Apr 242014
 

I’m writing for tomorrow very early in the morning, because I have a busy day, including grocery delivery and preparation for tomorrow’s prison volunteer day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:28 (average 4:58).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: A special Upworthy series about work and the economy, made possible by the AFL-CIO. Read more, then check out more in Workonomics.

Just remember some of these people when you go to the mall to get some new pants or whatever.

 

American workers, who lost their jobs, are not the only victims of the greedy corporations, who create such working conditions to increase their profit, and the Republican Party, that helps make such tragedies possible by taking funds from US taxpayers to finance corporate offshoring costs.

From Daily Kos: Last Friday, a bronze statue honoring the late U.S. District Judge J. Waties Waring, whose legal opinions helped end segregation and the doctrine of separate but equal, was unveiled outside the federal courthouse in Charleston, South Carolina. According to the Charleston Post and Courier, "an integrated crowd of several hundred people gathered to watch" the unveiling.

One dozen speakers spoke at the event, including U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Congressman James Clyburn and South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal, each paying their respects to Waring for having the vision to try to move the country past the era of Jim Crow segregation.

But despite the large crowd and the attendance of top officials like Holder and Clyburn, you won’t be surprised about who didn’t show up:

Republicans from the area’s congressional delegation were conspicuously absent.

U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, and U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-Charleston, all skipped the dedication ceremony held last Friday at the federal courthouse in Charleston.

The Republican Party is the party of segregation and racism.

From The New Yorker: In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of the United States declared on Tuesday that lying by politicians is protected by the First Amendment because it is an expression of their religion.

By a 5–4 majority, the Court struck down an Ohio law that would make it harder to lie in political ads, arguing instead that “any attempt to restrict or punish lying by politicians is an unconstitutional infringement on a religion they have practiced for decades.”

The Court’s decision won praise from politicians of both parties, with many saying that the Justices’ recognition of lying as a religion was “long overdue.”

Andy had it right, until he made it bipartisan. Democratic politicians have no need to lie, because the truth works for them. On the other hand, "Thou shalt ALWAYS bear false witness," is one of the commandments of Republican Supply-side Jesus (not the real Jesus).

Cartoon:

0424Cartoon

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  12 Responses to “Open Thread–4/24/2014”

  1. You know, I'd have thought the New Yorker piece was true the way some (most) politicians behave, particularly those on the Right!

    May God bless Judge J Waties Waring forever (and all like him) for ending segregation – how in the name of sanity do the Far Right want to bring it back – oh, I forgot, sanity doesn't enter into it….

     

  2. 4:41  The average is up a tad to 5:01.  I've heard of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, but what is a basic rock?

    upworthy – I don't shop at the mall.  I do shop on line.  I only buy clothes that are marked way dow, 50-90%.  Probably a rationalization, but I can at least hope that the workers, wherever they are, were compensated based on the original price not the markdown price.  My sweaters I knit myself.  the yarns are not coming from Bangladesh.

    Daily Kos – yes, and you should click through for their flimsy excuses.  Pat A, I think the problem with the right is fear.  They fear people of a different color, they fear women, they fear people with any education, they fear the poor (well, they are trying their best to make that one justified).  In fact, they are a bunch of cowards!  The "put the women in the front lines" "militiamen" are just one manifestation.  I'm afraid of a few things myself, but they tend to be reality based.  Like the TPP (and the TTIP, same thing only with the EU), climate change, oligarchy, that kind of thing.

    The New Yorker – Sadly, this is a real case.  I haven't been following it because it was a foregone conclusion which way it would go.

    Cartoon – Says it all.

  3. The New Yorker: Lying as a "religion"… Oh, come on… SCROTUMS 5 have lost their collective minds. Unbelievable! 

  4. Upworthy ~ This is one of the many reasons I only buy clothingmade in the USA. It's hard to find but not if you do your shopping at the salvation Army or other Thrift shops. Recycle, Reuse & Reduce!

    Daily Kos ~ Graham would have gotten "the vapors" if he had gone and the other 2 are just as useless. Lame excuses from all 3. They should have told the truth. Everyone knows they're bigots.

    New Yorker ~ I agree with you, Tom.

    Cartoon ~ Does Thomas think he's white?

     

  5. Time – 3:43

    Very touching video.  I doubt this will ever be properly handled, and that would mean these companies giving fair re-compensation to the families, and a complete over haul of the horrible working conditions.  I recently read that nothing has changed.  Not even fire protections have been instigated. We are living in a world of too many workers willing to do just about any thing to feed their families and too many corporations ready and willing to take full advantage of the desperation of the poor, I don't see any thing positive about to happen.

    No, I'm not surprised by who didn't show up.  Even for those republicans who once had a moral compass that is tucked away during election years.

    Andy always gets it right on target!

    Thanks TC – have a good day tomorrow.

  6. Upworthy:  These people work in worse conditions than anyone should, and for pennies.  It is almost impossible to find any clothing made in the USA anymore, they are from Bangladesh, Viet Nam, India, Indonesia, places that have desperate people who will take any job to feed their families. The driving force behind this is greed by the corporations who are making billions of dollars.

    Daily Kos:  I am not surprised that Graham, Scott, and Sanford failed to show up.  They would be going against their campaign contributors if they did.   I used to have alittle respect for Graham, no more, though.

    Andy:  For a few seconds, I thought what I was reading was fact and it would not surprise me if it happend.  The cartoon is right on, too.

    I hope all goes well for you tomorrow.. 

  7. Thanks all Amen!  Good trip! Good night! 🙂

  8. ~~Just remember some of these people when you go to the mall to get some new pants or whatever.

    So very Sad… 😥

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