More, More, More . . .

. . . it's never enough. . .

 (from NPR http://www.npr.org/2012/04/27/151456319/is-moderate-growth-good-for-the-economy)
'The U.S. economy hit the recession exit ramp nearly three years ago, but it's been lost on the back roads somewhere near Recoveryville ever since. Growth rates have been modest at best compared with the 4-plus percent growth in the years well before the U.S. began slouching toward its worst post-World War II recession. On Friday, the government reported that the economy grew at a 2.2 percent pace in the first quarter, down from the 3 percent rate at the end of 2011. The Federal Reserve this week said it expects growth to "remain moderate over coming quarters and then to pick up gradually. "Common sense says high growth rates are good and slower, more modest ones are not so good. But is that always the case? After all, the "irrational exuberance" of the early 2000s helped bring on the recession as people borrowed and spent their way to prosperity. Economists say growth will remain low and consumers will be cautious as long as unemployment stays high. Last month, the jobless rate stood at 8.2 percent. We asked four economists for their take on the growth rate and whether it has triggered any permanent change in consumer behavior. They are Chris Christopher, a senior principal economist at IHS Global Insight; William Dickens, an economist at the Brookings Institution; Gary Hufbauer, a senior researcher at the Peterson Institute for International Economics; and Ken Matheny, senior economist at Macroeconomic Advisers. . ."

It's time we re-examine our expectations and our standards.  Let us redefine 'growth' and calibrate our expectations to a more realistic and natural level. Paraphrasing Dylan Ratigan in "Greedy Bastards",  short term greed is practiced by greedy bastards;  the largest  payback as quickly as possible.  Long-term greed is what capitalism is all about.  Provide a good or service of value and reap a profit over a number of years . . . yes YEARS;  a concept quite foreign to U.S. business.

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Who knew . . .

there was any such thing as DNA when the constitution was written?  U.S. or state!

Maryland's Attorney General has filed a motion asking the state’s highest court to reconsider its ruling that it is unconstitutional to collect DNA samples from those arrested for crimes of violence. Also requested was a stay of its order until the Attorney General's office can appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Supporters of the DNA law have urged the Attorney General’s Office to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Federal courts, and nearly every state court considering the issue of collecting DNA samples from those arrested for crimes, have ruled the practice constitutional. Collecting the DNA of an arrested person is similar to fingerprinting suspects when they are arrested for crimes and then running the prints through a database.

(thanks to Gazette.net)

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Insurgent outlier . . .

. . . sticks and stones? . . .  don't think so . . .

Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, two D.C. journalists for more than 40 years known for their carefully nonpartisan positions are saying that Congress is more dysfunctional than it has been since the Civil War.  They also name drop saying ". . . the Republican Party, has become an insurgent outlier — ideologically extreme; contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition," they write in their new book, It's Even Worse Than It Looks. . . "

They also say, ". . . the media and elsewhere sometimes do a disservice to the reality. . . It disarms the electorate in a democracy when you really need an ideological outlier to be reined in by an active, informed public. . . "

This one'll be a must-read for me.

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Control . . .

. . . in the name of WHAT? . . .

 Susan Reimer, columnist of the Baltimore Sun wrote the other day about the Catholic church. She wrote about birth control pills being forbidden, opposition to any legal standing for gay people, even opposition to their own nuns' spending too much time on social justice issues and not enough time pounding home the message about birth control and abortion.

And now, the case of Amanda Dougherty.  Anna, a student at a Catholic high school outside Philadelphia, had the dress, the shoes, the ticket and the guy for her junior prom. Until the guy backed out. She was determined to pin a smile on her face and go anyway, to have fun with her friends. Healthy attitude right?  Wrong!  The school and the archdiocese told her that she couldn't go without a date. "For them to say that we're not good enough to go unless we have a guy standing next to us, it's just kind of sickening," Amanda told a CBS reporter. In a statement, Catholic school officials said there were plenty of high school events a student could attend without a date, "but we view the prom as a special social event where a date is required to attend."

And an Indiana teacher at a Catholic school found that her contract had not been renewed after she asked for some time off to pursue a second in vitro fertilization. When Emily Herx of Fort Wayne pointed out that her supervisor not only knew of her first attempt but was praying for its success, and that no embryos were destroyed or frozen, the monsignor in the parish told her she was a "grave, immoral sinner" anyway.

Why is the Catholic Church increasing their stress of doctrine in a world already full of religious extremists of all stripes? Why would it stifle it's own inner circle which serves the weak and defends their rights? Why would it wound the faithful at their most vulnerable moments? Why does it exclude, when it could embrace?

According to their own scripture, Jesus said,  "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly."  He also said: "By this shall men know that you are my disciples; not that you pass the test of traditional orthodoxy, but that you love; and in loving bear witness that you can give of the life that you have received."  Personally, I like that.

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Two . . .

. . . of my best musical friends  at Joe Squared in Baltimore Saturday night. . . 

(Photo by Lisa Phillips)

Damn.  I sure to love music!!!!

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Join Us . . .

. . . (if you're near Frederick, MD) . . . Monday night . . .

For this week's Songwriters Showcase Monday

Oho will offer an extended set of Jay Graboski's original music in addition to a 'Gonzo' tune or two by Ray Jozwiak to begin and a host of other fine local and regional musicians April 30, 2012 at Brewer’s Alley beginning 7:15PM

Monday,  April 30th @ 7:15PM
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery (Songwriters Showcase-Upstairs)
124 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701
Telephone: 301-631-0089 Fax: 301-631-1874
http://www.brewers-alley.com/



PLUNGE by Oho



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Amazing . . .

. . . how this wonderful technology. . .

.

. . . enables us to immediately send messages about matters of interest and importance, to our loved ones instantaneously through the wonder of the internet (and utilizing the internet) and email . . .

". .  JANUARY 1, 2013, THE US GOVERNMENT WILL BE REQUIRING EVERYONE TO HAVE DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR SS CHECKS. WONDER WHY? Subject: HR 4646

Watch for this AFTER November elections; remember this BEFORE you VOTE, in case you think Obama is looking out for your best interest.  A 1% tax on all bank transactions is what HR 4646 calls for. Do you receive a paycheck, or a retirement check from Social Security or a pension fund and have it direct deposit?  Well guess what ... It looks as if Obama wants to tax it 1% !!!  This bill was put forth by Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA).  YES, that is 1% tax on all bank transactions - HR 4646, every time it goes in and every time money goes out.  Ask your congressperson to vote NO.  FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!  1% tax on all bank transactions ~ HR 4646 - ANOTHER NEW OBAMA TAX SLIPPED IN WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP. Checked this on snopes, it's true! Check it out yourself ~ HR 4646.  President Obama's finance team is recommending a one percent (1%) transaction fee (TAX). Obama's plan is to sneak it in after the November elections to keep it under the radar.  This is a 1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution - banks, credit unions, savings and loans, etc. Any deposit you make, or even a transfer within your own bank from one account to another, will have a 1% tax charged.  If your paycheck or your Social Security or whatever is direct deposit, it will get a 1% tax charged for the transaction.  If your paycheck is $1000, then you will pay Obama $10 just for the privilege of depositing your paycheck in your bank. Even if you hand carry your paycheck or any check in to your bank for a deposit, 1% tax will be charged. You receive a $5,000 stock dividend from your broker, Obama takes $50 just to allow you to deposit that check in the bank.  If you take $1,000 cash to deposit at your bank, 1% tax will be charged. Mind you, this is from the man who promised that, if you make under $250,000 per year, you will not see one penny of new tax. Keep your eyes and ears open, you will be amazed at what you learn about this guy's under-the-table moves to increase the number of ways you are taxed.  Oh, and by the way, if you receive a refund from the IRS next year and you have it direct deposited or you walk in to deposit that check, you guessed it. You will pay a 1% charge of that money just for putting it in your bank.  Remember, any money, cash, check or whatever, no matter where it came from, you will pay a 1% fee if you put it in the bank.  Some will say, oh well, it's just 1%. Are you kidding me? It's a 1% tax increase across the board. Remember, once the tax is there, they can also raise it at will. And if anyone protests, they will just say, "Oh,that's not really a tax, it's a user fee"!  Think this is no big deal? Go back and look at the transactions you made from last year's banking statements. Then add the total of all those transactions and deduct 1%. Still think it's no big deal? . . "


Then the nefarious email goes on to state that  ". . . 1. snopes.com: Debt Free America Act���
 Is the U.S. government proposing a 1% tax on debit card usage and/or banking transactions?  ...It is true. . . "


 . . but if you bother to really visit Snopes.com, you'll find they actually say it is FALSE!  Go to http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/debtfree.asp

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