THINGS WE SHOULD KNOW

A second military has developed in the United States. Police. We may have more to fear from them than terrorists. No longer do police believe that protecting and serving the public is their prime responsibility.

 

Topeka, Kansas is an example. The Topeka Police Department has made a policy decision which shortly will be in force and effect. Done on their own and without any type approval by way of local legislative body.

 

Whenever there is a car stop, for a traffic violation or otherwise, every member of the car must immediately put their hands up. Driver and passengers. The purpose is not to protect the people in the car. It is to protect the police. They want to be sure to go home to their families.

 

Remember Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, etc. Fastest guns in the west. Today, police officers are the fastest guns in the country!

 

Many thought for years that police operated under a quota system. Especially in traffic cases. So many tickets a month. The truth is finally coming out.

 

A New York City hero police officer Craig Matthews claimed he was retaliated against because he complained to superiors regarding traffic and arrest quotas. He received unjust evaluations thereafter. A federal court recently said he has a right to sue New York City. The City claimed that as a police officer he had no right to sue. The court reasoned he had First amendment rights as a citizen to so speak. .

 

The Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court recently testified before a legislative committee that the court system would have to shut down by May 1. The reason was insufficient funds. The court system had come up $700,000 short. The court system relied on a certain number of traffic tickets being given out and fines received. The number was down the past fiscal year and sufficient funds had not been received.

 

A quota system is inherently wrong. The courts close their eyes to this wrong because in most instances judicial salaries, staff salaries and other court expenses are paid out of fine monies. Sort of.....You do not bite the hand that feeds you.

 

Not all police officers are of the highest moral character. In some instances, not even minimally. Lt. Benito Gonzalez, a Camden Metro police officer, recently pled guilty to lewdness charges. He was sitting at a table in Starbucks, pulled his shorts down, and started masturbating. He is still on the job.

 

Dr. Patrick Moore is a recognized supporter of oil companies and GMO producers. He recently appeared on a French TV show. The topic was Monsanto's pesticide Roundup which several countries have determined to be cancer causing.

 

Dr. Moore said Roundup was safe, that drinking a glass of the pesticide would cause no harm. The interviewer happened to have a bottle of Roundup. He asked if Dr. Moore would drink a glass. Twice asked, twice refused by the good doctor. Finally, Dr. Moore asked the interviewer, "Do you think I am crazy?" With that, he got up and walked off the set.

 

What especially bothers me with the Dr. Moore incident is that it was reported on only a few media outlets in the U.S. Newsweek, Huffington Post and several minor liberal outlets ran the story.

 

Why wasn't the story run big time on TV and in publications in the U.S. Simple. Major media in this country are owned/controlled by corporate America. They were not going to step on the toes of their compatriot Monsanto.

 

Bill Gates several weeks ago in his Blog reported that in 3 years China had used more concrete than the U.S. did in all of the 20th century. The three years were 2011-2013. China produces and uses 60 percent of the world's cement.

 

While Congress is not willing to appropriate monies for infrastructure, bridges and schools, China is moving ahead.

 

GMO producers/manufacturers have been fighting labeling in every State. They are opposed to any label saying GMO products are involved. The GMO companies have not been successful in every State the battle has been fought.

 

If you can't beat them one way, beat them another. GMO companies have had a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by a Republican member. If successful, the bill would give the authority to GMO labeling solely to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.GMO producers do not want the American public to know what they are eating.

 

The bill also provides that only the Secretary has authority to mandate GMO liability. The courts would be by passed.

 

The power of money!

 

Sex revelations at the highest levels of government have become common place. There are several that have received insufficient notoriety.

 

DEA agents, all with top secret clearance, were entertained at sex parties. The prostitutes were at the expense of the Columbian drug cartel. A DEA regional director was being given a farewell party in government offices. He had sex with prostitutes. Three DEA supervisors received money, expensive gifts, and weapons from drug cartel members.

 

DEA prostitution cases have been deemed a local management issue. Those partying with prostitutes in general have neither been fired nor prosecuted. They have been suspended for no more than 14 days.

 

Between 2003 and 2007, 54 Columbian children were sexually abused by U.S. soldiers and military contractors. The activities were photographed and later sold as pornography. No one was charged. An  immunity agreement existed which prohibited punishment for any wrongdoing with the Columbian civilian population.

 

While the Republican majority want to save money by cutting Social Security and Medicare and having Obamacare repealed, the Defense Department is experiencing losses with military equipment. An example is sensitive explosive gear. Losses means the Department have not been able to locate the lost gear, except when it appears for resale on Ebay and Craigslist. The value of the lost gear is estimated in the billions of dollars.

 

Military equipment leased or given to local police departments cannot be in many instances either.

 

It is expensive to get a college education. A recent study indicated that one in twenty UK college students worked in the sex trade to help fund their university costs, to make ends meet. Interestingly, men more than women.

 

I could not locate any similar U.S. study. However, there has been mention of sugar daddies. Many young ladies are advertising on-line for and finding older men. There are internet sites dedicated to this purpose.

 

NYU appears to have the most sugar babies. Four hundred ninety-eight.

 

The U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world. Eleven industrial nations were involved in a study. The U.S. was first as to expense and last as to quality.

 

An example of the situation looking solely at dollars shows that the U.K. is listed second in quality of care. The U.K. cost per person is $3,405 per year. The U.S. which is listed last has a cost of $8,508 per year.

 

The study indicated extreme inequality exists in U.S.healthcare. Good only for those who have enough money to pay for it.

 

The information herein is without question interesting. It is intended also to be an eye opener. Food for thought.

GOVERNMENTAL WASTE.....BURIED ON OUR BACKS

We live in interesting times. Unusual times. The rich get richer, the poor poorer. The government directly or indirectly assists the rich to the detriment of the poor. There is no middle class. Only the 1 per cent and 99 per cent.

 

The U.S. Census Bureau issued a recent study regarding median household incomes. The bottom line was that median household incomes have fallen five years in a row. Approximately $5,000.

 

The Republican controlled House of Representatives passed a bill recently cutting food stamps by $40 billion over a ten year period. It amounts to $3.8 billion a year. The bill was passed without a public hearing by any Congressional committee.

 

To add insult to injury, the bill provided that food stamp recipients be tested for drugs.

 

With fewer people employed and salaries significantly less, food stamps are a staple in many households. One sixth of the population receives food stamps.

47.5 million. Interestingly, that number has increased by 13 million in the five years Obama has been in office.

 

In addition, free breakfasts for children are on the way out. Republicans cry for cuts in areas affecting the elderly. Social Security and Medicare. They also want to do away with Obamacare.

 

While Congress is trying or actually cutting back on much needed benefits and assistance to the people they represent, there are tons of waste for which they are directly responsible. If Congress were to pursue in the first instance governmental waste, there would be less need to economically break the backs of the poor.

 

Examples of governmental waste follow. I guarantee you will laugh at some. Never the less, you will be disturbed by all.

 

Every facet of government is a sinner. Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party members, Congressmen, Senators, and bureaucrats alike. They all bear responsibility, one way or another.

 

Senator Frank Lautenberg recently died. He represented New Jersey as a Democrat for many years. A liberal. He died a millionaire. He left an estate of $56.8 million.

 

On a recent spending bill, $174,000 was tacked on as a rider. The amount is roughly equal to one year's salary as a Senator.  There was no hearing. I even question whether there ever was proper approval obtained from the House of Representatives for the payment in this instance or any in the past.

 

The $174,000 was in effect a death benefit paid to a Senate  member's widow. It was justified as a time honored practice. Note that $174,000 was appropriated to a millionaire widow at the same time that food stamps were being cut  by the House of Representatives $40 billion.

 

House and Senate members receive free medical. The best. While the Republican members of both Houses want to do away with medical care to 30 million people who previously had none.

 

Lets move on to banks. The Huffington Post came out recently with an interesting and shocking report.

 

Huffington claims the biggest banks in the U.S. receive 3 per cent of every tax dollar. It amounts to $722 per family.  The monies are viewed as a subsidy. They are not TARP dollars.

 

The 3 per cent totals $83 billion a year that the banks are receiving.

 

The subsidy applies to the 10 largest banks. The banks are able to borrow money from creditors at lower rates than small banks and people. The reason is that by legislation the government guarantees the bank loans. If the banks fail to pay, the government will with tax dollars.

 

The system is simple. The banks borrow at a low rate of interest and loan the monies out at a higher rate of interest. The dollars in between are pure profit.

 

What bugs me is the claim that without this taxpayer subsidy, none of the top ten banks would be profitable. Wow! Which means if you carry the thought to its logical end, the $20 billion and $40 billion bonus's bank CEOs have been receiving come from the profit the banks make because of taxpayer guarantees.

 

While all this has been going on, the banks are not lending as they should to Main Street America.

 

Pigs.

 

This next example is a beauty.

 

The U.S. Senate has its own barber shop. Funded by the taxpayers. It is called Senate Hair Care Services. Until 1979 haircuts were free. Then because of the Carter recession, a charge of $3.50 for a haircut was initiated. Manicures would cost $18.

 

The head barber receives a salary of $80,000 a year. Six others, $40,000 a year.

 

The barber shop runs at a deficit of $500,000 a year. Taxpayer dollars pay the deficit.

 

I am not enamored with the Heritage Foundation. I sometimes think the organization is the true Speaker of the House of Representatives. However credit must be given where credit is due. The Heritage Foundation has revealed certain governmental waste items.

 

$2.6 million was paid for a study by Wayne State University. The purpose of the study was to determine how to train Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly. The claim was it might help with keeping Aids down in China.

 

Credit card abuse is rampant in federal agencies. An example is a $13,500 charge for one dinner by the     U. S. Postal Service. The same organization that at this very moment is in deep trouble economically. The cost of a stamp could go up as much as a nickel. Saturday deliveries may be curtailed. Home deliveries stopped.

 

There were 187 guests at the dinner. It was at a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Over 200 appetizers, more than $3,000 in alcohol. At the same time that food stamps were under consideration to be cut, as well as breakfasts for poor children.

 

Historically, the Pentagon has been famous for spending abnormal and unreasonable amounts for items. I recall when I was in college in the 1950s there was some sort of expose because the Pentagon was paying $400 for one toilet seat.

 

The Pentagon did not buy anything this time. What they did was ship parts at exorbitant cost. The parts were simple washers. Two $ .19 washers were shipped from South Carolina to Texas at a cost of $998,798. An $ .89 washer was shipped from South Carolina to Florida at a cost of $293,451.

 

Many federal employees do not like flying coach. Neither do I. But, I do. Even to Europe. I am paying my own bill. The government is not paying for me.

 

Federal employees spend $146 million dollars annually for upgrades. Only half are authorized. None should be and every employee should fly like most  taxpayers do. Coach.

 

The House of Representatives authorizes money to be spent. Congress recently gave Alaska Airlines $500,000 to paint a Chinook salmon on a Boeing 737.

 

The Defense Department gets the biggest share of the American budget. There were $100 million worth of unused flight tickets purchased at Department of Defense expense. All were refundable. None were refunded.

 

Senator Tom Coburn is a Republican from Oklahoma. I do not always agree with him. He is a penny pincher and a penny watcher. He is much like Ben Franklin in that regard.

 

Senator Coburn recently came up with two bad CCongressional approved spending items. One was $505,000 to promote specialty hair and beauty products for cats and dogs. The other $97,000 for floating outhouses for Oregon fishermen.

 

The Democrats and Republicans have their party conventions every four years. A big deal! Who pays for it? The taxpayers. You and I. The cost is $100 million paid to each party.

 

IHop makes money. Their pancake outlets do a good business. IHOP puts out a quality product at a decent price. The company is successful. Such being the case, it is difficult to understand why a grant was given to  HOP of $800,000 to subsidize the building of a I HOP in Columbia Heights, one of Washington, D.C.'s trendiest and most desirable neighborhoods.

 

The elevators on Capitol Hill that our Representatives and Senators use every day are fully automated. Yet the government spends an additional $440,000 a year for attendants to push the buttons.

 

In recent years, Congress has authorized tons of money to build new court houses. Most not needed. Since 2000, millions of square feet of wasted unused courthouse space exists all over the United States. Forget the waste in construction dollars for the unneeded facilities, it costs $57 million a year to maintain the unused space.

 

The National Institute of Health is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health. In 2011, the National Institute of Health authorized a study by Ohio State University at a cost of $386,000. The purpose of the study was to determine what was the best massage duration when massaging rabbits.

 

Sarah Palin is not one of my favorite people. However, she came out with an on point statement when she recently said, "If the government shuts down, who will spy on me?"

 

There are so many more examples of misappropriation and wastefulness by Washington. I suggest our elected representatives first look within themselves when cutting. Cutting important items such as  food stamps, breakfasts for children, Obamacare, and considering cutting Social Security and Medicare.

 

What did the poor, the young, the sick and the elderly do to receive the treatment that they are? I do not understand. It is the big guys picking on the little guys. Bullies kicking those that cannot effectively protect themselves.

 

My admonition: Pick a fight with some one your own size! See what it is like to get kicked in the ass.

 

 

HYPOCRISY

Do as I say, not as I do. A simple example of hypocrisy. Formally defined, a hypocrite is one who expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice.

 

My Church is guilty of hypocrisy. The Catholic Church. Specifically with regard to its positions on birth control and abortion.

 

The Catholic Church rejects contraception under any circumstances. Most recently with regard to Obamacare. The Church was opposed to Obamacare's provisions which would provide contraception coverage. Directly or indirectly. Even where Obama acceded to the Church's initial protestations and said that birth control would be paid for by the insurance company. In effect, the insurance company would provide the coverage free.

 

The Catholic Church rejected the President's solution. Instead the Church has gone to court claiming that any provision regarding contraception violated the Church's beliefs. Its religious beliefs. The court matter is in its early stages.

 

The Catholic Church uses as a primary spokesperson the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The Council's present chairperson is Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the New York Archdiocese. The Cardinal recently was on the short list for election as Pope.

 

The Obamacare fight thus far has been limited to contraception. Abortion not an issue. It goes without saying that the Church abhors abortion.

 

A recent article by Sharon Otterman in the New York Times uncovered the factual basis warranting the hypocrisy charge. The article brought forth that the Archdiocese of New York for twelve or more years had been providing coverage to certain union medical employees for contraception. Also for voluntary pregnancy termination. A delicate way of referring to abortion.

 

Shocking! The same Archdiocese now headed by Cardinal Dolan. Who is also chairperson of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The organization in the forefront of the Obamacare contraception battle.

 

A Church spokesman suggested that the Archdiocese succumbed and accepted a union contract containing the contraception and abortion coverages under protest.The issue at the time was providing health care or violating the Church's religious beliefs. It was thought better to provide the coverages. It was said by the Church spokesperson that the issues of contraception and abortion would be left to the conscience of individual employees.

 

More than ten years later, the Church's position has become that the Obamacare provisions are unprecedented, intolerable, and a government intrusion on religious liberty. Where were these arguments back when the union contract was on the table? How can what passed muster years ago now become a horrible imposition on Catholicism?

 

The Archdiocese is not the only institution that has permitted contraception coverage. Fordham University is a Catholic institution. It provides contraception coverage not only for it employees, but also its students. Since 2002, New York State mandates agencies with standard commercial insurance to provide coverage for contraception services. Many Catholic agencies fall under the mandate.

 

Where was the Catholic Church when Fordham University did what they did? Where was the Catholic Church when New York State issued its mandate?

 

I have my own thoughts.

 

I believe the Catholic Church has become politically active to an extent never before experienced. The United States Council of Catholic Bishops has a budget of $26.6 million. Such a sum would better be spent feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless.

 

I suspect also that the Catholic Church has been goaded into and has become an ally of the Republican religious right. It has been reported that the Bishops became involved in the Obamacare fight only after consultation with the group.

 

I cannot get out of my head that Catholic Church hierarchy now seek the spotlight of the public pulpit. Enjoyably so from where I sit.

 

Something else sticks in my craw. What happened to free conscience? My Catholic upbringing taught me man has free conscience. God sets the rules. Man has the ability to follow the rules or not. In the exercise of free conscience.

 

Interestingly, free conscience was one of the reasons/excuses claimed for not vehemently protesting the contraception and abortion coverages to certain union employees many years ago. Provisions that remain intact to this day.

 

I still subscribe to the Church setting the rules. Then it is up to the laity to decide what rules they wish to follow. It is not the Church's role to go public as it has. Religion and government must remain separate. Salem witch hunts are a thing of the past.

 

I say to the Catholic Church.....Take care of my soul, not my laws. Leave it to me to judge issues and make judgments in the exercise of free conscience. The free conscience given to me by God.

MAN AND HIS CHANGING WORLD

This column is being  written on Friday, April 13. The Boston bombings have occurred and the search for the perpetrators is underway. One was killed last night. The other is still sought.

Several suburban Boston communities are in shut down. Which means the police have told everyone to stay inside with their doors locked. It has just been reported that portions of Boston are also in shut down. More than 1 million people are affected by the shut down.

Boston area colleges and universities are closed. Mass transit is not running.

The streets are crowded with all sort of police officials from the FBI down to the small township police officer. All appear ready to do war. Most are wearing thick bullet proof vests. All are carrying weapons.

There is also military. Huge war type vehicles carrying soldiers and police are seen every where.

America has neither seen nor experienced what is going on in the search for the desperadoes. Never. Well, maybe one time. When the British were occupying New York City during the Revolution.

Two thoughts occur which I would like to share with you. How I view what is happening.

First, the Boston Marathon bombings are a reflection of man's inhumanity.

The two men now known to have been involved constructed home made bombs. Bombs containing carpenter nails, small ball bearings, nails and small knife type objects. The two knew the blasts would kill and maim. The result was intended. They even stayed around to see the result of their handiwork after the bombs went off.

The present toll is 3 dead and 174 injured. A young boy was killed, his youngest sister lost a leg, and his mother's brain was impaled with some sort of flying metallic object. The mother required immediate brain surgery.Two brothers each lost a leg.

Man likes to kill. He enjoys it. From almost day one. Genesis tells us Adam and Eve had two sons. Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.

Since then man has been engaged in killing, maiming and hurting his fellow man one way or another.Think of all the wars down through the centuries. Genocides in addition. Happenings such as the Inquisition and Holocaust.

In last one hundred years, the United States has been involved in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Granada, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is rare if there has been a time when there was no war or massive killings in some part of the world.

Top it off with the gun killings in the United States. Thirty thousand a year.

Killing, maiming and causing pain are inherent in man. Whether we like to admit it, it is part of man's nature.

The second thought of which I have been mindful as the events of this week unfolded is that the world is changing. It dramatically did with 9/11. It continues to change with the Boston bombings.

Since 9/11 we have airport security checks, a new Federal Department of Homeland Security, etc.

Now as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings, the streets of Boston and its surrounding area appear a war zone. Similar to a military occupation. Police authorities and soldiers everywhere. Guns in full view. Military vehicles. More than 1 million people told to stay home behind lock doors.

The scenes on television remind me of cities during World War II that were under Nazi occupation, as well as photos and videos we have seen of our soldiers fighting in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

It is a precedent. We have never seen anything even close to this in the United States in the past.

There will be heightened security from this point forward. Even after the accomplice to the Boston bombings is captured. We will have gone to another level of security which will remain with us for many years. Just as airport security has since 9/11.

The world has once again changed. It will continue to change.