I have posted before that I think psychopathic personalities, or morally insane people, would naturally be drawn to Wall Street. The reason is simple, they are driven by lust for power and clearly that is where power in America lies.
This new study posits that an extraordinary number of psychopaths (1 in 10) do work on Wall Street.
1 in 10!
Turn-of-the-century economists like Keynes seemed to take this for granted when they advocated tying CEO wealth to corporate wealth. The idea was, it seems to me, to leverage the skills of the morally insane for the greater good (or at least the good of capital).
Now, however, things have broken down as CEOs manage to enrich themselves no matter the state of the companies they direct. Until Washingtonians restore accountability to profitability there is a high probability of continued American decline.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
If a cherry tree falls, and nobody saw?
President Obama is treating Super-PAC money the way he treats every other moral dilemma. He says, to paraphrase, "I will not keep my word because of Republican behavior".
Source: Presidential about-face
One of his first promises to American voters was that he would close the Guantanamo gulag. He would do this in his first year, but it turned out that Republicans wouldn't let him and that was that.
I was reminded of how offensive Guantanamo is to the foundational ideas that made America great when reading an article on unpersons in unhistory by Noam Chomsky. Here is an excerpt that personalizes what Guantanamo means to a human being, and what the president's promise-breaking entails:
"the first Guantanamo case to come to trial under President Obama: that of Omar Khadr, a former child soldier accused of the heinous crime of trying to defend his Afghan village when it was attacked by U.S. forces. Captured at age 15, Khadr was imprisoned for eight years in Bagram and Guantanamo, then brought to a military court in October 2010, where he was given the choice of pleading not guilty and staying in Guantanamo forever, or pleading guilty and serving only 8 more years. Khadr chose the latter."
Source: Anniversaries from "Unhistory"
This is like George Washington shrugging when asked about a fabled cherry tree, is it not?
Addendum: Kevin Drum is a writer I respect and he takes a different view of the Super-PAC story. Here is a link to his viewpoint:
Not hypocrisy
Hey may be right up to a limit, and that limit might be drawn by the consequences of your actions on others.
When you take bribes you validate bribery. So the question is, does validating the actions of people like Jack Abramoff harm society more than it will benefit from another four years of president Obama?
Time will tell, but my instincts tell me no.
Source: Presidential about-face
One of his first promises to American voters was that he would close the Guantanamo gulag. He would do this in his first year, but it turned out that Republicans wouldn't let him and that was that.
I was reminded of how offensive Guantanamo is to the foundational ideas that made America great when reading an article on unpersons in unhistory by Noam Chomsky. Here is an excerpt that personalizes what Guantanamo means to a human being, and what the president's promise-breaking entails:
"the first Guantanamo case to come to trial under President Obama: that of Omar Khadr, a former child soldier accused of the heinous crime of trying to defend his Afghan village when it was attacked by U.S. forces. Captured at age 15, Khadr was imprisoned for eight years in Bagram and Guantanamo, then brought to a military court in October 2010, where he was given the choice of pleading not guilty and staying in Guantanamo forever, or pleading guilty and serving only 8 more years. Khadr chose the latter."
Source: Anniversaries from "Unhistory"
This is like George Washington shrugging when asked about a fabled cherry tree, is it not?
Addendum: Kevin Drum is a writer I respect and he takes a different view of the Super-PAC story. Here is a link to his viewpoint:
Not hypocrisy
Hey may be right up to a limit, and that limit might be drawn by the consequences of your actions on others.
When you take bribes you validate bribery. So the question is, does validating the actions of people like Jack Abramoff harm society more than it will benefit from another four years of president Obama?
Time will tell, but my instincts tell me no.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Warm wind
What's the biggest lie that president Obama told in his State of the Union address last night?
We've put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like that never happens again.
Source: POTUS SOTUA
Thursday, November 10, 2011
American excellence in health care costs
Sarah Kliff has an interesting chart posted at Wonk Blog which shows how bad care-inequality is in America:
Source
Following her source to the OECD I found this quote:
"In the U.S., 42 percent reported not visiting a doctor, not filling a prescription, or not getting recommended care. This is twice the rate for every other country but Australia, New Zealand, and Germany."
What is dangerous about this is disease only gets stronger when treated with half-measures. It is where penicillin-resistant strains come from.
Will the masters of America ever realize that their own health depends upon public health, and that disease doesn't grant pardons?
The clown-car called the GOP doesn't have an answer for this except to say, "Pay more or die".
Source
Following her source to the OECD I found this quote:
"In the U.S., 42 percent reported not visiting a doctor, not filling a prescription, or not getting recommended care. This is twice the rate for every other country but Australia, New Zealand, and Germany."
What is dangerous about this is disease only gets stronger when treated with half-measures. It is where penicillin-resistant strains come from.
Will the masters of America ever realize that their own health depends upon public health, and that disease doesn't grant pardons?
The clown-car called the GOP doesn't have an answer for this except to say, "Pay more or die".
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Keep Wall Street Occupied
Here is a simple way to show solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Occupy Wall Street
Wanna see a great video on #OWS?
Wanna read a great article about what motivates #OWS?
Cheat, Cheat, never beat
Have people finally had enough of the fascialist (fascism/socialism is domination of government by a ruling class) governance that is currently tear-gassing peacefully assembled people petitioning their government for redress?
We are at the point that the very idea of America is being pepper-sprayed, cuffed, and jailed. Can it be resurrected? It'll take the morality of the common good. The belief that out of many, we are one, that together we are stronger if we work towards something higher than our own narrow concerns.
Wanna read a great article about what motivates #OWS?
Cheat, Cheat, never beat
Have people finally had enough of the fascialist (fascism/socialism is domination of government by a ruling class) governance that is currently tear-gassing peacefully assembled people petitioning their government for redress?
We are at the point that the very idea of America is being pepper-sprayed, cuffed, and jailed. Can it be resurrected? It'll take the morality of the common good. The belief that out of many, we are one, that together we are stronger if we work towards something higher than our own narrow concerns.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Like a wet blanket
Al-Qaeda's central strategy was to draw its Western foes into economically ruinous wars in Muslim lands
Source
That is something worth remembering as we look back on 911 and forwards on our budget.
Source
That is something worth remembering as we look back on 911 and forwards on our budget.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Exceptional incompetence
Here is an opinion piece from the New York Times that I quite like. It is called, "What Happened to Obama's Passion?" and you can read it here:
History's Arc
Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite:
People are still charitable towards Obama, a sentiment I cannot rally in myself. They see him as misguided but pitted against the forces that supported his presidential campaign handsomely. They see him as a man struggling with exceptional incompetence, I guess, to overcome the forces of evil which were his largest campaign donors.
I assume that believing the obvious is too painful, and so people make up stories with better narrative. The obvious is that Obama isn't on your side, doesn't intend to be on your side, and lies to you every time he pretends to be on your side. You keep falling for this obvious deception because you find it comforting to believe your presidential vote was correct, but for exceptional incompetence.
America is being methodically destroyed, for as go her finances so goes her military, for as goes her middle-class so goes her stability. America will suffer the death of a 1000 cuts and Obama will wield the sword with the pride that goeth before the fall.
History's Arc
Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite:
"...when faced with the greatest economic crisis, the greatest levels of economic inequality, and the greatest levels of corporate influence on politics since the Depression, Barack Obama stared into the eyes of history and chose to avert his gaze"
People are still charitable towards Obama, a sentiment I cannot rally in myself. They see him as misguided but pitted against the forces that supported his presidential campaign handsomely. They see him as a man struggling with exceptional incompetence, I guess, to overcome the forces of evil which were his largest campaign donors.
I assume that believing the obvious is too painful, and so people make up stories with better narrative. The obvious is that Obama isn't on your side, doesn't intend to be on your side, and lies to you every time he pretends to be on your side. You keep falling for this obvious deception because you find it comforting to believe your presidential vote was correct, but for exceptional incompetence.
America is being methodically destroyed, for as go her finances so goes her military, for as goes her middle-class so goes her stability. America will suffer the death of a 1000 cuts and Obama will wield the sword with the pride that goeth before the fall.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
The soft bigotry of low expectations
I've talked to plenty of democrats that claim president Obama is doing his best to promote democratic values in a hostile environment, but I have been unable to swallow this fork-full of bull-crap. The president knows the policies he passes comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted. Here is an unambiguous statement he made recently, which demonstrates he knows what he is doing before he fails to act:
The president has veto power, and he has support in the Senate, and he has the support of the electorate (even 66% of Tea Party members supported revenue increases if accompanied by spending cuts). If he fails to act it is not because he is a lone guppie in a bowl full of large-mouth bass. If he fails to act it is because he lacks the will to do what needs to be done.
"If you don't have revenues, it means you're putting more of a burden on the people who can least afford it."
- President Obama -
The president has veto power, and he has support in the Senate, and he has the support of the electorate (even 66% of Tea Party members supported revenue increases if accompanied by spending cuts). If he fails to act it is not because he is a lone guppie in a bowl full of large-mouth bass. If he fails to act it is because he lacks the will to do what needs to be done.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Obama and the economy
Perhaps, now that the Bush-Obama economy is still sputtering, job-killing, and larded with favors like too-big-to-jail it is time for everyone to admit the Chicago School of Economics is mostly wishful thinking directed at the comfortable.
Is there an example of a country penny-pinching its way out of a liquidity trap? Greek austerity efforts aren't helping, and in fact seem to be applying downward pressure to Germany's economy.
President Obama either enjoys comforting the comfortable, or else is caught in the headlights of the on-rushing economy.
Is there an example of a country penny-pinching its way out of a liquidity trap? Greek austerity efforts aren't helping, and in fact seem to be applying downward pressure to Germany's economy.
President Obama either enjoys comforting the comfortable, or else is caught in the headlights of the on-rushing economy.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The art of lying
Crude lying is simply making false statements. This type of lying falls flat or is quickly rejected. The secret to sophisticated lying, or sophistry, is making false statements that your audience wishes to believe is true.
The converse of this thought is true as well. Upton Sinclair put it like this, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it." In other words, it can be just as difficult to spread Truth as it is to spread lies.
When I look at the modern GOP, and specifically the Tea Party element, I see people that believe you don't need taxes to balance a budget, and that people left to their own vices will create a stable society. The first belief leans on the cheapskate in all of us, and the second belief in the inflated opinion of our own self worth.
When I look at the modern Democratic party, and specifically the "centrist democrats", I see people that believe you don't need Justice to have a good society, and that jobs will come when the tycoon class is properly coddled. The first belief is rooted in the desire for campaign contributions and the second belief is rooted in the desire for campaign contributions.
There is an old saying that you can't share wisdom and it isn't accurate. It is more accurate to say that wisdom is easy to share but easier to ignore.
I fear we are ignoring too much wisdom these days to last for much longer.
The converse of this thought is true as well. Upton Sinclair put it like this, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it." In other words, it can be just as difficult to spread Truth as it is to spread lies.
When I look at the modern GOP, and specifically the Tea Party element, I see people that believe you don't need taxes to balance a budget, and that people left to their own vices will create a stable society. The first belief leans on the cheapskate in all of us, and the second belief in the inflated opinion of our own self worth.
When I look at the modern Democratic party, and specifically the "centrist democrats", I see people that believe you don't need Justice to have a good society, and that jobs will come when the tycoon class is properly coddled. The first belief is rooted in the desire for campaign contributions and the second belief is rooted in the desire for campaign contributions.
There is an old saying that you can't share wisdom and it isn't accurate. It is more accurate to say that wisdom is easy to share but easier to ignore.
I fear we are ignoring too much wisdom these days to last for much longer.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Turn off the Fox News
There is an expression that goes like this, "Those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it." The converse is usually assumed to be true, that is, that those who know the past can prevent the worst elements from manifesting themselves again.
Here is a quote from the past that I find relevant to contemporary American affairs:
The American fascists are most easily recognized by their deliberate perversion of truth and fact. Their newspapers and propaganda carefully cultivate every fissure of disunity, every crack in the common front against fascism... They claim to be super-patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."
Henry A. Wallace, 1944
Here is a quote from the past that I find relevant to contemporary American affairs:
The American fascists are most easily recognized by their deliberate perversion of truth and fact. Their newspapers and propaganda carefully cultivate every fissure of disunity, every crack in the common front against fascism... They claim to be super-patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."
Henry A. Wallace, 1944
Sophistrication
In this article by Fareed Zakaria, it is posited that Conservatives used to base their policies on sound reality-driven assessments. I am more inclined to believe they have always whored for monied interests and taken as much as they could get for their constituents. It is just that, in times like these, there is no pushback and the taking knows no restraints.
Perhaps I am being uncharitable. Fareed, to his credit, looks at the ideology of his party and searches for the substance behind the doctrine. When he doesn't find any he does not soften the blows that come from reason.
For instance, he says:
The uncharitable view of this revelation is that Republicans are not so much wrong on their facts as spinning them, but of late need not trouble themselves with the masks that come from sophistry.
Perhaps I am being uncharitable. Fareed, to his credit, looks at the ideology of his party and searches for the substance behind the doctrine. When he doesn't find any he does not soften the blows that come from reason.
For instance, he says:
Taxes — federal and state combined — as a percentage of GDP are at their lowest level since 1950. The U.S. is among the lowest taxed of the big industrial economies. So the case that America is grinding to a halt because of high taxation is not based on facts but is simply a theoretical assertion.
Conservatives gone wild
The uncharitable view of this revelation is that Republicans are not so much wrong on their facts as spinning them, but of late need not trouble themselves with the masks that come from sophistry.
Friday, June 17, 2011
The pledge
There is an old saying, "If you don't change direction you will go where you are headed."
What is Grover Norquist's tax pledge driving America towards?
Financial Oligarchy
I wonder how he has so much influence, it's like all these Congressional people can't read maps.
What is Grover Norquist's tax pledge driving America towards?
Financial Oligarchy
I wonder how he has so much influence, it's like all these Congressional people can't read maps.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wondering...
I wonder if the Nobel prize committee can take back what it gave president Obama?
He is lawlessly fighting one war in Libya, using drone attacks in Pakistan and Yemen, maintaining the Gulag Guantanamo (interestingly, the phrase "enemy non-combatant" marks it as such), and seems to think peace is a thing best delivered in the nosecone of a cruise missile.
Domestically he is working hand-in-wallet with plutocrats and fascists, ignoring laws when it suits him, and investing heavily in warfare while cutting aid to school aged children.
If these are the actions of a "peace prize" laureate, then the Nobel committee would better spend their time crafting urinals.
He is lawlessly fighting one war in Libya, using drone attacks in Pakistan and Yemen, maintaining the Gulag Guantanamo (interestingly, the phrase "enemy non-combatant" marks it as such), and seems to think peace is a thing best delivered in the nosecone of a cruise missile.
Domestically he is working hand-in-wallet with plutocrats and fascists, ignoring laws when it suits him, and investing heavily in warfare while cutting aid to school aged children.
If these are the actions of a "peace prize" laureate, then the Nobel committee would better spend their time crafting urinals.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Big top
Republican presidential candidates are apparently having a political debate tonight. My only question is, "Will they all enter via the same tiny car?" I love it when clowns do that.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Horrific Maine mystery solved
For days the people of Maine were alarmed that a dead child was left on a small communities' road, with nobody reporting him missing, and police unable to identify him.
It turns out that the boys mother, a woman from Texas, confessed to suffocating her son. She has been charged with second-degree murder.
Boy's mother confesses
I'm sure parents in the area will rest a little easier knowing there isn't a dangerous child predator among them.
If ever there were a case for hating the crime, but not the criminal, this is it. Is it possible to conceive of a punishment worse than facing these actions?
It is time to be thankful if you were born to loving parents.
It turns out that the boys mother, a woman from Texas, confessed to suffocating her son. She has been charged with second-degree murder.
Boy's mother confesses
I'm sure parents in the area will rest a little easier knowing there isn't a dangerous child predator among them.
If ever there were a case for hating the crime, but not the criminal, this is it. Is it possible to conceive of a punishment worse than facing these actions?
It is time to be thankful if you were born to loving parents.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
American wealth
I look at CEOs a bit differently than most people. For me, CEOs are to the rightful profit of investors as pedophiles are to the children of others. When an investor sticks with a company and bears the risk of that investment, a parasitic leach should not lavish himself upon the proceeds of a good upbringing.
When "the street" whines about regulation that is too restrictive, I like to think of a pedophile complaining about law enforcement that is too restrictive. That kind of whining most Americans know how to treat.
Profit belongs to the risk takers as surely as innocence belongs to the children.
When "the street" whines about regulation that is too restrictive, I like to think of a pedophile complaining about law enforcement that is too restrictive. That kind of whining most Americans know how to treat.
Profit belongs to the risk takers as surely as innocence belongs to the children.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Running Races
Sung to the tune of Camptown Races by Stephen Foster
I'll tell you folks how it will be
Doo-da, Doo-da
I'll lie all day and you'll vote for me.
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
My campaign promises mean nothing
Oh, de doo-da day
Guantanamo is open still.
Do dah. Do dah.
Obamacare is a lousy bill.
Oh, do dah day.
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
My campaign promises: wink, wink, wink
Oh, de doo-da day
I'll tell you folks how it will be
Doo-da, Doo-da
I'll lie all day and you'll vote for me.
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
My campaign promises mean nothing
Oh, de doo-da day
Guantanamo is open still.
Do dah. Do dah.
Obamacare is a lousy bill.
Oh, do dah day.
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
My campaign promises: wink, wink, wink
Oh, de doo-da day
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