Be Relevant

Relearning everything we've forgotten.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

“Making Our Future Win-Lose”


The future is ours to win.” [1] I imagined that Stephen Covey winced at the President's words. This is a clear violation of Habit #4 in the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Synopsis: Genuinely striving for mutually beneficial
solutions or agreements in your relationships. Valuing
and respecting people by understanding a "win" for all is
ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one
person in the situation had gotten his way.” [2]

Certainly our President is a highly effective person. Certainly we want to be a nation of highly effective people. So why are we starting from a premise of winners and losers? “We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.” [1] This mentality means that for America to win somewhere else people have to lose. Who will have to lose next? Who is after Iraq and Afghanistan? We are 5% of the world's population but we consume 25% of the world's resources. How much more can we take?

Al Qaeda is evidence of what happens when a populace is relegated to the losing side. A population that is grossly under educated, under fed, impoverished, and downtrodden is a seed bed for the kind of fanatics that terrorists are. Just look at how Hitler took power and you'll see some scary resemblances.

“We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook.” [1] Is this truly how we want to be seen by the world? A country that is simply driven by production and reliant on sales. “We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business.” [1] Apparently so.

The President opened the speech with,

Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever
known, the stock market has come roaring back. Corporate
profits are up. The economy is growing again. But we have
never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We
measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs
they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer.”[1]

Though I disagree with the way he sees us measuring progress (GDP anyone?) I agree that progress should be measured by the success of our people. But not at the cost of others. So I disagree with this idea that “the future is ours to win.”[1] Don't get me wrong, I found many things to cheer about in his speech.

The President is correct we have to tackle our national debt. It is over $14 trillion and growing. [3] Restructuring the government is a great start. Freezing domestic spending for the next 5 years is a great start. But let's get real about the tens of billions of dollars that the Department of Defense is cutting. It's not even going to make a drop in the bucket. The 2010 DOD budget was over 600 billion dollars. This means if we completely cut the Defense budget to $0 and directed all that money to the debt we could pay off the debt in 20 – 30 years. Kind of like our own national mortgage. Yet there is no way we are going cut Defense completely out. If we only took half of that budget it would take us between 40-50 years. But with half the DOD budget and the savings from capping domestic spending (till the debt is paid off please!) and the idea of restructuring the government, we might just pay-off that national mortgage in 20-30 years.

Simplifying the tax code. Yes please! I'm all for lessening some taxes for corporations if the product they are producing is of value, and their operations directly provide benefits to the community they are in. This isn't to be confused with “free lunch” concessions some states make to attract businesses by shifting all the tax responsibilities on the citizens of that community. By all means come start a business and enjoy fair tax rates. But you better come ready to be a part of the community and ready to bare your portion of the community's tax burdens.

This leads to another quite sticky issue. I'm just as guilty of trying to find every single legal way out of paying my taxes that there is possible. Nearly half of Americans didn't pay federal income tax in 2009? That's incredible. I hate income taxes. I find them burdensome and debilitating to the American people. I am a huge proponent of a graduated consumption tax. This way everyone pays the amount they want and no one escapes their civic duty to pay taxes. Illegal immigrants and all.

Onto illegal immigration. Yes we need to solve this issue. But creating legislation that effectively creates a semi-police state attitude isn't the way. Nor is hate mongering about said legislation and thinking violence is the answer. Illegal immigrants have been stereotyped into this sect of people who take the low-income jobs and live off welfare. Surely this image has those that live up to it or rather down to it. Which makes you wonder how the “illegal immigrants are taking our jobs argument” holds up. But half of the illegal immigrants in this country are in the middle class range and pay taxes. What? They pay taxes? Yes. It is a reality that you have to have a SSN to get a job in this country. So many of them purchase SSNs and pay taxes for years. Never filing for a tax refund because they don't want to draw attention to themselves. What happens to that money?

Our country needs a viable worker program. It also needs clear and concise ways to apply for citizenship. Making applying for citizenship much more appealing than risking their lives to get into the country. Lastly, we need to look at the reasons (NAFTA and corn subsidies are just a few) why people want to get into the country in the first place. Could it be they're just trying to get on the winning side?

Another issue that is always attached to illegal immigrants is health care. Instead of going down that rabbit hole lets talk about health care for US citizens. The Republicans want to repeal the health care law. Well at the least the insurance companies who got the Republicans the majority in the House want the health care law repealed. The President said he'd be willing to talk to anyone to make the bill better. Mr. President the American people deserve health care free from profit driven motives. We must provide government health care to all our citizens. Maybe it will increase our taxes but I have a feeling if we had a consumption tax that everyone paid, and we cut spending as talked about above, there would be plenty of tax dollars to fund national health care. Besides even if you had to pay an extra $100-200 a month in taxes its still better than the $500 a month most families pay for insurance. At the very least it'd cost the same as the cut-rate insurance that doesn't even pay half the expenses.

So we have a ton of work to do internally. But how does that translate to more jobs and a win-win environment for the US and the rest of the world? By focusing on the green technologies and creating the partnerships with other nations. By getting ourselves out of Iraq and Afghanistan and stop creating worthless wars that kill people and tarnish our morality as a country. By lessening our dependence on oil. But stopping tax dollar subsidies to companies earning record profits and polluting our world. Investing in companies who invest in our communities. We need to invest in education and not allow higher education to be another means of social stratification. We do need to innovate but with the rest of the world. The global financial crisis has shown how interconnected we all are. We can't go it alone in the world any longer and trying to take more of the global pie isn't the answer.

But I can't help feeling that it will all be just rhetoric unless we stand up and hold the President and Congress accountable. In this age where the Supreme Court – unjustly - upheld a corporation's right to free speech thereby allowing corporate campaign contributions, it can feel down right daunting to make a difference. But we can!

There are two fundamental truths. The first truth is there are 3 resources that you have that the world covets. They are (1) your vote, (2) your money, and (3) your capacity to produce money. The second truth is that you control all 3 of those resources. We all need to become more informed and take a stance on something. This national sense of apathy abdicates our control over the government. We need to wrest control of our government back.

Now it’s our turn.” [1] Yes it is Mr. President.


[1] State of the Union Address 2011, Retrieved from Scribd 26 January 2011.
[3] The US National Debt Clock, Retrieved 26 January 2011.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Orangutan Friendly Sustainable Palm Oil Valentine Candy List

Valentine's Day is coming up and whether you support it or not is your decision.  But if you do decide to partake in the event here is a list of candies and sweets from companies who are members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

http://www.cmzoo.org/docs/palmOilValentineCandy2011.pdf

Remember that each and every one of us can make a difference!  

Who really sent the Republicans?

My initial plan was to list all the new Republican members of Congress and who their biggest contributors were.  But after taking a look at the new members of Congress at OpenSecrets.Org, I’d have to recreate the entire website here.  It is apparent that the Republicans took quite a few seats in Congress this year by the overwhelming number of new Republicans.  However, was the Republican takeover of the House a function of the people’s wants or the wants of the Health Insurance Industry? 

We all know the candidate with the most money usually – not always – wins.  So out of all the issues and policies that were passed in the past 2 years of the Obama Administration how come it was Health Care Reform that the new Republican House wanted to repeal?  Is there a connection to the fact that Insurance Companies, Health Professionals, Pharmaceutical Companies, HMO’s and Financial Institutions were the top contributors to the Republican Party?  More specifically, top contributors to the new first term Republicans? 

Take a look at just a few of the new Republican Congress Members.  I only went through the B’s because frankly there’s too many.

Sandy Adams, R-FL, House
-Health Professionals $47,700

Justin Amash, R-MI, House
-Health Professionals $45,500

Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, Senate
-Securities & Investments $398,086
-Insurance $184,305

Charles Bass, R-NH, House
-Securities & Investments $46,650
-Insurance $38,400

Daniel Benishek, R-MI, House
-Health Professionals $95,550

Diane Lynn Black, R-TN, House
-Health Professionals $78,102
-Hospitals/Nursing Homes $25,600

Mo Brooks, R-AL, House
-Health Professionals $55,200

Larry Bucshon, R-IN, House
-Health Professionals $138,157
-Insurance $28,348

Ann Marie Buerkle, R-NY, House
-Securities & Investments $41,133

Believe me there are many more.  Better yet, don’t believe me and check for yourself.  I included Securities & Investments because Insurance companies tend to be the largest share holders of mutual funds.  So the Securities & Investments industry has a vested interest in seeing private insurance succeed.

Not every Republican got money directly from a Health related industry – though it would have been a heck of a lot easier had I listed them in retrospect.  But all Republicans received money from one of their PACS.  The two largest contributors were the Continuing a Majority Party Action Committee and the Every Republican is Crucial PAC.

Here is listed out the amount given to House and Senate Republicans.  Interesting how the amount given to the Senate is much less then what was given to the House.  Maybe that’s why the Senate is still in the hands of the Democrats?  The list also shows the top industry contributors to each PAC.

Continuing a Majority Party Action Committee :
Gave $547,250 to the House Republicans and $13,000 to Senate Republicans in 2010.
Top contributions by Industry.
Insurance
$100,000

Health Professionals
$92,500

Pharmaceuticals/Health Products
$86,500

Lobbyists
$58,750

Health Services/HMOs
$53,000

Securities & Investment
$48,500


Every Republican is Crucial PAC:
Gave $1, 210,842 to the House Republicans and $30,000 to Senate Republicans in 2010.
Top contributions by Industry.
Securities & Investment
$160,650
Real Estate
$137,000
Insurance
$131,465
Lobbyists
$119,000
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products
$112,350
Tobacco
$94,750
Commercial Banks
$75,750
Health Services/HMOs
$71,700
Health Professionals
$71,554


So I have to wonder did the American People really speak at the last election.  Or did Corporate America through Insurance and Health Care Companies speak?  One thing is quite apparent.  The Republicans have lived up to their word.  They were sent to Washington to repeal the Health Care law and they spent little time getting down to business.  The question now is who sent them?

If you are really interested here is the top 100 contributors to the Continuing a Majority Party Action Committee.

Rank
Contributor
Total
Indivs
PACs
1
Blue Cross/Blue Shield – self explanatory
$16,000
$0
$16,000
2
Altria Group - the No. 1 tobacco company in the world
$15,000
$5,000
$10,000
2
DaVita Inc -  is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services and education to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease.
$15,000
$5,000
$10,000
4
Dykema Gossett – Law firm specializing in Insurance, Pharmaceutical and Medical Industries.
$10,250
$250
$10,000
5
Abbott Laboratories – Global Health Care and Medical Research
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Aetna Inc – self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
AFLAC Inc – self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
America's Health Insurance Plans – self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
American College of Cardiology
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
American Seniors Housing Assn – self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Amgen Inc - Delivers important, cost effective therapeutics based on cellular and molecular biology
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Eli Lilly & Co - one of the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Investment Co Institute - News and tutorials covering mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETF), closed-end funds (CEF) and unit investment trusts (UIT).
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Medco Health Solutions - self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Merck & Co - self explanatory
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
National Multi Housing Council
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Natl Assn Real Estate Investment Trusts
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Pechanga Band of Mission Indians
$10,000
$10,000
$0
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
5
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
$10,000
$10,000
$0
5
$10,000
$0
$10,000
36
American College of Radiology- self explanatory
$9,000
$0
$9,000
37
$8,000
$0
$8,000
37
$8,000
$0
$8,000
37
$8,000
$0
$8,000
40
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock – A government relations consulting firm – clients include Health Care providers, Insurance companies, medical supply companies
$7,500
$7,500
$0
40
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
Metlife Inc - self explanatory
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
Pfizer Inc - is one of the biggest players in what is widely considered the most influential industry in Washington: pharmaceutical manufacturers
$7,500
$0
$7,500
40
$7,500
$0
$7,500
48
DTE Energy
$7,000
$0
$7,000
49
American Express
$6,000
$0
$6,000
49
Deloitte & Touche – Consulting group dealing with accounting
$6,000
$0
$6,000
49
Federal Policy Group – Consulting group dealing with taxes and financial legislation
$6,000
$6,000
$0
52
$5,500
$0
$5,500
53
American Assn of Orthopaedic Surgeons - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
American Assn of Preferred Providers Org - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
American College of Emergency Physicians - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
American Dental Assn - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
American Hospital Assn- self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
American Physical Therapy Assn - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
BASF Corp
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Cardinal Health - Offers drug development services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Centra Inc – multiple listing for a health care company or a consulting company.  No direct findings for Centra Inc.
$5,000
$5,000
$0
53
College of American Pathologists - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
CVS/Caremark Corp – Health Care Company
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Fidelity Investments – financial services
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Goldman Sachs – financial services
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Home Depot
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
1.       Invacare Corp - is the world's leading manufacturer of wheelchairs, bariatric equipment, disability scooters, respiratory products and other homecare products.
$5,000
$4,000
$1,000
53
JPMorgan Chase & Co – financial services
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
McCrery for Congress
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Miller & Chevalier - Miller & Chevalier’s Employee Benefits and Employment Tax practice offers a full range of consulting, planning, and controversy services to clients facing the challenges of increased audit and regulatory scrutiny in the benefits area. In
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
National Community Pharmacists Assn - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
National Venture Capital Assn - The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), comprised of more than 400 member firms, is the premier trade association that represents the U.S. venture capital industry – Members Like Citigroup, JP Morgan, Kaiser Permanente
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
New York Life Insurance - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
1.      Novartis Corp- Has core businesses in healthcare, agribusiness and consumer health.
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Renal Leadership Council
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Rumsey Indian Rancheria
$5,000
$5,000
$0
53
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
UBS Americas - Financial Services
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
US Oncology - self explanatory
$5,000
$0
$5,000
53
Waste Management Inc
$5,000
$0
$5,000
85
BGR Group- is the premier bipartisan government relations, strategic communications, and investment banking firm. Clients include Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and other Health Care providers
$4,500
$4,500
$0
85
Capitol Health Group - self explanatory
$4,500
$4,500
$0
85
$4,500
$0
$4,500
85
Pacific Life Insurance - self explanatory
$4,500
$0
$4,500
85
Williams & Jensen- one of the nation's leading, independently owned government affairs law firms. Clients include Pfizer,
$4,500
$4,500
$0
90
Capitol Tax Partners – consulting firm
$4,000
$4,000
$0
90
Cassidy & Assoc
$4,000
$4,000
$0
90
Dow Chemical
$4,000
$0
$4,000
90
Hearing Industries Assn – association for hearing aid manufacturers.
$4,000
$0
$4,000
90
John Hancock Life Insurance Co - self explanatory
$4,000
$0
$4,000
90
Kidney Care Partners - self explanatory
$4,000
$0
$4,000
90
RailAmerica Inc
$4,000
$0
$4,000
90
Zurich Insurance - self explanatory
$4,000
$0
$4,000
98
Applied Materials Inc
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
Cigar Assn of America
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
Delta Airlines
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
ESOP Assn
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc – Lobbyist Group
$3,500
$3,500
$0
98
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans – financial services
$3,500
$0
$3,500
98
$3,500
$0
$3,500


Material retrieved from Open Secrets.ORG on 21 January 2011. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave.php?cmte=C00350462&cycle=2010&recs=100