In Record 'Dark Money' Election, Chamber of Commerce Top Shadowy Spender: Report

In Record 'Dark Money' Election, Chamber of Commerce Top Shadowy Spender: Report



The Chamber of Commerce is just another right-wing ideological organization bent on helping the rich get richer.

BUMPER STICKER OF THE WEEK

MORE LOVE, LESS CAPITALISM

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Think of how it all started: America was founded by slave owners who informed us, "All men are created equal." All "men," except Indians, niggers, and women. Remember, the founders were a small group of unelected, white, male, land-holding slave owners who also, by the way, suggested their class be the only one allowed to vote. To my mind, that is what's known as being stunningly--and embarrassingly--full of shit.”
George Carlin

NO ID'S HAVE TO BE SHOWN AT THE POLLS

The first thing I was asked at the voting poll at Summit Bank was to present my ID. I stated you cannot ask for my ID. You know, Arkansas Supreme Court and all. The Voter ID law was struck down. She then stated I didn't have to present it. I told her I thought she had the process backward. Ask may name, spell it, and find it on the voter registration. If it's not there, then proceed with whatever you need to do. Don't try to make your job easier by side-stepping the law. A gentleman came over and asked if there was a problem. I said yes, you are violating the law. He tried to smooth it over. I said I would call the voting commission in Saline Co., for an explanation. I called the election commission. The gentleman stated the new voter ID law was struck down, so they reverted back to the old law, which states they can ask for an ID, but you don't have to present it. Helps speed the process. You can still vote. I said that seems back-asswards. A confusing bit of political work which seems to be a sign of the times. Confuse everyone so they don't want to do anything, in this case, so they don't vote. He agreed. He thought it was confusing and back-asswards. In the end, I guess they did what they were suppose to do: confuse me.

Greenwald: Harper Government Exploiting Recent Attacks to Expand Powers

Greenwald: Harper Government Exploiting Recent Attacks to Expand Powers



WE ARE ALLOWING OUR LEADERS TO WALK US DOWN A ROAD TO NOWHERE.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
Mae West

A Bad Western: There Have Been 87 School Shootings Since Newtown

A Bad Western: There Have Been 87 School Shootings Since NewtGUNS TO THE LEFT OF US, GUNS TO THE



GUNS TO THE LEFT OF US, GUNS TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY SOON, EVERYONE WILL HAVE A GUN TO FIGHT.

Say No to 'The New Normal' -- Five Things You Can Do About Gun Violence | BillMoyers.com

Say No to 'The New Normal' -- Five Things You Can Do About Gun Violence | BillMoyers.com



One-hundred years from now, our ancestors will wonder what was wrong with us, allowing guns to be distributed like Halloween candy. It will mark us as one of the dumbest generations of humans to have ever lived. All promoted out of fear generated by the NRA,  right-wing yahoos.

DEMOCRACY RANKING, WORLD AUDIT.ORG

Country	Democracy Rank	Press Freedom Rank	Corruption Rank
Sweden	1	1	3
Denmark	1	6	1
Finland	3	3	3
Norway	4	1	5
New Zealand	5	8	1
Switzerland	6	6	7
Netherlands	7	3	8
Belgium	8	3	13
Australia	9	18	9
Canada	10	17	9
Germany	10	11	11
Ireland	12	8	17
United States	13	13	15
United Kingdom	13	18	12
Estonia	15	8	22
France	16	21	18
Austria	17	18	20
Uruguay	18	26	15
Portugal	19	11	25
Chile	20	35	18
Costa Rica	21	13	33
Poland	22	26	28
Lithuania	23	23	30
Slovenia	23	23	30
Spain	25	30	29
Czech Republic	26	16	39
Slovakia	27	21	42

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature made them.”
Bertrand Russell, New Hopes for a Changing World

The Myth of the Free Press

The Myth of the Free Press



Freedom of the what? We score lower and lower on freedom of the press, a significant indicator of democracy. Most institutes that rate democracies, the U.S. is not scoring any better than thirteenth or so. Bye, bye, Miss American Pie. 

SUNDAY QUOTE

"To build community requires vigilant awareness of the work we must continually do to undermine all the socialization that leads us to behave in ways that perpetuate domination."

bell hooks

DISSENT IN THE MIDST OF THE STATUS QUO

I heard at the last Rock Porch music session that a local bank lost several mortgage loans because of the dissent going on in the Village over the two-tier assessment proposal and closed meetings of a public body. The people I was talking with thought it was awful that some were criticizing the powers that be and publishing it in the paper. Of course, I suggested that perhaps the problem was that the powers that be were violating the law, or otherwise being unethical concerning closed meetings, and that maybe they should have held open, public meetings before making up their minds that their ideas about the future of the Village were better than any that the general public might come up with. They got kind of funny looks on their faces, like how they looked when I asked if they follow Obama with such blind passion and devotion. Anyway, it's good to make new friends. I never miss an opportunity to stir the "status quo" pot. They call it misguided and disruptive. I call it expressing "positive doubt." They don't like conflict. They want everybody to blindly follow. Nothing good ever happens when that occurs. In the words of the revered sage George Carlin, "The status quo sucks."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear."

[Special Message to the Congress on the Internal Security of the United States, August 8, 1950]”
Harry S. Truman

Bill Moyers: Grassroots Pro-Democracy Movement Must Rise to Challenge Corporate Control

Bill Moyers: Grassroots Pro-Democracy Movement Must Rise to Challenge Corporate Control

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
Winston S. Churchill

VOTE EARLY

VOTE EARLY AND VOTE OFTEN. I'M  UP TO 35 FOR PRYOR.

The Sum of Our Fears

The Sum of Our Fears



Fear, the sum total of U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting”
Charles Bukowski

VOTING IS SO MUCH FUN

ANOTHER 20 VOTES FOR PRYOR. I'M DEFINITELY DOING MY PART.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUPIDITY AND GENIUS IS THAT GENIUS HAS ITS LIMITS."

Albert Einstein

BUMPER STICKER OF THE DAY

SECRETS BREED MISTRUST

VOTING ON THE SLY

SO FAR I VOTED TEN TIMES FOR PRYOR. I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW.

THE VILLAGE PEOPLE

• WE ARE A BUNCH OF SCARED KIDS WITH A LOT OF YEARS UNDER OUR BELT.
• WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW THE BEST WAY FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE OUR LIVES. 
• WE GOT PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BE LEADING AND FOLLOWERS WHO SHOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING.
• IF I HAD A DIME FOR EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS OBAMA, I'D HAVE A DIME. 
• I HAVE NEVER LIVED AROUND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT ALL THEIR ACHES AND PAINS SO MUCH. THEN AGAIN, I'VE NEVER LIVED AROUND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SO OLD AND SICK.
• WE GOT A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEEM TO LIKE ANY OTHER COLOR. 
• WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF VARIOUS EXPERIENCES, NONE OF WHICH I WOULD HAVE WANTED TO HAVE.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUPIDITY AND GENIUS IS THAT GENIUS HAS ITS LIMITS."

Albert Enstein

COTTON ON THE DECLINE IN ARKANSAS

IF TOM COTTON WINS HIS SENATE RACE AGAINST MARK PRYOR, I'M PRETTY SURE THE WORLD IS GOING TO END. IT WILL CONFIRM MY BELIEF THAT ARKANSAS CITIZENS DESERVE THEIR RANKING AS 49TH IN EDUCATION. THEY WOULD, HOWEVER, UP THEIR RANKING IN PICKING COTTON, WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s scary to be a woman on a blind date. For all she knows the man she is meeting up with could be a rapist, a murderer, or, God forbid, a politician.”
Jarod Kintz, 

COMMENTS ON PROPOSED OPEN MEETING POLICY REVISIONS

The Board of Directors of Hot Springs Village are stating that they have adopted an open meetings policy in the past. They now want to revise it. Rather than follow the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, they have created a hybrid open meeting policy for Hot Springs Village that has more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese. Since we are not a governmental body, they think they can do as they please. A section of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act that may prove their downfall is a statement that the act must be followed by any board, or organization in the state of Arkansas supported wholly or in part by public funds, or expending public funds. The question would become: Is the dues that we pay considered public funds? Or are we just a private club? And, do we use any other public funds in the form of grants, or other government subsidies? If yes to any of those questions, case closed.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act gives the reason for such an act: “It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that the electors shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity and in making public policy.” It should be no different for Hot Springs Village.

The Arkansas Open Meetings Law allows three reasons for going into executive session. The Hot Springs Village Open Meeting policy allows for seven, the last being: DISCUSSIONS OF CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS. Needless to say, this is a catch-all insertion allowing for just about anything to be discussed in closed session. It makes the entire policy woefully inadequate.

It is also stated in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act that no resolution, ordinance, rule, contract, regulation or motion considered in executive session will be legal unless it is voted on in open meeting. Here again, the Hot Springs Village policy exempts personnel matters. This means they can vote behind closed doors to fire someone. This would be wrong and another violation of the public trust.

Anyone who thinks these matters are unimportant has missed the whole point of government and its responsibilities to the electorate. To blindly accept our current Open Meeting policy and to accept the revisions stated is the act of an irresponsible citizen. Or club member.

Sanders: Real Fear Not ISIS, But 'Perpetual Warfare Year After Year After Year'

Sanders: Real Fear Not ISIS, But 'Perpetual Warfare Year After Year After Year'



War. What is it good for? Seems it's good for something.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: SOVEREIGN

We name you king, Lord, sovereign.
      We trust you, except
         sometimes we do not.
         We take matters into our own hands.

We fashion power and authority and sovereignty;
   enforced by law and bureaucracy and weapons,
          we think to make ourselves safe.
   And then learn, staggeringly,
          how insufficient is our product,
          how thin is our law,
          how ineffective is our bureaucracy,
          how impotent our weapons.

We are driven back to you---your will
                                              your purpose,
                                              your requirements:
                                                     care for land
                                                     care for neighbor
                                                     care for future.

We name you king, Lord, sovereign---
        so undemocratic!
  and in naming become aware of our status
        before you....loved, sent, summoned.
        We pray in the name of the loved, sent, summoned Jesus.

Walter Brueggemann, Prayers for a Privileged People

Snowden Documentary Confirms Existence of New National Security Whistleblower

Snowden Documentary Confirms Existence of New National Security Whistleblower

MORE NONSENSE IN THE VILLAGE

The Board of Directors is stating that they have adopted a open meetings act policy in the past. They now want to revise it. Rather than follow the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, they have created a hybrid open meetings act for Hot Springs Village that has more holes in it than a piece of swiss cheese. Since we are not a governmental body, they think they can do as they please. A section in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act that may prove their downfall is a statement that the act must be followed by any board, or organization in the state of Arkansas supported wholly or in part by public funds or expending public funds. The question would become, is our POA dues considered public funds? Or are we just a private club that can do as we please?
If our POA dues are not considered public funds, we are driving ourselves toward becoming a municipality if we do not adopt the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The statement of the purpose of the Open Meetings Act states: "It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that the electors shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity and in making public policy. Toward this end, this chapter is adopted, making it possible for them or their representatives to learn and to report fully the activities of their public officials."

Twitter Sues Justice Department, FBI for Right to Reveal Scope of Government Surveillance

Twitter Sues Justice Department, FBI for Right to Reveal Scope of Government Surveillance



SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN THE VILLAGE. BEING SUED FOR RIGHT TO KNOW AND SECRET MEETINGS. LAWSUIT PENDING.

RETIREMENT

They say, they being the politicians and financial world, that retirement is an outdated concept, but I'm here to tell you, don't listen. By age 62, or 65, or 66, you have worked plenty. With our longevity going up and up, before long we'll be retired about a third of our lives. Unfortunately, the wrong third, but still. Money will be the only issue, having enough of it, but then, I also think it is an outdated idea that the rich should have it all. A revolution inspired by the elderly. Now there's something worthy of my bucket list. Actually, it's already on my list. To participate in a US revolution. Some people want to go to Paris, some want to jump out of an airplane, still others want to climb a mountain. For me it's: You talk about a revolution.

We’re SO Not #1

We’re SO Not #1

DISSENT IN THE MIDST OF THE STATUS QUO

I heard last night at the Rock Porch music session that the Summit Bank branch at the East gate lost several mortgage loans because of the dissent going on in the Village over the two-tier assessment proposal and closed meetings of a public body. They thought it was awful that people were criticizing the powers that be and publishing it in the paper. Of course, I suggested that perhaps the problem was that the powers that be were violating the law, or otherwise being unethical concerning closed meetings, and that maybe they should have held open, public meetings before making up their minds that their ideas about the future of the Village were better than any that the general public might come up with. They got kind of funny looks on their faces, like how they looked when I asked if they follow Obama with such blind passion and devotion. Anyway, it's good to make new friends. I never miss an opportunity to stir the "status quo" pot. They call it misguided and disruptive. I call it expressing "positive doubt." They don't like conflict. They want everybody to blindly follow. Nothing good ever happens when that occurs.

JOIN IN THE FUN

thevillageplanet.com

BYE, BYE SOCIAL AND FRATERNAL CLUBS. IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YOU

Most social and fraternal clubs will disappear over the coming years. The Moose, the Elks, Lions, Jaycees, Rotary, Legion, VFW, Knights of Columbus, Masons, all have served their purposes and will become extinct. Most of these groups have done some useful things, but charity work and socialization can be done much more efficiently nowadays. The Boomers, by and large, are not going to attend and keep supporting these types of groups. There is no longer a need. We have not been in any wars worthy of reminiscing, and being a Moose or an Elk or an Eagle, doesn't seem very appealing. Yesterdays world cannot be lived in forever. Bye, bye, Miss American Pie.

Congress Cuts $8.7 Billion in Food Stamps, But Finds $22 Billion to Fight ISIS

Congress Cuts $8.7 Billion in Food Stamps, But Finds $22 Billion to Fight ISIS



WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT?