California, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and WisconsinCalifornia, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode... more
11/9/2009 Ron Paul’s Weekly Update on Healthcare, Congress, Government, and the Constitution.
***This article has been chosen as a discussion topic on PFP Movement Radio, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pfpmovementradio Friday night at 6pm-8pm. Please Call In To The Show, 347-633-9636. COMMENTS will be included in the show so feel free to discuss or ask questions here on current.com as they will be addressed during the show. This article will also air on Freedom Hour Saturday at 9pm-10pm on Movement TV http://www.peacefreedomprosperity.com/?page_id=36***11/9/2009 Ron Paul’s Weekly Update on Healthcare, Congress, Government, and the... more
Ratigan: There are people who also understand the intricacies of finance and policy, but whose allegiances to the taxpayer are clearer.
A year ago it was revealed to the American people that our banking system was a legalized Ponzi scheme in which bank and insurance CEOs paid themselves billions of dollars in personal compensation to lend and insure assets with money they didn't have to customers who couldn't pay back the loans.
In those dark days between the fall of Lehman Brothers and before the presidential election, we were often carried through that time by the small glimmer of hope in that at least we would soon have a new leader who would hopefully fix this mess and punish those responsible.
Yet in the past 9 months, not only has the administration not fixed anything, they have made things much worse for anyone who isn't a Wall Street banker. Therefore, we are past the point where anyone in power still gets the benefit of the doubt and the process of taking back our country for all citizens must begin now.
This is why I think we must ask if U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is still the right person for the job. It has become clear recently that back in his previous role as New York Federal Reserve Governor, he unnecessarily gave billions of dollars of U.S. tax money to banks and insurance companies with few strings attached. And it is now becoming clear that his lack of meaningful action is helping many of these same banks steal more by legalizing their most economically dangerous, socially destructive and self-enriching practices.
To stop the theft from continuing, it requires that the most basic rules of capitalism be applied to our banks and that our future national wealth be safeguarded by the U.S. Government. The current custodian of America's wealth, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, is not doing a good job of either. The time for corrective action is now.
more at link
Wow, actual main-stream news calling out the Goldman Sachs establishment. No wonder Dylan got kicked off of CNBC's Fast Money, and lets not forget Jeff Macke as well.Ratigan: There are people who also understand the intricacies of finance and policy,... more
In a cost cutting measure, the State of Virginia is closing a statewide pharmacy which provided discount drugs to local mental health boards which serves about 11,000 people.
"With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense. This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes", said San Francisco Assemblymember Tom Ammiano in a press conference today, which SFist described as a "media circus."
Ammiano continued to say "California has the opportunity to be the first state in the nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and regulation of marijuana."
The drug would still be illegal under federal law, but if passed, the Marijuana Control Regulation and Education Act would tax $50 per ounce. You would also need to be over the age of 21. Full presser is below.
AMMIANO PROPOSES BILL TO TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA Legislation Would Generate $1 Billion in New Revenue for CA
San Francisco, CA - Today Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco)
announced the introduction of groundbreaking legislation that would
tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. The
Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education act (AB 390) would create
a regulatory structure similar to that used for beer, wine and liquor,
permitting taxed sales to adults while barring sales to or possession
by those under 21.
"With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move
towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense. This
legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict
access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our
public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by
redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes", said
Ammiano. "California has the opportunity to be the first state in the
nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and
regulation of marijuana."
Having just closed a $42 billion budget deficit, generating new
revenue is crucial to the state's long term fiscal health. Board of
Equalization Chairwoman Betty Yee said, "This common sense measure
effectively prioritizes state resources during these times of fiscal
constraint. Prioritizing law enforcement to control the most serious
drugs while raising new revenues from casual marijuana use directed to
treating serious drug addiction is a prudent use of limited
resources."
"I support this legislation because I feel this issue should be the
subject of legislative and public debate," said current San Francisco
Sheriff Mike Hennessey. Orange County Superior Court Judge (retired)
James P. Gray added, "Assemblymember Ammiano is to be applauded in
addressing this critical issue honestly and directly."
"Marijuana already plays a huge role in the California economy. It's a
revenue opportunity we quite simply can't afford to ignore any
longer," said Stephen Gutwillig, California state director for the
Drug Policy Alliance. "It's time to end the charade of marijuana
prohibition, regulate the $14 billion market, and redirect law
enforcement resources to more important matters. Assemblymember
Ammiano has done the state an enormous service by breaking the silence
on this commonsense solution."
"It is simply nonsensical that California's largest agricultural
industry is completely unregulated and untaxed," said Marijuana Policy
Project California policy director Aaron Smith. "With our state in an
ongoing fiscal crisis -- and no one believes the new budget is the end
of California's financial woes -- it's time to bring this major piece
of our economy into the light of day." http://laist.com/2009/02/23/will_taxing_marijuana_fix_the_state.php"With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards... more
Health Care Cuts Hit Alameda County
Video, Ann Bassette,
Oct 17, 2009
Editor's Note: YO!TV heads out to Alameda County to talk to community members about the current budget cuts that are affecting local health care services. Ann Bassette is a senior producer for YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia.Health Care Cuts Hit Alameda County
Video, Ann Bassette,
Oct 17, 2009
Editor's... more
With New York facing a nearly $50 billion deficit over the next three and a half years, Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday unveiled a plan to cut $3 billion over the current
fiscal year and raised alarms about the state’s financial health.
The plan, which would cut $5 billion over the next year and a half, includes sweeping cuts to education and Medicaid as well as a grab bag of other strategies, from a new tax amnesty to raiding the state environmental protection fund and the Battery Park City Authority.
The plan would cut $1.3 billion in local assistance over the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends next March, including $480 million in cuts in school aid to districts across the state, or about 4.5 percent of the remaining aid due to be disbursed. The plan would also cut $471 million from Medicaid and other health and mental health programs.
“New York is ground zero for the fiscal crisis,” Mr. Paterson said, referring to the state’s reliance on Wall Street revenue, during a news conference on Thursday. “This is a very painful plan, but we will share the burden. This budget deficit has affected all of us, and all of us are going to have to sacrifice.”
The governor ruled out any tax increases......With New York facing a nearly $50 billion deficit over the next three and a half... more
Western Slope politicians and organizations are hoping that battles over the state budget don't boil down to a rural-urban divide.
If that happens, rural communities have more to lose, said state Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, a member of the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee.Western Slope politicians and organizations are hoping that battles over the state... more
Lately, I have been seeing health care come up a whole lot lately in the news. I remember all the talk over Obama's speech, the rude interruption ("you lie!"), the grandma death threats, and so on. While I was very impressed by his speech I still didn't quite know what to think about it; health care is one of those subjects that I don't know much about. This is a shame because it's a big issue that is seriously going to affect me later on. I think that it's a shame that people don't talk about health care as much as they do about other issues because in my opinion it has to be the absolute most important issue of them all.
I was never really told too much about how health care and things related to it I guess because I didn't have to worry about it. Now, I'm 18 however and I can see that in the near future this is going to be a huge problem for me because as of now I'm still covered under my grandparents' medical plan. When it comes time for me to go after my own - well -- in my opinion I'm pretty screwed. Even though I'm under a medical plan I still don't go to the doctor's every chance I get because it is so expensive. Even when I have a cold most of the time I just stay home or attempt to go about my day as usual and buy some cough drops, some Tylenol, and some Robitussen. I guess in a nutshell, I don't go to a doctor unless I absolutely have to. It's not the best thing to do because sometimes when things do get bad then you may be too late and they may not be able to completely fix you up, if at all.
Something has to be done about the way health care is being carried out now. While I don't know much about health care it doesn't take a genius to know it needs fixing. I can only hope that they can fix it soon for my sake, for my grandparents' sake, for my fathers sake (he has major back problems and so far has had four different surgeries), and most importantly for all of America's sake.
--Torriano Melancon
www.youthoutlook.orgLately, I have been seeing health care come up a whole lot lately in the news. I... more
You may be pinching pennies, but Congress is not. Lawmakers have given themselves a sizable budget increase. This year's appropriations bill provides about $4.7 billion for legislative branch activities, an increase of about 5.8 percent.
That includes more than $19 million for miscellaneous items, of which $500,000 will go to a pilot program for senators to send out postcards about their town hall meetings. And $4 million for consultants for some of Capitol Hill's top lawmakers.
Supporters of the bill say they are being frugal, and that last year Congress increased its budget by almost 11 percent.
But Senator John McCain said on Wednesday: "Has anybody had any trouble lately having people come to their town hall meetings? We need to spend an additional $500,000 to notify? Please.
_____________________
And they have the nerve to say they are being frugal. Our forefathers left England to escape one tyrant and we are facing 535 of them today.You may be pinching pennies, but Congress is not. Lawmakers have given themselves a... more
As we sit back and watch the freedoms and benefits of being an American auctioned off to the highest bidder, our tax dollars are going, in record numbers, to the Department of Defense. I guess this explains why the government can't do much to help with rising energy costs, health care, job loss, homelessness, loss of retirement savings or any of the other trickle down the American people are experiencing. Our government is maxed out funding global warfare. Take a long, hard look at the bill your representatives just passed for the Department of Defense, and imagine if you will, the defense contracts that will come out of this appropriation. I'd like to think this might translate into jobs for American citizens, but how does this kind of defense spending really impact the livelihood of the average American citizen? Are we safer, more secure? Have our representatives or our president initiated salary caps for CEOs who do business with the Federal government so that our tax dollars aren't making a handful of defense contracting CEOs filthy rich while the average American scrambles for money to pay the skyrocketing light bill? I don't know the answer to these questions. Anyone?
We deeply regret to inform you that without the necessary budgetary legislation by the State Legislature in Harrisburg, the City of Philadelphia will not have the funds to operate our neighborhood branch libraries, regional libraries, or the Parkway Central Library after October 2, 2009. (http://libwww.freelibrary.org/closing/)
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I believe we need to be funding educational outlets like public libraries because reading and learning spark new ideas and concepts that could be beneficial to society. What's going on, where are the priorities?All Free Library of Philadelphia Customers,
We deeply regret to inform you that... more
I keep hearing concerns about the amount of money our government is spending. I agree that our growing deficit is an important issue and we should be cautious. However, I'd like to give some perspective about exactly where we, as a country, stand.
Yes, our national debt is by far larger than any other time in history. Having said that, I remember when postage stamps were 25 cents and a Coke was 50 cents. As a matter of fact, my parents bought a very nice two bedroom house in the 1970's for $21,000. This is evidence that dollar amounts are not what they used to be. Any discussion of the national debt must account for inflation.
I think a better way to look at our deficit is as a percentage of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to Time Magazine, our estimated deficit (as of August 25) "accounts for 11.2% of GDP, the largest percentage since 1945." That's a large number, but consider the following:
In 1945, we had just come out of a world war. Today we are fighting two wars simultaneously.
In 1945, we had just emerged from the Great Depression. Today we are in (or, according to some analysts, just emerging from) the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression.
In difficult times, the government must "step up" to meet the challenges of the day and help its citizens survive. While our rate of spending is cause for concern and should be a matter of debate, I don't believe it warrants the hysteria that's being generated today.
The Stimulus Package was money spent to create jobs and bolster our economy. It's starting to work. Health care reform will be money spent to ensure all Americans can receive care when they get sick (by itself a nobel cause) with the benefit of reducing costs and providing for a healthier populace in the future. Energy reform will be money spent to make our nation's infrastructure cleaner and more efficient, thus saving our environment and reducing costs. As such, I consider today's spending to be an investment for a better tomorrow.I keep hearing concerns about the amount of money our government is spending. I agree... more
A budget gaming PC owner bemoans that investing in future-proof updgradeable motherboards may not be a good idea for low-end gaming PC owners. Article explains why, shows how much he has invested to "conserve" cash, and gives advice on when not to upgrade.A budget gaming PC owner bemoans that investing in future-proof updgradeable... more
The ink is barely dry on the New Hampshire budget signed into law by Governor Lynch on June 30. Only 2 months have elapsed in the 24 month spending blueprint, but problems Republicans warned about are intensifying like a hurricane ready to make landfall. More ominously, a Plan B strategy dealing with budget problems is not even discussed in the polite company of Democratic legislative leaders.The ink is barely dry on the New Hampshire budget signed into law by Governor Lynch on... more
David Walker sounds like a modern-day Paul Revere as he warns about the country's perilous future. "We suffer from a fiscal cancer," he tells a meeting of the National Taxpayers Union, the nation's oldest anti-tax lobby. "Our off balance sheet obligations associated with Social Security and Medicare put us in a $56 trillion financial hole—and that's before the recession was officially declared last year. America now owes more than Americans are worth—and the gap is growing!"By JOHN FUND
Washington, D.C.
David Walker sounds like a modern-day Paul Revere... more
That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up the following day, the release said. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up.
As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees -- the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year's Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year's Eve to Monday.
The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days.That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays... more
The Ella Baker Center along with other community workers in the Oakland area have come up with five key points to fix our budget in California. They know that the old way of doing things in California is not working so they are working on providing real Solutions. The fact is that if you are poor or are a member of certain ethnic groups the chance of you going to jail is very likely. We have seen an influx in our prison population without rehabilitation. Creating huge profits for a few but with destruction to most of our communities. Real reform is needed and at least they are providing some Solutions to our problem. We have to move away from fear and work together to provide real solutions.
Solution #1: Replace the Death Penalty with Permanent Imprisonment
Converting death sentences to permanent imprisonment will ensure that we keep our communities safe without wasting critical resources. Experience has shown that permanent imprisonment works -- at a fraction of the cost. Five Year Savings: $1 billion
Solution #2: Close Division of Juvenile Justice Youth Prisons
California taxpayers currently pay $380 million each year to keep 1,624 young people locked up in youth prisons. Instead, youth should be sent to local facilities where they have access to effective treatment programs for the entire family. Five Year Savings: $1 billion
Solution #3: Keep the Response to Petty Drug Possession Local
We currently house 24,000 people in state prison for drug possession, at a cost of $1 billion a year. Instead, we should shift our response to non-violent drug crimes to the local level and provide effective drug treatment. Five Year Savings: $5 billion
Solution #4: Fix the Three Strikes Law
If we reform the Three Strikes Law to require that the most recent felony be a violent offense -- like every other state in the country -- we would save $1 billion that we now waste housing people in prison as a result of non-violent offenses. Five Year Savings: $5 billion
As our lawmakers return from their summer recess, the time is now to demand smart solutions to California's budget crisis. I hope to see you on Tuesday. If you live in the Bay Area and need a ride to Sacramento from the Ella Baker Center office in Oakland, please contact Books Not Bars organizer Joyce Cook.
Justice for families,
Zachary Norris
Ella Baker Center for Human RightsThe Ella Baker Center along with other community workers in the Oakland area have come... more
Away from home with the high cost of college, students often find that they are usually a little short on cash. But if you are smart about it, it doesn’t have to be that way. Read on, and you’ll find 100 hacks that can help save students money.Away from home with the high cost of college, students often find that they are... more
