Life is strange at times. I read two different stories today and remembered an old one and they all contribute to what's happening in America and as to what's going to continue to happen.

1st. Youngstown, Ohio. The shell of a city that once flourished. What do you do with a city that has less than 50% of its former population? Well, if all else fails, you could try shrinkage. Read the link below the jump.

2nd. This story by Paul Craig Roberts gives you the insight into what is happening to the Youngstowns of America. He breaks it down and asks the question, "Is this a portrait of a super economy?"

3rd. Another reason to hold primaries. An excellent example of why the Joe Lieberman types have to be voted from the Democratic Party. We don't have room for DINOs or delusion.

A couple of years ago in June of 2006 I wrote a diary entitled, "NASCO = "NAFTA's trade supercorridor" which received about 18 comments, some of which were responses of mine. I wrote the diary based upon a report by Lou Dobbs of CNN fame. That fact harmed any real debate on NASCO because of the way Kossacks feel about Dobbs.

Nevertheless, the diary and numerous diaries later by other Kossacks almost always developed into "tin foil" hat debates. Everyone seems to have their own opinion about these concerns and proudly voice same without any attempt at research or simple curiousity. As America continues to become the latest banana republic we can only blame ourselves.

Each day I visit dailykos, economyincrisis, augustreview and a couple of different national debt clock sites due to my own interests. Each day I become even more convinced we need to act as one and we need to hurry.

More after the break...

Greetings! The moment everyone has waited upon has arrived!

A precedent has been established by editor and publisher of Pasadena Now therefore all the corporate big boys can now participate without fear, without thought, without any concern whatsoever.

In case you missed it, a Pasadena, Calif., Web site is outsourcing its "local" news reporting to journalists in India!

THANK YOU, GOD!!!

Two nights now Lou Dobbs has had a story about the NAFTA superhighway. A couple of snips from each night->

The Bush administration's open-borders policy and its decision to ignore the enforcement of this country's immigration laws is part of a broader agenda. President Bush signed a formal agreement that will end the United States as we know it, and he took the step without approval from either the U.S. Congress or the people of the United States.

BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America sounds benign, hardly like a policy that critics call NAFTA on steroids. It's a deal that few have even heard of. Yet, it was agreed to by Mexico's President Fox, Canada's Prime Minister Martin, and President Bush in 2005.

The US is losing $725 Billion per year to foreign countries through trade losses. This money does not come back to buy our goods and services. It comes back to the US in three other ways:

Foreign countries are bankrolling the US Government - with levels as high as 53% of US Treasury debt held in foreign hands.
Foreign countries are using the rest of this money to buy out our core industries and companies. ($1.3 Trillion spent to acquire 8,600 US wealth producing companies in last 10 years)
Many American industries are now controlled by non-US companies (e.g. Book publishing 63% foreign owned, Financial services 36%, Motion pictures 75%, Cement Industry 81%, and Television manufacturing 100%)

The argument set forth concerning the ratio of workers paying into the social security trust and the retirees drawing benefits from said trust is an interesting but invalid point.

The discussion begins with a couple of simple truths that are used to proclaim negatives that do not exist.

For example, the statement is issued, “In 1950 there was 16 workers paying into the system to every 1 retiree. Today in 2005 there are 3 workers paying into the system to every 1 retiree.”

go below (ex-navy)

This diary is a follow up concerning several different links that all should be read in order to determine the full extent of the story.

There is an story over at The Huffington Post by a guy named Martin Garbus stating that two democrat Senators from New Jersey are guilty of quid pro quo involving Judges.

The link is http://www.huffingtonpost.com/... and the title is "Proof That Bush's Removal of the Abramoff Prosecutor was a Political Deal to Scuttle the Investigation"

more below the split...

Got me one of those jobby things. Kind of neat. I work my tail off, say, "Yes, Sir and No, Sir." and hope I get them in the right places. A guy I heard about called Uncle Sam offered me a deal.

Kinda went like this.....

A few months back I promised myself to create a diary about JFK before year's end. Time waits for no one.

I have few modern day heros from the area of politics for any number of really good reasons but this guy, this President was worthy of admiration.

JFK Remarks never given. Truths never heard.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/...

I promise you a good read and time well spent.

Greetings! Been doing a lot of research on social security in order to establish a one stop diary re truths, lies, etc.

During my investigations the following statement has been found to be true.

There is no money in the social security trust fund.

I know, you've heard it all before in a number of ways by any number of people just like me.

I have a friend, a co-worker of almost thirty years that needs answers that I'm not qualified to offer concerning bankruptcy.

He receives SS and a small union pension each month. Total is around $2,200 each month. $1,134 + $974.

"When figures start flowing up to $200 billion, I have concerns. $1 billion is a lot of
money," says Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama).

Concerned isn't he? The type of guy you can rely upon to handle your hard earned tax dollars.

Must make a person real proud to be from Alabama.

Well, maybe not. Maybe, the good Congressman isn't exactly what he is supposed to be. Maybe, your vote was a waste of time and effort. You'll notice I did not mention trust or honesty?

Somebody named wild salmon wrote an excellent diary today regarding Presidential Executive Order 12898.

His diary fell off the menu because of all the "GET BUSH" diaries.

Presidential Executive Order 12898 may be the law that can "GET BUSH" if you all would only read the damn diary.

I'm a firm believer in the old saying, "Two heads are better than one."

Maybe the President could urge his new director of FEMA (I assume Brown will be fired) to hold Town Hall Meetings in order to secure ideas regarding potential problems and the solutions of such.

Ok, Mom you have to help us. We need your love and concern.

You are the only support we have and need, Mom.

There are app. 300 million people in the USA, Mom, and I am going to guess that at least 80 million are Mothers so you have a lot of company.

Evidently there is a severe problem with our President's mental health.

He appears to work off of some form of a delay switch and he can't seem to create thoughts entirely upon his own behalf.

WHAT IN HELL would have happened?

Where in hell is George Bush?

There are people dying in NO right now.

Where in hell is George Bush?

The Pentagon just announced on CNN they were sending the Army Corps of Engineers to fix the levy.

Who the Hell is running this country?

The city is filling up like a gold fish bowl.

No electricity, no water, no toilets, no medical supplies, no GEORGE BUSH!!!!

I posted a comment upon another diary a few minutes ago trying to promote involvement of Kossacks re the hurricane and its effects upon national gas prices.