Once again we have a story of corporate greed, executives grabbing the bucks before they leave and corporate vultures picking the bones. But what always seems to get lost in these stories is the hard working men and women who gave years of their lives, took paycuts and then as a final insult have their pensions snatched from them. Seriously right wingers out there tell me how this is right. The union didn’t bleed Hostess dry, the vulture capitalists and the gredy executives did. But they know that a press that is also overworked will take what stories they are handed and run them without much comment.

So in our compliant press the unions get blamed while the true story stays hidden unless you seek it out. Now executives are trying to give themselves large bonuses(don’t laugh) while taking the workers pension system.

By the way we as taxpayers will now be paying those pensions. So for those of you who admire business and think it can do no harm look at the Hostess story. The policies that workers and investors are being robbed blind under were fostered by Saint Reagan. The playing field is greatly slanted to the vulture capitalist. And for those of you who have your own business or are invested in what you think is a good company, someday your company may need a little help and the vultures will be there to bleed you dry.

Happy Thanksgiving WallyWorld.
I am writing this prior to Thanksgiving, so I do not know how the Black Friday boycott of Walmart in support of the warehouse workers went. I can only hope it went well. This would be a huge step for labor. Labor has been beaten to pulp since Reagan. The workers standing up to Walmart are taking on an angry giant that hates its workers. I am cheering wholeheartedly for the workers. For our part, we have finally quit Walmart. It ain’t easy but can be done.

ALEC Meeting Wednesday. Do You Know Where Your Legislator Is?
That odd little corporate group that tells Republican legislators how to vote and what laws to propose meets next Wednesday in Washington, DC. Yep, it is time for ALEC to meet. This is where ALEC’s corporations hand the legislators they own the corporate wish list for Christmas and the next session.

Due to exposure ALEC has lost some big names, but it is still a huge hitter at the state level. And these little closed door, behind the curtain, under the rock meetings is how they do their work in what is probably the most anti-democratic, oligarchic method possible. I have always been in felt that anything that has to do with proposing or modifying laws should be done in the open under scrutiny. ALEC should be on TV in bright lights. This is the group that has given us stand your ground laws, privatized prisons, tax laws that choke cities, voter suppression and many more. If it sounds like a corporate favor of a bill, it probably is.

We know that at least two area legislators have attended in the past, Mark Lofgren of district 91 and Tom Sands of district 88. Since ALEC meets in secret and releases no records of who attends it may be hard to find out who from Iowa did go, but we will do our best.

Reince Prebus To Stay As Republican Chair? I Vote Yes.
Got to say Reince and Mitt both helped the “Elect Obama” effort. I hope Reince has a little of that magic left for 2014. With all the gerrymandered districts we need all the help we can get.

Branstad To Medicaid Recipients: Drop Dead
Looks like Governor for Life Branstad will be turning down federal money we could definitely use that would create jobs we could definitely use to really show the world what a tough guy he is. Real conservative. Willing to fight against medicaid patients to the lost drop of their blood. Because Branstad has his medical care covered, what does he care about some poor people?

Note To Marco Rubio:
Most every kid in Iowa who has passed 5th grade knows how old the earth is. Next time you stop through secretly running for president, find a twelve year old and ask them. Iowans are a polite people and I am sure he or she would be glad to explain it to you. Is science taught that poorly in Florida? Maybe you should see if maybe you shouldn’t take a high school refresher science  course before running for president.