jim's op/ed

AIG has received over $170 billion in public money.. AKA the "bailout", TARP and also loans from the FED..

They are getting some grief for paying bonuses.. BIG DUH!
The 170m payed as 'retention' bonuses' are defended as a contractual obligation.
'Retention bonuses', REALLY, you think that it is an acceptable business model to reward those in charge of this tremendous collapse .. REALLY?
Some people at AIG did their job and may have deserved bonuses but the overall picture is so bad that you have to ask why should managers or the CEO deserve anything except a pink slip?

In 2008 AIG/Valic became AIG Retirement and now AIG has rebranded itself yet again as AIU since receiving bail out funds and begins to divest itself to pay its debts to the US Government.

AIG (or AIU) needs a new image and they have a list of PR firms hired to polish this turd and one stand out firm is Burson-Marstellar.
Rachel Maddow reported them as the "PR firm from Hell".. "When evil needs a PR firm"...
The client list is a who's who of dictators, environmental assassins and such.

At first they (BushCo) picked Henry Paulson (the prick) to orchestrate dispersal of TARP funds part 1 , a portion of which went to AIG who then paid 37b to Goldman Sachs, among others ...
And then came Geithner to direct part 2.
Both of these shills at one time worked for Goldman Sachs.
Can you say Conflict of Interest?.. Yeah, knew you could..

You might ask why would Congress agree to pour billions into AIG rather than let them fail?
"Too big to fail" is the lamest excuse to bailout a horribly mismanaged system of banks and insurance but AIG insures the Congress pension trust, so we know who's interests are being protected here.

After receiving the second installment in bailout funds the AIG execs blow $400k on a week long retreat to a luxury resort and spa in California... Feed the greed..

Apparently they haven't received enough money since clients of VALIC "Thrift Plan" received a letter the end of MAY stating that the "quarterly participant fee" has been increased from $9 to $20 per quarter.

So there was an insured investment plan that pretty much morphed into unregulated gambling, they lost, the economy and markets tanked, our 401s, 403s and such went into the toilet, they were bailed out with taxpayer money and then they raised their fees because of "decreased revenue received from the fund companies in the plan caused by the recent decline in financial markets".

Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered..
Any thoughts?


more on AIG...

Matt Taibbi shines a bright light on Goldman Sachs and they look guilty as hell..

Labels: Q

I came across a petition to stop Titan Cement from building a plant in Castle Hayne near the Cape Fear River.
The question is... Why build a coal fired cement plant that spews mercury into the atmosphere near Wilmington, along the Cape Fear River and sacrifice 1000 acres of wetlands?
The petition has over 200 signatures from scientists, doctors and other professionals warning of the environmental impact and toxicity of mercury. Mercury toxicity is proven to affect pregnancy and child development. The Cape Fear river is already listed as "impaired" due to mercury.

Seems like a no-brainer... Big DUH... NIMBY.... but this kinda stinks of government in bed with corporations and their lobbyists.. Ya think..

The petition @stoptitan.org tells a story of how Former NC Governor Mike Easley worked with some friends to bring in Titan, sacrifice 1000 acres of precious wetlands and secure his next job.

"Titan now has nine lobbyists in Raleigh. The top lobbyist is John Merritt, who was former Governor Mike Easley’s Chief of Staff (2002-2003). Mr. Merritt, along with four other Titan lobbyists, works for a massive Richmond-based law firm called McGuireWoods. It turns out, Mr. Merritt was lobbying for Titan when Gov. Easley approved a $300,000 grant to bring the company to NC. Recently McGuireWoods made another new hire: a former governor named Mike Easley. And now, as reported in the New York Times, Easley is being investigated by a Federal Grand Jury for allegedly taking private flights and other incentives from businesses while he was governor."

Some people will argue that Titan will bring some desperately needed jobs but that doesn't even make sense compared to the sacrifice of 1000 acres of wetlands or increasing the mercury you will breath. It's suggested that the Titan plant will bring about 160 jobs but about half will be filled by techs brought in from other locations.

Titan had released a statement thanking current Governor Bev Perdue and the NC Commerce Department for their support in efforts to defeat SB-699.
Maybe you would want to call Governor Perdue, the freakin' NC Commerce Dept and ask them WTF?

My problem (other than the obvious mental ones) is that I can't wrap my head around why more isn't being done to PROTECT wetlands, forests and rivers. You would think people would be more aware of the damage that has already been done by exploiting our environment and our natural resources and that people would say 'Enough is Enough'!

Mercury in the air means mercury in your water and then in your fish and then in you and your family.
Do you really want more?

* more info links..
@southernenvironmental.org
@islandgazette
@earthjustice
@BlueNC

Where is OUR single payer universal health care?

Congress and the Senate has it..
Canada has it..
Brazil has it..
Cuba has it..
England has it..
France has it..
Germany has it..
Taiwan has it..
etc, etc the list goes on..

Our system of government is apparently so badly broken when the blatant hypocrisy of our so-called representatives is demonstrated by their allegiance to Insurance companies and Big Pharma but continue to deny health care for the citizens they swore to represent.
Congress and the Senate continue to ignore the needs and the will of the people and they need to be put on notice.
They continue to embrace those corporations that donate money to their reelection campaigns.
They show no compunction about spending trillions to rescue banks from their own greed and mismanagement but we are denied health care for all.
They spend trillions to invade, build bases, occupy and destroy foreign countries but we can't have universal health care.

Just how fucked up is our government?
It's not about Democrats or Republicans, together they share in this immoral imperative.
We must start over. Replace these 'lifers' that have forgotten who they serve and where they came from.
Vote out the liars and thieves. Cut their benefits and kick them to the curb.
We need term limits, campaign finance reform and very strict rules for lobbies.

Arlen Specter is a good example of what makes these delusional SOB's tick.
He openly admitted that he would change parties because he felt with all the problems of the Republican party, that he could not get reelected. But he won't support Democrats.
Pulled a 'Lieberman' he did. So obsessed with the need to get reelected he will do whatever it takes.
I wish he and Lieberman would take a long walk off a short pier. They would not be missed.

The corporate whores in Washington need a wake up call. They need emails, phone calls, letters and petitions to flood the hill.

more info from other sources..

Get Out in the Streets and FIGHT for Universal, Single Payer Health Care
@opednews

Missing in Action on Healthcare?
@The Nation

The Promise of Universal Health Care: An Open Letter to President Obama
@ HuffPo.. as Dr. Mohit points out in this article, a nonprofit, single payer system would save about a trillion each year..
So now what's your excuse big ears?

We had two pet rabbits.
About ten years ago my wife started talking about getting a cat. I have had a lot of pets including cats. Cats are great but it used to kind of bug me that they would get up on the kitchen counter when you're not around. Sneaky little buggers.
So with that in mind I suggested maybe a rabbit. I had a rabbit when I was a kid but apparently forgot the details.
We looked at bunnies in a pet store. They were so small and cute. I suggested getting two so they would have company when we were not around (another in a long list of bright ideas).
We purchased two; a male and female; and named them Grey and Velvet. Grey was a black and white Dutch. Velvet was the softest color of chocolate.
When they were six months old we took them to the vet for a checkup and neutering.
Two went in and only one came home.
I did not know rabbits don't do to well under anesthesia as we found out when Velvet didn't come home. So here is Grey by himself and he needs a buddy. Back to the pet store to get another girl. Came home with a cute little dwarf, white with small chocolate spots. Found out later when his little pink scrotum appeared that Thumper was not a girl.
Over the years we did our best to spoil the little rascals. I made them huts out of wood and used large paper bags to simulate dens. Cut up and connected boxes for them to explore, some full of shredded newspaper. We grew parsley and carrots for the little gourmets.
They had close to ten years with us and the last six were in the freakin' kitchen.
Yeah that's right, the guy who was concerned about a cat in the kitchen has two fur balls in the damn kitchen.
Thumper was the younger of the two guys but he passed away during the night on May 3rd. Grey lived only two more days and passed away mid morning on the 5th. It was kinda strange, like an old couple when one passes, then shortly thereafter so does the other.

















Now the kitchen has been cleaned up and all the boxes, cages and fur removed but there is also an empty space, in more ways than one.
I catch myself walking into the kitchen and look towards the corner to check on the bunnies...
Rest in peace little dudes..

No more pets...

Here we go again..
"A recently proposed but little-noticed Senate bill would allow the federal government to shut down the Internet in times of declared emergency, and enables unprecedented federal oversight of private network administration."

*****
Every time we turn around Our Government, Our Elected Officials are throwing some deluded chaos theory at us in an attempt to raise the threat levels so that ANOTHER piece of intrusive legislation can be passed (IE-Patriot Act) and give them MORE control all the while stripping away at our rights and civil liberties!
Cybersecurity Act of 2009

*****

"Furthermore, the bill contains a particularly dangerous provision that could cripple privacy and security in one fell swoop:

The Secretary of Commerce— shall have access to all relevant data concerning (critical infrastructure) networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access…"

*****

Last week they said that the Chinese and Russians are a threat to our power infrastructure.
So first they feed bullshit to the MSM and raise the threat level. Later when they pull the plug on our internet they can impose censureship to control the masses political discourse. Like China..

I fear once they have the power and 'unplug' we would lose the diversity of smaller websites, networks and systems to the big multinational MSM bullies that are already under government control. Another troubling aspect of this bill is Secure DNS ( Secure Domain Name Service) which could be used to limit US traffic to US sites.
It's like they had movie night at the White House and watched 'Live Free or Die Hard' and somebody thought 'Ya know, this might be a good idea to exploit.'
Unplugging critical systems is NOT the answer. Oy, I may have to get a CB..

Here again we are confronted with a calculated deception or they just aren't competent enough to make rational decisions.
The ' internet' is an open door to the world but the different elements of an infrastructure should act independently as an 'intranet' and as a secure closed network.
It would be kind of stupid to put access to critical systems on an open public domain.. Duh..
This cyberscare is propaganda.. a' false flag'..

The Obama administration is currently reviewing information about marijuana laws, the impact on society and considering the input they have received from the general public to stop the 'War on Drugs' and decriminalize pot. Some key elements that have brought decriminalization to the table are the escalating problems on the US/Mexican border and the millions of emails, calls and letters from the public.

Ha ha... April Fools..
Made you look.. Gave you false hope..

Yes I know, it's not funny. Still waiting for 'hope & change', right...
Prohibition is not the biggest problem we face today but it's damn sure high on the list and one that has been fueled by ignorance for far too long.
***
UPDATE *** link to a Petition
Tell Obama and your elected representatives that it's time to legalize and regulate marijuana

***

One man that is fighting the good fight is Norm Stamper, retired Seattle police chief and a member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). LEAP is an organization of criminal justice professionals speaking out against the War on Drugs.
When Obama laughed at the 3.5 million people that submitted questions based on decriminalizing pot
Mr. Stamper had a response.
He said "It is no laughing matter, Mr. President". He shares a very sad story about life, death and medical marijuana.
***

Link to 'Drug WarRant'... Legislation based on ignorance,lies and racism.
This article explains how we got here and asks the question,
"Why is marijuana illegal?"
***



***

MarijuanaPolicyPosse became mppstaff @YouTube.
Please visit them for a series of "two minute truths".

*****
Hey this was my 100th Post!
I didn't hear any champagne corks hitting the ceiling...what gives?

People in the US and around the world should be mad a hell. AIG and most of the big banks are ripping us off. Through bad management, stupid decisions and greed these wizards of finance have managed to gut our 401s/403s and the like. Apparently that is not enough as the robber barons have determined these institutions are too big to fail.
The US taxpayer must bail them out. IE..Privatize profits and Socialize the loses..

The fundamentals of the argument wanting to bailout these failing companies is absurd. Absurd is the twisted logic behind paying bonuses to people for doing a piss poor job.
Do they really need to be told that you don't get rewarded for derailing the stock market and nearly destroying the company you work for?

The people that caused these financial problems should not be your first choice when putting together an administration. Obama needs a wake up call.
His 'team' is full of bad choices.
Tim Geithner and Larry Summers are as bad as Hank Paulson. These appointments are part of a bigger problem in Washington. You don't put the fox in charge of the henhouse.
Just how stupid do you have to be to think guys like these are going to do anything to CORRECT the problem?
They are from Wall Street and part of the reason we have a problem.

And what's with these people and paying taxes?
Do you want people like Daschle and Geithner on the 'team' who either are dishonest or incompetent?
And then there is the 13 firms receiving bailouts that owe $220 million in federal taxes.
They are supposed to sign contracts stating they have no unpaid taxes but the House Ways and Means still has to go behind them and check the tax records because you have already seen how they do business.

Part of the problem with Obama's team is that it is more like 'Team Clinton' and that is NOT who we elected. Rahm Emanuel is good example of a another Clinton 'tool'. He was an investment banker and a head fundraiser for Clinton.

Obama had selected Charles Freeman to chair the National Intelligence Council and he would have been a damn good one to bring the voice of reason in the unholy alliance we have with Israel. But no, we can't have a reasonable person that might actually criticize Israel.
As you know AIPAC writes foreign policy when it comes to Israel and the 'tools' loyal to Israel above all else like Rahm, Liebeman and Schumer can't allow any critical dialogue.
As a result Mr. Freeman decided to decline.



***Another good article from Kevin Phillips...
It's guys like Kevin Phillips that Obama should be reaching out to. Phillips was on Bill Moyers Journal last year and Bill commented that Phillips was one of the few who was ahead of the curve and warned of problems on Wall Street.

AIG is a black hole..
"American International Group Inc.’s government bailout package is valued at US$182.5-billion, according to Congressional auditors, almost US$10-billion more than previous estimates."

It seems crazy and overwhelming to throw all this money at the banks and again to throw it at AIG who insured the bad loans, toxic assets, derivatives, whatever you call them.
It just seems like we are being charged twice and ripped off.

In many cases the so-called front page news served up by the MSM is just a clever distraction to make you forget about something else or the bigger picture. When you think about money and budgets it is important to remember what we spend (throw away) on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon (and all their secret opperations) and the Military Industrial Complex (IE... weapons develpoment, maintaining military bases and outposts around the world).
Sometimes when I start to think about all this stuff, the hair stands up on the back of my neck.
Am I paranoid or what?