{"id":270,"date":"2010-04-16T12:43:38","date_gmt":"2010-04-16T20:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.richgibson.com\/blog\/?p=270"},"modified":"2010-04-17T12:13:23","modified_gmt":"2010-04-17T20:13:23","slug":"rouge-forum-update-special-tax-extortion-without-representation-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richgibson.com\/blog\/rouge-forum-update-special-tax-extortion-without-representation-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Rouge Forum Update: Special Tax Extortion Without Representation Edition!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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April 18 1783: Fighting ceases in the American Revolution<\/a>, eight years to the day since it began. The Dollar Soon Trumps the Democracy.<\/strong><\/dd>\n
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Send Your Articles, Photos, Cartoons, for the RF News to Community Coordinator Adam Renner (arenner@bellarmine.edu<\/a>). <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On the Little Rouge School Front: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

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\nOccupation in Puerto Rico:<\/strong> \u201cEducation cannot be seen through capital\u2019s narrow gaze or the market\u2019s whims. Such an education merely reproduces docile subjects and uncritical automatons.
\nLet us smash the machine!\u201d www.emancipating-education-for-all.org\/manifesto_upr_en<\/a><\/p>\n

Dumpster Diving CSU Students Uncover Palin Contract that Does Not Exist:<\/strong> \u201cStudents at Cal State Stanislaus have discovered evidence that documents related to an upcoming speaking engagement by Sarah Palin were shredded and dumped after the university claimed that no public documents existed, a state senator said on Tuesday.\u201d www.sfgate.com\/cgi-bin\/article.cgi?f=\/c\/a\/2010\/04\/13\/BABN1CU2I7.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0l1rYiALs<\/a><\/p>\n

AAUP FAQ\u2019s on the University and College Financial Crises: <\/strong>www.aaup.org\/aaup\/financial\/mainpage.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

NEA Promotes Test Prep (one of many on the Works4Me Site\u2013Ya Cannot Make This Up):<\/strong>
\n\u201cWe have a pep assembly for the third and fourth graders a couple of days before standardized testing starts. Two teachers pretend they are cheerleaders and shake pompoms as they give a ‘pep’ talk about doing a good job on the tests, getting a good night’s rest, etc. We have three teachers sit in desks and pretend to be examples of how not to take the test. One keeps turning around and bothering his neighbor, one cries, and one is not paying attention to directions. Another teacher is showing the ‘right’ way to take the test.\u201d
\nwww.nea.org\/tools\/tips\/19189.htm<\/a>
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\nJoel Cohen (fine Cranbrook boy) writes on the Obamagogue Education Project:<\/strong> \u201c\u201cMost people wanted students to develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving, social skills and work ethic, citizenship and community responsibility, physical and emotional health, love of the arts and literature … for skilled work that does not require a college degree,\u201d newsblaze.com\/story\/2010040906250500003.wi\/topstory.html<\/a><\/p>\n

UCEMEP Sweeps UC Student Government Elections, Promises Obedience and Loyalty!: <\/strong>www.dailycalifornian.org\/article\/1567\/ucmep_sweeps_asuc_elections.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Worst Education Journalist in the USA Touts Broadites in Detroit and DC (PBS\u2019 John Merrow is a lying punk): <\/strong>learningmatters.tv\/blog\/op-ed\/changes-in-detroit-dc-and-beyond\/4393\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Rhee Rediscovers DC School Budget But Plans to Use Savings from Layoffs for Raises\u2013What of the AFT Now that Weingarten Kissed the Pact? <\/strong>\u201cSaunders called the pact “blood money,” underwritten by the illegal firings of fellow teachers. “This is money off the backs of teachers,” Saunders said. “It is unconscionable for the union to be looking past this event…Rhee has said that she will not consider rehiring the teachers ” www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/content\/article\/2010\/04\/14\/AR2010041404847.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Florida Governor Crist Cuts Deal On Reactionary Education Bill, Support from FEA in Exchange for a Lesser Evil Bill Later:<\/strong> \u201cHis decision has also renewed speculation that he might drop out of the Republican primary for a United States Senate seat and run in the general election as an independent.\u201d www.nytimes.com\/2010\/04\/16\/us\/16teachers.html?ref=education<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAlways be sure you are right, then go ahead\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
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\nOn the Perpetual War Front:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Cost of War (you paid $7,334 in War Taxes Since 2001):<\/strong> www.costofwar.com\/<\/a>
\nYou can Count the Cost of War to Your Hometown Here:\u00a0 www.nationalpriorities.org\/costofwar_home<\/a><\/p>\n

US Flees Afghan Border Region: <\/strong>\u201cForty-two Americans died fighting in the Korangal Valley and hundreds were wounded, according to the military. Most died in the period from 2006 to 2009. Many Afghan soldiers died as well, and in larger numbers, since they had poorer equipment. In a war characterized by small, brutal battles, the Korangal had more than its share, and its abandonment has left soldiers who fought there confronting confusion, anger and pain.\u201d
\nwww.nytimes.com\/2010\/04\/15\/world\/asia\/15outpost.html?scp=1&sq=after%204%20years%20US%20abandons%20outpost%20in%20Afghan%20valley%20of%20death&st=cse<\/a><\/p>\n

And More on the Run From the Valley of Death:<\/strong> \u201cThe whole point of counterinsurgency is that by securing the local population, you legitimize the government of Afghanistan,\u201d said Major Fussell. \u201cBut the thing about the Korangal and Waygal Valleys is that they don\u2019t recognize any government beyond their little village, and when you go to them and say, \u2018we want to secure you and offer you a road\u2019 they say, \u2018we don\u2019t want a road.\u2019\u201d \u201cI would argue you couldn\u2019t find a single Korangali who wanted any outside assistance.\u201d atwar.blogs.nytimes.com\/2010\/04\/14\/leaving-the-korangal-valley\/<\/a>
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\nMercenaries\u2019 Deaths Rising in Afghanistan (lets call them what they are): <\/strong>\u201cOf the 289 civilians killed since the war began more than eight years ago, 100 have died in just the last six months. That’s a reflection of both growing violence and the importance of the civilians flooding into the country along with troops…The latest U.S. Department of Defense numbers show there are actually more civilian contractors on the ground in Afghanistan than there are soldiers. The Pentagon reported [2] 107,292 U.S.-hired civilian workers in Afghanistan as of February 2010, when there were about 78,000 soldiers..\u201d www.propublica.org\/feature\/contractor-deaths-accelerating-in-afghanistan-as-they-outnumber-soldiers<\/a>
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\nKarzai, The Next Diem:<\/strong> \u201cthe Karzai regime slid into an ever deepening state of corruption and incompetence, while NATO allies rushed to fill the void with their manpower and material, a de facto endorsement of the president\u2019s low road to power. As billions in international development aid poured into Kabul, a mere trickle escaped the capital\u2019s bottomless bureaucracy to reach impoverished villages in the countryside. In 2009, Transparency International ranked Afghanistan as the world\u2019s second most corrupt nation..\u2019Narco corruption went to the very top of the Afghan government.\u201d\u00a0 Earlier this year, the U.N. estimated that ordinary Afghans spend $2.5 billion annually, a quarter of the country\u2019s gross domestic product, simply to bribe the police and government officials\u201d www.tomdispatch.com\/post\/175233\/tomgram:_alfred_mccoy,_our_man_in_kabul\/<\/a>
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\nThanks a Million Vet; Now Try to Find a Job:<\/strong> \u201cDisturbing new statistics from the Labor Department show that one in three veterans under age 24 is unemployed – and that the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has jumped to 14.7 percent, half again as high as the national employment rate of 9.7 percent.\u201d
\nwww.navytimes.com\/news\/2010\/04\/military_veterans_unemployment_040210w\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Video: Be Nice to America or We Will Bring Democracy <\/strong>Down Upon You!: www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ee6SdmmCN5Y<\/a><\/p>\n

CIA Boss Laughs About Destruction of Torture Tapes:<\/strong> \u201cPorter J. Goss, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, in 2005 approved of the decision by one of his top aides to destroy dozens of videotapes documenting the brutal interrogation of two detainees, according to an internal C.I.A. document released Thursday\u201d www.nytimes.com\/2010\/04\/16\/us\/16tapes.html?hp<\/a><\/p>\n

CNN Ranks Detroit as One of Most Dangerous Cities in the World:<\/strong> “On just my street (Lakewood), the other day a man shot a 2-year-old girl during a dope deal; I saw the car zoom by the house,” he said. “Then, a few months ago, a father shot his son in the head over money. That happened just down the street. “Crime is expected here,” Hayes continued. “It’s like the old westerns — when you hear gunshots, you don’t even pay attention. Someone could get killed right next door and nobody would know.”
\nFrom The Detroit News: detnews.com\/article\/20100415\/METRO\/4150474#ixzz0lDaKkAmE<\/a>
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\nThe Solidarity Forever Front: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Florida Education Association Moves Fast To Crush Wildcat Action vs Bill that Would Abolish Teacher Tenure (Patriotism! Action! O Wait! Do Nothing!)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

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Sent: 4\/11\/2010 5:06:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time <\/dd>\n
Subj: Dear Members, <\/dd>\n
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\"Take <\/dd>\n
Dear Members, <\/dd>\n
FEA Legal Advice Against Work Action in Response to SB6<\/p>\n
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More Info<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/div>\n<\/dd>\n
Go to Work. Contact Governor to Veto SB6 <\/dd>\n
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There have been rumors of a possible sick-out tomorrow (Monday) in response to the passage of SB-6. <\/dd>\n
Please do not get involved in any such action. It could be deemed an illegal action! Please see the statement below from FEA General Counsel\/Director of Legal Services. It is important to report to work tomorrow on time and maintain normal behavior. Any other action would only make matter worse for everyone. Instead, please work to encourage the Governor to veto SB-6. His contact information is below Pam’s statement: <\/dd>\n
FEA Legal Advice Against Work Action in Response to SB6: <\/dd>\n
Earlier this week, FEA issued an email advising locals and members to not participate in any work action in the fallout of SB6\/HB7189. We\u00a0 continue to hear comments and reports of possible sick-outs in various\u00a0 locations.\u00a0 Even if these reports are deemed to be rumors, the potential negative impact if such actions were taken would undermine our\u00a0 ongoing political efforts to address this flawed legislation. <\/dd>\n
Moreover, such actions are counterproductive and might very well erode\u00a0 public support. <\/dd>\n
Let me be clear. FEA and its locals in no way support, endorse, or\u00a0 condone any such activity.\u00a0 We understand the frustrations but any\u00a0 concerted work action will not serve FEA and its members.\u00a0 Instead of\u00a0 focusing on the failure of the Legislature, public attention will be\u00a0 directed toward those that have taken this action. <\/dd>\n
FEA urges all of its locals and members to continue to express your\u00a0 views on this bad legislation and use your political voices to\u00a0 encourage a veto of the bill. <\/dd>\n
Any concerted work action will not help our cause. Please share this\u00a0 message with our members and encourage them to stand strong. <\/dd>\n
Pam Cooper <\/dd>\n
FEA General Counsel\/Director of Legal Services <\/dd>\n
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Contact him now! Governor Crist has publically indicated that he has concerns about this bill (see below). He can veto this bill anytime up until close of business next Friday, April 16th. <\/dd>\n
Governor Charlie Crist,The Capitol, <\/dd>\n
400 S. Monroe St., Plaza Level 05, <\/dd>\n
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001. <\/dd>\n
Governor’s e-mail: charlie.crist@myflorida.com<\/a> <\/a> <\/dd>\n
Gov. office Ph#: 850-488-7146 <\/dd>\n
If the voice mail is full try: Crist Campaign office: 850-907-1218 <\/dd>\n
or fax a message: 850-487-0801 <\/dd>\n
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SEIU Sues Its Own Members and Wins a Small Victory of Sorts:<\/strong> The gist of SEIU’s case was that the relationship between a national union and any of its local affiliates is just like the Bank of America’s relationship with branch banks.\u00a0 If the parent company wants to reorganize a branch or change its management in any way, there’s no legal basis for objecting.\u00a0 In the union context, local officers — even though elected by the membership — owe a greater “fiduciary duty” to the international union than to anyone else.\u00a0 They must comply with all headquarters decisions, even if dues-payers locally — the workers they represent — are opposed to them and these directives are clearly misguided. mrzine.monthlyreview.org\/2010\/early120410p.html<\/a>
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\nQuisling Gettlefinger Says So-Long, Suckers:<\/strong> \u201cHe is credited with convincing UAW members to vote for concessions on contracts that the union fought for decades to win. Those efforts included a landmark labor contract in 2007 that set up a retiree health care fund called the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust that the UAW manages.\u201d www.freep.com\/article\/20100414\/BUSINESS01\/100414048\/1318\/Gettelfinger-remains-hopeful-on-unions-auto-industry<\/a>
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\nStern Trails Gettlefinger Into the Door Marked \u201cRat\u201d:<\/strong> \u201cS.E.I.U. boasts that it spent $85 million in the 2008 campaigns and mobilized more than 150,000 members to do electoral work…In one measure of Mr. Stern\u2019s proximity to power, official records show that he visited the White House more than 20 times during Mr. Obama\u2019s first six months in office.\u201d www.nytimes.com\/2010\/04\/14\/us\/14union.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y<\/a>
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\nSorry Brother But There is a Wall There: (Guthrie)<\/strong>\u201d As I was walkin’\u00a0 –\u00a0 I saw a sign there, And that sign said – no tress passin’ But on the other side\u00a0 …. it didn’t say nothin! Now that side was made for you and me!\u201d
\nThe bill directs police to determine the immigration status of noncriminals if there is a ‘reasonable suspicion’ they are undocumented. Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state. Arizona Passes Mean Immigration Law: The bill directs police to determine the immigration status of noncriminals if there is a ‘reasonable suspicion’ they are undocumented. Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state.
\nwww.latimes.com\/news\/nationworld\/nation\/la-na-arizona-immigration14-2010apr14,0,4677282.story<\/a>
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\nOn the Ooops there Goes the Economy Front: <\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\nUS Foreclosures Set Quarterly Record: <\/strong>\u201c Foreclosure activity jumped 19 percent to a monthly record in March, driving first-quarter actions up 7 percent from the prior quarter and 16 percent from a year ago to a record of more than 932,000 properties.One in every 138 U.S. households got a foreclosure filing in the quarter such as a notice of default, auction or bank repossession.\u201d
\nwww.reuters.com\/article\/idUSNYS00791220100415?type=marketsNews<\/a><\/p>\n

The Rapid Resurgence of Inequality:<\/strong> \u201cOver the past three decades, inequality in the United States increased dramatically, reaching Robber Baron-era proportions in 2007 at the height of the housing and credit bubble. Paradoxically, the bursting of the bubble brought the rise of inequality to a temporary halt as the asset values of the wealthiest fell with the decline in the equity market. But as the economic recovery takes hold, the trends that drove inequality before the Great Recession have begun to reassert themselves, ominously suggesting that inequality may again be on the rise…home values have not rebounded; corporate profits are on the rise while wages continue to stagnate or even fall in real terms.Third, energy costs are again on the rise : \u201d
\ngrowth.newamerica.net\/publications\/policy\/the_worrying_return_of_inequality<\/a>
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\nThe Black Depression is Still On\u2013Obamagogue or Not!<\/strong>: \u201cthe Washington-based Economic Policy Institute\u2019s prediction that Black unemployment will hit 17.2 percent by the third quarter of this year \u2013 the highest level in a quarter century. Not only is the Great Recession nowhere near over for Black America, there are indications that the contorted economy is finding a new \u201cbottom\u201d for African Americans to inhabit.\u201d\u00a0 www.blackagendareport.com\/?q=content\/black-america-sinking-new-%E2%80%9Cbottom%E2%80%9D<\/a>
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\nThe Greek Bailout, Lehman Deceit and Timmy Geitner: <\/strong>\u201cSimilarly, if a too-big-to-fail bank hits trouble, the incentive is to hide problems, hoping that financial conditions will improve.\u00a0 Essentially the management finds ways to \u201cprop up\u201d the bank; on modern Wall Street this is done with undisclosed accounting manipulation (in some other countries, it is done with cash).\u00a0 If this means the ultimate collapse is that much more damaging, it\u2019s not the bank executives\u2019 problem any way \u2013 their downside is limited, if it exists at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Greek Bailout, Lehman Deceit, And Tim Geithner<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n