Tag Archives: tea party

Fukushima

Government & Farmer Incompetence: More cesium contaminated rice, new farms affected!

Three farms in the city of Date, Japan, harvested rice that was found to be contaminated with cesium, up to 1,050 becquerels per kilogram.

Earlier in November as many as six farms in Oonami district were found with contaminated rice.  Those farms did not sell their rice, but the farms in Date did.

Now officials are trying to track down who bought the cesium contaminated rice.

Date, and Oonami are in Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant continues to emit high levels of radiation.  Originally officials were testing rice just from the 154 farms in Oonami, but will now test more than 2,300 farms in the prefecture.

U.S.

Occupy America, World War 3: U.S. Congress about to make your backyard the next War Zone; National Defense Authorization Act will make the Patriot Act look like a joke. Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate against the bill

“The Senate is going to vote on whether Congress will give this president, and every future president, the power to order the military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians anywhere in the world. The power is so broad that even U.S. citizens could be swept up by the military and the military could be used far from any battlefield, even within the United States itself.”-Chris Anders, American Civil Liberties Union

Two U.S. Senators came up with what is probably the greatest threat to our Constitutional freedoms, section 1031 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (S.1253.RS).  Those Senators are Carl Levin of Michigan, and John McCain of Arizona (I guess McCain’s time as a POW in Vietnam destroyed the concept of American freedom in his mind).

Section 1031 of the bill would “…basically say in law for the first time that the homeland is part of the battlefield…”-Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina, and supporter of the bill

“America is part of the battlefield.”-Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, and supporter of the bill

(Note: I’m not sure if the above quotes were actually stated by those Senators.  I found one site that attributed the quotes as actually coming from an ACLU publication.  In the short time I spent trying to confirm the quotes I was not able to find anything directly linking them.  But they do support the bill.)

“One section of these provisions, section 1031, would be interpreted as allowing the military to capture and indefinitely detain American citizens on U.S. soil. Section 1031 essentially repeals the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 by authorizing the U.S. military to perform law enforcement functions on American soil. That alone should alarm my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but there are other problems with these provisions that must be resolved.”-Mark Udall, U.S. Senator from Colorado, who opposes the bill

The bill already passed the House of Representatives back in May. Ron Paul was one of five House Republicans who opposed it:  “I have a personal belief that you never have to give up liberty for security. You can still provide security without sacrificing our Bill of Rights. You can prevent crimes by becoming a police state . . . So if you advocate the police state, yes, you can have safety and security and you might prevent a crime, but the crime then will be against the American people and against our freedoms.”

It would “…permit the federal government to indefinitely detain American citizens on American soil, without charge or trial, at the discretion of the president.”-Justin Amash, U.S. Representative from Michigan, one of five House Republicans who voted against the bill

Section 1031 states: “The Armed Forces of the United States are authorized to detain covered persons captured in the course of hostilities authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force…”

The Authorization for Use of Military Force was approved under the Bush Jr administration on September 18, 2001.  It specifically says that the President is authorized to take any action “he” feels is necessary to capture those who plotted the 9/11 attacks, and “…to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States…”

This is where critics of S.1253.RS section 1031 say the military could be used on U.S. soil to go after U.S. citizens.  S.1253.RS section 1031 would allow the President to use the military within the United States, if the President felt it necessary to do so, in fulfilling the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.

S.1253.RS section 1031 also says: “Long-term detention under the law of war without trial until the end of hostilities against the nations, organizations, and persons subject to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.” This is where critics of the bill say you could be held in military prisons indefinitely.

However, the section 1031 does not allow the wanton detention of U.S. citizens: “The authority to detain a person under this section does not extend to the detention of citizens or lawful resident aliens of the United States on the basis of conduct taking place within the United States except to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States.”

That part is tricky. Basically you’d have to be found in violation of, or simply suspected of violating U.S. laws to be detained by military forces.  This is where critics say the military could be used as a police force. That’s the sinister part of section 1031, and it’s related sections under Subtitle D – – Detainee Matters, of S.1253.RS: It does not require that you be charged with a crime, let alone being convicted in a court trial, nor does it require any substantial evidence to justify your detention.

The other problem is that section 1031 says detention will last “…until the end of hostilities…” When you’re fighting an open ended, vague War on Terror, how the freak do you know when it’s finished?  Take some political science courses on terrorism and you’ll realize that as long as people get ripped off by the establishment (whether they actually do get ripped off, or it’s just in their minds) there will always be acts of “terror”. 

President Barack Obama claims he will veto the bill if it passes the Senate.  However, there are fears that if someone like Newt Gingrich becomes President in 2012, then the bill would become law.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Occupy America, What Economic Recovery? The truth is finally told about how much the Federal Reserve spent to bail out the too big to fail banks; nearly $8 Trillion! Ron Paul is right!!!

“This is an issue that can unite the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street.”-Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio

Lies, scandals, cover ups, all part of the “too big to fail’s” plan to squeeze the United States dry.  Now there’s proof!

Bloomberg Markets magazine has gotten a hold of a 29,000(!) page document, that shows just how much the big banks lied and cheated to the tune of U.S.$7.77 trillion, and that’s not counting the taxpayer funded bailouts!

The bottom line is everybody close to the process lied like crazy.”-Naked Capitalism

Ever since 2007, when the Federal Reserve (a privately run bank) began bailing out the “too big to fail” banks, like Bank of America, the exact amount of the bail outs had been kept secret.  Ben Bernanke even said it was because if the public knew how much it really cost it would cause more problems.  He’s right!

While the average American in the United States lost their credit, lost their home, and lost their job, Corporate America got a $7.77 trillion bailout from the Federal Reserve. That’s a record!  And that doesn’t even count the taxpayer funded bail outs!!!

By the way, average Americans in the United States are still losing their credit, their homes and their jobs, because of bailed out Corporate America!!!

Here’s some more interesting facts about the Federal Reserve bailouts:

1; On December 5, 2008, a record $1.2 trillion was issued on one day!!! 

2; The Federal Reserve actually set up the supposed bail out “loans” so that some members of Corporate America made a profit off of paying back those loans!  How would you like to be paid for paying back your loans?  Corporate America made an estimated $13 billion off some of the bail out loans!

3; Citigroup made the most money off of the Federal Reserve loans, to the tune of $1.8 billion!

4; In fact the top U.S. banks (JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley) used the bail out loans to increase their power. By September 2011, their combined assets had increased to $9.5 trillion!!!

5; Most of these bail out loans were issued when the “too big to fail” banks (case in point Bank of  America and JP Morgan Chase & Company) were telling their stockholders that they were in no trouble at all!

6; Most of these bail out loans were issued at the same time that the government was giving away taxpayer dollars to save Corporate America!  Treasury Department boss Timothy Geithner was well aware of how much money the Federal Reserve was loaning to the “too big to fail’s”!

7; The U.S. Treasury Department’s taxpayer funded TARP program cost a record $700 billion, but that is now dwarfed by the newly revealed Federal Reserve bail outs.

8; The six biggest U.S. banks, got $160 billion of taxpayer TARP funds, and, as much as $460 billion from the Federal Reserve!

Bloomberg got the 29,000 page document after winning a lawsuit (amazingly) against the Federal Reserve, and the country’s biggest group of banks, know as the Clearing House Association.

What this proves is that Corporate America is one big ass FAIL!!!  Either they were in the financial hole and really did need the bail outs, which means they had already failed as Capitalist Captains of Industry, or, they were not in the hole, as they repeatedly told their stockholders, and they just pulled off the biggest scam in world history!!!

The result is that the Untied States is now toast: “…we’re absolutely, totally, 100% not prepared for another financial crisis.”-Ted Kaufman, former U.S. Senator from Delaware

Ron Paul is right!!!

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Get ready for stocks to go up. China just said they’re willing to invest big time in Europe, wants to take over European companies, but the price has to be right

“Some European countries are facing a debt crisis and hope to convert their assets to cash and would like foreign capital to acquire their enterprises. We will be closely watching and pushing forward the progress.”-Chen Deming, Commerce Minister of China

The Commerce Minister of China just told a group of Chinese businessmen that the Europeans are desperate for cash, and they’re willing to sell their companies for it.

Chinese officials say they are more than willing to bailout European companies by buying them out. However, they warn that if European governments continue their harsh anti-Chinese policies then no deal!

Recently Spain sent a delegation to China, hoping to get financial help.

International, U.S.

World War 3: China condemns U.S. attack on Pakistan, pushes to build bases in Pakistan

“China is deeply shocked by these events, and expresses strong concern for the victims and profound condolences to Pakistan.”-Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman

China is condemning the recent U.S. led NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistani troops. China and Pakistan are steadfast allies, with China being Pakistan’s number one military supporter.  The United States is still Pakistan’s second biggest military supporter, even after canceling $800 million in military aid back in July.

China and Pakistan just finished joint war games days before the NATO/ISAF attack.

China is also negotiating with the Pakistani government to set up Chinese army bases in areas of Pakistan that border China’s Xinjiang province.   The Pakistani government has also asked China to build a naval base at the southwestern seaport of Gwadar, in Balochistan province.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Pakistan refuses to take part in Bonn Conference on Afghanistan Security, rejects NATO apology

“We do not accept NATO apology.  NATO was not chasing militants.”-Major General Athar Abbas, Pakistani army

Pakistan continues to move away from the United States, after a deadly U.S. led NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistani troops.  They are now boycotting the December 5 Bonn Conference on Afghanistan’s security.

Foreign Ministers from at least 90 countries (including Hillary Clinton) are expected to attend the Bonn Conference, to discuss key issues like the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, and negotiations with the majority political party, and militant group, the Taliban.

Pakaistani army officials say the NATO/ISAF claim that they were shooting at militants is false because the area they attacked was 200 to 300 meters (about 984 feet) inside Pakistani territory, and, had already been cleared of militant activity.  Earlier reports from Pakistan claimed the attack took place a mile and a half inside Pakistani territory.

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Corporate Incompetence: Another Japanese company loses millions in cash, this time in Casinos! Call it a family affair?

The Japanese paper company, Daio Paper, is in financial trouble after it was discovered that a, now former, executive borrowed millions of company dollars to gamble in overseas casinos!

Tokyo prosecutors are investigating Mototaka Ikawa.  They say Ikawa borrowed more than U.S.$128 million from seven subsidiary companies between May 2010 and September of this year.  They believe he spent the money in casinos in Macao and Singapore.

Unnamed sources claim that Ikawa actually borrowed much more, all from subsidiary companies that are run by his relatives!  In a specific case, a Kagawa Prefecture golf club owned by the company, says $6.8 million of their money is missing.

Prosecutors say Ikawa thought it was a safe bet to borrow from his own company, because he didn’t think the missing cash would be reported!  Some gambler!

Business/Economics, International

After more than a year, and after a credit downgrade, Belgium will finally create a government

Since March 2010 Belgium has been without an official government.  The problem arose when Dutch speaking Belgians (Flemish) took control in elections, then suggested splitting the country into two halves; one side for French speakers (francophones), the other side for Dutch speakers.

The 2010 elections came about after the Belgian King dissolved the previous government, due to scandal.

Now, and possibly due to the fact that their credit rating just got dropped, six major political groups have agreed on a new government.  They hope to form the government by next week.  Up until the 2010 elections, Belgium was considered a stable European country.

Belgium isn’t the only country that’s gone a long time without a government. Cambodia has the record of 353 days without a government, from 2003 to 2004.

 

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

Corporate Hypocrisy: FMC spends money to take over companies that clean up pollution, yet refuses to clean up Idaho Super Fund site? FMC issues millions in debt notes, to join the growing trend of stock buybacks by Corporate America.

From 1949 to 2001, U.S. based FMC operated a phosphorus processing plant in southeastern Idaho, just west of Pocatello and Chubbuck.  Ten years later that plant is now an EPA Superfund site, and locals are still waiting for FMC to clean it up!

The hypocrisy is that FMC has been going around spending money buying up companies that specialize in environmental clean up!  The most recent purchase was Canada’s Adventus Intellectual Property: “Adventus presents an exceptional opportunity for FMC to broaden its growing portfolio of advanced specialty solutions serving the global site remediation market.”-Mark Douglas, FMC Industrial Chemicals

FMC site, west of Pocatello and Chubbuck, south of Fort Hall Reservation

So if FMC can buy up companies that specialize in environmental clean up, why can’t FMC clean up it’s old phosphorus plant in southeastern Idaho?

FMC claims to have annual sales of approximately $3.1 billion!  Yet FMC has just completed the sale of U.S.$300 million worth of debt notes.  Why does it need to do that?  According to FMC officials they’re jumping on the new trend of Corporate America buying back their stocks.  FMC wants to buy back at least $200 million of their own shares!  Instead, shouldn’t they spend that on cleaning up their Idaho Superfund site?

Recently the Environmental Protection Agency held public meetings in southeastern Idaho, to discuss ways to clean up the old FMC site.  Capped ponds at the site are emitting toxic phosphine gas.  There was also decades of dumping before the EPA was created. There is concern that contamination is leaking into the ground water, and nearby rivers.

 

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

Corporate Incompetence & What Economic Recovery? Another U.S. computer company, Dell, spends big, and loses big, in Taiwan. Want to work for Dell? Move to Taiwan

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs named U.S. based Dell their third biggest foreign buyer, after Hewlett Packard and Toshiba.

This comes after Dell was ordered (some says ‘suggested’) by the Taiwan government to honor a pricing mistake on 19 inch monitors and pricey laptop computers.  The monitors were mistakenly priced at U.S.$15.00 and the laptops at $563.40.

Dell tried to get customers to pay full price, but was threatened with a $759,000 fine by the Taiwan government.

“To avoid further confusion to our customers and to facilitate further investigation Dell has made the difficult decision to close our Taiwan online store.”-Dell statement

Dell is still trying to get the Taiwan government to let them recoup their loses, and avoid something like this in the future, after all Dell spends about $10 billion on Taiwanese made products every year!

Buy the way, if you want to work for Dell, be willing to move to Taiwan.  As of November 27, Dell has at least 40 openings in Taiwan: “Thank you for considering a career in Taiwan at Dell”