I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Medigal

Shirley:  It's SO good to have some others on the thread who refuse to stick heads in the sand!  I sent an email to my relative who is very involved in politics in the Repub party and asked him about his opinion about that link I forwarded to him.  Too many people only want to hear good news and I can understand that.  Unfortunately, that plays into the hands of those who would want to destroy our economy.  Beck gets a bit nutty on these issues and I would prefere others who are more believeable giving out such messages.  However, as I expected, all the other stations played deaf and dumb! 

Thanks for returning and helping to be the "voice of reason" at these times in this thread.  

crazy4carrots

Usually, the reason other broadcasters, newspapers and news networks don't report on something found on a political blog is because they actually investigate and find no basis in fact.  Conspiracy theories and fear-mongering seem to be a special trademark of one particular individual.  I'd suggest looking for more "proof" before spending any more time worrying.

Medigal

Lindasa:  Do you really think so little of me that you think I would have taken that "link" seriously if I had not done my homework?  SEIU is very serious about their mission and we are very fortunate when anyone can manage to get their objectives out to the public.  Unfortunately, Beck has gone about these issues in such a ridiculous way that he has played into their hands because no one believes him.  I would never get concerned just because Beck starts turning tumble sets about issues.  I do get concerned when I put two and two together and it certainly comes out "four".  I was told years ago by a dear friend I truly respect who is now deceased about these serious problems to destroy our economy by others and I have seen everything he warned me of come true.  Unless we get leaders who can take these issues seriously, we are headed for very bad times, imo.  Sorry if I can't be more cheerful about this but sometimes what we learn is not always cheerful info. 

As for your theory about why the other networks don't report, I truly disagree with it.  How I wish your theory were true.  I only responded about this subject because another poster put up the link.  I do not post such links myself because I know the majority of our readers don't want to know what is happening in their own country.  That's fine with me.  I am not a poster just to speak about politics but I will respond if someone else brings it up first. 

1Athena1

"Destroy our economy"??  Come on, Med-pal - I would hardly call the SEIU an economy destroyer. They give people a voice and empowerment. When that haoppens, standards rise and we all benefit. For a primer on the true destroyers of the economy, I recommend the documentary Inside Job.

And Beck is funny in worrying about redistribution of wealth in a country where income inequality has reached the highest levels since the Gilded age, according to this 2010 analysis:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3220

The gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007 (the period for which these data are available), according to data the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued last week. Taken together with prior research, the new data suggest greater income concentration at the top of the income scale than at any time since 1928.

I would call the present state of affairs a very worrisome distribution of income. Redistribution sounds like a good idea.

crazy4carrots

Let's see -- there are approximately 1.8 million SEIU members worldwide.  They comprise a small part of what is actuallyremaining of the middle class in the U.S.  Unlike so many politicians who, by their policies and actions, are intent on directing money upwards to the top 1%, perhaps SEIU members just want to preserve what little power they actually have in trying to stay middle class.

Medigal

Athena:  Your last paragraph. Please becareful what you ask for because you just might get it sooner than you think.  It's not just the "redistribution of wealth" that concerns me gravely but when can happen to the value of our currancy.  While people like yourself are focusing on one thing before you know it our currancy can lose so much of it's value that what we have left will NOT be worth redistributing.  Did it ever occur to you that Obama and his administration will try all sorts of things to cut spending but will not give more tax to the upper class who holds the majority of the wealth? 

I have been sending letter to everyone including the Speaker of the House concerning where they may want to do spending cuts.  I got a reply today from Rand Paul and it gave me peace of mine that "he" knows what a catastrophe could happen if they don't disregard certain entitlement cuts for our generation.  I won't waste anyone's time on all the other things wrong with our government and the possibilities for ruining our currancy and our economy worse than it already is.  Just ask yourself "who" benefits by destroying America as we know it. Not Americans!

1Athena1

Medigal - the president doesn't have a say on our currency and nor does Congress - at least not directly. It is a free-floating currency that depends on policies set by the Fed and also on other currencies and on trade. I am not quite udnerstanding what you mean regarding the currency... In any case, the SEIU can't do a thing about the dollar either. :-)

Edited to add: If you are talking about the fiscal implications of our deficit and how that could imperil our creditworthiness and thus the value of the dollar....then I don't understand how the SEIU connection fits in. BTW, I hope in your letter you asked these members of congress to please not vote against increasing the debt ceiling of the US. Such a vote, if gtiven by a majority, could cause a world economic catastrophe because it means we would have to default on our debt payments - that is perhaps one of the few ways in which congress really could mess up the currency, amongst many other things.

Medigal

Athena:  IMO, it's the kind of people who are leaders in SEIU who are using the organizations to do things they were never supposed to be involved with.  I think they have a great influence on Obama who has an additional influence on the Fed.  It is a complicated mess which involves those who hold our debt like China.  It's not the original organization of SEIU and what it was supposed to stand for but the people who are controlling it now that gives me greatest concern.

You are very right about how our credit worthiness and devaluing the dollar could have the greatest impact on our standing and with those who hold our debt.  SEIU as an organization does not have the power to do the deeds but the people involved with SEIU certainly have been very vocal about what they want to do to this country.  These people are the ones who need to be taken seriously by those in power in our country.

As for your concern that members of congress "not" vote against increasing the debt ceiling , I think we are ok with Rand Paul from his reply but I have not heard from the others yet.  Defaulting on our debt payments would destroy our standing in the world and play a big part in destroying the value of our dollar.  We cannot allow this to happen no matter what!  

BTW, there was a discussion with a political panel I was watching on tv recently and it was about the implications you are concerned about with such a vote.  The panel had the same concern.  Let's hope congress watches these panels and take their concerns seriously.

Anonymous

Hello, Athena.  Thank you for the warm welcome.

Anonymous

Anonymous

rosemary, 30 years ago many things were different.  I can only tell you what my SIL deals with.  It's sad.  VERY SAD.  Because education is the only way OUT for these young people.  And I'm sure you will find parents in these neighborhoods that do care for their children.  I've seen many of them trying to get their children a better education by getting into a Charter School.  When the vouchers were taken away from the D.C. kids I was furious...yes, I know...the ones in school were not affected. 

I want to see kids succeed.  I don't care what income level, what kinds of parents, or what color they are.  It's kind of like rooting for the underdogs. 

Anonymous

covertanjou wrote:

Beck is god; SIEU bad.  Wall Street good.  Teacher bad.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ha!  I didn't say that.  If you had read further you would see where I was defending most teachers.  It was someone a few posts up that was talking about how bad our education is and how teachers rank low in school.  I suggest you talk to that person instead of me.  Just saying.........

Anonymous

Here ya go, Medigal.  Hope this makes you feel better.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/blaze-exclusive-congressman-presses-holder-to-investigate-terrorist-plans-in-bank-plot/  

Congressman Presses Holder to Investigate ‘Terrorist Plans' in Bank Plot Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:34am  

The Blaze has obtained an exclusive letter sent from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding shocking video uncovered by The Blaze on Tuesday.

(Watch the original video.)

In the letter, Chaffetz references video, posted yesterday on this site, showing a one-time SEIU official, Stephen Lerner, outlining a plan to collapse the American economy - including crashing the stock market - so that unions can become more powerful. The sinister plan is set to take place in May and includes mass homeowner mortgage strikes.

(Read our report on Stephen Lerner.)

Chaffetz tells Holder "the escalation of Mr. Lerner's threats would clearly constitute domestic terrorism and pose substantial harm to the American people and the economy." He goes on to request Holder investigate "Mr. Lerner's terrorist plans and notify me how the Department of Justice plans to respond to these threats."

The letter, sent Wednesday, was also distributed to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House committee on Oversight & Government Reform, and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the ranking minority member.

You can read the letter below:

March 23, 2011

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

Recent media reports suggest that the former director of the Service Employees International Union's ("SEIU") banking and finance campaign has threatened to seriously endanger the welfare of the United States.  In a forum at Pace University earlier this month, Stephen Lerner, the former SEIU official, revealed a "secret plan" to "cause a new financial crisis . . . destroy J.P. Morgan . . . and weaken Wall Street's grip on power" by using "civil disobedience" to create "the conditions necessary for a redistribution of wealth and a change in government."[1]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."[2] The escalation of Mr. Lerner's threats would clearly constitute domestic terrorism and pose substantial harm to the American people and the economy.  I am therefore requesting that you investigate Mr. Lerner's terrorist plans and notify me how the Department of Justice plans to respond to these threats.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and may at "any time" investigate "any matter" as set forth in House Rule X. An attachment to this letter provides additional information about responding to the Committee's request.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact [redacted].  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
_______________________
Jason Chaffetz

cc:  The Honorable Darrell Issa, Chairman

cc:  The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Minority Member

---

[1] Henry Blodget, Caught on Tape: Former SEIU Official Reveals Secret Plan to Destroy JP Morgan, Crash The Stock Market, And Redistribute Wealth in America, Bus. Insider, (Mar. 22, 2011), available at http://www.businessinsider.com/seiu-union-plan-to-destroy-jpmorgan (last visited Mar. 22, 2011).

[2] Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, (Oct. 26, 2007), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/terrorism/ (last visited Mar. 22, 2011).

Medigal

Shirley:  Thank you!  Thank you!  At least this shows this concern is not just a figment of Beck's caffeine deprived imagination!  I just need to know that other people in important positions in our country have had their attention brought to this issue.  Whether they take charge and watch what goes on is another issue but it's a start!  Much appreciation for the additional info.  If I keep researching my countries issues on the internet, I am going to go blind!   I am always so grateful for any info anyone can share to make my concerns easier to research.  Have a great evening!

bluedahlia

I didn't listen to the whole thing, but how can you be sure the voices belong to who they say they belong to?

AnnNYC

Please note that SEIU fired this guy, Stephen Lerner, in November of 2010 over this very issue, because they did not support his ideas.  So it's slander to call this a "SEIU plan to destroy J.P. Morgan."

http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/2010/11/seiu-cleans-house/

bluedahlia

And, how did they come by these tapes.  Were they recorded illegally?

crazy4carrots

Wonder if this is another doctored tape so beloved of Breitbart, O'Keefe and company?  Play it now, but then don't bother apologizing when it's discovered to be doctored, a la Shirley Sherrod etc.

And what exactly would be the reason a fired SEIU official would be telling a closed audience all of this?

Curiouser and curiouser...

River_Rat

Ann, thank you.  I was looking for that earlier and couldn't find it.  Too many links from every right wing site running with the Blaze story to sift through.

Medigal

"And what exactly would be the reason a fired SEIU official would be telling a closed audience all of this?"

Lindassa:  I think he's bitter over being fired from SEIU, imo.  If one speaks to a closed audience on any particular subject, it is a good bet that there will be people there who will agree with you and some who won't.  Maybe he was trying to see if he could spark up some action with people who were already angry at our government.  SEIU is no longer liable for "his" actions, imo since they were wise enough to fire him before this.  Makes one wonder why he has access to the White House for so many visits if he doesn't have help from someone or ones there.  It was on the news tonight so he is being investigated, thank goodness!  I don't think it will be so easy now for him to put his "anger" into action.

AnnNYC

Medigal, Stephen Lerner's 4 visits to the White House were in 2009 and 2010.  AFAIK, he didn't meet with the president.

BarbaraA

It has been confirmed that he visited the White House 4 times. And other high ranking administration officials have him listed as visiting also. Very telling for me.

covertanjou

Today, one of my students asked me if she could speak to me.  She told me that she is having problems getting in touch with her partner for the oral presentation they have to present in my class.   Since I know that the student she is referring is going through a terrible time, I told her that she may have to do the presentation on her own since the other student is having some issues (although I know what the issues are, I could not and would not reveal the issues).  

She tells me that she is also having some issues.  I told her how sorry I was, and if there was anything I could do to help.  She tells me that her father has colon cancer and that it has spread to his liver.  I tell her how sorry I am and that if she needs to talk, she can come see me, and I also  refer her to a wonderful woman in student services who could help her deal with her dad's dx.   

She then starts telling me how angry she is because her parents did not initially tell her that her dad had cancer that had spread to his liver.  She learnt this from an aunt.  She also feels that she needs to take care of her mom, who is not coping well and is crying all the time, as well as her dad.

Right before class, she had gone to have lunch with her dad, and her dad told her he is tired.  Tired of the cancer; tired of living with cancer; that he is just tired.  I started crying when she told me this.  Here I am, an educator, who is supposed to be helping this girl, and I end up crying.  I thought of Yan, who recently lost his wife to bc, and of my friend who died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma 12 years ago.  Towards the end of his life, my friend told me he was tired; tired of fighting a losing battle; that he was just tired.

I so badly wanted to tell her to tell him it's okay.  That he is allowed to be tired of fighting when there is no hope in sight.  That he is allowed to stop treatment.  I didn't tell her that.  How could I? I kindly told her to listen to him.  That he needs to talk about what he is going through.  She told me that she told her 43 year old father to stop talking that way.  He was going to be fine.   I understand her.  She is 21 and doesn't understand that sometimes courage is about acceptance.--even acceptance of one's death.

She told me that he was being transferred to another hospital because the hospital that has been treating him can't do anything for him anymore.  I realize that this means he is going to Palliative Care (at one of the best hospitals in Montreal).  She also tells me that the hospital he is going to has people who can help the family deal with the dad's illness.  Again, I know this means that they will be preparing the family for Palliative Care. 

I hate, hate, hate knowing what is to come for this young woman and her family.  I so badly wanted to tell her the truth and yet was horrified at the thought of telling -- it is obviously not my place.  I cried for her today.  For her dad, her mom and her sister.  I cried for Yan and his family and for my friend who was taken away much too young by this horrible, unrelenting and cruel beast: cancer.

I am not sure if this is an appropriate place to write what happened today, but I have been unable to shake my sadness.  I was hoping that writing it down here would somehow make me deal with the pain a little better.  I hope that you accept this being written here.  I didn't know where else to write it.  

rosemary-b

(((Mary)))

Alpal

Mary, of course you couldn't tell her what you were actually thinking and that must have been so frustrating for you. I think the realization that there are things worse than death is something that comes with age.  Most 20 somethings simply cannot grasp that concept. I think this thread, where we can discuss anything, is the perfect place for you to tell us about your day. I hope writing it down has helped ease your mind.

covertanjou

Rosemary, thank you.

Alpal, it is so normal for us to want to keep our loved ones with us.  How many of us would feel differently?  I think telling our loved ones it's okay to go is so hard.   It is/must be one of the most difficult things to do.

River_Rat

(((Mary)))

My heart goes out to you and to your student, her father and their family. 

crazy4carrots

Mary, your student could have been me.  I had just turned 22 when my mother passed away from BC.  Yes, we all "knew" it would happen; in fact, DH and I got married after just 3 months' engagement, because we wanted my mother at the wedding, and thought it would give her something to strive for in hopes she would live longer.  (Yes, she attended my wedding and did alot of the prep work that moms feel they need to do  -- she passed 3 months later).

None of us could talk to her about her impending death, largely because it felt too much like giving up.  She had a close friend in whom she confided (which we found out after her death).  All of this is to say that I suspect your student actually knows what lies ahead, but admitting it makes it all too real.  She doesn't know how to talk to her dad about this; I certainly didn't, and neither did my much older siblings AND my father.  We live in hope......

I'm so glad that Yan and Olga did have the talk, as horribly, awfully painful as it must have been for them.

Hugs,  Linda

covertanjou

((((Linda)))))  I am so sorry you lost your mom--and at such a young age.

I understand what you are saying.  When my friend was dying, he couldn't talk about his impending death with his wife or siblings.  He and I spoke about his acceptance that he was going to pass away.  It was difficult listening to him and NOT tell him he was going to be okay, but I knew he needed to express his fears and the knowledge that he would soon pass away.

I wish I could just hug my student (I can't--not allowed of course), and tell her everything is going to be okay.  

Cancer sucks b***s. 

bluedahlia

(((((Mary)))))) You can discuss anything here.