Lets arrest people for feeding the homeless in America!!!

Members of the organization Food Not Bombs were in good spirits as they passed out corn on the cob, rice, beans and other vegetarian dishes to the homeless and hungry in an Orlando park. This cheer was interrupted when police officers on bicycles arrived and arrested five of the volunteers.
This is not the first time this scene has played out for members of Food Not Bombs.
Since June 1, a dozen members of the group have been arrested for violating a new Orlando city ordinance that prohibits sharing food with large groups in downtown parks more than twice a year.
The mayor of Orlando even branded them "food terrorists."
Food Not Bombs is an international political organization that protests war, poverty and the destruction of the environment, according to their website. The group meets to distribute food twice a week in downtown Orlando's Lake Eola Park.
They won a district court case to prevent the enforcement of the new ordinance , but the decision was overturned in the appellate court.

Food Not Bombs

On April 4, 2007 Food Not Bombs volunteer... View Full Size

Food Not Bombs

On April 4, 2007 Food Not Bombs volunteer Eric Montanez was arrested by police.

Record Numbers of Homeless Students Watch Video

Man Opens His Yard to the Homeless Watch Video

A spokesperson for the city of Orlando said that the ordinance had its origins in complaints from residents and business owners about trash left after the food distribution, public urination and concerns about crime.
Breaking the Law By Feeding the Homeless
Lake Eola Park is the city's "crown jewel and a signature part of the city right in the middle of Orlando," according to the spokesperson. The city says the ordinance is a permit system that allows them to be aware of what is happening and where so that they can provide necessary services such as clean-up.
In regards to Food Not Bombs, the spokesperson says, "We would really like to find a solution and a compromise."
The court decision says, "The City of Orlando enacted the ordinance to spread the burden that feedings of large groups have on parks and their surrounding neighborhoods."
The document also says that Food Not Bombs could obtain two permits a year for each of the 42 parks in downtown Orlando, for a total of 84 large group feedings a year. The ordinance does not put restrictions on group feedings outside of the downtown area.
"The idea that every week we have to move to a different part of the city and that people have to find us just doesn't make any sense," said Keith McHenry, one of the founders of Food Not Bombs and the first to be arrested in Orlando.
"It's a really wonderful experience to save food, cook it with your friends, and hand it out," McHenry said. "You can't imagine the government saying this beautiful thing can't happen."
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has been quoted calling the group "food terrorists." He told ABC's Orlando affiliate WTFV, "I think they are using food or the feeding of the homeless for different purposes."

Not if, but When world War III Happens.

It is my firm believe, that the human race is standing on the cusp of the abyss, and have a banana peel under one foot. There is a list that everyone of us have, to outline the number of reasons, and the different ways that will bring us to the brink, but I can tell you this, is happening as we speak. Around the world the population is growing, in the areas with greatest growth ,poor. More importantly they are in poor nations that are primarily anti- American, and anti western society. Typically the major conflict comes during an extended period of economic depression, well we are in one, and will probably see it get worse when, ( not if) Europe nations start eating each other over sovereign debt. This will be the epi center of this breakdown, led by the fact that a strong economic Germany, will not take it very well when asked to carry the brunt of the fiscal irresponsibility of  neighboring countries, Germany, lets say don't appreciate to begin with.Countries like Spain, Portugal, and, Italy. Ireland has already borrowed, more then they can pay back, as has Portugal.
We really haven't covered the tip of the fiscal problems leading to civil unrest or the ability for countries to remain solvent. However, there is always more then just economies that lead to global disturbances, another is the inability for people to have access to abundant food supply. We have already seen plenty of evidence of this, Egypt, Libya, and several other north African, and Middle Eastern countries.
To not forget the third and certainly one of the most important, religion. We in the United States are under attack from Muslims, and their religion. Europe has been enduring this battle for the last 50 yrs and the latest riots in London this summer was led mostly by local Muslims. In their defense those riots happened in one of the areas of London with, can we guess, high unemployment, and poor living conditions, with expensive food , and energy costs. This is all leading to a climax were other nations are going to add to the delicate relations and frayed nerves. By encroaching on nations borders, will push friends to waiver, North and South Korea, in resent years has pushed the envelope. China launching, and building a stronger presence in their region could strain the relations with Taiwan, as well as Japan. India now growing the countries population as well as their economy will create friction with Kashmir as well as Pakistan. These are just a few of the more well known hot spots in the world, there are however 20 more for every one I mentioned.

Here is a perfect example of a minor, problem we as America will get involved in, under current world conditions, that could led to a global incident(http://news.yahoo.com/ap-somalia-famine-aid-stolen-un-investigating-143004341.html )

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Thousands of sacks of food aid meant for Somalia's famine victims have been stolen and are being sold at markets in the same neighborhoods where skeletal children in filthy refugee camps can't find enough to eat, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The U.N.'s World Food Program for the first time acknowledged it has been investigating food theft in Somalia for two months. The WFP said that the "scale and intensity" of the famine crisis does not allow for a suspension of assistance, saying that doing so would lead to "many unnecessary deaths."

And the aid is not even safe once it has been distributed to families huddled in the makeshift camps popping up around the capital. Families at the large, government-run Badbado camp, where several aid groups have been distributing food, said they were often forced to hand back aid after journalists had taken photos of them with it.

Ali Said Nur said he received two sacks of maize twice, but each time was forced to give one to the camp leader.

"You don't have a choice. You have to simply give without an argument to be able to stay here," he said.

The U.N. says more than 3.2 million Somalis — nearly half the population — need food aid after a severe drought that has been complicated by Somalia's long-running war. More than 450,000 Somalis live in famine zones controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants, where aid is difficult to deliver. The U.S. says 29,000 Somali children under the age of 5 already have died.

International officials have long expected some of the food aid pouring into Somalia to go missing. But the sheer scale of the theft taking place calls into question aid groups' ability to reach the starving. It also raises concerns about the willingness of aid agencies and the Somali government to fight corruption, and whether diverted aid is fueling Somalia's 20-year-civil war.

"While helping starving people, you are also feeding the power groups that make a business out of the disaster," said Joakim Gundel, who heads Katuni Consult, a Nairobi-based company often asked to evaluate international aid efforts in Somalia. "You're saving people's lives today so they can die tomorrow."

WFP Somalia country director Stefano Porretti said the agency's system of independent, third-party monitors uncovered allegations of possible food diversion. But he underscored how dangerous the work is: WFP has had 14 employees killed in Somalia since 2008.

"Monitoring food assistance in Somalia is a particularly dangerous process," Porretti said.

In Mogadishu markets, vast piles of food sacks are for sale with stamps on them from the World Food Program, the U.S. government aid arm USAID and the Japanese government. The AP found eight sites where aid food was being sold in bulk and numerous smaller stores. Among the items being sold were corn, grain, and Plumpy'nut — a specially fortified peanut butter designed for starving children.

An official in Mogadishu with extensive knowledge of the food trade said he believes a massive amount of aid is being stolen — perhaps up to half of aid deliveries — by unscrupulous businessmen. The percentage had been lower, he said, but in recent weeks the flood of aid into the capital with little or no controls has created a bonanza for businessmen.

The official, like the businessmen interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals.

The AP could not verify the officials claims. WFP said that it rejected the scale of diversions alleged by the official.
At one of the sites for stolen food aid, about a dozen corrugated iron sheds are stacked with sacks. Outside, women sell food from open 110-pound (50-kilogram) sacks, and traders load the food onto carts or vehicles under the indifferent eyes of local officials.

Stolen food aid is not new in Somalia — it's the main reason the U.S. military become involved in Somalia during the country's 1992 famine, an intervention that ended shortly after the military battle known as Black Hawk Down. There are no indications the military plans to get involved in this year's famine relief efforts.

WFP said in a statement that it has put into place "strengthened and rigorous" monitoring and control in Somalia.

"However, given the lack of access to much of the territory due to security dangers and restrictions, humanitarian supply lines remain highly vulnerable to looting, attack and diversion by armed groups," WFP told the AP.

Somali government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said the government does not believe food aid is being stolen on a large scale but if such reports come to light, the government "will do everything in our power" to bring judicial action.

The AP investigation also found evidence that WFP is relying on a contractor blamed for diverting large amounts of food aid in a 2010 U.N. report

Eight Somali businessmen said they bought food from the contractor, Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur, who is known as Enow. His wife heads Saacid, a powerful Somali aid agency that WFP uses to distribute hot food. The official with extensive knowledge of the food trade said at some Saacid sites it appeared less than half the amount of food supplied was being prepared.

Attempts to reach Enow or his wife for comment were not successful.

 
You make you own conclusion, I however tend to lean toward WWWIII, sorry.

WSJ , Kelly Evans

Government Spending Holds Key to Growth

Response: I believe the measure of any good economists is the ability to analyze the data and come to an unbiased conclusion. However, it is nearly impossible to learn your craft through the ranks of higher education without succumbing to the continuous barrage of idealism from professors. No matter whether you attended a liberal university, or a conservative one, the agenda is clear, and the attempt is constant.  Which brings me to deduct as an economists, you have but one choice, that is to decide whether you are a socialist, or a capitalist, and then mold your philosophical approach in the best manner to achieve the optimal outcome, based on that belief standard.

I read you article yesterday that was in the WSJ, (ahead of the tape), and I can see from your tone, and assertions, you have chose your path, albeit an ill-advised one non the less a choice. My dear, it pains me to see the naivety off youth, be so close to the surface of opinion, as it reflects insecurity and apprehension, in ones life experiences. So much,  that the redundancies in tone are ambiguous to your thought. Why am I so concerned with the article of one young woman , in such an obscure, unapproachable position? Is because there are, is a group of readers that would read this and assume you know what you are talking about, and consider it fact. Moreover, not only are you in a position to misled readers at leisure, you do so with no conscience, as to the nature of negative secondary effects.

Keynesian economics is not the answer to the problems that face America, any more then you exceeding your own personnel credit to debt ratio by more then 100%. Any attempt to max-out your available credit, without generating any further revenue, would be met by the bank, as an impossible request to further extend credit to you in such a position. No responsible adult in their right mind would consider such behavior, why then should it, and is it expected behavior from a nation. I will give credit were credit is due you, your assessment of wall street taking its lead from Washington was spot on. Although our definitions differ, I feel it will be the lead of tax reductions, simplifying tax code, lower Federal tax rates on business, and starting to balance the trade. Semantics some would say, but a fundamental difference in tone from you, were the government is the entity that makes things all right. Ms. Evans I do sincerely wish all the best in your future studies, and attempt to grasp the grand complexity of human emotion, were it comes to talking politics, but we are economists, never forget we neither have the luxury to pick sides, nor do we wish to get dirty by doing so.

Respectfully,

James             

Oakland County | Oak Park garden rebel putting down Seattle roots | The Detroit News

Oakland County Oak Park garden rebel putting down Seattle roots The Detroit News

So much for staying to fight the good fight, eh Julie Bass?

Oak Park garden rebel putting down Seattle roots

Mark Hicks/ The Detroit News.

Oak Park — A woman who gained an international following when she was ticketed for having a front-yard vegetable garden is taking her green leanings to a new city.

Oak Park dropped all charges against Julie Bass last month stemming from the flap. But on Monday, the mother of six announced on her blog the family is uprooting to Seattle, where her husband Jason got a job with Amazon.com.
"I'm trying to delay the move until we pick every single last vegetable," Bass joked Monday night.
Bass opted to plant vegetables this spring after her front yard was torn up to replace an underground pipe. In June, she was ticketed days after being warned not to grow vegetables in her yard's raised beds.
Oak Park Planning Director Kevin Rulkowski has said the city isn't opposed to vegetables, but there are ordinances in place to regulate community aesthetics.
Bass had faced charges for the garden punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $100 fine.
On the same day of the ticketing, she was cited for not having licenses for two dogs.
The vegetable garden battle garnered worldwide attention after Bass launched a blog and a friend set up a Facebook page, both called "Oak Park Hates Veggies."
Last month, City Prosecutor Eugene Lumberg dismissed the garden charges. And within two weeks, Bass was cleared of failing to have dog licenses.
Attorney Solomon Radner, who represented Bass, said it's still unclear what prompted the case, but the outcome could cast a shadow on future wranglings between city officials and residents.
"I'm hoping this brings a certain level of sanity to future prosecutions in the city of Oak Park," he said.
As for Bass and her family, plans for their relocation, and the garden, still are being finalized.
A friend plans to use her compost pile. The fate of her plot depends on the home's new owners.
Despite the controversy that sprang up around the clash for its survival, the home garden "was worth it," Bass said. "It was a tremendous thing for our neighbors and our friends. … We're sorry to see it go."
Once she and her family are resettled, Bass will decide on growing another garden in a similar spot. "It depends on the neighborhood and the lay of the land, where we are," she said. 

Down With Big Chicken Dinner. :)

For years there has been an appetite for the largest commodity of energy, oil. This is the convenient truth. Here in America we discovered oil, drilled it , and pumped the hell out of it, starting in the late 19th century. By the end of the 2nd decade, of the 20th century, it was a staple of the new America.
            Observing the progress made, we must remember that by this time,(1920) we as a nation, were a mere 145 yrs yrs old. That's all it took for this country to go from humble beginnings, to the roaring 20's, were we as a nation, had put an end to the first World War, and became one of the 3, most influential military,and econmic powers in the world.
The growth the United States produced is an example of allowing the people and their hunger for ingenuity, and an increased standard of living, to drive technology and allow  there to be an exponential growth year over year. On every type of product, from toasters, to radios, to cars, to t.v.'s, to telephones.
All of the products we used as a public, evolved into a smaller lighter faster, and more technologically capable product. The one thing that hasn't changed or evolved is the energy we use to run the majority of our day to day lives as a home, business and nation, oil. Unfortunately, the only inconvenience now is, we will require a major disruption to occur in our lives to awaken the majority to come to the realization, that this is the only truth..............   " it is our responsibility as a people to , if we have the technological capacity,, to evolve,, then our obligation to our kind, is to do so". )

There is not any other issue that is on the table right now in our time, that is greater of a burden philosophically, then this one as a species, to examine, that collectively, having a responsibility to our existence , by putting in the forefront of thought with the burden of each decision that  "(in what way can the mass of society benefit from this action or this development") Decision making as a collective, and making these decisions with the moral obligation, will not in any way impede the potential for economic success, on the contrary it would grow at the rate of exponential technological growth.
           So as we shut out the lights tonight, turn off the t.v., power down the computer, recharge the cell phone, plug in your Chevy Volt, wonder to yourself why in the hell are we still using an energy source we discovered 130 yrs ago, in this great America,: the epi- center for technological growth in the cosmos!!!

       Good Night America.