Friday, February 25, 2011

Being Corrupt

Have unions become just as corrupt as big governments and big corporations? What does 21st century organizing look like? The people's needs are the same. If big governments and big corporations are the same, and unions are aligned with these, who truly speaks on behalf of the people and where do we go from here?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Being Neighborly

A gorgeous oak tree in my yard seemed lower than usual. As I acknowledged its beauty, my 85-year-old neighbor called. "Don't you see that tree has fallen on the power lines?" She asked. "I thought it was lower," I said. "You thought?" She said. "Get on the phone and call DTE." "Yes, ma'am," I said. How did she know that I hadn't already called DTE? Her binoculars were broken last week. I suppose they're fixed this week. She watches the goings on in my house daily from her window. Sometimes we like to give her a bit of a thrill.

Being President Obama

George Soros has said that President Obama has "lost control of the agenda." But did we need Soros to tell us this? I was talking with a friend who said that President Obama was just posturing waiting for the Republicans to move. Posturing? For what? The wars continue to the tune of trillions as welfare for the rich, needed social programs are on the chopping block for the middle class and poor, and a near trillion dollars were given with the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. If this is posturing, we need President Obama to act.

Being Considered a Number

The country is in trouble. In the prison industrial complex forces converge to create a growth stock by the numbers created and the rate of recidivism aided by laws and the courts that uphold them. In the online education complex students are marketed to rocking the hip hop beat in a continual influx of non-graduates. Sheer numbers create economic value. The growth of the country is never considered. It's an American Shame.

Being Supportive

My sister Dellanne who lives in Houston wanted to know why I was depositing money into her account. She and her husband have essentially moved in with Haywood and his wife while he goes through treatment. Love, gratitude, and peace of mind are priceless. Support those who support you, and support others too.

Being Hoodwinked

Americans have been hoodwinked. We've moved from the Gold Standard to the Debt Standard, constantly purchasing products via a credit card, giving us the euphoric sense of ownership. But who benefits most from this Debt Standard and do we still believe the Billy Preston song that "nothing from nothing leaves nothing?" The real sinister element is that we're numbed into inaction by the sense of having something.

Being a Wall Street Executive

For those sensitive to such language and graphics excuse me, but I think the message is quite clear: "You put Lloyd Blankfein in a pound-me-in-the-ass-prison for one six-month term, and all this bullshit would stop, all over Wall Street," says a former congressional aide in a Rolling Stone interview. "That's all it would take. Just once." Here is the complete article, Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail? I think it is pretty clear. Wall Street is essentially the government if you look in the case of Bill Clinton's Treasury Secretary who went to Citigroup or Goldman Sach's Hank Paulson who became Treasury Secretary under George Bush.