Friday, June 29, 2007

Friday Night Disco Series

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Andrea True Connection- More More More

The Corporate Hall of Shame


Corporate Accountability International have just released their annual Corporate Hall of Shame poll. The results are in. Just who do people think is the world's worst corporate abuser? Here were the choices:

  • ExxonMobil
  • NestlĂ©
  • Coca-Cola
  • Halliburton
  • Wal-Mart
  • Kimberly-Clark
  • Ford
  • Merck

And the winners are...

  • ExxonMobil
  • Halliburton
  • WalMart

From their website, Corporate Accountability International "is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns that challenge irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For 30 years, Corporate Accountability International and our members have scored major victories that protect people's lives by forcing corporations like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria to stop abusive practices". Read about the nominees here and see the results page here.

The Apple iPhone

The iPhone finally arrives today after extensive media coverage. The anticipation of this new gadget has resulted in long lines of people waiting for their chance to buy one and many have camped out for days. I personally have no plans to get one (truthfully, I need my money more!), but if I were, I would wait until the initial hype died down and the bugs are ironed out a bit. Just my two cents...

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Elizabeth Edwards Responds

Elizabeth Edwards truly has class...

Domestic Surveillance Documents Subpoenaed



According to Think Progress, the Senate Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed the White House, Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, the Justice Department, and the National Security Council for documents related to President Bush’s warrantless domestic surveillance program. This should get interesting...

Ann Coulter The Monstress of Hate


I find it incredible that one of the nation's top morning shows, Good Morning America, gives the despicable and vile 'pundit' Ann Coulter a platform in which to spew her hate and bile. During the breakfast hour, viewers were treated to this 'woman' almost gleefully telling the audience that her wish was that John Edwards would die in a terrorist attack. What political discourse! When this country has nothing better to offer than Ann Coulter and her insane rants, the state of our nation cannot be that good. Where are the ABC reporters on the latest Cheney scandal? Maybe a little coverage about the many wars that this country is presently involved in? What about the faltering economy, the sad state of health care...I could go on and on. Instead, the national media focuses on this millionairess, this hate spewing woman who has no relevance in the national discourse. As far as I know, she holds no elected office and serves in no advisory capacity in the government. So why waste our time on her, whose only purpose is to shock and make more and more money for herself. She gets on these shows with her skimpy cocktail dresses at 7:00 in the morning and preaches family values and decency.

I know that by talking about her I, myself, am unwillingly giving her the coverage that she so desires. But I am not the national media that is beamed into every home in America. I'm not the show you watch in the morning while you and your kids are having breakfast before school and work. So the next time you watch Ann Coulter or any of those other hate mongers telling you how to think or behave, please stop for a moment and think. These people are doing nothing but raking in millions in self promotion all the while laughing at you for being so gullible. But as her and her ilk come up with more and more outrageousness to shock and divide the public, the stature of our country and the beliefs that it was built on diminishes little by little. Enough is Enough!

Here is the 'moral values' queen Ann Coulter on GMA...

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

A Tragic Legacy


The latest book by Glenn Greenwald A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency is one of my must reads for this month. I remember reading his blog Unclaimed Territory first thing in the morning to get an idea of what was really going on in the world of politics. Here is how Amazon describes it:

"What will be the legacy of President George Walker Bush? In this fascinating, timely book, Glenn Greenwald examines the Bush presidency and its long-term effect on the nation. What began on shaky, uncertain ground and was bolstered and propelled by tragedy, has ultimately faltered and failed on the back of the dichotomous worldview—good versus evil—that once served it so well. In A Tragic Legacy, Greenwald charts the rise and steep fall of the current administration, dissecting the rhetoric and revealing the faulty ideals upon which George W. Bush built his policies.

On September 12, 2001, President Bush addressed the nation and presented a very clear view of what was to come—a view that can be said to define his entire presidency: “This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil.” Based on his own Christian faith and backed by biblical allusions, Bush’s worldview was basic and binary—and everyone was forced to choose a side. Riding high on public support, Bush sailed through the early “War on Terror,” easily defining our enemies and clearly setting an agenda for defeating them.

But once the war became murkier—its target unclear, its combatants no longer seen in black-and-white—support for Bush and his policies dropped precipitously. Glenn Greenwald brilliantly reveals the reasons behind the collapse of Bush’s power and approval, and argues that his greatest weakness is the same rhetoric that once propelled him so far forward. Facing issues that could not be turned into simple good versus evil choices—the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, his plans for Social Security “reform,” and, most ironic, the failed Dubai ports deal—Bush faltered and fell. Now, Greenwald argues, Bush is trapped by his own choices, unable to break out of the mold that once served him so well, and indifferent to the consequences.

A Tragic Legacy is the first true character study of one of the most controversial men ever to hold the office of president. Enlightening, powerful, and eye-opening, this is an in-depth look at the man whose incapability and cowboy logic have left America at risk."

Consumer Confidence Drops to 10 Month Low

Further signs of a very weak economy.

Monday, June 25, 2007

The toxic cloud that was Ground Zero


At a hearing today, ex EPA chief Christie Whitman was on the hot seat regarding the EPA's handling of the immediate aftermath and cleanup of Ground Zero. Decisions that were made by that agency and others in the Federal Government have since directly affected the health and safety of rescue workers and residents there following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

As you may remember, the EPA certified on September 12th that the air quality in and around Ground Zero posed no health risks and that the cleanup operations should proceed as quickly as possible. They also assured area residents that it posed no health risks for them to return to their homes. This at a time when reliable information on air quality was not available and asbestos levels were known to be three times higher than national standards.

We now know that these statements were false and the health risks were, sadly, all too real. A study conducted by the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan has revealed that almost 70% of the rescue workers at Ground Zero suffer from various respiratory ailments . There has also been the rise in cases of sarcoidosis (a lung scarring disease) that shows up in firefighters at five times the normal rate. As Thomas Cahill, a professor of physics and atmospheric sciences, who was one of those called in to analyze the air around Ground Zero proclaimed, "You had the workers working on top of a huge incinerator in the rush to get Wall Street going again, it was really dumb."

To get an idea of just how bad things are, take a look at this excerpt from Ground Zero rescue worker Sgt. Matthew Tartaglia in an interview about the health hazards he and others experienced:

"Most everybody has chronic sinusitis. They have ringing in the ears. Some people’s teeth and gums are bothering them. In the last year, I’ve lost seven teeth. They have just broken while I was eating. I have three or four more teeth that are just dying. And my dentist says, “I’ve never seen anything like this in someone who’s healthy. There is something wrong with you but I cannot find what it is. And I can’t stop it either.”

Back to Capitol Hill. Ms Whitman testified that the EPA and others in the federal government took all precautions and acted in an appropriate fashion. She lambasted critics and stated that they engaged in a campaign of "misinformation, innuendo and downright falsehoods.'' Ms Whitman insists that her statements that the "air is safe'" were aimed at those living and working near ground zero, not those who actually toiled on the toxic pile that included asbestos. "Was it wrong to try get the city back on its feet as quickly as possible in the safest way possible? Absolutely not,'' she said.

Does anyone stop to wonder why the government could not at least have given people just a simple warning to take precautions until further information could be obtained? Why was it so important to ignore the reality and proceed as if there were no problems with air quality? The decisions made then have affected thousands of people and their daily suffering attest to this fact. Someone must be held accountable!

Take a look....

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Health Care Industry


Much has been made about the upcoming release of Michael Moore's documentary SICKO. There has been a lot of praise from those that work in the health care field, including many doctors, nurses and care givers. There is also the usual outcry from the right wing media, led by FOX News and the like screaming that Michael Moore is distorting the reality of the world's 'greatest health care system' and they are sadly trying to muddle the issue .

I would like to take a moment and share my own personal experiences. I worked in the health care field as an Administrator and know first hand how broken the system really is. Insurance companies making vital health care decisions, crooked physicians on the take from the large pharmaceutical companies, overpriced medications and procedures, hospitals neglecting the true need of their patients in the name of profit. When health care 'facilities' are making decisions regarding patient care on such factors as Medicare/Medicaid or insurance reimbursements and what will net the most money for them, how can a patient really believe that their own best interests are being met? The Medicare and Medicaid systems are a joke and are manipulated by hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes to maximize their own profits while the programs themselves are slowly being drained and are unable to help people.

Upon graduating from college. I was excited about the prospect of working in the field. I actually believed that I would be helping people and felt that the personal rewards would be great. Seven years later, I left feeling disgusted and sorry for the very people that I thought I could help.

I hope that with the release of SICKO, Moore can create enough of an outcry to force the powers that be to get off of their asses and do something meaningful. It will be a tough fight, though, with the incredible power and wealth of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies, giant hospital ’chains’, lawyers and the almost hypnotic power they have over Congress.

I know that with all the important ‘news’ lately (Paris Hilton, The Sopranos, etc. etc.), you may have forgotten about this recent tragedy. I think it shines light on this subject all too well:

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Please Don't Flame Me!


Although my traffic is decent here at this blog, no one ever left comments. I decided to remove them for this reason and simply do my regular posts. What a mistake! I have received lots of mail asking why I took them off and some suggested that they will not return because of it. Well, now they are back. I don't care if I never receive a comment, this feature will stay active!

I know that for many people, the economy and the effects that free trade and globalization have on everyday life is not the sexiest and most titillating topic. But my life experiences have proven to me that it is a something that everyone should know more about. Thanks to everyone that takes a moment of their day to stop by and read. Please feel free to comment...

The G-4 Breakdown

The G-4 talks in Potsdam reached an abrupt end this week when Brazil and India literally walked away from the negotiating table leaving the EU and US behind and bewildered. This could make future WTO talks a bit more complicated. The WTO’s Director-General, Pascal Lamy, was more hopeful. “Prior convergence among the G-4 members would have been helpful to pave the way towards multilateral convergence but helpful does not mean indispensable.”

Only time will tell how the future WTO negotiations will develop. While the WTO's Lamy is optimistic, the reality is that the setback that took place in Potsdam will have grave implications for the future of the Doha Development talks.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Friday Night Disco Series

Dan Hartman- Instant Replay

Nobody Doesn't Like Sara Lee


Our globalized food supply chain. Not a very appetizing topic, I know. This is something that I personally knew little about until recently but after scratching under the surface a bit, it is a topic that I am afraid we all need to look at a little closer.

A recent article appeared in the New York Times which looked at the issue in regards to one company- Sara Lee. As the piece describes, "In a glassed-off area in the headquarters of Sara Lee, a handful of specialists study computer screens and flat-screen televisions beaming the latest weather reports and commodity prices. They are sourcing ingredients from all over the world to make Sara Lee’s assortment of breads, deli meats and microwaveable desserts."

With the advance of free trade and the lowering of trade barriers, food companies have started to search the globe looking for the cheapest ingredients in which to make their products. Food imports more than doubled in the last few years topping $79.9 billion dollars. Pick up a box of cereal or a frozen pizza and you can be sure that the ingredients within are from a multitude of sources from all over the globe.

The inherent problem is, of course, that once these ingredients are added to processed foods, it is almost impossible to check for contaminants that may be present. Considering that we have very lax food-import requirements and an almost non-existent inspection system (less than 1%), the potential for yet another food scare crisis is very real. The agency that is responsible for the bulk of food safety issues is the FDA, which has proven to be woefully inadequate in this regard. The FDA has basically been gutted for years now and is but a shell of an agency. Take a look at their latest track record in regards to pet food, tainted fish feed and toothpaste.

The food processing industry, led by the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), spends lots of money on our Congress to 'convince' them to look the other way. As the senior director of nutrition at the GMA, Robert Earl, states in regards to this topic “Ingredients from overseas are not the issue. The problem comes from incorrect practices from manufacturers that happen to be in another country.” Got that?

David L. Brown, Sara Lee’s vice president for procurement, said consumers should not be concerned. “We are going to do our homework. It is our responsibility to make sure what we are feeding people is safe. But the more variables you enter into, the more risk you have naturally. It is all about how you address those unknowns. The controls in place to ensure that foreign-sourced ingredients are safe are evolving as the world changes.” In other words, they place controls to monitor food safety in an evolving fashion as new situations arise. Yikes!

Top executives of many food processing companies discard that the diverse ingredients pose any risk. They claim that they are ultimately responsible for their products safety and that they work to insure that the risks for consumers are low.

Feel better now? Everything is fine, they all say. Don't be an alarmist! We monitor our food ingredients- no need for any oversight here. Basically we are being told to look away from the issue and let them take care of everything. I don't put too much stock in the ramblings of company executives and lobbyists who are only looking out for profits and the famous 'bottom line'. To help you see the extent of this issue, check out the web site for the Institute for Food Technologists. It's an eye-opening look at the global market of food ingredients. Pick an item and see all the places where you can purchase it.

Until these companies are forced to focus their energies on providing safe food products for the consumer and not just worry about getting the cheapest ingredients possible from questionable sources, we are all at the mercy of these food giants. Stay tuned...

House votes to ban aid to Saudi Arabia


but of course it faces the veto pen!

Up, Up and Away!


Oil prices were higher today as talks to end a strike failed in Nigeria. Prices rose a dollar to top $71 a barrel. Brunt crude and US light crude also showed increases. I am afraid that this cycle will not be ending anytime soon especially with the 'crisis' brewing with Iran. Stay tuned....

The Energy Bill


The Senate passes 'pro-renewables energy bill' the headlines proclaim. They are finally taking steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, they read. I only wish that the bill was as good as it sounds. Sadly it seems like it is really more of the same.

Energy Deregulation


I came across this story in the Baltimore Sun today and got to thinking about the whole issue of energy deregulation. Customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. saw their rates increase by 50%. Many believe the reason for this to be energy deregulation. The rules require utilities to buy their power from wholesale suppliers. But when these markets operate in total secrecy without any oversight whatsoever, the temptation to skim a few bucks always proves to be too irresistible.

Remember Enron?

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Another Day...Another Factory

Will it ever end?

The Promises of Globalization


Many promises have been made by politicians, economists and various business leaders about the benefits of globalization. Under this system, we were told that the extraordinary wealth produced by it would in turn 'trickle down' to everyone. To those whose jobs would be outsourced, they were told that the 'new' jobs that would be created would be better and high paying.

Take a look at the reality. The corporations and their executives have, in fact, grown more wealthy. Workers, on the other hand, have seen a different side. High skilled manufacturing and tech jobs have been outsourced to low wage countries and this process shows no sign of changing. In fact, the trends show that companies are ever looking for the next lower wage country to do business in. Many of the jobs that have been created are low paying service jobs. Imagine that after working in a textile plant for the last 15 years that suddenly you find that your job no longer exists and you are forced to work in the garden supply department of your local Wal Mart. Not a pretty picture.

Even the company execs are not immune to this process in the long run. The overhead costs of having a corporate headquarters, say in Miami, are high. Overseas manufacturers see high priced American or European managers as a pull on profits and can simply purchase the company and move the headquarters to a cheaper location.

I personally see no end to this 'eternal race to the bottom'. Companies have no reason to change course and the politicians that make the rules have been so seduced with campaign contributions from the business sector that they have no need to reign this in either. Only time will tell....

NAFTA

A trail of broken promises...

Bye Bye


Budget Director Rob Portman is leaving to 'spend time with the wife and kids'. He also hinted that he may reenter public life as a candidate for Governor of Ohio or Senator in the future. I most remember him during his tenure as US Trade Representative. It was during the crucial fight for approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that he met with some wavering House members in a closed-door meeting in Cheney's Capitol Hill office to 'convince' them to vote for its passage. Thanks to his efforts, the bill passed the House on a 217-215 vote.

So long Rob. Don't let the door.....

The G-4 Talks Collapse



Now what?

Four Mile Island?


Bush announced today in Alabama that "It's time for the country to start building nuclear power plants again." He proposes utility companies add up to 30 new plants to supply future energy requirements. Bush is pushing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to take action on nuclear power plant applications and says that "We're beginning to make some progress" and "that's good news for the American consumer."

Until we find a better way to safely dispose the waste generated by these plants, I cannot support this approach. Burying it in a mountain, shipping it off to space or dumping it in the oceans is not the solution. Just my opinion.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Grocery Bag

Where does this stuff come from?

Gallup Survey: Americans think Economy is Getting Worse


A new Gallup poll shows that Americans aren't at all optimistic about the economy. Nearly 7 in 10 feel that the economy is getting worse. This is the most negative reading in almost six years. Gallup adds: "For the first time this year, a majority of Americans are negative about the employment market, saying it is a bad time to find a quality job."

Other findings: only one in three believe that the economy is good or excellent and the percentage who believe that the economy is getting better fell from 28% to just 23%.

"When asked about the most pressing financial problems their family faces today, Americans mention healthcare costs, lack of money or low wages, and oil and gas prices," Gallup reports. "Healthcare costs are mentioned by 16% of Americans while 13% say low wages and 11% say oil and gas prices. These percentages are virtually unchanged from last month."

The survey was performed June 11-14.

You may hear all the fluff on TV about the rising stock market, tax cuts and the supposed 'robust economy' but in reality, average Americans are not benefiting from this economic model.

A New Currency?

Check out what a town in Massachusetts has done!

Clouds on the Horizon



In his recent article entitled "The Takeover Boom, About to Go Bust" Stephen Pearlstein, economic writer for the Washington Post, talks about the recent spate of company buyouts and the amount of debt versus the operating profits of companies that have been bought out. He writes “It is impossible to predict when the magic moment will be reached and everyone finally realizes that the prices being paid for these companies, and the debt taken on to support the acquisitions, are unsustainable. When that happens, it won't be pretty. Across the board, stock prices and company valuations will fall. Banks will announce painful write-offs, some hedge funds will close their doors, and private-equity funds will report disappointing returns. Some companies will be forced into bankruptcy or restructuring. Falling stock prices will cause companies to reduce their hiring and capital spending while governments will be forced to raise taxes or reduce services, as revenue from capital gains taxes declines. And the combination of reduced wealth and higher interest rates will finally cause consumers to pull back on their debt-financed consumption. It happened after the junk-bond and savings-and-loan collapses of the late 1980s. It happened after the tech and telecom bust of the late '90s. And it will happen this time."

And just who are the winners in such a scenario? One of the players appears to be the Carlyle Group. This group includes many high profile investors, many of whom have inside government connections. In a memorandum dated January, 2007, founding partner William E. Conway stated when the current “liquidity environment” (the end of cheap credit) ends “the buying opportunity will be a once in a lifetime chance.”

And the losers? Millions of ordinary people (like me) who are loaded down with debt. Mortgage debt, student loans, credit card debt just to name a few. Also, workers who have their pensions tied to the stock market through their 401(K) will feel the blow.

This 'business go-go party' will come to an unpleasant end and the results will not be fun. I have written about this before and will probably do so again. Stay tuned....

The Housing Market




The figures are in...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Globalization- A Win-Win?


The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) on Tuesday issued its report on jobs policies and the effects of globalization. Their conclusion? Globalization is good but people are earning less of the wealth generated by economic growth and integration. Got that? Screw what you make, it's all good.

Although they reasserted their support for 'free trade', 'free markets' and investment, they did acknowledge that perhaps it was time to look at the darker side of globalization. As OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria stated, "Millions are benefiting from globalization but at the same time there's a feeling that something is wrong with the process" and believes that governments need to address public concerns over jobs and pay in a ever rapidly changing world that is seeing the rise of cheap labor from countries such as China, Russia, India and Brazil. This 'it's really good but has bad side effects' take was also reflected by the author of this report, Raymond Torres. He says "It's still a win-win process for all countries. But just because markets are good for growth, not wanting to see these vulnerabilities would be counter-productive".

The report then goes on to look at wages around the globe and finds some startling numbers. For example, in Japan, wages have fallen more than 25% as a share of GDP in the last 30 years, 15 % in Western Europe and 7% here in the United States. The report also showed the wider gap between rich and poor. "It's quite remarkable" was the response from the reports' author. Quite remarkable? That's all? This is the 'win-win' he talks about?

The topic of offshoring jobs was downplayed by stating that people were under the false impression that it was a bigger problem than it actually was. Torres says quite bluntly "The 'job for life' is dead. In order to reap the benefits of globalization you have to move. Enterprises have to move into new areas, new niches, and people have to move into new enterprises. The thing now is to protect people, but not protect jobs, because some jobs have no future."

Their conclusion? Gurria acknowledged that some people had lost out, but this was something policies should tackle because globalization was a positive and in any case inevitable process. "It's how you make the best out of it," he said. "We have to convince people."

I have never read such doublespeak in my life (well not lately, anyways). It is unbelievable that a pro-globalization group can state with a straight face that the process is good but the benefits are not and that everyone just needs to be convinced that lower wages and job instability are the norms today. Sigh...

Shedding Light on Trade Practices

Take a look...

The Spread of 'Free Trade'


Oxfam International has a great article on ‘free trade’ entitled ‘Signing Away The Future: How Trade and Investment Agreements Between Rich and Poor Countries Undermine Development. Here is but a sampling of the summary but I encourage you to read the whole piece.

"Rich countries are using these bilateral and regional ‘free trade agreements’ (FTAs) and investment treaties to win concessions that they are unable to obtain at the World Trade Organization (WTO), where developing countries can band together and hold out for more favourable rules. The USA has called its approach ‘competitive liberalization’, and the EU declared its intention to use bilateral deals as ‘stepping stones to future multilateral agreements’. The EU argues that this new generation of bilateral and regional agreements is vital in order for developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to maintain their access to European markets in a form that is compatible with WTO rules. It has also repeatedly told poor countries that it has no commercial ‘offensive interests’ in the negotiations and that there will be long periods for implementation. Yet its far-reaching proposals and aggressive approach appear to contradict these statements. The quiet advance of trade and investment agreements between rich and poor countries threatens to deny developing countries a favourable foothold in the global economy.

Powerful countries, led by the USA and the European Union (EU), are pursuing regional and bilateral free trade agreements with unprecedented vigour. This is happening without the fanfare of global summitry and international press coverage. Around 25 developing countries have now signed free trade agreements with developed countries, and more than 100 are engaged in negotiations. An average of two bilateral investment treaties are signed every week. Virtually no country, however poor, has been left out."

Read the whole article here.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Free Trade and Immigration


Immigration is a big topic these days. On the conservative side of the political spectrum, the tone is often fierce and vile against immigrants. The cries of 'they are stealing our jobs' and 'go home' are heard over and over again. To me this is a bit ironic since most of the politicians that these same people support have contributed to the current state of immigration today. How, you say? Easy- economic liberalization and free trade.

In the days before NAFTA, Mexico was primarily a corporatist state under the leadership of the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) which ruled from 1929-2000. State owned monopolies controlled energy, utilities and basic infrastructure and Mexico had stringent controls in regards to foreign capitol. This changed beginning in 1984 when the IMF required certain conditions be met when granting Mexico a loan. Such things as financial liberalization, the reduction of trade barriers and budgetary restraints were mandated. During these years, the value of real workers' wags fell dramatically.

In time, US capitol was the driving force of Mexico’s primarily export-driven economy. Exports by multinationals increased to approximately 64% by 1998 and foreign investors, not Mexicans, were profiting from Mexican labor.

NAFTA only added to the woes of Mexicans once it was passed. On the wage front, real wages are lower in Mexico now than they were when NAFTA first took effect. Also, the flooding of the market with US subsidized food products has helped to jeopardize the livelihoods millions of Mexicans who depend on farming as a means to survive. Add to this the fact that the cost of basic goods have risen and this does not present a very rosy picture for most Mexicans. The super rich have benefited with the top 10 percent of households having increased its share of the national income while the other 90 percent have lost or seen no change at all. It is no wonder that the levels of immigration have risen to their current level.

Neoliberalization and free trade have been anything but helpful for millions around the world. Mexico is but one example of how countries are impacted by these policies. Politicians, often in the pocket of big business, and institutions such as the World Bank and IMF have advanced these policies for years always promosing the benefits are ‘just around the corner’ but, in reality, they never come. That is, unless you are lucky enough to be in the top 10%.

The Secret


Have you seen the new DVD The Secret? I watched it the other day and was really taken in by its message. The Secret focuses on attracting more money, better health, and relationships. As is stated. 'thoughts become things'. It's a really interesting look at some of the dynamic forces in life and the way that they interact with your goals and desires. Have you seen it? What are your thoughts?

SICKO- An Encore

The sad state of affairs in the health care system.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

America's Globalized Economy



I will preface this post with a quote by Ross Perot back in 1993 during a debate with Al Gore, when he stated that America was "in a race to the bottom". Looking back, it is remarkable just how true his statement has become.

The pundits today talk about the economy in mostly glowing terms. The economy is strong, inflation is low, housing will bounce back in some future date which is always revised, unemployment is low, etc. Never reality, just the rosy projections that have no base in the economic world we actually live in.

The economy of the United States is, in fact, becoming more and more globalized each year. This, in turn, leads to the globalization of assets and wealth. As the value of labor decreases due to competition with cheap foreign labor, the assets held by American workers falls in direct relation to their declining wage. Let's study this for a moment.

Greg, a manufacturing employee had a job paying $55.000 but his company decided to outsource and he was laid off. He was then forced to take a similar job but now makes only about $25,000 a year. What is he to do? How can he afford to pay for the assets that he has, such as his home or debt that he has incurred? The truth is, he can't do it. No amount of cheap foreign goods, low paying jobs or the much vaunted tax cuts for the rich will restore his former standard of living.

So what is really happening? The American worker is seeing a decline in their standard of living and this will not be ending in the near future. In time, their descending worth, both of wages and assets, will meet with the rising worth of the global labor force. What a glorious day when the American worker can proudly stand by his Chinese counterpart and discuss how globalization had somehow managed to make them both equally poor while their respective companies have doubled in size and wealth.

Adding to these woes deregulation and privatization have resulted in the rising costs of good and services even while the value of wages and assets decline. It has not helped that the Treasury Department has become addicted to printing money primarily to finance the Iraq adventure (occupation). This little adventure will soon reach the unbelievable 1 trillion dollar mark! And this from the President that just today talked about being fiscally responsible with the "people's money". Go figure...

The standard of living of many Americans has experienced the steepest decline in over a half century. Foreclosures, bankruptcies and personal debt are at all time highs. Meanwhile, wages and assets (i.e. property values) continue their downward spiral.

Ask yourself, was globalization good for you? How have you benefited? What about 'free trade' and all of those benefits? Does the American trade deficit even matter to you? Do you care? It can be seen that after years of this so-called 'globalization', which is nothing more than a redistribution (on a global scale) of wealth, the few at the top are cashing in while the rest of us are left picking up the ever-decreasing crumbs.

Saturday Blog Roll



Saturday Blog Roll is a chance to promote your own blog, visit other blogs that you may find interesting and make new friends along the way. Simply post a comment with a description of your blog along with the link inside the comments section.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Pick Him- He's A Lobbyist!


Ed Gillespie was named as the new White House counselor today to replace Dan Bartlett. Gillespie is a partner in Quinn Gillespie & Associates LLC, a lobbying firm, whose clients have many issues currently before the government. I'm sure that good ol' Ed is going to simply forget about his former associates and clients and tend to the needs of the average citizen now. Let's take a look at some of Ed's clients to see if there could be any conflicts of interest.

  • Qualcomm Inc., which last week said it would seek help from a federal court and President Bush to overturn a ban on U.S. imports of new cell phones made with company's semiconductors. The U.S. International Trade Commission imposed the ban because the Qualcomm chips violated a patent held by Broadcom Corp. The ban is also a blow to service providers, including AT&T Inc. -- another Quinn Gillespie client -- which relies on Qualcomm's technology for the phones it sells.
  • Amgen Inc. and Genentech, biotechnology drug makers that are fighting legislation that would allow generic drug companies to sell cheaper versions of their medicines.
  • DaimlerChrysler AG, part of an auto industry trade group that is fighting efforts in Congress to raise fuel-economy standards.
  • Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. hired Quinn Gillespie in April to lobby the federal government on their proposed merger. They need the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, which a decade ago granted each company a license on the condition that one could not acquire the other.
As to the White House reaction concerning his appointment "He will sever all ties as is required of anyone joining the White House staff," presidential spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said. "He will not retain any financial stake in his old firm." But Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, stated "It's very disappointing that the president, given his lack of public support these days, has not reached out for someone more independent who has a better understanding of the needs of people."

Lobbyists and government. Not a very pretty relationship. K-Street is practically the next big thing when a politician leaves office and the lobbying firms welcome them with open arms. Lobbyists regularly roam the halls of Congress, pockets full of cash, getting bills passed that are only on the interest of one party- the business that is affected by the bill. The public interest has long been relegated to the side.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

State of the Media- Part 4


Does it ever end? Everyday it seems that our 'prestigious' media figures find some way to create a new low in journalism. The latest one to do so is the so-called journalist Bill O'Reilly.

The backdrop to this story begins with a poll done by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. When studying the coverage of the Iraq War, they found that Fox 'News' ranked far behind both CNN and MSNBC in coverage in the first quarter of this year. Ironic considering that this is the same network that provided non-stop wall to wall coverage of this back in 2003. Now that the war is not so popular, well...silence. In fact, Fox 'News' gave Anna Nicole Smith twice the coverage that Iraq received. Try explaining that to one of the soldiers sweating it out today.

Anyways, back to the story. On his radio program, Bill O'Reilly had the usual tired excuses ready. He denounced what he called the Project for Excellence in Left Wing Journalism and called their study nothing more than an attempt to embarrass Bush. Oh the horror! He went on to say:

"Now the reason that CNN and MSNBC do so much Iraq reporting is because they want to embarrass the Bush administration. Both do. And all their reporting consists of is here’s another explosion. Bang. Here’s more people dead. Bang. […]
They’re not doing it to inform anybody about anything. The terrorists are going to set off a bomb every day because they know CNN and MSNBC are going to put it on the air. That’s a strategy for the other side. The terrorist side. So I’m taking an argument that CNN and MSNBC are actually helping the terrorists by reporting useless explosions.
Do you care if another bomb went off in Tikrit? Does it mean anything? No! It doesn’t mean anything".

Listen here.

It doesn't mean anything? No big deal? Try telling that to the Iraqi people who live this tragedy day after day. This is madness! To allow some nut job a spot on national airwaves during prime time to spout such insane rants and dismiss the actual reporting of the reality of what is happening in Iraq today as nothing more than an attempt to embarrass a political figure is pathetic. Anytime this crowd sees that their reality is falling apart, they resort to name-calling and ridiculous accusations but never really address the issue. They always portray themselves as the ‘victim’ of some grand conspiracy. And to think that they are the ones who for years have decried Liberals as always portraying the victim. Funny, huh?

Oh, and we must not forget these famous quotes from O’Reilly himself way back in 2003:

"I will bet you the best dinner in the gaslight district of San Diego that military action will not last more than a week. Are you willing to take that wager?"
(Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, 1/29/03)

"It won't take weeks. You know that, professor. Our military machine will crush Iraq in a matter of days and there's no question that it will."
(Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, 2/10/03)

"There's no way. There's absolutely no way. They may bomb for a matter of weeks, try to soften them up as they did in Afghanistan. But once the United States and Britain unleash, it's maybe hours. They're going to fold like that."
(Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, 2/10/03)

And this is the guy that supposedly has the top rated cable ‘news’ show? Sigh......

State of the Media- Part 3

Not even a General escapes this lunatic!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

State of the Media- Part 2

Listen to this take on the senseless media we have today...

The State of the Media



As I was surfing around the net, I came across a terrific post by Digby that got me to thinking about this whole Paris Hilton media frenzy today. We've all seen it-- Is she eating? Is she sleeping? What is her mental state?...Blah.Blah.Blah. This coverage is in the forefront of our current news cycle while other 'less important' issues such as Afghanistan (remember that one?), Iraq (yes, it's still going on) and the loss of civil liberties are relegated to page A-35 in your local newspaper. It is amazing to me that Americans are so easily manipulated to care about an issue that literally means nothing in the course of their daily lives. I think the following sums this issue up quite well...


It is simply no longer possible to ignore the strangeness of our public discourse. I know I'm not alone in feeling that something has gone fundamentally wrong. In 2001, I had hopes it was an aberration when polls showed that three-quarters of Americans believed that Saddam Hussein was responsible for attacking us on September 11. More than five years later, however, nearly half the American people still believes that Saddam was connected to the attack.

At first I thought the exhaustive, nonstop coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial was just unfortunate excess --- an unwelcome departure from the normal good sense and judgment of our news media. Now we know that it was merely an early example of a new pattern of serial obsession that periodically take over the airwaves for weeks at a time.

Late in the summer of 2006, American news coverage was saturated with the bizarre false confession of a man who claimed to have been present at the death of JonBenet Ramsey --- the six-year-old beauty queen whose unsolved murder eleven years before was responsible for another long-running obsession. A few months prior to John Mark Karr's arrest in Bangkok, the disappearance of a high school senior in Aruba and the intensive search for her body and her presumed murderer consumed thousands of hours of television coverage. Both cases remain unsolved as of this writing, and neither had any appreciable impact on the fate of the Republic.

Like JonBenet Ramsey, O.J. has recently been back at the center of another fit of obsessive-compulsive news, when his hypothetical confession wasn't published and his interviews on television wasn't aired. This particular explosion of "news" was truncated only when a former television sitcom star used racist insults in a night club. And before that we focus on the "Runaway Bride" in Georgia. And before that there was the Michael Jackson trial and the Robert Blake trial, the Laci Peterson tragedy and the Chandra Levy tragedy. And of course we can't forget Britney and KFed, and Lindsay and Paris and Nicole, Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's couch and married Katie Holmes, who gave birth to Suri. And Russell Crowe apparently threw a phone at a hotel concierge.

In early 2007, the wall-to-wall coverage of Anna Nicole Smith's death, embalming, and funeral plans and the legal wrangling over the paternity and custody of her child and disposition of her estate, served as yet another particularly bizarre example of the new priorities in America's news coverage.

And while American television watchers were collectively devoting a hundred million hours of their lives each week to these and other similar stories, our nation was in the process of more quietly making what future historians will certainly describe as a series of catastrophically mistaken decisions on issues of war and peace, the global climate and human survival, freedom and barbarity, justice and fairness.

Al Gore

Al Gore- you remember- he's stiff as a board, he'll put you to sleep, he's fat, he wears earth tones- GASP!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Free Trade and Child Labor




On Bush's recent journey to Latin America, he stopped in Guatemala to remark on the great benefits that 'free trade' offered saying that ‘free trade’ can spread opportunity, provide jobs, and help lift people out of poverty. The reality is that in many countries in which these agreements have been signed, the use of child labor and the lack of worker protections are the norm. These practices have actually increased in the race to become more 'competitive' and attractive to giant multinational corporations. Let's explore this issue a little further by looking at Guatemala, where child labor is common, but is certainly not the only country where it is practiced.

Guatemala, a signator of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), actively employs child labor in its factories. In fact, very close to where Bush made his remarks about free trade stood a food processing plant that employed children as young as 13 that worked in miserable conditions. These 'factories' have fine tuned every aspect of work and have instituted quotas that must be met. For example, in this agro-industrial factory, each head of broccoli had to be cut thirty-seven times and then broken by hand into ninety-seven pieces. These kids handle one head of broccoli every sixty-four seconds and make a cut every seven-tenths of a second. This 'job' is performed six days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Sometimes they must go to work a little earlier when their shift begins at 6:00 AM or 6:30 AM. They stand all day, feet swell, cut themselves numerous times and their wrists swell from doing the same motion over and over. If these kids tell their supervisor that they don't feel well or feel faint and ask to sit down for a moment, the response is that if they leave their place once more, they will be marked absent for the entire day. On top of this, the supervisors tell them to go faster and faster all day long. Most of them earn half of the minimum wage in Guatemala (which is only $6.95 or 52.91 quetzales per day for agricultural work and $7.12 or 54.15 quetzales for nonagricultural work), do not have any type of social security, and are not paid for any holidays.

The plant, Legumex, harvests and processes fruits and vegetables that are in turn exported to the United States. This plant exported more than four million pounds of frozen broccoli, pineapples and melons to the United States last year which was sent to a company called Superior Foods in California. Shortly after this story was first reported back in March, the National Labor Committee stated that Legumex had signed an agreement agreeing to end their child labor practices. While this could be construed as a positive step, it remains to be seen whether or not conditions will, in fact, change.

CAFTA makes no attempt to enforce the labor laws of these Central American countries and has created a race to the bottom in an attempt to be the most 'attractive' for foreign investment. It’s a tragic situation. The next time you sit down with your kids and have a nice meal with those pretty broccoli florets that you bought and the delicious melon for dessert, think about where it comes from. Imagine your kid standing there on the floor all day with bleeding hands and swollen feet packaging these items for your pleasure. Not a pretty picture but sadly it is the reality of ‘free trade’ today.

The Story of Sonia

A 15 year old worker in a food processing plant in Guatemala.

Saturday Blog Roll



Saturday Blog Roll is a chance to promote your own blog, visit other blogs that you may find interesting and make new friends along the way. Simply post a comment with a description of your blog along with the link inside the comments section.

Friday, June 8, 2007

Friday Night Disco Series

What a Classic!

Diplomatic Relations- Highest Bidder Wins!



Chalk one up for China this week. They have managed to convince the neutral country of Costa Rica to break diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) after more than six decades and establish formal relations with them. As Taiwanese Foreign Minister James Huang said Thursday, China had offered Costa Rica "an astronomical figure" to break off relations with Taiwan. This move by Costa Rica is expected to have a sort of domino effect with countries such as Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay possibly following suit. Due to the fact that Taiwan only has formal relations with 24 countries and many of these in Latin America, these moves could diminish the international standing of Taiwan.

The Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias, made very blunt statements this week in announcing his decision to formally end his country's ties to Taiwan. He made it known that the move was dictated by his desire to improve the economy of Costa Rica but did not respond to the allegations of Chinese 'incentives'. Arias announced the line of the new age- "We are looking to strengthen the commercial ties and attract investment" and criticized Taiwan for giving so little aid to its allies. As he noted, "I was always critical of the Taiwanese, and I can say now that I always told them...if you want to have friends in the world, you should be more generous." He said "Without a doubt, we will get more help from China. The reasons are very obvious,” adding that relations with mainland China will “bring greater well being and development for Costa Rica, which cannot remain static in a changing world.” What a nice way to treat a country such as Taiwan that has given Costa Rica millions of dollars in aid over the years and spearheaded numerous projects. As an example, the Costa Rican bridge in the picture above is ironically named the Taiwan-Costa Rica Friendship Bridge and was completed in 2003 for about $26 million dollars all donated by Taiwan. I wonder if the name will remain the same now?

It is sad when a country now decides that it will have or not have relations with another country based on nothing more than how much money is involved. I also find it ironic that the concepts of neutrality, old friendships and many shared ideals are thrown over the bus for the promise of a quick buck and bigger markets. Surprisingly, in these days, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and humanitarian picks China. Gotta love globalization, huh?

G8- Final Thoughts


How do you feel about the G8 Summit that just wrapped up? I personally felt that about the only thing accomplished was that they agreed to agree to talk about many important issues at a later date (same old song and dance). What are your thoughts?

G8 and the Environment

Greenpeace took their protest to the seas and one of their boats was literally run over by the German police. Take a look.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Those Wayback Comments



"That's a source that didn't even exist 10 years ago," Cheney told an audience in Cincinnati on Thursday. "Four hundred thousand people make some money trading on eBay."

Dick Cheney, 2004 when asked about the stagnant economy.

How's the economy where you are?

Putin Calls Bush's Hand



Vladimir Putin- 1
George W. Bush- 0

In a surprise move today, Vladimir Putin responded to Bush's call for a missile defense system in Europe stating that it not be located in the Czech Republic or Poland, as Bush proposed, but in Azerbaijan using existing Russian radar bases. Oh the irony of it all! As Bush has claimed over and over again that Russia is not the enemy and the missile defense shield was really directed towards Iranian missiles, this move by Putin forces Bush to prove that Russia is not the target.


Putin is demonstrating keen political and diplomatic skills with this proposal and shows that he is a force to be reckoned with. He did not back down to Bush and it remains to be seen how Bush with his ‘master diplomacy skills’ will respond. God help us!

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

The Old is New



The old is once again new. Go figure. Bush, in typical fashion, refuses to budge on his plans to install a missile defense shield in Europe. Russia, on the other hand, is not very pleased with this idea and the fact that the sites for this project include the Czech Republic and Poland. In response, Putin has warned that if the United States continues with its missile defense plan, Russia will once again point its nuclear warheads at Europe. This controversy has overshadowed the G8 Summit in Germany.

This type of talk is eerily similar to what I remember growing up. The Cold War, that sad relic of the 20th Century seems to be poking its ugly head around the corner again and the consequences this time could be grave. The world is not the same as it was back then with many more countries now in the ’Nuclear Club’.

It would be wise for both sides to stop this escalation as the spector of a nuclear arms race and possible nuclear conflict yields no winner. It’s time to close this sad chapter of the last century.

*Update* Check out this article for a good analysis of this situation.

G8 Protests

G8 Protests at a glance...

He's Laughing at You!



It's the poor conditions of the refineries...no, it's the unrest in Nigeria....no, it's storms in the Gulf of Mexico...no, it's the political instability in the Middle East....no, it's the cyclone in the Arabian Gulf.....the excuses never stop from this crowd for the ever increasing price of oil. Meanwhile, the big oil companies are raking in record profits year after year. It’s time to get off the oil crack pipe and develop reasonable and sustainable sources of energy NOW!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Monday, June 4, 2007

Let The Market Decide


I came across a great read today that goes in depth about the state of our economy today. It discusses deregulation, the 'market economy', monetary policy, the Federal Reserve and much more. It was written by Richard C. Cook, who worked for 21 years in the U.S. Treasury Department. It's a very well researched and thought provoking article.

G8- Uncovered

An interesting short film on the G8.


Sunday, June 3, 2007

Piggybacking


Now here is something I've never heard of: Piggybacking. It's the practice of people who 'loan' out their credit ranking to others for a price. This, in turn, helps people achieve higher credit ratings score than they normally would have and thus get better loan rates on purchases. Many have called it mortgage fraud while others say it gives people a second chance. Check out the whole story here and see what you think.

Google and Feedburner




Google has announced the acquisition of Feedburner, the popular RSS feed service, in a deal worth around $100 million. The move is seen as enhancing Google's blog advertising service, Ad Sense, for feeds. It has been said that the deal will allow Google to reach into feeds to push Google ads via the FeedBurner Ad Network which is quite an achievement for them. On the other side, many feel that Google will not provide the quality of support that they currently experience with Feedburner and are not happy with this new arrangement. What are your thoughts on this deal?

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Open Discussion



How's the economy where you are? Use this thread to discuss the economy, jobs or whatever else is on your mind.

R.I.P. Steve Gilliard




Blogger Steve Gilliard passed away today at the age of 41. His blog The News Blog was a great source of information and I enjoyed reading it for many years. My condolences to his family and friends.