Beck on Global Warming

Just blow up the sun?

Glenn Beck and NewsBusters Expose Global Warming Bullies

In a nutshell Glenn Beck (a nut himself who is paranoid of acorns) exposes the global warming hoax. Be warned, this clown is not all there, nor are the millions of Americans who regularly tune into his show.

Beck is adroit at positing misinformation and peddling fear. Therefore he certainly deserves to be on the foilist list. Welcome Glenn Beck.

Just a pose

juxtapose |ˈjəkstəˌpōz; ˌjəkstəˈpōz|verb [ trans. ]place or deal with close together for contrasting effect : video of police violence from two different regimes and locations were starkly juxtaposed with images of everyday people being beaten and rounded up because they were protesting for change.

The commonality in these scenes is uncomfortably striking. Honestly, how different are these two regimes, really?

Climate campaigners clash with Copenhagen police

Iran Uprising 5 Nothing to Lose but The Chains

Avatar - the movie

I didn't expect this flick to be as good as it was. It blue me away.

If you haven't seen it do yourself a favour and watch the 3D version. It is wild!

Somewhere amid Marines's hyper machoesterone and yanks running the universe (again) is a compelling story that reminds us of the real woe still being inflicted on aboriginal communities and rich ecosystems the world over. I could not help but equate the film's narrative to that of the American Indians, so strong were the allusions. While the Navi's survived against all odds the Indians did not fare so well. Undoubtedly, the aboriginal people are a wroughten people and it is inconceivable that they could or will ever prevail over their conqueror.

In fairness, it seems to me all civilisations eventually perish by means of state-of-the-art swordery, and of course by the sheer madness of greed.

No civilisation yet has proven everlasting. I'm not sure what message will be taken from this film. Either it is survival of the greediest or pure heroics that will take the day. I know which world I would rather live in and which one I will live and probably die for despite my impression that nothing in the same state lasts forever. Perhaps change is all there is and was and all we can hope for.

Quite seriously, how are we ever going to end these bastards?

Hindsight Wisdom from Frank Rich (NYT)

When will we ever learn that greed is the killer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/opinion/20rich.html?emc=eta1

Frank Rich: "only a few years after Enron's very public and extensively dissected crimes, the same bankers, federal regulatory agencies and securities-rating companies were giving toxic "assets" a pass. We were only too eager to go along for the lucrative ride until it crashed"

Frank Rich 2008

Copenhagen Disaccord: Sin, Spin, and Pin (the blame)

In a scene reminiscent of Star Wars's Galactic Senate, our nations leaders fecklessly wavered when they were obliged to stand up and get on with the job.

Possibly, this was the job, the one that really mattered if human existence counts in any sense of the word. Alas no saviour, not a Jedi in sight. Even Senator Palpatine was nowhere to be seen.

If truth be told the result was a foregone conclusion. I feel justified in my cynicism. It had all the touch of pre-planned sabotage. Of course from the start there were impending signs that significant results were going to be difficult to attain with such controversies as the stolen emails from the British scientists scandal and the Danish leaked document. In short the discrediting bodies had some negative influence, however, when it came to it nothing stood shorter than the organisers and politicians themselves.

What happened to the spectacle ending? We watched dumbfounded as our leaders cut tail. Capitulation was not supposed to happen. The powerful nations did not follow the Hollywood script. They were supposed to overcome their selfishness, rally and break a last minute deal for the sick planet, but instead we got a 2-3 pages of... well, I can't even think of it without spewing. This has to be the lamest act in history.

Am I saying without intervention millions, possibly billions of human beings will die? Yes, most certainly. Is earthgeno-suicide really inevitable now?

Depending on which media outlet one reads the spin game is on. While some like our Climate Change minister, Penny Wong, they have to do more than criticise other nations like the United States and China. That kind of displaced energy is counterproductive. Australia needs to take a good hard look at its own shambling policy measures. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/extreme-views-of-some-nations-cannot-derail-copenhagen-wong-20091220-l778.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/19/copenhagen-closes-weak-deal

I am so depressed by what happened at this Copenhagen conference. Mary MacKillop can you save us? Our leaders are not saints and can not produce miracles.

Desperate. But not desperate enough to believe in chimeras.

Waiting for the big announcement.

More grind directed at the Wank Bank

A fine summation from Ross Gittens.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/a-fiveletter-word-for-banks-rush-to-fatten-profitability-20091208-khh3.html

Ross Gittens: "They were doing fine - even before they put through their extra rate rises. They did it not to keep their profitability, but to fatten it."

Mark my words the share price for Westpac will go up!

Banks still could be part of the solution. However, I'm not holding my breath.

Now where am I going with this?

I've reached the point there is nothing more to gain by whinging about Westpac's pleonexia. In a few days, as they know, they will be off the front page. The public and media will tire of vitriolic condemnations and return to their well worn head-holes in the sand. See no evil, hear no evil, basic apathy one can wager on. I'm confident the revolution is not going to happen this year 09. Be assured that nothing will change soon, certainly not from the governments perspective, at any rate.

Now that I have gotten banks off my chest it is time to go where I should have gone to from the beginning. I firmly believe the most important challenge we will face in our lifetime concerns the environment and our duty to stop our wasteful consumption and save the earth from ruination. So from this point forward I will concentrate on the Copenhagen talks and the global discourse on environment.

P.S. Don't worry banks will still be on the radar screen.

Banana Smoothies and Banana Bank Westpac

A beautiful bunch a' ripe banana

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Hide the deadly black tarantula

Daylight come and me wan' go home

- stanza from The Banana Boat Song, (Day-O)

Imagine, Harry Belafonte crooning this song with a blender grinding loudly in the background. At one point you are going to scream, "Stop, this racket is driving me crazy!"

One can only marvel at Westpac's latest unusual approach to serving the customer. With all due respect the jig is up, the daylight came and went days ago, and its now time to troddle home before that lurking tarantula turns into Sideshow Bob doing banana splits.

Unfortunately, I can't post the banana smoothie clip Westpac sent its customers. Hopefully you can still find it on this link.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/westpac-goes-bananas-with-email-on-rationale-behind-rate-rise-20091208-khog.html?autostart=1

Confused? I should get to the point.

Basically, Westpac sent an email with a clip/cartoon to their customers. It should have been titled Mortgages for Dummies.

The cartoon condescendingly explains how raising mortgage interest rates are like making smoothies from banana crops that have suffered damage from a severe storm. More expensive bananas translates into more expensive costs (ie. money), and since banks make money from virtually thin air (from other banks that borrow from other banks that keep a similar piddle of hard currency in their vaults) they are vulnerable to money that costs more to borrow. The dark clouds of competition frighten them that they will become bankrupt, but worse they feel for their customers who would suffer even greater harm should the banks be unable to turn over aberrant profit$. In other words without a tight-ass bank the dream of owning property is at risk.

Doesn't raising the interest rate, in fact, make it more difficult for clients to live day-0 and keep making their mortgage payments. How are average folk going to get a pay increase when banks are withholding credit to businesses, for example? Do workers overcome this by taking on additional stress, toiling longer hours or working more jobs? In the end people risk losing more than petty assets. What about health and happiness? Are these not important values? Frankly, is anything worth being a slave for? Is it just me, isn't there something perverse in their logic? Let's be honest, are there no other options? C'mon.

They are really something this bank. The more they try to justify their decision to gouge the customer the worse they appear. This business is now in the realm of silliness. The Sydney Morning Herald is like a pitbull on Westpac. I can't wait for tomorrow's news headline.

Be scared of the deadly black tarantula. It makes a mean banana smoothie.

Angst to Action

When banks turns the screws tighter the expected response from the serfs is to take it stoically by stuffing a rag in the mouth and biting down hard. There is little recourse but to submit to the inflicted pain. Extrication is not one of the options. When you're screwed you're really screwed.

In following the Westpac saga it is with some incredulity we find angst moving toward action, albeit more a ripple than a wave. Nonetheless we shall admire it for what it is worth.

Statement:

At Westpac sustainability means 'doing the right thing'. It's our short-hand for what is complex, values-based agenda focused on doing the right thing for our customers, our employees, our shareholders, our communities and our business.

The Westpac bank utilises community dialogue to determine how they deal with 'material issues,' for their stakeholders (shareholders). I am not sure what 'material issues' mean. It is code for something.

A number of agencies make up Westpac's Community Consultative Council. This council provides community feedback so that Westpac can determine its priorities for its stakeholders. The Council is an integral element of their Stakeholder Engagement Framework.

In response to the latest furor over doubling the interest rates Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Finance Sector Union and Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) resigned from Westpac's Community Consultative Council. I checked Westpac's list and did not see these agencies posted there. I presume they have already been removed from the web page.

Further, Graeme Samuel, the head for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, announced that he is considering withdrawing support for Westpac's takeover of St. George Bank.

The sabers clash. Who's to say if any serious action will come from this. What is significant though is that community outrage is being taken one step further than being simply expressed .

http://www.smh.com.au/business/walkouts-over-westpac-rate-rises-20091206-kcuy.html

"Westpac is disappointed," said a spokesman, David Lording. "But we respect that sometimes opinions diverge."

So how does Westpac Respond?

Spin, baby spin. Its all the global financial crisis's fault! Wow! how convenient. It's the universal answer guaranteed to be indefensible. It works too. How many times have I heard Wayne Swan use it? As a defence it has lost credibility.

"Westpac tries a new twist on rate rise"

http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/westpac-tries-new-twist-on-rate-rise-20091207-kfbs.html

Adele Fergusen: Are we living in a parallel universe?

Also, check out the comments section. There are plenty of satisfied bank sympathisers registering their support for Westpac. So what's the problem with the rest of us?

Gail Kelly, CEO of Westpac

This little piggy wants more... More!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/03/bankers-executive-pay-bonuses-criticised

"As tensions escalated between the banks and Whitehall, ministers condemned the industry for paying huge bonuses at a time when the economy was still in recession and the taxpayer had committed more than £100bn to prevent banks from collapsing."

It's a bit hypocritical coming from those ministers who recently were humiliated over their own peccadilloes, but nonetheless reassuring to have on side, today, in these trying times.

But what about tomorrow? Ah, that's the £100bn question...

Fun and Games

Something happened this week which doesn't happen very often. And no, it wasn't the news about another celebrity sportsman falling from grace. It was something else even more amazing.

A few days ago I mentioned that Westpac had raised its standard variable rate double the cash interest rate the RBA had passed on to them. It seems the other banks were more cautious about following Westpac's lead so soon after. They decided to wait and see how Westpac would fare from the backlash, which was sure to emanate via the media and those most unfortunate patrons who still have business with them. Of course the question begs, why did the other banks hold off? And as it looks today, why did they decide not to follow suit?

We have all seen that gesture when someone winks and taps their nose with their finger to denote they are withholding information. Well actually, everyone knows that collusion is happening, but nobody talks about it, unless they are recklessly fearless or an impotent small fry not worth dusting off. It's an unspoken rule we all get, don't we? What Elephant?

Picking a fight with oil companies over outrageous, unqualified holiday petrol price increases, for example, is a futile exercise. When one jumps they all jump. They have perfected the art of disguising collusive behaviour.

Anyway, we all expect if one major bank makes a move then the others will follow. Not to be too conspicuous banks take turns being the leader. They think we do not know (nudge, nudge, wink). The way they normally work is through some tacit agreement (stringently denied by the banks of course) that involves one bank sticking its neck out and advancing something sure to ire people and businesses.

What was unusual this time around was the National Australia Bank (NAB) actually bucked this time honoured trend. How Westpac feels about this traitorous act is probably the reason they are pretty much silent. It will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Whether we believe it or not banks are sensitive to public scrutiny. Shamed and pressed, they can accommodate change. They do manage to recoup their losses in other ways, however, so don't fret too much for them. They are resilient in this regard. You can bet your mother's life that they will never put people over profits.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/commbank-takes-middle-ground-on-rates-20091204-k9x1.html

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/westpac-executives-are-jumpy-20091202-k6fo.html

Peter Martin: "It's called, "the mating call of banks.""

http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/the-day-the-lights-went-out-at-westpac-20091203-k8sb.html

Julian Lee: "Whatever you may think about Westpac's decision to jump ahead of the market, it is guilty of displaying a breathtaking lack of nous when it comes to marketing."

You think?

Double the pleasure

As I was saying earlier about the greed of banks we have this Christmas tiding to uplift us. I am referring to Westpac Bank NSW. Within hours of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raising the official cash rate by 25 points Westpac announced an increase of their standard variable mortgage rate by 50 points. Not bad profit if one can get it. Not very ethical, but there you go.

Of course the bank profusely defended this action, citing continuing cost pressures from wholesale funding markets and the RBA's increase in the cash rate. Naturally, the bank feels regret that they have to take this action. I watched their television spokesman, Bill Evans, this morning fuddle his way through trying to justify the increase. On the ABC radio report the Westpac spokesperson read a statement basically saying that he could not comment on the bank's decision. Duh!

Well there are a number of not happy Jans and Jeffs running around town today crying foul. Of course, the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, can't see the justification for Westpac's reaction. The main banks have made outstanding profits during this supposed economic crisis. The banks received government support in the form of the bank deposit guarantee. Do you think the banks would see it to support the people in these difficult circumstances? Nnnnnope!

I think our government is so beholden to the banks they haven't the nerve to regulate them. We're cooked.

If the shoe fits...

http://www.smh.com.au/business/bank-doubles-rba-increase-to-recoup-costs-20091201-k3ts.html

Westpac's chief executive Gail Kelly: "This is bank bashing, isn't it?"

We're in the money, we're in the money, da da da

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/15/goldman-sachs-record-bonus-pot

http://www.smh.com.au/business/westpac-could-reap-230m-from-early-rate-move-20091202-k6c8.html

We're following the leader, the leader, ... where ever it may go, dadum, dadum

http://www.smh.com.au/business/banks-reap-gains-on-reserve-hike-20091202-k6ba.html

Baccalaureate Address: Lynn Sharp

Something optimistic that I found about the notion of change.

Baccalaureate Address: Lynn Sharp

Do you ever get the feeling.....

The Mission to capture or kill Osama and destroy his organisation was never supposed to be Accomplished!

Bin Laden was within U.S. reach in 2001 says Senate report.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/29/osama-bin-laden-senate-report

Sure, these good ol' boys knew where he was all the time. Makes you wonder don't it? I feel sick. Donald Rumsfeld - a real patriot.

Another perspective

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/11/29/the-irony-of-tora-bora/

The World Wide Story of our age - Bankers Win

The Times Online headline reads "Britain's bankers win double victory on bonuses and charges"

While this news is local to the U.K. this phenomena is veritably international in scope. Where I hail from, Australia, banks are effectively an unelected, unaccountable branch of government. Our feckless elected leaders, as we all are in substantial debt to these lending institutions, are at the mercy of the federal reserve and four major banks. Even better than interest debt they especially like how fees earn tonnes of money for them and they almost always get what they want when they want it. After all the laws were made for these guys. Some really reckless banks could crash but as we have learnt taxpayers can be forced to pick up the tab and then $ome when these captains of capitalism make, how does one say it delicately, errors of judgement. We bow to Wall Street - lest we offend them! Don't take my house away!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/consumer_affairs/article6932637.ece

Britain's bankers received a double boost yesterday as they celebrated a landmark victory over unauthorised overdraft fees and saw off the threat of a crackdown on pay. (more...)

National interest and policy making vs. the banking sector

The idea that banks can be regulated is ludicrous. Does anyone seriously believe our politicians and governments will stand up to them? If there is any doubt about this think how much our Australian government, for example, bends knee to the fossil energy lobbyists. We are in so much debt to banks that it scares me, and to be honest we do not have a strong track record when it comes to making bold decisions for the long term. Let's face it. We really don't like change at all, and that's because on the whole we tend to be a reluctant, apathetic and procrastinatory lot. Change will come whether we like it or not. I'd like to think we could be smart and make the hard choices that inevitably have to be made, preferably sooner than later.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2712070.htm

Professor Ross Garnaut: "I think that Obama and the people closest to him know that that the influence has to be unwound, but Wall Street is taking nothing for granted, it's vesting more heavily in the political process now than ever before, and so you'd be an optimist to think that first best regulatory arrangements will be introduced."

about my negativity

I know that my comments appear cynical. It concerns me somewhat because I do not want to see myself being so negative, but I can not deny feeling this way. I feel despair, utterly.

The more I learn about this world the less I feel. A numbness consumes me. Something stinks in Denmark, I fear. Yes, I'm angry about what I see around me. It has gotten to the stage I need to express my emotions and not keep them repressed.

This blog is my release valve, my therapy, my means of surviving. Getting it out from my system is crucial.

I do not expect anyone to read this. I just want to feel free just one in my life, to say what I really feel before I wither into dust.

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman is a dubious character in U.S. politics. Purportedly, he sides as a Democrat. However, much of his allegiance appears to allied with the Republican party. Without going into specifics the man is arguably a spoiler and plays for both teams. How the Democrat party puts up with his antics is a mystery.

In my opinion his stance on Health Care Reform is duly obstructionist and he is in opposition to well... who really knows? He seems actively determined to scuttle (filibuster) the reform legislation currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. I am convinced he is in the pockets of the health insurance companies. When pressed to explain his reasoning he answers in ambiguities. This man is master of foil, an agent of distraction.

Find below some links which highlight some of my concerns.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/09/01/hadassah_lieberman/index.html

Joe Conason: Hadassah Lieberman worked for a powerhouse lobbying firm. Were her clients' special interests being served by her husband?

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/10/29/joe_lieberman/index.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/08/lieberman-pledges-to-fili_n_349981.html

Joe Lieberman: "If the public option plan is there, as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29kristof.html

Nicholas D. Kristof: "for those members of Congress who are wavering on health reform, listen to John's story." (more...)

New Label - Foilists

Enter the foilist, the proverbial spanner thrown into works whose foremost intent is to subvert, obfuscate, derail, scupper, thwart, baffle, and basically defeat and outwit an opponent. My particular frustration with foilists lies with those who zealously work for crooks.

They are usually lobbyists or representatives of lobbyists such as the self promoting politician whose prime objective is to ensure that dark secretive commercial interests succeeds at the expense of what's best for society as a whole. Unfortunately, immoral actions procured for lucre have many takers.

We often hear words used to foster these lickspittles as being individuals of 'principle' and 'probity.' Indeed much public relations goes into manufacturing them and securing their positions in which they can effectively maintain influence.

Throughout the course of my life I have witnessed many such mercenaries. To me they are traitors to humanity, the vilest among us who have sold out to greed. Their selfish actions are reprehensible. They are the deceiver puppets.

Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform - Part 2

Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform - Part 1

If you want to get a handle on U.S. health care listen to this speech from the new senator from Minnesota.

Al Franken: "from 2000 to 2007... insurance premiums doubled... 6 million more uninsured... insurance companies profit rose 428%... that's all you need to know, that's all you need to know why we have to pass this bill"

Isn't it obvious why insurance companies are lobbying hard to destroy health reform legislation? I admire this guy. He has fortitude.

This little piggy gets roast beef

In these tough economic times U.S. Health Insurance Companies justify a 9% rise in prices for no-name pharmaceutical medicines. Despite their denials it seems they want to send a strong message to Health Reformists who are proposing at least some semblance of coverage for millions of its people. As we know about 30+ million of the poorest U.S. citizens do not have access to quality affordable health care. It certainly makes one wonder about the priorities corporations and some politicians hold when they appear to defend a view that health care should not be extended to those trapped in poverty. The thing that bothers me is the indifferent attitude these pharmaceuticals have taken to those who are struggling financially. They seem to be more concerned about their bottom line than the health of those who need help most.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/business/16drugprices.htm

Ron Rogers: “Price adjustments for our products have no connection to health care reform,” said Ron Rogers, a spokesman for Merck, which raised its prices about 8.9 percent in the last year, according to a stock analyst’s report.... (more)

Piggies

Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives

- lyrics taken from "The Beatles" song, Piggies

It is a sad indictment of human beings, generally speaking, that pigs suffer the reputation of being referred to as a greedy species. From what I have read they are remarkably social and smart animals far undeserving of the acrimony we sometimes impute to them. The humble pig trumps just about any other animal I know when it comes to getting bad press. For example, drippings of gluttony comes to my mind when I hear the word, "swine," and depending on the context, being called a "pig" is similarly unctuous. In my opinion calling even a corrupt police officer a pig is crass and wrong. Indeed, it is most unfavourable to be accused of living in a pigsty rather than a sharksty, spidersty, or snakesty. However one refers to human beings pinning them to a pig is not kosher.

[Forgive me for a tangent] Funnily enough though, this takes me back to a Goodies sketch called Lips, Or Almighty Cod where Tim Brooke-Taylor tried to rile a fish by word-baiting it, "You stupid fish. You are nothing but a fish, you fish!" The extent to which Tim failed to impress Cod with human superiority says more about neurosis as it also does about the fact fish know us to be bores (pun intended). Let's face it one scrapes the bottom of the barrel where pork is concerned. Cannily, even fish know how to cast a deprecating remark.

In some human circles to be addressed as a fat pig or even a simple pig for that matter is tantamount to a call to arms. Greed, covetousness, avarice, rapaciousness, gluttonous, and pleonexia, whatever. When I learn of humans whose noses are well in the trough the rage inside me crackles. I can not, can not stand it, even though I know I will be a hypocrite in pointing fingers. And here, my reader, lies the rub. I know full well my squeals will be flawed. It is just that an itch is one of those things, you know.. Of the scratching part - well, what can I say? Except. I am nothing but a stupid human being, a very stupid human being!