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.
International, U.S.

Proof Syrian “freedom movement” is anything but: third mass grave found with bodies of Syrian soldiers

On June 20, and for the third time, a mass grave was found which held the bodies of Syrian soldiers.  This does not sound like something “peaceful protestors” would do.

This latest mass grave had 29 Syrian soldiers, who had been decapitated, and showed signs of torture.

Earlier this month two mass graves were found, containing the bodies of at least 80 Syrian policemen.

The graves are being found near a town called Jisr al-Shughour,  near the Turkish border.  Turkey is a member of NATO and has recently agreed to allow an increase of NATO troops in Turkey.

To me, this sounds like the Turkish government is encouraging Kurdish separatists to go on the war path against the Syrian government, to help “Western” plans to destabilize and overthrow the Syrian government.  Of course, U.S. media goes on and says it’s “protestors”.   There are legitimate protestors, but peaceful protestors don’t go around as trained paramilitaries killing government forces, then burying them in mass graves.

International, U.S.

Iraq and Afghan war vets suffer from lung problems, military doctors back it up

A New York Times report says as many as 80,000 U.S. war vets suffer from lung problems like asthma and bronchitis.

The report says the problems began while ‘in theater’ (while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan), but have continued since returning home.

Causes could be anything from dust storms to toxic chemicals being used on U.S. military bases.  U.S. military medical personnel are calling for an investigation: “I’m concerned that this exposure is not getting the serious review it needs.”-Captain Mark Lyles, Center for Naval Warfare Studies in Newport, Rhode Island.

International, U.S.

The U.S. created four million Iraqi orphans & one million widows, so far

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Women’s Affairs, by 2008 there were one million Iraqi widows, no thanks to the United States.

Their report also blames the more than two million Iraqi deaths on the United States.  On top of that, as of 2008 there were four million children orphaned by the U.S. occupation.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry released a report that says as of 2008, more than 800,000 Iraqis had been disappeared.

There is still more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq.  They were supposed to leave at the end of 2011, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been working hard to convince the Iraqi government to allow the U.S. forces to stay.

 

 

Fukushima, U.S.

Government & Corporate Incompetence: U.S. Nuclear Reactors disasters waiting to happen

The Associated Press spent a year going over government documents concerning the safety of U.S. nuke plants; the conclusion is that a disaster of epic proportions is very likely.

The reason is that U.S. officials, like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, have been relaxing safety standards just so the aging nuclear reactors could be re-licensed.  In other words, what the AP found was that if today’s U.S. nuclear reactors were required to meet 1970s safety standards, most would fail.  The most common problem at the nuclear plants are leaking valves.

Recently, one Senator from Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, tried to say the U.S. nuclear industry had a record of safe operations.  However, the NRC, even with it’s relaxed safety standards, has filed more than 200 safety alerts since 2005.  In 2008 the NRC admitted that 70% of potentially dangerous situations resulted from relaxing of standards in order to get the plants re-licensed.

Another surprising find, the Associated Press noted that not a single serious investigation into the safety of nuclear plants has been officially undertaken, not even by the NRC.  It appears what government, and the nuke industry corporations have been doing, is trying to find ways to re-license reactors without meeting safety standards!

Here’s the modus operandi of U.S. government, and the corporations running the nuke plants:  Old parts fail causing accidents, or jeopardizing re-licensing.  Instead of ‘coming up to compliance’, corporations work with government agencies to ‘dumb down’ existing safety regulations.

Another revelation: Most U.S. nuclear plants were supposed to be replaced with brand new plants, once their original 40 year licenses expired.  That never happened.

What’s the motivation behind the scandal?  Billions and billions of dollars being made by providing almost 20% of the United State’s electricity, using outdated and cheaply maintained nuke plants.

There is so much more in the AP report.  Everyone living near nuclear reactors in the United States should make plans to get away.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Who the Government works for: Supreme Court screws 1.5 million Walmart employees

The United States Supreme Court stopped a class action lawsuit against Walmart.  A sexual discrimination claim could have affected 1.5 million employees.

In a 5 to 4 ruling the Supreme Court ruled there was not enough evidence to proceed with a lawsuit.  Originally Walmart was faced with thousands of smaller lawsuits, but lower courts agreed to merge the claims into one big class action lawsuit.

The main evidence of discrimination against women is the fact that 70% of Walmart hourly paid employees are women, yet less than 1/3 of salaried management positions are held by women.

Justice Ruth Ginsburg offered encouragement to the plaintiffs: “Walmart’s delegation of discretion over pay and promotions is a policy uniform throughout all stores…” and that plaintiffs should work to provide overwhelming proof of such.

Early reports said the Supreme Court voted against the lawsuit because chances were good Walmart would lose, and it would cost Walmart tens of millions in settlements.  Walmart has a track record of losing lawsuits, not just in the United States, but around the world.

In the words of Telly Savalis: “Who loves ya baby?”  It’s not your government that’s for sure.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho’s May employment performance, by sector

Payrolls for Idaho’s manufacturing sector remain stuck at 1991 levels, for the 6th month in a row.

Total construction employment for May was at 1994 levels.

Idaho’s business services sector remained constant, for the third year in a row.

The health care sector created jobs in May, but at only half the pace of the past five years.

The retail sector actually added jobs, surprising some Idaho analysts.

Employment agencies also added jobs.

Overall, most sectors are stuck in 1990s employment/payroll levels.

Source: Idaho Department of Labor

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho’s Unemployment rate goes down, but not because of job creation

The Idaho Department of Labor reported a slight drop in Idaho’s unemployment, now at 9.4%, but they also reported a drop in job creation.

The Department of Labor says seasonal hiring for May was below normal levels, and that job creation was weak.  So why the drop in the unemployment rate?  Officials say it’s due to workers retiring, workers dieing, and unemployed people who have stopped looking for work!

Idaho labor officials say that so far 2011 is lagging behind 2010, when it comes to job creation.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Idaho can’t make Medicaid payments, yet 102 state employees get bonuses!

June 20, Idaho announced that they can’t make Medicaid payments, yet last week they announced bonuses for 102 government workers!

Example: Legislative Services Director Jeff Youtz, paid himself, and his staff, bonuses equal to $94,633.  The total amount of bonuses paid to agencies of the State of Idaho came to $227,003.

Idaho House Speaker Lawrence Denney said it was necessary to “…retain qualified and experienced staff.”

Idaho House Majority Leader Mike Moyle thinks otherwise: “…with the budgetary concerns we’re dealing with, I don’t think it was wise or prudent.”

Moyle is correct.  Consider that the government of Idaho has laid off 517 employees since 2009, and has suspended Medicaid payments, twice now, along with drastic cuts in education and other services (called “austerity” cuts).  Bonuses for government workers are not what the taxpayers want to see.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho Stops Medicaid payments

June 20, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says they’re out of money for Medicaid.

As a result, Medicaid payments to Idaho hospitals will be suspended for at least one week.  Those payments would have come to $13 million.  Officials will announce, by the end of the week, if payments will be delayed for another week.

This isn’t the first time Idaho stopped Medicaid payments to hospitals.  In 2010 they suspended nine weeks of payments.  Health and Welfare officials say that for some reason the majority of payment claims always come in when state Medicaid funds are at their lowest point.

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Greece threatens default if they don’t get second bailout, EU Finance Ministers say domino effect if Greece defaults

“If Greece was to be the first country to default, eyes would turn to other countries such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, maybe Belgium but also France, given its deficit and debt levels. We don’t know where the contagion would stop.”-Didier Reynders, Belgian Finance Minister

After the European Union announced they would hold back the second bailout loan for Greece, because they want Greece to make more spending cuts, Greece said pay up or we will default on the first loan.

Greece is supposed to make their first payment, on the first bailout, in July.  Greek officials say they need the second bailout before then, or they won’t be able to make the first payment.  Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, also warned of a “violent bankruptcy”.

The Belgian Finance Minister, Didier Reynders says there is evidence that the Greeks presented false economic statements prior to getting the first bailout loan.  This is one of many reasons the EU is now holding back on the second loan.