B’Man’s Patriot Watch: The Ones Who Got It Right

There are unsung heroes that predicted what is happening to our country. Ralph Nader was one, but he writes about 10 others who, for years, have been trying to tell us that this was on its way… that our very government was owned by corporations and would kowtow to their directives. I join Ralph Nader and Dandelion Salad in recognizing these folks. From The Nader Page (h/t Dandelion Salad):

The Ones Who Got It Right

Why is it that well regarded people working the fields of corporate power and performance who repeatedly predicted the Wall Street bubble and its bursting receive so little media and attention?

Instead, the public is still being exposed to the comments and writings of people like Alan Greenspan, Robert Rubin, James Glassman (of Dow 36,000 notoriety) while others like Timothy Geithner, Larry Summers, and Gary Gensler are newly-appointed at high levels in the Obama Administration. These men were variously architects, rationalizers and implementers of the massive de-regulation and non-regulation that unleashed the epic forces of greed, speculation and ruination of millions of livelihoods and trillions of dollars other peoples’ money worldwide.

Here are some of the people who got it right—early and often:

1. William Greider—author and columnist with The Nation magazine—wrote books (including Secrets of the Temple, 1988) and articles warning about the Federal Reserve and the anti-democratic consequences of rampant corporate globalization.

2. Robert Kuttner whose books (e.g. Everything for Sale, 1999) and articles predicted what will happen to workers and pensions when the regulatory state is tossed aside by the corporatists operating inside and outside of government.

3. Jim Hightower whose books (If the Gods Has Meant Us to Vote, They Would Have Given Us Candidates, 2000) and the monthly mass circulation Hightower Lowdown newsletter pointed out again and again the abuses of the “greedhounds” and vastly overpaid corporate bosses that have run consumers of health care, credit, cars and banks into the ground.

4. Nomi Prins (Other Peoples Money, 2004) a former managing director of Goldman Sachs, quit in disgust and began disclosing how these giant Wall St. firms deal and how, with their ideological backers, they wove their webs of deception and fraud against investors, students borrowing money for college, taxpayers ripped off by corporate contractors, sick people gouged and insurance companies denying legitimate claims. (See her book Jacked: How “Conservatives” Are Picking Your Pocket, 2008)

5. John R. MacArthur, author (The Selling of “Free Trade”, 2001) columnist and publisher of Harpers, authored a sharp, prophetic criticism of NAFTA’s effect on U.S. and Mexican workers. Finally, on March 24, 2009 the New York Times featured a report titled “NAFTA’s Promise, UNfulfilled.”

6. Robert A.G. Monks—the leading shareholder rights advocate in our country warned for years in books (latest Corpocracy, 2008) , articles, testimony and standup challenges at corporate annual meetings that keeping investors—the owners of these companies—powerless and dominated by corporate executives would lead to big trouble. Everyday, you can now see the ways that avaricious abuses of executive compensation by Wall Street led to cooking the books, hiding the debts and wildly losing other peoples’ money.

7. Tom Stanton, whose 1991 book State of Risk, exposed the dangerously undercapitalized condition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and predicted coming disaster if this reckless leveraging continued. By comparison, a year ago Fannie and Freddie’s federal regulator, James B. Lockhart III called fears of a bailout “nonsense” and amazingly further lowered the required capital levels months before their collapse and takeover a few months later. Mr. Lockhart is still in his job heading a new regulatory entity over these two goliaths.

8. Republican Kevin Phillips, (latest book Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism, 2007) whose numerous writings on Wall Street power and money and the dictatorial rule of the plutocracy were wise, historically—rooted premonitions of future collapse.

9. Dean Baker, (latest Plunder and Blunder, 2004) Washington-based economist, warned repeatedly earlier in this decade of the housing bubble and the calamitous consequences once it burst. He even sold his own home in 2004 and became a tenant, so convinced was he of the housing precipice.

10. Then there is Naomi Klein who has been documenting how economic disasters produced by corporations and their governmental cohorts end up not with reforms but with further increasing the power of the corporate state. (See Shock Doctrine the Rise of Disaster Capitalism, 2007)

Chances are that outside the independent media and an occasional public tv-radio interview, you have not seen or read them in the mass media. But they were right, so why haven’t you? Well, first of all, they took on commercial interests and called them out by name and specific misdeeds. Take it from one who knows, big advertisers do not hesitate to let their media outlets know about their displeasure. Publishers, editors and producers will deny being affected by such realities of the bottom line but money talks—not always but enough to screen out or marginalize the provocative early warners.

Second, these early warners are not like their counterparts such as the market fundamentalists and other active corporatists in the world of writers and commentators. The latter meet and plan often and ferociously attach themselves to political and corporate leaders. While the progressive forecasters do not connect either with each other or with their policy allies on Capitol Hill as much. The media likes to see growing power like that of the intertwined Heritage Foundation with the Reagan regime and their supporters in Congress.

Third, there is this sense that these progressives are exposing conditions that the reporters themselves should be revealing. So why not publish staff-driven magazine-style features instead of publicizing outsiders and covering an unfolding story as reportage. Journalistic prizes go to the former. But, they’re not the same either in reader impact or for change.

Finally, there are establishment figures who tried, in their own way, to blow the whistle—James Grant, Henry Kaufman and, twenty five years ago, Felix Rohatyn come to mind. Their astute alarms regarding excessive risk-taking were ignored. They are not getting much media play either.

Maybe it’s also a cultural thing. Big book deals, radio talk shows, promotions and quotable celebrity status go to the rogues, the grossly negligent, the suppressors of truth and the wrongdoers. They’re just so much more exciting!

This is a fast road to a state of decay.

When Medical Companies Are Heroes…

… they should be recognized for such.

Simon Owens from Bloggasm gave me a heart-warming head’s up that truly blows me away (btw, please visit Simon’s site- kind of a media watchdog with a very interesting perspective).

If you are unaware, some Walgreens Drugstores have a small built-in clinic in 341 of its stores called Take Care Clinics. Not meant for major medical issues, it is still a good/fast way to get minor attention (and your meds at the same place).

What blows me away is that for the rest of the year, they will provide the service free of charge, if you can prove you have lost your job. With a very few minor conditions (certain hours and you must provide documentation that you are jobless).

I come down hard on Big Meds, but in this case, I must give my kudos where they belong.

The entire story can be read at Huffpo.

Walgreens Offering Free Healthcare For Jobless, Uninsured

NEW YORK — Drugstore operator Walgreen will offer free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of the year, providing tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics _ though patients will still pay for precriptions.

Walgreen said patients who lose their job and health insurance after March 31 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. Typically those treatments cost $59 or more for patients with no insurance…

My local Walgreens is brand new (less than one year), but it does not have such a clinic. However, we have done a good bit of business with them (although our main pharmacy has been Kroger’s). I told my wife that if Walgreens cares this much about people, then maybe we should give them some more love.

Unless someone can give me any good reasons for not doing so, I will be using them solely.

WTF Thursday: You Can Clyster Me, But Dwale Me First

Thinking about the medical situation in America can make me crazy. But then I read something like this and my issues become very insignificant:

The medieval version of the enema was known as the clyster, which is really an instrument for injecting fluids into the body through the anus. The clyster was a long metallic tube with a cupped end, into which the medicinal fluid was poured. The other end, a dull point, which was drilled with several small holes, was inserted into the anus. Fluids were poured in and a plunger was used to inject the fluids into the colon area, using a pumping action.

The most common fluid used was lukewarm water, though occasionally medical concoctions, such as thinned boar’s bile or vinegar, were used.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the medieval clyster was replaced by the more common bulb syringe. In France, the treatment became quite fashionable. King Louis XIV had over 2,000 enemas during his reign, sometimes holding court while the ceremony progressed. (Photo by: CMA)

Hemorrhoids had their own problems associated…

h/t Neatorama

America’s Jackboots: Your Children

Are you ready to sign up for your compensator service to this country? How about making your children sign up?

You need to understand that they “are here for us… a circle of love“, as Rahm Emanuel puts it. Listen as Rahm is interviewed and laughs off the concerns of the young man asking the questions.

I don’t know about you, but the “Civilian National Defense Force” is little more than a Nazi-like enforcement of people intent on being Thugs and Narcs for the government. I can see the right-wingers lining up in droves and if President Barack Obama says something about it one more time, all you sycophantic worshipers of his will jump in with both feet, too. Ready, willing and able to make the rest of America just like your brainewashed ass.

You must fight this idiotic notion with all your might. NOT because you are unpatriotic, but on the contrary, because honoring the Constitution is the most patriotic thing a citizen can do.

That is, unless you enjoy slave labor and being owned and controlled by your government.

Take it from me, service (military or civilian) is not for everyone. Some people simply will not meld the way the masters want (I am one of them). Yet, I love America as much as any sum bitch that wraps himself in a flag, or signs up to serve his country (which, btw, I did, already).

I tell every young man and woman I encounter (as the subject arises) to NOT join the service, unless it is their heart’s desire. Not while we have maniacs who are oblivious to truth (or more likely intentionally lying to us to perpetuate the MIC). Mr Obama has EVERY intention of growing our Armed Forces (and now Civilian Forces). That is about as un-American and un-Patriotic as an American can get. And he is our president. h/t UnderNews

Rahm Emanuel Expects ‘A Lot’ From Civil Defense Corps

In a 2006 interview with Ben Smith of the NY Daily News, Rahm Emanuel, who will be Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff, laughed at Smith’s concerns about how far-reaching a mandatory civil-service plan would be.

more about “Rahm Emanuel Expects ‘A Lot’ From Civ…“, posted with vodpod

Living Beyond Your Means

Read the two paragraphs below… let it sink in… and ask yourself how this can be justified in any sane way. If you read the rest of the article, you find out that the banks can decide, whenever they so like, if we have “done enough” yet, or not, to entice them to lend again.

Take a deep breath and consider, slowly, what Goldman Sachs is saying after YOU saved their ass.

Are you not outraged yet?

Financial Rescue Nears GDP as Pledges Top $12.8 Trillion

By Mark Pittman and Bob Ivry

March 31 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have spent, lent or committed $12.8 trillion, an amount that approaches the value of everything produced in the country last year, to stem the longest recession since the 1930s.

New pledges from the Fed, the Treasury Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. include $1 trillion for the Public-Private Investment Program, designed to help investors buy distressed loans and other assets from U.S. banks. The money works out to $42,105 for every man, woman and child in the U.S. and 14 times the $899.8 billion of currency in circulation. The nation’s gross domestic product was $14.2 trillion in 2008…

I’ll be totally honest. This pisses me off to no end. And it also demonstrates  that no matter what happens, the bankers who failed will be treated far better than you or I. I can’t help but believe that we are either being intentionally pillaged or they are buffoons.

Which is preferable to you?

I dislike both options. But the issue is how do they expect any rational person to think this is good or sound policy. On its face it is idiotic, but add the fear mongering and the “eyelash” from financial devastation cries and I can’t help but think there is purpose in these actions that can only lead to ruin. That they want the system to fail.

Its time to vote these people out. All of them.

Its time to wake up and rid ourselves of the corrupt two party system and take back control from them and their corporate and banking masters. I just hope it isn’t too late, because the corruption may be past the point of no return. Doom may be here before the next election.

h/t DeProgram

B’Man’s Patriot Watch: Italy

Yoo Arrested? Thank God we have some decent, law-abiding citizens in this world. From World Prout Assembly (I hope this is true and no April Fools joke):

Former U.S. Official Arrested in Italy

ohn C. Yoo, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States, was arrested on Tuesday in Milan, Italy, and is being held for possible extradition to Spain, where he and five other retired officials who served under former President George W. Bush are expected to be indicted by a Spanish court for violations of the Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Yoo, 41, is a visiting professor of Law at the Chapman University School of Law in Orange County, California, on leave from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. He served in the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2001 to 2003. Yoo authored memos permitting the use of torture. Torture is banned by both U.S. law and international conventions.

Milan prosecutor Andrea Spolini released a statement indicating that Yoo can be held for up to 90 days awaiting an indictment in Spain under the international standard of “Rompi Testiculo.”

(Edited by Antonio Gramsci) © Chompson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

Finally: Sanity in The War on Drugs

From Drug War Rant:

New DEA head named

Breaking news…

Administration sources confirmed today that President Obama has chosen a successor to Michele Leonhart as head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Leonhart was a holdover from the Bush administration and there has been significant speculation regarding the future of the leadership of this controversial agency, particularly given the tension between raids of medical cannabis dispensaries and statements made by Attorney General Eric Holder.

While the new nominee is not currently working in law enforcement, he has had extensive direct experience with the DEA and with federal prosecutors. According to a Justice Department spokesperson, “There’s nobody better qualified to understand the historic mission of the DEA than Thomas B. Kin Chong. The DEA has been an integral part of his entire career.”

When reached for comment this morning, Thomas B. Kin Chong (or Tommy, as he likes to be called) said, “Hey, man, don’t you know what time it is? That’s not cool, man. Why are you always calling me on April 1?”

More on this breaking story as it develops.

Now, off to fight the conficker wormy thing.

England vs USA: We Should Learn A Lesson From Their Errors

I said “error”, but in reality, I believe this is all intentional: That there is a contingency of people that want the rich to be super-rich and the rest of the world, well, piss on them. The article below is from my very good English friend, Steve,  who is married to an American and working to become a US citizen, has a beautiful little daughter and pursuing with his whole being, the American dream. But he sees that America is headed in the same direction his hometown and home country has gone. Once heavily engineering capable with a mighty manufacturing base, now turning in to an outsourcing country to “cheap” engineering and labor.

This “New World Order” is doing nothing but bringing our (and England’s) standard of livings down… not just poor countries up. Just like the “trickle down theory”, it doesn’t work. American should be outraged at what is happening and the direct, purposeful devolution of our country and standards. We should be helping others lift themselves up, but that would mean less profits and world domination for the richest of the rich.
Steve is one of the most highly qualified mechanical engineers I know, that also happens to understand a bit about the world stage. The company he works for is affiliated with Italy, as well, so he can view these issues from a differing perspective. English, Italian and American perspectives.

We are heading down the road that England went down and we need to reverse this now, before it is too late (if not too late already).

Steve wrote this and submitted to  Motion System Design, but yet to be published:

Coventry vs USA

I am a time served mechanical / manufacturing engineer currently working for an automated component manufacturer in New Jersey, I feel compelled to write to you about the current manufacturing environment in the United States. I am originally from Coventry England which in the past has been referred to as the Detroit of Great Britain. Coventry was the home to more than 600 companies making everything from aircraft components, bicycles, motorcars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and gas turbines, these included the likes of, Jaguar, Triumph, Rover and Rolls Royce. With this massive manufacturing base also came the machine tool companies such as Alfred Herbert, Matrix Churchill, and AC Wickman Company producing lathes, grinders, milling machines and special purpose machines. These industries employed almost two thirds of Coventry’s 300,000 or so population during the hay days back in the late 50’s thru to the early 70’s. If you notice I said was the home to all these companies. Coventry is no longer the manufacturing hub, infact Great Britain has very little manufacturing left at all, the fact that Great Britain’s Royal Airforce is now flying aircraft built by a consortium from 3 European countries and not from our own once world beating Aerospace industry is an indication of how manufacturing has changed.

So what does this have to do with the United states and manufacturing here ? Well in my opinion the United States is currently experiencing the same problems that Great Britain faced back in the late 70’s and 80’s. The auto industry with all its might and power was not able to keep up with the new technology and fore sight of its competition. With out the introduction of new methods of manufacturing and the retraining of its employees the once Great British auto industry was doomed, it could not keep up more importantly it could not stay profitable. The government tried to help by nationalizing a number of the companies but all this did was delay the inevitable, with out the retraining and re-education of its employees and with out the help and cooperation of the unions the British car industry was doomed. If the United States does not learn from the demise of manufacturing in Great Britain and in particular the British car, Aerospace and machine tool industries I fear it will be heading in the same direction.

We need to rebuild a solid manufacturing base so that engineering has a future and young people leaving school want to enter the field. We as a country need to train and educate our youth to be able to think for themselves and work with their hands through formal apprenticeship’s and engineering programs, we need unions to work with employers so that it is a balanced effort to keep manufacturing companies sound and profitable. Companies investing in new equipment and technologies need preferential help from banks for better financing options and quicker and easier depreciation from the government. This way equipment can be updated and replaced quicker to take advantage of new technologies and processes. This will enable manufacturers to keep up with overseas competition and hopefully start to lead rather than follow.

Stephen Gough