Monday, May 21, 2012

This is what goes on in North Carolina congregations. (click title to entry - thank you) This is not scripture, it is hate speech.

Rubio, one of the most divisive figure in modern American history in the Senate



Who is divisive?
Senator Rubio has stood shoulder to shoulder with his GOP peers in the Senate and filibustered record numbers of votes to put Americans back to work. 


President Obama's American Jobs Act was the most bi-partisan bill this country has ever seen. Who is divisive? Rubio and his Republican peers, that who is divisive.


Senator Snow is leaving her seat after years and years of dedication to the people of Maine. She stated she came to Washington to govern and for the past two years it has been nothing but politics day after day after day. Who is divisive? Who is pitting American against American? President Obama? He never attempted to destroy equity of all Americans or those protected by the law. He never attacked women's health and he never put up barriers to legal protection under the law for women including minorities, immigrants or from the GLBT community. I sincerely believe the Violence Against Women's Act is unconstitutional in its exclusion of 'certain classes' of women. That is discrimination and it should never be tolerated.


Those are very strange words coming from a Hispanic Senator when one realizes the truth.


This paragraph refers to the chart above. It is from the Atlanta Journal Constitution.


(The chart tracks the number of attempts (click here) to overturn filibusters in each Congress. The Senate does not keep data on the number of times the filibuster itself is invoked, which would be much larger. Numbers for 2011-12 are lower because the current session has yet to be concluded, and because as use of the filibuster has become standard, fewer votes are called to try to overturn it.)


It has gotten to the point where bringing a bill to the floor is fruitless as there won't be a majority vote on any bill. That is not a functional government and it is the direct responsibility of the Senate Republicans.

What is the largest pension fund yet to be liquidated?



And for young women it is all the more important to demand equity in the market place and in the benefits and pay they receive. Women do not receive equal pay for work and they are behind in all aspects of retirement, including, Social Security Benefits. If a woman makes less over her lifetime than a man she will received less benefits when it counts the most, at retirement.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Why young workers should care about Social Security (click here)
Posted: May 20, 2012 12:00 am
Updated: 9:10 am, May 21, 2012.

Summer will be here before we know it. That means millions of high school and college students will be searching for jobs. Whether a new worker is beginning the career of a lifetime or just earning some extra money for the school year to come, there is one question that is likely to be on each new worker’s mind when they see their first pay stub: Where’s the rest of my money?

Generally, employers are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare tax from a worker’s paycheck. The amounts you pay in Social Security and Medicare taxes are matched by your employer. Usually the money that is withheld is referred to as “Social Security taxes” on the employee’s payroll statement. Sometimes the deduction is labeled as “FICA taxes,” which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. So let us tell you how that money is being used, and what’s in it for you.

The taxes paid now translate to a lifetime of protection, when you eventually retire or if you become disabled. In the event that you die young, your dependent children and spouse may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work. Today you probably have family members — grandparents, for example — who already enjoy Social Security benefits that your Social Security taxes help provide....

Notre Dame is not a sovereign entity and accepts US Federal Funding.

May 21, 2012 2:52pm

Forty-three Catholic groups, (click here) including the University of Notre Dame and Archdioceses of New York and Washington, have sued the Obama administration over a controversial mandate requiring employers to offer insurance plans that include contraception coverage.
In a coordinated filing of 12 lawsuits in federal courts across the country, the groups argue that the mandate would unconstitutionally force religiously-affiliated institutions, like Catholic schools and hospitals, to indirectly subsidize contraception for female employees in violation of religious beliefs.
President Obama in February attempted to accommodate the groups’ concerns with an administrative compromise he said would ensure no religious organization had to pay for or provide the services directly.  But today’s lawsuits signal that the Catholics groups found the effort insufficient.
“We have tried negotiation with the Administration and legislation with the Congress – and we’ll keep at it – but there’s still no fix,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said in a statement. “Time is running out, and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now.”...

The "Church Based" Funding of the USA is as generous to them as it is to other non-profit entities that hire Americans to work for them. Those monies offered to these institutions come from taxpayers of all religions, ethnicities and otherwise. If Americans are good enough for the funding to these institutions and they are good enough to work for these institutions, then they are good enough to have equity in benefits as well.

ND Expert: The legacy and challenge of a landmark decision

MICHAEL O. GARVEY

DATE: MAY 18, 2012

Reflecting on the recent anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s (click here) landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, John Schoenig, director of the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program for K-12 educational access, insisted that serious challenges to the equality of educational opportunity remain.
“On May 17, we commemorated the 58th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, arguably the most important civil rights decision in Supreme Court history,” Schoenig said.
“It was through Brown that the deplorable legacy of ‘separate but equal’ that had been enshrined in Plessy v. Ferguson was formally prohibited in America’s public schools. This year’s anniversary is a particularly special one, insofar as Brown is now as old as Plessy was when Brown was decided.”...

Notre Dame knows better than to expect every person in its employee to have the same religious affiliation. If they want that dynamic they need to stop accepting monies from the federal government and seek an exclusive category as a "Catholic's Only" university. Considering 97% of Catholic women use birth control in the USA, this lawsuit is grossly out of step with contemporary Catholics.

PUBLISHED: AUTUMN 2004 

The Notre Dame program (click here) that places recent grads in Catholic schools to teach for two years will have to get along without the support of the federal AmeriCorps program if a court ruling earlier this year stands.
In July a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the Corporation for National and Community Service, parent of the AmeriCorps national service program, violated the principal of separation of church and state by financially supporting Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program and similar programs organized by religious institutions. The decision stemmed from a suit brought two years ago by the American Jewish Congress, which argued that tax dollars were being used to teach Christianity....


There is nothing I can respect about the Catholic Church if they don't provide understanding for their members within their doctrines AND see themselves exempt from discrimination of Americans based on religious doctrines. This is over reaching. If funding from the USA government can be CONTAMINATED by citizens of all religions and those that don't practice a religion as those that contribute to the USA Treasury; and the MONEY is good enough for the Catholic Church to accept, then it is good enough to RESPECT the law of the land in the USA.


It is a very strange thing to have Right Wing members of Congress and religious institutions finding the money from the USA Treasury CLEAN ENOUGH to accept but not to the extent where EQUITY of all Americans apply. With the Right Wing there should be no tax dollars going toward abortion clinics, yet they can have faith based funding from the same USA Treasury. I would think if the USA Treasury was CONTAMINATED with the monies of UNCLEAN citizens according to religious doctrine of one kind or another, the funding would be shunned completely by all religious organizations.


This is Cherry Picking at it's worst. Religious organizations can decide what is clean 'enough' for them to accept when it comes to the citizens of the USA and then it can decide what is unclean. 


Like. What?


If I work for a religious entity because my talents are needed and I don't practice their religion I EXPECT to have my civil rights protected no matter where I work. I find it disgusting that the Catholic Church considers themselves better than their employees in their determination of whom is holy and whom is not. The USA is not heaven and the Catholic Church should not believe they can make it hell-like for all those not of their doctrines.


USA funding is not exclusive, it is INCLUSIVE and that applies to the citizens of this country seeking work and benefits.

Mayor Booker Expands on His Support for President Obama



...After graduating from Brigham Young University (click title to entry - thank you) in 1971, he earned dual degrees from Harvard Law and Harvard Business School. After working as a business consultant for several years, Mitt founded the investment firm Bain Capital in 1984. Under his leadership, Bain Capital helped to launch or rebuild hundreds of companies, including household names such as Staples, Bright Horizons, and The Sports Authority. As Bain Capital was growing in prominence, Mitt returned to his old consulting firm, Bain & Company, as CEO. In a time of financial turmoil at the company, he led a successful turnaround.


I understand Mayor Booker's frustration with the negative campaign existing this season. But, let me point to 'the truth' of Romney's record he is skating on. The Obama Campaign has to address his years as a CEO at Bain. The above paragraph is from Romney's bio page.


On that page he tries to build sympathy for himself as someone that has faced adversity. Life has that characteristic, but, his wealth has made personal adversity easier than most Americans face in their lives. To the average Middle Class citizen life is difficult and adversity is a mountain to climb, not simply a challenge. As example, I point to the very dysfunctional health care system President Obama took on and succeeded in passing a comprehensive initiative that will provide more Americans health benefits than ever before in history.


But, Mr. Romney has worded his government work as a one term Governor is a most interesting way. Below are Romney's words, not mine.


...When Mitt was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 2002, the state was in severe disarray, its budget was out of balance, spending was soaring, and taxpayers were being required to pay more and more in taxes for diminishing services. The state economy was in a tailspin, with businesses cutting back on investment or even closing and unemployment ticking up. Mitt made hard decisions that brought state spending under control. He restructured and consolidated government programs, paring back where necessary and finding efficiencies throughout....


Rehabilitation of a 'government structure' in disarray inappropriately asking for more money to balance it's budget is very different; very, very different, than what Americans face today. Bureaucratic inefficiency is far easier to fix and reduce taxes with more efficiencies than REBUILDING an economy left in the wake of a global economic collapse. Mitt Romney is not qualified for the Presidency of the USA. He has been a man that has sought wealth over employment of citizens. Thinning the economic growth of the USA by supposed inefficiences would make the economic depression longer and would unquestionably remove potential for growth in a way that may permanently disable aspect of the current economy.


Pipelines are not going to solve the USA energy needs and that is a waste of time. The country's focus belongs on securing its food supply as a national security priority and that means preventing contamination by the petroleum industry of land and water. Contamination of food and water is viewed as  a minor inconvenience while profits are suppose to be untouched by careless industry practices. Romney gave no credence to closing down companies that would ultimately produce less profit than if they were destroyed and sold. 


There is an incorrect way of looking at venture capitalists and Romney is very guilty of it.


There was a time in the USA when MERGER meant expansion of already existing success. One of the best examples is the history in North Carolina of the famous railroads. It was a heyday for the industry.


The city of Wilmington, North Carolina was lined with mansions compliments of a busy port city and the railroad delivering service to passengers. There was a lot of movement by citizens and the economy was strong. The railroad of Wilmington was the envy of the country.


There were other rails working in the country and eventually the Wilmington-Weldon Line MERGED with Seaboard Air Line Railroad.


The map to the left is a historic map of the SALR. (click here)


The merger of the two rail lines was called Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The merger connected two of the greatest railroads of the time. Eventually, the passenger service will suffer great blows because of personal transportation by a fellow named, Henry Ford.


But, the point is mergers are not about a company failing necessarily, so much as it is about companies with sincere viability and finding the best advantage for the new company to succeed.


Mergers are suppose to be about potential, success and expansion, not about assessment of assets and how best to 'make a buck.' 


I have thought about the steel industry in the USA and how it literally disappeared as if it was outdated in a way the passenger train was replaced with cars and roads. It should have never have happened and Romney at Bain literally imploded a piece of that industry into the dust. It was wrong then and it is wrong today. 


Companies sometimes have to be restructured to be less top heavy in administration and for that reason much middle management is reduced when mergers occur, but, at the very heart of the company are the employees. They are experienced in producing a product and I don't ever recall in the USA when employees were willing to turn out junk for a paycheck knowing their community would find them laughable.


American steel was and is the best in the world. It should never have been turned to dust and abandoned. When that occurs it is not unlawful, but, it is highly immoral with dire consequences to the American economy. I don't want a CEO in the White House. I especially don't want a CEO in the White House that has destroyed valuable American jobs belonging to an industry made to disappear in the USA while it weakened our national security. 


While Mayor Booker wants a seriousness from the Obama Campaign, he may not realize he is actually getting it.

"Morning Papers"

"Good Night, Moon"



ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Millions in Asia and the western United States (click here) watched as a rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies.
The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across Asia early Monday. It then moved across the Pacific and was also seen in parts of the western United States Sunday afternoon.
Viewing parties were held in Reno, Nev., Oakland, Calif., and elsewhere. In some parts of the U.S., special camera filters for taking photographs have been sold out for weeks in anticipation of the big event.
People from Colorado, Oklahoma and as far away as Canada traveled to Albuquerque to enjoy one of the best vantage points.