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The definitive explanation of the consequences of Obamacare ...

With Obamacare …

There will not be enough facilities, diagnostic devices and physicians to deal with an additional 30 million new patients being forced into the system. You will face a penalty/tax administered and enforced by the Internal Revenue Service if you opt-out of the system.

To serve this increased patient load, the system must, of necessity, ration healthcare to deal with the coming scarcity of resources. This can be done by delay in providing care, denial of care or death occurring before treatment.

Boards, Commissions and Panels …

To those who do not believe that “death panels” currently exist, one need only look at the curent organ donor program which is a prioritized list of recipients for scarce organs. Where an anonymous panel uses published criteria to select who receives the life-saving organ; leaving others to do the best they can until they perish. Unfortunately, under Obamacare, this level of triage will be pushed lower: moving from organ transplants to procedures involving the replacement of artificial limbs, knees,  and implantable devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, left-ventricle assist devices.

In addition to triage relating to medical necessity, it appears that there may be an additional social component based on a citizen’s (I almost said comrade’s) value to society. Thus disadvantaging both children and the elderly. But predominantly the non-working elderly who have left the labor marketplace and contribute little or nothing to tax-based revenues.

The chart that explains it all …

hc-curve

To contain costs, various panels, commissions and boards will use “best practices,” one-size fits all treatment protocols as the new "standard of care."  For those in a category known as the "statistical norm,” healthcare will be of little issue . For those slightly outside that statistical norm, access to healthcare may be somewhat harder to obtain. And the real outliers, people needing specialized, individualized and costly medical care will be “out of luck.”

The chances of you obtaining an expensive drug protocol to prolong your life by a month or so will become increasingly slim or non-existent.

Of course, the rich, the politically-connected and those with high-power positions will always be able to circumvent the system and obtain quality healthcare whenever and wherever needed.

An example is the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs whose leftist, hippie behavior delayed his cancer treatment, against medical advice,  in favor of a more holistic dietary approach.

But when even he could not deny that he required an organ transplant, he gamed the system by listing himself in numerous state registries and kept a private jet on standby should he be given clearance for an out-of-state procedure. <Source>

Had Jobs been an ordinary person, his preexisting conditions would have probably precluded his liver transplant. And had Jobs been treated under Obamacare, he may not have been treated at all.

The big blue pill …

The solution to the problem posed by exponentially-expanding patient base and limited resources is to expand end-of-life counseling and the increasing use of Palliative care which replaces aggressive medical treatment with efforts to keep the patient comfortable in the last stages of his life. Even if it means existing in a drug-induces haze. Look for assisted suicide legislation to become even more popular.

About those insurance companies …

Whoever decided to appoint insurance companies as the gatekeepers to healthcare and incentivized them to control costs should be vilified for destroying the art and science of medicine. Six-minute patient visits are an abomination. Artificially restricting the practice of qualified nurse-practitioners as "doctor's assistants is likewise abhorrent.

There will be no limits to the power of private insurance companies that continue to act as gatekeepers to healthcare access. Especially since they will be funneling campaign funds to the politicians making the rules to insure their continuing profits and fat executive bonuses. One need only look at the outrageous costs involved with durable medical equipment (collecting $1,000 for a $100 device) to understand how perverted the system has become.

Bottom line …

With Obamacare, costs will not be contained any more than the current system fights significant medical waste, fraud and abuse. And the healthcare system will grow more corrupt – to the point of encouraging a black market in medical treatment and drugs.

The Marxists have always believed that the Earth’s population consists of relatively unexceptional and replaceable units. Units who must be controlled by an enlightened ruling elite for the benefit of a collective society. And who must be culled by birth control, abortion, disease and homosexuality in order to reduce man’s footprint on the environment and the potential depletion of resources in the future. A theory which has long been discredited – but exists in the hearts of modern Marxists, Communists and Anarchists.

Perhaps Obamacare is the ultimate population control device using disease and death as tools to reduce the impact of people on the environment?

-- steve  

Capture


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


LOSING YOUR PRIVACY ONE DEVICE AT A TIME: ROUTERS WITH UNRESTRICTED VENDOR REMOTE ACCESS AND SPYING CAPABILITIES (updated)

July 5th Cisco backs down, cites "mistake"

As reported on AllThingsD: Cisco Backpedals From Creepy Privacy Position on Linksys Upgrade

"Creepy, right? While most people tended to ignore the TOS statements, some smarter people chose to read them, and quickly generated some consumer outrage and negative media coverage. This prompted Cisco to revise the language. (Latest version here.) It also issued instructions for how to roll the router back to its previous state, and to disable the automated updates."

"Cisco has since called the whole kerfuffle 'a mistake.'”

"You’d think Cisco would have thought this sort of thing through a little better. But then, it has a long history of misfires and mysterious arbitrary decisions where its consumer products are concerned."

July 3, 2012 PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON TO CISCO’S PERFIDY AND THEY ARE NOT PLEASED …

Cisco locks customers out of their own routers, only lets them back in if they agree to being spied upon and monetized

By Cory Doctorow at 1:36 pm Tuesday, Jul 3

“Owners of Cisco/Linksys home routers got a nasty shock this week, when their devices automatically downloaded a new operating system, which locked out device owners. After the update, the only way to reconfigure your router was to create an account on Cisco's "cloud" service, signing up to a service agreement that gives Cisco the right to spy on your Internet use and sell its findings, and also gives them the right to disconnect you (and lock you out of your router) whenever they feel like it.”

And it appears that they plan to police your files for dreaded downloads that displease the Hollywood content overlords …

“Joel Hruska from ExtremeTech reports:

This is nothing but a shameless attempt to cash in on the popularity of cloud computing, and it comes at a price. The Terms and Conditions of using the Cisco Connect Cloud state that Cisco may unilaterally shut down your account if finds that you have used the service for “obscene, pornographic, or offensive purposes, to infringe another’s rights, including but not limited to any intellectual property rights, or… to violate, or encourage any conduct that would violate any applicable law or regulation or give rise to civil or criminal liability.”

Original Blog Entry …

Once again, it appears that an electronic device manufacturer is going to sell you a product and then – as a condition of use – spy on your activity; ostensibly to improve  your experience with the product.

The blogosphere is pulsating with the news about Cisco/Linksys routers that may no longer be configured locally and must be configured through the use of their “Cisco Connect Cloud” service. Or certain routers which have been automatically upgraded to mandate the use of that particular service without the hardware owner’s  permission.

Capture6-29-2012-7.45.01 PM

“Myrv writes "Reports have started popping up that Cisco is pushing out and automatically (without permission) installing their new Cloud Connect firmware on consumer routers. The new firmware removes the user's ability to login and administer the router locally. You now must configure the router using Cisco's Cloud connect service. If that wasn't bad enough, the fine print for this new service allows Cisco to track your complete internet history. Currently, it appears the only way to disable the Cloud Connect service is to unplug your router from the internet."

Check out some of the above links for discussions on intrusive behavior and suggestions for work-arounds.

About Cisco Cloud Connect …

“Cisco Connect Cloud!”

“Now available for Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers, Cisco Connect Cloud gives you anytime, anywhere access to your home network.”

This revolutionary new technology delivers a host of free apps for your router, and that's only the beginning. As new devices and ways of interacting with your home emerge, Cisco Connect Cloud will keep expanding with new apps to enrich your connected lifestyle.”

and their broadly-construed privacy agreement …

“Cisco Connect Cloud Supplement”

“Note that this page is a supplement to the Cisco Privacy Statement. In order to understand the data collection and use practices relevant for a particular site or solution, you should read both the Cisco Privacy Statement and any applicable supplement.”

“The following describes our practices with respect to the Cisco Connect Cloud service, which includes any Cisco-authored apps that are part of this service (the "Service").”

Collection and Use of Information

As part of the Service registration process, you can also opt in to having your router product registration information sent to Cisco's product registration database. This helps streamline the registration process for your router in the event you need to contact us for support, and saves you the extra step of having to register your router separately.”

When you use the Service, we may keep track of certain information related to your use of the Service, including but not limited to the status and health of your network and networked products; which apps relating to the Service you are using; which features you are using within the Service infrastructure; network traffic (e.g., megabytes per hour); Internet history; how frequently you encounter errors on the Service system and other related information

“We use this Other Information to help us quickly and efficiently respond to inquiries and requests, and to enhance or administer our overall Service for our customers. We may also use this Other Information for traffic analysis (for example, determining when the most customers are using the Service) and to determine which features within the Service are most or least effective or useful to you. In addition, we may periodically transmit system information to our servers in order to optimize your overall experience with the Service. We may share aggregated and anonymous user experience information with service providers, contractors or other third parties to assist us with improving the Service and user experience, but any shared information will be consistent with Cisco's overall Privacy Statement and will not identify you personally in any way.”

You notice that they do not mention that they may provide information to the government without notifying you or allowing you to challenge the validity of the information request. At least not in this document.  

And, of course, there are the Hollywood “content providers” who are urging Internet Service Providers and hardware/software vendors to protect their aged and failing business model by building internal mechanisms to police their alleged copyrighted intellectual property – and erase it from your system if it is found. And this is the type of device which would allow them to obtain access should their lobbyists bribe enough legislators to hide this provision in a “must pass” piece of legislation.

Notice they grant themselves immunity and  insulate themselves from liability …

Like all other vendors, the legal fine print absolves the company of any liability beyond what you paid for the product.

General Exclusions and Limitations of Liability In some jurisdictions and circumstances, it is possible to change or exclude warranties, conditions or guarantees implied or imposed by law and/or to otherwise limit cisco’s liability to consumers. only In those jurisdictions where it can lawfully do so, and to the full extent that it is allowed by law to do so, Cisco:

  • limits all implied warranties and conditions of merchantability, acceptability, acceptable quality, satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purpose to the duration of the relevant Warranty Period;
  • excludes all express or implied conditions, representations and warranties, including any implied warranty of non-infringement, OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO YOU BY CISCO IN WRITING OR AGREED TO BY CISCO IN WRITING;
  • excludes all liability for the loss of, or damage to, data caused by use of a Cisco product, or its repair;
  • excludes any liability it may have to you for:
    1. loss of revenue or profit,
    2. loss of the ability to use any third party products, software or services, and
    3. any indirect, consequential, special, incidental or punitive loss or damages,

which arises under any law (including the law of negligence) and relates to your use, or inability to use the software, or any related services. This exclusion applies even if Cisco has been advised of the possibility of such damages and even if any warranty or remedy provided under this limited warranty fails of its essential purpose; and  “limits its monetary liability to you, under any law, to the price that you paid for the software or the device containing the software.

<Source>

But that’s not all …

Here is the ubiquitous “Other” section:

“When you use Cisco Connect Cloud, you are subject to the applicable End User License Agreement and Terms of Service, as well as the overall Cisco Privacy Statement. Please see Support if you have questions about this service.”

As if you are going to read multiple fine-print legal agreements when you pick up that device at the local computer store?

Computer infrastructure and  the government …

As we have seen from the recent events involving the President of the United States and his gun-running Attorney General, Eric Holder, the government often holds themselves to be above the law and unaccountable for their actions.

And it  appears that the government (local, state and federal) may no longer need physical access to your computer in order to install a key-logger or other device to harvest your passwords and gain access to constitutionally-protected information. They need only push system-level software down-line to your infrastructure routers where it cannot be easily detected or removed. Sort of STUXNET and FLAME targeted at every politically active American.

So I ask you …

So I ask you, what company – with multi-million dollar government contracts at stake – is willing to challenge and resist their “official” or “unofficial” information requests?

And should legal or physical harm come to you or your family as a result of an information breach or inappropriate sharing with unknown third-parties, be completely insulated from the results of their actions by pointing to the voluntary agreement you signed when you purchased the device.

Why?

Why would anyone want to run applications involving their router when applications should be run on your primary device, preferably in a protective sandbox?

Why would anyone want to subvert their own security by adding a layer of connectivity to third-party applications that may  not be monitored by the user and may be beyond user control?

Bottom line …

As we have seen, various Internet-related companies are struggling to monetize your information by selling advertisers access to targeted consumers based on demographic/psychographic (lifestyle) information.

These firms have contractually insulated themselves from the consequences of their actions – including negligence – and cannot be trusted to put the consumer’s privacy needs over their corporate best interests.

And while it is true that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) has a complete record of your Internet Activity,  which is discoverable by the government or private parties engaged in legal actions, I see no reason to voluntarily surrender the very same information to an unaffiliated third-party who happens to sell me a communications product. Especially when they appear to be selling the ability to police content to Hollywood’s content providers who consider downloading any file, even those in the public domain which they protect with an electronic wrapper, to be tantamount to treason.

But like all things in life, there are trade-offs. Security for convenience; security for loss of freedom and the illusion of security for absolutely nothing in return. The choice is yours.

What we really need, and what the government and most companies fear, is a comprehensive Privacy Bill of Rights with criminal penalties for those who go beyond the bounds of the law. To this end, I strongly suggest that you may wish to join the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org) and participate in their privacy projects.

What company can you trust to provide a firewall which keeps all unauthorized intruders from your system? If you find out the answer, let me know.

-- steve

Reference Links …

Cisco Connect Cloud Supplement - Cisco Systems

Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware, Allows Web History Tracking


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS OBAMACARE: OBAMA'S MARXIST coup d'état

A sad day for freedom and liberty in the United States ...

The Supreme Court today, June 28, 2012, upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of the legislation colloquially known as Obamacare … thus allowing the federal government to demand – at the point of a gun – that a citizen of the United States purchase a product and service from a private company. And that the mechanism allow the Internal Revenue Service to bring the full weight of the Agency to enforce the mandate including the use of confiscatory powers and jail sentences.

Whoops -- got to stop calling it an unconstitutional "mandate" and start referring to it as a constitutional tax -- so says five out of nine black-robed justices on the court. Now I know why Chief Justice Roberts has stripes on his robe: they symbolize "team wins" for the government over the people. First, with the Kelo decision which destroyed private property rights. Second with  Obamacare which conveyed power over all individuals to an unelected bureaucracy controlled by the Administration. And third -- for the promise of what might come in the future ... the same basis on which Obama was awared the Nobel Peace Prize without accomplishment and without having lifted a finger.    

It is a dark, dark day for formerly free American citizens and a huge win for the Marxists, Communists and Anarchists who are attempting to destroy the capitalist free market system. Not to mention the special interests who have bought corrupt politicians with campaign cash and voter support – in return for being able to plunder the taxpayer’s treasury at will.

What the hell has happened?

A corrupt, inept, and lazy President is elected with no guarantee that he meets the eligibility requirements for office. Virtually no politicians demand an official vetting of his qualifications, past associations with Marxists, communists, terrorists and criminals, and an examination of his past history.

A corrupt, self-serving and left-biased mainstream media sacrifices their journalistic integrity to interfere and alter the perceptions of the presidential candidates.

The Congress openly flouts the Constitution of the United States and refused to adhere to their budgetary responsibilities.

The Congress openly allows a single party – driven by ideology – to pass unreadable legislation that conveys unprecedented power to the Executive Branch of the government and implements a system on unelected mini-czars who can govern without facing the legal consequences of their action.

An Attorney General openly lies to Congress and defies their demand to exert statutory Constitutional oversight of federal agencies.

A Marxist union leader – proven to be corrupt and involved with aiding and abetting the subversion of the vote is openly welcome in the White House and have visited more time than most cabinet-level advisors.

The federal government has ignored the rule of law and openly changed decades of contract law to favor partisan special interests over  legitimate rights holders.

The federal government can take the private property of one individual and give it to another private individual if the transaction provides a benefit to the government.

And now, the United States Supreme Court has failed their duties and has institutionalized Marxism in the United States with its ruling on Obamacare. Not to mention the role reversal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from a Constitutional Conservative to something far worse than a Marxist – a sell-out to judicial interpretation and reasoning.

My best friend Al was right: we are going to hell in a handbasket …

As my best friend Al said before the ruling: “I told you this would happen!” He also believes that the Supreme Court may have handed Obama the impetus he needs for re-election.

Where are the Conservatives?

So where the hell are the conservative Republicans today? Still arguing over the teaching of creationism, abortion and other divisive issues of a personal and religious nature while the country sinks further into the economic and social abyss?

Why won’t they stand up and fight for America? Are they simply content to grab their 45% of the spoils and call it a day? Are they simply content with using bad political news to drive fundraising?

A black day …

Today is a black day in the history of the United States. While I am certain that there will be other challenges to Obamacare, I am not quite sure that the Supreme Court is up to the task of interpreting our beloved Constitution as it is not filled with people with impeccable legal credentials and who are above reproach --  it is filled with partisan hacks elected by the two corrupt political parties to convey some advantage to their particular ideology.

A sad, sad day in the history of the now declining United States.

Yeah ... But ...

The Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate was unconstitutional, but upheld the law on the Constitutional provision that Obamacare is really a tax ... and the Constitution allows for taxes without limitation. It's right there in  Article 1, Section 8.

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States ..."

Contrary to all of the politicians who assured the American people that this was not a tax!

And thus, not only are we destined to receive ONLY the healthcare mandated by the unelected officials who will head various boards, panels and commissions -- but we are facing the largest tax increase in the history of the United States.

Obama, the messiah himself, rejected the notion that Obamacare was a tax increase ... only to have Justice John Roberts make it abundantly clear. Either the law involved an unconstitutional mandate or a constitutional tax increase -- and we, the esteemed majority Supreme Court, see it as a tax increase.

But Justice Robert's did point out the ugly truth ...

“Members of this Court are vested with the authority to interpret the law; we possess neither the expertise nor the prerogative to make policy judgments. Those decisions are entrusted to our nation’s elected leaders, who can be thrown out of office if the people disagree with them. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.”

People must accept the responsibility for the actions of those they voted into office. And they must accept the responsibility of providing a remedy for the wrongs which may have been committed by  elected officials in their name.

Spinning John Roberts ...

Some are already excusing Justice Robert's seemingly move to the left by claiming that he defined Obamacare as a "tax increase" and limited the uses to which the Constitution's commerce cause can be used.

Already the pundits are spinning that the democrat party will have an extremely hard time defending massive tax increases in this time of fiscal crisis and irresponsible governmental spending.

Never have we been presented with such stark choices and examples of political corruption. All highlighted by Nancy Pelosi's now famous quote: "We Have to Pass the Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It." 

And even when we are beginning to see what it in the sausage that purports to be legislation, we are loathe to hold those corrupt politicians accountable for their actions.

Bottom line …

Only “We the People” can act …

Hopefully, good and decent people will outnumber public employees and those in the entitlement culture to send the current Administration packing in 2012.

Hopefully, good and decent people will demand shorter term limits for all politicians and impose term limits on the Supreme Court.

Hopefully, good and decent people will stand up to evil and speak out? Publicly condemning openly anti-American, racist and corrupt groups like the Congressional Black Caucus and other such groups dedicated to bringing about the downfall of the United States from within.

And hopefully, good and decent people will be able to turn the ship of state in time to avoid a constitutional shipwreck on the shoals of an evil political ideology.

But as my friend Al says – don’t count on it.

-- steve

Reference Links ...

Supreme Court Ruling

Capture6-29-2012-2.53.17 AM


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


POLITICS VERSUS PRUDENCE: SYSTEMIC MISMANAGEMENT OF OUR NATION

There is little or no doubt in my mind that corrupt politics is behind the greatest financial, military and social catastrophe to befall America in modern times.

Let us examine the issue further:

1. Legal Bribery – one need only consider the corrupt political feedback loop that drives our present government at all levels: local, state and federal. Politicians pander to the special interests in return for campaign funds and voter support. As if “we the people” are only there to be manipulated at election time.

Consider the tax-exempt “special interest” foundations in California which purport to relieve the tax payer of the burdensome travel, lodging and wining-and-dining expenses of top state elected officials. Funded almost entirely by lobbyists doing business before the state. Lobbyists hopping to bring lucrative contracts and legislation back to their sponsors. Making these foundations yet another channel for legalized bribery. Relatively anonymous bribery because they are not compelled by law to reveal their donors.
2. Million-Dollar Miscounting – one need only consider that while very large financial and corporate entities can account for  and manage large sums of money, no one in government seems to be able to account for even the simplest program. Tens of millions have been spent on complex accounting systems that fail to accurately account for the taxpayer’s funds. Almost every GAO (Government Accountability Office) report notes systemic failures of systems, procedures and controls. And this in spite of the large accounting systems provided by top-notch companies including major accounting firms, auditors, consultants and others.
3. Deception by Design – one need only read a few legislative bills to see that they are virtually unintelligible to the ordinary man and to most of the legislators who are voting on the issues. They are often written by lobbyist-lawyers to obfuscate the real intent and effect of the legislation. And what irks me the most is the deliberate torturing of the legislation’s title to provide a media-friendly but misleading acronym.

It seems, at least to me, that allowing lawyers to obfuscate and torture legislation to the point of requiring their fellow practitioners to interpret its meaning is a fundamental conflict of interest as well as being un-American.

To hold American citizens and entities responsible for obeying millions of conflicting, confusing or illegal laws they cannot read, understand or obey is to artificially criminalize the population to allow for selective prosecution for political purposes. Creating a class of purposeful political prisoners in this land of the free, home of the brave.
4. Revolving Door – it should come as no surprise that those who are responsible creating and administering legislation and the rules and regulations promulgated by regulatory agencies come from the various special interests that are promoting their own agendas; and most troubling, return to highly-paid positions once the desired deed is done.
5. Non-Regulatory Agencies – Where was the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FDIC, and the myriad of other regulatory agencies prior to the mortgage meltdown and financial collapse?

In spite of specific, credible,and written information, the SEC failed to detect, deter and prosecute the Madoff fraud; not to mention the billions of dollars in other systemic financial frauds perpetrated by our nation’s leading financial institutions.

In fact, there is evidence suggesting that one of the largest regulatory agencies – not even an official part of the government – aided and abetted insolvent financial institutions to cover-up their insolvency and cover their losses with money taken out of the taxpayer’s pocket.
6. Profitable Non-Profits – how many organizations purporting to be non-profits provide their senior management with salaries and perks befitting top corporate chief executives as they pursue their self-serving agendas?

Whether hiding behind faux religious credentials, foundations and other such devices, we see that the taxpayer is being played for a sucker to benefit the entity’s top management and/or their special interest donors.
7.

Redefining the Rules – America purports to be a nation of laws, but few really consider the unofficial rulemakers who deeply affect our daily lives.

First, we find the various bar associations whose function is to insure that their members are honest and ethical; but whose proceedings are opaque to the citizens who rely on their ability to police their own membership. 

Second, and in my opinion more egregious, we find the accounting rulemaking bodies who have enabled most of the Enron-style accounting fraud to be hidden from the public, auditors, counterparties and the regulatory agencies.

Rules that allow you to hide tremendous losses in “off-balance sheet” accounts that do not easily allow the company’s personnel, counterparties, auditors and regulators to see the growing systemic risk being assumed by the organization.

Rules that allow you to book short-term loans as sales which fundamentally distort the public’s view of the organization’s finances by hiding significant risky business or actual losses.

How many people knew that accounting rules allowed a financial institution to take a loan from another financial entity (at a hefty fee) and put up 105% of the collateral so that the loan could be booked as a sale of assets? All the while knowing that this was a short-term loan that needed to be repaid after the accounting period was closed.

“Repo 105 is an accounting maneuver where a short-term loan is classified as a sale. The cash obtained through this ‘sale’ is then used to pay down debt, allowing the company to appear to reduce its leverage by temporarily paying down liabilities—just long enough to reflect on the company's published balance sheet. After the company's financial reports are published, the company borrows cash and repurchases its original assets. <Source> Nothing like condoning “official” fraud.

And one must not forget the “accounting rules” that allow citizens and domestic corporations to evade billions in taxes with exotically-named schemes such as “Double Irish With a Dutch Sandwich.”

While it is “American” to be able to arrange business affairs to provide the lowest tax bite, it is something quite different to engage in rule-enabled tax evasion rather than tax avoidance.

8. Political Piggybanks – Notably the Government Sponsor Entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with their self-run foundations serve as the preferred employers for family, friends and out-of-work legislators. 

Not only did the senior management of these organizations, consisting mostly of politically-connected democrats, reap multi-million dollar salaries and perks; their theft of unearned millions of dollars in salaries and benefits as a result of “cooking the books” went virtually unpunished.

We saw these quasi-government institutions “privatizing” the profits in the mortgage industry while “socializing” any losses that may occur.

We saw special funding initiatives being shoveled into certain legislative districts in return for potential legislative favors.  

In fact, we saw the boyfriend of Barney Frank, former Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and ardent supporter of Fannie and Freddie, being given a top-level position which included lobbying legislators on behalf of the GSEs. <Source
9. Pandering to the Illegals – while I can appreciate anybody leaving a failed and dangerous country to seek their fortune elsewhere, it is imprudent to allow hoards of illiterate, unskilled, sick people -- or those with continuing foreign allegiance -- to severely impact our infrastructure to the point where American citizens are not getting the support and services that they continue to pay for.

To allow this gross invasion of  illegal aliens  who are demanding the rights of citizens while forcing changes in our culture is wrong. We have entire areas where English is a second language, police are afraid to patrol, ethnic food is the standard and foreign holidays are celebrated as American ones are tolerated,  
10. Inequality under the law – it is abhorrent that Americans are allowing their longstanding system of laws to be perverted by politicians who are pandering to special classes.

Why should calling someone a racial or sexual slur during the commission of a crime demand a penalty enhancement or allow the federal government to ignore “double jeopardy” issues by trying the same crime in federal court after a state acquittal?

If we are assaulted – for any reason – the crime must be handled in a uniform manner under the law. Swiftly and harshly as the circumstances demand. We deserve the same type of prosecutory diligence as any other class of person.

Why should be allow the definition of marriage to be perverted when all marriages are essentially civil unions sanctioned and controlled by state laws? If gays want equality under the law; change the requirements for civil unions and don’t attempt to redefine the institution or definition of marriage.
11. Military Billions – where are the billions of dollars we are pouring into foreign governments as military aid. In fact, has anyone noted that there has been a substantial shift from services provided by our military and those provided by well-compensated “private” para-military and infrastructure contractors. Money which may be kept offshore for the benefit of those who do not support the American tax system?  And allowing politicians to claim a lower troop count for political purposes?

Why are we supporting foreign bases which are unnecessary and whose governments loathe us?
12. Enforced Energy Dependence – has anyone else noted the political dissonance as each and every politician supports energy independence and simultaneously panders to our enemies by road-blocking that very goal?

And this list is hardly comprehensive given the constraints of the blog format.

But my biggest complaint is the continuing political manipulation of America’s financial system …

Consider the present Administration pandering to their entitlement culture base of supporters. Ostensibly for the purpose of allowing women, minorities, illegals and the poor to participate in the American dream, this is forced wealth-redistribution on a grand scale. Plucking the taxpayer’s pockets to confer special advantage to the corrupt politicians and their special interest supporters.

Who do you think picks up the tab when the regulatory agencies force financial institutions to make imprudent loans on which the borrower defaults?  Liar loans also known as NINJA loans because they do not demand the verification of income, jobs or assets. 

Most often, loans guaranteed by the government – also known collectively as the taxpayers – and granted under the type of relaxed underwriting standards that was the proximate cause of the mortgage meltdown.

Continuing financial chaos …

Now we see the federal government providing refinance loans known colloquially in the mortgage industry as 125’s – that is, they enable someone to borrow 25% more than the equity in their home.

How stupid is that?

How many years before the equity in these homes will rise twenty-five percent or that the borrower will pay down the loan’s principal balance by 25% given the stated interest rate.

This is an encapsulated example of why America is being screwed by the corrupt politicians and our recession is on-going. The political fix is in and the taxpayer is on the hook.

Bottom line …

Our corrupt political parties and their participants are killing America.

One can blame President Obama, who I believe is a hard-core Marxist,  if not Communist, for what has transpired on his watch.

But, equal consideration should be given to the Republicans with their crony capitalism, continued politicization of regulatory agencies, nomination of inept political operatives and placement of large donors into positions of high responsibility. Something raised to a high art during the Clinton Administration.

It is time for bold leadership … and I am afraid the 2012 election is simply a stop-gap until 2016.

There is no doubt in my mind that we must throw Obama and his fellow travelers out of office. And capture a majority in the House and Senate. But that is only the first-step on the road to recovery.

The second step is putting forth a prudent financial plan.

But this, I fear, might be delayed with the selection of Marco Rubio as the Vice-Presidential nominee to pander to Hispanics rather than the fiscally-conservative Paul Ryan who is the “Man with the Plan.”

In modern times, we have been given impossible choices by the corrupt political parties. Forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. Perhaps, it is time to choose good over evil and be done with the corrupt system.

Unlikely, as my best friend Al continues to point out, but something that must be done. And we can do it! At the local, state and federal level, we must throw out those who pander to the special interests – especially the public employees’ unions who force us from the bargaining table while the unions bargain with their politically-selected elected official.

Start by voting Obama out of office. Replacing all politicians with fiscal and social conservatives Start by clearing your school board of Marxists who are dumbing down our children. Start by purging your state legislature of the hippie do-gooders (and mostly Marxists) who have spent us into near-bankruptcy.

And most of all, protect yourself and your loved ones from those who would deny you the right to self-defense and protection from the criminals that spawned by an increasingly corrupt political system to justify stricter government regulations and larger government.

--steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE: WHAT IS HOLDER HIDING? (Updated)

Update: June 2, 2012: It appears that my speculative opinion was not that far of the track …

Courtesy of Investor’s Business Daily

Blood Money: Obama Contributor Ran Fast and Furious

Scandal: A campaign contributor who was an architect of the 1994 assault weapons ban was the mastermind behind the Fast and Furious operation that let guns walk into Mexico, including those that killed two U.S. agents.

Shortly after the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry on Dec. 15, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder's deputy chief of staff, Monty Wilkinson, received an email from U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke telling him just that: "The guns found in the desert near the murder(ed) BP officer connect back to the investigation we were going to talk about — they were AK-47s purchased at a Phoenix gun store."

Burke, who resigned shortly after the scandal became public, has long been a gun-ban architect for the Democratic Party.

Connecting the dots …

It appears that Attorney General Eric Holder knew more than he was telling Congress. There is little or no doubt in my mind that he should be held accountable for perjury as well as for any obstruction of justice that might have occurred in the cover-up phase of hiding the details of the operation.

It is also possible that President Obama knew of the operation and may be running Nixonian-style interference in the obstruction of justice investigation.

And as for Dennis Burke, he still has significant influence with Janet Napolitano who heads the most powerful civilian agency in the government, the Department of Homeland Defense.

“As a lawyer for the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was behind the ineffectual 1994 ‘assault weapon’ ban that sunset in 2004. Burke was also the chief of staff for Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for a number of years before she became the secretary of homeland security. Burke would leave that Gov. Napolitano post to join the Obama transition team. He was soon rewarded for his many contributions, monetary and otherwise, when on July 10, 2009, the president nominated him to be the U.S. attorney in Arizona.

It appears that you can’t trust the democrats to protect the sovereignty of our nation or the citizens of the United States when it comes to foreign illegal aliens. I just hope that Darryl Issa is unlike the majority of other republicans who back off the fight at the last minute and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Original Blog Entry …

As a result of publishing my previous blog entry “Obama's NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE?: exerts executive privilege over 'Fast and Furious' Documents ..., I have been asked by a number of readers to speculate on the meaning of what has happened rather than just condemning it.

OK – with the caveat that this is just my speculative opinion and I could be grossly wrong ...

I believe that President Obama may be applying the concept of Executive Privilege to protect Presidential conversations with his advisors.

Because I think is that certain advisors plotted among themselves and possibly with the President of the United States to undermine the Second Amendment of the United States. Primarily by flooding Mexico with “traceable” guns that would point back to gun sales vendors in the United States. Followed by a call for stricter gun registration and regulation.

Why? Because most of the claims that gun sales vendors in the United States were supplying murderous Mexican cartels were proved to be false or overstated. It appears that most of the weapons were untraceable and some were found to have been sourced by Central and South America arms dealers. Therefore, in order to trace guns back to the United States, traceable guns needed to be put in the hands of the Mexican cartels.

An open secret?

CBS, a member of the mainstream media noted for their leftward bias, reported …

“In Fast and Furious, ATF secretly encouraged gun dealers to sell to suspected traffickers for Mexican drug cartels to go after the ‘big fish.’ But ATF whistleblowers told CBS News and Congress it was a dangerous practice called ‘gunwalking,’ and it put thousands of weapons on the street. Many were used in violent crimes in Mexico. Two were found at the murder scene of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.”

“ATF officials didn't intend to publicly disclose their own role in letting Mexican cartels obtain the weapons, but emails show they discussed using the sales, including sales encouraged by ATF, to justify a new gun regulation called ‘Demand Letter 3.’ That would require some U.S. gun shops to report the sale of multiple rifles or ‘long guns.’ Demand Letter 3 was so named because it would be the third ATF program demanding gun dealers report tracing information.”

“On July 14, 2010 after ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. received an update on Fast and Furious, ATF Field Ops Assistant Director Mark Chait emailed Bill Newell, ATF's Phoenix Special Agent in Charge of Fast and Furious: "’Bill - can you see if these guns were all purchased from the same (licensed gun dealer) and at one time. We are looking at anecdotal cases to support a demand letter on long gun multiple sales. Thanks.’"

Already the left is gearing up to discredit the idea of a deliberate program to promote gun control as just another “conspiracy theory” …

The far-left Soros-funded political operation that is Media Matters is reporting …

“On the June 20 edition of Hannity, two separate guests pushed the claim that the Obama administration deliberately created the Fast and Furious operation in order to undermine the Second Amendment. First, Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin asserted that the Obama administration ‘let [the guns] go because they had an underlying gun-control agenda.’"

Bottom line …

We need the withheld documents to allow Congress, on behalf of the American people, determine the truth about the program, participants and purpose.

On this basis, I feel that the President is protecting his Marxist advisors and that should the American people find that the President of the United States openly and actively participated in a program to undermine the Second Amendment of the United States – he would not be re-elected.

And those who implemented the program that resulted in the death of an American Border Patrol Agent might face fines and imprisonment.

As for Eric Holder, is he any different from Roger Clemens who allegedly lied to Congress?

-- steve

 
Reference Links …

Mexico's Gun Supply and the 90 Percent Myth | Stratfor

“According to the GAO report, some 30,000 firearms were seized from criminals by Mexican authorities in 2008. Of these 30,000 firearms, information pertaining to 7,200 of them (24 percent) was submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for tracing. Of these 7,200 guns, only about 4,000 could be traced by the ATF, and of these 4,000, some 3,480 (87 percent) were shown to have come from the United States.”

Documents: ATF used "Fast and Furious" to make the case for gun regulations|CBS

Hannity Lets His Guests Peddle Discredited Fast And Furious Conspiracy Theory|Media Matters

Full Disclosure: I am a Life Member (Benefactor Level) of the National Rifle Association.


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


Obama's NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE?: exerts executive privilege over 'Fast and Furious' Documents ...

Every United States citizen should wonder why Obama and his Marxist minions spent millions of dollars in legal fees and court costs hiding access to his birth certificate, passport and travel documents, school attendance records, and his writings.

Is he hiding the fact that his parents, like others of the time, used Hawaii’s liberal policy of registering foreign-born subjects so that they could claim citizenship rights in the United States?

Is he hiding the fact that he did not use an American passport when he traveled with his parents or holds dual citizenship?

Is he hiding the fact that he applied for a scholarship as a foreign student – possibly under the penalty of perjury – when he was at college?

One must at least wonder why the current President of the United States was not thoroughly vetted and how an apparent “doper” and Marxist made it into the White House when a simple “DUI” almost derailed former President Bush’s (43) candidacy?

Of course, the answer lies in the corrupt political parties who have so much dirt on each other that neither party can afford to start a real mud-slinging war and, of course, the leftist media which is beholden to the government for favorable tax treatment and licensing opportunities. Almost nobody wanted to find out the truth; preferring to believe that this self-characterized “man of the people” would be a uniter and not a divider; someone capable of bringing real hope and change in a transformative Washington.

But as we have come to see, Obama’s words – written by others and delivered via TelePrompTer – rarely match his actions. Kabuki Theatre as the United States slides towards European-style Marxist rule. Perhaps the most successful internal attack on the United States since the cold war.

Fast and Furious: Obama’s New Birth Certificate …

Reported by the Washington Times …

Obama asserts executive privilege over ‘Fast and Furious’ documents

“President Obama on Wednesday asserted executive privilege over documents sought by a House committee in its investigation of the botched ‘Fast and Furious’ operation.”

“The last-minute move came just before the start of a scheduled hearing by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on a contempt of Congress citation against Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who has refused since October to honor a committee subpoena seeking the documents.”"

“In a letter to Rep. Darrell E. Issa, California Republican and the committee’s chairman, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the privilege applies to documents that explain how the department learned there were problems with the Fast and Furious operation, which allowed more than 2,000 weapons to be ‘walked’ to drug smugglers in Mexico.”

Once again, we must ask: what President Obama is hiding from the American people?

Is it the fact that Obama’s Marxist minions in the White House knew of the program which ultimately lead to the death of American citizens and an unknown number of Mexican nationals?

Is it the fact that the Whitehouse – at the highest levels – was engaged in a Nixon-style cover-up which saw United States Attorney General Eric Holder deliberately lie to Congress?

Is it the fact that Obama himself knew of the program and is trying to orchestrate a delay of the findings for political reasons?

The timing is suspect ...

In the eighteen months the matter has been before the House of Representatives' oversight committee, during the formal meetings with Attorney General Eric Holder, there was only hints about the use of "Executive Privilege." But now that Holder is facing a Contempt of Congress charge, the President suddenly finds that he needs to keep these documents from Members of Congress, many of whom hold security clearances to view sensitive intelligence documents. Something stinks in Obamaland -- and it is the type of "head-down" stink of a rotting fish.

Curious, because the matterdoes not appear to involve the actions or deliberative decisions made by the President of the United States or his cabal of advisors; but seeks to determine if an independent constitutional officer of the United States, the Attorney General, acting to uphold the federal laws of the United States, lied to Congress or is in some way covering up something that might be politically embarassing.   

Bottom line …

No matter what the answers turn out to be, President Barack Hussein Obama has proven that he cannot be trusted to tell the truth or govern the United States.

A deep character flaw which makes him unsuitable to occupy the Office of the President of the United States.

It’s not so much that he appears to be a Nixon, orchestrating a cover-up of a politically-motivated burglary; or a Clinton, orchestrating a cover-up of sexual misconduct in the Oval Office – but an apparent enemy of the American way of life orchestrating a cover-up so that he may remain in power to complete what he has started – the apparent destruction of the free-market capitalist system in favor of the type of European-style socialism that is destroying much of Europe.

Why? To benefit the international cabal of Marxists? To aid the foreign dictators and thugs of the Muslim theocracy? Or just because that’s what he was taught since an early age and knows no better?

It doesn’t matter. The man and his unknown mission are bad for the United States. The democrat party has proven – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that they are corrupt and willing to turn America into a socialist nation.

Only you can bring clarity to this matter and help restore America to her rightful place on the international leaderboard. Vote this criminal out of office along with all the other corrupt democrats who are destroying our nation. Ditto the RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who profess to be Republicans, but serve the democrats at every turn in order to secure their share of the pie.

Never before have we faced a tidal wave of political corruption that threatens to bring America to her knees.

Fight back at the voting booth.

-- steve

Reference Links …

Obama asserts executive privilege over 'Fast and Furious' documents - Washington Times


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


Obama: The "Black Swan" event that almost destroyed America.

In a recent speech, we find President Obama, once again, mouthing an apparent and blatant lie that is rolling past on his TelePrompTer …

“So, no, I don’t believe the government is the answer to all our problems.  I don’t believe every regulation is smart, or that every tax dollar is spent wisely.  I don’t believe that we should be in the business of helping people who refuse to help themselves.”

Then  justifies the need for government …

“But I do share the belief of our first Republican President, from my home state -- Abraham Lincoln -- that through government, we should do together what we cannot do as well for ourselves.”

What’s this “WE” Kemosahbee?

“That’s how we built this country -- together.  We constructed railroads and highways, the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate BridgeWe did those things together.  We sent my grandfather’s generation to college on the GI Bill -- together.  (Applause.)  We instituted a minimum wage and rules that protected people’s bank deposits -- together. “

Together, we touched the surface of the moon, unlocked the mystery of the atom, connected the world through our own science and imagination

“We haven’t done these things as Democrats or Republicans.  We’ve done them as Americans.”

President Obama, if you haven’t noticed, these things were done long before you were born, by real men and women led by political leaders who did not bow to foreign dictators, Marxists and Communists. They loved America – and as corrupt as they might be, never turned their back on the American people.

You and your Marxist politics have done nothing for America!

There have been no major accomplishments on your watch. You claim to have saved the “auto industry” – but did nothing more than provide tens of billions of dollars to your pro-Marxist union supporters.

There has been no crash program to replace the space shuttle and NASA must pay our former enemies, the Russians – who continue to cause us problems around the world – tens of millions of dollars to taxi American astronauts to the International Space Station.

The head of NASA thought his mission was to extend an outreach to Muslims to make them feel better about their lack of any accomplishment in modern times. And quickly thrown under the bus when it didn’t play well in America.

Instead of fighting waste, fraud and corruption in healthcare, your lazy ass outsourced healthcare governance to a corrupt democrat, pro-Marxist cabal that made OUR healthcare system infinitely worse; adding billions in costs, reducing healthcare to seniors and producing an impenetrable maze of rules and regulations. A power-grab that had little or nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with fraudulently purchasing political control of America and perpetuating the democrat reign of incompetence and corruption.

And you want a second term?

You appear to be pandering to the illegal aliens who are invading our land like locusts – sucking jobs and social services out of the system so they are unavailable to the Americans – the “WE” that paid for them.

You appear to be pandering to a vocal minority of gays who are willing to wreck the traditions of America so that they feel better about themselves.

You certainly are pandering to the unions – because you need their money and votes. Never mind they are pro-Marxist and want to dominate our country like they do Greece and elsewhere.

You are despicable …

You claim you are a leader while the evidence suggests you are a lazy buffoon with the ability to act and read the TelePrompTer speeches written by others – mostly ideological Marxists. You are an inept, corrupt empty suit who thinks voting “present” is a mark of leadership.

Hell, you couldn’t even produce your birth certificate like a regular American; spending millions of dollars in court battles to keep your records secret.

And you want us to reward you with a second term in office. Something I regard as being tantamount to social and economic suicide.

Bottom line …

Take your affirmative action ass back to the Chicago slime where your political life festered among thieves, terrorists and communists. Be thankful your eligibility for Office was not challenged by the Supreme Court.

Hold tight to the Nobel Peace Prize for which you did absolutely nothing.

And dream of your next historic gig – possibly as the Secretary General of the corrupt and Marxist United Nations where your anti-American sentiment will be of some value.

But get your ass out of Dodge – you have done more domestic and foreign policy damage to our nation than even the previous “worst President in History,” Jimmy Carter.

And if the entitlement culture comes together to support your sorry ass candidacy, I hope the silent majority will coalesce and vote you out of office.

Racist – well no more than those who vote strictly on your color (or should I more accurately say half-color) and believe you are one of them. You are not one of them, nor are you one of us. You are out for yourself, an ego-driven narcissist who has laid waste to our nation with your Marxist eco-freaks who are about weakening the United States and forcing the adoption of anti-freedom Marxism.

You are a “Black Swan” – an unpredictable political freak of nature – who managed to get yourself elected because you were an attractive empty suit. Where people projected their hopes, dreams and aspirations on your blank slate – praying for the “hope and change” you offered them in return for their support. Where the media did not vet or challenge you because you were a “leftist liberal” like them. And where liberal whites tried to prove they weren’t racist by openly supporting a faux “Black Man.”

Hope and Change – what a laugh. You and your sycophantic Marxists have deepened our debt, crushed our healthcare and crippled the social fabric of America by being a divider rather than a uniter as you originally promised. And you repeat yourself to get re-elected.

Be gone and take your fellow Marxists, unionists, terrorists and thieves with you.  

And if you want to call me a racist. So be it. But I would vote for Col. Allen West in a heartbeat. He is everything you are not: starting with being a man of  honor, a true patriot, fiscally prudent and able to bring uncommon common-sense to the wreck you have made of America. Not to mention being able to restore righteous honor to the Office of the Presidency after decades of democrat defilement.

-- steve

P.S. And for those honorable democrats of my parent’s generation, I am sorry but your political party has deserted you and has become a pro-Marxist institution.

Reference Links …

Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Cleveland, OH | The White House

Definition: Black Swan | Investopedia

“An event or occurrence that deviates beyond what is normally expected of a situation and that would be extremely difficult to predict. This term was popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a finance professor and former Wall Street trader.” 

Definition: Kemosahbee

“Kemosahbee -- often spelled kemosabe) is the term of endearment and catchphrase used by the intrepid and ever-faithful fictional Native American sidekick, Tonto, in the very successful American radio and television program The Lone Ranger. (The phrase is sometimes also used by the Lone Ranger himself.) It is sometimes translated as "trusty scout" or "faithful friend" in Potawatomi.

NASA chief says agency's goal is Muslim outreach, forgets to mention space


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


Liberal's New York health panel: Preview of Obamacare!

Classical Marxist theory posits that most people are both unexceptional and unremarkably interchangeable and thus should have an enlightened ruling elite to govern them for their own benefit and that of the collective society.

And it appears that Democrats have embraced un-American Marxism full on – to the point of corrupt politicians and their special interests are dominating public policy discussions and are telling you how to live your life.

With few recognizing that this creeping encroachment on personal freedom only cedes more power to the politicians and criminalizes individual behavior, they continue to whittle away at our free market economy.

A Preview of Obamacare …

As we have said before, Obamacare assumes control over every aspect of your life based on the fact that every decision you make will affect your body – and thus the cost of healthcare in the United States.

This is now being played out in the most liberal of states, New York, where its ultra-liberal billionaire mayor – isolated by wealth, power, and position from the rules which guide us all – is attempting to pursue public policies which control your ability to purchase and consume certain foods.

Fox News is reporting …

“Health panel talks about wider food ban”

“Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to ban the sale of large cups of sugary drinks inched closer to reality Tuesday, with the city Board of Health unanimously voting to publish the plan.”

The board hand-picked by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that must approve his ban of selling large sugar-filled drinks at restaurants might be looking at other targets.”

“The New York City Board of Health showed support for limiting sizes of sugary drinks at a Tuesday meeting in Queens.  They agreed to start the process to formalize the large-drink ban by agreeing to start a six-week public comment period.”

“At the meeting, some of the members of board said they should be considering other limits on high-calorie foods.”

“One member, Bruce Vladeck, thinks limiting the sizes for movie theater popcorn should be considered.”

“Another board member thinks milk drinks should fall under the size limits.”

“Mayor Bloomberg says the drink rules are an attempt to fight obesity in the city.  It would limit food service establishments in the city from serving drinks bigger than 16 ounces but would allow refills.”

The real goal: taxation …

There is no proof that any rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Health would have any measurable effect on obesity – but they certainly would have an economic impact on a city that is hell-bent in taxing its citizens to death and beyond.

But we can see foresee a government attempting to regulate individual behavior by imposing economic sanctions in the near future.

One need only consider that both alcohol and cigarettes have a measurable and negative effect on society – but instead of being banned, are taxed to the hilt.

One need only consider that the faux war on drugs is a massive failure in its attempt to curtail consumption – but a massive success in a Marxist sense because it allows the government to increase in size, exert more control over individuals and extract ever-growing funding for the public employee unions that dominate criminal affairs.

Not to mention the drug money that flows, first to attorneys and then to politicians.

The largest beneficiary of the drug war, other than attorneys, is the heavily-unionized prison guards’ union whose outrageous benefits allow them to work the system in order maximize salary and pensions to the detriment of taxpayers. And the drug problem is still here.

It is only a matter of time until drugs are legalized and taxed heavily. In fact, some politicians believe that only this new revenue source can be tapped to preserve the outrageous public employee pension system and their political lives.

Obamacare, the plan to control your life  …

New York’s proposed ban on certain foods is a classic example of what is contained in Obamacare. Boards, panels and commissions – appointed and controlled by corrupt politicians – making rules that serve themselves and the special interests who have bought access to political power. Putting your health and welfare at risk to satisfy their Marxist sense of benefiting the collective over the rights of the individual.

This single chart says it all …

If you are an individual without wealth, power and position – and  falling outside the norms set by hyper-politicized  panels, commissions and boards – you’re healthcare is at risk.

hc-curve

Bottom line …

If you are an adult and believe you are capable of managing your own affairs, it is time to throw these Marxist bums out of office and cut back the size of the government which is strangling our society and economy in ever-increasing laws, rules, regulations and restrictions.

Curbing those who plan to further federalize state crimes so as to allow the federal government to intrude into a state’s affairs to pursue their own political agenda.

Recognizing that even when the federal government lacks the legal power to enforce their often nonsensical rules and regulations, they bribe the local and state governments into compliance by providing taxpayer money already confiscated from hard-working Americans or penalize the local and state governments by withholding taxpayer funds. Criminal bribery and extortion.

Time to throw the Marxists and their “nanny state” politics out of office and restore America. Time to reduce the size of government, eliminate “anti-public” public employee unions and curb corrupt politicians and their special interests.

-- steve

Reference Links …

Health panel talks about wider food ban - New York News | New York Breaking News | NYC Headlines


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


Obama's second term: plan for a Marxist coup d'etat?

What has been accomplished so far …

  1. Significant enlargement of government with no discernable benefits to “We the People.”
  2. Placing radicals in top government positions as appointees – soon to be converted to paid, full-time positions of entrenched power and covert leadership.
  3. Continuing economic chaos by out of control spending – mostly to support states and local governments with large public employee unions. Promoting rules and regulations which kill jobs and force employers to outsource in order to compete in a global market. Forcing the automakers to create “energy-efficient” vehicles with an untenable range of only 76 miles per 12-hour (220-volt) charge.
  4. Decimation of Energy Sector with rules and regulations that curtail domestic energy production in favor of continuing foreign dependency. Supporting offshore oil drilling in South America over domestic operations in U.S. offshore waters.
  5. Crippling agriculture development using almost meaningless species to control water rights and subsidies to artificially control crop pricing and usage. Witness food crops being turned into heavily-subsidized ethanol -- which has proven to be worthless in achieving energy independence.  
  6. Control over the financial sector governing the flow of money by the creation of a “super agency” known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which has usurped regulatory activities from the Federal Reserve, FDIC, Federal Trade Commission and others.
  7. Strengthening the power of the Executive Branch by creating administrative rules and regulations to bypass the legislative responsibilities of Congress.
  8. Strengthening the power of Marxist-dominated federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Defense.
  9. Weakening the United States Constitution by refusing to protect American sovereignty and giving relatively free reign to illegal aliens. Allowing the Department of Justice to weaken voting procedures which would demand that Constitutional voting is restricted to citizens. Planning for international law, panels and commissions to take precedence over our Constitution and system of law.
  10. Subversion of the “rule of law” by allowing unsecured claims of unions to take precedence over the secured claims of bondholders in the government-staged bankruptcy of General Motors. Allowing more crimes to be federalize in order to insure politically-acceptable results should local judicial prosecution fail to produce “people-pleasing” decisions. Trampling over the private property rights of individuals.
  11. Weakening the United States military by a series of public pronouncements and interference with the good order and conduct of the military.
  12. Weakening America’s security by a consistent pattern of foreign affairs blunders and leaking critical state secrets for political advantage.
  13. Control over individuals using ObamaCare to control an individuals access to life-saving healthcare treatment based on the “norms” of the collective rather than the rights of the individual.

And now …

We are learning that the Obama Administration plans to make “climate change” its top priority in order to take control over our economy by controlling the creation, storage, distribution and sale of energy in the United States. Providing for wealth distribution from United States producers to international Marxist-dominated states and entities.

From the New Yorker Magazine …

"The President has said that the most important policy he could address in his second term is climate change," supposedly to ‘improve the world.’"

Not jobs …

Not the economy …

Not the reduction of government spending …

Not the improvement of infrastructure …

But Climate Change!

What can he be thinking when the United States is in an abysmal state?

Corrupt politicians no longer represent the people that they are sworn to protect and serve as they pander to racial, ethnic, gender, sexual minorities; and the special interests that provide both campaign funding and voter turnout support. How can “We the People” get a fair shake when union-controlled and special interest-controlled politicians sit across the bargaining table from their masters?

So much money has been diverted into under-producing union-controlled government jobs, that municipalities and states are nearly bankrupted by their payrolls and pension obligations – with little or no return to the average taxpayer.

Our infrastructure is sorely in need of replacement and repair and union-contracting procedures insure that the results will be mediocre, delivered late and more costly than one can even imagine.

Everybody knows that climate changes – it is a chaotic system on a macro-scale beyond man’s ability to correctly model or impact on global scale. So how does this justify public policies which cannot be proven to work for at least 1,000 years into the future? And when the natural global climate cycle will continue to dominate our eco-system.

Leaked “Climategate” e-mails from those at the forefront of climate science prove that the system has been corrupted; manipulated to produce predetermined results which support corrupt public policies calling for greater government intervention and wealth redistribution to those who live off entitlements. Scientists and institutions have been corrupted by billions of available dollars for those who support the party line.

Politicians are demanding energy self-sufficiency, but they believe that windmills and solar power can provide the heavy electrical currents required by modern industries. And they are sorely mistaken because both wind and solar power are inconsistent, uneconomical and demandlarge  government subsidies and mandates to return a profit to the politically-connected investors who are milking our treasury.

One need only see how a half-billion dollar Solyndra investment went down the drain because the Chinese could supply solar panels more cheaply. But not to worry, Obama’s people made sure that the investors –- hoping for a large score – were protected before the American taxpayer when Solyndra declared bankruptcy.

The “Big Picture” …

Capture6-12-2012-7.13.20 PM

Out of touch …

It has long been my opinion that Obama is an empty-suit; a lazy man who ambles through life counting on his looks, persona, affirmative action and the ever-present TelePrompTer.

He outsourced healthcare to a corrupt Congress who took advantage of their majority to cut special deals with the healthcare industry and bribed various politicians (a crime in my book) to vote for this measure which barely passed.

He outsourced foreign affairs to his Marxist-dominated advisors who immediately embarked on an apology tour to reinforce the idea that America was an unexceptional nation among many on the world stage.

Bottom line …

The democrats have embraced the Marxists and Communists to the point that they should be considered America’s Fifth Column – working to destroy our nation from within.

We cannot allow Barack Hussein Obama remain the President of the United States nor can we allow the democrats to remain in power – in the House, in the Senate, in local and state governments – and certainly not our school boards.

Want proof – look at every corrupt, decaying, crime-ridden cesspool of a city and you will often see the democrats pandering to minorities and the entitlement culture. Suggesting it is racist not to continue the handouts or criticize the pandering politicians.

Call me a bigot, a racist, or anything else – but open your eyes to the destruction of our nation by our enemies – enemies who are purchasing our infrastructure with our dollars and who will soon wreak havoc on our economy if we do not continue our slide to world domination by Marxists and Communists.

It’s 2012 folks – vote as if your life depended on it – because this time is really does.

-- steve

Reference Links …

What Would a Second Obama Term Bring? : The New Yorker

For Obama, Climate Change Trumps Jobs As His Second-Term Priority - Investors.com


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


LOSING YOUR FREEDOM, ONE MEGABYTE AT A TIME ...

How many people have noticed that many computer hardware manufacturers are using smaller and smaller local disk storage devices on their devices? And then only for caching local data to and from the remote servers in the cloud. While there is no doubt that there are cost benefits in lower power consumption, less heat, and faster boot-up times, there is also an adverse consequence which must be considered.

Microsoft, Apple and Google all have “cloud storage” capabilities which will take up the slack for really large storage requirements. And for me, it is not so much paying for accessing and storing your data, but a question of freedom.

One, the cloud vendor’s unilateral “click to accept” contract often provides that they have absolutely no liability for lost, corrupted or stolen information.

Two, the cloud vendor’s unilateral “click to accept” contract often provides that they have no liability should you not be able to access your data or access your data in a timely manner.

Three, the cloud vendor’s unilateral “click to accept” contract often provides  that they have the right to sift through your data; to provide you with targeted advertising in the case of so-called “free” services, ostensibly to provide you with a “richer user experience” – whatever that may mean – or to comply with some nebulous “legal process.”

Unfortunately, that legal process may be a demand for all of your data from a governmental agency – without any prior notification or a chance to challenge the validity of the administrative action, subpoena or court order.Or a private party demanding discovery in a bogus lawsuit.  Or even worse, demanding that the cloud vendor delete your data because some Hollywood-ruled agency thinks that your data may infringe their copyright. I say “may” because we have seen a number of wrongful infringement “take downs” of files and entire sites – for which there was no redress for the harm caused to the user for deleted or withheld data that they rightfully owned.

Encryption is not the entire answer …

Some of the more techno-savvy readers are saying you just have to encrypt the data; so let’s examine encryption.

First, there is communication link encryption using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or as it is now known TLS (Transport Layer Security) which provides an encrypted link between your computer and the server in the sky aka “the cloud.”

Second, many “in cloud” backup and storage systems claim that your data is stored on their servers in encrypted form – as well it should be. But the problem is that they own the key and can decrypt and browse your files at will.

Third, there is file encryption which allows one to encrypt their files using a third-party program before it is transmitted to the cloud over a secure link.

This is generally a good thing. But not if your hardware vendor controls the creation, storage and use of the encryption key or provides a “backdoor” to unknown parties wishing to peruse your data.

Believe me that I was more than upset to find that a medical device software package was uploading data – containing the device’s identification tag – to Microsoft using their WER (Windows Error Reporting) system. Again, ostensibly for product improvement.

I was also dismayed at the number of companies making “forensic” examination tools which could read your iPhone or computer data without physical contact and without any prior notification.

And it is not just vendors who are threats …

If you have commercially-viable research and development data on your systems or in the cloud, there are a number of known state-sponsored hacker groups wanting to steal your commercial advantage. Primarily China, Russia, Iran, and others.

We have recently seen commercial platforms hacked, user names and passwords exposed. But what of the criminals and others who silently steal data without the braggadocio of hackers. Who is going to compensate you for the lost revenue that is going to a Chinese knock-off company?

Because much of our data is protected only in the United States, we find that it may be used with impunity in foreign countries – and with a snowball’s chance in hell of using their legal system to seek redress.

The cocooning of platforms …

Microsoft, Apple, Google and others have a vested financial effort to close the Internet and to deny you the rich experience provided by open source software. By restricting third-party access to their hardware or software, they control your future. To the point where the pain of changing platforms and transitioning your data to new hardware or software is not worth the cost of giving them extra dollars for an upgrade. In my world, that is called a “lock-in.” Something practiced by every telephone company, cable provider and now hardware/software vendors.

Bottom line …

It’s bad enough that you might visit a website and accidently install a “snooper” program on your system. But the reason I am mentioning this now is that a raft of new, cool, gee-whiz applications and hardware is about to be unleashed on the public. And I want you to think of what you might be giving up – your freedom – to get a rather small benefit.

An example of this is Windows 8 – an upgrade that appears to place a tablet-oriented user interface on a desktop operating system in order to compete with the wildly popular Apple iPad. Or the new Apple systems which may unwittingly provide access to your data to intrusive third-party applications.

What you may not see implemented some newer hardware is something called UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) which will replace the older BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) which controls boot-up activities and the hardware/software interface that runs your system. Under this UEFI the hardware vendor or operating system vendor can control every aspect of your machine, operating system and possibly the restrictions on applications software. An unprecedented amount of control over something you have purchased with your own money and which may easily turn into a doorstop if you attempt to run non-approved hardware or software.

In the final analysis, how much can you trust hardware and software vendors that are beholden to a government which, in turn, is beholden to the content creators which demand that you be held hostage so they can preserve their legacy business models and outrageous revenue streams? How much can you reply on vendors who are legally not responsible for their actions and who preclude the use of attorney-enriching class action lawsuits to seek redress. 

Unless you have a compelling reason – other than the ego satisfaction of having the latest “cool gimcrack – for purchasing new toys, you may wish to sit this development cycle out.

But the nice thing about technology – sometimes you find that you can do everything you want with a decades-old machine running free software.

The real bottom line – as patriots everywhere will tell you – freedom is never really free; it comes with a cost.

Protect yourself, your family and your data.

-- steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS