War, Politics, and Life by Bruce Maulden
One of the very, very few people who have emerged on the national scene the last couple of years with not only intelligence and competence, but also more than a semblance of compassion, is financial expert, Elizabeth Warren, the presidential adviser in charge of establishing ground-plans for the newly-created Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB)…
In light of the ongoing horror in Japan — an earthquake induced nuclear meltdown — there’s been a dust-up down in my old stomping ground of central California as PG&E attempts to renew the license at its most-aptly named Diablo Canyon (Nuclear) Power Plant. Although PG&E has delayed a decision on the 20-year license, no…
Yeah… Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain: and it is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel. — Benjamin Franklin (Illustration found here via Google Images). From CNN: Gas prices have jumped nearly 20 cents over the past two weeks, approaching…
In another attempt to pinch-out a phrase for the times, President Obama launched his 2012 re-election bid this morning with a stirring, “It begins with us,” planted on his official site at barackobama.com. I knew 2008 personally, and this ain’t 2008. From CNN: Shortly afterward, Obama sent an e-mail to supporters to say he will…
Ordinary US peoples are financial slaves to the rich: In terms of types of financial wealth, the top one percent of households have 38.3% of all privately held stock, 60.6% of financial securities, and 62.4% of business equity. The top 10% have 80% to 90% of stocks, bonds, trust funds, and business equity, and over…
Egypt is a way-ancient land now exploding via extreme-modern media, but a good reason for all the unrest is as old as time — food. And a near-twist-a-flex attitude in the US, where prices are fairly stable, mainly because American consumers aren’t really paying much for the actual agriculture product. From a NPR report on rising…
A couple of recent surveys/polls reveal US peoples’ distaste for shit — both via Raw Story. Last Thursday, a national CNN/Opinion Research poll indicated 63 percent of respondents think the Afghan war is going badly and completely opposed it. Only 35 percent favored the war, down from a like 52 percent in December 2008. And…
Last year’s BP oil spill will apparently exacerbate our slide down the backside of peak oil — from Consumer Energy Report today — Further: The 220,000 barrel per day loss will be made up by importing more oil, and the loss of that oil from the market will add to the upward pressure on oil prices.…
A bit of news not played up here in the US: Former Vice President Dick Cheney, known to his friends as just, The Dick, will skate on bribery charges brought forth by Nigeria — The Dick and Halliburton, the company he CEOed for five years before moving on to public service, had been charged with…
(Note: This is a re-post of mine from three years ago, and with an end of the year coming again, appropriate. The original piece appeared here on Dec. 30, 2007. And yes, indeed, 2008 was really one for the books, a watershed year). Near forty years ago was 1968. A very big, long year. Life-altering…
