Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Wall Street deliberately “Crashes the System” to control the government

“Anytime Obama tries to put forward a policy to reform the system, or to do something for increasing wages, Wall Street crashes the sytem.”-Max Kaiser, former stock broker

Ever wonder why the stock markets suddenly drop, for no apparent reason, or for very weak reasons?  Max Kaiser, a former stock broker, says it’s a sign that the United States is being manipulated by corporate America.

The reason that Wall Street wants to control the government, and the Federal Reserve, is to keep interest rates near zero, so corporations, and big speculators, can keep borrowing on the cheap.

“The cost for borrowing for hedge funds and players on Wall Street is actually negative 2% when you factor in all the subsidies, and give aways that the Obama administration has given the banking industry.”-Max Kaiser

If Kaiser is correct, then it means that corporate America is making money just by borrowing money.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Week of Action, Californians protesting bad jobs and budget cuts

“We are in the middle of a recession. We need to get out of the recession by moving forward with good jobs, not poverty jobs.”-Mike Chavez, Labor Expert

California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S.; 12.3% as of March 2011.  In Los Angeles County it’s 12.6%.

State workers are facing benefits cuts up to 30%.  This week Californians are protesting the bad economy, and the state and local budget cuts, in a Week of Action.

“This is the 21st century, we need to go forward, not backward.”-protester

U.S.

On average, 18 U.S. veterans kill themselves everyday

“No more veterans should be compelled to agonize or parish while the government fails to perform its obligations.”-Stephen Reinhardt, Federal Judge

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to get its rear in gear.  It has been revealed in court that the VA is dragging its feet on helping military veterans with mental problems.

On average it takes four years for a veteran to get help with mental issues.  For vets who’re suicidal it takes two weeks before their first mental health appointment.

For years now the Department of Defense has reported on the record number of suicides of active duty personnel, and veterans.  Apparently the VA can’t deal with it.

 

International, U.S.

Lack of Death Drugs Forcing executioners to use drugs for animals and epileptics

“We oppose the death penalty in all cases and are clear that British drugs should not be used to carry out lethal injections.”-Vince Cable, British Business Secretary

Mississippi has joined the growing list of U.S. states forced to use drugs used to put down animals, to execute prisoners.  Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina have also begun using pentobarbitol.

The United Kingdom has already banned drugs sent to the U.S. for lethal injections.  Germany is pushing the European Union to do the same: “We have to make sure that no drugs from Germany or the EU will be used to carry out executions.”-Markus Loening, German Human Rights Commissioner

U.S. prisons can’t get their usual death drug, thiopentol sodium, because the only U.S. maker of the drug stopped making it in January.

Amnesty International says the only countries using lethal injections are China and the United States.

But prisons could also see a shortage of pentobarbitol, because the only FDA approved maker of it, Lundbeck, has publicly denounced its use for lethal injection in humans: “Lundbeck does not condone the use of [pentobarbitol] or any other product for capital punishment.”

Lundbeck officials say they have already sent letters of complaint to the states that are now using their drug to kill prisoners.  Lundbeck will now look at ways to blockade access to their drug by prisons.

 

International, U.S.

Japan tells U.S. get your Marines out of Okinawa

“There is no change in our policy to carry out the Japan/U.S. accord steadily.”-Yukio Edano, Chief Cabinet Secretary

On May 12, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, said Japan will stick to the plan.  This after U.S. Congressman reneged on a promise to move a USMC base on Okinawa.

For decades the people of Okinawa have wanted the removal of the Futenma Air Station.  One of the reasons has been the crimes, including rape, committed by U.S. Marines and sailors.  In 2006 the U.S. and Japan signed an agreement to move the air station.

One option was to merge the Marine Corps Air Station with the USAF Kadena base, also on Okinawa.  But even that plan is being questioned by U.S. Congressman.  The main issue is money, apparently the United States doesn’t have enough money to move an air base.

International, U.S.

A Clue that U.S. plans on staying in Iraq & Afghanistan: Romania

On May 11, the President of Romania got a visit from USAF General Duncan J. McNabb.  Was it because the Romanian government agreed to let the United States base a “missile shield system” in their country?  No, it was because, in a quietly done deal, Romania agreed to be used as a transit point for troops and supplies going to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two bases shall be used for the “multi-mobile” operations.  General McNabb thanked President Traian Basecue for the agreement.

President Basecue hinted at U.S. money for Romania: “I am thanking you for the attention granted to Romania’s infrastructure.”

If the U.S. is supposed to leave Iraq at the end of 2011, and then Afghanistan in 2012 (as originally stated), then why do they need to establish new “multi-mobile” (quoting Gen. McNabb) bases to support operations in those countries?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

China gets to open factory in United States

Days after the U.S. and China signed an agreement to promise to work together, a Chinese company announces they will spend $161 million building an aluminum plant in the U.S.

Shandong Nanshan Aluminum company will open an extrusion plant in Lafayette, Indiana.  If there are no complications with the deal, they hope to start building the plant next year.  It could employ 150 people, and produce 40,000 tons of aluminum per year.

International, U.S.

Iraqi officials say again, U.S. get out

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, said the United State needs to get its troops out of Iraq by the agreed date of December 2011.

Zebari denied that the Iraqi government was working with the U.S. to keep troops past the 2011 deadline.  Recently Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maiki said that the only way U.S. troops could stay is if the U.S. and Iraq agreed to a new withdrawal date.

Also recently, Russian and Iraqi officials announce deals that include military equipment.  Iraq might be trading one military super power for another, getting a better deal from the Russians.

Opinion, U.S.

Facebook wants exemption from U.S. election laws

Facebook officials are asking the Federal Election Commission to exempt them from U.S. election law.  The law Facebook doesn’t like; disclosing who paid for political advertising on their website.

Facebook’s arguments are really weak.  In a written explanation, Facebook says by disclosing who paid for the ad, it would make the ad bigger, and they don’t want bigger ads.  Also, Facebook tried to compare their political ads to things like bumper stickers and t-shirts.

How much bigger would the ad be, when it includes the name of who paid for it?  Also, comparing bumper stickers and t-shirts to paid political ads is comparing apples to oranges.  One is given away, or even sold, to supporters, the other is a paid advertisement.

What is the real reason Facebook doesn’t want to disclose who pays for political ads on their website?