Social Security... something

OK, I have no idea how the numbers might work out for this but I'm going to throw it out there anyway. Because you'd probably have to go into algorisms and Algebra and calculus, Oh My!

 What if we allowed people to chose their Social Security Benefit amount based on the person's contribution into the system?
So that's the simple explaination of the Idea. The rest of this is pretty much some top the head ideas on how it might work.
When you get a job you always fill out a W-  something asking about your dependants and deduction. At tha point you get a paper with options. Pay this percentage from your pay check, get this Payment. I can definitly see some issues with this, I said it was top of the head stuff. I don't know how you represent to a person the value of that pay out in 40 years. It might sound good but in 40yrs, it's a Pepsi. I would imagine young people would just pick the minimum so you'd have to allow people to change. But, at the time of the change the person would need a reassesment of where they stand at the point in time, to be able to figure their contribution going forward.
Ok I'm starting to ramble, Like I said it was top of the head kind of stuff which I'm sure some people will say came straight from my ass.

Economic What If's

Did you ever think to yourself, man, I could do some great things if I just had a staff? Well I could use a numbers guy right now. Any way here's Economic what if's.

What if the only tax deduction a company could get was for increasing the wages of non-management employees?

What if  the Government gave Loan Guaranties to Employees to buy the factory, that they work at, that is being closed down to be moved to a foreign country. We could even make it a sweet deal buy saying that is the mechinary and equipment has already been written off their taxes, the company can only scrap value.

What if we index wages to GDP growth. (OK, this one might blow up in my face.)

Not a Clue

I don't think the Political Talking Heads, on the cable news channels, understands the incredible  damage Republicans are doing to themselves at the state level. Maybe yestarday's Elections will change that. Probably not.

Orchestrated Volatility

How much longer are we going to let this game go on? Wall Street is no longer a stock market that serves the needs of capitalist system it is no longer just a way to accumulate and reallocate capital. It is not even a casino, as some have called it, where all the outcomes have an equal possibility. 13 Black, Damn it!
Wall Street is a rigged game. where win or lose, up or down it doesn't really matter because their investments are designed to profit either way. If there is good news on a Greece bailout the markets go up and they profit. S&P down grades Greece the markets tank and they profit. Got all we can, let's go to Italy. It's orchestrated volatility design to suck as much money out of the economy and into the pockets of the super wealthy as possible. And the reason have nothing to do with a free market rewarding the successful. It's about the darker side of human nature. Capitalism is not a beneviolent "invisible hand" guiding us to a brighter future. It is a jungle where winners and losers can be a matter of life and death. It is a jungle populated by giant corporations that would rather dump their waste in the river, no matter how toxic, because it's cheaper and quite frankly corporation don't get thirsty. The free market does not care if you struggle every day to survive, in fact it's better if you do so you don't have time to pay attention while they dismantle The Enviromental Protection Agency. Take the Koch Brothers they operate a Plant that some say has caused Cancer in the residents of a small town nearby. They don't care what's a few death to low income people compared to a bigger bottom line? In fact they are funding Presidencial canadates and Right Wing efforts to eliminate the EPA. What's a little Cancer?
So it's time to end the game. The current system can't be fixed by tinkering around the edges making new rules to encourage better behavior. the system and it's players are too corrupt and wields too much power to be allowed to continue or take part in the re-organization of the financial system.
We need to nationalize the banks and take over the large fInancial Institutions. Take them over, audit them then chop them up and sell them off. Institute new rules and a transaction tax on Wall Street. Restrict futures to end use customers and tighter control over derivatives. We need to reduce the princple on debt both public and private sector and reset those loans at lower and fixed interest rates.
In essence we need to reboot our financial system and restart it with a new operating system.

Hoping for failure

With the deadline fast approaching on the Super Committee I would have to say I'm hoping for failure. I think the $1.2T in automatic cuts, although Painful, would be far better than the auction house bidding going on with the plans being shopped around these days. We'll cut $4B! No We'll cut 6.
First, the automatic domestic cuts of $600B over 10yrs would hurt but would be alot less painful then some other plans. We have a debt problem but it's a long-term problem. Now is not the time, in this economy, to start taking an axe to goverment spending based on plans concieved by men in backrooms arguing about whose is bigger.
The second reason I'm hoping for failure is because the $600B cuts to Defense will probably be our only opportunity to get those kind of cut out of the Pentagon. And to those who say the cuts will hurt our national Seurity. I find it hard to believe that $600B over 10yrs will be that painful to a $7T budget. Why are we so willing to force Medicare providers take less but not Defense Contractors?
There are so many game changing reforms that we can make, once we get the Republicans out of the way and start instituting values more in line with the 99%. Lifting the income caps on Social Security, allowing younger and healthier people to buy in to medicare and a Wall Street Transaction Tax are just a few.
It's sad to say that nothing will get done with Republican in control of the House of Representatives. The Republicans have proven over and over again that they do not govern to make this country a better place for everyone. Any so called Jobs plan they offer is just a collection of corporate and 1% wishlist talking points. Less taxes, less regulations and more "shared" sacrifice from those who can afford it least. They are so commited to the 1% they don't even listen to a majority of their own party who approves of raising taxes on millioairs. Republicans are no longer serious players in this debate.
So let the Super Committee fail, take our hit and get to work making this a better place for the 99%

Democrats as a Stop Gap

The power of the 99% is that most people are sane and when asked issue by issue are relatively more Liberal then Conservative. So our power is in the fact that the sane far out number the crazy. So if we all make the commitment to vote we will win.Most of us Dislike Wall Street and their hand maidens in Congress both Republican and Democrats and we want to throw them all out. But, rallying around the Idea throw all the bumps out could be dangerous in that a random flip of the coin like that could just end up giving us a Republican controlled House, Senate and White House which will pretty much get us a gigantic Flat Tax Cut for billionaires, an Oil well in every yard and of course fish with three eyes.
So from in a pragmatic, Political and Electorial stand point with an national election only a year away we need first stop the bleeding by removing as many Republicans as possible and replace them with Democrats. At both the National and State level.
I know, I know, some of the Democrats are just as bad as Republican and many have the same ties to Wall Sreet but over all Dems are not nearly as anti the 99 as republican and not as determined to dismantle everything.
Once the Dems are in power we go back to the streets and get a constitutional amendment to get money out of elections and politics, institute a Wall Street Transaction Tax and break up the big banks for a start.

Watching "Faith & Freedom Conference"

I was struck by two thoughts while watching the Faith & Freedom Conf. on C- SPAN.
1. Republicans will fight to the death of a doctor to stop abortions but once that baby is born it's Screw'em, cut WIC, cut health care, cut anything that gives that child a chance of a positive start in life.
2. The Republican efforts, across this country, to restrict abortion and the health care options of Women seem to be rooted in the idea that Women are the property of Men. Their decisions and options will be decided by Men with the political power to impose their personal beliefs on all women.

Family Day

 

 

 

"The Fall of Wall Street"

The "Occupy" protests happening on Wall Street and around the country have been a powerful first step in connecting people of like feelings of frustration over a system that seems stacked against the 99% of people who sweat, stress and study day in and day out for a better life for themselves and their families. While at the same time the scales are tipped in the direction of the top 1% and large corporation either through tax cuts or bail outs for criminal behavior by banks or ultimitly total political domination. The growth of what some are calling "The American Autumn" ,or my personal favorite "The Fall of Wall Street", and the way it has spread to other cities shows that if there is hundreds of thousands out there that feel compelled enough to take their voices to the streets there must be millions who have the similar feelings of frustration. Frustration may have been the catalyst that brought the people to Wall Street and beyond and it was a essential step to connecting people and creating networks it is not enough to sustain a movement. It is not enough to draw in the millions who feel the same way. This unified message doesn't need to be a manifesto with a long list of demands. It should just two or three first steps that set the foundation for real change. To add my voice to the debate I would like to offer what I think we all could get behind to change American for the benefit of all. The First is a Constitutional Amendment to get the money out of Politics. The Dylan Rattigan ammendments looks pretty good. Second, establish a Wall Street Transaction Tax. A portion of which would fund elections. I like this because Wall Street still pays for our election but with out buying influence. Third, bust up the Big Banks

Wall Street Sales Tax

I first heard this idea a couple year ago. I thought it sounded like a good idea at the tome but you know how it goes, life goes on, the next crisis hits, Chaz Bono goes on Dancing with the Stars. You forget things. Recently I heard someone mention it so I went back to take a better look. It's called a "Wall Street Transaction Tax," personally I'd call it a "Wall Street Sales Tax" much easier for people to understand. Now if I was a Republican I'd probably call it The Jobs Crushing Socialist Class Warfair Redistribution Act". Anyway, so what is it and how does it work? One of the current versions talked about, or not talked about, in Washington is a 0.025% (yes that's one quarter of one percent) on every transaction that goes through Wall Street except for a few exemption on Retirement Account, Health Savings, etc. It's estimated it would bring $150 Billion a year or $1.5 Billion over 10 yrs. Personally I would go a little higher. If some one is either encouraged or discouraged from doing anything because of a 0.025% tax on a particular transaction needs to go smoke a bowl and get over it. I'd also go a little higher on riskier investments like Credit Default Swaps and a higher rate for Speculators who are not end use buyers. The thing I love about this Idea is We can payoff the debt in no time and it just seems like justice to make Wall Street pay for the crisis they put us in. Just think of it as a fine and Insurance for the next time.

Tribute 9/11

This is a video I made a few years back to remember all those that found something missing after 9/11

The Romney Doll

This is from the last Election. Still fits.

A Stupid Idea?

Some times you have an idea that seems to make sense almost doable but it's just too big and radical of an idea to get your head around. Numbers too big to imagine and the potential for Unforeseen consequences cloud any ability of one mind to see it from different angles or even sub conscience biases that prevent even the most obvious reasons as to why it's the stupidest idea ever.
That being said, I'm throwing this idea out there not so I can defend it but to invite a dialogue even if it ends with someone's comment that makes me say "God that was a stupid idea."
And away we go!
The Federal Government would loan people the money to pay of their debt at the prime rate plus 1% for a 5yr pay off. +2% for 10yr and 3% for 15yr. I just added the option payoffs but hey I might as well go all in.
Now these loans would appear on the Feds books as an asset. Assets that can then be bundled in such a way as to minimize risk and garner a AAA rating, one that is real and not bought like the fraudulent mortgage back securities sold by the banks that brought down the economy.
The government can then take the new Triple A rated "Freedom Backed Securities", maybe that name will get a little Tea Bagger support, and sell them off to Investors.
Ok, so that it. I'd like to hear any thoughts on this Idea. Pros or cons. What the potential numbers might be or what consequences I'm not seeing or even just a good reason why it's the stupidest idea ever.

Triple A for Pay

Maybe We could just pay the Rating Agencies to give our Treasury Bonds a AAA rating. it worked for the banks and their mortgage securities.

News Headlines

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

N.Y. Lawmakers: No Obstacle to Marriage Vote

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Joe

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Joe, all my love.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Molly

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Little Feat - Dixie Chicken (with Emmylou Harris & Bonnie Raitt) Live 19...

Van Morrison - Harmonica Boogie (Live at Montreux in 1974)

Thom Hartmann Tells the Real History of the Tea Party | Crooks and Liars

Thom Hartmann Tells the Real History of the Tea Party Crooks and Liars

Thom Hartmann Tells the Real History of the Tea Party | Crooks and Liars

Thom Hartmann Tells the Real History of the Tea Party Crooks and Liars

Michigan Republicans seek power to dis-incorporate whole cities, dismiss elected officials | Raw Replay

Michigan Republicans seek power to dis-incorporate whole cities, dismiss elected officials Raw Replay

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states | McClatchy

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states McClatchy

Limbaugh: Wisconsin Protesters Are "Long-Haired, Maggot-Infested, Dope-Smoking FM Rock 'N' Roller Types"

Limbaugh: Wisconsin Protesters Are "Long-Haired, Maggot-Infested, Dope-Smoking FM Rock 'N' Roller Types"

Yes we could arm them.

The Neocons have been calling for the arming of Libia's opposition against the government. Yes we could arm them. We could be the supporters of great death, destruction and lose of innocent lives. But if we stand for democracy and non-violent revolution should we sell out to our more violent nature?
If the Libian people believe in there right to a democratic society they should form a column of one million strong and march into Tripoli unarmed and demand their voice in their future.
Will many die? Yes. Will protesters be slaughtered? Yes.
Will may more die in a civil war? Yes.
More importantly Kadaffy (ok, the daffy was on purpose and plus I wasn't sure of the spelling) will end his life dangling at the end of a rope and Libya will be free.

Glenn Beck Needs To Look Up FDR's Record Of Supporting Collective Bargaining

Glenn Beck Needs To Look Up FDR's Record Of Supporting Collective Bargaining

Reporter - Snow Plow

Government by Example.

Shouldn't the government represent an ideal and lead by example, by building a positive relationship with it's Unionized workforce?
Or, should the government act like a private corporation and crush the voice of the workers organized into a union?

Glenn Beck signs death warrent

Glenn Beck Smears 35 Percent Of American Jews

Union Envy

I been thinking a lot about the intellectual or emotional foundation of the virolently anti-gay person. Where does the rational come from to really hate another persons for something that happens between consenting adults, behind closed doors in a completely alternate universe.
What really started to bring my thinking into focus  was the outing of some real anti-gay zealots as closeted homosexuals. The only emotion I could imagine bringing out this type of hatred of people living there lives openly is envy. The closeted gay person so resents the open life of an out gay person that the powerful feelings of envy manifest themselves as hatred.
The reason I been thinking of this lately is because I been trying to get my head around how you make the non union part of the work force almost seem to hate the union portion of the workforce.
You see stories, yes looking at you Fox, although to be fair and balanced most news organization are part of larger corporations that have an inherent anti-union mentality, about organized labor getting this or that benefit from collective bargining. That union workers are over paid and are bankrupting our business and destroying our economy. All of which have more then enough evidence to disprove and an abundance of evidence about how great progress has been made over the years in working conditions and rules and a profound impact to the growth and stability of the middle class.
So how do you get the majority of non union workers to hate the unions. Envy.

Shrink the Government Shrink the Economy

Like it or not the federal government is a significant part of the over all economy. People earn wages, business provide goods and services in support of sevices provided by the government like healthcare where government spenting support thousands of private sector jobs. Doctors, Nurses and the janator sweeping the floor.
So if we, in the middle of an economic crisis, decide that we need to take an ax to government spending. We have to except that we are in fact shrinking the economy.
There are plenty of things to cut but the time to cut is when the private sector in expanding.
Which is not now.

Contrarian's Corner

Counterintuitive solutions to the problems facing America.
Fixing Social Security
1. Remove caps on S.S. contributions for High Incomes. No reason that Bill gates should be paying the same amount as a middle class family.
2. Increase every ones  S.S. contributions a little bit, maybe a percentage point or two.
3. Increase the retirement benefit.
4. Lower the retirement age.
They last two steps would hopefully encougage more older workers to retire early and get them out of the way of younger workers. Which is why the young might be willing pay a little more in Social Security.

A Ray of Hope: Muslims Offer Their Bodies As Human Shields At Coptic Christmas Mass | Crooks and Liars

A Ray of Hope: Muslims Offer Their Bodies As Human Shields At Coptic Christmas Mass Crooks and Liars

Goldman Sachs Helped Greece Evade Legal Debt Limits Through Currency Swaps | Crooks and Liars

Goldman Sachs Helped Greece Evade Legal Debt Limits Through Currency Swaps Crooks and Liars

Sarah Palin: Winner Of The 2010 Glenn Beck Misinformer Of The Year Award

Sarah Palin: Winner Of The 2010 Glenn Beck Misinformer Of The Year Award

Hawaii marching band formation of a ball being kicked

PolitiFact's "Lie Of The Year" Is One Of Fox's Favorite Health Care Lies

PolitiFact's "Lie Of The Year" Is One Of Fox's Favorite Health Care Lies

Dancing Santa

Rush: Maybe "we're fighting the wrong enemy in the Middle East. Maybe the real terrorists ... are on Capitol Hill"

Rush: Maybe "we're fighting the wrong enemy in the Middle East. Maybe the real terrorists ... are on Capitol Hill"

Only Democrats

Only the Democratic Party can take an issue, like the current tax cut debate, and turn it from being the Republicans allowing every one's taxes to go up to protect the tax rates for billionaires and turn it into the democrats allowing every ones taxes to go up because they won't except the compromise.

Who would be closer to right?

A Pastor who says "Islam promotes Pedophilia"


Or an Imam who says "The Catholic Church promotes Pedophilia" ?

Please,Please,Please,Please,Please,Please

SEE MORE ORIGINAL GRAPHICS

Move Your Money. We Did.

Misinformer of the Year: Glenn Beck

"Sorry, not this time. It wasn't Perfect"

Understanding that I see a clear path for a "Public Option" as a stand alone bill using Reconciliation. The current Senate Bill or what ever comes out of conference will never have a Public Option. We struggled and kept the pressure up to the very end. We fought the good fight.
But it's best at this point to grasp all that is good in this bill and get it passed.
I wouldn't want to stand in front of a Mother with a sick child who can't get insurance and say " sorry, not this time It wasn't perfect."

FREE ABORTIONS

If all the money being raised and spent fighting the issue of Tax-Payer funded abortion was donated to Planned Parenthood. They could probably offer free abortion services.

Oh and another thing on abortion,

What the Anti-Abortion people are attempting to do is ration abortion services by cost. If your a low income woman who must rely on subsidies on the Exchanges for your health care coverage. You won't get coverage for abortion services.
The woman across the street doesn't qualify for subsidies, she has to pay for her coverage out of her own pocket. The policy she picked offers coverage for abortions. (Ya-Hoo! $15 co-pay.)
Our low income woman has another neighbor next door who works at the factory down by the rail road tracks. She is a Union worker and her employer provides a generous insurance plan that also covers abortion.
If all three of our neighbors got pregnant only one would not be able to get an abortion because she can't afford it and that is cost directed rationing.

7 STEPS TO A PUBLIC OPTION!

Ok, I'm a nobody. Just sitting out here putin' down some thoughts, posting some interesting things. ( Check out the dolphins with the bubbles on the sidebar. It's friggin awesome. If only they had gotten hands.) and making kinda fun political graphics. ( Also on the sidebar) OK, enough self-promotion.
I know I just said this a couple day ago but I don't hear anyone talking about this as an option. Maybe if I shout, someone will hear Me.

1. PASS THE SENATE BILL WITHOUT A PUBLIC OPTION OR MEDICARE BUY IN.

2. GO TO CONFERENCE AND MERGE THEM WITHOUT A PUBLIC OPTION OR MEDICARE BUY IN.

3. PASS THE BILL OUT OF BOTH HOUSES AND SEND TO THE PRESIDENT.

Now this next step is just my choice for the final step.

4. PASS A BILL OUT OF THE HOUSE MAKING MEDICARE A BUY IN OPTION ON THE EXCHANGES. USING LANGUAGE FOR RECONCILIATION.

5. SEND THE BILL TO THE SENATE FOR A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.

6. PASS IT.

7. SEND IT TO THE PRESIDENT.

I know some people will say that Medicare as an option on the exchange will drive private insurance out of business. Well if they can't compete then so be it. At least thier demise will be gradual and displaced worker can be more easily absorbed into the new Paradigm.