Tag Archives: u.s.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Hundreds of thousands of U.S. Postal Workers to be laid off, Union talks are focusing on how to soften the impact on those who will keep their jobs

“If we do that, it means lower costs – career people leave, more non-careers come in.  Much of that will be attrition, but I don’t know if we can do that fast enough.”-Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General

The U.S. Postal Service is being forced to lay off so many postal workers that it’s asking Congress to cancel current Union contracts.   220,000 postal workers will be laid off by 2014.

The reality of the situation is forcing the many different unions, involved with the Postal Service, to scramble to negotiations, not to save those jobs, but to soften the impact on those who will keep their jobs.

Those unions are the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), and the American Postal Workers’ Union (APWU).

Not only does the USPS want to get rid of 220,000 employees, but they want to shut down as many as 3,700 post offices, close at least 300 processing facilities, and consolidate as many as 20,000 delivery routes.

All that will affect those people who’re “lucky” enough to still have their jobs.  If the negotiations with the unions fails, then it’s on to arbitration.  USPS workers can not legally go on strike, because they are considered Federal employees.

One reason the USPS is short on money, is because the U.S. Congress essentially stole $75 billion from the Postal Service.  Congress said it was to cover the Postal Service’s portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System.  The Postmaster General was able to prove that Congress overcharged the USPS.  The U.S. Congress refused to refund the money.

Another reason is that Congress has refused to raise Postal rates to reflect the increased cost of operation.  It’s almost as if the U.S. Congress wants the USPS to fail!

The United States Postal Service does not make money off taxpayers, they are solely funded by the postage they charge (prices are controlled by Congress, not the USPS), and other products they sell.  The cuts being made to the USPS will have no affect on U.S. government debt.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Obama orders a 5% reduction in government budgets

President Obama’s budget chief Jacob Lew has ordered government agencies to submit budgets that are at least 5% less than the past fiscal year’s budgets.

It was also suggested that the different government agencies find ways to cut another 10% through out the next fiscal year.  This is part of the Debt Limit Deal (Budget Control Act of 2011) passed a few weeks ago.

International, U.S.

U.S. officials say Iraq has agreed to let U.S. troops stay longer, Iraqi officials say Bull Shit!

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the Stars & Stripes newspaper that  Iraq has agreed to extend U.S. military presence beyond the 2011 deadline.

Iraqi officials responded with: “We have not yet agreed on the issue of keeping training forces, the negotiations are ongoing, and these negotiations have not been finalized.”-Ali Mussawi, advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

Another Iraqi official said this on Iraqi TV: “The Iraqi government denies what the American Defense Minister Leon Panetta said that Iraq agreed to extend the presence of U.S. troops in the country after 2011.”

Recently many Iraqi officials have promised that military action would be taken against U.S. troops if they stayed.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Foreign Exchange Student program really covert Slave Labor operation, no wonder Corporate America isn’t hiring

“Working hard, eight hours, we have no opportunity to speak at work.  If I speak, my supervisor comes to me and says, ‘Don’t speak anymore, or I’ll send you home.'”-Yana Brenzey, 19, of Ukraine, foreign exchange student

August 19, foreign college students are protesting in Palmyra, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, saying the U.S. State Department student exchange programs are really a form of slave labor for U.S. corporations.

Friday’s protests are focusing on the candy maker Hersey, but other companies across the United States are involved.

Foreign students say the work programs that are part of the student exchange programs, do not provide them with money to help them with money to help cover their expenses while in the U.S. going to college.  Instead the corporations deduct from their pay all kinds of expenses, which leave the students with little or no money left over.  Essentially companies like Hersey end up with free labor.

Exchange students had to kick back upwards of $6,000 to the California-based Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA).

An organization called National Guestworker Alliance is helping foreign students organize the protests, and has even got federal officials promising an investigation. This after students in New Orleans reported being “made captive” by their employers.  Protests in New Orleans started on August 17, where’s the main stream U.S. media?

Most of the media coverage of these protest are in local newspapers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Venezuela to nationalize Gold industry, demands that their gold stored in European & U.S. banks be returned, creating gold back money

“Venezuela is the 13th largest holder of gold in the world. From a financial aspect, I think it is a very shrewd and intelligent move to protect his country’s gold assets.  There is, however, a political overtone in that he wants to pull out the other financial assets that Venezuela has in the U.K., in the U.S., and push it into what he calls ‘more likable allies’, Russia, China and Brazil.”-Adrian Salbuchi

President Hugo Chavez wants all of Venezuela’s gold now held in European and U.S. banks to be returned.

It would be the largest physical movement of gold in recent history.  Some reports say it would involve U.S.$11 billion in gold.

The demand for Venezuela’s gold to be returned, comes after Chavez announced that the government would nationalize all gold mines in Venezuela.

The intent of nationalizing their gold industry is a precursor to creating money backed by gold: “We are going to nationalize gold and turn it into foreign exchange reserves…”-Hugo Chavez

 

 

International, U.S.

Afghan Mujahideen claim they killed 27 U.S. troops in truck bomb attack

August 18, Taliban claim they launched a truck bomb attack on U.S. Gardez base, killing 27 U.S. troops.

Official U.S. media reports say only two Afghans were killed.  The U.S. media has proven over and over that it can not be trusted.

Witnesses say the explosion was “huge” and destroyed a U.S. helicopter as well.

Since the beginning of August the Afghan Mujahideen have escalated their attacks on NATO forces.  This despite President Obama saying the Taliban were on the decline.  August is looking like it will be the deadliest month for U.S./NATO forces.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Iran makes first oil sale not based on U.S. dollar

August 19, the first shipment of Iranian crude oil has been sold on Iran’s Bourse Organization/Kish Commodity Exchange.  500,000 barrels of heavy crude oil were sold.

Iran’s Bourse was created in 2008 for the specific purpose of selling oil using any international currency, other than the U.S. dollar.  Up until now, the Bourse/Kish exchange was selling only oil-derived products, things like plastics and pharmaceutical supplies.

This is the real reason the United States wants to attack Iran, it was the real reason the United States invaded Iraq.  If you remember Saddam Hussein announced that Iraq was no longer going to accept the U.S. dollar for its oil sales. Suddenly the U.S. was claiming that Iraq was connected to the 9/11 attacks, and that they had weapons of mass destruction (all since proven to be lies).

 

 

International, U.S.

U.S. & Europe preps for attacks on Syria by cancelling bi-annual war games with Egypt

The United States has cancelled its bi-annual “Bright Star” war games with Egypt.  The two countries have been holding such war games for decades.

This comes as the U.S. and Europe push for UN action against Syria, but officially its because of the political transition taking place in Egypt.

Bright Star war games have also included France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.  If you notice it includes many of the U.S. led NATO countries that also want to take out the Syrian government.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Chinese economists continue to push their government to dump U.S. bonds, says the U.S. has passed point of no return, will continue on a downward spiral, Morgan Stanely agrees

“China should move progressively to cut its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds and use it as leverage to ask Washington [DC] to further open its markets, including the high-technology sector, to Chinese investment.”-Xiang Songzuo, University of China

U.S. Vice President Biden is in China, trying to reassure the Chinese government that the U.S. will “…ensure the safety, liquidity and value of U.S. Treasury obligations for all of its investors.”

Chinese economist say it’s too late, the U.S. economy is too far gone: “But there is very little room left for the U.S. government to revitalize its economy.  Low growth and high unemployment will be regular features of the U.S. economy in the future.”-Wei Liang, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Even officials with Morgan Stanely, an international finance company based in New York City, say the United States has lost all economic legitimacy: “The U.S. debt crisis has taken a serious toll on China’s confidence in Washington’s [DC] economic stewardship.  China is no longer willing to risk financial and economic stability on the basis of Washington’s hollow promises and tarnished economic stewardship.”-Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley Asia

 

International, U.S.

U.S., Europe pushing UN Security Council for resolution against Syria, BRICS opposed

“We believe that the time has come for the council to take further actions to step up the pressure against those who are responsible for the violence against the citizens of Syria.”-Philip Parham, U.K. representative to UN Security Council

The U.S., France, Germany and Portugal all backed up the British demand that the UN Security Council take action against Syria.

The problem is that all the most economically powerful countries are opposed.  Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa believe the government of Syria is correct when it says the insurgency was started by outside forces (meaning the U.S. and Europe).

Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council.  India currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.