All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Business/Economics, U.S.

Class War: Occupy Wall Street protests escalate, more than 700 arrested after Brooklyn Bridge blocked, hundreds arrested in Boston, Occupy Chicago continues, Occupy Los Angeles grows

“Over 700 summonses and desk appearance tickets have been issued in connection with a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge late this afternoon after multiple warnings by police were given to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway, and that if they took roadway they would be arrested.”-official police statement

October 1, what had to be several thousands of protestors took over the Brooklyn Bridge.  It had to be several thousand because New York city police say they arrested more than 700 of them.  The bridge is now open to vehicular traffic.

“This is our Tahrir Square. We’ll stay here for months if we have to.”-Emilio Baez, Chicago protestor

The protests in Chicago, Illinois, are now a week old.  At lest 30 people are protesting in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  The protestors are calling for the end of the Federal Reserve.

“We had to set a stand to let Bank of America know they cannot foreclose on families and put them out on the street.”-Carolyn Grant, Boston protester

In Boston, Massachusetts, about one hundred people were arrested during protests in front of Bank of America’s headquarters. Reports vary on the number of protestors, from several hundred to more than 3,000!

Boston cops made statements that revealed their true attitude: “They wanted to be arrested, and we obliged.”-Edward F. Davis, Boston police Commissioner

In Los Angeles, California, several hundred people continued the on again off again, Occupy LA protests, by marching to city hall.  No arrests were made, people driving by joined in by honking their horns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Class War: Studies reveal Money does make you happier, but it only drives you to want more

A Chinese newspaper gathered data from studies done around the world, about wealth, and the people who have it, and found that many common myths about having lots of money are false.

I always heard that “money doesn’t buy happiness”, turns out that’s a lie. One study, by Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson, concluded:

1) Rich people are happier than poor people.

2) Richer countries are happier than poorer countries.

3) As countries get richer, they tend to get happier.

However, Psychologist David Myers says the degree of happiness depends on the relative disparity between the rich and the poor.  Apparently the more impoverished a country is, the more happier the rich bastards become (is that why Wall Street is trying to take down main street U.S.A.?).

Also, University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart discovered that once a person becomes wealthy, it takes even more and more money to keep them happy, like a drug addict (again, is that why Wall Street is trying to take down main street U.S.A.?).

What about the myth of suicides and rich people losing their money?  Many people think of the Crash of ’29, when supposedly dozens of people jumped to their deaths, from their high rise offices, after losing all their money in the stock markets.

While some rich people do kill themselves, people living in poverty are still more likely to end it all.  Several studies have been done, including by the UN World Health Organization, and they conclude that the majority of suicides involve people living in rural (poor) areas!

U.S. deaths are caused by poverty…. about the same as deaths from heart attacks and stroke, study finds

The Global Social Crisis: Report on the World Social Situation 2011

Every Thirty Minutes: Farmer Suicides, Human Rights, and the Agrarian Crisis in India

Poverty, Mental Illness and Suicide Linked

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Tens of thousands of Chinese turn out to help the growing poor, by listening to a businessman sing

A Chinese businessman, upset with how many people are being left behind in China’s explosive economic growth, put on a charity concert, and was surprised by how many people showed up to help.

What’s even more amazing was that the only talent in the concert was the very same Chinese businessman.  He was hoping to get 6,000 people to show up, he got 20,000!

“It was packed. There were fans from Xinjiang, Gansu and Inner Mongolia, holding up posters.”-Chen Guangbiao, 43-year-old businessman and high-profile philanthropist

Here’s another surprise, it wasn’t money that was being donated: 2,000 pigs, 1,000 sheep and 113 tractors where given to the Bijie city government, to be donated to local farmers.

Chen Guangbiao says he will check up on the local government: “I’ve asked them to put distribution details online.”

International

Corporate Incompetence: Train employees beat to death the wrong man, in front of dozens of witnesses

In China, a good samaritan tried to stop a fight between train stewards and a disgruntled passenger.  He paid for it with his life.

According to more than 20 witnesses, after the good samaritan intervened more train employees showed up, including the train’s conductor.  Apparently they mistook the good samaritan as the passenger who was causing the fight.

The samaritan was grabbed by the neck and beaten about the head as he was hauled off the train.  An ambulance was called, but he was dead by the time it arrived.  No word on what will happen to the train employees, but police have taken at least 20 sworn witness statements.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Class War, What Economic Recovery? Warren Buffett says the Elites have won, his propsed tax on the Elites is first step to increasing taxes on everyone else

“There’s been class warfare going on for the last 20 years, and my class has won.”-Warren Buffett, legendary investor

In the U.S. Congress Republicans have been misquoting Warren Buffett, saying he’s not really for the proposed tax increase (aka The Buffett Rule) on the Elites.  Oh, he’s for it alright.

In a recent interview with a CNN reporter Buffett was asked how an increase in taxes, on the extreme minority of rich elites, would help the government’s debt problem?  Buffett admitted: “It probably would come in at 20 billion [increased tax collections from elites], but no one thing is gonna solve the deficit of over a trillion.” He went on to explain that it’s a necessary first step in preparing everyone to accept tax increases, and even more cuts to social services:  “…I think that getting people to buy in, in this country, to the kind of ‘shared sacrifice’ that’s going to be needed, it’s going to be very important they feel there’s fairness to what’s going on…”

In other words, the people of main street U.S.A. haven’t seen anything yet, when it comes to more taxes and cuts to government spending!

 

Fukushima

Government & Corporate Incompetence: Once again, Plutonium contamination found in Japan, this time outside the Fukushima Daiichi compound!

30 September 2011, for the first time since the March nuclear disaster, the Japanese government has found plutonium contamination outside the Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant compound.

There have been at least three other times plutonium was found. A couple of times it was found within the perimeter of the nuclear plant’s compound, but, in June a university team found plutonium outside the Fukushima Daiichi compound.

This latest (government confirmed) plutonium contamination was found 45 km (28 miles) outside the nuclear plant.  It was detected in samples taken from six locations in the towns of Futaba, Namie and Iitate Village in Fukushima Prefecture, all northwest of the nuclear plant.

The isotopes included plutonium 238, 239 and 240.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Government Incompetence equals What Economic Recovery? Small Business loan program a big FAIL!

In 2010 the U.S. Treasury Department set up the Small Business Lending Fund.  U.S.$30 billion was intended to be used to help small businesses expand and hire more people, it didn’t happen.

That Small Business Lending Fund ended, September 30, 2011.  Only $4 billion of the $30 billion was loaned out!

As usual everyone is blaming everyone else!  The banks, that were supposed to get the money to loan to small businesses, said the application process was too difficult and had too many restrictions.  The Treasury Department says hardly any bank applied.  Both the banks and the Treasury Department say hardly any small businesses applied.  Small businesses say it wasn’t worth the attempt because the banks put too many restrictions on the loans.

Some analysts say the Obama administration really thought that the economy would be much better in 2011, which is why they made it so tough to qualify for the loans.  In other words, there was no real effort to help small businesses in the United States.   Another example of how out of touch, with main street U.S.A., our political leaders in Washington DC are.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Down economy equals increased domestice violence, Death rates up in Idaho

A new study by the Journal of Pediatrics says there is a direct correlation between the recession and an increase in child abuse cases.  The study was done in four states.

Not only that, but courts are reporting an increase in domestic violence: “Our court advocacy roles are up 40% from this time last year.”-Diane Zanetti, Executive Director of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

In Idaho, deaths connected to domestic violence are up.  So far this year 18 people have died from domestic violence, compared to 13 for the entire year of 2010.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Home Federal Bank lay offs hit Idaho & Oregon

“We continue to see high unemployment nationally and in our local markets. And the outlook for improvement in economic growth, which we believe is necessary to drive loan demand, remains questionable.”-Len Williams, Home Federal Bancorp

Home Federal Bank will close six branches in Idaho and Oregon.  Officials hope it will save the bank U.S.$1 million in the next year.

A total of 35 people will lose their jobs.  20 in Idaho and 15 in Oregon.  10 of the Idaho lay offs will come from changes to Home Federal’s mortgage operations.

Home Federal Bank reported a $4.1 million loss in 2010, and so far this year has lost $2.6 million!

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho chip maker, Micron, in trouble

September 29, Boise based Micron reports losing money for the first time since 2009.  For the quarter ending September 1, Micron lost U.S.$135 million.

That’s a big drop compared to the previous quarter when the Idaho memory chip maker (they also make computers) reported a $75 million profit!

The loss is being blamed on a drop in chip prices, and a drop in sales.

Things got so bad in 2009, that Micron laid off more than half it’s Idaho work force! It has not recovered.

To make matters worse, Micron is facing a court case in which a California competitor claims Micron colluded with a South Korean company to price fix certain types of memory chips.  If they lose the case Micron could be hit with a $11.9 billion fine!