Prisons for Profits and Kids for Cash

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism, as it is a merger of state and corporate power." Benito Mussolini

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a key plan for financial gain and control of the masses, taking of the public's assets, and easily becomes fertile ground for corruption and fraud. It's also a method of changing government. Apparently, Italian dictator Mussolini, the Il Duce and minion of Hitler, knew that trick. We may believe we're far removed from the time period and dictators like Il Duce, but the observable patterns remain; it's just labeled and packaged differently to fool some of the people.

"The early twentieth century Italians, who invented the word fascism, also had a more descriptive term for the concept -- estato corporativo: the corporatist state. Unfortunately for Americans, we have come to equate fascism with its symptoms, not with its structure. The structure of fascism is corporatism, or the corporate state. The structure of fascism is the union, marriage, merger or fusion of corporate economic power with governmental power. Failing to understand fascism, as the consolidation of corporate economic and governmental power in the hands of a few, is to completely misunderstand what fascism is. It is the consolidation of this power that produces the demagogues and regimes we understand as fascist ones (David G. Mills).
 
If the definition of "entrepreneur" is "a person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture", then entrepreneurs are defunct or, at best, just about nonexistent. The words related to articles about "parasite entrepreneurs" and "predator entrepreneurs" are oxymorons; as these are people who've discovered too many easy ways to get the taxpayers' dollars and assets risk-free. What we're really seeing are Public-Private Partnerships.

When looking at forgivable loans, and other pools of money created from taxpayer revenues (including TIFs, CDBG, and Redevelopment) clearly the receiving businesses aren't assuming the risk for business venture at all - rather it's the citizens carrying the risks. The numbers of total business failures reported vary, but start-up ventures are reported at about a 75% failure rate. And none of the businesses backed by taxpayers for Obama's green and solar companies have succeeded; we're at 0 for $6 Trillion input ("List of Failed Obama Green Energy and Solar Companies in the Billions" ).

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs):

The late Joan Veon, former Certified Financial Planner, business woman starting Veon Financial Services, Inc., an international journalist and author (Prince Charles, The Sustainable Prince, 1997; Global Straitjacket, 1999) educates us about the insidious change in government on all levels, and globally through PPPs. Veon tells us about Al Gore's state-sponsored "First Global Meeting on Reinventing Government" (November 4, 1999), and how Gore, when speaking with the delegates from foreign nations, referred to the taxpayers as the "customers". Some of the information from Veon includes:

• A PPP is a way in which corporations create new entities through PPPs to take control of government assets (the citizens' assets),
• PPPs are called "a solution for a government that is broke",
• We can call PPPs "global corporate fascism", "transfer of wealth", "the fleecing of the American taxpayers", a system of "deceit, deception, and distortion",
• Public = the government at all levels; Private = corporations, including multinational corporations, foundations [i.e. The William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, etc; Universities, Associations (i.e. Automobile, Timber, etc. "any entity with a lot of money"); and Nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, (i.e. Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, etc.)] with the bottom line of the "partnership" is taking control of the assets of government on all levels.
• The goal of PPPs is to make profits by using and taking public assets; and once the assets are transferred the citizens will not have any representation, and, therefore, no say in the operations of business in the PPPs 

Tax Increment Financing (TIF): "Imagine...a land where $500 million is spent to spackle the cracks of waste, bloat, patronage, and corruption...Welcome to the land of Tax Increment Finance districts (TIFs)". (Chicago, 2006 ). TIF, is a public financing method that is used as a subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure, and other community-improvement projects; therefore, "by definition, TIF diverts money from schools, parks and other important services".

The caveat about TIF programs are some are "poorly designed" and "...can give government officials a tool to lavish subsidies on favored or well-connected developers"...and "can create 'slush funds' (indicates a fraudulent use of money; expenses disguised as legitimate expenses) that lack public oversight and accountability", and TIFs sometimes continue long after the project's TIFs funds completed ("Tax Increment Financing, The Need for Increased Transparency and Accountability in Local Economic Development Subsidies").

In one example, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania construction contractors bribed officials in exchange for helping secure a TIF. Former Commissioner, Greg Skrepenak, and former Redevelopment Authority Director, Allen Bellas, both pleaded guilty to accepting bribes associated with tax diversion programs approved by the county government. Because of the TIF, the county, township and Pittston Area School District would have to wait 12 years to start collecting taxes.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG):
The CDBG was developed under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund local community development activities to benefit low and moderate income people (i.e. affordable housing, anti-poverty, eliminating slums and blight, addressing urgent health or safety needs). 

"This program was created in 1974 with the stated objective of eliminating blight and providing affordable housing. In the nearly four decades since then, it has degenerated into a federal slush fund for pet projects of local politicians and politically connected businesses. It is plagued by profligate waste and outright fraud." (Tom McClintock, Congressman, CA, District 4). Further, Congressman McClintock says the billions of dollars in HUD's CDBG slush fund "...is an unauthorized expenditure, the legal authority for it expired in 1994, 18 years ago and congress has not bothered to renew it ever since. But we keep shoveling money at it." ("Draining a Slush Fund: Community Development Block Grants").

Redevelopment:
"Every once in a while, we need to remind politicians that "redevelopment" is supposed to be a tool for cleaning up blighted urban neighborhoods and improving the quantity and quality of housing – not a conduit for siphoning money from the public treasury into developers' pockets."("A Corruption of Redevelopment Law".

Redevelopment is referred to as the unknown government ("Redevelopment: The Unknown Government, What It Is, What Can Be Done"). The linked pdf is an easily understood format to educate the public regarding the pitfalls of redevelopment, including TIFs. Some of the chapter titles are:

• Corporate Welfare
• Predatory Redevelopment
• Follow the Money
• Housing Scam
• Eminent Domain for Private Gain
• The Myth of Economic Development

"'Economic Development' is a common cliche among city governments and redevelopment agencies. It refers to a belief that tax subsidies to selected private businesses can stimulate the local economy. It assumes that the free enterprise system alone is inadequate. It presumes that government planners can allocate resources more efficiently than can the free market. The legal purpose for redevelopment remains the elimination of blight. All economic acitivies must pay lip service toward that goal. Behind this facade, redevelopment has subsidized giant retailers, luxury hotels, golf courses, stadiums and even gambling casinos." (Ibid).

Prisons for Profit And Kids for Cash:
Without doubt, there are some people who should be imprisoned. But it seems reasonable to believe the numbers should be far less than what we're seeing in the U.S. and appear to be the result of PPPs in the prison industry and their profit-making goals. Between 1990 and 2010, the number of privately-owned prisons in the U.S. increased 1,600%. There are approximately 2.3 million people imprisoned in the U.S. alone, costing $55 Billion to the federal government, while generating $3.3 Billion annual revenue in 2012 for 75% of the private prison industry. The U.S. comprises approximately 5% of the world's population, and about 25% of the entire global prison population.

Private prison companies' contracts often include "Lock-up Quotas" at or above a specific level; some demanding a minimum occupancy level of greater than 90%. Also included are "Low Crime Taxes"; if occupancy rates are not fulfilled, the government pays for empty beds ("Shocking Facts About America's For-Profit Prison Industry").

Additionally, 50% or more of detainment facilities for immigrants are run by private prison corporations. More than 25,000 low-security non-citizens are detained at thirteen private prisons under Criminal Alien Requirement (CAR) contracts (ACLU). "The federal government is in the midst of a private prison expansion spree, driven primarily by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency that locks up roughly 400,000 immigrants each year and spends over $1.9 billion annually on custody operations.

The two largest private prison companies are Corrections Corporation of America (CCA; operates 66 correctional and detention facilities in 19 states and the District of Columbia), and the GEO Group (operates correctional, detention, and residential facilities in the U.S., Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom). Private prison corporations have enormous political clout through lobbying, providing campaign contributions, and cultivating relationships and associations (Justice Policy Institute). Combined, CCA, GEO (including its Cornell Company) contributed $835,514 to federal candidates, and over $6 million to state level politicians during the past 5 election cycles.

According to the Justice Policy Institute the private prison corporations are continually looking to expand in states, including Maine, "For Profit Prisons and The Danger of Corruption and Abuse" (above): "Former CCA Warden and Maine: Governor Paul LePage appointed former CCA Warden Joe Ponte as the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections. While Maine currently does not have any private prisons, according to news reports, CCA has been in discussions with the town of Milo for the past 3 years over the possibility of building a $150 million facility. The appointment of Ponte and the $25,000 in campaign contributions LePage received from CCA raise concerns of increased access for CCA to open private prisons in Maine."

The numbers only reveal part of the story because prisoners also provide a source of cheap labor; pay is $0.93 to $4 per day (some prisoners in Illinois receive no pay, rather the pay is used to reduce sentencing). Companies that pay inmates can get up to 40% of the money back in tax reimbursements. Cheap prison labor is contracted to companies such as: Boeing, McDonalds, Starbucks, Victoria's Secret, IBM, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell, Compaq, and Nordstroms. U.S. prison inmates produce about 93% of U.S. paints and paintbrushes, 92% of U.S. stove assemblies, and 100% of military helmets ("Are private prisoners the new slaves of the U.S.A.?"); and they make office furniture, work in call centers, fabricate body armor, take hotel reservations, work in slaughter houses, and manufacture textiles, shoes, and clothing "Prisoner Labor Booms As Unemployment Remains High; Companies Reap Benefits".

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, privately-owned corporations operate more than 50% of youth correctional facilities in the U.S. Profiting from imprisoned human beings also includes children, and a scandal as cruel and shocking as the documentary's title leads us to believe as evidenced by: "Kids for Cash" (2013).

Two judges were charged with a 48-count indictment of racketeering, fraud, money laundering, extortion, bribery, and federal tax violations February 9, 2009 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Judge Mark Ciavarella, Jr., and Senior Judge Michael Conahan received over $2.6 million in kickbacks through involvement with a scheme to build two new juvenile detention facilities co-owned by attorney Robert Powell and taking a $1 million in bribes from the builder, Robert Mericle. The two judges manipulated convictions; private prisons profit when more youth are incarcerated.

The Juvenile Law Center brought the cases to attention in early 2007 and petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court alleging violation of youths' civil rights, and was originally denied until January 2009 when it was reconsidered following charges of corruption surfacing after investigation of another judge, Anne H. Lokuta. Several hundred cases were tried without the youths receiving proper counsel, and children as young as 11 were being sent to jail for instances such as:

"...the 13-year-old incarcerated for throwing a piece of steak at his mother’s boyfriend; the 15-year-old for throwing a sandal at her mother; the 11-year-old for calling the police after his mother locked him out of the house; the 14-year-old for writing a satirical Myspace profile. Another 14-year-old, an A student, was sentenced for writing “Vote for Michael Jackson” on a few stop signs; she had a seizure while in detention, banging her head so hard she cracked her dental braces (The New York Times, Sunday Book Review).

Conahan was convicted on one count of racketeering on September 23, 2011 and sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison. Ciavarella was convicted on February 18, 2011 on 12 of 39 counts and sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. Governor Ed Rendell said (August 7, 2009): Ciavarella and Conahan "violated the rights of as many as 6,000 young people by denying them basic rights to counsel and handing down outrageously excessive sentences. The lives of these young people and their families were changed forever."

This is the "reinvented government" Al Gore, the Corporatists, et al. want for us; and they're changing it piecemeal while selling us and our children for their profits. Even judges can be bought.

Nelson Mandela may have broken apartheid in South Africa, but those in charge "negotiated" to maintain a grip on the financial structures of the nation, and in doing so still control and enslave the people by controlling their assets (Naomi Klein's, The Shock Doctrine, The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, 2007). Our reinvented U.S. government has been occurring without a single shot being fired.

"The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." Mahatma Gandhi

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."  Elie Wiesel

Reality Check With Aaron Russo

"We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans." Bill Clinton, March 11, 1993

"The Constitution is just a goddamn piece of paper." George W. Bush, November 2005 
 

Independent, and a fearless fighter for truth and freedom are just some words associated with the late Aaron Russo. "America: Freedom to Fascism", a 2006 documentary is a great place to start in understanding Russo's mission; and, in my opinion, the culmination of a life's work in which Russo was willing to be the voice for the everyday people and took risks in revealing truth.

A self-described scrapper, Brooklyn-born and raised Russo says early in his life he stood up to bullies and there was no dare he wouldn't take on. Russo's course in life, which included being a manager for Bette Midler, and later producer and director of movies (The Rose, Trading Places, Wiseguys) placed him into a realm of people like Nick Rockefeller (Nicholas Rockefeller, attorney, member of Council on Foreign Relations, on Advisory Board of RAND, etc.) whom Russo called a friend. But Russo and Rockefeller were polar opposites in their viewpoints of people - Russo believed in independence, humanity, and self-actualization; Rockefeller was for manipulating, controlling, and serfdom of the masses.

In the "Reflections and Warnings" interview prior to Russo's death August 24, 2007, Russo tells how he first woke-up to the realities, namely corruption. Only 24 years old, Russo owned and managed a Chicago nightclub called "The Electric Theater" which he described as a hang-out for hippies.

The Democratic Convention was held in Chicago in 1968, and because certain community members didn't want the hippie protesters around and attending concerts, Russo's nightclub was raided. Russo said the fire department came into the club and dumped cans of garbage as he and others were nabbed by policemen. Getting into the paddy wagon, Russo said a police officer grabbed one of his testicles from behind and squeezed, putting Russo in excruciating pain. And another man getting into the paddy wagon was cracked on the head by police with a billy club, splitting the man's skull for no reason.

Of course the nightclub's raid made the papers, but the story was different. Reporters wrote the reason for the raid was because hippies were frequenting the club and the place was in squalor as evidenced by all the garbage. Russo said, "People lie like that...people actually do these things?...Nobody cared what the truth was and that was shocking to me."

Approximately two weeks later, Russo learned more lessons of the real world when a police captain, and police sergeant paid him a visit; they wanted $2,000 each month for which they'd fake raids to quell some of the complainers in the community, but would leave him alone. Russo paid the $2,000 each month until the police said they could no longer take his money because certain community elders wanted the business shut down. Russo was fighting in court to keep his nightclub, but during the process there was a fire. Russo says they burned down his business; "...that was my education into corruption in government...".

Some of the corruption Russo reveals includes:

• taxing of income by the IRS is illegal because it's in violation of the Constitution, and lower courts capriciously prosecuting those not filing are defying the Supreme Court decisions (the Constitution defines income as gains or profits by some corporate activity; therefore, labor and wages are not taxable; it appears the IRS is aware because the definition for "income" doesn't appear in the IRS Code. Moreover, within the IRS Code, filing a 1040 for income taxes is considered voluntary, not mandatory, and approximately 67 million are not filing 1040s);
• Gloria Steinem worked for the CIA (Ms. Magazine was funded by the CIA; Russo wasn't aware of the CIA connection until the interview), and Rockefeller told Russo they started the feminist movement with the goals of getting more women into the work force for tax purposes, and getting children into state programs as early as possible for indoctrination purposes (cradle to grave);
• 911 and "the war on terror" is fabricated to greatly restrict the U.S. citizens and create a fear of the unknown enemy (terrorists) under the Patriot Act, Department of Homeland Security, etc.; and the U.S. government has more plans to further control money and take freedoms away from the people

A noticeable pattern of words are used against Russo; similar to "Astroturfing the Lexicon" (January 23, 2015) and what Charlotte Iserbyt and Rosa Koire point out, semantic dialectics are in play. Russo's labeled "a conspiracy theorist", "liberalist", "political activist", "tax evader", "charlatan", etc. The pattern this writer observes is those attempting to cover-up the truth, deny the truth, fear the truth, and even outright lie, use words to deflect, and misinform in an attempt to provide disinformation. Labels are used to divide and conquer and seen all too frequently in the socio-political arena, as evidenced by: "You must be a liberal.", "Are you a neo-con?", Democrat, Republican, Green, etc. Human beings, in general, must be way too predictable as a whole; and that's a primary reason it's easy for so very few to control the masses because sheeple fall for the divisions created.

Lest some believe those astroturfing words, Russo wasn't an idiot (which is why he paid $2,000 each month to the police mafia); the other part of reality is knowing who has the power. We're living in a police state; laws don't apply equally, and the judicial system is corrupt in too many cases. Sometimes those illegally charged with evading taxes are fortunate to have a jury which understands the process, and ask for the law (which doesn't exist, as seen in America: Freedom to Fascism); and other times court corruption takes over and people lose assets, and sometimes are jailed. 

Looking at the meaning, mission, and words of Russo juxtaposed with the names, entities and actions by those like Rockefeller, CFR, Club of Rome, et al. through the prism of qui bono (who benefits?), or "follow the money" it becomes easy to see the truth.

Who Let ICLEI In, Brunswick?

"And you may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself
Where does that highway go to?
And you may ask yourself
Am I right?...Am I wrong?
And you may say to yourself
My God!...What have I done?!"              Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI, pronounced "ICK-LY") is a non-government organization (NGO), private, non-profit lobbying and policy group; a spin-off by the UN in 1990 to implement Agenda 21 locally, throughout the world (Rosa Koire). ICLEI is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, and helps create Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) using regional boards that are not elected and, therefore, not answerable to the citizenry.

ICLEI should stand for Ideally Conning Local Entities Incessantly, in my opinion; because it's a con on the grandest scale. The "Public" part is taxpayer money for Private organizations...to develop a sustainable world, with very little say in the matter. PPPs are about using other people's money to benefit private businesses including reaping of profits, supposedly for improving society and communities. And "local" is a guise, as the intent is to infiltrate at the roots level and then spread further PPPs globally, mandating participating countries to pay "global taxes" (see information about G20 Summit, "Low Gas Prices to be Followed by a Bank Bail-In?" January 24, 2015).

One of ICLEI's USA Board of Directors is Jeb Brugmann (ICLEI founder, Sustainability Strategist). From the website information, Mr. Brugmann is written as having conceived and founded the worldwide "Local Agenda 21" initiative known as ICLEI. The foundation of ICLEI's reason for existing is global warming. However, recall "global warming" is fabricated by a think tank established in 1968, as mentioned in "Club of Rome and the Origins of Global Warming" (January 26, 2015). And to reiterate, the evidence is from The Club of Rome's publication, found in the UN's website list of publications, "The First Global Revolution":

"...in searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came upon the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine, and the like would fit the bill."

So who let ICLEI into Brunswick? Seems reasonable to believe it may have started with the Planning Department, as ICLEI holds seminars and workshops, acts as consultants and helps planners "aid" communities by designing and selling systems that monitor environmental concerns and report and control water and energy use. ICLEI also helps guide planners in Comprehensive Plans and sustainability measures for sustainable community and development.

ICLEI appears to have been the main focus in the 2009 American Planning Association (APA) National Conference. According to the newsletter, Anna Brienich (AICP Commissioner and Planning Director of Brunswick) helped staff the two-day workshop prior to the annual Texas APA conference where Michelle Wyman, Senior Advisor to the ICLEI USA Board "motivated her audience (by) sharing her vision for a sustainable community..." and "Sustainability permeated" the conference program.

Certainly Mr. Manager (former town councilor, Joanne King's name for the town manager) should've been well-aware of ICLEI being part of UN Agenda 21. But what about the Town Councilors and citizens? Wonder how many people in the town even knew what crept into Brunswick.

Currently, the ICLEI website isn't listing all towns and cities which have membership with them. However, this must've been a relatively recent change because previously the list existed; now it's just a graphic of balloons with number of community members, no names. In searching the web there are other sites with such lists which have been cached. Brunswick and other towns previously listed as members aren't on this particular list from 2013 but shows up in other cached lists; however there's a document (Brunswick-Climate-Action-Plan pdf) on-line showing ICLEI's involvement in Brunswick. Since global warming was fabricated, the scientific data comprising a large part of the Brunswick-Climate-Action-Plan itself is moot. But the taxpayer's money is still being spent.

Sustainability plans also include codes, as mentioned in "Watch for Creeping Codes" (February 1, 2015). Surreptitiously, the UN's Agenda 21 is involved in creating International Codes; not U.S. codes on state and local levels with citizen involvement, but global codes. Clearly, the citizenry is to be muted throughout the process. When concerned citizens spoke against the International Property Maintenance Code in Summit Hill Borough in Pennsylvania, the town's attorney said the International Property Maintenance Codes weren't in any way affiliated with UN Agenda 21, and a councilor called the citizens' protests "fear mongering". Both of those people are wrong. Wonder who they are working for and if the majority of councilors and selectmen anywhere in the U.S. represent the best interests of their citizenry for which they were elected.

ICLEI is, indeed, in collusion with the International Codes Council as evidenced by a recent ICLEI USA @ ICLEI_USA tweet, January 30: "Big news: Plan for rising seas in all federal projects wapo.st/1zGGKw8 Now let's address climate in building codes @IntlCodeCouncil".

The following YouTube video is approximately twenty-four minutes and an excellent review of UN Agenda 21 by Tom DeWeese, and he talks about how the convoluted UN Agenda 21 system has reached all areas of our lives and at local levels as seen in Brunswick (due to technical difficulties, this particular video will not embed as previous ones have, but here's the link):

Tom DeWeese: Agenda 21 & International Redistribution of Wealth; CSPOA presentation

This opinion is in no way saying we shouldn't be concerned about our environment, looking for ways to reduce waste, and caring for our planet and communities. As previously mentioned, many are already on-board in finding ways to lessen their own personal impacts on the planet. What's occurring with UN Agenda 21 is insidious, and those in power have intentionally permeated all aspects of our lives, including education, and individual freedoms using the guise of environmental concerns in order to line their own pockets.

Citizens of Brunswick haven't been the only ones snookered; they're in plenty of good company with several towns and cities across the nation. But if you dig into the web, articles are showing that people are catching on, and getting UN Agenda 21's missions out of their towns. Therefore, it's not too late to realize what's actually going on, to speak up, and make some changes while we still have the chance.

Watch for Creeping Codes

Regardless of manufactured global warming (as evidenced by Club of Rome's documents, "Club of Rome and the Origins of Global Warming", January 26, 2015) many people are acting responsibly. Without government mandating the rules, many are seeking alternate and renewable energy sources, ways to reduce waste, grow their own food, and care for and about our planet and all its inhabitants. It seems a number of innovative, motivated human beings are taking the leap by becoming aware and finding ways to be as self-sustaining as possible, helping others in their communities, while getting out of the debt and death cycle connected with a lifestyle built around consumerism. However, most are not aware of the increasing spread to change codes at the local levels of government which are Agenda 21 extensions with the ultimate goal to prohibit people from being independent, responsible and self-sustaining.

According to Nick Rosen, author of Off The Grid , Inside the Movement for more Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America approximately 750,000 are living off the grid in homes not using public utility services, but opting instead for alternate sources, such as renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.).

Off the grid homes are as variable as people; whether building new, living smaller, or changing their existing homes.

Some retired folks and families opt for a partially off-grid lifestyle unencumbered by unnecessary possessions and increasing, unaffordable taxes associated with home ownership by living in RVs, fifth wheel accommodations (or on boats, and houseboats) equipped with solar panels and traveling with the sun as snowbirds. Living off the grid, or in an alternate lifestyle (i.e. not following the majority) isn't tantamount to living in unsanitary nor unsafe conditions. But given the news, it appears some local authorities are treating people as if they're behaving illegally.

In Arlington,Texas a police SWAT team raided an organic farm (The Garden of Eden) in August 2013, handcuffed the residents, and seized 17 blackberry bushes, 15 okra plants, 14 tomatillo plants, native grasses, and sunflowers; and spent 10 hours looking for marijuana plants that didn't exist. The owners were cited for code violations which included the grass was too tall, bushes were growing too close to the street, firewood was improperly stacked, and a couch and piano were in the yard.

Robin Speronis of Cape Coral, Florida was evicted (video also in this source) from her home after a television crew aired a news clip showing how she was living in her home without using public utilities.

And people in the rural outskirts of LA County, California are being harassed, jailed, and forced to destroy their homes after being targeted by "Nuisance Abatement Teams" which target zoning and code violations (Battle for the California Desert: Why is the Government Driving Folks Off Their Land?) .

 

The actions by law enforcement and local governments across the nation appear to be linked with "International Codes" by the International Code Council (ICC). And some of these international codes have appeared in Maine.

In Brunswick, the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) is utilized (as adopted by the State of Maine) and effective as of December 1, 2010. It appears to have ICLEI all over it, so to speak ("Smells Like Agenda 21 in Brunswick", January 13, 2015) because MUBEC consists of:

• 2009 International Building Code
• 2009 International Existing Building Code
• 2009 International Residential Code
• 2009 International Energy Conservation Code

ICC is a 50,000 member, global organization of "People Helping People Build a Safer World". Formed in 1994, ICC produces a single coordinated set of building codes throughout the nation which, thus far, consists of:

• International Building Code
• International Fire Code
• International Plumbing Code
• International Mechanical Code
• International Fuel Gas Code
• International Energy Conservation Code
• ICC Performance Code
• International Wildlife Urban Interface Code
• International Existing Building Code
• International Property Maintenance Code
• International Private Sewage Disposal Code
• International Zoning Code
• International Green Construction Code

Note there's nothing "local" in the decision-making process and codes here. As per the list above from the Town of Brunswick's website, not all of the International Codes have yet been adopted; so this is a warning because other towns in Maine have adopted additional International Codes including the International Property Maintenance Code: Albee, Bangor, Belfast, Biddeford, Boothbay Harbor, Lewiston, Newport, North Berwick, Saco (ICC website). Noticeably, the Town of Belfast's website doesn't yet list the codes it utilizes.

It's this writer's understanding from reading the International Property Maintenance Codes (a new edition of the code is promulgated every three years ) that people should be alarmed when reading it, hope their towns haven't adopted it, and if so, reverse the decisions because here's an example of what's in it:

• "...available for adoption and use by jurisdictions internationally..."
• "...is a model code that regulates minimum maintenance requirements for existing buildings"
• "...in the interests of the social and economic welfare of the community..."
• no owner or occupant can remove or disconnect any facility, equipment or utility required
• codes enforcement official(s), CEO, have authority to make inspections and has the right to enter premises provided he shows credentials to the occupant; and if entry is refused he can get law enforcement officials to assist him
• violations become a criminal misdemeanor or civil infraction as determined by the municipality, and violation is deemed "strict liability offense" meaning a prosecutor is not required to prove criminal intent; property owner pays all costs associated with violations and prosecution and can be jailed; neither the codes officer(s) nor subordinate(s) are liable for any costs associated in pursuance of codes
• noncompliance can be charged against the real estate, and a lien can be placed on the property
• each day of noncompliance constitutes a separate offense
• CEO can restrain, correct, abate violations (including ordering repairs), prevent illegal occupancy and/or stop the conduct of business, utilize the building or premises, has authority to shut off all utilities, and have the owner pay all costs of repairs (appeals go through the municipality's appeals board - not the court)
• CEO can order premises demolished; owner receives any money leftover from salvageable materials only after the demolishing contractor's fees are paid)
• preventing erosion is the owner's responsibility, no matter the source
• all premises and exterior property shall be maintained free of weed or plant growth in excess of ______ (fill in the blank for number of inches in height allowed)
• tree branches and/or yard trimmings are considered rubbish and not allowed on the premises
• no peeling, flaking or chipped paint allowed; both interior and exterior
• no rust, nor rust stains are allowed
• no inoperative or unlicensed vehicle allowed on the property
• no major work on vehicles is allowed on the premises; must be performed inside an "approved" building
• no painting of vehicles allowed unless inside an "approved" building
• pools, hot tubs, and spas with more than 24" water must be completely surrounded by a 48" fence (exception is for hot tubs and spas with approved safety cover); so this includes, for example, larger inflatable kiddie pools commonly seen at WalMart, etc.
• during _____to _____(fill in the dates) every door, window, and other outside opening must be supplied with tight-fitting screens of 16 mesh/inch
• locks are required on all entrances to dwelling area and sleeping units (aka bedrooms)
• sleeping is not allowed in kitchens and non-habitable spaces
• all interior surfaces, including windows, doors are to be clean and sanitary; no peeling, chipping, flaking, abraded paint is allowed; no cracked, loose plaster or other defective surface conditions are allowed and shall be corrected
• CEO mandates how many people are allowed to live in the home
• minimum room widths, minimum ceiling heights
• minimum 65-68 degrees F shall be maintained (65 degrees F in areas where the average monthly temperature is 30 degrees F)
• heat shall be supplied from ______to _______ [every owner and operator leasing "to furnish heat"; approved heat source(s)]

Not only should people pay heed to these various International Property Codes, but look at the other agencies and be aware of their new regulations. An example is the EPA banning 80% of current woodstoves.

The process of gradualism is effective, and sneaking up on us; as a whole we're not paying enough attention. We won't be telling our grandchildren how we used to walk five miles in the snow to get to school. Instead, if we're still around, we'll be reminiscing about so much more we've lost. Time to wake up.

Club of Rome and the Origins of Global Warming

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." George Orwell, Animal Farm 

Edgar Allen Beem of The Forecaster called those not believing global warming is caused by human activities releasing high levels of CO2 emissions "Neanderthal climate change deniers". And after reading many comments following articles on global warming, it seems the corporate elite are likely pleased their divide and conquer tactics remain intact; and they're winning over the minds of the multitudes through propaganda techniques which include distraction, misinformation, and creating confusion through duplicity.

We're at a time, for now, when technology enables accessibility to vasts amount of information which we need to critically sort through, but it's there to search for just about anyone who's willing to question. I'd read about the Inuits reporting the Elders observed a shift, or tilt of the earth to the north; and they knew this as fact because, unlike most of us, their daily activities of living revolve around knowing the patterns of the sun, moon, and stars. And I'd also read about there being approximately 176 such "shifts" and resultant changes on Earth throughout its history, in which we humans are just a blink of an eye. It just seemed Al Gore's well-scripted presentations were too pat; yet he was deemed the originator bringing together the scientific information as well as solutions in hand. The poster boy of global warming.

Then I came upon some information about the Club of Rome, which Al Gore is a member, along with many other corporate elite, politicians, the well-known, and well-connected. The Club of Rome was created in 1968 as a crisis think tank and the origins of the environmental movement today, including global warming. From the Club of Rome's "The First Global Revolution":

"...in searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming (my emphasis), water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill."

I don't know if there's any legislative representative in the U.S., at any level, who's knowledgeable about the changes taking place under Agenda 21, the Club of Rome and the origins of the agenda; aware of where our country is headed; that the U.S., being complicit with the global process, has deemed democracy and our Constitution are dead; or is even willing to make a stand on our behalf. Clearly, the information is spreading in Australia to some degree as evidenced by the YouTube clip "Honourable Ann Bressington Exposes UN Agenda 21 Club of Rome Population Control World Government".

Ms. Bressington says, "My dad always said to me that people only lie for two reasons. One reason is you're ashamed of what you're doing. And the second reason is that you don't want people to be warned just before you screw them."

We're given both the history and road map, along with a mission statement in published documents provided by the Club of Rome, the UN, and many other associated entities under the UN umbrella. Therefore, it's best to simply provide some words from the Club of Rome. From the horses' own mouths:

"The Earth has cancer and the cancer is man." 1974

"...the earth is facing an imminent catastrophic collapse if human civilization continues on its current trajectory." 1972 Club of Rome publication "The Limits to Growth"

"democracy has failed and new forms of governance are required" 1992 Club of Rome publication "The First Global Revolution"

"a common enemy must be found, one either real or invented, to unite humanity" (ibid)

"world collective economic security" (ibid)

"resultant ideal sustainable population is hence more than 500 million but less than one billion" (ibid)
http://green-agenda.com/ 

The Club of Rome's intention is to divide the world into 10 economic/political regions called "Kingdoms" and unite the world under a common leadership. The ten Kingdoms are: North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and South Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East, Main Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Centrally Planned Asia (http://www.opsecnews.com/?s=Club+of+Rome ).

There doesn't appear to be significant alarm that eugenics and population control are a major focus of the UN/Club of Rome plan, even when it's well-documented:

1973 Club of Rome "Limits of Growth" report: "In the August 1980 edition of Fusion magazine, Howard Odum, a marine biologist at the University of Florida, who was a member of the Club of Rome, was quoted, saying: 'It's necessary that the U.S. cut its population by 2/3 within the next 50 years'. He did not mention how this should be accomplished."

Ted Turner, Club of Rome member said, "A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal." and that a one-child policy like China's would help humanity and avoid cannibalism in the future.

1992 Earth's Summit in Rio, Maurice Strong, Secretary General of UN's Earth Summit and member of the Club of Rome: "It is clear that current lifestyles and consumption patterns of the affluent middle class involving high meat intake, consumption of large amounts of frozen convenience foods, use of fossil fuels, ownership of multiple small electric appliances, home and work air conditioning, and suburban housing are not sustainable."

Duplicitous - because if we look at the actions, possessions, and behaviors of those elitists fabricating global warming, there's no discussion of what they will give up, including volunteering for sterilization. Will those few in charge give up their multiple homes, cars, yachts, planes, helicopters, energy and food consumption, and lifestyles? I think not.

Low Gas Prices to be Followed by a Bank Bail-In?

In a recent Edgar Allen Beem opinion from The Forecaster, Beem admits enjoying the low cost of gas, but knows he's living in a Fool's Paradise. At the beginning of the piece, one of Beem's questions was when will Obama get the credit for the low prices? (and Beem answered never). While the Keystone tar sands pipe should be vetoed because of its environmental impact, lack of necessity, and benefits for big money corporations' self-serving interests, considering Obama should be given credit for low gas prices is too simplistic. Although Beem's op-ed made for interesting comments following the article, the big picture is missing and what's going on is not a bi-partisan issue.  (The Universal Notebook: Veto the Keystone Frack Pipe ).

The low gas prices are not for our personal benefit nor to boost the U.S. economy. We're reaping a short-term side-effect. The collapse in the price of oil is largely due to geopolitical warfare against Russia and Iran (Ellen Brown/The Corbett Report). This is how governments roll; our relief at paying lower prices at the gas pumps may be short-lived and we'll all pay more down the road. Much more.

Similar to the local papers' lack of substantive and investigative journalism, mainstream media isn't highlighting anything concerning last November's G20 Summit, nor the recent decoupling of the Swiss Franc from the Euro, resulting in the Euro's collapse. If the majority of people were informed, there'd be an uproar, and the big banks may lose a chance at a well-planned "Bank Bail-In". Yes, not a "Bank Bail-out", but a bail-in; but it all comes down to the same thing. The banks are given a green light to take people's money.

Backing up a bit, here's some information about G20. The Group of Twenty (G20) is a comprised of 20 major, advanced and emerging economies [Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, U.S. and the EU nations (28 member states, which includes some of the G20 already mentioned)]. After the Asian financial crisis, a G7 (Cologne Summit) started a meeting, in 1999, of finance ministries and central bank governors. By 2008, a G20 leader's summit was held to deal with the global financial crisis, and become the world's primary forum for global economic cooperation and decision making. What started simply as advisory boards changed to become global control through regulations by the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

The next G20 Summit meeting will be held in Turkey (2015 Antalya Summit), November 15-16, 2015. The Summit focus includes, but isn't limited to (Turkey's 2015 G20 Priorities):

• "...developing more efficient Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) models will be ...targets...",
• International Tax System,
• Climate Change Finance (improve collaboration, dialogue, and cooperation between the climate funds),
• "...for a number of work streams within the G20 including financial regulation, international tax, and international financial architecture, words have played their part. 2015 will be the time for the deeds and the year of implementation (G20's emphasis, not mine)." 

G20 Engagement groups are listed as:  Business-20, Think-20, Civil-20, Labor-20, and Youth-20 (http://www.g200youthforum.org/ ).

Therefore, it appears the U.S. citizens are being mandated among other things, to pay international taxes to support private businesses (globally), including contributions to green global private businesses, and whatever decisions made by G20, including FSB's financial regulations in the U.S. banking system accepted on our behalf by President Obama.

Moreover, as a result of the G20 summit this past November 2014, new G20 rules have been put into place. It's my understanding that there are 5 big derivatives banks holding over $50 trillion in oil derivatives, which oil producers buy to protect their price they're betting on.The Omnibus Budget Act will cover 5% of the derivatives loss, which Ellen Brown (http://ellenbrown.com/ ) says doesn't sound like much, but it's about $14 trillion.

Taxpayers will bail out banks again, except it's called a bail-in. Ellen Brown explains shareholders, bondholders, and depositors of banks will lose money; depositors first, because they're the largest segment. In the U.S. any deposit amounts over the $250,000 FDIC insured will be taken; these are usually local businesses which need larger deposits to cover cash flow and payrolls (in Europe the insurance is 100,000 Euros). Pension funds are usually connected to the bonds, so that'll be the next hit. If the FDIC insurance doesn't have enough money it can borrow from a $500 billion line of credit with the Treasury, but that has to be paid back - by the taxpayers.

Wonder where these ideas come from - that it's all free money because it's "other people's money" (Mr. Poppycock)? When we look closer to home, there are examples in Brunswick. Starting with the now defunct Brunswick Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), that began with taxpayers' money [and few even questioned the board members involved nor asked if there were possible conflicts of interest. Did any of the materials from taxpayer funded projects end up as "contributions" to someone's house(s)]? The taxpayers became a "bank" and a big sucker.

The BEDC morphed into the BDC, and a former town councilor gets a "forgiveable loan" of about a quarter of a million dollars for her taxi business. Interestingly, many have yet to find any bank offering a forgiveable loan/gift. Another example is former town councilor, Gerald Favreau, thinking it was a great idea to give a private business public money to build a road. If there's no astroturfing connections, then perhaps it's part of The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America we see manifested.

Remember the saying about a pool of money ("Folks This Ain't Right" Jan. 17, 2015)? There are takers and cons at all levels, but the sharks keep getting bigger, and the stakes higher. Is it too late to stop the momentum now?

Astroturfing the Lexicon

"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." Jim Morrison

We love words. "Buzzworthy" words gain a place in the Oxford Dictionaries or Merriam-Webster Dictionary, On-line Slang Dictionary, Urban Dictionary...f-bomb, aha moment, twerking... Words are judged to be politically correct, or not. Do you recall a time when politically correct wasn't even a phrase (or human resources)? Words can separate generations, be fashionable, or not. Booyah is supposedly out, along with awesome. Now it's dope (for awesome), BFF, Ho, hardcore...So much for the Andy Rooney moment.

Astroturf is synonymous with big money, big control. "Astroturf refers to apparently grassroots-based citizen groups or coalitions that are primarily conceived, created, and/or funded by corporations, industry trade associations, political interests or public relations firms." And according to sourcewatch.org the word is credited to long-time Washington and Wall Street Insider, Senator Lloyd Bensten when he coined the term "astroturf lobbying".

Astroturfing is nothing new; it's just a new name akin to yellow journalism, but a process on steroids. Astroturfing surreptitiously exists, hiding in forums, comments to articles, blogs, published letters to the editor, ads, in nonprofits, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and faked as grassroots movements. And as a friend says, "Follow the money." Sometimes we can figure out the connections by looking at board members for newspapers and organizations, in the "about" section in websites, conflict of interest relationships, or muckety muck connections, but a lot of the special interest, familial, acquaintance and money connections are difficult to find. In conjunction with the well-paid, ubiquitous lobbyists it's no wonder astroturfing is effective in bombarding, influencing, and confusing the public.

Democracy Now! was a website to visit and on my site list until discovering Amy Goodman is paid $2 Million/year salary, and funded by George Soros (The Corbett Report), billionaire financier, described by some as a former Kapo during the Holocaust while others called Soros' actions a way to survive, called an "economic war criminal" by Thailand, "the man who broke the bank of England", etc. who claims he's a messianic figure and "...I fancied myself as some kind of god...".

Besides looking for the money connections, we can acclimate ourselves with the lexicon of the astroturfers, which include but may not be limited to words such as:

• crank
• myth
• quacks
• railing
• paranoid
• alarmist(s)
• fear monger(s)
• fear porn
• conspiracy theorist(s)
• lunatic(s), lunatic fringe
• tin-foil hat wearer(s)
• truther
• crack
• nutty/nuts
• lies
• witchhunt
• shoddy
• pseudo
• troll 
• moonbats

Astroturfers working in conjunction with Agenda 21 goals may use words such as, but not limited to:

comprehensive list of key words and phrases that are often used at the local level when discussing Agenda 21 related initiatives.
Affordable housing Ballot Box Planning Benefit of all Benefits-Driven Buffer Zones Cap & Trade Choice Climate Change Common Core Curriculum Common good Community Protocol Comprehensive planning Consensus Conservation Easement Direct instruction Downzoning Endangered species Environment Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Environmental Justice Equity Facilitator Fair General Plan Global Warming Good Business Sense Grants Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions Greenways Growth management Habitat HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Communities Healthy Communities Strategy High Speed Rail Historic preservation Housing Element Inclusive Inter-disciplinary International baccalaureate International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Invasive species Jobs-Housing Connection Land Use Policies Lifelong learning Livable communities Livable Communities Local Local Governments for Sustainability Metropolitan Planning Organizations Mixed Use Development Modeling Multi-Use Dwellings New Economy New Urbanism New World Order One planet communities Open Space Outcome based education Outcomes Parking Policy Precautionary approach Precautionary Principle Preserve Priority Conservation Areas Priority Development Areas (PDA) Prosperity Protect Public/Private partnerships Quality of life Redevelopment Regional Resilient Cities Responsible development Restoration Safe Routes to Schools Sanctuary Scenic views and vistas School to work Sensitive Lands Smart growth Smart Streets Social justice Stack and Pack Housing Stakeholder Sustainable Communities Initiative Sustainable communities partnership Sustainable communities strategies Sustainable development Sustainable Economic Development Sustainable medicine Three "E"s of Sustainablity-Equity, Economy, Environment Traffic calming Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Transportation Justice Triple bottom line Upzoning Urban Growth Boundary Urban revitalization Vehicle Mileage Traveled Tax Vibrant Neighborhoods Vision Visioning Meetings Walkable Communities Watershed Wetlands Wildlands

Words aren't enough, though. In the movie "I am David", the main character asks Sophie, How can I tell the good people from the bad. And Sophie's reply is that sometimes you can't.

 But question. And keep digging.