{"id":79200,"date":"2014-08-30T08:03:17","date_gmt":"2014-08-30T12:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/?p=79200"},"modified":"2014-08-30T10:09:03","modified_gmt":"2014-08-30T14:09:03","slug":"whats-in-your-wallet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/by-judith-gayle-2\/whats-in-your-wallet\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s In YOUR Wallet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Judith Gayle | Political Waves<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It’s Labor Day weekend, the book-end to Memorial day, marking the end of summer season and routinely celebrated with the sale of hot dogs, hamburgers and dozens of flavors of potato chips, soda and beer. This should be a day when we examine, for better or worse, what has become of our national work force, but nobody wants to look too closely. If we read the web pages we might discover that a\u00a0New Jersey woman<\/a>, working four low-paying jobs to make ends meet, died napping in her car this week. If we open those e-mails we might learn that due to our staggering income inequality, we’re losing somewhere in the neighborhood of $18,000<\/a> a year, and who wants to be bummed out on a three-day holiday?<\/p>\n

\"PoliticalBut that’s difficult to avoid. Now that corporations are people too, it’s evident that money has become speech, talking louder and louder these days. The high rollers aren’t necessarily the winners, though, depending on how we define “winner.” Putin rolled the dice this week, assisting with the creation of a “new Russia,” incorporating parts of Ukraine that weren’t all that anxious to rejoin the motherland. Protestations that Russia wasn’t actively involved were belied by the sight of Russian tanks and gear, as well as the capture of Russian soldiers. In response, the European Union met to decide how to beef up economic sanctions, resulting in the ruble plummeting to an all time low. The New Russia looks to be as poorly funded as the old one.<\/p>\n

Obama has stepped up bombing in Iraq, going after the brutal Islamic State, but the Pentagon is warning that this will not be enough to stop them. These highly organized Muslim regressives are already the best funded jihadist group around, savvy about raiding banks as they go, and holding hostages for ransom. They’ve taken considerable territory, terrorizing everyone they meet along the way, killing those (men) they can’t convert and raping and enslaving those (women and children) who are left. And, although we’re no longer responding to the scare tactics that left us quivering in front of our TV screens more than a decade ago, there are enough dire pronouncements regarding these deadly zealots to give us all grave concern. Happy Days for John McCain, his wee sidekick, Lindsey Graham, and the money-hungry military industrial-complex that plays them — and us — like a fiddle.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Americans definitely aren’t interested in a ground war, but we suffer collective PTSD when it comes to the specter (real or imagined) of savage jihadis, which puts us at a disadvantage when it comes to PR about “fighting ’em there so we don’t have to fight ’em here.” We already have U.S. military advisors in country, assisting with defense, and although Obama continues to stand firm that the new leadership in Iraq needs a political solution to this problem before it can count on real American assistance, we have oil interests to take care of, don’t we? Those pulling the strings love the power, love the strategic positioning, love our exceptionalism and — most of all — love the oil (with the vast and profitable machinery of weapons and war a close second).<\/p>\n

Of course these big, international projects always cost a mint, but here at home, things should look a little better. And they do, but not for the average Joe or Jill. The top investors — as opposed to earners — are doing quite well, thank you, according to the figures. The rest of us are losing ground steadily, despite the\u00a0slow but sure success<\/a>\u00a0of the stimulus, the meager spending of this administration, and the dramatic reduction in the deficit. If you’re hearing anything else about free-spending Dems (or visiting FOX News<\/em> regularly) you’re being lied to. Not only that, but the top one percent has purchased the political power to keep its gated\u00a0communities shut tight<\/a>\u00a0against an onslaught of the great unwashed.<\/p>\n

As a nation more divided than it’s been since the Civil War, we’ve become increasingly dependent upon litigation rather than legislation to get what we want. The President is being sued for taking too much upon himself in administering the Affordable Care Act, which is too thin a charge but illustrates how things work now that government doesn’t. Unfortunately, justice has also suffered an avalanche of slings and arrows in recent decades that has significantly weakened the “rule of law” upon which so many of us depended.<\/p>\n

We have a 21st century problem with politicized courts and judges, even though Lady Justice is supposed to be blind, lending her the neutrality to judge aright. Just watch news from state to state to see which judges struck down gay marriage, and which ones reinstituted it the next week. In unprecedented criticism, SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, responding to the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, took her conservative fellows to task over their tone-deaf judgments on matters of race. And dangerous to democracy, said Ginsberg, is the Supreme Court’s failure to recognize the importance of\u00a0campaign finance regulations<\/a>\u00a0in stabilizing the nation.<\/p>\n

Some of us are holding our breath to see if the Pubs will notice that the U.S. Government Accountability office has determined that the Department of Defense broke the law by trading five Gitmo detainees for Taliban hostage, Bowe Bergdahl. Should Boehner put down his glass of Merlot long enough to consider the possibility of locking up government in a mindless exercise that will, once again, test the patience of the public, the House will likely skip ahead to impeachment. They’ve been desperate to find a chink in Obama’s armor for years, and if the Pubs take the Senate in November, I suspect that we can count on it.<\/p>\n

The irony of that situation is that the 30-day congressional notification the DoD failed to adhere to is a simple heads-up to the committees that appropriate the funds in order to transfer prisoners in Gitmo. If such an issue leads to impeachment, it wouldn’t be for a botched burglary nor even a blow job, but an\u00a0accounting misstep<\/a>\u00a0that could assault the man in the highest office in the country and throw the whole of the nation into the stew pot for another slow simmer.<\/p>\n

If money is speech, then it’s squealing non-stop in the inner sanctum of most political candidates facing down a (truly) mammoth infusion of Koch money attempting to tip the electoral scales. My in-box is filled on a daily basis by progressive candidates detailing the multi-millions going into Republican TV ads and well-financed electioneering opposing them. Unable to make an internal shift to become more hospitable toward the female and Hispanic demographic, Pubs have determined to throw big money at their opponents, hopefully side-stepping any need to court these low-wage earners, while keeping them in their place. It’s hardly a long-range tactic, but they’ve decided it will do for the moment while not rubbing its most regressive members the wrong way.<\/p>\n

And if money is speech, Mitch McConnell and his cohorts should be a little more careful in threatening further obstruction. The more people feel unhappy with government, the more they vote in mid-terms, aware that they can switch out their local officials easier than electing a president. While it’s true that party affiliation runs the expectations of mid-term votes, in times of challenge so does the need for change. Of course, discerning the cause for the problems is the very crux of that matter.<\/p>\n

In 2010 we saw the rise of the Tea Party, a no-nothing contingent of newbies that were determined to drown government in a tea cup whenever it got the chance, and they’ve succeeded admirably. Having little understanding of the basic NEED for decent governance, the Baggers have created more mayhem than good tidings, so that even some Republicans in the Pea Patch are having buyers’ remorse. That’s the good news beginning to surface four LONG dysfunctional years later. Democracy takes its sweet time, citizen!<\/p>\n

McConnell’s threat to hold the budget hostage again with government shutdown could win him votes with the faithful, but lose him his job for good, and a few of his co-workers as well. Only time will tell if the less fanatic of us are energized enough to show up to do our civic duty in November.<\/p>\n

We know that voting is our last defense against becoming voiceless, although even that has come into question. Populist economist Robert\u00a0Reich tells us<\/a>\u00a0that, based on political design, our vote only blows a little wind into the sails of the Ship of State and that can be quickly overcome by gerrymander, lobbying and PR campaigns. We are, in more ways than we can count, “One Nation, For-Profit.”\u00a0So two can play that game, yes? We can make some inroads\u00a0if we are willing to become mindful about whatever’s in our wallet,\u00a0how we use our money, on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Way back in the middle of the last decade, a Canadian reader of Political Waves wrote to urge that we boycott with our pocket book. It had worked, she told me, in her native country in South America. The economy had yet to fall into a black hole, of course, so it was hard to herd any readers into the fold. Easier to see now how the strategic use of our resources makes all the difference. It’s time to think that through on a very large scale.<\/p>\n

What we decide to support financially is a sure indicator of what we find valuable. Who we withhold from can quickly become a political statement. A few weeks ago, Walgreens announced that it was thinking of moving its headquarters to Switzerland. This alerted the public to a tax dodge called “corporate inversion,” a loop-hole that Bloomberg claims has led to as much TWO TRILLION corporate dollars sheltered overseas. Over 200,000 signatures on a petition protesting Walgreen’s plan put a stake through its heart.<\/p>\n

Now, Burger King has decided to do its own inversion to Canada. MoveOn and other groups have been collecting signatures for a petition, threatening boycott. I rarely eat fast food but occasionally I’ll stop for a Whopper, a taste I associate with good times in my past. I wrote them and told them their decision really hurt my feelings, but that if I wasn’t good enough for them, they were no longer good enough for me. Through social media and grassroots political organizations, the public is beginning to respond to these matters routinely. And — amazingly — outcomes can change. Walgreens gave up its plan to relocate, we’ll see what happens with BK.<\/p>\n

Here are some Georgia-Pacific products belonging to Koch Industries for your boycott consideration:<\/p>\n

Angel Soft\u00ae<\/p>\n

Brawny\u00ae<\/p>\n

Coronet\u00ae<\/p>\n

Dixie\u00ae<\/p>\n

Mardi Gras\u00ae<\/p>\n

MD Bathroom Tissue<\/p>\n

Quilted Northern\u00ae<\/p>\n

Soft \u2018n Gentle\u00ae<\/p>\n

Sparkle\u00ae<\/p>\n

Vanity Fair\u00ae<\/p>\n

Zee\u00ae<\/p>\n

These are the most recognizable of the Koch products, I think — the most generic to most of us — but just the tip of the iceberg, as Koch investments are enormous; you’ll find\u00a0more products here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the way, there’s an app for Koch and Monsanto, GMO labeling and the like called Buycott;\u00a0find info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And if you’re interested in a real “level playing field,” you will want to support the Senate vote for a constitutional amendment tossing out Citizens United<\/em> on\u00a0September 8th. The amendment is approved by three of every four voters, and has been furthered by public outcry against corporate dominance that is already reflected in 16 states and more than 550 cities and towns. Find out where your legislators stand on this issue and encourage their support.<\/p>\n

It’s Labor Day and I can’t let that go without adding a voice for the unions. Once upon a time, following an enormous amount of activism and sacrifice, one third of American workers held union membership, leading to stable, prosperous years. Now, unions represent only seven percent of American workers, and who looks out for the working stiff now? Campaign for America’s Future speaks\u00a0to that issue here<\/a>, reminding us about the ability to organize and use collective bargaining to ensure working rights. Until we can do that once again, we have no protection from corporate overlords.<\/p>\n

If there was one thing I’d wish for this nation at this moment, it’s a remembrance of what organizing was all about. The fact that Obama’s resum\u00e9 as a community organizer caused the plutocrats to have a major tizzy fit should be a giveaway for how powerful such activity has been in the past, and can be again. For a first step, let’s use our OWN power of the purse to kick a few butts, shall we?<\/p>\n

Happy Labor Day, if you’re one of the lucky ones\u00a0able to take\u00a0the weekend off, enjoy yourself and stay safe. And while you’re at it, remember to raise a glass to those who will work through the holiday at minimum wage, in order to fund their own limited version of the American Dream. And let’s remember that what that dream will become in the future is in no ones hands but our own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Judith Gayle | Political Waves It’s Labor Day weekend, the book-end to Memorial day, marking the end of summer season and routinely celebrated with the sale of hot dogs, hamburgers and dozens of flavors of potato chips, soda and beer. This should be a day when we examine, for better or worse, what has … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":""},"categories":[1744],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79200"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79200\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}