Tag Archives: taxes

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho Governor finally admits economy sucks, tax revenues continue to crash, not enough jobs

“This recent string of sub-par showings has raised concerns whether the sales tax will be able to recover enough to meet its targets during the important holiday shopping season.”-Derek Santos, Chief Economist for Idaho

After years of being ‘optimistic’ in his rhetoric regarding the local economy, Idaho’s Butch Otter is finally sounding more realistic: “…for both fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 to be years of limited growth that will require us to be very selective in the authorization of new general fund spending.”-Clement Leroy ‘Butch’ Otter, Governor of Idaho

If times were bad when he was being optimistic, what’s really gonna happen now?

The reason why Governor Otter is turning down his optimism is that month after month State tax revenues have been much lower than hoped for.  November was no different.  Derek Santos, Idaho’s Chief Economist, says November 2011’s tax returns were 4.1% lower than November 2010.  And last year’s tax returns were down as well.

In fact, sales tax revenues for the first half of fiscal 2012 are already $19 million below what was hoped for!  Income taxes are $6.7 million below expectations!

Idaho’s fiscal 2012 year runs from July 2011 to June 2012.

Economic analysts hope that Idaho will end fiscal 2012 with a surplus of $130 million.  But realize that the State has run through $395 million in reserves since 2009!  Now add to that the fact that analysts also expect tax revenues to continue to drop.  One report said that State leaders did not have a “plan B” for when they run out of surplus money.

The only way that tax revenues will go back up is if a lot of good paying jobs are created. I guess that would be part of any “plan B” that our exalted leaders have failed to come up with.

 

Fukushima, International

Japan Modern Day Atlantis round 4: Minamisanriku, hometown of Heroine Miki Endo is becoming the Atlantis I predicted

Video

On March 11, a massive tsunami hit Minamisanriku.  If it wasn’t for a young woman, Miki Endo, as well as her boss ordering the residents to escape, many thousands more would have been killed.

Endo and her boss did not survive. They stayed at their posts on the second floor of the town hall building.  The water reached the top of the third floor of the building.  Endo’s last words over the city’s loudspeaker system were: “Take care mom!”

On November 7, Independent Television News updated the situation of Minamisanriku, and it looks like my past posts, comparing it to a modern day Atlantis, might apply.  A city official says no rebuilding can take place, because the land is slowing sinking into the ocean: “…our plan is to move the entire town to higher ground, because the ground level here has dropped by 70 cm [27.5 inches]. When we get higher tides, they come in and this entire area is underwater.”-Jin Sato, Mayor

Who said southern California can’t drop off into the ocean?

ATLANTIS SYNDROME: OFFICIALS CONFIRM LAND SUNK AFTER 9.0 QUAKE

JAPAN MODERN DAY ATLANTIS ROUND 3: QUAKE UPGRADED 10,000+ DEAD

International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: Iranian official says if another U.S. drone violates Iranian air space, then the War is On, bitch!

“Our question is that if this aircraft belonged to Iran and had violated U.S. territory, how many sessions would the international community and the UN Security Council have held and how many resolutions would they have issued against Iran?”-Esmail Kowsari, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee

Kowsari pointed out the hypocrisy of the UN, in not denouncing the fact that the United States broke internatonal law when it sent the RQ-170 stealth UAV into Iranian air space.  Two unnamed U.S. officials say the recon drone was supposed to stay in Afghan air space while spying on Iran.

Kowasri added that if it happens again Iran “…will target every U.S. military base anywhere in the world.”

International, U.S.

World War 3: Proof that war with Iran is a done deal; British & Canadian Media begin official War Propaganda

Media sources in the United Kingdom and Canada (members of the Commonwealth, aka British Empire) have upped their pro-war rhetoric against Iran.

Reports said that Iran was preparing forces for “potential external strikes”, and that Iran was “isolated” from the rest of the world (despite the fact that Russia and China have repeatedly told the U.S. and U.K. to stay out of Iran).

Other statements and terms include “war on Iran a step closer”and “Plans for a US strike are currently being drawn up”.

Apparently the Commonwealth media are basing their claims on official statements like the one made by the U.S. State Department’s arms advisor Robert Einhorn: “The U.S. favours a diplomatic solution but, if we cannot achieve it soon, inevitably interests will grow in a different kind of solution.” 

What else could a statement like that mean?

Business/Economics, U.S.

Occupy Los Angeles! OWS plans on shutting down biggest port in U.S., will rain on Rose Parade, homeless taking back their homes! Where’s the mainstream media coverage?

According to the Occupy LA website, on December 12, they will attempt to shut down the busiest port in the United States; the Port of Los Angeles, along with the Port of Long Beach.

The Port of Los Angeles is also known as America’s Port.

The OWSers will specifically target a shipping operation owned by Goldman Sachs; SSA Marine.

The attempted shut down is in conjunction with other OWS groups across the west coast, such as San Diego, Oakland, Portland and Anchorage.

In a report from the Los Angeles Times, OWSers will Occupy Pasadena’s 2012 Rose Parade.  Occupy Rose Parade organizers say they do not want to cause problems: “We want to make sure this is completely non-disruptive to the main parade.”– Peter Thottam, Occupy Rose Parade

On December 6, thousands of protestors from several different groups across the country, helped families who lost their homes take them back.  Occupy our Homes took place in Los Angeles, Riverside, South Gate, San Francisco, New York and other cities.

Big banks Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase were not happy.  One family said JP Morgan Chase had put their home up for auction without telling them, while they were still living in the home: “People started calling the house saying the house was going on auction, so I called the bank.”-Arturo de los Santos

De los Santos says he tried to work a loan modification deal, but JP Morgan Chase refused.  De los Santos says neighbors were told of Occupy our Homes, and support it: “On Sunday we went around the neighborhood and told neighbors we were doing this and they’re backing us up. All of them either know someone who’s going through a bad loan modification or know someone who’s out of their home because of a bad loan modification.”

According to the Washington Post, the Occupy Our Homes, or Occupied Real Estate (each movement had a different slogan), was huge.  They have lots of pics.  Where was the mainstream TV media coverage?

 

 

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

Government & Corporate incompetence: ECB to buy up European bonds but needs cash, EU to loan money…to the IMF, IMF will loan the money back to the ECB! The Elitist spiders are tangling their webs

“Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!”-Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17

I just read several reports.  One said the European Central Bank (ECB) wants to buy up the sovereign debts of European countries that are in financial trouble.  But the ECB says it needs about U.S.$150 billion to do it (notice they don’t have the cash on hand).

In another report the European Union said it will loan about $266 billion…to the U.S. based International Monetary Fund (not to their own ECB).  The purpose of the loan to the IMF is so the IMF can turn around and loan it back to European banks!

You must realize that the IMF is broke, just last week the President of the IMF came away from South America with a huge loan.  It was precedent setting, because for the first time in South America’s history they loaned money to the IMF, instead of the other way ’round.  So what did the IMF do with that money?

And why can’t the European Union loan the $266 billion directly to it’s member banks?  Is this just another accounting shell game?

The 1% elitist spiders have trapped themselves in their own web.  There’s no more flies to catch, the spiders are starving and they’re turning on each other!  It’s called World War 3!

 

International, U.S.

Government & Military Incompetence: Dumping of soldiers’ bodies bigger than first thought. Proof the Generals and Admirals don’t give a rat’s ass about you peons, you’re nothin’ but cannon fodder!

“What the hell? We spent millions, tens of millions, to find any trace of soldiers killed, and they’re concerned about a ‘massive’ effort to go back and pull out the files and find out how many soldiers were disrespected this way?”-Rush Holt, U.S. House of Representatives for New Jersey

Last month an investigation was conducted, after three whistle blowers revealed that bodies, and body parts of service men and women, killed in action, were being disrespected by being thrown into Virginia trash dumps.

“They have known that they were doing something disgusting, and they were doing everything they could to keep it from us!”-Gari-Lynn Smith, husband killed in Iraq and whose body parts were thrown in the trash by the U.S. Air Force

The investigation revealed that this is big.  The U.S. Air Force handles mortuary duties at Dover AFB, Delaware.  The mortuary director, Trevor Dean, admitted the practice goes back as far as 1996!

Air Force officials say they threw the cremated remains in the landfills because the family members signed releases saying they could do so.  However, those releases specified the remains would be disposed of in a dignified way.  Air Force Lieutenant General Darrel Jones was asked by the Washington Post if throwing them in the trash was dignified?  His response was: “The way we’re doing it today is much better.”

What’s the new way?  Why, they’re now dumping them in the ocean!  Did these Air Force wing nuts ever hear of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

“The Tomb of the Unknown is one of our nation’s most hallowed places, guarded around the clock, regardless of weather, every day of the year. We owe this spirit of reverence not only to the unknown service members entombed at Arlington, but to all those who wear the uniform to protect and defend our freedom.”-joint statement by House Representatives Darrell Issa for California and Elijah Cummings for Maryland

Don’t think the new Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta is upset: “The secretary is comfortable with the way the Air Force has handled this.”-John Kirby, Captain U.S. Navy, Pentagon

Of the more than 2,700 body parts that were cremated and dumped, 274 were identified as individuals.  Obviously there’s more.  For one the Air Force never told the trash haulers, or the landfill operators that they were dumping human remains.  Hell, in some parts of this country (depends on local laws) it’s actually illegal to dump human remains into landfills!

“It’s a moral thing. Someone killed overseas fighting for our country, I wouldn’t want them buried, any part of them, in the landfill.”-Jeff Jenkins, manager of King George landfill

The operators of the main landfill used, King George in Virginia, are considering legal action against the Air Force.

“Obviously, we would be opposed to taking cremated remains of our servicemen and servicewomen and putting them in our landfill. But it sounds like a lot of us were pulled in unknowingly to this unfortunate situation with the Air Force.”-Lisa Kardell, Waste Management, operator of King George landfill

This is more proof that the 1% Elitist leaders of our country don’t care about any of the 99%’s service, we’re all just cannon fodder for their games!

 

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

Trilateral Commission & Global Economic War: Italian & Greek austerity, slashing & burning the U.S. Postal Service, all part of Corporations taking over through Privatizing government services. House actor Hugh Laurie prophesied such a thing back in the 1980s!

The Italian and Greek prime ministers (both known members of the European branch of the Trilateral Commission, which is pushing for a one world government) forced their governments to pass austerity measures which include privatizing many government services.

Interestingly even though many government services will be privatized, the taxes Italians and Greeks pay will go way up.

Here in the United States, the scandal with the U.S. Postal Service might just be a move to fully privatize the service.  Why has the U.S. Congress stolen, I mean, forced the USPS to pay so much of their hard earned, non-taxpayer dollars, into government employee funds, and then refused to give it back when the USPS is in money trouble because of it?

There are many private delivery services that would love to get that business, and FedEx is already a contractor with the USPS (they’re the ones who actually handle those overnight and express mailings).

A few months ago I posted about protests in Australia.  What’s so important about Australia?  Well for one their economy is actually booming (being tied directly to the booming Chinese economy), and for second people are still losing their jobs!  It’s mainly government employees, and employees of companies that were getting government subsidies, who’re losing their jobs.

The Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell, actually said that privatization was a necessary step in preparing for the new world order, and that was why he was laying off 5,000 state government employees!  I wonder if he’s a member of the Trilateral Commission?

Now here’s a surprise, it turns out that Hugh Laurie, along with Stephen Fry,  actually predicted privatization back in the 1980/90s, in their comedy sketch called The Privatisation of the Police Force.

In the skit, a Brit has just returned from being away from England for awhile and his car is stolen.  He tries to report it only to learn that the police have been privatized.  He also learns that being a “citizen” is no longer enough, you must own “shares” in your local police service.  You must also be a “shareholder” of the streets you use in your everyday routine, if not “You can not pass!” (actually that quote is from the Fellowship of the Ring movie).  In the end the man is arrested for not having invested in any police service, or street, and is kicked in the nuts.  The skit ends with the man saying “I see some things haven’t changed.” (regarding Bobbie Brutality, and also prophetic of what’s happening now).

By the way you can watch it here.

The skit also makes reference to the United States, saying that America is to blame for the privatization trend, and remember this was in the 1980/90s!  But that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, many conspiracy theorists, who investigated the Trilateral Commission, warned of it, only back then it was made fun of by comedians like Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

More seriously, here’s a link to a report on U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron’s push to privatize the Brutal Bobbies. Who’s laughing now?

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Mafia Medicare deadline nears, but applications aren’t getting through, if you don’t sign up when you turn 65 you’ll pay for it!

“Some people had difficulty accessing the [Medicare] online enrollment center. Others have not had calls returned due to high call volume.”-Bill Deal, Idaho Department of Insurance

Midnight (00:00 hours) December 8 is the deadline for the elderly getting Medicare applications in, yet many are not going through.  Idaho officials are reporting that phone in enrollments are overwhelming their system.  For those people they will now have until December 10 to enroll.

“We’re seeing various people who delayed enrollment into Medicare for various reasons.”-Frederic Riccardi, Medicare Rights Center

And if you don’t think you need to sign up for Medicare, even though you’ve just turned 65, you’re going to pay for it later on.  Medicare actually penalizes you for not signing up when you become 65 years old.

For those people who enroll in Medicare after their 65th birthday, the government will increase your Medicare premiums by 10% for each year you delay enrollment!

If you’re still a “current” employee, then you don’t need to, but the instant you lose your job you better do it. And you can’t trust Social Security officials to tell you, or even the Medicare handbook, as one man learned the hard way: “On my last day of work, I went to the Social Security office, asking for some guidance.”  “I’ve never had a problem, until I tried to sign up for Medicare.” -Robert Joseph

Joseph lost his job after he turned 65.  Because of bad advise from a local Texas Social Security official, and because he misinterpreted instructions in a Medicare handbook, he waited 18 months after losing his job to enroll.  Now he’s paying a higher monthly premium because of those 18 months he waited!

Medicare is not ‘free’.  You pay for it with the FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes that are taken out of your paycheck.  Then you pay again when you enroll at the age of 65, in the form of Medicare insurance premiums.  And guess what?  You still have to pay out of your pocket for some of your medical care!  Sounds like the Mob is runin’ da joint!

Fukushima

Government & Corporate Incompetence: Powdered milk contaminated with radiation!

Japanese powdered milk maker Meiji says they will replace 400,000 cans of their product, after it was found contaminated with cesium.

The levels are below safe limits but the company says it’s better to be safe than sorry.  The powdered milk was produced from March 14 to 20. The base powder used was made before 11 March 2011.

Meiji did not voluntarily test their product, nor was it government officials, it was a consumer group who forced the testing.  Meiji officials are now trying to figure out how their product got contaminated.  The company has factories all over Japan, from Hokkaido down to Tokyo.  This is another indication how much the radiation from Fukushima Daiichi has spread.