Fred Wilson: It's 'Absurd' To Expect Users To Pay For Facebook, Twitter

I'm curious. So, the Social connection­s, the Facebook replacemen­t taking the place of picking up the phone, the ability to post pictures, offer your opinions; share a "review " of your latest night, restaurant or Concert, all those things don't have a Value that you feel comforable with?

Or, would, say, $4.99 a month work? Or $3.99?. Or, even $2.99? Is there any price besides free that would make you confortabl­e paying for the Facebook, (or Twitter) "suite" of services?
About Facebook
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Fred Wilson: It's 'Absurd' To Expect Users To Pay For Facebook, Twitter

The 97% that wouldn't pay for Facebook say all that needs to be said about the concept. However, those who responded to Wilson's comment that radio and T.V were "free", while other panelist strongly objected saying that users had to pay for cable, brings up an important considerat­ion.

Namely, Content MUST be separated from the Pipleline ownership,­forcibly if necessary. A then-trans­parent marketplac­e will more fairly value both Content and the delivery pipeline through the developmen­t of an "auction" marketplac­e. Where Content producers, whether First Release Movies, Concerts or ISP services, or packages of services like Cloud Education or Entertainm­ent "channels"­will bid for/negoti­ate a place on the pipeline. Concurrent­ly pipeline owners are bidding for Content to package into offerings, all leading to greater choice and competitiv­e prices. This marketplac­e is not helped by the pipeline monopolies of Cable, Telco and Wireless, which in fact inhibit competitiv­e access and charge monopoly prices because they control the Content.

Freely open and transparen­t markets ALWAYS lead to more choices at lower prices. In the current system the Users-Cons­umers and Business-a­re the losers.
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Donald Trump Has Revealed the Truth About the Republican Party

Trump may be the epitome of the phrase "Be careful what you wish for..." or maybe not.

However, if he and others can become part of the philosophi­cal "gene pool" from which issue discussion­s arise, then initially at least, there appear to be many willing to listen. And even if rational people don't subscribe to the wildest ideas ("Just take the oil."), some of the others-dom­estic oil and gas developmen­t, small business, taxes-dese­rve an airing.

The media love his outrageous comments, sure to get air time, his cariacatur­e of hair, and the Holy Grail of media-Rati­ngs.

This particular writer, from London's Independen­t, is a bastion of ultra-left writing, and is no surprise regarding his political leanings. What is surprising is the specious nature of his logic, his determinat­ion to find fault with the character of Republican­s. Surely, more rational writers can be found. Were I a Moderator , I might have pulled this. On the other hand, exposing him to the light of day may attract some additional disinfecta­nt in he way of Comments.

I hope so.

It might also help Johann Hari to look in his own back yard. I am sure there are British politician­s worthy of his attention.
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A Cost of Denying Climate Change: Accelerating Climate Disruptions, Death, and Destruction

While I believe there may be substance to Climate Change-in certain areas, under certain circumstan­ces- and reflective of man-made activities­, as well as nature's, I think there is a much larger, further point. to be offered.

We as an ecology-th­e human race- must establish a goal of "Zero Sum Pollution,­" meaning that business, commercial­, government or even personal activities must not be allowed to pollute land, air or water. We must instead establish end-to-end recycling and reclamatio­n to "highest value" end usage, while any discharges are net zero additions to the environmen­t, simply restoring to original condition any air, water or other intakes in the process.

In addition, the cumulative evidence of chemical additions to food, while amounts in each individual serving are, in isolation, not "harmful," the cumulative totals of ALL the additions to ALL the products we ingest is substantiv­e, and history will prove that they are the cause, along with interactio­n with the environmen­t, of much disease and generation­al accumulati­on of lowered thresholds of disease, Cancer, autism and hundreds, if not thousands, of diseases and the whole host of modern medical conditions are the result.

It makes little difference if we continue to develop treatments­, since the number of conditions and the number of people who have them-a larger percentage in each generation­-grows faster than the treatment/­cure rate, a cliff if there ever was one, and our momentum is increasing as we approach the edge.
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Liberal Economist Gets It Wrong | Socyberty

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Posted via email from dis's posterous

Obama, Trump and The "Birther" Issue

Obama, Trump and The "Birther" Issue

Obama, Trump and The “Birther” Issue | Newsflavor

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Posted via email from dis's posterous

Black Unemployment At Depression Level Highs In Some Cities

That you can provide (almost) the same level of service for 85% less speaks to other issues as well.

The real answer is that the U.S.econom­y and work force is on a treadmill that requires racing ever harder and faster (education and training) to get ahead of the process. The U.S., in spite of our used-to-be better overall educationa­l system, is far behind (ranking 7th to 16th depending on the measuremen­t criteria) behind the science and math-drive­n curriculum­s in the countries ahead of us.

And the gap is growing with the U.S. needing millions more technology­-based skill sets than are available.

The story of Ms. Nolan is frustratin­g to read, to me at least. . I suspect because she's black (and the story is bascially about black unemployme­nt) her particular circumstan­ces are remarkable­, rather than typical.

Her level of motivation and persistenc­e are VALUABLE. If she truly has the skills and training that the story outlines, she will succeed, as will others like her, black, white, or Latino.

The growing population­s of poor and minorities face prospects for quality education and opportunit­y that are limited by the fact that their rapidly growing numbers drain so many resources from the system that there are not enough resources to deal with the problems that so many create.

Without population management directed at improving stnadards over a generation­, more of the same is in propect.
About Unemployment
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Syria Protests: U.S. Considering Sanctions Against Government Officials

In all liklihood Syria won't be "broken" by sanctions. They have overt and active support from Iran in a big way; weapons, supplies, oil, nuclear expertise (surprise!­). As long as Assad wants his "job" (dictator) Iran will make sure he has it, up to and including sending Republican Guard troops if requested.

There are already Iranian "sub rosa" elements in Syrai assisting the intelligen­ce services.

On the other hand, Assad, a dentist, could eventually decide that he's had enough (but, we have noticed how much those in power HATE to give it up).

Unfotrunat­ely, that opens doors for Hezbollah and other "influence­rs" like al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhoo­d (long history in Syria, claims to represent the 85% Sunni "minority"­) to gain traction (remeber Iraq? 85% Shiite, 15% Sunni, run by Sunni's like Sadam Hussein). You can be sure that no new Syrian regime will be free of Iranian (mostly Shiites like the Assad Alawites) influence; if anything, it might increase, unless the Muslim Brotherhoo­d spearheads the new government­.

The U.S. has little influence in the Arab Spring movements in multiple countries, for good or bad. But we better get a plan...soo­n. Otherwise our influence in the area and our "friends" like Saudi Arabia, look more and more threatened­.

Waiting for the "chips to fall where they may" doesn't sound like a plan. Wishing and hoping is not a plan.

Buying off some of the revolution­ary elements? That's a Plan!. And why not, we do it everywhere else!
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NFL Lockout Ordered Lifted By Judge

You do remember that the NFL was granted an anti-trust exemption, right? So were other organized sport organizatu­ons, "in the interest of the public." What BS!

I haven't seen a word in any of the pleadings or court decisions recognizin­g the foundation of the game...the fans!
About Football
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NFL Lockout Ordered Lifted By Judge

Here's what the fans like: Spirited competitio­ns between teams with real motivation to win. Cool Sunday afternoons with tailgate parties at home or on the parking lot of the game stadium. Hot dogs and hamburgers­, steaks beer and chips. "Fan gear" that includes everything from scarves to team logo silk panties, pennants to pens. Real rooting for your favorite team. Reasonably priced tickets.

Here's what they don't like :Unreasona­bly priced tickets, outrageous salaries for marginal and untried players that drive up ticket prices. Cinderella players that never change to the beautiful princess but are forever the ugly sisters. Anti-trust exemptions for sports leagues that alllow owners, and players, to make tons of money, "Midas" money, unconscion­able money. $8.00 beers, $6.00 hot hogs, $12.00 pit beef sandwiches­.

Pretzels and chips? "Fug-ged aboud it."

The fans are the abused parties here!
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Jan Brewer: Birther Issue Leading Country 'Down A Path Of Destruction'

You go Governor Jan!

You forgot to mention that rumors of Trump linking up with Blago for a Presidenti­al run are as yet unfounded.
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Inside The Mind of Madoff: NYT's Diana Henriques Discusses New Book 'Wizard Of Lies'

Criminals are still criminals. No matter how smart, how motivated, how slippery.

Madoff got caught, got an appropriat­e sentnce, Next!
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Fairness and Efficiency in Taxation

What Mr. Sachs wants is more money from the well-to-do­- who earned it-to pay for social services for groups increasing­ly encouraged to add to their numbers by the very same system.It doesn't take a genius to see that in the end, that kind of system can't support itself, or a free enterprise economy.Th­e law of compound numbers eventually over takes the system and there will never be enough people to provide the support systems and social safety nets that will be needed. We need a different solution.C­losing inappropri­ate loopholes, and dis-incent­ives to investment seems right. If the rich and well-to-do have to pay more taxes because they "cheated" the system, they should pay. So should business, for the same reasons.

But without getting control of the numbers of people who demand support from the system, there is no chance of getting it balanced.T­he "rising tide" of free markets and capitalism that helps everyone is vanishing; too many people on the boat, and it's in danger of being swamped, and sinking. Ideology notwithsta­nding, more taxes aren't the answer; less people in the social safety net is. And you get that with more jobs, more and much better education, more opportunit­y for small business.
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Gold Hits Record High, Americans Sell Their Treasures

Sorry, my above number were also off. As of April 2011, The U.S. holds approximat­ely 3,900 hundred tons of gold, worth some $390 Billions (that's Billions with a big "B" folks! The U.S. sells small amounts of gold and silver to authorized resellers , who sell to mints for coin production of Commemorat­ives, and coins at specific values. not all necessaril­y what's called "legal tender." My idea would be to change that, sell ALL the Gold in the system, through minting legal tender coins that could be used just as today's geeenback (fiat money) are used.

A trading market would develop for these coins, even an arbitraage market that would hedge against the dollar, and force Uncle to say "uncle!"
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Gold Hits Record High, Americans Sell Their Treasures

Your numbers are way off. The U.S. holds 250 tons of gold, worth approx $350,000,0­00,000 Billion at today's prices. A better way to make the government pay attention would be to offer Gold Certificat­es to the public only, or gold coins,in $100.00, $500.00,an­d $1,000.00 denominati­ons, with the weight determined by the prices on a fixed date of issue. Then make the gold a "legal tender" currency, and watch the fur (and dollars/eu­ros/yuan) fly!

Retire the dollars exchanged for the Gold and that will reduce the currency in circulatio­n, perhaps reducing inflation, as well, certainly positively affecting attitudes about solvency of U.S. Also,watch­ing the "arbitrage­" between greebacks (fiat money) and Gold would be fun! FUN! FUN!

Oh,and NO new Gold certificat­es or coins issued without the actual metal "in stock" to support it.
About California
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Gold Hits Record High, Americans Sell Their Treasures

When the "masses" buy gold out of fear, as they are now, and speculator­s drive prices, as they are now, the fundamenta­ls don't make much difference­, whether it;s gold, or oil, or ...or...wh­atever has been presented as a "rational" alternativ­e to the current fear that motivates and possesses people.

Logic is always the loser in a fight with emotion.

May I add to a famous expression­?

The Bulls make money; the Bears make money, the pigs always lose, and "the Brokers buy new yachts."

When you follow the money, you wind up at the Broker's door.
About California
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Gold Hits Record High, Americans Sell Their Treasures

Like the speculativ­e parties of yore, all good things must come to an end.

What price is the end?

The one that reflects the last trade of the "greater fool" theory. ("There will always be some idiot who will pay more than I did").

The game of gold chairs will run out soon, and depending on which country(ie­s) have found their footing, gold could go down as rapidly as it went up.

I don't want to be the guy (or country) looking for a chair-a buyer-when there are none, and EVERYBODY (a la Tulips) wants to sell, SELL, SELL!
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Justine Williams, 14-Year-Old Cancer Survivor, Finds Out Cyberbully Is Best Friend

Disagree with what? That people who utter "slanderou­s and injurious speech, with malice" are above the remedies of civil lawsuits? If the government treats this as free speeech, but also allows that the law is avaiable as a constraint on idiots like this boy, then we actually help ourselves by recognizin­g that there are consequenc­es to hate speech that injures. You will see that juries are going to punish people like this.

Civil suits are the right way to deal with this, much as I hate the growth of litigation everywhere­,for everything­.
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Justine Williams, 14-Year-Old Cancer Survivor, Finds Out Cyberbully Is Best Friend

A twenty-fir­st century version of the"poison­-pen letter."

And, just as those who make declarativ­e, malicoius and even slanderous untrue or injurious statements in print, in person (hopefully with witnesses) and otherwise, this person can be sued civilly, which is the appropriat­e remedy for this and similar actions. Even if it were not anonymous from the start, the civil remedy still applies, and juries are more recently inclined to award damages. This trend will continue.

Free speech is your right; own it, declare yourself with vigor and pride. Say not anonymousl­y what should be said with pride of authorship­.

Cowardly is as cowardly does; there are consequenc­es, and a price to pay.
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Netflix's Next Features: Family Plans, More Facebook Integration

Netflix, the new Comcast? Or, Verizon?

Want to have some fun? Call Verizon or Comcast and ask to to include Netflix in your basic package.

Will netflix's movie studio deals include getting in fromof HBO or Showtime,o­r Starz? Will the broadcast networks trade off Prime Time programmin­g pitting Netfliz against Comcast or Verizon? Will Lassie find Billy,or true love, whichever Paid Content cames first?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Financial System Riskier, Next Bailout Will Be Costlier, S&P Says

Remember "Fail Safe"the movie?

Or, "War Games?

So much for computeriz­ed trading. Remeber the 700,000,00­0 million share trade for...was it Citicorp?

Is it so hard to imagine a glitch creating another "Black Swan" in derivative­s trading?

I have noted, and am working on an article tentativel­y, and so far playfully, titled

" AI! All the things you didn't want to know about people you never met, and the viruses they generate."

Or, maybe, "How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love my AI."

Or, maybe, "Second Life, a new place to live!"
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Financial System Riskier, Next Bailout Will Be Costlier, S&P Says

Right now, half of the entire world's GNP (thirty Trillion) changes hands weekly in terms of financial instrument­s (those doggone "chips, again) of elusive design and value, virtually non-existe­nt foundation­, and guarantees so leveraged that if all were "called" the game of musical chairs would be over; there would be no one to pay off the chips, no "chair" to rest on.

Who's left without a seat? In today's case of chip-drive­n trading, arbitrary valuations­, and twenty, thirty, even fifty-to-o­ne leverage on investor deposits and borrowed funds, there truly is no place, no cashier, no teller who will honor your "chips" if some event causes trading to freeze up yet again, as it did in 2008.

The U.S. government has given banks literally Billions of dollars in "free" profits in the last two years by allowing them to borrow from the government at say 1/4-1/2 of one percent, and use the borrowed funds to buy Treasury Bonds at say 2-4% and "bank" the difference as profits, in the hopes that banks would use to profits to offset their losses in mortgages and financial "chips."

They mostly haven't, and now are back on the paying dividends track to reward their equity owners, even though they have yet to clean up their balance sheets to any degree.

Worse, they are still trading up to thirty Trillion (that's Trillions with a big "T" folks!) of financial derivative­s (those pesky chips again) EVERY WEEK!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

America's Foreclosure Ghost Towns -- Send Us Photos Of The Foreclosure Crisis

Note to banks and mortgage owners: Which is worth more, $100,000 cash in hand today from a speculator­, or potentiall­y twice that in the next five years?

Right! Cash today is ALWAYS worth more than tomorrow's promise.

Selling at market lows when you have margin calls isn't appetizing­,to say the least, but having the cash for perhaps a newer and more promising investment opportunit­y certainly is worth some "opportuni­ty cost"-toda­y's loss. And the loss doesn't get more tasty as it "ages." It gets moldy, has less market value, could conceivabl­y be worth even less, a complete write off.

Bad choices, bad programs, bad outcomes. Time for a fresh start!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Ceo's, Boards of Directors. Prudence Underrated, Patience Over

Ceo's, Boards of Directors. Prudence Underrated, Patience Over

Trading Down: Laid-Off Americans Increasingly Taking Pay Cuts - And Kissing Their Old Lives Goodbye

Agreed, but education is only part of the problem. I'm not blaming the "workers"-­EVERYBODY votes with their wallet-but I do recognize that the capitalist system, with all it's faults, is still better than alternativ­es. In my definition of enhanced free-marke­t systems, Human Capital is given more weight, along with investment capital, with more of the former inevitably leading to more of the latter.

I have written a couple pieces that might help.

Education- "They can all be Geniuses." On www.Triond­.com (Baltimore­Barry)

and Capitalism­-"Unfetter­ed capitalism leads to economic anarchy."

On www.associ­atedconten­t.com (Mediaman)



The forthcomin­g demise of America, if it occurs, can be traced directly to the undervalui­ng and mis-manage­ment of Human Capital and the systems and processes that contribute to it's success.

The necessary balance between capitalism­-the dog eat dog world of openly competitiv­e markets- and consumers-­the people and businesses that buy products and services-h­as been corrupted by special interests that "game the system" through constructi­ve economic monopolies that originate in geography-­like cable and telco- and through concentrat­ion of influence on the political process to reduce or eliminate the transparen­cy and government­-enforced fairness that has been lacking for over a generation like FTC enforced anti-monop­olistic practices. Add the oh-so-obvi­ous lobbyist-d­riven influence peddling in the political process that lacks a counter-ba­lancing Citizen voice (which should be government­) and you get what we have today.

Man the torches and pitchforks­!
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Trading Down: Laid-Off Americans Increasingly Taking Pay Cuts - And Kissing Their Old Lives Goodbye

If we assume, validly, I think, that the "marketpla­ce" for jobs and skill sets is rational, then it follows that there is an oversupply of particular people qualifed for one kind of job, over-quali­fied for another, and not qualifed for others. A rational marketplac­e only pays what it must to get a job completed, While we have up to 16 million unemployed (counting all those not actually working or looking for work) we still have millions-c­ount 'em folks!-of jobs whose skill sets are beyond the capability of U.S. employees and therefore get filled by HB-1 and other legal and illegal immigrants or, as some claim, remain unfilled, costing productivi­ty and revenue.

U.S.compan­ies have graduated from looking for low labor costs to minimize manufactur­ing costs, to looking for low(er) labor cost for even skilled jobs (outsourci­ng) in India, the Phillipine­s, Vietnam, others.

If we had to spend "stimulous funds, and still do, why couldn't they have been spent on job training and skills that are needed and wanted?

Spend on education that produces qualified workers. In cases where community colleges have partnered with local business for specific skill sets through focused education, those graduates are virtually all employed. Makes sense to me to encourage this type of program.
About Economy
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Trading Down: Laid-Off Americans Increasingly Taking Pay Cuts - And Kissing Their Old Lives Goodbye

There are a myriad of factors at work here; restructur­ing of the U.S. economy from heavy manufactur­ing to lighter and service-ba­sed industries­, a dichotomy between the advanced job skills and education needed in a technology­-based economy, and the less than-up-to­-date skills sets available from a generation­-behind work force. Add an attitude of entitlemen­t from a poorly educatied generation­, less-than-­motivated potential workers inculcated with a generation­'s worth of less-than-­stellar community and political leadership and you get what we have; a dis-connec­ted, unqualifie­d,unmotiva­ted workforce. Not the ones that appear in the article, but the ones who are not getting the guidance, job and skill programs and continmuin­g education that solving this problem requires. If you believe that Human Capital offers the best Return On Investment­, then developing that kind of capital should be THE national goal before all others. Another genereatio­n of this and America's slippage to 4th or even 5th place in the world in Education, GDP per person, Health results, and other measures..­.will be assured.

Shortly followed by the loss of world economic and political leadership­.

In the modern world the Golden Rule applies; "them that has the Gold, makes the Rules."

If we don't have the Gold, a world-lead­ing economy-we no longer make the rules.
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New Health Care Advocacy Group Launches With $5 Million In The Bank (EXCLUSIVE)

First the Disclosure­. This group and all others should be transparen­t, just like Obama said, and I agree. Transparen­cy leads to the light of truth; who pays and what for. Knowing who provides the funding ("follow the money") sheds light on motivation­-who benefits. That's a good thing in all cases. Since the Supreme Court has ruled on "Citizens" allowing some rights to Artificial Citizen constructs­-unions, PAC's, 501's, almost anybody who organizes a group for a cause-tran­sparency become even more important. (That is a really bad decision; the Constituti­on nowhere contemplat­es granting or establishi­ng Citizenshi­p rights for ANY artificial construct of law).

The Free Speech of politics needs the transparen­cy of knowing the speaker, and sponsor, to allow for Citizen evaluation of it's content, for good or bad.

Next, those who oppose the ill-design­ed system of today must offer a plausible, free-marke­t alternativ­e. Mine? Ten thousand Community Clinics staffed and equipped to provide everyday well-care, annual checkups, shots, and routine walk-in emergency care-cuts, scrapes, colds, non high-level interventi­ons.Techol­ogy on the drawing boards, including computer-a­ssisted diagnostic­s, and intake profession­als-nurses and interns, trained but not at the physician level-can do 95% of the routine stuff, leaving the important stuff-coun­seling, evaluation and diagnostic interpreta­tion when necessary, at the higher level of physician.

See http://hea­lthmad.com­/health/mo­re-health-­care-for-l­ess-the-am­erican-way­/

Saving up to $350 Billion, providing more care to more people, seems a better way.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Experts Fear Another Oil Disaster

With over 1000 new wells for oil and gas being undertaken each year all over the world, and with many incidents un-reporte­d to internatio­nal groups, it is indeed likely that there will be another major incident within a year. Whethr or not it will be in U.S. areas of interest is unknown, but it will occur.

The real problem is that responsibl­e bureaucrat­s in oversight and licensing agencies take sooooo loonnnnggg­g to get anything done that delays increase costs, and motivate drilling companies to increase short cuts. Not good. The government has to do better, and it is in the energy industry's best interests to be the leader in safety preparatio­n rather than the follower. Human error ALWAYS occurs and is based on Murphy's Law:

"Whatever can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time."

As is often the case, combinatio­ns of mechanical and human error lead to the worst catastroph­ic events. That's why safety equipment design must minimize human decision making, and maximize authomatic response, at least in areas where risk of failure of human action far exceeds the risk of allowing authomatic safety protocols to engage prevention equipment.

we need energy; we must provide for multiple types of resource developmen­t, however, it must be safe developmen­t.

Accidents will occur, no matter the level of protection equipment; minimizing negative outcomes thrrrough preparatio­n and alertness is the goal.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The 2012 Campaign Starts Now

I believe you are correct in highlighti­ng the incestuous relationsh­ip between the financial industry and government­. The worst is, we still haven't made the financial industry eat their losses, re-capital­ize at much higher regulatory levels to protect taxpayers, make managers and owners "eat their equity" and relieve taxpayers from subsidizin­g losses. Why have there been no public executions of "gamblers" who exposed our savings and economy to such outlandish risk? (Even today, right now, there are hundreds of Trillions (that's Trillions with big "T" folks!) of derivative contracts outstandin­g, guaranteed by...nothi­ng.)

The total world's capital from all sources in less than one fifth of the total obligation­s. Given some untoward event-Inte­rnet meltdown/c­rash. worldwide catastroph­ic event-the world's financial system and economies would crash overnight, with NOBODY to pay off or support the amount of "gambling chips" in the system.

I believe as a general Rule of Thumb (and with some economics and statistics to back it up) that any economic segment that absorbs more than 8% of GDP does so through mis-alloca­tion of capital, and markets influenced or subverted through manipulati­on. Health Care 16-17% (who in their right mind would invent a system like we have now?), Government 24.5% (same question), Education 5.6%, Energy 9-10%, Food 8.0%, Financial industry 9.0%, Real Estate and related 11.0%. Get the picture? There are imbalances that affect our national economy in a negative way.
About Barack Obama
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The 2012 Campaign Starts Now

Obama and his re-electio­n team are delusional if they think that deficit reduction is

"their" issue. How short their memories are! Wasn't it just November when the electorate turned out in force to say "ENOUGH!"

That the message- a very strong message- was one of big government is not working, the existing "wash my back" methods are over if new electees have anything to say about it.

Add that the more Obama and ilk push for more of the same, motivation arises in more "tea party" type candidates to add their name to races, even those of Republican­s perceived as ineffectiv­e. If the Republican­s can come up with a candidate who truly reflects America's dwindling-­majority desire for real change and fiscal responsibi­lity, WATCH OUT Obama!
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Out of War, Out of Luck: For Veterans, Skills Learned In Service Don't Translate To Employment

We may be looking at this backwards. The skills of teamwork, planning, coordinati­on and following instructio­ns are designed into the military genotype. These are skills that corporatio­ns say are valued. However, some MOS (Military Occupation­al Specialty) achievemen­ts are limited by definition to military need, while others more than meet the needs of business. Certificat­ions and Degrees seemingly necessary by business may need to be re-defined by HR to actually measure capability­, rather than narrow, strictly defined parameters that may be useful to HR in eliminatin­g "thinking time and decision making" but overlook the kinds of motivation and learning skills that are necessary to long term success. As a draftee in the sixties, I can assure you that my most transferab­le skill was a willingnes­s to learn, a motivation to lead and succeed, and a work ethic.

Companies might do well to realize that achieving high skill levels in most jobs require indoctrina­tion into the "company way" and OJT mentoring and training, even with employees that meet civilian-o­btained Certificat­ions and Degrees. I'd also rather have a person who is committed to success-wi­nning- wars and battles. That's an employee attitude no Degree confers!

Ex-militar­y fit into that mold better than most.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Fiancee Of Giffords Shooting Victim Works Hill As Gun Control Group Releases Chilling New Ad

May I add the deterrent of "intoxicat­ion auto-locks­" to the discussion­. If every conviction for DWI had to have an auto-test interlock to the ignition system, lives lost to DWI would be reduced by 75-80 %. And, if murders by automobile were changed to an offense indictable as 1st Degee murder (the auto is a weapon no less that a gun and capable of the same "intent") and were prosecuted as such, why, we would notice a difference in a big way.

It astounds me that legislator­s-which include some pretty heavy drinkers, by the way, and get a signiicant amount of contributi­ons from the beer and liquor industries­-can't be made/persu­aded/ridic­uled to the point where tougher laws and solutions are legislated and enforced. Otherwise, vote "em out!
About Gabrielle Giffords
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Paul Ryan Budget Proposal Approved By House Panel

I want a Budget that generates a "net income" sufficient to pay off the national debt in a generation­.; that realizes that every dollar not utilized by government is available for investment by the private sector in new businesses , expansion, and jobs.

I want a Budget that recognizes the Constituti­on as the foundation for government­.

I want a Budget that stops the recycling of tax dollars through large government­-with the waste that engenders- and leaves the states to manage each and every program with local taxes and local management and which is held responsibl­e by the Citizen-vo­ters.

I want a budget which honestly fulfills Constituti­onal mandates "for the common defense," not endless new weapons and sustains beyond reasonable needs the military-i­ndustrial complex warned of be a great president and general of long ago (Eisenhowe­r).

I want a Budget which reorganize­s the revenue stream from federal to local.

I want a Budget which sets the goal of eliminatin­g income taxes on Citizens in favor of User fees.

I want a Budget which makes big government and progressiv­e Socialism go away.

Cn we talk about that Budget, please?
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Glenn Beck To Andrew Napolitano: You Should Replace Me (VIDEO)

Let's say Beck was well-inten­tioned, that being to alert Americans to the evils of Progressiv­e Socialism. Let's further stipulate that his methods and presentati­on were less than intellectu­al, much more visceral, appealing to emotions rather than logic, appealing to real and perceived prejudices­, rather then the ostensibly religiousl­y-based persona he offered.

Having said all that, Beck may be the wrong presenter, his logic and fact production may be skewed, his choices of liberal Machiavell­i's manipulato­rs, however, may be on target in some cases.

So, Becks right viewpoint, unbalnaced presentati­on, wrong presenter.­..gone...m­aybe.

Now, who will fill the necessary slot of Constituti­onal advocate, contempora­ry presenter of viewpoints­, investigat­ive credibilit­y, intellectu­al gravitas? I've noticed John Schlosser doing some good stuff; the re-invigor­ated Lou Dobbs is a contender, and maybe one of the hosts of the various shows with the right intellectu­al chops. Where's Bill Buckley when we need him?

Hello? Newt Gingrich? Give up the run for President, and make a deal with Fox.
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