greed

The other day, while researching images of the 9/11 devastation, I came across this image of the entrance of the World Financial Center.

All I could think of while looking at this photograph was "this is what they (Bush, Paulson, Bernanke) are doing to us all over again. Only this time they have no terrorists to blame, just sinister market forces.

My other thought was, and is that capitalism is ultimately violent and destructive.

http://tinyurl.com/2vglxe (Think Progress)
http://tinyurl.com/39zcxa (Democratic Underground)
http://tinyurl.com/3dw8df (Daily Kos)

Despite having withdrawn his nomination just weeks ago to avoid political embarrassment in the Senate, the White House has just recess-appointed SBVT funder and major RNC meal ticket Sam Fox to his previously-rejected post as Ambassador to Belgium.

This is so totally wrong, in so many different ways.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats will be assessing every option -- both legal and within the SFRC itself -- for taking on this recess appointment.

Never before has a withdrawn nominee been recess appointed in this fashion. The White House withdrew Fox's nomination on March 27th, less than an hour before the hearing was to start, admitting later that he did not have the votes to survive.

It’s sad (but not surprising) that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to send a big-money Rethug Party donor to a post in Belgium over the objections of the Senate.

When it comes to getting body armor for our soldiers or relief for New Orleans, they’re AWOL, but they'll move heaven and earth to reward a smear.

This administration has governed on fear and smear for far too long. Today's move shows it is so wedded to the politics of personal character assassination that they are willing to take unprecedented steps to reward Sam Fox with an ambassadorship that he clearly does not deserve.

Oil.

Sometimes it seems like the focal point of all that is disgusting, corrupt, unfair and evil in the world.

Oil profits are a major source of financial support for terrorists. Oil is the number one contributor to our national trade deficit, draining us of money and sending that money to feed the wealth of royal families in Middle Eastern kingdoms where women are second class citizens.

And oil is one of the main driving forces for inflation in our nation today. Rising oil prices feed rising prices for every commodity we buy that isn't produced locally.

Think about how much you spend on oil: gasoline for your car, high transportation prices for almost everything you buy, heating oil...

Think about how much oil is draining from your family's finances.

Then consider this. For the second year in a row, Exxon/Mobil has made record oil proifts. In 2006 Exxon Mobil posted the all time record for the largest annual profit by ANY U.S. company: $39.5 billion. That beat the previous record of $36.13 billion...set in 2005 by, you guessed it, Exxon/Mobil. We are struggling and soldiers are dying for these profits. When we consider Bush's invasion of Iraq, threats against Iran and Venezuela, remember that Exxon/Mobil profits from this instability and fear and that Exxon/Mobil, like most oil companies, overwhelmingly supports Republicans. ALL of the top 20 oil company contribution recepients in 2006 were Republicans. Exxon/Mobil was the top oil company donor to political races in 2006 and donated 89% to the very Republicans driving the foreign policy that is keeping oil prices high on fear and instability.

What is up with these avant-guard artist-wanna be's and the socially aware who constantly complain about our government's lack of charity yet can't spare a dime for a homeless person?

I live pay check to pay check but I seldom turn down a request from someone who asks for money, unless I really just don't have it. But I see this happen all the time. On the subway especially. Commuters discussing the need for change suddenly turn into in-transit Helen Kellers if approached by the homeless. The argument that you don't want to give money because they'll spend it on alcohol or drugs fails miserably. You don't want to give money because you are just as tight-assed as our current administration. Even when you give money to a "proper"---and probably mismanaged---charity, there's no telling how that money will be allocated. I choose not to worry about how a homeless person uses the money. Whether you donate to a charity or give someone cash hand to hand, the money will probably not be used as it was intended, except in the rarest of cases. But the proper charity does give you a tax writer off. Oh, I get it!

Think about living on the streets. I imagine it consists of one goddamn nightmare of violence and pain after the next. Many of us claim to be close to it. So how can you refuse to give assistance, even if it is going to be used for a bit of hallucinogenic or Night Train fueled escape? Hell, take the time to buy someone some food, if it won't make you late for some Lower East Side Happy Hour.