Lies you Believe and the Facts

Congress gets government healthcare!
Federal workers are overpaid!
The Affordable Care Act (Health Insurance Reform) is a Job-killer!
Health Insurance Reform will make premiums skyrocket!

... all outright lies.
Congress members have employer provided private insurance just like many of us.  So, when Credo Mobile and other liberal organizations ask you to write your congressperson and tell them to give up their Government Run Health Insurance first, well, they are just wrong.  Just like many employers, the Fed gets a pretty good deal because of the sheer number of employees receiving coverage - they negotiate.

Federal workers are overpaid - not.  Many, in fact, are underpaid in comparison with comparable private sector jobs in the same geographical location.  Oh, sure, the "Average Federal Employee" is paid a lot more than the "Average Private Sector Employee," but that is like comparing apples to grapes.  We all know that most private sector employees make under $30k a year, but $30k is around the starting salary for most federal employees.  There are not many fry cook positions in the Federal Government.  Here is something to try - you know how much you make per year.  Now, go to a Federal Jobs site and find out how much you could make doing your same or similar job in your state.  For my current position, pay is from $2,000 to $14,000 less than what I make now.  Although, there were some postings that I found very interesting, they had lots more responsibility and requirements than my current position.

The Health Insurance Reform, labeled as "Obamacare" to give the totally false perception that it is a government takeover of health care, will actually have minimal impact on jobs - if any.  It actually increases jobs in the medical and insurance professions.  Why the big hooplah? Conservatives fear any and all change - for any reason.  It is the main idea behind Conservative philosophy - keep it all the same.  Even to the point of going back to the Bush era that got us in this economic mess in the first place!

The claim that the Health Insurance Reform will make premiums skyrocket - but that is WHY the bill was done in the first place - because premiums HAVE BEEN skyrocketing out of control.  Most of the Affordable Care Act is not even in force yet, so premiums are continuing their trend of going up, but it is NOT because of the ACA.  In fact, there is more money given to states to keep rates low and prevent rate hikes - what? You didn't know that some state insurance commissions have approval control over rate hikes? Yes, they do.  Some states, however, don't want to, so, yeah, those will likely see arbitrary rate increases - because they allow it with no regulation - just what the GOP wants.

The Rich do, still, get Richer.

Facebook Prompted this Post

FACT : I will be getting an extra $400+ per year, over last year, in my paycheck this year because of the Tax Deal - while people making under $20k see their paychecks drop. Another win for the well-off and rich! ("Making work Pay credit" replaced by "Payroll tax holiday")
FACT : NAFTA (and others) big businesses go overseas to hire people to make their stuff, and they do. So, yes, companies hire foreign workers, but not illegal immigrants in the U.S. as much. (Yes, Clinton signed it, but Bush I negotiated and agreed to it.  Bush made the deal, Clinton had to keep OUR word)
FACT : Businesses do not create jobs - no matter how many tax breaks, deregulation or what you give them, they hire for one reason ONLY - they HAVE to. Whether to keep up with Demand or Growth or to run their business, fix their equipment, etc. They are Profit focused. Job Creation and the whole economy is driven by ONE group only - Consumers - the 98% of us the GOP seeks to screw over on a daily basis. They are Killing Jobs by making it easier for all of our hard earned money to be funneled UP to the ultra rich, where it sits in Savings and Trust Funds.  This economic model is doomed to Failure!
FACT : (percentages vary from year to year) Yes, 10% of the population pay 60% of the taxes - but they control over 90% of all the wealth. What that means? Only 10 to 20% of our total National Wealth is free to drive the economy.

Facts and Figures

Well, the GOP is in charge and they have pledged to not introduce a bill that will increase the deficit... and have already broke their promise - day one.  Their proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, you know - the one they have labeled "Obamacare" and told numerous lies about, will add $230 Billion to the deficit.  (although they contend that those are only 'facts' and have nothing to do with policy.)

While they still claim they will cut spending by $100 Billion... er.. maybe $50 Billion... at least a little...  they are realistically looking at increasing the deficit by a Trillion!

They continue their policy of catering to the ultra-rich to the detriment of the middle class.  I am amazed at the amazing number of middle class and poor who tow the "rich people need more money" mindset dictated by the GOP platform.  Seriously, there are people out there whose whole family has never broke $30k a year that are totally outraged by the idea of an Estate Tax (which, by the way, currently only affects estates over $5 million - or less than one-half of 1 percent of people who die in 2011, was 3.5 million).  What are these people smoking?? (probably cigarettes while cooking their meth)  Its another GOP "feed the rich, raise the deficit, punish the poor" policy platform.


From one of the articles cited above:

But out of the gate, the House majority passed a package of rules on Wednesday that will allow Congress to slash taxes without having to make up for the lost government revenue in spending cuts—a change that Democrats insist could explode the deficit. Under the Democrats' "pay-as-you-go" rules—introduced during the Clinton era and continued under President Obama—Congress had to match every spending increase or tax cut with a commensurate spending cut or tax increase. The GOP has now upended "pay-go" with "cut-go" rules, under which tax cuts don't have to be paid for and tax increases can't offset spending hikes. 

They make a big show of talking about reducing the deficit - just don't pay any attention to what they actually do.


It seems to me that Republicans are trying to do everything they can to ensure and escalate the destruction of our Nation.

Backbone - Stand Up

Here is what I've been calling for! Movement For The People! Everyone should read the History of Corporate Personhood on the site.  Take up the Rally Call and join MoveToAmend.org in the quest to legalize democracy in our republic.

Kick the Lawyers and Money-changers out of the Government and instill our Leadership with Real People, not corporate figure-heads.

Haley Barbour is a Sick Jerk

So, Haley Barbour has praised segregationists and now, to make up for it politically, he pardons suspends the life sentence of two (conveniently black) sisters who were obviously - by any standards - set up and wrongfully imprisoned.  (The people who admitted to the crime and now say the sisters were not there at all, got just a couple years and are free.)

Barbour has pardoned murderers who were known beyond any shadow of a doubt to be guilty.  Mostly those who killed women they supposedly loved.  I don't know how anyone can look at Barbour's record on this and not be completely enraged.

So, why Suspend the Sentence now?  Its costing Mississippi too much money to keep them locked up!

In a statement, Barbour said, "the Mississippi Department of Corrections believes the sisters no longer pose a threat to society. Their incarceration is no longer necessary for public safety or rehabilitation, and Jamie Scott's medical condition creates a substantial cost to the State of Mississippi."

The other sister MUST give one of her kidneys to her sick sister in order to be released.

Seriously, people!?!?! You want THIS sorry example of a human being to run for President??

Mississippi Embarrassment

Well, its time to get local myself.  Mississippi is the butt of many jokes - and our national representatives not only embody most of it, they encourage it.

Our Senators topped the charts on earmarks in the Republican opposed Omnibus Bill.

Roger Wicker introduced a bill thinly veiled as "states' rights" to allow them to screw constituents out of health care protections granted by the Health Insurance Reform bill.

"At the end of the day, (the other nullification laws) were largely an embarrassment for the state of Mississippi," said Roy Mitchell, executive director of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program.

But to top it all off, Governor Haley Barbour, is an idiot. Oh, and he is re-writing history to fit his agenda, kind of like Fox MisInfotainment. (link to the actual study)

And for more embarrassment, their voting record from my Congress.org page :
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which Passed
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Yea on Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010, which Passed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Cloture Motion; DREAM Act, which Failed (Cloture Motion is a motion to close the debate and actually vote on a bill - so they blocked even a vote on the DREAM Act)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which Passed (Feeding starving kids take a back seat to making sure the top 2% don't pay their fair share of taxes for Mr. Harper.)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act, which Failed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010, which Passed
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Rural Energy Savings Program Act, which Passed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, which Failed


So...  Mississippi representatives hate Small Business, don't think country folk need no 'lectricity, don't care if kids starve in our state because their mommy and daddy are unemployed (but looking), hate educated folk, immigrant or otherwise, and want to keep all gay people at home safe and out of harm's way (ie - out of the military).


We rank LAST (or close to it) in Education, Health, Public Transportation, First in Obesity, People in Poverty, Death Rate and children who attend religious services (probably praying for food - which Gregg Harper doesn't want them to have).


I hope that the 2011 elections can put us onto a better track.  I'd like to see more information about Bill Luckett, but not a whole lot of platform out yet.  Wondering if Reform Party or Green Party will field a candidate.


What is really disheartening is that in Mississippi, we are voting against our own best interest.  We are one of the poorest states in the Union and we vote in the party that promotes, supports and idolizes the richest 2%.  They are going to keep stepping on our faces - on our backs - to make their fiscal offerings to their icons - The Uber Rich - at the cost of our jobs, our money, our education.  I am not saying "Vote Democrat" - I am saying "Vote for your own best Interest" at the very least.  Republicans are like carpetbaggers - coming down, making their fortunes and carrying it back to the top.

Think, Act and Prosper Locally

I am stunned by the thoughts going through my head right now.  Is this an epiphany?  Is this guy, Chris Hedges, a prophet? (1 hour 22 minute video, yeah, get past the Michael Jackson analogy... watch it ALL - even the questions/comments)

I am at a point where I pretty much feel that there are two options.  One option is to purchase a large tract of land, build eco-friendly and self powered, self contained (monolithic dome) homes in an Intentional Community (or Co-housing) style - with a large central common home where all the cooking, dining, laundry and such would be done - and moving there, starting gardens and become a self-contained community.  The other option is to get into politics and try to make a change for the good of the Nation as a whole - or at least my home state.

Currently, I don't see a way to accumulate the fiscal stability necessary to achieve the first option with any alacrity.  Therefore, stepping into political activism is the most accessible solution. It is with that in mind that I am currently directing my thought processes.  What is the solution to the current atmosphere of our Nation's political structure?

The first step is to identify the problem.  My first response is that the two major parties have entrenched themselves into the system, preventing all others from participating, and have become so corrupted and out of touch with "We, The People" that their continued existence is the single biggest threat to our Democratic Republic.  Another, related, issue is the establishment of the Corporate control of our government - the Profit-first law-making lobby.

"The theory behind pumping this kind of liquidity into the market, is that the banks and the corporations will then, when the money runs out next year, put the liquidity into the market. Well, its very clear that they're doing what all good capitalists would do with our money, which is hanging on to it and we're screwed. That is an example of an illusion." - Chris Hedges

The solution to the above problem(s) is a mass exodus from the two-party system.  I suggested some quick and easy ways to put the two-party establishment on notice in "Where is the Outrage?"  Go now, no matter how you are going to vote, and change your party affiliation to Independent - or Reform Party or Green Party - Vote your conscience, but do not affiliate with either of the two major parties who are so entrenched.  Send the email I suggested, use congress.org to communicate with your representatives.  We need to put People before Profit again. (and I just found that book using my wording... awesome!)  So, yes, Buy Local, produce things for your local market, pay a little extra for USA made (not assembled) products from independent store owners.

Books by Chris Hedges :
Empire of Illusion
American Fascists
Death of the Liberal Class

( When he was talking about Socrates an idea he mentioned struck me - when you write something down, it freezes, it becomes a form of Orthodoxy.  Written things loose the fluidity of though and spoken word. )

And what if we don't do something?