Democracy for New Hampshire - Accountability

Joe Montibello for Exeter Selectman

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:13:16 -0500

I'm Joe Montibello, and I'm running for Selectman. I’m a family man living and working in Exeter, and I am concerned with the future of the town. Politically, I’m a progressive who believes that the purpose of local government is to put the will of the people into action.

The town can’t afford to just listen – it has to ask the people what they need and make every effort to provide it. The Board of Selectmen needs to seek feedback from the residents, so that everyone can be represented fairly. Giving some citizens a simple way to get their ideas to the Board of Selectmen – the attached postcard – is one way to encourage more participation among the people.

I support the articles regarding our police and fire departments, as well as the Healthcare District change. We need to reserve judgment on the Great Dam until a full study is complete, but I’m hopeful that we can find a way to generate power there, reducing our reliance on public utilities. I list my stances on all the warrant articles on my website - http://selectjoe.wordpress.com.

One of the most important issues in this race is not on the ballot. At the deliberative session, citizens voted to remove from the ballot a question about hiring two new positions in the Finance Department. I believe that these positions are needed, but the vote to remove the warrant article was the voice of the citizens. Reversing that kind of decision is a bad precedent to set. I’ll oppose it if elected.

Thanks for your time. I’d appreciate your vote.

Joe Montibello
Exeter, NH

Icelanders reject bank bailout scheme (unlike US citizens, Icelanders had a vote on it!)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:54:13 -0500

First Iceland, then the World

Written by Michael Collins

SOURCE: DailyCensored.com

Michael Collins
The public is angry. Why should the public pay for the bankers mistakes. Iceland blogger Halldor Sigurdsson

Who cleans up the mess when ignorant, greedy bankers rack up massive debt then go broke? The people of Iceland made a strong statement Saturday. The sins of big bankers and government regulators shouldn’t fall on the citizens. By a 93% to 2% margin, they voted down a proposal requiring them to cover bad debt incurred by one of the nation’s oldest and largest banks. Covering the debt would have cost Iceland’s 317,000 citizens around $17,000 each.

Iceland’s national referendum was the first opportunity for the people of any nation to vote directly on who pays when the financial elite fail.

As citizens voted, Iceland’s Prime Minister was dismissing the importance of the vote and promising to negotiate a payment scheme obligating citizen subsidies for bad debt created by Iceland’s beyond-bad bankers.

Ellsberg: The Patriot Act legalizes Nixon's crimes

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:40:32 -0500

SOURCE: OpEdNews

February 23, 2010 By Joan Brunwasser

More Ellsberg: The Pentagon Papers and John Dean, Then and Now

My guest today is "the most dangerous man* in America" whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. When you released the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times, you knew that you could be facing life in prison. Luckily, that turned out not to be the case. But, if you were to have done comparable actions since the passage of the Patriot Act, they would have tossed you in prison and thrown away the key. That's a sobering, concrete example of where we are almost forty years later. Do you ever think about that?

Good question. Actually, although (unknown to me and almost everyone else) the prior law was on my side in 1971-73, I came pretty close to spending 115 years in prison then. With good behavior, I would have gotten out (after 35 years) in 2008. It took a lot of luck, and a handful of individuals who told the truth (John Dean about the burglary, someone in the FBI about the electronic overhearing) to overcome the attempts of the president to bribe my judge with the directorship of the FBI.

And even before the Patriot Act, the trend of legal opinions--the terrible judgments in the Samuel Loring Morison case in 1984, an increasing disregard of legislative history which had weighed against using the Espionage Act as an Official Secrets Act--was against the chances for a future leaker of classified information. The Patriot Act itself didn't affect this situation that much. It doesn't include an Official Secrets Act--almost by oversight--though another 9-11 could almost surely get us one, even from Obama.

However, the Patriot Act and related legislation do have the effect of legalizing most of the actual crimes against me by Nixon. Sneak-and-peek entries and burglaries of a doctor's office, in search of information to use against a "terrorist suspect"? (i.e., someone like me who opposes and resists a president's terrorism). Legal, now. Warrantless wiretaps? Legal. Use of CIA against an American citizen? Legal.

Voyeurs Here, Voyeurs There......

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:55:53 -0500

SOURCE:Computerworld

Software maker blasts 'vigilantism' in Pa. school spying case
Absolute Software will update its LANRev to disable camera feature
By Gregg Keizer

The company selling the software used by a Pennsylvania school district to allegedly spy on its students blasted what it called laptop theft-recovery "vigilantism" today.
Absolute Software said it dissuades users of theft-recovery software from acting on their own. "We discourage any customer from taking theft recovery into their own hands," said Stephen Midgley, the company's head of marketing, in an interview Monday. "That's best left in the hands of professionals."
Midgley confirmed that Lower Merion School District of Ardmore, Pa. was running Absolute Manage, formerly known as LANRev, which Absolute Software acquired last December. The suburban Philadelphia school district purchased and deployed LANRev prior to Absolute's acquisition, he said, noting that most school districts buy the software for power management features that let IT staff remotely power down systems.

White House weekly address: Health insurance rate hikes out of control

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:11:28 -0500

Whitehouse.gov

Weekly Address: Premiums, Profits, and the Need for Health Reform
Posted by Jesse Lee on February 20, 2010 at 06:00 AM EST

The President points to outrageous premium hikes from health insurance companies, especially those already making massive profits, as further proof of the need for reform. Looking ahead to the coming bipartisan meeting on reform, the President urges members of Congress to come to the table in good faith to address the issue.

Watch the video address here

In the shadows, underground or real? You decide.

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:59:53 -0500

Economists are a peculiar lot as social science goes. Perhaps because their subjects actually handle material things, economists have decided that the trade and exchange of goods and services is only economic, if they can count it. Moreover, because keeping track of money is easy, economists have further simplified their field of inquiry by restricting their analysis to transactions mediated by money.

If money doesn't change hands, an exchange doesn't count. Which, in economist speak, means that the economy of a particular region or population is "undeveloped." From which it seems fair to conclude that the primary objective of "economic development," at least from the economist's perspective, is to remedy a stumbling block and facilitate their ability to count and account for what's going on. Whether people are actually better off using money than when they're engaged in subsistence farming is beside the point. It does, perhaps, explain why the evidence suggests that they're not.

Breitbart lied about ACORN 'pimp' videos when selling story in his own Washington Times column

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:50:49 -0500

SOURCE: - The BRAD BLOG - http://www.bradblog.com -

Breitbart Lied About ACORN 'Pimp' Videos When Selling Story in His Own Washington Times Column - Falsely asserted O'Keefe 'dressed as pimp' while 'asking for, getting help for illegal activities'; Still stands behind fabricated claim

Media Matters details mainstream outlets that took bait, fell for Breitbart/O'Keefe's sensationalized fiction...

Posted By Brad Friedman On 17th February 2010 @ 17:46

As mentioned yesterday (1), on Monday night, wingnut propagandist Andrew Breitbart tweeted (2) to me...

andrewbreitbart (3) | @TheBradBlog (4) U can lie that i lied until youre blue in face. ive told truth every step of way. U are propagandist. keep repeating the lies.

...in reply to The BRAD BLOG's (5) recent series of articles highlighting, among other things, how he lied, along with his accused federal felon (6) employee (7) James O'Keefe, in order to sell their phony ACORN hit videos to gullible media --- and how the New York Times, and so many others, fell for it hook, line, and not-yet-retracted sinker (8).

Building a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence Conference

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:23:00 -0500

Saturday, March 13, from 8:30 am to 12 noon: Building a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence Conference at Concord High School, 170 Warren Street, Concord NH.
Workshop titles include: The Global Movement to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Getting Out of Afghanistan, Peace with Justice for Israel and Palestine, Truth in Military Recruiting, Iraq Update, Resisting the War Machine, Abolishing the Death Penalty, and more.
Suggested donation of $10 includes lunch.
Sponsored by NH Peace Action Education Fund, NH American Friends Service Committee, Seacoast Peace Response, Concord High School Peace Club, Durham Students for a Democratic Society, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service NE, and UCC Peace with Justice Task Force.
For more information contact will@nhpeaceaction.org or 603-228-0559 or see www.nhpeaceaction.org.
--

Rethink Afghanistan - a film by Robert Greenwald

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:18:09 -0500

Monday, March 1, 6:00 pm: Film: "Rethink Afghanistan," followed by
discussion, at the Rochester Public Library, 65 South Main St, Rochester
NH. Discussion facilitated by Will Hopkins, Executive Director of NH
Peace Action and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
This ground-breaking documentary interviews Afghan civilians as well as
US and Afghan political leaders and foreign policy experts. "Rethink
Afghanistan" raises critical questions about the consequences of U.S.
policy and the recent troop escalation that all Americans need to
consider.
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Seacoast Peace Response, NH
Peace Action, NH Iraq Veterans Against the War, & NH Vietnam Veterans
Against War.
For more info: info@seacoastpeaceresponse.org or 603-664-2796 or see
seacoastpeaceresponse.org.

Rethink Afghanistan - a film by Robert Greenwald

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:14:20 -0500

Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 pm: Film: Rethink Afghanistan, followed by a
facilitated discussion at the Blaisdell Memorial Library, 129 Stage Rd.,
Nottingham, NH.
"Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking documentary by filmmaker Robert
Greenwald. He made several visits to Afghanistan and interviewed many
Afghan civilians as well as US and Afghan political leaders and foreign
policy experts. "Rethink Afghanistan" raises critical questions about
the consequences of U.S. policy and the recent troop escalation that all
Americans need to consider.
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Seacoast Peace Response, NH
Peace Action, NH Iraq Veterans Against the War, & NH Vietnam Veterans
Against War. For more info: amyla44@juno.com or 603-664-2796 or see
www.seacoastpeaceresponse.org.

Robin Hood Tax

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:30:26 -0500

Also known as a transaction tax, it's something economists are being asked to endorse.

Patient Advocacy

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:53:43 -0500

Everyone that's been following the health insurance reform agenda has become aware that monetary awards to the victims of medical malpractice are a burr under the Republican saddle. Partly, I'd wager, that's because one of the primary objectives of the party of 'NO' is to say "no" to social responsibilities of all kinds. So, to their way of thinking, if a person chooses wrongly and ends up with a negligent doctor or nurse, it's his/her own fault. After all, that's what personal responsibility is about. Whatever the fates impose (flood, drought, asphyxiation or drowning on a board) is the individual's own fault.

Shining light on the Financial Resources Ponzi Scheme and NH's response (or lack thereof)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:56:39 -0500

Union Leader story on Financial Resources Ponzi Scheme

I wanted to share this with you. This is in my judgment a very critical matter, in much need of public discourse and sunlight. Something is happening here that doesn't seem right, and we have to make sure the public's right to know is guaranteed. It hits to the very heart of the process of government and trust. - Jim

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To All New Hampshire House and Senate Members, and Executive Council:

Like a number of House and Senate members, we received a letter from Al and Susan McIlvene of Kittery Point, Maine about the Financial Resources Mortgage, Inc. situation. We are sharing our response with you as part of our call for the Legislature and the Governor's Council to further investigate this matter. We would be pleased to talk with anyone about this issue, which we strongly feel needs to be publicly addressed.

Update from the Executive Council

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:01:23 -0500

NEWS RELEASE FOR DISTRICT FIVE January 27, 2010 FROM DEBORA B. PIGNATELLI, Executive Councilor

January 27, Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting on January 27, 2010 that might be of interest to District Five constituents.

The next Governor and Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday,

February 9, 2010 in the State House, Concord, NH.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY

Authorized to enter into an agreement with the City of Nashua, NH, for the purpose of establishing financing mechanisms for purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed upon homes and residential properties; purchasing and rehabilitating homes and residential properties that have been abandoned or foreclosed upon, in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes and properties; demolishing blighted structures; and redeveloping demolished or vacant properties in the amount of $1,500,000. Effective upon G&C approval through March 9, 2013. 100% Federal Funds.

Opposition for Opposition's Sake?

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:15:22 -0500

Dan Pfeiffer, White House Communications Director, wrote on the White House blog that

Let's be clear: Sen. Shelby is preventing qualified nominees who will help protect the American people from being confirmed. He’s not alone, though. This is just the latest example of this kind opposition for opposition’s sake that the President talked about earlier this week.

Which is accurate, as far as it goes, but really just a symptom of a bigger problem.