How the Law May Be Used to Cheat Most of Us

This is no longer, if it ever was, a capitalist society, it is a society of privilege for some and none for the rest of us. People wish to believe that we have an even playing ground and anyone can make it; but, the reality is that the game is rigged and has been for as long as I am aware. I hate to bring reality into history; but, the Pilgrims did not believe in religious freedom, they came to the United States so that they could practice their beliefs and stopped others in their community from doing anything less. The Constitution did not attempt to give everyone the same rights, blacks and women could not vote, slavery was legal and the Constitutional congress seriously considered limiting voting to property owners.

Most of the people that I know read my blog tend to be either moderates or conservative in their political beliefs even if liberal in their social beliefs. I myself have traditionally been a fiscal conservative. I believe Nixon had some great ideas about protecting the middle and working classes from being taken advantage of by the privileged classes. The first President I voted for was Reagan. After Bush number one, I could not vote for Bush number 2.

Too many laws are written today to benefit those who have already succeeded and keep others from doing the same. Other laws allow certain privileges and tax deductions to some and not others, this sort of spits in the face of the intent of the constitution. I would like to give some examples.

The New York Times - The Food-Truck Business Stinks. As I live in the Southern California area near Los Angeles, one thing I noticed a few years back was the explosion of gourmet and specialty food trucks. Rather than the 1 to 2 million dollars it can cost to buy a franchise such as McDonalds, one can start a food truck for around $100,000. This however is not true in all places, many treat food trucks differently that restaurants in buildings to prevent them from competing with people renting property for a restaurant. The linked article explains some of the problems that they faced in New York and New York is known for food carts that sell pizza and bad hot dogs.

The New York Times - When Company Is Fined, Taxpayers Often Share Bill. Now corporations asked to be given the same rights as natural born people and I am in favor of that. We treat corporations as people because the corporation needs to be able to make contracts as an entity that will be existence even if the stockholders or workers change. Continuity in contracting is critical to a functioning society. As a consequence corporations should also be subject to criminal punishments if the people running the decisions of the company violate criminal laws, in that case all the decision makers should go to jail unless they can prove they were tricked by management. Instead, corporations can deduct the cost of punitive damages from their taxes. I cannot deduct punitive damages when I am sued from my taxes. Can you? Why should a company be allowed to pay less in taxes for violating criminal or civil laws, I thought fines were supposed to be a punishment.

Yahoo - Are E-Cigarettes Heroes Or Harmful? A Look At The Science. First of all, I smoke real cigarettes. The ones I buy have almost no tar and nicotine, are not sold at most places and cost me 50% more than regular cigarettes. Still, I smoke real cigarettes. One of my cousins heart about e-cigarettes and actually bought me one, I stopped using it after I read an article on how they contained arsenic, I think I wrote about this before. Anyways, e-cigarettes are neither tobacco or smoke, they vaporize liquid, we could call them steamed nicotine. Vaping is more addictive than the cigarettes I smoke because they have nicotine and that is the addictive part of smoking, that and the Pavlovian habit. There is no such thing as second hand vapor with e-cigarettes.

Just examples of how we are lied to for the benefit of others interests.

Taxes and Manipulation by the Media

The old and retired Pimpernel is still following the news; however, now I will have a little more time. For the past few years I have been following the financial newspapers and watching how they spin things to benefit their master, the moneyed interests. Financial publications know that the average American and most of the middle class do not follow what they write. It is a publications job to know who their viewership is.

Forbes Magazine - Demographics

Forbes claims to have slightly more than 6 million readers. This is about 2% of the population and more or less double what the other financial magazines and the Wall Street Journal have according to Forbes. Basically the top 1% read Forbes. Who do you think the top 2% consider to be affluent? Forbes assumes 1/4 of their audience self identifies as affluent. That is about 1 and a half million people. We have a population of about 350,000,000. If you want to know what the 1% believe, you have to read what they read. Whatever you read in financial publications is meant to placate the 1%, not you, so read it understanding their target audience.

CNN Money - Who actually benefits from Obama's 'Middle Class Economics'.

President Obama has called for some changes it tax laws. Personally, I am for a flat tax on income that has no deductions, Nixon favored this and so do I. Pay as you benefit, no need to charge a higher percentage to those who do well, charge them the same percentage regardless of how much they make; but, no deductions. Live within your income.

Now President Obama wants to decrease taxes on the middle class. The article says it will help married people and people with kids while taxing the wealthy and it says this is a bad thing. Is it a bad thing?

News, news for everyone. Maybe some comments on it.

My brother called me tonight, he wanted to correct something I had written; but, he was wrong; but, he did raise an issue about me that I agree with. He thought that teachers and preachers had a duty to interest their listeners. I disagree. I don't write for everyone, I don't waste my time teaching everyone or preaching to everyone. You are responsible for you, I am merely one of a million sources of information. I am not looking for listeners, I only provide information and hope that it reaches the ears of someone who will use it in the right way.

I have to be totally honest, I did not and do not write this blog for society. I don't publicize it and make no money from it. I don't care who agrees with me or believes me, this is not meant to become famous. The article I wrote on Pastor Daniels was not written for her family or the general public, it was for my readers and intended to get them to see beyond the obvious. I am glad that some people found value and comfort in it; but, I never expected that.

I have been collecting articles for the past month or so and have written very little, I will post the links tonight. I am not seeking agreement, I just want to make sure that the information is out for the person that will do something with it, if they find me. I am not trying to inspire people, I am leaving a trail behind for people that are already committed and inspired. It is not that I do not care about the rest of you; but, you are not going to use the information to make the world better, and if so, you are not my target audience, enjoy what you find anyways.

At my retirement a number of people talked about what they learned from me and how it helped them. It wasn't me, I just conveyed information and some people chose to use it in a positive way for them or others. That is all that my posts are meant to be, a resource. Take from it what you will.

Yahoo - Wall Street Journal - Banks urge clients to take cash elsewhere. They are turning away big depositors who don't pay fees and charging small depositors fees so that your money is their money. They don't care about you, they are not banks, they are leaches.

Money - Why Workers Undervalue Traditional Pension Plans. This is a great example of blaming the victim. The article says that workers do not want a guaranteed retirement and that they prefer 401k plans. Would you really rather worry about how the market does than have a retirement that was guaranteed? So, why is business claiming you would?

LA Times - AP - California puzzles over safety of driverless cars. This is just garbage. California has legalized self driving cars and Google has them operating in California. One recently left California and drove to Las Vegas. If you take Marijuana into Nevada you go to jail. Be in a self driving car and you get to be in the show. The powers that be want you to think that they are debating self driving cars, they are not. It will happen and quickly.

Wired - Soon Your Tech Will Talk to You Through Your Skin. Here is an interesting line from the article, "Apple’s new smartwatch can deliver taps of different intensity to your wrist to communicate everything from a new message to GPS directions". Wait, you will be retired to have a wrist communicator to get medical insurance and it will tell you when you are breaking the rules, just like Pavlov's dogs.

The Guardian - Scientists use skin cells to create artificial sperm and eggs. "Skin cells from a woman could only be used to make eggs because they lack the Y chromosome. Those from a male might theoretically be turned into eggs as well as sperm..." If male cells could be used to make eggs and sperm and theoretically, you could have your own kid. We already have kids with three genetic parents, don't disregard the importance of where we are going.

Business Cheat Sheet - How America’s Middle Class Dug Its Own Grave. This article is big business blaming you for not buying American and allowing them to outsource jobs. I didn't know I could get GM to do what I told them and once they outsourced I bought Japanese. You are not responsible for having someone rob you at gunpoint for not killing them before you knew they were going to rob you.

Yahoo - Charlie Hebdo editor: We attack religion when it becomes political. This article is a rather tricky way of justifying bad behavior by confusing two different issues. The first issue is about killing people for free speech, that is wrong. The second issue has to do with attacking religion because you don't believe in a spiritual morality. Politics is deciding what should and should not be allowed. Religions duty is to comment on such matters, not to be ridiculed for having an opinion. ALL law regulates morality and religion should point out when the law is wrong.

BBC News - 'Designer babies' debate should start, scientists say. This is like the article where they blame the middle class for the upper class sending jobs overseas. Most people don't even know that designer babies are already here and outlawing it is too late. The debate ended before most people knew it started. The first set of babies with designer genes (three parents) started over 18 years ago. The first ones have just graduated high school. You cannot put the Genii back in the bottle.

Yahoo - Curbed - The 5 mansions of the billionaire who wants America to live a 'smaller' existence. This guy has 5 mansions as large as 35,000 square feet and he thing the average American should be satisfied with 250 square feet homes so that he can buy a 70,000 square foot house. That is corporate America's view of us, not that we lift up; but, that we live on less.

Bloomberg - Hollywood Deals Stop as David Fights Goliath: Real Estate. This is one of those nonsense articles about how you have power. Some attorney slowed down a few developments that avoided following the rules; but, he didn't stop anything, he just slowed them down. The scum bags will still win because the game is fixed.

Yahoo - Reuters - 'Autisms' A More Appropriate Term Than 'Autism,' Geneticists Say. Let me start with this, the article refers to "affected individuals". Sorry, we are not affected with Autism anymore that someone is affected with their being a jerk or loving or a schmuck. This article basically says that all autistic people cannot be identified by their genes alone as we are each different. That pretty much means that it is not genetic.

Huffington Post - Income Disparity: Corporations Need to Act Now or Feel Pain Soon. I am not doubting the man's sincerity; but, he is still wrong. He argues that the problem is not that there are 1,600 people that own the wealth of a world with 7 billion people; but, that there is extreme poverty. He is wrong. I don't mind that there is extreme poverty and homelessness if people choose not to contribute. I believe that society should reward those who contribute more. The fact is that society does not reward based on contributions. Heck, how many inventions have been stolen from the inventors?

Yahoo - Reuters - Justice Department spies on millions of cars: WSJ. Soon every movement will be monitored. This is coming and when you understand and complain in 10 years, they will say you should have stopped them earlier.

I Have Retired

I am officially retired. It feels strange to even write those words. I don't know what this means for me; but, the time had come. I started working at 12 and worked my way through college. After graduating law school I worked in private industry for a number of years and then I went into government. I spent half my life working in government and made quite a lot of money for my municipality and was proud to be of service to my community.

My next post will be about current events and the news.

I Wet My Mouse

I write from my laptop at a desk in my broom. Today for the first time that I have spilled a drink on it and while the computer is fine, I killed the blue tooth mouse that I use to cut and paste because of my arthritis. I am sitting on about nine links that I have collected to post on and cannot because the touch pad is just too hard for me to use, I will replace the mouse and possibly the laptop too.

As I stated in a previous post, I spent the last couple of weeks out of state in a town with under 10,000 people and three small casinos watching my sisters house and her two dogs. I had consideered moving there when I retire; but, I have decided that doing that is no longer even a thought. There were no good restaurants and I like food. First week was okay and quiet and I started losing my mind the second week. There was nothing to do. I ended up working, calling the office, responding to calls and receiving documents online. It was a learning experience. I learned I must find something to keep me engaged after retiring and I need to stay in the Los Angeles area. I need to be around people.

OKAY, I AM NOW USING A NEW COMPUTER THAT I BOUGHT TODAY.

I went out and got a full on desktop computer with a 24 inch screen. I will get the laptop fixed and use it when I am travelling. I am loving the big screen when I watch movies and stuff. I primarily bought the new computer so I can posting new links to this blog. See you soon.

I Am Back

I have been in another state for the past couple of weeks. I never tell people when I am leaving town and you should never announce such a thing over the internet. I was in a small desert town with mostly retirees. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I cannot let that become my retirement, my life.

I have retired and am looking toward the future and what I want to do, the life I want to lead. I don't want to be in a place that is quiet as a grave. I want to be close to options and I want to take some of them some of the time. I don't want to disengage from society in some sleepy little city of retirees. I need to find a new reason to get up in the morning without burning myself out or having another heart attack.

The next week or so will be full of parties and people thanking me and food. After that I will need some time to figure out what direction I want to take next.

Now that I am home I will start reading the news more and posting more. I hope you have all been well through the holidays.

Cracker Jack, quick post

I hardly ever see Cracker Jacks anymore. I bought some two days ago. Cracker Jack was always known for having a prize in each box. They stopped having prizes and began giving jokes out. I guess they stopped that too. My prize was a card that said the Seattle Mariners won 116 games in 2001. Why would any kid buy Cracker Jack for that prize? I should also point out there were very few nuts. The picture on the bag shows molasses coated popcorn with half and whole peanuts, I did not find even a half a peanut in my whole bag. This is common in industry now. Airlines used to serve salads, they had one olive per salad and decided to stop putting olives in the salad to save money, eventually they only sold sandwiches and gave no salads to most passengers.

Business talks about "value added" activities. I have not seen value added to any product in the last 30 years. The reality in most businesses is how do they increase profits, not value. The best way to increase profits is to decrease the value of what people get while convincing them they are getting the same amount for the same price or slightly more.

When I was a kid I made money shining shoes, delivering newspapers, working at an amusement park, selling greeting cards,  stuffing newspapers (putting the various sections together so they could be delivered, bussing tables at a restaurant (clearing them after people finished their meal) and even selling lighting at a store. Those jobs are gone, I had those jobs between 11 and 18 years old. By the time I graduated college I added selling home supplies (concrete, wood and mixing paint), cabinet maker, waiter, gas station attendant and at least a couple of others things I cannot remember. I held at least 11 jobs by the time I graduated college. By the time I entered law school, I already knew what hard work was and what it meant to take a job seriously.

I think my readers tend to be older and ask them to consider what opportunities exist for young people to get a job and learn to provide for themselves or about the value of a dollar or their efforts. Our experience is not theirs. Young people today are taking jobs as unpaid interns if they have the resources to on the hope of networking and creating a resume. People with no college degree don't have much better opportunities, they get to work for minimum wage at a fast food restaurant or WalMart, those are the biggest employers in the country, not auto manufacturers or aerospace or even tech companies. We don't need children working anymore, we have enough workers, more than enough to fill the jobs we have.

We don't need both parents working anymore, two incomes with no children while getting by is the new American dream. That is the best that young people can hope for and there is no toy in the box of Cracker Jacks anymore.