Thursday, October 30, 2008
economy words of light
a friend forwarded this to me, i like it!
Alan Cohen on the Economy
An ancient Chinese blessing wishes recipients, "May you live in interesting times." Well, we now have the answer to that prayer. Actually, all times are interesting, just in different ways.
During the last week and month the economy seems to be at the top of most people's list of urgent issues to think and talk about. Today the U.S. government is issuing a new policy to deal with the economic upsets of late. Below are some suggestions on how to get to a better feeling place about the economy, and generate practical results for yourself and others.
Here is my six-point plan. I am not an economist, and frankly I don't understand all of the complexities of the current market. I do, however, understand the relationship between thought, belief, feeling, attitude, expectation, identity, and practical prosperity. So here is my six-point plan, which will surely work if you apply it:
1. Vision. A visionary sees and remembers the Big Picture in the face of current appearances to the contrary. The Big Picture of life is utter abundance. There are vast resources, economic and otherwise, for those who recognize and claim them. A visionary thrives under all conditions. There are always people who do well in difficult economic times, as well as those who flounder in prosperous times. It is not the economy at large that determines your well being; it is the consciousness you hold in relation to it. So you have the power to create a prosperous personal economy – and as you do, you will uplift the economy at large. The two greatest achievements of the twentieth century -- the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building -- were funded and built at the height of the great depression. Some individuals with a broad perspective were not limited by the prevalent beliefs of the masses. There are, and will be, people who prosper now and in the near future. I know people whose businesses are booming now. So can yours, and by your example you can manifest abundance that will inspire others and help them in material ways.
2. Trust. When human affairs appear to falter, the hand of the divine becomes very real and practical. A Higher Power is currently running the universe far more intelligently and successfully than even the best economists. The more you stay connected to that Higher Power, the richer will be your inner peace and your ability to make healthy, productive decisions.
In a Greek myth, the King of Crete sent Theseus through the labyrinth to kill or be killed by the dreaded monster Minotaur. The king's daughter Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and gave him a thread that he let unwind on his way into the labyrinth, which guided him out once he slayed the monster. Whenever you feel trapped or lost in the labyrinth of worldly life, your strongest move is to take hold of the thread of your connection to Spirit, hold firm to it, and let it lead you back to well-being. One of Dr. Wayne Dyer's books is entitled, There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and no advice could be more appropriate than the economic situation we face at the moment.
3. Reframe. The Chinese written symbol for "crisis" is a combination of two other symbols: "Danger" and " Opportunity ." Yes, there is a danger in our current position. And yes, there is an opportunity. Perhaps we are receiving a wake-up call to live within our means rather than leverage ourselves and our institutions beyond a healthy level. Or we are being invited to recognize that money does not make us rich, or its temporary absence of restriction make us poor. Perhaps this situation will influence the upcoming election in a way that will help us in the long run. Maybe there is a natural balancing occurring that will make our economy stronger. I cannot say exactly how this crisis will serve, but I do know that whenever I have faced and handled the experience of crisis in my personal life, I have been moved to make decisions that have made improved my world. A Course in Miracles tells us that "All change is good," and this should be no exception.
4. Reset Priorities. In an episode of the popular television series, Fantasy Island , called, "The Luckiest Man in the World," a gambler achieved his fantasy to create an unstoppable winning streak. True to form, Mr. Roark arranged for the man's young son to visit him at the same time. When the gambler became hypnotized by winning, he distanced himself from his son, and the boy was about to leave him. Finally the father realized he is the luckiest man in the world -- not for his gambling winnings, but for his family. When money seems tight, we have a window of insight to recognize how rich we are, no matter how much we have in the bank. If many of us use this time to grow closer to our families, homes, nature, activities that truly bring us joy, ourselves, and our Higher Power, this upheaval will have served us well.
5. Circulate. Keep moving your energy, financially and otherwise. The brilliant metaphysician Florence Scovel Shinn noted, "All disease is due to congestion and all healing is due to circulation." This dynamic applies impeccably to an economic congestion. When people are afraid to spend money, there is less money in circulation; then people grow afraid to spend, and the cycle goes on. The dynamics shift when consumers act not from a sense of lack or fear, but from abundance and faith. So now would be a great time to spend your money. When you do, you affirm that you have enough and you keep the circulation moving -- not just from you, but to you. If you don't have money to spend, or would rather not, then circulate your energy in other ways. Express your creativity, volunteer, paint, play music, journal, and do anything to move energy rather than let it stagnate. (Pressing buttons on the remote control to watch talking heads discuss the economy does not qualify as circulating energy.)
6. Milk Every Moment. It would be easy to think that you will be able to relax and enjoy your life as soon as the current crisis is averted or offset. But that's the carrot at the end of the stick -- the one that you never get to bite. Either life is rewarding now, or it never will be. From the sense of the ego, or small self, if it's not the economy you have to wait to handle, it's something else. So now would be perfect opportunity to practice enjoying your day, regardless of what money is doing. Stop and chat with the clerk in the supermarket, play with your kids, call someone you love, walk in the park, or tinker with your hobby. This is the moment you've been waiting for -- don't miss it!
Everything will work out. It always does. Be of good cheer. Be uplifted and be an uplifter, and your contribution to the economy, financial and spiritual, will be paramount.
Quotes and Affirmations
(Sources with known authors acknowledged; other source unknown)
The tide always comes back in.
- Norman Vincent Peale
Every dollar I spend enriches the economy, blesses everyone it touches, and returns to me multiplied.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.
- Psalm 23
I am an abundant being, living in an abundant universe that is capable, willing, and glad to meet all of my needs and the needs of everyone.
I am rich in many, many ways. I always have been, and always will be.
It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Luke 12:32
God does not owe, and as a Child of God, created in God's image and likeness, neither do I.
Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, "You owe me." Look what happens with a love like that; it lights the whole sky.
- Hafiz
My cup runneth over.
- Psalm 23
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- Timothy 1:7
Abundance is right where I stand.
You can afford to be generous because you have access to an unlimited supply.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there.
Thank God for what you have, and you will always have everything you want.
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
- Peter Drucker
Sunday, October 26, 2008
my favorite shows
so we have been watching 2 shows which i love love love and i am always so excited for sunday night.
#1. True Blood on HBO
it's written by alan ball, six feet under and american beauty. i've never been into vampires but i think this show is so amazing. when i was looking for this poster i found it got picked up for a second season, thank god, because i love it. it's set in LA and the vampires have 'come out of the coffin'. it's well written and acted and very entertaining and they know how to leave you wanting more every week. i've always loved alan ball anyway, so check it out.
#2. Tonight was the season finally of mad men. it's a really awesome show too on amc. it's set in the 60's, love the clothes and the drinking and the smoking. back in the good ol' days! i dvred the whole last season before this new season started and were hooked. also great writing and acting. promise you'll love it!
republican email to jews in Penn
linking obama to a holocaust. pretty sick.
A new e-mail making the rounds among Jewish voters in Pennsylvania this week falsely alleged that Mr. Obama “taught members of Acorn to commit voter registration fraud,’’ and equated a vote for Senator Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of their Jewish ancestors, who “ignored the warning signs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.”
But where most of the attack e-mails against Mr. Obama have been mostly either anonymous or from people outside of mainstream politics, this one had an unusually official provenance: It was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s “Victory 2008” committee.
A new e-mail making the rounds among Jewish voters in Pennsylvania this week falsely alleged that Mr. Obama “taught members of Acorn to commit voter registration fraud,’’ and equated a vote for Senator Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of their Jewish ancestors, who “ignored the warning signs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.”
But where most of the attack e-mails against Mr. Obama have been mostly either anonymous or from people outside of mainstream politics, this one had an unusually official provenance: It was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s “Victory 2008” committee.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
here ya go nan. . .
an adherent of right-wing authoritarian views, a person with ultra-nationalist views, populism based on the nationalist values
or
Those who actively support the interests of the working-class as a whole, without any kind of prejudice (ie without regard for nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, etc.)
hmm. . . what a choice.
i was doing a little research. . . the 14 points of fascism: the warning signs.
1.) Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2.) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights: Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause: The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4.) Supremacy of the Military: Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.) Rampant Sexism: The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.) Controlled Mass Media: Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.) Obsession with National Security: Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses
8.) Religion and Government are Intertwined: Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.) Corporate Power is Protected: The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.) Labor Power is Suppressed: Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11.) Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.) Obsession with Crime and Punishment: Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.) Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections: Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
i was trying to find the warning signs of socialism but all i came upon were fox loving right wing people's blogs. not a lot of truth there. i guess this might be construed as conspiracy too but after hearing Sen. Bernie Sanders from VT on real time, i realized maybe socialist democracy is the way to go.
or
Those who actively support the interests of the working-class as a whole, without any kind of prejudice (ie without regard for nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, etc.)
hmm. . . what a choice.
i was doing a little research. . . the 14 points of fascism: the warning signs.
2.) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights: Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause: The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4.) Supremacy of the Military: Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.) Rampant Sexism: The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.) Controlled Mass Media: Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.) Obsession with National Security: Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses
8.) Religion and Government are Intertwined: Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.) Corporate Power is Protected: The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.) Labor Power is Suppressed: Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11.) Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.) Obsession with Crime and Punishment: Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.) Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections: Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
i was trying to find the warning signs of socialism but all i came upon were fox loving right wing people's blogs. not a lot of truth there. i guess this might be construed as conspiracy too but after hearing Sen. Bernie Sanders from VT on real time, i realized maybe socialist democracy is the way to go.
we all know that extremism doesn't work on either end but we have to fix the problems and i'm sorry we can't trust or expect really rich people to take care of the people in this trickle down theory. working from the bottom up seems so logical.
and. . . kiko and i were talking last night. he said people need wars, its in human nature. i thought, no it's in man's nature, not woman's. he said ya but women are prone to the emotional you would never want to kill anyone who deserves it. well i'm going to have to go with your right, even though i'm not hugely religious, i'm all for the 10 commandments being some pretty good rules to live by. hmmm. . .
since it all lies anyway
coming from the mccain campaign. i watched the whole interaction with joe and obama and i didn't hear him say spread the wealth around, and joe didn't say he's a socialist.
let's just go ahead and call it like it is. mccain's a fascist.
would you rather have someone who's a socialist or a fascist.
i saw a quote, "any working class american that would vote for john mccain is like a chicken voting for colonel sanders."
kiko suggested mccain's torrid gay affair in the pow camp, which caused his first divorce.
i'm fond of my phony statistic that 87% of men who like palin pay for sex regularly.
let's just go ahead and call it like it is. mccain's a fascist.
would you rather have someone who's a socialist or a fascist.
i saw a quote, "any working class american that would vote for john mccain is like a chicken voting for colonel sanders."
kiko suggested mccain's torrid gay affair in the pow camp, which caused his first divorce.
i'm fond of my phony statistic that 87% of men who like palin pay for sex regularly.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
from last week "the new john mccain"
i didn't get to put this up last week and i thought it was pretty awesome and wanted to share.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
history says
“Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends,
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
. . . it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government,
and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”
– Thomas Jefferson,
Declaration of Independence, 1776
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
. . . it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government,
and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”
– Thomas Jefferson,
Declaration of Independence, 1776
palin on cnn
i was watching her and this is what she said:
CNN: What is your role going to be as vice president?
Palin: Well, we've talked a lot about that, John McCain and I have, about the missions that I'll get to embark on if we are so blessed to be hired by the American people to work for them. It's gonna be government reform, because that is what I've been able to do as a mayor and as a governor. You take on the special interests and the self-dealings. Yep, you ruffle feathers and you have the scars to prove it afterwards, but you have to take that on to give the American people that faith back in their own government. This is their government and we gotta put it back on their side. So, government reform and energy independence, can't wait to work on that. That's been my forte as the governor of an energy-producing state and as a former chair of the energy regulator entity up there in Alaska. So, look forward to that and that's a matter of national security and our economic prosperity opportunities. That though, too, the other mission that John and I are anxious for me to lead on is helping our families who have children with special needs, ushering in that spirit to Washington, D.C., where we saw, we're gonna give every child a chance and a good educational opportunity will be provided. That's gonna be a matter, too, of prioritizing the federal dollars that are already there and making sure that every child is given opportunity.
curious about the real america? watch this clip! you need to learn something from these people. . . and this town. . . much more special that any big city. . . much more american
obama may not have lived as long as john mccain but i would guess his education as a lawyer would give him some insight into the constitution of the united states which is probably the most important thing a president should understand, not how to fly a plane or shoot a gun. am i right here? and i know sarah palin is only the v.p. candidate but according to the answer she gave to a 3rd graders question she doesn't understand what the role of the vp is according to the constitution.
and according to the rachel maddow show there are some voting issues in colorado! ugh!
Palin: Well, we've talked a lot about that, John McCain and I have, about the missions that I'll get to embark on if we are so blessed to be hired by the American people to work for them. It's gonna be government reform, because that is what I've been able to do as a mayor and as a governor. You take on the special interests and the self-dealings. Yep, you ruffle feathers and you have the scars to prove it afterwards, but you have to take that on to give the American people that faith back in their own government. This is their government and we gotta put it back on their side. So, government reform and energy independence, can't wait to work on that. That's been my forte as the governor of an energy-producing state and as a former chair of the energy regulator entity up there in Alaska. So, look forward to that and that's a matter of national security and our economic prosperity opportunities. That though, too, the other mission that John and I are anxious for me to lead on is helping our families who have children with special needs, ushering in that spirit to Washington, D.C., where we saw, we're gonna give every child a chance and a good educational opportunity will be provided. That's gonna be a matter, too, of prioritizing the federal dollars that are already there and making sure that every child is given opportunity.
i'm sorry but i'm still confused about this ruffling feathers thing. what exactly that means for me. and we've already had one president who sounds like and idiot, we don't need another. i'm sorry but using proper grammar when you speak isn't too much to ask from the 2nd most important person on the ticket. but i guess the 1st isn't doing that great either:
hilarious!
and i'm sure you've all heard about her $150,000 make over and neiman marcus and sacs fifth avenue! so small town!
obama may not have lived as long as john mccain but i would guess his education as a lawyer would give him some insight into the constitution of the united states which is probably the most important thing a president should understand, not how to fly a plane or shoot a gun. am i right here? and i know sarah palin is only the v.p. candidate but according to the answer she gave to a 3rd graders question she doesn't understand what the role of the vp is according to the constitution.
and according to the rachel maddow show there are some voting issues in colorado! ugh!
hemp
nan wrote a blog about a documentary she watched about tommy chong and i started thinking about how we should be growing hemp in america. the other day i said to kiko that it should be legal to grow hemp in america, and he said it is, so i looked into it.
"Currently it is illegal to grow hemp in the United States without a special Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit being issued."
and of course the DEA isn't passing out permits. here is a story about how hard it is to grow hemp in america.
hemp is quickly grown:
it could be used for biomass fuel people! do you understand how huge that is? not to mention textiles, food, body care. i know people have been saying this forever but now with our economy in need of recovery growing something that can quickly be turned into products that could be produced in america seems extra important.
here's the site where i got some info.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
sad mac
hola, my computer is still in the shop and i miss her so but wanted to update with these quotes from mark twain:
"travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness."
know anyone who needs a little travel?
"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure."
seems like some public figures may have taken this quote to heart, huh?!
i am so bummed about mccain making these robot calls telling people obama is associated with terrorists. bill maher was right, when he is president millions of (stupid) americans are going to think a terrorist is president.
they also talked about how the anger hard working americans feel is channeled by republicians into anger against gays, abortion, liberal media etc. . . instead of the fact the republicans have let a huge disparity happen with the distribution of wealth. mccain says on his stump smuggly, obama wants to spread the wealth around, and i tell you hold on to your wallets. fuck n a people, 1% of the population has 90% of the wealth. this is bull shit. marriner s. eccles, fdr's chairman of the fed said:
"as in a poker game, where the chips were concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, the other fellows could stay in the game only by borrowing. when their credit ran out the game stopped."
well the game is stopping people and what are we doing? more people are apathetic than ever and the only people that can make a change are WE THE PEOPLE. i do not believe voting is enough. we need to take a lesson from france and other countries where people demand something from our government and do not just allow the rich, the banks, the insurance companies to take take take and give us nothing in return. the banks have been bailed out yet we are left to our own devices. no health insurance. no access to free college education.
i'm not sure what we can do but i know you can write you senators and congress people. i know if we keep at it something will get done. this apathy has to stop, we have to make our government of the people, by the people, for the people. not just for the rich. i say spread that money around, and he's not talking about the people who even make 6 figures. these is for the very wealthy who can afford to pay more, that 1%. the one john mccain will give tax breaks too because it will trickle down.
i wrote my senator and congress people about this fucking voting bull shit that is completely partisan and completely unfounded. how can we be a beacon of democracy when all our fucking elections are shrouded in fraud. do something!
"travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness."
know anyone who needs a little travel?
"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure."
seems like some public figures may have taken this quote to heart, huh?!
i am so bummed about mccain making these robot calls telling people obama is associated with terrorists. bill maher was right, when he is president millions of (stupid) americans are going to think a terrorist is president.
they also talked about how the anger hard working americans feel is channeled by republicians into anger against gays, abortion, liberal media etc. . . instead of the fact the republicans have let a huge disparity happen with the distribution of wealth. mccain says on his stump smuggly, obama wants to spread the wealth around, and i tell you hold on to your wallets. fuck n a people, 1% of the population has 90% of the wealth. this is bull shit. marriner s. eccles, fdr's chairman of the fed said:
"as in a poker game, where the chips were concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, the other fellows could stay in the game only by borrowing. when their credit ran out the game stopped."
well the game is stopping people and what are we doing? more people are apathetic than ever and the only people that can make a change are WE THE PEOPLE. i do not believe voting is enough. we need to take a lesson from france and other countries where people demand something from our government and do not just allow the rich, the banks, the insurance companies to take take take and give us nothing in return. the banks have been bailed out yet we are left to our own devices. no health insurance. no access to free college education.
i'm not sure what we can do but i know you can write you senators and congress people. i know if we keep at it something will get done. this apathy has to stop, we have to make our government of the people, by the people, for the people. not just for the rich. i say spread that money around, and he's not talking about the people who even make 6 figures. these is for the very wealthy who can afford to pay more, that 1%. the one john mccain will give tax breaks too because it will trickle down.
i wrote my senator and congress people about this fucking voting bull shit that is completely partisan and completely unfounded. how can we be a beacon of democracy when all our fucking elections are shrouded in fraud. do something!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
some stuff
listening to planet money's podcast and even though mccain is touting the fault of obama and freddie and fannie this financial downturn did NOT start with them. charles duhigg, a reporter from the NY times that has been covering the story said. the blame can be passed around to many including wall street, international investors, brokers and banks who created and popularized sub prime mortgages. fannie and freddie got into the game much later after they started to loose their market share to other firms that were accepting these loans because wall street was buying any they could find. so they did by riskier and riskier loans, as did all the parties involved. so he said although they weren't the biggest part of the problem they helped fan the fire.
also john mccain also saying he was trying so hard for regulation of fannie and freddie, and although he did co-sponser the bill, he jumped on to it late and the bill itself may not have prevented this from happening anyway. it would have cut the amount of loans that fannie and freddie could by but it was up to the regulator that was in charge, so he might not have changed the pace and type of loans they were buying. there is blame for democrats too who did urge f&f to buy up loans because they thought it would help strengthen the economy.
and we all know that although barack obama was given a lot of funds from f&f, john mccain's top advisor's firm was still recieving funds from them up until just 2 months ago, so they are both in the same boat on that issue.
also john mccain also saying he was trying so hard for regulation of fannie and freddie, and although he did co-sponser the bill, he jumped on to it late and the bill itself may not have prevented this from happening anyway. it would have cut the amount of loans that fannie and freddie could by but it was up to the regulator that was in charge, so he might not have changed the pace and type of loans they were buying. there is blame for democrats too who did urge f&f to buy up loans because they thought it would help strengthen the economy.
and we all know that although barack obama was given a lot of funds from f&f, john mccain's top advisor's firm was still recieving funds from them up until just 2 months ago, so they are both in the same boat on that issue.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
palin guilty
i'm sure you're heard, she abused her power. just the kind of person we want in the white house.
Friday, October 10, 2008
again people it's evolve or die time
how can people be so afraid of change that they label barak obama the "other". so different from my self it will destroy me "terrorist". god these people seem like such idiots.
why why why
do people think they can believe a random forwarded email. it's so stupid. i'm sure i've done it in the past but i always try and do my own research now.
i'm friends with adrian curry on myspace, don't ask, but she's been writing a lot of blogs about the election and reading the comments just kills me.
obama is not a muslim and just because he attended a predominantly muslim school while living in indonesia, he also went to a catholic school there.
it's retarded. check it out
Hi everyone!
Barack Obama was actually sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He's regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years.
That's the truth -- Barack Obama is definitely a committed Christian.
I don’t know who starts these nasty rumors about his faith, but they’re really insulting to people of all faiths.
Learn the facts and see photos of Barack swearing into the U. S. Senate on the Bible:
http://my.barackobama.com/baracksfaith
Together we can make sure these negative and divisive attacks don't affect this election.
Thanks for your help.
i'm friends with adrian curry on myspace, don't ask, but she's been writing a lot of blogs about the election and reading the comments just kills me.
obama is not a muslim and just because he attended a predominantly muslim school while living in indonesia, he also went to a catholic school there.
it's retarded. check it out
better yet from the dogs mouth:
Barack Obama was actually sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He's regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years.
That's the truth -- Barack Obama is definitely a committed Christian.
I don’t know who starts these nasty rumors about his faith, but they’re really insulting to people of all faiths.
Learn the facts and see photos of Barack swearing into the U. S. Senate on the Bible:
http://my.barackobama.com/baracksfaith
Together we can make sure these negative and divisive attacks don't affect this election.
Thanks for your help.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
just a thought
isn't it stupid that the mccain campaign is now asking "who is the real obama" after many negative comments about the two books he wrote?! why don't they just read them! (and i may have said this before but john mccain has published many books too, hypocrite.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
passing them on
The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.
john mccain double talk express
mccain with karl rove's a team
mccain and his own radical ties
McCain and G. Gordon Liddy are good ol' friends. For those who are unaware, Liddy helped plan the Watergate break-in that would cost Nixon his presidency and landed Liddy a four-year jail sentence. check out this article.
How close are McCain and Liddy? At least as close as Obama and Ayers appear to be. In 1998, Liddy's home was the site of a McCain fundraiser. Over the years, he has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator's campaigns--including $1,000 this year.
Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as "an old friend," and McCain sounded like one. "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family," he gushed. "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great."
Liddy, on the impact Adolf Hitler had on him as a child:
When he listened to Hitler on the radio, it "made me feel a strength inside I had never known before," he explains. "Hitler's sheer animal confidence and power of will [entranced me]. He sent an electric current through my body."
How close are McCain and Liddy? At least as close as Obama and Ayers appear to be. In 1998, Liddy's home was the site of a McCain fundraiser. Over the years, he has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator's campaigns--including $1,000 this year.
Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as "an old friend," and McCain sounded like one. "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family," he gushed. "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great."
Liddy, on the impact Adolf Hitler had on him as a child:
When he listened to Hitler on the radio, it "made me feel a strength inside I had never known before," he explains. "Hitler's sheer animal confidence and power of will [entranced me]. He sent an electric current through my body."
it's not the surge
just fyi, i think there may be a reason obama is not conceding that the surge has worked, because it hasn't. bob woodward was on bill mahar promoting his new book and he has top secret information from the government that it is not the surge that has decreased the violence it is secret military ops that we won't know about for decades to come. hmmmm. . . it was an enlightening interview please watch!
Monday, October 6, 2008
from ted
i don't know who ted is but a therapist that works with me emailed it to me and i liked it.
This is a time of completion. Take it as a time for personal
completion of projects you have been associated with. Free yourself
form the burdens you have imposed upon yourself by adhering to the
needs of society. Instead, recognize that this cycle of
unsustainable growth and exploitation of the planet is coming to an
end. Do not lament its demise. Instead recognize it as a necessary
step in the evolution of the planet.
You must have the courage to see current crisis for what it is, a
wonderfully necessary step forward for humanity. The dissolution of
the greed and power based culture we have been part of will give way
to a much different world. It will be based more on the female
traits of intuition, nurturing, compassion, and forgiveness. These
are qualities you must emphasize in your own development. Help
others understand the truth behind this collapse of civilization as
we have known it and rejoice in the knowledge that it is leading to
a more wonderful and loving world. However, people must be educated
and properly led in order to avoid dwelling on fear and losing hope.
Love & Light,
Ted
Friday, October 3, 2008
thanks tyler
kiko said something today that struck me. for the poor people who are going to vote for mccain, you're on the wrong side of history. this is a historical election and you will be on the wrong side of making history, like those who didn't vote for kennedy. you don't want to be one of the fools. we can't afford more fools in the white house.
palin didn't bomb, but she didn't answer the questions and she IS NOT a maverick! she is a telling so many lies it is so frustrating. how can we have a vice president that says, heck. we need a vice president that understands roland barthes and can name their news sources. who does not want to do to education and healthcare what was done in the financial sector. someone you may not want to just have a beer with, but someone who UNDERSTANDS ALL THE ISSUES. actually sarah palin doesn't understand shit, not even her strong suit, energy. clean green natural gas, is young petrol.
also, can anyone else please start spreading the word, iranian president ahmadinejad DID NOT SAY HE WANTED TO WIPE ISREAL OFF THE FACE OF THE MAP. It was mistranslated. He was quoting an ayatollah and the actual quote properly translate is: "The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time." why why why! we just have to have someone to hate?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
more moore
Friends,
The richest 400 Americans -- that's right, just four hundred people -- own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion -- the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the "bailout." Why don't they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They'd still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves!
Of course, they are not going to do that -- at least not voluntarily. George W. Bush was handed a $127 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not his, he did what the rich prefer to do -- spend it and never look back. Now we have a $9.5 trillion debt. Why on earth would we even think of giving these robber barons any more of our money?
I would like to propose my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, are predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps. Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: There... is... no... free... lunch. And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there will be no handouts from us to you. The Senate, tonight, is going to try to rush their version of a "bailout" bill to a vote. They must be stopped. We did it on Monday with the House, and we can do it again today with the Senate.
It is clear, though, that we cannot simply keep protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think Congress should do. So, after consulting with a number of people smarter than Phil Gramm, here is my proposal, now known as "Mike's Rescue Plan." It has 10 simple, straightforward points. They are:
1. APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO CRIMINALLY INDICT ANYONE ON WALL STREET WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COLLAPSE. Before any new money is expended, Congress must commit, by resolution, to criminally prosecute anyone who had anything to do with the attempted sacking of our economy. This means that anyone who committed insider trading, securities fraud or any action that helped bring about this collapse must go to jail. This Congress must call for a Special Prosecutor who will vigorously go after everyone who created the mess, and anyone else who attempts to scam the public in the future.
2. THE RICH MUST PAY FOR THEIR OWN BAILOUT. They may have to live in 5 houses instead of 7. They may have to drive 9 cars instead of 13. The chef for their mini-terriers may have to be reassigned. But there is no way in hell, after forcing family incomes to go down more than $2,000 dollars during the Bush years, that working people and the middle class are going to fork over one dime to underwrite the next yacht purchase.
If they truly need the $700 billion they say they need, well, here is an easy way they can raise it:
a) Every couple who makes over a million dollars a year and every single taxpayer who makes over $500,000 a year will pay a 10% surcharge tax for five years. (It's the Senator Sanders plan. He's like Colonel Sanders, only he's out to fry the right chickens.) That means the rich will still be paying less income tax than when Carter was president. This will raise a total of $300 billion.
b) Like nearly every other democracy, charge a 0.25% tax on every stock transaction. This will raise more than $200 billion in a year.
c) Because every stockholder is a patriotic American, stockholders will forgo receiving a dividend check for one quarter and instead this money will go the treasury to help pay for the bailout.
d) 25% of major U.S. corporations currently pay NO federal income tax. Federal corporate tax revenues currently amount to 1.7% of the GDP compared to 5% in the 1950s. If we raise the corporate income tax back to the level of the 1950s, that gives us an extra $500 billion.
All of this combined should be enough to end the calamity. The rich will get to keep their mansions and their servants, and our United States government ("COUNTRY FIRST!") will have a little leftover to repair some roads, bridges and schools.
3. BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BUILD AN EIGHTH HOME. There are 1.3 million homes in foreclosure right now. That is what is at the heart of this problem. So instead of giving the money to the banks as a gift, pay down each of these mortgages by $100,000. Force the banks to renegotiate the mortgage so the homeowner can pay on its current value. To insure that this help does no go to speculators and those who have tried to make money by flipping houses, this bailout is only for people's primary residence. And in return for the $100K paydown on the existing mortgage, the government gets to share in the holding of the mortgage so that it can get some of its money back. Thus, the total initial cost of fixing the mortgage crisis at its roots (instead of with the greedy lenders) is $150 billion, not $700 billion.
And let's set the record straight. People who have defaulted on their mortgages are not "bad risks." They are our fellow Americans, and all they wanted was what we all want and most of us still get: a home to call their own. But during the Bush years, millions of them lost the decent paying jobs they had. Six million fell into poverty. Seven million lost their health insurance. And every one of them saw their real wages go down by $2,000. Those who dare to look down on these Americans who got hit with one bad break after another should be ashamed. We are a better, stronger, safer and happier society when all of our citizens can afford to live in a home that they own.
4. IF YOUR BANK OR COMPANY GETS ANY OF OUR MONEY IN A "BAILOUT," THEN WE OWN YOU. Sorry, that's how it's done. If the bank gives me money so I can buy a house, the bank "owns" that house until I pay it all back -- with interest. Same deal for Wall Street. Whatever money you need to stay afloat, if our government considers you a safe risk -- and necessary for the good of the country -- then you can get a loan, but we will own you. If you default, we will sell you. This is how the Swedish government did it and it worked.
5. ALL REGULATIONS MUST BE RESTORED. THE REAGAN REVOLUTION IS DEAD. This catastrophe happened because we let the fox have the keys to the henhouse. In 1999, Phil Gramm authored a bill to remove all the regulations that governed Wall Street and our banking system. The bill passed and Clinton signed it. Here's what Sen. Phil Gramm, McCain's chief economic advisor, said at the bill signing:
"In the 1930s ... it was believed that government was the answer. It was believed that stability and growth came from government overriding the functioning of free markets.
"We are here today to repeal [that] because we have learned that government is not the answer. We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom.
"I am proud to be here because this is an important bill; it is a deregulatory bill. I believe that that is the wave of the future, and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it a reality."
This bill must be repealed. Bill Clinton can help by leading the effort for the repeal of the Gramm bill and the reinstating of even tougher regulations regarding our financial institutions. And when they're done with that, they can restore the regulations for the airlines, the inspection of our food, the oil industry, OSHA, and every other entity that affects our daily lives. All oversight provisions for any "bailout" must have enforcement monies attached to them and criminal penalties for all offenders.
6. IF IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL, THEN THAT MEANS IT'S TOO BIG TO EXIST. Allowing the creation of these mega-mergers and not enforcing the monopoly and anti-trust laws has allowed a number of financial institutions and corporations to become so large, the very thought of their collapse means an even bigger collapse across the entire economy. No one or two companies should have this kind of power. The so-called "economic Pearl Harbor" can't happen when you have hundreds -- thousands -- of institutions where people have their money. When you have a dozen auto companies, if one goes belly-up, we don't face a national disaster. If you have three separately-owned daily newspapers in your town, then one media company can't call all the shots (I know... What am I thinking?! Who reads a paper anymore? Sure glad all those mergers and buyouts left us with a strong and free press!). Laws must be enacted to prevent companies from being so large and dominant that with one slingshot to the eye, the giant falls and dies. And no institution should be allowed to set up money schemes that no one can understand. If you can't explain it in two sentences, you shouldn't be taking anyone's money.
7. NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE PAID MORE THAN 40 TIMES THEIR AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, AND NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD RECEIVE ANY KIND OF "PARACHUTE" OTHER THAN THE VERY GENEROUS SALARY HE OR SHE MADE WHILE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY. In 1980, the average American CEO made 45 times what their employees made. By 2003, they were making 254 times what their workers made. After 8 years of Bush, they now make over 400 times what their average employee makes. How this can happen at publicly held companies is beyond reason. In Britain, the average CEO makes 28 times what their average employee makes. In Japan, it's only 17 times! The last I heard, the CEO of Toyota was living the high life in Tokyo. How does he do it on so little money? Seriously, this is an outrage. We have created the mess we're in by letting the people at the top become bloated beyond belief with millions of dollars. This has to stop. Not only should no executive who receives help out of this mess profit from it, but any executive who was in charge of running his company into the ground should be fired before the company receives any help.
8. STRENGTHEN THE FDIC AND MAKE IT A MODEL FOR PROTECTING NOT ONLY PEOPLE'S SAVINGS, BUT ALSO THEIR PENSIONS AND THEIR HOMES. Obama was correct yesterday to propose expanding FDIC protection of people's savings in their banks to $250,000. But this same sort of government insurance must be given to our nation's pension funds. People should never have to worry about whether or not the money they've put away for their old age will be there. This will mean strict government oversight of companies who manage their employees' funds -- or perhaps it means that the companies will have to turn over those funds and their management to the government. People's private retirement funds must also be protected, but perhaps it's time to consider not having one's retirement invested in the casino known as the stock market. Our government should have a solemn duty to guarantee that no one who grows old in this country has to worry about ending up destitute.
9. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, CALM DOWN, AND NOT LET FEAR RULE THE DAY. Turn off the TV! We are not in the Second Great Depression. The sky is not falling. Pundits and politicians are lying to us so fast and furious it's hard not to be affected by all the fear mongering. Even I, yesterday, wrote to you and repeated what I heard on the news, that the Dow had the biggest one day drop in its history. Well, that's true in terms of points, but its 7% drop came nowhere close to Black Monday in 1987 when the stock market in one day lost 23% of its value. In the '80s, 3,000 banks closed, but America didn't go out of business. These institutions have always had their ups and downs and eventually it works out. It has to, because the rich do not like their wealth being disrupted! They have a vested interest in calming things down and getting back into the Jacuzzi.
As crazy as things are right now, tens of thousands of people got a car loan this week. Thousands went to the bank and got a mortgage to buy a home. Students just back to college found banks more than happy to put them into hock for the next 15 years with a student loan. Life has gone on. Not a single person has lost any of their money if it's in a bank or a treasury note or a CD. And the most amazing thing is that the American public hasn't bought the scare campaign. The citizens didn't blink, and instead told Congress to take that bailout and shove it. THAT was impressive. Why didn't the population succumb to the fright-filled warnings from their president and his cronies? Well, you can only say 'Saddam has da bomb' so many times before the people realize you're a lying sack of shite. After eight long years, the nation is worn out and simply can't take it any longer.
10. CREATE A NATIONAL BANK, A "PEOPLE'S BANK." If we really are itching to print up a trillion dollars, instead of giving it to a few rich people, why don't we give it to ourselves? Now that we own Freddie and Fannie, why not set up a people's bank? One that can provide low-interest loans for all sorts of people who want to own a home, start a small business, go to school, come up with the cure for cancer or create the next great invention. And now that we own AIG, the country's largest insurance company, let's take the next step and provide health insurance for everyone. Medicare for all. It will save us so much money in the long run. And we won't be 12th on the life expectancy list. We'll be able to have a longer life, enjoying our government-protected pension, and living to see the day when the corporate criminals who caused so much misery are let out of prison so that we can help reacclimate them to civilian life -- a life with one nice home and a gas-free car that was invented with help from the People's Bank.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. Call your Senators now. Here's a backup link in case we crash that site again. They are going to attempt their own version of the Looting of America tonight. And let your reps know if you agree with my 10-point plan.
The richest 400 Americans -- that's right, just four hundred people -- own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion -- the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the "bailout." Why don't they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They'd still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves!
Of course, they are not going to do that -- at least not voluntarily. George W. Bush was handed a $127 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not his, he did what the rich prefer to do -- spend it and never look back. Now we have a $9.5 trillion debt. Why on earth would we even think of giving these robber barons any more of our money?
I would like to propose my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, are predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps. Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: There... is... no... free... lunch. And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there will be no handouts from us to you. The Senate, tonight, is going to try to rush their version of a "bailout" bill to a vote. They must be stopped. We did it on Monday with the House, and we can do it again today with the Senate.
It is clear, though, that we cannot simply keep protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think Congress should do. So, after consulting with a number of people smarter than Phil Gramm, here is my proposal, now known as "Mike's Rescue Plan." It has 10 simple, straightforward points. They are:
1. APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO CRIMINALLY INDICT ANYONE ON WALL STREET WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COLLAPSE. Before any new money is expended, Congress must commit, by resolution, to criminally prosecute anyone who had anything to do with the attempted sacking of our economy. This means that anyone who committed insider trading, securities fraud or any action that helped bring about this collapse must go to jail. This Congress must call for a Special Prosecutor who will vigorously go after everyone who created the mess, and anyone else who attempts to scam the public in the future.
2. THE RICH MUST PAY FOR THEIR OWN BAILOUT. They may have to live in 5 houses instead of 7. They may have to drive 9 cars instead of 13. The chef for their mini-terriers may have to be reassigned. But there is no way in hell, after forcing family incomes to go down more than $2,000 dollars during the Bush years, that working people and the middle class are going to fork over one dime to underwrite the next yacht purchase.
If they truly need the $700 billion they say they need, well, here is an easy way they can raise it:
a) Every couple who makes over a million dollars a year and every single taxpayer who makes over $500,000 a year will pay a 10% surcharge tax for five years. (It's the Senator Sanders plan. He's like Colonel Sanders, only he's out to fry the right chickens.) That means the rich will still be paying less income tax than when Carter was president. This will raise a total of $300 billion.
b) Like nearly every other democracy, charge a 0.25% tax on every stock transaction. This will raise more than $200 billion in a year.
c) Because every stockholder is a patriotic American, stockholders will forgo receiving a dividend check for one quarter and instead this money will go the treasury to help pay for the bailout.
d) 25% of major U.S. corporations currently pay NO federal income tax. Federal corporate tax revenues currently amount to 1.7% of the GDP compared to 5% in the 1950s. If we raise the corporate income tax back to the level of the 1950s, that gives us an extra $500 billion.
All of this combined should be enough to end the calamity. The rich will get to keep their mansions and their servants, and our United States government ("COUNTRY FIRST!") will have a little leftover to repair some roads, bridges and schools.
3. BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BUILD AN EIGHTH HOME. There are 1.3 million homes in foreclosure right now. That is what is at the heart of this problem. So instead of giving the money to the banks as a gift, pay down each of these mortgages by $100,000. Force the banks to renegotiate the mortgage so the homeowner can pay on its current value. To insure that this help does no go to speculators and those who have tried to make money by flipping houses, this bailout is only for people's primary residence. And in return for the $100K paydown on the existing mortgage, the government gets to share in the holding of the mortgage so that it can get some of its money back. Thus, the total initial cost of fixing the mortgage crisis at its roots (instead of with the greedy lenders) is $150 billion, not $700 billion.
And let's set the record straight. People who have defaulted on their mortgages are not "bad risks." They are our fellow Americans, and all they wanted was what we all want and most of us still get: a home to call their own. But during the Bush years, millions of them lost the decent paying jobs they had. Six million fell into poverty. Seven million lost their health insurance. And every one of them saw their real wages go down by $2,000. Those who dare to look down on these Americans who got hit with one bad break after another should be ashamed. We are a better, stronger, safer and happier society when all of our citizens can afford to live in a home that they own.
4. IF YOUR BANK OR COMPANY GETS ANY OF OUR MONEY IN A "BAILOUT," THEN WE OWN YOU. Sorry, that's how it's done. If the bank gives me money so I can buy a house, the bank "owns" that house until I pay it all back -- with interest. Same deal for Wall Street. Whatever money you need to stay afloat, if our government considers you a safe risk -- and necessary for the good of the country -- then you can get a loan, but we will own you. If you default, we will sell you. This is how the Swedish government did it and it worked.
5. ALL REGULATIONS MUST BE RESTORED. THE REAGAN REVOLUTION IS DEAD. This catastrophe happened because we let the fox have the keys to the henhouse. In 1999, Phil Gramm authored a bill to remove all the regulations that governed Wall Street and our banking system. The bill passed and Clinton signed it. Here's what Sen. Phil Gramm, McCain's chief economic advisor, said at the bill signing:
"In the 1930s ... it was believed that government was the answer. It was believed that stability and growth came from government overriding the functioning of free markets.
"We are here today to repeal [that] because we have learned that government is not the answer. We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom.
"I am proud to be here because this is an important bill; it is a deregulatory bill. I believe that that is the wave of the future, and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it a reality."
This bill must be repealed. Bill Clinton can help by leading the effort for the repeal of the Gramm bill and the reinstating of even tougher regulations regarding our financial institutions. And when they're done with that, they can restore the regulations for the airlines, the inspection of our food, the oil industry, OSHA, and every other entity that affects our daily lives. All oversight provisions for any "bailout" must have enforcement monies attached to them and criminal penalties for all offenders.
6. IF IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL, THEN THAT MEANS IT'S TOO BIG TO EXIST. Allowing the creation of these mega-mergers and not enforcing the monopoly and anti-trust laws has allowed a number of financial institutions and corporations to become so large, the very thought of their collapse means an even bigger collapse across the entire economy. No one or two companies should have this kind of power. The so-called "economic Pearl Harbor" can't happen when you have hundreds -- thousands -- of institutions where people have their money. When you have a dozen auto companies, if one goes belly-up, we don't face a national disaster. If you have three separately-owned daily newspapers in your town, then one media company can't call all the shots (I know... What am I thinking?! Who reads a paper anymore? Sure glad all those mergers and buyouts left us with a strong and free press!). Laws must be enacted to prevent companies from being so large and dominant that with one slingshot to the eye, the giant falls and dies. And no institution should be allowed to set up money schemes that no one can understand. If you can't explain it in two sentences, you shouldn't be taking anyone's money.
7. NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE PAID MORE THAN 40 TIMES THEIR AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, AND NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD RECEIVE ANY KIND OF "PARACHUTE" OTHER THAN THE VERY GENEROUS SALARY HE OR SHE MADE WHILE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY. In 1980, the average American CEO made 45 times what their employees made. By 2003, they were making 254 times what their workers made. After 8 years of Bush, they now make over 400 times what their average employee makes. How this can happen at publicly held companies is beyond reason. In Britain, the average CEO makes 28 times what their average employee makes. In Japan, it's only 17 times! The last I heard, the CEO of Toyota was living the high life in Tokyo. How does he do it on so little money? Seriously, this is an outrage. We have created the mess we're in by letting the people at the top become bloated beyond belief with millions of dollars. This has to stop. Not only should no executive who receives help out of this mess profit from it, but any executive who was in charge of running his company into the ground should be fired before the company receives any help.
8. STRENGTHEN THE FDIC AND MAKE IT A MODEL FOR PROTECTING NOT ONLY PEOPLE'S SAVINGS, BUT ALSO THEIR PENSIONS AND THEIR HOMES. Obama was correct yesterday to propose expanding FDIC protection of people's savings in their banks to $250,000. But this same sort of government insurance must be given to our nation's pension funds. People should never have to worry about whether or not the money they've put away for their old age will be there. This will mean strict government oversight of companies who manage their employees' funds -- or perhaps it means that the companies will have to turn over those funds and their management to the government. People's private retirement funds must also be protected, but perhaps it's time to consider not having one's retirement invested in the casino known as the stock market. Our government should have a solemn duty to guarantee that no one who grows old in this country has to worry about ending up destitute.
9. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, CALM DOWN, AND NOT LET FEAR RULE THE DAY. Turn off the TV! We are not in the Second Great Depression. The sky is not falling. Pundits and politicians are lying to us so fast and furious it's hard not to be affected by all the fear mongering. Even I, yesterday, wrote to you and repeated what I heard on the news, that the Dow had the biggest one day drop in its history. Well, that's true in terms of points, but its 7% drop came nowhere close to Black Monday in 1987 when the stock market in one day lost 23% of its value. In the '80s, 3,000 banks closed, but America didn't go out of business. These institutions have always had their ups and downs and eventually it works out. It has to, because the rich do not like their wealth being disrupted! They have a vested interest in calming things down and getting back into the Jacuzzi.
As crazy as things are right now, tens of thousands of people got a car loan this week. Thousands went to the bank and got a mortgage to buy a home. Students just back to college found banks more than happy to put them into hock for the next 15 years with a student loan. Life has gone on. Not a single person has lost any of their money if it's in a bank or a treasury note or a CD. And the most amazing thing is that the American public hasn't bought the scare campaign. The citizens didn't blink, and instead told Congress to take that bailout and shove it. THAT was impressive. Why didn't the population succumb to the fright-filled warnings from their president and his cronies? Well, you can only say 'Saddam has da bomb' so many times before the people realize you're a lying sack of shite. After eight long years, the nation is worn out and simply can't take it any longer.
10. CREATE A NATIONAL BANK, A "PEOPLE'S BANK." If we really are itching to print up a trillion dollars, instead of giving it to a few rich people, why don't we give it to ourselves? Now that we own Freddie and Fannie, why not set up a people's bank? One that can provide low-interest loans for all sorts of people who want to own a home, start a small business, go to school, come up with the cure for cancer or create the next great invention. And now that we own AIG, the country's largest insurance company, let's take the next step and provide health insurance for everyone. Medicare for all. It will save us so much money in the long run. And we won't be 12th on the life expectancy list. We'll be able to have a longer life, enjoying our government-protected pension, and living to see the day when the corporate criminals who caused so much misery are let out of prison so that we can help reacclimate them to civilian life -- a life with one nice home and a gas-free car that was invented with help from the People's Bank.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. Call your Senators now. Here's a backup link in case we crash that site again. They are going to attempt their own version of the Looting of America tonight. And let your reps know if you agree with my 10-point plan.
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