I seem to be improving, as yesterday, I had only four trips to the throne room, and none so far today. It appears to be a slow news day. I’m current with replies to new articles. Tomorrow, I may have no articles, because I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor and transit time by bus/train is about 90 minutes each way.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Todays took me 3:37 (average 4:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: Economic Recovery For Whom? The 1934 Versus The 2010 Recovery
In 1934, Republicans were not intentionally sabotaging America’s workers.
From Huffington Post: Starting next year, the check will no longer be in the mail for millions of people who receive Social Security and other government benefits.
The federal government, which issues 73 million payments a month, is phasing out paper checks for all benefit programs, requiring people to get payments electronically, either through direct deposit or a debit card for those without a bank account.
The changes will affect people who get Social Security, veterans’ benefits, railroad pensions and federal disability payments. Tax refunds are exempt, but the Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers to get refunds electronically by processing those refunds faster than paper checks.
I understand the need for efficiency, but I hope that the SSA has a plan in place to help seniors make the transition. In my building alone, I know a half a dozen people that I will need to help with this, because they are poor, have no bank accounts, and are not mentally together.
From AlterNet: Saturday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the host of the Summit of the Americas and Washington’s closest ally in Latin America, said it would be "unacceptable" to keep Cuba out of the next gathering…
…"The isolation, the indifference has shown its ineffectiveness. In today’s world, there is no justification for this anachronism," Santos said on the summit’s opening day.
Cuba has never taken part in a Summit of the Americas, a regular meeting sponsored by the US-based Organization of American States (OAS).
I don’t expect anything soon on this, because it’s a big issue with Florida’s Cuban expatriate community, and I’m sure Obama will not want to anger them in an election year. That said, the US embargo of Cuba became obsolete with the end of the cold war, and it’s long past time to end it.
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–4/15/2012”
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Please tell me that isn’t what Rmoney said! That is THE lamest speech I’ve ever seen. If he was trying to show a more human side, he failed miserably! If he was trying to be humourous, he failed even more miserably!!! I have to go now. I think I’m going to lose my cookies!
The transcript sound like something from The Onion or SNL. Did he really say all this?
No – I made it all up. Like you say, something akin to The Onion or SNL
Very good! Have you considered a career writing for one of them?
Absolutely amazing!
3:17 today.
I’m sure the banksters love those direct deposits. They call it steady income.
Got me!
Indeed!
MoveOn — Excellent, clear graphic! Even a Republican/Teabagger should understand that. Hell, even the Faux Noise talking heads should be able to comprehend this since it is colour coded! So where are are the jobs these job creators say they could make if their taxes weren’t so high? They’ve certainly had plenty of time to demonstrate their job creation skills!
The cheques in the mail! or not! — The Canadian government is doing a similar thing although it has been pushing this for years. We expect to save $77million/yr in postage (I think that was the figure — going by memory). The campaign over the years has centred on safety for seniors and faster availability for all. Also, here it is the law that you cannot be denied a basic savings account at any bank or credit union so I imagine there will be more accounts opening up. People are not guaranteed a bank card for ATM access though.
Noting your comment TC, “I know a half a dozen people that I will need to help with this, because they are poor, have no bank accounts, and are not mentally together.”, do you have a government agency that handles transaction for the mentally infirm etc who have no family. Here in BC, we have the Public Trustee who handles a whole lot of things when individuals are put in their care. I’m sure that the “not mentally together” would be included here. Of course there is a fee, but they pay the rent and other bills, see that the person has everything they need — basically do for the person what I do for my mother, minus the love!
Cuba — I can certainly see the point Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is making and I agree. Although I also see Mr Obama’s position, especially since Florida was the make or break state of 2000 and given the Republican/Teabagger party’s penchant for election fraud in the state (and elsewhere for that matter!). The Republican/Teabaggers aren’t exactly friendly to the Latino community anywhere as far as I know. Why take a chance? But it should come as soon as possible.
Cartoon — Love it! Promise them anything to get elected, even the impossible!
Exactly!
The can go to the Social Security Administration for instructions, but we really have little to provide folks with needed hand holding. We do not have a Public Trustee. Most of these are rent subsidized and welfare pays the landlord direct.
We agree.
Thanks! My point exactly!
3:46 not so good today.
Even with color-coding, they don’t have the brains to understand logic.
I prefer direct deposit because of thefts from mail boxes. I think it’s wrong to force people into it though. Isn’t this a mandate forcing you to use a bank?
Cuba ~ Marco Rubio would have a picnic with this if Pres. Obama caved to aloowing Cuba at the table right now.
On another note ~ How about Cheney proving this weekend that he’s still a heartless bastadge? “Cheney even threw in a couple of political plugs amid much reminiscing at the Wyoming Republican Party state convention in Cheyenne on Saturday.
He said the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is going to do a “whale of a job.” He said it’s never been more important than now to defeat a sitting president and the Republican Party should unite behind Romney.
“He has been an unmitigated disaster to the country,” Cheney said of President Barack Obama.
The Wyoming Republican Party chose 14 delegates Saturday to this summer’s Republican National Convention and all of them are committed to support Romney. The state will send a total of 29 delegates to the RNC.
Cheney’s heart transplant in Virginia on March 24 initially canceled his trip to the state party convention but he got last-minute medical clearance to go.
“I’m not running any foot races yet but it won’t be long,” he said.
He owed a “huge debt” to the unknown donor of his new heart, he said, and to medical technology. He did not take the opportunity to weigh in on health care politics.” The evil Penguin just won’t go away!
Better days!
LOL!
I prefer direct deposit too, but many people have never had a bank account before. It is indeed a mandate.
Cheney should invite Cheney on a hunting trip. It chafes at me that people in Arizona have died, because Death Angel Jan Roberts pulled the plug on their already scheduled heart transplants, while this unmitigated SOB gets a heart at taxpayer expense. Even George Zimmerman would be more deserving.