Today being “one of those days,” I said the same thing on both blogs.
To quote a former Governor/Actor,
“I’ll be back”
I’m posting a 7-page email sent round, actually, yesterday, by Mr. Burien, one person who’s probably done more to encourage people to read the collective government entities’ CAFRs than people who know, help write, but don’t sufficiently publicize, these instruments for recording where, exactly, does the collective government clout of (for example), the USA, have its stuff invested — and how much IS that stuff? The last page is actually a footnote explaining the basic concepts of CAFRs.
ALSO can be read at
THE DOG AND PONY SHOW FOR PEOPLE WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORIES
I think it’s well-written, sensible, and timely.
INTRO:
As you probably know, I am doing my part over at Cold,Hard.Fact$ for people who value having their senses exercised by reason of use to discern good from evil. By “senses” is implied observing, and then applying good judgment (which then implies a standard) to what one has observed. FIND-A-CAFR by State (scroll down to right-hand sidebar for how far I’ve gotten to date).
Uncertain futures and confusion of messages are aimed at the affective while just tickling the intellectual, or engaging it in a partisan way. However, there are few things more clarifying and integrating than to look at into which baskets (in which decades) our government (speaking collectively) has been putting its eggs, which have been hatching profits and more breeding chickens, and from which nests those eggs (or chickens) have been stolen (etc.).
The message of “first FIND, then actually READ your Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, Find (ALL) the Funds, and then write down the totals” (guidance help for readers — besides which the reports themselves have introductions, tables of contents, and notes, which definitely help) is that this is simply common sense .
(the whole nine yards from Burien at his link. The whole nine yards from me AND the article, over at
Family Court Matters” blog).
The biggest, nastiest, and worst human problems (starting with wars, abuse, kidnapping, slavery, etc.) pretty much boil down to economics — as it says, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” It does not say the possession of money, or the use of money — but loving it above all puts everything else UNDER that umbrella. Oh yes, and he mentions 2001 and the world trade towers, so someone is going to be offended no doubt.
I believe what Walter is telling us here is that while it does make a difference who wins (and he’s made a choice here as to candidates) — Republicans and Democrats politicians (at a minimum) have more in common with each other (as do, for example, attorneys) — than in general they do with the rest of us who are supporting and voting for them…
ENJOY. And don’t forget to scrutinize the Footnotes, which is a Diagram for understanding why we need to look at the collective financial statements (there’s a system for doing this, not an insurmountable task) and change the conversation the next time ANYONE wants a tax raise. (contact info at bottom of the letter).
The prologue is mine, the writing is Mr. Burien’s, and we are only responsible for what each has written, and not vice versa. Below here (DIFFERENT COLOR BACKGROUND) is his. Period. OK, I may underline some things (the bolding is not mine). (In ColdHardFacts blog, I excerpted some paragraphs).
The Dog and Pony Show for People with short
term memories.
by Walter Burien – CAFR1.com 11/05/12
Good morning folks. Again it is the first day of the rest of our lives. If you are in your twenties, you have many days left to go. If you are 55+ the days are getting numbered.
The crux of this article, presented the day before election day pertains to addressing issues of importance for those with short term memories. Your choice tomorrow today is for President of the United States of America.
In our decisions come election day, first and foremost the following facts needs to be in the front of our mind:
Democratic Party – Republication Party, what are they?
Sounds like a simple question but actually it is not. The reason not, is we all have been spoon fed rhetoric on what they both are contrary to the reality of what both are. The true and correct answer is: They are both private associations designed from the get-go to get their people in to have access to the till of the greatest wealth of cash; resources; and tax base collected the world has ever known, derived from the collective local and federal operations of the United States of America.
Keep in mind that the contrived sound bites we are all spoon fed revolve around the organized gang from each group keeping their hands firmly gripped and implanted within the core of that wealth.
With the massive wealth (cash; investment income; and taxation collected) that is involved on every level of local government and federal operations, the objectives and tactics used to sway the population for a simple “vote” have been refined by the players into a standard of psychological masterfully presented tactics that are truly by design a clear insult to the intelligence of the mass population. There is no insult intended by this writer to the mass population, we are all, everyone of us, played for any easy mark due to the massive money involved. More money on every government operation form the city level to the federal government than a million Midas’s could ever have dreamed about.
More wealth generated each year where a thousand Towers of Babel are built for the glory of the empire every year that make the original Tower of Babel look like a shanty shack of a pauper in comparison.
http://CAFR1.com/electionday2012.html Page 1 of 7 The Dog and Pony Show for People with short term memories 11/5/12 9:58 PM
Did you ever hear in your lifetime one politician say: “I want your vote and to win this election so I can more easily influence where billions of dollars are spent; invested; and allocated each year“.
Even though this is the core reality of the situation, I personally have never once heard this form of straight honesty expressed out of the mouth of a politician running for office, before or after achieving office.
Many people dream about winning the lottery but few realize that almost all higher level political offices when obtained are for each in plain language “winning the lottery” for that individual. Not only do they achieve good salaries and pensions extraordinaire, they also have grand expense accounts much grander than their salaries and are sitting within the influence box to direct tens of billions of dollars of investment capital; resource allocations; and expenditures that will benefit many on the inside and if they choose on the outside track.
With that being said, remember when we were young children what our parents said to us for easy control? One liners to keep us under thumb and under control such as: “The bogeyman will get you if you do that” or “You do that so much better than your brother or sister so keep it up” or “if you touch that, hair will start growing on the palm of your hand”. Contrived soundbites of easy design to effect our actions in the direction of our parents intent.
Well, when tens of trillions of dollars are involved each year, where they are spent, allocated, and invested, the tactics and soundbites used are as masterfully created and in most cases as void of ethics as they can get. Honesty flew out the window decades ago and tactics of “what simply works” was rammed down each and every one of our throats. Personal attacks; petty innuendos exclaimed; hollow but sincerely expressed comments of “I am here to help
…
Government and the private associations developed around government for the last century were driven by the lure of access to easy money of massive proportions. The “front” of public service has always been the first-line “bait and hook” of presentation with the core reality being that of the massive control of the wealth involved. It would be rather refreshing to hear straight talk from those running for public office qualifying the core reality clearly and up-front don’t you think?
Here are a few refresher points per when the private associations of Democratic or Republican parties were controlling the house. Presented as refresher points for those with short term memories. I will start with George Bush Sr. at the end of the 80’s:
Please reference the tally of US Presidents from 1980 to 2008 and the votes received –
http://CAFR1.com/electionday2012.html Page 2 of 7
The Dog and Pony Show for People with short term memories 11/5/12 9:58 PM
Please reference the tally of US Presidents from 1980 to 2008 and the votes received –
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781450.html
1. George Bush Sr. (REPUBLICAN) The ex-CIA director who became president. The stage was set for covert wars for the next 30-years and do you remember those interest rate jumps to 21% – 22% kicked off in the Reagan term? What a grand play. The population was screaming at the banks but alas the core reality was held back from the population that the government was the #1 investors with the banks from the profits made. The profit made was massive for government investments and the core deception principle of government investment manipulation was firmly rooted by omission. Then along comes Bill Clinton;
2. Bill Clinton (Democrat) This US president was very personable (to a fault as we found out) had his misgivings and ties to some unethical ventures when it came down to money laundering and drug profits generated for back black-ops, but he did have a pretty good conscience of wanting to see the United States population in good shape and not at war. As a result of his two terms, come the year 1999, his vice president Al Gore released the results from the Audit of the Federal Government which disclosed a five to seven trillion dollar surplus projected and standing.
To this writer CAFR1 this was a first. Not a first of a surplus, but a first that this degree of surplus was openly mentioned. A glimmer of open disclosure per the massive wealth being generated and amassed by federal government was the first.
3. The election of 2000 was the most important turning point that our country faced in a hundred years. The wealth amassing and standing nationally was at a tipping point of either being protected from a basis of ethics or looted from a basis of greed and opportunity presented. Al Gore in line with Bill Clinton had the interests of the population and the country at heart. But then due to the money involved the personal attacks; petty innuendos exclaimed; hollow but sincerely expressed comments of “I am here to help you” from the gang of Republicans went into high gear.
Come election time all the stops were pulled and every tactic was used to secure the seats of power.
Ethics has one flaw. Contrary to greed applied through opportunity, ethics will not cheat; lie; and steal. That election of 2000 was stolen and in walks George Bush Jr.;
4. George Bush Jr. (Republican) – Large market manipulations in general are outside the scope for cognitive thinking and comprehension of the general population. Come the end of 2001, the “planed” events of the new gang in power began to unfold.
Cold,Hard.Fact$ 