Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Sunday, March 02, 2008
A decent metaphor for American culture
Hi Mickey...you said, “upward financial flow”...the morning paper stated minimum wage is being raised to $8 over three years. The Maine Center for economic policy determined last year the minimum livable wage for Maine is $18. 2 national surveys in 1989, determined the minimum wage needs to be higher yet. Living without economic tensions...what’s that? What is slavery?
I saw ex-governor of Maine, angus king this morning in grocery store...he looks sad and bad...health must be deteriorating from harboring so much horseshit in his consciousness, maybe he can’t keep track of his million$
Maine, so far in 2008, has a record setting homocide rate...let’s applaud this great feat. Robbery is up. What can one expect in a criminal society that denies a basic, decent living for all people. The criminals sucking up everything and everyone. I once probed angus about his relationship with apple computer, supplying lot of computers to maine schools..one of his ideas. Unfortunately they were not edible computers for those who did not eat well...let’s applaud the greedy and their kickbacks.
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/02 at 10:20 AMI just saw a photo of balogna salami holding a baby for photo shoot...jesus christ, are presidential candidates still using this stunt?
I thought by now candidates might be photographed reaching down to a homeless person and stealing the poor’s last cup of coffee or perhaps showing hilary mugging an elderly women...caption, hilary stands strong!
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/02 at 12:36 PMHey Joe…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/02 at 02:15 PMFor a change, I think I have a story. As most of you know, I was put on Trial, found guilty by a jury, and Sentenced for protesting the war. All of this took place in the District Court which is located in a “State Office Building”. The building is large - made out of red brick- and architecturally pleasing. More than 150 government employees worked there. The building is relatively new- maybe 20 or 30 years old. It is in a very nice setting, surrounded by trees and well manicured lawns. Soon after my Trial, employees started to have serious symptoms of illnesses. Sarcoidosis, asthma, and at least one lawyer became permanently blind. The government workers- after a while - refused to enter the building. The workers are now housed in trailers. The building has been declared a toxic site. It is estimated that it will cost 18 million to replace the building. Sad but true.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/02 at 03:58 PMAuthor David Kay Johnson is on C-span (possibly C-span 2) around 9 tonight. He has some interesting things to say.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/02 at 06:58 PMhello all…
60 minutes is, right now, cheering the new US Government ray gun weapon...burning army actors holding signs that say “World Peace.”
The ADS (Active Denial System) will surely be put into action here at home and around the world sooner rather than later.
Thanks for selling it to the public 60 Minutes!
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 03/02 at 07:31 PMQuickly--
Mickey I enjoyed reading your essay that you linked to yesterday-- and today’s post got me thinking further.
I recall years ago in a class I took about South Asian politics, India and Pakistan the greater subject-- we focused quite a bit on the problem of population growth.
In the class, we heard so much about the need for measures to stem population-- but at the time I already saw how sensible it was for farmers, especially, to have large families as a form of labor capital.
Of course-- many of their problems would end with sensible measures in place-- but why expect it? And wouldn’t it involve authoritarian measures, as in China-- or Western globalist measures (that conspiracy theorists are fond of-- i.e. limiting food by imposing economic austerity measures)?
Voluntary changes in consumption do not look practical to me… but changes must be imposed: best from the people themselves. Telling them to not consume won’t work-- the poor can taste “luxury” even as they kill themselves smoking cigarettes. They will continue to look for pleasure to make-believe that theirs are not mean lives.
What is needed is a total paradigm change-- true limits on authoritarian measures of all sorts-- and the creation of a healthy alternative: human rights for all, which includes opportunity.
People will not desire what is not in their best interest-- but so long as the game is stacked against them-- they will always choose self-interest in the name of survival.
Apologizes to all for this quick argument-- only a minute or two to type it.
Do y’all see where I’m coming from?
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 03/02 at 07:54 PMHello again, my fellow Expendables. I think Robert hit on an important point: People will not desire what is not in their best interest-- but so long as the game is stacked against them-- they will always choose self-interest in the name of survival.
This idea will be touched on in my March 10 talk.
P.S. Thanks for telling a story, RMJ. Hey JOS.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/02 at 08:06 PMMZ and Fam—MN enacted the Indoor Clean Air Act last October; No smoking within 5 feet of any public entrance/exit or within facilities that serve the public (exception - homes/vehicles/private property not open to the general public). An exception was made for Tribal Casinos and Theatrical Performances. Recently, a snarky lawyer encouraged MN barowners to stage “Theatrical Performance Nights” where the patrons are “the performers” to skirt the law! Imagine that? Thus far, several joints have tested the law with no immediate consequence or sanction. The Legislature has taken the matter under advisement along with a challenge to fix a $935 million dollar hole in the State’s budget. Go figure - tax revenue - including the special smoker’s tax is down as well.. —http://tinyurl.com/3xjwle—Lord have Mercy—Right on spot - Mick—captcha says “will” as in Last WILL and testament ??.. groan—richie
Posted by Richie on from st cloud/n ft myers, fl 03/03 at 01:21 AMCame back to glance at what I wrote earlier-- thanks Mickey.
And only now I noticed that there is no more Mickey Z and RMJ for president/vice president.
Sigh.
Looks like it won’t be easy for any of us, but I guess I better get on the Nader/Gonzalez bandwagon.
I won’t stop believing in Cynthia McKinney and what she talks about though.
Her day must come. And if Nader and Gonzalez are to succeed, they better heed her issues!
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 03/03 at 08:30 AMYeah, I wasn’t sure about keeping up the links for myself and RMJ and not posting links for Nader and Gonzalez. I’d gladly post one for Cynthia if she runs, too.
I dunno...what does everything else think? Which links do you prefer?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/03 at 08:46 AMMickey and RMJ—I noted the change last evening as well. I am hopeful that Nader/Gonzales get media coverage, so I like the idea of the connect on mickeyz.net. You might consider which Cabinet level posts you’d consider (RMJ - (newly created position) - Minister of Peace and Mickey Z as the Guru of Health - Education and Social Well Being ! ) in the Nader/Gonzalez Presidency. It’s up to you and RMJ. In the meantime - I’m most interested in getting an advance snipet of your forthcoming novel. Is there anything (sneak preview) I missed in my December - March hiatus? Here’s food for thought from Pat Paulsen’s run for the Whitehouse - 40 years ago - in 68’. LBJ bowed out --- HHH took on RMN --- Funny how things look a lot now like they did in 1968.... watch and decide—http://tinyurl.com/26wo34—smile ... richie
Posted by Richie on from st cloud n ft myers, fl 03/03 at 09:31 AMRMJ...4...The same thing happened at Bucks County court house in Doylestown, PA...70 people went to the hospital with unusual respiratory problems, in one day. The remainder of this story is nuts and I don’t feel like telling it. Prosecute all government officials.
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/03 at 10:07 AM........and Presidential candidate PAT PAULSEN—in his own words ...—http://tinyurl.com/36bdjj ---- I guess you had to be there .. richie ... ps .... Protest permits for the NRC convention in August 08’ --- St Paul, MN—are now being accepted by the St Paul Police Department. However, it is doubtful that any will be processed until late May at the earliest !!
Posted by Richie on from st cloud / n ft myers,fl 03/03 at 10:16 AMRMJ...by the way, the Vermont Secession movement is gaining momentum...as it should. Visit Vermont Commons or 2nd Vermont Republic if you get a chance.
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/03 at 10:20 AMHm, maybe you could post the MZ/RMJ candidacy as a permanent links somewhere on the main page, and have the Nader/Gonzalez ones on the day’s posts? Something like that. And about people doing what’s always in their best interests and for their survival and all that-- well if that were completely true, the tobacco companies wouldn’t be profiting so much, would they?
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/03 at 12:30 PMGood point, James. I guess it’s the role of the corporate media to obscure what “our best interests” are.
Also, I’ll ask Nancy (who manages this site and Press Action) about posting the MZ/RMJ links elsewhere. Thanks. P.S. Really hope to see you next week.
Richie: My novel is coming out in June (I hope). I’llpost more as I know it.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/03 at 12:41 PMThe tobacco companies are doing well, getting young people in other countries addicted to cigarettes...start em out early, customer for years...if that isn’t a predator at it’s worst!
Very good documentary done on this subject.
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/03 at 12:53 PMAt the worst, I’ll be a little late… but Mondays have been slow here lately so it’s looking like I’ll be able to leave in time. Looking forward to it and so I’ll give all the Expendables a report the next day!
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/03 at 01:15 PMAnd hey has anyone seen Thank you for Smoking? I’ve heard good things about it, hope to get to it soon:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0427944/
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/03 at 01:36 PMJOS...About last night’s 60 Minutes report on the Active Denial System - Here is a link to what I wrote about it in 2005. 60 Minutes is a little late with this report. I also have a more recent article on the topic up on MWC titled Hi Tech Torture.
http://tinyurl.com/ezqhsrichie...good to see that you are back.
Robert...Cynthia will get her day if the voters ever wake up. I understand why Nader did not pick her. His view is that voters should have a wide choice. NADER WILL BE ON THE JOHN STEWART SHOW TOMORROW.
joe...I do visit Vt Commons once in a while. Some of the fringe groups here are correct on one issue but not on other issues. One so-called lefty group in VT recently sent around a petition scapegoating immigrants. I caught that campaign immediately and challenged it. It came to an abrupt end shortly after.
James...My next Nader graphic is designed with you in mind.
Again, congrats to Mickey on his new book!
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 01:39 PM...on another note...appears the nice war mongering faction of israel, washington’s boss, is having a field day bombing the crap out of Palestine. Expansionism is hell on Native People’s...as the world doesn’t watch or care…
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/03 at 01:39 PM...and yesterday we had a missile strike in Somalia. I wonder how many innocent children and others were killed.
Today I received a phone call from Minnesota - the Obama camp. They wanted to know who I plan to vote for. I asked the caller if she knew Obama’s position on nuclear power and if she knew he planned to increase the size of the military. The caller answered that that information was being handled by another department. I told her that I had already voted for the Socialist candidate and would be voting for Nader in the General Election.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 01:59 PMI believe that my life in HP printer hell is about to end. I just packed it up. The best tech in the entire area could not install it!!! This guy is a ham and is one of the smartest techs in Vt. He worked on it for hours (for which I will be billed). I asked HP if they would pay the tech bill. Of course they said “NO”, but I thought I’d ask.
I plan to exchange the HP for an Epson CX8400. Anybody know anything about this one?Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 02:04 PMJames—Here’s the preview of THANK YOU FOR SMOKING ..... classic lines and great scenes—http://tinyurl.com/22s6r6—RMJ ..... I discovered the sun shines everyday—whether one knows it or not ... I know and I am feeling it today.. richie—captcha says “greater” ...... for the power that community builds!!
Posted by Richie on from st cloud - n ft myers, fl 03/03 at 02:36 PMRMJ...sorry to hear about the HP, printer sucking blues...I think I’ll have a cigarette and contemplate HP and the criminal computer industry.
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/03 at 05:36 PMYeh joe...the HP was almost enough to make me want to inhale. Will the Epson be just as cruel? And another thing - why is printer ink so expensive - seems like a scam to me.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 06:04 PMRichie...I noticed that things seemed a bit better today. Was it because the sun was shining or becuase I am saying good-by to HP?
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 06:07 PMIntroducing Brian Moore - one more good one. I voted for him in the Primary - will stick with Nader in the General.
http://tinyurl.com/yq8sv9Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 06:14 PMInteresting discussion at the WSJ on health care.
http://tinyurl.com/3bd6fnPosted by RMJ on from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/03 at 06:33 PMHello Expendables. I wish I had something useful to say about printers, RMJ...but alas, I don’t. Good luck.
Also, for now, I’ve lumped all the candidates together in the main post. Whaddya think?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/03 at 08:08 PMI recently quit smoking, about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was just debating in my mind whether I should go outside and bum a cig off somebody cause I just wanted one so bad but then I read this. i think I’ll go get half a gallon of milk and some honey and have a bowl of oatmeal tomorrow morning instead.
Posted by name2unique on from Bronx, New York 03/03 at 10:08 PM
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