Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Public Meeting TONIGHT to Discuss Biscayne Bay’s Future Amid Threats from Port of Miami Expansion Projects, Pollution and Climate Change
Environmental and civic groups and interested citizens will attend the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve public meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 7 at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Auditorium, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, to discuss projects and policies imperiling the future of Biscayne Bay.
9/11 ... by gimleteye
At every airport, I am reminded of 9/11. What strikes me hardest is the TSA. I cannot get used to the bureaucracy screening every passenger as an equal threat. The TSA is only the visible tip of the iceberg: trillions spent to attack ill-defined enemies with poorly defined objectives. When I go through the screening machines, the TSA finds nothing but I see Iraq, Afghanistan and the treasures lost.
The attacks of September 11th, a decade ago, occurred in the context of waning American power and influence. Its trigger was the globalization of the world economy, a hollowing out of American industrial manufacturing, and the explosion of financial engineering as a means of creating wealth. Those were the threats American politics failed to adapt to, long before the planes filled with innocents crashed into buildings filled with more innocents.
But there is nothing innocent about the response of industry or government to 9/11. The treasury drained. The policies supported to gin up the economy through the housing bubble remain unchallenged. The culpable are fortified by their wealth. Advocates like Alan Greenspan-- former chair of the Federal Reserve-- appear on TV talk shows speaking with authority about the unforeseen. 9/11 was predictable. Americans keep looking for mysteries, but there are none.
The attacks of September 11th, a decade ago, occurred in the context of waning American power and influence. Its trigger was the globalization of the world economy, a hollowing out of American industrial manufacturing, and the explosion of financial engineering as a means of creating wealth. Those were the threats American politics failed to adapt to, long before the planes filled with innocents crashed into buildings filled with more innocents.
But there is nothing innocent about the response of industry or government to 9/11. The treasury drained. The policies supported to gin up the economy through the housing bubble remain unchallenged. The culpable are fortified by their wealth. Advocates like Alan Greenspan-- former chair of the Federal Reserve-- appear on TV talk shows speaking with authority about the unforeseen. 9/11 was predictable. Americans keep looking for mysteries, but there are none.
Stop the Port of Miami Tunnel NOW ... by gimleteye
If readers' comments are correct-- and how would we know, because the mainstream press is AWOL-- then the Port of Miami tunnel project is proceeding (a billion, for 3/4 mile works out to $142,000 per tunnel foot) without completed environmental permits. The worst of it; a plan to use polymers to fortify the crumbly lime stone beneath the bay. Interestingly, the extensive Wikipedia entry on the tunnel project contains nary a word on the polymer plan. I wondered, when I first heard; this has to be a joke.
The press-- even Miami Today-- let this story move forward without a whisper about an engineering design I venture to guess has never been tried in a submarine, karst geologic structure. Yes, you can inject a bone riddled with osteoporosis with filler, in order to drill it: it is not the same matter as boring a hole through lime stone underwater, wide enough for 18 wheelers.
How much polymer is going to be used? What is the effect of unleashing carcinogens into the bay? If the bore tailings are filled with toxics, where are they going to go? How did the plan go forward, without asking these questions of the engineers and contractors? And who among elected officials is going to have the guts to stop the "jobs" being created, until answers are provided? Governor Rick Scott? Mayor Carlos Gimenez? US Senator Marco Rubio? The Miami Herald?
The press-- even Miami Today-- let this story move forward without a whisper about an engineering design I venture to guess has never been tried in a submarine, karst geologic structure. Yes, you can inject a bone riddled with osteoporosis with filler, in order to drill it: it is not the same matter as boring a hole through lime stone underwater, wide enough for 18 wheelers.
How much polymer is going to be used? What is the effect of unleashing carcinogens into the bay? If the bore tailings are filled with toxics, where are they going to go? How did the plan go forward, without asking these questions of the engineers and contractors? And who among elected officials is going to have the guts to stop the "jobs" being created, until answers are provided? Governor Rick Scott? Mayor Carlos Gimenez? US Senator Marco Rubio? The Miami Herald?
Yes - I am here, didn't you read my post's Sunday, Monday and Tuesday? By Geniusofdespair
Anyway, when we talk about dredging as Gimleteye has above, we also have to look at what is going on nearby. This video was taken last year at the North American Windsurfing Regatta at Virginia Key beach. Virginia Key is not far, around the bend, from the dredging area -- You can windsurf easily from this race location to the beach at Fisher Island (where windsurfers are promptly evicted of course). But my sport depends on a clean and safe bay and seashore (this race is going on close to Morris cut on the City of Miami side). The area is world renowned for windsurfing. The windsurfers are also endangered by the outfall pipe expelling thousands of gallons of partly treated sewage each day -- when you are hitting speeds of 20 to 30 knots, 3 miles out is nothing ( The windsurfing speed record is 49 knots, reached in 2008 -- this is a link to an incredible video of the speed of windsurfing.). I digress, I have have been watching windsurfing videos for an hour now.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Harriet, The Bore: tunneling under the Miami ship channel ... by gimleteye
The engineers have dubbed the massive drill bit, Harriet, aiming to drill a new tunnel under the Miami ship channel. I wrote giddily on the news story that the contractor was seeking permission to use a polymer to reinforce the walls as the drill passed through the incredibly fragile lime stone.
You might have imagined, that would have been in the original permit application to Miami Dade and to the state. It couldn't be just me. Drilling horizontally through a few hundred yards of shallow lime rock is like drilling with a 1/8th bit through a foot of pie crust; easy to do, hard to keep the hole open.
Even though I made fun of the issue back in early July, it didn't occur to me the polymer issue would sink in a black hole. Where is Miami Dade DERM? Did DERM give its approval to using toxic polymers to "reinforce" limestone under Biscayne Bay? On what evidence that it won't prove harmful? Does anyone care? At the very least, The Miami Herald should follow up. Why should Eyeonmiami have all the fun?
(Undated photo of a Miami Herald newspaper reporter dictating story to secretary, back when Biscayne Bay was clear as a spring.)
You might have imagined, that would have been in the original permit application to Miami Dade and to the state. It couldn't be just me. Drilling horizontally through a few hundred yards of shallow lime rock is like drilling with a 1/8th bit through a foot of pie crust; easy to do, hard to keep the hole open.
Even though I made fun of the issue back in early July, it didn't occur to me the polymer issue would sink in a black hole. Where is Miami Dade DERM? Did DERM give its approval to using toxic polymers to "reinforce" limestone under Biscayne Bay? On what evidence that it won't prove harmful? Does anyone care? At the very least, The Miami Herald should follow up. Why should Eyeonmiami have all the fun?
(Undated photo of a Miami Herald newspaper reporter dictating story to secretary, back when Biscayne Bay was clear as a spring.)
Why is this comment left by a reader so offensive? By Geniusofdespair
Clearly the people who read this blog are miserable and lonely people who can't appreciate real change when it is happening or someone who is just trying to do the right thing for the county. Nothing is good enough for you people is it. Why don't you people run your selves or just shut up and stop complaing for the sake of complaining. Appreciate what some of these few but good politicians sacrifice in there personal lives to try and help the public. It's getting pretty old, get a life, accept parts of the process and then maybe some day we can unify together as cohesive community. - September 03, 2011I am reading "Blink". In it author Malcolm Gladwell outlines the work of Professor John Gottman, who also published the book "The Mathematics of Divorce." Gottman found in his research the greatest predictor of a divorce:
"You would think that criticism would be the worst because criticism is a global condemnation of a person's character. Yet contempt is qualitatively different from criticism. With criticism I might say to my wife, 'you never listen, you are really selfish and insensitive' Well, she's going to respond defensively to that. That's not very good for our problem solving and interaction. But if I speak from a superior plane, that is far more damaging, and contempt is any statement made from a higher level. ...it's trying to put that person on a lower plane than you. It's hierarchical."
I do not like 'contempt'. I never realized before why I hated this sort of comment so much. Criticism when it is laced with contempt is friggin' annoying. I finally understand why I throw out some critical statements and not others, it is the contempt included. At the end of the comment above the writer says "Let's unify together" - Is he/she kidding? After you insulted us in numerous ways and told us you are not one of us twice, who wants to be in your camp?
I bet the person who left this comment also has a marriage in trouble because as Professor Gottman said, contempt is the best predictor of a divorce to come, and I would put money on it that the comment came from a lobbyist.
End Import Quotas On Sugar? Watch conservatives turn and run from their principles ... by gimleteye
I just stumbled upon a 2010 editorial that appeared in the St. Pete Times, written by a professor from Pepperdine University in California, urging an end to import quotas on sugar. Pepperdine was the landing zone for former Clinton prosecutor Kenneth Starr. In other words: conservative, to the core. Economist Gary Galles joined his argument against the sugar subsidy to conservative think tank, American Enterprise Institute, and libertarian Cato Institute not to mention the Wall Street Journal editorial page. All have condemned protections for Big Sugar.
Yet Congress gives Big Sugar what it needs to continue polluting politics and the Everglades, one Farm Bill at a time.
AEI writes: "The sugar program diverts billions of dollars from American consumers to the “Big Sugar” cartel and would understandably make sense to the members of the American Sugar Alliance. But that very costly program certainly doesn’t make any sense at all for the millions of American consumers and thousands of U.S. businesses who were burdened last year alone with $4.5 billion in higher sugar costs."
The Cato Institute weighs in: "Federal sugar policies confer benefits on a small group of sugar growers, but they damage consumers and U.S. food companies. Congress has provided a sweet deal for sugar growers since it imposed import tariffs on sugar in 1789. Controls on domestic sugar production date back to the Jones-Costigan Act of 1934."
According to Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at the Cato Institute, "The sugar program also causes environmental damage." That part, Miami needs no help understanding. Big Sugar has not only polluted the Florida Everglades, its reach extends straight into downtown Miami law firms and lobbyists. Once when I was a Sierra Club activist organizing a press conference against the Homestead Air Force Base fiasco down at County Hall, the chairman of the county commission pulled permission at the last moment. I tracked back to what happened. It was a lobbyist for Big Sugar who had triggered the objection.
Cato writes: "Large areas of the Florida Everglades have been converted to cane sugar production as a result of sugar protection. That has caused damage from the related land drainage, runoff of chemical fertilizers, and the destruction of natural habitat. With all the negative effects of the sugar program, why does it survive? Because Congress often puts the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public good. In this case, sugar growers are well–organized and they protect the program by providing large campaign support to presidents, governors and many members of Congress."
Congress is hardly alone putting the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public. So does the Florida legislature. In 1996, a wide majority of Florida voters approved the "Polluter Pays Bill" requiring Big Sugar to pay all the costs of its pollution of the Everglades. Despite two Florida court rulings, the legislature continues to ignore the will of the people. Of course, when it comes to tearing the U.S. EPA into bits and pieces, the Florida legislature and GOP delegation from Florida can't move fast enough.
In 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush did the bidding of Big Sugar when he pushed a new law violated the federal consent decree and changed the specific provisions of the Everglades Forever Act, sending all the parties into federal court for nearly a decade only to prove that what Jeb Bush advocated and the legislature passed on behalf of Big Sugar was a violation of federal law. At the time, environmentalists dubbed the Bush measure, The Everglades Whenever Act. Still, the state files file one motion after another in federal court to delay the implementation of tough remedies and enforcement measures against Big Sugar.
Today, the economic crisis gives the current governor, Rick Scott, cover to slash science budgets in the state water district so that at some not-so-distant point in the future, Everglades restoration will be whatever we imagine it to be.
A cynic might be driven to tear his hair out at the persistence of the protection racket for Big Sugar. It would never happen without those sugar sprinkles of campaign cash. So while conservatives argue the rights of corporations as persons, their blind spot is big as Jupiter when it comes to cutting special interest programs like the sugar subsidy. Could the rightward turn of US politics finally do in the sugar subsidy?
Concern along this line is what drove one of the two major sugar producers-- US Sugar-- to attempt to sell its lands to the State of Florida. (We wrote extensively at the time and afterwards, how the actions of then Gov. Charlie Crist triggered retribution by US Sugar's chief competitor, the Fanjul billionaires, who prominently supported Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. Find it in our archives under "Big Sugar".) The original deal three years ago, for 160,000 acres, withered under the relentless attack. What was in it, for the Fanjuls? They claimed it cost too much, but in fact, they figured they could drive a better deal with the lands they hold.
The calculation of the Fanjul billionaires is that maintaining the status quo-- the sugar subsidy-- really doesn't cost that much compared to the benefits. Buying influence in the state legislature and Congress is just a marketing expense. From the county commission to the White House (Alfie Fanjul is golfing partner of Bill Clinton and fundraiser for Bill Nelson), from zoning changes for power plants, to expanded rock mines in the EAA, suburban sprawl in West Palm Beach, even what is called Everglades restoration: every single movement of the dial accrues to Big Sugar's benefit. Guess which special interest will never go dry in a drought? The one that is most heavily subsidized.
So, write on: Pepperdine, AEI, and Cato. When it comes to voting on the next Farm Bill, watch how conservatives turn and run from their principles. (For the St. Pete Time's editorial, click 'read more')
Yet Congress gives Big Sugar what it needs to continue polluting politics and the Everglades, one Farm Bill at a time.
AEI writes: "The sugar program diverts billions of dollars from American consumers to the “Big Sugar” cartel and would understandably make sense to the members of the American Sugar Alliance. But that very costly program certainly doesn’t make any sense at all for the millions of American consumers and thousands of U.S. businesses who were burdened last year alone with $4.5 billion in higher sugar costs."
The Cato Institute weighs in: "Federal sugar policies confer benefits on a small group of sugar growers, but they damage consumers and U.S. food companies. Congress has provided a sweet deal for sugar growers since it imposed import tariffs on sugar in 1789. Controls on domestic sugar production date back to the Jones-Costigan Act of 1934."
According to Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at the Cato Institute, "The sugar program also causes environmental damage." That part, Miami needs no help understanding. Big Sugar has not only polluted the Florida Everglades, its reach extends straight into downtown Miami law firms and lobbyists. Once when I was a Sierra Club activist organizing a press conference against the Homestead Air Force Base fiasco down at County Hall, the chairman of the county commission pulled permission at the last moment. I tracked back to what happened. It was a lobbyist for Big Sugar who had triggered the objection.
Cato writes: "Large areas of the Florida Everglades have been converted to cane sugar production as a result of sugar protection. That has caused damage from the related land drainage, runoff of chemical fertilizers, and the destruction of natural habitat. With all the negative effects of the sugar program, why does it survive? Because Congress often puts the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public good. In this case, sugar growers are well–organized and they protect the program by providing large campaign support to presidents, governors and many members of Congress."
Congress is hardly alone putting the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public. So does the Florida legislature. In 1996, a wide majority of Florida voters approved the "Polluter Pays Bill" requiring Big Sugar to pay all the costs of its pollution of the Everglades. Despite two Florida court rulings, the legislature continues to ignore the will of the people. Of course, when it comes to tearing the U.S. EPA into bits and pieces, the Florida legislature and GOP delegation from Florida can't move fast enough.
In 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush did the bidding of Big Sugar when he pushed a new law violated the federal consent decree and changed the specific provisions of the Everglades Forever Act, sending all the parties into federal court for nearly a decade only to prove that what Jeb Bush advocated and the legislature passed on behalf of Big Sugar was a violation of federal law. At the time, environmentalists dubbed the Bush measure, The Everglades Whenever Act. Still, the state files file one motion after another in federal court to delay the implementation of tough remedies and enforcement measures against Big Sugar.
Today, the economic crisis gives the current governor, Rick Scott, cover to slash science budgets in the state water district so that at some not-so-distant point in the future, Everglades restoration will be whatever we imagine it to be.
A cynic might be driven to tear his hair out at the persistence of the protection racket for Big Sugar. It would never happen without those sugar sprinkles of campaign cash. So while conservatives argue the rights of corporations as persons, their blind spot is big as Jupiter when it comes to cutting special interest programs like the sugar subsidy. Could the rightward turn of US politics finally do in the sugar subsidy?
Concern along this line is what drove one of the two major sugar producers-- US Sugar-- to attempt to sell its lands to the State of Florida. (We wrote extensively at the time and afterwards, how the actions of then Gov. Charlie Crist triggered retribution by US Sugar's chief competitor, the Fanjul billionaires, who prominently supported Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. Find it in our archives under "Big Sugar".) The original deal three years ago, for 160,000 acres, withered under the relentless attack. What was in it, for the Fanjuls? They claimed it cost too much, but in fact, they figured they could drive a better deal with the lands they hold.
The calculation of the Fanjul billionaires is that maintaining the status quo-- the sugar subsidy-- really doesn't cost that much compared to the benefits. Buying influence in the state legislature and Congress is just a marketing expense. From the county commission to the White House (Alfie Fanjul is golfing partner of Bill Clinton and fundraiser for Bill Nelson), from zoning changes for power plants, to expanded rock mines in the EAA, suburban sprawl in West Palm Beach, even what is called Everglades restoration: every single movement of the dial accrues to Big Sugar's benefit. Guess which special interest will never go dry in a drought? The one that is most heavily subsidized.
So, write on: Pepperdine, AEI, and Cato. When it comes to voting on the next Farm Bill, watch how conservatives turn and run from their principles. (For the St. Pete Time's editorial, click 'read more')
Monday, September 05, 2011
"The Leftovers", by Tom Perrotta ... by gimleteye
The release of the new novel by Tom Perrotta, "The Leftovers", coincides with the 10th anniversary of 9/11. A Rapture-like event before the story begins causes the instantaneous disappearance of millions of people (though unrelated in any way to the conservative Christian version). Perrotta inevitably summons the national anxiety tied to thousands of citizens vaporized in the World Trade Towers. Perrotta's work is filled with sharp observations of behavior through the many forms of stress and frailty. There is a particular American sadness that attaches to the failed expectation of Christianity when there is no balancing of the scales, rhyme or reason why some are taken and some, not.
But there is another resonance in "The Leftovers" that is less explored: the operations of the US economy on the individual that are making so many Americans, "leftovers". That is not the book that Perotta wrote, however. (Along that line, Richard Ford is more durable.) In Perotta's small town America, fully drawn characters cope in a world defined by disappearance but not necessarily of industry and jobs like so much of the nation is experiencing today.
The question is asked, though. Our anonymous leaders are barely noticed. Their reaction to the Disappearance is to pick up morale the way George W. Bush did, weeks after 9/11: urging Americans to go shopping. Fill the malls. Buy things with a smile. But what do we do, now?
But there is another resonance in "The Leftovers" that is less explored: the operations of the US economy on the individual that are making so many Americans, "leftovers". That is not the book that Perotta wrote, however. (Along that line, Richard Ford is more durable.) In Perotta's small town America, fully drawn characters cope in a world defined by disappearance but not necessarily of industry and jobs like so much of the nation is experiencing today.
The question is asked, though. Our anonymous leaders are barely noticed. Their reaction to the Disappearance is to pick up morale the way George W. Bush did, weeks after 9/11: urging Americans to go shopping. Fill the malls. Buy things with a smile. But what do we do, now?
Anyone Want to Run In District 5 for School Board? By Geniusofdespair
Can someone run against Renier for School Board in District 5? First he is all for virtual schools, the new money making enterprise and he did that creepy school board mailing to Republicans for his brother. Read my two posts detailing his deeds. I know your next question and the answer is 'NO'. The sex-party charter school is not in his district, but he does like those charter schools.
Most of all we need to replace him because he looks mean. Even when he smiles he looks surly. It would scare the students if they ever ran into him but fat chance of that if he gets his way with virtual schools.
Who is giving to his campaign: Lobbyist Ron Book and family, a couple of Corporations with Anibal J. Duarte-Viera as Manager, Lobbyists John Cerra, Robert Cerra and Ana Carbonell, Demetrio Perez (former School Board member), Florida School Services (Thomas Cerra) and Octavio Visiedo among others. Berkshire LLC a school on SW 8th Street gave to his campaign, might be a real estate school. Berkshire LLC is defunct in Florida.
Kidding aside, you won't win (although in comments they say his vulnerable) because his brother Alex is a campaign expert/animal, most recently he worked on the Gimenez campaign, but winning is not the reason to run against Renier. I want you to run so issues can be raised and he will be forced to go on record.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Is It Unsafe to Eat Out In Miami Dade County, Part 2. By Geniusofdespair
There was another restaurant robbery by 3 armed men at Hiro Sushi, 3017 NE 163rd Street. Again, patrons were ordered to the floor and robbed. Obviously the local police cannot get a grip on this crime wave. I think something more needs to be done. As I reported in Part 1, plenty of restaurants have been similarly robbed lately, this brings it to 6. How many more do we need to address it in a BIG WAY?
Luna Star, North Miami - Early August 6th
Hiro Sushi - North Mimi Beach - August 9th
Joey's, Wynwood - August 29th
McDonald's 15096 NW Seventh Ave. - July
Chili's, 174 St. - June
Doral Ale House, Doral - April
Luna Star, North Miami - Early August 6th
Hiro Sushi - North Mimi Beach - August 9th
Joey's, Wynwood - August 29th
McDonald's 15096 NW Seventh Ave. - July
Chili's, 174 St. - June
Doral Ale House, Doral - April
Three Charts to email ... by gimleteye
Published on Truthout (http://www.truth-out.org)
Three Charts to Email to Your Right-Wing Brother-In-Law
by: Dave Johnson, Campaign for America's Future [3] | Op-Ed
Federal spending dramatically increased under former president, George W. Bush and it has not increased much under President Obama. (Photo: Eric Draper / White House[4])
Problem: Your right-wing brother-in-law is plugged into the FOX-Limbaugh lie machine, and keeps sending you emails about "Obama spending" and "Obama deficits" and how the "Stimulus" just made things worse.
Solution: Here are three "reality-based" charts to send to him. These charts show what actually happened.
Spending
[5]Government spending increased dramatically under Bush. It has not increased much under Obama. Note that this chart does not reflect any spending cuts resulting from deficit-cutting deals.
Deficits
[6]Notes, this chart includes Clinton's last budget year for comparison.
The numbers in these two charts come from Budget of the United States Government: Historical Tables Fiscal Year 2012 [7]. They are just the amounts that the government spent and borrowed, period, Anyone can go look then up. Peoplewho claim that Obama "tripled the deficit" [8] are either misled or are trying to mislead [9].
The Stimulus and Jobs
[10]In this chart, the RED lines on the left side -- the ones that keep doing DOWN -- show what happened to jobs under the policies of Bush and the Republicans. We were losing lots and lots of jobs every month, and it was getting worse and worse. The BLUE lines -- the ones that just go UP -- show what happened to jobs when the stimulus was in effect. We stopped losing jobs and started gaining jobs, and it was getting better and better. The leveling off on the right side of the chart shows what happened as the stimulus started to wind down: job creation leveled off at too low a level.
It looks a lot like the stimulus reversed what was going on before the stimulus.
Conclusion: THE STIMULUS WORKED BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH!
More False Things
These are just three of the false things that everyone "knows." Some others are (click through [11]): Obama bailed out the banks, businesses will hire if they get tax cuts, health care reform cost $1 trillion, Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme or is "going broke" [12], government spending "takes money out of the economy [13]."
Why This Matters
These things really matter. We all want to fix the terrible problems the country has. But it is so important to know just what the problems are before you decide how to fix them. Otherwise the things you do to try to solve those problems might just make them worse. If you get tricked into thinking that Obama has made things worse and that we should go back to what we were doing before Obama -- tax cuts for the rich, giving giant corporations and Wall Street everything they want -- when those are the things that caused the problems in the first place, then we will be in real trouble.
Solution: Here are three "reality-based" charts to send to him. These charts show what actually happened.
Spending
[5]Deficits
[6]The numbers in these two charts come from Budget of the United States Government: Historical Tables Fiscal Year 2012 [7]. They are just the amounts that the government spent and borrowed, period, Anyone can go look then up. Peoplewho claim that Obama "tripled the deficit" [8] are either misled or are trying to mislead [9].
The Stimulus and Jobs
[10]It looks a lot like the stimulus reversed what was going on before the stimulus.
Conclusion: THE STIMULUS WORKED BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH!
More False Things
These are just three of the false things that everyone "knows." Some others are (click through [11]): Obama bailed out the banks, businesses will hire if they get tax cuts, health care reform cost $1 trillion, Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme or is "going broke" [12], government spending "takes money out of the economy [13]."
Why This Matters
These things really matter. We all want to fix the terrible problems the country has. But it is so important to know just what the problems are before you decide how to fix them. Otherwise the things you do to try to solve those problems might just make them worse. If you get tricked into thinking that Obama has made things worse and that we should go back to what we were doing before Obama -- tax cuts for the rich, giving giant corporations and Wall Street everything they want -- when those are the things that caused the problems in the first place, then we will be in real trouble.
Links:
[1] http://www.truth-out.org/print/5718
[2] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail/5718
[3] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083428/three-charts-email-your-right-wing-brother-law
[4] http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2744409333/
[5] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811201/
[6] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6089355018/
[7] http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy12/hist.html
[8] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010020717/huge-2009-budget-deficit-just-one-more-conservative-failure
[9] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083209/ten-years-ago-we-were-paying-nations-debt-then-we-elected-obama
[10] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811219/
[11] http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010104222/false-things-public-knows-they-go-vote
[12] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083426/sen-sanders-plan-actually-fix-social-security
[13] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083212/austeridiocy
[14] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail
[15] http://www.truth-out.org/content/dave-johnson
[16] http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6694/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2160
[17] https://members.truth-out.org/donate
[1] http://www.truth-out.org/print/5718
[2] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail/5718
[3] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083428/three-charts-email-your-right-wing-brother-law
[4] http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2744409333/
[5] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811201/
[6] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6089355018/
[7] http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy12/hist.html
[8] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010020717/huge-2009-budget-deficit-just-one-more-conservative-failure
[9] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083209/ten-years-ago-we-were-paying-nations-debt-then-we-elected-obama
[10] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811219/
[11] http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010104222/false-things-public-knows-they-go-vote
[12] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083426/sen-sanders-plan-actually-fix-social-security
[13] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083212/austeridiocy
[14] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail
[15] http://www.truth-out.org/content/dave-johnson
[16] http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6694/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2160
[17] https://members.truth-out.org/donate
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Parties at Charter School? Owner: "Not That I Am Aware Of" by Geniusofdespair
In 2006 41% of students at Belere tested below grade level in math. In 2007 51% of students were below grade level in reading and 49% were below grade level in Math. In 2008 31% were below grade level in reading and 37% in math.
So, Erik Fresen, remind me - Why are you such a promoter of Charter Schools (besides your family owning some of them)?
(data from: FLORIDA DIFFERENTIATED ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM 2008 – 2009 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN)
More, on Chopping Up the EPA and Particle Board Democracy ... by gimleteye
Particle board is held together by an EPA-regulated chemical, formaldehyde. The chemical turns out to be a key profit maker for the Koch empire; a billionaire family that stands behind much of the GOP nonsense running rampant through the national discourse. Along this line, particle board stands as a metaphor for the runny weakness of our democracy today. The Washington Post publishes a strong editorial, blasting the GOP standard bearers of particle board democracy who want to bring the EPA to its knees.
The EPA consumes .3 percent of monthly federal expenditures and yet is the bogey-man for Republican ambitions to cripple President Obama. There is method to the billionaires' madness. In Florida, polluters are waging a sophisticated campaign to render federal water pollution laws meaningless. They swing their scythes at the EPA, that bears debilitating scars through the 40 Year War on the Environment. Protecting the environment is a contact sport, and these days there are plenty of Democrats shying from the contact. Anyhow, read on:
The EPA consumes .3 percent of monthly federal expenditures and yet is the bogey-man for Republican ambitions to cripple President Obama. There is method to the billionaires' madness. In Florida, polluters are waging a sophisticated campaign to render federal water pollution laws meaningless. They swing their scythes at the EPA, that bears debilitating scars through the 40 Year War on the Environment. Protecting the environment is a contact sport, and these days there are plenty of Democrats shying from the contact. Anyhow, read on:
Friday, September 02, 2011
Homestead You Have a Choice of One of the Two Steves! By Geniusofdespair
Steve Losner and Steve Bateman
I just called the Homestead Clerk's Office. Steve Bateman is running for Mayor of Homestead again and Steve Losner is running against him. I am glad there are two candidates so issues will be raised. Good luck fella's, may the MOST HONEST man win!
M-D Mayor Gimenez proposes major changes to county government ... by gimleteye
Mayor Carlos Gimenez released today a major proposal for re-organizing county government. The change of most concern is merging the functions of environmental resource management with planning and zoning. Read the proposed changes here.
Pushing it to da Limit: Lap Dancing in Miami Charter Schools ... by gimleteye
Hialeah Incompetence? Guest Blog by Hialeahhomegrown
Yes, there has been no summer access to Milander Pool for anyone who wanted to cool down from the summer heat.
Why not? Because the pool has been under repair. How did the problems at the pool become so large that they could not be completed in time for summer programs? Ask the geniuses at Hialeah City Stall a.k.a. Hialeah City Hall.
And this is "The city of progress?"
Thank you Mayor Julio Robaina, acting mayor Carlos Hernandez and acting Council President Isis Garcia-Martinez. How did your Parks and Recreation Supervisors not deal with Milander Pool's problems in a timely manner? Six months is a joke.
Genius said: I called the Mayor's office they didn't know why it took so long to do the pool. They said call Parks and Recreation. Parks and Recreation (Andy) said it was a large project didn't know how long it was supposed to have taken - he told me to call the pool itself. He seemed miffed that I said it was taking too long. There was no answer at Milander. I called the Clerk, to ask how long it said it would take in whatever the Commission passed. He said I would would have to do a public records request...like David Concepcion, you just can't look in the records for me? I don't like every question being treated as a public records request so they can garner YOUR name and take forever. You should be able to ask a simple question of a government. He said he can't give me information only records. He then proceeded to give me INFORMATION, he said the Mayor was the City Manager so we know the buck stops with the Mayor. This is the kind of 'helpful' City Clerk Concepcion is, a friend did a public records request asking for the cell phone contact list of one of the Councilmen. Concepcion sent her a contact list for the Hialeah City Council - that can be found online and he knew that wasn't what she wanted. He is stalling and appears to be a smart-ass. Other clerks call me when they are not sure of what I want or it is not clear. Nobody seems to know what is going on over there in Hialeah...I am waiting on one of the Councilman's aides to return my call. It should be long.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Is This Gross or What? Lynda Bell, Michele Bachmann and David Rivera. By Geniusofdespair
Love fest in Miami on Monday between County Commissioner (District 8) Lynda Bell, David Rivera and Michele Bachmann.
NASA scientist James Hansen: nothing left to lose ... by gimleteye
There are those, of course, who disagree that scientists have any role in public advocacy. In the U.S., deniers have not only had the media platform (ie. Fox News, Rush) to launch their jihads against environmental rules and regulations, they also have pinned down American politics by commandeering campaign finance law. In the battle for the heart and soul of America-- the scientists and James Hansen are not winning.
In Florida, if drought hasn't helped us pay attention, maybe extreme cold will. A peer reviewed science journal just published, "Severe 2010 Cold-Water Event Caused Unprecendented Mortality to Corals of the Florida Reef Tract and Reversed Previous Survivorship Patterns."
Background
Coral reefs are facing increasing pressure from natural and anthropogenic stressors that have already caused significant worldwide declines. In January 2010, coral reefs of Florida, United States, were impacted by an extreme cold-water anomaly that exposed corals to temperatures well below their reported thresholds (16°C), causing rapid coral mortality unprecedented in spatial extent and severity.
Conclusions/Significance
The cold-water anomaly of January 2010 caused the worst coral mortality on record for the Florida Reef Tract, highlighting the potential catastrophic impacts that unusual but extreme climatic events can have on the persistence of coral reefs. Moreover, habitats and species most severely affected were those found in high-coral cover, inshore, shallow reef habitats previously considered the “oases” of the region, having escaped declining patterns observed for more offshore habitats. Thus, the 2010 cold-water anomaly not only caused widespread coral mortality but also reversed prior resistance and resilience patterns that will take decades to recover.
This is one --and only one-- of the indicators of extreme weather attributable to climate change. Collectively, as a society, we haven't begun to appreciate what it means to have lifted the human species to unparalleled achievements in the past 2000 years and yet be on the verge of threatening our place in tens of millions of years of evolution.
Back in the Clinton era, Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt said that we need to "walk more lightly on the earth." His words sound quaint in relation to the backlash of the past decade against science and reason, as our political climate is wracked by fear and its flames stoked by extremists.
There is an imperative to shift government policies in common sense ways. And there have been changes but mostly in line with the profit motive of large corporations. We've had the corn ethanol fiasco. The wind power fiasco. And the failure to create a new jobs economy around distributed power generation at the consumer level. We've even had the fiasco in Miami-Dade County of the builders objecting to any land use maps that could drive public investment in infrastructure away from flood prone areas. In other words, we seem to be inviting "the deluge".
As Mitt Romney reminded his audience the other day, "corporations are people!" I doubt James Hansen's arrest will give the nation's top corporate executives a second thought. But Hansen, like EOM, is laying down his markers. We have one chance to live on this planet. It is a magnificent opportunity, and if you don't step in and stand up for conserving what we have, for future generations, well; a pox on your house, or, corporate headquarters.
The Good Govenment Initiative or as I call it: Katy's Class. By Geniusofdespair
Patricia Asseff, Vice Mayor, City of Hollywood
Jennifer Ator, Council member, City of Miami Springs
Dwight Bullard, State Rep., Florida District 118
Heather Carruthers, Mayor, Monroe County
Daniel Dietch, Mayor, Town of Surfside
Jorge Exposito, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach
Wendy Harrison, Council member, Town of Jupiter
Barbara Kramer, Council member, City of North Miami Beach
Keith London, Commissioner, City of Hallandale Beach
Sue Loyzelle, Council member, Town of Cutler Bay
Frank Quesada, Commissioner, City of Coral Gables
Raquel Regalado, School Board Member, Miami-Dade County
Felicia Robinson, Council member, City of Miami Gardens
Roxanna Ross, Mayor, Village of Biscayne Park
Nora Rupert, School Board Member, Broward County
Robin Smith-Martin, School Board Member, Monroe County
Francis Suarez, Commissioner, City of Miami
Elsa Vazquez, Commissioner, City of West Miami
Call these people and tell them you are proud of them. The members will participate in comprehensive training on issues, including economic development, land use, ethics, cultural diversity, and more. This weekend included a focus on budget, the fundamentals of leadership, and community history Sorenson said:
“I’m excited about this first crop of students who represent the future of leadership in our community. They have demonstrated that they are interested in improving their skills in governance and in working with their peers to improve government throughout South Florida,”If you want to help Katy's program go to their website. They could sure use funding. She did manage to lasso 3 of our hottest male politicians for this class, all candidates or future candidates of our beauty contest: Keith London first row right (winner in 2009), Frank Quesada - white shirt 4th row and Frances Suarez back row. (hit the image to make it larger)
Dwight Bullard, I have high hopes for you. Please learn to serve your community well. I have a video of you that impressed me. As for Katy Sorenson, I always say throw the bums out, she is offering an alternative: make them better. I hope she can. There is a difference between a politician who can raise money and a public servant that can help the community. She believes there is public servant potential in politicians, I don't really. I hope Katy is right. Maybe we can fix the broken system from within. After all, these people can now go back and teach the others on their commission, council or board, leading by example. Will there be a trickle down effect?
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