Open Thread - Thurs 28 Mar 2024 - Social Security and Some Fun!

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 5:00am

28 March 2024 - Social Security and Some Fun!

Back in August RJ Eskow wrote 'Social Security, FDR, and the Real Meaning of Liberty' on his substack: The Zero Hour Report: A Newsletter from Richard (RJ) Eskow.

The article is about the meaning of the 'social security' act at the time it was created and now. Eskow writes that the word 'security emphasizes its goal for individuals'. That is, it's about financial security for every man, woman and child in the country. The word social emphasizes the act's broader societal goals; everyone has to be secure, everyone has to be able to eat, to have housing, to live decently.

FDR signs the Social Security Act. From Wikimedia Commons.

As Eskow writes, Roosevelt framed this as an extension of the liberty upon which the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc, were founded. That is, liberty for everyone, not for the rich or those in control, but everyone.

Here's a long quote from the article, which I think hits some very good points:

This is liberty for the many, not the few. It includes freedom from corporate totalitarianism – from unfair pay, from bosses who track workers on social media, from timed bathroom breaks, and from the hundreds of other insults to dignity and liberty working people suffer every day. It’s the freedom to receive medical care when you need it, not when corporate bureaucrats give you permission. It’s freedom from the constant state of precarity that plagues most of working America.

This security was never meant to be limited to one or two programs. It was envisioned as a comprehensive program of financial security for all. Social Security’s initial form included unemployment compensation, aid to dependent children and services for the protection and care of homeless, neglected, and disabled children.

Social security did not include national health insurance but that seems to have been a goal, from Roosevelt's own words, as Eskow explains. The vision of Social Security was one of liberty, justice and security for everyone no matter their wealth, 'worth', age, gender... Let's work on that because we have to always keep protecting and fighting for such things, or they will be ripped away.

Fun Stuff:
Here's a video* about a 93 year old woman who went to all the National Parks in the USA, all 63 of them, with her grandson.

The Sycamore Gap Tree on Hadrian's Wall is doing its best to come back after being chopped down and murdered, basically. It'll take years and years, but there is hope!

And finally, some goats*. Because, goats. Also they are on a farm in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the Ouseburn (yes, I used to live near there). I love how the disabled are working on the farm and cafe, and you can take the goats for walks!

*Note, the pictures/video links above will take you to the BBC video player page. I set the links up with a screenshot, because I can't figure out how to make the BBC video player embed into pages. Their embed code doesn't have anything but a plain link.

Thanks for reading! Here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!

Tags:

Open Thread

#Social Security

#fdr

#national parks

#sycamore_gap

#goats

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 4:34am

Happy Thursday!

I've been busy all week, which is good. I've been coding. Remember MUDs? Maybe some of you were geeky enough to play them back in the 80s-90s. I sure was . I'm working on getting one up and running again with a friend; a friend I've never met in person but have known since we both played MUDS in the late 80s and 90s. I've also been doing taxes for my parents. At least the coding is fun!

Hope your day is good and your upcoming weekend rocks! We've got rain here today, but then sunshine for a bit. Post whatever you've been up to and doing below. Love to read it

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Lookout on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 10:18am

Good morning...

A beautiful morning here. I've got to touch up the roads, not from wash but ripples from driving the long wheel base truck which has terrible traction and tends to bounce going up the ridge. Should be quick and easy.

Garden hasn't kicked into high gear yet, but looms around the corner. Got a nice bloom on the apple trees this year. Hope all is well around your homestead.

Thanks for the OT!

Edit to add:
We can thank the Blue Ridge parkway for passing social security.

Chairman Doughton was the longest-running Chairman of Ways and Means in the American Republic’s short history. He may have been perhaps the most 'powerful' North Carolinian ever to serve in Congress solely because of his ability to influence and direct legislation from that powerful perch.
FDR knew that he had to do something to garner Doughton’s support or else the key centerpiece of his New Deal legislation would never see the light of day in the House of Representatives.
And FDR did not become president or later lead America into war against Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo by being a shy, retiring wallflower or potted plant.

FDR figured out that to get Doughton's support, FDR had to somehow co-opt Doughton so he went to him and asked him what he wanted.
He said: 'The Blue Ridge Parkway to go through North Carolina, not Tennessee.'

Soon thereafter, Chairman Doughton changed his tune from criticizing the big government dreams and policies of FDR to highly praising Franklin Roosevelt for his leadership and did everything possible to insure that FDR’s treasured and crowning legislative achievement was passed in a matter of months.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 1:51am

Cleaning up roads...

@Lookout
We have to do that to our driveway soon. It's not steep and it is paved, but it is covered with plant detritus, leaves and so on, and fallen branches and only a pickup can get out it. So, we very carefully use the tractor shovel and clean off the huge amounts of tree junk. Sooner or later, gonna haveta get cracks fixed, cracks caused by tree roots. On the other hand, I love the trees, so I think they are staying .

The bit you added about the Blue Ridge parkway was very interesting. And it was... exactly how politics work, wasn't it? At least the good guys won in this instance! Hope your day was great, and the garden is growing well. Our is starting, I think it's got enough water for now!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:40am

Good morning Sima, et. al. Thanx for the OT, Sima.

Dreary, grey, overcst here; rained overnight and allefedly will rain off and on all day as well as Friday and Saturday. The Apple is just starting to get a few random leaves and also has one glorious large blossom way out of sync with the rest of the tree and the season.

We're getting ready for a quick run down to Pismo/SLO for a few days starting Sunday and will pretty much tune out the world because escape. One minor wrinkle is that yesterday my wife came down with either a flu or the return of the cold from hell. We're hoping it's the flu. I meanwhile must run and do last minute travel shopping (extra queso, snax, household staples, etc.) and gas the whale. This, especially the gas, calls for a run to CostCo because full retail petrol in the Bay Area is obscene and we run a 5.7 liter Hemi powered 1500 for trips like this so it is essential to get absolutely topped up before departure.

Anyway, off I go.
be well and have a good one

—

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 --

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 1:57am

Hope getting all the stuff for the trip...

@enhydra lutris
worked out good! And I hope your wife only has the 'sniffles' and not a really bad cold, flu, etc.

We've got early, local, plum trees flowering. The apples will start soon, they're full of about to bloom flowerheads. That will be good. Other than that, it's been cold and grey here too.

Pismo beach rocks. Used to spend time there as a kid/teen. Have fun!!!!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by humphrey on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 2:57pm

A step in the right direction but Israel will ignore it and

claim that it is anti-Semitic.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4561980-u-n-high-court-again-orders-i...

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ordered Israel to take more steps to protect civilians in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the coastal strip where Israeli troops are fighting against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The court ordered Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, noting there is no substitute for land crossings for supplies. The court also said Israel must “not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza.”

The United Nations high court’s Thursday order comes after a plea from South Africa for the ICJ to take further action after the court’s initial January ruling has not alleviated the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 2:03am

Yep, I guess even the ICJ is anti-semitic

@humphrey
Because what Israel is doing must be right... it must be. And the fact that it's a country founded on stealing land from other semitic people... well, that can't be anti-semitic, can it? /sarcasm

Thanks for stopping by!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by humphrey on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 3:03pm

The truth hurts but this is a reality check.

When Yellen accuses China of excess capacity buildup and distorting markets, what she is really admitting is that the US is incapable of competing with China in terms of industrial production and innovation.

It is also why the idea that the US can magically reindustrialise is a…

— The Sirius Report (@thesiriusreport) March 28, 2024

The rest of the tweet:

It is also why the idea that the US can magically reindustrialise is a myth. Its cost matrix alone makes it uncompetitive and even if supplies only the domestic market it will be highly inflationary quite simply because it will cost them significantly more to produce a widget than China or other nations.

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 2:27am

When I was a kid, back in the 70's...

@humphrey
my grandparents were fighting against the new (at that time) China detente... whatever TPTB called it. Why? Because my grandparents were unionized workers and knew that over time, the trade treaties with China would go beyond fireworks. Everything that people like my grandparents made, would be moved overseas and made there, for 'cheaper'. And... so it was. How do we get out of this? I dunno. I dunno.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 6:18pm

FDR actually

gave a shit about agricultural/trades folks who were suddenly herded into non-union industrialization, wasn't he? The last Prez to mention the 99% was LBJ, who could'a' been great, except for his obedience to the MIC/Viet Nam crowd.
Social Security is on the line again to be privatized, diminished, disappeared. Nobody is fighting back. We should be going to Africa and Central America to learn how to work for what we eat until we die, then come home to Sweet Home Alabama, and grow old and die with a sort of full belly.
The Hadrian's Tree seedlings makes my heart pump joyously! The goat walkie makes me want to travel again. Above and beyond the goats is the life skills and life purpose afforded to people with disabilities. May their lives continue to be enriched.
Ms. 93 yr old traveler extraordinaire is a hero! I have visited maybe 45 National Parks. Shame on me! I got travel to do!
Thanks for the OT, Sima.
Great stuff, as always.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 9:37pm

Well Medicare Advantage is on its way to being privatized

@on the cusp

I think it was Schumer who wanted more people on it and you will notice that there are no hearings on how they over bill by tens of billions and going up every year. There is so much blatant fraud in this system that one would have had to close their eyes to it and not want to crack down on it.

Doh! I meant to say Medicare Advantage…there’s so much fraud in the system, but it’s obvious that the government doesn’t care. But there’s lots of fraud in all our medical systems. My doctors could see some pathology in the retinal that they knew was benign, but they would order an invasive and expensive test and boost their revenue. Add this to every ophthalmologist office in the country and we’re talking big bucks.
Same thing happens in cardiology and almost every other subspecialties. I just had an eye exam and my vision is corrected so 20/30. The doctor wanted me to have cataract surgery and he was astonished when I said not yet. Yeah I’m having problems with small print, but stronger readers have helped. Any fcking surgery comes with risks. I don’t care how minor it is. I will not see him again. Plus he never explained what he saw. Even though I knew what he was saying I should have asked him to explain it to me anyway. Arrogant pos.

And look at how many trillions were scammed out of regular Medicare during the scamdemic. Some states paid $500,000 if people had Covid and were put on the deadly protocols.

Lieberman slid into his grave laughing he ass off for denying us single payer or the public option. And Medicaid should have required all states to offer it if they received federal money. But alas….hopefully Lieberman is visiting Kissinger and Albright in the 9th circle of hell.

—

The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/28/2024 - 8:39pm

I know, snoopy.

@snoopydawg Starve us, let us die from medical neglect, and all is good for the 1%.
I see no peaceful solution for the problems to help the 99%.
I am glad I am old, glad I am healthy.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 3:38am

I completely agree with you about doctors and...

@snoopydawg
our medical dystopia. It's really sad. When I broke my ankle, the doctor wanted me to have a $30k operation. It was a 'new' treatment and it would heal the ankle in 3 to 6 months and be great! Yea, well, putting a cast on the leg and wearing it for 2 months and letting it heal and then taking it off to heal further would take a total of 4-6 months and cost $2k max and I wouldn't be cut open. And so I asked for that. Basically I told her I didn't have $30k for an operation, so fix me the way they used to fix people.

I second your hopes for Lieberman, Kissinger and Albright in the 9th circle of Hell!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 10:52am

Same thing when I broke my ankle

@Sima

I slipped on ice at the cemetery and they were happy to pay for treatment. Doctor wanted to do surgery with pins…blah, blah…. I just said that the insurance isn’t settled yet so he booted it and said to come back in 2 weeks.. Another X-ray and it was healing just fine. After what I went through with my jaw I knew that cutting tissue and nerves leaves long term damage and it’s best to avoid it.

It was the left ankle and the leg has nerve damage from my back so it wasn’t very painful. I went to the store right after I broke it and after wearing the boot for a week I started walking on it. It might ache 4 times during winter, but I bet it’d be much worse if I let him cut. I bet I’d feel the hardware when it’s freezing here. I’d like to see a study on how many times they have to go back in and remove the pins. More nerve and tissue damage.

—

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 11:06pm

Yep, letting them cut into you...

@snoopydawg
Is gonna make it hurt more, even after it heals. At least, that's what I think too. I had to wear an ankle to hip cast, the break was pretty dire. However, now, about 5 years after I broke it, it doesn't hurt at all. I can walk easily, with confidence, ankle is as strong as it was before.

Funny thing is, while they were doing all the xrays, they found out I'd broken my ankle years before! I was overseas when it happened, and just had a painful ankle, I thought. Nope, it was broke, and it healed itself!! Doh! They wanted to have an operation to 'fix' the 20 year old break!!! NO!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 2:42am

Get to work on visiting those parks!

@on the cusp
I haven't visited nearly that many. I better get started on upping my game. Maybe by 93 I can have visited most of them!

FDR was a hero. Yea, like all heroes, there were bad things about him, but overall, he did a lot of good. And we haven't had a president like that for many, many years. Social Security is gonna be ruined by the time I qualify (in like 5 years or so) I bet. And Medicare/Medicaid/whatever? I guess I'm lucky to live in WA where the state provides a lot of health care.

Glad you liked the videos. I loved the article about the Sycamore Gap tree. I'm so glad they are working on getting new start of the tree and so on. The goats were just fun, fun! Have a great weekend!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 1:38am

Hi Sima

Thank you for the refreshing news. What a nice blend of old and new.

Cheers to you and your whanau (extended family).

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/29/2024 - 3:44am

Thank you for the cheers!!

@janis b
A week or so ago I did an online jigsaw puzzle of a picture from New Zealand. It was a gorgeous landscape, Lake Tepako, and all I could think about when doing it was you and your wonderful pictures!

Thanks for stopping by, and glad you liked the little bits and pieces in this OT!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so