Yes, it is still all about oil!

Take a tour of where your oil comes from.... and where your money goes!

http://www.suburbanempire.com

suburban critical, empire chronicle

The Scott Brown senate seat victory in Massachussetts is just the start of a voter revolt against BOTH parties. The coming elections will see incumbents on both sides thrown out, as they should be. Strict terms limits are part of the answer to break the professional politician class.

I agree we need to downscale, reorganize, and grow more food locally, as you say. Peak oil will mean the end of suburbia and our excessive overconsumption, but it is not coming fast enough. And even as oil use declines, we are expanding our use of coal, which is even worse for global warming.

I think the only way Americans (and Canadians) will change is when we are forced to do so. It may in fact be the fight against global warming by the rest of the world that could force us to make these changes we desperately need. As third world countries see the environment getting worse and worse, and the failure of international negotiations to do anything about it, they may eventually band together and force us to reduce emissions through the use of embargoes and sanctions. That might finally give us the incentive needed to do the reorganization that is needed.

http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/12/beyond-copenhagen.html

I have been thinking long and hard about the Republican/Democrat "thing".... and have decided that (although it will bother me greatly to do so, as I am quite liberal) it is time to vote for the Republicans.
Reason being that the "system" is incapable of reform, best course of action is to put the drunkest driver behind the wheel (give them enough rope) and let it do it's self in.
It will happen within a decade... no matter who wins... the price structure of oil will not support the "drill baby, drill" actions, and we are still in a very deep energy crisis (now forgotten for the decieveingly lower prices)

A tour of where that oil comes from (and where the money goes)
http://www.suburbanempire.com/front

Yes Jim, it's Swingtime alright, with change coming faster all the time. Let's hope the dollar is not completely destroyed by government in bed with Wall Street. Oh well, we can always print our own. See the latest currency at http://thenothingstore.com

The most immediate problem is that the "economy" is a structural
mess and there is no need for any more employees than are now at work, if even that many. -Not as long as the majority of stuff we buy comes from offshore. This really exposes the hoax of the service economy, made up of (as JHK notes) of tanning parlors and dog groomers. The army of guys hauling trailers with
commercial lawnmowers through suburbia with their pickups has
already shrunk by half. The "infrastructure building" that we saw last summer turned out to be miles of new blacktop resurfacing
over crumbling roadbeds. What a shame. They should have at least armed the able- bodied with chipping hammers and buckets
of paint and put them to work on the rusty bridges. A few masons with pointing trowels patching the pediments below.

And here in Canada our conservative Prime Minister has everyone pissed off because he prorogued Parliament until further notice. Gave them a two-or-three-month coffee break, closing out all discussions of bills that were in progress. Apparently there are a couple of Liberal senators who will time out during that period and Harper will be able to appoint cronies (yes, our senators are appointed!) before Parliament's work resumes. Our progressives who think protesting works, are.

Jim, I like your list of what needs to happen. We can all brush up on living like poor students, starting with eating more like the rest of the world and I don't mean eating in ethnic restaurants.

Lynn
http://www.10in10diet.com/
Diet for a small footprint and a small grocery bill

You've inspired me. I appreciate all that you do to wake America up! Here's a blog post inspired in part by reading your blog:

http://tinyurl.com/ybnejbf

Downsizing and humanizing modern industrial societies is necessary; it's a change that'll be gavaged down our throats by causality whether we can believe in it or not. Human civilization is about to enter a "death phase" similar to that experienced by micorganic populations in lab experiments. This death phase will be irreversible because entropy is a one way street only.

But if we give in to these ideas do we give up on the millions of human lives that'll be lost in the process of downsizing? What to do of the thousands of Haitis and Katrinas that'll have to be in order to us to downsize? There'll be blood. And pain.

Human society moves forward by jumping paradigms and the time for another paradigm shift has come. We'd have to get by on alt energy (mostly nuclear) for the next three to four decades, minimizing the pain of resource poverty as we master the language of biology. When genomics will allow us to manipulate biology like physics allowed us to meld metal at the start of the last century, we'd have a new language to shape our world with. That's when the new age of man will dawn.

I wait for fourth generation biofuels.

Do we have a future, not the way we're going? Paul Krugman is the lead spokesperson for bigger deficits to stimulate the economy. How do you stimulate a corpse? He proves once and for all that he does not read or listen to JHK. rising debt service will require a faster growing economy, and that economy will require more resources, especially oil. If we don't have the oil, then this fantasy comes crashing down. What was it Einstein said, the thinking that got us into this situation, is not the thinking to get us out of it. Put another way, when you're in a hole, the first thing to do, is stop digging. Why is it that the liberal voters of Massachusetts get this, and our elite in Washington don't? I agree with Jim that Obama will make motions to calm the crowd, but he won't deliver.

Jimbo...thanks for mentioning Haiti once more. As long as Pat (Haiti made a pact with the devil) Robertson and Rush (Don't give, it'll raise your taxes) Limbaugh spew their venom, there is a need to emphasize what one CAN do to help. The web site is www.hopeforhaitinow.org. And thanks for the nod to Katie McGarrigle. I wasn't aware of her passing. She and her sister produced a beautiful body of music.

Thanks for turning me on me to the music of Kate McGarrigle

I found this wonderful video on youtube and wanted to share it with all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YrfLnlrquo

Hard Times Come Again No More indeed.

good column today. Calm and to the point. I miss the salad shooter references, however. And will miss the plaintive voice of kate McGarrigle.

Okay, we went from producing to shuffling paper. So? In this hand-made world, what are we going to produce and export, trying to have some positive balance of payments?

We priced our labor out of international competitiveness for our products. It was only natural that we "exported jobs". I see no way back except via lower wages.

Given our present legal structure, how do we get those who are now living off tax dollars back into this hand-made production of whatever?

There may be some window-dressing by Obama, but he's not going to dump the folks who brought him to power. That would take a 180-degree reversal from everything he's espoused. And the monetary policy course of Obama and the Congress was predicted in mid-2008, so I doubt that will change.

Jim, I won't argue at all with your overall view of this future world, but I really do believe we won't see much movement in that direction until there's just no escape visible to both the "leadership" and the public at large. Soccer Mama is gonna try to drive her Suburban to the mall until the last mall is gone...

'Rat

Regarding the decline of the suburbs, this new study shows that by 2008, for the first time, the suburbs were home the largest share of the nation's poor; http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2010/0120_poverty_kneebone/0120_poverty_paper.pdf

a must see video:

State of the Republic - Ron Paul

"Great Danger Lies Ahead"

http://cryptogon.com/?p=13253

Puzzler's comment about "throwing the bums out" in the coming election is cute. Like that will change anything.
I, for one, have given up on politics in this country because the system is corrupt beyond belief. I will not vote anymore and will no longer pay attention to anything that happens in Washington because it makes no difference one way or the other.
The shit is about to hit the fan and nobody there even knows that there IS a fan.

Yup! We simple must transform our cities and towns into WALKING communities once again not unlike the still existing medieval cities such as Schwabisch Hall, Germany, Strassbourg, France etc, etc. There, one can still walked to buy bread (really GOOD bread at that!) veggies, and most other needs as well, and enjoy the stroll!
All of this without burning fuel adding to the problem.
First it's necessay to replace your 5000 sq.ft. Mc manison for a liveable 1100 sq.ft. flat!
This is tough to do for many folks because of high up-front costs associated with home sales and not be beholden to a realitor and an almost impossible market!!

This country is now on it's downward slide and nothing will be able to stop it. What is really funny when I always ask someone what are you going to do when social security and medicare go away what are you going to do? The response "that will never go away the government would not allow it" This is the denial that Americans are in that you mentioned Jim. My only concern now is will I be able to catch a flight out of this country when the sh*t hits the fan considering the condition the airlines and airports are in. As far as Bernanke he will be elected again by his butt buddies but that will be a good thing because it will hasten the demise of our finacial elite.

The bitch about all fantasy role playing is that while you are having fun with your buddies the real world moves on without you. Sometimes in ways dangerous to your well being. Wall Street and Washington have been getting free pizza delivery, cocaine and hookers for so long they can't recognize a wolf when it's biting them in the ass.

Nature bats last. She does not care what you think when she lays it down. You are prepared, alert, fit and flexible or you're road kill. The U.S. is headed into the road kill category. TPTB need a hard jolt and the Mass. election was not hard enough. Serve up some pain people.

Bama trotted out Volcker to try to appear tough.

He only bothered to pay attention to the voter anger once it threatened his party or his own position. Shameless self-centeredness, he reflects.

Nazism reflected a lashing out at all the actors and factors that had contributed to a starving and despondent Germany. It was a party of war and conquest reflecting a popular sentiment that the German people had had ENOUGH.

The banker clan really never went back to Germany. The German people learnt to mostly abhor war, moneychangers, and a whole lot of stuff that we and the UK revel in. The US could use such a transformation, but such a thing rarely comes except from a crushing defeat.

have "ABANDON HOPE" prominently posted inside my front door.
rereading 1491 ( a book on the state of native populations in what came to be known as the Americas on that date by Charles Mann) I am astounded by the population densities reached by numerous empires over the centuries with hand tool agriculture.

Meanwhile I cut big pieces of wood into little.

Jimmy sez:

"...the president is praying for the senate to vote against Bernanke's reconfirmation this week."

Jeesus, Jimmy you are not serious. You actually think that Obama dares to even THINK that world markets wouldn't go straight down the crapper if he pulls the chain on Mr. B? Just last week when asked his opinion on whether or not Bernanke would be confirmed Warren Buffett replied, "
“If he's not confirmed, tell me ahead of time, so I can sell some stocks."

Then you say:

"We have to get the hell out of suburbia."

Riiiiight. Over half of the U.S. population has to "get out" from where they live. And go where? You think abandoning what already exists and heading to where ever you think people should head makes any sort of economic sense or would accomplish anything other than destroying the already tattered social fabric of our nation?

Where do you suggest that people who abandon the suburbs will be housed? Where will THAT money come from?

Suburbia will have to be retrofitted. In every third cul-de-sac there will one day be a small mom and pop store that people actually walk to. Schools? Ditto. Kids walking a few blocks to what used to be a house but now schools 15 or so students, supplemented by the interconnectivity that our current internet provides. Auto access will be rerouted or eliminated to make way for bikes and people on foot. Three wheeled scooters, the type commonly found in Asia will help distribute goods and services as private auto ownership wanes. But abandon structurally sound shelters? Absurd in its very suggestion.

And finally you say:

"The money that went into propping up the automobile companies could have been used to rebuild the entire railroad system between Boston and the Great Lakes..."

And why is that? So the retrofitted trains can sit and rot as riders continue to not use them? When it is time for the trains to be built or improved they will be. For now, outside some very limited east coast corridors, the riders do not exist. Go check out some of the passenger train data on ridership capacity. The numbers suck. Your proposed efforts at this time would be a black hole, dollar sucking boondoggle.

And this whole train thingy is a bit ill thought. Think busses. They can actually go where people live and conduct their daily comings and goings rather than some damn train depot where the deposited travelers have to sit scratching their collective asses wondering, "How do I complete the next leg of my journey?"

The "green economy" that so many people idly blather about -- imagining that it will just mean running WalMart by other means than oil --

Blather - I love that word - read the Oxford English Dictionary definition.

Long emergency or not, the near term future is going to focus on "Market Wars" — the struggle over who gets to control our Federal governments immense, market-making prowess.

Right now, the government, through policy and direct investment, favors those in the upper one percent income bracket. But globalism and the off shoring of good paying jobs were not inevitable. They were founded in large part through government market making policy decisions.

Similarly, the growth in the financial industry has been facilitated by government market making decisions like the repeal of the Glass Steagall.

Where the government chooses to park its resources over the next two decades may be what determines how painful the transformations wrought by peak oil are going to be. If we don't want the benefits to continue flowing to the Upper One Percenters, then Main Street better get busy figuring out how to get its place back at the table where our Federal government's policy and investment decisions are being made.

JHK says "We have to get the hell out of suburbia"

Get out of suburbia and go where? Cities? But wait, in the same sentence JHK says "shrink our hypertrophic metroplexes".

"re-activate our small towns and small cities,"
Does that mean a new building boom of homes to accomodate the refugees from suburbia and metroplexes? Wouldn't THAT turn small cities and towns into a new problem? And where would the money come from for all that building? And what would they do to survive once they are there, the local economies mostly ruined?

I think the suburbs are here to stay, as regrettable as it is. I think it was in one of JHK books that he said 80% of everything that was built in America was built since the invention of the automobile. Are we going to abandoned 80% of our world. Ain't happening.

Suburbs have one advantage over cities: people own the land that can be used to grow some food when fossil fuel grown food will become too expensive. Inequity of land ownership was the key factor on social inequality and resulting strife most of human history. Suburban lawns may become the new breadbasket (or spinach basket) of America in the world made by hand...

History has shown us that (other than SIGNIFICANT threat of vioence) when the times get tough, people don't abandon their homes and property and go to places where they will have nothing to keep them alive. Abandoning suburbia is a utopian delusion. We have to find solutions in the world we have, not in the world we wish we had. As JHK says, history is pityless and our moment of wealth and glory may be irretrieavably gone, and the future belongs to places built on the human scale like Eastern and Western Europe, once again.
In my travels thru Eastern Europe I saw small towns and villages where people grow food instead of lawn grass, and have rail connections to take it to markets in bigger towns and cities. Perhaps out suburbs can be converted into these more organic and wholesome ways to inhabit the landscape...

Thanks Jim for one of your best columns yet in which you laid out the utter unsustainability of the current work distribution of the US economy.Let me provide a few figures, some of which are from memory. In the late 50's finance in broad terms(the FIRE economy) was about 14% of GDP and now it is (or until recently) was 37%. In 1960 8 million workers were on the government payroll(excluding the military) and today it is over 22 million with an average salary in the mid to late $70's/per annum. We had 22.5 million workers in the US who made "stuff" in 1960 which has now declined to 18 million despite the large increase in population. The amount of real workers and government workers hit parity about the time of Bush's second term. The rise of Barak was impressive and it led to a lot of false hope. His fall looks to be just as impressive which could be ominous. Of course to maintain some perspective, where would we be under a palin/Mccain reign?

"Of course to maintain some perspective, where would we be under a palin/Mccain reign?"

Well we probably would not have wasted the past year trying to spread enough pork around to ram a health care fiasco down the throats of an electorate that does not WANT this steaming pile of corrupt feces. And I don't think we would have, for all practical purposes, nationalized the automobile industry.

Would the creepy union heads with their locked voting bloc had as many private meetings at the White House as Mr. Obama has hosted? Me no think so.

Need we go into a few too many acolytes of the Saul Alinsky school of governance, currently surrounding our Commander in Chief? I mean the type that never want to let a good disaster "go to waste"? I thought not.

Along similar lines, David Stockman writes: "Behind the worthless loans stands a vast assembly of redundant housing units, shopping malls, office buildings, warehouses, tanning salons and fast food restaurants. These superfluous fixed assets had, over the past decade, given rise to a hothouse economy of jobs that have now vanished. Obviously, the legions of brokers, developers, appraisers, contractors, tradesmen and decorators who created the bad investments are long gone. But now the waitresses, yoga instructors, gardeners, repairmen, sales clerks, inventory managers, office workers and lift-truck operators once thought needed to work at these places are disappearing into the unemployment statistics as well."

"The baleful reality is that the big banks, the freakish offspring of the Fed's easy money, are dangerous institutions, deeply embedded in a bull market culture of entitlement and greed."

David Stockman is a former director of the Office of Management and Budget.
NY Times Editorial page, "Taxing Wall Street Down to Size" Jan. 20, 2010.

Some folks have a real rail system on their minds but I am doubtful they'll get the policy, financial, or general public support to put the program in place anytime soon in the US. There's even a big get together in FL:
http://www.ushsr.com/events/florida2010.html

Living in Germany now, down to one car in our family and doing fine. We get around on foot or rail or bicycle as needed for the most part. We can get around Europe comfortably via train and not have to worry about gas or parking or vehicle maintenance. It's pretty great. The locals' cars are very small by US standards.

Germans really aren't consumers the way Americans are. Everything is closed on Sundays, and the markets and some shops close early on Saturdays too.

Paper or plastic? They don't offer either here. You want a bag, you bring your own bag or box or backpack or kids to haul your stuff out of the store.

They also recycle pretty much everything and it's mandatory. They provide a bins for biodegradables, paper, and restmulle (the stuff that can't be recycled) and bags for plastics, metal and coated paper. Glass must be taken to a special drop off point. There are places to drop batteries and light bulbs too. If you don't sort your stuff right and they scan your can or bag, you get to pay extra to dispose of it or re-sort it for next month's pickup.

Solar panels are common on even modest homes. Oh and the wind farms that we say can't be done in America? They're all over the place here. It's just fascinating to see.

German housing is built to last - not cheap production housing we had in the states. The sad thing though is that suburban-style neighborhoods with golf courses(ack!)are sprouting here. Locals know the houses are crap and only foreigners looking to replace their suburban homes and lifestyles buy them.

It's been fascinating for me to see how things that we say can't be done or won't work in America are working quite well elsewhere. I think we have a people and policy problem in the States and things are going to have to get really bad before Americans wake up and collectively get on the bandwagon to make serious changes.

What is so horrible about selling your stocks? Grab the cash and buy anything that can be used for trade when this thing is finally allowed to blow-up. Do you actually think any of these financial reports that are coming out are legitimate? Hey buddy, how about ten shares of GE for that pack of carrots? No, but I will take that TruValue rake you have over there.

Someone shut up the nothing store fella. Every freaking week you segue your website so clumsily, pitiful.

Also, after what Wall Street has done to real estate, I can't wait to see what the derivative cap and trade scheme will do to our air. Toxic land and air, next up are derivatives for the seas? Just came up with that, but would not be surprised.

'Chemical Ali' executed, Iraqi government spokesman saysJanuary 25, 2010 10:42 a.m. EST

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed -- also known as Chemical Ali -- was executed Monday, an Iraqi government spokesman said.

He was hanged after having been convicted on 13 counts of killings and genocide, Ali al-Dabagh said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

An Idea whose time has come for failed American Politicians both past and present. I believe every living American has a few candidates...

Enjoy the Day!

When a party controls both houses of congress and the Presidency, hubris creates an atmosphere of excess. The filibuster is the last line of defense against a reckless majority. If the majority is really representing the people then the proponents of the filibuster will be swept out at midterm.

Jim, Im sorry to hear you think its ok for unions to soak their members and give their money to candidates they may not even care about and these candidates pass legislation to run big biz and small biz out of biz. These companies should be able to try and protect themselves with pro biz candidates . This new decision from the Supreme Court will hopefully level the playing field again.The fact that you are on the same side with chuck u schumer should be enough to raise flags on this issue. Thanks,Bill Goodridge

Suburbs have the advantage of dirt, labor and water supply in close proximity. A hose bib allows you to grow a LOT more than waiting for the rain does. Unfortunately the average balloon framed house is a pile of polluted, drafty junk that will require massive retrofitting to function on low-energy budgets. Simply turning the heat off while continuing to cook and shower as normal grows mold. A shocking percentage of our current housing stock is going to simply rot and fall down when the HVAC gets turned off.

Personal Rapid Transit could replace much of the road system and small freight delivery by simply overshooting it. Any other ultra-light rail system could do the same but we got in the nasty habit of putting infrastructure under roads and it doesn't agree with rail beds. Asphalt is too expensive NOW for bankrupt localities to keep up with. Better get a sturdy cargo bike while you can still afford one.

>given the fact that the fundamental character of corporations is sociopathic...

This is dead on correct. And check out this fascinating and well written piece about sociopaths, and how shockingly common they are in our society.

http://www.amazon.com/Sociopath-Next-Door-Martha-Stout/dp/0767915828/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264436882&sr=8-1#reader_0767915828

Wow, insight and thoughtful comments from Not Mommy and Diogen about Kunstler's pie-in-the-sky notions. I really enjoy Kunstler's word-smithing, but his grasp of economics fails horribly. He's good at pointing out problems, but seems to think the solution is command economics, with the properly selected people issuing the commands. Ask Russians or North Koreans how that worked out.

When it was announced last week that Ben Bernanke may not be appointed Fed Reserve Chairman the stock market tanked for 3 days in a row. When it was announced this morning that he now had enough votes again to be reappointed the stock market went up. Now tell his financial elite butt buddies on wall street do not control this country.

Just because Obama has Volker standing behind him means little unless he acts upon those recommendations given him by Volker.

Geithner is still around but planning a mutiny. He must be tossed overboard, along with Bennie the Beard Bernanke.

There is a war against working Americans and it has been confirmed by the latest Supreme Court ruling.

A major paradigm shift has yet to come, the revolt has just begun.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

When Moses left Egypt with the Hebrews he ran them around the desert for 40 years before they entered the promised land. Why? Tradition tells us that he did that to allow two generations to die off. Despite their following Moses as the leader, they just couldn't get the lure of the cesspits of Egypt out of their blood. They pined for it, despite knowing that it was no good for them. So after 40 years, the youngsters had no memory of Egypt and were not burdened with it prohibited allure.
I suspect the message in this tale applies to us as well. Most Americans, even those who "get" what JHK is saying will still yearn for the free-wheeling, consumerist and fraudulent days of old. It's in their blood, no matter what they may say. Only the most disciplined will be able to control their doppelganger who pines for the past, unsustainable excesses. I would hope to count myself among this latter group.

KW1941,

I wholehaertedly agree with you! We need manageable communities such as you and JimK are always advocating. I sold my home on
http://www.forsalecallowner.com/aboutus.aspx AT NO COST FOR FREE! and simplyfied my life. Also have been to Strassbourg and other cities in Europe and don't understand why we refuse to live in a similar fashion.

Well it's another Monday here on the astroid belt somewhere north of the wasteland known as Toledo, OH. The weather, 34F and cloudy & damp is almost as warm and fuzzy as this weeks good news from JHK. In the backround the shit fountains on CNBC, FOXFN & Bloomberg are spuing their best drivel. Some heart felt hand wringing over the fate of Fed head, Wall Street Ben. Yepper, we just have to keep this good ol' boy in there. What would Wall Street do if they lost Ben ? God forbid that their yesman be replaced by a real banker, ya right ! We've trashed ourselves to save the very weasels who created all this worthless paper. Offshored our industrial base, and speculated the price of oil up to bleed out what was left and somehow it's the fault of the millions of Union workers whose good paying,economy blostering jobs where offshored. The minions of Glenn Beck, I believe we were called. Well for those out there who have no clue, try this. Look in the mirror and ask who's next ? We are going to win the Race to the Bottom ! Problem is, it's not NASCAR. It's LIFE ! The very core of our once decent standard of living has been taken without so much as anything more then a drunken grown or rant. When soberity comes a calling to the reminents of organized labor, those who dare to continue to piss on the legs of the workers better watch out. Some of them know the difference between rain and pee. Like my favorite lawyer Denny Crane sez: LOCK & LOAD !!!!!! Up to the north of me in what's refered to as the Motor Ciyt you can buy t-shirts proclaiming "Detroit ! Where the weak are killed and eaten !" Maybe so in the bleak future portrayed on this blog.

See you next week Jim.

IMHO -- mostly everyone is over-interpreting the Massachusetts election and, naturally, refracting it through their own prism.

Let's just start with an Occam's Razor approach -- the simplest explanation to fit the phenomenon.

Marthy Coakley didn't want the job bad enough, had a sense of entitlement, and didn't do the hard work of campaigning. She was disconnected from the voters and was arrogant. In other words, she was a crappy candidate.

Scott Brown, on the other hand, really wanted the job and did the hard work of campaigning. He connected with the people.

That is what wins (and loses) elections. As Tip O'Neill said "All politics is local."

The millions of words that have been laid over that simple fact of political life, trying to explain the results in broader terms, are just speculation and a way to enhance one's own agenda.

What filibusters? JHK falls for the propaganda again. The Republicans haven't actually filibustered yet. It is an elaborate charade, Kabuki theater, where the Democrats, who overwhelmingly control Wash, DC. use the Republicans to avoid actually doing what Americans elected them to do.

Let the Republicans filibuster! It's hard work, ask Mike Gravel. There is no way in hell that lazy, privileged, over-indulged Republicans will actually get up there for 24 hours a day and work.

It's a scam. Some Senator pretends to introduce a bill would actually help Americans, Republicans threaten a filibuster, Democrats swoon in pretended fear, and the bill is withdrawn.

Also, financial speculation is what capitalism does when productive investment is less profitable. Marx pointed this out long before the Federal Reserve, or Bernacke, or Glass-Steagall, or any of the other scapegoats we so happily chastise, decade after decade.

http://wagelaborer.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

We either quit thinking that we are slaves to our corporate gods, and must sacrifice to them so that they will provide us with jobs, or kiss our lives and ecosystems good-bye.

We live in a human manufactured system and we can remake it for the good of all, including the other beings on this planet. Or not.

As long as we persist in thinking that the social system is untouchable, we get people thinking that a big reform is banking regulation, and a big revolt is voting for a Republican!!

Almost spit out my coffee reading the dumb union bashing post by goodridge above. What planet is he living on? Oh sure lets all hope the ginormous corporations will now be able to compete on a level playing field! hahaha! They're the very ones that have got us into this sorry state along with the coma-induced public who have let the bought off politicians drive the country into such a cavernous ditch. Forget it if you think either of the corporate bought political parties are going to save us now bro. Anyway I'd place a better bet with the Unions and their supporters who have at least a history of fighting for decent wages and working conditions instead of shipping all industry offshore and paying their executives multi billion salaries.

It won't take but one second for corporations to pull out their private blackwater armies to keep the rabble from storming the gates when the shit does hit the fan.

My Net Net:
1950's to 2005 - increasing prosperity for most Americans
2005 to ? - decreasing prosperity for more and more Americans

the US economy can no longer be driven by consumer spending, asset bubbles, ponzi schemes or Financial capitalism which doesn't generate any real value for the rest of the economy.

Obama is Sawhili for Hindenburg, as in the German prseident who appointed Hitler chancellor. Might Obama bring Palin into a unity government?

You've hit another home run in your latest blog, JHK, but I have to take umbrage with your characterization of the GM and Chrysler bailouts as "just a way to avoid the recognition that Happy Motoring will soon be over." Living in the Detroit area, I can tell you that the loss of two of the former Big Three would have been a Hurricane-Katrina for the national economy. We will need all the manufacturing capacity and expertise America can muster in the years ahead if we are ever to get a revived passenger rail network off the ground. For all their managerial blundering, the domestic automakers have over 200 years of combined manufacturing experience, helped America win two world wars and can quickly retool their factories to make locomotives. GM might make bad cars, but from what I read they make world-class locomotives.

"Strict terms limits are part of the answer to break the professional politician class."
This has been tried for, what, twenty years now, and it hasn't helped. I'll tell you what would: No Political Ads On Television. After all, that's what the pols need the money for. The broadcasters will fight it...mainly by blacking-out any coverage of any discussion about it.

Obama is just a bald-faced liar and his so-called "policies" and "goals" nothing but an old, empty suit, instantly available to be nipped and tucked as the political winds dictate, then re-marketed to whichever damnfool customer happens to wander into the shop.

I see in Sunday's paper that he is "not backing down". So now, will someone give me an explanation of all the backing down he has already done?

And I see that he is "calling back" the team that got him elected. This does not explain why he sloughed them off when it became convenient to do so or why it is now convenient to have them around again.

Be careful folks and remember:

Once bitten, twice shy.

and

Fool me once, it's your fault;
Fool me again, it's my fault.

Do not trust this SOB and his minions any farther than you could throw them.

Jim: 2 things!

1...what no mention of WALMART/ SAMS jettisoning 11,000? 9% of sams workforce?

2...Haiti, papers say 150,000 already buried.
Newsweek used haiti to put Obama on the cover:
1.25.10 'WHY HAITI MATTERS'
...with horrific pictures of the dead, a dead child. horrible stuff.

YET TIME/ NEWSWEEK ETC SHOW NO PHOTOS OF THE DEAD IN THE 2 WARS THE USA IS FIGHTING AND LOSING.
clearly theres an agenda here.

I'm noticing that JHK is getting more and more succinct as the crash approaches. The same themes appear, because they DO bear repeating! Although no one is listening now, the denial will be crushed soon. (I'm predicting 'round about June/July the actual "general public" is going to find out the jig is up, and no amount of B.S. is going to cover up the fact of total institutional bankruptcy. The numbers for the 4th quarter 2009 will shamble forth this March, and then it'll take 3 or 4 months for "the folks" to finally lay down their false hope and face the awful truth. It's gonna take 3 or 4 months of privations for this to sink in. By then, those that have the resources and the "inside scoops" will have long made away with their ill-gotten gains... and left the rest of us to sink or swim.)

This part kinda gets the ol' snort-of-the-cynic:
"I hope our constitutional law professor president turns his attention to proposing a legislative act that will sharply reign in the putative "personhood" prerogatives of corporations." -JHK

Now hooooold on there Baba-looey: Mr. Obama was specifically installed to let these kind of things flow under the bridge, and give away the entirety of "the store" (the Treasury) to the sociopaths (then feign outrage after-the-fact). One can easily identify the villians by the campaign contributors listing. I was greatly puzzled why people thought he was going to do anything other then let the robberies continue apace. It has already been accomplished; it must run its' inevitable path of depraved destruction and self-immolation. There really isn't much to do but stand aside and get VERY local. Political activism, as well as charity, begins at home. Those in the swamp of the Potomac are gonna have to find out the hard way that their hubris and blather (I like that one too ;o) ) are no longer required by people who've got the survival of their children foremost on their minds.

Is this true? found it online:
OBAMA'S CZARS
Richard Holbrooke
AfghanistanCzar
Ultra liberal anti gun former Gov. of New Mexico. Pro Abortion and legal drug use. Dissolve the 2nd Amendment

Ed Montgomery
Auto recovery Czar
Black radical anti business activist. Affirmative Action and Job Preference for blacks. Univ of Maryland Business School Dean teaches US business has caused world poverty. ACORN board member. Communist DuBois Club member.

Jeffrey Crowley
AIDS Czar
Radical Homosexual.. A Gay Rights activist.. Believes in Gay Marriage and especially, a Special Status for homosexuals only, including complete free health care for gays.

Alan Bersin
Border Czar
The former failed superintendent of San Diego . Ultra Liberal friend of Hilary Clinton. Served as Border Czar under Janet Reno to keep borders open to illegals without interference from US

David J. Hayes
California Water Czar
Sr. Fellow of radical environmentalist group, Progress Policy. No training or experience in water management whatsoever.

Ron Bloom
Car Czar
Auto Union worker. Anti business & anti nuclear. Has worked hard to force US auto makers out of business. Sits on the Board of Chrysler which is now Auto Union owned. How did this happen?

Dennis Ross
Central Region Czar
Believes US policy has caused Mid East wars. Obama apologist to the world. Anti gun and completely pro abortion.

Lynn Rosenthal
Domestic Violence Czar
Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Vicious anti male feminist. Supported male castration. Imagine?

Gil Kerlikowske
Drug Czar
devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal, Former Chief of Police in Liberal Seattle. Believes no American should own a firearm. Supports legalization of all drugs

E conomicCzar
Head of Fed Reserve under Jimmy Carter when US economy nearly failed. Obama appointed head of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board which engineered the Obama economic disaster to US economy.. Member of anti business Progressive Policy organization

Carol Brower
Energy and Environment Czar
Political Radical Former head of EPA - known for anti-business activism. Strong anti-gun ownership.

Joshua DuBois
Faith Based Czar
Political Black activist-Degree in Black Nationalism. Anti gun ownership lobbyist.

Cameron Davis
Great LakesCzar
Chicago radical anti business environmentalist. Blames George Bush for Poisoning the water that minorities have to drink. No experience or training in water management. Former ACORN Board member (what does that tell us?)

Van Jones
Green Jobs Czar
(since resigned).. Black activist Member of American communist Party and San Francisco Communist Party who said Geo Bush caused the 911 attack and wanted Bush investigated by the World Court for war crimes. Black activist with strong anti-white views.

Daniel Fried
Guantanamo Closure Czar
Human Rights activist for Foreign Terrorists. Believes America has caused the war on terrorism. Believes terrorists have rights above and beyond Americans.

Nancy-Ann DeParle.
Health Czar
Former head of Medicare / Medicaid. Strong Health Care Rationing proponent. She is married to reporter for The New York Times.

"Obama is losing the confidence of the nation. His health care reform plan is a rat's nest of corruption and confusion. His handling of the wars against the Iraqis and the Afghans is a disgraceful mixture of claptrap and cupidity. And his treatment of the banks is one half publicity stunt and the other half relatively unimportant.

"Too bad. He seems like a likeable fellow. He just didn't realize that he came into the presidency on the downside of the credit cycle. Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly. And credit cycles gotta correct. That's why the stock market - at present - is unfinished business. It is a work in progress. A bear market began at the beginning of the '00s. It was held off by a final, reckless increase in cash and credit from the feds, following the pseudo recession of 2001. Then, after a spectacular bubble in the financial industry and in residential real estate, the bear market resumed in 2007. In 2009, stock prices reached a temporary bottom and bounced. And now the end stage for the bear market may be beginning.

"None of this is Obama's fault. He didn't create the credit bubble. And he can't be faulted for not fixing it. It's not a fixable thing; at least, not by politicians. Markets have to do their work. They have to take prices down to levels where it makes sense - considering the risk of loss - to buy assets again. They have to get rid of the mistakes. They need to punish stupid...arrogant...and imprudent investors. They need to move money from weak hands to strong ones. All of that takes time. Offering the market more phony money only blurs the picture...making the decisions more difficult.

"You can't really fault Mr. Obama for doing the silly things he has done, either. He's been too busy to think deeply about how an economy works. That's why he has advisors. Unfortunately, his financial team is made up of mostly jackasses, fools and opportunists - such as Larry Summers, Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner, not necessarily in that order."

from Bill Bonner

http://dailyreckoning.com/

Very few civil engineering departments in this country even offer a course in railroad engineering any more, and few consultants or contractors have rail experience. Only Amtrak employees have any experience in customer service for passenger rail. The plans for high speed rail in eleven corridors across the country will take decades to complete, even if we fully funded them. Add to that the need for new intercity bus service to link other cities to the routes, and the project scope really becomes Interstate 2.0. Even with these eleven corridors being built, huge gaps will exist in a very basic passenger rail network.

Meanwhile, air seat capacity is down 17 percent from the summer of 2007 and still dropping. Airlines continue to lose large amounts of cash while buying expensive hedges on future fuel costs.

Greyhound is the lone intercity bus transport service, and it has cut routes to the bone. Its service to a community of 50,000 may be a brief stop at a remote Interstate interchange, not a trip to the downtown of that city.

Eighty percent of all intercity travel is 500 miles or less. We can address that short-term with a more conventional rail and bus system by making strategic upgrades to rail corridors and implementing "managed lanes" (toll, HOV, or other restrictions) on urban Interstates to make the most strategic use of our highway capacity.

What I don't see is a will to do it at the legislative or administrative level of our political class.

"an economy of awesome stringency"

One of the best uses of the word "awesome" that I have ever seen. And it sent a chill down my spine.

@Desertrat
Re: "We priced our labor out of international competitiveness for our products. It was only natural that we "exported jobs". I see no way back except via lower wages."

Agree heartily; I call it IW3E(Invevitable World-Wide Wage Equilibrium).

Although here's a guy who thinks otherwise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYuLjGQQ-jg (Jeff Rubin on oil and the end of globalization).

He assumes that we will relocalize and that we will somehow find a more equitable allocation of the income generated by local (range of "local"ness) production, such that our wages don't have to plummet to the level of the average Chinese slave. Of course, for that to be possible, we'd have to assume the thieves of Wall Street will not exist in that future...
He comes from Wall Street, by the way.

Lots of stories out there say IW3E is coming; for example:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold-union25-2010jan25,0,97945,full.story

I had heard about that ruling on my local public radio. I then was polled about it on face book after say I didn't believe it was a good idea. I commented that this country is soon going to find itself in the throes of a revolution. It is unfortunate that the Constitution has just become another piece of paper at the Library of Congress.

My only concern now is will I be able to catch a flight out of this country when the sh*t hits the fan....

Well, if you don't get out now, chances are you wont make it latter when an airline ticket is $10k or something like that. At some point soon, air travel will only be for the rich.

So get out while the going is good, and still affordable.

I did.

Some Random Thoughts-
I just saw a survey(CNN Money) of the highest paying firms in the country. Six out of the top ten were law firms. They create alot of value in the economy and society--not.

What is the background of most of our so called leaders in DC? Lawyers--They create alot value there too--not

Total liabilities of US taxpayers
65 trillion dollars. The Emperor has no clothes...
Why don't the idiots have the balls to just say, we have to stop spending money we don't have.

We need very strict term limits -- for lobbyists -- as in getting them the hell out of Washington.

Setting term limits on members of Congress would be a disaster -- as would the "throw them all out" approach.

The corporations would love nothing better than to have 535 greenhorn members of Congress trying to figure out where the bathrooms are -- being steamrollered by 14,000 well-heeled and well-financed lobbyists who know exactly how the system works.

It would be like shooting fish in a barrel -- or Colin Farrell trying to pick up girls at a freshman mixer.

Until we get corporate money out of politics, nothing is going to change.

Even the phony Teabagger organization is a corporatist front. it is run by stealth corporatists and populated by useful idiots who think they are in a grassroots organization. They are participating in their own destruction.

As if future energy supply wasn't murkey enough, we now know that the Chinese are trying to corner the global oil market with long term contracts. Its got our State Department worried. Supposedly China's economy is growing in the 8-10% range annually. At that rate it won't be long before they suck up any spare capacity. And if or when, the global economy does recover, the price of oil will go through the roof, killing the recovery. As Jim has repeatedly stated, downsizing is our only option, and it's better if we do it, rather than have it forced on us, which it will.

High speed trains?
For who?
The masses that can hardly afford the rent now and put food on the table?
The disappearing middle class?
For the rich minority,which will be severely culled once TSHTF ?
I can only see one justification for high speed rail.
That is to get the 20 million or so breeding hordes of illegal aliens out of here,pronto,including Asshoka.

Obama unveils plans to help the middleclass--
pay their bills, save for retirement,care for their kids and aging parents...Are they in touch with reality at all. Where is the money coming from Barack, America is bankrupt now... Do people actual beleive this.. We are turning into a pus-y society. Take care of me, ohhh they will....

Obama, is not going to save us from our stupidity. I voted for him, thinking he was different, he’s not. I'm a progressive, a liberal, and a Dem. Dem's over the past decades have done far more for this country (before they sold out to big money, like the Repubs), then Repubs, including those people who call themselves Independents. Now that the corporations have taken over this country (actually it started with Reagan), no President can make the kind of changes we need in the country. The only way for change to occur in this country is by the people, and for this country to collapse – maybe that will wake of the brain dead in this country. Because, quite frankly, most Americans despite the fact were in a Depression, are quite happy. I guess the revolution will take awhile to assemble, because we’re so happy. Where is the outrage? In the streets of this country. Screw the Blogs / Internet! - meaning stop typing, and take it to the streets! Until that happens, nothing will change.

Jim:

I have no argument with your analysis of just how bad things have become nor with your contention that the entire American way of life is unsustainable. We are about to hit a brick wall.

We have to get the hell out of suburbia, shrink our hypertrophic metroplexes, re-activate our small towns and small cities, reorganize the way we grow our food, phase out the big box retail (and phase in the rehabilitated Main Streets), start making some of our own household goods, and hook up the far-flung reaches of this continental nation with a public transit system probably in the form of railroads.

Yes indeed! If only we could turn the clock back 150 years to a time when the United States was largely a virgin frontier with a population of around 30 million people.

The larger underlying reality is that the United States... has got to contract, downscale...

The problem with your idealistic scenario is that it does not explain how to dispose of the superfluous 300 million people who currently inhabit the country. Unfortunately, a solution to this problem will soon manifest itself and it won't be pleasant.

Wednesday is State of The Union night. Everyone gather around the old tooby and listen as Mr. O gives a rebel rousing talk about how he's going to fix this and fix that. We'll all be feeling good and excited. The Dem's will sit and clap and act all giddy like a bunch of school children about to get milk and cookies. The Repub's will sit with their nose's turned up, not clapping, maybe even a hoot or two, waiting for someone call recess so they can outside and play.

It all makes for good TV, but we all know nothing will come of it. It just makes you sick to watch our elected leaders.

God I Love our Government!

10,000 Trees:
who was planting them? hows this possible?

Every time I read one of Jim's articles, two things happen. First, I learn how limited my vocabulary is. Second, I get an irresistible urge to buy some stock of several of the international oil companies (Examples being: BP [Don't you just love the way they changed their name from 'British Petroleum' to the sanitized 'BP', Beyond Petroleum, what a bunch of crap.], Royal Dutch Shell, or Eni S.p.A.[Keep your fingers crossed that Eni can stay in Venezuela, because the heavy oil in the Orinoco oil sands is worth trillions. And Chavez can't keep the electricity on!]) that are now paying over 5% dividend yields. That is sweet, while you wait for peak oil. Spread your risk among several companies in case something blows up and kills a big bunch of people, or they get nationalized in a country where they have a lot of investments. That oil stuff ain't cheap!
Google Finance their stock prices and see what the stock prices did when oil was selling for only $147 a barrel in 2008. I say, 'only $147' because, do you think those 1,300,000,000 Chinese might be using more oil in the future? And the 1,000,000,000 Indians? They may just drive the oil price up a little in the next five years. Or will they let us have it all, and stay on their bikes in the rain and snow?
Just FYI, I don't own, or sell any stocks. Never invest in anything without doing your own study. A huge amount of information can be found on the Internet on sites like Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance. Never rely on only company sites. Scam artists are everywhere. And, although oil stocks can (and do) go down in value, you won't lose your money UNLESS you sell them at a lower share price than you bought them, or the oil company goes bankrupt.
If any of the large, multi-national private oil companies goes bankrupt within the next few years, the world ecomomy will probably be in a state of total collapse. Finding something to eat will then be your big problem. You can't even trade gold coins for food that doesn't exist. And what do you need to grow and move food? For quite a while, we will need oil. I wouldn't be at all shocked, if Jim didn't own some. (Sorry, Jim) Draft animals are in short supply, and will be for a few more decades.
If any of my fellow Jim readers get really rich, remember to give some of it to charity.

Thanks for mentioning Kate McGarrigle Jim. She was a treasure. The story of how their career began is as unique as they are. Anna wrote Heart Like A Wheel and they preformed it in small venues in the Northeast. Somehow it came to the attention of Linda Ronstadt who decided to record it.

The session pianist had problems with the song so they flew Kate to LA for the session. But Kate couldn't get it quite right either. The producer asked her what the problem was. Kate said, "It's not my song; Anna wrote it." So it being an LA production they flew Anna down. The production team heard their harmonies; saw them perform together and immediately signed them to their first album.

One last thing. They never became celebrity singers and could have produced more had they been driven to do so. They wanted a fuller life with family, privacy and friends and they got it. Kate died too young but lived well and authentically.

Leonard Cohen knew it:

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows

And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast

And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody Knows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27HRNm_r4U

A couple links to Gary Hart's blog:

The End of Big Government

and

The Shrinking

If you've read those, you're probably wondering if JHK is ghost-writing for him... or if TS is about to HTF.

Sorry, that second one should have been The Shrinking State... though anyone who clicked on it probably knows that by now.

High speed rail to interconnect American cities? I've ridden High speed rail in Europe and Japan, and it was great! When you arrive, there are public transport connections to take you any place you want to go, usually timed to leave 5 minutes after your train arrives. And urban public transport to take you to your destination within the city. But think about the proposed 3C rail linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland -- once I arrive by rail to any of these, what next? I'd have to rent a car to leave the station. Who ARE the genius who are thinking this up? Are they crazy, stupid or crazy like a fox? This couldn't be more backward! We need viable urban public transport first!!! Think new SUBWAYS!!! Happy dreaming. Although there's money to wage wars and pay banks and lawyers, there's no money for subways... OK, i'm taking my medication and I'll calm down in a minute.

Jim,

Awesome. Simply awesome. Now I can't wait for The State of the Union Address! It's gonna be GRRRRRREAT!

- TOTN

I forget when but, many years ago, the SCoUS ordained that corporations have the same rights as a "natural born person", surely one of the most bizarre concepts to slither across a legal bench. Thus they may sue for slander/defamation and injury and now they have the right to free (hardly free when one thinks how much they'll be paying) speech.
Goodnight amerika.

The world of smaller, fewer, and closer is coming. Is the model New Orleans in September 2005, or something less precipitous and violent? Is the soundtrack by the McGarrigle sisters or neonazi heavy-metal head-bashers?

Note to not mommy: you make your case better here without the distraction of rock throwing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chairmen_of_the_Federal_Reserve

"Has there ever been a non-Jew at the head of the Federal Reserve?"
=====================

Not sure I see the connection between my comment and your reply to it.

Well - I guess JK and crew have solved the world's problems again. Whooh! And its only Tuesday!

I've often attempted to steer discussion of our Clusterfuck toward theory rather than get bogged down in specific details that may or may not actually reflect behaviors that benefit or denigrate the collective human condition. It hasn't worked yet - although at least I've obtained the status of an ignorant pompous bore among some of you.

And for the umpteenth time – here again, some reminders of what's wrong with the world.

Point #1 - People generally respond well to comfort and wealth. This is why our government officials seldom act with the common welfare or any sort of "logic" as their decision making metrics.

If we can't remove wealth, comfort, and in some cases power away from influencing our elected officials governing process there is no point in claiming the "government" can fix or improve anything in the name of logic or the common welfare. So please, no more cracks about "government."

Point #2 - The single most critical issue facing the course of human events (and quality of life) in our lifetime is the continuing use of petroleum products. And the single most important discretionary aspect of petroleum consumption is the use of gasoline and diesel fuel for single-person passenger-vehicle transport.

The solutions are simple and impossible. Remove money from influencing public policy. Remove money from being the only deciding factor in discretionary petroleum consumption for single-passenger-vehicle use.

When these two problems are solved, perhaps humanity will buy enough time to realize the limits of all of Earth's resources.

Taking my cue from Derrick "we are sofucked" Jensen, there's this book review of James Hansen's Storms of my Grandchildren: the Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity over on Slate.

http://www.slate.com/id/2242201/

"the Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance "

I read it last fall, very compelling and credible, and yet i don't believe the humanity will do anything about it. We all live according to "Apres nous, le Deluge" which means who cares what happens after us. We fear the threats of today and tomorrow much more than the threats of 2030 and 2050, because the threats of today may make the threats of 2030 irrelevant. Yeah, myopia, but myopia is the constant companion of the human condition. We will not give up the comforts of today for tomorrow's survival.

Besides, we can't even all agree about what todays and tomorows threats are. Some here think its freemasons and jews and liberals and the government and capitalism (communism being an almost extinct failed experiment)... How's fishing over the North Pole, it's the next big thing, i'm booking my tour now :)

More Random Thoughts--
Practical Steps to being Self-Sufficient

Grow some vegetables & plant fruit trees
Build a cistern to catch water off your roof
Start your own small business that actually provides a useful products or service
Learn to fix things and build things
Get out of debt--don't waste your resources on bullshit stuff you don't really need.
Learn to use a firearm
Help your neighbor

If after finding pig manure(incriminating emails) in the holy of holies(global warming) and not being distressed about it i.e. discounting the whole obviously unscientific notion; I suppose one could easily also believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. Both are also equally taken on faith by small chidren and adult idiots. Also both have about as much scientific wherewithall as the global warming hoax. How could anyone with higher than room temp I.Q. believe something without any substaining proof i.e. numbers and method purporting thereby to have arrived at said conclusions? How can any theory be accepted without the legitimate proof of vigorous examination and debate? And,how can anyone deem this obviously money grubbing charade as scientific? Has the doyen and high priest of this faux religion, AlGore ever told the truth? Perhaps that is the most important question. Before we hurry off down the road to complete submission to the wishes of the Ubergangsters should't we demand and expect a full and complete open book on this. One that is open to the dissenting views of those who until such time are being considered as inconvenient cockroaches in the King's dogma marmalade. Go not easy into that dark reeducation cell!

BASIC DECENCY 101: Please, no name-calling.

He has interesting things to say when he chooses discussion instead of pointless insults..."

Pointless? When one claims that a home built will be dust within 20 years that deserves an insult. You claim that my insult is pointless is an insult. How dare you.

" The problem is that "groups of individuals" cannot compete with corporations and other extremely powerfull groups with vast wealth. "

Really? Well the lobby that got behind Scott Brown defeated one of the richest and most powerful machines in the country. Stick around pal, the meek are about to inherit the earth.

Cannot is a useless word. Epidemic in our society of cry babies.

"Are you for real?"

Yes, I'm real. A new home that will be dust in 20 years is an absurd lie. It is not an opinion. It is balderdash.

"What's the point of being here if congenial discourse isn't your goal?"

To bring the light of truth to so much of the fucktardedness that exists on this forum. What is your reason MORON, to get along? At any cost? Hey, there is a fortress on which to make a stand. (NOT!)

Swingtime Reports from Cabinet Members of the Obama Administration

http://www.whitehouse.gov/2010-Cabinet-Reports/?e=27&ref=text

Looks like somebody knows how to use the internet... which Al Gore helped develop with his support for DARPA.

Just a thought--

Is this global warming bs a way for the taxing gov't powers to get more of our hard earned income to save the world and line their pockets... Hum... What working Joe wouldn't want to pay to save the planet... Just a thought...

"Hum... What working Joe wouldn't want to pay to save the planet... "

None if it were possible but this crap and trade nonsense won't save the planet its just a scam for income redistribution. Nothing more...nothing less.

Hate those words income resistribution.
Pride, grace, and dignity of doing it for yourself is much better.
Keep the faith.

I channeled this from a seer named "disaffected" over the weekend. While I can't vouch for the accuracy, it sure makes you stop and think. Sorry for the lengthy post.

Future Shock 2018 – A Cautionary Tale

The final wave of U.S. financial shocks began in 2011, in the run up to the election that would signal the end of what remained of the Democratic “opposition” party, even as it foretold the end of the Republican ruling party, and, indeed, the Republic itself, as well. It began a nauseating descending spiral of political and economic lunacy, as the U.S. government tried to maintain the illusion of control by continued monetization of the debt, until, thankfully, the military coup of 2018 temporarily returned a small sense of order to things. At that point, with American military and Foreign Service people virtually stranded in overseas locations with no economic lifeline, the military simply stepped in and did what it does best; forcefully restore order to failing third world nation-states. After suspending the constitution and imposing martial law, the Chinese and a consortium of wealthy world interests came to the economic rescue and made us “an offer we couldn't refuse."

The Constitution, along with the House of Representatives (to much applause both at home and abroad, as neither had been functional for quite some time), were both scrapped in entirety. The executive branch was expanded to a become a 3-way “Executive Committee” presidency, one to be elected by the Senate, one to be appointed by the Chinese government, and one to be appointed by the consortium, with the Chinese member having ultimate decision making authority. The Senate was reduced to 50 members, appointed by a joint resolution of the Chinese and Consortium members of the Executive Committee, with the people no longer being trusted with the vote after the Palin fiascoes of 2012 and 2016. Senate parliamentary rules were also now decided by the Executive Committee, with the Senate being pretty much openly viewed as a ceremonial vestige of the once proud U.S. past. Although Senate votes were largely “advisory” with respect to the Executive Committee, the Chinese thought it important to maintain the illusion of a “democracy,” at least in the short term, even as most political insiders had long viewed the notion as quaint, even before the final collapse. The Judicial branch remained mostly intact, with the following seminal changes: all higher court rulings were now to be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee, all federal appointments were to be made by the Executive Committee and subject to review at any time, and the scope and authority of unilateral Executive Committee Orders were greatly expanded – without judicial review - as well.

All other government functions were streamlined across the board as well, with the elimination of nearly all the cabinet level administrative agencies – most notably the IRS and the State Department. A flat rate national sales tax was imposed in lieu of the income tax, as the previous tax system had been completely discredited as corrupt and inefficient, while the words “foreign policy” simply no longer existed within the bailiwick of what remained of the U.S. government, having been blamed for nearly all the ills that had brought the world to the brink of collapse, especially during the previous six years of the Palin administration. For her part, Palin remained as popular as ever in her continuing role as media pundit and demagogue, having largely abandoned her Presidential post after her 2016 reelection in favor of continued media stardom on the various enormously popular FOX News media outlets, which had gradually become the de facto media arm of the U.S. government in its waning days. Interestingly enough, many of the new Chinese regime found her to be extremely entertaining and not at all threatening, realizing that her effect on the masses was mostly palliative, and would help ease the pain and anguish that was likely to continue, especially for the now aging baby-boomers, many of whom still held on to delusions of “American exceptionalism,” during the difficult transition years ahead.

The military was sold off to a multi-national consortium, which had already absorbed Halliburton and its associated business interests, greatly expanded, and became the first truly global multi-national military enterprise in world history. Its scope was greatly expanded as well, now officially encompassing peacekeeping, nation-building, maritime patrolling, corrections (prisons), civilian law enforcement, private security services, and general governmental administration duties of all types as well. The nuclear arsenal was located, secured, and for the most part, disassembled for storage in what remained of the U.S. national laboratories. The Chinese wisely recognized a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk the world back from the nuclear precipice, and, with the help of a truly multi-national professional military service, convinced the rest of the nuclear powers to do the same. All were allowed to keep a token number of weapons at the ready just to demonstrate the capability, but without the U.S. nuclear elephant in the room, most were more than happy to get the nuclear monkey off their backs.

The benefits of a demilitarized U.S. continued from there. With the U.S. no longer whimsically and unilaterally flexing its military muscle across the globe, terrorist groups found themselves for the first time in nearly a century without a major oppressive power to resist, most notably in the middle-east oil producing regions. Israel, finding itself without its military ace in the hole for the first time in its history, was finally forced to sit down with the Palestinians and negotiate a just, meaningful, and lasting peace. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran all had similar stories to tell. After a small amount of localized blood letting, all settled back to a relatively peaceful status quo, at least as measured by their own unique historical standards. With Halliburton exercising a world-wide, truly multi-national military and police presence, terrorist groups soon found the going too tough for their liking. Local populations no longer gave them shelter in favor of an oppressive foreign occupier, as many of the faces in the local Halliburton forces were from the local population. As the number of terrorist incidents continued to fall, they began to once again be rightly treated as the local law enforcement problems that they in truth had always been. Finally, as Halliburton gradually became more and more respected as the world’s law enforcement arm and international disputes no longer dominating the daily news, the need for the United Nations began to wither, and it was formally disbanded shortly thereafter, officially acknowledging the new world order.

The Chinese voluntarily assumed, and even expanded, all US entitlement obligations, realizing that by doing so they were preventing the implosion of their symbiotic "trading partner", and essentially just indirectly subsidizing their own export industry. Payments were made in the new world currency, which had been officially adopted in 2015 in official recognizance (by world markets at least) that the dollar was now little more than worthless paper. In any case, the baby-boom “entitlement generation” would be gone soon enough anyway, after which such costly non-sense would be phased out for good.

In one of the first acts of the new government, the new executive branch officially repealed (and subsequently approved its repeal) all existing drug laws within the U.S., and freed all prisoners convicted under those laws. Surprisingly, this was an immediate boon to economic activity and overall law and order. Aging baby-boomers with new found wealth and leisure (but little else), re-explored the pleasures of various now legal opium based products of their youth. And with the war on drugs now officially history, Mexico to the south now found unimagined prosperity, unofficially becoming a US territory, as aging US boomers moved south to live out their remaining years in the sun, while many impoverished Mexicans simply joined up with Halliburton and left town altogether.

Terrorism, which had been an exponential growth industry during the twenty-teens, virtually dried up overnight world-wide. With opium and coca products now legal in the U.S. (which had always been far and away the world’s main consumer), prices immediately dropped, and narco-terrorists simply had no one left to terrorize or the means to do it. Although prices fell precipitously, they soon found an equilibrium that allowed farmers to make a decent living, and demand among the aging U.S. population skyrocketed to previously unimagined levels. Health care professionals and religious leaders had long predicted that legalization would lead to the end of society as we know it, but once again, reality proved to be another story, as once the stigma was removed from recreational drug use (especially among the elderly who were the prime consumers), the overall effects were judged to be no worse than alcohol legalization before it. Likewise the long standing DEA supply or demand argument was settled once and for all, as with the supply system now able to work efficiently, U.S. demand for narcotics almost immediately, albeit temporarily, exceeded world supply, keeping prices high enough for the now legal producers to make a comfortable living, although not so high that the criminal element could profitably return.

Although rising sea levels were to be a worldwide problem in the years shortly thereafter, the U.S. enjoyed the fact it was simply able to abandon so much of its already crumbling infrastructure (the day Wall Street officially went under was commemorated world wide with a multi-media extravaganza) without economic penalty, an area where China, with its newly constructed special economic zones along its coast, was not nearly so fortunate. This forced some localized crowding issues in the Midwest, but once again, the U.S. was very fortunate in that so many of its working class had joined Halliburton and moved overseas, many never to return, after experiencing the pleasures of often more enlightened foreign cultures.

This was eventually partially offset however, when the continued rise in sea levels forced mass evacuations of most of the world’s island nations. As the U.S. was rather sparsely populated in its western states (and was in no position to argue anyway), the lion’s share of the refugees were relocated to the U.S. and Mexico, under the rationale that the infrastructure and climatic conditions were at least as good or better than sub-Saharan Africa. Many were able to find work immediately, albeit torturous and for subsistence wages, in the burgeoning industrial agriculture industry. With the dissolution of the Environmental Protection Agency and world population numbers continuing to rise unabated, the Chinese abandoned any pretense of environmentally friendly/sustainable farming practices, as every drop of available water was diverted to farming the deserts west of central Nebraska. Eventually, even the mighty Mississippi ran nearly dry, and as the sediments stopped flowing to the delta, the gulf finally reclaimed New Orleans and most of the surrounding real estate south of I-10, this time for good.

Surprisingly, the few remaining universities (nearly all top-flight research institutions, most private) flourished more than ever. What remained of the U.S. tech industry quickly reinforced existing corporate partnerships and began attracting research dollars and foreign intellectual talent in unprecedented numbers, largely due to the complete dissolution of immigration restrictions (and the agencies to enforce them). Although it had long been feared that uncontrolled immigration would ruin the U.S. standard of living (ironically, something the U.S. had managed to do of its own accord), the Chinese maintained tight control over social services, even mandating that privately run hospitals turn away the indigent from emergency care if they couldn’t pay the freight. With the U.S. rapidly seeking its place economically with the rest of the third world anyway – at least among average blue/no collar workers – the immigration issue at long last simply faded away of its own accord.

In time, the U.S. assumed the role of a sort of quarantined multi-cultural free-trade zone, where many of the more insidious aspects of capitalism and free trade were exported from countries wanting to enjoy the economic benefits, but not wanting to suffer the social ills. As such, tourism and the associated gambling, professional sports, and entertainment industries boomed, with mini (as well as bigger and better!) Las Vegas’s and Atlantic City’s popping up all over the country and the population itself morphing into a much more diverse, albeit transient, and decidedly less affluent one than ever before. Although never again threatening to regain its status as a world power, the U.S. finally truly achieved its dream of becoming the “engine of world economic growth,” as every hair-brained (and not) scheme was first exported to and tried out in the relative safety of the “wild west cowboy U.S.”, before it was approved to be safely implemented elsewhere.

Boys and Girls we have to be our own leaders.
Don't let the flim flam few bastards fool you.
The best in the human spirit can't be squashed.
It's my day off... Usually, I don't have time to do this sort of thing:)

OBAMA BUYS INTO CONSERVATIVE BUDGET CUTTING HOGWASH

Obama's decision to implement a budget freeze cedes to the right-wing both the idea that blanket cuts are necessary and the notion that cuts should be focused on domestic programs while defense spending goes untouched.

And already, the right-wing is claiming the freeze as a victory, with the National Review's Jim Geraghty writing, "if the arguments in the coming years are between spending freezes and spending cuts, then we've already won.

OBAMA IS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, MORE BUSH THAN BUSH WAS.

On CFN anything and everything Obama does is criticized as Kabuki theater, so I am sure there will be an outcry over Obama's budget freeze on domestic entitlement programs. (except, of course, no freeze for DoD, not freeze for VA, and no freeze for anything military: more war, mo' better, right?)

Swingtime humor: Maxine on the economy:

* The economy is so bad, I got a ‘pre-declined’ credit card in the mail.

* The economy is so bad, if the bank returns your check marked “insufficient funds” you call and ask if they meant you or them.

* The economy is so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds, and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”

* The economy is so bad, Motel 6 won’t leave the light on anymore.

* The economy is so bad, a truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

* The economy is so bad, Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

* The economy is so bad, parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.

* The economy is so bad, McDonalds is selling the “Quarter-ouncer.”

* The economy is so bad, Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than Chrysler and GM.

* The economy is so bad, CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.

* Congress says they are looking deeper into the Bernie Madoff scandal. Well ain’t that just great. The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear.

Can you tell us more about your life in Costa Rica? What the conditions are, job possibilites, how the locals see Americans, and what you like about it the most.

Well, the conditions, weather wise, are great, not too hot (80's), not too cold (60's).
Cant get a job here until you have permanent residency, they seem to frown on extrajaneros taking jobs from local people. Unlike the US.
Locals see us as being rich, how else could we afford to live here & not work.
In 1949 they abolished the military, and now spend the money on universal health care and education. Seems to be working just fine. Wonder why we cant do the same? Oh, thats right, a Military+Industrial Complex. Didn't somebody warn us about that? Guess we didn't listen.
The food is fresh, anything imported is expensive, but we don't need it anyway.
WE are renting a 3 bedroom house for less than a studio apartment would cost in Nor CAl.
Wake up at 6am every morning because there are hundreds of G-D parrots in the trees outside our home. They are a bit loud.
The people are friendly and helpful.
Whats not to like? Oh, dont have a TV, dont miss it either.
Seems the US could learn from CR, but it won't, and will probably go down the tube taking a lot of good people with it, but since the US is like a huge leach on the face of the world, nobody will really miss it.
Its cervesa time.

ANTI-ACORN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

Bout time we had some law n order. ACORN is the target of a conservative witch hunt and has not engaged in a single instance of voter fraud.

The real "crime" ACORN is guilty of is empowering poor folk to vote through legitimate voter registration.

NEW ORLEANS — A conservative activist who posed as a pimp to target the community-organizing group ACORN and the son of a federal prosecutor were among four people arrested by the FBI and accused of trying to interfere with phones at Sen. Mary Landrieu's office.

An independent investigation of ACORN by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger found no criminal wrongdoing by the organization, and a report released by the Congressional Research Service shortly before Christmas 2009 says it couldn’t find any instances in which questionable people registered to vote by ACORN showed up at the polls on Election Day.

Let me say that again: not a single instance in which questionable people registered to vote by ACORN showed up at the polls on Election Day.

TRANSLATION: NO VOTER FRAUD

ACORN triple-checked, separated out, and flagged questionable registrations, before turning them in as required by law. You cannot legally destroy a voter registration form even if Donald Duck is on the form. By law you have to submit it. But ACORN did flag the ones they thought were bogus.

No voter fraud by ACORN. Not one instance.

What about crime by immigrants (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, etc.)? What about "el secuestro express"? Bars on your windows?

What about Costa Rica apartments listed in Craigslist for $2,000 (are they talking dollars or colones?) Can an apartment in San Jose really cost US$2,000 a month?
Asoka, yes, there is crime by those you mentioned. But have you been to those countries? A friends son went surfing in El Salvador, the place where he stayed (not a hi-end hotel) had guards with M-16s patrolling the grounds, and they were accompanied at all times. Kidnapping is big. By comparison, CR is much safer, but not totally crime free. Yes, we all have "ornamental" grates on the windows, and a metal gate on the door.
As for those $2000/mo apts, those are for tourists. If you want to live here long term, you can find much cheaper ones. If you have excellent Spanish, or know a Tico, you can get one just over the Tico price. We pay about $500 (C275,000).

Um, fresh fish and starfruit for dinner.
Bye.

Oh, Asoka:
More than 75% of Costa Rican electricity is produced via hydropower or wind power. These environmentally-friendly methods provide not only guilt-free power, but fair electricity prices. To make prices even more accessible, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE, pronounced ee-say) prices electricity on a sliding scale – the more you consume, the higher your per-KWh rate. Rates are also determined by time of day.

To keep consumption down, Costa Ricans and budget-conscious expats use on-demand water heaters, electric shower heads and low-consumption appliances. In addition, neither heat nor air conditioning is necessary in the Central Valley, which greatly helps to reduce electricity consumption.

Jim -

What a solid piece. Yes, the President is apparently a putz. I'm ready to admit it. I voted for the guy (was there any choice) and I expected something at least A LITTLE BETTER, but he seems to be no more a leader or a man than Scott Brown is. They are both creations of a media-soaked political class. I know from what I speak, because for quite some time I was working in that sector. Candidate marketing is no different (and not perceived as any different...) than the marketing of soap or douche, though it certainly shares more with the later.

Obama could get his train back on track if he gave the sack (love that Brit usage) to the Wall Street insiders, but I don't think it will happen. In fact, it may be a day late and a dollar short....

Since Obama is indeed just a "brand," he has done the one thing you can't do, and that's to make the consumer realize you're a lousy brand.....

WageLaborer,

Got ya. You're right, I'm wrong. My bad. Good posts. I'm a Harper's subscriber as well, I read the same article, and your points are well taken. Bubbles (of whatever sort) are in themselves a financial phenomenon of the new world order. One that (not surpisingly) belongs to the nouveau capitalist rich. Simply goes with the territory, as those without the means, simply don't have the means to contribute. Not hard to figure out really.

Mr K.

Sir, with all due respect; I do not share your neo-romantic view of the world to come. I am in the "Road Warrior" camp for the following reasons:

I am of the opinion that the "USA" will never return to a localized, main street type arrangement (with rail service) because this "country" has devolved into a completely different animal. Gone are the days of the yeoman farmer, artisan class and gentleman merchant. "We" have been so tyrannized by the petro-hegemoney that "our" entire culture is entirely distorted beyond any holistic form of redemption. "We" have regressed into a cute, flaccid, hollow mono-culture with none of the robustness left from the previous centuries.

"We" are a culture that quaintly thinks nothing of leaving giant piles of plastic garbage bags full of good compostable biomass at the curbside for equally giant diesel trucks to cart off 10 miles to a landfill for "disposal". "We" think nothing of climbing into a wallowing, fuel guzzling, Ford Execution and driving 10 miles for a pack of cigarettes and a coke.

"Our" children are sallow-skinned waifs who have never even seen a shovel much less know how to use one. I feel really sorry for them because everything they are being taught is for a world which will soon cease to exist. "They" will in no way be prepared for what is coming in the years ahead. "They" will learn the true value of things when "they" have to hump everything they use on foot for miles.

You mentioned the "corporation as psychopath" theme. If corpserations are psychopaths then "we"
don't factor into the plan at all. In fact, "we" will be just another "resource" to be mined, extracted, used-up and discarded. "They" have done such a good job on the North American continent and elsewhere around the world of extracting the wealth then leaving "us" fighting over the scraps. Soilent green anyone?

Personally, I think that this is the pinnacle for humanity; "our" apogee. Sad to see us trash such a beauty of a planet. "We" might have been able to have had more fun if we had stretched it out a bit more and not had such a propensity for wastefulness and greed.

Me? I hope I am in the first wave to "go" cause
I'm a spoiled petro-baby. I just couldn't imagine not having hot and cold running water, AC, supermarkets and a cute little car to zoom long distances in really, really fast. Effortlessly!

Greetings:

Jim, your play the big slide is still giving me bad dreams, thanks again for coming to good olde Rochester. BUT, I must disagree move out of the burbs? Where, just like the other posters,the inner city of Rochester is empty buildings, the inner neighborhoods lead us in crime. We can try to live a more connected life, grow more of our own food, community gardens,greenhouses,more bike mechanics,etc. If people could feed themselves, and have some heat during the winter(solar panels) we could keep the mad max world at bay. The Erie canal and lake have polluted fish,so we would still need imports by rail,but I fear the national parties have no reason or planning left in their ranks. I am asking my neighbors with empty lawns if I could plant nut, and fruit trees, and am encouraging the rest, but most people think that a Star Trek invention will save us,but we must try, whats that poem, rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Anyone invested in Toyota? My condolences if so. Does anyone know if the problem was confined to the US plants or if Japan was making the flawed cars as well?

Mr Kunstler is, I imagine, happy. This is a victory for Greens and Bicyclists and all those who hate the machine.

another useful blog. i liked how it also touched on, "big box" and walmart - these have done more to destroy our way of life and have dehumanized this country than just about anything. I truly, truly, hope Mr. Kunstler can please do more expository writing and essays explaining this horrible scurge on our country. the sad thing is that many leftists - those that should be most passionatly against these superstores in fact stick up for them with a "victim" mentality. for example, they say (esp union workers no less), "can't afford not to got to walmart." whine whine. so in other words others must sacrafice, pay more taxes, they can take from others but when it comes to their own sacrafice they just wont put themselves out - and then think you are a bad guy. ive learned not to talk about wal mark at parties b/c many just vehamently switch to "victim" mode. but this is the very cycle that perpetuates this maddness. help James!

The problem I see is mainly in the cost of a campaign to be elected.
When we talk about millions then we talk about big players.
Every president is nothing else than a puppet put there to be on the side of the ones who gave him the money.
As long as this system will go on you and we (European) cannot hope in a future where "everybody is represented" especially the ones who do not own millions.
We say "it always rains on the wet" and this will go on and on, as long as the system doesn’t change.
Obama is no exception.

Hi Bobby,
Golly gee, I wish I had your intellect. Your avoidance of the question of the purloined toxic emails puzzles me however. How could you confuse those twisted and obvious evasions of truth with any sort of real conclusion that carries any modicum of scientific weight and veracity at all?
Eat the government issued pablum as they slowly steal your liberty. As they trample the Constitution underfoot dismissing it as an archaic inconvenience. "Global warming" is a big lucrative power grab. Only one of the first in a well thought out progression of grabs that will lead to our diminishment to third world status, so that the Ubermenschen can have their one world government. Wake up! It's not ineptitude at the helm it's a purposeful destuction of the one last superpower, our country. I'm sorry I used the archaic term global warming. I suppose I'd want to change the name of my agenda too if it implied exactly the opposite. Keep a stiff upper lip and a flexible monicker I always say. And just one thing about your otherwise noteworty and well considered posts is your propensity to use invective against your opponent when all else is bullshit. Good luck with that $10 dollar gas and a roller skate disguised as a car. But, don't complain because the complience nazis don't like that from their subjects. And, oh yeah do take the blue pill. Don't go away mad..just go away.

Not mommy.
Now you want sex? Sorry, you're not my type. Let me guess: you're a pudgy lump living at your parents' house where you spend your days staring at a big, fifteen-inch screen to compensate for your small, two-inch penis. You have no marketable talent, and you wouldn't know which end of a garden tool to use if you were starving to death (which, by the way, you will be soon). You are road kill and you know it and you're taking your anger out on anyone in range. Go fart in another elevator, punk.

Hey,that was kind of fun. As pointless as sending a text message to a carp, but I must confess, it's cathartic. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this new medium.

Vlad, "What's wrong with Detroit"? I understand that you think the problem with Detroit is a very high concentration of Blacks. It would appear that the problems of Detroit are the effect of that, but I think it's something else: poverty, lack of education, and self-defeating culture.
When you look at middle-class black/hispanic neighborhoods, especially if there are many people with education/training, they are indistingishable from white neighborhoods. Middle-class black/brown/yellow people are NOT walking around looking for someone to mug, rob or murder, or a house to break into or a car to steal. When you look at poverty-stricken areas of white people, in the U.S. and other countries, you see the same problems as in Detroit: violence, hopelessness, family breakdown, etc. I'm NOT a multiculturalist or a liberal, I'm very partial to the Western Culture, but I don't buy your ideas of white superiority, we were very lucky to be formed as a people and a culture in the right piece of geography, Europe. My understanding of history tells me that geography is probably the biggest single factor that shaped history (who said "geography is destiny"?)

Regarding IQ and morality, I just don't buy the idea that higher IQ leads to more ethical behavior as you state, both from my personal experiences and from looking at history. The Kohlberg stages are relevant to individuals, not groups, I think.

And to answer your question, I do know a few jews, and they aren't much different from any other people I know, they range from assholes to nice guys, just like everyone else; some of them are Democrats, some Republicans, some independents, some of them despise Israel and its policies, some think Israel can do no wrong -- these guys are nutty.

It's tempting to believe conspiracy theories, otherwise you have to accept the irrationality and random stupidity of the people who rule us, not to mention greed and short-sightedness of the elites who come in all stripes ... just my opinion.

asoka-himself sez:

"Obama's decision to implement a budget freeze cedes to the right-wing both the idea that blanket cuts are necessary..."

Hey FUCKTARD do you even read your own posts? When you first jack-up spending 28% and then declare a freeze you have not made "blanket cuts." What you have done is locked in a 28% increase (over 2008 expenditures) for the next THREE FUCKING YEARS. You are dumber and less comprehending of all earthly activities (save flatulence) than a box of hammers. Now crawl back under you rock and STFU, MORON.

"Pretty much as I had already heard...great if you have a trust fund or are well invested but not practical for other people. How long does it take to become a citizen? And are there many jobs available, or in other words, how's their economy?

We are probably protecting them against their neighbors or homegrown communists. If we disarmed, who would protect us?

I can't help but wonder how safe Costa Rica will be for Americans if the world economy collapses. It takes a very long time and probably marriage to a local to overcome being a gringo.

I'd say enjoy it while you can but be ready to decamp back to Des Moines." Vlad the Inhaler

great if you have a trust fund or are well invested but not practical for other people...- Not true, sure, I cashed out my IRA to move here, still have some safe(?) investments back home, sold the house, but with the right planning, anyone can make it here. Don't have to become a citizen if you don't want to, keep US citizenship, takes about 3 years to get permanent residency tho, so one can LEGALLY work here, but there are plenty of 'jobs' under the table if one looks. For Cent America, the economy is one of the best.

As for protecting them from others, no, the US has a very small DEA presence here, but that is about it. They have seen the trouble we have caused in other countries by "protecting" them.

From what I know, I feel that CR will be pretty safe for us, vs countries to the north & south of here where we were involved in "protection".

Move to Des Moins, what the hell for? I'm from Nor Cal, if, for some reason I was forced to go back, it sure the hell wouldnt be Des Moins. Of course if I was forced to return, it would probably be to some Happy Fun Forced Labor camp, where not doubt you will be the Komandant.
See ya later, Kol. Klink.

Diogen recognizes compassion as the key. My limited disaster experience (flood of 1972, mass murder in the 1990s at a local office building) proves people are inclined to (1) collapse, (2) panic, or (3) offer aid and comfort. The third group emerges as leaders. Weakness withers, bluster fades, love endures.

"The real "crime" ACORN is guilty of is empowering poor folk to vote through legitimate voter registration."

All the "poor folk" need do (if they choose to) is to walk into the appropriate door and register. They don't need no stinkin' ACORN (twisting their fucking arms and telling them how to vote).

Recent Fraud

State Year Details
AR 1998 A contractor with ACORN-affiliated Project Vote was arrested for falsifying about 400 voter registration cards.
CO 2005 Two ex-ACORN employees were convicted in Denver of perjury for submitting false voter registrations.
2004 An ACORN employee admitted to forging signatures and registering three of her friends to vote 40 times.
CT 2008 The New York Post reported that ACORN submitted a voter registration card for a 7-year-old Bridgeport girl. Another 8,000 cards from the same city will be scrutinized for possible fraud.
FL 2009 In September, 11 ACORN workers were accused of forging voter registration applications in Miami-Dade County during the last election. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state attorney’s office scoured hundreds of suspicious applications provided by ACORN and found 197 of 260 contained personal ID information that did not match any living person.
2008 Election officials in Brevard County have given prosecutors more than 23 suspect registrations from ACORN. The state's Division of Elections is also investigating complaints in Orange and Broward Counties.
2004 A Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman said ACORN was “singled out” among suspected voter registration groups for a 2004 wage initiative because it was “the common thread” in the agency’s fraud investigations.
IN 2008 Election officials in Indiana have thrown out more than 4,000 ACORN-submitted voter registrations after finding they had identical handwriting and included the names of many deceased Indianans, and even the name of a fast food restaurant.
MI 2008 Clerks in Detroit found a "sizeable number of duplicate and fraudulent [voter] applications" from the Michigan branch of ACORN. Those applications have been turned over to the U.S. Attorney's office for investigation.
2004 The Detroit Free Press reported that “overzealous or unscrupulous campaign workers in several Michigan counties are under investigation for voter-registration fraud, suspected of attempting to register nonexistent people or forging applications for already-registered voters.” ACORN-affiliate Project Vote was one of two groups suspected of turning in the documents.
MO 2008 Nearly 400 ACORN-submitted registrations in Kansas City have been rejected due to duplication or fake information.
2007 Four ACORN employees were indicted in Kansas City for charges including identity theft and filing false registrations during the 2006 election.
2006 Eight ACORN employees in St. Louis were indicted on federal election fraud charges. Each of the eight faces up to five years in prison for forging signatures and submitting false information.
2003 Of 5,379 voter registration cards ACORN submitted in St. Louis, only 2,013 of those appeared to be valid. At least 1,000 are believed to be attempts to register voters illegally.
MN 2004 During a traffic stop, police found more than 300 voter registration cards in the trunk of a former ACORN employee, who had violated a legal requirements that registration cards be submitted to the Secretary of State within 10 days of being filled out and signed.
NC 2008 County elections officials have sent suspicious voter registration applications to the state Board of Elections. Many of the applications had similar or identical names, but with different addresses or dates of birth.
2004 North Carolina officials investigated ACORN for submitting fake voter registration cards.
NM 2008 Prosecutors are investigating more than 1,100 ACORN-submitted voter registration cards after a county clerk found them to be fraudulent. Many of the cards included duplicate names and slightly altered personal information.
2005 Four ACORN employees submitted as many as 3,000 potentially fraudulent signatures on the group’s Albuquerque ballot initiative. A local sheriff added: “It’s safe to say the forgery was widespread.”
2004 An ACORN employee registered a 13-year-old boy to vote. Citing this and other examples, New Mexico State Representative Joe Thompson stated that ACORN was “manufacturing voters” throughout New Mexico.
NV 2009 Nevada authorities indicted ACORN on 26 counts of voter registration fraud and 13 counts of illegally compensating canvassers. ACORN provided a bonus compensation program called “Blackjack” or “21+” for any canvasser who registered more than 20 voters per shift, which is illegal under Nevada law.
2008 Nevada state authorities raided ACORN's Las Vegas headquarters as part of a task force investigation of election fraud. Fraudulent registrations included players from the Dallas Cowboys.
OH 2008 ACORN activists gave Ohio residents cash and cigarettes in exchange for filling out voter registration card, according to the New York Post. Some voters claim to have registered dozens of times, and one man says he signed up on 72 cards.
2007 A man in Reynoldsburg was indicted on two felony counts of illegal voting and false registration, after being registered by ACORN to vote in two separate counties.
2004 A grand jury indicted a Columbus ACORN worker for submitting a false signature and false voter registration form. In Franklin County, two ACORN workers submitted what the director of the board of election supervisors called “blatantly false” forms. In Cuyahoga County, ACORN and its affiliate Project Vote submitted registration cards that had the highest rate of errors for any voter registration group.
PA 2009 Seven ACORN workers in the Pittsburgh area were indicted for submitting falsified voter registration forms. Six of the seven were also indicted for registering voters under an illegal quota system.
2008 State election officials have thrown out 57,435 voter registrations, the majority of which were submitted by ACORN. The registrations were thrown out after officials found "clearly fraudulent" signatures, vacant lots listed as addresses, and other signs of fraud.
2008 An ACORN employee in West Reading, PA, was sentenced to up to 23 months in prison for identity theft and tampering with records. A second ACORN worker pleaded not guilty to the same charges and is free on $10,000 bail.
2004 Reading’s Director of Elections received calls from numerous individuals complaining that ACORN employees deliberately put inaccurate information on their voter registration forms. The Berks County director of elections said voter fraud was “absolutely out of hand,” and added: “Not only do we have unintentional duplication of voter registration but we have blatant duplicate voter registrations.” The Berks County deputy director of elections added that ACORN was under investigation by the Department of Justice.
TX 2008 In Harris County, nearly 10,000 ACORN-submitted registrations were found to be invalid, including many with clearly fraudulent addresses or other personal information.
2008 ACORN turned in the voter registration form of David Young, who told reporters “The signature is not my signature. It’s not even close.” His social security number and date of birth were also incorrect.
VA 2005 In 2005, the Virginia State Board of Elections admonished Project Vote and ACORN for turning in a significant number of faulty voter registrations. An audit revealed that 83% of sampled registrations that were rejected for carrying false or questionable information were submitted by Project Vote. Many of these registrations carried social security numbers that exist for other people, listed non-existent or commercial addresses, or were for convicted felons in violation of state and federal election law.

In a letter to ACORN, the State Board of Elections reported that 56% of the voter registration applications ACORN turned in were ineligible. Further, a full 35% were not submitted in a timely manner, as required by law. The State Board of Elections also commented on what appeared to be evidence of intentional voter fraud. "Additionally,” they wrote, “information appears to have been altered on some applications where information given by the applicant in one color ink has been scratched through and re-entered in another color ink. Any alteration of a voter registration application is a Class 5 Felony in accordance with § 24.2-1009 of the Code of Virginia."
WA 2007 Three ACORN employees pleaded guilty, and four more were charged, in the worst case of voter registration fraud in Washington state history. More than 2,000 fraudulent voter registration cards were submitted by the group during a voter registration drive.
WI 2008 At least 33,000 ACORN-submitted registrations in Milwaukee have been called into question after it was found that the organizations had been using felons as registration workers, in violation of state election rules. Two people involved in the ongoing Wisconsin voter fraud investigation have been charged with felonies.
2004 The district attorney’s office investigated seven voter registration applications Project Vote employees filed in the names of people who said the group never contacted them. Former Project Vote employee Robert Marquise Blakely told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he had not met with any of the people whose voter registration applications he signed, “an apparent violation of state law,” according to the paper.

Lorenzen, explain how hundreds of millions of vehicles (never mind industry/other sources), each spewing about 20 lbs of carbon per mile (about 160M lbs/avg lifespan) has no impact on our relatively paper thin atmosphere? Are you even aware of the record fast meltdown going on in the polar regions, or the damage caused to the world's ecosystems? Do you read? Maybe you're invested in oil companies or own a new SUV.

The effects of climate change are transparent to anyone with a thinking brain, can breath, or knows anything about the outdoors. I might agree that worrying about it now is like calling 911 after the house burns down. It's probably too late to have any meaningful impact on what lies ahead. But even so, what harm can possibly come of investment in clean, green, renewable technologies that reduce our dependence on that powder keg known as the middle east?

Your drivel is meaningless; you're driven by conspiracy. You would fail miserably in a debate. Future generations will look back and realize the science was abundantly clear back when real action could have been taken, and will wonder why on earth it wasn't. And they will know it was those like you who stood in the way.

Not mommy,
I find you mildly amusing. My prodding was to see if there was a worthwhile intellect behind all the bluster. Thanks for clearing that up.

"My prodding was to see if there was a worthwhile intellect behind all the bluster."

Ah shucks, you mean I passed your test?

Kind of like being crowned prince on the planet FUCKTARD. No thanks, you can wear that crown.

Another book I recommend is "Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization " by Brownsworth. I'm reading it with morbid fascination at and a complete disbelief in the utter stupidity of the ruling elites that caused massive deaths, destruction, impoverishment, suffering of millions of peoples over the centuries (the biggest recurring folly by far -- the pursuit of conquest, sending TENS of THOUSANDS of men into battles where there was no other outcome than defeat, wholesale slaughter of one's own army and the inevitable fall from power and bankrupting of the treasury.) And what's most amazing? THEY NEVER LEARNED!!! How is it possible????? I think such power renders outherwise rational people into another species of irrational creatures (I'm only half-joking here). Examples are everywhere (the funniest one: Larry Craig -- how can someone with such lack of judgement be entrusted with governing us?)

"Berman's companies have run numerous media campaigns downplaying the dangers of obesity, smoking, mad cow disease and drunk driving, as well as criticizing the minimum wage."

And where is your proof of this? Please post some facts.

Furthermore if you travel to: http://RottenAcorn.com/ and click on the PDF in the upper corner box there is an extensive paper on ACORN's shenanigans. There are some 117 references listed at the end of the paper of various publications that were used as the sourcing of the paper. I welcome you to run all 117 of them down. Hurry up now asoka-your-pants, times a-wasting.

And finally, what is amusing is that the paper was written in 2006...3 years before ACORN's 2009 exposure hit the big time. ACORN's corrupt, deceptive b.s. runs long and deep...mmm...mmm...mmm!

And asoka, when you are criticizing for not sourcing information please remember to source you own information. Your paragraph:

"Berman's companies have run numerous media campaigns downplaying the dangers of obesity, smoking, mad cow disease and drunk driving, as well as criticizing the minimum wage."

was a direct lifting from wikipedia, you fucking MORON.

Mr.Obama is promising to solve Americans economic worries and become the transformative leader the sheep thought they were getting... I am holding my breath...

1. The country is bankrupt. No money except money we owe to others.
2. Heathcare is bullshit--we can't afford it.
I suggest eating well and excerise. Another scam to grap money for the working man.
3. The majority of American's can't handle the truth, so we get slick liars as leaders.
4. Our freedom isn't free.

Oh wow asoka-yourself. Here are some of the "radical" and "deceptive" things that Richard Berman is credited as having said from the article you referenced. I can't say I (or any non-bed wetting, resaonable person) can disagree with any of these statements. Nice try panty-waste.

"Some activists and academics want to "regulate food" to deal with obesity. "Even if you aren't worried about the implications for personal responsibility, it's easy to see that these proposals won't take a real bite out of our waistlines. You can eliminate supersizing and subsidize broccoli all day long, but if I can hit the all-you-can-eat buffet and then buy chocolate syrup for less than a dollar a pound on the way home, it won't make a lick of difference."

"Raising the minimum wage or forcing employers to pay increased health care benefits (equivalent to forcing them to raise wages) is counterproductive, inevitably leading to job displacement as employers scale back hours, cut jobs and turn to automation in order to maintain a profit margin." Among others, he cites the University of Georgia's Joseph Sabia, who says a 10% increase in the minimum wage is associated with about a 1% decline in both retail and small-business employment."

"Like most food scares before it (remember Alar?), mad cow fear seems to be slowly dying out. ... It seems like the public is finally catching on to the concept of risk, including the fact that the size of a threat is modified by its likelihood." He cites Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns' statement in April that mad cow is found in "less than one case per 1 million adult cattle."

"Unions are "of course free to organize as they will under law," but he says the "secret-ballot elections" that they are abandoning are "the only method for ensuring a fair outcome." Instead, unions are using "card checks, in which employees are urged (and frequently harassed) into signing a piece of paper declaring them to be in favor or unionization."

Asoaka-herself sez:

"Can you name one person who was improperly registered by ACORN who then attempted to vote at
the polls."

Fuck no, you IDIOT. I don't know anyone who would get within 10 feet of an ACORNIAN much less be registered by one but I'm certain you do.

Ooops. Here's a guy (?) that seems to fit asoka-himself's criteria:

"That's because a cross-dressing Ohio male escort whom ACORN registered multiple times to vote was convicted of full-fledged vote fraud in addition to the lesser crime of voter registration fraud. A spokesman for Cleveland prosecutor Bill Mason confirmed yesterday that a local investigation of ACORN remains wide open."

Story here:

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/10/08/the-nine-voting-lives-of-darne

And spending our way out is a sane solution to
financial health. According to Hank Paulson the financial world as we know it almost ended last year. The people in charge didn't see it coming.
Anybody can see if you owe trillions the pain is on the way. Make sure you plant lots of bananas, carambola, sweet potatoes, and take on few gaginas down in Costa Rica...

Talk about pissing away money we don't have.
Obama just decided to shovel one Billion dollars to Florida to build of all things a high speed rail from Tampa to Orlando,while AMTRACk rumbles around on track,that spills your coffee in the dining car.Some area around Jacksonville are so bad,they have to slow down to 25mph to prevent the train from jumping the rails.
This boondoggle has the support of our not very smart Governor and his cronies,who are more than happy to accommodate the moneylenders waiting in the wings.
What in the hell is wrong with these people?

Obama said he will try to repeal the "don't ask/don't tell" policy in the military. This will be an utter disaster as he would know if was a normal man. Some of the closest relationships heterosexual men will ever have is with the soldiers in their unit. Ideology and patriotism become abstractions compared to fighting beside their buddies and keeping them alive. To introduce homosexuality into this will ruin the heterosexual bonding which is so crucial to military life - and to society in general.

But hey, fine by me. America is finished and the sooner everyone knows, the better.

Twenty-six Percent of United States Citizens Are Denied Representation

Children represent 26% of the United States population. They participate in school and community activities and are responsible for over $170 billion a year in purchases. Despite this they are denied the right to vote or have meaningful representation in government.

Children can provide the adults with help... fixing the mess the adults have made.

The comments about deteriorating quality of products highlight an important sea change in American life. I worked at a huge company in the late 1970s and witnessed a shift from loyalty to every man for himself. We went from pride in doing the best work in the world to get what you can before the company sheds you like so much inventory. The language changed from "personnel" to "human resources," as people's lives became budget lines on the same level as nuts and bolts. Today, when you get your hands on a high-quality product it's and exception and you notice. Same goes for being treated well.

Some very interesting viewpoints here. Apologies to anyone offended by this newbie's brief foray into mud throwing. Lesson learned about virtual dead-ends.

Diogen,
Spot on. There are too many of us to do things well. I've recently spoken to school classrooms about career exploration. The kids are adrift in an anachronistic factory system and no one knows how to help them see a productive future. The game has changed and we don't seem to know how to play.

Is there a way to work smaller without sacking legions of people? That would take a leader who could say to stockholders that we are planning to reduce the return on your investment so we can reduce volumes and keep quality up without laying off workers. That exec would be gone in a heartbeat. Even smart pundits like Krugman talk about getting back to more of the same. Looking for that new model.

"The phrase is panty-waist."

Are you fucking crazy? I'll use whatever fucking phrase I wish. My phrase means that the panties are being wasted because a man is wearing them. Panties are meant for women, hence wasted on a man.