Bruce Bacon: "My Reply to My Conservative Friend"

Spread the Word
Re-pinned by Bruce Bacon  |  June 1, 2014  |  Bryan TX

My Reply to My Conservative Friend: "My Reply to My Conservative Friend August 26, 2012 at 3:22pm by Bruce Bacon on NOTES in faceBook

"...Today I got an email from a conservative friend who implored me to go watch the movie “2016 Obama’s America.”

Here is my response to her.

Marilyn, please bear with me. Here is my take on the history of what has happened to our country.   Back in 1971, a corporate lawyer by the name of Lewis Powell penned a document that is known as the “Powell Memorandum.” In this document, which was sent to his friend at the US Chamber of Commerce, Powell extolled the virtues of blending business interests with political interests…attacked the hard work of people like you and me who care about our environment, attacked the education system, arts and sciences, in that they impede business interests. That memorandum eventually spawned right wing “think tanks” and created a massive lobbying effort that we are paying for today. Literally. With our tax dollars. http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_accountability/powell_memo_lewis.html"

'via Blog this'

In the later 70’s, the Republican party initiated an agenda that they called “Starve the Beast.” The purpose of the agenda was to intentionally run up the debt to a point where the cutting of social programs would be a necessity. Reagan bought in and ran up deficit and debt to previously unequaled levels. It would take a president and congress that subscribed to this doctrine to bring it to fruition. We lived that reality during the Bush tenure.  Massive tax cuts for the wealthy, a trillion dollar big pharma giveaway, and a couple of wars ensured that the beast would indeed be starved. The deficit accumulated under Republican “leadership” amounts to approximately $12 trillion dollars. Here’s proof:
http://zfacts.com/p/1170.html 
Starve the Beast analysis:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/paul-krugman-starve-the-beast-fiscal-calamity-is-the-gops-plan-to-shrink-government-234845/

Combined with the starve the beast mentality, came the part two of the double whammy - deregulation of the financial markets. During the first decade of the 21st century, we realized a fraud perpetrated against all the participants of Capitalism that dwarfs any fraud previously. Trillions of (non-existent) dollars were literally scooped up from the global public and created a breathtakingly unimaginable debt vacuum. Cheap credit, loans to anyone who could fog a mirror were made, and we (and nearly every Capitalist country on earth) are living the results of this mentality. State and local government who invested deeply are bankrupt. Ratings agencies rated these packaged bundles of garbage at triple A (why? Because they could) and everybody bought in.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-last-mystery-of-the-financial-crisis-20130619 

By 2007, everything was in place. The US debt had run up into the multi-trillions. The financial markets were ready to implode. Then, it happened. The global recession, brought on by conservative economic and regulatory policies, hit with a force that we still reel from. State and local governments that invested heavily started to financially collapse. Millions of Americans who trusted in our economic system were left bankrupt from the fraud. State and local governments were left in a vacuum. International governments imploded from the financial toll.  Millions and millions of people are suffering from this outright fraud perpetrated against humanity.

When President Obama was elected, within the first days of his leadership, Mitch McConnell made it clear. The first thing on his agenda was not reversing the massive unemployment brought on by this fraud. It was not turning around a battered economy. It was to make President Obama a one term president. Republicans in Congress agreed. The evidence is there for all to see. The number of filibusters in Congress is unequaled. Nothing, repeat NOTHING the president has done to help our citizens has been embraced by the Republican party. The level of vile hatred generated against our president is absolutely unprecedented via unsubstantiated lies and repeated via chain email, and talking points. A record number of anti-citizen’s rights bills have been penned by Republicans at the state and federal levels. This information is all out there, Marilyn. Women’s reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work, gay equality.

I won’t even go into the fact that Republicans have made every effort to undermine our government from within. Unqualified appointments, making decisions against the best interests of the country to “prove” that “government doesn't work.” It’s nothing but a corporate sell-out, with the blue-print being the Powell Memorandum.

Needless to say, I am passionate about this. I am absolutely disgusted that America has come from being number one in the world on nearly every aspect, to trailing far behind other western countries. Health care, public education, the list is nearly endless. By every measure, our country has suffered from the conservative-corporate collusion. We are literally living the results of an agenda that has taken 40 years to complete.

I, for one, want to see the United States Republican party outlawed as a treasonous entity. Their successes have brought on the failure of the American institution. I am thoroughly disgusted with the lies, the hypocrisy, the outright fraud perpetrated against you, me and  every participant of Capitalism. Capitalism is a failure, Marilyn, it is a failure that was ensured by a deliberate stacking of the deck AGAINST the participants.

I will never support another Republican at any level of government. The Republican agenda is poison.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. If feels good to finally get this off my chest in one sitting.

Bruce

Update: 18 May 2014 - I've seen a lot of "hate Bush" memes on FB recently and would like to comment on that. Understand this: Bush really just executed the Republican game plan. Any "good" Republican would have done exactly the same thing. That's why we need to hate the party, and not necessarily the person. That game plan included leveraging tragedy to perform a massive transfer of public wealth to private interests leaving the taxpayers holding the bag. Once you wrap your head around the depth and breadth of the fraud perpetrated against us (and continues to be perpetrated against us) you either throw your hands up in the air with disgust and say "I quit" or you choose to spread the truth. I choose the latter. And please, vote blue like your life depends on it. Because it does.

Update 1 June 2014 - I'd like to add one more point. How could they pull something like this over on us, and brainwash a large percentage of the population that EVERYTHING is "Government's Fault"? How could outright lying in broadcasting be tolerated? No opposing voice? This is the last piece of the puzzle. Repealing the Fairness Doctrine is what created today's American right wing: http://articles.latimes.com/1987-06-21/news/mn-8908_1_fairness-doctrine And these are the people we need to get through to..."

CONCLUSION
It appears that high rollers have divvied up the United States into regions that will succumb to their long range development plans regardless of any thought of people this may harm.

________________________Reference
https://www.facebook.com/notes/10151037975418017/

MooPig Free Range Grazing Rights Department :: "Unemployment Benefits"

Dire Straits
Captured by Pat Darnell | June 29, 2013 | Bryan TX

[Picture LINK]

North Carolina Becomes First State To Eliminate Unemployment Benefits: "RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — With changes to its unemployment law taking effect this weekend, North Carolina not only is cutting benefits for those who file new claims, it will become the first state disqualified from a federal compensation program for the long-term jobless."

'via Blog this'

"Like many states, North Carolina had racked up the debt by borrowing from Washington after its unemployment fund was drained by jobless benefits during the Great Recession. (EMERY P. DALESIO JUNE 28, 2013. LINK) ... "

Whoops! That one slipped by: define "the Great Recession."

" ... A period of economic downturn experienced by the United States beginning in December 2007. The downturn is not described as depression since the severity has not encompassed the levels of the Great Depression in the 1930's. The US market housing decline is pointed out to be one of the causes of the Great Recession. ... "

CONCLUSION
Why is it politicians, in this case the GOP Governor of North Carolina, make policy decisions that adversely impact their very own constituents, their voters? Discontinuance of UC is in fact directly related to the Great Recession, as an after shock upon the demagoguery. Blimey.

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation was due to run out in January in North Carolina. Instead the Governor ended it this month, to "ease the burden on businesses." As in all cases political, two out of three questions are ignored: 1) Is it legal ... 2) Is it the right thing to do? ... 3) Who benefits from this? Follow the money.

MooPig relies on secondary research for its existence. When are we going to see the "free press" digging into the money trails for all these jokers in leadership positions?


______________________Reference
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/north-carolina-becomes-first-state-to-eliminate-unemployment-benefits.php
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/great-recession.html#ixzz2XdhOqohI
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/with-changes-to-its-unemployment-law-nc-becomes-1st-state-to-drop-federal-jobless-funds/2013/06/28/85a8e3a2-dfdc-11e2-8cf3-35c1113cfcc5_story.html

MooPig's "Jobs for the NEW Year 2011"

Many Persons are Asking during Hard Times...
by Pat Darnell and the Herd

What are the basic concepts of employment and unemployment?
The basic concepts involved in identifying the employed and unemployed are quite simple:

1. People with jobs are employed.
2. People who are jobless, looking for jobs, and available for work are unemployed.
3. People who are neither employed nor unemployed are not in the labor force.

[SOURCE]

* With that ammunition, MooPig Job Search Engines [running on methane gas] came up with these job plausibilities:

• Internet Suit Case Model
• Pencil Grip
• Sperm Donor
• Falsies Inspector
• Rothschild's Astrologer
• Screen Cleaner
• Federal Flood Insurer for Musicians

• Ant Farmer
• Toon Town Supervisor
• Fuller Brush Man
• Salesperson for Muslims' Life Insurance
• Kevorkian's Best Friend
• Wool Gatherer
• Beast of Burden
• Community Organizer

If you are interested please do not contact us. Contact instead your Clergy and they will instruct you and guide you to your desires.

Manufacturer's Suggested Use: "Spray in on yer whole body and sit behind the penalty box." [SOURCE]

Chicago Blues :: Still No News -- Chicago Number One in Stress 2008 - 09

Ted Kennedy's death; 'Cash for clunkers' numbers; and Chicago's Stress Factor by Rob Manker August 27, 2009 [HERE]

Ted Kennedy Dies Ongoing Commentary [Excerpted Article retrieved HERE by PD] ... Former U.S. Sen. Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy (Feb. 22, 1932 - Aug. 25, 2009) served 37 years as senator for the state of Massachusetts before dying of brain cancer.

At the time of his death, he was the third-longest serving senator in U.S. history and was the second-longest active senator in Congress, having held the position since 1962.

Kennedy was the youngest of nine children and brother of former President John F. Kennedy and former New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. [Ted] Kennedy was known as a "liberal lion" for his strong stance and liberal ideology while in politics.

In 1980, he ran an unsuccessful bid for the presidency. He left behind a wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, and three children, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., Kara Anne Kennedy and Patrick Kennedy.

Question: Why is John F Kennedy's Presidential Portrait facing down?
In his official Presidential Portrait, JFK is facing down and seems very somber.
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters:
The artist, Aaron Shikler, was commissioned by Jackie to do several paintings, including that one after his death.
He had several pictures to go on, but the pose was ultimately inspired by a picture that was actually not of JFK, but of the youngest brother, Edward Kennedy, looking down at JFK's grave. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html

Ca$h for Clunker$
The number :: 690,114 [SOURCE]
Sales reported under the "cash for clunkers" car rebate program, according to final data released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The total value of the rebates claimed by dealers totaled $2.88 billion of the allotted $3 billion.

The list :: Top-selling vehicles in the "cash for clunkers" program:
1. Toyota Corolla
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Ford Focus front-wheel drive
5. Hyundai Elantra

The list, part II :: Top "cash for clunkers" trade-ins:
1. Ford Explorer four-wheel drive
2. Ford F-150 pickup two-wheel drive
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee four-wheel drive
4. Ford Explorer two-wheel drive
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan two-wheel drive

Best stressed :: Chicago metro area is first in composite rankings

If you're feeling burned out lately, there might be a good reason. According to Forbes.com rankings of America's most stressful cities, (chicagotribune.com/stress), the Chicago metro area is first in composite rankings on poor air quality, high cost of living and high unemployment, among other categories. Chicago beat No. 2 Los Angeles and No. 3 New York. We blame those new parking meters.

... Few enjoy their commute. Just ask Stephen Dinwiddie, M.D.,
a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago.

"I think anybody who, like I do, commutes on the Kennedy on a daily basis knows exactly what stress is," he says, of his daily home-to-work commute on Chicago's expressway that extends from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. "It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several centuries—at least subjectively."

But more pressing factors make Chicago for the second year in a row the country's most stressful city. Crowding, poor air quality, a high 11 percent unemployment rate
and free-falling home values have created a cocktail of constant worry affecting
many in the Windy City.

Lee's Weather Website, Rantoul, Illinois
-- Also --
2008 :: Forbes ranks Chicago most stressful city
September 17, 2008
Chicago's rising unemployment rate, expensive gas, high population density and relatively poor air quality create a perfect storm of stress, according to Forbes magazine, which has ranked the city the most stressful in the United States. New York is No.2.