This and That (open thread)
1. How much more Social Security, Medicare, and All social Safety Net program goodies could we have if every American worker - some 140 million or so - were given a $2 /hr. raise across the board - from min. wage workers to CEOs?
The tax dollars from that $2 /hr. raise would generate $1 Billion payroll tax dollars /week (at roughly 12% tax rate) = $52 Billion extry tax dollars /year.
That goes a long way toward curing our social Safety Net blues, and the cries from Ubers and Filthys (rich / 1% / oligarchy) (as I call them) that "America broke" or "we can't afford it" become moot, as the money to pay for all those social Safety Net goodies are in American workers paychecks - workers who haven't had a significant pay raise in 30 years.
2. Whether or not the Russians "phished" a DNC computer or Seth Rich got his hands on the docs, if the Russians didn't directly "hack" the DNC computer then it cannot be claimed by the DNC that the Russians stole the election from Hillary. Which is what all the hysteria is about. They can claim "interference" with some authority, I suppose, but short of a direct Russian hack they can't claim "the election was stolen" becuz it was not. And, whether directly involved in the case, or not, it's a safe bet that Seth Rich was "offed" for knowing too much with the intent of distributing what he knew. Or not. But I don't know anyone buying the "robbery" story except Hillbots.
This is an open thread.
Comments
So if I believe
it's possible that it was a robbery, I'm a hillbot?
LMFAO
Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.
It doesn't make you a Hillbot, but it is a stretch
and it pretty much violates reason --
There is no basis for the assertion that it was a bungled robbery except that there had been previous robberies in the vicinity.
1) In how many was the victim Killed?
Almost certainly zero or we would have been told about them
2) In how many was the victim shot in the back?
Almost certainly zero as above
3) In how many was absolutely nothing taken?
Almost certainly zero as above
4) In how many was the victim a Democratic party operative/insider
Almost certainly zero as above
5) How many times had Rich walked home without getting shot in the back?
Probably a great number.
6) How many robberies per person per night in the last year?
Likely to be somewhat negligible or we'd have heard about it.
7) What else points to a robbery
Nothing, or we'd have heard about it.
8) How is a laptop evidence in a botched robbery?
Give me a break - cleary not remotely
9) Why did the pigs seize it then?
10) Why haven't the pigs released any information on likely suspects? Do they not have any? Why not?
11) Why haven't pigs released any camera footage? Do they have any? Why not?
12) Did they even perform an investigation? For how many minutes?
13) What was with all of the weird bullshit at the hospital?
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
That's not what the Hillary folks are saying
That's not what the Dem estsblishment/Hillary folks are saying, and it's not how I interpreted what Wink posted: "But I don't know anyone buying the 'robbery' story except Hillbots."
They're not saying that it's possible that it was a robbery. They're saying that Seth Rich was definitely killed in an attempted robbery; that there is no other explanation; and that anyone who proposes to the contrary, or who simply wants to consider alternate scenarios of the crime, is just a loony conspiracy theorist who needs to shut up and stop talking about Seth Rich.
Big difference.
"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi
"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone
Raising minimum wage
is definitely one tool that would help improve the long term stability of the Social Security Trust Fund. Also raising the cap on income that is taxed would help.
As to your second point, everything points to something other than a robbery since not one thing was taken from Seth Rich before or after he was shot. The robbery theory does not meet the smell or common sense test for me. Why in the hell would anyone shoot their mark in the back during a robbery and then not take anything?
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Plus is the mystery missing laptop, seized after he died
And no agency will fess that they have it. The whole reported story smells.
The populace might be temporarily content with a raise, even $2/hour. One might consider that TPTB would do such to suppress wildfires. I suspect there will be military action soon. #NoDAPL was treated as if the tribes were terrorists. By a paramilitary group. Mercenaries.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Well, surely the $2
pay raise would need be "phased in" as to not upset The Economy™ (of the Ubers). Something like 50¢ /hr. over four consecutive years. Sure, they'd still scream bloody murder - "Mickey Dees' Happy Meal is going to go thru the roof!" - but they'll get over it. Very soon a pay raise is going to have to happen or we'll soon be looking at a Mad Max economy. Hell, we're practically there now! I'm looking at property in AZ for an acre at $500 down and $120 /mo. A used RV at $500 down AND $200 /mo. My winter home, 'cuz I can't afford to live north of I-90 much beyond Turkey Day.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Even $15 per hour
Even $15 per hour would barely pay the rent in most areas for an apt in the range of the lowest 40% rental costs. I hope to have an essay on that later this week.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Oh, no doubt.
Wasn't looing for a "living wage" ($20 /hr.)? Was just looing for substantial tax revenue to put a Yuuuge dent in the social Safety Net deficit. And, yes, I know a TON of $$ has been -ahem- "borrowed" from SS funds. Thing is, the Safety Net has Always been self-sustaining by those of us kicking in the tax dollars to fund it. Until recently. Now, all of a sudden it's out of money. Well, no, it's Not out of money. The problem is our Paychecks haven't kept up with the pace needed to fund the Fund. I'm just saying that a $2 /hr. "correction" or "pay raise" across the board - from min. wage workers to CEOs - puts a Yuuge dent in the social Safety Net "deficit," while "Lifting All Boats" at the same time.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Where in AZ are you looking at ?
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
As far away from
you as I can get, Az.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Lemme' know when you get ready,
you know where to find me.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Will do. Looking forward
to it.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Back in '03,
the corporate media repeated "Saddam" and "911" so often in the same stories that Americans came to believe that Saddam was responsible for the attacks, even though the media never made that claim. Americans made that connection for themselves and eventually 70% of them believed that Saddam was personally involved in the attacks. Likewise, because they hear about "Russian meddling" and "Russian hacking" so often, 59% of Democrats believe that "Russia" altered the vote totals in 2016, even though the original DNI report made no such claim.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
really beautiful in its economy. (++)
We have met the enemy,and they is us. - pogo
The ogres know a lot about manipulation, have the means to pull it off. plus
Son monos malos.
(eyes toward heaven, wtf Big Guy)
I try to avoid Hillbots (awful heartburn is the result)
The whole 'botched robbery' thing is inane. Who shoots someone in the back, after 'failing to rob them properly'? Murder is rather more serious after all. When was the last time someone sat on Death Row for robbery?
As for point 1, "Embrace the suck" is the new way forward for the average Joe/Jane. Thanks to Nancy and friends.
(Edited)
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
i finally figured it out!
the "botched robbery" hypothesis works if seth rich was the robber!
the unknown victim was packing, and boom! suddenly the whole thing makes sense!
you're welcome for this amazing insight from me. no need to applaud or genuflect.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
I'm not one much for conspiracy, but
http://www.neonnettle.com/news/2211-amnesty-international-confirms-us-ga...
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
It's an Open Thread, right ?
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUvxRjYqjEQ width:400 height:240]
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
I have repesented armer robbers here and there
in my 31 year career as a lawyer.
Botched robbery my ass.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Atmospheric A- and H-bomb tests and Chernobyl
appear to have changed the ratio of male to female births. Fukushima is likely to do the same.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110602-millions-fewer-gi...
It could be radiation,
or it could be a war about to hit us in 15-20 years - about the time they're eligible for the Draft. Not that we'll ever again be without war, but, just saying. An old wives tale has it that if more boys than girls are born one can expect a war in 15-20 years. (That may no longer hold true seeing as that we now are in perpetual war).
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.