Patriotism

Identify with a sports team?   It's Silly. 
But my Mondays are happier. 

Thanks!

Social Contract in Sweden

Richie Rich Bitch

SVT's Uppdrag Granskning recently questioned amajor Swedish business leader about parking a portion of his wealth overseas(2017-11-05; link)

Leif Östling, chair of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Sweden's largest business federation)

Svenskt Näringslivs ordförande Leif Östling

"What the hell do I get for my tax payments?"

"Vad fan får jag för pengarna?"

If you've paid all that wealth, why not pay in full and do the right thing for all you have in Sweden? 
Om man nu har betalat all den där skatten, varför inte betala helt och hållet och göra rätt för sig i Sverige för precis allt man har?

- No; Why should I? This is the structure now - it's allowed & all right.
 – Nej, varför då? Nu finns den här strukturen där, och då får den ligga där.

What does 'society' mean if each individual only looks out for their own best interests?

Vad betyder det för samhället om varje individ bara ser till sitt eget bästa i den här frågan?

- Yes, there's always egoism in everything. Anyone paying 20-30 million kronor per year asks himself:  What the hell do I get for the money?
 – Ja det finns ju alltid en egoism i det hela. Man frågar sig också, betalar man in 20-30 miljoner om året, vad fan får jag för pengarna?

You mean you get nothing for the money? 

Får du inget för pengarna menar du?

- Not much.
 – Inte mycket.

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https://www.thelocal.se/20171106/swedes-hit-out-at-tax-havens-exposed-in-paradise-papers-leak

Leif Östling, the chairman of Sweden's largest business federation, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt näringsliv), ended up in hot water after the leak revealed he kept German stocks worth 30 million kronor ($3.56 million) in a company on Malta. 

He insisted it was all above board, and is not suspected of any legal wrongdoings, but was forced to backtrack on Monday after controversial comments he made in an interview with SVT on Sunday:
"It's a problem with the Swedish tax system, the taxes are insanely high in this country. (…) You ask yourself: If you pay 20-30 million kronor a year – what the hell do I get for the money?"

It is famously said that Sweden has some of the highest tax rates in the world. The cliché is that Swedes all happily pay their taxes, safe in the knowledge that the public services they receive in exchange will be of a good standard, and Östling's comments caused quite the stir, with the hashtag #whatthehelldoiget (#vadfanfårjag) trending on Twitter on Sunday evening.

"#whatthehelldoiget? Live in the world's best country, paid parental leave, free university education, free healthcare, pension, a better society," suggested self-described left-wing Twittter user André Mattsson.

"Shameless (comments) against teachers, nurses and police who make sure the country is working while you make money," tweeted the minister for health and social affairs, Annika Strandhäll.

"I think this is bad and morally wrong," Liberal Party representative Mats Persson told SVT.

The youth wing of the Social Democrats demanded Östling's resignation. "His actions, devoid of principles, go against everything the Swedish model stands for. It is not appropriate as the leader of Sweden's largest organization of employers," wrote chairman Philip Botström in a statement.


Östling backtracked on some of his comments in an official statement on Monday, saying he had spoken as a private individual, not as the head of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.  "During the conversation I said, among other things, that I do not get 'a lot' for the taxes I pay in Sweden. It was carelessly expressed. Sweden has a generally functioning welfare system. What I was trying to say was that I personally had used it very little compared to my financial contribution to it," he said, pointing out that although he had invested some of his money abroad, he had also paid 84 million kronor in income tax and 23 million kronor in capital gains tax in Sweden over the last seven years.

Don't Fall for "Tax Reform"

Trump and the Republican Party are trying to impose their cruel Oligarch Tribute Bill on America's mostly-impoverished rubes.

It's not "tax reform" -- it is so much more.

Forced wealth transfer to the Overclass. This means You are Shut-out from the Best in Life. 

If you're American, you're probably among the 320 million losers. Do you resent the "rube" label? Can't imagine yourself a sucker? 
Tough world... and it gets tougher as these people get more money.

All-American Law?
 Oligarch 'Rewards Plus'
 

Louise Linton (in $635 leather gloves) w/ Treasury Secretary husband & newly-printed Steven Mnuchin dollars

Personal Attack Deflects Debate - PsyOps 101

Colonial Spain is being criticized for personal attacks on Catalan leaders. They've imprisoned key people & begun dirty tricks. Spanish national public broadcaster RTVE (link) played the creepy Exorcist theme "Tubular Bells" when Catalan independence leader President Carles Puigdemont was in the news.

The USA and allies tried similar deflections when handling leaked information of multiple crimes. Wikileaks released blatant details of undiplomatic treachery and US espionage toward allies, as well as video of the airborne murder of journalists. Julian Assange, singled out for attention, suddenly became enmeshed in sex crime allegations. Reporting about Assange deflected many people from understanding the depraved official operations of militarists (and, yes, murderers). Chelsea Manning's gender transition further misdirected objective reasoning.

Assange & Puigdemont are not the problem. We are enslaved by the likes of Lockheed Martin & Raytheon, Exxon & the Koch billionaires, General Electric, Murdoch's News Corporation, Cheney & Erik Prince (Blackwater), and Monsanto. Wake Up !

Demand Better !

Militarism has controlled America for more than 50 years.

The military system costs a huge amount of money, and wastes lives and health around the world. We prop-up an Overclass of wealthy elites who shit on the rest of us.

We should spend time & effort in more productive directions.

We might focus on "frugal innovation" जुगाड़ (jugaad) or lifehacks. We can improve internal infrastructure. We can profit from environmentalist business models -- upgrading from dirty, less sustainable industries. We can build better communities. We must truly improve our lives. 

The Leaders only claim to care - they fail to work for us.

RIP Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani

The sovereign Kingdom of Hawai'i maintained neutrality via treaties with the world's major powers, allowing freedom of navigation inside Kingdom ports & waters, and protecting neutral rights of other nations. The USA unilaterally abrogated mutual treaty responsibilities; Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani resisted aggression, tried to maintain peace, and endured the tragedy of colonization. Today's the centennial of her death.

Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono

Belittling Terror in America?

The attempted bombing of Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina has been described as odd.

Alleged perpetrator Michael Estes was caught; his nail-laced bomb did not explode. The 46-year old suspect reportedly admitted leaving the improvised explosive device at the airport in order to "fight a war on US soil." 

Here's the criminal complaint (link)

Estes early October arrest by the FBI supposedly got little attention due to racial favoritism (see argument here).

But while Estes was described as "White" while a wanted suspect, some report he's Native American (link). Michael's unsubstantiated Wikipedia entry quotes his father Jimmie Estes as disputing any Native American roots (as of 10 Nov 2017; link). Further detail here (link) and here (link).

On the other hand, whatever the ethnicity, it may be that publicizing American "home grown" or "lone wolf" terrorists encourages more such people, and perhaps fuels violent extremist activities?

Ultra-right fascists & militarists of all persuasions are all too common throughout America.

America needs to teach peace & tolerance. We can't ignore domestic crazies. We surely don't want secret detentions & arrests. We need vibrant press coverage that keeps our citizenry informed and prepared.

Alleged Asheville Airport bomber Michael Christopher Estes

Who's in Charge?

UK Prime Minister Theresa May "accepted the resignation" of outspoken Tory MP Priti Patel as Secretary of State for International Development due to Patel's extensive unauthorized hobnobbing with the Israeli government.

Israel and the UK are allies - what's the problem?

One early BBC report (link) quoted Israel's Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid describing Patel glowingly as "A true friend of Israel." Surely that by itself is not the problem.

The citizenry is left to wonder -- perhaps much more happened -- replacing Patel is simply to end inquiries...

USA USA Wasting Money Everyday

Foolish Yankee spent $4.3 trillion on overseas adventurism since 2001.

Our militarism leaves us on the hook for a total $5.6 trillion in obligations by end of fiscal 2018.

The same corporations and landed elites that brought us Vietnam and other Southeast Asian wars of the 1960s and early 1970s have led us into this morass. It's a swamp -- our parents and grandparents failed to drain it, and we pass the conflicts and growing debts to our kids and grandchildren.

US Militarism is a massively frustrating waste of lives, money and human energy.

Investing in occupied territories around the world, does the typical American feel proud? Or do we feel cynically manipulated?

Our 1% Overclass laughs at commoners & continues to party hearty!

See:
Costs of War Report

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin & wifey

Why Goodbye

UK Friends:
Ye've been Cheated.

Obscene

Business shark & TV star, now US President Donald Trump is obscene.

His former opponent for president, Hilary Clinton is obscene.

Most wealthy weasels around them are similarly obscene. They lobby for militarism and for entrenched favored interests in banking & finance. Both Republican & Democrat, they inhabit a swamp which is being enriched by Trump, not drained as promised.

Clinton running-mate, corporatist Kane was obscene.

And former President Barack Obama. Yes, Obscene corporate puppets.

Our world has many problems. Billions of people live in poverty and distress. Our lives could be greatly improved with a proper social focus. But instead we focus on the process of getting additional wealth for the already obscenely wealthy. We fuel a military arms race that keeps us poor.

Bah!

Spanish Empire

Spanish imperialists in Madrid have dissolved the Catalan government, and sent huge numbers of police to the occupied territory.

Now the Spanish rulers aim for 'free & fair' elections on 21st December. But beginning immediately they'll imprison opposition leaders, possibly for 30+ years.

Here's Madrid's response to the independence referendum (link)


Tragic!

Visit Barcelona & Catalan?  Colony of Spain.

Distant Rule

We can better control arrogant bureaucrats living nearby. 
The worst henchmen are hired in from far away...

Gassing Democracy at UCal Davis, 2011

Robert Capa photo: Montblanch, near Barcelona, 1938

Obey

Future Catalan ?

Can Catalan achieve independence from Spain ?

Who should decide?

Does Halloween Disrespect Our Troops?

Scary?

During late October shopping, it's surely cruel to hear "Nice costume!" if a disabled or disfigured veteran. Many tens of thousands of American military returned home as casualties.

The ongoing US Global War on Terror keeps American soldiers posted in Syria, Niger, Afghanistan, Germany, Somalia, Japan, Israel, Korea, Estonia, Yemen, etc., etc... Candidate Trump promised Stateside redeployment of our troops. Until then, America should get serious -- Honor our walking wounded!

Dimwit Brexit

Dimwit Brexit    by Genki

Hail Britannia!
Imperial whore
"The bitch who will go it alone."
Enjoy strutting away
From the dull Eurozone
Gobbling bangers & chips with a scone.

Hail Britannia!
So cloudy & grey
Independently wealthy maybe?
But our leaders are dolts
Boris acts like a baby
Distinguished by rank snobbery.

Hail Britannia!
Diana has gone
The wisest still laugh at themselves.
Still the man in the street
Keeps his master's conceit
As our countryfolk boot out all elves.

Hail Britannia!
Many options erased.
Now we choose life in Grimsby or Leeds
For A Place in the Sun
Watch a telly re-run
Let us pray isolation succeeds!

Did Weinstein see The Trump Scripts?

The rumored "Trump Scripts" were perhaps seen by alleged casting-couch Lothario Harvey Weinstein, or even shopped-around as a possible film idea. A heap of justifiable trouble has now befallen the powerful film producer. (Even close friend Hillary Clinton is quoted as being "shocked and appalled" - link)... Wag that Dog!

The Trump Scripts, if they exist, are approximately 1500 soap-opera style vignettes now being released one-by-one on an nearly daily basis throughout the Trump presidency. (Monday's headline: "Ivana's First Lady claim slammed by Melania!"; Tuesday: "Trump challenges Rex Tillerson to IQ test"). The Trump Scripts are meant to provoke and entertain, while deflecting public attention from the dismemberment of government by the far-right Republican administration of US President Donald Trump.

Lovely.

FAQ Columbus

FAQ Columbus       by Genki

Columbus sailed the ocean blue
The trip brought pain & insult too.

They labeled each non-Christian "savage"
Deceit permitted, homes to ravage

Resources stolen, corruptly "borrowed"
Aggressive theft & murder followed.

Intruders curse our native cultures
Condoned indifference, unclean vultures

As parasites they multiply
Still occupy and terrify

Let's push Accountability
Break silence of conspiracy

Discover crimes Columbus triggered!
And where the Founding Fathers figured

Resolving violence from those vermin
Recalls a reconciliation sermon

Resist extractive financiers!
Who'd sell our skin for souvenirs.

We're taught perverted history
"The New World" -- prior, mystery.

Communities which now rebounded
Can't celebrate the mess he founded

The victims still seek crime review
Since fourteen hundred ninety-two.

Nobel for ICAN - Japan says "I Can't"

ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, has won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, after helping to usher in a new consensus, including the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted last July (text here).

Unfortunately, Japan has not yet become party to the treaty. Well-prior to the question of signing on, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's government even boycotted deliberations (as did Brit PM Theresa May & toadying Australia). The people of Japan are strongly anti-nuclear, but they've become a neutered pet poodle alongside the heavily nuclear-armed USA.

Instead of using experience and wisdom, and developing the goodwill of global Japanese activists, Abe's party has officially shut-down discussion (link).

This Nobel Prize draws attention to the fact Abe's at war with his own people, telling thousands of Japanese atomic bomb victims (被爆者 "hibakusha") their suffering is unreasonable & selfish.

Until the people of Japan stand up against their right-wing masters, we must regrettably say they deserve our pity -- and our disgust.