The Second Great Depression: SOS-newdeal

#OWS Hooverville, the (1st) Depression, and Woodie Guthrie

2011-10-14T12:17:00.004-04:00

Summary: I propose that Occupy Wall Street (AKA:Hooverville) is NOT an anomaly, but is a continuation of the PROOF we are NOW in the SECOND DEPRESSION.

A) "This Land is My Land"
The ORIGINAL Lyrics to the Great song, "This land is My Land",
According (to of course... Wikipedia),

It was written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 based (...) in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent.

But the version you and I likely learned as kids was NOT complete, but was CENSORED.

Try these three verses on for size!

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

(For those too young to know, the "relief office" would today be called the welfare or unemployment office.)

Complete Lyrics to the great tune are HERE

B) Hoover
See a Previous Article I wrote in August 2011 (almost TWO months ago?!), discussing HERBERT Hoover's failures as a president, and especially his CUTTING THE BUDGET to try and fix the economy.
FAILED. (original article written 8/30 here)

C) Hooverville
We're about to face VIOLENCE. It's great that the people cleaned the park, so that the EXCUSE of cleaning the park could not be used to EMPTY the park.

We ARE going to take back this country. It might lead to a second civil war of "The Haves vs. The People", and the idea of that sucks a great deal.

D) The Enemy
THE NUMBER one ENEMY is NOT Wall Street, but "K" Street, the CORPORATE lobbyists.
Corporate campaign laws (as dictated by the Supremes) now allows ENDLESS cash into political campaigns. I say we need total transparancy, NO more BUNDLING of contributions, and ONLY $250 per candidate VIA an ONLINE site to help remove the political sway of these parasites.

Hoover and the "Great" depression of 1929 (re-hash)

2011-10-14T12:07:00.002-04:00

Interesting. I found this buried in the bottom of another article I wrote. I managed to discuss two different issues, and this got LOST.

Summary: Hoover's actions and lack of BALLS during the first depression caused our county to SUFFER Even MORE then we needed to. Today's Republican (read TEAPARTY) wants to take us back to the glory days of 1929 to 1932 ONCE MORE, despite the dangers we faced there.

I Just can't believe the ABSOLUTE intense similarities between the period AFTER the Great (First) Stock Market Crash of 1929, and TODAY.... INCLUDING Hoover's response to the depression. Right out of the "TEA-Bagger's Party" I refuse to call them the Tea-Party... (Calling them that insults our American Patriots of 200 years ago!)

The circumstances of 1929 included: TODAY we have:

One in four workers was jobless. * TODAY one in NINE* workers jobless.
One in five Americans survived on meager relief
payments. * Unknown today
The stock market was down 75 percent from 1929. * Stock market is ready to crash again
Exports were at their lowest level since 1904. * Needs research!
In just four years, the suicide rate had tripled. * Unknown Today

* Official statistics say 9.5% unemployment (equals about 10.57 per 100 out of work), a realistic number including those (like me) who are UNDER-employed or unable to find FULL TIME work would be 11% unemployment, which gives ONE IN NINE (11%) unemployment.
For certain sectors, like unemployed black youth, current unemployment is around 30%! or WORSE then the FIRST depression!

Hoover's reaction to the "Depression" (which was not called the great DEPRESSION then, of course, but MAYBE called "A RECESSION!) FDR's presidential Library (see HERE) says

"As the nation suffered, its government seemed paralyzed. President Hoover had tried to combat the Depression, but he believed in limited government and relief through private charity.

Though he eventually approved credit assistance for businesses and some public construction spending, Hoover was reluctant to fund massive public works projects, provide federal relief money to the unemployed, or increase government regulation of the economy. By 1933, he was reviled and exhausted.

Let's do an "INSTANT replay" on that again!

President Hoover tried to combat the Depression, but he believed in limited government and relief through private charity.

Though he eventually approved credit assistance for businesses and some public construction spending, Hoover was reluctant to fund massive public works projects, provide federal relief money to the unemployed, or increase government regulation of the economy.

Gee.... Sounds like today's REPUBLICAN Campaign Platform ALL over again. Especially for those like MICHELLE Bachman and the OTHER TEA-Baggers out there.

And guess what will happen.

We may actually be STUPID enough to VOTE them in again, and have ANOTHER 4 years of MASS damage to our economy.

OCCUPY WALL Street? No REFORM our Government - #JSNN

2011-10-05T19:05:00.001-04:00

It's more then just "OCCUPY WALL Street". It's absolutely not FOR Grover Norquist.
However, I think we need to JUST start TELLING EVERYONE (and EVERY MEDIA OUTLET) "JUST say NO TO NORQUIST..."(#JSNN)

We Need NEW taxes on the wealthy.

Start with my proposed MINIMUM Millionaires Tax

Look Here (the G.E. Tax) and HERE (the idea has been there for four years!)

We need to tax ALL the companies AND millionaires who GROSS more then ONE million dollars per year . Note I say GROSS income, and NOT net income.

In other words ALL with GROSS incomes OVER 1 million dollars per year will pay a New MINIMUM income of one percent of their GROSS income.

Thus I now call this the G.E. Tax, in honor of our great US company that has CONSISTENTLY paid ZERO dollars to our government as it's fair share to support our government.

In order to further this new tax, I am also founding a new campaign, which will be named JSNN or "JUST SAY NO to Norquist" In other words we need to RAISE taxes, and Grover Norquist and his country-destroying pledge be damned.

Causes and Problems: Part 3: Ethical Abuses and Lapses in Washington

2011-10-04T16:21:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to mention that I totally believe that Wall Street (the concept) is the bad guy.

I Say:

Yes, we made a big misteak by removing the Glass-Stengel act, and deregulating derivatives.

What is now going on is the politics of "Scratch My Back, and I will Scratch yours".

Former Congressional aides are now lobbying for what I just heard as a tax holiday to repatriate tons of money currently outside of the country.

I think we have a HUGE ethics issue in Washington. The revolving door of congressmen/aides into business and corporations as LOBBYISTS is 99% of the problems we have in this country.

We need a formal program, just like they had in South Africa, after Apartheid, a TRUTH and Reconciliation Commission. It was quite successful there. Your admitted your crime publicly, you testified, and admitted the ugly truth, and you got past that bad time in your life.

We need this and an internet only $250 per person max contribution to help fix our political system.

Hey... I started this blog after predicting in 2006 that we were entering into a huge downturn.
Now I just call it Depression 2.0...

CLASS Warfare: It's the REPUBLICANS! the G.E. tax (formerly the BUFFETT tax)

2011-09-19T16:38:00.001-04:00

update: 10-5-11 Added damned Grover Norquist at end.
Damned Republicans. Can you say, "My president is a HUMAN being, I will NOT throw out language that is OFFENSIVE, DIVISIVE and politically INCORRECT?

You want CLASS WARFARE?

Let's go.

Here is the first issue. According to the US General Accounting Office (GAO) 66% of the Corporations, As an example(General Electric or GE) paid NO taxes at all.

It's NOT class warfare. It's a matter of FAIRNESS.

Look at my ORIGINAL post over THREE years ago.
We need to change this and make a NEW MINIMUM corporate income tax, based on GROSS income or sales.

Why should Warren Buffett pay a lower tax percentage then his secretary?

Let's implement a MINIMUM Millionaire's Tax.

1% of GROSS income will be a new MINIMUM tax for ALL taxpayers making more then one million dollars per year.

PS: I welcome discussions from any media outlets, if you have the 'nerve'.

by the way, I really do think that Grover Norquist needs a REAL attitude adjustment.

How much money did he get from corporations, and is his alleged enterprise a NOT for Profit?

hmmm...

Causes and Problems: Part 2: The Financial Markets

2011-09-11T09:03:00.000-04:00

It's NOT the Jobs stupid; It's the Stock Market.

Here's an example how REGULATIONS can affect the marketplace.
As a response to the laissez-faire attitude following the "Great Depression" (aka the FIRST depression), one key regulation was put into effect, separating financial institutions from banks. It was called the Glass-Stegal act, (search for it in my blog, if you haven't head of it before...)

This essentially just made sure banks didn't get involved in really poor decision making in investments.

It created two different classes of financial institutions. And was very safe until congress managed to repeal it (yes, under a democratic president in stealth mode).

Another example:
The REAL stealth law passed by congress on the LAST day of a congressional session, and sponsored by a Senator who now works for Wall Street, and managed to get this passed less then 5 minutes at the end of the session. Less then a month later it was law, the senator had retired to wall street, and no way could anyone regulate (hedge funds do it, the name escapes me now)...

Another Example:

Once upon a time it was required for someone trading oil futures contracts to arrange to take delivery of the product. Then it was changed, so that you DIDNT have to collect the product.
I say had this small regulation be maintained that the OIL futures market would not be the profitable, dangerous place it is for most of America (and dangerous for how the market price of gas rises and falls, depending on how someone feels that day).

SO:
I believe that it is quite bogus for Republicans and Tea-Party folks to claim they want less regulation when in reality the regulation would have helped the entire country.

Takeaway:
We need to start to RE-Regulate our economy. Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you has not worked, we now need sticks, instead of carrots.

Causes and Problems: Part 1: The "contractor" economy

2011-09-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

This will be an ongoing series of discussions about some of the crucial causes of our current poor state of economic and developmental paralysis in our country.

I hope that by detailing these problems, we will figure out ways to eliminate them:

Today: On Marketplace, they discussed the Contractor Generation. Or just listen here:

The Underemployed Generation.
The baby boomers were children of "The Greatest Generation", those who lived through the depression and World War II (the SECOND war to end all wars!?)

Today our children (and a great deal of us baby boomers too) are underemployed.

Underemployed and non-employed at the same time.

This is because of the Contractor. According to the IRS, an employee has to pass 3 basic areas before they are considered independent contractors.

Behavioral Control
Financial Control
Relationship of the parties

Behavioral Control
These three areas are most likely out of the scope of what you'd be interested in reading, but essentially, "A worker is an employee when the business has the right to direct and control the worker."

Financial Control
The three main facts covered here are : Significant Investment ; Expenses and Opportunity for Profit or Loss.

Relationship of the parties
Employee Benefits and Written Contracts cover these areas..

As a case study, let's look at my employment situation.
I am under-employed. I long for a new full time Job (as a computer geek in case any one has something open, my resume says, "Been there; Done that!") in the computer industry.
However, baring that I attempt to stay as employed as possible as a "FOR HIRE" Geek.

Thus, my employment status is: BARELY. I make NO hourly wage for most of the companies I work for, but get a per-assignment wage (which might be based on an hourly price).

I get no benefits, I get no paid vacation, I get none of the benefits our society usually associates with employment, including NO workers compensation or unemployment benefits.

THE COMPANY I am working for gets no extended costs associated with hiring an employee, that add to the economic growth of the country.

I also suffer by NOT being counted in the unemployment statistics. (I believe that THIS is why our national employment rate is less then 10% instead of the 18 or 19% rate it would be if we counted people who WANTED to work full time...)

SO: A recommendation:

We want Jobs, we want the economy to pick up, we need to RESTRICT the ability of businesses to use CONTRACTORS.

Proposal 1: If you work at a company's location, use their equipment, and perform the work under their directions, you are NOT a contractor.

This is a good example of a rule being re-instated that will forcibly REGULATE the workplace, and will remove a small bit of the LAX rulemaking that has destroyed our country.

I hope this is a good introduction to ONE small step we can take to restore our country.

It's Jobs, Green Technology, and Rebuilding the Infrastructure, stupid!

2011-09-03T19:33:00.000-04:00

It's jobs again... OK. Leonard Lopate had a guest on the other day, (8-31-11) discussing the 19th century's construction of the US railroad system, and how the shadows of the corporate greed we see today were echoed 100 yrs ago. My solution is simple... A jobs program; a green energy program; a national rebuilding program; a jobs program; a new works program administration; a canal; (whoops-- no canal). Everything we need to fix the economy; fix the nations' infrastructure, fix our under employment program, and more in one easy plan.. link to the discussion HERE...

And also to Ira Flatow (Science Friday) on 9/2/11.. Same thing. regarding your guest talking about the interstate highway system.

A reminder:

HERE: is my "Top TEN" list of what we need to fix the country.

These 10 items taken together will ENTIRELY fix our country

A Massive Reconstruction (infrastructure) rebuilding project to repair the "Eisenhower Highway" system (and also make it TRANSIT and FREIGHT Friendly). See Green transit here.

A Massive Job Training Program to ensure full employment and the ability for workers to work for an honest dollar, and learn a trade that will keep them employed.

A new, "Living Wage", not to be confused with today's minimum wage (which may be renamed as an "introductory" or "entry level" wage.

A new federally paid system of day care starting at six months, to make our nation more competitive by enhancing education as well as making our society more competitive.

Ensure EVERY American has Health Insurance that is NOT tied to an employer. Phase in over X years (to over-ride opposition from the insurance lobby). Eventually becomes a 2-3 plan duopoly, overseen by the government.

Just like the "Manhattan Project" that built the Atomic bomb, we need a new, massive ENERGY project (as our New president) stated that will eliminate our country's dependence on OIL within 10 years.

Tax reform. Start Here: I call this the Millionaire's Minimum Tax. Make over 1 million in GROSS income last year (individuals OR corporations!) You pay a MINIMUM of 1%.

Mandatory Job Training/Conscription/Community Service (whatever we call it EVERYONE will do it, either in Military or NON-Military options!

Lobbying Reform. Need to eliminate pay to play.

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover fraud, lies, and dishonesty in our society.

BY THE WAY....

I Just can't believe the ABSOLUTE intense similarities between the period AFTER the Great (First) Stock Market Crash of 1929, and TODAY.... INCLUDING Hoover's response to the depression. Right out of the "TEA-Bagger's Party" (I refuse to call them the Tea-Party... That insults our American Patriots of 200 years ago!)
The circumstances included:

One in four workers was jobless.
One in five Americans survived on meager relief payments.
The stock market was down 75 percent from 1929.
Exports were at their lowest level since 1904.
In just four years, the suicide rate had tripled.

Hoover's reaction to the "Depression" (not called the great DEPRESSION then, of course, but MAYBE called "A RECESSION!) FDR's presidential Library (see HERE) says

"As the nation suffered, its government seemed paralyzed. President Hoover had tried to combat the Depression, but he believed in limited government and relief through private charity. Though he eventually approved credit assistance for businesses and some public construction spending, Hoover was reluctant to fund massive public works projects, provide federal relief money to the unemployed, or increase government regulation of the economy. By 1933, he was reviled and exhausted.

Let's do an "INSTANT replay" on that again!

President Hoover tried to combat the Depression, but he believed in limited government and relief through private charity.

Though he eventually approved credit assistance for businesses and some public construction spending, Hoover was reluctant to fund massive public works projects, provide federal relief money to the unemployed, or increase government regulation of the economy.

Gee.... Sounds like the REPUBLICAN Campaign Platform ALL over again. Especially for those like MICHELLE Bachman and the OTHER TEA-Baggers out there.

And guess what will happen.

We may actually be STUPID enough to VOTE them in again, and have ANOTHER 4 years of MASS damage to our economy.

Time to Look at Depression History (Budget Cuts/Archie)

2011-08-30T20:05:00.000-04:00

despite what Archie Bunker said, (Man, we need a man like Herbert Hoover Again...)

We need to AVOID what the Tea-Bagger's Party wants us to do RIGHT now, which is to CUT public works and cutting SPENDING. That is what they did during Hoover's presidency. And he screwed up the cleanup of the Stock Market crash, and really made things MUCH MUCH WORSE...

Actually Archie is (as was the comment in this clip, saying Ross Perot saying, "I TOLD YOU SO..(3X)" was right. (the ENTIRE clip is SO amusing, but skip to 1min 47 seconds to see what I am talking about)...-(UPDATE 11-14-11)

But as Hurricane Irene this past weekend has showed us, WE NEED to fix the infrastructure in this country.\

And We need to EMPLOY As MANY people as we can for A LONG LONG TIME.

THUS, MY PLAN :

Update the transportation system created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower (the Eisenhower Highway system).

In one (VERY LONG?) paragraph:

Expand the existing Eisenhower Highway system by adding (a minimum) of 4 NEW rail tracks (2 for passenger, and two for freight, cars and trucks). This expansion will be separate from the existing national rail network, and will be run by the state or local authority that runs the existing roads. The long term goals of this expansion are:

Allowing a tractor trailer or car (or any other vehicle) to get on the system on the East Coast and travel automatically to any point in the country.
Reducing energy consumption, gas consumption and imported energy.
A massive employment program that will work (as did the Eisenhower program) to employ workers for at least 20-30 years (long enough to have a Career, doing this).
Getting our country to be more productive, reduce costs of transportation and to introduce a smart system to allow modern technology to supplement the 20th century version of "the car as the medium". This particular goal will allow a driver-less method for increasing productivity (no 10 hr behind the wheel, because the train will do the work), as well as automatically planning your routing.

Economy: It's Jobs, NOT the deficit (Depression 2.0 and HOOVER)

2011-08-12T19:01:00.000-04:00

Are we that stupid? It's NOT the deficit, but the JOBs, growth, and the fact that LARGE banks (and multi-national corporations) are HOARDING their money, and NOT spending/lending their money.

I am amazed that NOT ONE single media outlet (I am an NPR-Head) has started to question whether this is a "double-dip" recession, or really a sign that we are in DEPRESSION 2.0.

Think about it. In the "great depression", Herbert Hoover started to react to the 1929 stock crash by CUTTING the federal DEFICIT.

It took FDR (in 1932) almost 4 years, and some say till World War II, to fully get out of DEPRESSION 1.0.

I am sick. This is absurd. We need to EMULATE what FDR did to get us out of the first depression.

I am also tired of "pissin' into the wind", and getting wet... Doesn't ANYONE else out there agree with the take that our economy is more important then getting rid of the deficits?

I can't believe that yesterday, the Iowa Republican Debate actually continued to bash the president.

If The Federal Reserve tells us that the country in going to be in the toilet at least until 2013, then we should realize that we need to make SOME changes.

WE NEED the upper 1% of this country to pay TAXES. Not the 'nominal tax rate'.
We need a NEW "Minimum Millionaires Tax"

Make over 1million dollars GROSS (both businesses and individuals)?

You will pay a MINIMUM tax of 1% of your gross as a new MINIMUM tax Period.

NOT of your NET, but your GROSS income (and this would include income and dividends, so NO LOOPHOLES...)

That's a start to fix this.

PS: Look HERE: http://sos-newdeal.blogspot.com/2009/04/proposal-milionaire-problem-easy.html
for more on the tax and look HERE:
for more info on my top 10 list to FIX the economy and our society! (hence the name of my blog: sos-newdeal.blogspot.com)
:
http://sos-newdeal.blogspot.com/2009/02/top-ten-list-what-i-believe-and-want.html

Oh, and the real start to get us out of this is the massive jobs project I say, expanding the Eisenhower thruway system... (see the top ten list...)

AND my answer for next week's MARKETPLACE contest...

I've predicted since 2006, that this is the SECOND Depression (and in a mock tribute to the tech economy, I labeled it DEPRESSION 2.0).

ps: this was written during the friday 8-12-11 'on the road' marketplace show...

Shame-out:The Tea-baggers cause the stock crash--or "it's the jobs stupid!!!"

2011-08-09T07:38:00.000-04:00

Well. I won't say that I told you so, but I have-- (many,many,times) already.
The tea-bagger's party has managed to screw us up, despite the budget deficit limit being raised.
All I can say is that (many times before) we need a massive spending program to get our country restarted again

See Here: my 10-step plan to create a new deal and get us out of this DEPRESSION 2.0.

I'm getting tired of saying this, but It's the ECONOMY and the JOBS stupid! NOT the deficit!!!

Shame-Out:: (Third Time) It's the ECONOMY, (you) stupid congressmen...

2011-07-09T21:44:00.002-04:00

~~Shame-Out:: (Third Time) IT's the Republicans (and the tea-party idiots) STUPID.~~

OK. Listening to MarketPlace on NPR, I heard two economists discussing the June 2011 Unemployment drop (only 18,000 jobs created in June).

I said this, I will say this again.

It's not a single dip or Double dip RECESSION. It's a ##^#&^#@$*&#@$^& DEPRESSION (2.0).

Get the facts.

Companies that are sitting on billions in ca$h will NOT hire new workers, as the existing ones are being over-worked.
Companies will NOT invest in new workers, making the problems worse.
Republicans claim that cutting the deficit is key to getting the economy fixed. NOT!

In fact, the only reason we do not have an OFFICIAL unemployment rate of 16% TODAY is because we DON'T count the people who are under-employed or gave up on looking. Otherwise it would be much higher today, and perhaps at about 23% today.
The $$$ that the federal government gave to local states and cities has ran out because the stimulus was limited. Therefore, states and cities have cut over a QUARTER of a MILLION jobs in the past two years.

Republicans refuse to consider tax increases. It now is time for them to realize that the 'trickle-down' economy concept has failed. We have two Americas (one highly educated, and motivated, and one of 'burger-flippers', employing a huge percentage of our country) and we also have two Financial Americas. Corporations, and "Multi-millionaires", versus 'the rest of us'.

We need to address this huge imbalance. For republicans to ignore this imbalance, and still claim, "TRICKLE-DOWN", is simply like a huge "Trick on the down and out!".

It's time for the congress to get off of it's REAR, and actually do a stimulus LARGER then the last time.

HINT: see my discussion on green job building and Eisenhower Highway Expansion.

Spending trillions of dollars on a NEW transportation system (not re-using existing rail lines) is green:

To reiterate:

Use existing Eisenhower highway system and establish 4 new rail tracks on every highway.

2 Tracks would be for freight/trucks/motor vehicles.
2 tracks would be used for mass transit.

Benefits:

Federal jobs creation program. Construction will take 15-25 years [it took that long to finish some parts of the Eisenhower system] giving lifetimes of employment to current and future workers.
Green program. Project objectives are

Reduce # of trucks/diesel/buses (and especially gas and emissions) on road.
Program would seek to get both trucks or just trailers (and cars -SUV's too) from origination point to destination as fast and as fuel efficiently as possible, increasing productivity, and reducing emissions, fuel consumption and driver time behind the wheel.

Technology Driven: Program objectives would be cost reduction via technology, reducing fuels, and needs for drivers going cross country.

Cargo should be able to go on a trailer, or with a truck.
Rail system would use existing right of ways of highways.

Totally separate from existing freight lines, but would interconnect.
Existing Railroads would not be running these systems.
Technology would allow national 'ez-pass' type electronic billing system for interoperability with all systems.
Commuter rail portion of system would also be technology driven.

In summary again, we are NOT in a recession, but a full blown DEPRESSION 2.0.

In order to get out of this, we need to drastically increase spending, and have a PROGRAM and way out to:

Rebuild our economy
Rebuild the MANUFACTURING and construction sector.
Re-Train our workforce (from a service 'burger-flipping' mentality) to meaningful middle-class jobs.
Create the "Green Economy", that everyone claims they want.

Reduce fuel emissions DRASTICALLY
Reduce gas and Diesel usage
Make transportation a Technology driven , growth industry.

Stop the political bickering, and allow our government to work together to solve our problems.

The Great [War | Depression] or [World War I | Depression 2.0 ]

2011-06-07T08:19:00.001-04:00

Hey. I'm a computer Geek.

In some programming languages (or meta-languages) you would specify to choose a word by
putting some of the choices in [vertical brackets] like this.

This is a sentence you will [complete | ignore ] (example--choose one of the words...)

Now:

Here's a little story.

The [War to End all Wars| Great War]   is the original name of what we now call World War One.
It wasn't known as WWI for another 20 years after the end of the first one, when the second one got underway (and we were forced to admit that it wasn't the last war...).

So, we learn that it took a great deal of time (20+ years) for society to admit that the [War to End all Wars| Great War] wasn't the last one, or the only great one, but only the first one.

Those of you who know me already know where this is going, because I've said it before. (and I have generally beaten that dead horse to a bloody pulp by now!!)

The [Great Depression | First Great Depression ] took place in 1929.   The second one started (and I said it here on my blog starting in 2006) in 2008.   That's almost 80 years after the first one.

Yes, I agree we would be up the creek, without the proverbial paddle, if the current government had NOT taken extraordinary measures.

However I say we ARE in Depression 2.0 today. Calling this a "double-dip recession" is nonsensical and dangerous.

We can get out of this. But we need to spend a great deal of federal money to do it.
The money will need to help create jobs, create a huge spending program (think interstate highway system) and unfortunately create More government debt.

But. More on that later. Today, I just want to have everyone admit its time to start calling a spade, a spade.   If it looks like a rose, and smells like a rose, and pricks your finger like a rose, it isn't a orchid, and it isn't ethical to continue to try and sell that rose as an orchid.

So my post here today is to try and offer the following position.

Calling our current economic condition a recession or 'double dip recession' is adequate, but it is much more honest to start to call this Depression 2.0. If we do start to refer to it this way, some of the difficult spending choices will become much clearer to many Americans, and will make getting out of it much easier.

So it took 20+ years to stop calling it the great war, it's now been almost 80 years, and now we can stop calling it the great depression.

Cheers to all

Prediction: Government Shutdown: 17 days in duration

2011-04-07T06:07:00.001-04:00

I (J'accuse) predict there will be a 17 day shutdown of the US Government.

House of Reps Chief, John Baynor (a two pack a day smoker by the way--where does he buy his smokes?, and does he pay taxes on them???)

needs to learn how to negotiate correctly.

And the Tea Party should be recalled. Totally..

You heard it hear. I predict the country will be packed up until APRIL 25th.

Shame-Out:: (redux) IT's the Republicans (and the tea-party idiots) STUPID

2011-04-06T16:21:00.000-04:00

It's a stupid fight.

And the Tea Party (and the 'publicans) will be the BIG BIG BIG Losers.

I predict that in 2012, Obama will be re-elected with another majority, and
THE HOUSE and Senate will both be Democratic again!

And I bet the Senate will be filibuster proof, with perhaps 70-75 democratic senators.

And it really bugs me that the House majority leader claims that the democrats have NOT responded with a proposal, even though HE negotiated the 33billion dollar cut.

And now, he looks like an even bigger Jack*ss when he changes his demands HIGHER.

As an aside, the old haggler suggests when negotiating a price, you START extra high (ok, 66billion), and
then go down SLOWLY (say to 50 BIllion, and THEN accept 33 billion...) NOT go from 66 billion to 33 billion and then BACK up to 40 billion, with automatic poison provisions that can never be accepted.

A LIVE answer from Robert Reich-- Marketplace 12-15/10

2010-12-15T21:37:00.000-05:00

Lookie HERE: What I said over 4 years ago! Robert Reich agrees with me.. (I did write him about this AGES ago, and I think my blog still copies him when I make posts...) Listen to what he said here: His Marketplace commentary...
BUT he stops short of some of my KEY 10(actually 12 point) program:

We would STILL need:

A living Wage (the minimum wage would become 'the TRAINING wage'
Day-Care (paid by FEDERAL gov't) starting at 6 months.
A major infrastructure project (A new freight rail system)
A mandatory training and service program (up to 3 yrs, after highschool).
political reform (fat chance!)
A way to recover from all the lies we've all been given over the years.

But ... Hey... it's a start.

And Professor Reich? I'd like a job helping on this, I am currently WAY under-employed....

cheers to all, and to all, welcome to my list if you haven't seen this before.

Top-Ten List (What I believe and Want)

2010-11-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a list (shamelessly stolen from myself here inside this post) where I state what my
TEN programs for saving our country are:

Now, the stuff I came up with (all inter-related, and dependent on each other):

In reviewing the past, and looking where we are today, I surmise that today, we need the following:

A Massive Reconstruction (infrastructure) rebuilding project to repair the "Eisenhower Highway" system (and also make it TRANSIT and FREIGHT Friendly). See Green transit here.
A Massive Job Training Program to ensure full employment and the ability for workers to work for an honest dollar, and learn a trade that will keep them employed.
A new, "Living Wage", not to be confused with today's minimum wage (which may be renamed as an "introductory" or "entry level" wage.
A new federally paid system of day care starting at six months, to make our nation more competitive by enhancing education as well as making our society more competitive.
Ensure EVERY American has Health Insurance that is NOT tied to an employer. Phase in over X years (to over-ride opposition from the insurance lobby). Eventually becomes a 2-3 plan duopoly, overseen by the government.
Just like the "Manhattan Project" that built the Atomic bomb, we need a new, massive ENERGY project (as our New president) stated that will eliminate our country's dependence on OIL within 10 years.
Tax reform. Start Here: I call this the Millionaire's Minimum Tax. Make over 1 million in GROSS income last year (individuals OR corporations!) You pay a MINIMUM of 1%.
Mandatory Job Training/Conscription/Community Service (whatever we call it EVERYONE will do it, either in Military or NON-Military options!
Lobbying Reform. Need to eliminate pay to play.
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover fraud, lies, and dishonesty in our society.

This is most of it. Some things like education go across project lines.
Education starts at pre-school, and will continue through to high school, and an introduction to the new national training/conscription programs. These programs will be designed to help with job training in someone's chosen field.

Note: There are technically 12 proposals, but a 'top ten' list is more 'politically feasible', and some are inter-connected anyway.

It's the REPUBLICAN's again TRYING to hold up health care

2009-12-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

TO MITCH McConnell of the 'publician NASTY-ites.

IT's HEALTH CARE

and you blocked it seven PREVIOUS times in the past SIXTY years.

In the famous russian words, TOUGH SHIT.

You also FOUGHT Medicare, NOW you love it.

WAIT. One day, despite YOU CONSERVATIVE fools, we'll have

NATIONAL single PAYER health care WITHOUT the stupid FOR-PROFIT
health care companies.

GOODBYE, and good luck

AND I HOPE that you will remember how ANGRY WE (the people) are

THAT you have NOT even given ONE single VOTE to ATTEMPT to be bi-partisan

YOU WILL receive your paybacks , next fall when your DECLINING ratings put you
into A BLEAKER Minority...

GO slink back to your cave-dwellings, and lick your partisan wounds...

Jobs: Bring back the WPA, ...Just Do it!

2009-12-04T06:02:00.003-05:00

OK.

Since today is President Obama's Jobs summit I thought I'd discuss what I believe needs to be done for our country.

(Executive Summary: I believe we need a new version of FDR's "WPA-Work projects Administration", that will be focused on training, service, and helping our country. I contend that this massive stimulus package can help re-focus our economy, and also make our nation less energy dependent.

There are several inter-related problems

1) Job Availability
2) Job Training and Retraining
3) Education
4) Green Economy / New "Manhattan" Project

1) I believe that the entire United States economy has been destroyed by its transformation from a supplier of GOODS, into a consumer based SALES economy. Availability of jobs, both traditional, blue collar, to high tech (technology) have fled from the United States overseas.

It is NOT an option to re-introduce trade barriers. It's too late for that. However, we can STILL overcome this, and make a great number of skilled trade jobs available. By undervaluing blue collar, and not encouraging manufacturing of any sort anymore, we have eliminated a huge number of potential jobs.

2) Job training and retraining:
Detroit. 'nuff said? I think so...
seriously, job losses and jobs exported ALSO is very high in the technical (computer) sector.
besides overseas call centers, web and computer programming, almost everything, including technical support, can and IS outsourced to other countries.

We need programs to help newly graduated, as well as unemployed, (and even) OLDER 50 and older workers learn new trades.

3) There are a great deal of studies about how our educational system has failed a great deal of inner city and urban students. For argument's sake, lets just say that 80% of the urban HS population graduates, but does not go to college.

What are the realistic job prospects for these newly graduated teenagers? The Service industry.
Not a lot of skilled labor there. If I wanted to become a plumber or electrician, becoming an apprentice is the only difficult way to achieve this.

What we need is the ability to have someone learn a skilled trade, that will allow this person to become a productive member of society, that will earn a living wage. I say living wage, because this is also a key problem in our current service economy.

4) Green Economy / New "Manhattan" Project
The opportunity to re-engineer our entire country, and create a national 'home' grid, as well as re-creating the national highway system are potential recipients of this labor.

What I am proposing is simple:
We will create a new job program (I call it the training corp), that will take workers, and depending on their talents and interests, help to train them, apprentice them, and then become skilled journeymen craftsmen in their chosen fields.

This program will take both volunteers, and eventually, all HS graduates (or over 17, which-ever comes later) for a three year, gradual program to teach these new skills.

Several aspects of the program will be familiar. The concept of military boot camp will be useful to teach new survival skills to those who may not have previously had the best learning environment.

The concepts of the "Military Academy" (West Point, Annapolis, etc) is also a key goal, as is the concept of the permanent career (just like in the military...)

Many of these "military concepts" can help to guide these programs. An example of a new service path would be for those interested in becoming engineers, or architects (for the large number of future projects).

The Manhattan Project (for Energy)
Here's a key infrastructure project that will make our country much more competitive:

It cannot be implemented using the current private US rail system, but would inter-act and exchange cargo with it.

But first:

When I recently took a trip down the NJ Turnpike (Route 95-South), on a Sunday night at about 11PM, I counted over 500 tractor trailers in one 1/2 hour period. Imagine what could be achieved if we had a new national rail system.

This new rail system would become a brand new expansion of the existing Eisenhower Interstate Highway system (Originally created to speed military operations if needed inside our country).

One of the critical factors would be to create 4 lanes (2 heavy and 2 light rail) railroad tracks, that would run down the highway, and allow trucks to offload (or even entirely load the entire truck itself) onto newly designed rail cars.

As another example, you might get onto the highway (again Route 95) after the George Washington Bridge. You (or your Car/Truck), or (eventually, just your cargo trailer) would get onto the train, and the train would carry you, your cargo, and your car or truck to your desired stop.

Cargo (as well as cars/buses/etc) would be tracked with High tech RF-ID tags, to help enable automated routing to your final destination.

A system this complicated will take almost as long to be built and implemented as the National Interstate highway system did in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. It isn't for the faint hearted.

But that's why I say it is PART of a "Manhattan Project" for energy independence.

The crews, the skilled labor, (yes, pouring concrete accurately and perfectly IS ALSO a skilled trade!!!) as well as the ability to put a great deal of our young people to work in jobs that will help our country become a new model for the world is something that is visionary.

No, we won't have to develop a bomb. But eliminating Trucking via diesel rigs will be a huge step to controlling pollution, reducing our oil usage, as well as making transportation a new industry that can help our country become more competitive again.

Additional steps besides research for R&D (and to develop new types of small power generators (think solar and wind) as well as plans for deploying them across the country will help our economy better then paying bankers, or Car manufacturers.

Part of this plan would be to commercialize and economize a solar panel, so that an average house could become energy neutral, if not a major energy generator.

Combined with new energy distribution networks (grids), as well as positive (or negative) metering and billing, we can pray that we can reduce our country's addiction to coal fired power plants.

XYZZY. Oh. You're already inside.

Is this just a dream? I hope not.

Please take the time to comment, critique, and make suggestions!

thanks again..

The 100 Years War -- (aka the Bushki 100Yrs War)

2009-10-02T16:16:00.004-04:00

I think I've previously mentioned that the Iraq war, The Afganistan War, as well as the BushI Gulf War are all part of what will one day be known as the BUSH wars or the Bush 100 years war.

Terri Gross has often had one local expert on Afghanistan and Pakistan on her show. Ahmed Rashid discusses in frank details what may happen.

Listen to Terri Gross's Fresh Air from Yesterday (10/1/09). I think if you listen, it is quite
scary...

Currently, The Prez needs to decide if he will send another "Troop Surge" to Afganistan.

Shades of Vietnam! Speaking of which, it IS discussed in this interview
(also in a profile in the New Yorker of Richard Holbrook a few weeks ago)

Are we about to head into a quagmire? I said THREE Years ago, that we needed 500,000 troops to successfully rebuild Iraq. (I included the bs count of CONTRACTOR in MY count, as I am not a DICK Cheney liar creating a "CONTRACTOR Army".

Health Care -- It's the LOBBYISTS, Stupid!

2009-10-02T13:01:00.002-04:00

Here's a Link I think (if you read it) will be quite self-explanatory.

Hint. A certain Senator who has had his FILTHY (my description) little hands ALL over the health care bills has at least 10 alumni of his office that are now HEALTH care lobbyists.

I think it's time to BAN PAID lobbying in Washington (as well as state/city capitals too).

Someone will say, that our constitution depends on the first amendment (rights of speech)
to be exercised.

I say.... that it's time to declare corporations "NON-Persons" that EXPLICITLY removes the RIGHT to lobby, and rights of 'injury'. That is, UNLESS the board of directors, CEO, and PRESIDENT/VP and all executives agree EXPLICITLY (every year) that THEY are liable and culpable for ANY actions, including JAIL for actions and infractions caused by the corporation.

Let's see how THAT chews against lobbyists for a while!!!

Here's the cartoon: thanks to Big Fat Whale, by Brian McFadden

Health Care -- It's the PUBLIC (single payer) option, stupid!

2009-09-25T09:19:00.005-04:00

A brief review of the problem in current events (the comics).
I thank in advance;

candorville, Doonesbury, NonSequitur, and Buckets

The more things change, the more they remain the same...

(And I am very very glad Gary Trudeau is STILL relevent after all these years!)

and my favorite, a series:

Health Care -- It's the REPUBLICANS , Stupid!

2009-08-07T18:24:00.003-04:00

EXCUSE ME while I whine.

It's MY blog, and I'll Whine if I want to. (repeat 3 times)...

End of Quoted song..

Here is the problem.

SIX TIMES in SIXTY Years, HEALTH care

has been TORPEDOED

KILLED

BY the REPUBLICAN PARTY. YES, the REPUBLICAN party of this country.

THIS time there is NO MORE Harry And Louise against Health Care.

So what are they doing? FAKE activists complaining to congressmen's hearings.

Let me tell YOU!

If I see that WOMAN at the Scotch Plains, NJ Post Office one more TIME, I will PERSONALLY pull out a SIGN saying:
"STUPID Republicans KILLED Health Care SIX times in SIXTY Years"
"Wanna try again? or FINALLY get health CARE"
<>

AND hold it up NEXT TO HER!!!!

(and I will have someone take a picture of it...)

JUST KILL The REPUBLIAN Bullshit.

Bring back the Equal TIME policy

IT's time to put people like RUSH Limbaugh back where they belong...
Leading the Republican party...

HERE's my analysis of this.

The 'pubs know that they DONT have a majority in congress.

They are praying that the vocal minority (as opposed to the MORAL majority)
can blow away health care, so that President Obama can be embarrassed.

In reality, what's happening is that there is YET ANOTHER loophole in the campaign contribution laws.

Large companies (such as Insurance companies, or drug companies), can fund (without ANY limits or requirements to PUBLISH what and how much it pays for this) ANY non-campaign type organization that they want.

They can (for example) give ONE million dollars to me, to so an example: )I can pay 1,000 of my friends $1,000 each) to join me at 100 different locations this summer.

SO, lets presume, myself and my 9 buddies show up at Senator X's Town hall meeting which is to discuss health care.

Now, we don't sit all together, but we sit in 5 different locations, 2 each (like couples).

AND we start screaming. NO new health care now.... NO changes ...

And

If you DIDN'T know better you'd think that there was a HUGE backlash against a
health care bill.

Instead of just seeing that there are 10 big mouth PAID "Agent Provocateurs"
who are just doing the will of these LARGE companies.

We need to ACTIVELY combat this. It is impossible. We CANNOT let HEALTH CARE slip away AGAIN!!!

support Health care for ALL. (KILL A REPUBLICAN today!!!) (just kidding, please no violence, just tape all their mouths closed.!)

In reality we need (what I proposed here : in my top ten list:

SINGLE payer Health care, phased in over 5-20 years, starting with EXACTLY what we have today, private companies, that will start to enroll the uninsured, at the government expense.

THIS is doable.

and NECESSARY...

Please comment here...

Commentary: How the 'major' media gets it wrong" Fortune Magazine 4/27/09 issue

2009-06-25T06:49:00.000-04:00

Howdy all.

I spend my Saturdays, doing nothing, deliberately. It's my Sabbath, my day of rest, and besides going to services, I essentially do nothing except read, discuss the occasional political topic, and read.

Now, I SHOULD read torah commentary, but I'm not perfect.

So, I read other stuff, including the "New Yorker", Fortune, the "Atlantic", "Fast Company", and a whole slew of computer magazines.

So I decided that I would start by reviewing some of the more interesting stuff I read.

Here goes, in no particular order:

Victim # 1: Fortune Magazine, an AOL-Time Warner (Time Inc.) Publication.
General impression:
Fortune's sales staff is very busy, with at (usually) least one, and often two dedicated advertising supplements in each issue (interestingly enough, this issue has none.., so I am lying...)

update 4-30-09 -- I was mad, at not seeing the sales generated pages adding to the value (thickness) of my magazine UNTIL I saw the next issue-- the Fortune 500 issue with ad supplements on Corporate airplanes, and 4 other special supplements. A-HA!

This issue: Cover 'Warren Buffet's Electric Car', (green, and made in china)

A general discussion of this magazine would have to talk about how often this magazine seems to be a "Rah, Rah, Rah, Sis boom bah" booster of Wall Street, and big business.

In reading the magazine in the past 3 years, All I can say is that either the lead time is 9-12 months ahead of the market, or simply that the editorial staff is totally out of touch with reality.

In making a observation as pointed as this, I can point to a number of issues over the past several years, that touted real estate AFTER the market started tanking, STOCKS, as being a good buy, because the bull market was so steady, and generally, that the sub-prime mortgage crisis was totally over, and the banks would be fine.

In my crystal ball, (if you actually read this blog, you'd know that I think that we're in for a huge (75%) drop after the consumer credit market crashes.

One other complaint about this magazine.
Editorially, the magazine does not understand that
a) the voice of the press could be critical, and should try and be unified.
b) when different departments/writers 'snipe' at each other in the same issue, it becomes very difficult to understand the 'tone' of the magazine.

Example of this:
This issue, Page 31, the Investing column, Titled, "Time to bet on Oil Again"

This issue discusses AUTOMOBILES, and the future of the car, as well as electric cars. Is THIS really the issue to discuss how to drive oil prices higher?

I interrupt this Criticism for another criticism

I couldn't wait for Saturday to read the next issue (dated May 11, 2009), with a
interesting article on Bernie Madoff and how he did it.

In this issue:
A ode to Gun Manufacturers
A Businessman's guide to Congress
An ode to the 6 craziest fans of products
A supposed investigative article on Bernie Madoff

Oh heavens

I understand... I really do...

This must actually be the April 1st (fool's) Issue of Fortune for this year.

I'm really glad my subscription label says it expires in May 09.

I don't think I could deal with receiving another year of this hysterical magazine.

End of MY criticism of Fortune, their total, 'not getting it-ness', and general frustration!
but I do love Stanley Bing, and always have.

Health Care -- It's the COMPETITION , Stupid!

2009-06-23T08:54:00.002-04:00

As I said THOUSANDS of times in this blog, we need a NATIONAL SINGLE PAYERHealth care system.

OK. People like their particular (current) health care plan. FINE.

First Rule. Nothing changes (today).

Second Rule. The United States will phase into a Unified, National system.

Third Rule. Enrollment in Health care is not a benefit, it is a requirement.

Fourth Rule. Payment of health care WILL shift from employers to the government, but not at once.

Fifth Rule. We cannot do (implement) this alone, we need partners.

How do we reconcile these rules:

VERY EASY

Rule 5 starts to make this a unified system.

Rule 5 (Partners) tells us:

a) That current health insurance companies will not be thrown out of business today.

b) Current health care companies will become managers of the business (for now) as agents for the government. They will be given X (2 or 3) year contracts to manage and consolidate their health plans together.

b1) These management companies (they will no longer be called "health care companies", since they will be managing the NATIONAL health care system!) will start by combining their existing employer plans, and making the coverage levels equal between plans, working to achieve economies of scale.
b1- Example: Lets presume that Met Life handles both AT&T and IBM's health care plans.
They will work to merge these plans, keeping the best (and lowest costs) for both plans, so that instead of one plan with 100,000 employees, they have 200,000 employees, and can achieve more economies of scale.

c) As the years go by, these merged health plans will become more standard, and will become the standards (best practices) for ALL companies. As more and more of these plans are merged, duplicate providers in an area will be reduced and merged.

The fifth Rule, and paying for management of the health care system will lead to the fourth rule, that the government will begin to be responsible for health care in the country.

Rule Three: Mandatory Enrollment:
The (two or three) regional health care management companies will immediately start to enroll the unemployed, and uninsured. Payment for premiums will be {do something here,paid -contributed to} for by the government (which? {state/federal>})

Rule 2 and 5 are similar. The better managed and the better RUN management companies will get renewal contracts (just like the real world).

Rule 1: Everyone gets to keep their current plan as is.

Rule 1 corollary: There will be two basic plans that will evolve. Current plan (Status Quo), and the newly (to be developed) National plan (similar to, and pegged to the congressional health care plans).

These are a few thoughts.