Sunday, August 26, 2012
WHAT’S UP
WITH THE NEWS?
Study –
Global Elite Hiding Up to $32 Trillion in Offshore Accounts
Why Our
Phones and Internet are Being Threatened by a Big Telecom Privatization Scheme
David
Rosen & Bruce Kushnick, AlterNet
Contraception
– Good for Women, Good for the Country
Noam
Chomsky – The Most Powerful Country in History is Destroying the Earth and
Human Rights as We Know Them
3 BIG Lies
Perpetuated by the Rich
Paul
Buchheit, AlterNet
Too many
Americans continue to be numbed by the soothing sounds of conservative spin in
the media. Let’s take a look at the
facts.
Barbara
Ehrenreich – Why are Working People Invisible in the Mainstream Media?
Amy Dean,
TruthOut.org
5 Ways
Churches Get Preferential Treatment and Benefit from Legal Loopholes
Rob Boston,
AlterNet
Jaw-Dropping
Corruption – America’s 47 Million Hungry Mouths are Just Another Corporate Cash
Cow
Mark
Anderson, Progressive Populist
An
attorney’s courageous report exposes just how ruthless and greedy big business
is capable of being.
“US vs
THEM” – A Simple Recipe to Prevent Strong Society from Forming
James
Rohrer, AlterNet
Powerful
interests want to keep us at one another’s throats rather than working
together.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Paul Ryan Already Benefited from the Social Security Fund He Now Wants to Gut
By Kase Wickman, Raw Story
Rep.
Paul Ryan, the GOP’s most outspoken advocate for cutting and
privatizing Social Security, has already benefited from Social Security
himself, in the form of survivor benefits he received after his father’s
untimely death.
From the age of 16, when his 55-year-old father died of a heart attack, until he was 18, Ryan received Social Security payments, which, according to a lengthy profile in WI Magazine, he put away for college. The eventual budget czar attended Miami University in Ohio to earn a B.A. in economics and political science, and landed a congressional internship as a junior.
Ryan’s congressional ascent, all the way to the top spot on the Budget Committee, began with his Social Security-funded college education.
Ryan’s so-called Roadmap for America’s Future budget plan proposed machete-like cuts — most notably to social services like Medicare and Social Security. Paul’s idea was to invest portions of Social Security funds in Wall Street, essentially forcing future recipients to make unsecured investments with with money they’ll later need for retirement — and endangering survivor benefits like the ones he received.
“Ryan credits his father’s death and the care of his grandmother as giving him first-hand experience as to how social service programs work,” WI Magazine wrote, referencing his Alzheimer’s-stricken grandmother, also a beneficiary of the social programs Ryan now opposes, who moved in with Ryan and his mother after his father died.
Without the Social Security benefits he received, Ryan would have had more difficulty attending college, and wouldn’t have become “Wisconsin’s fiscal dreamboat,” as the profile dubs him, or, as Democrats nationwide have painted him, the Enemy Number 1 to seniors and social services.
Ryan’s “Roadmap” for Social Security would drive toward privatization of Social Security, and an “eventual modernization of the retirement age.”
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) wagged his finger at Ryan in a statement in January: “Paul Ryan owes it to the national audience tonight to explain why he wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare.” Ryan’s Social Security reforms didn’t make it into the final draft of the budget the House passed last week, but as the chairman of the Budget Committee, he’s in a position to push the House to adopt his plan at a later date.
The focus in the social entitlements cut conversation has been on seniors, but “survivor benefits,” like the payments that Ryan and his family received, and help for the disabled, account for about a third of Social Security payments. Rep. Paul Ryan’s office did not respond to Raw Story’s requests for comment
From the age of 16, when his 55-year-old father died of a heart attack, until he was 18, Ryan received Social Security payments, which, according to a lengthy profile in WI Magazine, he put away for college. The eventual budget czar attended Miami University in Ohio to earn a B.A. in economics and political science, and landed a congressional internship as a junior.
Ryan’s congressional ascent, all the way to the top spot on the Budget Committee, began with his Social Security-funded college education.
Ryan’s so-called Roadmap for America’s Future budget plan proposed machete-like cuts — most notably to social services like Medicare and Social Security. Paul’s idea was to invest portions of Social Security funds in Wall Street, essentially forcing future recipients to make unsecured investments with with money they’ll later need for retirement — and endangering survivor benefits like the ones he received.
“Ryan credits his father’s death and the care of his grandmother as giving him first-hand experience as to how social service programs work,” WI Magazine wrote, referencing his Alzheimer’s-stricken grandmother, also a beneficiary of the social programs Ryan now opposes, who moved in with Ryan and his mother after his father died.
Without the Social Security benefits he received, Ryan would have had more difficulty attending college, and wouldn’t have become “Wisconsin’s fiscal dreamboat,” as the profile dubs him, or, as Democrats nationwide have painted him, the Enemy Number 1 to seniors and social services.
Ryan’s “Roadmap” for Social Security would drive toward privatization of Social Security, and an “eventual modernization of the retirement age.”
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) wagged his finger at Ryan in a statement in January: “Paul Ryan owes it to the national audience tonight to explain why he wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare.” Ryan’s Social Security reforms didn’t make it into the final draft of the budget the House passed last week, but as the chairman of the Budget Committee, he’s in a position to push the House to adopt his plan at a later date.
The focus in the social entitlements cut conversation has been on seniors, but “survivor benefits,” like the payments that Ryan and his family received, and help for the disabled, account for about a third of Social Security payments. Rep. Paul Ryan’s office did not respond to Raw Story’s requests for comment
Thursday, August 02, 2012
PERSONAL NEWS
#210
Sunday morning, July 1st, I went to my weekly
Hatha yoga class, and in the afternoon had an appt with Dr Tan.
Wednesday, July 4th, I spent some time in Park
Slope on a “shutterbug adventure” to capture the look of the many charming brownstones,
gardens, etc. It was a warm and humid
day. After getting back to my hood, I
picked up a delicious slice of “Death by Chocolate” vegan cake to enjoy while
watching the fireworks that evening on the telly.
Thursday evening, July 5th, after doing some
shopping at Dressbarn and Whole Foods; I joined other members of TGTSNBN for
the monthly meetup. This time we sat
around different tables gossiping, playing fun board games, eating and
drinking. It was alot of fun catching up
with friends and acquaintances I hadn’t seen in awhile. J
Friday through Monday, July 6th to the 9th,
I visited with the parents in upstate NY, plus we also visited my brother and
sister-in-law near Schenectady. I rented
a KIA Sedona car from Enterprise that was abit of a gas guzzler, but drove
really nice, and had Satellite Radio.
Tuesday, July 10th, I jumped on The Peace
Alliance monthly conference call to learn about the latest events and
updates. The monthly BFP PF meeting was
cancelled this evening and will be rescheduled to another date.
Wednesday evening, July 11th, I attended a
meeting at The Commons on creating a coalition regarding the banning of the
Rockaway Lateral Pipeline. This proposed
fracking-gas pipeline would, if implemented, create havoc with the Gateway
National Recreation area in that part of Brooklyn, plus put Brooklynites at
risk.
Thursday evening, July 12th, I attended a book
party and discussion of a new novel [Fuel on the Fire: Oil and Politics in
Occupied Iraq] by author Greg Muttitt. I
purchased the book, got it signed by the author while having a brief discussion
on the continued US government “presence” in Iraq.
Friday, July 13th, I volunteered with City
Harvest at Union Square farmers market.
Saturday afternoon, July 14th, I hosted a
Harry Potter gathering at Casa Hufflepuff, and we noshed on tasty vegan goodies
while reading our fave excerpts from HP books.
Many thanks go out to Debbie, Dennis, Kathy, Laura, Mary, Pauline and
Angela in joining me at my casa.
Sunday, July 15th, I went to my weekly Hatha
yoga class, and in the afternoon had an appt with Dr Tan.
Tuesday evening, July 17th, I participated and
co-chaired the monthly BFP Arts & Culture meeting held at Dennis’ apt in
Park Slope.
Wednesday evening, July 18th, I volunteered at
the WCW national office to assist with computer work.
Thursday evening, July 19th, I attended the
monthly NYC Tolkien meetup and there were 12 in attendance which included 6
newbies.
Friday, July 20th, I volunteered with City
Harvest at Union Square’s farmers market.
Saturday, July 21st, after receiving a much
needed mani/pedi, then having some lunch, I walked to the East River ferry pier
in my hood for a “shutterbug adventure” to Governors Island. The weather was lovely and a good day for
adventure.
Sunday, July 22nd, I went to my weekly Hatha
yoga class, then a BFP A&C conference call at 3pm, and afterwards had an
appt with Dr Tan for acupuncture treatment.
Weather is still lovely and little humidity.
Tuesday, July 24th, I attended the annual City
Harvest volunteer party at Heartland Brewery.
Friday, July 27th, I volunteered with City
Harvest at Union Square farmers market.
Earlier in the afternoon I had an enjoyable lunch at Ruby Tuesday with
Carla Mallen, who was in my graduating class at FLHS back in the 1970s. We’ve connected over the years via class
reunions and facebook. Carla told me
that her older sister was one of my art teachers in high school. Whoa!
Sunday, July 29th, I went to my weekly Hatha
yoga class in the morning, then brunch with my friend Gail at a Korean
restaurant on Franklin Street, and ended the evening at a small gathering at
the Lone Wolf Tribe studio in Ft Greene.
Tuesday evening, July 31st, I attend the Hatha
yoga class in my neighborhood.