A FADING GENERATION

I have no idea who put this together, but it is  wonderful!    

Long  ago and far away, in a land that time  forgot,
Before  the days of Dylan , or the dawn of Camelot.
There  lived a race of innocents, and they were you and  me,

For  Ike was in the White House in that land where we  were born,
Where  navels were for oranges, and Peyton Place was  porn.

We  longed for love and romance, and waited for our  Prince,
Eddie  Fisher married Liz, and no one's seen him  since.

We  danced to 'Little Darlin,' and sang to 'Stagger  Lee'
And  cried for Buddy Holly in the Land That Made Me,  Me.

     

Only  girls wore earrings then, and 3 was one too  many,
And  only boys wore flat-top cuts, except for Jean  McKinney.

And  only in our wildest dreams did we expect to  see
A  boy named George with Lipstick, in the Land That  Made Me,Me.

We  fell for Frankie Avalon, Annette was oh, so  nice,
And  when they made a movie, they never made it  twice.

We  didn't have a Star Trek Five, or Psycho Two and  Three,
Or  Rocky-Rambo Twenty in the Land That Made Me,  Me.

     

Miss  Kitty had a heart of gold, and Chester had a  limp,
And  Reagan was a Democrat whose co-star was a  chimp.

We  had a Mr. Wizard, but not a Mr. T,
And  Oprah couldn't talk yet, in the Land That Made  Me, Me.
We  had our share of heroes, we never thought they'd  go,
At least not Bobby Darin, or Marilyn  Monroe. 

For  youth was still eternal, and life was yet to  be,
And  Elvis was forever in the Land That Made Me,  Me.    

We'd  never seen the rock band that was Grateful to be  Dead,
And  Airplanes weren't named Jefferson , and  Zeppelins were not Led.     And  Beatles lived in gardens then, and Monkees lived  in trees,
Madonna  was Mary in the Land That Made Me,  Me.

We'd never heard of  microwaves, or telephones in cars,
And  babies might be bottle-fed, but they were not  grown in  jars.

     

And  pumping iron got wrinkles out, and 'gay' meant  fancy-free,
And  dorms were never co-Ed in the Land That Made Me,  Me.
We  hadn't seen enough of jets to talk about the  lag,
And  microchips were what was left at the bottom of  the bag.

And  hardware was a box of nails, and bytes came from  a flea,
And  rocket ships were fiction in the Land That Made  Me, Me.

T-Birds  came with portholes, and side shows came with  freaks,
And  bathing suits came big enough to cover both your  cheeks.

And  Coke came just in bottles, and skirts below the  knee,
And Castro came to power near the Land  That Made Me, Me. 
We  had no Crest with Fluoride, we had no Hill  Street Blues,
We  had no patterned pantyhose or Lipton herbal  tea
Or prime-time ads for those dysfunctions  in the Land That Made Me,Me.

There  were no golden arches, no Perrier to chill,
And  fish were not called Wanda, and cats were not  called Bill.

And  middle-aged was 35 and old was forty-three,
And  ancient were our parents in the Land That Made  Me,  Me.    

But  all things have a season, or so we've heard them  say,
And  now instead of Maybelline we swear by  Retin-A.
They  send us invitations to join AARP,
We've  come a long way, baby, from the Land That Made  Me,  Me.     So  now we face a brave new world in slightly larger  jeans,
And  wonder why they're using smaller print in  magazines.
And  we tell our children's children of the way it  used to be,
Long  ago and far away in the Land That Made Me,  Me.

If you didn't grow up in  the fifties,
You  missed the greatest time in history,
Hope you  enjoyed this read as much as I  did.     If  So, PLEASE FORWARD to someone who might  appreciate  it.

Five Ways Capitalism is Ripping Off the American People

That's capitalism. 

Ripping a once-strong society into little pieces.

Five Ways Capitalism is Ripping Off the American People

OUTSOURCING HEALTHCARE

PURA VIDA
Johann Wagener  9-30-13

During my 6 year sojourn in Costa Rica I did not pick up much of the language but I did learn a lot about universal healthcare and how efficient it can be when government  serves it's people rather than pander to money grubbers who's priority is profit rather than attending to the sick.

Hard to imagine that a small Central American country provides better healthcare than the # 1 country in the world (or so we say).  Unlike outsourcing jobs companies can not only take better care of their employees but save money in the process. Maybe there's something to say about universal healthcare if American businesses are using it?

US Companies Consider 'Medical Tourism' a Health Care Option

And now, some American companies are considering outsourcing medical care, dubbed "medical tourism," as a health care option.

In the end, HSM said it saves money. Outsourcing medical care has saved it nearly $10 million in health care costs over the past five years, according to the company. Close to 250 of its employees have traveled abroad so far for medical care, and more are scheduled to go.

In the United States, Harwell's knee replacement would have cost more than $50,000. In Costa Rica, it costs half that amount at $23,531. In North Carolina, Guion's gastric sleeve surgery would have cost about $30,000, but in Costa Rice, it comes to $17,386. Both were placed in pristine rooms in state-of-the-art hospitals.

AMERICAN PSYCHO(S)

NO-NOT THE MOVIE
Johann Wagener 9-3-13

This Congress will make history for being the most dysfunctional of governing bodies ever elected into office. These ego-centric, self obsessed, psychopaths are willing to tear down this country if they don't have their way. The correct term is "anarchy" and the appropriate punishment is imprisonment for treason against the United States.

The Looming Shutdown: Senate Rejects House Bill

A TEA PARTIER RESPONDS

TO MY LETTER to the tea party
Johann Wagener 9-29-13

In a previous blog I posted a response from someone who read my "Letter to the Tea Party" which he didn't take too kindly to.

In an effort to both demonstrate the issues and clarify the position I take I posted both his response and my reply in another post on this blog.

This generated another response from someone who implied that I was just fabricating these mean spirited rants from Tea Partiers  and posting them on the blog in order to place them in a bad light. In an attempt to clear the air I then sent this person a link to the disgruntled Tea Partier if he wanted to verify whether the author was fabricated or real.

Which brings me to this post that consists of the response (and my reply) to the skeptical Tea Partier;

David D'Esposito replied to your comment on "Forgive me, but I have a creeping suspicion that this "response" is a complete fabrication for th..."

Comment: "Johann, I see that a person with that screen name has several posts on BiN, yes. 
But, even if this person genuinely wrote this response to you... so what? 
What I mean is, what purpose does highlighting a single poorly written response from a single, uneducated buffoon accomplish?
He obviously doesn't even begin to represent people with the ideology you seek to vilify or mock any more than a comment from some unemployed, burned-out, pretentious, neo-socialist douche on shrooms would represent you, right?  
So what, exactly, is the point of highlighting it? 

Are you insinuating (or outright claiming) that he speaks for the majority of Tea Party supporters? Or that his intelligence is indicative of them?
You're going to have an incredibly difficult time supporting that supposition, if so. 
What's more, to even suggest that says truckloads more about you than it does them. 

I suppose you could simply be trying to embarrass this lone individual... but... who is he that anyone should care?

So, again... what, exactly, was your point, here?"

Hello David! You eloquently made my point by implying that the response to my letter to the Tea Party that I posted was fabricated by me rather than just expressing your own opinion regarding the Tea Party which unfortunately attracts more of the type that responded to my post. I would need to look no further than Ted Cruz to point out that intelligence has little or nothing to do with what I am addressing which, in simple terms, is naivete and the obviously unabridged way a deep and insidious racism is expressed by those who purport to be nothing of the kind while at the same time obsessing on the black man in the Oval Office. How else can you rationally explain why the Tea Party devotes all to bringing down Obama rather than lifting up their country?

SUBTLE BRIBERY?

WHAT NEXT?
Johann Wagener 9-29-13


Gentle Homicide? Casual Suicide?  In psychology they call this kind of crazy-making, "magical thinking" which entails distorting (or tweaking) reality just enough to make it fit comfortably into the world as you see, or want it, to be. 

In this case we're talking about lobbying ala US style. Lobbying in and of itself is not the problem. All that entails is someone(s) petitioning their elected representatives to promote their cause, build a bridge, stop a Walmart coming to town, make it legal to own a pig, blah, blah, blah.

That's not the way it works here. In the US lobbying politicians involves "payola" and lot's of it. The more money you can throw at the politicians, the more likely your favor(s) will be granted. In the real world they call this "bribery" paying someone for favors, plain and simple. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/kevin-ring

"You're going to hear about things that should be a crime, but they were not. KevinRing played by the rules."

Some legal observers agree that no matter how unseemly gratuities might appear, it's not against the law to give, just to accept.

If I were to apply this magical thinking to the next time a cop want's to write me a ticket and I pull out a $20 to ask a "favor" they would be committing the crime if they took the $20 while I would not? How does that work with a hooker and the John?  What's blatantly obvious here is that no one want's to discourage bribing by making it illegal. They just want to make it appear as if only dishonest politicians would accept them. As if there is such a thing as an "honest" politician.

AMERICAS MOST UN-WANTED

THE ROT AT THE TOP
Johann Wagener 9-29-13

The old saying, "sh-t flows down stream" is an appropriate analogy when describing this group of very sick power hungry, money worshiping rogues who think nothing of destroying this country if it serves their interests.

You can find all the answers to our economic problems laid out in these clowns bios.

20 White Males from the Power Elite Who Belong in the American Hall of Shame

Here is a list of the 20 most influential members of the power elite.

Congressmen Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan, corporate lobbyist and Americans for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist, Chase CEO Jamie Dimon; Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, David and Charles Koch, Walmart CEO Mike Duke, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Newt Gingrich, Wall Street titan and Fix-the-Debt funder Pete Peterson, Sen. Rand Paul, sleazy corporate front man Rick Berman, Fox News president Roger Ailes, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Radio reactionary Rush Limbaugh, casino billionaire benefactor Sheldon Adelson, Sen. Ted Cruz, Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue, NRA hit man Wayne LaPierre.

A REPLY TO MY LETTER TO MY TEA PARTY LETTER

AND MY RESPONSE
Johann Wagener 9-28-13

FROM;  TruthandFreedom

Response to a moron:

1. no longer have access to any of the services provided by the Federal Government – One must remember that there are multiple programs dealing with same issues, all of which are paid for by state and federal taxes, and many of these were forced upon the states… ie extortion. Just how they passed seatbelt laws. The states were told you will enact this law else we will reduce or not give you back the taxes paid for by your states people. We will decrease the money we give you for road maintenance and cops unless you accept and enforce the law that we want passed.

2. government health care for representatives – True tea party representatives don’t believe that they shouldn’t have to be on the same health care and under the same rules as everyone else of the United States.

3. Social Security and Medicare will not be provided to Tea Part states – You must be completely a fool as the Obama administration stole the funds for Medicare and have been using them on Obamacare!!! Likewise, no true American with a family would ever believe that it is alright to have the youth of America pay for the seniors healthcare by forcing a tax on them.. This in itself was illegal OBAMACARE was nothing more than three – card – monty. Anywhere else a business owner would lose in court when using the BAIT and SWITCH used by Obama! Likewise, the only reason for a shut down was because Obama wants his illegal scam to become a reality. The House gave full funding for everything but this fraudcare which has hurt America. It didn’t live up to its promise and has already costed twice from which it was suppose to cost and still the same amount of people will remain uncovered as from when it was originated, and this was by the governments own research that was released.

4. All other Federal subsidies (farm, energy, etc.) will be terminated – this would be great the farmers will no longer ship to the democratic states!!! Likewise, they will let the capitalistic system work rather then accept money to reduce production in order for the government to CONTROL the ricing of produce. Finally, the plain states will feed there own and say FO to those democratic do nothing federal controlling monarchs!

No i’m not a Tea Partier, No i’m not a Republican…. I am an independent and I can see the fraud, waste and abuse wrought by this administration!!! The Federal government has passed many laws and regulations that are in violation of the Constitution as well as the fact that they lacked the authority to pass many of those laws to being with!!

Thus take all your rhetoric and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine!! I’m sorry that you believe that all must be dependent on the Federal Government. One can only surmise that you feel this way because you live at the teets of these criminals that purport themselves to be representatives of the people while lining their pockets from payoffs by corporations and the rich top 1 percent elitists!

May God be willing the whole Fraud system will shut down and return to representing the people as it was intended!

MY RESPONSE;
Invoking God into your rant will not get much mileage since; as the Bible would indicate, He's a liberal; endorses taking care of those less fortunate and not judging lest ye be judged. 

I'm also going to assume that you are not a moron  (a stupid person. synonyms: fool, idiot, blockhead, dunce, dolt, ignoramus, imbecile, cretin, dullard, simpleton, clod;) since you obviously can read and express your opinions in writing (with or without spell check?) 

Since I don't know you I can only assume you do not suck on the teet per se' and are not on Social Security or Medicare and that everything you have was obtained without any government assistance at all (like an FHA mortgage?) and are not on VA benefits. 

So, based on that, I must congratulate you on your achieving the American Dream and want to wish you the best in the years to come. 

My response is meant to be a compliment, so please accept it in that vein. 


TEA PARTY VICTORIOUS! CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE | Politics

EQUALITY FOR WOMEN IN THE US OR CHINA?

SURPRISE!
Johann Wagener 9-28-13

If you thought the US you'd be wrong! At least when it comes to business. It looks like the Chinese "communists"  are better at practicing capitalism than we are. 

What Percent of Private Businesses in China are Owned by Women?

In China, women-owned businesses began to rise in the 2000s, with Chinese women owning an estimated 40% of all private businesses, according to 2010 findings. Historically, women in China were less likely to own businesses or have positions of power in organizations because of societal gender views, such as financial institutions being less likely to grant loans to women, or employers believing women would eventually quit to raise families. In 1985, the China Association of Women Entrepreneurs (CAWE) was created in order to help give more women the resources to start their own businesses and is touted by many as being responsible for the increase of women-owned businesses.

More about women in business:

• In 2010, US women officially surpassed men as the majority of the workforce for the first time in US history.


• China has the highest rate of women in senior management business roles in the world, at around 51%, while the United States has a rate of about 20%, according to the 2012 Grant Thorton International survey.


• In 2013, seven Chinese businesswomen were named to Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

THE TEA PARTY WINS! CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

A RESPONSE TO MY LETTER TO THE TEA PARTY
Johann Wagener 9-28-13

ElOregonian
You are an idiot. You better dig out your Bill of Rights, Constitution, and case laws to find out exactly what the government can and cannot due. What they are required to do and what they are not able to do.

Ignorant Libtards usually talk B/S with no knowledge of what is actually written in our Preambles. It’s not ‘how you feel the law should be written’, but rather what it “actually” says…

Although I would embrace the government being whittled back to it’s constitutional mandate thereby saving the citizen taxpayer from being overburdened through taxation without representation, because clearly what is currently happening is not working.

So do your homework, until then, go bark at the moon, fool.

To which I replied;

Your point would be clearer if you would do a little more than throw out one liners about the "Bill of Rights" (which I assume you read but couldn't understand) and give some real (not imagined) examples about how you perceive the way forward should be. The Bill of Rights just like the 10 Commandments are admirable on their face but have little or nothing to do with the way the real world functions. An example (if I may) is "all men are created equal" UNLESS their skin was darker than those who wrote this document you refer to. 

Believing that people actually apply these words in today's world is not much different than barking at the moon my friend.  



Dear Tea Party Members:

Effective October 1, 2013 the federal government will officially close it's doors. You will no longer be required to pay any Federal Income Tax and will no longer have access to any of the services provided by the Federal Government, which include (but not limited to) the following;

* Government health care and any other benefits provided to your Representatives (including salaries) will be terminated since they are no longer directly employed by the Federal Government. Tea Party representatives will need to either get a real job like their duly elected local politicians and take a part time political position or submit expenses to their state (unless they don't want to pay those taxes either).

* Social Security and Medicare will not be provided to Tea Part states since they are Federal subsidies made possible by Federal taxes. Residents of these states will need to either use Emergency rooms or personally pay for insurance or medical services less any Federal subsidies.

* Interstate highways and bridges will no longer be maintained in Tea Party States since they too are Federal subsidies. It will be the responsibility of the state or local governments to maintain their infrastructure paid for by?

* All other Federal subsidies (farm, energy, etc.) will be terminated in Tea Party states.

I feel certain that this will be seen as a positive by those who advocate for the Tea Party because less interference by a small Federal government is their trademark.

After all, everyone is fully capable of picking themselves up by their own boot straps, dust themselves off, and go on living the "American Dream" without any help from the "big bad Federal government."

For those who can find a little time to actually think about what role the "Big Bad Federal Government" plays in their lives when managed by competent (not corrupted) people who actually work to serve the "people" not those that "buy" their services, you might be surprised to discover that Uncle Sam is not such a bad guy after all.

10 Ways a Government Shutdown Might Affect You

Supervisors at government agencies began meetings Thursday to decide which employees would continue to report to work, and which would be told to stay home under contingency plans ordered by the Office of Management and Budget.

"Fifty percent of our members may be locked out of work altogether during this shutdown,'' said J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees. "Half will be expected to continue to work without a paycheck.''

Union officials said preparations for a possible shutdown have created anxiety and uncertainty among federal workers and among those who have an expectation of government services.

"Federal agencies have had to devote time and resources to develop yet another crisis plan, distracting agencies from their critical missions," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "And, if the government shuts down, the public will be further harmed by the loss of vital services people need and depend upon."

THE PETTY CLASS

ANCIEN REGIME
Johann Wagener 9-27-13

The French tolerated this for a few centuries before dismantling it and establishing a republic. We, on the other hand, have gone in almost the opposite direction; transforming a republic based on democratic principles into a plutocracy consisting of 2 classes - the "haves" (about 1%)  and the "have nots" (the other 99% give or take about 15% who are clinging to the ladder in hopes of climbing up to the top.

Krugman: Plutocrats Have Become Sociopaths with Their Persecution Complexes

“Sometimes the wealthy talk as if they were characters in “Atlas Shrugged,” demanding nothing more from society than that the moochers leave them alone. But these men were speaking for, not against, redistribution — redistribution from the 99 percent to people like them. This isn’t libertarianism; it’s a demand for special treatment. It’s not Ayn Rand; it’s ancien régime,” Krugman wrote.

Yet, Krugman has a theory as to why the rich spend so much time complaining that they are being persecuted when in fact they got everything they could have hoped for following the financial crisis fallout - namely Wall Street was bailed out at the expense of the workers and homeowners:

“When you have that much money, what is it you’re trying to buy by making even more? … What you really want now is adulation; you want the world to bow before your success ... It is, of course, incredibly petty. But money brings power, and thanks to surging inequality, these petty people have a lot of money. So their whining, their anger that they don’t receive universal deference, can have real political consequences. Fear the wrath of the .01 percent!” he wrote.

The Gospel According to Bill O’Reilly

The Gospel According to Bill O’Reilly

The single most consistent social teaching in the New Testament is that Christians must support the poor, widows, and orphans, but this hardly gets a mention in ‘Killing Jesus.’

FOOD STAMPS OR FOOTBALL?

A BAD CASE OF THE CRAZIES
Johann Wagener 9-26-13

Another scene out of the movie Idiocracy? No. This is for real. Politicians would rather cut the food stamp program than confront deadbeats who abuse the system and are largely responsible for the deficit.

First we had to readjust our reality in order to accept that "corporations are people" and now we find out that we have to accept that the NFL is a tax-exempt charitable organization.

Saying that this is corrupt is putting it nicely because it goes beyond that by assuming that people are so dumb that they would accept that absurd assertion. Well, guess what, up until recently both Baseball and Basketball were also tax-exempt charitable organizations!

It's bad enough that these clowns take in billions of dollars for doing nothing more than chasing balls and scrambling their brains, they do it on the tax-payers dime.

NFL’s Nonprofit Status Is A Kick In The Teeth To Taxpayers, Says Petition

Despite the fact that it is a $9 Billion/Year industry, the National Football League (NFL) continues to enjoy status as a non-profit organization -- meaning it doesn't have to pay federal corporate taxes.

The Commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, makes nearly $30 million a year -- earning more than the heads of companies like Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart. Through TV deals alone, the NFL has inked nearly $30 billion with various television networks. And so often, fans like you and me are asked to foot the bill for new stadiums through our own taxes.

Yet despite being the most profitable sports league in the entire world, the NFL does not pay federal taxes.

HEY! LOOK UP NOT DOWN

DO THE NUMBERS
Johann Wagener 9-26-13

1% = 45% of the country's wealth but only 35% in taxes which is almost 50% less than those in the top 20% of taxpayers. That means that those that actually produce less (don't work) make more than those who work for a living. 

Those in the top 20% are wasting their time looking down the scale and whining about someone earning $10,000 a year and paying $200 in federal taxes.  These are the people who could gain the most by simply looking "UP" the income ladder

Here's How Much The 1 Percent Will Pay In Taxes This Year

-- How much households at different income levels will pay in federal income, payroll, corporate and estate taxes for 2013.

Bottom 20 percent

Average income: $10,552.

Average tax bill: -$284.

Average tax rate: -2.7 percent.

Share of federal tax burden: -0.4 percent.

___

Middle 20 percent

Average income: $46,562.

Average tax bill: $6,436.

Average tax rate: 13.8 percent.

Share of federal tax burden: 8.6 percent.

___

Top 20 percent

Average income: $204,490.

Average tax bill: $55,533.

Average tax rate: 27.2 percent.

Share of federal tax burden: 71.8 percent.

___

Top 1 percent

Average income: $1.4 million.

Average tax bill: $514,144.

Average tax rate: 35.5 percent.

Share of federal tax burden: 30.2 percent.

SPSD? ASK YOUR DOCTOR

SMART PHONE STRESS DISORDER
Johann Wagener 9-26-13

Do you find yourself not remembering where you are? Are you constantly bumping into things? Do you walk into traffic or crash your car into trash cans and trees? Are your finger tips calloused? When you go to the bathroom do you need a place to set your phone down so you can take care of business? Instead of the traditional lighting up a cigarette after sex do you fire up your iPhone?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes" then you probably are suffering from SPSD and should seek medical attention.

Louis C.K., holy man

Interesting how it takes the "court jester" to point out the obvious.

THE 2ND CIVIL WAR

STAND YOUR GROUND
Johann Wagener 9-25-13

Forget getting dressed up in blue and grey uniforms and reenacting the battle of Gettysburg. Just grab a gun, pick out something (or someone) that's moving, and fire away.

Over 360,000 Gun Deaths Since 9/11 -- From the Outside It Looks Like America Is a Country Gripped by Civil War

The annual toll from firearms in the US is running at 32,000 deaths and climbing, even though the general crime rate is on a downward path (it is 40% lower than in 1980). If this perennial slaughter doesn't qualify for intercession by the UN and all relevant NGOs, it is hard to know what does

AHCA FOR DUMMIES

HEALTH (NOT OBAMA) CARE
Johann Wagener 9-25-13

The first thing people need to do; especially the Obama haters, is educate themselves so that they can be "informed" about what they talk about.

Ensuring the Affordable Care Act Serves the American People - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

 NOTICE: Obama Heathcare Enrollment Begins On October 1013 - Are You Going To Enroll Or Not?

Like ·  · Unfollow Post · Share · 2 hours ago

• 

  John Patterson Jr. No - I Already Yhe Medicare - And I Can Not Afford 300 Or 400 A Month On What I Get From My Soc. Sec Check.

  2 hours ago · Like
• 

  Johann Wagener Hi John! The Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) provides healthcare for those that are not fortunate enough to have it. Sounds like you are already receiving government supported healthcare which is not much different than what will now be available to everyone. And, just like you (and I) we pay a premium at a rate that we can afford based on our income though it still involves for profit insurance companies so it might be a little more. AHCA is going to be a blessing to many of those who up to now had to either go to an emergency room or mend on their own.

  33 minutes ago · Like

THE BIBLE; ACCORDING TO THE 1%

CONNING THE POOR
Johann Wagener 9-24-13

These so-called "Christians" have seriously lost their way if they want people to believe that Jesus would advocate not feeding the poor if they didn't have a job.

Adding insult to injury these blasphemers are the one's who sell the "prosperity gospel" encouraging people to hoard and flaunt their wealth rather than contribute to well being of the society that generated their wealth.

They babble about picking yourself up by your bootstraps while doing nothing at all to help people get a pair of boots. They claim to be "job creators" while indulging themselves rather than creating jobs; creating a classic "catch 22" which not only traps people into poverty but punishes them (cutting their food stamps) for it.

Christian Group: There's "Nothing More Christian" Than Cutting Food Stamps

Former Ohio Secretary of State, Ken Blackwell has come under fire for expressing strong support for the Republican-controlled House’s recent vote to cut $39 billion from the federal food stamp programs over the next ten years.

Blackwell, affiliated with the Family Research Council which has been branded a hate-group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, labelled the move an “act of Christian compassion” and said welfare programs breed ‘dependency amongst the poor’, Christian Post reported.

Despite the fact that numerous churches and Christian groups have denounced plans to cut food stamps, Blackwell argued there was nothing more Christian than denying poor people food stamps.

What Then Can I Do? Ten Ways to Democratize the Economy

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF DEMOCRACY
Johann Wagener 9-24-13

These are not from Yahweh and were not brought down the mountain by Moses but are some basic "down to earth" suggestions on how to get ourselves off this path of self-destruction.


What Then Can I Do? Ten Ways to Democratize the Economy

The richest 400 Americans now own more wealth than the bottom 180 million taken together. The political system is in deadlock. Social and economic pain continue to grow. Environmental devastation and global warming present growing challenges. Is there any path toward a more democratic, equal and ecologically sustainable society? What can one person do?

WHEN FANTASY AND REALITY COLLIDE

A WITHERING MIDDLE CLASS
Johann Wagener 9-23-13

Here's something to try and wrap your head around. In a recent poll 42% of Americans believe they will have to work into their 70's and 80's just to survive. Yet 85% of Americans 55 and older can't find a job?

How the recession changed a family's path

EXCESSIVE WEALTH PSYCHOSIS; A CASE STUDY

HEALTH INSURANCE PHOBIA
Johann Wagener 9-23-13

The following is a classic example of how an excessive amount of wealth affect someone. This couple actually believe that having a $100 million dollar grotesque mausoleum (they call a home) is more important than providing their 7,000 employees (and their families) with healthcare. These people believe that providing healthcare to the people who created their wealth is less important than hoarding money. The magic word is "profits" which these people do not want to share with anyone; regardless of the harm it may cause to others.

It's rare that you would ever hear one of these people say, "let's spend some of the profits on our employees because if it wasn't for them there would be no profits."

In this case the psychosis is acute in that it is a mutually shared fantasy where both people are out of touch with reality as this film demonstrates.
The Queen of Versailles (Official Movie Site) - Directed by Lauren Greenfield - Sundance Film Festival U.S. Directing Award: Documentary - Available on DVD & Blu-ray™ - Trailer, Pictures & More

A second example is the following letter this disturbed individual sent to his employees when fearing that a president whop advocated representing the "100%" rather than the "1%" would be reelected.

Westgate Resorts is not a public company. It is the domain of David Siegel, a staunch Republican. In fact, Siegel has publicly claimed credit for George W. Bush defeating Al Gore, saying "I had my managers do a survey on every employee [8,000 total]. If they liked Bush, we made them register to vote. But not if they liked Gore."

"The Queen of Versailles" depicts the dashing of Siegel's mansion dreams after the recession hit. But just months ago, he restarted construction on his personal Palace of Versailles (with the intention of selling it for $100 million) and told Reuters, "We're the most profitable we've ever been."

Huge mansion. Huge fortune. Profitable company. What could David Siegal have to complain about? Well, the demonization of the 1% by Barack Obama, for one thing. This truly amazing email went out to all Westgate employees yesterday. Bolding is ours.

Subject: Message from David Siegel
Date:Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:58:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: [David Siegel]
To: [All employees]

To All My Valued Employees,

As most of you know our company, Westgate Resorts, has continued to succeed in spite of a very dismal economy. There is no question that the economy has changed for the worse and we have not seen any improvement over the past four years. In spite of all of the challenges we have faced, the good news is this: The economy doesn't currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration. Of course, as your employer, I can't tell you whom to vote for, and I certainly wouldn't interfere with your right to vote for whomever you choose. In fact, I encourage you to vote for whomever you think will serve your interests the best.

However, let me share a few facts that might help you decide what is in your best interest.The current administration and members of the press have perpetuated an environment that casts employers against employees. They want you to believe that we live in a class system where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. They label us the "1%" and imply that we are somehow immune to the challenges that face our country. This could not be further from the truth. Sure, you may have heard about the big home that I'm building. I'm sure many people think that I live a privileged life. However, what you don't see or hear is the true story behind any success that I have achieved.

I started this company over 42 years ago. At that time, I lived in a very modest home. I converted my garage into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. We didn't eat in fancy restaurants or take expensive vacations because every dollar I made went back into this company. I drove an old used car, and often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business — hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. Meanwhile, many of my friends got regular jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a nice income, and they spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into this business —-with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford to buy whatever I wanted. Even to this day, every dime I earn goes back into this company. Over the past four years I have had to stop building my dream house, cut back on all of my expenses, and take my kids out of private schools simply to keep this company strong and to keep you employed.

Just think about this – most of you arrive at work in the morning and leave that afternoon and the rest of your time is yours to do as you please. But not me- there is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have that freedom. I eat, live, and breathe this company every minute of the day, every day of the week. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. I know many of you work hard and do a great job, but I'm the one who has to sign every check, pay every expense, and make sure that this company continues to succeed. Unfortunately, what most people see is the nice house and the lavish lifestyle. What the press certainly does not want you to see, is the true story of the hard work and sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for. Yes, business ownership has its benefits, but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the costs of running a business have gotten out of control, and let me tell you why: We are being taxed to death and the government thinks we don't pay enough. We pay state taxes, federal taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, workers compensation taxes and unemployment taxes. I even have to hire an entire department to manage all these taxes. The question I have is this: Who is really stimulating the economy? Is it the Government that wants to take money from those who have earned it and give it to those who have not, or is it people like me who built a company out of his garage and directly employs over 7000 people and hosts over 3 million people per year with a great vacation?

Obviously, our present government believes that taking my money is the right economic stimulus for this country. The fact is, if I deducted 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, that's what happens to me.

Here is what most people don't understand and the press and our Government has chosen to ignore – to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Instead of raising my taxes and depositing that money into the Washington black-hole, let me spend it on growing the company, hire more employees, and generate substantial economic growth. My employees will enjoy the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But that is not what our current Government wants you to believe. They want you to believe that it somehow makes sense to take more from those who create wealth and give it to those who do not, and somehow our economy will improve. They don't want you to know that the "1%", as they like to label us, pay more than 31% of all the taxes in this country. Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate business, not kill it. However, the power brokers in Washington believe redistributing wealth is the essential driver of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change they want.

So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.

So, when you make your decision to vote, ask yourself, which candidate understands the economics of business ownership and who doesn't? Whose policies will endanger your job? Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable of protecting and saving your job. While the media wants to tell you to believe the "1 percenters" are bad, I'm telling you they are not. They create most of the jobs. If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the "1%"; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country.

You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities. If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about.

Signed, your boss,

David Siegel

THE GREAT AWAKENING

WHY ALL THE ANGER?
Johann Wagener 9-22-13

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=624277260925838

 

AN 18% PAY CUT!

OMG!
Johann Wagener 9-22-13

Oracle CEO's Pay Cut By 18%; He Only Made $78 Million For 2013

Larry Ellison, the Oracle CEO worth $41.8 billion who ranks 8th on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index and 3rd on the Forbes 400 list, received some bad news for fiscal year 2013. According to a securities filing made Friday and reviewed by the Associated Press, when the company missed some of its internal financial targets for 2013, Ellison’s own pay package declined. - See more at: http://www.classwarfareexists.com/oracle-ceos-pay-cut-by-18-he-only-made-78-million-for-2013/#.dpuf

"The world has become an idolator of this god called money,"

THIS IS AN INTERVENTION
Johann Wagener 9-22-13

Pope tells big business not to worship 'the god of money'

The Pope is actually taking "shepherding the flock" seriously. Not since Moses came down from the mountain and took a club to the "golden calf"  or Jesus tossing over the money changer tables in the Temple has a religious leader been so clear in sending a message to the money hoarders.

He's confronting what I refer to as a mental disorder; "excessive wealth psychosis."

Later the Pope celebrated Mass for around 300,000 people outside the city's cathedral, telling them: "We don't want this globalised economic system which does us so much harm. Men and women have to be at the centre (of an economic system) as God wants, not money.

"The world has become an idolator of this god called money," he said.

Pope rejects legal drugs and money worship - The Standard

Debating Capitalism - Redefining Outdated Terms

CRONYISM or COLLECTIVISM?
Johann Wagener 9-21-13

Fortunately for us there are people who are still able to think outside the box and pose some interesting questions about how our economy operates. For most of us there is a consensus that capitalism works better than communism. Even the second largest economy (China) which happens to be communist, would agree.
So, now that that's settled it's time we look a little closer as what runs this capitalistic economic engine.

Given the grotesquely skewed distribution of our wealth it looks a lot like what some call "crony capitalism," where the few (1%) hoard about 45% or more while the many (99%) have to scratch for what's left.

If we compare ourselves to our neighbors up north (Canada) and a few other European countries who also practice capitalism it's obvious that there are better and more equitable ways to mange the wealth under a capitalistic system. I refer to it as "collective capitalism" where the bulk of the wealth is distributed among the many but in a hierarchical system that still allows the few to accumulate more but with limits. One way to do that is to tax those at the top more than those in the middle and below. Or, for those who just can't tolerate big government, they could establish a graduated system in which those at the top could not take more that a certain percentage of what those at the bottom receives. Let's say a 100 to 1 formula so that for every $100 the person at the top made, the person(s) on the bottom could not make less than $1.00. That way some of us would be driving Bentley s and other Toyota's, but we would all have a car.

That would require that those at the top stop perpetuating the myth that if the minimum wage were to be pegged to inflation (which would make it $22.00 an hr. today) prices would have to skyrocket to support it. NOT TRUE! What would happen is "profits" would go down. The rich would have to settle for being a little less rich and my guess is that a lot of them would not even notice.

So maybe it's time for that talk.....................................

Debating Capitalism - Redefining Outdated Terms

The reasons are many. Capitalism no longer "delivers the goods" to most Americans. With consumer debt already high, more borrowing can no longer postpone hard times. The "American Dream" slips farther out of reach. As Cold War memories recede, labels like socialism or communism no longer stifle debate. Destroyed cities like Detroit; students with unsustainable debts; declining wages, benefits and job security; and millions unemployed or foreclosed - to them, the usual rationalizations of capitalism seem hollow and ridiculous.

POSTER CHILD FOR THE FRIED BUTTER ON A STICK CROWD

POSTER CHILD FOR THE FRIED BUTTER ON A STICK CROWD

Paula Deen's Comeback: Proof Racism Still Sells in America



On Saturday, she made her first public appearance since the big scandal as part of a cooking demonstration in Texas. When Deen walked on stage, she received a 10-minute standing ovation.

She told the crowd:


I've said all along that the one place that I would want to make my first step back out was Texas. Y'all's hearts are as big as your state.

Before that event, a survey of Georgia Republicans showed that Deen – with 73% support – was more popular than Martin Luther King Jr, who only received 59% positive reaction.

Appalled? I'd imagine so. Surprised? You absolutely shouldn't be.