But the World Bank report, drawn up by an internationally-respected economist, states unequivocally that income growth in developing countries was not a major factor in price rises and that a shortage of grain caused by droughts had had only a marginal impact. MUCH MORE
It's good to know that America's Agri-business has been able to successfully lobby the government to adopt a program that could bring food shortages to our own country this year, and for the global community, millions could starve from food prices which are hard if not downright impossible for the relief community to absorb. From banking to oil, and even Agri-business, the corporations have been raping the consumer under the guise of becoming independent from foreign oil and help in the fight against global warming. Both justifications for the issues presented above have proved to be false, and surprise, surprise, it's the American consumer that's taking it on the chin so the "Corapacy" will thrive and the people are the losers in government policies that are flawed, were designed to plunder America's wealth, and our President hasn't spoken-out on the matter, but when and if he does, you can believe he will defend, not reverse a trend that is dismantling America's Middle-Class. Add oil speculators to the mix, and as the Saudi's and even oil giant BP have stated, there is no shortage of oil! America is being gouged to the point of it driving us into poverty, yet a common voice hasn't emerged yet, and we seem to be sheep heading to slaughter without the mass of the country having a clue that it's coming, and it will get far worse before matters become better.
Much of the talk is about America's Middle class disappearing, however those on fixed-incomes and especially the elderly are being impacted in a way that could affect their health and well-being. Some elders are making less Doctor's appointments because they can't afford the gas. They may eventually have to be seen, but it's likely to be a condition that is substantially worse than if it would have been treated when it was first manifested; the cases which will result in fatalities may never become known, however common-sense dictates it will be high. Nutrition for the elderly is of tantamount importance, and high-fuel prices are impacting programs to feed the elderly:
As Gas Prices Soar, Elderly Face Cuts in Aid
By JOHN LELAND
Published: July 5, 2008SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. - Early last month, Jeanne Fair, 62, got her first hot meals delivered to her home in this lake town in the sparsely populated southwestern part of the state. Then after two deliveries the meals stopped because gas prices had made the delivery too expensive.
"They called and said I was outside of the delivery area," said Mrs. Fair, who is homebound and has not been able to use her left arm since a stroke in 1997.
Faced with soaring gasoline prices, agencies around the country that provide services to the elderly say they are having to cut back on programs like Meals on Wheels, transportation assistance and home care, especially in rural areas that depend on volunteers who provide their own gas. In a recent survey by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, more than half said they had already cut back on programs because of gas costs, and 90 percent said they expected to make cuts in the 2009 fiscal year. MUCH MORE
Other families who care for critically ill parents and family members, this author included have to figure-out how to come-up with the extra amount of gas money for the appointments and pharmacy visits that are in the range of eight to ten appointments per month - and it's impossible to cut-out any of the above until certain situations stabilize. Millions of other families are in the same situation, and how they are coping is beyond me; I find myself going into a hole, and the prospect of higher gas prices on the horizon are mind-numbing. Some of the "seniors" I'm referencing are your own parents, and many will be too proud to ask for help, or will find the rest of their family unable to help because of attempting to cope with their own deteriorating situations.
If we do attack Iran, we all know that the situation will go from bad to worse in a matter of days - if that long. Venezuela has threatened an oil embargo, and none of us know how other nations will trade with the US after we have proven we are an aggressor and a threat to world peace. If the Iran attack doesn't start World War III, then you can be assured that we have made serious concessions to Russia and China. Don't be surprised if Taiwan is annexed by China, and Russia's issues with Georgia will receive nothing but meaningless condemnations as we look the other way for Russia allowing us to attack Iran. Decisions such as this require extensive back-door diplomacy and nothing on this scope will be launched unless other impressive powers are fore-warned and brought into the conspiracy. This is high-stake politics, the kind the pubic doesn't know about nor understand, but attacking Iran will have to have the tacit approval of Russia and China - even though the condemnations will ring-out loud and clear - but each of those nations will exact their pound of flesh from the Bush administration for allowing an Iran attack to take place without either superpower becoming militarily involved.
The issue we face is what are we going to do about it? I wrote on this subject prior to Independence Day, but since then the landscape has changed. This situation is so fluid it changes by the day, and in order to prevail, we must adapt and keep-up with those who are bound and determined to destroy America. The real problem is America's MSM who have been involved in a massive propaganda campaign, and only those of us who receive our news on the Internet are aware of the real situation, and a population that is unaware of the danger cannot rise-up and force Congress to act upon the will of the people. America has been dumbed-down, and yesterday, an example presented itself to my son that rattled him as he understood the value broadcasting propaganda under the guise that it's really news.
He works with the public, and an older gentleman was speaking-out loudly that George W. Bush was our "Savior", that he had been spoken of in the Bible, and the only news channel worth watching was Fox News. He also reiterated the false-claim that Iraq was partially responsible for 911 - a fact which has been repudiated by President Bush himself! My son attempted to bring forth facts that proved Bush was an enemy of the state, not a "Savior", and finished by stating that our interests would be well served if Bush and Cheney were handed over to The Hague for a War Crimes Tribunal, and stated his belief that each should face the consequences of their illegal actions. He's lucky the older man didn't have a gun, as the look of utter horror on his face was genuine and he reacted with what appeared to be religious fanaticism, acting as if my son had spat on the Bible instead of speaking the truth about a President that has used the Mainstream News Media to brainwash huge segments of our population.
The New York Times ran an editorial on brainwashing, however it was more in the context of how we treat the enemy, and visa versa;
Mind Games
Remembering BrainwashingBy TIM WEINER
Published: July 6, 2008 (Excerpts)The concept of brainwashing was the brainchild of Edward Hunter, a newspaperman born in 1902, who had covered the rise of fascism in Europe before joining the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency, during World War II. The Korean War had just begun in 1950 when The Miami News published his article, " 'Brain-Washing' Tactics Force Chinese Into Ranks of Communist Party."
