Stuff happens

Naked man on motorcycle
hit by Arkansas police cruiser
during inclement weather.

Stuff happens. So we were told by our terrible Secretary of Defense under the Bush/Cheney Administration (who is now widely regarded as a war criminal). But of course he was right. Stuff does happen. And it is happening now at long last right here where it desperately needs to be happening. Eight Financial CEO’s were lined up today like a bunch of naughty children and given a collective slap on the wrist. Actually, it was more than just a mere slap on the wrist, and it was obviously embarrassing for them, but how much change will happen as a result of it is not too clear. Morgan Stanley for example, changed the word “bonus” to “reward,” in order to maintain their practice of handing out bonuses (don’t call them that) to its top executives. Others vowed to change their practices and try to do better. They all more or less claimed to have received the message that ordinary Americans are fed up with them and angry as hell. Barney Frank, Chairman of the proceedings, managed to get them to admit they did nothing to deserve a bonus but took them because of historical developments that began the practice. All in all it was pretty interesting. Among other things a couple of them admitted to having raised credit card interest after having received the bailout. Another admitted that purchasing an expensive Jet plane was a mistake, and so on. The major emphasis was on the bonus situation which was okay, but I fear we may miss the boat on banks and the way they are ripping us off right and left if all their business practices are not carefully investigated. They have created all kinds of ways to basically steal our money. For example, you probably all get those offers to borrow money to pay off your other more high interest cards. They don’t bother to tell you there is a fee for that which basically negates any gain you might receive. Similarly, they often offer to refinance your car or other loan at a better rate, but, again, they don’t tell you there is a fee for doing so that is often higher than the difference you would save. Then there is the question of overdrafts and overdraft protection. They don’t even wait until you are overdrawn to advance you funds to cover any potential overdraft, and then they charge you 25% interest on the money you might not even have needed. Clever bastards, these bankers! The whole banking system is rotten to the core and they should be forced to change. It’s like someone (Will Rogers, I think) who said, “Banks will loan you money to buy an umbrella, but demand it back when it starts to rain.” I could go on about banks but frankly, it gives me a stomach ache.

There is further activity now day to day to maybe, perhaps, possibly, conceivably, mayhap, perchance try to hold Bush/Cheney and others responsible for their obvious crimes. But no one seems to come right out and say what’s what. Leahy and Conyers, for example, want some kind of Truth and Reconciliation Committee where if one of the offenders offers to tell the truth about their crimes they will be pardoned for them. Obama, when asked directly about the possibility of prosecutions, has said if there is evidence of wrongdoing we would prosecute. I guess the flat out admission of torturing by Bush and Cheney does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing. And based on what we already know, how is it possible they would not be able to find evidence of wrongdoing? I understand why Obama, with all of his other pressing, even urgent problems, might not want to waste time investigating and prosecuting anyone, but he is Constitutionally obliged to do so, and to fail to do so will be to forever damage the name of the U.S. and destroy our credibility around the world. Let’s get to it and get it over with.

Do you wonder where the Republicans find all their dimwit members? As you probably know, for years they have tried to claim that FDR did not really do anything to stop the depression, and it was only the outbreak of WW II that brought it to an end. This latter is true, but the former is far from true, FDR did a great deal to help us get over the depression. If this distortion of history is not bad enough, now one of these clowns has claimed that FDR actually CAUSED the depression. I swear in order to become a Republican you must take an oath to distort and falsify history at every opportunity, demonstrate that your IQ does not exceed 75, prove that your first words were “tax breaks,” promise to say “no” to all democratic proposals, and stubbornly deny reality at every turn. Further, apparently nowadays you have to also swear allegiance to Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. What does one do when a large segment of your population actively wants your government to fail, and behaves in such a way as to help bring that failure about? Didn’t we once fight a Civil War over something similar?

LKBIQ (Little Known but Interesting Quotes):
I had a monumental idea this morning, but I didn't like it.
Samuel Goldwyn

TILT (Things I Learned Today):
During the reign of King Leopold of Belgium, in order for a Native Constable in the Belgian Congo to prove he had not wasted a cartridge, he had to produce evidence. This was commonly a severed hand.