Tuesday, January 28, 2014

THE Un-American American

I really am saddened by the passing of Pete Seeger, he was part of my childhood. The first songs I learned on the guitar were the songs he played. I remember my parents singing along to Guantanemara. Everyone wanted to join in and sing with Pete Seeger. He had a special gift. The songs that he sang and the music that he played inspired me to teach myself to play, a twelve string like him, eventually I joined a band.
There are few singers I know of that are like him, Tom Morello, is one that comes to mind. Hopefully he will never be called before some kind of "UnAmerican Acitivities" witch hunt the way Pete Seeger was. All because of Communism and Socialism. We still hear the utter B.S. of God forbid, socialized medicine over 50 years later,. When will we ever learn? Not anytime soon..
 Pete Seeger always seemed so happy and had such great energy. For me, I knew him as a children's singer, I guess that was after he was blacklisted.

We live in a time where Americans are seen as red neck, gun totin' hillbillies. Unable to string a cohesive sentence together. Everyone is so divided by the economic injustices meted out on the middle class and the poor. Americans are so polarized by their own politics, that coming together the way Pete Seeger brought people together singing "We Shall Overcome" seems like a fantasy. Maybe that's the point, as long as we fight each other we will never come together. We aren't going to overcome anything, anytime soon.
Pete Seeger exited this world on the eve of President Obama's 5th State Of The Union address. I don't know if he will acknowledge the passing of this great American icon and hero. What he needs to address are the issues that Pete Seeger raised decades ago. I don't see that happening. I just see the status quo being maintained at all costs, that cost is hardship for almost every American I know.
I don't know if there is anyone like another Pete Seeger, waiting in the wings to help us get moving and clean up the mess of this Capitalist, "Free Market", War Mongering Culture. I am not sure if anyone would even listen, since we are so caught up in tech gadgets, the new Pete Seeger is going to have to text or tweet us on an iPhone. Bring it, it's long overdue.
RIP Pete Seeger, a great American. Who's going to pick up the hammer now?

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Columbia Mall Shooting, Brought To You By The N.R.A.

There was another shooting, this time at a mall in Maryland.
As long as we maintain the status quo, I guess the only thing we can do is invest in Kevlar.
3 people died.
A well armed militia, during an era of muskets may have been a good idea when the 2nd Amendment was written. Today our firearm technology has changed from muskets to semi-automatic weapons, the last time I saw a militia was when some Civil War re-enactors fought a battle that never happened in a local park here in New Jersey. How many people buy guns and join the militia?
We can't change. We can't change a piece of paper that was written over 200 years ago. Nope.
No improvements or changes can be made regarding firearms, even though when this law was written, single shot firearms were all that was available. Technology can change, but words on paper can't.
It used to be, in this country, people owned slaves. We fought a war and decided that people owning other human beings is NOT OKAY! We also had to change and create new laws so that women and other minorities rights were protected. What's it going to take to change these archaic firearm laws and protect innocent people?
One thing we are NOT going to do is protect children in schools or people in public places anywhere.
Just point and shoot. Where are all the "good guys stopping the bad guys with the guns"?

It seems that the shooter in this latest tragedy was an ex boyfriend who got his hands on a gun and started shooting. I am not sure if this is a case of "temporary insanity," I don't know if this was a person with mental health issues who never should have been able to get hold of a gun. What I do know is that guns seem to be easier to get than alcohol or tobacco. Getting medicinal marijuana is harder than buying a gun. As far as I know no one has died from marijuana, but people are dying daily because someones got a gun.
 Maybe guns should only be bought with a doctors note saying you are not mentally ill. If you are mentally ill, you have the option to be treated, but you absolutely cannot have a gun.
The real problem with our gun laws is that without more stringent regulation, the right to bear arms hurts people who aren't bearing any. People are getting shot in movie theaters or malls, fast food restaurants, it can happen anywhere or anytime and it's happening more and more frequently. What isn't happening is change. No one is acting for the common good, laws are not going to change as long as lobbies pay politicians to stop any change not in their interest.
FACT SHEET: Strengthening the Federal Background Check System to Keep Guns out of Potentially Dangerous Hands | The White House
"the President’s FY 2014 Budget proposes a new $130 million initiative to address several barriers that may prevent people – especially youth and young adults – from getting help for mental health problems.  The President and the Vice President continue to call on Congress to appropriate funds for these important purposes."
The President can call on Congress all he wants, but I don't think Paul Ryan and his fellow Teatards and Democrats like Harry Reid, are going to address this issue or stop taking money from the N.R.A..Until this organization is barred from bribing elected officials, people will go about their daily lives while other people will be planning their deaths, by people who shouldn't have guns in the first place. While our government spends trillions fighting terrorism, more people are killed by guns in this country than by Al-Queda.
I guess we'll just continue being terrorized by our fellow Americans

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Future Fox News Correspondent, Christie

The news that Patton-boggs has been hired to represent Christie shouldn't come as much of a surprise since Robert Luskin, represented Karl Rove during the Valerie Plame trial, he is Roves personal attorney.
Patton Boggs are the biggest lobbyists in the country.
The first time I saw the name Patton Boggs I was doing research on Edward Snowdon and the NSA leaks. They are the top lobbyists on K street. They are heavily involved with the Department Of Defense and the N.S.A.
I wondered who will be paying the tab for this? I was thinking taxpayers....turns out Daily Kos is way ahead of me..Daily Kos: Christie SHOULD NOT use public funds for legal defense!
No problem hiring the most expensive lawyers when it's not on your dime.
It also looks like Patton Boggs are not strangers since Christie used the firm when he shut down the ARC tunnel project so he wouldn't have to payback the funds for the tunnel. NJ Gov Taps Patton Boggs to Fight Tunnel Funds Payback Wonder where that money went?
Now it looks like federal prosecutors and the F.B.I. are involved. Christie campaign, state GOP issued subpoenas by U.S. Attorney in lane-closure scandal | The Asbury Park Press NJ | app.com
 Even more interesting is that, PatonBoggs.com - Client Alert_THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP_THE INTERSECTION OF THE INTERNET DIGITAL COMMERCE AND DATA-PRIVACY_07_29_13.pdf
Patton Boggs is lobbying for Singapore.
Looks like scandal pays off for lawyers. Maybe it will pay off for Christie too, he can get a job on Fox News like Karl Rove, maybe even start a non-profit. Just step down and get started, save us all a lot of time and trouble.
      Move over Karl....

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Is It Wrong That I'm Smiling?

And kept Sandy aid from ordinary New Jersey citizens.
"Time for some traffic problems" in New Jersey, Governor Christie's second inauguration was cancelled, due to Snowstorm Janus, for once since Hurricane Sandy, the weather cooperated with the people of New Jersey.

I think it's only fitting that an act of HIS God, kept him from what should have been a triumph, but is now a disaster.
Yesterday, this came out, Experts: Enough evidence to pursue Hoboken mayor's claims against Christie administration | NJ.com "Closing the George Washington Bridge, that is very serious. It takes a lot of balls,"
 Can't wait for the resignation.
Isn't the universe elegant? Karma can be a bitch.

How Boehner Gets His Boner?


You know, there's a lot of crying over how 'Murica is broke and we don't have any money and we can't have a single payer national healthcare system...because.....SOCIALISM!
Do you know what we can have?
Penis pumps!
Penis Pumps Cost U.S. Government Millions, Watchdog Cries Waste
There has been so much controversy about birth control and abortion. Because.....RELIGION!
Penis pumps are costing the taxpayer "$172 million between 2006 and 2011, about twice as much as the consumer would have paid at the retail level." Because why go to the store and get a pump for cheaper when Medicare gets you one for free. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
While I read this article I mentally tick off all the things we can't pay for, Like Headstart and school lunch programs, food stamps and unemployment benefits.
You know what 'Murica really needs? That's right, more hard-ons.
Which makes me wonder how many geriatric congresscritters and senators have one of these?
 Is this how Boehner gets a boner? Who knows? How much time have these cretins wasted fighting against giving Americans decent healthcare, or argued about women having access to pills for family planning and we give away pumps for penises without notice or argument.
Because penis trumps vagina every time.
If you think we've made progress, just check out what we're willing to spend money on.
Does anyone remember Sandra Fluke? This woman was raked over the coals by Fright Wing moralists and was not allowed to testify before the Senate Oversight Committee about requiring the health insurance industry to cover birth control. She was called a "slut" and "prostitute." You know what? She had to pay for her own birth control. But we, collectively pay for penis pumps.
Where's Paul Ryan's indignation at this waste?
Who are the real prostitutes here?
I hear all the time that "things are getting better" and "just wait, it's going to come back"
Just like the magical pump that can bring the penis back to life. Maybe for 10 minutes or however long until the magic fades away and you are left with the deflated reality that "things aren't like they used to be."
Whether it's the broken economy or women trying to attain some kind of economic security by not being forced to have children before their ready, we can't continue to act like we live in a sane, logical, rational, society where healthcare and justice are meted out fairly, not as long as we can afford penis pumps but not decent healthcare for women and yes, that means access to birth control. So pump away and spend money and time chasing your youth and perhaps impregnating someone who might not be enamored of carrying your DNA to term. Just don't be surprised when the abortion word comes up as a result of your free penis pump. 

Sunday, January 19, 2014

United States Of Scandal

Is there any surprise that the family of executed Ohio inmate, Dennis McGuire will sue the state for their fathers cruel and unusual death. They'll probably win too. Do we even need to ask why? Because it was stupid?
An untried combination of drugs + "get er done" idiocy = a bad result.
Just as a reminder, notorious inmate Ariel Castro, was able to kill himself  in Ohio State Corrections custody, with a lot less fanfare than the McGuires murder, death.
Interestingly enough, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Gov. John Kasich stands by Chris Christie, announces new jobs in Dayton area: Ohio Politics Roundup | cleveland.com
Well if this guy is standing behind Christie, you have to wonder what he's covering up? That'll be another blog.

Here, in New Jersey another mayor, this one in Hoboken came out of the Christie scandal closet saying she had been told Sandy money would be withheld from her town too by Christie's staff.. So far that's three and who knows how many more? Back in 2009, this little nugget came out in the NYT, Christie Has Distant Family Link to a New Jersey Mob Figure - NYTimes.com
"Mr. Christie says his relationship to Mr. Fiumara never came up in his F.B.I. background check after his appointment as United States attorney,'
Also,
"Mr. Christie says that as United States attorney he was always tough on organized crime, though it did not rank as high among his priorities as public corruption."
Both of these instances seem surreal. Connections to a notorious mafia gangster, no problem, also, public corruption is a high priority. It's probably more like public corruption is a high priority so Christie can do what he wants.
You know, these two unrelated incidents look like a lot of willful ignorance, Ohio decides to put someone to death, not sure about whether the chemicals they've chosen will even work. A bad actor killed in a mismanaged way and now lawsuits will result, who knows if there will be a lesson learned here?
After a series of bad decisions either Christie or his staff decide to cause traffic jams for ordinary people, hold back relief money for ordinary people, but he's a Jersey grade politician and now he's been told that it's not him it's his "team" that's the problem, because he's surrounded himself, not with the best and the brightest, but with what I've written about before, cronies and relatives. If only he get's a better "team" then, magically he'll be madeover into something other than a selfish, vindictive, bully.
Who knows how many lawsuits are going to come out of the Bridgegate scandal. Then there's the misuse of the Sandy money. It looks to me that a lot of lawyers will be busy.
As if all this isn't enough, President Obama has come out and said he's banning spying on other leaders. But he's still going to be spying on us. Looks like Germany's skeptical of this and who can blame them? President Obama has had to dig himself out of a lot of inherited abuses of power and an economic meltdown.
 But hey! Banks are doing great! Analysis: U.S. bankers voice new optimism as businesses line up for loans | Reuters
Meanwhile, not one banker has gone to jail for any of the suffering they've caused for millions of Americans. As long as we can cut off their unemployment, because there's no unemployment problem
 Then there's the unfortunate (at best) debut of the cluster*$%# Healthcare.gov. (read gift to healthcare companies)
You have to wonder why you would trust any leader?
Mismanagement, bad teams, willful blindness, it's dizzying the abuse of power and corruption at every level.
 Every where you look or read there's another scandal, it's getting to the point where everyone just EXPECTS it..

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Crime And Punishment

I go to the gym if the weathers bad and I can't walk or run during my lunch break at work. The great part about the stairmaster is you can plug your headphones in and watch 12 flat screens and all kinds of Fox news and CNN on TV. I don't have blood pressure issues, when I saw this story I did.
Controversial execution in Ohio uses new drug combination - CNN.com
I DO NOT like the death penalty..I think it's not a great way of stopping crime, violent crime, any crime.
So I am listening to how this rapist-murderer had a bad dose of a death penalty cocktail and suffered for 15 or 24 minutes, depending on what you read. Apparently Ohio Corrections used an untried mix of drugs that backfired and the convicted murderers family was traumatized by his death.
The woman he raped and murdered, was 24 years old and pregnant.
Yeah, I'll give you a minute to think about that. 
There was a lot of talk about how this guy suffered and was gasping for air. While discussing the dramatic and bungled ending to this mans life, no one mentioned the last moments of Joy Stewart's life, how she might have taken her last breath, how much pain she endured, how she suffered. How her family will NEVER be the same.
That's when I get really mad. There's no outrage about the culture of rape where daily, in this country, there are 1.3 women (ages 18 and over) in the United States are forcibly raped each minute. That translates to 78 per hour, 1,871 per day, or 683,000 per year. RTS | Statistics
Then there's murder. 40 a day on average.
I didn't hear anything about that on CNN.
Just a lot of shock and awe that there was a bad ending for a very bad man.
Today was a bad day for a murderer, his family and probably the victims family too.
I can't even imagine their pain.
What I can easily imagine, when I am out running or in a parking lot at night, or grocery shopping is a universal fear I think every woman has, every person has, that you will be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like Joy Stewart, like thousands of people that are murdered every year. For some reason I don't feel real safe because there's a death penalty.
If the death penalty works, it didn't stop this dead man walking, it's not stopping other criminals either.  Whats even worse is that a veterinarian can euthanize a pet more humanely than we can execute a human being. Maybe it's time for the circus around the death penalty to end, especially since we can't even manage to execute an execution.
 We like to think we are so civilized. Hold that thought.




Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Bipartisan Bully

Too bad these aren't in season.
The Bridgegate Scandal is morphing into all kinds of different scandals, now it seems like some sort of political interference into the Ft. Lee billion dollar development project then there's the probability the mayor of Ft. Lee wasn't the only one being strong armed into endorsing Christie. Like the mayor of Jersey City and wherever in this bucolic Garden State. What an ugly place to live.
It's just so unbelievable! Could Christie really do this? Another abuse of power you say? Not shocked.
He says he won't delay the work of the state for the people of New Jersey, he only delays traffic, I guess.
Maybe he's stronger than the scandal.
Now, today, suddenly money is being released to Sandy survivors. Such a coincidence.
I watched the State of The State as long as I could. I'm sorry, I just don't see any of the improvements. I see more, not less people without jobs. The potholes on the roads are unreal. The schools in my area have gone from the 90th percentile in 2006 to a performance of worse than 85.6% of elementary schools in New Jersey. I have not seen anything improve in Southern Ocean County.
I feel like I live in an alternate universe while I watched people applaud Christie during the State of the State Speech. "Mistakes have been made." I don't know if this is typical Jerseyspeak or you just have to minimize the amount and severity of the "mistakes."
What does the Governor want? A longer school day and a shorter summer break. With no way to pay for either, guess how much traction this will get? Are you kidding? A longer day and shorter summer break won't make kids smarter nor will it mean better teachers will be hired. It doesn't mean critical thinking will be part of the curriculum.
I kind of wish he were Sarah Palin and just leave office in the second term....please...but I guess we just get more "Jersey Fresh" corruption. At least it will be Bipartisan corruption.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Time To Fix The Unemployment Problem In Fort Lee And The Rest Of New Jersey

There's so much going on here in New Jersey. People are looking at Chris Christie in a whole new way, not that it will change anything. Before the traffic study bridge scandal, the only people who ever complained about Governor Christie were the people who got hit by Superstorm Sandy and never recovered.
There are a lot of people who haven't recovered and it's not only from a hurricane. Its from the recession-depression. Try looking for a job in New Jersey...good news, Walmart's hiring.
 Wierdly enough, this didn't seem to be much of an issue during Christie's tenure as Governor or his re-election.
Jobs.
They just don't seem to be an issue anywhere. It's so under the radar, no one talks about the lack of opportunity and all you hear out of Washington D.C. is cut, cut, cut and too many "entitlements" because, you know, no one wants to work and we all want "free stuff."
Then there's the property tax issue." "home rule" to excuse the mind-numbing inefficiency of jamming 566 municipalities, 591 school districts and hundreds of independent authorities into a state some 166 miles long and 65 miles wide."
I have direct experience with one of the biggest employers in New Jersey. Public schools. I am honored to say I have worked with many fine teachers. Unfortunately, I don't know any that have been hired after the recession-depression that aren't related to school board members or have some relative, husband or wife, you name it, working in the school system. It's not only schools either. The job market has dried up so much that if you don't know someone, you just can't get a decent job for anything above minimum wage.
Government is a prime example of the cronyism, nepotism policy that is the new normal. Let's look at Governor Christie for examples:
"They include family, brother, Todd; friends Bill Palatucci, State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R., Monmouth), and former First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Chiesa; and advisers such as Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno, former state Attorney General David Samson, political consultant Mike Duhaime, and former Gov. Thomas H. Kean. None is from South Jersey." (That's where I live.)
Oh and it gets better, " Mary Pat Christie, who works part-time as a bond trader," Wall Street, God, why didn't I guess? Wonder who she's related to there?
While we endure the fallout from a Governor with rage issues, we will continue to live with the consequences of leaders who live in a bubble with friends and relatives catering to their every whim. Business' hiring their relatives and friends leaving behind better qualified, more creative people who ultimately will have to apply for unemployment benefits if they can't "network" themselves into a high powered job, that can afford some of the highest taxes in the country.
 Brain drain is a reality here in New Jersey, when the better qualified candidates for what few jobs remain are left by the wayside, then somebody's brother or uncle, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, is hired to do work he is not educated or qualified for and we wonder why no one is capable of doing their job?
It is nothing new to have your friends and relatives working at your business. The real problem is the lack of opportunity in this state. The cost of living is outrageous and there is no leadership when it comes to unemployment. Businesses and people are leaving Jersey in droves.
But hey, here's what's important, "Time for traffic problems in Fort Lee."
Read about the jobs report for last month here: The terrible December jobs report | Data Dive

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Bridgeghazi!

Let's see if " Fall Out Boy", Governor Christie is stronger than this storm, he says he didn't know about it and he didn't do it..and yada, yada, yada...
Most of you probably know I live in New Jersey, I live in Ocean County, in one of the most devastated area's hit by Hurricane Super Freak Storm Sandy. Governor Christie did not make it to my town to inquire about damage until a year later. A. Year. Later. If you've read any of my other posts about Christie then you may know he spent millions of Sandy funds on advertising starring Christie and his family. He also made a special election for the senate race, most of us assumed, so he wouldn't have to come up against Cory Booker votin' Democrats during his re-election campaign.
You might also remember that I said Christie was groomed by Karl Rove and I am also sure that there has been a conversation between them about Christie apologizing for "an underling" closing lanes of traffic to the busiest bridge EVER just to bust a mayors chops who didn't endorse him. Unfortunately lots of people were inconvenienced and a 91 year old lady died. Who Knew?
The traffic jam went on for 4 days and I guess someone finally said ok, they've had enough and stopped the "traffic study." He's embarrassed and humiliated and oh, so sorry and also, NOT A BULLY! Right......
I don't believe it, no one believes it. We have been conditioned to believe that lies are the only things that come out of a politicians mouth, who can believe their lame apologies? Why bother?
People are saying this is the end of Christie's career. There will be subpoena's, there will be hearings and testimony and more lies..but Christie's career won't be over and he'll be able to go to Seaside Heights again, he'll probably give an amazing rousing speech for the RNC. He'll go to sleep in the Governors mansion tonight saying, "Whew! that was close."
There are people who won't be able to sleep tonight, in the homes they are struggling to rebuild or may never go back to. I don't know if some of those millions Christie used for pre-election campaign "Stronger Than The Storm" commercials could have stopped some of the suffering where I live, but it sure would have helped.
                      Is this how a Governor representing his state should act, towards a citizen of his own state? Who, in this video, told Christie "just stickin up for the teachers" which Christie has no love for.
                        Unfortunately, I guess Christie is still a "real big shot" and will continue to be.



Sunday, January 5, 2014

We All Fall Down

This year was NOT a banner year.
This was a theme of the holiday parties I attended, when conversations turned political people were getting excited about how they can't wait until Obama's out of office, not only that, but ever since he was elected things have gone down hill for them. There is the audacity of hope that with a new Republican president, things would get better and Obamacare, (which no one calls the Affordable Care Act) is horrible and the cause of a lot of misery. 
I had the audacity of facts and pointed out that 48 million people are uninsured according to the 2010 census. When I let this FACT fly out of my mouth it was met with silence. Yeah, I'm a lot of fun at a dinner party.
I am not sure if these party goers thought that this was Obama's fault or they just don't give a damn. One retired gentleman volunteered that along with his Medicare he also pays $900 a month for his secondary insurance for all the stuff said Medicare won't cover. Was there a thought in his head that a nationalized single payer healthcare system might be more economically sound? Uh oh, that would be socialism which is tied to communism which is the same thing, right?
 Because capitalism is the best "ism". It's a free market and 'free markets" are the best markets. People I meet and work with and socialize with actually believe this is what we live with, that this is what our economy is based on.
We can vote President Obama out of office and repeal Obamacare when the Republicans get in there! Republicans will save the country! This is what I hear. Meet the new boss same as the old boss. Voting Republican isn't going to change anything. People who still vote are under the impression that they have the same power as a corporation with a corrupt lobby paying for legislation. Try telling people that they are non-corporate persons and they have very little power. Their eyes just glaze over and they act like they don't understand what I'm talking about.
This "free market" capitalist American economy groupthink, comes from a place in time that is predicated on the fact that we got a "free continent" and after mass ethnic cleansing and "go west young man" ideology, displacing populations and destroying vast resources, we then rewarded ourselves with the spoils of war  profiting from rebuilding or annihilating, take your pick. All of this is gone and cannot be replicated. This WAS mans out from declining empires-in the past. Now everything is already owned.
We must go in a new way, in a new direction.
We have different wars to fight and it's not the war on drugs. It's not a war in Afghanistan or against Al-Queda. It's a war on poverty, "46 million Americans live in households where the government considers their income scarcely adequate." 50 Years Later, War on Poverty Is a Mixed Bag - NYTimes.com
It's a war on unemployment, With Benefits Cut, Unemployed Take Stock Of Dwindling Options : NPR,
we continue to spend trillions on a bloated Department of Defense but can't spare anything for the displaced in our own society. 48 million without health insurance and 46 million in poverty is a plague, it's a black death to anyone getting a pink slip and trying to get full time employment. While this crises continues, we all fall down.  


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014, Same As It Ever Was....

Here's to you 2014!
I like to look at the predictions people are making for 2014. 2013 was nothing spectacular, as a matter of fact, it pretty much sucked. So I decided to take a look back at the 2013 economic predictions, because I wanted a good laugh, anyway I wasn't disappointed. One article I read in BloombergBusiness Week said we should skip the predictions and look for "signs" like new restaurant openings and "upmarket hotel occupancy" hold on - this is where it gets really funny, "Renewed demand for second homes and other leisure investments." read all about it here, The Economy in 2013: Skip the Predictions, Look for These Signs - Businessweek
 This would be in complete conflict with the fact that;
"Of nearly 1 million U.S. jobs created this year, 80% — four of every five — were part time and most had meager or no benefits." Is part-time work the new normal?
 If this is what has been happening, basically since the recession-depression started, I am wondering what could possibly change for 2014? According to what I have read, it's going to be more of the same,"manufacturing and services sectors will continue to erode the demand for labor. Firms’ aggressive cost-cutting efforts will continue largely unabated in 2014, heightening pressures on many governments to implement corrective pro-employment policies.” Predictions for 2014 economy? Here are five. - CSMonitor.com  This is where I really start cracking up, "corrective pro-employment policies"? 
Where exactly would this pressure come from? Nobody gives a damn about any working class soul who wants a full time job when there aren't any. Thanks for that Christian Science Monitor!
 Here's a realistic economic prediction for 2014;
'The unsustainable nature of the federal government’s current tax and spending policies presents lawmakers and the public with difficult choices." This is just pure comedy gold, read it for yourself;
I just want to warn you, that I have a Fine Arts degree, I am not an economist, so my answer to the CBO's dire prediction of "difficult choices" wouldn't be difficult at all, make it illegal to offshore all the tax money that this country is lacking and that should kick deficit ass.
"Abbott Laboratories, whose store of untaxed overseas earnings rose by $8.1 billion, to $40 billion."
That's just one company. But no one is going to change the tax code for these shysters. So I guess that's one prediction for 2014, profits will continue to be offshored, untaxed. Meanwhile the peons in the U.S. will scramble to figure out what they owe by trying to figure out the incomprehensible tax rules that holds them hostage, since they have no way of offshoring their income, if they have one. There's a lot to look forward to in 2014, that's for sure!
Another thing to look forward to is more spying by the NSA, I did read a prediction that Edward Snowdon would come back to the U.S. and not be prosecuted! How's that for hilarity?
 The Daily Beast had the top tech predictions that smartphones would get cheaper, they really need to because people don't have much money after paying their taxes.
According to the Wall Street Journal; " U.S. growth will move into the higher end of the 2%-3% range and could well surprise on the upside." Yay Wall Street! Read this "news release" for the U.S. GDP,
"Excluding food and energy prices, the price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.5 percent in the third
 quarter, compared with an increase of 0.8 percent in the second."
 Further reading suggests that GDI or Gross Domestic Incomes  had been 
estimated and revised, probably quite frequently and only grew 1.8% in the third quarter.   
Corporate Undistributed profits increased $218.6 billion 
 When reading this information I can predict a number of things for 2014. One, 
is that without counting food and energy costs we don't know diddly about economic reality. 
Secondly, Corporate profits and real income, for real working people seem to have a great 
deal of disparity. I predict that this will continue in 2014. In other words, more of the status quo 
and no sign of any improvement.
                                                               How did we get here?