Thursday, August 04, 2011

Obama's 50th Birthday Chicago Fundraiser- Video and Transcript

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgigi9IIvzE&feature=player_embedded







://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLURxKvBols&feature=player_embedded
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Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Transcript: Remarks By President Obama At 50th Birthday Fundraiser In Chicago

"When I said 'change we can believe in,' I didn’t say 'change we can believe in tomorrow....'"

President Obama attended two campaign fundraisers in Chicago on Wednesday night, on the eve of his 50th birthday. The big party was held at the Aragon Entertainment Center on the Northside, with dinner and performances by Chicago natives Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock and OK GO. The event was the first time the President had been greeted by his former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on his home turf, in his new role as Mayor of Chicago. The President spoke via video teleconference to supporters attending more than 1,000 Obama for America Birthday House Parties being held across the US, and then made remarks to guests at the Aragon. (Above: The President during his remarks)

Ticket prices ranged from $50 per person for standing on the floor of the ballroom for the concert to $35,800 per couple for a dinner for 100 top-level donors. More fundraiser details are here. The Aragon was hot and sticky as the President spoke, according to pool, but the crowd was "fired up." Many wore blue birthday party hats adorned with the Obama campaign symbol and the number 50. The President returned to Washington after the events, arriving at the White House shortly after midnight.

The transcript:


THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________

For Immediate Release
August 3, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT DNC EVENT

Aragon Entertainment Center
Chicago, Illinois

7:22 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Chicago! (Applause.) Oh, it is good to be with some good friends! (Applause.) This is a warm welcome right here. (Applause.)

Let me first of all say thank you to the extraordinary, extraordinary talent that's on stage. First of all, one of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, Herbie Hancock. (Applause.) OK Go Band -- give it up. (Applause.) DJ Greg Corner -- give it up. (Applause.) The lovely and talented Jennifer Hudson from Chicago. (Applause.) The not as lovely or talented -- (laughter) -- but my very determined, very brilliant, very loyal, very tough mayor of the city of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel. (Applause.)

I don't know -- you know, I’m watching from Washington, but it looks to me like Rahm is doing a pretty good job. (Applause.) And as far as I can tell, he hasn’t cursed in public yet. (Laughter.) He’s come close, he says. (Laughter.) But what he has done is provided extraordinary energy and extraordinary vision to a job that he has wanted for a long time. And I don't know too many people who love the city of Chicago more than your mayor, and I couldn’t be more proud of him, so -- (applause.)

Now, we’ve got a few more dignitaries in the house. We’ve got the governor of the great state of Illinois, Patrick Quinn, in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got one of the finest senators in the United States of America, Dick Durbin, in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got one of the greatest members of Congress in the country in Jan Murkowski in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got the ageless Jesse White, the Secretary of State, in the house. (Applause.) A great friend of mine, somebody who I wouldn’t have been elected to the United States Senate without him, the former senator of the Illinois State Senate, Emil Jones is here. (Applause.) And I know we’ve got a lot of other important people like you in the house.

Now, it’s warm and it’s hot and you just listened to some good music, and you don’t want to have a long political speech. (Applause.) But I just want to first of all say I could not have a better early birthday present than spending tonight with all of you --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)

And it’s true that I turn 50 tomorrow -- (applause) -- which means that by the time I wake up, I’ll have an email from AARP -- (laughter) -- asking me to call President Obama and tell him to protect Medicare. (Laughter and applause.)

When I look out at this crowd, I think back to that incredible night in November. I’m still trying to figure out how the weather was over 60 degrees in November, in Grant Park, back in 2008. (Applause.) And it was the culmination of this incredible journey, this long journey that we took together; a campaign that drew on the hard work and support of all of you and people all across the country -- men and women who believed that change was possible. In the face of long odds, in the face of frustrations, in the face of setbacks you said, we don’t have to accept politics as usual, and we can once again have a country that is living up to our finest ideals and our highest aspirations.

And that was a lovely night. But do you remember what I told you that night? I said, “Yes, we can,” but I said this would not be easy. I said, that wasn’t the end of the journey; that was just the beginning. The economy was already hammering families. Decisions that had been deferred for too long in Washington were finally catching up with us. All these problems were gathering all at once. And we knew the road ahead was going to be difficult, that the climb was going to be steep.

I have to admit, I didn’t know how steep the climb was going to be. (Laughter.)

Because we didn’t realize -- we just found out a week ago that the economy that last few months in 2008 was even worse than we had realized. I mean, the economy had contracted by 8 percent. It was the worst economy we had ever seen. The next quarter before any of our economic policies had a chance to go into place, same kind of thing. We lost 8 million jobs like that. Hadn’t seen anything like it in most of our lifetimes.

But here’s what I -- here’s what I knew. You did not elect me President to duck the tough issues. (Applause.) You elected me President to do the tough things, to do the big things, even if it took time. (Applause.)

You elected me to make sure that the economy was working not just for those at the very top, but that we had a broad-based, shared prosperity, from the machinist on the line to the CEO in the boardroom.

And I ran because I believed that our success is defined not by stock prices or corporate profits alone, but by whether ordinary people can find a good job that supports a family; whether they can send their kids to college; whether they can retire with dignity and respect. (Applause.) Maybe have a little left over for a ballgame or a vacation. Not be bankrupt when they get sick.

So what we did was we took a series of emergency measures that first year to save the economy from collapse. And I promise you not all of them were popular. But we did what we needed to do to start getting the economy growing again, and it has been growing -- not as fast as we want, but we got the economy growing instead of contracting because we wanted to help families get back on their feet. (Applause.)

We went in and we said -- I didn't sign up to be a CEO of an auto company, but I said I’m not going to let a million jobs, especially here in the Midwest, go away, so we’re going to intervene, and we’re going to ask in return that the auto companies restructure themselves. And we’ve now seen for the first time in a very long time all the Big Three automakers making a profit. (Applause.) And making a profit selling small cars and compact cars and doing stuff that a lot of Americans thought couldn’t be done any more.

And we said, even as we’re saving the economy, there’s still some issues out there that haven’t been dealt with in a very long time, so we’re going to make sure that we’ve got equal pay for equal work -- (applause) -- because I don’t want Malia and Sasha getting paid less than anybody for doing a good job. (Applause.)

And we’re going to make sure that in this country that we love, that nobody is discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. We’re going to make sure they can serve in our military and protect the country that they love. (Applause.)

And we’re going to invest in clean energy, because we’re tired of being dependent on foreign oil. (Applause.) So we want wind turbines and electric cars made right here in the United States of America. (Applause.)

And we’re going to increase our investment in basic research to find cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s.

And we’re going to revamp our education system, so it starts working for every child and not just some children. (Applause.)

And, yes, we are going to go ahead and make sure that every family in America can find affordable health care and that they are not losing their home or going bankrupt because they get sick. (Applause.) And it was hard, but because of you we kept on driving and we got it done. (Applause.)

So it’s been a long, tough journey. But we have made some incredible strides together. Yes, we have. (Laughter.) But the thing that we all have to remember is, is that as much good as we’ve done, precisely because the challenges were so daunting, precisely because we were inheriting so many challenges, that we’re not even halfway there yet.

When I said, “change we can believe in,” I didn’t say “change we can believe in tomorrow.” (Laughter.) Not “change we can believe in next week.” We knew this was going to take time, because we’ve got this big, messy, tough democracy. And that’s the great thing about America is, is that there are all these contentious ideas that are out there, and we’ve got to make our case. And we knew that these challenges weren’t made overnight and they weren’t going to be solved overnight.

And so, as we look forward, we know we’ve still got a lot of work to do on the economy. Now, I hope we can avoid another self-inflicted wound like we just saw over the last couple of weeks -- (applause) -- because we don’t have time to play these partisan games. (Applause.) We’ve got too much work to do. (Applause.)

Over the next several months, I hope Congress is focused on what the American people are focused on, making sure that the economy is growing, making sure that businesses are getting financing, making sure that young people are getting trained for the jobs of the future; making sure that we’re getting all those construction workers, that got laid off after the housing boom went bust, and putting them to work, rebuilding our roads and our bridges, rebuilding Chicago -- (applause) -- rebuilding Detroit, rebuilding rural communities all across the country, putting people back to work.

I want to make sure that America is not just an importer; I want us to export. I want to build electric cars in America, and I want to ship them all around the world, because we’ve got the best technologies. (Applause.) I want us to focus on how we can revamp old buildings and old facilities so they’re energy efficient. And we can start cutting down on our electricity bills, and we can start cutting down on our carbon emissions. And we can stop being so dependent on foreign oil, and you don’t have to pay as much at the pump. That’s what the American people are looking for. That’s what we’ve got to focus on. (Applause.)

We’ve got more work to do to make sure that we’ve got an immigration system in this country that makes some sense. (Applause.) We are a nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants. And we want to welcome extraordinary talent to our shores and have a legal immigration system that works for everybody. (Applause.) We’ve got to make that happen.

We’ve got to -- and a lot of the stuff that we’ve already done we’ve got to make sure it gets implemented effectively. We finally put some common-sense rules so that banks aren’t taking the kinds of risk that almost led to an economic meltdown, and that consumers are protected when you get credit cards or mortgages.

And, frankly, there are some folks in Congress who are trying to block us from making that progress, and that’s why your voice has to be heard, where we stand up and we say: We want a financial system that is fair for everybody. There’s nothing wrong with that. (Applause.)

And on the foreign policy front, you elected me in part based on a promise that we would end the war in Iraq, and we have ended combat operations there. And by the end of this year we will have our troops out of Iraq, as I promised and as I committed. (Applause.) And in Afghanistan, we’ve got al Qaeda on the run and we are going to begin transitioning to give Afghans more responsibility, but also to start bringing our troops home, because we’ve got a lot of work to do here at home to rebuild America. (Applause.)

But our foreign policy can’t just be about war; it’s also got to be about peace. (Applause.) It’s also got to be about helping countries feed the hungry. It’s got to be about helping countries transition to democracy. It’s got to be about respecting human rights all around the world and making sure that America continues to be a beacon of hope. That’s part of why you elected me. That’s part of the unfinished business of this administration. (Applause.)

And as we think about this world, we understand that it’s shrunk, and it’s going to be more competitive. And if we’re going to leave the kind of America behind to our children and our grandchildren, then we’ve still got some work to do. Yes, we’ve got to get our fiscal house in order. And all the progressives out there, I want you to understand that we can’t just ignore this debt and deficit, we’ve got to do something about it. But economic growth, making ourselves more competitive isn’t just about cutting programs. It’s also about making investments in our people. (Applause.)

It’s also about making sure we’ve got the best education system in the world; that we’ve got the best scientists and engineers and mathematicians in the world; making sure that we prize our diversity; making sure that we’ve got a social safety net for the aged and the infirm and our children. That's part of what makes us a great nation. (Applause.)

So, Chicago, we’ve got more work to do. We’ve got more work to do. And look, let me just say this, it is going to continue to be challenging every single step of the way.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: But we can do it!

THE PRESIDENT: But we can do it. (Applause.) You know, I’m always -- I’m always amused when the pundits in Washington say, boy, you know, Obama hasn’t gotten this passed yet or some of his supporters are disappointed about this, and the -- the campaign, it was so smooth. And I’m thinking what campaign were they watching. (Laughter.) I mean, there -- at least once a month, folks would say, he can’t win. At least once a month, people would say, oh, that was a terrible debate for him; or, oh, he’s lost support in this or that group; or, oh, that state is going to go red on him.

What they didn't understand was is that for all the mistakes I’ll make, for all the boneheaded moves I made -- might make –

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! We love you!

THE PRESIDENT: For all the frustrations and the challenges and resistance we have to bringing about change, when I’ve got you guys behind me -- (applause) -- when I’ve got the American people, when I listen to them -- (applause) -- and I’m reminded of your decency and those core values that say I am my brother’s keeper and I am my sister’s keeper, and what makes us a great nation is not just the height of our skyscrapers or the size of our GDP, or the power of our military, but the fact that we look after one another, and we take responsibility for ourselves, but also for our neighbors; when we’re working together and we’re joining hands, black and white and Hispanic and Asian and Native American and gay and straight; when the American people join together, we cannot be stopped.

We say to ourselves, “Yes, we can.” It doesn’t matter how tough a week I have in Washington, because I know you’ve got me -- you’ve got my back. When I come to Chicago, when I travel across the country, I know we can’t be stopped. (Applause.) I know America is the greatest nation on Earth. And I know we will bring about the change that all of us believe in.
God bless you all. (Applause.) Thank you, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

END 7:44 P.M. CDT

Source
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Obama's Tune at 50 -- 'Happy Birthday to Me'

By Dan Gainor

Published August 04, 2011 FoxNews.com



Happy Birthday to me,

Happy Birthday to me,

I’m narcissistic you see,

Happy birthday to me.




It’s the perfect romance: a man who loves to be loved and, well, his biggest fan – himself. It’s hard to tell if we should mark August 4 as Barack Obama’s 50th birthday or his 50th anniversary with himself.

In ordinary times, a concept now long-forgotten in Washington, we’d commemorate the president’s birthday with cake and candles. This anniversary is appropriately marked by the red ink of debt –- trillions more than ever before.

“One nation under debt” should be our new motto as Congress approved another couple trillion in spending and a budgetary gimmick that doesn’t actually cut much of anything.

But all that’s OK. It’s the president’s birthday, so America should party. That’s certainly the president’s position. In a nation swamped by trillions in bills we can’t pay, the Debtor-in-Chief is holding a Chicago fundraising party for “roughly 1,000 guests paying between $50 and $35,800,” according to ABC’s Jake Tapper.

What’s a bigwig’s party without top talent? The Washington Times reports the event will include “a concert featuring Herbie Hancock and Jennifer Hudson.” Even with A-list talent, Obama will be on center stage, his congressional failings hundreds of miles away.

That’s more than appropriate given Obama’s self-obsessed nature. No matter what the news of the day has been, Obama’s favorite topic has been himself. In his first 41 speeches back in 2009, Obama talked about himself nearly 1,200 times – 1,198 to be exact. Scarily enough, the condition seems to have gotten more acute.

In 40 speeches and remarks on the national debt, Obama has talked about himself 39 times more than he has the debt – more than 3,200 times about Obama to a mere 160 about the national debt.

Let me put that another way, keeping in the spirit of the president’s birthday. Picture two big cakes. The first has 160 candles on it. It’s burning pretty bright – a bit more than three times the number of candles the graying Obama should have. Then imagine the other cake in the shape of an “I.” That cake has more than 3,200 flaming candles on it – alarming party-goers and smoke detectors alike. That’s not a cake, it’s a weapon of mass destruction.

But that’s our president as he turns 50, or "Hawaii 5-O," if documents are to be believed. He’s a man who manages to insert himself into every issue and bypasses the issue entirely. He can’t see the forest or the trees. He’s too busy looking in a mirror. And the media are ignoring it as always.

It’s nothing new. For example, back in May 2010, he talked about the economy in Buffalo, N.Y. That appearance had Obama talking about Obama nearly 100 times and the national debt just once. In 40 appearances discussing debt, he only used the actual word “debt” 10 or more times recently, after the GOP forced the issue. Those three talks make up a third of all the mentions he’s made of it as president. The transcripts, pulled from the White House web site’s “economy” section, run from when he first took office through July 25, as the debt ceiling “crisis” was finally subsiding.

When Barack Obama was born, the United States budget was a bit more than $94 billion and ran only a $3 billion deficit that year. Ah the good ol’ days. The most recent Obama budget proposal was about 39 times higher – an inflationary growth equal only to the president’s burgeoning ego.

The Financial Times reports that a third of the people in a recent Pew research poll “have come away from the ordeal with a diminished view of Mr Obama.” Certainly, no one in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has acknowledged that reality.

It’s time they should. The economy is in trouble – national debt is still piling higher, residential real estate is continuing to fall, and unemployment stands at an unacceptable 9.2 percent. Our economic growth is just as paralyzed as our politics. Washington gridlock barely delivered any so-called “fix” in time. Wall Street fixes boosted the markets, but not the lives of everyday Americans.

That all might as well have happened in 1961, when Obama was born. It’s ancient history. We must look ahead. Like him or not, President Obama has about a year-and-a-half left in office and we all need him to do a good job – at least on the economy. But conservatives are up against an awful alliance of liberals, media and some in their own party who care more about getting re-elected. That alliance desperately wants to grow government as a universal solution to all problems.

The right has to fight that growth, but still try to find common ground with Obama to help get government out of the way so the economy can grow once again.

Dan Gainor is the Boone Pickens Fellow and the Media Research Center’s Vice President for Business and Culture. His column appears each week on The Fox Forum. He can also be contacted on Facebook and Twitter as dangainor.


Source: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/04/obamas-tune-at-50-happy-birthday-to-me/#ixzz1U6aSY1Lz

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Markets plunge on economic turmoil; fears of another recession

View Photo Gallery —  A look at the drama on Wall Street.


By Sarah Halzack, Michael Fletcher and Cezary Podkul, Updated: Thursday, August 4, 4:02 PM

Fears of worsening economic turmoil in the United States and Europe triggered a broad-based retreat on global markets Thursday, with stock market indexes plunging more than 4 percent in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down for its ninth session out of 10, finishing the day down more than 500 points, or 4.3 percent in the red; the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 4.8 percent; and the Nasdaq tumbled 5.1 percent. All three indexes experienced their biggest weekly drops since May 2010.

The Dow was down 10 percent from highs in May, erasing all gains for 2011.

“The undertone of this is just fear that we’re rolling off again into another recession,” said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management.

The losses come after nearly two weeks of declines as evidence mounts that Europe’s debt crisis is intensifying and the U.S. economy shows no signs of rebounding soon.

The steep stock market drop that accelerated Thursday is stoking fears that the economy is headed into a sustained downturn at a time when policymakers are particularly ill-equipped to fight it.

The losses, if sustained, would severely undermine the efforts of both government and individuals to dig out of the severe debt that many analysts say is at the root of the nation’s economic troubles.

The Federal Reserve already has in place policies that have kept interest rates at near-record low levels, raising doubts about what more it can do. Meanwhile, the federal government has not shown the political capacity to enact new stimulus efforts.

“If we tie the hands of fiscal policy, and monetary policy has no new weapons and households are still cutting back . . . that is what the financial markets are reflecting now,” said Dan Seiver, a finance professor at San Diego State University.

If the market losses continue, it would complicate efforts to fix the nation’s ailing housing market and it would make it more difficult for hard-pressed state and local governments to balance their books. Already, both of those sectors have been cited as drags on the nation’s overall economic growth.

“If this economy were a bicycle, it would be about to topple over,” said Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and formerly the top economic advisor to Vice President Biden. “We need to put pressure on those pedals, but the political system is pushing us in the other direction. The economy is crying out for help and the political system is deaf to those cries.”

On Thursday, there was profound worry among investors in other markets. Oil futures fell more than 5 percent in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange to around $86. Gold futures retreated .4 percent from yesterday’s high of $1,663.30 per ounce to $1,656.60.

Meanwhile, yield on the 10-year Treasury note hit another low for the year, 2.42 percent, indicating that investors were still flocking to the safety of government debt. A lower yield indicates investors are willing to accept a smaller return in exchange for the safety of holding government debt.

Global markets also saw declines, with major sell-offs in Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Concerns heightened in Europe that E.U. leaders might have to provide financial aid to large economies such as Italy and Spain — a far greater challenge than the help it recently provided to Greece. Leaders of the European Central Bank today decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 1.5 percent.

In the United States, a steady stream of bad economic news has been depressing stocks. Economic growth is nearly at a standstill, consumers are saving rather than opening their wallets, and manufacturing, after picking up, has stalled again.

Investors largely shrugged off a Labor Department report Thursday morning that showed a slight decline in weekly jobless claims. Applications for unemployment benefits dropped to 400,000 from 401,000 the week before.

This report precedes a highly anticipated monthly jobs report Friday, which analysts expect will show that the unemployment rate held steady at 9.2 percent.

Thursday’s losses follow a volatile day of trading Wednesday in which the Dow closed up 60 points after falling nearly 200 points earlier in the day.


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Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Ominous signs of surging layoffs in Illinois, nation

By CBS Chicago Local Chicago – 11 hrs ago

Ahead of the key government employment report for July, which comes out Friday, there are ominous signs today that more people are losing their jobs.

As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Regine Schlesinger reports, one signal comes from Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which points to a sudden and unexpected burst of private-sector downsizing in July.

The report shows the number of announced job cuts surging to a 16-month high of more than 66,000 last month. That figure is up 16 percent compared with June, and 59 percent compared with a year ago.

The cuts come from a handful of major companies, including Borders — which is in the process of closing its remaining bookstores — as well as Merck, Lockheed Martin, and Cisco Systems.

In Illinois, meanwhile, 10 companies have filed notice with the state that they plan to lay off workers in the next couple of months. Among them is the Sun-Times Media Group, which will cut over 400 jobs.

Other Illinois companies set to lay off workers include Consolidated Container in Elk Grove Village, On-Cor Frozen Foods in the West Loop, and Sid's Greenhouse and Garden Center in Lake Bluff, which is closing.

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Source
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Hard Right Extremism In America And Europe


By Stephen Lendman
8-3-11

Anders Breivik's July 22 Oslo rampage highlighted a problem far greater than him, a topic three previous articles discussed, stopping short of what this article addresses. More on how Europe is affected below.

In America, hardline anti-government groups like the Sovereign Citizen movement highlight how far right America's shifted since the 1980s. Their adherents (Sovereigns) believe they alone should decide what laws to obey or ignore, not elected officials, judges, juries or law enforcement bodies.

They also oppose paying taxes, promote racial hate, attract white supremacists, and resort to violence to assert their will. In addition, they subscribe to other extremist views, advocating a subculture run exclusively by their rules. Without central leadership, it's impossible to know their size, though it's believed to be many thousands.

America's Militia movement is also politically significant, paramilitaries against government restricting their rights, especially to bear arms. It represents an outgrowth of independent survivalist, anti-tax, and other right-wing Patriot movement subculture groups, believing government is hostile to their sovereignty.

More recently, America's Tea Party phenomenon represents political Washington's sharp right turn. A previous article discussed them, accessed through the following link:

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/10/americas-tea-party-phenomenon.html

Stressing fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free market fundamentalism, demagogic extremists aroused millions of working Americans to support policies against their own interests, thinking they're doing the right thing because their minds have been manipulated to believe it.

Funded by extremist right-wing groups, as well as billionaires like David and Charles Koch, the movement gained national recognition in media-hyped mid-2009 congressional town hall protests against Obamacare, banker and other bailouts, fiscal excesses, and bogus claims about Obama's social agenda. In fact, he's rock-hard conservative without one.

Then in February 2010, its Nashville, TN national convention increased its prominence, highlighting an agenda to shift America further right on the pretext of popular opposition to big government and fiscal irresponsibility.

As a result, hardline extremists mostly attracted middle income Americans facing lost jobs, homes, and economic uncertainty at a time they should have shifted left, not right. Instead of blaming big government, a groundswell for addressing popular needs should be demanded.

It didn't. Demagogues took advantage and aroused millions, aided by daily Fox News support and its lunatic fringe hosts. Among them, Glenn Beck (now gone), Bill O'Reilly, and others rage against big government, hyping an extremist agenda. Maliciously, they spread fear effectively enough to attract growing numbers of adherents, largely mindless that their best interests are compromised, not helped.

Media power manipulation, of course, is essential, whether against big government, alleged terrorists, or anything diverging from right-wing politics, easily able to morph into something more sinister.

In his 2003 article titled, "Fascism Anyone?" political scientist Laurence W. Britt discussed its 14 common elements, saying:

"These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in some regimes than in others, but they all share some level of similarity."

In 2003 America, decades earlier and today, it's present, worrisome, and growing, post-9/11 and earlier. More on that below.

Elements of Police State Fascism

(1) "Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism," including display flags, lapel pins, and other patriotic nationalist expressions, rallying people for a common cause.

(2) "Disdain for the importance of human rights" and civil liberties, believing they hinder ruling elitist power.

(3) "Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause," shifting blame for failures, "channel(ling) frustration in controlled directions," and vilifying targeted groups for political advantage.

(4) "The supremacy of the military/avid militarism," allocating a disproportionate share of national wealth and resources for it.

(5) "Rampant sexism," viewing women as second-class citizens.

(6) "A controlled mass media," in public or private hands, promoting power elite policies.

(7) "Obsession with national security," using it as an instrument of belligerence and oppression.

(8) "Religion and ruling elite tied together," portraying themselves as militant defenders of the nation's dominant religion at the expense of one or more others, deemed inferior or threatening.

(9) "Power of corporations defended," for economic power, military production, and social control.

(10) "Power of labor suppressed or eliminated," leaving political and corporate dominance unchallenged.

(11) "Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts," because they represent intellectual and academic freedom, subversive to national security and political control.

(12) "Obsession with crime and punishment," handling them by draconian criminal justice measures and practices.

(13) "Rampant cronyism and corruption," power elites enriching themselves at the expense of others less fortunate.

(14) "Fraudulent elections," manipulated for desired results by disenfranchising opposition voters or simply rigging the process.

All these characteristics describe America, a democracy in name only, run by powerful elitists for their own interests at the expense of all others.

Huey Long once said fascism will arrive "wrapped in an American flag." In his book "Friendly Fascism," Hunter College Professor Bertram Gross called Ronald Reagan its prototype ruler, distinguishing 1980s America from classic models in Germany, Italy and Japan.

He described a slow, powerful "drift toward greater concentration of power and wealth in a repressive Big Business-Big Government," Big Brother alliance. It leads "toward a new and subtly manipulative form of corporatist serfdom," its friendly face turning dark as hardline policies are revealed - Machiavellian harshness exploiting others for wealth and power.

Today's Duopoly-Run America

On issues mattering most, little distinguishes Republicans from Democrats. Supporting militarism, permanent wars, corporate dominance, and police state harshness, they represent wealth and power interests at the expense of public needs and rights.

As a result, more than ever, American democracy is bogus under a police state apparatus, sacrificing human rights and civil liberties for national security, wealth, power, and control. Examples include:

(1) An array of pre and post-9/11 anti-terrorist measures.

(2) Decades of illegal surveillance of individuals and activist groups, more virulent and sophisticated than ever under Obama. He's wicked, morally compromised, duplicitous, corrupt and lawless.

Notably, he usurped unchecked surveillance powers, including warrantless wiretapping, accessing personal records, monitoring financial transactions, and tracking emails, Internet and cell phone use to gather secret evidence for prosecutions.

As a result, more than ever under his leadership, America's a repressive Big Brother society, targeting anyone lawlessly for unchallenged rule.

(3) A war on free expression, dissent, and constitutional freedoms, using the courts to enforce repression. It's especially true since the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Penalty Act. It eased surveillance restrictions, as well as enacting draconian death penalty and habeas-stripping provisions. Its passage smoothed the way for the 2001 Patriot Act and other repressive measures that followed.

Alone, in fact, the Patriot Act erodes four Bill of Rights freedoms, including:

-- Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments due process rights by permitting indefinite detentions;
-- First Amendment freedom of association; and
-- Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and more.

In November 2002, the Bush administration's Homeland Security Act (HSA) combined formerly separate government agencies into a more sweeping authoritarian apparatus. Thereafter, it's been used repressively.

Obama's uses it like Bush, usurping unprecedented power for total control, sacrificing freedoms for national security.

As a result, America enforces police state harshness. Merriam-Webster defines it as:

"a political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usually by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police in place of regular operation of administration and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures."

America has in place constitutional/statute laws, administrative and legal procedures, yet skirts them routinely and willfully to assert control.

It's a short leap to tyrannical rule. Whether or not announced, its iron fist leaves no doubt about unfriendly American fascism.

Right Turn in Europe

Anders Breivik's rampage signifies a far greater problem than him, symptomatic of growing European ideological extremism, transcending a single atrocity.

Xenophobia is one of its expressions, Merriam-Webster defining it as "fear(ing) and hat(ing) strangers or foreigners or anything strange or foreign." During hard times, large numbers of people are affected, though few commit violence.

In America, Tea Party protests reflect it, supporting far to the right of center policies, railing against big government, mindless about flourishing state socialism, yet wanting to take back the country and restore its ill-defined honor.

Throughout Europe, nearly all countries have parties wanting foreigners evicted, returning them to their "rightful citizens," whatever that means, given how many have had roots elsewhere at other times.

Moreover, fascist parties notably once had leftist leaders who turned right. Mussolini, in fact, invented the word "fascism," practicing it destructively with his Axis partners. Today's model is more subtle, but just as dangerous, eroding democracy and social justice for unchallenged power.

As a result, socially democratic rule virtually disappeared. Neoliberalism replaced it, notably in Nordic countries. Right-wing parties rule them, except Norway, run by a Labour/Socialist Left/Centre Party coalition, its so-called red-green alternative.

Challenging it is Norway's Progress Party - conservative, xenophobic, and hard-line. Perhaps Breivik's rampage warned Labour to shift right, tone down its Israeli criticism, think twice about supporting an independent Palestine, and remain committed to NATO's global imperialism.

Sweden's right turn got some observers to ask about European social democracy's future. Is it quiescent or lost? Last September, its Social Democrats lost badly, its worst showing since 1914. Its right-wing Alliance prevailed. A far right anti-immigrant party won seats for the first time.

It matters because Sweden's virtuous middle straddled capitalist and communist extremes. Now, however, for the first time in over 80 years, it's over. It no longer represents social democratic values. If lost in Sweden, Norway, and other Nordic countries, can they exist anywhere? Is tyranny over the horizon?

Notably since the 1990s, Social Democrats systematically undermined former policies, losing popular support as a result. After its electoral loss, Svenska Dagbladet (a daily newspaper) said Sweden's political landscape changed fundamentally under "a center-right government without a majority, a crashed social democracy, and a kingmaker party with roots in the far right."

Rising ethno-nationalist/anti-multiculturalism throughout Europe resides there, in Denmark and Norway. Is fascism a short leap ahead? Nazism arose from hard times. They demand change that can include more than planned, including radical right turns, intolerance, totalitarianism, and global wars, creating upheaval and unfit to live in societies.

It threatens Europe, America, and everywhere conditions exist to transform liberal democracies to tyranny. It destroyed Weimar Germany and shifted Great Society America to right-wing/hardline rule, perhaps headed toward full-blown fascism.

Famed journalist George Seldes (1890 - 1995) saw it flourish in the 1930s, worrying it could derail New Deal America. In his 1934 book titled, "Iron, Blood and Profits," he discussed a "world-wide munitions racket," citing WW I militarists and weapons makers in Europe and America.

"Merchants of death" he called them, promoting "imperialism (and) colonization - by means of war....the healthfulness of their business depend(ing) on slaughter. The more wars," the greater their riches.

His 1943 book titled, "Facts and Fascism" returned to the theme, explaining "Fascism on the Home Front" in Part One, called "The Big Money and Big Profits in Fascism."

In Parts Two and Three, he discussed "Native Fascist Forces" in industry and his day's media. They were a shadow of today's in influence and reach, cheerleading for wars and corporate extremism, elements one step from fascism, in more or less intense forms.

In his 1935 novel titled, "It Can't Happen Here," Sinclair Lewis feared its emergence in hard times, led by a charismatic, self-styled reformer/populist champion.

Con men like Bush and Obama exploit conditions to enact police state laws, crack down on dissent, wage imperial wars, homeland ones on scapegoats, and serve powerful interests at the expense of others.

September 11 accelerated extremism in America. Breivik's rampage may notch it up in Europe. Fascist seeds there already took hold. Maybe now they'll grow and flourish. That prospect should arouse popular resistance against what no one should tolerate anywhere.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.

Mainstream Media Is A Cheerleader for Fear


Painting by Anthony Freda: www.AnthonyFreda.com

For facts documenting the unfortunate truth behind this image, see this and this.

Two weeks can change a child's life forever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCowjihdJeA&feature=player_embedded

You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether it's a two-week trip to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, ourprograms make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities. We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.

Donate online now.



Default averted, battles loom


After Senate OK’s bill, focus shifts to new deficit panel

By Matt Viser
Globe Staff / August 3, 2011

WASHINGTON - The Senate approved a sweeping package yesterday that allowed the United States to begin borrowing more money, and President Obama signed the legislation just hours before the country would have faced default on its obligations.

Following an extraordinary, bruising political battle in which neither side emerged unscathed, the Senate approved the measure by an overwhelming 74-to-26 margin. Although the bill enabled the government to continue paying its bills, many questions remained about how the legislation will lower the deficit.

A 12-member joint congressional committee will be formed over the next two weeks to find up to another $1.5 trillion in savings. A key question is whether the committee, which must make its recommendations by Thanksgiving, will address increased tax revenue - something Democrats say is imperative but Republicans have opposed.

“We’ll need a balanced approach where everything is on the table,’’ Obama said in the White House Rose Garden just after the Senate vote. “Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they’re there for future generations. It also means reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share.’’

There was a temporary reprieve yesterday from the high-pitched partisan bickering - as lawmakers congratulated one another on the Senate floor for coming to an agreement that both sides disliked but could live with - but they also began to preview future battles. The new committee will have to grapple with the hard choices for both parties. Democrats are opposed to deep cuts in entitlement programs, such as Medicare or Social Security, while Republicans are stridently against raising taxes.

Each party will get six members on the committee - three from the House, and three from the Senate. Party leaders have two weeks to make those appointments.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid immediately dismissed Republican suggestions that the committee automatically reject the idea of raising revenue as part of its plan.

“That’s not going to happen,’’ Reid said.

On a day when the Dow dropped 266 points, Democrats also sought to shift the focus to the economy, saying they intend to place new emphasis on job creation in the coming weeks.

“Jobs, jobs, job, jobs, jobs,’’ House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference yesterday. “You cannot say it enough.’’


Obama also called for action to stimulate the economy, advocating an extension of the payroll-tax cut for workers, longer unemployment benefits, and an infrastructure bank.

Although the compromise debt ceiling legislation had been expected to win approval in yesterday’s Senate vote, both sides stood to hail its passage.

Both senators from Massachusetts - John Kerry, a Democrat, and Scott Brown, a Republican - voted in favor of the legislation.

“There’s a little bit in there for everyone to like, and a little bit in there for people not to like,’’ Brown said. “We didn’t raise taxes, we stepped back from default, we made real cuts.’’

Kerry said in a conference call following the vote that a portion of House Republicans held a “completely unreasonable, ideologically rigid, extreme point of view’’ and that he thinks it will define the entire election through 2012.

“I voted not for the deal,’’ Kerry said. “I voted to avoid default. I voted to prove we can get a tough thing done even though I don’t like components of the deal. The real fight lies in the months ahead.’’

Senator Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, was among those who voted against the bill, saying it didn’t do enough to slice government spending.

“We must save our country for the sake of our children,’’ she said in a floor speech before the vote. “I am the mother of a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old. . . . I know I will not look my children in the eye and have them say, ‘Mom, what did you do about it?’ ’’

The legislation had been approved by the House on Monday night by a 269-to-161 vote. It passed with the support of 174 Republicans and 95 Democrats. Only three of the 10 Massachusetts House Democrats voted in favor of the plan, Representatives William Keating of Quincy, Stephen Lynch of South Boston, and Niki Tsongas of Lowell.

The deal allows the country’s borrowing limit to increase by at least $2 trillion, preventing the looming cash shortage, and will cover spending demands until 2013. It also cuts spending by $1 trillion, spread over the next 10 years, and establishes a process to identify another $1.5 trillion in cuts to the deficit.

The bipartisan congressional committee must identify reductions in the deficit by late November. Those cuts could come through new revenues by overhauling the tax code, or through cuts to entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. If the committee is deadlocked, or if Congress doesn’t pass the panel’s recommendations, it would automatically trigger a set of cuts.

Those cuts would be spread evenly between defense spending and domestic programs. They would hit payments to Medicare providers, but not to Medicare beneficiaries.

There were few signs yesterday of who would be named to serve on the committee.

“I’m not that much of a glutton for punishment,’’ said Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican who declined to say whether he wanted to be on the committee. “I mean, this is going to take an odd type of person to serve on this committee.’’

One approach could be to name the senators who were in the so-called Gang of Six, a bipartisan group that had worked on a deficit-reduction proposal that briefly gained steam.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said yesterday that he would appoint his three members “very soon.’’ His appointees would be unlikely to vote for any proposal that would raise taxes.

Pelosi, who also gets to appoint three members, declined to talk about whom she’ll appoint but stressed that revenues would have to be a component.

“We’re fooling ourselves if we ever think that one element on the table . . . is going to solve this,’’ she said. “If we’re serious about reducing the deficit, we have to go in there recognizing that some cuts will have to be made [but also] that we can’t accomplish what we set out to do without considering revenue in a very strong way.’’


Theo Emery and Tracy Jan of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.

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Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Speaker Boehner Swears In Father Patrick J. Conroy as House Chaplain

Washington (May 25)

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) today swore in Father Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., as the 60th chaplain of the House of Representatives. Earlier this month, in consultation with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker Boehner announced his intent to nominate Father Conroy to succeed Father Daniel P. Coughlin. The House confirmed the nomination by unanimous voice vote. Speaker Boehner made brief remarks on the House floor welcoming and congratulating Father Conroy prior to his swearing-in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFGy9FYw_oE&feature=player_embedded

“One of the most important members of the House community is not a member of Congress. Upon its inception, the House elected a chaplain to deliver the opening prayer, continuing a tradition started by the First Continental Congress. As the House has grown, so has the role of the chaplain, who members, officers, and staff look to for advice and counsel.

“The chaplain also sees to the well-being of this institution, which serves people of all faiths, and a Nation that has always put its trust in God. Our national motto is an echo of the 16th psalm: ‘Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.’ These words are etched on the stained glass window in the prayer room here in the Capitol.

“In many ways, the chaplain is the anchor of the House. So it was with regret last month that we bid farewell to Father Dan, who retired after 11 years of distinguished service. But always looking out for us, Father Dan left behind one last blessing…he recommended someone who he felt would be a worthy successor. And, no surprise, Father was right.

“Father Pat Conroy comes to us from the Northwest: he was born and raised in Washington state, and has spent much of his priesthood in Oregon. Next month, he will mark his 28th year as a Jesuit priest. Father Pat also served here in our capital city – he was a chaplain at Georgetown University for a total of 10 years. And he has a deep appreciation for public service – before being called into the priesthood, Father Pat felt a calling to politics, specifically the United States Senate. Father, something tells me you’ll fit in fine right here.

“I think it’s important to give the House a sense of Father Pat’s character. This is from a letter he wrote expressing his willingness to serve as chaplain: ‘As a Jesuit, I believe it a part of my calling to find God in all things, and to discover the spirit of God present in the people I encounter, and whom I serve. I wish to say that ‘I am ready and willing’ should those to be served deem me worthy of this ministry. Though true of any ministry, the position would call me to a radical reliance upon the grace of God, which would also be God’s gift.’

“It’s clear this loyal servant of the faithful is uniquely suited to serve as chaplain of the people’s House. Leader Pelosi and I have gotten a chance to know Father Pat, and we’re honored that he has accepted our invitation to serve as chaplain. We are blessed to have his guidance and his wisdom as we discharge our duties and fulfill our obligations to current and future generations of Americans. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the 60th chaplain of the House of Representatives, Father Pat Conroy.”


Source
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Pelosi slips, calls Speaker 'Father Boehner' in new chaplain ceremony

By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/25/11 02:03 PM ET

The House enjoyed a moment of levity Wednesday afternoon when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slipped and called Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) "Father Boehner." Pelosi was in the midst of welcoming Father Patrick Conroy as the new House Chaplain.

The slip-up prompted Boehner to joke, "I've been called a lot of things, but not that."

As Republicans cheered, Pelosi replied, "You really have to be a good politician to be called Father Boehner."

Conroy is the 60th House Chaplain and was quickly sworn in to replace Daniel Coughlin. "We pray for you, please pray for us," Pelosi said.

Source
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Mayor looks to crush city's parking woes with tank

I must break you: Mayor looks to crush city's parking woes with tank

Publicity stunt shows Vilnius mayor in armored personnel carrier that then drives over car

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



updated 8/2/2011 1:50:34 PM ET

Frustrated by motorists who park their cars with impunity around the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Mayor Arturas Zuokas reportedly took an extreme approach to express his displeasure.

According to the Irish Times, the mayor, seeking to reassure residents that the city will not let drivers park illegally without punishment, hopped in an armored personnel carrier and drove over a Mercedes-Benz.

Video of the publicity stunt — posted on the mayor's YouTube page — shows the grinning lawmaker and a handful of men riding the tank as it slowly rolls over, then partially crushes, an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class parked in a bus lane.

"In the past few days, expensive cars have been illegally parked in almost this exact place – a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari," the mayor reportedlyexplains while narrating the video.

"This tank is a good tool to solve the problem of parking in the wrong place."

The mayor, reportedly a biking enthusiast, is shown cleaning some of the mess, then riding his bike away from the scene.

According to the Irish Times, Mr. Zuokas explained that he "wanted to send a message."

"I want to point out that if you have a car and more money it doesn’t mean that you can park it everywhere. Recently, there’s been an increase in this type of parking violations, and it shows a lack of respect for others."

The mayor's spokeswoman, Irma Juskenaite, told theGuardian that Zuokas hopes residents received the message loud and clear.

"The mayor hopes that he will not have to repeat his performance to have drivers heed his message, although he says that he is prepared to do so."

Additionally, Juskenaite told the Guardian that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased specifically for the video


Source
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Obama to head home for 50th birthday fundraiser



August 01, 2011By Rick Pearson Clout Street


The sound of helicopters over the Chicago lakefront today signaled the practice drills that accompany a presidential visit. And with Congress poised to act on a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling, President Barack Obama's plans to return to his hometown and engage in some fundraising are back on.

Obama is scheduled to attend a 50th birthday gala on Wednesday at the Aragon Ballroom, an event featuring Jennifer Hudson and Herbie Hancock. There’s also a dinner fundraiser planned for
some special donors to go with the show at a cost of $35,800 a person.

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Debt Ceiling Deadline Arrives, Dee-Fault Averted...



Another monumental Crisis avoided by compromise, as suggested by Persistent (president ) Obama. Mr. Obama single-handedly prevented a financial DEE-FAULT by utilizing his fine tuned negotiating skills; He mandated it. Late Monday night, a plan was reached to increase the DEBT CEILING (currently $14.3 Trillion), by $2.1 Trillion, which will be in effect until January 2013. A full 12 months to divvy up those tasty TRILLION$! The stupendous plan was signed into law today which will save an estimated $2.4 Trillion over the next decade. Wow, is that fussy math or are these con-gress folks on a three Martini diet? Now how does saving $2.4 Trillion over the next 10 years, and spending $2.1 Trillion by January 2013, equal a BENEFIT? How is that an improvement? The President and his men must all think we are sniffing model airplane glue or something? This 'DEAL' doesn't add up, not even in the mind of a ding-bat?

After all the mud-slinging, or all the accusations of the Republicans are 'TERRORISTS', the allegations that the TEA PARTY members were 'HOLDING THE ECONOMY AND THE NEGOTIATIONS HOSTAGE'; The Democrats introduced the victim of the year, (D) Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (who purportedly is recovering from a shot to the brain) to come in at the ELEVENTH HOUR to vote in favor of the PLAN; This was their Pièce de résistance. Mais, oui, monseiur! Au contraire, it shows how petty these poli-trick-tians really are; Demonstrating a total disregard for the recovering congresswoman, and insulting the intelligence of the American citizens, even further.

Folks, this regime is on a rampage. Both of the political parties are guilty of this travesty (called a DEAL), this sham they call legislation. This is strong armed robbery. Our Government now lords over its citizens as if this were Cuba or North Korea. Right here in our country we have a group in Washington D.C. that believes they can dictate to us - what our needs are, and what the COMMON GOOD (largest amount of people that will benefit from the government's generosity, its largess) is.

All the recent fakes and gestures are an indication that this New World Order business, and the Millennium Development Goals (which are two covert motivating factors why our nation is being transformed) that will drastically change your way of life; even if you think your vote still counts. Just watch the professionals in action perpetrating a fraud on Meet the Press, or on spontaneous press conferences and interviews,..acting like they are actually working for you.


They will promise you the world in a hand basket. Yet, their aim is to transform this once 'free country' into the leading entity in an interdependent world; a WORLD GOVERNMENT. Sooner or later they will bankrupt this nation! Then, they will have their wish, and will establish a global federation of equal nations; over which the U.S. will lead by might.

Surprise, surprise, they are not listening or working for you since they have their own agenda. Here's a hint of what that is: Ordo Ab Chao.


Remember all the hooting and hollering; sounding like there is a real fight going on? Well, it's all part of the charade. Life is a Cabaret, old chum. The magicians are hear to stay.

Speaking of tricks? Send in the clowns! They have such pretty costumes...I like to be entertained.

Arsenio.


P.S. Happy Birthday Mr. Obama, salaam Ramadan!

Monday, August 01, 2011

On a Crash Course: Coming Collapse of the U.S. Dollar


August 2011

Dear Friends, Welcome to another message from Keep the Faith. I hope you are well and prospering in the Lord. Most of all, I hope you are getting ready to meet Jesus in the clouds of glory. He is coming soon, you know. And we don’t have time to play... READ MORE


In the last few years, economic crises have erupted all around the world. Places like Iceland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and some other European countries are struggling to keep their economies from collapsing. People, who are dependent on government support for pensions, health care, and other social service contracts, are facing severe cuts in their benefits as promises of government leaders are being shredded. In addition to the personal pain, these nations are being forced to accept rescue packages from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, which is turning them into vassal states in the new Holy Roman Empire. Now Greece is about to receive another huge bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, because it has not been able to cut through the huge deficits with austerity measures. So the pain is not going to go away for its citizens either. It is only going to get worse. Ditto for other countries in the economic periphery of Europe.

But the economic virus is not limited to these peripheral European countries. Recently we saw major upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa where quite a number of nations have overthrown their leaders and are demanding a new set of political and economic principles. Their economies are in a shambles, and as food prices skyrocket, the people demand change. The stress is spreading around in an ever-widening circle of wave after wave of economic bad news.


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America - A Nation In Desperation!


Volume XXX Issue VIII August 2011
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

America - A Nation In Desperation!

"Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow."
Isaiah 17:10-11

"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace."
Jeremiah 50:6

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."
James 5:1-6

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
...
In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will closely examine the current events of our time and the prevalent state of desperation now so common in the endeavors of mankind. Whether you look at the high unemployment rate in the United States, the failing economies of Europe, the turmoil in the Middle East, the drug related violence in Mexico, or the natural disasters occurring throughout the world, it will soon become clear that much of this planet is in a state of despair and misery. Why is there so much trouble in the world?

Apostasy In The Churches!

In the Holy Bible, we are warned of the sorrows that will befall man if he should ever forget God. Yet, in the United States, a country which is traditionally regarded to have a Christian majority, many people have turned their backs on the Lord, and while they may pay lip service to Him, they do not honor Him with their actions. It is interesting to note that a recent survey found that 80 percent of Americans who claim to be Christian are inactive. (1) Sadly, the term "Christian" has become a cultural identifier rather than a way of life for many people.

Although there are religious organizations and churches all over the United States, ranging in size from small to large, many of those religious assemblies are operating under the influence of a strange spirit that is not of God. For example, the United Church of Christ, which was formerly the denomination of choice for Barack Obama, has recently voted to remove the term "God the Father" from its organizational documents. The denomination claims that referring to God as "heavenly father" is too restrictive, yet a spokeswoman for the organization stated that referring to God as "Father and Mother" is acceptable. (2)

Some churches have become so devoid of discernment and understanding that they have actually read from the so-called "holy book" of Islam, known as the Qur'an. A new interfaith movement is gaining traction in the United States thanks in part to an organization known as Faith Shared. The group's website states, "Faith Shared asks houses of worship across the country to organize events involving clergy reading from each other's sacred texts. An example would be a Christian Minister, Jewish Rabbi and Muslim Imam participating in a worship service or other event. Suggested readings will be provided from the Torah, the Gospels, and the Qur'an, but communities are encouraged to choose readings that will resonate with their congregations. Involvement of members from the Muslim community is key. We will also provide suggestions on how to incorporate this program into your regular worship services." (3) On June 26, 2011, fifty churches from twenty-six states held readings from the Qur'an. (4) The churches who participated in these "interfaith worship services" must have torn II Corinthians out of their Bibles. For we read in II Corinthians 6:14-17, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

Yes, there is much apostasy within mainstream Christianity these days. In the state of New York, which recently became the sixth state in America to legalize same-sex marriage, many churches are now allowing or even embracing the homosexual lifestyle. The New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has issued a document stating that pastors may perform same-sex wedding ceremonies if they desire to do so. (5) Meanwhile, the bishop at the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island has issued a deadline demanding that gay priests with active partners be married within the next nine months. (6)

As we move closer to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we will find an increasing number of churches espousing unbiblical doctrines. Christians who fully embrace the entire Bible as the inspired Word of God will become fewer in number, but we know that God will always have a remnant people. Be assured that even though much of the religion in the world today is phony and counterfeit and rife with impiety, God is very real; and amidst all the trouble in the world, He can sustain us through the hard times in which we live.

Economic Desperation!

We are truly living in a time of economic desperation. Despite multiple attempts by the Obama Administration and the Federal Reserve to "stimulate" the United States' economy, all of their efforts have been for naught, and the economy has seen very little improvement despite the assertion by government officials that the country has been recovering since 2009. Fewer people are still believing their claims, however. A recent poll by the New York Times found that 39 percent of the respondents believe the United States economy has entered a state of permanent decline. (7) Many experts agree with that sentiment. Peter Schiff, the CEO at Europacific Capital, stated in a recent interview, "The stimulus is wearing off and the much anticipated hangover is starting to set in. The economy is now in worse shape because the government stimulated it. The stimulus merely interfered with the corrective process. So instead of resolving some of our economic imbalances, the government has made them worse. Now we are on the precipice of a bigger economic decline than the one the stimulus interrupted back in 2009." (8) Economist David Rosenberg stated in an interview with CNBC, "Everything is telling you how soft the underbelly of the economy really is. We're just one small shock away from the economy going back into recession." (9)

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has blamed the stalling economy on the high cost of oil and recent natural disasters, such as the earthquake which struck Japan in March 2011. "Once the temporary shocks that have been holding down economic activity pass, we expect to see again the effects of (recent Fed policy) reflected in stronger economic activity and job creation," Bernanke stated. (10) However, Drew Matus, a senior economist at UBS Investment Research, was not quite as optimistic. "A lot of the options he put on the table were effectively worthless. So I think Bernanke really is just hoping for the best," Matus said. (11)

Sadly, unemployment has only grown worse over the last few months. On July 7, 2011, Barack Obama issued prepared remarks to the media stating, "The economy as a whole just isn't producing nearly enough jobs for everybody who is looking." (12) Obama's comments seemed to be a bit of an understatement. In fact, growth in the labor market for the month of June 2011 was so poor that it shocked many economists who were expecting about 90,000 new jobs to be created. In reality, there were only 18,000 new jobs, which was the worst rate of employment growth since September 2010. David Semmens, an economist at Standard Chartered in New York, put it rather bluntly, stating, "It's a terrible number. There is no good news you can glean from it." (13)

With such a lack of steady and reliable employment options in America, many young people are finding themselves with no other choice but to work three or four separate jobs. Carl E. Van Horn, director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, said, "Young college graduates working multiple jobs is a natural consequence of a bad labor market and having, on average, $20,000 worth of student loans to pay off." Mr. Van Horn further went on to say, "There are two types of people in this position: the graduate who can't get a full-time job, and the person whose income isn't sufficient to meet their expenses. The only cure for young people in this position is an economic recovery of robust proportions." (14)

In some cases, those who do have jobs do not get to keep them very long. This was the cold reality for forty-two graduates of the Police Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. The graduates were given their guns and badges, and proclaimed to be police officers. Less than an hour later, they were laid off because the city could not afford to pay them. thirty-two year-old Robby Prock was understandably disappointed. "You're full of joy that you finally got in, and everything's going good. And then all of the sudden, it just gets ripped away from you," Prock said. The city of Cleveland has laid off 321 employees so far in 2011. (15)

The state of affairs in this erstwhile great nation of the United States has grown so bleak that some unemployed women have resorted to relocating to the state of Nevada so they can legally work in brothels as prostitutes. A manager at one of these filthy establishments stated, "We've seen over the course of the last couple of years a massive flow of women from all around the country. It's their first time in the sexual-entertainment business and they're showing up here - literally on our doorstep sometimes - for the purpose of seeking work to support their families: their husbands, their children, their parents. It's a zillion-fold increase. When things started to get really bad, in the fall of '07, we started seeing things increase and there's been no let-up." (16)

All across America you will find people in a state of desperation doing things they probably never thought they would do. On July 13, 2011, in the city of Dallas, Texas, about 5000 people lined up at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex for a chance to apply for a limited amount of rental vouchers, which are distributed to low-income applicants to help pay a portion of their housing rent. When the office building opened for business that morning, a stampede of humans rushed the complex resulting in the injury of eight people. (17)

States such as Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida have seen a large spike in the theft of air conditioners. The conditioning units are stolen for their valuable copper components, which are stripped from the cooling equipment and then sold as scrap metal. The thieves have grown increasingly brash according to the sheriff in Parker County, Texas. "Some of them have even gone up on the roof with ladders and cut the condition units loose up there and dropped 'em over the side of the building and hauled 'em off," remarked Sheriff Larry Fowler. (18)

Thieves in Antioch, California, have grown so desperate that they have knocked down an estimated three hundred power poles and stripped them of their copper wiring. In one brazen theft, an entire power transformer was stolen from a pole, which is a particularly risky maneuver that could result in electrocution if done improperly. (19)

In Lee County, Florida, thieves have stolen at least ten storm drain covers, along with metal drains and grates. The stolen equipment is valued at about four thousand dollars. Frank Neal, the vice president of the Charleston Park Neighborhood Association, remarked, "People are trying to survive." (20)

Violence In The Streets!

These are hard times in the United States. The current circumstances are particularly worrisome to James Carville, a Democratic strategist who used to do work for former President Bill Clinton. Speaking of the economic distress and the bleak job market, Carville said, "You know, if it continues, we're going to start to see civil unrest in this country. I hate to say that, but I think it's imminently possible." (21) There is already some evidence that Mr. Carville may be correct. My father used to talk about what would happen if this spoiled generation could no longer obtain the things they wanted. He predicted that if the young people in today's push-button society, which has grown so accustomed to instant gratification, could no longer purchase the things they wanted to buy, they would simply steal them. Since the adult population has taken many of the low-paying fast food and retail jobs that used to be common amongst young people, much of America's youth cannot find a job.

In Chicago, Illinois, and several other cities throughout the United States, there are now roving gangs of teenagers who band together to rob automobiles, stores, and people on the street. In June 2011, a man was dragged off his scooter and beaten by a group of fifteen to twenty teenagers on the streets of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, another man was knocked off his bike and punched by a mob of teenagers who then stole his cell phone and camera. (22) In early May 2011, two bike riders were attacked by a mob of approximately one hundred teenagers, who took the men and threw them into Lake Michigan. (23) On June 7, 2011, as many as fifteen teens boarded two buses operated by the Chicago Transit Authority and attacked the passengers before darting off with stolen electronic devices. (24) Similar gangs of teenagers have robbed convenience stores and other shops in Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas, Nevada; and St. Paul, Minnesota. (25)

American Lives - Micromanaged And Controlled!

The United States of America is undergoing a rapid wave of change, and this change is not for the better. We may soon reach a point where this once vibrant country, which placed such a high value on freedom and liberty, will no longer even resemble the nation it once was. We are now seeing the groundwork being laid to take away any remaining freedom that the American people have left.

A shocking article, written by James Bamford and published by PBS in 2009, tells a frightening story that indicates just how close we are to an Orwellian Police State here in America. The National Security Agency, or NSA, is developing an artificial intelligence system known as AQUAINT, which is an acronym for Advanced Question Answering for Intelligence. In the article, Mr. Bamford writes, "With the entire Internet and thousands of databases for a brain, the device will be able to respond almost instantaneously to complex questions posed by intelligence analysts. As more and more data is collected - through phone calls, credit card receipts, social networks like Facebook and MySpace, GPS tracks, cell phone geolocation, Internet searches, Amazon book purchases, even E-Z Pass toll records - it may one day be possible to know not just where people are and what they are doing, but what and how they think." (26) A former researcher who worked on the project stated, "The technology behaves like a robot, understanding and answering complex questions. Think of '2001: A Space Odyssey' and the most memorable character, HAL 9000, having a conversation with David. We are essentially building this system. We are building HAL." (27)

Even without a sophisticated system such as AQUAINT, government agencies in the United States already have access to a great deal of information regarding the lives and habits of American citizens. The U.S. Patriot Act has given agencies such as the FBI the ability to compel companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and other technology providers to turn over any information they request. In fact, all American companies are subject to the Patriot Act, even when they are not operating in the United States. Gordon Frazer, the managing director for the United Kingdom branch of Microsoft, was recently asked the question, "Can Microsoft guarantee that EU (European Union)-stored data, held in EU based datacenters, will not leave the European Economic Area under any circumstances - even under a request by the Patriot Act?" Mr. Frazer answered, "Microsoft cannot provide those guarantees. Neither can any other company." (28)

The New Normal!

It is no secret that if people believe there is a clear and present danger many will give up their freedom for the sake of security and protection. The security measures now in place at airports would have been unthinkable to Americans only a few generations ago. Yet while some people protest the methods and procedures of the Transportation Security Administration, nearly everyone complies with their demands. The reality is that every passenger at an airport is now treated as a potential terrorist, regardless of how young or how old a person may be. This sad fact became poignantly clear when airport screeners at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport subjected a six year-old girl to an rigorous pat-down on April 5, 2011. On June 18, 2011, a ninety-five year old woman was subjected to a pat-down and inspection at an airport in Florida. The elderly woman was forced to remove her adult diaper during the inspection. (29) Regarding the incident, TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz stated, "TSA cannot exempt any group from screening because we know from intelligence that there are terrorists out there that would then exploit that vulnerability." (30)

In early July, the TSA issued a statement indicating that terrorists could potentially attempt to circumvent airport security procedures by surgically implanting explosives in their bodies. Because of this possibility, TSA officials have warned that there could be additional security procedures put into place. "As a precaution, passengers flying from international locations to US destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport. Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies," the statement said. (31) I cannot help but wonder what more they could possibly do to further scrutinize passengers.

It would be reasonable to assume that with all of the security measures which have been implemented at airports across the United States a security breach should be nearly impossible. Yet, on June 24, 2011, a Nigerian national by the name of Olajide Noibi was allowed to board a plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York using a college ID and an expired boarding pass with a name that did not even match his identification. Mr. Noibi was then allowed to fly all the way to Los Angeles on the Virgin Atlantic flight, even after airline personnel became aware of the breach while in flight. Upon landing, the man was not even detained. (32) Considering the fact that a breach of this magnitude occurred, we might reasonably ask ourselves if all the TSA's so-called "enhanced" screening procedures are really making the American people safer.

As time marches on, security measures are becoming more stringent, and just how intrusive they may become in the future can only be imagined. Additional security procedures have already been put in place in locations outside of airports, such as the subway stations of New York City. Passengers on the trains are now being watched, scrutinized, and randomly searched. Of the security procedures now in place, Inspector Scott Shanley of the New York Police Department commented, "This is the new normal." (33)

America - A Dry And Withering Land!

Most Americans have probably heard the song "America the Beautiful" at one time or another. This patriotic song opens with the following lines, "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain." Sadly, the "amber waves of grain" spoken of in the song are noticeably absent throughout many of the American states due to a devastating drought, which has spread across fourteen states. The drought is particularly bad in the state of Texas, which saw all 254 counties declared natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture in June 2011. (34) As of July 14, 2011, exceptional drought, the most severe classification assigned by climatologists, has engulfed over 70 percent of Texas and over 58 percent of Oklahoma. The drought has also affected 17 percent of Kansas, 3/4 of Georgia, 1/2 of Florida, and 40 percent of Alabama. (35) "We're really looking at a throwback summer to some of our more intense drought periods such as the 1930s and the 1950s and of course the 1980s heat wave as well," said climatologist Gary McManus. (36) Unfortunately, the drought is expected to cause poor crop yields this year, which will likely result in even higher prices at the supermarket. The drought has persisted for months, and many people, particularly in Texas, have grown so frustrated that they have actually wished for a hurricane to bring moisture to the area. "They can be a lifesaver," said one cattle rancher. (37)

Desperation Around The World!

With so many problems facing the United States of America, those of us who live here sometimes forget that much of the world is in deep trouble as well. Africa is suffering from its worst drought in sixty years, which has affected ten million people throughout the continent; particularly in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. (38)

In Japan, much of the nation is still struggling with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, and the nuclear disaster that occurred thereafter. The city of Ishinomaki was one of the areas most severely affected by the disaster. "On a recovery scale of zero to ten, some parts of Ishinomaki are at zero and some are at one. Nowhere is better than that," said the city's mayor, Hiroshi Kameyama. (39)

Famine is so severe in the Communist nation of North Korea that many people are starving to death. "People are very poor again, they are going to the mountains to get grasses and weeds to make into soup," said Kim Yeong, a sixty-eight year-old Korean man now living in China. (40)

In Europe, financial crises in Greece, Spain, and Italy have left many worried about the economic future of the European Union. "Global equities could lose up to 35 percent of their value if the situation deteriorates into a full-blown financial crisis on the scale of the fallout from the collapse of the Lehman Brothers in 2008," analysts from Deutsche Bank warned. (41)

There is so much more that could be said about the desperate times that we live in. However, I am once again running out of space. I am thankful that we can rely on God, for without His mercy and grace, life would truly seem hopeless. He is the shelter from the storm, and the solution to our problems. For as it says in Psalm 34:4-6, "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Likewise, in Psalm 33:18-20, we read, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield." If you find yourself struggling and do not know where to turn, please remember that God is always there. I urge you all to fully yield your hearts to our Almighty God.

In closing, I wish to thank all of you for your support of this ministry. Your donations, letters of encouragement, information packets, and newspaper clippings are all greatly appreciated. We at Last Trumpet Ministries desire to continue serving you for as long as time may remain. It is my hope and prayer that this newsletter will be a blessing and assist you in recognizing the signs all around us that indicate the coming of our Saviour draweth nigh. If you have any prayer requests, please do not hesitate to send them our way. Our intercessors will give each request individual attention and carry your petition before the throne of the Almighty. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. Christian Post, June 26, 2011, By Stephanie Samuel, http://christianpost.com.
02. WorldNetDaily, July 5, 2011, By Bob Unruh, http://wnd.com.
03. Faith Shared Official Website, http://faithshared.org.
04. Human Rights First, May 17, 2011, By Human Rights First, Washington, D.C.
05. Associated Press, July 16, 2011, By Rachel Zoll, New York, NY.
06. Ibid.
07. Business Insider, June 29, 2011, By Joe Weisenthal, http://businessinsider.com.
08. King World News, June 6, 2011, By Eric King, http://kingworldnews.com.
09. CNBC, July 15, 2011, By Jeff Cox, http://cnbc.com.
10. MSNBC, July 13, 2011, By John W. Schoen, http://msnbc.com.
11. Ibid.
12. Yahoo News, July 8, 2011, By Zachary Roth, http://news.yahoo.com.
13. Reuters News Service, July 8, 2011, By Barani Krishnan, New York, NY.
14. The New York Times, June 27, 2011, By Hannah Seligson, http://newyorktimes.com.
15. CBS News, July 12, 2011, By Cynthia Bowers, http://cbsnews.com.
16. LA Weekly, September 2, 2010, By Michael Albo, http://laweekly.com.
17. WFAA News, July 14, 2011, By Cynthia Vega and Rebecca Lopez, Dallas, TX.
18. Huffington Post, July 12, 2011, By James Sunshine, http://huffingtonpost.com.
19. CBS News, June 17, 2011, By KCBS, Antioch, CA.
20. WINK News, June 9, 2011, By WINK News, Alva, FL.
21. Newsmax, June 6, 2011, By Dan Weil, http://newsmax.com.
22. Fox News, June 18, 2011, By Fox News, http://foxnews.com.
23. Huffington Post, June 8, 2011, By Janet Tavakoli, http://huffingtonpost.com.
24. CBS News, June 8, 2011, By Devin Brown, http://cbsnews.com.
25. Fox News, June 18, 2011, By Fox News, http://foxnews.com.
26. PBS, January 1, 2009, By James Bamford, http://pbs.org.
27. Ibid.
28. ZDNet, June 28, 2011, By Zack Whittaker, http://zdnet.com.
29. CBS News, June 27, 2011, By Alex Sundby, http://cbsnews.com.
30. Ibid.
31. BBC News, July 7, 2011, By BBC News, http://bbc.co.uk.
32. CBS News, June 30, 2011, By CBS News, New York, NY.
33. CBS News, July 18, 2011, By CBS News, New York, NY.
34. The New York Times, July 11, 2011, By Kim Severson and Kirk Johnson, Colquitt, GA.
35. Reuters News Service, July 14, 2011, By Karl Plume, Chicago, IL.
36. Ibid.
37. Financial Times, July 17, 2011, By Gregory Meyer, New York, NY.
38. France 24, June 28, 2011, By France 24, http://france24.com.
39. The Christian Science Monitor, July 7, 2011, By Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff and Peter Ford.
40. The Telegraph, July 16, 2011, By Peter Foster, http://telegraph.co.uk.
41. The Telegraph, July 16, 2011, By Emma Rowley, http://telegraph.co.uk.

Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.

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