Framing the Dialogue

Posts Tagged ‘blackmail’

Jackson Dismayed

That title is how the excerpt from my local paper described Rev. Jesse “blackmail” Jackson’s feelings over the Recording Academy’s (Grammy Awards) decision to pare down the number of awards handed out this year.

Grammy Controversy: Rev. Jesse Jackson Enters Fray Over Cut Categories

Since Jackson has absolutely nothing to do with the music industry (or any industry or anything for that matter) I can only surmise that it has been too long since he got any press and decided this may work.  Jackson DEMANDED a meeting with CEO Neil Portnow to discuss his demands or threatened boycott or to “occupy” the grammys.  Portnow acquiesced to Jackson’s blackmail as have so many others in the past. 

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The OBA Administration

I’d like to suggest that the Obama Administration be renamed the OBA Administration or the Obama Back-Assward Administration.  When most of us have a problem we try to find and fix using logic.  For instance, my car was having some trouble starting so I had the battery and alternator checked.  If I were to act like the Obama Back-Assward Administration, I would probably have my key checked.  It would be funny except that these folks are “running” the country or should I say “ruining” the country…

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Update 2 – Liberal Alters – Unions

It’s been a whole day since I updated the Union Liberal Alter, but the events in Wisconsin scream for comment.  First off a little recent history.  In 2008/2009 we were repeatedly told that “elections have consequences” and that Democrats won and they could rule as they pleased.  It turns out that the electorate was not very pleased and in 2010 we had more of those election consequences only this time the Republicans swept.  The Republican sweep in the U.S. House was the primary focus of most news reports, but perhaps more importantly was the Republican sweep in the states.  The Republicans now have 29 governorships and have “more seats in the state legislatures than they have had since 1928″ and they are itching for real change.

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Is Blackmail Too Strong A Word?

You can be the judge regarding whether the term blackmail should be attributed to the actions of government officials in the following two stories. 

blackmail ravenstahlThe first story features local politicians in the City of Pittsburgh.  As a little background, the City of Pittsburgh has been in state receivership for a number of years because city officials cannot control their spending.  One of the biggest factors is their underfunded pension funds.  Pittsburgh’s Democrat boy mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, has quite a scheme to raise taxes (it always seems to be about raising taxes) without really ticking off his constituents.  He has decided to impose a one percent tax “tuition” tax on all students attending institutions of higher educations within city limits.  His position is that they receive “services,” but do not pay anything towards them.

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I Am From the Government and I Am Here to Help – Part 2

Part 2 – Blackmail

I know that sounds extreme, but it happens all of the time in (and to) government.  The media never really calls it blackmail, but that is what it is.  How many times have you heard a politician say that we need to do something (raise taxes, bail out some company, sell a senate seat) or things will get worse?  That is blackmail.

A recent local example involves the construction of a subway line in Pittsburgh.  Yes Pittsburgh has a subway!

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