Our dependence on oil from the Middle East, Africa and Venezuela jeopardizes our national security and the dominance of oil interests in our government compromises our national integrity. The next time you hear it said that wind, solar, geothermal and other clean energy exemplify "pie in the sky" thinking, ask yourself if the voices of 70% of Americans who want such energy policy change are being heeded.
The chance of the SEC being indicted for criminal wrongodoing ranks right down there with the possible indictment of Bush / Cheney. In the news, another Stanford employee told SEC it was a Ponzi scheme…in 2003
Bang dat Efficiency Drum, Congress Critters, Sell dem CFLs
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 9:22 AM.
Via Peak Energy, Ross Gittins tells the sad truth to Sydney Morning Herald readers about their efforts to reduce personal carbon emissions.
So when you and I voluntarily cut back our emissions we don't reduce the nation's total emissions, we just make more room for other, industrial polluters - say, the aluminium, steel or cement industries - to increase their emissions.
If you didn't know that, you could be forgiven. It seems you have a lot of mates. In a poll of 1000 people conducted for the Australia Institute, respondents were asked what effect it would have on Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions "if every household in Australia reduced their electricity use in the future". About 8 per cent weren't sure, but 78 per cent said our total emissions would go down. Only 13 per cent got the right answer, that total emissions would stay the same.
That's a seriously misinformed electorate - which is why I'm writing this piece. It gives me no joy to further complicate the life of an embattled Government that, in its own heavily compromised way, is trying to do something concrete to reduce climate change.
The pollies shouldn't be under any doubt that people want to be able to do their bit. More than 87 per cent of respondents agree that "households and individuals should be able to contribute to reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions". Unfortunately, the Government hasn't only failed to ensure people understand the workings of the scheme it's seeking to introduce, it hasn't resisted the temptation to actively mislead people.
The sad truth prevails elsewhere, 'Merika. When Amory Lovins advises efficiency, his recommendations are most often industrial. So, is it the job of governments everywhere to lie to the people governed, and, if so, do we have to do such a good job of it?
Seeking More Federal Money, GM and Chrysler Promise Greener Vehicles
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on at 7:53 AM.
Promises, promises, promises
Four Million Americans Lost Health Insurance Since Recession Began
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on at 7:18 AM.
"as many as 14,000 people could be losing their health coverage every day"
An estimated 4 million Americans have lost their health insurance since the recession began, and as many as 14,000 people could be losing their health coverage every day, according to a report by liberal think tank Center for American Progress' Action Fund.
The report also claims at least half of the 4 million who lost their insurance coverage still are uninsured. Before the recession started there were an estimated 46 million Americans without health insurance.
The recent rocky economic climate, however, has likely increased the number of uninsured at the rate of 14,000 a day, according to the center.
The report uses estimates from Urban Institute researchers that a one percentage point rise in the national unemployment rate causes 2.4 million people to lose employer-sponsored health coverage. Of those people, 1 million rely on Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program and 1.1 million end up uninsured.
TARP Inspector General: Don’t Let TARP Fall Victim To Fraud Like Katrina And...
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on at 7:16 AM.
But, Barofsky, most of the Congress critters complicit with the previous frauds are still in office. "An outlay of so much money in such a short period of time will inevitably draw those seeking to profit criminally," makes it seem like outsiders when it is an inside job.
Today, the House Financial Services subcommittee on oversight and investigations held a hearing to review accountability and transparency in the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). During his testimony, Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General of the program, warned that if the Treasury Department is not “vigilant,” TARP could fall victim to fraud, much like the federal response to Hurricane Katrina or Iraq’s reconstruction:
History teaches us that an outlay of so much money in such a short period of time will inevitably draw those seeking to profit criminally. Hurricane relief, Iraq reconstruction, and the savings and loan bailout serve as important and difficult lessons. If, by percentage terms, some of the estimates of fraud in those programs apply to the TARP programs, we are looking at the potential exposure of tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer money lost to fraud. We must be vigilant.
This is a wise bit of advice, as billions were wasted during both the Katrina and Iraq reconstruction debacles. At the same hearing, Gene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that Treasury is taking steps to improve accountability “consistent with our recommendations,” but that “additional action is needed to better ensure that all participating institutions are accountable for their use of program funds.”
What War Crimes in the Middle of Our Living Room?
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 9:52 AM.
"It is still difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways - all orchestrated by the United States government," Binyam Mohamed 30 Via truthout
jcwinnie has sent you a video - Frozen Heat: a global warming threat from the Arctic
0 Comments Published by jcwinnie on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 5:42 PM.
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