Showdown in Wisconsin

[Smiley and West]

		Smiley: "We are just seeing the tip of this iceberg."   West: "M.L.K. smiles from his grave just like he did on Cairo and other parts of the Mideast."

[Bunny Bransford]

Thank you, Samuel. This issue is a complex one and not one that we can gloss over or even find a one-size-fits-all answer. We have to become serious. We have to be willing to take the time and trouble to listen to all sides of the issue to find where the true lies and listen to all the solutions in order to find the best parts of each one and then find people experienced enough and wise enough to put together the solution that will work for all of us. I don't want to take anything away from anybody, but when a person takes home 1 billion dollars -- notice I said "takes home" -- I think that person can afford to pay 1% more in taxes and still have enough money to reinvest in the economy. Another thing that irritates me to no end is that those fine, upstanding Wall Street dudes who knowingly stole our money from us are still in their positions, still stealing money from us, and still telling us everything is fine. Our politicians are being funded by the people who have all the money and the people who have all the money want to get rid of unions.  Like I said, the issues are complex. I wish I were smart enough to solve them. *Sigh*

Samuel Ephrem said:

 

I completely agree with you and feel your sentiment about what is happening with education in this country. Simply put, our priorities are not where they need to be.  When are we going to get it? I wonder. The emphasis should be not only educating the kids, but also creating opportunities once these kids are educated and ready to join the work force. We are living in a time of great contradictions which  have to be resolved in one way or another. For instance, it seems to me that there is a  shortage of educated IT professionals. So what do we do, yes, we do train some but we import a great many of them to fill this spots.  I have nothing against bring in skilled labor, but I am simply saying, it would  make political and social sense to train the work force domestically.  In another front, in this global economy, most businesses, are finding it necessary to relocate to places where profits can be maximized. Recently there was an article on the New York times describing a disconcerting trend in the so called green companies relocating their production to places where they can compete better with countries like China in terms of securing a competitive edge in the market place for their products. Unfortunately, in most cases this requires reducing the cost of production leaving  a great many skilled work force here in the US out of the equation. This is a great dis-incentive to young kids to aim for higher education - in effect education has become a contradiction in principle because the future has become not so certain. To what end should I be educated if education is not at least a leverage to raise one's standard of living?



[Brenda]

COPIED FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Tax Cuts, Unemployment Insurance and Jobs

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth.

Benefiting the Middle Class

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The bill has three key accomplishments:

Working families will not lose their tax cut.

Focused on high impact job creation measures.

Does not worsen the medium- and long-term deficit.

　

These are responsible, temporary measures to support our economy that will not add costs by the middle of the decade. The President does not believe it is affordable to make the high-income tax cuts permanent and will continue to make his case for why we cannot extend these measures beyond 2012.

The bill includes some of the best measures for jumpstarting growth and job creation, including a full year of emergency unemployment insurance benefits, a 2 percent payroll tax cut for working families and a continuation of tax credits for working families. This is on top of growth generated by extension of the middle-class income tax rates. Without action, UI benefits for at least 2 million Americans would disappear this month alone, with millions more in jeopardy in the weeks aheadA typical working family faced a tax increase of over $3,000 on January 1. That’s avoided under this bill, and working families won’t see their tax cuts go away next year.

 

I am Hoping, this information can Help those Who want to be Helped :~)!

Peace,

-U-

 

[Muriel Mitchell Lawrence]

I was attending a panel with Dr. West when I first saw this discussion. It was on Grassroots organizing. I tried to send a response from my iPhone but I can't find it anywhere = failed. At any rate, I am praying for and supporting the people of Wisconsin and am proud that they have taken their cue from the pro-democracy demonstrators of the Third World. We are fast approaching being a Third World country with the speed of plutocracy increasing everyday! We have to be prepared to defend ourselves and take our case to the streets. I pray we all will be ready when it is our turn! Last Saturday we had a chance to show our support-let's do it again and again for each other!

[Brenda]

C-SPAN.ORG

 

U.S. Senate

SEN. Harry Reid

D-Nevada, Majority Leader

Just said, Hear goes...

The Tea-Party is pushing through LAW'S.

When will, More People Stand-Up For the Right-Thing's?

"Some here, are trying, to argue with me, argue with them!" "I do not wholed Your Civil or Human Right's!"

Peace,

-U-

[Brenda]

P.J. Crowley

Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs

In Reference to a question I heard on C-Span2

 

Christian's

The Body of Christ

We Are Not Second-Class Citizan's!

If, anyone tries to Kill or Rape the People I Love, I Will-Use Self Defense, Against Them. I will Never, Ever sit by and let anyone hurt them. Only  Fool's, who do not Care will do that. What is this Country Coming to?

Peace,

-U-

[Penguin Board of Directors]

@ Samuel and Brenda

 

"Like Dr. West says, it takes courage to stop being complacent."

 

That is very true. Add to courage the willingness to stand self-denial and the scorn of the establishment. If the establishment 'genuinely' praises someone, take a hard look at the individual's complacency record again. 

Mind you, the establishment will pay mega-millions to be able to buy over a worthy advocate for the people. One single such advocate bought over translates into fresh thousands of poor people compromised.       

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel Ephrem said:

Like Dr. West  says, it takes courage to stop being complacent.

Byard Pidgeon said:

Brenda...I'm also very disappointed in the lack of response on this topic. MLK was in Memphis for this cause and got killed, as did many others over the decades of struggle for worker's rights to a decent life.

Brenda said:

Tavis and Dr. West, I know most people can read, comprehend, and write information, so "How come the responce is not Greater Here?" These action's can happen to them one day, meaning losing income and benefit's; thing of that nature. It makes me think,  most do not care. Maybe that is one of the problem's. It do not have to happen to you, in-order to respond too it. I know Our People can think. or maybe some are here for the wrong reason's.

Peace,

-U-

 

 

 

[Delwyn X. Campbell]

Two thoughts in response - first of all, why should I believe what this letter says, simply because the White House says so? You would not have expected me to do that under the previous administration, why now? Secondly, even if what it says is true, these are all temporary measures for what is a fundamental problem. We have a lot of adult people who need to work, but cannot finde work, companies that need to make a profit, and think that the best way to do so is by lowering costs, including wage and benefit costs, and governmental structures that have to balance social services, maintaining security (police and fire), structural maintenance (roads, sewers, etc) and absorb either increased populations, or a lowered tax base.

We are not going to change from a capitalist to a communist economic system any time soon, and, in addition, every nation that has attempted to function under the Marxist-Leninist theory has found itself needing to change into a capitalist system. Governments have found themselves, other than in wartime, singularly unable to create jobs that did not cost at least as much to maintain as any revenue they generated. For the most part, we now have basically promised to maintain maritime and aerospace security for the whole world, at our expense. We cannot continue to do this into the distant future, unless the contractural arrangements between the U.S. and the rest of the world is changed to that of a mercenary arrangement. That might not be the worst thing in the world; at least it beats the current system that has us paying to maintain everyone else's air and sea lanes.

Brenda said:

COPIED FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Tax Cuts, Unemployment Insurance and Jobs

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth.

Benefiting the Middle Class

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The bill has three key accomplishments:

Working families will not lose their tax cut.

Focused on high impact job creation measures.

Does not worsen the medium- and long-term deficit.

　

These are responsible, temporary measures to support our economy that will not add costs by the middle of the decade. The President does not believe it is affordable to make the high-income tax cuts permanent and will continue to make his case for why we cannot extend these measures beyond 2012.

The bill includes some of the best measures for jumpstarting growth and job creation, including a full year of emergency unemployment insurance benefits, a 2 percent payroll tax cut for working families and a continuation of tax credits for working families. This is on top of growth generated by extension of the middle-class income tax rates. Without action, UI benefits for at least 2 million Americans would disappear this month alone, with millions more in jeopardy in the weeks aheadA typical working family faced a tax increase of over $3,000 on January 1. That’s avoided under this bill, and working families won’t see their tax cuts go away next year.

 

I am Hoping, this information can Help those Who want to be Helped :~)!

Peace,

-U-

 

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Hi Delwyn,

I had a good laugh reading your very incisive post. I agree with the two points you raised. The first point suggested to me two things. First, that you do not base your argument and decision-making on whether the government in power is Republican, Democratic or Independent. Second, you do not predicate your position on the skin color of whoever occupies the White House. If my analysis is on track, then, we have a lot in common. That is the way I process things, which I must confess, is not the most effective vote-gatherer in an environment where many people have learned to run under their ethnic umbrellas. We are in good company, though; Martin Luther King Jr. believed solidly in that. It is always the least remembered of his many messages, including the Dream Speech.  

Your second point of capitalist/communist-socialist dialectics also makes sense. And, as you said, we are not about to shift gear from the capitalist option. For the records, I believe in capitalism, but one with a human face. The mercenary option for policing the world was also funny though economically pragmatic. I guess the stumbling block to that will be what we do with our traditional national pride as Americans. It is enough dent to that pride that we owe China unpaid Treasury bills running close to $800 billion! Anyway, nice post. Thanks.  

Delwyn X. Campbell said:

Two thoughts in response - first of all, why should I believe what this letter says, simply because the White House says so? You would not have expected me to do that under the previous administration, why now? Secondly, even if what it says is true, these are all temporary measures for what is a fundamental problem. We have a lot of adult people who need to work, but cannot finde work, companies that need to make a profit, and think that the best way to do so is by lowering costs, including wage and benefit costs, and governmental structures that have to balance social services, maintaining security (police and fire), structural maintenance (roads, sewers, etc) and absorb either increased populations, or a lowered tax base.

We are not going to change from a capitalist to a communist economic system any time soon, and, in addition, every nation that has attempted to function under the Marxist-Leninist theory has found itself needing to change into a capitalist system. Governments have found themselves, other than in wartime, singularly unable to create jobs that did not cost at least as much to maintain as any revenue they generated. For the most part, we now have basically promised to maintain maritime and aerospace security for the whole world, at our expense. We cannot continue to do this into the distant future, unless the contractural arrangements between the U.S. and the rest of the world is changed to that of a mercenary arrangement. That might not be the worst thing in the world; at least it beats the current system that has us paying to maintain everyone else's air and sea lanes.

Brenda said:

COPIED FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Tax Cuts, Unemployment Insurance and Jobs

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth.

Benefiting the Middle Class

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The bill has three key accomplishments:

Working families will not lose their tax cut.

Focused on high impact job creation measures.

Does not worsen the medium- and long-term deficit.

　

These are responsible, temporary measures to support our economy that will not add costs by the middle of the decade. The President does not believe it is affordable to make the high-income tax cuts permanent and will continue to make his case for why we cannot extend these measures beyond 2012.

The bill includes some of the best measures for jumpstarting growth and job creation, including a full year of emergency unemployment insurance benefits, a 2 percent payroll tax cut for working families and a continuation of tax credits for working families. This is on top of growth generated by extension of the middle-class income tax rates. Without action, UI benefits for at least 2 million Americans would disappear this month alone, with millions more in jeopardy in the weeks aheadA typical working family faced a tax increase of over $3,000 on January 1. That’s avoided under this bill, and working families won’t see their tax cuts go away next year.

 

I am Hoping, this information can Help those Who want to be Helped :~)!

Peace,

-U-

 

[Delwyn X. Campbell]

I am, to be honest, not sure what the difference between "capitalism with a human face," and ordinary capitalism is. Since "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil," and the pursuit of profits is the engine that drives capitalism, the only capitalism that I could really support would be capitalism anointed by the Holy Spirit. I don't know if such an economic paradigm could exist on earth, or if it will be needed after the Great White Throne Judgment.

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Delwyn,

I can relate to the dilemma in distinguishing between straight-jacket capitalism and capitalism with a human face. In practice, the difference is not so hard to decipher. Look at the examples of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and you can see capitalism with a human face. These two were under no obligation to be as magnanimous as they have proven to be. Bill and Melinda Gates, for and on behalf of themselves and Microsoft, have been donating millions and awarding scholarships to minority causes for decades. They have also taken their generosity outside the borders of this country. Check out the Gates' scholarship programs to United College Negro Fund (UNCF). In 2000, the Gates instituted a 20-year, $1 billion scholarship program through the UNCF. Buffet donated mega-billions of dollars to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for various philanthropic projects. There are millionaires whose relative 'widow's mite' donations seem designed more for the cameras than bona fide altruism. There are others who hardly even blink once in the direction of philanthropy. 

As for capitalism anointed by the Holy Spirit, I am not competent to handle that. The filthy lucre will probably have to be 'baptized' and sanctified first. I concede that part of capitalist reform to the pastors and reverends in this forum. One thing I know for sure is that God does not want Countrywide, Enron, and WorldCom looters and other members of the club of infamy coming to donate to His cause.  

[Muriel Mitchell Lawrence]

 

Captitalism with a "human face" would be taxation that is close to parity! It would also embrace tithing which I am sure folks like Ken Lay and Maddoff knew nothing about. If we retuned to the tax structure of the '50's and 60's and forgot about Bush's tax cuts, we could continue our World aid habit and stop feeding the Holliburtons of the world with false wars. 

[Penguin Board of Directors]

@ Muriel,

 

That makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks.