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Made in America
Author: BobR    Date: 2013-09-26 10:23:42

America is a resilient thing. Despite 8 years of President Bush, and budget battles, and nearly defaulting on our debts, the people of this country have soldiered on, even as our "leaders" in Washington have acted like children and petty tyrants. We support our favorite candidates' campaigns, we vote, and then we get on with our lives.

The Republicans in the House have been acting particularly ugly lately. They've voted to cut food stamps, they've voted to repeal a law that enables everyone in the country to get healthcare insurance, and they are threatening to - once again - shut down government and hold the debt limit hostage to get what they want.

Shutting down the government would put thousands of federal workers on unpaid leave - and that's after ensuring there are less food stamps to go around, and they are trying to prevent them from getting healthcare insurance too. Why do Republicans hate Americans so much? Don't they realize that shutting down the government will also affect government contractors? Some of their richest buddies are CEOs for government contractors, and they get rich while their workers toil for pennies. All that largess will really help those re-election campaigns.

If you want to see the future of government under Republican leadership, look no further than Wal-Mart. They cut hours for workers, which led to barren disorganized shelves, which led to a customer exodus. Cutting budgets and shutting down services leaves us looking like a third world country (or the inside of a Wal-Mart), which leaves citizens (i.e.: voters) extremely unhappy. Even small-government conservatives suddenly realize how much Big Government they really like when it isn't there any longer.

Republicans also demonize unions, even though states with unions have a stronger middle-class. A stronger middle-class means more people with spending money, which means a better economy for the state. This generates more tax revenue for the state, so not only do the citizens enjoy a better personal lifestyle (on average), they also enjoy more services from their state - thus, a better quality of life. But - the Big Business CEOs don't like the leverage that unions give workers, so they create myths about them to make stupid voters believe that it's the unions (and not the CEOs greed) that are causing businesses to relocate.

A lot of that relocation was overseas, especially in the last 20-30 years. The good news is that manufacturing jobs are coming back to the U.S. from China. The bad news, of course, is that they will be poor paying jobs, not the middle-class enabling union jobs they once were. So even though this could be a lot better in a lot of ways, it's still better than outsourcing our economy to China.

And the way things are going, there are some federal workers that may need to take those jobs soon. That's what we do in America - we keep the lights on.
 

94 comments (Latest Comment: 09/26/2013 21:31:23 by Will in Chicago)
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Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 12:25:09
Good morning!

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 12:56:38
This is p[possibly the best Letterman ever.



Comment by TriSec on 09/26/2013 13:06:41
Heh.

I work retail. When one of the managers thinks we're screwing around too much, or if some of the shelves look a little barren or disorganized, he'll roll out his nuclear arsenal on us.

"What the hell do you think this is, Wal-Mart?"

We fix it quickly after that.



Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 13:30:16
Last week, Cory booker was 'Teh Gay' this week he's palling around with strippers...



Say wha???

HE's a single guy -- who the hell cares?

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 13:44:42
Morning

Comment by Scoopster on 09/26/2013 13:45:17
Mornin' all.. So, um.. who saw this shit?

Tell you what, House GOP.. How about Obama gives you all the finger....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/rude/1/flipping-the-bird.gif

...and then invokes Amendment XIV, Section IV, Clause 1.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 13:50:09
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all.. So, um.. who saw this shit?

Tell you what, House GOP.. How about Obama gives you all the finger....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/rude/1/flipping-the-bird.gif

...and then invokes Amendment XIV, Section IV, Clause 1.

Holy crap -- that I wasn't aware of:
In return for a one-year suspension of the debt ceiling, House Republicans are demanding a yearlong delay of Obamacare, Rep. Paul Ryan’s tax reform plan, the Keystone XL pipeline, more offshore oil drilling, more drilling on federally protected lands, rewriting of ash coal regulations, a suspension of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate carbon emissions, more power over the regulatory process in general, reform of the federal employee retirement program, an overhaul of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations, more power over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s budget, repeal of the Social Services Block Grant, more means-testing in Medicare, repeal of the Public Health trust fund, and more.


Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 13:53:58
Is it morning? CRAP!

Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 13:55:03
Quote by TriSec:
Heh.

I work retail. When one of the managers thinks we're screwing around too much, or if some of the shelves look a little barren or disorganized, he'll roll out his nuclear arsenal on us.

"What the hell do you think this is, Wal-Mart?"

We fix it quickly after that.






Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 13:57:06
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all.. So, um.. who saw this shit?

Tell you what, House GOP.. How about Obama gives you all the finger....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/rude/1/flipping-the-bird.gif

...and then invokes Amendment XIV, Section IV, Clause 1.

Holy crap -- that I wasn't aware of:
In return for a one-year suspension of the debt ceiling, House Republicans are demanding a yearlong delay of Obamacare, Rep. Paul Ryan’s tax reform plan, the Keystone XL pipeline, more offshore oil drilling, more drilling on federally protected lands, rewriting of ash coal regulations, a suspension of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate carbon emissions, more power over the regulatory process in general, reform of the federal employee retirement program, an overhaul of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations, more power over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s budget, repeal of the Social Services Block Grant, more means-testing in Medicare, repeal of the Public Health trust fund, and more.



Yeah, that's gonna happen. I wish tantrum throwing toddlers Republican members of the House would act like grown ups.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 14:07:44
Alternet has jumped the ODS shark--

and David Swanson needs to look up the definition of the word *lies* -- He also needs to get his friends to do a better job editing his wiki page.
As an activist, Swanson co-founded the webiste After Downing Street (now War Is A Crime .org), based around the U.S. congressional concern of the Downing Street Memo.


Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 14:23:37
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all.. So, um.. who saw this shit?

Tell you what, House GOP.. How about Obama gives you all the finger....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/rude/1/flipping-the-bird.gif

...and then invokes Amendment XIV, Section IV, Clause 1.

Holy crap -- that I wasn't aware of:
In return for a one-year suspension of the debt ceiling, House Republicans are demanding a yearlong delay of Obamacare, Rep. Paul Ryan’s tax reform plan, the Keystone XL pipeline, more offshore oil drilling, more drilling on federally protected lands, rewriting of ash coal regulations, a suspension of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate carbon emissions, more power over the regulatory process in general, reform of the federal employee retirement program, an overhaul of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations, more power over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s budget, repeal of the Social Services Block Grant, more means-testing in Medicare, repeal of the Public Health trust fund, and more.



Yeah, that's gonna happen. I wish tantrum throwing toddlers Republican members of the House would act like grown ups.
But -- both sides are the same right?




Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 14:36:21
Things you learn because you can...
Todd was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Lois Cheri (née Bernstein) and Stephen Randolph Todd.[2] He is Jewish on his mother's side, and was raised Jewish. He graduated from Miami Killian Senior High School in the West Kendall neighborhood of greater Miami. Todd attended George Washington University from 1990 to 1994; although he majored in political science and minored in music, he did not graduate.

Todd resides in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Kristian Denny Todd, daughter Margaret, and son Harrison. Kristian Denny Todd is a communications professional and cofounder of Maverick Strategies and Mail, which provides direct mail and consulting services for Democratic candidates and progressive causes. He received the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition for his work in journalism from Marymount University during its sixty-second commencement ceremony. Despite growing up in Miami, Todd is a lifelong supporter of the Green Bay Packers.
Also:

Todd is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University.


Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 14:38:20
Adonde esta Mala?

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 14:44:51
I didn't understand why she didn't press chargers earlier this month, but this -- sadly -- makes sense.

Shellie Zimmerman said she did not press charges because she said police told her she and her husband would each go to jail but she would likely stay there after pleading guilty to perjury related to George Zimmerman’s murder case.

Shellie Zimmerman is still serving a year of probation for making false statements to a judge about the couple’s finances during a bond hearing for her husband.


Zimmerman is dangerous.

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 14:51:49
Quote by Raine:
Adonde esta Mala?



I'm here, just in -y mode. Managers are out at a wine event and I'm working on Rep of the Month stuff they want for tomorrow. Got a little thrown off this week cause I spent so much time last week working on the company Christmas Card. Finally got the image right! THink the Big Boss liked it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/103341104@N04/9951296365/


Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 14:54:15
damn it! why can't I get that pix to work! christmas card pix

Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 15:00:11
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all.. So, um.. who saw this shit?

Tell you what, House GOP.. How about Obama gives you all the finger....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/rude/1/flipping-the-bird.gif

...and then invokes Amendment XIV, Section IV, Clause 1.

Holy crap -- that I wasn't aware of:
In return for a one-year suspension of the debt ceiling, House Republicans are demanding a yearlong delay of Obamacare, Rep. Paul Ryan’s tax reform plan, the Keystone XL pipeline, more offshore oil drilling, more drilling on federally protected lands, rewriting of ash coal regulations, a suspension of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate carbon emissions, more power over the regulatory process in general, reform of the federal employee retirement program, an overhaul of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations, more power over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s budget, repeal of the Social Services Block Grant, more means-testing in Medicare, repeal of the Public Health trust fund, and more.



Yeah, that's gonna happen. I wish tantrum throwing toddlers Republican members of the House would act like grown ups.
But -- both sides are the same right?



If that's the case, there should be 233 cells set up at Gitmo. No....just one, shove em all in one cell and watch the fun.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:10:54
Mala -- why is it asking me to sign into Yahoo?

Comment by BobR on 09/26/2013 15:11:38
Quote by wickedpam:
damn it! why can't I get that pix to work! christmas card pix

It says the image is private

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:13:41
dang it! stupid Flickr! fixing.

as for yahoo thing - that I don't know

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:18:15
http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag37/Pamala_Weinlein/Truck-card2013-1b2_zps3446b3c8.png


Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:18:56
NICE!


Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:18:59
my skills today are lacking

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:19:29
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:20:58
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
damn it! why can't I get that pix to work! christmas card pix

It says the image is private



I deleted it and went over to photobucket - always forget where I have accounts

Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 15:21:00
I thought I'd set up a camera to see what Lucky did at night, to make sure it's him eating the food I leave for him and not one of the girls. So, of course, you know what happened. The food was still there. Damn feline's trolling me.

What I did see, though, was him vomiting a little clear liquid just before we woke up. I've seen this about once a week for the past few months, I thought it was Sophie since it's in areas she is usually in. But I caught Lucky on camera. I think he had just come from having some water.

Good signs - He came for the morning feeding with the other cats and had what I think is a normal amount of food for him. And he took his morning treats on schedule.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:26:18
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?



Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 15:26:49
The other thing with dealing with China is that there is so much movement over there as people move from job to job at the drop of a few extra bucks that you can't depend upon any stability.

Many manufacturing processes don't take kindly to continually having to train people.

We won't get into the obvious serious problems like blatant IP theft at contract manufacturers.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:28:06
Quote by trojanrabbit:
I thought I'd set up a camera to see what Lucky did at night, to make sure it's him eating the food I leave for him and not one of the girls. So, of course, you know what happened. The food was still there. Damn feline's trolling me.

What I did see, though, was him vomiting a little clear liquid just before we woke up. I've seen this about once a week for the past few months, I thought it was Sophie since it's in areas she is usually in. But I caught Lucky on camera. I think he had just come from having some water.

Good signs - He came for the morning feeding with the other cats and had what I think is a normal amount of food for him. And he took his morning treats on schedule.
Lucky punk'd you.


Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:28:35
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?




we just Vista Print since we don't have any good in house equipment, they do a pretty good job and its pretty cost effective

Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 15:30:35
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
I thought I'd set up a camera to see what Lucky did at night, to make sure it's him eating the food I leave for him and not one of the girls. So, of course, you know what happened. The food was still there. Damn feline's trolling me.

What I did see, though, was him vomiting a little clear liquid just before we woke up. I've seen this about once a week for the past few months, I thought it was Sophie since it's in areas she is usually in. But I caught Lucky on camera. I think he had just come from having some water.

Good signs - He came for the morning feeding with the other cats and had what I think is a normal amount of food for him. And he took his morning treats on schedule.
Lucky punk'd you.

I don't doubt it for a second. He actively doesn't want to give me the satisfaction of watching him eat if I'm trying to make him eat. As soon as I'm not looking I can hear the sounds of eating.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:33:42
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?




we just Vista Print since we don't have any good in house equipment, they do a pretty good job and its pretty cost effective
Oh well then i'm not sure if I can help. I was going to say import it to a picture box and resize it proportionately



Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 15:34:28
Quote by Raine:
Things you learn because you can...
Todd was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Lois Cheri (née Bernstein) and Stephen Randolph Todd.[2] He is Jewish on his mother's side, and was raised Jewish. He graduated from Miami Killian Senior High School in the West Kendall neighborhood of greater Miami. Todd attended George Washington University from 1990 to 1994; although he majored in political science and minored in music, he did not graduate.

Todd resides in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Kristian Denny Todd, daughter Margaret, and son Harrison. Kristian Denny Todd is a communications professional and cofounder of Maverick Strategies and Mail, which provides direct mail and consulting services for Democratic candidates and progressive causes. He received the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition for his work in journalism from Marymount University during its sixty-second commencement ceremony. Despite growing up in Miami, Todd is a lifelong supporter of the Green Bay Packers.
Also:

Todd is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University.



Oh god, Chuckers went to GW? I am sooo embarrassed.

Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:38:38
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
I thought I'd set up a camera to see what Lucky did at night, to make sure it's him eating the food I leave for him and not one of the girls. So, of course, you know what happened. The food was still there. Damn feline's trolling me.

What I did see, though, was him vomiting a little clear liquid just before we woke up. I've seen this about once a week for the past few months, I thought it was Sophie since it's in areas she is usually in. But I caught Lucky on camera. I think he had just come from having some water.

Good signs - He came for the morning feeding with the other cats and had what I think is a normal amount of food for him. And he took his morning treats on schedule.
Lucky punk'd you.

I don't doubt it for a second. He actively doesn't want to give me the satisfaction of watching him eat if I'm trying to make him eat. As soon as I'm not looking I can hear the sounds of eating.



just got a mental image of a cat yelling "DON'T LOOK AT ME!"

http://www.cvrperformingarts.com/drama/Theatre_history/Melodrama/Melodrama_images/melodrama-grief.jpg


Comment by Scoopster on 09/26/2013 15:38:51
Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:39:20
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?




we just Vista Print since we don't have any good in house equipment, they do a pretty good job and its pretty cost effective
Oh well then i'm not sure if I can help. I was going to say import it to a picture box and resize it proportionately




oh no, I meant here on the blog, pix is kinda big

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:40:10
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?




we just Vista Print since we don't have any good in house equipment, they do a pretty good job and its pretty cost effective
Oh well then i'm not sure if I can help. I was going to say import it to a picture box and resize it proportionately




oh no, I meant here on the blog, pix is kinda big
it's fine here.


Comment by wickedpam on 09/26/2013 15:42:07
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
NICE!



thanks

how do I make it smaller?
What are you going to print it with?




we just Vista Print since we don't have any good in house equipment, they do a pretty good job and its pretty cost effective
Oh well then i'm not sure if I can help. I was going to say import it to a picture box and resize it proportionately




oh no, I meant here on the blog, pix is kinda big
it's fine here.


must be my screen


Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 15:43:47
Quote by Scoopster:
what in the hell...(NFSL)



Queue the drama sting! The latest drug scare!

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:53:47
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:
what in the hell...(NFSL)



Queue the drama sting! The latest drug scare!
My favorite emoticon.




Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 15:56:22
Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:56:57


Comment by livingonli on 09/26/2013 15:58:18
Good morning, folks.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 15:59:54
Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 16:03:00
Comment by trojanrabbit on 09/26/2013 16:05:14
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:

You might like this as well!


Yes, here Wednesday was Prince Spaghetti Day long before insipid pictures of camels walking through the cube farm asking what day it was infested the break room walls.

Comment by TriSec on 09/26/2013 16:06:15
That new Prince ad brought a tear to my eye the other day when I first saw it.

It's North End pasta; that's the only kind there is around here.

Barilla, my ass.



Comment by Mondobubba on 09/26/2013 16:16:30
Quote by Raine:



I do not know why, but this brings me great joy.

Comment by Raine on 09/26/2013 16:18:14
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:



I do not know why, but this brings me great joy.
Because it's a twerking bunny?