Bailing Out The World
January 3rd, 2009Bailing Out The World
Mad? You Should Be
So, how much money did the United States dole out to the world in 2008?
With a faltering economy and increasing job losses, you would think that we’d take care of our own beyond all others. Sadly, this isn’t the case. It never has been, and there’s no indication that it will be in the foreseeable future.
The U.S.gave an estimated $26 billion in foreign aid in 2008 - and this figure doesn’t include funds related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 150 countries get financial assistance from the United States. Here are the top 10:
- Israel — $2.4 billion : Virtually all of this money is used to buy weapons (up to 75% made in the U.S.). Beginning in 2009, the U.S. plans to give $30 billion over 10 years.
- Egypt — $1.7 billion : $1.3 billion to buy weapons; $103 million for education; $74 million for health care; $45 million to promote civic participation and human rights.
- Pakistan — $798 million : $330 million for security efforts, including military-equipment upgrades and border security; $20 million for infrastructure.
- Jordan — $688 million : $326 million to fight terrorism and promote regional stability through equipment upgrades and training; $163 million cash payment to the Jordanian government.
- Kenya — $586 million : $501 million to fight HIV/AIDS through drug treatment and abstinence education and to combat malaria; $15 million for agricultural development; $5.4 million for programs that promote government accountability.
- South Africa — $574 million : $557 million to fight TB and HIV/AIDS; $3 million for education.
- Mexico — $551 million
- Colombia — $541 million
- Nigeria — $491 million
- Sudan — $479 million
Let your elected officials know that you’re not happy about this.
Credit Thaw
November 25th, 2008Credit Thaw
Or Not…
The fed has announced plans (another $800,000,000,000) to help “unfreeze” credit - such as credit cards, student loans, and auto loans.
The first question should be, wasn’t the first $700,000,000,000 bailout supposed to unfreeze the credit?
Instead, the major banks and lenders “hid” the money in less risky ventures - none of which actually helps the economy.
Keep your eyes on this as it unfolds, but don’t assume it will be a good thing. We do need readily available credit for consumers, but the question remains - will this latest funding become available to consumers? And, if it does, how many of them will just end up in the exact same situation that got us into this mess to begin with — with easy credit?
Bailout Fever
November 24th, 2008Bailout Fever
No, Not Fever, Plague
Oh, come on Congressional Democrats… It was no more than a few days ago when I shouted from this blog that there should be NO MORE BAILOUTS!
Clearly, you ignored me. With today’s news, we see “The U.S. government moved to bail out Citigroup Inc, agreeing to shoulder most potential losses from $306 billion of its toxic assets and inject $20 billion of new capital, its biggest effort yet to prevent a big bank from failing.”
Am I the only one getting pissed about this???
Citibank, the same company that only a few weeks ago was in a bloody battle with Wells Fargo as they both tried to purchase Wachovia. How does this happen exactly? How does a company have the means to purchase a huge bank one week, yet needs billions of dollars in bailout money a couple weeks later?
And, why should we feel morally obligated to pay any of these banks - such as Citibank - any of the money we owe them? After all, aren’t we paying their bailout cash with our tax dollars to begin with?
It’s a slippery slope.
No More
November 20th, 2008No More
Hey Congress!
Yeah, you - Democrat controlled Congress! Yes, that one…
I have a message for you from the people (as a matter of fact, I do speak for everyone)…
NO MORE BAILOUTS!
This is not overly complicated - and my children are not happy that you’re spending their money. This first bailout was rediculous. So was the second, and third…
STOP!
Public Indoctrination System
November 9th, 2008Public Indoctrination System
Who R Teechin Ur Kidz?
Or, of even more importance - WHAT are they teaching your kids?
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A few thousand of the comments for this video on YouTube make it worth the visit…
Time Machine
November 3rd, 2008Time Machine
Vintage Collection
I’m noticing an interesting trend in fashion lately – a wonderful resurgence of vintage clothing and styles.
From Wayfarer sunglasses to vintage 70s and early 80s hats and shirts, there is a definite blast from past occurring.
Hopefully this will be limited to the “good” fashions from that era. There are some things that I’d rather not see again, unless I’m watching the Brady Bunch on late night TV.
What Happens In Vegas
October 5th, 2008What Happens In Vegas
Stays In Vegas
Hopefully, for life.
Am I the only one that has absolutely no sympathy for OJ Simpson now that he’s been convicted of a dozen charges on felony crimes committed in Las Vegas?
I suspect not.
Hopefully he’ll get the full life term that he is now subject to. We’ll see. As we all know, it’s amazing how money can buy freedom.
I have no doubt that, somewhere, Nicole is smiling.
Change?
September 24th, 2008Change?
We Don’t Need Change, We Need Boots.
Another day passes, another day of Obama and Biden revealing just how full of shit they are.
Seems that despite Biden’s mocking of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s early (and one time) support of the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere”, Biden and Obama both voted to keep this project alive… TWICE.
They both voted to kill a Senate amendment that would have used these funds in Louisiana rather than Alaska.
“That is probably the most disturbing element of this and the campaigning on the Bridge to Nowhere,” said Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation, a taxpayer watchdog group. “Because, yes, they had a chance to vote specifically against the Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska to redirect the money to people, to bridges and infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina going in to New Orleans, and they chose not to.”
The best part, this story was revealed first on CNN.com, the heart of liberal media.
I guess even CNN are getting sick of the political rhetoric and bullshit from the Obama camp.
Change. Yep, more of the same.
The Princess Diaries
August 27th, 2008The Princess Diaries
Part Deux
Ah, let’s all offer a collective sigh of sorrow for poor little Princess Michelle Rains of Suwanee, Georgia, who once again didn’t get her way.
(CAUTION – Foot stomping, pouting, tantrums, and the occasional punch to the chin are sure to follow).
See, when The Princess was charged with simple battery last week for hitting the president of the cheerleading association which her preteen daughter is a member of, she decided that charges should also be levied against the victim of her assault.
The Chief Magistrate disagreed with rains however, and ruled against the issuance of a warrant against the victim.
OMG!?!?! Like, I’m totally PO’d!!! This isn’t fair! This is NOT how you treat a Princess!
(stomp… stomp… stomp…)
Michelle Rains
(Suggest your own caption!)
The attorney for the victim accused Michelle Rains of “grandstanding” and “victimizing a victim”.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
The husband of The Princess, Greg Rains, was there to support her in court. There’s no indication that he’s explained to her the problem with acting like a spoiled little brat while confronting someone at a cheerleading clinic being attended by 240 girls between the ages of 5 and 12. Maybe he wants to buy a helmet before discussing this with her.
Hopefully the judge in this case will sentence The Princess of Suwanee to anger management and conflict resolution classes.
Princess Michelle shouldn’t assume that others are always going to be so willing to take her shit. She’s lucky that this victim stood back and didn’t retaliate, because if she had put her hands in the face of some of my best female friends, the police would have been the least of her worries. Don’t assume that the “soccer mom” that you think you’re in a heated discussion with isn’t in fact a tattoed badass in conservative clothing, just waiting for a reason to kick your spoiled little ass.
Related Post: Setting An Example
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Airline Suckage
August 13th, 2008Airline Suckage
You Thought They Couldn’t Get Worse?
WARNING - This post contains a lot of fucking profanity.
I don’t want to go off on a rant here, but just when you thought airlines couldn’t possibly get any worse… The following is revealed by cnn.com:
“Some airlines are charging U.S. soldiers extra baggage fees to take their military kits with them as they set off for war.
Military personnel carry large, heavy kit bags containing boots, clothing and gear. In the past few months, airlines have instituted fees for all travelers ranging from $15 for one bag to $250 for a third bag.”
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So, I was thinking… To the airlines mandating these policies, I have a very special message for you…
And, please, I mean this from the very bottom of my heart, and I say it with the greatest conviction imaginable. It is with the voice of every last ounce of my soul when I say this to you:
Fuck you.
I don’t give a rats ass if your fuel costs have quadupled over the past year. Pass along those costs to the business travelers, not American troops on their way to fight a war.
How much do your CEOs pay for their extra bags?
Oh, “nothing”? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Who the fuck do you think protects the very airspace you require to run your business? Who keeps the skies safe for your pilots and passengers?
The people at the airlines that came up with this shortsighted policy are clearly ignorant, inbred, stupid, motherfuckers that don’t deserve to live in this country to begin with.
I don’t give a shit what your stock price is. Look elsewhere to increase your bottom line.
I also don’t give a shit what your personal beliefs are on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nor what your political leanings are.
The members of our military are the best in the world, and they are doing the job that you don’t want to do. They are the ones voluntarily risking their lives, protecting your freedom to sit on your ass at the airline corporate offices, counting beans and coming up with asinine baggage policies.
Not only should you allow our troops to carry extra baggage on their way to war, for free - you should also provide them with an extra seat so they have room for their balls - something the airline execs clearly lack.
Semper Fi.
