tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84266652420080698822024-03-18T21:53:36.046-07:00Progressive Democrats of Worcester... Improving the GNH - Gross National Happiness - is our aim. We hope all our governments, local to national, conform to human principles, supportive of a living wage in decent jobs, with environmental safegaurds, among many priorities ...Progressive Democrats of Worcesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02703174407212188467noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-26247560215337477522010-09-18T12:08:00.000-07:002010-09-18T12:14:34.147-07:00OK, we won a big victory, as President Obama turns the corner on financial reform and appoints Elizabeth Warren to lead the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (at least at the beginning)!! I can't even begin to express my relief that this is happenning. <br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15054958&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15054958&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15054958">Elizabeth Warren's Greatest Hits</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/moveonofficial">MoveOn.org Official Channel</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><p>Please, every Progressive that helped make this happen, take a bow, pat yourself on the back, and DO NOT STOP. We first need to make Warren's appointment permanent. Then we need a populist uprising at her back to insure the financial oligarchy that captured our government is running for the hills.</p>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-84080862914472361422009-09-11T08:52:00.000-07:002009-09-11T08:57:00.448-07:00Truth<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell"> George Orwell</a></blockquote><br />Doing so is the test of character.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-32451135690358797412009-08-24T11:55:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:59:02.803-07:00Joe gets out & mixes it up on King St.The Stone Soup Block Party had some great moments. Like Joe O'Brien mixing it up with the DJ. Way to go Joe!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y62DlBx94uXBVfdMgAa7DiOPbMmdr9ffS9K9S8ymWDcowq4wzFR2tJWSeDUsGFSJplWAbISC4E9kKXMS8tKWjTaTeiUMY9bzxy5MpY_aHStZ2c7vgUBKNtR4pE67w05NLzJbRsM9fq0/s1600-h/Joe-KingSt.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y62DlBx94uXBVfdMgAa7DiOPbMmdr9ffS9K9S8ymWDcowq4wzFR2tJWSeDUsGFSJplWAbISC4E9kKXMS8tKWjTaTeiUMY9bzxy5MpY_aHStZ2c7vgUBKNtR4pE67w05NLzJbRsM9fq0/s320/Joe-KingSt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373606719038401602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/harrisop/BlockParty09#">See more pics here.</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-38081524175861963262009-08-21T09:45:00.001-07:002009-08-21T09:50:00.204-07:00Dear readersThe Progressive Democrats of Worcester is no longer a chapter of PDAmerica.org. As the point of origin of the name, the blog, discourse and commentary, I claim all copyrights under the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Blog entries that may have been authored by others have been removed. Thanks for understanding.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-52350257149931040852009-08-19T12:18:00.000-07:002009-08-19T13:29:44.779-07:00Barney Frank in Dartmouth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/protests"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 390px; height: 90px;" src="http://obama.3cdn.net/d976bdb8ff28b3ec67_t5m6bx66w.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl_B-wk2_5P296Z8sYJ7mlBZHWVs2dkNc-dk7N2MVQ779_UOBNatogxXCGjZ4Phfbbdgo4k7sZK3yX3ZQUkqO890kuBlqmuDIpJbgFjBINAl0SqItsHKeC20BJeikdSBj5Nms8qjoGKY/s1600-h/Obama-Nazi.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 171px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl_B-wk2_5P296Z8sYJ7mlBZHWVs2dkNc-dk7N2MVQ779_UOBNatogxXCGjZ4Phfbbdgo4k7sZK3yX3ZQUkqO890kuBlqmuDIpJbgFjBINAl0SqItsHKeC20BJeikdSBj5Nms8qjoGKY/s200/Obama-Nazi.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371761639962245218" /></a><br />A few of us here in PDW drove down to Darmouth August 18th, to participate in the Town Hall meeting called by Congressman Barney Frank. Well worth the drive. While I love our Congressman, he just doesn't have the "ethnic heritage" for such chutzpah. Hoorah, Barney, way to go!<br /><br />"Ma’am, having a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table, I have no interest in doing it."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nYlZiWK2Iy8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nYlZiWK2Iy8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">See more rubutal at: <br> <a href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/protests">http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/protests</a></span><br /><br />On a more serious note, I had the opportunity to ask Barney about ACES and the derivatives market that will emerge from its enactment. Quote "we will regulate this derivatives market to insure safe passage of ACES." The future of the world is in your hands, Barney. Thanks for caring.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-8450486267907764132009-08-18T10:28:00.000-07:002009-08-18T11:16:27.179-07:00Colbert challenge to the Nation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/246941/august-17-2009/bill-mckibben"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq42zOImSf_BhJGcvt5idPJ6GBxpibZdkADIn1SUGXcYb4YkUNX2XGebup7QVYbyE20c3BT4MGpYi_WlmSsYYgnYGgmucFBIHp3qxDTTism-HJ1tCGIAAN3QaaVsCpHyocSj9_-urfCIk/s320/McKibben-Colbert-17Aug09.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371360183906204354" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Colbert to the Nation: "People all over the world, when you wake up in the morning, set your oven to 350 and leave it on all day long!" <a href="http://350.org">October 24th <br> International Day of Climate Action</a></span><br /><br /><p>The reference article mentioned is "<span style="font-style:italic;">Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?</span>" by James Hansen et al.; ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE J. 217, 217-18 (2008); <a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/legislating_for_a_new_climate/pdfs/co2_where_should_humanity_aim.pdf"><span style="font-weight:bold;underline">found here</span></a> </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1LvPLQ4HgnLdJEZtdZkCLK7WX3PFWQOHnuyhLTu-TvMH6krRHzlCUeBM8AIUHki2FrWN-BG3P1RWg6mdAV1ZA-T4P57C2ZxOd31JLyXlP2Yaem2GvToes-akttA57wpL3_Fl3YCirbM/s1600-h/350ClimateCrunch.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1LvPLQ4HgnLdJEZtdZkCLK7WX3PFWQOHnuyhLTu-TvMH6krRHzlCUeBM8AIUHki2FrWN-BG3P1RWg6mdAV1ZA-T4P57C2ZxOd31JLyXlP2Yaem2GvToes-akttA57wpL3_Fl3YCirbM/s400/350ClimateCrunch.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371364809326401762" /></a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-67783219493706625662009-08-09T12:15:00.000-07:002009-08-09T12:32:11.479-07:00Kunstler on progressive politicsShould be no suprise to anyone that I espouse the peak oil thesis of why we have economic troubles, and will have for some time to come. Hence, I'm a bit of fan of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Howard_Kunstler">James Howard Kunstler</a>, and hope he succeeds waking up America.<br /><br /><blockquote>In circles that pass for “progressive” these days, the natives are getting restless. Their agitation seems pretty inchoate for the moment — still resting on vague, poorly-defined wishes for “change.” These vague promptings need to be focused on specific action that is realistic within the context of comprehensive contraction and transformation. A big piece of this would be the recognition that our suburban sprawl economy is dying, and that we now have to bend our efforts to reorganizing American life on the most fundamental physical terms. We have to inhabit the landscape differently, move around it differently, generate food out of it differently, and make things on it again. Whatever remaining real capital there is in the system can’t be squandered on cash bonuses for Wall Street employees. (<a href="http://www.agorafinancial.com/afrude/2009/07/28/wobble-time/">see post</a>)</blockquote><br /><br />Any progressive politics (as this blog presumes) must be based on a likely vision of the future. Rebuilding a plausible economic future for Worcester means dealing with peak oil reality, a sustainable energy future using the means we have now, like wind & solar, and a relocalization of all the essential goods and services on which society depends. I've posted before on <a href="http://smallisbeautiful.org/">Small is Beautiful </a> and its corollary, <a href="http://www.relocalize.net/">Relocalize Now.</a><br /><br />The next Mayor and City Council of Worcester need to adopt a new vocabulary. Don't trust any candidate for pubic office who doesn't know what it means to relocalize or prepare for a sustainable future. Building another cog for the global economy will only waste precious time in preparing for the emergent reality. Joe, hope you're listenning.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-57652873597625559812009-08-05T09:30:00.000-07:002009-08-05T10:24:38.612-07:00The Quisling GreenWell then... a different moment, hopefully. Some PDW members are keeping the art & science of <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisling">Quisling</a></span> alive & well. <br /><br />The District 4 race for City Council, between Grace Ross and Barbara Haller, will be most interesting - that's a good thing. City Council will be well served by an airing of the various issues. As a maker of the Green Amendment at the DSC (extensively blogged here), I'd like to see a fair & balanced debate between the two on the role of the City in addressing the significant challenges of Climate Change. We'll have plenty to say about this, so stay tuned. I know and respect both Grace and Barbara - they're good people and true public servants.<br /><br />For those members of PDW that are avid supports of Grace Ross - that is not license to hijack this organization for your own purposes, especially when that subverts our Chapter Rules and the democratic process in our own organization. Its grounds for removal. We now have a no tollerance policy for quisling the chapter for political purposes not of our own making.<br /><br />PDW is a chapter of PDA, <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee">a PAC</a></span> for the Democratic Party. We don't hand out endorsements to those who are not recognized members of our party, period. Barbara is a long-time, hard working member of the Democratic Party. Grace is an independent, formerly a member of the Green Party. <br /><br />As a progressive, I have myself vasilated between the green and blue lines. I love the Greens, but also feel that our best chance of overcoming our nation's many deficiencies is by "a progressive reform of the democratic party." Such is my commitment, and hopefully yours.<br /><br />Please respect our boundaries as an organization. Thank you! Regards.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-61856386403409392152009-07-26T07:24:00.000-07:002009-07-26T08:33:34.247-07:00Obama Pattern Language PrimerI first read Christopher Alexander's "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language">A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction</a>" in the late seventies. Having grown up in the sixties, and after my early experiements in community, College and Graduate School, I wanted something real with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age">new age</a> sensibility. Rather than join a commune, I wanted to build one along with others of like mind. We bought 110 acres of beutiful Texas <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=walburg,+texas&sll=42.297151,-71.839344&sspn=0.096499,0.233116&ie=UTF8&ll=30.727339,-97.547779&spn=0.007009,0.01457&t=h&z=16">farmland north of Austin</a> and all read this well conceived guide to building "as if people mattered." Like all such experiements, it was local zoning and building codes that ruined us, and we eventually sold the farm to a local farmer who wanted nothing more than to farm.<br /><br />That book stayed with me, however, and served as guide to all built things, from houses to cities. Stephen Rose recently posted the following series at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">Huffingtonpost.com</a>, a primer for President Obama. Alexander talks about a "timeless language" and so, now, that is needed as guide on rebuilding our entire world, not only as if people mattered, but all of life. <br /><blockquote>Getting people to understand this alternative to metrosprawl is a Promethean task. Getting the Obama administration to understand why this widely ignored and buried thinking is the essential missing link in all the talk of “economic” recovery is utterly necessary if we are to have change that will actually work for everyone.</blockquote><br />See the brief at <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/pattern-language/">http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/pattern-language/</a> and then read in sequence:<br /><a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/obama-pattern-language-primer-1/">Part One</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/obama-pattern-language-primer-2/">Part Two</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/obama-pattern-language-primer-3/">Part Three</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/obama-pattern-language-primer-4/">Part Four</a>,, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/obama-pattern-language-primer-5/">Part Five</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/obama-pattern-language-primer-6/">Part Six</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/obama-pattern-language-primer-7/">Part Seven</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/obama-pattern-language-primer-8/">Part Eight</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/obama-pattern-language-primer-9/">Part Nine</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/obama-pattern-language-primer-10/">Part Ten</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/obama-pattern-language-primer-11/">Part Eleven</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/obama-pattern-language-primer-12/">Part Twelve</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/obama-pattern-language-primer-13/">Part Thirteen</a>, <a href="http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/obama-pattern-language-primer-14/">Part Fourteen</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-15544858066167731172009-07-16T15:26:00.000-07:002009-07-17T07:22:53.473-07:00Joe O'Brien announces he's entering the race for MayorCheck out his post at <a href="http://joeobrienformayor.blogspot.com/">http://joeobrienformayor.blogspot.com/</a>. Joe I'm sure will invigorate the race for Mayor and provide some much needed contrast on the issues facing the city. Good luck, Joe.<br /><br />Speaking about the upcoming election, seems we're going to have a crowded field again, making the job of the electorate (that's us) all that more difficult. Check out the Worcester CEO project at <a href="http://worcesterceo.wordpress.com/">http://worcesterceo.wordpress.com/</a> - Coalition for Educated Options, to "help empower the electorate" and "reverse the decline in civic participation." They want to act as a community broker for questions of the candidates, and are making that easy to do. <br /><br />I've got one question that will put the candidates to a real test. Question: How has the City used ARRA funding to create jobs here in the City? Please be specific and include examples. How would you have used the funds differently?Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-83312626695343023502009-07-12T09:17:00.001-07:002009-07-12T09:21:18.367-07:00A New EconomyI recommend reading Robert Reich's blog, frequently. He's a former secretary of labor, tenured academic economist, and well regarding author. He blogs at <a href="http://robertreich.blogspot.com/">http://robertreich.blogspot.com/</a>. Why? Because we all need some serious new guidance on the economy, and the actions we must take to survive (forget about thriving.) Reich is, along with past recommendations to look at the work of The E.F.Shumacher Society (<a href="http://smallisbeautiful.org/">http://smallisbeautiful.org/</a>), what we must understand as a Guru on economics ("as if people mattered".) <br /><blockquote>My prediction, then? Not a V, not a U. But an X. This economy can't get back on track because the track we were on for years -- featuring flat or declining median wages, mounting consumer debt, and widening insecurity, not to mention increasing carbon in the atmosphere -- simply cannot be sustained.<br /><br />The X marks a brand new track -- a new economy. What will it look like? Nobody knows. All we know is the current economy can't "recover" because it can't go back to where it was before the crash. So instead of asking when the recovery will start, we should be asking when and how the new economy will begin. More on this to come.</blockquote><br />So, in a nutshell, the economy we grew up with is gonzo and there's nothing, yet, to replace it. Fortunately, "we the people" are, and always have been, in control of the emergent economy. That's by virtue of our choices, of what to buy and do to make our wages. That, of course is what ACES is all about ... see below. ACES, as it happened, must be considered more a green jobs bill than a Global Warming Solutions Act. It is in essence, what Krugman and others are calling for, as a "second stimulus" package. It is much more specific, however, in where the money goes.<br /><br />ARRA was more about immediate recovery, getting the money out quickly, mostly to preserve state & local government ability to retain its local labor force. ACES, on the other hand, is more about the right recovery, no matter how long it takes. Money for cleantech and the new economy that Van Jones has consistently called for. In case you hadn't noticed, Van Jones got what he asked for in ACES, so did Congressman McGovern (as follows). <br /><br />So, you ask, ACES was a good thing? Well, no. Because it was really supposed to be a national Global Warming Solutions Act, meaning a significant lowering of CO2 emissions. It won't do that in time, and we'll likely pass the climate tipping point, and end with catastrophic climate change. Start building those life boats.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-8327915039628391442009-07-04T08:57:00.000-07:002009-07-04T09:28:58.662-07:00Congressman McGovern on ACES June 26thCongressman McGovern provided support in the Rules Committee for passage in the House of the American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009. It is important for those of us working for a Senate version which is more likely of averting catastrophic climate change, to understand why:<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://metavid.org/w/js2/mwEmbed/mv_embed.js"></script><video roe="http://metavid.org/w/index.php?title=Special:MvExportStream&stream_name=House_proceeding_06-26-09&t=0:40:28/0:43:09&feed_format=roe" ></video><br /><br />The article mentioned by Ken Hackett, Ppresident of Catholic Relief Services, can be found here:<br /><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090529/OPINION01/905290341/1036/Opinion">Combat hunger by investing in agricultural development</a><br /><br />Some key points:<br /><ul><br /> <li>as the co-chair of the congressional hunger caucus, is particularly concerned with the impacts of climate change upon the hungriest in the world</li><br /> <li>portion of the allowances to international adaptation financing, funding to help poor save their farm lands, sources of water and homes</li><br /> <li>funding for domestic and international adaptation in clean technology transfer - will spur a boom in jobs, such as irrigation technology, can create jobs here while solving problems abroad</li> <br /> <li>will be investing in sustainable agriculture culture and practices </li><br /> <li>a moral imperative to be good stewards of this earth</li><br /> <li>as we look toward the negotiations in copenhagen, the world is looking for leadership from the united states for global solutions - devoting portions of a cap and trade system to adaptation to those countries' most vulnerable is a sign that the u.s. can and will combat climate change</li><br /></ul>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-43661483800246381032009-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:002009-06-25T08:31:37.933-07:00Vote NO on the The American Clean Energy & Security Act (H.R. 2454)Open Letter to<br />The Honorable James P McGovern<br />Third District Massachusetts<br />Re: Vote NO on the The American Clean Energy & Security Act (H.R. 2454)<br /><br />Dear Congressman,<br /><br />The American Clean Energy & Security Act (ACES) will soon come before Congress for a vote. The Progressive Democrats of Worcester commend the tremendous work of Chairmen Waxman and Markey and other members of Congress for their efforts authoring a bill that conforms to scientifically-based long-term emission reduction targets. It is historic legislation. <br /><br />At least it started that way. In its passage to the full Congress it has become so weakened as to be counter-productive. We're better off without it and encourage your NO vote, until such a time as the bill has been sufficiently strengthened.<br /><br />The science demands it. Just published and released by the White House is "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States." Think of this as the US version of the IPCC Assessments, with all our various science bureau's involved in its draft. Please read, at least parts, like the executive summary (see a few quotes below). The question for all of is, does ACES come anywhere near to meeting the demands of our scientific community? Sadly, no.<br /><br />While the long-term target of reducing emissions 83% below 2005 levels by 2050 is of the order demanded by science, the interim target of 17% reductions by 2020 is not enough. Moreover, these targets are further weakened by carbon offsets provisions in the bill. <br /><br />ACES aims for greenhouse gas reduction targets that are at best 20 times weaker than a 450 parts-per-million stabilization target, which itself only gives us a 50/50 shot for avoiding catastrophic global warming! <br /><br />Recognizing this, we the Progressive delegates to the Massachusetts state convention, successfully amended language in our Platform:<br />"Promoting those strategies which will quickly stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide at a maximum of 350 ppm and protect against further climate change, in accord with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."<br />The 350 ppm target improves our odds of averting catastrophic climate change. This is our platform, there to guide you, Congressman Markey and members of the Massachusetts delegation.<br /><br />Furthermore, While ACES does have a renewable electricity standard (RES), it is presently too low to drive needed investments in clean energy development and deployment. We need those millions of green collar jobs, to create sustainable, healthy, vibrant, local and resilient low-carbon economies. Anything less is unacceptable.<br /><br />The Supreme Court also recently ruled that EPA can regulate CO2 emissions, and EPA has found that CO2 emissions are in fact a threat to public health. ACES in its present form would take away EPA's authority to regulate point-sources of global warming pollution, including power plants. This is most certainly not in the interest of Massachusetts, whose legal team brought the original suite against the EPA.<br /><br />We don't understand how Congressman Markey could have allowed his bill to become so weakened. ACES needs to be referred back to committee, with a mandate to correct whats wrong with it, from the perspective of climate scientists. Please come up with a real climate solution that:<br /> 1. Cuts greenhouse gas pollution quickly to return to a safe level - below 350 parts-per-million.<br /> 2. Includes, as part of the emissions-reduction measures, a switch to 100% renewable electricity in 10 years.<br /> 3. Preserves the ability of the Clean Air Act to set scientifically-based pollution standards.<br /> 4. Does not allow unreliable, fraud-prone offsets in place of real emission reductions.<br /> 5. Phases out coal, and prohibits the use/extraction of tar sand and oil shale -- all the worst culprits of global warming.<br /><br />Warm regards.<br />Progressive Democrats of Worcester<br />______<br />A few quotes from "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States", Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Thomas C. Peterson; 2009<br /> <a href="http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts">http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts</a><br /><br /> * Observations show that warming of the climate is unequivocal. The global warming observed over the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases. These emissions come mainly from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), with important contributions from the clearing of forests, agricultural practices, and other activities.<br /> * Warming over this century is projected to be considerably greater than over the last century. The global average temperature since 1900 has risen by about 1.5 F. By 2100, it is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5 F. The U.S. average temperature has risen by a comparable amount and is very likely to rise more than the global average over this century, with some variation from place to place. Several factors will determine future temperature increases. Increases at the lower end of this range are more likely if global heat-trapping gas emissions are cut substantially. If emissions continue to rise at or near current rates, temperature increases are more likely to be near the upper end of the range.<br /> * Society and ecosystems can adjust to some climatic changes, but this takes time. The projected rapid rate and large amount of climate change over this century will challenge the ability of society and natural systems to adapt. For example, it is difficult and expensive to alter or replace infrastructure designed to last for decades (such as buildings, bridges, roads, airports, reservoirs, and ports) in response to continuous and/or abrupt climate change.<br /> * Impacts are expected to become increasingly severe for more people and places as the amount of warming increases. Rapid rates of warming would lead to particularly large impacts on natural ecosystems and the benefits they provide to humanity. Some of the impacts of climate change will be irreversible, such as species extinctions and coastal land lost to rising seas.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-8510212009458607782009-06-15T15:49:00.000-07:002009-06-15T15:53:19.858-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/images/events/climatecampg20/russell_010409_060-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 430px; height: 296px;" src="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/images/events/climatecampg20/russell_010409_060-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />From an excellent article at <a href="http://campfire.theoildrum.com/node/5473">http://campfire.theoildrum.com/node/5473</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-50480799778281922342009-06-10T06:53:00.000-07:002009-06-10T07:00:17.605-07:00Peter Schiff for Senate in CT, replacing DoddPeter Schiff announced his run for the US Senate, replacing Chris Dodd, on the Jon Stewart show. Peter is known as an economists who predicted the current financial crisis, and its exact causes. His remedy for the crisis aligns well with Paul Krugman, Simon Johnson and others progressives who want to see America return to a productive economy. Please watch: <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_nPbnQG-rcg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_nPbnQG-rcg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-35821584295929520402009-06-04T09:54:00.001-07:002009-06-04T09:57:19.630-07:00We're the Green Team<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD6N_pfLfnt04jET8WDdNle5dzS9OPocYv94pNGzANLUh2vfFPjQ5cTpsvYJAqupAPvoY-o-YSfcaKNPE5642-wjTQklKeSBMzXn2IQN273hIh8IdhJDo2rgzpze_haI5izIFqtLWPi8/s1600-h/GreenAmendment.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD6N_pfLfnt04jET8WDdNle5dzS9OPocYv94pNGzANLUh2vfFPjQ5cTpsvYJAqupAPvoY-o-YSfcaKNPE5642-wjTQklKeSBMzXn2IQN273hIh8IdhJDo2rgzpze_haI5izIFqtLWPi8/s400/GreenAmendment.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343516954141697954" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">There are three amendments being advanced by Progressive Democrats, each with a volunteer team and a single coordinator. The Pink Team is advancing the Single-Payer Healthcare amendment. The Orchid Team is advancing the Protect Urban Wildlands amendment. Together, we can make all three happen! Good luck all.</span>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-7682789467399748422009-05-13T08:38:00.000-07:002009-05-17T09:07:40.071-07:00Our Amendments to the Platform<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG_7dlbrKi14ByerPe8MrFsnU0h18htDOXEDqWDYiaCXctl7ycZU3VD23x5Fvzu8rTvdX-kbNoIY6Ybb7lD6BRIAH5Vgzs9ZhJULtmP9mukRwXQBiPIhz60jE7IhQlqSGmoV6qMp7ZA4/s1600-h/PDW-Logo-2-blue-SM.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG_7dlbrKi14ByerPe8MrFsnU0h18htDOXEDqWDYiaCXctl7ycZU3VD23x5Fvzu8rTvdX-kbNoIY6Ybb7lD6BRIAH5Vgzs9ZhJULtmP9mukRwXQBiPIhz60jE7IhQlqSGmoV6qMp7ZA4/s400/PDW-Logo-2-blue-SM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336825031816327426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8su49X8vwtfwgduGgTXn0I6UDxdIhe1D_0VKUzWZY_UuH-8FqHINox1aLgXWFpYOxjo7HmfbE7x34OXfsqsAhuou1XJi6vQmakyB82A3FcEiT6wYbc3M8uwi7E-dcur7PNYkiwBudn-k/s1600-h/TheThree.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8su49X8vwtfwgduGgTXn0I6UDxdIhe1D_0VKUzWZY_UuH-8FqHINox1aLgXWFpYOxjo7HmfbE7x34OXfsqsAhuou1XJi6vQmakyB82A3FcEiT6wYbc3M8uwi7E-dcur7PNYkiwBudn-k/s400/TheThree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335333696634860146" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Please contact Richard Kerver to help get these passed at the Convention June 6th</span>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-1848965353898182282009-05-08T07:43:00.000-07:002009-05-08T08:05:54.953-07:00Getting itDave Wheelock over at The Small Towns Papers gets it, in the same way we Progressives do here in Worcester. "A good peasant is loyal, simpleminded, and full of misdirected anger.” And the Oligarchy will always be adept in first stoking the anger and then making sure its misdirected. Its the anger about the financial crisis, that everyone feels in one way or another. <br /><br />And the misdirection, by Fox news, Newt Gingrich and the far right is towards our Democratic President. So called TEA bagging is just the beginning, as over time that unholy alliance deflects blame over the crisis to the the Obama administration, never mind how they came into office as the inheritors of that really big problem, and are doing their very best to solve it, for real.<br /><br />So Dave, gets it, the real causes of the crisis, as described by Paul Krugumn, Joeseph Stiglitz, Simon Johnson, William Black and other "progressive" economists. Progressive because they remain reality based, smart, and able to articulate the viewpoint of the rest of us not in the billion dollar club ... banking that works for the average American, the way it should be.<br /><br />So read <a href="http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=107521743421465212426">Dave's article</a>, TEA baggers, and try for smart instead of angry. Want to really understand what's going on? Try <a href="http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/finance/">http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/finance/</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-79168913209755843652009-04-30T09:24:00.001-07:002009-04-30T09:28:40.059-07:00Climate Crunch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgebmYzaAfGsQIvIDWkXSgJ_67oZvcxc9-XgD8oYS2vzMomoTDjFsa0Vgdb9aAgSD_upRhOFPrXiuu38V76dPZuZo4Q5aB2bAv5qEVOeKY9MmdAsv1da5-UPv3ILN3py8XfO5tNtD7zM/s1600-h/ClimateCrunch.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgebmYzaAfGsQIvIDWkXSgJ_67oZvcxc9-XgD8oYS2vzMomoTDjFsa0Vgdb9aAgSD_upRhOFPrXiuu38V76dPZuZo4Q5aB2bAv5qEVOeKY9MmdAsv1da5-UPv3ILN3py8XfO5tNtD7zM/s400/ClimateCrunch.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330521372559082482" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090429/pdf/4581091a.pdf">http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090429/pdf/4581091a.pdf</a></span><br />"The difference between 350 and 450 is not just one of degree. It’s one of direction. A CO2 concentration of 450 p.p.m. awaits the world at some point in the future that might conceivably, though with difficulty, be averted. But 350 p.p.m. can be seen only in the rear view mirror. Hansen believes that CO2 levels already exceed those that would provide longterm safety, and the world needs not just to stop but to reverse course. "Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-10037639401863704622009-04-20T10:44:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:50:27.612-07:00Mark Shuttleworth on Creating CommunityMark Shuttleworth is one of those highly effective people doing enormously important things helping something different to emerge and evolve in the affairs of human beings. Some will recognize Mark as the founder of the Open Source Linux distro Ubuntu. Ubuntu means community and there's a lot there. Here's Mark in a recent interview (at about 24 mins in):<br /><br />"If you build something for people with people, you get the possbility of something fundamently different than what you get if you just build something yourself. That's not to say that communities are easy. We have to continuely defend the idea that left to their own devices, people will take issue with one another more than the world out there... We have to stay focused on what we're trying to do - reinventing the world. If we don't remind ourselves of that all the time, its very easy to allow ourselves to look inwards, and allow differences of opinion, differences of design and direction to turn into drama. The tabloid idustry does so well because people love a fight, people love scandal, people love bitterness and gossip. We must not allow that element of human nature to poison the fact that we we're creating an open, level, calm playing field for people who want to drive this agenda forward."<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/gfIa97lbjs8U" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="195" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-40678797954089002482009-04-19T17:29:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:54:37.341-07:00If you can assemble 300 or more residents ..."So, are you more upset than when you started reading this column? Feel frustrated and powerless? With your friends, ask your Senators and Congressperson during their frequent recesses for a three-hour public accountability session. If you can assemble 300 or more residents, after you rev up your community, you're likely to have your elected representatives come to an auditorium where you live and work. If they think 500 people will show up, it is even more likely. Especially if you are organized and tell them this is just the beginning. Just the beginning!" <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/18">Ralph Nader at Common Dreams</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-53771982223185707492009-04-18T07:23:00.000-07:002009-04-18T11:41:45.030-07:00Rethink Afghanistan - The Cost of War<span style="font-weight:bold;">Rethink Afghanistan (Part 1)</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gPUwQGmMSm0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gPUwQGmMSm0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rethink Afghanistan (Part 2)</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C3I6SxMpivo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C3I6SxMpivo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rethink Afghanistan (Part 3)</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4teO_XDtkLk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4teO_XDtkLk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><Center> <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/04/gates_budget.html">Getting the Defense Budget Under Control</a></span></Center> <br /><br /><br />Join Congresswoman Lee for a public panel discussion entitled:<br /><Center> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A Progressive Assessment of the <br>Obama Administration’s First 100-days</span><br />11:30am – 1:30pm • Saturday, May 2, 2009<br />C. Walsh Theater | Suffolk University<br />55 Temple Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114<br />(Behind the Massachusetts Statehouse on Beacon Hill)<br /></Center> <br />Please join Congresswoman Lee and other progressive leaders for a candid assessment of the Obama Administrations First 100-days. She was an activist, social worker, U. S. Representative and is now Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Hers was the lone voice in Congress to oppose the Bush Administration’s call for unchecked war-making authority in September 2001.<br /><br />For more information see <a href="http://www.suffolk.edu/35466.html">http://www.suffolk.edu/35466.html</a>Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-67537872910640880762009-04-04T09:48:00.000-07:002009-04-04T10:00:47.920-07:00Bill Moyer and William Black on banking fraud ... and Where's Congress?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04032009/watch.html"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB-tKwQHqI7Pe-2TJ982HiLqaA2-VT1vruCegjoDrE6BwPTGfs-DplLMZP2sgLGRr8_ZbZt9bfsG97fCst7Q_cVDGEiN4Ew84tOuDe05EqbBWQMAYI3qkYyMzby2lFADAKFsX31Yw2zY/s200/MoyerBlack.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320879470403811650" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK:</span> Well, Geithner has, was one of our nation's top regulators, during the entire subprime scandal, that I just described. He took absolutely no effective action. He gave no warning. He did nothing in response to the FBI warning that there was an epidemic of fraud. All this pig in the poke stuff happened under him. So, in his phrase about legacy assets. Well he's a failed legacy regulator....<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BILL MOYERS:</span> Well, where's Congress? Where's the press? Where--<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK:</span> Well, where's the Pecora investigation?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BILL MOYERS: </span>The what?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK:</span> The Pecora investigation. The Great Depression, we said, "Hey, we have to learn the facts. What caused this disaster, so that we can take steps, like pass the Glass-Steagall law, that will prevent future disasters?" Where's our investigation? ....<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BILL MOYERS: </span>Yeah. Are you saying that Timothy Geithner, the Secretary of the Treasury, and others in the administration, with the banks, are engaged in a cover up to keep us from knowing what went wrong?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK:</span> Absolutely, because they are scared to death.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK:</span> We need some chairmen or chairwomen--in Congress, to hold the necessary hearings. And we can blast this out. But if you leave the failed CEOs in place, it isn't just that they're terrible business people, though they are. It isn't just that they lack integrity, though they do. Because they were engaged in these frauds. But they're not going to disclose the truth about the assets.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BILL MOYERS:</span> And we have to know that, in order to know what?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WILLIAM K. BLACK: </span>To know everything. To know who committed the frauds.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-6016012995840296192009-04-03T09:44:00.000-07:002009-04-03T09:47:24.006-07:00Congressman Dennis Kucinich votes against the budget ...<a href="http://kucinich.house.gov/News/">http://kucinich.house.gov/News/</a><br /><br />"Washington D.C. ( April 2, 2009) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today issued the following statement after voting against H.Con.Res 85, setting forth the Congressional Budget for the fiscal year 2010:<br /><br />“I am committed to doing everything I can to put our community and our nation on the path to economic stability. I led opposition to the bank bailout program TARP, I worked vigorously in favor of the stimulus package, and I have worked to save the automotive, steel and aerospace industries in America.<br /><br />“This budget is a statement of principles for the upcoming year, and I cannot accept it in its entirety. I will not vote for a budget that ties military spending to the operational funding of our government. This year, the budget includes $130 billion for war funding. The Washington Post reports today another 10,000 troops may be sent to Afghanistan, bringing our total number of troops there to as much as 78,000 by 2010 – a more than 100% increase from today’s troop levels. This budget is a plan that authorizes the expansion of the war. I simply cannot endorse a budget or a plan that sends more of our brave men and women to Afghanistan, a conflict which has the potential to become this generation’s Vietnam.”<br /><br />We applaud Congressman Dennis Kucinich continued principaled stance!Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426665242008069882.post-77413489097799419662009-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:002009-04-01T11:50:42.165-07:00Simon Johnson - The Quiet CoupSimon Johnson, professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, he’s now a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. His new article in <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200905/imf-advice">The Atlantic, “The Quiet Coup,”</a> argues that “<span style="font-weight:bold;">the finance industry has effectively captured our government</span> — a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets.” <br /><p>Read the article and listen to the <a href="http://http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2009/03/are-the-banks-running-america/ Are the Banks Running America?">WBUR On Point interview by Tom Ashbrook</a>.<br />The verdict is in on the Obama Administration with regards to the financial crisis - they will do everything in their power to insure the continued regime of the mega-banks and financial institutions that got us into this mess to begin with. The taxpayers in this country, from individual citizens to businesses on up to the front door of the banks, will get nothing but more of the same as we pay their mega-salaries - the shaft.<br /><p>There are real economists like Paul Krugman and Simon Johnson that are trying to speak on our behalf - its just that President Obama and his financial advisers are not listening, yet.Richard Kerverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393939970693278674noreply@blogger.com0