Alton Sterling: TASERED First, THEN Shot and Killed

Just finished watching (on Democracy Now) the interview of the shop owner who filmed a portion of the incident which resulted in Mr. Sterling being killed in Baton Rouge.  We don't know the full story yet; details have been a bit slow in coming.  Following is what we do know from the eye witness account and the film.

The shop owner and Sterling were friends of six or so years.  The owner allowed Mr. Sterling to sell DVDs in front of the shop.  For some unknown reason, the police showed up, grabbed Sterling (why is not known at this point), slammed him onto the hood of a vehicle, backed off, and TASERed him.  That was not filmed because apparently it happened rather quickly.  Then two cops pinned him to the ground.  That's when the shop owner started filming.  Next, one of the officers yells "Gun!", pulls out his weapon, and shoots point blank, killing Mr. Sterling...after he had been TASERed.  Again, after he had been TASERed.  I've yet to hear or see that bit of info on the Corporate Media...not even the allegation that's what happened.

After that, Mr. Flahti (the shop owner) is detained for hours & hours (4 of them in a hot police car), his cell phone is seized, his shop is commandeered for about six hours, and all his shop video/security equipment is removed...without him ever being presented with a Search Warrant.

SIDE NOTES:

Being TASERED totally incapacitates a person.  People have died from that.  Some years ago, the total number of TASER-induced deaths was 12;  I think it's up to 20-something now in this country.  After the very first death, TASERs should have been banned.

Eric Garner, the NY man who died two years ago as a result of a police choke-hold, was approached by police because he was selling loose cigarettes on the street.  The guy who filmed that incident is the only one going to jail (on unrelated charges, after being harassed by police for two years).  He's not Black.

Judge Andrew Napolitano, who most police surely must admire, has stated more than once:  filming police doing their job in public is perfectly legal and guaranteed by the Constitution.  And yet, some police berate, harass, and even abuse people who film them in public...especially when the cops involved are being brutal.
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As I stated in the piece immediately before this one, all these incidents are not only about racial prejudice.  The Oligarchs are cracking down on the "little people".  Whether it's political, economic, environmental, or anything else, dissent will not be tolerated...and those who practice it either will be marginalized or crushed.  Such is life in the USA today, the Land of the Free.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Is it Race or Class? Or Both?

I get suspicious whenever the Corporate Media and/or the Fed Gov't promote some idea...over & over & over.  In this case, it's the supposed racial divide here in the USA.  Yes, some people of all "races" are prejudiced; but I don't believe the problem is as massive as we're being told.

The current unrest is not primarily about Race.  I'm sure there are some bad-apple racist cops; however, I suspect the following is mostly playing out worldwide--

Cops are much like soldiers:  THEY HAVE ORDERS from higher up.  The Oligarchy's 

political corruption, economic & financial failures, empire hegemony, & intolerance of 

democracy are no longer being tolerated by the People...who are demonstrating on a wide variety of fronts (racial, economic, environmental, immigration, incarceration/prison reform, 

political, police brutality, etc.).  The Powers-That-Be are clamping down on all protests; 

they no longer tolerate protests of any kind...be they group or individual.  [Once in a great while, we see an exception 

to that general statement.]

The Oligarchy is attempting to put "the little people", "the bewildered herd", "the ignorant masses", "the spectators" [all terms from a few "Liberals" and "Libertarians" of the past] in their place.  This is a Class War of epic proportions...the monitoring of essentially everyone, a 

crackdown on demonstrations, no tolerance for arguments from anyone, a massive transfer of wealth, white-collar criminality by the 

Super-Rich, war for profit, privately-run prisons, privatization of public infrastructure & other 

resources, a War on Cash, the hollowing-out of the Middle Class, and on & on.

As Warren Buffett said, "We are in a Class War in this country, and unfortunately, my class 

is winning.".  He's correct.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

What Happened to the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution?

Essentially, those Amendments have disappeared... due to the fact that they both largely are ignored... by elected and appointed national officials, both Republicans and Democrats.  Here's what the Amendments looked liked when once upon a time they were visible---

The Ninth Amendment---

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
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Notice it doesn't say, certain rights granted in the Constitution; rather, it says certain rights listed in the Constitution.  The Supreme Law of the Land does not grant rights.  It merely enumerates some of them.  So, what are these "others" (other rights)?  There are hundreds of thousands of them.  For example, we as individuals have the right to go to sleep when we so choose... etc., etc., etc.  [If we're at work and choose to exercise that right, there may be dire consequences related to being employed; but nevertheless, that still is our right.]  Those all are Natural Rights; they belong to all individuals at birth.  They are not granted by governments.  Because there are so many Natural Rights, we need a general rule-of-thumb to identify them.  I like this one:  we are free to do whatever we wish, as long as those actions do not infringe on the genuine rights or property of another being.

The Tenth Amendment---

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
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Notice that any powers the Fed Gov't possesses have been delegated by the Constitution.  Ours is a government commonly referred to as one of Enumerated Powers.  If the power is not listed in the Supreme Law of the Land, then the Feds do not possess it.  This is a relatively simple concept; it's not rocket science.
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If people don't like the Constitution the way it is now, no problem...lobby to get it changed.  There are two, and only two, legal ways to change it--- by Amendment or Constitutional Convention.  Both methods purposely were designed to be difficult.  Frankly, I don't care if the document is changed or even dumped, as long as it's done legally.  The one thing that's not permitted under our system of gov't is ignoring the Supreme Law of the Land.  That document is the very basis of our method of governing.  Politicians should never be allowed to ignore it.  [Years ago, a Congress person stated in an interview:  "Half of what we do is unconstitutional."...the implication was---so what, who cares?]

For decades, both Republicans and Democrats elected to national office largely have ignored all the concepts described above... and yet, we keep electing them.  Something like 58% of Americans don't want either Trump or Clinton as President.  It's way past time for a change.  Boycott all Neoliberals... that means boycott the overwhelming majority of D.C. politicians...and Corporatists in the private sphere.  They have exported jobs & manufacturing, debased the Dollar, supported a global, supranational economic & financial cabal/cartel, eliminated freedoms, promoted war, and generally flushed this great Land down the drain.  Haven't you had enough of Republicans and Democrats yet?

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Hedge Funds Win, Puerto Rico Loses

The Corporatist Obama signed into Law the Puerto Rico Control Board legislation.  He always looks out for the welfare of his primary constituency...Wall Street & the Financial Sector.

Hey, Hedge Funds, here's a prime rule of genuine Capitalism:  if you make a good investment, you profit; if you make a bad investment, one that doesn't turn out well, you lose.  You claim to be capitalists, so live accordingly.  Here's a rule from common sense:  a loan that can't be repaid, won't be.

Of course, the Vulture Funds know all that.  That's why they practice and love State Capitalism and Crony Capitalism.  That allows them to get public infrastructure and other public resources privatized.  That allows them to raise fees and rob the public even more.  It also allows them to get "austerity" implemented, so pensions, health care benefits, and public services get cut (especially services to the poor)... so their bad investment losses get covered by State actions.  In a real sense, the Vultures get "Bailed-In"... with the crucial help of their political Cronies, and at the expense of the People.

All the above is one way that Neoliberalism operates.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Here's Why Many People Don't Seem to Get It

Below is an email I just now sent to family and friends.  It has been edited a tiny bit.
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Here's why many Americans seemingly don't grasp the dire economic straits that exist today...not only here, but worldwide.  This piece really nails it.  In the 1st half, the concept of "averages" and the "hollowing out" of the Middle Class; in the 2nd half (starting about 13:00), how the System is "liquidating" all the gains since WW II, why mathematicians would laugh some economists right out of the room, and the fact that the Bond Market is much more important than the Stock Market.

The obvious is stated clearly, & the style, facts, and pace produce many huge laughs...the situation is both comical & tragic.  For those who don't know, Max Keiser was a stock broker for many years before becoming a pundit.  He's a strong Capitalist, but abhors Crony Capitalism and Neoliberalism.  [The latter two are plundering the world, & it's right in plain sight.  Most high-level politicians in America & much of the developed world are Crony Capitalists & Neoliberals.  Their overall records leave no doubt of that.] 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeBGZh3_psA&index=35&list=WL

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Hey, National Politicians - One More Time

1.  Even the New York Times Editorial Board has stated (paraphrased):  the ISIS-Syria-Iraq War that Obama is waging is unconstitutional.  That's because it is...it's illegal under our system of government.  It's not even properly authorized under the War Powers Act.  You high-level DC politicians keep claiming you're all for the Rule of Law.  Talk is cheap...prove it.

2.  A retired combat veteran and Professor Emeritus of History at Boston University, Colonel Andrew Bacevich, has stated:  "America's war for the greater Middle East cannot be won.".  Using Iraq as an example, for a quarter century we've been hearing the following from three different Presidents:  "We shall prevail.".  Isn't it obvious by now--- this is nothing but Perpetual War for the benefit of a few, and we are not going to prevail.  Who benefits?  Follow the money.  You politicians are serving your primary constituency--- the Super-Rich Oligarchs, the Mega Bankers, the War contractors (facetiously referred to as Defense contractors), and a few others who profit from constant war.  This is so glaringly obvious that it's painful.  Yes, we all know:  "It's complicated."...nevertheless, it's still obvious.  You are not serving We the People.

3.  The U.S. economy is not "recovering"; neither is that of the world in general.  We still are in a Recession, and it's worsening every day; furthermore, we're only a hair's breadth away from a full-blown Depression.  Stop your lying, half-truths, and Propaganda.  We know better than to believe any of it...that's because we live in the world, not in an Ivory Tower.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Non-Democratic Democratic Party Elections and Republican Losers

Here's some food for thought regarding the 2016 elections.

1.  As of the morning of June 10 (Friday), at least two million votes had not yet been counted in Tuesday's California Primary Election.  Hillary Clinton "won" that election by about 440,000 votes... that is to say, she "won" it without at least 2,000,000 votes being counted.  Do the math.  How do we know she won... maybe, maybe not.  Even though she's way ahead in the total delegate count, this situation matters because declaring her the winner prematurely adds to her campaign's momentum... perhaps falsely.  It also may influence Superdelegates to the detriment of the Sanders campaign.  Finally, it simply shouldn't happen... the election/vote count is not over.  Is this democracy in action?  No, this is closer to Fascism in action.

2.  All over the country, people have participated in Primary Elections, casting their votes for the candidates of their choice.  In reality, they are electing pledged delegates to a political convention.  And yet, when that convention (for the Democrats) takes place relatively soon, 15% of the participating delegates will be unelected; they are the Superdelegates, the Party Elites.  They had nothing whatsoever to do with the Primary Election process.  No citizen voted for them in the Primaries.  They will pledge to a particular candidate for other, essentially unknown reasons.  Fifteen percent may sound small, but it's a significant number.  Is this democracy in action?  I think not.  Instead, this is a goofy, non-democratic process concocted by the Democrats after the McGovern loss back in the early 1970's.  The People chose McGovern as their candidate, he lost BIG-TIME, and the Dem Party hierarchy vowed that type of thing would never happen again.  [In other words, they decided that the ignorant public cannot be trusted to solely select the candidate; they need help from the experts in these matters:]  That's how Democrats wound up with 15% unelected delegates.

3.  Add to the above the fact that there have been irregularities in the Democratic Party Primaries in several other States... Iowa, New York, New Hampshire... just to name a few.  Add to that the very odd decision of the Democratic Party hierarchy to have very few debates and to drastically cut the number of participants in those debates early on in the process.  Finally, there are the decisions of the Corporate Media to give the Sanders campaign the smallest amount of coverage of any major candidate... by a large margin.  This despite the fact that he generated massive rallies and interest.  It should be obvious that something fishy is going on here.  [Attention "Conservatives":  so much for the "Liberal Media" (who is more "Liberal" than Sanders?); they are Neoliberal, and those two categories are polar opposites.  Wake up.]

4.  As to the Republicans, it's fairly clear that the Republican Party hierarchy wants to lose the election in November.  I've been following national elections in this great Land very closely ever since 1956.  In all that time, there has never been a Primary season more mishandled by a specific Party than this one by the Repubs.  The Democrats and McGovern came close, but this year & the Repubs get the cigar.

5.  The moneyed interests want Hillary, and barring unforeseen events, that's who they're going to get.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well