Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger
It is probably just me, but it seems that every time we hear about a proposed deal to extend the debt limit and avert a government shutdown and a debt default, the plan does nothing more than cut the taxes on the wealthiest Americans and Corporations. The latest proposal by the so-called Gang of Six is just one more example of Congress attacking the Middle Class.
“The cuts in the Gang of Six plan aren’t minor, either. It proposes a chained CPI adjustment to Social Security, which may not be a bad idea when combined with other measures to boost benefits and strengthen the program, but on its own is tantamount to a $1,300 cut each year for recipients over their lifetimes. Strengthen Social Security co-chair and former Obama adviser Nancy Altman has denounced the idea as an overly harsh cut. “The chained-CPI is poor policy, and given that seniors vote in disproportionately high numbers, it is equally poor politics,” she said.” Think Progress This latest attempt by both sides of Congress to claim victory over the imaginary debt crisis just seems to be another attempt to please their corporate masters.
Does it bother anyone else that a group of Senators from both sides of the aisle would call themselves the “Gang of Six”? These Senators are doing their best to terrorize the Middle Class so maybe the moniker is appropriate. While some of the details of this proposed plan have not been agreed upon, what we do know troubles someone like myself who may be utilizing Medicare and Social Security in the next few years. “These tentative changes include repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax and establishing three simple tax brackets for individuals, while cutting “tax expenditures” and adjusting the corporate tax rate to between 23 percent and 29 percent.” Business Insider How can a tax rate be lowered for major corporations who pay no taxes now?
The proposed cuts to Social Security retirees is especially disturbing. “Lawmakers and the Obama administration are reportedly considering switching to a “chained” Consumer Price Index. According to the advocacy group Strengthen Social Security, the chained-CPI could lead to annual Social Security benefit cuts of $560 for those aged 75, $984 for those aged 85 and $1,392 for those aged 95. “The proposal to shift to the chained-CPI is actually a stealth attack on Social Security,” said Joan Entmacher, director of family economic security at the National Women’s Law Center, during a Friday conference call with reporters.” Huffington Post Is anyone surprised that the Congressional terrorists would be considering reducing payments to Seniors and reducing corporate tax rates? Just why is Social Security being discussed when it has no impact on the Deficit?
I have a novel, Gang of America idea to suggest that would actually reduce the deficit and protect Social Security. Actually, it is not my idea, but the idea of the vast majority of Americans who are repeatedly telling Congress to tax the wealthy and Corporations and to leave Social Security alone. I realize my Gang does not have much lobbying power, but we have millions of votes. Congress, it is time to get on board with the Gang of America’s ideas and you just might save the economy and your jobs. Let’s hear your ideas to “fix” the imaginary debt crisis.
Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger
Word from Oslo, Norway now says the death toll in the mass murder is now 91. Unconfirmed as of yet, but based on what we know so far, the report is credible. Many of the youth campers tried to get away from the gunman by swimming from the island to shore, a dangerous swim, especially if fully clothed. Some are believed drowned. He stalked the campers as they tried to flee, killing them execution style. Wounded survivors said they escaped being killed by playing dead.
It is still not known if Anders Behring Breivik had accomplices, or if he acted alone. Police and news reporters investigating his background have tied him to the right-wing ultra-conservative movement whose cause is xenophobia and antisemitism.
raff,
I am going to bed on this one..but my first thought was all of these good soldiers coming back and looking for work…the one place that they’d fit in would be the LEO….but hey that is just me….Over the years I have worked with some very fine officers….great guys….and then there was a deluge of new recruits….former GI’s….one even said…that the force was deteriorating….as they very seldom used discretion….the law was the law, it was not for them to decide…it was up to the courts…they were just doing the job assigned…my buddy retired two years later….
He explained to me…that we were all just doing a job…my job was to make sure he did his job right…and if the judge decided…he did not..then we could still go have a beer at the end of the day…no harm no foul….
I remember one of the new recruits would not talk with me once he found out I was a defense attorney…at first he thought I was a prosecutor…I was one of them….as I recall being called…
In ending….we don’t need no more Stinking PA Crap….
AY,
I am not so sure about the FDR rumor. That has been going on for decades. This Norway bombing and shooting is scary. I hope Washington doesn’t think it is time for enhanced Patriot Act crap!
My client got every Federal and State agency’s attention including a major university that specializes in forensics took possession of the vehicle…as his prank left no residue…including the point of ignition….
AY, along about that time your client got in trouble, there was a rash of pipe bombs in mail boxes here. It was vandals putting small pipe bombs in rural mail boxes in the middle of the night, blowing them up. It is a wonder none of them blew themselves up in the process. The Feds were very interested in those guys as well, but the perps turned out to be juveniles.
Well here is one for you…I know personally of a person that was subjected to enhanced questioning on August 28, 2001 for blowing up a truck….I represented them….it was poor timing on my clients part….
AY, I have heard those stories, but have been in this business long enough to avoid conspiracy theories like the plague.
From what has trickled out so far, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg may have been either the primary target or one of the main targets. The Prime Minister had been scheduled to speak at the youth camp later today. One report just leaked a short time ago said that unexploded ordnance had been found at the youth camp, but that report has not been confirmed.
The Prime Minister said earlier today, “We must never stop protecting our values. We must show that we can overcome this. We most show the answer to violence is more democracy, more strength.”
He went on to say, “We have all been shaken by the evil that has struck us… this is an evening demanding a lot from all of us and the days following will demand even more.”
“Norway will stand together… We suffer with the wounded and stand with the relatives.”
“I have a message to whoever attacked us and whoever is behind them. You will not destroy us. You will not destroy our democracy and our ideals for a better world.”
“We are a small nation and a proud nation. No one will bomb us into silence. No one will shoot us into Silence. No one can stop us from being Norway.”
OS,
There are somethings in this world that are too strange to be a coincidence….You bring up OK and the Murrah Building…I ponder this to you and I know our government is always there to help…
Did agents of the FBI, ATF, DEA, Marshals Service, or other federal agencies have foreknowledge of a plot to blow up the Murrah Building? If so, was it acquired by wiretaps or other technical means? Were we warned by foreign intelligence sources? Or did these or other federal agencies have informants or agents actually operating within the bombing conspiracy? If specific knowledge of the planned terrorist act was indeed in the hands of federal law enforcement departments ahead of time, why was appropriate action not taken to avert the deadly disaster?
Where Was the ATF?
THE NEW AMERICAN has reported previously on the evidence fueling charges that the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) must have been privy to information of an impending attack on that fateful April morning. Bombing victim Edye Smith, whose two young sons Chase and Colton were killed in the Murrah Building’s day-care center, first drew America’s attention to troubling rumors of an ATF tip-off during a live CNN broadcast in which she asked: “Where was ATF? All 15 or 17 of their employees survived, and they lived — they’re on the ninth floor. They were the target of this explosion, and where were they? Did they have a warning sign? And did they think it might be a bad day to go into the office?
http://www.propagandamatrix.com/evidence_of_prior_knowledge.html
If this is to be believed….I have heard Roosevelt had prior knowledge of the proposed Japanese assault….and the base sat unprotected ships…
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/pearl.html
OS,
If true, why weren’t Muslims or Jews targeted?
Was wasn’t the government targeted?
It doesn’t add up yet.
puzzling, your observation that, “….Norway recently endorsed the legitimacy of Palestinian statehood and announced the ending of military support for US actions in Libya,” is well taken considering the facts that are trickling out. There is a growing xenophobic and ultra conservative movement in the country. They may not be large in numbers yet, but have a slick and polished public relations and propaganda machine. These right wing extremists rail against the influx of Muslims and Jews into Norway, among other things they dislike or even hate.
Does any of that sound familiar?
OS,
It makes no sense that this bombing would be carried out on a national holiday, minimizing the death toll and impact.
Norway is a very affluent nation. Norway recently endorsed the legitimacy of Palestinian statehood and announced the ending of military support for US actions in Libya. They remain independent of the EU.
There is much more to this story. I only hope we get to hear it.
With regard to motive of the perpetrator(s), the tragedy in Oslo appears to be more similar to the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Building than the attacks on 9-11.
It seems hypocritical that many in the news media, especially the right wing outlets, seem to be resistant to calling these acts “terrorism” since they are not perpetrated by Muslim extremists or scary brown people. If the suspect is a right wing Christianist extremist, it does not seem to be terrorism. Tell that to the dead and wounded.
Religious nut job? Wow. Thanks for the update OS.
OS,
Thank you. I have just gotten an alert….It is indeed a sad day when someone would take the life of another and especially the life of a child…But I suppose that the person is entitled to their due process…This is one of those egregious acts where I am in support of capitol punishment….at present it is banned in Norway….
This is OT, but a suspect has been arrested in the Oslo, Norway bombing and shooting at a youth camp. The suspect is a32-year-old Norwegian named Anders Behring Breivik. He has been connected to right-wing conservative Christian activities. He had allegedly posted comments on the Internet that were anti-Muslim and anti-liberalism in Norwegian society.
The AP is now reporting the death toll at about 80 people, including a large number of young people at the youth camp who were gunned down after Breivik summoned them to gather around him, then he killed them execution style. Breivik was dressed as a police officer. News stories are still coming in and the death toll has been rising as bodies are being found.
Sense,
It is nice to hear about reasonable folks
Not at all….they are comfortably retired (not even 50 yet, but well invested) and are dems all the way. It’s the neighbor that makes me laugh. The same people who want to cut the programs are the ones using them – and in some instance totally relying on them. I know several individuals who rely on social security and are screaming that the republicans are right to cut it, raise the age, etc. The friends I mentioned are fine with a slight cut, but even though they don’t use (yet) and will never rely on it they understand it’s necessary for middle class folks.
Puzzling,
if the cap on social security earnings is removed and the tax is paid on all income would that not secure the future of the plan that you call a ponzi scheme?
Sense,
Your friend in florida sounds like the Tea party regulars with their signs demanding that the government keep their hands off of their Medicare or Social security.