Open Post: Say Anything

6/24/2016

Giant Spring in Great Falls

I’ve been told that it’s a good idea for me to do an open thread, where readers can bring up any topic they like.

Fine, say what you want.

Personally, I don’t think that many will talk.

We don’t get many comments here at Big Sky Words, never have.

Is that a bad thing…and really…what does it mean?

I guess it could mean no one visits, or no one cares, or people are just so damn convinced by my arguments that there’s simply no reason to comment.

It could be something else too.

Either way, talk away!

I’d like to go ahead and mention the 600 points the Dow fell today.

Wow, didn’t affect me at all!

How ‘bout you…lose some money?

Bummer.

How’s that feel?

I guess it depends on if you could afford to lose that money or not. If not...why the hell isn’t it in the bank or in a safe in your home?

Well, rich people…no point in trying to point their greed out to 'em.

After all, why keep money somewhere where it can’t be making money?

Uh...so it’s safe.

The way the rich and their corporate propaganda wings want us to think after this Brexit is that there’s another global recession on the way.

So what.

My house has been in recession for a decade – take that bullshit to some other street where they still have something to lose.

I’ve just heard the rich cry ‘wolf’ too many times, myself.

Speaking of the rich, how about all those entitled union pricks in Helena today for the AFL-CIO Convention?

I was invited to this but chose not to go. Here are some images I pulled off of Twitter:

So there you see two losers getting applauded for their efforts to help union workers.

Oh, I’m sorry…are Denise Juneau and Melissa Romano not losers?

Because the election results I’m looking at have them down 32,000 and 26,000 votes, respectively.

Huh, maybe they’ll find those votes in that convention room there in Helena.

And how about this: A fucking political unknown does 6,000 votes better than a woman that’s been in the statewide spotlight for a decade, sheesh!

My oh my, I have to shake my head.

Before you get your feathers all ruffled, we discussed this before, this time last year in fact.

The post was called Can the Montana AFL-CIO Convention Help You at All?

In it we pointed out that the Montana AFL-CIO represents just 8% of Montana’s workforce.

Union representation in Montana altogether covers just 13% of our workforce.

My, what a failure our unions are.

I’d like 100% of our workforce unionized.

Alas, the unions don’t want that…or were they somehow working toward that?

I know – it’s by increasing the money they spend on top officials.

Top AFL-CIO officials get $6,000 a year in compensation on average, compared to the $170 that each AFL-CIO union worker gets.

That’s pathetic.

But this open thread isn’t about unions or my perceived hatred of them.

Nope, it’s about you, and what you want to say.

So please, say it.

It's clear ID and Cowturd are shutdown, so let's get some conversation going, conversation on anything.

So...what's on your mind?

17 Comments

Greg Strandberg

6/24/2016 04:34:20 pm

In Missoula glass recycling is an issue.

We don't do it, and we always say it's too expensive to do it.

Well, why don't we get one of the city's big dump trucks and a couple times a month, maybe even once a week, fill that puppy up and drive it to the coast and the recycling centers there.

How much would that cost? Surely not as much as many of the studies and bond proposals we always float.

So let's talk about things like that. I'm sure a lot of Missoulians would like to.

nemo

6/24/2016 04:57:33 pm

Many retirees (public and private sector) whether they like it or not are tied to the stock market through their pension/retirement accounts, so unfortunately it is not just the rich who will feel the pain. I would add that the "real rich" (1 percenters if you will) are so well insulated from stock market fluctuations, the tax code (income, inheritance, capital gains) and life in general that they will feel no pain.

That cute white haired couple across the street, they feel the sting of price inflation, rising property taxes, stock market crashes. I think this is the voting block we need to energize locally Greg.

Greg Strandberg

6/24/2016 05:43:48 pm

Pensions are a good point, but just a talking point.

I do agree on energizing voters, or convincing certain voting blocs to vote a different way, perhaps. In regards to pensions, well...

If the stock market drops, say 600 points like it did today (wiping out it's value for the past 10 months as I'll discuss below) then yes, that might have an effect on pensions.

It will require the pension shortfall rules to kick in which says that the pension plan sponsor will have to start contributing more to make up for that shortfall.

To protect current pension holders we have the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which means they'll be alright. Future pension plan recipients might experience a freeze, and if you're in some shoddy unions like in some states, benefits might be cut.

Of course, if our bond market hadn't been gutted by the greedy starting back in the 70s and 80s then we'd be in better shape. Still, today most fled to bonds and gold.

Now, what about the 600 point loss today? As I mentioned in a comment on the Flathead Beacon earlier...so what?

That's nearly a year that we lost, but we're still back where we were during the turbulent last week of August 2015.

Remember that "panic"? Of course you don't - we're programmed by the corporate propaganda, and the school and university testing system, to forget everything in a day or two.

So what happened last August?

Aug 24: 1,000 point drop
Aug 25: 442 point rally but still down another 205 for the day
Aug 26: 619 points up for the day
Aug 27: Up 369 for the day.

Dow closed at 17,440 last August 27. Today it closed at 17,383...a difference of 57 points.

So we're 57 points off from where we were last summer.

Shit, my parents' cost of insurance increase from their state retired jobs is more than that.

But we don't mention that much. We don't mention a lot of problems. I can't help but think some of these comments on Piece of Mind blog are getting at something:

https://pieceofmindful.com/2016/06/24/brexit-could-be-something-probably-nothing/

If we didn't have 535 bought-and-paid-for corporate shills in Congress then maybe we could address these issues.

But we have money in politics.

So nothing will get done, ever.

Greg Strandberg

6/24/2016 06:53:00 pm

Interesting tidbit about the AFL-CIO meeting in Helena today via the Flathead Beacon:

"Bullock’s Republican opponent, Greg Gianforte, said the AFL-CIO’s endorsements of Bullock and of Hillary Clinton for president are a “slap in the face” to coal workers, some of whom are union members."

So...how many workers are we talking about here?

I guess we'll head over to Last Best News for that, from an April article:

"The utilities also pay 360-odd workers—mechanics, electricians, office workers, laborers, and operators, many working 12-hour shifts, day and night—salaries in the range of $60,000 to $80,000 to run the plant. The plant burns about 10 million tons of coal per year, sourced entirely from the Rosebud Mine, which generates tens of millions of dollars in state taxes and federal royalties and pays its 380 workers an average $81,000.

That’s why Colstrip’s median household income is close to double the state average of $46,800; its poverty level is half of the state’s 15.3 percent. The town has its rougher edges, and the houses are modest, but there are shiny trucks and campers in the driveways."

http://lastbestnews.com/site/2016/04/colstrip-at-the-intersection-of-coal-and-climate-change/

Greg Strandberg

6/24/2016 07:25:40 pm

Please don't forget that the 2-day Montana GOP plank convention, and largest yearly fundraiser, is currently happening in Missoula.

http://mtpr.org/post/montana-gop-gathering-missoula-platform-convention#stream/0

nemo

6/25/2016 09:09:46 am

'Mac the moose"? Are you fucking kidding me? That's the face of $42 million?

Greg Strandberg

6/25/2016 09:15:05 am

I guess you must have read the Indy article on the $42 million parks we have, the new mascot they have to push them, and the...well, that article doesn't mention the $150,000 or so that will be needed each year to fund those parks.

What a mess.

Why the hell is a bunch of parks and fields costing $12 million more than a whole new library building?

We're getting screwed here. When I said that on the Indy article, however, I was just attacked and told that my election results are pathetic.

No, what's pathetic is our city and county pushing this bonding measure onto us in the first place. 52% of people were tricked into voting for it in a tricky campaign. Remember, to pass the recent Missoula school bond they had to employ New Jersey phone bank firms, robo calls...illegal calls.

I'll have to drive out to those "parks" sometime and see how much dirt they've moved around.

$42 million.

It's sad how the city strings us along.

nemo

6/25/2016 10:19:06 am

Haters gonna hate right? I like how they worked an argument for a sales tax in there. For the record 47 states DO have it wrong. I've lived in 2 of them. Residents pick up the majority of that tax 365 days a year (that's why you drive to MT from WA to buy your big ticket items). You won't see a reduction in other taxes to offset a sales tax but what you will see is a gradual increase in taxes across the board as they find new ways to spend your money.

It will be interesting to see revenue figures for this new boondoggle. "Parks as an investment in community health" huh? Like Ogren Field? Splash MT? An investment that's under snow 6 months of the year? Makes perfect sense. Roads, bridges, snow removal, what about those investments? Wait, I forgot, doing away with cars is on the agenda in Missoula too.

Greg Strandberg

6/25/2016 12:28:49 pm

Yeah, Cliff Larsen teamed up with Engen before the 2015 session to try and get a local option sales tax in MIssoula.

From what I've heard from Washington State residents, there have been no offsets in other taxes to make up for the sales tax. Politicians said they would reduce income taxes or property taxes, but it didn't happen.

Still, all you hear from MT officials, especially Engen, is how they can't operate with the two-legged tax stool they have.

Well, make cuts. Cut government staff and whatever else. You can't keep asking for tax increases each year.

Andrew

6/27/2016 10:58:44 am

WA State has no income tax, so there is no opportunity to offset. Any suggestion of passing an across-the board sales tax should be contingent upon legislation that ties the offset in.

Personally, I don't feel that one million Montanans should bear the burden through income taxes of supporting the 11 million tourists that come through the state each year. And they don't all keep themselves to the tourist towns.

Greg Strandberg

6/27/2016 11:10:33 am

You're right, Andrew.

I profiled how Montana makes its income more than a year ago, and you can get a good look at incomes for Washington, Idaho, and other states in the region.

http://www.bigskywords.com/2014-montana-election-blog/what-are-the-tax-options-in-montana

WA brings in $7 billion in sales tax for 2013, $8 billion from other taxes/fees. They have no personal or corporate income taxes.

That same year, MT brought in $62 million from sales taxes and $1 billion in personal income taxes and $177 million in corporate income taxes and $57 million in gaming taxes and $734 million in other taxes/fees.

The sales tax is a generational thing in Montana.

It came up in the 1930s and historian Michael Malone had this to say:

"Montana did not choose to employ a sales tax during the 1930s. By the 1940s, conservatives were pressing hard for a sales tax in order to take the pressure off the other two levies and to meet the ever-rising costs of government.”

In the early-60s Governor Babcock wanted a 3% sales tax in order to support government.

Historian David Emmons was a firm believer in the Montana sales tax, and claims that “people raised on conspiracy theories” are the main reason it hasn’t passed, either in 1971 or 1993, though he fails to mention the push for the tax in either the 1930s or the 1950s.

Our lack of a sales tax “punishes industry and business” in Montana “all in order to get even with the Company.” Emmons makes it plain that Montanans cling to this attitude because of “self-indulgence,” or “the avoidance of all responsibility by the assignment of blame to sinister outside forces.”

There's more in my book Feds and Farmers and I'll have more on our modern sales tax fights in my next Montana history book.

I'm sure the topic will come up again in the 2019 or 2021 Legislature. Could be a topic in the 2020 governor's race.

6/26/2016 11:44:37 am

How can I call myself a Dem? I can't. I give up on'em.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/06/25/betraying-progressives-dnc-platform-backs-fracking-tpp-and-israel-occupation

Greg Strandberg

6/26/2016 12:10:32 pm

I've been feeling that way for more than a year now.

6/26/2016 02:49:53 pm

If you can, please keep up the open thread every once in awhile. And encourage it. Cowturd and Pogie have gone stale. Boring is NOT how to win a progressive battle. You do it by allowing everyone to say their piece. Indian style. A council of sorts. Diversity of opinion.

But by narrowing the parameters of debate to AbNorma and a couple of others, staleness becomes a virture!

The current crop of Dems do NOT deserve to lead.

Greg Strandberg

6/26/2016 02:57:56 pm

Look at this nonsense from MT Temperance on Cowturd from 3 days ago:

"Okay “Sandra,” or “Moonbeam,” or “Moot,” or “Your Facebook Profile is Public.” Here’s how it goes….. You dont mind if I call you Sandra do you? Since you have been spamming us here at Cowgirl for a time, we will just close you down.

No need to thank us."

As you say, Norma Duffy has the most comments now. Boy, she's in with them good, ain't she? Thought she was gonna run for the legislature again this year, as an Independent no less. Guess that didn't pan out.

One independent I've got my eye on is Caron Cooper, running against Dem Pat Noonan. I feel she'll strip enough votes away to make that a race, perhaps give it to the GOP. So that's an interesting one.

I noticed on the drive back from Helena today that Lee Tavener still has two huge campaign signs on a hill a ways past Drummond. Might be time to take those down.

6/27/2016 01:41:53 pm

This is a friggin' crazy way to run a country. Until we get the population under control, nothing will ever change. More and more people, especially poor people, does NOT translate into economic development. Growth for the sake of growth truly IS the ideology of cancer. But how to stop it?

http://mom.me/news/28379-medicaid-births-rise-texas/

Greg Strandberg

6/27/2016 02:13:53 pm

Gosh darn, LK, shouldn't you be happy - no, singing in the streets - that Texas helped ensure we can keep doing abortions in this country?

That's the Dem message, is it not...be happy about this.

Well, I don't give a shit.

We discussed on this site before that about 0.6% of the population gets an abortion each year.

Why are they doing that?

If you go by this 2016 article it tells us that:

"The reasons patients gave for having an abortion underscored their understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood and family life. The three most common reasons—each cited by three-fourths of patients—were concern for or responsibility to other individuals; the inability to afford a child; and the belief that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents. Half said they did not want to be a single parent or were having problems with their husband or partner."

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/10/10/why-do-women-have-abortions-new-study-provides-some-answers/

If you go by this 2013 report it says the following:

"Researchers found 40% of these women mentioning something financial, 36% in some way discussing the bad “timing” of the pregnancy, 31% raising a partner issue, 29% speaking of “other children,” 20% talking of the child somehow interfering with future opportunities.

Less than 20% mentioned something about not being emotionally or mentally prepared (19%), health related reasons (12%), wanting a better life than she could provide (12%), not being independent or mature enough (7%), influence of family or friends, and not wanting to have a baby or to place a baby up for adoption (4%)."

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/10/10/why-do-women-have-abortions-new-study-provides-some-answers/

So really, we have a terrible time in this country with controlling our baser desires and impulses. We have no self-control.

Most people never require an abortion, because they're responsible. Sure, 13,000 abortions come from incest and rape, but I don't count those. We have 1 million abortions in this country each year and most come about because people are not responsible.

It's a shame we don't talk about that.

Since I'm writing, I'd like to mention the libtards in Cali yesterday. Good job going to the Nazi rally, beating the shit out of people and stabbing some too, which just brought attention to that rally.

I sure never would have heard of the Traditionalist Worker Party and their silly march if the libtard group hadn't gone to the march (that was planned weeks in advance) to break numerous laws.

But of course the peaceful protesters are the enemies because they're white men and don't like immigrants. So they're the bad guys, not the libtard lawbreakers.

No charges filed either.

This country's fucked up.

Open Post: Say Anything

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Open Post: Say Anything

Leave a Reply.

MT Book 7

​Montana Blog

​Popular Posts

Categories

Archives

​My MT History Books

My Montana Novels

My Montana Short Fiction

Montana Blog

Popular Posts

My MT History Books