TPP ... An Oligarch's Dream

Twitter now permits me to see a list of those I've blocked from interacting with me. My political philosophy is generally progressive so, as you might suspect, the vast majority of those who may no longer view my account are right wing nut jobs.

However, there are also a good number of left wing nut jobs who place their loyalty to Barack Obama far above their loyalty to their alleged principles. Once I realize a person is incapable of reason because of fidelity to a particular ideology I’m through with them.

Now come unto us Trans Pacific Partnership; a treaty orchestrated and championed by Barack Obama which will further destroy America’s middle class and exacerbate environmental destruction worldwide. 

For several years, I've attempted to focus attention on this looming disaster in real life and on the internet. Irrespective of how mildly I phrase my criticisms of Obama and his efforts to fast-track this treaty, many of my fellow progressives scream like the proverbial banshees.

Generally, they make no effort to dispute my points opting instead to make statements like, “President Obama would not do anything to hurt the middle class.” This despite the fact that even a brief reading of the leaked provisions of TPP shows conclusively this treaty is essentially a race to the bottom. It literally gives corporations veto power over duly elected governments . . . via secret courts. Yes, you read that right.

Without a doubt, my progressive friends and followers would be apoplectic if TPP were being put forth by a Republican president. Of course, Republican leaadership is totally on board with this treaty as it helps in their ongoing efforts to create the FSA ... Feudal States of America ... ruled by an elite corporate aristocracy.

Read the paper or watch your favorite cable television news in the coming days. TPP is on the doorstep. Fast tracking has been approved by Congress and that means there will be no public discussion by our elected representatives nor will those  representatives be allowed to amend this disastrous treaty.

I've defended President Obama time and again because he has been unjustly criticized and even vilified by fools and knaves. TPP, however, is Obama's baby and he deserves every serious criticism he receives for bringing this disaster to fruition.

How amazingly hypocritical to speak so eloquently of transparent government, and the need to grow and strengthen America’s middle class, while working secretly to implement an economic treaty that will do the exact opposite.

Read this op/ed from the NYT and see if you are still committed to supporting Obama irrespective of his policies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/opinion/dont-keep-trade-talks-secret.html?_r=0

He Did Make Us A Man ... His Name Was Woody

"Then God sat down -
On the side of a hill where he could think;
By a deep, wide river he sat down;
With his head in his hands,
God thought and thought,
Till he thought I'll make me a man!"

James Weldon Johnson

Every now and then someone steps out of the mists and tells the world the truth. They are never received warmly. If you don't believe me, ask Jesus Christ ...

Jesus is one of my heroes. Another is Woody Guthrie. Woody would be over a hundred years old now so it's doubtful he'd be riding the rails, but there's no doubt he'd still be speaking truth to power.

Listen to the lyrics below and read up on the Ludlow Massacre. Past is often prologue you know. 

  

A man ....

Clowns ... but dangerous 

Eliminate The Cap

Well, they're at it again. This time it's Chris Christie up in New Hampshire making a lot of noise about the need to make hard choices in dealing with the solvency of Social Security. As usual, those hard choices are hard only for the poor and middle class.

Of course, Christie failed to say anything about the most obvious solution for shoring up Social Security ... simply remove the taxable income cap.


Don't be embarrassed if you didn't know there is an income limit for collecting Social Security taxes. Most of you have probably never experienced it. The cap, adjusted each year for inflation, is currently around $117,000 thus most Americans pay 6.2% on their total income. As income rises, the percentage of Social Security taxes paid relative to income drops thus those earning a million dollars pay 0.66% or less.


Why is there a cap in the first place and why does your local school teacher pay 6.2% of her income while those earning a million a year pay 0.66%?  It's the same reason rich folks get tax cuts and subsidies ... the wealthy have more influence on Congress than the poor and middle class do.


Why do we then maintain the income cap in the face of alleged Social Security insolvency? If you ask a commentator at Fox News the reasons are the same lame ones offered up for continuing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy ... removing the cap would result in a crippled economy and would be a massive job killer ... Of course, this is just more GOP bullshit.

Most Americans are patriotic and more than willing to make individual sacrifices for the good of the whole. Ironically, the objections for paying a fair share usually come from those who can most afford to show their appreciation for all America has given them.

Here's the truth of this from an honorable man ...


"... eliminating the cap makes the system more progressive and minimizes the added burden for low and moderate income workers ..." Jimmy Carter ~ 1977 

Ayn Rand and Her Hateful Progeny

H.L. Mencken cautioned us years ago about our fellow citizens. "Never underestimate the ignorance of the American people," he said. Mencken was a pretty cynical fellow but he nailed that right on the head.

Still, many of us were shocked when we first learned so many of Christ's followers had embraced Ayn Rand. The coupling seemed a bit incongruous.

Seems to me you really can't serve two masters. If you ascribe to the hate filled philosophy of Ayn Rand, there's no room in your heart for the teachings of Jesus Christ. Rand and her followers view the *takers* among us as parasites. Jesus viewed them as our responsibility to lift up, to love, and to be made whole. 

Jesus said love the poor for they are your brothers and sisters and love your neighbor as yourself. Ayn Rand said if the poor get in your way take a board to their lazy asses. If your down and out neighbor is threatening your property values, burn his fucking house down.

Congressman Paul Ryan has said the reason he got involved in public service in the first place was primarily because of Ayn Rand and for years he has required his staff to read Atlas Shrugged. Rand Paul, current presidential candidate and also a disciple of Ms. Rand, brags that he has read all of her novels.

As Republicans, both Paul Ryan and Rand Paul  promote policies that would crush the most vulnerable members of our society. Apparently, neither sees a conflict with their selfish Randian views and their Christian faith. 

I will not be supporting any who channel Ayn Rand. Actually, maybe we can work together and put Miss Rand's philosophy back where it belongs ... in the dorm room garbage can.

Libertarian My Ass

          So, I meet you at a party and I tell you I’m a libertarian. At this point you have certain expectations of me, some subtle and some not so subtle. Phrases like “less government” and “fewer regulations” are some of the more obvious concepts you now associate with me.

          We talk for a while and you find I want to expand the budget for the Defense Department. You don’t say anything at this point, but you do find it rather odd considering the vast amounts of money we already spend on defense.

          You sip your wine and move the conversation to social issues. You find I consider marriage a religious rite and that I'm opposed to same sex marriage. You dig deeper and find I'm also ardently pro-life. To what extent, you wonder so you ask under what circumstances I approve of abortion. I hedge my answer but you press me.

          Are rape or incest exempted you ask. I look around nervously trying to gauge the political sensibilities of those around us. I do this a lot these days. I mumble and again evade the question as best as I can.

           Feeling somewhat uncomfortable I change the subject and put out my hand. By the way, I say, I don’t think we've met. My name is Rand Paul. I'm currently a United States Senator and I’m running for president.

           Sure you are you think and move off to find another drink. But I really am I say. I'm a libertarian just like my dad and I ...

Note from Cletis: He really isn't you know ... Read here

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/04/06/3643093/rand-paul-not-libertarian/

Pick and Choose Christians

It's difficult to find much fault with the teachings of Jesus. He laid out a morality that requires each person to do for others and kept it simple but we'd never know that considering the zillion interpretations of his philosophy. 

Chapter and verse poker between Christians and their fellow Christians are the stuff of legend around my way. *I'll see your Luke and raise you a Matthew* is an example of Scripture poker often heard in homes and churches. Generally, these efforts are not efforts to better understand and follow the Way but are more essentially efforts to cover one's ass.

The rampant use of guns in our society is a perfect example. It's difficult to imagine the Prince of Peace packing but many of today's Christians swear Jesus would have been a card carrying NRA member who'd blow your ass away as needed. When pressed, they'll find a basket full of out of context verses to prove their point.

Apparently, and thankfully, my bible is missing this Gospel of Glock. You can't love your neighbor and shoot him too seems pretty simple to me. 

Amen ....

Share the Land & Pizza Equally

Note from Cletis: In an effort to improve the historical awareness of our readers, we will periodically publish little known but vitally important personal information concerning the men and women who have shaped our lives. We have meticulously researched our findings but use of this information is not recommended for your dissertation in that our source material was recently destroyed in a fire.     

    

In life Karl Marx, founder of modern day communism, was known as "The Mooch" by those who knew him well. He actually conceived The Communist Manifesto when a fist fight erupted after Marx snatched the last slice of pizza from Friedrich Engels while Engels went to answer the door. Engels' wife did not appreciate it as Karl had been staying with them for three years and had never contributed a penny to the household.

After the fight, and nursing a fat lip, Marx stomped off to his room and sulked for three days. When he emerged, he had his justification. "From each according to his ability to each according to his need." After reading the Manifesto, Mrs. Engels went to the kitchen and made a large pizza which was shared equally. Little did anyone dream that one day an impressionable, young Russian named Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) would read far more into the Manifesto than Karl had intended.

Editor's Note: Marx was known for his incomparable ability to hide food under his clothing while still appearing to be concerned with weighty, intellectual matters. "I can take no credit for this gift," Marx is said to have remarked. This statement and Marx's denial of the existence of God have led to bitter debate among historians as to the meaning of this comment.