Quote of the day

"The words used by statesmen in our day no longer have a common meaning. Perhaps they never had. Freedom, democracy, human rights, international morality, peace itself, mean different things to different men. Words, in a constant flow of propaganda - itself an instrument of war - are employed to confuse, mislead, and debase the common man. Democracy is prostituted to dignify enslavement; freedom and equality are held good for some men but withheld from others by and in allegedly "democratic" societies; in "free" societies, so-called, individual human rights are severely denied; aggressive adventures are launched under the guise of "liberation". Truth and morality are subverted by propaganda, on the cynical assumption that truth is whatever propaganda can induce people to believe. Truth and morality, therefore, become gravely weakened as defences against injustice and war. With what great insight did Voltaire, hating war enormously, declare: 'War is the greatest of all crimes; and yet there is no aggressor who does not colour his crime with the pretext of justice.'" --Ralph Bunche, Nobel Lecture, 1950

Jax County Court Administrator blows through $25.000?

Here's an excellent and simple case showing how a government office could and should, frankly and easily, be run like a business so things are done right, first of all, but secondly, so people don't just out-and-out steal.

Here's the article from the Star Monday:

Former court administrator used funds to buy $25,000 in gift cards

Jackson County's former court administrator used her court-supplied credit cards to purchase more than $25,000 in gift cards in the last 18 months of her service.

The thing about it is, I've worked for plenty of companies where someone--someone--was always put in a position to evaluate expenses as they come through in an obvious and clear effort to keep expenses down and under control.

For someone to charge an office for "...spa visits and purchases at a women's clothing store and an area optical shop..." and not be caught seems nearly unfathomable.

Was there NO ONE doing any oversight on their costs and expenses and charges?

That's the question now, for the past.

But for the future, has this been handled, now?

Is there now, for pity's sake, someone in place to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again and no one can put through expenses for virtually anything and we find out months or years later?

Would someone--anyone--answer me this?

Please?

Link: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/former-court-administrator-used-funds-to-buy-25000-in-gift-cards/

An open invitation to Senator Blunt

With this being the US Senate's annual Summer break for 5 weeks, this seems like the perfect time to extend an invitation to our own Senator Roy Blunt to come up to Kansas City to see constituents and hear what may be on our minds, politically, governmentally and otherwise.

Since Senator Blunt doesn't open up his "Listening Posts" to Kansas Citians--as I've pointed out here before a few times, at least--this seems like the perfect time for him to make the 2-1/2 hour drive or one hour flight up here from Sprinfield so he can have conversations with us.

If nothing else, we'd love to show him what parts of Interstate 70 that need attention he might help us with, let alone our other infrastructure, in case he and his political party and the rest of the Senate show decide to actually make movement on any true jobs program.

Here's hoping.

Election night results--and likely results

I see on the news just now that, of the Republican challengers to US House of Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, one Nick Nolte is shown to have 51% of the vote with 10% reporting while Jacob Turk holds 37% of the vote.

If this holds--and there's every expectation and likelihood that it will, this means two things.

First, this means that Emanuel Cleaver will be re-elected to represent Kansas City Missouri in his district.

Second? It means Representative Cleaver's longtime challenger, that same Jacob Turk, will likely then, now and fovever give up on his trying to unseat Mr. Cleaver.

At least, that looks highly like exactly what will happen in both cases.

Stay tuned.

Other issues: It looks as though it is highly likely Jay Nixon will be returned to the governor's office as relatively unknown Dave Spence was elected to be his challenger. Unless he and the Republicans can and do spends loads of money in advertising, Mr. Nixon will be returned to office.

Finally, it looks really bad for Kansas as the far right wing Republicans were strengthened tonight while the moderates were fairly well trounced.

I feel nearly sick for Kansas.

Links: http://fox4kc.com/2012/08/06/fox-4-for-election-coverage-results/

http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/spence-wins-right-to-challenge-nixon-for-missouri-governor/

On America and guns

If you haven't been to the Nelson for this yet

If you haven't been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to see their World's Fair exhibit, you owe it to yourself to do so. It is one terrific, unique exhibit.

It is more officially and completely called "Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs: 1851--1939" and it's a stunner.

Who knew anyone ever made a piano out of papier mache', aluminum and mother of pearl?

You can see either one of few or the only one, here.

Also, you can learn a lot, too, if you wish.



For instance, you can learn that the St. Louis' World's Fair in 1904 was the first in the Western Hemisphere.

Take your family.

Or take your friend or friends.

Heck, go alone if you must.

Just go.

You'll likely enjoy it a great deal.

Links: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/worldsfairs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase_Exposition

Quote of the day

""Profits come at the price of human misery. The best stock day ever will be the day before the world ends." --Kai M. Smith (friend)

The shame that is Joplin, Missouri right now

There's Joplin, Missouri, coming together and rebuilding after what was a horrible and very tragic tornado wiped out too much of the town and its hospital, sure. That's the good part--that they came together and people from the region and nation are helping them do just that.

We all get that.

It's covered well and some more today, in our Kansas City Star newspaper:

Joplin family, victim of ‘storm chasers,’ moves into rebuilt home

(Link to story at bottom of this post).

The good news is that this family is in their rebuilt home.

That's the good part, sure. Good for them and good for everyone who has helped.

Unfortunately, here's the flip side of Joplin, Missouri:

The bad news is that there are too many people, groups and companies trying to take advantage of the victims, as the article in The Star points out:

"Dozens of families trying to rebuild their homes have encountered contractors accused of doing shoddy work or worse — skipping town with their money and without doing the work."


Joplin mosque razed in fire; 2nd blaze this summer

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A mosque in southwest Missouri burned to the ground early Monday in the second fire to hit the Islamic center in little more than a month, officials said.

The fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin was reported about 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said. The sheriff's department said the building was a total loss.

The article goes on to mention that not only was this the second fire to hit the center in little more than a month but that it was the third fire to hit them, too: "A blaze at the same building July 4 caused minor damage and was determined arson."

You would think everyone in Joplin would understand the need for rebuilding. You would think everyone there would be at least preoccupied with the rebuilding of the town, first, but that they'd also be far more sympathetic and empathetic to anyone and everyone who suffered a loss.

And get that disgusting timing--someone apparently setting fire to someone's place of worship on our own "Independence Day." What should be a holiday turns into a disgusting, sinking feeling for people. They are Americans, after all, like it or not.

Arson would be the last thing that would come to someone's mind there, wouldn't you think, given the loss, losses and damage from their tornado?

If not would be, it at least should be the last thing on anyone's mind, no?

Nationally, with this Joplin loss for these people of the Islam faith on top of the shooting yesterday in Wisconsin of the six people who died and injuring three others in, again, their place of worhsip, it's nothing if not revolting and disgusting.

As people of Joplin and Missouri and Wisconsin and the nation and world, we should be better than this. We should be smarter than this.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any form of true, diagnosed insanity would explain away the setting of the fires in Joplin. That seems to be our only hope--that is, that both the arsonist in Southern Missouri and the shooter in Wisconsin are truly, certifiably insane.

It seems to be our only collective hope, their insanity.

Unfortunately, only naked, stupid selfishness and greed can explain the people who have tried or would try to take advantage of the people rebuilding there.

Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/05/3745161/in-joplin-a-rebuilt-home-and-renewed.html


http://news.yahoo.com/joplin-mosque-razed-fire-2nd-blaze-summer-160342127.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/us/shooting-reported-at-temple-in-wisconsin.html?pagewanted=all

Amendment 2 in Missouri tomorrow

KCUR this morning had an excellent, informative and rather important program on their "Up to Date" segment.

They covered the vote tomorrow that comes up in Missouri on religious prayer in schools. From their site:

"On Tuesday, Missouri citizens will vote on Amendment 2, the so-called “right to pray” ballot measure.

The amendment would guarantee Missouri residents the right to express religious beliefs and also would allow students in public schools to pray and acknowledge their religion voluntarily."

What these Christians, religious, Right Wing zealots don't realize, apparently, is the virtual "Pandora's Box" they'd be creating if, in fact, this passes.

Two of the biggest problems they'd create, as nearly as I can tell, is that, first, a student is put in charge of their classroom by giving them this control of what they can and can't and/or will or won't hear, based on the child's religion.

If the child/student doesn't want to hear scientific, factual information on evolution, of course, they have an "opt out" card waiting for them. The fact is, that wouldn't be the only subject or issue the student could apply it to, either. Where does this "right" stop, exactly? It doesn't seem to have any end, given this possible addition to the state Constitution.

Secondly, as with all laws for religious rights in the country, it begins with Christians but cannot end, in the courts, anyway, with them. It would extend to ALL religions and so, that would include Muslims and Islamists. Naturally, that will drive the Christians wild, as we've seen here in the US before.

If this passes, how can any school or government deny a Muslim student's request to turn to the East and pray in order to fulfill their 5 times per day requirement? It certainly looks to me as though there is no way it could be denied.

And these are just two of the issues that would--or surely will--arise, should this Amendment to the Missouri Constitution pass tomorrow.

Whoever came up with this didn't think out all the consequences or ramifications, it seems.

It reminds me of the old, tired maxim: "Be careful what you wish for--you will surely get it."

Link: http://kcur.org/post/missouri-amendment-2-right-pray-or-redundant-rights

Kansas GOP in the news

Yessirree, Bob, good ol' Kansas Republicans are in none other than the New York Times yesterday and for good things, as far as the rest of us thinking humans are concerned. It seems they just can't stand fellow Republicans, less'n they think Right Wing, like they do.

Make that FAR Right Wing:

In Kansas, Conservatives Vilify Fellow Republicans

Kansas politics have been tilting more to the right for at least the last two decades. And now that shift is prompting a bitter clash within the state’s Republican Party. Conservatives are feverishly working to win the Senate and drive out the last remnants of what they see as moderate Republicanism in a state with a deep-rooted history of centrist Republicans in the mold of Bob Dole, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Nancy Kassebaum.

The divisive primary campaign reflects the ambivalence gripping Republicans across the country, yet the situation here is more complicated than the typical conservative-versus-establishment disputes.

What sets the battle in Kansas apart is the distance between the factions. Conservative and moderate Republicans essentially operate as separate parties, and so far, no one — including Mr. Brownback — has stepped forward to try to bridge that gap in the popular tradition of moderation. Instead, each side claims to represent the soul of the party.

“We don’t even know what it means to be a Republican in the state of Kansas,” said Casey W. Moore, a conservative Senate candidate from the Topeka area.

Personally, I like the smell of Right Wing cannibalism in the morning.

Heck, I love that any time of day or night.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/us/in-kansas-primaries-conservatives-attack-fellow-republicans.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share

Yeehaw, Amerika

You git and keep them-thar guns.

Breaking news today, sadly and yet again:

Wisconsin Shooting: Several People Killed After Shots Fired At Sikh Temple

At least six people have been killed by a gunman who opened fire on worshippers at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

So much for keeping holy the Sabbath, huh?

And that "day of rest" thing?

Outtahere.

In answer to the question, "When will we ever learn?"

The answer is, apparently, seemingly, never.

Links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05/wisconsin-shooting-sikh-temple_n_1744256.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D188460

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/05/wisconsin-sikh-temple-shooting-live?newsfeed=true

Good Kansas City manufacturing news

Here it is, from AOL online news last evening:

Bullish on Hogs: High Gas Prices Drive Harley-Davidson Sales Way Up

"It's a good time to be a Hog: On Wednesday, Harley-Davidson (HOG) announced a stunning second-quarter jump in income, making the legendary Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer a rare bright spot in a gray economy.

Between April and June 2011, Harley brought in $190.6 million in net income; a year later, its net had jumped 30%, to $247.3 million. But while the company's growing income was a boon for investors -- the year-over-year growth translated to an extra 26 cent dividend on every share -- its changing fortunes also highlight some major, and lasting, political and economic shifts that may have long-lasting effects for the motorcycle market."

So, the bad news?

Gasoline costs too much.

The good news? And there's lots of it--

People are trying to save. They're trying every way they know how to use and burn less gas.

That's good for the air we breathe.

It's good for putting less pollution in our atmosphere and air.

It's good for manufacturing in America. (At least so far).

It's good for exports for the nation, hopefully, potentially.

It's good for jobs.

It's good for the middle class in the country.

It's great for Kansas City.

Link: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/02/harley-davidson-sales-rise-high-gas-prices/

Sprint labeled one of the "9 Great American Companies That Will Never Recover"

There's an article out right now, showing the companies that won't likely come back from the 2008 financial crush.

One of them is, as the title says, our own Sprint company is one of them:

"24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of these companies that won't be making comebacks -- names that you know well, but that will never be leaders again."

What they have to say about them:

Sprint finally posted some reasonably good results recently. However, these could not mask the fact that the No. 3 wireless carrier is too small to ever really compete with AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Sprint's $35 billion Nextel purchase in 2004 can be seen in retrospect as a key blunder. Their networks ran on different platforms, and integration issues drove customers away from the combined company. Sprint made the MSN "Customer Service Hall of Shame" several times, most recently in 2010. Its customer service has improved significantly since then, but the damage had been done.

Sprint's revenue has fallen from $41.1 billion in 2007 to $33.7 billion last year. It now has about 50 million subscribers to Verizon's 104 million and AT&T's 95 million. As a Morningstar researcher recently noted, "While Sprint has struggled, Verizon Wireless and AT&T have benefited at its expense. Fending off these much larger rivals will be increasingly difficult as data services become more important to the industry."

Not good. Not good at all.

Some of the other companies: Band of America, Dell Computer, Barnes & Noble and The New York Times.

Link: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/01/9-great-american-companies-that-will-never-recover/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D188353#photo-6

Quote of the day

Mitt Romney: Repeated flip-flopper...and liar

He seems to have done it--lied--again and again, along with changing his official stances on issues.

This is one "straw man" for the highest office in the land. I hope this is the cake walk it looks like it may well be.

However, that said, if very much voter suppression takes place--and it looks very will like it will, from Florida to Ohio to here in Missouri and all over--the flip-flopping and lies may not matter.

This presidential campaign has been fascinating, sure. It's been nothing but fascinating.

I don't mind if the coming election is fascinating.

I just hope it's fair. And honest. And legal.

Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/04/1116592/-Rachel-Maddow-Mitt-Romney-has-a-tell

Humor and a message,all in one

From National Lampoon, the precursor to "The Onion" today.

Have a great weekend, y'all.

Quote of the day

“Right now, it turns out, is a great time to be rich — quite possibly the best time ever.” -- Felix Salmon.

"Historically low tax rates on investment income, few unions to deal with, high unemployment which keeps a lid on wages and benefits, weak enforcement of labor laws, multitudes of tax loopholes and offshore tax dodges, low inflation, free-trade agreements that permit the global exploitation of labor, access to all levels of government power, two wars and a plethora of countries that are considered security threats, and a nervous, scared, divided, and apathetic middle class that is caving in to propaganda and relinquishing their only power: strength in numbers." --David Repulski, friend, St. Joseph, Missouri

"A seeker after truth must shun no science, scorn no book, nor cling fanatically to a single creed." --A 10th Century faylasuf (a person who tries to interpret Islam through rationalist philosophy. A type of philosopher).

Stellar Sunday coming up

And a 2 day bit of a break, possibly with some rain squeezed in.

Somewhere.

We'll take it, naturally (no pun intended).

We have to, of course.

Quote of the day

"Cynicism is the greatest enemy of reform." --Robert Reich, American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator

Links: https://www.facebook.com/messages/504376805#!/RBReich

http://robertreich.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reich

Entertainmnet overnight

Suddenly, last Summer...

Taking me back.

Corruption and the Missouri State Legislature

As our local NPR station, KCUR, recently reported on air and on it's website, "A national study of risk of corruption by the Center for Public Integrity docks Missouri for being one of only four states without any limits on campaign contributions."

That this passed, that the Republicans in Jefferson City passed this, a couple years ago is still repugnant and disgusting. That it's still the way our government is goes against everything true democracy is about.

We need to change this. We need to change this back. There need to be campaign contribution limits here in Missouri--that is, if we don't do away with them entirely, in the best-case scenario.

Having no campaign contribution limits in the state and now, due to the US Supreme Court's Citizen's United ruling, in the entire nation, makes your and my influence and vote miniscule while the wealthy and corporations are freed to buy our legislators, their legislation, our laws and so, ultimately, our government. It's "all them, all the time."

A few people running for offices right now are committed to changing this, to reinstating campaign contributin limits in our state.

The first is Jason Kander, running for Secretary of State.

Besides supporting this smart, badly needed legislation, he has worked for more ethics in our state government overall, is for shrinking state government and other excellent causes and issues. You can learn more about him here: http://www.jasonkander.com/ and here: http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=044

Another candidate running for office right now that has Missouri state government ethics in her campaign and political sites is Susan Montee.

You can learn more about Ms. Montee, her positions and goals here: http://susanmontee.com/ and here: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/07/19/voters-guide-susan-montee/ and finally, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Montee

Finally, Kevin Morgan is running for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 38th District.

He also supports campaign contribution limits, among his other issues. You can learn more of him here: http://www.kevinmorgan.com/ and here: http://midwestdemocracy.com/candidates/kevin-morgan/

These people need your support. They need our support. They need our votes, this November in the election.

We need far better and stronger ethics laws and support from our legislators and so, our government and for all of us, not just those with the big money to throw around.

Links: http://kcur.org/post/campaign-contribution-limits-big-donors-find-way

http://www.stateintegrity.org/campaign_financing_policies

http://www.stateintegrity.org/your_state

http://www.stateintegrity.org/missouri

July heat records across the country

Fact: More than 4,300 daily high-temperature records were tied or broken across the United States in July.

Quote of the day

"Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the host dies, or the virus dies, or both die." --Gore Vidal, 1925-2012

Entertainment tonight

One of the big buzzes from the Olympics right now, besides Michael Phelps' swimming or the Phelps-Lochte rivalry for medals, is the US Swim Team's music video which has gone viral. Here it is:

Gore Vidal on our American political and economic system

"Any individual who is able to raise [enough money] to be considered presidential is not going to be much use to the people at large. He will represent...whatever moneyed entities are paying for him.... Hence, the sense of despair throughout the land as incomes fall, businesses fail and there is no redress." --Gore Vidal, "The Decline and Fall of the American Empire"; 1992.

Gore Vidal on the "ruling class"...and all the rest of us

"You know, I've been around the ruling class all my life, and I've been quite aware of their total contempt for the people of the country." --Gore Vidal, in an interview with Paul Jay, The Real News, July 5, 2009.

Quote of the day

"We are permanently the United States of Amnesia. We learn nothing because we remember nothing." -Gore Vidal, "The State of the Union," The Nation, September 13, 2004.

(What I've said for some years. I didn't know there was a famous quote on it).

Gore Vidal, October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012, rest in peace.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore_Vidal

http://www.gorevidalpages.com/2011/01/gore-vidal-quotes-us-politics-culture.html

Wonder where our rains are?

Look no farther than Arizona, apparently. This is from 2 weeks ago:



And then this is from only yesterday:



What they don't have, want or need, we'd gladly--very gladly--take, right?

If you watch that 2nd video, at the end of it they also say that more rain is expected for them, too, later this week, the poor things.

The "glimmer of hope" for us is that, as of last evening, we have a 60% chance of some of that rain hitting our area.

Maybe they're pushing it this way for us. Here's hoping.

Links: http://www.woi-tv.com/story/19167979/heavy-flooding-forces-road-closure-in-arizona

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7416734n&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+(Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7416734n&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+(Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com)

Good news/bad news on Missouri's payday loans

News broke today on the Missouri payday loan petitions and the effort to get the whole mess on a ballot this Fall.

If you've been following this, there have been people in the state, trying to get an initiative voted on this Autumn so payday loan businesses would be more regulated than they are. At present, they are very loosely regulated and the interest rates they charge sometimes exceed 400%. It's shameful. What used to be looked down on in any form as usury--and there were laws against loans, period--is now virtually a lawless "Wild West" of predatory loans.

So here's some good news out today:

Supreme Court ruling clears way for payday loan and minimum wage petitions

Missouri voters may get a say in November on whether to raise tobacco taxes, increase the minimum wage and limit interest rates on payday loans after a state Supreme Court ruling Tuesday.

A variety of legal challenges were filed seeking to keep three initiative petitions addressing those topics off the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Tuesday’s ruling means the petitions are now eligible to appear on the fall ballot if the Secretary of State’s office determines supporters gathered enough valid signatures.

In its ruling Tuesday, the high court unanimously rejected six separate legal challenges that claimed ballot descriptions for the petitions were insufficient or unfair. The descriptions were prepared by the Secretary of State’s office. Four of the six challenges dealt with payday loans.

So this is some great news, really.

And for anyone who would ask why Missouri needs such a measure to vote on at all, they can look no further than a study by the Pew: Charitable Trusts, also released today, showing the 9 worst states for payday loans, with Missouri squarely in the number 2 spot:

2) Missouri
%19> Median income:
> Number of payday lending storefronts: 1,275
> Pct. below poverty line: 15.3%
> Median income: $44,301

The state of Missouri prohibits payday loans above $500 and requires loans to have a minimum term of 14 days and a maximum of 31 days. The state also prohibits lenders from charging a total of more than 75% of the principle in interest and fees on any loan. However, these policies do not protect Missourians who take out payday loans, which can legally be accompanied by an APR as high as 1,955% for a two-week $100 loan, according to the Center for Responsible Lending. Much of the industry’s profits in Missouri, 90% according to Communities Creating Opportunities (CCO), are derived from borrowers who are consistently paying off past debts to avoid default. According to Molly Fleming-Pierre, Policy Director at CCO, after Joplin, Mo., was ravaged by a tornado, payday lenders were among the fastest to arrive at the scene.

Naturally, these companies prey on the poor, which is bad enough, but they also prey on young American soldiers with storefronts right outside and nearby army and other military bases. It's disgusting.

So good for us, at least for now. People are creating petitions and getting out there and having others sign them so we can vote on this foul business. I will also mention, in case you weren't aware of it, the Catholic Church, statewide, has gotten behind this measure, too, so I'm personally very grateful for that. Hopefully more churches are also behind it.

I will say, too, as one last note, if you go to the link to the article, below, you'll see that Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are also on the list, with Kansas at number 7.

If an end isn't put to this, at least it should be regulated, first, and curbed, second. The military and poor deserve far better than this. We owe some decency and fairness to them and to all humankind.

Links: Nine States Where Lenders Take Your Paycheck - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/07/27/nine-states-with-the-most-payday-lending/

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120801/NEWS01/307310085/Supreme-Court-ruling-clears-way-payday-loan-minimum-wage-petitions?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CSpecial%20Reports%7Cs