two-pronged strategy towards fixing the problem. One prong is cynical PR, and the other is just plain stupid.

First, they want to create the illusion that something is being done, so they talk about "superfunds" to bail out homeowners, freezes on rate hikes, checks mailed to every taxpayer, and other useless gestures. They do all this to appease angry consumers and consumer advocates because they won't want real lending industry regulation (like what Barney Frank and other progressives are pushing for) to gain any traction.

Second, they want to make more money available to the creditors (banks), so they can keep lending money—because this is their business. So the Fed lowers interest rates again and again. Banks get more money, and guess what? We're back where we started: with tons of money and nowhere to invest it! By lowering the "prime lending rate," they simply add to the surplus cash that created the problem in the first place.

Of course, both measures serve to stave off panic selling, because it seems as though something real is being done. Homeowners may get a slight delay in the paralyzing rate increases on their mortgages, giving banks and creditors the chance to make a more orderly exit. They will bail from these mortgages while selling the artificially secured credit to the likes of you and me through money market accounts and other retail products. They just need time to make sure the real losses trickle down to someone else.

And remember: this whole mortgage fiasco is just a little preview of what happens next year when the credit card industry faces the very same self-imposed "crunch." In the case of mortgage lenders, at least the terms of the loans were disclosed. Credit card companies—which are some of the very same banks that are in the mortgage mess today—are busy rewriting their policies, increasing rates, and adding fees to the policies of people already in debt to them.

You know those little 'inserts' in your credit card bill? Read them, and you'll find out, like I did, that some credit card companies have begun charging interest on your purchases from the moment you make the purchase. You pay finance charges even if you pay your whole bill every month. Most people carry big balances, so they won't notice the additional charges, or at least that's what the credit card companies are—quite literally—banking on.

After a certain point, consumers just won't be able to pay their bills. Even though they've paid the cost of their purchases several times over, they're simply buried in interest and interest on the interest, sometimes compounding at a rate of 30 or 40 percent per year. The creditors know this, which is why they've sold a lot of this debt to other banks, pension plans, money market funds...you get the picture: the kinds of places where we invest our retirement money. The banks invested in us; we were the assets. Now that we're about to go broke, they're busy selling us to other financial institutions in a game of musical chairs that will cost the last debtholder a lot of money. Of course, unless we can convince some foreign sheiks to buy some lousy US assets with their oil money, that last debt holder will end up being you and me.

Over the past few months I've spoken to top strategists at some of the biggest banks in the world, and they share my perception of the scenario. Most of them are "holding cash" as their main investment strategy, spread out over a few of the major currencies. Those making money are doing so by short-selling shares of other companies in the same finance industry that they supposedly work for.

The bigger picture, of course, is that speculation just worked too well for too long. The disparity between the market values and real values (rich people and poor people) got too large. Every asset class, even money itself, got too expensive. We became more valuable for our borrowing power than our labor—which also meant there was no way to work off our debt. Meanwhile, the people using reality as an investment vehicle have overwhelmed the real economy on which their "structured investments" are based.

Sure, this has happened before. It's just that, traditionally, when wealth disparity got too great and there wasn't enough money in the right places, the wealthiest bankers temporarily suspended their greed to bail out the system. Or progressive tax policies opened corporate coffers, permitting a "New Deal" that employed people while rebuilding the infrastructure required to make real things and provide real services to citizens.

Today, however, such temporary restraints on greed are systematically untenable and philosophically unthinkable. Conservatives are still so angry about New Deal reforms of the 1930s that that they have infused politics and banking with an economic ideology that sees any regulation of worker exploitation or predatory investment as anti-capitalist, anti-American, and even anti-God.

So instead we are the beneficiaries of "wink" reform: stuff that's supposed to make us feel good while reassuring the speculators that their interests will remain paramount. A few hundred dollars mailed to every American family creates the illusion that government is lending a helping hand, but this money is not redistributing anything. It's being taken from the same people who are receiving it, in the hope that they'll just pump it back into the system at Wal-Mart or the Exxon station.

Whether the coming economic crisis will be deep or shallow is left to be seen. We may be at the start of the kind of depression our grandparents lived through in the ’30s, or we may simply experience what our parents lived through back in the ’70s. Foreign investment trusts may come in and buy our biggest banks and turn us into global citizens through the very World Bank policies we were hoping would turn all of them into US vassals.

Whatever the case, the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your interests is to make friends. The more we are willing to do for each other on our own terms and for compensation that doesn't necessarily involve the until-recently-almighty dollar, the less vulnerable we are to the movements of markets that, quite frankly, have nothing to do with us.

If you're sourcing your garlic from your neighbor over the hill instead of the Big Ag conglomerate over the ocean, then shifts in the exchange rate won't matter much. If you're using a local currency to pay your mechanic to adjust your brakes, or your chiropractor to adjust your back, then a global liquidity crisis won't affect your ability to pay for either. If you move to a place because you're looking for smart people instead of a smart real estate investment, you're less likely to be suckered by high costs of a "hot" city or neighborhood, and more likely to find the kinds of people willing to serve as a social network, if for no other reason than they're less busy servicing their mortgages.

The more connected you are to the real world, and the more consciously you reject the lure of the speculative ladder, the less of a willing dupe you'll be in the pyramid scheme that's in the process of collapsing all around us at this moment.

Think small. Buy local. Make friends. Print money. Grow food. Teach children. Learn nutrition. And if you do have money to invest, put it into whatever lets you and your friends do those things.

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New Look, New Blog

2008-09-30T05:30:00.002-05:00

If you are visiting us for the first time, you probably don't notice the difference. But, for the three of you who are regular readers, things have changed a bit.

Thanks to my lovely wife, we now have a new snazzy look. Let us know what you think of it.

We also have a new snazzy blog. That's right. Jenny has been quite busy as of late and has launched The Bartoy Adventures. This new blog will feature much more of our family adventures.

So, you now have easy access to Bartoy Adventures and to Bartoy rants.

I hope you all enjoy!

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Bailout The People Not The Corporations

2008-09-29T06:01:00.003-05:00

Well, it seems as if the Demolicans and the Republocrats are closing in on a bailout deal. It isn't as egregious as the deal first proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson and advanced by the Bush Administration, but it is still no good for the People.

We are supposed to be happy that they will now dole out the money in hundreds of billions rather than a lump sum? We should be thrilled that Congress will have say over less than half the total? We should be thankful that the government will heavily tax companies who pay executives more than $500,000? And, we should be overjoyed that the government will "try" to renegotiate the terms of mortgages of struggling homeowners?

Our tax money is going to prop up a system that has failed. We are rewarding those responsible for its failure. And, we still have no say in this deal.

But, they tell us if we don't act now, we are headed towards an absolute meltdown.

In a rush to save the American economy eerily similar to the rush to save American safety after 9/11, we are allowing politicians to take us for a ride. Just so happens that this time the price tag is going to be much higher.

Now, if you are buying this bailout, let me just ask you one question. If bad mortgages are the foundation of the problem, why not use the money to help struggling homeowners pay off their mortgages? Then, the lenders will get their money AND the People will also get something real out of the deal rather than just the trickle down potential for the future.

What would be better than a nation of homeowners? At least, that is the line that we constantly hear from politicians and their corporate sponsors. It seems that what these folks really want is not a nation of owners, but instead, a nation of debtors.

If this is our tax money, why use it to prop up the corporations that hold us in debt? Why not cancel our debt? Use our money to pay our mortgages and, in that way, provide our money to these failing corporations.

I am not looking for a handout here either. I am among the millions of Americans that cannot even afford a mortgage to attempt to pursue the "American dream." So, I would get nothing from this deal.

But, to me, this seems like a more reasonable and responsible way to spend our money. Do not forget that it is our money. It is not the government's money. It is not the politicians' money. It is our tax dollars. Therefore, it is our money.

"Trickle down" does not work. It is a "free market" scam to make the rich richer. That's right. It is really a "trickle up" to the rich. And, it only functions if the government goes into debt to support it. That means, it only functions if the American taxpayer pays for it.

So, I ask you, why not try true "trickle up" instead? Why not invest in the American People and let that investment "trickle up" to the corporations?

Why not? Well, because that wouldn't bring huge profits to all the corporations with their hands out.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I am no expert in economics. But, I will also be the first to admit that economics is not a science and the "free market" does not exist. So, maybe you can write me off pretty easily.

However, if you do believe in economics and what to hear the straight dope from someone who knows what they are talking about, why not listen to Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winning economist?

"We should begin with the core of the problem, the fact that millions of Americans were made loans beyond their ability to pay. We need to help them stay in their homes, including by converting the home mortgage deduction into a cashable tax credit and creating a homeowners' Chapter 11, an expedited way to restructure their liabilities."

Stiglitz has come down strongly against this bailout and has proposed an alternative solution. However, it does not appear that politicians are listening to anyone that questions the wisdom of throwing money at a problem.

And, now, it seems all but a done deal. The politicians have saved sufficient face to allow them to claim victory for the upcoming election. The corporations are getting their thirty (read 700 billion) pieces of silver. And, the American People will be saddled with a debt that not even our children's children will be able to pay off.

Apologies to Johnny Rotten once again, but ever feel like you've been cheated?

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Sunday Morning Coffee with Lefty Frizzell

2008-09-28T09:48:00.003-05:00

Our salute to the real Nashville wouldn't be complete without a visit with Lefty Frizzell.

Frizzell is not only important as one of the first honky tonkers, but also for his great influence on a generation that followed, including Merle Haggard and George Jones. His sound is truly timeless. And, listening to his music gives us another lesson in how modern Nashville has absolutely missed the mark.

We have been sharing our morning beverages for over a month with these classic artists who actually put Nashville on the map, but whose sound and legend has completely been forgotten by the modern music industry. Continuing this music tradition is now up to a few young rebels like Robbie Fulks on "outsider" labels, such as Bloodshot Records, and some old timers like Merle Haggard, who absolutely refuse to allow this music to die.

Maybe I am biased. But, when I listen to these tunes, I really can hear America. This is true American music. I think it is probably the type of "Cosmic American Music" for which Gram Parsons tried to turn on a new generation. And, I always find it funny that I will seldom hear a Top 40 Hit continually resurface generation after generation, but these numbers are always on the playlist no matter the age or background of the musician.

These are true classics. And, if I were in the classic radio business, I would be pretty worried because they aren't making records like these any more.

So, sit back and enjoy your morning beverage with a classic. And, for Lefty's sake, you might want to tip a bit of whiskey in there as you listen to his legend.

Lefty Frizell, "Cigarettes and Coffee Blue":

Lefty Frizzell, "I Love You A Thousand Ways":

Lefty Frizzell, "She's Gone Gone Gone":

Lefty Frizzell, "If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time" and "Saginaw, Michigan":

Lefty Frizzell, "Long Black Veil":

Not a live video, but this is too classic not to include this number as Frizzell made the first popular recording of this traditional song.

Dirty Dispatches: Picking Raspberries

2008-09-27T18:21:00.000-05:00

If you've been following Kevin's Dirty Dispatches, you know that our garden has been doing quite well this summer. This year we ventured into more fruit-planting and -growing. Figs, apples, pears, peaches, canteloupes, watermelons, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Not everything has produced this year, since some of the trees and bushes are still quite young. But we did get a good amount of melons and figs, which Benjamin has loved to taste.

Last week, we had a splendid harvest of raspberries!

daddy, you can't have these, they're all mine

mommy, pick faster!

our harvest, mostly eaten by ben

stuffing his face

Remember that scene in the beginning of the movie Amelie, where young Amelie does all kinds of fun stuff that most adults remember from their childhood (or wish they did)?

Well, we had some fun sticking raspberries on Ben's fingers and he loved it! This kid can eat his weight in raspberries.

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Save A Mountain And Save Our History

2008-09-26T05:30:00.006-05:00

I have long railed against mountaintop removal. It is the most egregious example of corporate greed out there. The people of Appalachia pay a dear price so that we can have a "cheap" source of power. And, in the end, we all pay a dear price as King Coal rapes Appalachia and sends tons of toxic pollutants into our environment annually.

But, now, the coal companies not only want to erase a landscape, they also want to erase history. Ironically enough, that bit of history is the history of King Coal's violence against the people of Appalachia. ILoveMountains.org has just announced that Blair Mountain, West Virginia is the latest mountain to be added to the list of America's Most Endangered Mountains.

For those of you unfamiliar with American labor history, Blair Mountain is the site of the Battle of Blair Mountain, which was the largest armed uprising in the history of the struggle of American working people. For nearly a week in 1921, over 10,000 coal miners rose up against King Coal and their gun thugs to demand their right to unionize and improve their working conditions. Eventually, the federal government sent troops to West Virginia to fight alongside the company gun thugs. Yet another example of "the government of the people" showing its true colors.

When the smoke cleared, the coal miners were defeated. But, that defeat was only temporary as the Battle of Blair Mountain spurred on many working people to join the union movement. It also turned the attention of the nation to the horrible working and living conditions of the people of Appalachia.

Yet, now, a new Battle of Blair Mountain is underway.

Despite the fact that Blair Mountain is an important historic site, King Coal wants to rip apart the mountain. Archaeologists and historians have worked together to detail the history of the mountain. Historical markers and artifacts are strewn across the landscape of Blair Mountain. Preservation professionals have determined that this hallowed ground should be included on the National Register of Historic Places. But, King Coal wants to erase this mountain and in so doing erase its history.

It is bad enough that the coal companies want to rip apart a mountain. But, it is even more tragic that they would want to destroy such an important piece of American labor history.

In 1984, George Orwell wrote "He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past." This statement is as true today as it has ever been. And, its truth is absolutely evident in the New Battle of Blair Mountain.

Friends of Blair Mountain and ILoveMountains.org have put together a new video detailing this newest in the growing list of America's Most Endangered Mountains.

It is truly going to take all of our efforts to win this battle. If we remain silent, King Coal will win again. Please join in this fight to save a mountain and in so doing save our history.

In this New Battle of Blair Mountain, which side are you on?

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Wall Street Bailout Equals Socialism For The Rich

2008-09-25T17:10:00.004-05:00

My favorite politician and the first socialist elected to the United States Senate, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, called supporters of the Wall Street bailout on the carpet today. He flatly stated that these folks who oppose government intervention for health care and poverty are more than happy to see the government intervene to help out the wealthy.

Just a few days ago, Senator Sanders outlined the origins of our current financial crisis and what is really needed to solve it.

Thank you Bernie for once again being a voice of reason in the midst of the greed and corruption that we call our government.

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