The author explains why the budget deal is a disaster. I agree with everything in the article.
The biggest disaster is to our chances of rational government. The President has handed the House or Representatives a sledgehammer to pound him to mulch anytime they want something.
James Pilant
Income inequality in the developed nations is almost exclusively an American phenomenon. As you can see from the graph, we are more equivalent to African nations with limited economic development in terms of income
Another interesting article is the graph on the origins of our budget problems. Please pay attention to the enormous role played by the Bush tax cuts in destroying revenue.
James Pilant
During the campaign two years ago, Obama repeatedly stated his support for net neutrality – Watch!
Did you hear that – “I will take a backseat to no one.” Backseat! He might as well be in the trunk for all the help he’s been.
“I am a strong supporter of net neutrality.” Okay, that’s good. How about NOW? Where is he?
“I’m a big believer in net neutrality.” Still nice, but how about saying something now?
“I remain firmly committed to net neutrality.” Is he still? I don’t have anyway to know.
Okay, guys, probably you’ve seen enough. I can find more clips. I’ve already seen them. The open internet is under attack right now at the FCC and in Congress. A bill was considered a few days ago, that would have essentially ratified the agreement between Google and Verizon dividing up the internet and giving broadband to corporations. The attacks are well funded and continuous. The President referred to the danger of large companies getting control in his many speeches.
Where is he now? Where is the President of the United States? Where are all his pretty words? If he doesn’t speak soon, he will only be commenting on the division of the web into corporate sectors after it’s done.
If there is no net neutrality, this web site may become so slow as not to be viable or simply not deemed worthy of band width. Under the new rules, the FCC cannot issue any regulations but can hear complaints. Thus, if I am treated wrongly I will be able to complain to the FCC and should they decide in my favor after months during which my audience has gone away to other sites approved by the great media companies, that will fix everything, right? I’ll be all whole and returned to where I was. Right?
There are tens of thousands of sites like mine. And these voices cry out for advocacy for the poor, or the environment, etc.., some cry out for political action, …., some broadcast every crazy theory you can imagine, … and some are people just crying out that they are there – they are significant – they are important – they plead for attention and recognition.
And soon, these voices will be silent, their bandwidth divied up for movie companies and media channels and, of course, the occasional lapse where they allow a semi-independent voice to speak.
Pretty words are not the same as action. Eloquence is not the same as standing up for your beliefs. Political expedience cannot be an excuse of inaction where action has been repeatedly promised.
Where is the President? Did he mean any of that stuff he said? Is there time left for him to do or say anything?
James Pilant
Justice must be seen to be done. A society in which the wealthy or well connected get different justice than others is a society in real trouble.
When someone murders someone, you start looking immediately. When you have a theft you go and start asking questions. But if you are American financial institutions, you get a two year head start.
The Obama administration has decided to launch “a sustained, multilevel attack on financial fraud.”
Isn’t that just precious? They’re on the job!
I can’t help but wonder why people who stole billions of dollars, moved many Americans into poverty and missed totally destroying the world’s economic system by a hairs breath get two years to dispose of the evidence and develop new schemes of raping the public.
I have to ask if this government and this president are serious in any way at pursuing the financial malfeasance of those who have made large campaign contributions.
Morality and ethics demand that criminals be brought to justice. But not only that, simple logic dictates that they who have victimized millions should be priority targets for investigation.
Few ethical dilemmas are as gut wrenching as to whether or not to blow the whistle on unethical, inefficient or stupid practices by your employer. The personal cost is often very high. For Dr. Manion, it was the loss of his job and the high likelihood that no one else will hire a “trouble maker” like him.
There is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Manion fulfilled his duty to his country and his profession. There is no doubt in my mind that the government here was intent not on the care of veterans but on covering its thoroughly incompetent butt.
Let’s not mince words. Firing conscientious workers is a clear and distinct message to leave your morals at the door, that if you are asked to participate in crimes, you’d better participate. It is the last refuge of the employer scoundrel, unless you consider murdering the employee a possibility. The Navy failed in its duty to the nation, to its members and to any semblance of moral responsibility.
THE STORY
Dr. Kernan Manion was terminated by his contractor. His contractor said the Navy asked for him to be terminated.
Manion was made aware by his clients that many on base were suffering severe psychological problems that were going untreated because the system wasn’t working properly due to neglect and because superior officers penalized those who sought treatment.
The soldiers told him that they felt it was likely someone would snap and there would be a mass shooting on the base. Manion wrote memos warning of the problem and provided documentation supporting his findings. The navy did not want to see these memos.
On June 24, a supervisor for the contractor warned Manion to stop making trouble. “Kernan Manion, it is requested that you cease and desist all further correspondence with the government,” the supervisor with NiteLines, Pamela Friend, wrote to Manion.
After his firing, Manion wrote to President Obama:
“Frankly, in my more than 25 years of clinical practice, I’ve never seen such immense emotional suffering and psychological brokenness — literally a relentless stream of courageous, well-trained and formerly strong Marines deeply wounded psychologically by the immensity of their combat experience,”
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