Pentagon Misplaced a Few Trillion

"Holy Jigumbus Bucks, Batman!"

I'll bet 2 cat’s eye boulders and 10 cat’s eye marbles that you didn’t see this story on FOX or the mainline news: Pentagon fails its first-ever audit, official says

Or, this either: Exclusive: The Pentagon’s Massive Accounting Fraud Exposed

Nope. Who would’ve thunk a measly missing $21 trillion or so dollars would be news!

“Let that sink in for a moment: As things stand, no one knows for sure how the biggest single-line item in the US federal budget is actually being spent. What’s more, Congress as a whole has shown little interest in investigating this epic scandal. The absurdly huge plugs never even get asked about at Armed Services and Budget Committee hearings.”

“So here’s the situation: We have a Pentagon budget that a former DOD internal-audit supervisor, Jack Armstrong, bluntly labels “garbage.” We have a Congress unable to evaluate each new fiscal year’s proposed Pentagon budget because it cannot know how much money was actually spent during prior years. And we have a Department of Defense that gives only lip service to fixing any of this. Why should it? The status quo has been generating ever-higher DoD budgets for decades, not to mention bigger profits for Boeing, Lockheed, and other military contractors.”

“The losers in this situation are everyone else. The Pentagon’s accounting fraud diverts many billions of dollars that could be devoted to other national needs: health care, education, job creation, climate action, infrastructure modernization, and more. Indeed, the Pentagon’s accounting fraud amounts to theft on a grand scale—theft not only from America’s taxpayers, but also from the nation’s well-being and its future.”

Here's the story.

Con mucho bravado, the protectors of truth, our press people, were followin’ the latest Mr. Confusion tweets while the biggest frickin scandal on earth was going down.

Holy Jigumbus Bucks, Batman! 

That’s an understatement, Robin.

More Here:
The Missing Money
$21 Trillion dollars is missing from the US government. That is $65,000 for every person in America. That is more than our entire national debt!


But, this is just for fun...

Riddler Sues Batman - Hi Diddle Riddle Season 1 - Ep 1 1966

Global Corporate Cowgirl & Cowboy Creed

“In the early days of the western United States, a masked man and an Indian rode the plains, searching for truth and justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when from out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again!”

Back in the ‘30s, ‘40s and '50s, if you wanted to be one of the good girls and boys, a real honest to goodness cowgirl or cowboy, ya had to live by the creed.

In consideration of today's "global corporate" world, where corporations have all the rights (and more) of regular, human cowgirls and cowboys, it’s only fair, that the big-buck-corps’ gotta live by the creed... the Lone Ranger's Creed... with a couple of additions to account fir the changes in our world. That's fair, isn't it?

First-most, if youse take the peoples' money to makeup fir yer past mistakes, plus zillions of bucks in tax breaks, ya gotta setup a committee of regular cowgirls and cowboys to cipher out a plan fir bringin' in a replacement business (es) fir when the time comes, and it always comes, when ya reckon on pullin' up stakes and skiddadle outta town.

Second-most, when you foul up the land, ya gotta make right by it. Oh, I almost forgot, last-most, when ya leave town, ya gotta help all the people ya abandon find respectable, good-paying work.

Have a nice day now, Mr. and Mrs. global corporation.

The Lone Ranger's Creed
By Fran Striker

1. I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.

2. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

3. That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

4. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

5. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

6. That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always.

7. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

8. That sooner or later... somewhere... somehow... we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

9. That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.

10. I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

The Lone Ranger | Turning Point - 1957

GM Does for "Self"... We Should Too

O.K. We understand. Corporations must make bucks, protect share price, and keep the Wall Street people happy.  That's what GM has done.

Well, this is 2018. Stuff like this has happened since forever.

It's time for the people of Detroit, Hamtramck, Warren, Lordstown, Oshawa and Baltimore to lookout for themselves, too. We need to become smarter, learn a thing or two, and stop falling for the same old trick.

Stop being Charlie Brown in Lucy's football trick.

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walking (1966 Original)

Lt. Columbo to Meet Mr. Trump

Photo Credit: Peter Falk - NBC; Trump - Kevin LaMarque, Reuters

So, when will Mr. Mueller unleash Lt. Columbo?

You remember the TV series Columbo, don’t you? It debuted in 1968, ran for 10 seasons, and starred Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo, the homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. "In almost every episode the audience sees the crime unfold at the beginning and knows the identity of the culprit, typically an affluent member of society. Once Columbo enters the story, viewers watch him solve the case by sifting through the contradictions between the truth and the version presented to him by the killer(s). This style of mystery is sometimes referred to as a 'howcatchem'."

I'm guessing that it's time to air the Columbo episode, the Mueller Investigation, guest starring Mr. Trump.

Columbo Gets Political | Columbo - Season 9 Episode 3 'Agenda For Murder' 

Congress, the Corvair and Ratwatching

My childhood friend, Jeff Dunlap, drove a Corvair during high school. I’m pretty sure it was his dad’s car. But Jeff had great fun with it, driving to the local burger place, and such.

Neither of us cared much that a guy named Ralph Nader wrote a book call, Unsafe at Any Speed, outing Jeff’s Corvair as an unsafe car. Jeff like the places his car got him to and, as far as I can remember, his ride never went out of control. Still, now that I think about it, I do remember one time when Jeff backed up too fast, impaling it on a parking lot post and having to face the music when his Dad had to come rescue us, ingeniously extricating it using a car jack.

Speaking about genius, Mr. Nader qualifies. He nearly single-handedly created the civic movement that helped move the automotive industry toward adopting safety standards that have saved countless lives. His work cost him universal automotive industry hatred, but also made him internationally famous. Through the years Nader has faithfully maintained his devotion for making our world a better place to live and for holding corporate executives and politicians accountable when they don’t do the same. That, of course, translates to holding fire to the feet of the powers that be every minute of every day.

To do that, Nader has come up with a unique concept to help us “re-form” the U.S. Congress. He's written about it in his newsletter and book, How the Rats Re-formed the Congress, and created a website to help organize Congressional Ratwatchers Groups in every Congressional district.

I hope he’s as successful at Ratwatching as he has been saving lives.

Humorist Will Rogers was a previous generation's Ratwatcher. Asked about the source of his humor, Will Rogers remarked: "I just watch the government and report the facts."

Erected in 1939, this statue of Will Rogers represents the state of Oklahoma in the National Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building. Members of Congress walk pass it once in a while. Tradition maintains it is good luck to rub his shoes while passing.

I Think We Can! I Think We Can!

The Little Engine That Could

This morning I woke thinking about a cartoon scene from the past. Maybe it was the snow falling around the lake and trees outside the bedroom window. Or, Carli’s reassuring snoring. (Carli, our beloved K-9 gift from above.) I’m not exactly sure why — but it was lingering in my mind nonetheless. It went like this:

“I think I can! I think I can!”, the little engine that could kept saying. On it puffed and pulled. On and on, until it climbed all the mountains, crossed all the rivers, and pulled the little train to its destination. “I knew I could! I knew I could!”, the little engine that could finally said. (Please see below.)

That scene kept replaying in my mind.

Why? Is there some esoteric reason for my subconscious to pull up the child’s story?

“Well, yes… maybe,” I thought. The day before I stumbled upon a Robert Reich video about war economy spending and his thoughts about a better use of Mr. Trump’s $200 billion increase in military spending. He explained that some 67% of discretionary spending already goes to military related spending. That’s more than $700 billion. So, couldn't we chose to use that money for more life-affirming uses?

Better use for Mr. Trump's $200 billion in additional War Economy spending.

Oh, by the way, Dr. Reich also pointed out that over the next few years, military cost overruns are projected to reach about $484 billion and the Pentagon itself says by reducing operational overhead some $125 billion could be saved.

It’s a good time, don’t you agree, for the Pentagon people to adopt a “little engine that could” determination and get control of the operational overhead and cost overruns. After all, it’s no longer chump change. We’re talkin’ a few big bucks now. We can do it, too. We can demand that Congress actually do it's job and actually gain accountability by overseeing the Pentagon operations.

I think we can! I think we can!

Robert Reich: The Military-Industrial Drain

Nothing Can Stop Us Now - The Little Engine That Could - 1991

U.S. Pain Management Program

I’ve witnessed firsthand the results of one of our nation’s most ill-conceived “medical policies” — the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) opioid prescribing guidelines as implemented in the State of Michigan.

I’ll put it this way, if you must have a joint surgery operation, especially a total knee replacement, I recommend putting it off until our government people stop treating post-surgery patients like they’re addicts and prescribing doctors like they are pushers. Wait until they adopt a sane, controlled prescription drugs policy that returns post-surgery patient’s pain management to their doctors.

Until that time comes, the only pain management that is currently legal in the U.S. is that offered though unregulated firearms. That is, when your pain reaches an unbearable level, blow your brains out. That’s legal. And, it really will control your pain — forever.

Today, your Doc is required to reduce your pain medication regardless of the extent of your pain because the Center for Disease Control’s opioid prescribing guidelines require patients to be reduced across the board, regardless of their condition.

Here’s the story

“Earlier this year my doctor explained that he was required to reduce my pain medications. I was shocked. He explained that new opioid prescribing guidelines were requiring patients to be reduced across the board, regardless of their condition,” pain patient Liz Ott wrote in a recent guest column.

AMA: ‘Inappropriate Use’ of CDC Guideline Should Stop, Pat Anson, painnewsnetwork.org,14 Nov 2018.

“Two and a half years after the release of the CDC’s opioid prescribing guideline, the American Medical Association has finally taken a stand against the ‘misapplication’ and ‘inappropriate use’ of the guideline by insurers, pharmacists, federal regulators and state governments.”

“Although the guideline is voluntary and only intended for primary care physicians treating non-cancer pain, many pain patients have been forcibly tapered to lower doses, cutoff entirely or even abandoned by their doctors – all under the guise of preventing addiction and overdoses. The CDC has stood by and done nothing to correct the false portrayal of its guideline by insurance companies and pharmacies such as CVS.”

“The genie may be out of the bottle, but the AMA is now trying put it back in.”

Please go here for more…

Who Is Telling The Truth About Prescription Opioid Deaths? DEA? CDC? Neither?, Dr. Josh Bloom acsh.org, 5 Nov 2018.

Valley Of Pain · Bonnie Raitt - 2015

Ah… About that Funny-Looking Texas Tower

Texas Tower - Photo Source:
KXXV TV 25 (ABC) Central Texas News, Waco, TX

Is it a technological breakthrough or, just an odd tower thingy?

I’m betting my marbles on a breakthrough because of all the retired military brass management, investors and board members, plus the university connections with Viziv Technologies.

Besides, I’m tired of paying for all that inefficient, 1800s power company infrastructure and watching the lights go out every time the weather gods decide to mess with us.

Take a gander at this video…

Tesla Technology Has Been Revived

Please go here for the story from KXXV TV (ABC) Central Texas News, Waco, TX:

40 Million Messages

More than 9 million military died. More than 10 million civilians died. Another 20 million civilians became "casualties" because of WWI. Millions more became refugees, displaced persons.

We are lucky people. Although our nation has waged perpetual war around the world for the past 17 years, only .4% of our population is serving in the active military. Perhaps that is why our eyes are closed to the horrendous devastation brought about by our perpetual war economy. Our homes are not being bombed, our children are not dying and only people wanting to enter the U.S. are currently residing in refugee camps. (Please see below.)

There’s a message here — at least 40 million messages in fact — sent to us from our ancestors. They did not profit from war. War was not a good thing for them. Who profits from war?

No more guns & shootings - Message by Tadros Brothers / Frères Tadros

Please go here for more words about our world without war.

Source: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/military

It's Our World,Too!

This past election underscored several of the challenges before us. Sooner or later we must devise a fix for three of them: healthcare; voting rights; and gun violence. Expansion of Medicare into a universal healthcare program offers a clear path toward workable solutions to help minimize each. We, the people, the 99.9%, are hurting. It's time to change the world for the good. Because, it's our world, too. Don't you agree?

Tomorrow - Annie - 1982 

Election Reform

Next day election thoughts…

1. Everyone knows the U.S. system is broken and something must be done to make it actually represent the will of the people. Here are three must reforms: (a) Eliminate “winner-take-all” elections and replace them with “fair representation voting methods” such as “Ranked Choice Voting“ (RCV) (b) National Popular Vote: “Every vote equal in the election of the United States president” and (c) Universal Voter Registration. Go to FairVote.org for why and how election reform must be implemented.
2. We must get the big bucks out of our elections. We can start by reversing Citizen's United vs. Federal Election Commission.
3. Every candidate who lost by a small margin should challenge election results based upon the Republican Party’s purge/disenfranchisement of voters as well as uncounted mailed ballots and provisional ballots. An independent, each-state-appointed, publicly transparent and accountable commission must review and tally each election to determine outcomes — especially in these elections: Abrams/Kemp Georgia (governor); O’Rourke/Cruz (U.S. Senator) Texas; Gillum/DeSantis Florida (governor) and Nelson/Scott U.S. Senator.

St Trinians - Uh Oh We're In Trouble (Official Video) - 2008

The Other Republican Nightmare

Yes, I did vote today.

As the voting machine gobbled my paper ballot, I said a prayer to the Election Gods that my vote would be honestly counted, that millions of others would be as well, and that all our votes would be tallied and reported as we cast them.

Then I went home and washed my hands.

That's when it happened. The thought occurred to me that there must be more of a reason for the Republican Party’s decades-long fear of a viable, universal healthcare program. Why do they fear a universal, single-payer program? 

Then it hit me. Is there a connection with other Republican Party nightmares – such as universal voter registration? 

Historically, the Republican Party has worked tirelessly to exterminate Medicare, Social Security and voting rights for everyone save select white males. 

I'll bet a few marbles that they must hide under their covers, with all the lights on, when they think about universal voter registration. Yep! That's it!

Here's the Real Reason Why Republicans Fear 'Medicare for All', Thom Hartmann, Truthdig.com, 5 Nov 2018.

"Now we know why the GOP is truly terrified of “Medicare for all”: It will wipe out the Republican Party’s control of the House, Senate, White House, and most state governments. Because it could make it very easy for every citizen over 18 to vote."

"Here’s how it works."

"In Canada, every citizen has a Canadian government-issued “Health Insurance Card” (you can see Quebec’s card at the link). It’s largely only available to citizens, as all citizens are eligible for the Canadian Medicare system; everybody else has to work out other insurance options (yes, there are insurance companies in Canada). And in most provinces, the card has your photo and works as an ID card as well as a driver’s license or passport."

"And the Canadian government also explicitly says right here on Quebec’s elections website that your Medicare card is also your first-choice voter ID card. An American version could work identically, perhaps with a star or hologram or other mark to identify citizens as opposed to Medicare-eligible permanent residents, etc."

-more-

"That's It!"  Preservation Hall Jazz Band - 2013

Better Wash Your Hands

Finally.

Tomorrow is election day. Boy, what a relief!

No more disgusting political ads. No more candidate-know-nothin’ blathering... thinkin’ we don’t know they're lying.

Relief is at hand.

Wait.

What’s in that hand?

Let’s cipher on this for a second:

• Millions spent on gerrymandering districts
• Karl Rove acolytes fixing election returns
• Republican Secretaries of State disenfranchising millions of voters
• Zillions spent on outright false and misleading campaign ads

What will be the election result?

Can’t be good, right?

Dirty process equals dirty hands.

Oh well, once you vote tomorrow… you’d better wash your hands!

Wash your hands

Nauseated? Can’t 6 Nov Get Here Sooner?

Too many political ads.

Some people know that the midterm elections are only a few days away. That fact may account for all the TV ads some people see if they are indeed watching what passes for local TV news programming.

A few people, I’m one, I guess, occasionally, even turn the sound up to hear some of the ads. I don’t know about those few other viewers, but when I actually listen to the ads, I begin to feel nauseated – overcome by the outright garbage and absurd lies cascading in torrents on innocent, prospective voter viewers… like me.

Taking into account that every election cycle is loaded with unrepentant falsifications, this election seems to have passed every overdose limit known to mankind. 

The exception, of course, is the greed overload limit. That "limit" grows exponentially each year.

There is no overload limit for the TV station owner’s greed, that is. After all, the TV people are raking in millions of dollars for constantly airing election advertising overflowing with outright lies and obviously misleading garbage content.

Still, I did catch one actor supposedly thanking Mr. Trump for his strong economy and low unemployment rate.

I was amazed.

Did this person really believe she was better off working for slave wages, no benefits, no healthcare, and continuously mounting credit card debt? Didn’t she realize that, a Whopping 62 percent of jobs don't support middle-class life after accounting for cost of living? So, no matter how hard she works  it is likely that she can’t make enough money to live a decent life in the U.S.A. today.

Well, no. She didn’t know that. She’s an actor, not a real person.

But, it is our American Dream... we're well off now... we're kings and queens.

Roger Miller - King of the Road - 1965

Courage

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne (1926)

Somewhere within us resides an itty-bitty spark of courage.

We need to look hard to find it.

Then, give it some air and nurture it into a brilliant flame.

We need that hidden spark to help us try to make fewer bombs, rifles, landmines, fighter jets, missiles and aircraft carriers.

Because with a tiny fraction of what we spend on war materiel each year, we can employ our people in good-paying jobs to rebuild our water systems and stop polluting our rivers, lakes and oceans; rebuild and modernize our roads, bridges, cities and family farms; make our healthcare system the best in the world; educate and train all our people; dive like our future depends on it — because it does — into decentralized and diversified, sustainable energy systems.

We can do these things and much more with an itty-bitty, mouse-sized portion of what we spend on war materiel.

All we need is the courage to find that spark and nurture it.

Transitioning from a war economy into a peace economy... it's time... because we are braver, stronger and smarter than we think.