GLASS -STEAGALL ACT
I guess those who watched the Bill Moyer event on TV this past Sunday all reacted
differently. I felt so depressed, that I almost wanted to cry, but of course did not.
His presentation re "How Big Banks Have Rewritten the Role of our Economy" was
indeed eye-opening and very, very sad because people who should have known
better didn't prevent this from happening. His guests reveal how poor
governmental deregulation policies, ignorant and easily led legislators- including
a president, and conniving big bankers caused us to suffer a near total economical
collapse by 2008.
I sat mesmerized at hearing former banker John Reed and former Senator Bryan
Dorgan of North Dakota giving their honest and forthright views on this catastrophe
which befell our nation and it started in 1998 when President Clinton was presiding.
No credit to him that he allowed the Glass-Steagall Bill to be cast aside which set
the stage for wholesale exploitation by the big banks - not requiring a down
payment for a new home or checking into the client's ability to pay.
The Glass-Steagall Act was enacted as a safety measure against unscrupulous
bankers after the 1929 crash. How could an intelligent Congress fail to see what
casting it aside would lead to? I am glad that Rep.Marcy Kaptur of Ohio has
presented a bill to re-instate the Glass-Steagall Act, but wouldn't you know -its
languishing in committee- unlike those special interests acts like opening up
horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. This one should have been squashed, but
it seems it got through in an appropriation bill which Pres.Obama signed. Was
he sleeping on the job or does he think America needs the jobs so badly, that
our poor horses should be slaughtered for the tables of Europe?
I can never do justice to this topic re the banks and Glass-Steagall, but p erhaps
someone on Oped will or even has already. But anyone interested can find this
Bill Moyer's video episode on the internet. My thanks to him, John Reed, and former
Senator Dorgan. Imagine that the Senator had the foresight back then to speak
against the repeal of Glass-Steagell, but none of his colleagues were listening.
Someone who commented on the Moyer site found it so sad that he is no longer
a Senator. I agree. Definitely, we need more people like him in Congress, and
he certainly sounds like presidential material, but as the writer noted - we never
have a chance to pick the really qualified and altruistic people.
FDA'S ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE OF WHISTLEBLOWERS
Another reason to cry - From the National Whistleblowers Center I received this
message: "Today the Washington Post broke the story that FDA managers illegally
spied on employees who reported major health and safety issues to Congress.
Instead of protecting the lives of Americans, managers used their time to covertly
monitor the whistlebowers."
Nine employees notified the Obama Transition Team that the Agency was approving
unsafe medical devices, including a faulty breast cancer-screening device. The FDA
activated spyware on the employees' computers which allowed them to monitor these
employees. What has happened to honesty and integrity? I'm so glad that this is in
the Washington Post. I hope someone can do something about this. Sadly, I have
to ask who? Will the President move on this? I have my doubts.
ANTI-WOLF MOVIE "THE GREY" PLAYS UP MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WOLVES
I agree with Wayne Pacelle of HSUS who said in this regard that this movie comes at
a time when wolves are more at risk than ever. Why can't we allow them to exist? Do
we know better than God who created them? I wonder what He thinks of our
"stewardship" or lack of?
26 FACTS ABOUT THE AWFUL CONDITIONS WHERE YOUR GADGETS ARE
MADE
I don't think I have to elaborate much on this especially if you watched 60 Minutes
re Foxconn, the massive factory in China. Here young people work long hours
and are often punished for mistakes. Some become so disillusioned with the unending
tedium and drudgery of the work that they have committed suicide. I'm beginning
to wonder whether we really need these gadgets at all.
I believe that Steve Jobs denied that this was happening. How sad to be a technical
genuis and to wear blinders. Why aren't these gadget made in the US? Of course,
none of our workers would tolerate such horrible conditions and hourly wages would
be such that if you think the gadgets are expensive now - you would probably find
them out of your financial reach.
Do I have any of these gadgets? Gratefully, no. I have neither the money for them
or the know- how to use them. I guess "poverty" and lack of technical skills can
be a blessing.
Well, maybe you are not crying, but certainly, these accounts should provoke some
sort of response. Hopefully, you are disillusioned and angered. Hopefully, together
we can do something to change the things which need changing, and in my view
all of them do.