Archive for the 'poverty' Category

Why Only the Poorest?

Posted by Brendan on July 25th, 2008 filed in cold, economy, poverty

,blockquote>If the Senate could summon some wisdom, it would interrupt its mud wrestling over partisan placebos for the gas crisis long enough to debate something real: emergency help for the nation’s poorest families who face skyrocketing home heating costs this winter.
–NYT, 7/25/08
I’m not one to criticize measure that help the poor, but as someone who [...]

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Bankruptcy Reform Causes Mother’s Suicide

Posted by Brendan on July 24th, 2008 filed in Democratic Idiocy, anger, calling bullshit, economy, housing, poverty

In 2005, Democrats like Allyson Schwartz, Joe Biden, and many more int eh House and Senate voted for the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which, among other things, established as law:
* Mandatory credit counseling and debtor education. All potential bankruptcy filers must now undergo credit counseling and [...]

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The Stimulus That Isn’t

Posted by Brendan on January 24th, 2008 filed in big business as usual, calling bullshit, economy, poverty

UPDATED BELOW
I’ve been reading a bunch about the economic stimulus package the Democrats and Republicans are putting together as fast as they can.
Democrats said the centerpiece of the plan would be a widely distributed tax rebate, perhaps totaling as much as $96.5 billion or roughly two-thirds of the total amount President Bush has [...]

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A Letter to Steven Landsburg (Expanded)

Posted by Brendan on January 17th, 2008 filed in calling bullshit, economy, letters, poverty

All economists know that when American jobs are outsourced, Americans as a group are net winners. What we lose through lower wages is more than offset by what we gain through lower prices. In other words, the winners can more than afford to compensate the losers.
This article by Steven Landsburg is, to put it bluntly, [...]

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In Which I Call Senator Specter’s Office

Posted by Brendan on August 21st, 2007 filed in politics, poverty, right wing dingalings, snark

“Good morning, Arlen Specter’s office..”
“Hi, my name’s Brendan Skwire, and I’m a constituent calling from Philadelphia.
“Normally, I call with criticisms of Senator Specter, but not today: I’m calling to ask the Senator to support President Bush. I read that the President wants to cut tens of thousands of children from the State Children’s Insurance [...]

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Rapists.

Posted by Brendan on June 2nd, 2007 filed in BAH, poverty, revenge

I have a big drive to Boston today and since my housemate didn’t pay me back the $50.00 he owes me last night like he was supposed to (that’s the last loan he’s getting), I had to make sure I had some room for fuel purchases on my credit card.
I haven’t been using either card: [...]

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May Day

Posted by Brendan on May 1st, 2007 filed in anarchy, calling bullshit, direct action, poverty

To Tramps
by Lucy E. Parsons
Alarm, October 4, 1884. Also printed and distributed as a leaflet by the International Working People’s Association.
TO TRAMPS,
The Unemployed, the Disinherited, and Miserable.
A word to the 35,000 now tramping the streets of this great city, with hands in pockets, gazing listlessly about you at the evidence of wealth and pleasure of [...]

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Friday Videos: Dock Boggs

Posted by Brendan on March 2nd, 2007 filed in culture, old time, poverty, youtube

Dock Boggs was the real deal, and the brief biography I’m does not do the liner notes on the Revenant Records compilation justice.
Dock was from Virginia, and was a bootlegger. At one point the revenuer man broke down his door,and grabbed Dock’s wife as a human shield. Dock aimed his gun, fired, and [...]

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Would Michael Nutter Deny Cheap Fuel to Philadelphia’s Poor?

Posted by Brendan on February 18th, 2007 filed in Philadelphia, criticism, politics, poverty

The Philadelphia City Paper did a brief interview with mayoral candidate Michael Nutter this week.
Nutter spent a good amount of time discussing why the current mayor’s ego is destroying the city — the word “narcissist” came up, with emphasis — and how the press owes it to Philadelphians to investigate the smoke-and-mirrors resume of current [...]

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(Working) Poverty

Posted by Brendan on November 21st, 2006 filed in anger, personal failure, plain pitiful, poverty

I finally gave my newly repaired van the chance to get on the highway this morning, and I am VERY glad I didn’t use it to pick up Sam. The distributor cap/rotor, coil, plugs, and wires have all been replaced, but when it gets up to about 50 mph, the entire chassis shakes so [...]

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