The Bank Bailout Scam – Again

Have you noticed the primary reason that banks are in such a hurry to payback the government? It isn’t that the banks are healthy, it isn’t that the toxic assets are gone and it isn’t that they have their bank depositors' and creditors' financial security at heart. It is to rid themselves of the “bonus” restrictions. They, the top executives, want their big bonuses and they can’t have them until they rid themselves of government restrictions. So, they’re in a rush to payback the bailout money.

The only way a bank can afford to pay big bonuses to its executives is to scam its depositors and creditors through transaction and membership fees, high credit interest rates and low savings rates. Those fees and interest manipulation is also the source, the only source, banks use to pay dividends to stock holders. Depositors and creditors, the primary source of money for banks, are the last people these banks think of. In other words; it’s all a scam.

If I were doing business with these banks, I would take my money someplace else. There are honest banks out there and the more honest they are the more you will make on your savings account and the less interest you will pay on your credit card. Any bank that gives its executives big bonuses, bigger than the salary they make, is being dishonest with you and your money.

It is interesting that CitiBank cannot yet return its bailout and, since it can’t pay big bonuses, it finds itself at a disadvantage in its ability to hire top-notch executives. The truth is that the playing field should be leveled by restricting compensation across the industry whether the bank received bailout or not. That would remove the crooks from the banking industry. But, that won’t happen, so the alternative is that “people,” you and me, need to be more selective in the banks we choose to do business with. Don’t do business with a bank that’s ripping you off with big bonuses and compensation packages.

There it is again, The Republican Mantra

The big, bad “government is taking over healthcare.” There it is again; the Republican mantra. Don’t they ever get tired of saying it? I certainly get tired of hearing it. I’ve been thinking that what makes the government so bad in many cases is the fact that Republicans who spout the mantra are part of it. I’ve come to the point where I don’t care anymore whether the health insurers make money or not. Usually, I’m in favor of corporations making a self-sustaining profit, but I’m fed up with the insurance companies. It is clear to me that patients, their customers, are not going to get a fair shake until they are beaten down until they say, “uncle.”

It used to be, at least so I thought, that companies were constantly striving for efficiency to keep costs down, for both profit and the competitive edge to lower costs to the customer. That’s no longer true with regard to insurance companies. They don’t have to be efficient. All they have to do is pay lobbyist to keep taxes and regulation to a minimum, deny insurance coverage to costly customers when their health problems become too expensive, and conspire with government and industry personalities to keep drug, equipment and medical procedures costs high for the good of their own pocket.

I have a bad feeling about the coming, so-called healthcare reform. I have a feeling that it won’t be reform at all, but just more watered down, industry favoring duplicity that sucks the people of this country dry; just more transferring wealth from the poorest to the richest. The rich, it seems, are determined not to support their own country, and I think I can stereotype the rich when I say that. They whine, to a man and woman, constantly about how they are being mistreated or controlled, and about the so-called deliberately poor and homeless who, they say, choose to be that way to get welfare relief. It’s the Reagan myth perpetuated specifically to pull the wool over our eyes. It isn’t true; it has never been true.

Less government does not mean more freedom. Freedom is not dependent on more or less government. Good governance should be the goal we seek, not more or less government. If there is anything to be learned from the collapse of the economy and the huge transfer of wealth to the wealthiest people it is that less government regulation has been more oppressive on the general public than any form of oppressive government. Opportunity has diminished to a point where only a few who chose to play unethical games make it to the top of industry. There rest of us, who chose not to play popularity games and who only wanted a reasonably good life, were disposed of along the way. The depressed were disadvantaged or used for the benefit of those willing to use others, whether it is using our labor, our retirement accounts, our bank deposits or our health condition; it never the less lead to the benefit of those who would take advantage of others.

Attention to “the public good” is long overdue. The next time you hear a Republican say “no government,” “less government” or “the government is taking over,” take a good look at who is saying it. You can bet your last dollar that what’s really happening is that he or she is a person raising a flag to industry special interests that says, “Here I am. I’m waiting for you to offer me high paying position in industry after my political career. I’m waiting for your huge donation to my campaign. I’m waiting for a ride in your corporate jet to a tropical get-a-way. I do favors for money.” That’s what the real message is, and nothing more. It is certainly not for the good of the public.

A Pleasant Dinner, Discussion and Obama

I was pleasantly surprised last evening to hear Russ and Elena agree with such depth of understanding with Obama, and of course me. I get excited when I hear positive and knowledgeable people support good, practical U.S. policy with interest and sincerity. The stars aligned for me to have a good evening out; Obama’s Cairo speech to generate discussion and agreeable people to talk with. The added surprise of the evening was to hear that Tina had voted for Obama. The world has changed; Tina, the devout conservative, has been converted. Thank the gods.

I am unable to accept any criticism of Obama. His Cairo speech was brilliant. He spoke as an adult, with humility, understanding and truth, and it set the path his administration intends to take. He also spoke to the heart of those on Earth who desire peace and opportunity for a good life. What else is there? That’s why Russ, Elena and Tina’s agreement meant so much to me last night and made the tacos taste much better, even though they weren’t the best I’ve ever had.

We agreed that Cheney, Limbaugh, etal., are simply insane with their ranting against every little nuance of President Obama’s Administration. It blows my mind that Limbaugh would say that Osama bin Laden should hurry to destroy America before Obama does it. Where did a statement like that come from? What facts is a statement like that based on? It can only be insanity; some warped reasoning from a man who has only his self-interest ratings at heart and will say anything to be controversial. And Cheney’s continued insistence that his interrogation methods worked and were legal. What kind of mind continues that thinking when there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary? A paranoid and fearful mind is my only conclusion. Insanity.

We ended the evening watching “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO and I would have thought that his show, following so closely behind Obama’s speech, would have praised Obama. But, Jeremy Scahill, author of “Blackwater,” saw fault. His criticism was that Obama is expanding Bagram, Afghanistan’s notorious torture prison. Of course what Scahill doesn’t say is that Obama has ordered basic legal rights under International Law for the prisoners. These are war prisoners, Taliban soldiers, who must be kept someplace. Where does Mr. Scahill suggest they be kept? In Guantanamo, adding to the impossible situation there? The criticism is ridiculous. After only five months in office, does he expect Obama to have run all over the world to fix or clean up every little nook and cranny pile of shit that Bush has deposited world-wide? Bush shit in too many places and it will take several years to clean up. Obama has done an enormous clean-up in only five months, so I reject Scahill’s judgement.

And, speaking of Bush. I imagine him sitting on his new sofa in his new Texas home watching Obama’s speech. Did he say, “Christ! Why didn’t my speech writers think of that? Why didn’t I remember to treat others as you would have them treat yourself from the ages and ages? Why wasn’t I less belligerent and more humble?” Maybe he slapped his forehead with sudden recognition and with regret or maybe he simply slumped into his sofa in shame. Maybe Laura looks at him differently now. If Bush is a man to sit and have a beer with, even though he’s now drinks tea, I’d like to sit down with him at a local cafe. I’d like to ask him to his face what the f**k he thought he was doing? Did he think being President of the United States was a joke? Has his mind changed about the job being “overrated?” Did he not understand that even though Cheney dictated torture that he, himself, was responsible? Did he not see the value of diplomacy? I’d like to see in his face some semblance of regret, of contrition and of conscience. I’d like to see him finally admit, at least through appearance, that he was the worst President that ever happened to America. Worse, by far, than Nixon.

But, I will let sleeping dogs lie and be glad that nowadays I can go to dinner with agreeable people looking forward to better times. Perhaps we have a chance to redeem ourselves and help this world through the huge challenges we face.

Rick Scott and Stewart Resnick – Criminals of our Time

Both of these men are notorious for sucking the life out of America through their scams. Rick Scott is the Bernie Madoff of the Columbia/HCA healthcare corporation that defrauded millions from tax payers, although he got off “Scott free,” pun intended. He is now heading the Conservatives for Patient Rights, a lobbyist organization, to fight President Obama’s universal healthcare initiatives. Guess what? If he wins, you, the patient, will have no rights. In fact, he’s a liar and a con-artist that is likely to use PR to convince you he has your well being at heart. He doesn’t. He’s a scoundrel. He should be in jail.

Stewart Resnick is another scoundrel. His Paramount Farms stores millions of gallons of water he receives from California’s Delta Conservation project and then sells the water back to the state in times of drought. He too should be in jail. He gives heavily to political, mostly Republican and conservative campaigns, to make sure he stays in the money. He too should be in jail. He’s a billionaire, however, and will be able to hire a hundred lawyers to keep himself rosy clean.

When are you going to get outraged by this crap?

The Goddamned Lying Health Insurance Industry

Here we go again. Obama meets with the captains of the healthcare and health insurance industry and they say they will reduce costs by $2 trillion over the next ten years. It’s a goddamned lie, just like they told President Carter in the 70’s and just like they told President Clinton in the 90’s. Two trillion dollars is a pittance. WE CAN SAVE $4 TRILLION BY GOING TO A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM!!!! Don’t you get that? The health insurance industry has failed over and over to self-regulate itself. It’s all a bunch of bullshit.

People are so goddamned afraid of socialized medicine that they’re running around peeing in their pants. A single payer system is not socialized medicine; it is socialize financing of a privatized, entrepreneurial healthcare system. Private Doctor Practices and private hospitals will submit bills to a single payer. You get to choose your doctor and/or your hospital, and all the rest is paid for. You pay taxes that pay for your healthcare. It’s a WIN-WIN situation; the government saves money and you save money. So, why in hell do you let the goddamned lying health insurance industry talk you out of it again? Because you’re stupid, that’s why.

They’re ripping you and our government off. Call your senator and congressman/woman and demand a single payer system.

The California Fiscal Joke

So, it happened that Sacramento couldn’t do the job it was elected to do, so they sent crucial budget decisions to the people in a group of special vote propositions. And, the people being stupid and persuaded by fear mongers prophesying the death of various programs and the “gimmicks” of Sacramento politicians, voted against them. Then, Newt Gingrich wrote an OpEd in the Washington Post about how the people voted against political corruption in California, as if he knew that, voted with knowledgeable wisdom to reject the propositions, and he somehow turned truth on its head by tying the vote to an overwhelming vote to reduce taxes. Imagine! Newt Gingrich, one of the most corrupt politicians in the last 20 years calling the kettle black! And today, Bill Lockyear is calling for a government bailout, once more passing on responsibility that he, the Governor and state legislature should be resolving.

Well, what did you expect? These propositions are too complex for the average person/voter to understand. They should have never been passed to us for approval. We, the entire population of California, are not informed enough to vote intelligently on these. The politicians in Sacramento need to DO THEIR JOB and manage state business. And, the people of California need to finally step up to the plate and pay for the needed state programs. The people also need to remove Sacramento politicians who are not willing to do their job.

California is in a mess and most of it is caused by ill advised propositions approved by the people; tax cuts, borrowing, special interest programs, you name it. C’est la vie, in a state of stupid people with stupid politicians. What a joke.

The Fools and The Wise

I can’t help but feel that Dick Cheney is a fool when seen in contrast to President Obama’s wisdom. The President’s speech this morning on Guantanamo, the detainees and torture was a perfect pitch for Law and wise American values. Cheney, in contrast, sounds like a foolish child who is losing his candy, believing that the world is coming to an end if he can’t have it back. Cheney, in his speech this morning, cites Article II of the Constitution, the article on Presidential authority. His argument is foolish. It will never the less stoke the fire of the rash and ranting opinions from the Right.

With luck and a good deal of just ignoring the Republican dogma, we American’s may be able to pull ourselves out of the mess we’re in. On the one hand our economy is under a strain caused by Libertarian ideology. From another front we are challenged by climate change that appears to have passed the tipping point and we can expect devastation and death to a majority of the human race. The Republican Right Wing’s continued denial of climate change is also cause of our very, very late response to it, and we are likely too late.

Whether we overcome and meet the challenges we face really depends on our ability to ignore the fools. I’m not convinced we can since so many of our citizens seem bent on self destruction. So, for now, the fools still have some power of persuasion. That’s too bad, but it appears to be the way it is.