A Question About Pot

There seems to be a general across the country priority issue with legalizing marijuana that found it's way to trump President Obama's agenda for his fancy cyberspace town hall meeting as reported on Politico: Pot takes center stage at townhall. One of the most popular questions was about legalizing drugs.

Politico's Josh Gerstein says, "While Obama’s answer was unequivocal, it was also dismissive and didn’t explain why legalization was unwise."

The question and the President's comment:

“There was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high: that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation,” Obama said, with a chuckle. “I don’t know what this says about the online audience.”

“This was a fairly popular question — we want to make sure it was answered. The answer is no. I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy,” he said to laughter and applause from the live East Room audience of union members, teachers, business leaders and others.

We all know how a large number of local's feel about this issue. There was a lot of happy blogging recently when everyone thought President Obama actually heard the voices, wants, and needs of the people, to quote:

"Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government would defer to state governments whether to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes."

I wonder if they all feel so full of hope today? I doubt it. It seems more and more that there's one heck of a big difference between what President Obama says and what he does. Here's his latest shot at a California Marijuana Medical Clinic: Drug Agents Raid SF Medical Marijuana Clinic.

Then there's his promise to take ALL combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010. Today, we learn he's been feeding everyone a line of bull right from the start. You can read about this in the interview on Democracy now with Gareth Porter: Report: Despite Obama’s Vow, Combat Brigades Will Stay in Iraq

Nearly four weeks ago, President Obama declared that US combat operations would end in Iraq by August 2010. Despite Obama’s pledge, new evidence has emerged that the US plans to keep combat brigades in Iraq, but they will operate under a different name.

You can read his complete report: Despite Obama’s Vow, Combat Brigades Will Stay in Iraq here.

Wouldn't it be nice, for once, to have a President of the United States everyone could trust and honestly believe that he's working for and defending the interest of ALL people? It took the country a while to see President George Bush's true colors, but this President is laying it on the line coming right out the gate.

Gerbils and the Dumb-Down

If anyone thinks that what's happening in this country and to the World economy was caused by simple lack of oversight, moronic screw-ups or some other philosophical malaise, try thinking again. Since Ronald Reagan the Republicans have doubled the debt in their predetermined massive transfer of wealth to their enabled elite. What's happening is NO accident.

Here's one of my posts for Friday, August 8, 2008:
How The Stupid Rule

The Wrecking Crew: Thomas Frank on How Conservatives Rule

Frank writes, “Fantastic misgovernment of the kind we have seen is not an accident, nor is it the work of a few bad individuals. It is the consequence of triumph by a particular philosophy of government, by a movement that understands the liberal state as a perversion and considers the market the ideal nexus of human society. This movement is friendly to industry not just by force of campaign contributions but by conviction.”

Read the interview to learn how Ronald Regan and GHW Bush dominated Bill Clinton's agenda and how G. Bush Jr. has setup the next President.

Then there's this interview for Thursday, March 12, 2009, on Democracy Now with Michael Parenti that makes my case once again. Only it's his assessment that the goal is to make America and Western Europe just like Indonesia. According to him their doing a pretty good job, so far. You can read who they are in the complete interview here:

Michael Parenti: Economic Crisis the Inevitable Result of “Capitalism’s Self-inflicted Apocalypse” Here's an excerpt:

AMY GOODMAN: Talk about the Democrats and Republicans. You said you’re infuriated by the Republican response, because they just want tax cuts for the rich. But what about the Democrats—I mean, just now we were playing for you Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary—and the approach to this crisis?

MICHAEL PARENTI: Oh, it’s insufficient. I mean, that’s what’s coming out with your questions. It’s insufficient. They’re not dealing with systemic questions. There’s all this debate about the stimulus package. Hardly a word has come out about the Federal Reserve giving away two-and-a-half trillion dollars, just giving it away unaccountably.

AMY GOODMAN: Explain that.

MICHAEL PARENTI: The Federal Reserve just went—while we had this $750 billion stimulus package, which was passed by Congress, the Federal Reserve printed up—it can print up money and create money—and handed out over $2 trillion to the financial community in America, with no accountability, no debate in Congress and very little notice.

AMY GOODMAN: So, what’s the significance of that?

MICHAEL PARENTI: Well, the significance is that we’re going to—I mean, that’s our money, that it becomes real money when it becomes debt, and we’ve got to pay it. You see, the Republicans were never against debt; they were the biggest debt spenders there ever was. When Ronald Reagan came into office, the national debt was $800 billion. When he left office, it was $2.5 trillion. I mean, it was OK with him to spend. He also put in the biggest tax program that ever was, but it was a regressive tax. It was a Social Security tax on tens of millions of people. When George Bush, Sr. came in, the national debt went from $2.5 to $5 trillion. Clinton—I’ll give him credit for that one thing—he did try to go for solvency. But when you got to George Bush, Jr., for eight years, the debt has gone from $5 trillion to $10 trillion. And these Republicans were voting for that all along. All these spending bills were theirs. So, you see, they don’t mind debt, because debt is really a way of upward distribution. You tax the common people, and you give the money to rich creditors. It’s a very regressive way of redistributing wealth upward. So debt is fine with them.

Don't you just love these Republicans? Tell me this wasn't their longterm goal.

What do you see is the future of capitalism?

MICHAEL PARENTI: I see it as a future in which there’s going to be a lot of
suffering. I see it—the goal is to have more and more Indonesias and fewer
Denmarks and such.

And that means?

That means that even in the social democracies in Western Europe, there are going to be cutbacks, there’s going to be privatization, deregulation, greater—growth of inequities, rollbacks of human services and such, in countries that were pretty decent, countries where capitalism was reined in and held in line, to some degree, anyway.

Well, Indonesia, I mean it’s a free market paradise. They talk about free market. In
Indonesia, there are no consumer protections, there are no regulations, there is
no public medical care, there’s no public education. People just die younger.

If that's not enough you can read, Capitalism’s Self-inflicted Apocalypse by Michael Parenti.

Michael Parenti is an internationally known award-winning author and lecturer.
He is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. His highly
informative and entertaining books and talks have reached a wide range of
audiences in North America and abroad.

---

Here's a related commentary on SoHum Parlance II in his "WTF???" post about this subject. -- Well, when prodded just a bit he wasn't exactly at "a loss for words." A valid point, neverthe less:

March 11, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Eric Kirk

In spite of this, progressives trust the gov’t more than private industry (which they can hold accountable). Go figure…

Um. Well. The problem here is that government did not keep tabs on private industry. So let’s just say that the culpability is less. The private industry ripped us off. The public sector was negligent in preventing it.

--Joe

HumBug Blogger Elite Report II

At least once a week I go through my list of local blogs whether they really interest me or not. Most do. Some change or dry up. It's a kind of penance I pay for writing the Report. Occasionally, if the subject interests me, I'll even post an observation or ask a question. Over the months, I've noticed that the regular commentators, the Blah, Blah, Blah types who regularly wash each others hands, work together like a pack of ravenous dogs when a stranger tries to enter into their little social club. Or, they just ignore you altogether. No talking to terrorists you know?

Local blogs and blog commentary is a fair representation of local interests, issues and problems ranging from "A" to "Z". Everyone has an opinion on something and everything. Lord forbid someone should point out their opinions have nothing to do with rhyme, rhythm, history or the facts. Of course, it's all nothing but "WORDS" and we all know "words," when you get right down to it, are pure, unadulterated bull-shit.

So, why then all the animus when someone has the courage to disagree, point out their insincerity, or rank dishonesty?

I recently went on SoHum Parlance II and asked a couple of questions. For that I was told that I "looked like a duck," "walked like a duck" and that my comments were "duck crap." Remember, there's one rule the Blogger of Record, Eric Kirk insists upon: NO NAME CALLING. Even though he joined in with the excoriating ridicule he rose above, NAME CALLING! The ad homonym belittling insults of Kirk and his ad hoc groupies speaks for itself, to anyone wasting their time reading that crap. Yet, we find he's accepted and fits right in the Humbug Blogger Elite.

The above reveals, to any serious peruser of these local blogs, a couple of common threads. One, there is really NO serious conversation regarding important issues and problems. It's mostly all fluff and smoke and mirror stuff. Second, is the grid lock caused by the intolerance, xenophobic bigotry and hatred. Lest we forget to mention, there's a third thread Joe chooses to call the Humbug Blogger Elite. They represent the kind of club that has permeated the North Coast's perennial problems and ailments that ostracizes and victimizes every citizen and non-citizen alike. Such things like why there is no freeway bypassing Eureka and Bayside, Eureka police use of tazers, lack of transparency in government, some sort of serious police review, lack of effective traffic enforcement, and the list goes on.

What got me to thinking about this is what happened when I clicked on the North Coast Journal Blog and I was introduced to their new Blogthing. Hank Sims was ecstatic about their new Robot. He's got his robot setup to search the Times-Standard's internet homepage and as he says, "He watches a list of local blogs and informs us when they are updated." A real tiny list!

I would guess they think that tiny list of blog sites is a good enough cross-section of "politics, people and art" in Humboldt County to justify their little news paper. Here's one list, it changes every day:

Eureka Ruin: Money Trees Abound + 10 more… Eureka Ruin: Money Trees Abound • NCJ Blogthing: The Blogthing is Dead • Watch Paul: Heinous? • Redheaded Blackbelt: Color at Dawn • Continental Shelf: Historical Society 49th annual luncheon • The Plazoid: Judges Cash In on Prison Profits • SoHum Parlance: Krugman: It’s not enough • Continental Shelf: Marina Center DEIR comments posted • Fred’s Humboldt Blog: Ocean Salmon Fishing This Year? • Humboldt Herald: Marina Center comments online

This is what The Journal says about itself:

The North Coast Journal of Politics, People & Art is a guide to what's really happening on the far North Coast of California. We provide news in a way that will make you think and we deliver all the fun through the liveliest, most comprehensive and interactive events calendar on the North Coast on the web at www.northcoastjournal.com with highlights each week in print.

Unfortunately saying it doesn't make it true. Hank Sims seems to think that print media and their reporters stands head and shoulders above electronic media when it comes to accountability, honesty and integrity. He may have a point. Being an honest reporter in this day and age is a dangerous business. Sticking to the facts and not getting caught up in disseminating persuasive propaganda and rampant character assassination is a tough job, too. Even so, maybe it's time Joe Blow spent a little more time getting to know The Journal.

Look at the Blog Roll on each of these sites and you begin to see the thread of commonality. Joe has to ask, "Where's the beef"?

ADDENDUM :: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

I came across this newspaper article by Mark Morford,
"Death by moron
Has anonymous commenting destroyed meaningful online dialogue? Oh, hell yes"

We agree. You can read some of our commentary on this subject here. "Death by Moron" says a lot about anonymous commentators. Moronic blogs and commentators discourage most decent conversation, if you can find any, unless moderated.

--Joe

The Jew Agenda Comes Clear

Finally, we begin to see the Zionist Jew's true intentions regarding Israel. They made their move in 1948, but were unable to sustain their intent to completely eradicate the Palestinian people from their lands. As noted in previous posts, the Zionist Jew began to wage war on the civilian people to force the Palestinians to submit to or go along with the Jew's right to take their land by force or without any compensation. The so-called decades old "peace process" was nothing more than a ruse to allow the Jews time to take more Palestinian land by build illegal settlements. The two-state solution merely furthered that ruse for another decade. Neither Israel nor the United States ever intended to recognize Palestinian legitimacy that comes with statehood.

Another Update :: Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Israel's targeting of civilian resistance to the separation wall proves the two-state solution is now just a meaningless slogan - The Report has maintained this from the beginning. Nice to have some confirmation.

Update :: Saturday, February 21, 2009

Israeli Zionists have no intention of peace, only expansion of Eretz Yisrael

Addendum :: Monday, February 16, 2009

If the Jews truly wanted peace they would NOT continue to do this:
Israel seizes land for settlement expansion

Jews begin to feel the bite of Gaza assault:
Jews in Muslim lands anxious over Gaza war
By AMY TEIBEL – 6 hours ago

Addendum :: Thursday, February 11, 2009
Fraud in the Holy Land - Independent versus Sovereign State

"Writing in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli journalist Gideon Levy says: “Netanyahu’s election is likely to bring the curtain down on the great fraud… the lie of “negotiations” and the injustice of the “peace process.” Israel consistently claimed these acts proved the nation was focused on peace and the end of the occupation. All the while, it did everything it could to further entrench the occupation and distance any chance of a potential agreement.

For 16 years, we have been enamored with the peace process. We talk and talk, babble and prattle, and generally feel great about ourselves; meanwhile the settlements expand endlessly and Israel turns to the use of force at every possible opportunity, aside from a unilateral disengagement which did nothing to advance the cause of peace.”

The truth defines itself - 61 years of undisputed history speaks.

---

It's become quite obvious today that with the election and continued support by a majority of Palestinian people for a Hamas government, or at least a national unity government that includes Hamas, that these people will not totally go along with Israel's right to their 61 years of visceral rape. The only solution for the Jew is to finally cut the Palestinian throat. Right at this moment the knife is already moving with the starvation of 1.5 million Gaza refugees. Fata and Abbas think they've cut a deal with Israel to survive, but all they've done is expose their treason. Israel will deal with them equally, regardless.

In the aftermath of Israeli elections, one way or another, Israel's latest vote count puts the Right Wing, neo-fascist in control. According to Neve Gordon, a professor of politics and government at Ben-Gurion University and the author of Israel’s Occupation, as reported on Democracy Now, this is the trend even with the younger generation.

What we see in—before the elections, that in all the high schools in Israel, Lieberman was the leading party in [inaudible] votes. So we see that the younger generation is supporting these neo-fascist tendencies. And we cannot blame the schools from it, but we have to blame the whole atmosphere in Israel, which is indeed a racist atmosphere, an anti-Arab atmosphere, anti-Palestinian Arab atmosphere. And Lieberman, what he has learned to do well is to feed on the hatred and the fear of the Arabs, to use a xenophobic method. And this is extremely dangerous. And to tell you the truth, I fear for Israel. I fear for the citizenry in Israel. And I think we are in a watershed moment in Israeli politics.

Mustafa Barghouti, independent Palestinian lawmaker and democracy activist lays out a far worse situation.

This is a very serious shift, but not only to the right; this is a shift to racism. In my opinion, in these elections, Israel has completed the transformation into an apartheid state with an apartheid racist political system.

And this is the outcome of two processes. One is the implantation of fear and hatred in the Israeli society by the Israeli establishment. The army is a big part of that establishment, and the military-industrial complex is a second big part. And the second factor has been the complicity of the international community. The United States administration, previous administration, the European governments, the whole official international community has been complicit with Israeli crimes, war crimes in Gaza and in other places, and silent about forty-one years of occupation. So, basically, people in Israel think they can do what they want. If they violate human rights in such a terrible manner and nobody is objecting, I think they think they can move forward towards racism and an apartheid system, and that is unfortunately the case today.

In addition to what was said about practically the Likud racist approach dominating the whole scene, with Livni and Netanyahu—and here I would agree that there aren’t much differences between the two. Maybe you can say that both of them are racist. Only, Netanyahu is a blunt racist, and Livni is a racist with some makeup. But they both represent the same. [ ... ]

In my opinion, we have reached a very critical moment, and that’s why these elections are of great importance, because the bringing in of racist tendency in Israel and this whole extreme coalition into the Israeli government, which would be the case, is happening exactly at a moment when we are about to lose the last opportunity of two-state solution, because of the growth of settlements, because of the fragmentation of the West Bank, because of the consolidation of a situation where Palestinians practically live now in bantustans and ghettos. And they’re in a situation where, after fifteen years of the creation of the Palestinian Authority, the only road open for it by Israel is to become only a security sub-agent for occupation and something like Vichy government in a bantustan entity. That is the risk. And that’s why this is dangerous, not only because it is against peace, but also it is like the last hit in the direction of killing the final or the last opportunity of two-day solution. [ ... ]

I would like to emphasize here that I believe that the last war on Gaza, plus other things that the Israeli government did jointly with the Bush administration, was nothing but an effort to create a preemptive strike against the Barack Obama administration. That was clear in the Resolution 1850, which tried to restrict the peace process only to the failing Annapolis process. And that was clear in the war and intensification of tension in the region, to prevent, in my opinion, peaceful dialogue with Syria and Iran that Barack Obama wants to have and to obstruct a fast and quick withdrawal from Iraq. But finally, that agreement that was concluded between Livni and Rice, in the very last hours before Rice left her position, was also a preemptive strike against this administration. [ ... ]

That agreement was that the United States and NATO will be providing guarantees to Israel and provide protection to the occupying force, being Israel, and to prevent the resistance of the Palestinian people who are under occupation. So this is the first time in human history where, from one side, the people under occupation in West Bank are supposed, through this huge security apparatus, which is consuming 34 percent of our budget, depriving us from healthcare and education—the Palestinian Authority is supposed to provide protection to its occupiers, and the world community has to provide protection to the occupying force of Gaza, in this case the Israeli occupying force. [ ... ]

And maybe these results of elections in Israel will show everybody the time has come for a real change in the American policy. Every value that President Obama spoke about—values of respect of human rights, of democracy, of respect for Geneva Convention, avoiding torture, justice, equality, equal opportunity—every value of those are violated by Israel.

So, there you have it. The picture, the truth about Zionist Israel's legitimate right to exist, is getting clearer and clearer. President Barack Obama will not do what is necessary to preserve the Jewish state or try to protect his or America's integrity, what little bit that's left. Certainly, now when he's bombing innocent civilian people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zionist Israel is revealing itself to be exactly what it is. No civilized people wages war on defenseless and innocent women and children, for any reason. The Universe has wiped out whole civilizations for such crimes. Perhaps they should have seriously tried to make peace with the Palestinian people, recognize their legitimate right to exist along with everyone else, when they had the chance.

--Joe

Humbug SoHum Elite

This seems like a good time and place to make the following observations about a couple of Southern Humboldt Blogs. Blogs are essentially an online person's place of residence; a kind of alter ego home. When you open up that home for commentary you post a “Welcome” sign on your front door that says, “Please come in and speak to me and my guests.” Since visitors are invited guests, they should act like guests and be treated like they are, welcomed guests. Welcomed guests and hosts alike are first and foremost decent and respectful of the individual rights of all legitimate people to exist. Rarely do you ever read a “Welcome” sign that says: “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.” Yet that is exactly what I have encountered at two prominent (if you consider all the commentary posted on their blogs to mean anything) Southern Humboldt blogger's abodes. They talk or write like they are some kind of self-righteous, supreme authority on all things in God's creation. An old logger might say, "They think their crap don't stink!" They invite or entice you in to have intercourse, to make commentary. In Joe's situation, make “observations,” no intercourse. When the payoff isn't satisfactory, doesn't produce what they expected or wanted, they then use that opportunity to tell you what a pile of dog crap they think you are. Then when you have the temerity to object to their personal diseased characterizations and demeaning accusations of being everything from the lowest form of slime to a psychotic imbecile they delete your response. Rarely will they ever tell you that you are NOT welcome and to not come back with anymore talk. They hope you'll come back and say something so they can publicly ridicule you some more.

My most recent experience with “assaulting the messenger” was with Eric Kirk, SoHum Parlance II. I realize Eric Kirk lives in own little dreamworld and can't handle getting his cage rattled once in awhile, like most of us. Going at me personally to justify censoring my observations prompted this partial response:

Since I know you’ll read this, let me say that when you open the door to your blog and invite everyone in including Anonymous people to denigrate, demean, slander and personally assault with foul, hypercritical and lying accusations then remove the response because it offends your pussy sensibilities you make your blog a whorehouse.

Not all blogs are corrupt, petty, mean-spirited, narcissistic, obtuse, and belligerent. Some wordmeisters do a fair job when they stick to what they know. Others like Brilliant Branscomb post comments like this: December 17, 2008 at 10:38 am - Ernie Branscomb (South Fork Ernie)

“Early on in the Arab world, they make great strides toward science and civilization, but recently they have become somewhat complacent. Some would say that they are no longer keeping pace with the modern world, indeed some would say that they are becoming a backward tribe of people, and they are starting to harm the progress toward civilization.” “Some would say” that ancient society, "Arab world," is uncivilized because it rejects Democracies “modern” anarchy, mob rule and corruption? We all know how Brancomb's ancestors modernized the North American Indian population.

The problem here with the both of these guys and the reason for their online conduct is that they are basically racist and dehumanize people and their societies to justify their intolerant racist actions. Like all racist warmongers when they can't support themselves they immediately attack their victims.

I posted this response because I went back to Erik's blog and asked him a third time to explain himself. I noticed that he's been back to that thread several times after I asked. Normally Joe has no time nor any tolerance for the rude and indecent behavior of the type encountered with these two prima donnas. However, after Erik left his little rat droppings all over both of my blogs, apparently trying to make some point, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, "discernment of truth does not grow in empty minds."

ADENNDUM :: Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Humbug Bloggers in Humboldt encompass a nifty little social club. A classic example of who these people are is the list on the sidebar of The Humboldt Herald. Pretty much says it all when you compare lists on other local Humboldt blogs. Joe vainly keeps checking for his blogs to magically appear, but no such luck . . .

I recently came across another good example of this "Good-ol' Boy Club" posted recently at 

Ernie's Place. His title, as far as Joe Blow observes, is in fact, Nothing New. His "list" is a-typical of "The Club," however. Here's a couple more similar blog links. If that's not enough, check this one out. "Do you like local history, droll humor and a sensible outlook?" From this guy's blog? Really? See what I mean?

--Joe

Joe Took A Nap

Yep! He took a nap. He got tired of listening to all the blather and just tuned out for awhile.

Problem was, he didn't realize that the world had changed while he was napping. Unfortunately, the lunatics are still hogging our streets, pedestrians and bicycle riders are still threatened daily, not to mention the hungry homeless. Our homes and businesses aren't worth as much as they were, but our garbage is.

Joe is always amazed at how the poor and middle-class Americans beg the Republican Elite to take their money and their children's money too. Guess they didn't expect to be thrown out into the street did they?

Oh well, just do a little rioting for food and they'll all find themselves in a concentration camp somewhere in S. Palin's Alaska.

--Joe

The Real Economy, REALLY?

James Faulk wrote in the Times Standard Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 under: The real economy

The Web is alive with screaming headlines about this or that financial giant going out of business, closing its doors in the face of an economic maelstrom that started somewhere between America's housing and its bubble.

Accompanying the multitude of stories online, in print and on television are blurbs from the various political candidates of all shapes and sizes who loudly proclaim that there is indeed a problem, and that only they -- not that other guy -- know how to fix it.
There was a bubble, and it burst. The explosion left a mess, and it's covered all of us with a three-inch layer of dung.

Times like these, Alan Greenspan takes to the air waves and says, “This is the worst I've ever seen.”

The market is panicking, Fannie and Freddie are befuddled and failing, and all the other financial giants of the world are just trying to stay afloat by selling themselves to Bank of America, who remains impervious to the bad economic times because of their enormous size and overdraft fees.

This is the big picture, and to most Americans, it remains absolutely meaningless. That is, the fate of various financial institutions is meaningless versus the reality of making ends meet. Most Americans don't require massive amounts of capital to get out of bed in the morning, get their kids to school, or get themselves to work.

But they do need a job, or maybe even a raise, to buy enough milk for breakfast in the morning.
to them is the monthly budget, and whether there is enough money in the checking account to handle the car breaking down, or that tooth that needs to be pulled.

For the people I know, the real people with zits and beauty marks, this is the real economy. And this is what needs to be addressed by the leaders of our city, our state, and the nation. Gas costs more. Food costs more. Going to the park costs more, and we all make the same if not less.
This is famously the land of opportunity, but the only opportunity currently offered by our system is to accrue more debt, and become further enmeshed in payments, late fees and interest rates.

The time has come to change, but who's willing to make it? That's the decision before us this November. But then again, judging by the choices, how much change are we willing to make?

His question in closing is, "How much change are we willing to make?" Well lets see what some other people have to say about what's really happening. Take a look at what these people have to say and see if do not come to the same conclusions as Joe does.

US Seizes Control of AIG with $85 Billion Bailout

So, all of you "real people," you know who you are? You're the ones with the "zits and beauty marks. Is the real economy "gas," "food," and "going to the park"? When it comes to your paltry problems you "real people" aren't even in the equation.

Mr. Faulk is right when he says, "This is famously the land of opportunity, but the only opportunity currently offered by our system is to accrue more debt, and become further enmeshed in payments, late fees and interest rates." What he doesn't say that really matters is that is exactly what is happening to our govoernment. Interestingly, he doesn't say who is responsible either.

Do you really think the Elitist Rulers of this nation are that stupid that they give one damn about "real people"? Read this the next chapter in this monumental betrayal.

US Readies Largest Bailout to Date in Financial Crisis

The Bush administration says it’s preparing a new massive new intervention in the US financial system. Under the proposed move, the government would buy up distressed loans from troubled banks and other lenders. The plan is said to be similar to the federal buyout of leftover properties in the savings and loan scandal in the 1990s. The cost could end up dwarfing the multi-billion-dollar government bailouts of financial institutions Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and American International Group. Democrats also say they are pushing for greater relief for struggling homeowners facing foreclosure. On Thursday, congressional leaders gave bipartisan support to the effort after meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats have agreed to passing legislation by next week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “We just had what I believe was a very
productive meeting, where we heard from the administration and from the chairman of the Fed, an initiative to help resolve the financial crisis in our country.
We—our purpose is to do that and, in doing so, to insulate Main Street from Wall
Street and recognize our responsibility to the taxpayer, to the consumer and to
people all across our country.”

Earlier on Thursday, the Federal Reserve also announced it would inject some $180 billion in loans on the global financial market through foreign central banks.

So now the government speculates on worthless paper.

--Joe

Public Safety OR Police Safety?

This is part of the front page of the Eureka Reporter Sunday, September 13, 2008, edition that greats you. Handsome devil, isn't he?

The picture is captioned: Public Safety. The notation under the picture reads: "Sgt. Ron Sligh of the Arcata Police Department and his police service K-9, "Zari," have been working together since his first day on duty, Aug. 3. Zari is trained and certified in searching for subjects, both indoors and outdoors, and handler protection and suspect apprehension. Daniel Solomon/The Eureka Reporter

Read what Karen Wilkinson says in "Pooch On Patrol" below and you will readily see that Zari's primary purpose is to protect officer Sligh. There's nothing wrong with the police protecting themselves as they "serve" the community. Let's keep the facts straight and the "BS" to a minimum. I realize that's a big stretch for the folks at The Eureka Reporter. What Ginger Campbell is quoted to say, "For Arcata resident and APD volunteer Ginger Campbell, helping the department finance such costly dogs is a quest that benefits the community at large" is completely contradicted in the rest of the article. Unfortunately, there is a more insidious aspect of using dogs the same as there is in using a tazer. Notice: "They keep the violence level way down." "People are more likely to come out of a dark building if they know a dog will be let loose." "Zari just had to bark and the man gave up."

Public Safety is all about getting the "suspect" to validate or legitimize the police action thereby justify the use of such instruments of coercion. Who are these "suspect criminals" whose lives and persons are of so little value?

--Joe

"Cut Back" or Tax Increase in Eurekaville

It's been months since that noisy, dusty ol' street sweeper graced the front of my property. Up until then you could set your watch on the consistent weekly passé. Like others in this town, when the neighbors trash began to build up we spent an afternoon gleaning and preening. It nearly filled a thirty gallon garbage can. That added cost is a tax increase.

The City Counsel, according to the report, says this is necessary in order to "free up funding to fill positions in its police and fire departments." If so, then two questions: 1) Did they fire the street sweepers they are replacing? And 2) Will we see a direct positive police affect in the community equal to keeping the city CLEAN?

If what I see going on out in front of my home every day and on the streets of Eurekaville is any indication, I'll keep the street sweepers. At least I'll be able to sleep easy knowing their no "garbage" roaming around polluting my neighborhood.

Street sweeping cut back
The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 08/29/2008 01:16:37 AM PDT

If Eurekans want to keep the streets in front of their homes constantly clean, they might be wise to pick up a broom.

The city recently announced that, beginning Sept. 1, it will be dramatically scaling back street sweeping services in its residential areas. In adopting this year's fiscal budget, the City Council opted to reduce street sweeping services in the city to free up funding to fill positions in its police and fire departments.

While street sweeping had previously been done weekly in residential areas, it will switch to a monthly schedule beginning in September. The sweeping will be conducted during the first week of every month, and a full schedule of what areas of the city will be swept on which days is available on the city's Web site, www.ci.eureka.ca.gov.

In order to increase the effectiveness of sweeping, the city is asking residents to remove their vehicles from the streets on sweeping days and to keep the street free of yard waste, trash and illegal driveway approaches, such as concrete, metal or wood ramps.

The city is also asking residents to refrain from piling leaves in the street, as it could potentially damage the street-sweeping vehicles.

--Joe

Jungle Law Rules Supreme In Eurekaville

Democracy, as an instrument of government, is worthless when people become the law, and that, without any accountability. The Law of the Jungle becomes the defacto government. Those that rule are those with the POWER. Read for yourself who has the power in Humboldt County.

Judge tosses Douglas, Zanotti manslaughter charges
Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 08/27/2008 01:30:57 AM PDT

Judge throws out involuntary manslaughter case
By KAREN WILKINSON, The Eureka Reporter
Published: Aug 26 2008, 11:03 PM · Updated: Aug 27 2008, 12:06 AM

Everyone that sees "DISMISSED" knows in his or her heart that Humboldt County Superior Court Judge John Feeney legally granted every police officer in Humboldt County the licence to kill with impunity.

When "Feeney began Tuesday's hearing by saying he believed the grand jury indicted without sufficient probable cause to establish that the defendants had committed an illegal act or a lawful act in a criminally negligent manner" he superimposed his judgments over the findings of the people. He made the Grand Jury system a mockery. He also put this community on notice, you are all on your own when you can be gunned down on a mere "belief."

The most disgusting and disingenuous statement observed to date that defines the "police" attitude justifying this whole tragedy was a quote by "William Rapoport, who was representing Zanotti in the matter. '(This case has) destroyed a huge part of these men's lives for the last nine months, and it's time they go some relief. ... They've had a cloud hanging over their heads for no good reason other than someone's political aspirations.'" The report goes on to say: "Douglas and Zanotti were not immediately available for comment." I would guess not!

Not when this clown, Rapoport can dismiss life and law with such casual and calloused disregard.

ADDENDUM: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 :: Comments in The Eureka Reporter as reported by Karen Wilkinson. Note: "Attorney William Bragg, who along with William Rapaport and Greg Rael, represented Douglas and Zanotti, said he expected the dismissal, adding the case shouldn’t have been one in the first place. He cited overwhelming case evidence on the defense’s side and said Feeney made the decision based on the law." HOWEVER, Mr Greenson for The Times Standard quotes the Judge to say, "The court's sympathies are extended to the friends and family of Ms. Moore for her tragic death, but the court cannot find evidence of any criminal conduct by Chief Douglas or Lt. Zanotti." The Judge didn't quote "law." He acted on his opinion. Judges are NOT the law.

Karen Wilkenson continues: "The defense attorneys filed motions starting in June seeking to have the case dismissed. The motions stated Gallegos misrepresented the law to the grand jury and didn’t provide evidence that would have helped justify the men’s decisions in the standoff." Joe contends that if Mr. Gallegos "misrepresented the law to the grand jury and didn’t provide evidence" he did so deliberately; he's hardly that stupid, incompetent or politically motivated.

His concluding statement in The Eureka Reporter indicates that he has his priorities or legal responsibilities a bit sqewed. Note: "While he understands the support the former EPD leaders received from others in law enforcement, Gallegos said there’s also an obligation to Moore’s family. He hopes the judicial determination will bring closure to her family, the community and those involved." If his sworn Oath of Office means anything, his first priority is to the Law and then to the community. While it is a tragedy for the Moore family it is a bigger tragedy for the community. No "judicial determination" in and of itself "brings closure." JUSTICE brings closure!

--Joe

Make The Connection?

Massive FBI raids -"Operation Southern Sweep" - Over 450 agents and local police involved after TWO years "investigations" while millions of dollars are reportedly involved, if the amount they say they recovered is true.

Over at the Humboldt Herald today we find, "Code enforcement news unreported" with the following: "It’s been rightfully pointed out that local media — including the blogs — are dropping the ball on keeping up with the Code Enforcement Task Force. The meetings are not being televised and last we heard, Task Force member and HumCo Supervisor Chair Jill Geist didn’t want the meetings broadcast because of financial burden."

You can read the rest of the article and the following post: "Editor's Note" here.

So, you apparently have warrantless searches under the guise of "Code Enforcement" and rubber stamp "warranted" searches based upon someone's use of electricity as an excuse to look for what?

Now, after you get all of that wonderful information under your belt and mull that question, take a look at this:

Police, Firefighters, Utility Workers Among Hundreds Trained as "Terrorism Liaison Officers"

"Colorado is one among of handful of states where hundreds of firefighters, paramedics, police, and even corporate employees are being trained to hunt down and report a broadly defined range of “suspicious activities.” They’re called Terrorism Liaison Officers. The federally supported initiative trains them to look out for “observed behavior that may be indicative of intelligence-gathering or pre-operational planning related to terrorism.”
Read the followup Denver Post article, "Terror Watch Uses Local Eyes."

You don't suppose that all you folks who were at those meetings, Code enforcement meeting draws 600 and County code enforcement actions draws hundreds have more to worry about than code enforcement issues do you?

Did someone actually believe that these elected county representatives were seriously looking after everyone's best interests? Or, did they all get a pass on January 1, 2000?

Save The Little Children

Once again the precious lives of our children are used to justify trashing the law and eliminating Constitutionally protected rights. This is what a major portion of Americans are hoping in: Senator Barack Obama. Here is his response on the latest Supreme Court ruling on gun ownership:

"I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures. The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. Today's ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country. "

"As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Today's decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe."

Sounds good, use our "common sense," "keep our communities and our children safe," "act responsibly." Lord forbid a gun should fall into the hands of "terrorist" or a "criminal"!

The practical reality of acting responsibly is, despite the fact the Court ruled Americans can keep guns at home for self-defense is something altogether different. Now that gun ownership is legally protected don't let a police officer see you holding that gun. Today the mere presence of someone packing a weapon, whether it be a gun, a knife or a club, makes them feel threatened. That act alone, feel threatened, grants all police officers the right to defend themselves. It grants them a license to kill. All they are required to do is act "in good faith."

So, remember the little children. They just might save your life some day!

--Joe

Coming to Grips with Reality

Joe's first observation in the Joe Blow Report dealt with Dave Berman's expose on "Peaceful Revolution" for "Conscientious Objectors Everywhere" in his blog: We Do Not Consent. Mr. Berman contends that "peaceful revolution" can be achieved at the ballot box through legal and honest elections. How an unconstitutional and illegitimate government is going to do that is his dilemma.

Joe observed that Mr. Berman was struggling with coming to grips with reality regarding legitimate government and his followup comment served to substantiate that issue. So, from time to time Joe would check his blog to see if or how he had progressed along with his struggle to reconcile legitimacy with a bastard.

It was of interest to read his, "So-ing The Seeds of Change".

Mr. Berman concludes his commentary by saying, "I think the answer to "so?" may be an equally disdainful 'you're not the boss of me.' Think about it."

Vice-President Dick Cheney's disdainful comment, "So?" was and could be made, exactly because "they are" your boss whether anyone likes it or not. Unfortunately, that reality is about to be impressed upon everyone regardless of the new Messiah of Hope.

--Joe

"You shall reap what you sow."

Shades of Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler and the Nazi Gestapo!

Are we looking at the local police being used as a political police force? Are some of the lessons of survival taught and learned in Iraq coming home to Humboldt County?

This post was going to be about the Times Standard article posted March 21, 2008, "EPD to install cameras on dashboards" with the enclosed picture of someone holding a Taser gun. The caption said: ""Eureka Police Chief Garr Nielsen wants every EPD officer have a Taser gun and believes it is an important non-lethal tool." Are we supposed to understand that his "beliefs" make that a true statement? First, Taser guns are instruments of torture. They are used to produce the same results, voluntary submission and compliance to victims that cannot defend themselves. The true purpose and use of torture is to terrorize. Who are the police trying to terrorize, criminals? Hardly! Second, they are proven to be LETHAL!

As bad as that is, sadly Thadeus Greenson wrote that nonsense (important non-lethal tool) and the Times-Standard printed it.

Anyone old enough to remember two very powerful men by the name of Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin should also remember how they came to power. If not, read in The Eureka Reporter, Council Votes To Keep Chief," and "County code enforcement actions draws hundreds," the one that starts out by saying, "This is not a war zone."

Also, the Times-Standard, "Police anger at chief surfaces." I guess Mr. Greenson or someone else at the Times-Standard couldn't find the wherewithal to cover the police action in Southern Humboldt Friday, April 4.

If anyone "believes" for even a second that what the police are doing is to "enforce code" or ferret out marijuana growers they need to rethink their beliefs. Furthermore, if everyone that attended that meeting "believed" that their democratic government actually worked, justifying their presence and participation, they can join the millions of long dead that thought the same. All you did at that meeting was identify themselves. Don't believe me? Read what your fearless Supervisor Roger Rodoni said when confronted, "Community Development Services Director Kirk Girard and Interim county counsel Wendy Chaitin who could bes adress many of the people's concerns." If so, then why didn't he see to it that they were there to answer the questions he was either incapable or unwilling to answer. Nothing more than a smoke-blowing session.

Stalin and Hitler had support. Their ways worked. They learned from each other. They re-defined the laws and Constitutions in little ways, at first. When they excused away their crimes because of some supposed need, they set precedents. Similarly, those that gave them a pass were people that wanted to help bring peace, stability and prosperity to their businesses, communities and country. Torture, concentration camps and aggressive war and occupation for self-serving reasons was okay with them. They setup special funds, foundations and organizations to contribute; they bought protection. One of the first things Garr Nielsen did was setup the Eureka Police Foundation. Seemed innocent enough, right?

The people in the "Garberville-area," specially the one that said, "This is not a war zone" need to take a hard look at reality! There are people in this Humboldt community that know better and they are dealing with you. They're not fooling around with Taser guns, though. Those lads have real guns! The question is, are you going to wait until they drag you out of your home in the middle of the night and shoot you in the head right in front of your families because your neighbor says your a threat? That's what the German and Russian police did. - ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestapo )

What goes around comes around.