Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Plain Truth: Common Core Education Standards Fashioned By Big B...
The Plain Truth: Common Core Education Standards Fashioned By Big B...: Summer is over and school is back is session, but education in America is a far cry from what it used to be. Thanks to Common Core, matter...
Common Core Education Standards Fashioned By Big Business and Speacial Interest!
Summer is over and school is back is session, but education in
America is a far cry from what it used to be. Thanks to Common Core,
matters are only going to get worse.
Common Core is a set of federal standards for education in key subjects such as math and language arts. The standards don’t end there, though, they’re also currently being developed for science and social studies curriculum. However, when you take a good look at the core of these standards, it’s really just politics at its best: bribery, deceit, backroom deals and over-regulation.
Special Interest Groups Continue to Dominate the Reigns
You’d think federal standards would be developed by the federal government, right? Not in this case. Instead, big business and special interest groups created Common Core State Standards. You see, in the mid-90s the National Governors Association, along with several national corporations, created Achieve, Inc. a D.C.-based non-profit that’s the “leading voice for the college-and career-ready agenda.” Achieve financial contributors include big businesses like AT&T (T), The Boeing Company (BA), Chevron (CVX), Cisco (CSCO), IBM (IMB) and Prudential (PRU). Achieve began developing federal benchmarks and standards in 1998 and soon after, sponsored a summit to determine the “must have skills” desired by America’s top employers. Put simply: the Common Core initiative was started and continues to be pushed by politicians and special interest groups – not educators or parents.
A History of Grooming the System
In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli Broad Foundation partnered and pledged $60 million to create what’s now known as Common Core. The following year, the Gates Foundation gave over $2 million to politicians and other investors to promote the adoption of a federal curriculum. But it gets even more muddied in big business. In 2009, executives from the Gates Foundation were hired as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Chief of Staff and as the head of the Office of Innovation and Improvement. Since joining the initiative, the Gates Foundation has invested more than $160 million in the Common Core State Standards.
But the Gates Foundation and the Eli Broad Foundation aren’t alone. The GE Foundation, of General Electric (GE), and its CEO Jeffrey Immelt, have made investments of their own. That’s right, the very same Immelt who said of China: “State-run communism may not be your cup of tea, but their government works. You know?” And this mess of a web only gets bigger with key players such as the Department of Education, Secretary of Education Duncan, Achieve Inc. and Pearson Publishing (PSO) all pushing the standards onto teachers and students. And don’t forget the mouthpieces like the Fordham Institute, Hunt Institute and Jeb Bush’s The Foundation for Excellence in Education, who all use their platforms to push the Common Core agenda.
Blatant Ulterior Motives
The education system is just another cash cow to heave around for these industry giants (not that they’re the only ones using our education system for self-gain). Pearson Publishing stands to gain a lot from Common Core. The UK-based company operates in more than 70 countries but 60% of its sales come from North America. Pearson already has a monopoly on public education in America and only stands to gain from Common Core implementation. According to Peter Cohen, CEO of Pearson’s K-12 division, Pearson School, “It’s a really big deal. The Common Core standards are affecting literally every part of the business we’re involved in.“ I’m sure it does when Common Core is estimated to cost districts nearly $8 billion in educational materials just to implement the standards.
Don’t get me wrong: Standards in education aren’t necessarily a bad thing. To be sure, they aid in holding students and teachers accountable, and they often influence successes in education. However, the problem stems from who is creating these standards, and those who should be but aren’t – states, educators and parents, for example, have no part in developing the standards. Maybe Common Core’s creators and investors had good intentions in developing the benchmarks, but we all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Somewhere along the way, any good intentions that existed have long been trampled by the pursuit of money…
In pursuit of the truth, The Plain Truth!
Common Core is a set of federal standards for education in key subjects such as math and language arts. The standards don’t end there, though, they’re also currently being developed for science and social studies curriculum. However, when you take a good look at the core of these standards, it’s really just politics at its best: bribery, deceit, backroom deals and over-regulation.
Special Interest Groups Continue to Dominate the Reigns
You’d think federal standards would be developed by the federal government, right? Not in this case. Instead, big business and special interest groups created Common Core State Standards. You see, in the mid-90s the National Governors Association, along with several national corporations, created Achieve, Inc. a D.C.-based non-profit that’s the “leading voice for the college-and career-ready agenda.” Achieve financial contributors include big businesses like AT&T (T), The Boeing Company (BA), Chevron (CVX), Cisco (CSCO), IBM (IMB) and Prudential (PRU). Achieve began developing federal benchmarks and standards in 1998 and soon after, sponsored a summit to determine the “must have skills” desired by America’s top employers. Put simply: the Common Core initiative was started and continues to be pushed by politicians and special interest groups – not educators or parents.
A History of Grooming the System
In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli Broad Foundation partnered and pledged $60 million to create what’s now known as Common Core. The following year, the Gates Foundation gave over $2 million to politicians and other investors to promote the adoption of a federal curriculum. But it gets even more muddied in big business. In 2009, executives from the Gates Foundation were hired as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Chief of Staff and as the head of the Office of Innovation and Improvement. Since joining the initiative, the Gates Foundation has invested more than $160 million in the Common Core State Standards.
But the Gates Foundation and the Eli Broad Foundation aren’t alone. The GE Foundation, of General Electric (GE), and its CEO Jeffrey Immelt, have made investments of their own. That’s right, the very same Immelt who said of China: “State-run communism may not be your cup of tea, but their government works. You know?” And this mess of a web only gets bigger with key players such as the Department of Education, Secretary of Education Duncan, Achieve Inc. and Pearson Publishing (PSO) all pushing the standards onto teachers and students. And don’t forget the mouthpieces like the Fordham Institute, Hunt Institute and Jeb Bush’s The Foundation for Excellence in Education, who all use their platforms to push the Common Core agenda.
Blatant Ulterior Motives
The education system is just another cash cow to heave around for these industry giants (not that they’re the only ones using our education system for self-gain). Pearson Publishing stands to gain a lot from Common Core. The UK-based company operates in more than 70 countries but 60% of its sales come from North America. Pearson already has a monopoly on public education in America and only stands to gain from Common Core implementation. According to Peter Cohen, CEO of Pearson’s K-12 division, Pearson School, “It’s a really big deal. The Common Core standards are affecting literally every part of the business we’re involved in.“ I’m sure it does when Common Core is estimated to cost districts nearly $8 billion in educational materials just to implement the standards.
Don’t get me wrong: Standards in education aren’t necessarily a bad thing. To be sure, they aid in holding students and teachers accountable, and they often influence successes in education. However, the problem stems from who is creating these standards, and those who should be but aren’t – states, educators and parents, for example, have no part in developing the standards. Maybe Common Core’s creators and investors had good intentions in developing the benchmarks, but we all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Somewhere along the way, any good intentions that existed have long been trampled by the pursuit of money…
In pursuit of the truth, The Plain Truth!
Monday, August 19, 2013
The Plain Truth: Abolish the IRS Now Before Its To Late!
The Plain Truth: Abolish the IRS Now Before Its To Late!: Recently, IRS official William Wilkins has been implicated in the IRS scandal that targeted Obama’s political opponents. And Capitol Hill Da...
Abolish the IRS Now Before Its To Late!
Recently, IRS official William Wilkins has been implicated in the IRS scandal that targeted Obama’s political opponents. And Capitol Hill Daily
has now learned he may have personally discussed his actions with
President Obama – just days before Wilkins’ office released new
procedures for how the IRS reviews conservative groups.
White House visitor logs confirm that a “William Wilkins” was at the White House on April 23, 2012, specifically to meet with Obama. Was it the same Wilkins? Unfortunately, everyone who can answer that question is hiding behind a lawyer.
Regardless, it’s now clear that directions were given to the IRS officials in Cincinnati from the highest levels of government to target perceived opponents of President Obama. This was no low-level operation. All of the testimony points up the chain of command.
This is a gross violation of the IRS rules intended to keep the agency above or outside of politics. The IRS should never be involved in promoting partisan politics.
If this was an isolated scandal, one might forgive the agency. But this is only one of multiple scandals that show the agency has become a nest of corruption.
A Laundry List of Scandals
Where to begin?
The IRS is giving incarcerated criminals who submit fraudulent returns tens of millions of dollars in refunds. These are dollars that felons aren’t eligible to receive. The fraud figure increases every year, and at last tally, the IRS dealt north of $35 million to crooks, according to a federal audit.
The IRS also gave one million noncitizens, most in the United States illegally, approximately $9 billion in tax credits – even though they didn’t provide valid Social Security numbers on their tax returns.
The IRS also handed out $33 million in bogus electric car credits.
Recently, two dozen IRS employees were charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in government welfare, including food stamps and housing vouchers. The scheme fleeced U.S. taxpayers out of at least a quarter of a million dollars, according to federal prosecutors on the case.
Another scary prospect is the empowerment of the IRS as part of Obamacare. The IRS will be the go-to agency for enforcing the fines on Americans who don’t buy the expensive, mandated health insurance plans.
As the abuses multiply, it’s time to seriously consider the only real fix.
A Clear Solution
The fix that will end this pattern of scandals is total abolition of the IRS.
And I’m happy to report a movement is building on Capitol Hill to actually abolish the IRS. You see, only abolition can protect us from an agency which has become bathed in scandal.
Abolishing the agency would be easier than most understand. All Congress would have to do is simplify the tax system. With a changed system, we could end the aggressive, highly discretionary and unfair targeting by the IRS. Either a flat tax or a national consumption tax would allow the agency to be eliminated while improving compliance and increase revenues.
Several members of Congress have taken up the battle and called for the end of the IRS.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is backing an online petition to abolish the taxing agency. In the House of Representatives, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Representative Steve King of Iowa and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota have called for the abuses to be contained by abolishing the IRS.
The White House attempted to incriminate low-level agents in Cincinnati for the scandal problems. But it’s clear the abuse is widespread. High-ranking officials have known for a long time about the scandals, yet they’ve done nothing to stop it. The only real long-term solution is to end the life of a rogue agency. I hope you’ll join me in supporting the abolition of the IRS. As Always The Plain Truth!
White House visitor logs confirm that a “William Wilkins” was at the White House on April 23, 2012, specifically to meet with Obama. Was it the same Wilkins? Unfortunately, everyone who can answer that question is hiding behind a lawyer.
Regardless, it’s now clear that directions were given to the IRS officials in Cincinnati from the highest levels of government to target perceived opponents of President Obama. This was no low-level operation. All of the testimony points up the chain of command.
This is a gross violation of the IRS rules intended to keep the agency above or outside of politics. The IRS should never be involved in promoting partisan politics.
If this was an isolated scandal, one might forgive the agency. But this is only one of multiple scandals that show the agency has become a nest of corruption.
A Laundry List of Scandals
Where to begin?
The IRS is giving incarcerated criminals who submit fraudulent returns tens of millions of dollars in refunds. These are dollars that felons aren’t eligible to receive. The fraud figure increases every year, and at last tally, the IRS dealt north of $35 million to crooks, according to a federal audit.
The IRS also gave one million noncitizens, most in the United States illegally, approximately $9 billion in tax credits – even though they didn’t provide valid Social Security numbers on their tax returns.
The IRS also handed out $33 million in bogus electric car credits.
Recently, two dozen IRS employees were charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in government welfare, including food stamps and housing vouchers. The scheme fleeced U.S. taxpayers out of at least a quarter of a million dollars, according to federal prosecutors on the case.
Another scary prospect is the empowerment of the IRS as part of Obamacare. The IRS will be the go-to agency for enforcing the fines on Americans who don’t buy the expensive, mandated health insurance plans.
As the abuses multiply, it’s time to seriously consider the only real fix.
A Clear Solution
The fix that will end this pattern of scandals is total abolition of the IRS.
And I’m happy to report a movement is building on Capitol Hill to actually abolish the IRS. You see, only abolition can protect us from an agency which has become bathed in scandal.
Abolishing the agency would be easier than most understand. All Congress would have to do is simplify the tax system. With a changed system, we could end the aggressive, highly discretionary and unfair targeting by the IRS. Either a flat tax or a national consumption tax would allow the agency to be eliminated while improving compliance and increase revenues.
Several members of Congress have taken up the battle and called for the end of the IRS.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is backing an online petition to abolish the taxing agency. In the House of Representatives, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Representative Steve King of Iowa and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota have called for the abuses to be contained by abolishing the IRS.
The White House attempted to incriminate low-level agents in Cincinnati for the scandal problems. But it’s clear the abuse is widespread. High-ranking officials have known for a long time about the scandals, yet they’ve done nothing to stop it. The only real long-term solution is to end the life of a rogue agency. I hope you’ll join me in supporting the abolition of the IRS. As Always The Plain Truth!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The Plain Truth: Another Fed-Certified Takeover!
The Plain Truth: Another Fed-Certified Takeover!: Centralized banking is one of the main driving forces behind the expatriation of our Founding Fathers. So much did they object to the inst...
Another Fed-Certified Takeover!
Centralized banking is one of the main driving forces behind the expatriation of our Founding Fathers.
So much did they object to the institution, Ben Franklin described it as the spark that caused the Revolution War.
The reason for their steadfast objection? Debt is nothing more than an insidious form of slavery.
Accordingly, they were vehemently against any path to immediate indebtedness to government. And they loathed the thought of interest rates hanging overhead – a constant, dehumanizing reminder that you’re property of the government.
In fact, because of the implicit dangers involved with paper money, they were entirely against monetary policy altogether.
So you can imagine how disgusted they’d be if they were to visit the United States Bureau of Unlimited Engraving and Printing (aka the Fed).
And how right they’d be…
It’s as simple as this: Our monetary policy has become the default instrument for budgetary recklessness – and it’s left the integrity of the dollar utterly compromised.
The “experiments” the Fed has been running for the last several decades have not only been thorough failures, they’ve thoroughly devastated our national economy.
And it never seems to end. Because before the Fed could even wash all the blood off its hands from the last fiscal meltdown, another one of its experiments is coming home to roost.
It’s time to mothball the Federal Reserve, for sure.
This time, Bernanke is ravaging the commodities market (with a little help from its Big Bank friends)…
Monetary Mad Scientists
In the 90s, Alan Greenspan and his minions at the Federal Reserve embarked on a monetary experiment.
Namely, the plan was to use securities and credit derivatives as tools for risk management.
Of course, the Fed needed a test subject, so Greenspan & Co. went about using the United States as their guinea pig.
But for all of the complicated theorizing, they never predicted the dangerous influence this experiment would have on the behavior of banks for years to come.
The same goes for the experiment Ben Bernanke started unrolling in 2003…
You see, he wanted to expand the role of megabanks within the commodities markets. To do so, he changed essential policies that were legally prohibiting bank ownership of commercial assets.
Well, 10 years later, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of the implication of those policy changes and what that presence looks like – and it isn’t pretty.
Manipulation is running rampant in the gold, silver, oil and copper markets.
We’re also starting to see a dramatically higher concentration of financial and economic power in the hands of Big Banks.
But the major casualty of bank-owned commodities lies at the feet of Goldman Sachs (GS) Goldman Sachs and its overbearing control of aluminum…
Hoarders Exposed
The last place on Earth you’d expect to find Goldman Sachs is inside the heart of Detroit’s most debilitated subdivision.
Yet, there it is – tucked inside a series of warehouses, walled off by barbed wire fencing.
A stark contrast from its prominent New York City skyline headquarters positioned just off of Wall Street.
Yet, in comparison to its NYC headquarters, the warehouses are actually turning a profit. Hand over fist, in fact.
How? By hoarding millions of tons of industrial metal aluminum. A stockpile that’s nothing to sneeze at – it accounts for a quarter of the world’s entire reported inventory.
You’re probably wondering… If Goldman Sachs is building influence in the metals industry, what’s the big deal? Who cares?
Well, everyone from beverage makers to aircraft manufacturers care… and you should, too.
Put simply, the problem is this: Much more aluminum is arriving at the warehouses than leaving – intentionally.
By withholding its share of the global supply, Goldman Sachs has created a squeeze in aluminum inventory.
And you don’t need me to tell you what happens when there’s more demand than there is supply.
Price spikes are occurring for every product and service using the metal. Soft drinks, beer, auto repairs, airfare… you name it. If aluminum is part of the assembly process, it’s helping disassemble your savings.
But here’s where things get really twisted…
Not only is Goldman depleting the global aluminum supply and making a killing off of inflated prices, it’s also making hundreds of millions by simply storing the metal in its warehouses.
Early last year Sachs bought Metro International Trade Services, a Michigan-based warehousing company. It strategically established warehouse ownership in Detroit because of regulations from the London Metal Exchange (LME).
The regulations allow Goldman Sachs’ local facilities to (1) only release a small fraction of inventory daily, and (2) collect rent for storing aluminum in the warehouses.
The LME set $0.41 per day, per ton, as the maximum allowable…
Goldman’s Detroit-based operation is rumored to be holding more than 1.1 million tons.
That translates into $451,000 per day. That’s $165 million per year for simply storing the aluminum it’s intentionally stockpiling.
In other words, by storing aluminum in Detroit, LME regulations allow Goldman Sachs to only release an extremely limited portion of its inventory, while raking in millions of dollars off of the extended rental periods.
All while driving up aluminum prices on a commodity it trades on the metal exchange.
If that isn’t market manipulation, I honestly don’t know what is.
In fact, it’s driving up prices so much that companies like Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) have reported it – catching the attention of several officials in Washington.
The Senate recently held hearings on the matter…
Cue the Congressional Spectacle
In a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed their concern over big banks profiting at the expense of consumers.
Specifically, they deliberated on what role big banks should play in the commodities arena.
Banks’ involvement in the industry poses a conflict of interest, the senators reasoned, and distracts those same banks from carrying out their primary function. Namely, nurturing the economy through long-term loans.
So to the question of whether banks should be allowed to amass ownership of physical commodities, the senators answered firmly in the negative.
Armed with an answer, Congress moved right on to doing what Congress does best: reviewing, deliberating. In short, twiddling its fat thumbs.
Specifically, the senators say, they are reviewing ways to reestablish those policies that Bernanke and Greenspan foolhardily did away with decades ago.
That’s what they say, anyway. At least loud enough that we can hear them.
And not to be outdone in the arena of “showing grave public concern,” newly appointed head of the SEC, Mary Jo White, will additionally be looking for better ways the SEC can run oversight and regulation.
But until real change occurs, until our monetary policy is back on track, and until banks are restricted from gaming the system, it’s all talk.
Another public spectacle. An illusion that Congress is on top of things and has the American peoples’ best interest in mind.
Let’s be serious, are they really going to take massive profits away from their megabank pals? Are they actually going to put their political careers on the line?
Sadly, it’s doubtful…
So if the dollar in your pocket becomes utterly worthless tomorrow, you’ll know who to thank: the Fed, Congress and big banking.
All I can hope is that I’m proven wrong. As Always The Plain Truth!
So much did they object to the institution, Ben Franklin described it as the spark that caused the Revolution War.
The reason for their steadfast objection? Debt is nothing more than an insidious form of slavery.
Accordingly, they were vehemently against any path to immediate indebtedness to government. And they loathed the thought of interest rates hanging overhead – a constant, dehumanizing reminder that you’re property of the government.
In fact, because of the implicit dangers involved with paper money, they were entirely against monetary policy altogether.
So you can imagine how disgusted they’d be if they were to visit the United States Bureau of Unlimited Engraving and Printing (aka the Fed).
And how right they’d be…
It’s as simple as this: Our monetary policy has become the default instrument for budgetary recklessness – and it’s left the integrity of the dollar utterly compromised.
The “experiments” the Fed has been running for the last several decades have not only been thorough failures, they’ve thoroughly devastated our national economy.
And it never seems to end. Because before the Fed could even wash all the blood off its hands from the last fiscal meltdown, another one of its experiments is coming home to roost.
It’s time to mothball the Federal Reserve, for sure.
This time, Bernanke is ravaging the commodities market (with a little help from its Big Bank friends)…
Monetary Mad Scientists
In the 90s, Alan Greenspan and his minions at the Federal Reserve embarked on a monetary experiment.
Namely, the plan was to use securities and credit derivatives as tools for risk management.
Of course, the Fed needed a test subject, so Greenspan & Co. went about using the United States as their guinea pig.
But for all of the complicated theorizing, they never predicted the dangerous influence this experiment would have on the behavior of banks for years to come.
The same goes for the experiment Ben Bernanke started unrolling in 2003…
You see, he wanted to expand the role of megabanks within the commodities markets. To do so, he changed essential policies that were legally prohibiting bank ownership of commercial assets.
Well, 10 years later, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of the implication of those policy changes and what that presence looks like – and it isn’t pretty.
Manipulation is running rampant in the gold, silver, oil and copper markets.
We’re also starting to see a dramatically higher concentration of financial and economic power in the hands of Big Banks.
But the major casualty of bank-owned commodities lies at the feet of Goldman Sachs (GS) Goldman Sachs and its overbearing control of aluminum…
Hoarders Exposed
The last place on Earth you’d expect to find Goldman Sachs is inside the heart of Detroit’s most debilitated subdivision.
Yet, there it is – tucked inside a series of warehouses, walled off by barbed wire fencing.
A stark contrast from its prominent New York City skyline headquarters positioned just off of Wall Street.
Yet, in comparison to its NYC headquarters, the warehouses are actually turning a profit. Hand over fist, in fact.
How? By hoarding millions of tons of industrial metal aluminum. A stockpile that’s nothing to sneeze at – it accounts for a quarter of the world’s entire reported inventory.
You’re probably wondering… If Goldman Sachs is building influence in the metals industry, what’s the big deal? Who cares?
Well, everyone from beverage makers to aircraft manufacturers care… and you should, too.
Put simply, the problem is this: Much more aluminum is arriving at the warehouses than leaving – intentionally.
By withholding its share of the global supply, Goldman Sachs has created a squeeze in aluminum inventory.
And you don’t need me to tell you what happens when there’s more demand than there is supply.
Price spikes are occurring for every product and service using the metal. Soft drinks, beer, auto repairs, airfare… you name it. If aluminum is part of the assembly process, it’s helping disassemble your savings.
But here’s where things get really twisted…
Not only is Goldman depleting the global aluminum supply and making a killing off of inflated prices, it’s also making hundreds of millions by simply storing the metal in its warehouses.
Early last year Sachs bought Metro International Trade Services, a Michigan-based warehousing company. It strategically established warehouse ownership in Detroit because of regulations from the London Metal Exchange (LME).
The regulations allow Goldman Sachs’ local facilities to (1) only release a small fraction of inventory daily, and (2) collect rent for storing aluminum in the warehouses.
The LME set $0.41 per day, per ton, as the maximum allowable…
Goldman’s Detroit-based operation is rumored to be holding more than 1.1 million tons.
That translates into $451,000 per day. That’s $165 million per year for simply storing the aluminum it’s intentionally stockpiling.
In other words, by storing aluminum in Detroit, LME regulations allow Goldman Sachs to only release an extremely limited portion of its inventory, while raking in millions of dollars off of the extended rental periods.
All while driving up aluminum prices on a commodity it trades on the metal exchange.
If that isn’t market manipulation, I honestly don’t know what is.
In fact, it’s driving up prices so much that companies like Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) have reported it – catching the attention of several officials in Washington.
The Senate recently held hearings on the matter…
Cue the Congressional Spectacle
In a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed their concern over big banks profiting at the expense of consumers.
Specifically, they deliberated on what role big banks should play in the commodities arena.
Banks’ involvement in the industry poses a conflict of interest, the senators reasoned, and distracts those same banks from carrying out their primary function. Namely, nurturing the economy through long-term loans.
So to the question of whether banks should be allowed to amass ownership of physical commodities, the senators answered firmly in the negative.
Armed with an answer, Congress moved right on to doing what Congress does best: reviewing, deliberating. In short, twiddling its fat thumbs.
Specifically, the senators say, they are reviewing ways to reestablish those policies that Bernanke and Greenspan foolhardily did away with decades ago.
That’s what they say, anyway. At least loud enough that we can hear them.
And not to be outdone in the arena of “showing grave public concern,” newly appointed head of the SEC, Mary Jo White, will additionally be looking for better ways the SEC can run oversight and regulation.
But until real change occurs, until our monetary policy is back on track, and until banks are restricted from gaming the system, it’s all talk.
Another public spectacle. An illusion that Congress is on top of things and has the American peoples’ best interest in mind.
Let’s be serious, are they really going to take massive profits away from their megabank pals? Are they actually going to put their political careers on the line?
Sadly, it’s doubtful…
So if the dollar in your pocket becomes utterly worthless tomorrow, you’ll know who to thank: the Fed, Congress and big banking.
All I can hope is that I’m proven wrong. As Always The Plain Truth!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The Plain Truth: Should Obama Bail Out 100 Cities?After Classic Bad...
The Plain Truth: Should Obama Bail Out 100 Cities?After Classic Bad...: The battle for bailout money is on. One side features the municipal bond holders. On the other are city pensioners, mostly senior citizens ...
Should Obama Bail Out 100 Cities?After Classic Bad Management!
The battle for bailout money is on. One side features the municipal
bond holders. On the other are city pensioners, mostly senior citizens
and even a few widows.
Of course, Detroit is ground zero for the battle. As we all know, the city’s liquidity crisis forced it into bankruptcy court. And everyone interested in government and big city finances is glued to reports from the court. Could the decisions made in Detroit set precedents for future cases?
It’s an important question, because more than 100 major cities are right behind Detroit. And anarchy could result if these cities don’t get more cash.
Many of the problems are immediate: How do we keep the garbage trucks running, or the libraries and schools open?
Other problems are more long term, such as lowering the payroll costs in a heavily unionized sector, like local government, without inciting debilitating strikes.
Finally, some problems are both long-term and nearly intractable. For instance, how can we restructure an entity that has gorged on cheap debt for decades without scaring off investors? Those investors will be necessary for rolling over debts coming due.
If we look at some of the numbers, we see the problem in a microcosm. Here’s an example: The Detroit sewer and water systems are a cash machine. In fiscal year 2012, they generated $403.6 million. Based on that cash flow, Detroit borrowed and spent $5 billion against the assets in the municipal bond market. Today, the interest payments are $356 million annually, and that’s before even a penny of bond principal is paid back to the lenders.
Customers want their toilets to flush, workers want to get paid, retirees want to get paid, and the lenders (or, in this case, the bondholders) want their money back. But not all of these groups are going to be happy with what happens during the bankruptcy proceedings.
A Spreading Malaise
And don’t think Detroit is isolated. Just this month, Chicago had its debt downgraded, so Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded by laying off more than 2,100 Chicago Public School employees. Nearly 1,000 of the layoff notices went to teachers.
Fundamentally, cities, school districts and other governmental agencies across America were given the luxury of overly cheap debt. Instead of making hard decisions about priorities, they turned to the municipal bond market to borrow money to cover operating expenses, pension obligations and the cost of servicing billions of dollars in past debt. Since 2005, the muni bond market in the United States has exploded from $1.9 trillion to $3.7 trillion.
Municipal bonds have become the latest speculative bubble afforded by the QE policy of the Federal Reserve and Ben Bernanke. Wall Street went wild with the easy money, and the bonds are being traded and re-traded on the market. The “too big to fail” financial institutions – controlling vast sums of mostly borrowed capital – as well as the hedge fund managers, insurers and brokers who control these muni-bond markets, have made billions.
But now it’s become apparent that there’s distress in the market – evidenced by spiking borrowing costs. Other governments besides Detroit are having difficulty borrowing because they’ve gotten used to the low rates that funded the boom.
All I can say is, get ready for the bust… it’s just around the corner. In fact, it’s already starting.
Genesee County, Michigan, just pulled back from issuing $53 million in bonds after investors demanded higher interest rates.
Battle Creek, Michigan, announced it would pull a $16-million issue until market rates returned to the ultra-low rates from before the Detroit bankruptcy filing.
And we should expect more busted muni bond deals going forward. I recommend staying away from the market.
Obama on Deck
The pressure is building on Obama. Recently, union leaders demanded an “immediate infusion of federal assistance for Detroit… Bankruptcy must not be used as a tool to impoverish city of Detroit workers or retirees. City workers have already made severe concessions to keep the city afloat… They are not to blame for Detroit’s financial problems, yet they have been making sacrifices all along the way to help the city out.”
As pressure builds and Chicago’s finances continue to deteriorate, expect Obama and team to fashion some type of bailout for the muni bond market and the big cities like Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. that are in desperate need of cash. It’s really only a matter of time.
Of course, Detroit is ground zero for the battle. As we all know, the city’s liquidity crisis forced it into bankruptcy court. And everyone interested in government and big city finances is glued to reports from the court. Could the decisions made in Detroit set precedents for future cases?
It’s an important question, because more than 100 major cities are right behind Detroit. And anarchy could result if these cities don’t get more cash.
Many of the problems are immediate: How do we keep the garbage trucks running, or the libraries and schools open?
Other problems are more long term, such as lowering the payroll costs in a heavily unionized sector, like local government, without inciting debilitating strikes.
Finally, some problems are both long-term and nearly intractable. For instance, how can we restructure an entity that has gorged on cheap debt for decades without scaring off investors? Those investors will be necessary for rolling over debts coming due.
If we look at some of the numbers, we see the problem in a microcosm. Here’s an example: The Detroit sewer and water systems are a cash machine. In fiscal year 2012, they generated $403.6 million. Based on that cash flow, Detroit borrowed and spent $5 billion against the assets in the municipal bond market. Today, the interest payments are $356 million annually, and that’s before even a penny of bond principal is paid back to the lenders.
Customers want their toilets to flush, workers want to get paid, retirees want to get paid, and the lenders (or, in this case, the bondholders) want their money back. But not all of these groups are going to be happy with what happens during the bankruptcy proceedings.
A Spreading Malaise
And don’t think Detroit is isolated. Just this month, Chicago had its debt downgraded, so Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded by laying off more than 2,100 Chicago Public School employees. Nearly 1,000 of the layoff notices went to teachers.
Fundamentally, cities, school districts and other governmental agencies across America were given the luxury of overly cheap debt. Instead of making hard decisions about priorities, they turned to the municipal bond market to borrow money to cover operating expenses, pension obligations and the cost of servicing billions of dollars in past debt. Since 2005, the muni bond market in the United States has exploded from $1.9 trillion to $3.7 trillion.
Municipal bonds have become the latest speculative bubble afforded by the QE policy of the Federal Reserve and Ben Bernanke. Wall Street went wild with the easy money, and the bonds are being traded and re-traded on the market. The “too big to fail” financial institutions – controlling vast sums of mostly borrowed capital – as well as the hedge fund managers, insurers and brokers who control these muni-bond markets, have made billions.
But now it’s become apparent that there’s distress in the market – evidenced by spiking borrowing costs. Other governments besides Detroit are having difficulty borrowing because they’ve gotten used to the low rates that funded the boom.
All I can say is, get ready for the bust… it’s just around the corner. In fact, it’s already starting.
Genesee County, Michigan, just pulled back from issuing $53 million in bonds after investors demanded higher interest rates.
Battle Creek, Michigan, announced it would pull a $16-million issue until market rates returned to the ultra-low rates from before the Detroit bankruptcy filing.
And we should expect more busted muni bond deals going forward. I recommend staying away from the market.
Obama on Deck
The pressure is building on Obama. Recently, union leaders demanded an “immediate infusion of federal assistance for Detroit… Bankruptcy must not be used as a tool to impoverish city of Detroit workers or retirees. City workers have already made severe concessions to keep the city afloat… They are not to blame for Detroit’s financial problems, yet they have been making sacrifices all along the way to help the city out.”
As pressure builds and Chicago’s finances continue to deteriorate, expect Obama and team to fashion some type of bailout for the muni bond market and the big cities like Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. that are in desperate need of cash. It’s really only a matter of time.
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Plain Truth: The Fate of America – In the Hands of Millennials!...
The Plain Truth: The Fate of America – In the Hands of Millennials!...: Let’s be honest. America will probably never see another generation like the Greatest Generation. They survived the Great Depression and f...
The Fate of America – In the Hands of Millennials! We Should Be Worried!
Let’s be honest. America will probably never see another generation
like the Greatest Generation. They survived the Great Depression and
fought in World War II, changing the course of history. It was a
generation of people who lived frugally, responsibly, humbly… It’s the
kind of generation most Americans hope our millennials will become, and
if we’re still being honest… a lot of them are. But the numbers are in,
and the results aren’t necessarily indicative of this desired outcome
for many.
A recent article in Time accurately echoed the thoughts of most Americans concerning Generation Y: “They’re narcissistic. They’re lazy. They’re coddled. They’re even a bit delusional.” Further, a National Institutes of Health study shows that perhaps it’s not just a stereotype, either: The Narcissistic Personality Disorder is three times higher in 20-somethings than in the generation that’s now 65 or older.
They Love Themselves… But Not Work
The unemployment rate for those aged 18 to 29 is at 16.1% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although over 160,000 jobs were added in the month of July, the unemployment rate for millennials didn’t budge. In fact, a recent Gallup poll shows that less than 44% of 18 to 29 year-olds have full-time jobs. The lack of jobs has more millennials crashing at their parents’ house – something like 21.6 million still living at home, actually. The decline in employment has also caused an increase in college enrollment as students seek more degrees and to delay loan repayment.
The joblessness among Generation Y has the College Republican National Committee pointing fingers. According to CRNC chairman Alex Smith, “The new jobs report this morning only shows that stagnant economic growth is the new normal.” He blames President Obama: “The president has the ability to work with Congress to pass legislation like the Keystone pipeline, the Stop Government Abuse Act, and to remove the detrimental parts of the health-care plan to create more jobs.”
The truth is, President Obama spreads a lot of talk about the economy – this speech after that, on and on… but his actions are screaming that he doesn’t care about our economy. And he’s destroying the economy one bad policy at a time… Or maybe it’s one job at time. Either way, the president is failing America and that includes millennials. But the GOP isn’t doing a much better job when it comes to the generation.
Political Power In Numbers
There’s nearly 80 million millennials in the United States. Like or not, that’s enough to influence any election. We saw it happen in the 2008 presidential election when 66% voted for Obama, and only 31% for McCain. The 2012 election didn’t fare much better with Obama raking in 60% of the age groups’ votes and Romney only getting 36%.
So how does the GOP attract millennials? First, they have to stop insulting the younger demographics. While some millennials boast self-adoration and a lack of regard for much outside of that, there are exceptions to this observation. Not all millennials are self-absorbed. So instead of lumping all them together as a wasted generation, come up with policies that attract those who are concerned about the economy, national defense, and limited government.
Secondly, a presidential candidate doesn’t have to parade around, appearing to be one of them, on board with all things popular culture, but he should be consistent. The younger demographics want to see party members who are confident and know what they’re talking about. Millennials aren’t interested in flip-floppers like McCain and Romney.
Lastly, the Republican Party should stand its ground as socially conservative. However, millennials are concerned (and split) on issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage and legalizing marijuana, and we shouldn’t ignore those issues.
Baby boomers won’t be around forever, and when they’re gone, the GOP is going to need a new generation standing in the gap. And that is generation Y. Get them on board, and if we can just bear through the current madness, perhaps this country stands a chance.
A recent article in Time accurately echoed the thoughts of most Americans concerning Generation Y: “They’re narcissistic. They’re lazy. They’re coddled. They’re even a bit delusional.” Further, a National Institutes of Health study shows that perhaps it’s not just a stereotype, either: The Narcissistic Personality Disorder is three times higher in 20-somethings than in the generation that’s now 65 or older.
They Love Themselves… But Not Work
The unemployment rate for those aged 18 to 29 is at 16.1% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although over 160,000 jobs were added in the month of July, the unemployment rate for millennials didn’t budge. In fact, a recent Gallup poll shows that less than 44% of 18 to 29 year-olds have full-time jobs. The lack of jobs has more millennials crashing at their parents’ house – something like 21.6 million still living at home, actually. The decline in employment has also caused an increase in college enrollment as students seek more degrees and to delay loan repayment.
The joblessness among Generation Y has the College Republican National Committee pointing fingers. According to CRNC chairman Alex Smith, “The new jobs report this morning only shows that stagnant economic growth is the new normal.” He blames President Obama: “The president has the ability to work with Congress to pass legislation like the Keystone pipeline, the Stop Government Abuse Act, and to remove the detrimental parts of the health-care plan to create more jobs.”
The truth is, President Obama spreads a lot of talk about the economy – this speech after that, on and on… but his actions are screaming that he doesn’t care about our economy. And he’s destroying the economy one bad policy at a time… Or maybe it’s one job at time. Either way, the president is failing America and that includes millennials. But the GOP isn’t doing a much better job when it comes to the generation.
Political Power In Numbers
There’s nearly 80 million millennials in the United States. Like or not, that’s enough to influence any election. We saw it happen in the 2008 presidential election when 66% voted for Obama, and only 31% for McCain. The 2012 election didn’t fare much better with Obama raking in 60% of the age groups’ votes and Romney only getting 36%.
So how does the GOP attract millennials? First, they have to stop insulting the younger demographics. While some millennials boast self-adoration and a lack of regard for much outside of that, there are exceptions to this observation. Not all millennials are self-absorbed. So instead of lumping all them together as a wasted generation, come up with policies that attract those who are concerned about the economy, national defense, and limited government.
Secondly, a presidential candidate doesn’t have to parade around, appearing to be one of them, on board with all things popular culture, but he should be consistent. The younger demographics want to see party members who are confident and know what they’re talking about. Millennials aren’t interested in flip-floppers like McCain and Romney.
Lastly, the Republican Party should stand its ground as socially conservative. However, millennials are concerned (and split) on issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage and legalizing marijuana, and we shouldn’t ignore those issues.
Baby boomers won’t be around forever, and when they’re gone, the GOP is going to need a new generation standing in the gap. And that is generation Y. Get them on board, and if we can just bear through the current madness, perhaps this country stands a chance.
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Plain Truth: The Truth About Poverty in America, What You Need ...
The Plain Truth: The Truth About Poverty in America, What You Need ...: The truth is out: four in five Americans are in a fight for economic survival. A new study by Mark Rank of Washington University shows that...
The Truth About Poverty in America, What You Need To Know!
The truth is out: four in five Americans are in a fight for economic
survival. A new study by Mark Rank of Washington University shows that
the majority of Americans have lost their jobs, been dependent on
welfare, or faced poverty. However, contrary to what some people
believe, poverty doesn’t discriminate. According to Rank’s study,
poverty is a “mainstream event” that threatens the majority of
Americans: “Poverty is no longer an issue of `them,’ it’s an issue of
‘us’.”
In 2011, almost 13% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 60 lived in poverty. Consider that in terms of risk of poverty over a lifetime and you’ll find that 4 in 10 adults land in poverty for at least one year during their lives. The risk of poverty has only increased over recent decades. For example, Americans aged 35 to 45 faced 17% risk of poverty from 1969 to 1989. From 1989 to 2009 the risk for that same age group grew to 23%. For ages 45 to 55 the risk of poverty grew almost 6%, escalating from 11.8% to 17.7%.
Poverty: The Equal-Opportunity Employer
Currently, the number of poor Americans across the nation is a record-breaking 46.2 million; that’s 15% of the American population. However, according to Rank’s study, it’s not just minorities who face poverty. The poverty rates for blacks and Hispanics are almost three times higher than whites but “by absolute numbers the predominant face of the poor is white.” The poverty line for a family of four is $23,021 and 19 million whites fall below that line, making up 41% of America’s poor. That’s almost twice the number of poor blacks.
Consider Buchanan County in Virginia. Based on median income, it’s one of America’s most impoverished counties. The county’s population is mostly white, but so are its poor. Almost one fourth of the county, 24%, fall below the poverty line, and 99% of those in poverty are white.
Rank doesn’t find this surprising, though. According to his analysis, more than 76% of whites will face economic insecurity by the time they’re 60. Regardless of race, 79% of all Americans will face the same insecurity. Based on current trends, that number will reach 85% by 2030. That means that the majority of Americans will face either joblessness, dependency on public assistance, or an income that’s below 150% of the poverty line. Surprised? Maybe you shouldn’t be.
Redirecting Our Focus
Let’s face it: there’s been a lot of talk about race lately and at the same time, President Obama has revived his administration’s focus on the economy, giving numerous speeches on the topic lately. But all of the talk is getting us nowhere. Instead, it seems to only cause greater division among us.
The truth of the matter is that economic turmoil no longer threatens only those who are uneducated (not that the education system seems to be focused on quality, anyway), born into it, or live on the other side of the tracks. It’s a threat to all Americans, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic class. In terms of poverty, the great divide is not between ethnic and social groups, it’s between the political, government and otherwise elites and the rest of us. They’ve created, and are perpetuating, a platform of society that functions to oppress all of us. The failing economy will not discriminate, and its blood is on the government’s hands. And in these conditions, we, the people, simply can’t afford be pointing fingers at one another and not scrutinizing the real cause of these issues: our government.The Plain Truth!
In 2011, almost 13% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 60 lived in poverty. Consider that in terms of risk of poverty over a lifetime and you’ll find that 4 in 10 adults land in poverty for at least one year during their lives. The risk of poverty has only increased over recent decades. For example, Americans aged 35 to 45 faced 17% risk of poverty from 1969 to 1989. From 1989 to 2009 the risk for that same age group grew to 23%. For ages 45 to 55 the risk of poverty grew almost 6%, escalating from 11.8% to 17.7%.
Poverty: The Equal-Opportunity Employer
Currently, the number of poor Americans across the nation is a record-breaking 46.2 million; that’s 15% of the American population. However, according to Rank’s study, it’s not just minorities who face poverty. The poverty rates for blacks and Hispanics are almost three times higher than whites but “by absolute numbers the predominant face of the poor is white.” The poverty line for a family of four is $23,021 and 19 million whites fall below that line, making up 41% of America’s poor. That’s almost twice the number of poor blacks.
Consider Buchanan County in Virginia. Based on median income, it’s one of America’s most impoverished counties. The county’s population is mostly white, but so are its poor. Almost one fourth of the county, 24%, fall below the poverty line, and 99% of those in poverty are white.
Rank doesn’t find this surprising, though. According to his analysis, more than 76% of whites will face economic insecurity by the time they’re 60. Regardless of race, 79% of all Americans will face the same insecurity. Based on current trends, that number will reach 85% by 2030. That means that the majority of Americans will face either joblessness, dependency on public assistance, or an income that’s below 150% of the poverty line. Surprised? Maybe you shouldn’t be.
Redirecting Our Focus
Let’s face it: there’s been a lot of talk about race lately and at the same time, President Obama has revived his administration’s focus on the economy, giving numerous speeches on the topic lately. But all of the talk is getting us nowhere. Instead, it seems to only cause greater division among us.
The truth of the matter is that economic turmoil no longer threatens only those who are uneducated (not that the education system seems to be focused on quality, anyway), born into it, or live on the other side of the tracks. It’s a threat to all Americans, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic class. In terms of poverty, the great divide is not between ethnic and social groups, it’s between the political, government and otherwise elites and the rest of us. They’ve created, and are perpetuating, a platform of society that functions to oppress all of us. The failing economy will not discriminate, and its blood is on the government’s hands. And in these conditions, we, the people, simply can’t afford be pointing fingers at one another and not scrutinizing the real cause of these issues: our government.The Plain Truth!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The Plain Truth: Industrial Hemp Cannabis Sativa and Marijuana the ...
The Plain Truth: Industrial Hemp Cannabis Sativa and Marijuana the ...: The passage of Bill C-8 in June 1996, resulted in the modification of the Canadian Drug Act decriminalizing the low () 9 tetrahydrocannabi...
Industrial Hemp Cannabis Sativa and Marijuana the Difference is Clear!
The passage of Bill C-8 in June 1996, resulted in the modification of
the Canadian Drug Act decriminalizing the low () 9 tetrahydrocannabinol)
) 9 THC Cannabis, industrial hemp. The Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act (CDSA) came into force on May 14 1997 replacing the Narcotic
Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drugs Act and was
published in March 12, 1998 (Health Canada 1998) to permit the
commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in Canada. This put into
place the appropriate regulations for commercial industrial hemp
production for fibre and grain in Canada for prospective growers,
researchers and processors. Thus, in 1998, industrial hemp was again
legally grown under the new regulations as a commercial crop in Canada.
These regulations allow for the controlled production, sale, movement,
processing, exporting and importing of industrial hemp and hemp
products that conform to conditions imposed by the regulations. The
harvested hemp straw (free from foliage) is no considered a controlled
substance. However, any harvested industrial hemp grain is considered a
controlled substance until denatured. Therefore appropriate licenses
must be obtained from Health Canada for purchase/movement of any viable
seed, commercial field production (over 4 hectares), research and
processing of viable grain. Any food products processed from industrial
hemp seed must not exceed 10 ppm of delta 9 THC.
Health Canada is preparing a new draft for the review of the existing Industrial Hemp Regulations (Health Canada, 2001). To date this has not occurred. Speculations about new proposed regulation changes include clauses about volunteers, the status and disposal of “hemp dust”, and a new, lower level of allowable delta 9 THC in hemp grain and derivatives. Health Canada is also anticipated in making changes to food labeling laws, all of which will have some positive impact on the marketing of industrial hemp. To date only the state of Hawaii has had licensed research activities in the United States and no other legal research or production exists in any other US states due to opposition by the federal government.
As of January 1, 2000, all seed planted for the production of industrial hemp in Canada must be of pedigreed status (certified, or better). This means that seed can no longer be imported from countries that are not members of one of the Seed Certification Schemes of which Canada is a member. Canada is a member of two schemes; the Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Development Seed Scheme administered by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Most of the seed of approved hemp fibre and seed varieties to be cultivated in Canada is of European varieties and is still produced in Europe requiring importation. Several European varieties have been licensed for seed production under private contracts in Canada. The first registered and licenced monoecious early grain variety (ANKA), bred and developed in Canada by Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company was commercially produced in Kent County, Ontario, in 1999. Certified seed availability of Health Canada approved varieties is published by Health Canada each year. Hence seed cost and availability will continue to be a major production cost (about 25-30%) until a viable industrial hemp certified seed production industry is established in Canada. At this time the following are Canadian bred, registered and certified varieties sold in Canada: ANKA (monoecious/dual purpose), Carmen (dioecious/fibre), Crag (dioecious/grain) and ESTA-1 (dioecious/grain).
delt 9 THC Management
The Cannabis genus is the only known plant in the plant kingdom that prduces Cannabinoids. The produced resin (psychoactive) is characterized in North America as marijuana. The Spanish introduced marijuana into the Americas in the 16th century. The well-known term, “marijuana”, originated from the amalgamation of two Spanish abbreviations: “Rosa-Mari-a” and “Juan-IT-a”; frequent users of the plant at that time. By assimilation, the name “marijuana” in North America refers to any part of the Cannabis plant or extract there from, considered inducing psychic reaction in humans. Unfortunately the reference to “marijuana” frequently erroneously includes industrial hemp. The dried resinous exudate of Cannabis inflorescence is called “hashish”. The highest glandular resin exudation occurs during flowering.
Small and Cronquist (1976), split the classification of Cannabis sativa into two subspecies: C. sativa subsp. sativa and C. sativa subsp. indica (Lam.) E. Small & Cronq. on the basis of less and greater than 0.3% (dry weight) of delta 9 THC in the upper (reproductive) part of the plant respectively. This classification has since been adopted in the European Community, Canada, and parts of Australia as the dividing line between cultivars that can be legally cultivated under license and forms that are considered to have too high a delta 9 THC drug potential.
Only cultivars with 0.3% delta 9 THC levels or less are approved for production in Canada. A list of approved cultivars (not based on agricultural merits but merely on basis of meeting delta 9 THC criteria) is published annually by Health Canada). A Canadian industrial hemp regulation system (see ‘Industrial Hemp Technical Manual’, Health Canada 1998) of rigidly monitoring the delta 9 THC content of commercial industrial hemp within the growing season has restricted hemp cultivation to cultivars that consistently maintain delta 9 THC levels below 0.3% in the plants and plant parts.
Environmental effects (soil characteristics, latitude, fertility and climatic stresses) have been demonstrated to effect delta 9 THC levels including seasonal and diurnal variations (Scheifele et al.1999; Scheifele and Dragla 2000; Small 1979, Pate 1998b). The range of delta 9 THC levels within low-delta 9 THC cultivars (< or = 0.3%) under different environmental effects is relatively limited by the inherent genetic stability (Scheifele et al. 1999; Scheifele & Dragla 2000). A few cultivars have been eliminated from the "Approved Health Canada" list because they have on occasion been identified to exceed the 0.3% level (Kompolti, Secuieni, Irene, Fedora 19, Futura) and Finola (FIN 314) and Uniko B are presently under probation because of detected elevated levels. Most of the "Approved Cultivars" have maintained relatively consistent low levels of delta 9 THC.
Hemp vs. Marijuana: Joseph W. Hickey, Sr., executive director of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association, is quote: “Calling hemp and marijuana the same thing is like calling a rottweiler a poodle. They may both be dogs, but they just aren’t the same”. Health Canada’s fact sheet on Regulations for the Commercial Cultivation of Industrial Hemp states: “Hemp usually refers to varieties of the Cannabis sativa L. plant that have a low content of delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and that are generally cultivated for fibre. Industrial hemp should not be confused with varieties of Cannabis with a high content of THC, which are referred to as marijuana”. The leaves of industrial hemp and marijuana look similar but hemp can be readily distinguished from marijuana from a distance. The cultivation of marijuana consists of one to two plants per square meter and industrial hemp is cultivated in stands of 100 to 250 plants per square meter and plant characteristics are quite distinctively different (due to selective breeding). The established limits for THC content in the inflorescence of industrial hemp at time of mid pollen shedding is 0.3% (less than 1%) whereas levels of THC in marijuana are in the 10 to 20% range.
Present industrial hemp breeding programs apply strict screening at the early generation breeding level selecting only genotypes with less than 0.3% THC and then select for high fibre, stalk, grain quality and yield
It is impossible to “get high” on hemp. Hemp should never be confused with marijuana and the genetics for THC and Cannabinoid levels in hemp cannot be reversed even though over several generations of multiplication will creep into higher levels by several percentages, but never into marijuana levels. Feral hemp in Ontario, which has been under self propagation for 100 years or more has been tested (Baker 2003) and demonstrated to be very stable. More on this Subject in the Coming Weeks. As Always The Plain Truth.
Health Canada is preparing a new draft for the review of the existing Industrial Hemp Regulations (Health Canada, 2001). To date this has not occurred. Speculations about new proposed regulation changes include clauses about volunteers, the status and disposal of “hemp dust”, and a new, lower level of allowable delta 9 THC in hemp grain and derivatives. Health Canada is also anticipated in making changes to food labeling laws, all of which will have some positive impact on the marketing of industrial hemp. To date only the state of Hawaii has had licensed research activities in the United States and no other legal research or production exists in any other US states due to opposition by the federal government.
As of January 1, 2000, all seed planted for the production of industrial hemp in Canada must be of pedigreed status (certified, or better). This means that seed can no longer be imported from countries that are not members of one of the Seed Certification Schemes of which Canada is a member. Canada is a member of two schemes; the Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Development Seed Scheme administered by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Most of the seed of approved hemp fibre and seed varieties to be cultivated in Canada is of European varieties and is still produced in Europe requiring importation. Several European varieties have been licensed for seed production under private contracts in Canada. The first registered and licenced monoecious early grain variety (ANKA), bred and developed in Canada by Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company was commercially produced in Kent County, Ontario, in 1999. Certified seed availability of Health Canada approved varieties is published by Health Canada each year. Hence seed cost and availability will continue to be a major production cost (about 25-30%) until a viable industrial hemp certified seed production industry is established in Canada. At this time the following are Canadian bred, registered and certified varieties sold in Canada: ANKA (monoecious/dual purpose), Carmen (dioecious/fibre), Crag (dioecious/grain) and ESTA-1 (dioecious/grain).
delt 9 THC Management
The Cannabis genus is the only known plant in the plant kingdom that prduces Cannabinoids. The produced resin (psychoactive) is characterized in North America as marijuana. The Spanish introduced marijuana into the Americas in the 16th century. The well-known term, “marijuana”, originated from the amalgamation of two Spanish abbreviations: “Rosa-Mari-a” and “Juan-IT-a”; frequent users of the plant at that time. By assimilation, the name “marijuana” in North America refers to any part of the Cannabis plant or extract there from, considered inducing psychic reaction in humans. Unfortunately the reference to “marijuana” frequently erroneously includes industrial hemp. The dried resinous exudate of Cannabis inflorescence is called “hashish”. The highest glandular resin exudation occurs during flowering.
Small and Cronquist (1976), split the classification of Cannabis sativa into two subspecies: C. sativa subsp. sativa and C. sativa subsp. indica (Lam.) E. Small & Cronq. on the basis of less and greater than 0.3% (dry weight) of delta 9 THC in the upper (reproductive) part of the plant respectively. This classification has since been adopted in the European Community, Canada, and parts of Australia as the dividing line between cultivars that can be legally cultivated under license and forms that are considered to have too high a delta 9 THC drug potential.
Only cultivars with 0.3% delta 9 THC levels or less are approved for production in Canada. A list of approved cultivars (not based on agricultural merits but merely on basis of meeting delta 9 THC criteria) is published annually by Health Canada). A Canadian industrial hemp regulation system (see ‘Industrial Hemp Technical Manual’, Health Canada 1998) of rigidly monitoring the delta 9 THC content of commercial industrial hemp within the growing season has restricted hemp cultivation to cultivars that consistently maintain delta 9 THC levels below 0.3% in the plants and plant parts.
Environmental effects (soil characteristics, latitude, fertility and climatic stresses) have been demonstrated to effect delta 9 THC levels including seasonal and diurnal variations (Scheifele et al.1999; Scheifele and Dragla 2000; Small 1979, Pate 1998b). The range of delta 9 THC levels within low-delta 9 THC cultivars (< or = 0.3%) under different environmental effects is relatively limited by the inherent genetic stability (Scheifele et al. 1999; Scheifele & Dragla 2000). A few cultivars have been eliminated from the "Approved Health Canada" list because they have on occasion been identified to exceed the 0.3% level (Kompolti, Secuieni, Irene, Fedora 19, Futura) and Finola (FIN 314) and Uniko B are presently under probation because of detected elevated levels. Most of the "Approved Cultivars" have maintained relatively consistent low levels of delta 9 THC.
Hemp vs. Marijuana: Joseph W. Hickey, Sr., executive director of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association, is quote: “Calling hemp and marijuana the same thing is like calling a rottweiler a poodle. They may both be dogs, but they just aren’t the same”. Health Canada’s fact sheet on Regulations for the Commercial Cultivation of Industrial Hemp states: “Hemp usually refers to varieties of the Cannabis sativa L. plant that have a low content of delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and that are generally cultivated for fibre. Industrial hemp should not be confused with varieties of Cannabis with a high content of THC, which are referred to as marijuana”. The leaves of industrial hemp and marijuana look similar but hemp can be readily distinguished from marijuana from a distance. The cultivation of marijuana consists of one to two plants per square meter and industrial hemp is cultivated in stands of 100 to 250 plants per square meter and plant characteristics are quite distinctively different (due to selective breeding). The established limits for THC content in the inflorescence of industrial hemp at time of mid pollen shedding is 0.3% (less than 1%) whereas levels of THC in marijuana are in the 10 to 20% range.
Present industrial hemp breeding programs apply strict screening at the early generation breeding level selecting only genotypes with less than 0.3% THC and then select for high fibre, stalk, grain quality and yield
It is impossible to “get high” on hemp. Hemp should never be confused with marijuana and the genetics for THC and Cannabinoid levels in hemp cannot be reversed even though over several generations of multiplication will creep into higher levels by several percentages, but never into marijuana levels. Feral hemp in Ontario, which has been under self propagation for 100 years or more has been tested (Baker 2003) and demonstrated to be very stable. More on this Subject in the Coming Weeks. As Always The Plain Truth.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Plain Truth: Obama’s Next Smooth Move in Taking Over America Li...
The Plain Truth: Obama’s Next Smooth Move in Taking Over America Li...: Last week, during a speech at Fort Knox College, President Obama promised, once again, to tackle a lack of equal opportunity in America: “...
Obama’s Next Smooth Move in Taking Over America Little By Little!: Universal Preschool
Last week, during a speech at Fort Knox College, President Obama
promised, once again, to tackle a lack of equal opportunity in America:
“When the rungs on the ladder of opportunity grow farther apart, it
undermines the very essence of this country. That’s why reversing these
trends must be Washington’s highest priority. It’s certainly my highest
priority.” And his first area of attack is preschool education. As if
universal healthcare isn’t bad enough, President Obama is moving forward
with his plans for universal preschool. And again, don’t let the noble
idea that it masquerades around as fool you. Cut and dry, this is
another ploy to get more and more Americans under more and more
government control. Oh, and another thing – we’re the ones paying for
it.
The president has set his sights on implementing a federally-funded preschool education for all kids, but not everyone shares his vision. The president isn’t backing down though: “That’s why I’ll keep pushing to make high-quality preschool available to every four year-old in America – not just because we know it works for our kids, but because it provides a vital support system for working parents.”
Calling the Bluff
Do we really know that it works? Actually, we may know just the opposite. Many experts argue that universal preschool doesn’t work. Education policy experts find little evidence to show that preschool is really worth the cost, and studies of universal preschool find no evidence of a lasting academic impact on kids. Instead, studies find that the advantages preschool kids experience fade during their early elementary years, leaving them neither smarter nor more social by the time they reach fifth grade. And the same can be said for disadvantaged kids.
With K-12 education already in shambles in America, do parents really want the government meddling in our preschools too? Grover Whitehurst, Director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institute, believes that “There are reasons to doubt that we yet know how to design and deliver a government funded pre-K program that produces sufficiently large benefits to justify prioritizing pre-K over other investments in education.”
In response to President Obama’s speech, Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation wrote,
So if there’s little evidence to support the need for, or impact of, a universal preschool program, why is President Obama pushing for it? Maybe it’s not about education at all. After all, during the same speech the president stated that “When the rungs on the ladder of opportunity grow farther apart, it undermines the very essence of this country.” But is it an issue of opportunity or competition? It’s no secret that President Obama isn’t a friend of capitalism. And universal education programs attempt to put everyone on the same playing field, essentially eliminating competition and suffocating capitalism.
Ultimately, this just looks like Obama’s latest attempt to create a country that is hyper-dependent on its government. This means exaggerated and overwhelming control. They want to take away our guns, our money, and manipulate, abuse or take away the very rights that this country was founded on…
In pursuit of the truth, The Plain Truth!
The president has set his sights on implementing a federally-funded preschool education for all kids, but not everyone shares his vision. The president isn’t backing down though: “That’s why I’ll keep pushing to make high-quality preschool available to every four year-old in America – not just because we know it works for our kids, but because it provides a vital support system for working parents.”
Calling the Bluff
Do we really know that it works? Actually, we may know just the opposite. Many experts argue that universal preschool doesn’t work. Education policy experts find little evidence to show that preschool is really worth the cost, and studies of universal preschool find no evidence of a lasting academic impact on kids. Instead, studies find that the advantages preschool kids experience fade during their early elementary years, leaving them neither smarter nor more social by the time they reach fifth grade. And the same can be said for disadvantaged kids.
With K-12 education already in shambles in America, do parents really want the government meddling in our preschools too? Grover Whitehurst, Director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institute, believes that “There are reasons to doubt that we yet know how to design and deliver a government funded pre-K program that produces sufficiently large benefits to justify prioritizing pre-K over other investments in education.”
In response to President Obama’s speech, Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation wrote,
“Universal, government preschool, financed by the federal government, is mired in bad policy… Indeed, the type of preschool-for-all President Obama envisions is far more likely to mimic the failing Head Start program, which has cost taxpayers more than $150 billion since it began in 1965, and has left low-income children no better off in the process. What’s more, the Obama Administration’s new preschool proposal would add to the long list of existing federal early education and child care programs—despite little evidence of demand for such programs.”Ulterior Motives
So if there’s little evidence to support the need for, or impact of, a universal preschool program, why is President Obama pushing for it? Maybe it’s not about education at all. After all, during the same speech the president stated that “When the rungs on the ladder of opportunity grow farther apart, it undermines the very essence of this country.” But is it an issue of opportunity or competition? It’s no secret that President Obama isn’t a friend of capitalism. And universal education programs attempt to put everyone on the same playing field, essentially eliminating competition and suffocating capitalism.
Ultimately, this just looks like Obama’s latest attempt to create a country that is hyper-dependent on its government. This means exaggerated and overwhelming control. They want to take away our guns, our money, and manipulate, abuse or take away the very rights that this country was founded on…
In pursuit of the truth, The Plain Truth!
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