All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Business/Economics, International

Global Economic Class War: China now has property tax, on the rich

For those of you who think things are the same all over the world, think again.

Until the beginning of this year China did not have property tax.  Now two regions/states have instituted property tax, officially it’s to try and curb inflation, and real estate speculation.

In Chongqing and Shanghai, a property tax has been imposed on high end real estate.  The lowest price at which taxes are charged is for properties that sell for 9,941 yuan ($1,554) per square meter.

In Chongqing, the tax applies to existing residential properties, while in Shanghai it falls only on properties that were purchased after its adoption date.

The new taxes are due in October, and those who fail to pay will be subject to fines, restrictions on their ability to go abroad, or exposure in the media.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Venezuela points out hypocrisy of U.S. led NATO war on Libya, proof the UN is controlled by the U.S.

“Right now there is a very serious threat to global peace: a new cycle of colonial wars, which started in Libya, with the sinister goal of refreshing the capitalist global system, within a structural crisis today, but without any limit to its consumer and destructive voracity.”-Nicolas Maduro Moros, Foreign Minister of Venezuela

Moros says the war in Libya was pushed by the mainstream media: “The logic of war having its spearhead in transnational mass media: let us bear in mind that the ‘Libyan Case’ was brought before the Security Council on the basis of intense propaganda by the western mass media, who lied about the alleged bombing of innocent civilians by the Libyan Air Force, not to mention the grotesque media setting of the Green Square of Tripoli.”

Moros points out that the so called no fly zone was anything but: “It’s worth wondering: what has the no-fly zone established by Security Council resolution become? How could NATO perform more than 20,000 missions against Libyan people if there was a no-fly zone? After the Libyan Air Force was completely annihilated, the continued ‘humanitarian’ bombing shows that the west, through NATO, intends to impose their interests in North Africa, turning Libya into a colonial protectorate.”

Moros points out that NATO violated the arms embargo they were supposed to be enforcing: “How can we say that an arms embargo was imposed on Libya, when it was NATO itself that introduced thousands of heavy weapons to support a violent upheaval against that country’s legitimate government? The embargo was, of course, meant to prevent the Libyan government from defending its sovereignty. This shows, once again, the cruel logic of international relations, where the law only applies to the weak.”

Moros warns that the United Nations is a puppet of Europe and the United States, and that will be the UN’s undoing: “If its secretary-general, along with the president of the International Criminal Court, take part in an act of war, as in the case of Libya, nothing can be expected from the current structure of this organization and there is no longer time for reforms: the UN does not accept any reform whatsoever, the illness within it is deadly.”

Business/Economics, U.S.

Rage against the System: U.S. Postal Workers finally standing up, protesting U.S. Congress created postal crisis!

I stated in earlier postings that the U.S. Congress is behind the USPS crisis!  Now postal workers, risking job loss, are protesting the actions of Congress in destroying the Postal Service.

Recently, PBS Newshour’s interviewed U.S. postmaster general, Patrick Donahoe, and Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.  They both pointed out that the U.S. Congress is holding back on money earned by the USPS, and that was a primary reason the Postal Service is in trouble.

Also, U.S. Congressman, and the main stream media, continue the false notion that the USPS gets money from taxpayers, and therefore cutting the USPS would help the government’s budget cuts.  Many citizens still believe that the USPS is paid by tax money!

The United States Postal Service does not make money off taxpayers, they are solely funded by the postage they charge (prices are controlled by U.S. Congress, not the USPS), and other products they sell.  The cuts being made to the USPS will have no affect on U.S. government debt!

Now members of all five unions representing postal workers will go on strike, violating their contracts (to be safe the postal unions are not calling them strikes, they’re calling them “rallies”).  Why violate their contracts? Why not?  It’s become obvious that the U.S. Congress wants to shut them down anyway!

Congress is demanding that USPS make another $5.5 billion in payments to Congress (supposedly to meet required Federal benefits).  But this is what’s causing the problems.  Last year Congress overcharged the USPS, then refused to give a refund!

One union official says the U.S. Congress has actually overcharged the USPS to the equivalent of 75 years worth of Federal retirement plan contributions.  This leads me to believe the Congress is using the non-taxpayer Postal Service funds to pay for running a broke government!

 

 

Business/Economics

Proof the Elites are Money Hoarders, or Financial Idiots, not Trickle Downers: Prince Charles made no donations to charity for the past 2 years!

The Daily Telegraph (aka Telegraph) reports that even though evil British Prince Charles made more than 4 million pounds (U.S.$6.3 million) from his A G Carrick company, he has donated zero to charity!

A G Carrick (a pseudonym for Prince Charles) sells artwork created by the the Prince, and his web site claims that they donate profits to charity.

Clarence House, spokesman for the Prince admitted “no charitable donations were made in the year”.  House went on to trip over his own statements regarding the profits of the company: “A profit of £25,590 was made by A G Carrick and dispersed to charity.” Forty-five minutes later, House changed the statement to “No profit was made and therefore the accounts do not show a dispersion of profit to charity.” Then House confirmed “The profit was used to cover A G Carrick’s loss from the previous financial year as is standard procedure.”

Can you say; lies, lies and more lies?

The Telegraph article goes on to explain that most of the money goes to pay employees of the Prince, who’re involved with selling his paintings. It also says that financial statements from A G Carrick show the company is 1 million pounds (U.S.$1.6 million) in debt, and that debt is being passed on to the future King of England!  So either they’re lying, or even elites are idiots when it comes to financial management!


 

 

International, U.S.

United Police Kingdom: British military documentary justifies killing unarmed civilians

“The fact that British soldiers are reduced to watching what are effectively snuff movies shows the complete failure of the project in Afghanistan. It’s nothing to do with democracy, but a failure of war that is trickling down and resulting in a mental degradation among ground troops. Afghanistan is a dreadful situation and it is no better than it was a decade ago.”-Andrew Burgin, Stop the War Coalition

Burgin is talking about a documentary that’s being shown to British troops, called Kill TV nights, part of a three part series called Fighting on the Frontline.  Officially it’s meant to desensitize troops, but it also justifies killing civilians.

In one scene a commander is actually warning peers not to mention any of the possible war crimes they’ve just committed: “This is not for discussion with anybody else; keep it quiet about what you see up here. It’s not because we’ve done anything wrong. But we might have done.”

In another scene an Afghan woman is targeted, and you can hear the helicopter pilots call her “snake with tits”.

A voice in the documentary sums up the attitude of the evil British Red Coat military: “I have absolutely no dramas with it. None at all. I don’t really care whether they think it’s a fair fight.”

I wounder if this will be the same attitude used against the people of the United Kingdom, when the protests really get going?

 

 

 

International

Proof that Israel intends to take over Palestine: More than One Thousand new illegal settlements announced

The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, has denounced Israel’s announcement that they will build an additional 1,100 illegal homes in Palestinian territory.  That’s on top of the already thousands of new settlements started since the beginning of the year!

The EU said Israel’s Zionist settler agenda undermines any attempt at peace.  Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, described Israel’s latest settler plan as “1,100 No’s” to any resumption of Israel-Palestine talks.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Japan to help bailout Greece, it’s an effort to save the Japanese car industry

September 27, Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi, said Japan is ready to help Greece, possibly by buying more Greek government bonds.

However, Japan is a little cash strapped itself and is hoping the Europeans do something quick, to turn around the collapsing European economy. The reason; Japan’s car industry is relying on a European, as well as U.S., economic recovery.

Chairman Toshiyuki Shiga, of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said that the falling value of the Euro, and the U.S. dollar, is driving up the value of the Japanese yen, which is making Japanese cars to expensive to sell.

Most of Japan’s national income is made by selling products to other countries (exports), and since the March 11 disasters the yen has been going up in value causing huge drops in demand for Japanese products.

Japan is hoping to see the Euro and U.S. dollar go up in value, which would make Japanese products more affordable on the world market.

Business/Economics, Fukushima

Government Incompetence: Japanese officials decide to check beer & wine for radiation!

27 September 2011, Japan’s National Tax Agency has just now realized that all alcoholic drinks coming from the Fukushima area are probably contaminated with radiation.  Even so, testing on beer, wine/sake will not take place until next month!

Mandatory testing will be done at all beverage factories within 150 km (93 miles) of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.  Random testing will take place at factories outside the 150 kilometer radius.

Along with the national government, six major cities, including Tokyo, will test water meant for use in making beer and wine.

Rice and barely, used in beer and sake, have already tested positive for cesium contamination.

International, U.S.

Ron Paul says let Palestine be recognized, but Palestinians should beware the United Nations

“…I do not believe the U.S. should use its position in the UN Security Council to block their membership.”-Ron Paul, U.S. Congressman from Texas

Ron Paul has written a new post in his Texas Straight Talk, saying the United States should not block Palestine from being recognized by the United Nations.

Ron Paul says anyone who’s afraid of the Palestinians finally getting internationally recognized statehood is a weak minded elitist: “Only a political class harboring the illusion it can run the world obsesses over the aspirations of a tiny population on a tiny piece of land thousands of miles away.”

But don’t think Ron Paul is pro United Nations, in fact he has a warning for Palestinians about reliance on the UN: “When the UN gave NATO the green light to bomb Libya there was no genocide taking place.  It was a purely preventative war.  The result?  Thousands dead, a destroyed country, and extremely dubious new leaders.”

International

United Police Kingdom: New law; no more demonstrations, period

“It is an attack on the basic democratic rights of working people in this country.”-Patrick O’Regan, Workers’ Revolutionary Party

The British government has created a new law, under the guise of stopping militant right wing groups from demonstrating: No demonstrating.

Officially the law is in effect for only 30 days, and was requested by Scotland Yard.  The police feared the militant right wing demonstrators would cause violence.

The problem is the law applies to everyone, not just militant groups.  Anyone marching can be arrested, fined, or even imprisoned.

Activists say the new law covers more than demonstrating: “They are talking about area curfews, they are talking about shutting down Facebook [and other] social network sites. They are talking about dictatorial civil war measures because what they are doing in Britain is creating a historic change, in which inevitably the majority of Britain will oppose them.”-Patrick O’Regan, Workers’ Revolutionary Party

Other activists say this is part of the government’s tippy toeing towards total authoritarianism: “Just in terms of where we are at the moment with the process of austerity being pushed through by the government, trade unions are one of the major blocs opposed to that. Public order legislation does tend to be used against striking workers.  That has been very clear and there have been some recent examples of that; people being pulled off the picket lines.  And that obviously weakens any resistance to the cuts.”-Richard Seymour, Socialist Workers Party