February 15, 2014

Mergers Like Comcast-Time Warner Are NEVER Good For Customers

When one massive corporation merges with another massive corporation, the result is never good for customers. The spinmeisters can say what they will, but these mergers are not done to benefit customers, instead they are done to service greed. This is the capitalist formula: Grow, and grow some more, and then when it seems there’s no more growth potential, do whatever you can to grow yet again. And for many very large companies, it is the merger that has allowed them to continue to appease those shareholders. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts calls this a “pro-consumer” merger. “The combination of Time Warner Cable and Comcast creates an exciting opportunity for our company, for our customers and for our shareholders,” said Roberts in a media conference call. But that is a lie, as mergers like Comcast-Time Warner do not lead to lower prices and higher competition, they lead to the exact opposite, and that is hardly “exciting” for customers. But he is right about one thing, this is exactly what the shareholders want. These mergers are not about doing right by the customer, they are about doing right by the shareholders, and that includes top executive compensation.

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November 19, 2013

America Needs To Break The ‘Walmart Mentality’

The “Walmart Mentality” could otherwise be referred to as “Supercapitalism,” also the name of a book by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. It’s the idea that unrestrained capitalism leads to corruption, not only of the market economy, but also democracy. The “Walmart Mentality” is that a few people get filthy rich by squeezing the system as much as they can without breaking it. But the problem, as is always the problem with greed, is that there is never enough, so eventually something is going to break. But the few people benefiting from this scenario are usually old, and they have build up such massive wealth, they can insulate themselves from the fallout for the rest of their lives.

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September 18, 2013

When Police Bullets Hit Bystanders: Why The NRA’s ‘Arm Everyone’ Is Pure Madness

The National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun fanatics across America want the rest of us to believe we are a more civil society if we are armed to the teeth. If every citizen could model his or her life on the teachings of John Rambo, adopt a philosophy of “shoot first…second…fiftieth, ask questions later,” America would be a much safer nation.

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January 28, 2013

Want To Unlock Your Cell Phone? – It’s Now Illegal

Over the weekend it officially became illegal to unlock your cell phone. That means you can no longer switch carriers, at least not with subsidized cell phones, and well, at least not legally. This is yet another example of greed run amok, which is what happens when you have unfettered capitalism. We’ve allowed the rights and privileges of corporations (remember, corporations are people too!) to rise above the rights and privileges of the common citizen.

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October 12, 2012

By Favoring Money Romney Cements His Disregard for Environment

Prosperity - image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.comMuch of this year’s presidential election campaign has focused on the economy. While that’s certainly no great surprise, one topic that must be prioritized is the environment. Mitt Romney’s vow to de-regulate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to appease his fossil fuel burning donors clearly demonstrates he favors making money over protecting the environment. His blatant disregard for the environment is there for everyone to see. Why the Obama campaign hasn’t made more of this issue remains something of a mystery.

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August 25, 2012

Undocumented Immigrants and their US-Born Children

Immigration Reform Rally - Don't Take My Parents Away!What is the greater crime – Entering the country illegally? Or, a judge ordered separation of parent from child? If you ask me, it’s the latter, and I’d like to hear someone try to make a case for the former being the bigger crime. I’m not saying we should ignore the rule-of-law, but we need a judicial system and an immigration system that does not run on absolutes. We need to stop treating illegal immigration as a serious crime, because it is not.

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June 15, 2012

Obama Administration Plans To End Deportation Of Young Illegal Immigrants

The big news today is an announcement by the Obama administration that it intends to stop deporting young illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Because the DREAM Act (a bill designed to give a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants) is stalled in congress, the Obama administration moves ahead, enacting its executive power to grant work permits and to extend immunity to illegal immigrants who are now under 30 and were brought to the United States before their 16th birthday. Immigrants who fall into this category can apply for 2-year work permits with the ability to renew.

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