My Beauty Best Teacher

The 4^th of July
In a late-night showdown after a near-fatal chase, San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer has to make an instantaneous decision - and sets off a chain of events that leaves a police force disgraced and an entire city divided. As summer comes into full swing, Lindsay and her friends in the Women's Murder Club battle for her life on two fronts: before a judge an jury as her trial comes to a climax, and facing unknown adversaries who will do anything to keep her from the truth.

The 5^th Horseman
It is a wild race against time as Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer and the newest member of the Women's Murder Club, attorney Yuki Castellano, lead an investigation into a string of mysterious patient deaths and reveal a hospital administration determined to shield its reputation at all costs. While the hospital wages an explosive court battle that grips the entire nation, the Women's Murder Club hunts for a merciless killer among its esteemed medical staff.

The 6^th Target
While Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano prepares to prosecute the toughest trial of her life, the city is in the grip of a chilling crime spree. Children of well-to-do families are being abducted. But the kidnappings are followed by devastating silence -no demand for ransom. Working frantically with her new partner, Lindsay Boxer struggles to find the connection that will help them make sense of these horrific crimes.

 

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My minister always says if you passed a test then you have a testimony. I am sharing this very personal story because recently I passed a test. One of my favorite biblical passages is aptly titled "For Everything There Is A Season." I have written about it here on my blog before. I hope that none of you will comment negatively on my blog this morning because today I am celebrating . Today is my season, my little boy, Blake (now five years older and a grown young man of 19 years) returned back home to his family of origin.

Blake was abducted from me almost five years ago this year. Many lies were told by a vindictive ex which propelled me into a legal court battle that defied reason. To fight this battle in court it cost me thousands and thousands of dollars and appearances before more than 12 judges . I was willing to pay whatever the cost so that I could continue to have a relationship with my son. Every legal door I opened somehow was closed on me despite the obvious evidence. In one instant of a judge's ruling- it felt like I had lost everything. I remember thinking in the parking lot that day- what is to become of me ? After all I had a full-time job but I also had spent the last 15 years being someones mommy. I imagined- what will I do now ?

I vowed to never become bitter or take out my anger on anyone because of what happened to me. I turned to God for guidance even though I didn't have a strong spiritual connection. I asked the question if not be a mother, what is it that you would have me do ? The answer to this question became my quest. I read the bible over and over again and even purchased many soul searching books. The answer eventually became clear to me symbolically. I was to use my talents to help others in need . I also developed a closer spiritual connection and joined a church.

Somehow many problems have landed conveniently at my doorstep. I use to say out loud- nobody's home, my plate is full, can't you see I 'm busy God ?

I remember thinking, what next? First my cousin Brice asked me to sign legal papers to be his medical power of attorney (MOA). I thought why not, we aren't going to get really sick before we are at least 90. Little did I know within 6 months, Brice was in a coma. Had I really took the time to understand my role as a MOA- I would have never signed onto this job at least not in my right state of mind. I made the decision that Brice would not be taken off a ventilator when the hospital and his grown daughters urged me regularly to pull the plug. I vowed to the hospital that like the legal agreement I signed, they would have to kill me or die trying to prove to me that there is not even a remote chance that Brice could regain consciousness ever. I studied the Internet on ventilator statistics . I became a resident expert on Brice's condition and questioned many of the doctors' questionable practices. They hated me but eventually came around to my way of thinking that there was a possibility that Brice would wake up. I think the medical staff only tolerated me really until one day I came to visit and there Brice was sitting up in bed. He winked at me and mouthed the words I love you. Later he told me this is why I picked you to be the MOA- you are fanatical in everything you do. I responded - I am, I didn't know that. I reasoned had I been a parent I would not been able to assume such a responsibility and help save Brice's life or develop a much closer relationship with him.

Even though I worked with Brice until he got released back home, the sad news is that Brice decided to give up on life without even telling me. He stopped taking his medication and all therapies unbeknownst to me, even though he had come such a long way. I was Brice's biggest cheerleader and he was mine. When I doubted my son would return home, Brice would light into me like I into him when he tried to stop believing that he would get better. I hope Brice is smiling down on me this morning. My only regret is he didn't live to see what he already knew would be.

Next came another challenge, I was asked to run on the union executive board slate on the Hicks/Nicholson campaign. Actually the race was quite close and we lost. I thought that was probably it for me as far as being a union officer. I convinced myself to believe I tried my best and it didn't work out. I had planned to spend some more time being a long earned couch potato. That didn't happen.

Challenge number 3- a colleague asked me to become the WTU Building representative after all she was retiring. I thought- hmmf are you kidding me ? She gave me a litany of reasons why I was the only one and I would be good for this job. At the time we had a lot of issues with one crazy, crazy boss. I knew that it could easily become another full time job. I longed for something to do while I mourned losing Brice. I was swamped with complaints from our members. I wrote emails into the night on members behalf. While I was burning the midnight oil, I enjoyed it immensely and ran 2 more times successfully. I was quite content just being a building rep. Then I was approached about running on another union slate as a board of trustee. I thought perhaps this would be a great opportunity to help our union, teachers and school related staff in a broader capacity. Of course we won and the rest is history. It lead to me writing this blog. Destiny ?

This past Friday, I was given an award titled 'Visionary' by my colleagues and program managers. While some other colleagues were given other awards- somehow the distinction of being a visionary humbled me. I was touched because I think that all that I have done for others was not of my own doing. I truly believe I was destined to be just who I have become. I had to lose my son for a reason so that I could be in this place. What's odd is that while I was just passing time awaiting Blake's return- I really wasn't waiting because I embraced my role and accepted my lot telling myself- it's not your season to be a mother. Time has really flown by fast. I cried through my pain the first 3 years of this ordeal. Sometimes, I didn't know if I was crying for Brice, crying for Blake or crying for myself. Heaven has many of my tears in a bottle to prove this. Little did I know while-I became engrossed in order to save my own sanity I found my true passion- the labor movement, albeit late.

This Saturday night I got a call from my aunt. Blake left of his own volition on Wednesday night from the controlling imprisonment of an alienating father. For those of you who don't know- there is a syndrome called parental alienation syndrome known as PAS where one parent tries to erase the other parent from a child's life by denigrating the other parent and brainwashing the child into a spiral of hatred against the targeted parent. In studies of thousands of custody cases, psychiatrists and psychologists have compared this syndrome to being in a cult. What we know about cults is that the cult leader (the father in this case) tries to deny contact from almost anyone from the outside world. The child complies in order to survive as well as others who reside with the cult leader. It leads to the child's virtual imprisonment and ultimate control by the leader or father in this case. This is what happened to us. After extensive research, PAS support groups, my participation in clinical studies , talks with my lawyers, I have better come to understand this syndrome.

I did not sleep at all last night. In fact I am still up and its 5:30 in the morning. I am not losing sleep for the same reasons that I did in the past. Tonight is the answer to a mother's long awaited prayers. Welcome home Blake! Thank you God- you're awesome ! I love and miss you too Brice- you will always be in my heart. For all of you who stood by me during these difficult times you know who you are and what you have meant to my survival. A 'special thanks' to my family. I thank you for all the times you listened and encouraged me to persevere. The names of my family members have been changed to protect them. (Posted by The Washington Teacher).

Not all national debt is the same. The total or gross national debt is the sum of the "debt held by the public" and "intragovernmental" debt. As of February 2011, the "debt held by the public" was $9.6 trillion and the "intragovernmental debt" was $4.6 trillion, for a total of $14.2 trillion.

Intragovernmental debt represents U.S. Treasury securities that are bought and held in accounts which are administered by the United States Government, and includes such accounts as the 'Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund', 'Federal Employee Retirement Funds,' 'Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund,' and many others. The debt held by the public represents all federal securities held by institutions or individuals outside the United States Government, such as foreign nations that buy US securities, individuals who buy US securities, or banks/institutions that buy US securities. The debt held by the public represents in many ways a better measure of the amount of debt that the United States government owes to the outside world, and so let's take a look at the recent growth of this debt:

This picture shows the growth of the amount of debt held by the public from 1971 to today, with projections into the future. The source of the original graph was the Congressional Budget Office. I then went ahead and color-coded the graph to represent which political parties were in control of our national government at the time.

The conclusion that I have reached is that the party that controls Congress matters a lot more than the party that controls the Presidency in determining the amount of debt that our nation owes to the public. Under Republican Presidents, the debt went up and down by small amounts. Under Democrat Presidents, the debt decreased by a large amount and exploded by a large amount. But when you look at the party in control of Congress you see the largest changes in the amount of debt. Democrat control of Congress has been responsible for the most increases in the debt, while Republican control of Congress was responsible for the largest decreases and stability.

Based on this data, I suggest that next election you pay more attention to who you are voting for in Congress- we need to make sure that Republicans are in control of both the House and Senate by strong and sizable majorities. It is of lesser importance who controls the White House, although I would venture to guess that a Clinton Democrat is different enough than a radical Obama Democrat that in this upcoming election it does matter who is President, and it needs to be anyone other than Obama (a moderate Democrat or a Republican).

Yesterday I wrote a post on how Obama's debt, and to a lesser degree the debt that would be piled up even under the GOP's 'extreme' proposal, is going to be destroy the life, liberty, and property of my children and grandchildren. They are going to grow up in a world less secure because our nation will owe money to nations ranging from Middle Eastern oil dictatorships to communist China, our children will have lesser fire and police and hospital and library services than we enjoy today, inflation will destroy savings and inheritances and businesses passed on, Social Security will be gone (or exist in a much diminished manner), Medicare will be gone (or exist in a much diminished manner), higher education will be too expensive except for the richest of the youth, and our society will be one which rewards those children whose parents have political connections and not those children who work hard and innovate. A Leviathan will rule over my children and grandchildren, controlling their actions and dictating to them in a poor society that is yet a shadow of what America used to be, all thanks to liberal and progressives and their failed policies which have destroyed the financial and moral foundations of nations, states, and cities already.

Robert Knight at the Washington Post summarizes Obama’s energetic war on the young, who continue to support Obama even though these naive college kids don’t realize that big-government servitude awaits them. Here is what Obama is passing on to our next generation, the most treasured resource we have, our youth and posterity:

Students and parents seeking to borrow for college are now denied a private option, with Uncle Sam taking over all federally backed student loans courtesy of sleight of hand in the Obamacare bill. The Department of Education is harassing for-profit colleges such as the University of Phoenix and Strayer University, which provide useful courses for prospective employees, particularly young people without a standard college degree.

Unemployment was 25.7 in February for teenagers and 15.7 percent for those 20 to 24 years old, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Recent college grads are despairing of landing anything above the fast-food counter, where they face stiff competition from millions of recent immigrants. Businesspeople won’t hire because they know the Obamacrats see the rule of law as merely a speed bump on the way to more top-down management by Uncle Sam.

Our relatively healthy stock market reflects not so much a recovery as an indicator that businesses are happier with their bottom lines now that they have fewer employees. Benefits are disappearing as well as employers run scared from Obamacare and regulation-crazed bureaucrats. With every employee representing a plethora of federal, state and local obligations, you can’t blame businesses for trying to do more with fewer. This is not good for those kids clutching their degrees and entering the job market.

The national deficit is careening upward of $1.6 trillion this year, with a projected debt of $24 trillion by 2021. Those young people applauding Mr. Obama so heartily are the very ones with bull’s-eyes on their backs for ruinous tax increases in their prime earning years. They also are going to find out that Social Security has been a huge Ponzi scheme, with them as the “marks.”

Young people love the Internet. It is one of the last unfettered, cutting-edge technologies. Well, enjoy it while you can, kids. Mr. Obama’s Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and two Democratic commissioners decided in December that they needed no congressional authority to begin issuing net-neutrality regulations that could cripple innovation. If unchecked, this also could lead to government meddling with Internet content.

It takes a while to develop energy resources- decades to explore, drill, and transport oil, or to build cutting-edge nuclear power plants, or to build hydroelectric dams, and yet under Obama, all of these sorts of projects have been slowed or even halted, damaging the near and long term future of our nation- if he remains President for another 6 years, our nation will fall father and farther behind in developing energy and be forced to transfer more and more wealth to tyrants overseas just because Obama and the Democrats are slaves to a failed Green God religion and its corrupting influence.

The very nature of Obamacare is to transfer wealth from young to old, by forcing healthy members of society who are choosing not to buy healthcare to buy healthcare and subsidize the old people in society who use it. The promise is there that someday they'll also get to join in the intergenerational theft, but when America's debt soars ever higher, that promise will not be followed through on, and besides, promises of intergenerational theft are still nothing more than theft.

America's youth will rue the day that they voted for Barack Obama on a naive promise of hope and change and togetherness. They will rue the day.

President Barack Obama says he wants projects helping specific states yanked from the health care bill Congress is writing. But since Obama's word means rather little (case in point, Obama said it is time to move on from healthcare and start talking about jobs and yet we're still on healthcare and not jobs) and because Obama is a rather weak President, the safe money is on the healthcare bill being filled with pork as no bill ever in this history our republic has been filled with pork. Look for hundreds of projects 'helping specific states' which were traded for votes on this corrupt and backroom-deal created healthcare bill.

The latest version, if one can keep track of what is what in this awful non-lawful process, includes some of the following projects. Although each of these projects may indeed be worthy, they should be judged in the context of available funds (none- in fact, we're already swimming in debt and deficits) and whether or not they are a necessary priority to be spending our scarce resources on as a nation. Here are some of the projects:

• $600 million will be given over the next decade to Vermont for Medicaid assistance, and another nearly $600 million will be to Massachusetts. The other 48 states will not receive this give-away, for reasons unknown.
• Connecticut would get $100 million to build a hospital. Hospitals in other states would receive no assistance because they lack the political connections to game the corrupt system the Democrats are running.
• 800,000 Florida seniors would be allowed to keep certain Medicare benefits. It is unknown why they were chosen for this gift, but in a tyranny, one does not expect rule of law and fairness to be the norm.
• Asbestos-disease victims in tiny Libby, Montana, and some coal miners with black lung disease or their widows would get help. Everyone else suffering these diseases will pay increased taxes and fees on a wide range of products and services to divert money to these chosen people, likely in exchange for a 'yes' vote on the final bill.
• Cash prizes are awarded for Louisiana, the Dakotas, and other states, because fake reasons couldn't even be invented to give these away, so instead Obama and the Democrats in Congress are just simply bribing people for their votes without even pretending it is for essential goals.
• Supposedly the Cornhuster Kickback is going to be removed- this specific bribe gave $100 million in extra Medicaid money to Nebraska to help win support from that state’s Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. There will be discussion about removing this one piece (but not about the other 100 bribes), but I bet in the end, it's in the bill.
• Obama and the Democrats are not going to take out the extra $300 million for Louisiana because they really need Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu's vote on this bill, so that bribe will stay in, and the reason given will be 'Hurricane Katrina aid' or something.

This healthcare bill is what is wrong with America. It needs to be defeated. If you have been sitting on the sidelines during this process, shame on you- get off your butt, make some phone calls, send out some letters, and go to some tea parties.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery centre, Noma Children's Hospital Sokoto
Energy in Africa – time to think across borders?
Jaynii StreetWise festival and Cultural Troupe via Kadmus Arts
Nigeria's history of violence Omotade Aina speaks via Opal Tometi
NGOs should let aid recipients decide how money is spent
Notes on Abuja's recent digital bridge conference-Ethan Zuckerman
The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa...What do they actually do?

Sebri Omer founder of the Yemage Medical Center asserted that:

I vowed to become active and support a medical renaissance in the country. My vision graduated into the establishment of a new hospital, with the latest technological medical facilities and treatments. This is a significant move in the right direction. It will also encourage others to take similar steps to assist the people of this region. In this way, Ethiopians can help themselves and improve their health conditions.

via Ethioblog
See DarynKagan update:

After the tragedies in Fort Hood, our President visited wounded soldiers and their families and thanked Fort Hood's military leaders and hospital staff for the "amazing care they are providing." Not our sitting President- he has been busy in Washington playing politics with healthcare. It was former President George W. Bush who visited these soldiers and tried to bring them and their families a small measure of comfort.

President Barack Obama will attend a memorial service for the fallen soldiers on Tuesday. The White House did not clarify what he will be doing for the wounded soldiers, their families, or the people at the base who are working so hard. The White House also did not say how it would thank the hero's out of this tragedy.

In fact, other than an occasional statement, the White House seems more annoyed that this real tragedy happened, because it has forced them to divert their attention away from enacting the tragic healthcare bill on the American people.

Obama doesn't visit, doesn't go on national TV, and doesn't do anything big to honor the fallen after one of the worst shootings on a military base in the history of this country. It falls to former President Bush to meet with these families and soldiers, quietly and in secret so as to not make Obama look bad, while Obama works over politicians and special interest groups in Washington DC before he can make a show of a ceremony on Tuesday.

Watching how Obama treats our nation is making me increasingly angry, and this is just more evidence that we elected a President who cares most about himself and his schemes and not about other people and the tragedies of our nation.

John Campbell writes CFR:

President Umaru Yar'adua appears likely to leave office soon. Nigeria's king makers--the country's competing and cooperating power brokers--seem poised to reassign presidential duties and responsibilities elsewhere because the ailing president can no longer exercise them.

More here

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• Nigeria's future, president's power in question (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
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CS Monitor reports on the work of physician Denis Mukwege:

Image of Denis Mukwege courtesy of King Baudouin Foundation

“Everyday I operate on 10 women,” says Mukwege. “And there are hundreds more who are waiting.”Mukwege and his staff at Panzi have treated more than 30,000 women, most of them survivors of sexual assault, since he opened the hospital in 1999. Since then, a vicious war that has displaced and killed millions of Congolese has officially ended – yet, every day, Mukwege meets more women with lives and bodies ravaged by violence...[continue reading]

We present the concluding part of Rina Okonkwo's article on corruption see part 1 here:

The military coup of January 15, 1966 was a direct response to the corruption of the First Republic. The popular support for the coup showed that people rejected corruption. Despite the brutality of killings of First Republic politicians, there was widespread rejoicing in the country for the acts. The assassinations of the Minister of Finance Chief FS Okotie-Eboh, who was notorious for flaunting his ill-gotten wealth, Premier of the Western Region, Samuel Akintola, nicknamed “rigging” and Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, the Premier of the Northern Region, “whose wardrobe was the most elaborate in the world,” were applauded.13 The coup eliminated “the old brigade of politicians who were destitute of public spirit.” 14

The Ironsi government instituted a series of commissions of inquiry into affairs of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, Nigeria Airways, and the Nigeria Ports Authority. The report on the Ports Authority revealed that a number of ministers, including Okotie-Eboh, Ribadu, and R.Njoku had formed companies and used their influence to secure contracts.15 In Nigeria Airways, the minister, K. O. Mbadiwe had interfered with award of contracts to a company not registered in the register of companies. K.O. had gone against the board to send “Operation Fantastic,” the maiden flight of Nigeria Airways to New York. Friends and relations of the minister travelled free to New York. Many stayed on in the United States. Chief Dafe, the chairman of the board, was found guilty of hiring many unnecessary party workers in the airline. “Chief Dafe did not know the difference between Nigeria Airways and the party headquarters of the NCNC.” 16

Dr. Ikejiani, Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, was found guilty of misallocation of funds and disregarding the Board and recognized procedures of the NRC. When Ikejiani became the Chairman, he was in debt. Ikejiani left the NRC with a fleet of cars and buildings. The building of the Railway medical centre, which was estimated cost L75, 000, was inflated to L440, 000. The inquiry thought Ikejiani had diverted railway funds to build his private hospital. The architect for the medical center designed a building for Ikejiani in Lagos free of charge. The panel recommended that Ikejiani never again hold public office. 17

The zeal to punish the wrong doers of the First Republic died with the Gowon coup of July 1966. The politicians in detention were freed. Corruption increased. “Youths knew no other life than corruption.” “One could steal if he shared with those in the right places.”18

The coup of 1975 was an attempt to end corruption. Murtala Mohammed began by declaring his assets and asking all government officials to follow his example. Murtala instituted a series of probes of past leaders. The Federal Assets Investigation Panel of 1975 found ten of the twelve state governors in the Gowon regime guilty of corruption.
One of the exonerated military governors, Rotimi, was later appointed to head a commission of inquiry in 2000. The guilty persons were dismissed with ignominy and forced to give up property in excess of earnings.

The Belgore Inquiry investigated the “Cement Armada.” The Gowon government had imported sixteen million metric tons of cement at a cost of N557 million. Millions of Naira was lost in demurrage charges, as the cement rotted in the seas outside of Lagos. The ports were too congested to enable ships off-load their cargoes. The inquiry noted that the Ministry of Defence needed only 2.9 million tons of cement at a cost of N52million. The orders were inflated for private profit at great cost to the government.19

State governments held similar commissions of inquiry. Corrupt officials were dismissed with immediate effect and asked to refund the money they had stolen. Murtala was assassinated after only two hundred days in office. The Obasanjo regime did not show the same zeal in its prosecution of wrongdoers.

The Second Republic, under President Shehu Shagari, saw a resurgence of corruption. Shagari was ineffective in stopping the looting of public funds by the democratically elected officials. On December 31st, 1983, General Buhari led a popular coup with the aim of halting corruption. Buhari arrested the state governors and commissioners and brought them before tribunals of inquiry. All accounts of politicians were frozen.

In less than two years, Babangida replaced the reformist Buhari regime. The next fourteen years saw no serious attempt to stop corruption. Leaders found guilty in tribunals under Mohammed and Buhari found their way back to public life and recovered seized property. Wole Soyinka observed that for Abacha to launch a war against corruption was a “huge joke.”

The Third Republic has instituted numerous commissions of inquiry. The Oputa panel and the Akanbi Commission have investigated corruption. Yet all the commissions of inquiry and reports have not stopped corruption. The Transparency Index rated Nigeria the number two corrupt country in the world in 2001.

An historical look at corruption in Nigeria demonstrates that rhetoric against corruption does not end corruption. All the inspiring words of our leaders and journalists have not changed anyone. We have heard the most eloquent appeals and strongest language castigating wrongdoers to no avail. Azikiwe and Shagari were two excellent writers who did not act to stop corruption of their party members and colleagues.

From our survey of corruption in Nigeria, it would appear that change in Nigeria must come from the grass roots and not from the leaders. The British realized, as far back as 1947, that an educated, enlightened citizenry was the key to stopping corruption. Government could not legislate an end to corruption. Punishment of wrongdoers, while necessary, was not sufficient to stop corruption.

In his comparison of corruption in Nigeria and Britain, Ronald Wraith pointed to the need for education in good character and the importance of diffusion of wealth, power, and education in the society. There was need to build a tradition of disinterested public service. In Britain, responsible government began with the emergence of people who entered government service after they had amassed substantial wealth. They joined government, not to increase their fortunes, but to contribute to the country. When the people of Nigeria reject corruption, they will demand and receive good behavior from their leaders.

When discussing interest groups in my government classes, I always try to bring up the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement as an example of how interest groups and government can work together to create laws that benefit both of them. The tobacco settlement is a good example of a way that the government can try to regulate things in our society that are viewed as harmful, and many people think government should try to use this sort of an agreement as a basis for similar agreements between the government and any industry that supposedly does something harmful.

That's not my view of this agreement. I view the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement as the tobacco industry trading liability for protection, and paying money to make the government force competitors out of business. I view the TMSA as government-endorsed thuggery, the collusion between the four biggest tobacco companies and the government, setting up a marketplace much the way the mob does where the government only allows certain people to compete, and only then at a price, and in return for that price they are not responsible for the harm their products produce and do not have to worry about competition.

Go back a couple years ago and read this article from Reason Magazine called Puff, the Magic Settlement.

This just isn't old history. Today Jonah Goldberg in an article called 'Big Business' Democrats reminded me of this agreement. The TMSA is viewed as a model of success by many to emulate. They think that if you sit Big Business and Big Government down at the table together, magically Big Business will pay millions of dollars in damages and no longer cause problems. They don't realize that there was a deal made, and the deal was to screw over the American public so that both Business and Government would win.

Cap-and-trade is a similar agreement to the one the tobacco industry struck. The winners are big energy businesses, the losers are the people. In this agreement GE and other major energy companies stand to make billions from carbon pricing, thanks largely to investments in technologies that cannot survive in a free market without massive subsidies from Uncle Sam. GE chief Jeffrey Immelt cheerleads big government as "an industry policy champion, a financier and a key partner."

Healthcare is a similar agreement to the one the tobacco industry struck. The winners are big healthcare businesses, the losers are the people. The healthcare industry has mostly been trying to cut insider deals with the government, not fighting to defend the status quo, and if the healthcare bill goes forward, Big Pharma and Big Hospital will have figured out a way to transfer billions of dollars to them and keep them safe from competition, while politicians will cheer what they call 'reforms.'

The backbone of America is freedom to enter the marketplace and protection of property from unjust takings. But when Big Business and Big Government work together, the Big Loser is America.

In my post America's Youth Will Rue the Day They Voted for Obama I wrote:

...(the national debt piled up under the recent budgets of President Obama) is going to destroy the life, liberty, and property of my children and grandchildren. They are going to grow up in a world less secure because our nation will owe money to nations ranging from Middle Eastern oil dictatorships to communist China, our children will have lesser fire and police and hospital and library services than we enjoy today, inflation will destroy savings and inheritances and businesses passed on, Social Security will be gone (or exist in a much diminished manner), Medicare will be gone (or exist in a much diminished manner), higher education will be too expensive except for the richest of the youth, and our society will be one which rewards those children whose parents have political connections and not those children who work hard and innovate. A Leviathan will rule over my children and grandchildren, controlling their actions and dictating to them in a poor society that is yet a shadow of what America used to be, all thanks to liberal and progressives and their failed policies which have destroyed the financial and moral foundations of nations, states, and cities already....

...our nation will fall father and farther behind in developing energy and be forced to transfer more and more wealth to tyrants overseas just because Obama and the Democrats are slaves to a failed Green God religion and its corrupting influence.

The very nature of Obamacare is to transfer wealth from young to old, by forcing healthy members of society who are choosing not to buy healthcare to buy healthcare and subsidize the old people in society who use it. The promise is there that someday they'll also get to join in the intergenerational theft, but when America's debt soars ever higher, that promise will not be followed through on, and besides, promises of intergenerational theft are still nothing more than theft.

America's youth will rue the day that they voted for Barack Obama on a naive promise of hope and change and togetherness. They will rue the day....

My prediction was that someday in the future, America's youth will look back on the election of 2008 and think to themselves that they should not have voted for him because in this distant future America's youth will be unemployed and facing crumbling foundations and massive debt. My prediction was wrong- it turns out, America's youth should be ruing the day right now that they voted for Obama, because now none of them have jobs:

Just 55.3 percent of Americans between 16 and 29 have jobs.

That means that almost half of all young people are not getting any job experience and are not gaining critical job skills, and in the decades to come, now will be a lost period during which the future did not set themselves up for a brighter future. Instead the young are draining the resources of other productive people in society by living at home and eating food paid for by their parents, who could have been using using that money to invest or save for retirement or give to charity.

Although I was not able to find any information to compare 55.3% to from the Department of Labor, I was able to find a paper which suggests a pre-Obama employment rate for 16 to 29 year olds of 65%. This suggests that the addition of variable "President Obama" to the American economic equation resulted in an increase in 1 in 10 young people not being able to find a job due to his job-killing policies.

The reason why these young people can not find jobs is not because 'Bush lied and soldiers died' in Iraq, it is not because Bush didn't stop global warming, it is not because the Republicans are 'obstructing' tax increases and increased government spending, and it is not because 'tea party people are racist.' The reason why young people can not find jobs is that legislation and policies passed by Obama and the Democrats make it more expensive to hire workers (such as increased healthcare costs associated with Obamacare), make it more risky to expand production (when government policies could change and turn on any sort of industry), when being productive makes you more of a target (the 'evil rich' are being attacked by class-warfare playing Obama), and that the government is encouraging young people to not get jobs by pushing more student loans on them and getting them covered on their parents insurance longer.

Young people, because they are up-and-coming and energetic and healthy and productive and strong, should vote conservative and Republican, so that government gets off their backs and lets them be all that they can be.

Angola is making a bid to become Africa's leading contemporary culture centre, Louise Redvers reports on an interview with Fernando Alvim (president of the Fundação Sindika Dokolo) where he states:

“She started before she was ready,” he says. “We had the liberation struggle, then the civil war and all this time Angola was a child in an incubator, feeling the violence around her and suffering through each power cut in the hospital. Now, after the election, we have to see that there is a new beginning: Angola is ready; ready to grow, ready to develop.” ...If you have political and economic development like we have here, you need also cultural development. And this is a wonderful time for art in the country...[continue reading(PDF)]”

This article is part of a larger piece (in the Sonangol magazine) on Luanda's aspirations to becoming an alternate Dubai-A New African city:

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• Angola's economic miracle

In one of the most hotly anticipated sequels in memory, J.K. Rowling takes up where she left with Harry's second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Old friends and new torments abound, including a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, an outrageously conceited professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, and a mysterious force that turns Hogwarts students to stone.

Editorial Reviews

It's hard to fall in love with an earnest, appealing young hero like Harry Potter and then to watch helplessly as he steps into terrible danger! And in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the much anticipated sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he is in terrible danger indeed. As if it's not bad enough that after a long summer with the horrid Dursleys he is thwarted in his attempts to hop the train to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his second year. But when his only transportation option is a magical flying car, it is just his luck to crash into a valuable (but clearly vexed) Whomping Willow. Still, all this seems like a day in the park compared to what happens that fall within the haunted halls of Hogwarts.
Chilling, malevolent voices whisper from the walls only to Harry, and it seems certain that his classmate Draco Malfoy is out to get him. Soon it's not just Harry who is worried about survival, as dreadful things begin to happen at Hogwarts. The mysteriously gleaming, foot-high words on the wall proclaim, "The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." But what exactly does it mean? Harry, Hermione, and Ron do everything that is wizardly possible--including risking their own lives--to solve this 50-year-old, seemingly deadly mystery. This deliciously suspenseful novel is every bit as gripping, imaginative, and creepy as the first; familiar student concerns--fierce rivalry, blush-inducing crushes, pedantic professors--seamlessly intertwine with the bizarre, horrific, fantastical, or just plain funny. Once again, Rowling writes with a combination of wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre that will leave readers young and old desperate for the next installment. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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The race for Congress is getting pretty intense around the nation, and sometimes people ask me what Congressman get paid and what benefits they get. They're substantial, so I'll run them down for you.

First, Congress sets its own pay and benefits, although under the 27th Amendment, passed in 1992, any compensation increases they pass don’t go into effect until the next election (although that's not really a big barrier though, since the re-election rate for incumbents is about 90% for the House and 80% in the Senate).

Congressman earn $162,000, with annual cost-of-living increases, with leadership positions earning more more. Expenses related to job are reimbursed. They get free use of government transportation (jets, cars, etc). Free publication and distribution of government records, maps, pamphlets. Franking privilege (free postal mail to constituents back home). Fully equipped offices in DC and in home district or state. Pagers, cell phones, internet access, and other technology provided. A considerable amount of funding is available to hire staff to support them. Free unlimited long-distance telephone service. Generous tax exemptions and IRS help with tax returns. Free hospital visits, legal counsel, photography services, car washes, and potted plants. Low cost life insurance, barber and beauty shops, gym and fitness facilities, and cafeteria services are provided. Oh, they get to park in special places when they drive.

Perhaps the biggest benefits though of being a Congressman are their health care plan, where for a modest premium members enjoy the best possible health care in the world, or their pension plan, which estimates that a member who serves several years in Congress will be paid $50K a year thereafter.

Oh, and after a member retires or gets kicked out of office, they can easily get a job lobbying their former friends and colleagues and make millions that way.

Yeah, being a Congressman is a good gig.

Suggested book to read related to this post: Congressional Pay and Perks: Salaries, Pension and Retirement, Franking, Travel, and Other Benefits for U.S. Senators and Representatives