Governing Contrary

This is the post-modern fashion in Government these days -- has been for a way long time now, actually -- "governing contrary" to the people's will and the public interest. The governing class has learned that they can do this and get away with it pretty much any time and any way they want because the People will not rise to any level the governing class must pay attention to, and if they do, they are easy enough to put down with relatively light force.

Governing contrary has led us into this morass of corporatism, imperialism and war mongering that we can't seem to get out of, that only gets worse, that no happy face can mask any more. Governing contrary presumes that the People are stupid and apathetic by nature, can be exploited and disposed of at will, and they will do nothing substantive to oppose the Powers That Be.

Governing contrary has pushed millions upon millions of Americans into permanent poverty, with ever more millions following in train. An entire generation reduced to permanent poverty by the enormous burden of student debt, for example, is no legacy to be proud of, but it is an example of where contrary governance leads. As long as someone gets rich off of it, what's to worry?

Governing contrary was what Al From and the New Democrats were all about back in the day, and governing contrary is now the standard for governance, regardless of political party or ideology, not solely in the United States but throughout much of the world. Governing contrary is the operating system for global governance. Whatever the People want or need, the governing class seeks and does the opposite.

The resulting disease, destruction and despair is looked on with the kind of glee one hasn't seen among the ruling class and their servants since the Gilded Age.

They want the People to live in fear and suffering. And they proceed with policies that will ensure that outcome. Because someone -- important -- gets rich off the fear and suffering of others.

Whatever the People want or need, ruling class do the opposite.

More "New Citizen" Members

The next one I could find a website for -- at least that wasn't flashing malware warnings -- is the Association of Broadcasters Ukraine which, from appearances, is primarily concerned with media coordination (anti-Russia, pro-EU) and freedom from government restrictions in the East and Crimea.
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Democracy! Freedom! Justice! is next. It appears to be a kind of open forum where items of interest can be posted. Varied content from sports to intricate political and social arguments. No obvious political stance. Contact is Alexander KOLOMYJEC who appears to be an actor in Kiev. Interesting.
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Next is something called "UkrProstir," but the website opens to a site called "NGO.zp.ua" which is short for "NGOs Zaporozhye" which is a city in SE Ukraine. The outfit is apparently the "youth council" in Zaporozhye, and is primarily concerned with issues important to youth. One of their projects us UkrProstir, which is either a separate entity or is the originating entity for NGO.zp.ua. According to the UkrProstir tab, it exists as a media relations tool to coordinate messages and methods between NGOs. From what I can tell, it appears to be quite sophisticated. The contact is: Nicholas Kolodyazhniy

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Next with a website that opens is the Information Press Center
It appears to be yet another media umbrella organization, but this one is in Crimea, and so its focus is on the situation in Crimea, and from what I can tell, it is hosting lots of discussion which is not particularly skewed toward anti-Russian propaganda. Refreshing. I'll post their mission:

Mission IPC:
We promote awareness of Crimean residents and their meaningful participation in decision-making processes through professional development of independent media and the establishment of public dialogue between the public, government and business.

IPC organizes press conferences and round table discussions on matters of public concern, and also works as a training center for journalists, regularly holds seminars and trainings. In addition, IPC conducts media literacy program for community organizations.

On the basis of Ukrainian gymnasium in Simferopol and school number 1 in Sevastopol School work young Internet reporter, where students are taught the basics of journalism, let the school newspaper "College Times» and their online publication.

IPC regularly monitors violations of professional standards and ethics of journalism - Publication ordered materials and use of "hate speech" in the print media.

IPC develops judicial journalism - to establish a dialogue with the courts, promoting greater transparency of the judicial system, and conducts training for journalists writing on legal topics. In addition, IPC journalists themselves cover the activities of vessels - the online edition of the "Bureau of Justice information" .

Since 2008, based on the IPC operates the online edition of "investigative reporter" , and produced a TV program of investigative journalism "matter of national security" and the program of media and media literacy "Focus".

IPC broadcast television projects "Black Sea" TRK, and some regional broadcasting companies. 

Successfully operating a network of media centers IPC in Yalta, Sevastopol, Djankov, Theodosia, and from March 2012 - in Yalta, where various media events involving representatives of local organizations, governments and businesses, as well as available public Internet Publishing Media Center «IPC-Big Yalta" , Ecopolis , media center «IPC-Djankoi», «IPC-Evpatoria" and media center «IPC-Theodosius."

Hard to dispute these activities and mission. Contact is: Anna Lukinova who appears to be ethnic Russian and who is fairly well connected in the NGO community in Crimea and Europe.

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We next find something called "Popular Diplomacy" -- again with a malware website. It is primarily concerned, it seems, with the integration of Ukraine with the EU. The contact is Bogdan Kavulych.
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Then there is "Kiev National Control" which has a severely malware website. It appears to be a "government accountability" org, but its focus seems to be on the Euromaidan protests and EU integration above anything else. The contacts are: Dmitry Motaylenko, Vadim Logvinov of whom I could find nothing.
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Had to skip a bunch of orgs either because they had nothing online or because they're no longer in existence...
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Then we have: PAUCI -- the Ukrainian-Polish Cooperation Foundation. Seems self-evident, no? It does have a page that expresses the more or less commonplace EU Eastern Territories expansion ideas and plans.

What is happening in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus has a direct impact on the European Union. Enlargement of the European Union in 2004 brought these countries into the EU, and this strengthened the influence of their security, stability and prosperity in the EU. So, for example, the potential for energy supplies from these countries are important for the diversification of energy resources to the EU.

All of these countries, to varying degrees, carry out political, social and economic reforms and expressed his desire to move closer to the European Union. The conflict that occurred in August 2008 in Georgia, which showed weak can these countries and the EU security begins far beyond its borders.

The European Commission has expressed specific ideas on how to improve relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. They also include a new association agreement, including expanded free trade agreements with those countries that are willing and able to enter into a deeper cooperation and gradual integration into the EU economy. This will also simplify the EU journey through gradual visa liberalization, accompanied by measures to prevent illegal migration.

Etc. These ideas are little known or understood in the US, but they are apparently well-known in Europe and in Russia.

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The next one that had a useful website was called "European Choice" which has a powerfully evocative mission:

The EUROPEAN CHOICE - is a nonprofit CSO based in Ukraine since 2003. We are highly experienced professionals with a unique blend of skills, knowledge and liaisons for international investors, european policy and integration., Intelligence, international development, anticorruption, media and lobby, culture and CSR.

Our strategy goal is to create and manage
First Europe Direct Office in Ukraine
before 1 January 2015

The EUROPEAN CHOICE goals are:

• to promote and contribute to foreign policy debate in Ukraine,
• to advise decision makers from politics, business, and civil society
• to inform the public on foreign and european policy questions / issues
• to strengthen the Ukraine foreign policy community
• to advance Ukraine's foreign affairs status in the world

To achieve this since 2003 we:

• Mark Official European Years
  - European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008
  - European Year of Innovation 2009
  - European Year Combating Poverty 2010
  - European Year of Volunteering 2011
  - European Year of Active Aging in 2012
  - European Year of Citizens 2013
  - European Year of the Brain 2014
  - International Year of Light 2015


• Conduct events dedicated to EU Weeks and Days
  - Kremenchug Europe Days 2010
  - Kremenchug Europe Days 2011
  - EVAW 2009
  - EWAV 2010
  - EWAV 2011
  - Get Online Week 2011
  - EU Sustainable Energy Week 2012
  - UNITED Ukraine 2011
  - International Day of Democracy
  - European e-Skills Week 2012
  - World Water Day 2010
  - Green Office Week Ukraine
  - The European Day for Civil Justice 2009
  - Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 (GEW)
  - International Right to Know Day
  - Action Week Against Racism 2011
  - Refugee Day 2011
  - Day Against fascism and Antisemitism 2011
  - Single Market Week 2012
  - European SME Week 2012


• Organize EU oriented raise awareness campaigns in different fields


• Collaborate with the partners abroad on different study and field-works
  - Civil Society Forum Eastern Partnership
  - 55 ATA Assembly
  - SENSE 2010 Polish Aid Project
  - Open Government Partnership
  - RegioNews Agency Network
  - New Citizen Partnership
  - Ukraine Policy Dialog Project 2020
  - Compass 2020 Fridrich Ebert Stiftung Project

• Facilitate the EU People Network with more that 800 people all over Ukraine

Measurable deliveries for 10 year:

• 500 000 online visitors of ON-Line EUROPEAN CHOICE Websites and Social Media
• 200 000 visitors of OFF-Line street events
• 25 000 photo
• 130 seminars
• 80 tv-progrmas
• 6 Eurotours
• 1400 publications in media
• 23 European Campaign `s during 2009-2012
• 400 legal consultations
• 18 LIVE broadcasting on RADIO and TV
• 3 offices in Kremenchug and Kyiv
• 21 staff member and 150 volunters
• 5 national wide researches on economy, health, governance
• 15 grants from SOROS, USAID, IRF, CIDA, SIDA, UCAN, UNDP, EU foundations

There you have it, that's what it's all about. By the numbers.
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There are several members with nonfunctioning or malware websites which I'll skip. The next one with an interesting site, though, is one called Center for Political Education, which is code for pro-EU, anti-Russian propaganda -- styled "voter education." Unlike some, this one is very simple and straightforward, announcing their topics and purposes with no effort to mask them:

Fair and transparent elections
		We are committed to ensuring the competitiveness of the electoral process, the proper administration of elections and promote voter awareness.
		»» »
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

European Integration of Ukraine
		We contribute to the formation of Ukrainian citizens to the European democratic values, institutions and procedures of the European Union shall inform the European Community and Ukraine on its achievements.
		»» »
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Effective associations
		We help sustainable development NGOs that are able to represent the interests of citizens effectively with public institutions.
		»» »
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic youth leadership
		We provide becoming responsible young leaders who share the principles of service, integrity and openness in politics and social activities.
		»» »
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Responsible political parties
		We promote the development of responsible party environment, enhance the ability of parties to implement the education of their staff, to establish better communication with citizens.
		»» »

On the surface, none of this would look particularly pernicious to Americans, yet in the context of Ukraine, the rest of the EU's Eastern Territories, and the other targeted nations for overthrow of governments, these activities and objectives are essentially "subversive" in the sense it was meant during the various Red Scares the United States has endured. This is how it is done, step by step, slowly and generally out in the open. Where it can't be done in the open, it's done covertly. The US has had plenty of practice. But it appears that Europe is quite capable of handling these matters independently... (don't know whether any of the links above will work, but if they do, they should go to translated pages...)

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"Center for Youth Initiatives" is next. It appears to be an Armenian focused youth organization, though it's hard to tell, as its website is not opening correctly for me. I'm not getting a malware warning, but it has all the signs of malware. Like most of the youth initiatives it's mainly interested in "education" about clean government, candidates and European integration. I won't link to the New Citizen web listing, but I did some research through other sources and found the Center listed among those receiving grants from the EU's Eastern Partnership Program. Make of this what you will. It's a demonstration of how extensive the EU's EP is into Ukrainian society if nothing else.
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Next one I'll list is the International Democracy Institute (aka "International Institute of Democracies") headed by Serhiy Taran. Their mission:

International Institute of Democracies is an independent nonprofit organization that examines the problem of institutional formation in transition democracies. The main activities of the organization are - monitoring of political mobilization, expert discussions and round tables, public opinion polls and expert interviews. His mission organization sees the formation of a qualitatively new political discourse that contribute to the qualitative transformation in transitional democracies, and in particular the promotion of new findings, ideas and meanings that have contributed to a radical renewal of Ukrainian society.

"Radical renewal..." what could that mean? Of course, sometimes it's necessary.

Serhiy Taran something interesting in November of last year:

 "This is the paradox of the current relations between the Government and the people. I can add that the Orange Revolution - it was an objective process of political change in generations. Typically, a political generation - is 15 years, and every time a new generation comes to power, there are some turmoil in the country. These can be "peaceful" shock and as revolutions. If you recall the story, take 1917, add 15 years and we get 1933 and all hazards associated with it: promoted Stalin destroyed all the revolutionary elite who actually made the revolution.

And this formula in 15 years concluded the entire Soviet history. Fit it for an independent Ukraine, starting from 1990. Based on the theory of a new political generation restoration Ukraine, only 15 years after the revolution of 2004 possible any new major revolution or turmoil that is only in the years 2019-2020. During these years, according to my predictions, there will be major changes in Ukraine and only with the advent of a new political generation"- sums Taran.

In other words, despite the rumblings in the streets and squares last fall and winter, it wasn't quite time for a real revolution in Ukraine. Which gets into some interesting territory -- why did the EuroMaidan Revolt happen the way it did, "too soon," and what forces were behind it? Furthermore, was the EuroMaidan Revolt a real revolution or was it merely a replacement of one set of kleptocrats with another more amenable to the diktats out of Berlin and Brussels? I've never doubted that the rumblings in the streets and squares of Ukraine represented deep discontent, but the demagoguing and manipulation of that discontent that was obvious from the stage set up in Maidan Square from the outset made it clear (to me at any rate) that this was not what it was being touted as.
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The Center for Civil Liberties is next. Anyone familiar with my writing knows my Question for Civil Libertarians: "Liberty for whom? To do what?" Of course, there is never -- ever -- an answer. To find that one of the NGOs under the "New Citizen" umbrella is a "civil liberties" center, therefore, is interesting. For whom, I ask. To do what?

According to its own Partners and Donors page it is a partner of the EU.

And apparently this outfit has been active in other parts of the EU's Eastern Territories as well as Ukraine.

TSHS coordinates the project «Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries and regions where they are most at risk», funded by the European Commission hr-nis.org . Besides Ukraine project applies to Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The priorities of the project is to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms, development of international solidarity and protection of human rights defenders and civil society activists from political persecution of power in the court and out of court. More information on the project website ( http://hr-nis.org/ ).

Also TSHS continues to work in an international network of "Society and Army» ( http://nis-army.org/ ), International School of Human Rights and Civil Action ( www.inthschool.org ), the Coalition of Hate ( CAH www.mhg- . org ) and the Coalition for the protection of fundamental freedoms in Eurasia.

Immediate focus is on the EuroMaidan protests in Kiev (stopped being updated last December, tho), but they have other interests including matters of law and justice and internal security. But the question, "Civil Liberties for whom, to do what?" is never answered or even addressed. According to some of their other pages, however, they are active in fields of prison and mental health care reform, so there is that.
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Last, but by no means least (and with the understanding that I left out quite a few orgs because of malware or nonfunctional websites) we have the "Ukrainian Association of Student Government" -- an EU front. Their program seems to be focused -- like that of so many other youth organizations under the New Citizen wing -- on EU integration. One of its partner/funders, interestingly, is "The Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy." Its call for proposals in Ukraine is interesting:

2014 general call for proposals by the Democracy

U.S. Embassy invites Ukrainian non-profit and non-governmental organizations to participate in the contest by the Democracy Project. Applications are accepted continuously, there is no deadline for applications - competition is permanent. Applications are accepted continuously, there is no deadline for applications - competition is permanent.

• Contest information
  

The purpose of the program

Democracy is intended to support projects to foster the development and construction of civil society in Ukraine. Democracy - a focused but flexible mechanism, which provides seed money for unique and sustainable projects, especially those that contribute to the development of the capacity and sustainability of NGOs in Ukraine. In projects that receive grants, organizations demonstrate concrete achievements and their impact on a particular area or community. Since July 1996, about 600 projects of Ukrainian NGOs have received funding under the "Foundation for Democracy." Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
The main requirements for the project:

• Grants are provided to Ukrainian organizations that have the status of non-governmental and non-profit and registered in accordance with Ukrainian legislation. These include: non-governmental organizations (associations), charitable foundations and think tanks.
• Organizations and their members can not represent a political party, appointed or elected officials.
  The maximum funding for a single grant is $ 24,000, the average amount of grants is between $ 5,000 and $ 15,000
• U.S. and foreign organizations and individuals are not eligible to apply for grants.
• Grant applications must be submitted in English and Ukrainian languages.
• In addition to this competition, the U.S. Embassy conducts regional and thematic competitions, where the requirements for organizations and projects may differ from this competition. Watch for announcements on the website and in the local media.
• Project duration should not exceed one year. Project costs can not h distribution ATIS before signing the grant agreement. Costs incurred before the official start date will not be reimbursed.

Scope of projects

Theme prioryrety the Democracy Fund:

• Human Rights Education, monitoring and reporting violations of human rights: Proposals should indicate which segments of the population will be targeted and what activities are planned for the project and after its completion;
• The rule of law and reform in law: reforms in various areas of law, legal clinics / advising, legal education of citizens, judicial support, lobbying and activities after the project;
• Economic Reform: Promoting initiatives in the area of market economy, small and medium-sized businesses, reforms in the agricultural sector, support for links between the public and private sectors to lobby tax reform and other issues relating to entrepreneurship;
• Civil Society: Initiatives that promote the continued development effectiveness and sustainability of the third sector;
  Electoral System: Voter education and election monitoring, training of election commissions, etc.;
• Anti-Corruption and Transparency in Government: Education and awareness campaigns problems;
• Preventing Human Trafficking: Projects aimed at awareness, prevention and legal assistance;
• Equality of women, ethnic and other minorities protection, legal aid, aimed at creating associations and others.

In a nutshell, there you have it. That is the US program in the EU's Eastern Territories.
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There are more New Citizen/Center UA initiatives that need some clarification including this one:

The public demands from politicians of primary 13 reforms that have to revive and unite the country. Public figures emphasize that Yevromaydan has not yet completed its primary mission - to change the rules, not the person

 More than 120 experts and public figures together and presented "reanimation package of reforms" - 13 priority legislative initiatives aimed at changing the system of governance and a healthy start work of public institutions. The initiative was born in New Partnership citizen and civil society Maidan.

Reform package consists of 2 blocks. 7 immediate reform experts respected NGOs willing to work out how to introduce specific legislation and Parliament over the next few months.

1. Judicial reform. Reform of the Procuracy
2. The reform of law enforcement
3. Anti-corruption reform
4. The reform of the electoral law
5. Administrative Reform
6. The reform of decentralization and regional development
7. Tax Reform

The experts also called for the implementation of 5 reforms in the medium term, requiring extensive work involving all political actors and actors in the process:

1. Deregulation and incentives for business development and investment
2. Pension reform and the reform of social security
3. Education Reform
4. Health
5. Land reform

"The public and the politicians got a real chance to change the country, although a very high price. We have to take the daily hard work of the reform, which is one of the instruments of change, or not build new Ukraine ", - said the activist public sector Yevromaydanu Hanna Hopko.

Public figures call for pro-democracy MPs to form a group in order to work together on reforms and invite government representatives to actively spipratsi. Participants of the initiative "resuscitation reform package" seeking not only willing laws output, but also to change the principle of cooperation between authorities and society as parliament and government will indeed platform presentation and implementation of public interest.

"Until now, social activists could count on effective cooperation in promoting needed public law just a few MPs. It's time to change that. We want all MPs listened to the opinions of experts and civil society activists, and every law passed before the adoption of the discussion is not "under the carpet" and a broad discussion of the whole society, "- Maxim Latsyba, Project Manager Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research.

"This initiative - an attempt zaprovatydyty mechanism of" change from below "- added Olga Halabala, activist public sector Yevromaydanu.

Participants of the initiative "resuscitation reform package" together in groups, each of which highlighted expert and organizational subgroups elected chief expert and general manager. The initiative seeking new members with proposals to cover even wider range of reforms, such as media reform, including the transformation of state broadcasters into public, military and security reform, and others. Reform package expands, and the initiative is open to accession stakeholders.

After the public launch initiative "resuscitation reform package," the participants to be involved in promoting reforms of citizens in Ukraine. For next week, experts will travel to the regions present their results to local activists, experts, politicians and journalists.

There follows a list of experts who will cheerfully provide their services in all necessary categories. This is, I think, the distillation of what "New Citizen" and its members as well as "Center UA" is all about. It is nothing less than the full-on implementation of neo-liberal economic, social and political "reforms" in Ukraine and their eventual extension into the other Eastern Territories of the EU, without further let or hindrance from Russia or any other impediment.

The Ukrainian people have many legitimate grievances, but a quick review of this page explains as clearly as possible what the "revolutionaries"  have been after all along. It has very little to do with the "people," and everything to do with "reform" along the lines of Chicago School Neo-Liberalism as it is imposed by the EU and the US.

The Ukrainians are in for a world of hurt.

As if things weren't bad enough already.

Too Bad, So Sad -- The Continuing Impoverishment of the Millions

Yesterday marked a reduction in food stamp benefits for tens of millions of recipients; this is on top of the rigorous impoverishment of millions upon millions of people each and every year of the seemingly endless Recession. Obviously, the poorer you are, the less you need to eat, and if you're not working because there are no jobs available, you benefit from eating less. Extra calories would just be turned to fat as you laze around on your unemployed ass, as everyone knows.

I saw my own congressional rep on the teevee yesterday (Michelle Lujan Grisham, someone I don't know and have never had any contact with, as opposed to her predecessor, Martin Heinrich, who was either calling or having staff call all the time, and who held district constituent meetings regularly, something I don't think Lujan Grisham has ever done). Interesting that while she decried the current cut to food stamp benefits, she was quite eager, she said, to "work with Republicans" to cut food stamp benefits "responsibly." In other words, "too bad, so sad" for those who were just barely getting by as it was with their meager benefits intact. Let's cut them anyway! Responsibly. Of course.

New Mexico is a poor state, never mind all the rich folk who live here. One in five New Mexicans receive food stamp benefits, a number that has grown since the onset of the Endless Recession (endless for the proles) and since the Recession won't end, the number of beneficiaries doesn't decline. Food isn't cheap here, either. So those who are seeing a cut in benefits are essentially shit out of luck. Too bad, so sad.

'Money for Nothin' and Your Chicks for Free'

 

Dire Straits - Money For Nothing - Music - More Music Videos

When the Default comes -- which may be this week, maybe next -- some of the Highest of the Mighty will be rolling in money, more money than they ever imagined was possible back in the '80's when Greed turned into their religion.

They've commodified everything in the interim, including what passes for the US Government, and they fully intend to take advantage of the looming Default. Shorting is one of the biggest money makers there is.

What the rest of us lose in the process is none of their concern, how does the old song go? "It's your misfortune and none of my own?" Something like that. That's their world. Take whatever they can grab from anyone who doesn't get out of their way fast enough. They've been stealing from one another for years, now it's time to steal everything that's left from the rest of us.

The Default, along with the continuing Shutdown, has already had the effect of reprioritizing government function and spending, and the way it works is, there's no going back. We're on a different path than we were. Permanently.

"It's Your Misfortune and None of My Own..."

"I want my, I want my, I want my.... MTV... Boo-ah, boo-ah."

A Way of Looking At Recent Economic History and Policy

Spanner in the Works

Numerian over at Economic Populist goes into great detail about how we got into this miserable economic condition and what it means for the future of the United States and its Globalist followers. It isn't pretty.

Framing what's happening as the development of a Permanent Dependency Class is something I haven't seen before, but it strikes me as an intriguing and reasonable way of looking at it. Except for one thing: once people become part of a dependent class, no matter what it is, the props are then routinely and almost ritualistically knocked out from under them, leaving them to fend for themselves if they can. It is a Social Darwinist game which Our Betters seem to love to stir up and watch.

Perhaps this sort of thing is a natural result of overpopulation and the impending climate catastrophe.

We haven't heard much about "overpopulation" in many years thanks to the advent of the Green Revolution and the determination of governments and social engineers -- in China and India especially -- that their people will not starve ever again.

I've written before that famine and starvation were used as social control weapons by colonial powers back in the day, and they were used because they were very effective. People who are barely surviving -- or dying in droves all around -- are not likely to rise up against their exploiters and oppressors. Even if they try, they are not likely to be successful. They become dependent on the good will and largesse of their masters -- whoever they may be; during the colonial era, the masters were the European colonialists.

We haven't quite returned to that model of social and political control, but we're getting there, as the experiments in neo-colonialism going on in Europe today (affecting primarily Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, most of Eastern Europe and to a limited extent Italy) amply show. People are starving in Greece already, and the situation is nearly as catastrophic in Spain and Portugal for far too many. If the Eurocrats out of Berlin and Brussels are successful in essentially destroying Greece as a viable nation and society and in setting up some sort of beggar state ruled from the rapacious financial hubs, then it will become a model for EuroEcon for some time to come. They've already successfully destroyed the Greek economy, and they're working hard on doing the same to the rest of the "peripheral" nations.

A major paradigm shift is underway, one that is as fundamental as any we've seen in centuries.

A tiny minority of Global Wealthy -- individually and through the corporations they own and control -- are vying to Rule the World to their exclusive advantage, bugger everyone else.

Numerian sees the process clearly enough, but seems to believe it is related closely to the practices of third world plutocrats who have long ruled their roosts with iron rods, keeping tens of millions -- billions -- of people in debt, penury and poverty while the rich benefit from the resources of the land and the labor of the impoverished masses. In order to keep the masses in their place and prevent more than modest and occasional uprisings, the third world plutocrats maintain the masses as a dependent class of peons -- providing them with enough to get by and survive, but no more than that.

In other words, in the third world, plutocrats have behaved with something close to responsibility toward their dependent charges, though never generously.

Numerian sees something similar happening in this country, but I would say that Our Betters have no sense of social responsibility at all, and they seek to avoid and undercut any responsibility for the well-being of the Lesser People that has been imposed on them by law and tradition for generations.

There is no substantive economic or institutional pressure being put on them to behave responsibly toward anyone, certainly not toward anyone of a lesser status than they themselves. Governments by and large have abandoned their own responsibility for the "general welfare" -- in an effort to serve and please the Global Plutocracy against the interests of the People.

The absence of any sort of moral suasion from institutions and individuals aligned with or part of the Plutocrat Class has been one of the most striking aspects of this paradigm shift (into neo-Colonialism, neo-Imperialism, and neo-Fascism) compared to those of the past. There is no apparent counterbalance from among the High and the Mighty to the course of events underway -- events which are destroying the natural world, the economies of nations, and the lives and futures of millions upon millions of people around the world.

This absence was made manifest -- and very striking -- in the lead up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The People took to the streets in their millions to protest; the People's voice was ignored. It could be ignored in part because there was no established institutional voice, and no respected members  of the ruling class aligned with the People.

The situation is much the same with the current deficit hysteria. The way nearly the entire media -- including much of the "new media" -- is aligned with those who are pushing austerity and deficit hysteria rather than with the People is striking and highly evocative of the way so much of the media (including "new media") was breathlessly anticipating the looming invasion of Iraq.

It's all Plutocrat Play Time.

What to do about it is among the most vexing if not the most pressing problems of the Modern Era. A spanner must be thrown in the works somehow, but so far, nothing that has been tried has worked more than momentarily -- if that.

What to do?

One thing that's being done and may be successful over the long term -- and for some, the short term as well -- is withdrawal from whatever world it is the Plutocracy seems to be engineering for the rest of us.

Unfortunately, withdrawal can only be a temporary solution while other options are explored. Eventually, the relentlessness of the exploiters and predators is inescapable. And then?

We'll see, won't we?

The Plutocrats On A Rampage

Oh my, this is getting fun.

After setting up one of their own (if only a Legacy Hire) to sit on the Throne and being soundly rejected by the electorate, the American Plutocracy is throwing the Mother of All Hissies, now including the reject himself, "Mitch Wromley" (h/t Letterman, Crowley.)

After declaring 47% of the country's voters to be firmly in Obama's pocket because they're dependent on government handouts (ie, they get fed behind the Big House by the Head Darky) and they don't pay income taxes (never mind that little matter of being too poor to pay the income tax), Romney renounced himself and claimed he didn't really mean it. Of course not.

Comes now the very same Mr. Wromley claiming that the field hands and the house negroes alike put Mr. Obama in the White House (as it used to be known) instead of Wromley his ownself because the Head Darky bribed them with student loan forgiveness, Obamacare, and immigration amnesty -- among other things.

Wromley's runningmate, the execrable little turd Ryan (yclept "LyinRyan" by the wags), claims that Obama won because of the "urban" vote (Darkies for Darkies, in other words).

And the Plutocrats are going ballistic, insisting that the only way to get control of this little situation is to make the field hands and house negroes pay. They will suffer for this betrayal of all that's white and holy, oh yes.

First it was the fast-food and restaurant magnates who insisted that providing health care insurance to their staffs was a brutal burden too far, and they would retaliate by firing people and cutting back hours as well as by raising customer prices to compensate for expenses they would refuse to incur. This is much like the Plutocracy's adamant refusal to pay taxes, not even the mingy little bits they are assessed these days. No! they holler. We will not pay! You can't make us!

They've been able to get away with that one for many a long year now, and they've essentially doubled down on their insistence that they be held harmless and immune for the well-being of anyone but themselves. They will not pay! 


The field hands and house negroes shall pay for everything on this Plantation America, and in addition shall be made to pay an assessment, a fee, a tribute to their Lords and Masters, simply for letting them live and sometimes eat.

That's the way it is supposed to be, né?

Now the Aetna CEO is all on a rampage because of  the illusory Fiscal Cliff and all the rest of it. "You will all suffer!"  he screams. "We will make you pay till the end of time for this betrayal!" Oh dear.

So now we're seeing a bit more of the Ol' Tumbrils and Guillotines metaphor being trotted out, to -- shall we say -- help focus the minds  of the Plutocracy.



And to think, it was only a month or so ago when offering such [ahem] metaphors was considered too outré for words in the haute blogosphere. It was [quelle horreur!] "advocacy of violence!!!!" EEEEEEE.

No. It's an illustration. A challenging one, perhaps, but an illustration just the same of what can happen when the plight of the People is ignored or exacerbated. In other words, it's a metaphor.

Oh, and then there's this: something called "Fix the Debt" -- which is nothing but a scam by Bowles and Simpson on behalf of Pete Peterson and the Plutocracy to eviscerate what's left of the social safety net and plump up the bottom lines of every CEO and corporate raider in creation. The Romneys come to mind in that regard for some reason.

It's all about the entitlement mentality of a handful of sadists and crooks who deign to rule us -- by persuasion if they can, by force if necessary.  It's on full display like it hasn't been since the days of the Robber Barons of yore. It didn't end well for them then; it's not conceivable that it will end well for them now.

Well before the outbreak of the Soviet Revolution, however, there was something called the Progressive Revolution in this country which followed hard on the heels of the Populist Uprising that put the Fear of God into the Plutocracy of that era.

Any realistic assessment of Obama's confirmation in the Big Chair, of course, is that he will go along with the demands and outrages of the Plutocracy in the end, for that is his way; the High and the Mighty know that very well; much of their display is posturing for effect.  On the other hand, if the stories of Wromley's delusions about the election are correct (was he really convinced he would win right up to the last call?), they tend to believe several fantastic things before breakfast and they act on them as if they were true, too.

They have no social conscience whatsoever and they defy the very gods themselves.

The more they have their tantrums, the more lunatic they appear.

How We Got From There To Here

Catastroika -- in Greek with English subtitles.


CATASTROIKA - ENGLISH SUBTITLES by infowar

The key factor was the collapse of the Soviet Union. The key failure has been the inability of the People to find a working alternative to the counterweight the Soviets provided to capitalism run amok.

A Wells Fargo Horror Story -- and an Update On The Van

Rousseau House in California, plundered by a series of banksters

I came across this story over at Naked Capitalism the other day, then I read that the homeowner had killed himself just days before the scheduled eviction in May. And I read the linked amended complaint.

And I thought "JFC on a merry go round, this is the most outrageous WF horror story yet." Almost beyond belief, and yet given all the other horror stories I've read, it's only unusual in that the homeowners had/have decent legal advice, and that the poor guy was driven to suicide.

Notice that the house above is quite a modest little house, similar to many I've been inside during parts of my working career. That the final refinance in 2007 was for over $350,000 is somewhat shocking, but that's what was still happening to real estate values in California at the time. In fact, I was dealing with a lot of builders, brokers and construction contractors during the boom before the crash, and by 2007, the warning signs were very clear that the crash was about to come, indeed had already come, in some cases that I can't detail here, but people were still refinancing and some were able to take cash out of their homes until well into 2008.

I say $350,000 is somewhat shocking for this house because in a realistic market it wouldn't be worth much over $200,000 if that. It's probably appraised for under that now, though WF ultimately acquired the house for a trustees sale bid of over $400,000.

So the homeowner was being screwed, whether or not there was fraud in the final refinance.

Nevertheless, according to the story, the homeowners were diligent in making mortgage payments. The problem came because they made those payments in person with cashier's checks at a Wachovia branch.

That and grossly false, misleading and predatory lending practices by World/Wachovia.

From the narrative in the amended complaint, the homeowners presented a cashiers check at the bank in April, 2009, in the amount of $1615, the stated mortgage payment amount. The check was handled by an employee who -- apparently -- entered a keystroke wrong during the transaction so that the check was not properly credited to the correct account. The homeowners received a receipt for the check and went on their way.

The next day, the check cleared, but what happened to the money is a mystery. There is also the mysterious claim of a stop payment being ordered on the check, which is simply not something that can happen on a cashiers check.

According to the complaint:

On or about May 5, 2009, while making the monthly payment at the WACHOVIA branch, Plaintiff O. ROUSSEAU the teller confirmed that their account still showed a missing payment for April. At Plaintiff’s request, Branch Manager PERI KERMANI called the corporate office to inquire about the disputed payment. Plaintiff was given a facsimile number to send a written dispute and proof of payment.

Which Plaintiffs (the homeowners) did.

From then on, the situation deteriorated alarmingly. While the homeowners continued to be diligent about making payments until the bank refused to accept them, they were dicked around and lied to by bank personnel constantly throughout a torturous process of trying to rectify the erroneous April "delinquency." They submitted all the documentation necessary to clear the supposed "delinquency" and never once did the bank actually clear it, though they were told it had been taken care of. They were assessed more and more collection fees, NSF fees, a constant tidal wave of fees while they not only tried to straighten out the mess the bank had caused, they were attempting to get their loan modified because of loss of income due to unemployment.

 As has so often been the case, while they were attempting to get the loan modification, the bank was proceeding with foreclosure, which the homeowners tried to get them to stop but were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, even as the bank was refusing to accept offered mortgage payments, they were constantly calling and dunning the homeowners for payment.

As has so often been the case, while attempting to secure a loan modification, the homeowners were repeatedly told that required documents had not been received -- though they had been sent over and over again -- and thus they could not get the modification, and then, apparently, the missing documents would somehow be found and the modification process would supposedly continue only to stop again.

Meanwhile, the foreclosure process churned along, oblivious.

Finally, from what I gather, the homeowners were denied a modification and told to pay up the arrears or get out. By the time they found out how much they had to pay to satisfy the largely bogus debt that was caused by a bank error in the first place, they had one hour to meet a deadline to deliver more than $26,000 demanded to the bank's collection agency in Texas. They had the money, but they couldn't meet the deadline because they couldn't access that much at one time given cash withdrawal restrictions on the account in question.

Wells Fargo acquired the property at a trustees sale purportedly held November 22, 2010, five days after the homeowners were told how much to pay and given a deadline they couldn't meet to satisfy the alleged default. At the time of the court filing, dated January 11, 2011, WF was under temporary injunction from enforcing an unlawful detainer against the Rousseaus. Apparently the injunction was lifted in May of 2012, and the Rousseaus were informed that they would be evicted on May 15, 2012; two days beforehand, when Norman Rousseau was unable to complete repairs on the engine of a motorhome that the couple intended to move into once they were evicted, Mr. Rousseau fatally shot himself.

All because a teller at Wachovia failed to credit the correct account for a payment made in April of 2009 and no one at any of the participating financial institutions and collection agencies between then and the date of Norman Rousseau's suicide had the courage or the brains to recognize that the bank had made a simple -- and not uncommon -- mistake that could have been and should have been easily corrected years before Norman Rousseau took his own life.

That and all the appalling fraud and deceit that went into the Rousseau's final refinance.

And all the lies they were told and the promises that were broken.

And the many tens of thousands of dollars that were being pillaged and looted all along the way.

This is a snapshot of a completely brainless and totally out of control modern banking practice. I'm sure that none of the institutions or people involved on the banking end believe they actually did anything wrong or that they are in any way responsible for the Rousseau's agony and eventually for Norman Rousseau's suicide. They never think that way. They can't. There are no personal relationships at all in these situations. Everything is objectified and scripts and flowcharts rule. "If this, then that." There is no provision for acknowledging or correcting errors, even simple ones such as mis-keying a payment.

As has long been obvious, all of the incentives for banks and mortgage servicers are aligned toward pushing homeowners into foreclosure. Despite ostensible programs to prevent foreclosure, the financial and corporate-bureaucratic incentives are still toward foreclosure. Consequently, millions of people are still losing their homes every year when it is highly likely that foreclosure is actually the least desirable outcome not just for the homeowner but for everyone involved including the banks and servicers who are incentivised to foreclose.

How many of these cases are due to fraud at the outset, errors along the way, and corporate-bureaucratic blindness is anybody's guess, but I am sure the Rousseau's situation is not unique. I've read too many similar stories.

It's one reason I was an advocate long ago for the nationalization of the banks; they are simply too hidebound, blind and dumb to function on behalf of even themselves let alone on behalf of the People in the current financial climate.

They should be run strictly in the public interest for the duration.  But until somebody with clout picks up that cudgel, we'll continue to encounter tragic stories like that of the Rousseaus.

None of this has to happen.

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As for the van, I spent part of the morning in Atwater discussing options with repair folks face to face instead of on the phone. I also drove the van for a short distance, and it was obvious that it wasn't going to make it much farther at all. I got it to the repair shop across the street from where I had left it last Saturday, and when the proprietor saw me drive up and said: "You've got a transmission problem." He explained how he had come to that conclusion when Omar at the first shop had brought the van over for a diagnosis on Monday. I asked about the differential. He said he didn't drive the van, but all the sound he heard when the van was on the lift was coming from the transmission and he thought there was metal on metal (oh yes) requiring a rebuild. I asked him whether he could do it, how soon he could have it ready, and how much he'd charge. He said he most certainly could do it; probably take until until Wednesday of next week, and it would cost X number of dollars (a good deal less than I was anticipating.)  I said, "Let's do it."

The vans that I had been considering as replacements were either sold before I could get to them or they were inappropriate for my needs; as I've said, this red Astro van has been a very good friend on the road for a number of years now. I bought it specifically for the trips back and forth between New Mexico and California, and despite the occasional mechanical problem and infrequent breakdown, it has been a godsend and a jewel. And then I think how lucky I am to be able to write that last sentence at all.

So many Americans don't have the option to just go out and "buy a van" or have it repaired as needed let alone to have a second home in New Mexico to go back and forth to. Those are just a few of the examples of the privileges we have. And when I think about the real struggles so many Americans are facing, struggles that are so far beyond my minor inconveniences (in perspective a broken down van or stalled refinancing are minor inconveniences, yes) I'm humbled.

The Rousseau's story is devastating. That sort of thing is happening to way too many Americans, and there seems to be nothing to thwart the demons of destruction abroad in the land.

Rise up, resist, refuse. It's a start!