Open Thread 12 APR 23 ~


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The twitter leaks while the Pentagon pisses
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International Day for Street Children
1934 The US Auto-Lite Strike begins, culminating in a five-day melee between Ohio National Guard troops and 6,000 strikers and picketers.
1945 US President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office and Vice President Harry Truman is sworn in as 33rd US President.

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Welcome everyone to Wednesday. Hope things in your sphere are rounding up. Getting
time for ye olde tax accounting. HR Block is having a wipe-out special. Just send them
your money and owe nothing more. Some restrictions apply in California.

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So the US mega-media-machine is selectively using the 'human rights' card to
muddy affairs in our relations of chosen enemies. Isn't Julian Assange human?
Where are his rights? Too close to the bone. Seems if the PTB cannot manipulate
data to their advantage, leaks are bad. Too much sensitive information in the minds
of (what is left) of critical thinkers is dangerous for the national insecurity apparatus.

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Let's hear your radical views on the disinformation crisis. Rational reality based views
are also still accepted on this platform. Satire, irony and humor are effective spices.

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Credits -

Terracotta Blues by Clara Holt
https://claraholt.com/projects

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Although the Sedition Act is no longer law, The Espionage Act remains in place.

For being seditious, [Eugene V.] Debs and [Julian] Assange are the most prominent political prisoners in U.S. history.

If Wilson had had his way, however, prior restraint — or formal government censorship — would have become legal. He sent Congress a version of the Espionage Act that explicitly called for it.

The Censorship bill . . . has aroused such a storm of dis- approval that the President seeks to allay popular indignation at this glaring attempt to void Constitutional rights. . . . The whole program to muzzle the press seems to smack of unconstitutionality, tyranny, and deceit.’

Wilson signed the final version of the Espionage Act on June 15, 1917. But in a signing statement he nevertheless insisted that: “Authority to exercise censorship over the press … is absolutely necessary to the public safety.”

“As the trial went on it was evident that the indictment was a legal subterfuge and that what was really on trial was the issue of a free press.”

A long essay, but a thorough historical perspective on the governments attempts to remove
the freedom of speech from the Bill of Rights / Constitution. First amendment:
“Congress shall make no law...abridging freedom of speech.”

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/04/11/the-espionage-act-the-4th-year-of-...

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS

be well and have a good one

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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 --

usefewersyllables's picture

My wife and I have simple W2 income only, and we don't own anything anymore other than a couple old cars, so it should be simple, right? Short form city, right?

Nope. Check all the boxes exactly the way they say you should (no exemptions, 0/0, yadda yadda), and you end up owing a couple grand (plus penalties for underwithholding). So the next year, you divide what you ended up owing by 26, and adjust your W-4 to have that amount extra withheld from each paycheck. And you end up owing a couple of grand, plus penalties for underwithholding.

Same thing this year. I'm now having basically 20% of my paycheck extra-withheld every time, on top of their usual and expected vig, and I still ended up owing them a couple of grand plus penalties. It's getting better in a sense, though, because I'm now getting *back* over a grand on our state income taxes...

What a fuckin' scam. There is no reason whatsoever for the absurd complexity of it all. And it is even worse if you played the game, lost, and just want to live out your life unharassed.

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Twice bitten, permanently shy.

@usefewersyllables my difficulty is with those who pervert it and our nation's budget for their purposes, not ours, we, the people. Ie, "adjust" the tax code to satisfy those who would profit from services they receive from the commons, going and coming.

Our most fine scotus justices, unelected I might add, who violate their oaths without a thought of regret... like someone who pretends that impropriety applies to the little people. Ooops, wandering off again.

Anyway, back to the IRS. I believe that this cesspool we call a gov't manages to function strictly based on individual efforts by people who are dedicated to their principles and do their job as best they can. The people who keep the ship of state from sinking altogether. Oops, wandering again.

Anyway, my complaint about taxes is those taxes which aren't really taxes. Paid to corporate masters in terms of fees, overheads, etc. Like a cable bill that charges us for connections that were developed and paid long ago. By us. Electrical overheads that we also paid long ago. Educational overhead handouts to those who had nothing to do with the building of the systems or buildings. And so on.

This is what I find the most disgusting. I'm ok with paying for what I receive and I'm ok for kicking some extra into the kitty to help those who are less fortunate.

But it disgusts the literal shit out of me to see the homeless encampments in the shadow of a high rise luxury apartment for someone who use that building as a tax shelter and profit base.

And forces "laws" to make it so.

/rant

(added on edit) I've cooled off a little so I think I can get back on track with my original intent.

I am quite satisfied with the online IRS system. My wife and I are in that category where we have too much income for the free third party contractors. BTW, that term is a bunch o' crap. Nothing free about giving away the keys to everything to someone who sends it off to some 3rd world... (stop it, indy!)

I used the free form stuff. Except for a period in the 80s where I was selling softwares, doing some consulting stuff on the side, and holding down a 9-5, and having a working spouse, I have always done my own figurin.

As I said, I'm happy with the IRS services. In a day or so I'll set up my new login.

Please send a thumbs up to the unsung heroes of our society. They do well.

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7 users have voted.

@exindy

but I read somewhere a few days ago the IRS made a statement they were no
longer going after net incomes below $400K. Of course they didn't say if
those above a net of $400M were also beyond their reckoning.
If corporations have free speech and are entitled to human rights,
then why do they not pay taxes? Something doesn't add-up.

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snoopydawg's picture

@usefewersyllables

is that they can very easily see what we have earned and looked at what we either owe or should receive back without us having to do a damn thing, but turbo tax and HRS (?) lobbied them not to in order for us to have to use their services. I think the last time congress voted on this was during Trump’s tenure. Some countries in Europe do that, but maybe the legislature there aren’t as big of whores for money as ours are. People get taxed for earning income and then they get taxed again for buying stuff with already taxed money, homes, cars, food, etc….and it’s all a möbius circle jerk!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

becoming a guest in the London Bulgermarsh hospitality center.
Is illegal detention too strong a term?

The MPs and senators noted that Assange has been “effectively incarcerated” for over a decade, while the person who leaked the classified information, Chelsea Manning, has “been able to participate in American society since 2017.”

Volcano.jpg

Mount Etna erupting at night creating the spectacular illusion of a Phoenix rising over the Sicilian port city of Catania in 2019. ~ Hat tip to Automatic Earth

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In June ’23 UK gov plans to jab vulnerable Children from 6 months old with the unsafe & ineffective Pfizer ‘vaccine’, despite data proving unprecedented harms including death.

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enhydra lutris's picture

The nation's tax laws are passed by Congress and either signed by the president, or passed by Congress over the President's veto. Some are then modified in their working and/or application by judicial interpretation. Thus, they come principally from Congress, the President and the Judiciary.

A complete understanding of the workings, purposes and intent of all US tax law may be simply and easily obtained by simply considering who those people work for.

be well and have a good one.

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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 --

you are actually doing.

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soryang's picture

@humphrey ...with no apparent quid pro quo. His administration is completely compromised. His foreign policy is widely regarded as the diplomacy of national humiliation. According to report on the "wiretap" of the Yoon presidential office, these discussions were exactly what were recorded. In fact, the two officials involved in the report, voicing concerns about supplying weapons for use in the Ukraine war were fired.

I've listened to interviews of two legislators from the National Assembly, one formerly in the National Intelligence Service, and the other a former ROK Army Chief of Staff (both in the opposition democratic party). A year earlier, both separately publicly described how the predicted Yoon abandonment of the Blue House Presidential Office, would create security risks, such as this purported electronic intercept. Both national security experts described the totally inadequate "remodeling" efforts of the new presidential office in the old MND building, and the likelihood it would take years, and enormous expense to make it secure.

The fact that the US owns the Dragon Hill Lodge right next door, a ten story building, and that the US has "extraterritorial rights" virtually right up to the perimeter of the Presidential Office building on the old Yongsan military garrison South Post, means the problem can't be resolved during Yoon's term in office. According to the former general about 30 percent of the old Yongsan base is still occupied by the US, blocking efforts to renew the base, and develop the surrounding area in the center of Seoul. The base has important significance to South Koreans as the former garrison of the Japanese Imperial Government occupying its grounds for half a century only to be replaced by US forces after August 1945.

Assuming that the reports of the interception being the source are true, rather than a human intelligence leak, the Yoon government is extremely vulnerable to US (and Japanese) coercion (blackmail) because of Yoon's obvious corruption. His spouse who enjoys the diplomatic limelight, has an approval rating of 16 percent. Yoon's approval rating is 30 percent. If the current poll numbers are maintained, Yoon's party is likely to suffer a landslide defeat in next year's general elections (for National Assembly seats). At that point, critics believe Yoon will be impeached.

Yoon's government is in trouble. Claims from his office, his deputy national security advisor, Kim Tae-hyo, who was involved in the scheme to get rid of his boss, and the Foreign secretary, that the report is not genuine have little credibility under the circumstances. The story as reported may be true, but he is likely compromised as well. All the reports cited in western media about the leak not being a serious problem for Yoon's administration or the US, etc., are simply a chorus from the usual ultra conservative academic sources.

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語必忠信 行必正直

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@humphrey

after all, this is America's war. It will take the US military to end the conflict.
They will put the blame on exlinsky and pretend we had little to do with the failure.
Except for the billions that disappeared for the 'democracy' excuse. Perhaps the
loss of Donbass will be difficult to admit. Watch Biden eat corn.

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@humphrey

What's wrong with ports? Soft power, not military strikes.
Got it. Wake-up woke world.

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mimi's picture

anything. It is really a good deal to be poor. Wink

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sanctioning someone or something?

Blinky's method of diplomacy.

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snoopydawg's picture

@humphrey

was one way lots of countries are trying to limit America’s capacity to wage war against them. Seems like lots of people are thinking along the same lines. Our so called foreign policy experts have no clue how to handle foreign policy because they aren’t aware of history like those who are actually experts at doing it. Lavrov is one. Ours just blunder through countries making absolute asses of themselves. Remember how Blinken verbally assaulted the Chinese at the Alaska meeting and then Jake Sullivan followed suit. Then there’s Vicky Cookie Monster Nuland who is in a low class all by herself!

Blehh!

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7 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Glenn Greenwald had a very good segment on the question of war spending hurting people in the USA. He went into MLK's speech on why he came out against the Vietnam--because MLK realized that the Vietnam war was siphoning off money for domestic problems. And man, was MLK absolutely attacked even by the NCAAP, Wapo, and Nytimes. Glenn explores how the life expectancy has gone to levels not seen since the Depression as a way of showing declining life expectancy.

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@MrWebster

He foretold the present state of affairs.
Glad Greenwald had the guts to say it.

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