American Dream No More

Spotted recently in Manhattan.

New Poll: 81% of All Americans Now Think the Country is on the Wrong Track

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/us/03cnd-poll.html

Wow. No matter how you might try to spin it, this is an absolutely staggering number. Just imagine trying to get 4 out of 5 people to agree on ANYTHING, let alone a political topic that doesn't involve punishment for pedophiles. Here is the money shot from this story:

In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed that “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2003.

Well, I guess Chimpy wasn't lying during his 2000 campaign. He really is a uniter rather than a divider.

Oregon Holds "Health Care Lottery"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7321500.stm

Once again, the Brits are on the case regarding the continuing madness that is life in America these days. According to this BBC report, it seems the State of Oregon is now offering health care coverage for the uninsured as a lottery prize.

Sadly, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.

Cost to Fix Nation's Highway Bridges: $188 Billion

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080323_The_extreme_cost_of_fixing_bridges_and_highways.html

An interesting article regarding the cost to fix the nation's crumbling Interstate Highway system, highlighted by the recent closure of I-95 in Philadelphia (pictured). States desperately need fixes, but are reluctant to raise taxes as the economy slows down.

This is yet another domestic need going sorely unmet because of the budget drain of Chimpy's War.

US Legal System 'Worse than Russia'

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article3570695.ece

Now THIS story ought to scare the hell out of every right thinking American. A survey of European litigators found that many would prefer to try a case in Russia or China (where, I might add for the uninformed, democracy is nominal or non-existent) than in the United States.

According to the article, the U.S. legal system is "filled with traps in which the inexperienced or uninformed may easily become caught."

rubenation's Top 3 "Scumbags of the Week"

Paying homage to Keith Olbermann's "Worst Persons in the World," this will be a weekly feature calling out those individuals who in my judgement caused the most damage to the republic during the past seven days. Admittedly, Chimpy could be on this list EVERY week, but unless he does something beyond the pale (for him) destructive, I will instead focus on his most capable enablers.

Once again, this is not a partisan rant, in fact two of my three nominees this week are Democrats. So here they are, the "Scumbags of the Week":

1). Ben Bernanke (Federal Reserve Chairman): for continuing his ongoing attempt to save the asses of greedy Wall Street speculators by turning on the printing presses and tanking the dollar, thereby driving the price of oil and other commodities even further into the stratosphere and destroying the meager savings of the average American. Can you say, "Weimar America?"

2). Geraldine Ferraro (racist Hillary supporter): for injecting even more racial vitriol into a rapidly deteriorating Democratic primary campaign at a time when the nation desperately needs to move past such garbage and get serious about trying to find a way out of the ever worsening mess we are in. More proof that Hillary and her supporters care more about winning than what is good for either America OR the Democratic Party.

3). Eliot Spitzer (about to be former NY governor and now world famous john): Quite a week when this hypocritical asshole only ends up third on the list. Some progressives are whining that he was set up. Repeat after me: they can't set you up if you don't do the crime.

Until next week, peace out!

Chilean Strippers Offer Reduced Rates to American Patrons

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aSKU9QT1i3mA&refer=home

Actual quote from this story: "Pole Dancers in Santiago Lure Clients With 2004 Dollar Rate."

If you've read my other posts, you know that I'm pissed off about the collapsing dollar. But THIS is freaking pathetic. I've always thought that one of the current administration's aims was to turn America into a banana republic. But now, citizens of a banana republic are taking PITY on us.

And would you ever have thought you'd see a story like this in a respectable business publication like Bloomberg?

What to Do With Your...uh, Stimulus Package

So this is the gal Mr. Spitzer paid $5500 an hour to be his "companion."

Let's put this in perspective. A family of four is due to receive $1800 in May from Uncle Sucker as part of the bogus stimulus package. So if dad decided to blow the whole wad being Eliot's companion's companion, he could afford to see her for exactly 19 minutes.

That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for foreplay.

U.S. Cedes the Space Race to...Russia?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030604070.html

Because the space shuttles have almost passed their useful lives, the U.S. is about to have no ability to send astronauts to the international space station and will have to rely on Russia for space transport.

Folks, this is what Chimpy and his conservative Republican minions have brought us down to: a second rate nation (at best).