Open Thread Tax Day Edition - April 15, 2016
If you are reading this and your taxes are not done, go do your taxes, or at least the extension application. I finished our taxes this past Monday. It felt good to have them done. Congratulations are in order, I am now one of the 47%. Let's celebrate with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
I was late on the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers uptake. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers hit their stride after I had mostly stopped listening to commercial radio and during a busy period of life. A few years ago, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were scheduled for Jazzfest, so I did my listening and had a revelation. These guys did a bunch of good music. Bonus points for being DFHs.
The Jazzfest Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers set was superb. I am an amateur guitarist and gearhead. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell always have great guitars with them. The music was great and they got their gear back just in time for some guitar porn.
FACT SHEET: TAXING WEALTHY AMERICANS
The federal income tax is designed to be progressive — tax rates increase in steps as income rises. For decades this helped restrain disparities in income and helped provide revenue to make public services available to all Americans. Today the system has badly eroded — many multi-millionaires and billionaires pay a lower tax rate than average American families.
Ironically, this has happened while the gap between the wealthy and everyone else has grown wider than ever. The extremely rich aren’t only earning and owning more — many are also passing wealth to their heirs tax free, creating a new American aristocracy with vast fortunes.
The American Dream Is Dead (And Now Even The Mainstream Media Is Starting To Admit It)
Are you living “the American Dream”? If so, you should consider yourself to be very fortunate, because most Americans are not.
In fact, as you will see below, a new survey has found that there is nowhere on the entire planet where the average wage earner is making enough money to live “the American Dream”. Once upon a time, the United States had the largest and most prosperous middle class in the history of the world, but now the middle class makes up a minority of the population, 51 percent of all American workers make less than $30,000 a year, and poverty is growing rapidly. The American Dream is essentially dead, and even the mainstream media is starting to figure this out.
High-income Americans pay most income taxes, but enough to be ‘fair’?
Tax-deadline season isn’t many people’s favorite time of the year, but most Americans are OK with the amount of tax they pay. It’s what other people pay, or don’t pay, that bothers them.
Just over half (54%) of Americans surveyed in fall by Pew Research Center said they pay about the right amount in taxes considering what they get from the federal government, versus 40% who said they pay more than their fair share. But in a separate 2015 survey by the Center, some six-in-ten Americans said they were bothered a lot by the feeling that “some wealthy people” and “some corporations” don’t pay their fair share.
It’s true that corporations are funding a smaller share of overall government operations than they used to. In fiscal 2015, the federal government collected $343.8 billion from corporate income taxes, or 10.6% of its total revenue. Back in the 1950s, corporate income tax generated between a quarter and a third of federal revenues (though payroll taxes have grown considerably over that period).
How America's Wealthy Stole the American Dream and Cashed It at an Offshore Bank
America is the most unequal country in the developed world. We also pay the lowest taxes among all developed nations. Is there a connection?
Runaway inequality and declining taxes are linked together through a set of economic policies called the "Better Business Climate" model which came to America around 1980. (By then Margaret Thatcher had already put her version to work in England.)
After the turbulent 1970s, which featured oil boycotts, high unemployment and even higher inflation rates, the policy establishment was hungry for a new simple plan that promised renewed prosperity. The Better Business Climate model had two key components: cutting taxes on corporations and the super-rich, and reducing regulations, especially on Wall Street. This potent combination was to encourage the rich to invest, which in turn would lead to more jobs and increasing incomes for all. A massive boom would then ensue to make all boats rise. But as we painfully learned, tax cuts and the unleashing of Wall Street led to luxurious yachts for the few and leaky rowboats for the rest of us.
An investigation published by an international coalition of more than 100 media outlets, based on 11.5 million records of offshore holdings, details how politicians, celebrities and other famous people use banks, law firms and offshore shell companies to hide their assets.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, said an anonymous source provided internal documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the world's biggest creators of shell companies. Ramon Fonseca, a co-founder of Mossack Fonseca, said the documents were obtained illegally by hacking but confirmed that many of them were real. He denied his firm has engaged in any wrongdoing.
This is a look at offshore accounts and how they are used: ->
Panama Papers: The Mossack Fonseca Investigations Begin
Last month, a group of international journalists gathered outside of the headquarters of Mossack Fonseca in Panama City, waiting for someone from the law firm to come out and speak to them. Now, prosecutors have raided those offices, prompted by news reports that placed the firm at the center of an offshore-finance scandal that spans continents.
Panamanian organized-crime prosecutors searched the headquarters late Tuesday, looking for evidence of money laundering and other criminal activity at the firm, which specializes in offshore financial services, the Associated Press reported. Police officers stood guard outside the building as the raid was carried out. The Panamanian attorney general’s office said the raid was conducted “to obtain documentation linked to the information published in news articles that establish the use of the firm in illicit activities.”
US Government Pays Contractors Twice as Much as Civil Servants for the Same Work
Since the 1990s, the outsourcing of what were once considered to be public services has grown exponentially, while the size of the federal workforce has fallen significantly. The rationale for these deep reductions in the public sector is that private companies are more efficient. The privatizers claim that they can render the same services as civil servants for less, even after making a profit.
That's it. This topic is agitating me, so I am going to run down to the garage.
Open thread ensues.
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
I used to sing this one to my baby girl, except I would change the words, "She's a good girl. loves Stevie Ray and Hendrix ..."
Comments
Oh pooh, that was the comment save
No longer empty.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
A Face in the Crowd
Tax deadline
I hope everyone has their taxes done. If you are in a crunch though, you do have a couple more days:
IRS
Good morning, Tim,
and 99ers.
Thank you for the early bird open thread, Tim. It's only 3:30AM here, but I am up. I generally don't sleep well, so here I am. It's nice to have the thread up early on these mornings.
Hope all is well with everyone, and Happy Friday!
Hey O
I am glad to oblige.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
More snow in Denver
We are forecast more snow, beginning tonight and into Saturday and Sunday, maybe Monday. Denver metro. I'm west of Denver. I see estimates like 5-10", 10-17", a "foot or more." I hope the trees hold up, and that the power stays on.
Heh
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Oh my, looked at the NYT debate coverage
and Bernie was mean! Angry! Poor Hillareeeee.
Yesterday was a day of memories of every single minute of 4/14/86 when my first child was born. I called him on his birth minute. He didn't know I had a record of that fact. I told him he could have his astrological chart done now (haha). 9lb, 14 oz of him. Firstborn got the Caesar treatment, no labor involved. Breech baby.
A sunny springlike weekend ahead here!
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.
oh, I am not alone!
Good morning, riverlover. Happy birthday to your son.
I've called my daughter
on her birth minute every year for 18 or so years. She loves that.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
That's too cool
and requires some serious commitment and attention. Kudos to you.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
Edit: Minute is pretty amazing.
We do a phone call to sing happy birthday on the day.
I didn't watch last night. Vox has a big write up that Bernie was the big winner and the Clintons/DLC the big loser. None of it matters anyway. The amount of registration slamming that is going on in NY, it won't be an honest election anyway. Like Sadam Hussein, Hillary will be able to announce she got 98% of the vote.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
My mom did that
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
At TOP
Front page hackery abounds as usual. Logothetis managed to dig up nine paragraphs to quote every single one about tone. Anyone reading would have no clue about what was covered or about who did better.
Dworkin managed to find these two tweets to drop into the comments.
The death throes of the Dem side of the establishment coin.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I quit reading the APR
months ago. They never cover Bernie, or only find lies about him. It used to be the first thing I read. The FPers at TOP are worthless. I suppose they have their marching orders and must already be in the bag for HRC, or they have a serious problem with bearing any courage.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Yup
The two I mentioned were always establishment hacks even before the big change.
With a couple of honorable exceptions, they are all worthless hacks. Courage is certainly not a word I'd associate with the DKos staff writers - that is for sure.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Same here...
...I rarely read anything on the FP beyond the comics any more. It's like going back in time to when I was 10-years old and the the first thing I read in the daily dead tree media was Doonesbury. (Yes, I was a very precocious and politically-aware 8-year old, having been bitten by the political bug during the 1972 election, when I was all of 8-years old.)
I want my two dollars!
Hillary is a teacher all right!
She's certainly helped to teach me about all the corruption in the DNC this election cycle.
Someone should post the CNN debate poll...
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont 84.04% (41,616 votes)
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 14.22% (7,043 votes)
Neither. 1.74% (861 votes)
Total Votes: 49,520
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They will just say it was freeped.
Good if watchers came away with a Bernie win. Now what can we do about the Establishment saying that never happened?
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.
Oh well
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I knew it!!
Poor dear, everybody is SO SEXIST, making her answer a question with a "Yes" or "No" , instead of EVADING it with bullshit and double-speak.
What a bunch of vile, excuse-making idiocy. Full stop.
That was funny.
dhonig is a piece of work to begin with. S/he even bested his/herself with that one.
There was a great comment. If I could find it, I'd link. I think it took place in Kos' pos diary. If not, it might have been the response to it. Any way a person of color called out Kos and the Hillarybots for using PoC when what they really meant was black people. He pointed out that people of color don't all look or think alike, and he found their misuse of the term offensive and racist. I think he was Asian or hispanic. It got sent to the hiddens of course.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I see I am alone.
Alone at home. Alone online.
I will continue to talk to myself until someone comes along.
Such disturbing numbers - 51% of American workers make less than $30,000.
On a recent Bill Maher show, Andy Dean, a strong supporter of Trump, maybe a spokesman, was explaining why people want Trump. Roughly "They have not had an increase in wages for 15 years… So, they look to a businessman [Trump]." He is interrupted by a woman on the panel. "But it is the businessmen who are not paying them!!!!"
Haha. Good one. Bill, suggesting Andy walked into a trap, said the exchange reminded him of the cartoon where a guy steps in a rope trap and is pulled up and ends up dangling upside down by his leg. Haha.
OLinda, I am usually around about this time,
and alone, at home. With puppy. So we can commiserate together, alone @ home. Cheers!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
tv
Tonight on Maher's show:
FRIDAY: Bill welcomes @ariannahuff #AmyGoodman @democracynow @mkhammer @rickwtyler and @SusanSarandon to #RealTime!
Arianna, Amy Goodman, and Susan Sarandon might make an interesting show. Don't know about mkhammer or rick tyler.
I don't have HBO, but a few days after airing, the audio podcast is posted, and I listen to those.
Good morning all.
Just what I didn't think I needed - I had to take out a loan to pay my taxes. This is the precarious financial system I'm in. I changed my withholding for next year. Last year was tough, in all ways, for us. I hope our financial nightmare ends soon.
Have a beautiful Friday!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hey, I had to ca$h out my IRA
to pay the Fed the remainder because I mis-guessed the % to withhold. Perilous times, indeed.
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.
Especially when our corporate
Brothers and sisters pay jack. That's the part I loathe.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
IRA
We had to cash Sweetie's to remodel the bathroom. Luckily, handicapped accessibility modifications are deductible medical expenses. The bathroom, ramp and wheelchair van modifications are what go me into the 47%.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
That is too bad, Cuz RA. My tax bill is gonna wipe out our
meagre "savings for a rainy day" - again.
I have the consolation of living in Canada, where our taxes are - generally - applied to the public benefit. So as I transfer our meagre "savings" to the CRA, I will say, "Tax is the price of civilization." But you folks' taxes are going to all manner of horrible, no-good, very bad things. It would burn to have to borrow money to pay taxes while the corporate scoundrels don't pay taxes at all. I am so sorry you have to do this. Go Bernie go. Please.
Well, it's a gorgeous day here; I hope it is the same for you. The yuge squadron of birds lent to me by the gods as long as I feed them are stuffing their faces. I call it Sparrow TV and it is great company through the breakfast window. Then c99 for yuge intellectual company over coffee before work begins (if I remember what I had wanted to do :=) Have a great day,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
CuzG -it blows to borrow
money to pay taxes. I'll scrimp to pay it off soon, so as not to pay too much interest. I think we'll be okay next year. We need Bernie more than ever.
We have a storm in parts of our state today. We're slated to only get wind. We need rain in a bad way. It will be in the 70's, though, so not too bad!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Ugh, sorry to hear that, RA
Our economy sucks. There is no other way to characterize it.
It only helps the rich and greedy. It's pathetic that it's gotten this bad, with a "Democrat" at the helm for the past 8 years, no less.
I do hope things are better this year for you. Bernie winning would certainly help. Take care.
Thanks, gbb.
It should be better this year now that I've adjusted my withholding. We were in crisis last year - life happens. It does piss me off, though, that we're still in dire straits, as a country, with a dem in office. Then again, Obama has proven himself to be Clinton-lite.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I'll be filing my extension today
because I haven't been able to get to the accountant. I run my own "business" which simply means I don't have a boss, I freelance web programming.
Well, I can no longer do my own taxes, its so complicated. I have to pay 1500 to get the business and personal taxes done. I have to pay FICA so I pay an additional 7%.
I never really understood the complaints of small businesses before I was one, if only nominally.
I just finished paying off last year's taxes in December...
And I don't mind paying my taxes, I really don't, but it should be fair. If I'm paying so much, GE and Exxon should be paying so much more, not getting credits.
That's my beef, too, Haikukitty.
I don't mind paying, but I resent that the 1% don't. My daughter dated a 1%er once and he paid no taxes. That's when my eyes opened right up to it.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
ouch!
I changed hub's withholding over a year ago, it did make a difference.
I was tearing my hair out over tax prep back in February. Really, you dont wanna get me started on this topic, lol. Gave up trying to self-do w/ tax software (what a mess that is, Turbo Tax hiked their prices so I ditched them to try a different one) and took it to a new CPA dude who did a wonderful job and was worth every penny. Doing our taxes is a royal pain in the butt, DH is both regular job and self employed, me w/ no job/income, and our only kid in first year of college so blegh!!
We have been losing deductions
This is the last year I will have a dependent (tax purposes only), the mortgage is nearly paid, and nobody is in school. expect to be 1040EZ within a couple of years.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Morning, Peeps
How'd it go last night? I fell out at 9... slept like the dead for 9 hours. Read the comments this morning, but still couldn't bring myself to listen to Shrillary.
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Vote Smart - Just the Facts - 40,000 politicians by name or zipcode
Morning Tim, from a gorgeous clear dry morning in southern
Ontario. Where we have until 30 April to file taxes. I'm going to finish mine this weekend; I put my tax file in a time-out last weekend when I realized I'm gonna owe money this year. I hope it has learned it's lesson well and will be more 99% than 1% to me this time.
Anyway, it is Friday, and this seemed appropriate. Enjoy your day everyone,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Thanks, have a great weekend
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
A Glorious Clear Blue Morning here in
the Hammer....cold though...sitting right at zero (F)....
Got my taxes in two days ago to my tax lady. She is also my financial advisor...and has done my taxes for the last 12 years or so. I will probably have to pay again this year... last year was the first time. Up until my hubby died I had no income...now I have pension and some investment money that is keeping the roof over my head. That is income and I have to pay...but I figured out...for all of those years I didn't pay, it worked out to be about $100/year... and for all that I get from this wonderful country...healthcare being the biggie, and for all of the things that I DON'T get, like lots of bombs and planes and such.... then hey... it is a SMALL price to pay... and I will gladly do so.
What a BARN BURNER the debate was last night! The crowd was for Bernie...you didn't hear them chanting for her...and SHE got BOOED..... I will bet she is livid today... I sure hope so!
I'm off to check my news feeds and see if is anything new to add to my First Nations thread... I will keep posting to that thread as things develop.... feel free to do the same if you find things I have missed.
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First Nations News
Typo in first sentence, Martha?
Did you mean C not F? It's all difficult moving back and forth...
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.
No, I meant F... I don't "do" C... ;-)
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I did it in the lab (sounds Suessian?)
but had trouble translating that to real life. So yes, I understand.
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.
Hey, it's your nosy neighbor to the South,
Down here in the beautiful Wasatch mountains of Utah, where we got 4 inches of snow yesterday. Another 4-6 on the radar for this afternoon. It's around 26 Deezgrees (grew up in Pasadena, Calif, where Rick "Deez" Diaz reigned supreme on our rock radio station, KRLA. His weather was always peppered with "it's gonna be another beautiful, sunny day, 75 Deezgrees and blue skies" etc. ) (hey, it Was Southern California, after all! Back then it was Always75 degrees and blue (albeit smoggy) skies!
So, where is this "hammer" you speak of?
And good morning, 99ers!
"When the powerless are shut out of the media, we will make the media irrelevant" ~Anonymous~
"The Hammer" = Hamilton, Ontario
This was a steel town, though that industry has pretty much died now. But the nick-name of "The Hammer" or "Hammer Town" or, "Steel City" will probably always remain.
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First Nations News
Shaun King
Heh
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Morning Martha. So agreed on our privilege to live here in
Canada. The debate was just what Bernie needed in NY - w00t! Even the MSM shills can't put as much energy into their Clinton-spin as they used to.
BTW, I sent an email to my Ontario riding's NDP assn office to ask about how the riding NDP views the Leap Manifesto. (I told them I left when their federal counterparts hired Mulcair for the Greens. I'm like, are you back to being the NDP? :=)
I don't know how I missed your First Nations thread. I'll go read it it right away. Enjoy the day,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Morning Gerrit!
It is SO good to FINALLY see the sun...
Just posted another link in this thread about Leap... I think you will like it...
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First Nations News
Why the ruckus over the Leap Manifesto?
Rather than fear the Leap Manifesto, it should be debated in every classroom, church basement, union hall and Tim Hortons.
The Star.com
Thu Apr 14 2016
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First Nations News
Ty - The Star's Leap article calls out Notley's surrender to the
fossil fuel lobby, and rightly so. I'll let you know if I hear back from the local Dippers on Leap. BTW, did I tell you that the Ontario Green office forwarded my request for Ontario to boycott NC to Mike Schreiner to bring the topic to discussion with the powers that be? No idea whether it was genuine or just a fob-off, but we live in hope :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
It's great to see so many
It's great to see so many Canadians on this site. I live about a mile from the Canadian border--the contrast between American tv and Canadian is hard to believe. Been living in Hong Kong until recently so haven't seen the difference until last few months of living in the US, but chose to retire close to Canada for many reasons and haven't regretted it at all. Some folks head for FL or Arizona, but after nearly 30 years in near tropical climate, we wanted snow in sight all the time! When I hear Bernie speak I see not just his "NY values" but he also frequently refers to Canada, just like he did last night. You always read about the US influence on Canada but not the Canadian influence on US, but with Bernie it's unmistakable. My mother's folks were Quebecois (can't figure out how to get the accent mark) until 1913 when they crossed over to work in Detroit. Have regretted their move many times but the old ones (my Aunts now deceased) said the English Canadians at the time discriminated against the french while the Americans didn't. I appreciate the First Nation postings and discussion of Canadian affairs on this site, and getting your perspective on taxes, climate change and whatever the Leap manifesto is. Will check it out!
Hi there monkeybp :=) Thank you very much for this kindness.
It's real good to meet a neighbour. We're a 45 minute drive to Cornwall, ON, and the border. My son lives in residence there and his window looks over the St Lawrence river a few yards away. Oh man, if Bernie wins, there will be so many wonderful back-and-forths between Canada and the U.S. There's lots we can all learn form each other and with Bernie it would all be on the menu. Have a great day!
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Fair use, and all that
I really liked these 2 paragraphs:
[This led to a pile-on of media commentators outraged at the prospect of debate breaking out across the country.
Imagine the menace of citizens getting together to discuss what is to be done about climate change — which a 2003 Pentagon report described in cataclysmic terms, concluding it would lead to a future where “once again, warfare would define human life.”] ok forgot how to blockquote
Yes, it's scary stuff, but doing nothing leads to zombie apocalypse later, and later might be sooner. So, lalalala, better not think about it, much less do anything.
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.
Morning riverlover. That is well said! Enjoy your day :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
My favorite line from the op
My favorite line from the op/ed: "Trying to reduce emissions while allowing the oilsands to grow by 43 percent is like trying to reduce lung cancer while giving away cigarettes . . ."
Bernie - closing speech - NY debate
If you missed it, this is sooooo worth watching.
Excellent editing for the cut
....and now back to our regular programming....
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.
Good morning Tim and all you beautiful progressives!
It's Friday and Bernie kicked on some Clinton ass last night. A weekend to rejoice
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
Solid
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Corporate taxes
So RA has to borrow money to pay their taxes. Corporations not so much. Bernie requested this study by the GAO. http://www.gao.gov/products/gao-16-363
The findings are even more surprising than I thought. Bottom line "It's rigged!"
Let's hope Bernie's people powered movement can overcome the corrupt corporate Clinton machine.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hmm...
Someone should tell Hillary that the angry shaking/pointing finger gesture does not look good on her! /snark/
Love the two pics!
This is a very ugly habit of hers
I have noticed that when she gets angry, she resorts to finger pointing, often in the face of those she is talking to. It is an ugly and demeaning habit that telegraphs her complete lack of respect for others. There is a lot about her body language that turns me off, and her finger pointing is tops among those turn offs. I asked my husband for his take on when someone points a finger at another person. He said that pointing one's finger at another human being is a form of intimidation.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
yes gg, but HRC doesn't only point that finger, she jabs it and
she jabs it up close to the other person's face. That borders on assault in my book, esp when done by a person of power to one of us lesser-beings.
See the video with the Greenpeace activist. The video with the young Somali woman also. There she is jabbing as she makes her point and she has something in her hand while she's jabbing right up close to the young woman's shoulder.
The Queen of Wall Street obviously wouldn't be so happy if one of us lesser-beings did that to her. And neither would the secret service.
Part of what I really despise about Hillary Clinton is her sense of entitlement.
One set of rules for Queen of Wall Street and another set of rules for us peons.
Take a look at how she jabs that finger right up in the young woman's face:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC4Pvm6Oj4A width:500 height:315]
Jabbing with an object at a young woman's shoulder:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhUJexDHF9U width:500 height:315]
There are probably dozens of such videos, this is Hillary's style and it is completely disrespectful. To jab at anyone, esp up close and invading that person's space with those jabs, and esp when you are in a position of power over that person, and esp when you are surrounded by armed secret service agents, is a proclamation thru body language that you are the person in power and that you will win thru intimidation what you cannot win thru sound reasoning and respectful discussion of the issue.
What Hillary does with that finger of hers goes way beyond pointing it at people.
I will never vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances.
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
If she were to point that finger in my face...
she'd be likely to draw back a stub...
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First Nations News
Too right, Lookout. And wow, those are two telling pictures.
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Good Morning Tim and 99%'ers!
I have always been a fan of Tom Petty. Very few rockers have had such a long and continuously successful career as Tom Petty.
This morning, I read Alphalop's live blog thread of last night's debate. It sounds as though Bernie had a wonderful debate last night. I really wish he could blow Clinton out of the water in New York, but things are not looking real positive right now. It makes me nauseous to think that Clinton might win the nom. Oh well.
It is a gorgeous cool morning here in western NC with a bright clear Carolina blue sky above. I might do some yard work today.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Don't despair!
The polls have been consistently off, and things are moving so quickly right now. I'm more hopeful than I've been in a long time, it might just surprise us all.
Taxes
We didn't have to pay this year because our income has been low since the collapse. We've been down, but not out, ever since. After hustling and subcontracting, my husband finally got hired at the beginning of the year, so regular paycheck every two weeks (I work p/t). He negotiated a good pay rate, a week's paid vacation, and hopefully will get a company work truck in lieu of a higher pay rate. The boss told the employees last week that they're looking into health insurance. Yea!
Next year, I'm sure we'll have to pay. We should, but gawd, why don't GE, BP, et.al. have to? Fuggin' system is rigged.
Things are looking up for this family of five. We are fortunate, we're all healthy, hubby is strong, but his occupation is catching up to him. I know that with the psychological stress and economic stress that we, and many in our nation have faced since the collapse, Bernie is the man. He gives us hope! He understands our struggles, he's for US. Our struggles are his struggles; he's genuine. I know Bernie is the real deal. This hope is different from the hope I had with Obama, but I think we had to go through that "hope" to get to this REAL HOPE.
Our nation needs Bernie-on so many levels! I know he will work for US to end the status quo and all that entails.
Post Debate Voices: Robert Sheer is on fire - Listen to it !
Ah, was so happy to hear Robert Sheer (editor in chief of truthdig) fighting the good fight on Democracy Now this morning. First time I heard him speaking with a lot of compassion and I was glad he didn't back down to the other guest LGBT activist Torie Osborn.
Oh, boy, how did I like to listen to Robert Sheer. I had heard him before only in a one on one debate with Chris Hedges and that was the beginning for me to listen and read truthdig more often and trying to figure out what the differences between the two men are. I have a heart for both of them. But this morning Sheer spoke my heart about the debate and Hillary Clinton.
BTW, I have a hard time to understand why one wouldn't watch this debate. Those who have not shouldn't rely on the live blog, but listen to it and watch it. Hillary Clinton revealed herself more than she seems to be aware of.
I don't know how to embed an audio file, and there isn't yet a transcript for the discussion today (which would be difficult to write so heated was the back and forth between him and the other lady, Torie Osborn.)
Anyhow, you can watch it on their site Democracy Now
The debate coverage starts at TC 11:36 and the discussion about the debate with Sheer and Osborne starts at 29:16, the heated stuff starts at TC 36:10.
I heard also in a broadcast on WPFW after the Democracy NOW broadcast Ralph Nader in interview which was very good. Just don't know how to find an audio file and do not know how to embed an audio file.
fdr
not only delivered the nation unto the national security state, but also, to pay for it, he crippled the people with the income tax.
I do not agree with you.
The NSS has always been around in one form or another. It's a tick which fattens itself when the Fascists/FRWingers gain control. Pick your poison: I will take that aristocrat FDR over the Prescotts, the Bushes, the Rockefellers, the Mellon Scaifes, the Carnegies, not sure when John Bircher Daddy Koch made his $$ but him, too; and you get my drift. FDR understood and believed in noblesse oblige; the others NOT! The others considered themselves the ELECT cos they were greedballs who always had to have more, more, more!! I consider them the lowest life that crawls.
ncTim: I love the tunes, but where is Tom Petty's "Refugee"? That was always one of my very favorites.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hillary's "progressive" pose didn't work last night
Anis Shivani on Salon: Half-truth Hillary finally exposed: This was the debate where Bernie Sanders changed the Democratic Party for good
Bernie just didn't let her get away with pretend "progressive" rhetoric.
"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."
I got in to the Medical Assistant program & losing a tooth
at the local community college. In my early 50's, it feels absurd to be in school for a 4th career with kids 1/3 my age, but whatever.
In other news, I get a tooth pulled today. Too late save it.
"You should have come in sooner."
"And pay with what?" I was only covered as of the 1st of this year. Also, with two jobs and school, I'm a little busy, ya know?
Now I'll have two in a row missing on the lower right. Absurdly, Denti-Cal pays for full dentures, but not partials or bridges (much less implants). Fortunately, I am close to Mexico.
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine. -- Jeff Spicoli
I can fix it
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
extension for us and probably a refinance
we ran out of money, we're going to owe some dough. I guess it's "lucky" that we live in what real estate people call "a hot neighborhood" so we have quite a bit of equity.
Still, ugh!
Yeah
I will have to squeeze some equity out of my house in the next few years. Time to downsize.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -