I did it. Earlier this year my dentist solemly informed me that I had advanced Periodontis, and advised me that if I wished to have a continuing relationship with most of my teeth, I should get in the neighborhood of $2000.00 worth of dental work done immediately. I had no problem with the dental procedure part, however I did have an issue with the ‘immediate’ part. What to do??? My dental coverage only paid for approximately half of the proposed procedure - the other half would have to come from…somewhere else. In my case, the somewhere else would be my HSBC Discover account.

Zero-interest financing, a typical sales incentive at car dealerships, is now being utilized by the medical retail industry (as I have come to call it) as a marketing tool to woo clients (customers as I have come to call them) to the newest big-ticket market - expensive medical stuff your insufficient insurance policy doesn’t pay for. 

When first introduced by companies like GE Capital and Capital One Bank, this type of low or no interest financing was used primarily for procedures like laser eye surgery, $6,000 ceramic tooth implants (or other implants not rated PG), not typically covered by insurance. Of course, going into debt to pay for medical procedures is nothing new for many people, however as health costs continue to sky-rocket, large corporate lenders will invariably prey on the middle class with higher interest rates and procedure rates (sticker prices as I have come to call them). 

Big insurers, too, are devising new financing plans with various kickbacks to doctors. Casual observation of the ‘market’ suggests that rising deductibles, unfair co-payments and the shear fact that Americans aren’t making as much or saving as much money as their parents did, may force more of the nation’s 40 million uninsured people to finance out-of-pocket expenses for even basic medical care.

Is there no limit to the depth’s the corporate power and money elite will sink to in the name of driving this sham debt-driven economy to preserve our democratic village, even if that means burning the village to the ground in the process? When are we, the screwed, going to stand up and demand fundamental change in our laws to protect the middle class from these predatory vultures? It’s a disgrace. Again I ask, where is my Democratic Party?

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Top executives at major U.S. businesses last year made as much money in one day of work as the average worker made over the entire year.

CEO’s from the nation’s largest corporations averaged nearly $11 million in total compensation, according to the 14th annual CEO compensation survey released jointly by the Institute for Policy Studies based in Washington and United for a Fair Economy.

During this same period, workers at the bottom rung of the U.S. economy received the first federal minimum wage increase in a decade. CEO pay, over that same decade, has increased by roughly 45 percent, the study found.

On average, CEOs at major American corporations saw $1.3 million in pension gains last year while 58.5 percent of American households had no retirement account at all.

As money continues to flow upward to the greedy and retirement savings dry up for the needy, America will continue this self imposed journey through the weeds of economic ruin, while conservative business owners and their bidders grind forward - selling our middle class out to China as they go. As our middle class slides headlong into oblivion toward the coming retirement crisis, and it will be coming to be sure, the U.S. will realize a shrinking GDP, in turn triggering comprehensive economic meltdown. The math is painfully simple. Wages are shrinking, job security is nothing more than wishful thinking and every time I pass a bridge with a refrigerator box under it, I wonder if it’s the precursor to middle class retirement housing in 2040. If something isn’t done to stem the tide of unbridled corporate greed and wanton destruction of working people in this country, we will witness massive social and economic chaos in our lifetime - it’s already beginning.

Welcome to conservative America…enjoy it while it lasts.       

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Its a good thing you found Jesus Mike, because by the looks of these guys, you’re going to need him… 

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Re-produced from the Idaho Stateman regarding a sting operation in a Minneapolis Airport men’s room… 

The police were conducting a sting operation to investigate allegations of lewd conduct at the airport’s main terminal.

According to the police reports, a man later identified as Craig kept watching the undercover police officer through a crack in the stall, Roll Call reported. Craig then entered the next-door stall and placed his luggage against the opening under the stall door.

“My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall,” said the officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, in the report cited by Roll Call.

The report continued: “At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area.”

The report said Craig swiped his hand beneath the stall divider several times, and Karsnia showed his police identification under the stall.

“With my left hand near the floor, I pointed towards the exit,” the report said. “I pointed towards the exit. Craig responded, ‘No!’ I again pointed towards the exit. Craig exited the stall with his roller bags without flushing the toilet. … Craig said he would not go. I told Craig that he was under arrest, he had to go, and that I didn’t want to make a scene. Craig then left the restroom.”

Roll Call reported that Craig was detained about 45 minutes and questioned by officers at the Airport Police Operations Center. At one point, police reports said, Craig handed the arresting officer a business card that identified him as a U.S. Senator and said “What do you think about that?”

Roll Call reported that a Craig spokesman said the incident is a “he said/he said misunderstanding.” Craig denied any lewd intentions and told police he has a “wide stance” in the bathroom and reached down to pick up a piece of paper from the floor.

“It should be noted that there was not a piece of paper on the bathroom floor, nor did Craig pick up a piece of paper,” Karsnia wrote in the report.

 Voted YES on constitutional ban of same sex marriage (Jun 2006)
 Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
 Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
 Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
 Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)

 So much for social conservatism. Just another hypocrite Republican - and so the folly continues.

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As reported yesterday on Shadow Democracy Radio, Alberto Gonazales has resigned as U.S. Attorney General, and told the Bush administration he could only serve for three more weeks.

Bush quote on the resignation…

“Al Gonzales is a man of integrity, decency and principle. … After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position and I accept his decision. It’s sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons.”

It was clear to me from the start that Attorney General Gonzales had been a part of a political agenda that has featured this president nominating good-old-boys for key positions who are generally not competent to lead, much like Bush himself. Gonzales harbored downright comtempt for Americans and their civil rights, presiding over the wire tapping “hospital room scandal” that involved former attorney general John Ashcroft (another nit-wit) and the more recent unethical firing of U.S. Attorneys. In this era of the stupid back-slapping the stupid, Americans everywhere should rejoice that the delay, which constitutes another blatent failure of leadership the Bush administration in removing Gonzales, is finally over.

Under Gonzales’ leadership, the Department of Justice suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence that stems from the Bush administration. Attorney General Gonzales’ tenure was marked by unprecedented politicization of the Department of Justice, deception of Congress in July of this year, and a total disrespect for the rule of law. He should never have been confirmed, as Bush’s apparent replacement for Gonzales, Michael Chertoff, should not be confirmed if he is nominated. Chertoff’s only legal claim to fame is his participation in the ill fated White Water investigation directed at Bill Clinton, which was ultimately proved to be baseless and his deer-in-the-headlights reaction to Katrina.

As expected, all of the GOP loyalist lackeys are praising Gonzales’ incompetence and dishonesty starting with the king of dishonesty, our president. If there was ever an opportunity for the Democrats to grow a spine, it would be now. Under no circumstances must another candidate, whether Chertoff or anyone else, be confirmed by this Congress if that nominee intends to politicize the U.S. Justice Department at the expense of the public interest. That nominee must be grilled under intense questioning in order to weed out a potential blind loyalist who will do Bush’s bidding. We’ll see if the Democrats win the day or take it in the shorts again.  

Other reactions…

“I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father’s best days.” - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

“Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House. -   Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

“The resignation of Alberto Gonzales had become inevitable. His situation was a distraction to the Department of Justice and its attempt to carry out its important duties. - Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.

“Attorney General Gonzales’ ability to lead the Department of Justice had been undermined by his serious errors in judgment and conflicting statements. I am hopeful that the President will name a strong successor who will begin to restore confidence in the department.” - Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

“The rampant politicization of federal law enforcement that occurred under his tenure seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system. The president must now restore credibility to the office of the Attorney General.” - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“I thank Alberto Gonzales for his public service and wish him well in his future endeavors. It is my hope that whomever President Bush selects as the next attorney general, he or she is not subjected to the same poisonous partisanship that we’ve sadly grown accustomed to over the past eight months.” - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“It has been a long and difficult struggle but at last, the attorney general has done the right thing and stepped down. …We Democrats implore you (Bush) to work with us. Don’t choose the path of confrontation and throw down the gauntlet we are willing to meet you in the middle of the road. All we ask is that you choose somebody who puts the rule of law first. we’re not looking for confrontation here.” - Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

“The life of Alberto Gonzales has been defined by his devotion to family and deep commitment to public service. … I appreciate his hard work in defense of our country and look forward to his future contributions.” - House Republican Whip Roy Blunt.

The Justice Department under Gonzales “suffered a severe crisis of leadership that al