Marlon Barkley  
marlon@thedeathofanation.com 

There has been a significant development for the privatization industry this past week. The United States Postal Service reported a quarterly loss of $2 Billion, despite higher prices and an increase in operating revenue. 

Publications like the New York Times perfectly assist the illustration of how another government run business is a candidate for privatization. Using this headline, "Postal Service Quarterly Loss Was $2 Billion, Despite Higher Prices", is an intentional attempt to mislead. They further the assist by adding in the first sentence, despite an increase in revenue on  almost every product the US Postal service is "mired in debt". When you dig deeper elsewhere, for even 10 seconds, you see the information necessary.

Those people with an ounce of curiosity and 10 seconds of time might wonder how this could possibly happen. USPS.gov has an explanation of this situation and cause posted right on their web site.  

Let's parse what the USPS is saying. The Republican controlled congress and Senate in 2006 passed a law to force the U.S. Postal service to pre-fund their health and retirement benefits to cover those expenses for 75 years. 

This makes total sense when you think about it. John Smith who might be born tomorrow and work for the post office starting August 1, 2035 will need retirement benefits in the year 2079. Good thing his retirement plan will be funded this year! 

Republicans manufactured a crisis for ideology or is it just to make a profit for their friends? You could easily argue the latter. Remember President George Bush's bank bailout? Republicans were unanimously behind it*. 

When Republicans finally privatize the postal service, will that make them eligible for a Republican bailout? Not only would they support it, they would probably promote it with some populist patriotism bull shit one could see through if one looked. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans were this financially responsible on a day-to-day basis?

Prepare to pay ten times what you do now for mailing a letter, if you even get service. On second thought, you probably will not have to worry about it since delivery will not be available in any rural area thanks to privatization.

*Fox News watchers may find this FACT a complete surprise. Look at the date it occurred.

Marlon Barkley 
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

Any company who claims to stand for "Religious Freedom" immediately deserves the scrutiny of business practice review. Thankfully, when something as ridiculous as this happens, the information falls out similar to all the Republican Heroes.

Hobby Lobby became a Republican tool several months ago in their endless effort to eliminate a successful Republican health care program that benefits over 10 million people. That's all this is, this issue has nothing to do with "Religious Freedom", but you can sit back and watch the brain damaged, Religious lapdogs take their marching orders and run with it.

Contraception was the center of their crusade. You would think if an organization believed that much in "Religious Freedom" they would practice this in all aspects of their business, right? That's predictably wrong. Their employee 401K has mutual funds with investments in companies that produce emergency contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices, and drugs commonly used in abortions. Yes, you're reading that correctly. They profit off companies that interfere with an already fertilized egg. 
That's all right? Nope! Felicia Allen requested time off for pregnancy leave. The Christian values chain terminated Allen, since she did not qualify for the federal Family Medical Leave Act. When Allen filed for unemployment, Hobby Lobby’s corporate office must have sat back and thought WWJD* and naturally, gave the unemployment agency a false version of events. Since Hobby Lobby forces its employees to sign a waiver giving up the right to sue the company, Allen has no recourse.  


What did we learn today? Religious Freedom is clearly under attack!


*What Would Jesus Do

Marlon Barkley 
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

I wasn't going to write anything today, but I think this warrants a comment as Republicans are in a full sprint, the opposite direction of Republican Hero Cliven Bundy (R).

It is comical how seriously confused Republicans are lately not only with policy, but with the Republican Hero marketing campaign.

Anyone who follows Rand Paul (R) understands that he is one of the greatest pretenders in politics today. He claims he is against big government and the lazy people who benefit from it. Even to the point where he thinks poor women who have children should be punished. 

How do you think Rand Paul (R) responds to Cliven Bundy?  Let's recap, Cliven Bundy (R) is grazing his cattle on government land and he is supposed to pay a fee to tax payers for the use of public land. Let's re-state that, Bundy is using government government land and getting free feed for his cattle, which essentially means he is receiving food stamps for his cattle. 

Senator Paul (R) says, “...arbitrarily in recent years the federal government thought that they were going to override the county lease and they were going to assume control of it but they never asked for permission from the rancher.” Which is completely false. This is a typical from Paul, spewing provably fake "facts". This consistently happens to him unless he has the time to plagiarize. Analyze one of his interviews with on-the-fly questions, those he can't prepare an answer for and doesn't have the chance to plagiarize*. 

Watch the video below and hear him in his own words. What does this really shows about Rand Paul (R)? He has no problem giving cattle food stamps, but if you are poor? Rand Paul (R) has a clear message for you. Take personal responsibility and fuck off.

*NOTE: He even admitted he plagiarized, and in typical Republican fashion, said he was a victim of "haters." He also stole lines from a Wikipedia entry from the movie Gattica. There are many examples of this behavior. How can anyone take this guy seriously?

De-evolution.

UPDATE
Today there is some new evidence about what kind of a person Rand Paul is. We know he is guilty of frequently plagiarizing and he is a practicing hypocrite on almost every issue. Read this quote from President Obama in his speech after the Newtown shootings...

“In the coming weeks, I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement, to mental health professionals, to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this, because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine.” - President Obama

If your Rand Paul (R) what do you do?  Well, you send out a fundraising letter filled with complete bullshit and get your buddies at the National Association for Gun Rights to lie about the presidents words. 

The people of Kentucky should insist that Rand Paul (R) have a psychological evaluation. His behavioral patterns clearly indicate there is a mental issue. It's a good thing Rand Paul (R) made sure he has the Cadillac of all insurance, that exam would probably be free, something Rand Paul (R) doesn't think you deserve.

Marlon Barkley
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

In our ongoing "Republican Hero" series, we take a look at the latest "Hero", Cliven Bundy.

Cliven is a guy who illegally grazes animals on public land and puts together a group of armed men to threaten government employees to prevent paying what he owes taxpayers.

He quickly replaces Ted Nugent and Joe the Douche Bag Plumber* as the latest Republican Hero. As if it was scripted, at his first opportunity he starts to enlighten America on his thoughts about African Americans being better off as slaves. 

When we talk about the deterioration of society, not only is this guy the poster child of this death of morality, but Hannity and Limbaugh make him a hero. I try to rationalize this, but all I can think about it what the fuck are Republicans thinking? Hannity did later apologize and make a statement against Cliven's comments, but anyone with a brain knows he was forced. 

*Note: For those of you who forgot, here is Joe the Plumber in his racial slur glory. 

Marlon Barkley
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

It is truly astonishing how some people in this country are actually making a case for inequality. 

Mr. families first, during a house speech actually said men work harder, take riskier jobs and are “more motivated by money”.  What an asshole.
 
The last few years, I have really tried to understand why women aren't banding together to say once and for all this issue is complete bull shit. Can anyone explain this?