There is so much debate today over the disparity of wealth. Roughly 1% of the population holds 20% of nation's wealth and 20% of the top wealthy own 80% of nation’s wealth, leaving only 20 percent of the wealth for the rest of the 80% of the population. Confused? That’s their plan.

But an interesting report emerged saying that using credit cards actually supports the wealthy. No, banks aren't just giving money to the rich...That would be wealthy welfare. No this is happening at retailers where you shop every day.

http://www.financialpost.com/Credit+card+fees+transfer+wealth+rich/3324220/story.html

Retailers must pay credit card fees to the bank. Instead of taking the loss, retailers jack up prices to incur credit card fees. So as per the article, if you pay with cash you are helping to pay credit card fees. So even if you want to avoid credit cards you are paying for other people to use them. 

How does this benefit the rich? Well the statistics show the wealthy spend more on credit cards and more often. They use their cards to receive rewards and that's right - cash back (what you work so hard to earn)

So next time you're shopping toss in a few coins for the rich and not needy to support wealthy welfare. They of course are nothing without us measly peasants.

On this 4th of July, I began to contemplate the true definiation of freedom and how it applies to me today as an American.

It is a popular sentiment today to believe in free enterprise. Why the heck wouldn’t it be free, it has free description. It is “free” enterprise.  Many find it a great idea to have everything in our life be privatized. One for instance is health insurance. This is how awesome free enterprise and privatization works for the average citizen in regards to health insurance.

My doctor scheduled some pre-emptive tests for me. Today, I received a notice from the hospital that my insurance company has yet to pay for the service. If I were to not pay the hospital, they would call a debt collector and keep nagging me until I pay. To a big corporation like Blue Cross and Blue Shield this is just good business practices. Bi-weekly money is taken out of my paycheck for health insurance, yet they decided when and if they are going to pay my insurance. Somehow I do not see that as a fair exchange, but that’s the beauty of “free” enterprise.

But it doesn’t stop there, banks play high stakes gambling games with our 401K, corporations have off shore accounts so not to pay taxes, they make inferior automobiles that kill people, they have taken short cuts in food safety that is making the public sick and they have destroyed our Gulf coast. All this is done so in the name of “free” enterprise and privatization. They are self-regulated and above most laws.

I make these complaints to everyone – family and friends. And their answers are always the same, “It is the way it is. Deal with it.” Have we succumbed to the powers of the corporations? Are we going to roll over and allow them to play with our finances and health? Is this something we should really deal with?

So we may all say “free” enterprise is great, but at what cost to us – our health, our financial security, our environment. That to me is not freedom. Although I may live in a free country, I am far from free. It is the corporations gambling with my livelihood that is taking away my freedom.

Yesterday a judge in Texas rejected the moratorium on oil drilling. We found out this judge had stock in Trans Ocean and other oil companies - a complete conflict of interest. Hm, really judge?

Meanwhile oil barons of the world gathered in their lair on some mysterious island only able accessible by luxury private jet to condemn the moratorium. Meeting Agenda: How to convince the world it simply cannot survive without their energy? I have two words: public transportation.

I can hear the collective screams and fist pounding of oil executives at the sound of public transportation and renewable energy. How will these men make billions at the expense of the global population and the environment of the earth?

It has been this way for generations, if not a century. Oil men have controlled politics and society. Our dependence on oil is not a human addiction like a drug; it is so the oil companies can control our politicians and thus the country. They are denying us the opportunity to be energy independent for their own profit – greed.

It is not much different than credit card companies that make the rules and make it necessary to have credit. Oil companies make it difficult for us not use their product. In some cities (Los Angeles) where I once heard plans of a complete public transportation system was scraped in the Seventies because oil and auto companies wanted to increase their profit. So there you go LA you can thank oil execs for your smog.

Times are changing and will be changing dramatically for all those who made money in the oil industry. The days of power and riches are over. For some this is a very hard pill to swallow. But change brings new opportunities. There are jobs and opportunity in renewable energy. There can be jobs in public transportation, solar and wind.

Yes the world and humanity will not only survive it will thrive without big oil. And it will happen if we have to revolt (boycott) oil companies. The people need to take the world back. It has already begun.

This morning after watching Joe Barton's tongue licking of BP's Tony Hayward, I felt dirty. I needed a shower to wash away the filth. It was the worst showing of public ass-kissing in modern history. And I was reminded these Republicans support tea bagging especially if one's balls are attached to a big oil CEO.

The exchange reminded me of Lewis Black's "Ball Washer" skit. Perhaps after a career in politics he can get a job washing Hayward's balls.

Many in this country cry out for moral decency. A female teacher was fired because she had a child out of wedlock. Judges refuse to marry interracial couples and offer civil rights to same sex partners. Somehow for some leaving part of our country an environmental disaster and destroying the livelihood of many an "unfortunate accident" and those responsible should not be made accountable. That to me is very much indecent and immoral.

Barton's response to Obama's shakedown of BP is that BP in accordance with the American legal system should have their fair due process. So with that philosophy Mr. Barton we should offer fair due process to the detainees of Guantanamo Bay? Many of those men committed no crimes or atrocities against America and yet they remain in prison. But BP destroyed part of our land. One might say it was corporate terrorism. Freedoms should not lie only for those who can afford it or put money in your back pocket. Freedom should be a right for all men. It is hypocrisy at its finest.

These congressmen were elected to serve the people instead they are in bed with corporations. This is like having a man's bimbo mistress addressing the terms of the divorce settlement. Corporations and BP are only partially to blame. Our government was letting them get away with this for generations or more. And it is also our responsibility as American citizens. Like a wife who has been betrayed, we have turned a blind eye and allowed it to occur. We have continually elected people who care more about the rights of a corporation than the people.

Divorce the politictal bastards in bed with bimbo corporations and elect a new relationship of human decency and civil respect.

 Note: I realize Joe Barton apologized for his apology but that still not excuse him.

I was really excited about the coffee party until I read all their rules, requirements and the pledge to play nice. And then there was the slew of comments (including from myself) pledging good manners and our vast differing ideas of what the movement should be. Honestly it began to seem like a scene from Monty Python's The Life of Brian. Are we the Judean People's Front or the People's Front of Judea? I don't care as long as you call me Loretta.

In all due respect for the founder and the members, the coffee party's desire is to have polite dialog on policy. Has anyone been watching the news? Have we watched the healthcare debate? Have we not witnessing the lies and the fear mongering? Have we not seen the report for the ROC fundraising report.

Engage those who you disagree with reasonable discussion and debate. Okay. How do you reason with people who are convinced Obama is a terrorist Arab born in Kenya?  How do you discuss policy with someone who protests the government will take over his Medicare? You can't. Wake up, coffee drinkers.

Tactics here do not call for politely debating political ideology over a non fat decaf foam free latte. It requires a really sharp mind brought on by espresso or dare I say Turkish coffee. Here are my suggestions: 

1. Ignore republican terrorists (Bachmann, Beck, Coulter) Don't indulge their wackiness. It's like the bully on the playground. They see weakness they will continue to attack. If they get attention for being crazy, they will get crazier. Ignore them now!
2. Stick to the facts by indulging in humor a la Stephen Colbert or John Stewart. Or Funny or Die's SNL video on the CFPA, or my favorite "Get your Jesus of My Penis." Never under estimate the power of humor.
3. Use props effective props like Alan Grayson.
4. Go berserk and shock your opponents like mild mannered Anthony Wiener. 

 To quote a bumper sticker I read recently,

 "Speak your mind even if your voice shakes."

And remember America is home of the brave. Let's not only have the courage to stand up for what we believe, but the courage to see truths. We have to make sure our nice, polite and reasonable voices don’t resonate like a whisper. What good would that do?