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The American Ruling Class

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  • I haven't mentioned anything about the Anthony Wiener scandal, commonly referred to as 'Wienergate," for the simple reason that since it has been plastered all over TV news and the Internet, surely everyone already knows what transpired. Again, I think that probably everyone is aware of the fact that Wiener has chosen to resign from the US Congress, after being pressured to do so by high ranking Democrats. What you probably don't know, though, is the fact that the disgraced Wiener, after a term of just 12 years, is going to receive retirement benefits of $1.2 million. It's hard to believe that Wiener could have amassed this much in benefits, as he only contributed 1% of his salary to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). His annual salary was $174,000, so he would have contributed $1,740 per year at best, and that amounts to $20,880. The FERS program normally contributes an automatic 1% towards the employee's retirement fund, plus a matching contribution up to 5%. Thus, in Wiener's case they would have contributed 2% of his pay, for a total of $41,760. Add that to Wiener's contribution and it comes up to $62,640. Even with any gains that could have been realized from interest or market based earnings on his account, his account assets should be nowhere near $1.2 million, and would seem more on the order of 1/10th of that amount. So where does the remainder come from? Is it a payoff for him agreeing to resign, rather than dragging Democrats through an ethics investigation? For that matter, why should any Congressional representative who abuses the public's trust, and dishonors the office he was elected to serve in, receive any pension funds other than his own contribution, let alone the $1.2 million "Golden Parachute" exit reward that Wiener will be receiving? It's wrong, and it is a disgusting reminder of the perverse situation that lives on in Washington DC.
    "Seek wisdom by keeping an open mind to alternative realities, questioning authority, and searching for truth. Only then, when you see or hear something that has 'the ring of truth' to it, will it be as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly you will begin to hear and see far more clearly than ever before." - Rickoff

    Comment


    • Originally posted by rickoff View Post
      So where does the remainder come from? Is it a payoff for him agreeing to resign, rather than dragging Democrats through an ethics investigation? For that matter, why should any Congressional representative who abuses the public's trust, and dishonors the office he was elected to serve in, receive any pension funds other than his own contribution, let alone the $1.2 million "Golden Parachute" exit reward that Wiener will be receiving? It's wrong, and it is a disgusting reminder of the perverse situation that lives on in Washington DC.
      YouTube - ‪Scratch - Official Music Video from BG5‬‏

      Al

      Comment


      • Flush twice,

        its a long way to D.C. Another thing, tho maybe wouldn't apply to weiner; No one notices what 'Retired' former Senators and Congressman do, career wise.Do you know what any former congressman for your state, are doing now? So, another way to bribe them.I'll give you cushy job at high pay, after you retire, in exchange for pushing this legislation for me, now.And I don't think its even illegal; that is as long as theres no evidence of quid pro quo.And,.....nobodies looking!

        Comment


        • If you have never seen the movie Lord of War, starring Nicholas Cage, I highly recommend it to understand how modern day gun runners, rather than working as outlaws, actually have working relationships will governments that not only condone their activities, but also encourage them. A timely case in point is the US government's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agency (ATF) which supplied such gunrunners, otherwise known as "straw buyers," with about 2,000 weapons which the ATF wanted sold to Mexican drug cartels. This was done under two ATF operations, one known as "Project Gunrunner," and the other known as "Operation Fast and Furious." ATF claims that the idea behind this distribution of dangerous weapons was that it would allow them to trace the path of sales to the drug cartels, but the ATF now admits that it lost track of at least 2/3 of the weapons, and that the weapons have already been used in at least 150 shootings. In December, Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was murdered in Arizona, and two weapons found at the scene were admitted to have originated from Project Gunrunner.
          Kenneth Melson, the acting director of the ATF, is expected to step down
          from his position, and some ATF agents are verbally expressing their disdain for the situation. John Casa, an agent at the ATF’s Phoenix Field office called the program “a colossal failure of leadership.” Another agent, John Dodson, told lawmakers, "I cannot begin to think of how the risk of letting guns fall into the hands of known criminals could possibly advance any legitimate law enforcement interest."

          I concur with Dodson, although the government practice of putting weapons into the hands of criminal thugs has been going on for ages (remember the Iran Contra Affair?) and will no doubt continue past this publicly exposed ATF shakedown. I'm wondering what Melson's "Golden Parachute" reward will be for accepting the blame. Maybe he'll be given an Obama czar position, or a cushy job in some corporation. There's very little chance he will serve any prison time, or that anyone who ordered him to implement this plan will become ensnared.

          Funny, isn't it, how the government continues to work at eliminating gun rights of law abiding citizens while at the same time ensuring that non-US citizen criminals, who think nothing of killing US citizens, will be armed with only the finest automatic weapons.

          "Seek wisdom by keeping an open mind to alternative realities, questioning authority, and searching for truth. Only then, when you see or hear something that has 'the ring of truth' to it, will it be as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly you will begin to hear and see far more clearly than ever before." - Rickoff

          Comment


          • Melatonin

            Aging
            Research has supported the anti-aging properties of melatonin.

            Melatonin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

            Circadin® is approved for marketing in the EU as a patent-protected 2 mg prolonged-release melatonin formulation. It mimics the physiological secretion profile of melatonin.
            Neurim Pharmaceuticals - Home Page

            Al

            Comment


            • Originally posted by aljhoa View Post
              Aging
              Research has supported the anti-aging properties of melatonin.

              Melatonin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedial
              Just wondering in what way you see this as being related to the subject of this thread - The American Ruling Class? Wouldn't this be more suited to the http://www.energeticforum.com/health-fitness-nutrition/ section?
              "Seek wisdom by keeping an open mind to alternative realities, questioning authority, and searching for truth. Only then, when you see or hear something that has 'the ring of truth' to it, will it be as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly you will begin to hear and see far more clearly than ever before." - Rickoff

              Comment


              • Melatonin

                Originally posted by rickoff View Post
                Just wondering in what way you see this as being related to the subject of this thread - The American Ruling Class? Wouldn't this be more suited to the http://www.energeticforum.com/health-fitness-nutrition/ section?
                Most associate melatonin with sleeping.
                This is one of the most important hormones that do not deserve the Health, Fitness & Nutrition Section.
                It is anti-aging and in test animals life prolonging agent, anti-cancer, anti-depressant, sexual functions regulator to name a few discovered roles.
                Also it helps protect cells from cesium-137 exposure.

                Therefore if it helps anyone to stay alert the better.
                Al

                Comment


                • Hi Rick/ALL

                  Check
                  Win big or die
                  The US college education paradigm
                  US Win big or die

                  Comment


                  • Is this insane, or what???

                    Incredibly, millionaires now qualify for food stamps as long as they can show they have little or no income, author and lecturer James Bovard says.

                    Thirty five states have now scrapped asset requirements, which means almost anyone can buy groceries under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food stamp program.

                    "The Obama administration is far more enthusiastic about boosting food-stamp enrollment than about preventing fraud," Bovard wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, also saying, "Thanks in part to vigorous federally funded campaigns by nonprofit groups, the government's AmericaCorps service program, and other organizations urging people to accept government handouts, the number of food-stamp recipients has soared to 44 million from 26 million in 2007, and costs have more than doubled to $77 billion from $33 billion."

                    As of May , about 40 million Americans were receiving food stamps, according to Reuters news service, and that number is only likely to grow considerably if the Obama regime continues to push their Keynesian economic policies. According to the "anti-hunger group" Food Research and Action Center, "research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving ... benefits."

                    I guess we can expect many more millionaires to sign up for food stamps now that they know they are "eligible."
                    "Seek wisdom by keeping an open mind to alternative realities, questioning authority, and searching for truth. Only then, when you see or hear something that has 'the ring of truth' to it, will it be as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly you will begin to hear and see far more clearly than ever before." - Rickoff

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by ashtweth View Post
                      Hi Rick/ALL

                      Check Win big or die
                      The US college education paradigm
                      US Win big or die
                      Hi Ash,

                      I just recently wrote about the staggering amount of Student Loan debt in this post. Undoubtedly the situation will become far worse, especially if hare-brained ideas like granting amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens, if they promise to either serve in the military or go to college, are passed by Congress. Given the choice, how many would opt to serve in the military rather than go to college four years on easily defaulted student loans or on grants at taxpayer expense?
                      "Seek wisdom by keeping an open mind to alternative realities, questioning authority, and searching for truth. Only then, when you see or hear something that has 'the ring of truth' to it, will it be as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly you will begin to hear and see far more clearly than ever before." - Rickoff

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by rickoff View Post
                        Incredibly, millionaires now qualify for food stamps as long as they can show they have little or no income, author and lecturer James Bovard says.

                        Thirty five states have now scrapped asset requirements, which means almost anyone can buy groceries under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food stamp program.

                        "The Obama administration is far more enthusiastic about boosting food-stamp enrollment than about preventing fraud," Bovard wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, also saying, "Thanks in part to vigorous federally funded campaigns by nonprofit groups, the government's AmericaCorps service program, and other organizations urging people to accept government handouts, the number of food-stamp recipients has soared to 44 million from 26 million in 2007, and costs have more than doubled to $77 billion from $33 billion."

                        As of May , about 40 million Americans were receiving food stamps, according to Reuters news service, and that number is only likely to grow considerably if the Obama regime continues to push their Keynesian economic policies. According to the "anti-hunger group" Food Research and Action Center, "research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving ... benefits."

                        I guess we can expect many more millionaires to sign up for food stamps now that they know they are "eligible."
                        Hi Rick
                        I wonder if this comes under the heading of "addiction" Our government is addicted to spending OUR money for anything and everything so THEY can stay in power. Why would they allow millionaires to get food stamps??? There is NO reason for it. My parents are retired and extremely well off so they would easily fall into the millionaire catagory. But becuase they are retired they get Soc Sec and were told they are eligable for food stamps as well. Fortunately my folks have too much pride to take something like that even if they would need it.
                        The fact remains....There is simply no common sence in DC. And if there is someone who does have common sence that actually goes to DC their voices are drowned out but the sound of our officials shoveling our tax dollars down a rat hole.

                        And with illegal aliens still pouring through our southern border the situation will only get worse. If they want to spend money why not finish the southern border fence...oh wait that would make too much common sence...silly me.

                        I WANT A REFUND
                        Bizzy
                        Last edited by Bizzy; 06-24-2011, 12:17 PM.
                        Smile it doesn't hurt!

                        Jesus said,"...all things are possible through God." Mk10:27

                        Comment


                        • Gendercide

                          Critics Accuse U.N. of Funding China 'Gendercide'

                          By the year 2020, between 40 to 50 million Chinese men won't be able to find wives. Human rights groups blame the situation on a modern-day genocide against baby girls. They call it "gendercide."

                          "This girl tends to be aborted, killed right after birth, abandoned and trafficked," Chai Ling told CBN News.

                          China is not the only country participating in gendercide. Many Asian cultures like India, South Korea and Vietnam place a premium on boys, leading some couples to abort their babies once they find out it's a girl. Gendercide is also practiced in places like Armenia and the Republic of Georgia.

                          Consequently, when Republicans asked the public what programs should be on the chopping block in their "Youcut" program, All Girls Allowed suggested the U.N. population fund.

                          "President Reagan cut back on it. George W. Bush cut back on it. It's one of those issues that, unfortunately, President Obama reinstated. Our hard-earned tax dollars need to go to more beneficial things," she said.

                          If the House passes the bill, it would then have to clear the Senate and be signed by the president -- which looks unlikely.

                          Critics Accuse U.N. of Funding China 'Gendercide' - Christian World News - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

                          Home | All Girls Allowed

                          Gendercide Watch: Female Infanticide

                          Al

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by rickoff View Post

                            The current estimated total of all outstanding US student loans, both federal and private, stands at $918.4 billion and rising as I write. And yes, that exceeds the total amount of unsecured US credit card debt, which currently stands at $800.6 billion.

                            See the Student Loan Debt Clock for a continually-updating estimate of the total student loan debt outstanding.


                            More than half of all federal education loans ever made in the FFEL and Direct Loan programs are still outstanding.


                            The total defaulted student loans outstanding are around $47.4 billion.


                            In June of 2010, the total of outstanding US student loans was $833 billion, so today's figure of $918.4 billion represents an annual increase of 10 percent in outstanding student loan debt. If this growth rate continues, outstanding student loan debt will double in 7 years. During the same time period, I expect that the total amount of defaulted student loans will far surpass a 10% annual growth rate. A great many recent graduates have been unsuccessful at obtaining gainful employment in careers suited to their education, and many have opted to take low paying "service jobs" (at fast food establishments, etc.) just to eke by. As the economic situation worsens, recent and new graduates will find it even more difficult to maintain student loan repayments as scheduled, and thus a great many will either default on, or "defer" payments. Those who continue in post graduation schooling, and those who face financial hardship, are allowed to defer payments on their student loans, which means that they are not required to make any payments whatsoever while their deferment is approved. Of course the interest on their loan keeps accruing, and several years down the road of life they can easily owe twice the amount they originally borrowed. Deferred student loans are not counted as being in default until an allowed deferment period ends, but with so many people sinking further into debt it is nearly a certainty that the majority of deferred loans will end up as defaults.

                            Hi Rick/ALL

                            Check
                            YouTube - ‪College Conspiracy‬‏

                            Just got sent this
                            "Student Loan debt" now exceeds "Credit Card debt" !!!
                            The banking scam is no longer about "living beyond one's means"; the alleged "debt" is now about the scam against kids (not to mention the scam of 'advertising and marketing' to kids).

                            We ALL now know that there is NO "debt" because the alleged 'loan' was funded AND PAID the instant the student signed the 'loan application'.

                            Do NOT miss: "How worthless is higher education?" at the 30-minute mark.

                            Oh! Here's one for you! Law schools boast that 90% of their graduates are employed within one year of graduation. What they fail to mention is that this percentage INCLUDES all those "grads" who are employed at Wal-Mart and McDonald's. Yes, "Do you want LEGAL fries with that?" Lawyers lie. Go to: 44:50

                            FOOD: Be sure to see what is listed as having vastly inflated prices - NONE of which we need. (Yes, even the last one - think hemp) see: 49:47

                            "The future of education is over the internet." - NIA (National Inflation Association)War is a racket. College is a racket.Do not be fooled into thinking that this video is about only the states. ALL college and university is to program kids to be slaves and for the banks to continue to grab the almighty buck - nothing else!

                            I paid $500 for 2 years of nurse's training in 1975, in Toronto. I paid it in advance, in full––peanuts! and I went on to make $22 an hour, in California, 3 years after graduation. Let's get back to "apprenticeship".

                            I've posted this on my blog: Spiritual Economics Now

                            Comment


                            • National Inflation Association co-founder George Hemminger (aka George4Title) exposes his former organization for the pump & dump scams it commits at the direction of its scandal-plagued leader, Jonathan Lebed.
                              YouTube - ‪National Inflation Association co-founder admits NIA is a FRAUD!‬‏

                              Executive Order 6102 required U.S. citizens to deliver on or before May 1, 1933, all but a small amount of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates owned by them to the Federal Reserve, in exchange for $20.67 per troy ounce. Under the Trading With the Enemy Act of October 6, 1917, as amended on March 9, 1933, violation of the order was punishable by fine up to $10,000 ($167,700 if adjusted for inflation as of 2010) or up to ten years in prison, or both. Most citizens who owned large amounts of gold had it transferred to countries such as Switzerland.
                              Executive Order 6102 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                              Al

                              Comment


                              • Regarding ATF operation

                                Its doubtful the story ever would have come to light, had it not been for local agents, who watched the straw buyers buying these guns, and were ordered NOT to bust them. And, they probably wouldn't have 'gone public' with the story, if it hadn't been for the death of a 'brother' agent, as a direct result of this mismanaged misguided operation.Makes you wonder how many cock-ups never come to light, because there is no 'triggering event', which motivates subordinates to risk their careers, by 'going public'."In a hierarchy, an individual tends to advance to their level of incompetence, and there they stay." Jim

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