Over the last 4 years the Koch Brothers wealth has increased by Billions, while at the same time reducing the number of Americans they employee by over 10,000.

So what does this relationship say about Herman Cain? Should he be elected, with the Koch Brothers in his pocket, what does this say about the future of our country?

How are the Koch Brothers so rich? They own a lot…

Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, and Soft n Gentle toilet paper; Brawny paper towels; any of the Dixie plates, bowls and napkins; Sparkle, Vanity Fair and Zee napkins; Georgia-Pacific’s paper products. Coolmax, Cordura, Solarmax, Supplex, and Thermolite fabrics, as well as those containing Lycra; Comforel fiberfill; Dacron fibers; Somerelle bedding products; Stainmaster carpets and Tactesse carpet fiber.

This list could go on and on. Google Koch Brothers and you will can read about the Koch Brothers for days.

As reported by NPR.org some 200 millionaires do. There is actually a group of rich people out there who believe since they have more, in this tough economy, those that can pay more should.

Andy Shallal, a D.C.-area restaurateur puts it like this (as taken from the article on NPR.org). He’d like to see more progressive tax laws in place to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots “so that we don’t have this potential for this possible class warfare that’s always bubbling beneath the surface in this country.”

It’s nice to know that not all rich people are complete douche bags.

of course this headline on MSNBC.com caught my eye. Is spending $500,000 of tax payer money to defend a hateful law really the direction this country should take? How does this “create jobs”. The lawyers already have a job.

So you tell me who is not willing to compromise to get the budget finalized?

guardian.co.uk home

You may remember my post back in October about the billion dollar Koch (pronounced Coke) brother’s being the money behind the Tea Party. If not I highly recommend you read it, The Tea Party is NOT a Grassroots Organization. At least check out the cool, easy to read chart.

Well the Koch Brothers at back at it again, in full force. As read today on MSNBC.com, Conservative high-rollers gather to plot strategy, the Koch brothers sponsored a two day event to try to figure out how to put the GOP in the white house in 2012. So much for the voice of the “people”.

Even the British can see though the “Tea Party”.  As written in The Independent World, “Most organisations which benefit from the Kochs’ largesse have one thing in common: they help advance an unflinching brand of libertarian conservatism. Some lobby against environmental regulation, or seek to undermine public perception of the threat of climate change, others battle taxes, trade unions and Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms.
Many play a crucial role in organising the Tea Party, the headline-prone right-wing movement which likes to tout its “grass-roots” credentials.”

Once again, thanks to the conservative led Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United, the rich will have an opportunity to over shout the middle class and poor. Are you prepared to let billionaires shape our political landscape? I sure as hell am not.

Let’s not forget to use sound judgment people. Listen to your gut, it speaks the truth.

“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”

This quote puts Don’t Ask Don’t Tell into its true context.

Source: www.leonardmatlovich.com

Leonard Matlovich
was the first to volunteer to fight the military’s ban on gays,
a universal soldier in the fight against AIDS & for full LGBT equality in every arena. He was also a loving son, brother, uncle, friend, & “father” of untold numbers of
lives lived out & proud.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not just a man who stood up for injustice and equality. He is a symbol for what we should all inspire to be.

Dr. King was a leader who believed in peaceful protest. His leadership and visibility ultimately led to his early departure from this world. It was his leadership, and willingness to stand up for what was right that resulted in his accomplishing more greatness than most people will ever even strive for.

Dr. King was killed 43 years ago this April. He was in Memphis, TN leading peaceful protests in support of the sanitation workers. When the mayor at the time would not recognize or meet with the union on their requests, seeing the injustice, Dr. King took it upon himself to step in. It wasn’t until after Dr. King was murdered that the city would finally meet with union officials. 12 days after his death the union and the city finally came to a compromise.

Have we not learned anything from Dr. King’s life or his death? Why must we always wait until something horrible happens before we open our eyes and find compassion?

Why can’t we live with peace in our hearts and in our lives everyday? I believe most all of us want what is best for our country and our world.  We can have peace, and we can have equality. In order to reach this place, we all have to not only stand up for it, but also we have to live it. Not only on MLK day, but everyday.

My heart goes out to all those who were injured today and to their loved ones. Every American should feel sorrow today, and every American should also be angry. During these past 2 years, there has been major division among the parties in office. Some representatives have suggested that hatred and violence is needed when disagreements arise. Let’s not forget Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s call for the residents of Minnesota to be “armed and dangerous” as a defense to global warming legislation.

The most disgusting act of suggested violence  was delivered by former half term Governor Sarah Palin. Last March, her “crosshairs chart”, as seen below, specifically targeted 20 house democrats as a rebuttal to Health Care reform. Congresswoman Giffords was one of them. In fact, according to NPR.org, “Giffords’ Tucson office was one of three damaged last March by vandals who targeted Democrats in advance of the U.S. House vote on the controversial health care legislation.”

Peoples’ actions have immediate consequences. People like Sarah Palin and Rep. Bachmann should own up to the ramifications of their actions. They should be held responsible. Suggested violence has no place in U.S. politics, because horrific events like today’s- is what will be the ultimate outcome. Today is a lesson in what results from spreading hatred.

Let us all hope that all who were injured today will recover 100%. May peace find you all.

This blog will remain mainly a political blog, since that is what mainly drives me, but I thought this year we should start with a good song.

So here is Rill Rill, by Sleigh Bells. Very catchy little tune. Happy New Year!!

“In the 110th Congress of 2007-2008, with Republicans in the minority, there were a record 112 cloture votes. In the current session of Congress — the 111th — for all of 2009
and the first two months of 2010 the number already exceeds 40. The most the filibuster has been used when Democrats were in the minority was 58 times in the 106th
Congress of 1999-2000.“

No really? What if you were hired to do a job and then paid a salary of around $175,000 and you choose not to do what you were hired for, but you got paid anyways? Sounds like a good deal right?
Now what if you found out you were the one who was paying your employees to not do what you hired them for? That is exactly what is going on right now in the Senate.

Want examples?

“…the 2011 Defense Department bill that contains a “don’t ask, “don’t tell” repeal provision. The vote, not surprisingly, failed 57-40, lacking the 60 votes Reid needed to beat back a promised Republican filibuster of the bill with repeal language.” Source NPR.org 12/09/10. They struck it down even though the majority of Americans, including military personal, want it repealed.

“The DREAM Act stalled and very likely died Thursday in the Senate, after Majority Leader Harry Reid was unable to persuade enough Republicans to give the measure the 60 votes it needed to avoid a GOP filibuster.” Source. NPR.org 12/10/10. According to a Gallup poll, 54% of Americans support the Dream Act.

“Senate Republicans on Thursday derailed a bill to aid people who got sick after exposure to dust from the World Trade Center’s collapse in the Sept. 11 attack.” Source NPR.org 12/09/10. I couldn’t find any polls on this, but I know many of you must be pissed off at the results. And it goes with our theme.

“…the Senate on Thursday shelved a plan to create a $30 billion loan fund for cash-strapped small businesses…Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that many Republicans also support many of the measure’s provisions, which could aid a key political constituency, spur hiring and help reduce a 9.5 percent unemployment rate as lawmakers…as a united Republican caucus voted Thursday to continue to its filibuster the GOP could offer. after Reid and McConnell reached an impasse over the number of amendments that ” Source, WashingtonPost.com 07/30/10.

So wait, Republicans don’t want to add to the deficit when it comes to small businesses, but they have no problem adding to the deficient,via tax cuts, when it comes to big business. Next…

“The Senate has defeated a Republican-led filibuster to a Democratic “jobs” bill. With five Republicans voting yes, the final tally was 62-30 — two more than the 60 needed to end a threatened filibuster. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, would exempt businesses from paying Social Security payroll taxes on newly hired employees through December and give them a $1,000 credit if said employees stay on the job for a year.“  Source NPR.org 02/22/10.

“Senate Republicans crossed the aisle to allow debate to move forward on a bill to strengthen the nation’s food safety laws. The vote to end a filibuster and proceed to debate on the measure passed by a 74-25 vote…“. Source WashingtonTimes.com, 11/17/2010.

Where does your Senator stand? Maybe you should send them an email or two.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm