Bomb, Bomb, Bomb

This is so the NeoCon/Military Industrial Complex mindset.

6 Charts That Suggest The Unemployment Crisis Is WORSE Than It Looks

Awaken... It was BOTH parties that got us into this mess - and we let them. Those that point fingers at the other party are lost. It is decades of crony-ism, exorbitant military spending by ALL, unmanaged and misguided social programs by both parties, mis-regulation (poor and loopholed) of the largest companies while over-regulation of the mom & pop businesses & lemonade stands across our country. It will only be when the 2/3 rds of the population that do not trust their governmental leaders wake up and realize that we have a choice - a choice to choose "other". The other being Green, Workers, Constitution, Libertarian. We must pull the power from the power brokers in our state governments, in DC who work with and FOR the politically connected elite in this country. We must not listen to the media conglomerates who lie to us daily. We must reclaim our power from them - WE THE PEOPLE. Peace Out - in Liberty!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Quants and market collapse

Love this video. I like the part where they talk about how the bankers tell them to change the model so the model reflects the risk the bankers want to have. Nothing like fudging the numbers. I believe that is called FRAUD!!!

Can a state go bankrupt? They wish.

State Finance Directors Warn of More Trouble Ahead - WSJ.com:

"'I looked as hard as I could at how states could declare bankruptcy,' said Michael Genest, director of the California Department of Finance who is stepping down at the end of the year. 'I literally looked at the federal constitution to see if there was a way for states to return to territory status.'"

As of July 2009, California's budget shortfall was 49.3% of its general funds. States have considered drastic options to fill such gaps.

Michigan, which could end the recession with 25% fewer jobs than in June 2000 and a total of one million job losses has an unemployment rate in September was 15.3% (more likely well over 20% if you look at those who have given up looking or are working reduced hours).

"Citizens don't quite understand yet the implications of some of the cuts that we've made," Mr. Bean said. "A lot of it has fallen on local governments. I am very concerned that we're going to have a lot of insolvencies in local governments."

Dilbert - on the take

A great Dilbert today. Nicely timed for all the bills coming off the hill.

Pension Trouble

How can pensions be guaranteed? My 401k is not guaranteed. It is a taxpayer black hole and a Wall Street dream. Wall Street looses pension money; governments send them more money to make the pension whole – again and again. It is time for full reform.

http://www.pensiontsunami.com/

State governments buried under pension debt. NY State has nearly 700 educators receiving annual pensions of more than $100,000. Story from Albany Times Union: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=692650

California has over 5,000 people receiving pensions of more than $100,000, some making almost $500,000 a year (retired treasurer from city of Vernon, CA). Over 3,000 are educators. http://www.californiapensionreform.com/calpers/

Unions are payed off with sweetheart deals for pensions – government agencies thinking they paying for the pension will be someone else’s problem. Many pensions end up paying out more each year than the employees earned at any year in their working career – this is due to the employee padding their final years wages with additional income.

Watching the AIG testimony for the second time

Every time I watch this I get more out of it. This time Marcy Kaptur stood out in her strong advocacy for the American worker. Rep Kaptur - you have my support - go after them and bring out the TRUTH. You are so right in how wall street and corporate America has decimated mid America and the small towns across the country. We as a people are ashamed of how we have supported them throughout the years.