Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, U.S.

OWS, What Economic Recovery? Only 7% of people laid off in 2008 found equivilant paying new jobs, 33% have been downsized, no longer a white man’s world, some hope for getting a college degree

Rutgers’ Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has been following people who lost their jobs at the beginning of the Great Recession (2008-2010).  They found that the overwhelming majority have not recovered!

The ongoing study is called Categorizing the Unemployed by the Impact of the Recession.

They have five categories they ask people to describe their situation as: Made It Back. On Their Way Back. Downsized. Devastated. And Totally Wrecked.

After three years of job searching only 7% claim to have Made It Back.  23% say they’re On Their Way Back.  33% could only find jobs that forced them to be Downsized.  21% are Devastated, and 15% are Totally Wrecked.

Percentages don’t always give a good picture.  The study also gives you the number of people affected.  Made It Back: Up to 700,000 people.  On Their Way Back: Up to 2.3 million.  Downsized: Up to 3.4 million!  Devastated and Totally Wrecked combined: Up to 3.6 million!

The demographic composition (dc) of the study showed that the majority of people Devastated from their 2008 layoff, are people who do not have a college degree.

The dc of the study also showed that it’s no longer a “man’s world”, unless it refers to men being unemployed: 64% of men have been Devastated, compared to 34% of women. There was little difference in age groups being Devastated, between 20% to 30% range for most age groups.  And as far as ethnic groups being Devastated, 63% ‘white’ and 37% ‘other’ (a case of ‘the higher up you are the farther you have to fall’).

The study has other results, like 47% are still in poor financial shape, 58% suffered major economic impact, and 41% believe the economic changes are permanent.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Corporate Incompetence: Independent investigation into Olympus scandal over, major losses and cover ups

The independent commission investigating Olympus has submitted their report.  The optic company began losing money, and covering it up in 1998.

Losses totaled more than 100 billion yen (about U.S.$1 trillion by today’s exchange rate)!!!

Olympus accountants began covering up the losses after the Japanese government introduced stricter accounting rules.  The report also named Hideo Yamada and Hisami Mori as playing central roles in creating methods of transferring losses to overseas accounts.

From 2006 to 2008, Olympus conducted a series of corporate buyouts and raised 134.8 billion yen with the intention of making up for the losses. However the bookkeeping shell game is illegal.

Olympus has until December 14 to turn over their books to government auditors, or they will be de-listed from the Tokyo stock exchange.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Global Economic War: U.S. continues investigation into Chinese PV companies. Idaho’s Hoku silicon factory may be ended before it starts. City of Pocatello guilty of the same claims being made against Chinese government. U.S. is new battle ground between Chinese and European companies

The trade war between Chinese photovoltaic companies, and their supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals heats up as the U.S. International Trade Commission votes to continue the Department of Commerce investigation.

I say “supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals” because it turns out the gang leader is owned by a European corporation. Likewise, at least one supposed ‘U.S.’ polysilicon producer is owned by a Chinese corporation.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to render a judgment on January 19, 2012.  It could mean that actions will be taken to reduce photovoltaic (PV) products (solar power) coming into the U.S. from China.  China has responded by investigating polysilicon producers in the United States.  Polysilicon is used to make the solar power products.

Hawaii based Hoku International (owned by China’s Tianwei New Energy) announced they will be selling Chinese made photovoltaic modules through a subsidiary called Tianwei Solar USA.  Hoku is about to start up a polysilicon plant in Pocatello, Idaho.  Their silicon buyers are Chinese companies.

So Hoku is set up in a bad position; action by the U.S. government could hurt their new plans to sell Chinese PV products, and retaliation by the Chinese government could hurt their pending polysilicon orders.

But while looking into this mess, I discovered that what’s really going on is an economic war between China and the European Union, with the United States the battlefield.

The U.S. investigation was started by complaints from CASM (Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing).  The lead company in the complaint is SolarWorld Industries Americas.  Their U.S. base of operations is Oregon, but they’re actually a German corporation (SolarWorld) headquartered in Bonn.

CASM’s web site says six other companies operating in the U.S. have joined their organization, but they refuse to name the other members. They also have a interesting slogan (being that SolarWorld is a German company): “Solar technology was invented here [meaning the U.S.], and we intend to keep it here!”

CASM, through the U.S. Congress, recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama (sign by dozens of members of Congress), outlining what they call illegal trade practices by the Chinese government. Some of those practices were employed by the city of Pocatello, in trying to get Hoku to build its long delayed polysilicon factory in Idaho.

One of the claims is that “…cheap or free land from local or provincial governments; extensive tax breaks…”  This is exactly what the city of Pocatello did to win over Hoku.  The land was, in a round about way through huge property tax breaks (equaling the value of the land), given to Hoku.  Union Pacific Railway even got involved.

Union Pacific is going to be the main transporter of the finished polysilicon products.  Recently it was discovered, by Idaho officials, that in the rush (ironic ’cause it’s years behind schedule) to build the factory, that Hoku forgot to build the required double access roads!  Currently the only access to the factory is at the end of a dead end residential street (it was the residents, tired of the traffic jambs, that brought the issue up with officials)!!!  Hoku worked some magic with Union Pacific, who’s agreed to build the access roads.

By the way, one of the individuals credited with bringing Hoku to Pocatello, Gynii Gilliam, is now working at the state level as Idaho’s chief economic development officer.

So, the Europeans (specifically Germans, through CASM) are using the U.S. to launch an economic war with Chinese PV makers, but the charges they’re making against local governments in China are also applicable to local governments in the U.S.!  The pot calling the kettle black.  Unfortunately many ‘mericans (‘specially those working for Hoku, and other polysilicon producers) could actually end up losing their jobs if CASM is successful.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC WAR: CHINESE OWNED HOKU ABOUT TO START OPERATIONS IN IDAHO. WILL U.S. INVESTIGATION INTO CHINESE SOLAR PRODUCTS PUT THE BRAKES ON HOKU’S OPERATIONS?

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology, U.S.

What Econmic Recovery? Fox cuts ties with Idaho TV station, ends local newscasts, Merry Xmas!

Southwestern Idaho’s KRTV, channel 12, is no longer a Fox affiliate, and it has ended its Boise area news coverage.

“In the spring of 2011, the Fox Television Network and Block Communications parted company. Although we did offer to sign a new affiliation agreement with Fox for KTRV, they chose to move the affiliation to another station.  A network affiliate requires a different business model than does an independent station.  As a result a reduction in staff is taking place this week.”-Bill Lamb, Block Communications

General manager of KRTV, Rick Joseph, said “We have some exceptional people here who put forth a terrific and honorable effort every day.  But the new business model we find ourselves having to adopt does not include news.”

Employee layoffs began December 5.

Merry Xmas!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Arabian country, Qatar, attacks Russian Ambassador, U.S. involved

“The U.S. is probably playing its diplomatic angle to put pressure on Qatar to wield its power in the Arab League in a way it is beneficial to the Anglo-American interests.”-James Corbett, independent journalist

Russian Ambassador to Qatar, Vladimir Titorenko, was attacked by Qatari customs officers at the Doha International Airport on November 29. He was returning from a trip to Jordan. Russia is suspending relations with Qatar, after their demands for an explanation were ignored.

Ambassador Titorenko told Russian media, from a hospital, that he was hoping it was due to incompetence (just like our wonderful TSA).

Interestingly, the attack came the same day Russian officials accused Qatar of violating international law by wantonly shipping weapons to Libyan rebels, despite a UN arms embargo: “We know how the arms embargo was applied in Libya. It was used only in respect of the Libyan army, while the opposition got their arms. France and Qatar publicly spoke of such shipments. There were also open mentions of the work of special forces from several European countries. Having adopted the UN Security Council resolution banning the supply of arms, some nations, in fact, boasted that they were in breach of it. We will treat the call for an embargo on arms supplies to Syria in light of the Libya experience, and the behavior of some of our partners. Right now, the most important thing is to stop acting by means of ultimatums and try to move toward political dialogue.”–Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia

Qatar is also doing the same thing in Syria.  Ambassador Titorenko was in Jordan trying to get support for a Russian diplomatic plan to stop any attacks by the U.S. and European countries against Syria.

Pro-U.S. Qatar is the current head of the Arab League. Qatar has received at least U.S.$70 billion in investments from the United States (while our economy goes down the toilet).

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Postal Service cuts officially (almost) done deal, will “move forward” with austerity measures, Merry Xmas!

As promised, the U.S. Postal Service made its dreaded announcement on December 5.  The USPS filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to “move forward” with austerity measures that will not only cut back service, but eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“We’re in a deep financial crisis today because we have a business model that’s tied to the past [ie Congress]. We are expected to operate like a business, but don’t have the flexibility to do so [because of rules created by Congress]. Our business model is fundamentally inflexible [no thanks to Congress]. It prevents the postal service from solving its problems.”-Patrick Donahoe, U.S. Postmaster General, November 2011

The plan, supported by the Obama Administration, calls for cutting U.S.$20 billion from operating costs by 2015.  That means closing 252 processing facilities, closing 3,700 post offices, and eliminating 100,000 jobs!!!

The processing centers will be closed by spring 2012.  Job losses just from the closing of processing centers could hit 28,000! Expect delays in getting your mail.

This after the U.S. Congress decided to ‘delay’ any action on their part until after next year’s Presidential elections.  The move guarantees the demise of the USPS, because President Barack Obama set the default date for the Postal Service as December 16, 2010.

In a PBS interview, both the Postmaster General, and the President of the Letter Carrier’s Union said it wasn’t really about lack of business, in fact the Postmaster General said package volume was still good.  It was all about the U.S. Congress ripping off the non-taxpayer funded Postal Service: “The Postal Service actually has somewhere between $50 billion and $125 billion in their other funds that is not taxpayer money. They haven’t used a dime of taxpayer money in over 30 years! And the Congress just needs to act responsibly and quickly to give them access to that — those funds.”- Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers

Rolando pointed out that the job losses will go beyond the USPS. It will affect all the companies the USPS contracts with, like FedEx, Siemens, Northrop-Grumman, Pat Salmon & Sons and Campbell-Ewald, to name a few.

Rolando, in the PBS interview, predicted that millions of jobs will eventually be lost because of what’s happening to the USPS!

Merry Xmas Mr. Scrooge, and God bless us, everyone!

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Fluoridated water blamed for Dumbing Down Americans and causing chronic unexplained pain, blame the nuclear and pharmaceutical industry

“We have been suffering from various diseases for consuming water with fluoride content. We are desperately in need of pure drinking water.”-residents of Jagalur, India

Yet another study proves that fluoridated water makes you stupid, and can cause a life time of pain!

The latest study was conducted in India, and just published in the Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences.

Rats were used, and the results were neurodegenerative and morphological alterations in the neocortex, hippocampus and cerebellum areas of the brain, and in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve.

Neurodegenerative is the progressive loss of neurons, and “morphological alterations” basically means physical mutations.

Researchers say the negative affects with intelligence and pain take place before physical mutations appear: “High levels of fluoride in drinking water (1-12 parts per million) affect central nervous system directly without first causing the physical deformities of skeletal fluorosis.”-K. Pratap Reddy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

This is not the first study to say fluoride is bad for you.  Over the decades dozens and dozens of studies across the world have resulted in the same conclusion.  According to the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), there are now 25 studies showing that fluoride makes you stupid.

Studies have also shown a link between arthritis pain, back pain, joint and muscle pains. The research in India was motivated after people in a village named Jagalur, were found to be suffering from all kinds of diseases and chronic conditions. Investigations blamed the fluoridated water.

It’s not just Jagalur.  Joint pains, teeth problems, muscular pains, stomach pain and headaches are common among people in Gollaratti, Rajnatti, Gidnatti, Bullolli, Machikere, Marajanmatti, Kechhanahalli, Devikere, Chadaragolla, Gowripura, Kyasanahalli and many other villages who’s water has fluoride in it.

However, the problem in India comes from naturally occurring fluoride in their well water.  Here in the United States local and state governments purposely add fluoride to the water.

It turns out that currently, only the English speaking countries add fluoride to public drinking water.  In the book The Fluoride Deception, author Christopher Bryson revealed how the push for fluoride use in the U.S. is directly related to the U.S. nuclear program and the pharmaceutical industry.

It turns out there have been many anti-fluoride lawsuits against local municipalities in the United States, however most have not been successful.

Now lets see, English speaking countries are the only ones that intentionally add fluoride to the drinking water, and there’s been a huge increase in chronic pain, and the use of pain killers, among the people of those English speaking countries. Also, there’s been a huge decrease in the overall level of intelligence, no matter how much taxpayer money has been thrown at education programs. And, have you also noticed that the political, business, social and religious leaders of those English speaking countries seem to be making decisions that are more and more irrational? Mmmm, could it be something in the water?

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Government Incompetence in the United Police States of America: TSA bullies strip search 85 year old, ban pregnant woman with studded purse!

“I was on the phone all the way to Orlando trying to figure out what was going on with her. It was terrifying. I don’t ever want to go through it again.”-Tami Gibbs, mother of TSA victim

Despite promises of improved, and more respectable security screenings, the Transportation  Security Administration continues to behave like a bully.  In one case they forced an 85 year old woman to strip, and banned a pregnant 17 year old from boarding the plane because of the design on her her purse!

“It’s my style. It’s camouflage. It has an old western gun on it…She was like, ‘This is a federal offense because it’s in the shape of a gun.’ I’m like, ‘But it’s a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'”-Vanessa Gibbs, banned because of purse design

Gibbs says she was told by TSA officials, in Norfolk, Virginia, she could not get on the plane with her studded purse, because it also has the image of a revolver.  They claim a federal law says you can not have anything that represents weapons on an airliner. In Gibbs’ case the TSA officials called her purse a ‘replica weapon’!  Doesn’t that violate our right to Freedom of Expression?

In another recent case, 85 year old Lenore Zimmerman said she was called a terrorist: “I walk with a walker. I really look like a terrorist. I am tiny. I weigh 110 pounds, 107 without clothes, and I am strip searched.”

The strip search took place at the JFK airport.  Zimmerman says they forced her to strip search because she refused to go through scanners with her defibrillator.

She says she asked to be patted down instead, but the TSA officer refused.  During the search her walker hit her leg and caused bleeding. Medics were called.

TSA officials are flat denying they strip searched her: “While we regret that the passenger feels she had an unpleasant screening experience, TSA does not include strip searches as part of our security protocols and one was not conducted in this case.”

It’s interesting that the TSA makes that claim because it seems to be a common offense reported by TSA victims.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Russian Elections: The return of the Red Menace? Violence during elections

The U.S. media has reported that Vladimir Putin’s political party is losing support in the latest Russian elections (although still in power).  But which party is gaining support?  Why it’s the old school communist party from the days of the Soviet Union.

The most recent check of Russian media polling results showed Putin’s United Russia party in the lead with 49.54% of the votes.  The next highest party is the Communist party with 19.16% of the vote.  But does it really matter?

In Moscow, more than 300 people protested the elections, saying they were not fair because all the political parties involved were not true ‘opposition’ parties.  Things got violent, with police arresting at least 100 people.

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Postal Service forced to close hundreds of processing centers and thousands of post offices, Merry Xmas!

On December 5, the U.S. Postmaster General will announce detailed austerity cuts for the USPS.  This after the U.S. Congress decided to ‘delay’ any action on their part until after next year’s Presidential elections.  The move guarantees the demise of the USPS, because President Barack Obama set the default date for the Postal Service as December 16, 2010.

It’s expected that part of Monday’s announcement will include the closing of 250 processing centers across the U.S., as well as 3,700 post offices!  It could also mean the end of Saturday delivery. The austerity cuts would begin in the spring of 2012.  It’s a sure thing that mail service will be much slower as a result.

By the way, don’t think this is going to save taxpayers money, it wont. The Postal Service operates on money that comes from you and me buying postal products, not taxes!