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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 64bowtie on January 1, 2006, at 21:32:06
So, when the government broke up AT&T into baby-Bells for local service, did they say that along the way they were gonna be re-combinant??? Did they secretly agree with the government to pull the wool over the collective eyes of the public...
Well, the baby Bells joined SBC awhile back and now SBC is re-combinant with AT&T, known in football as an 'end around' and on the battlefield as an 'end run'!!! Makes me all misty eyed how slick they were over a 25 year period!!! Makes me (and Gallagher) "Proud to be American!!!"
Will the 'spin-meister' revisionists take us to a new high or a new low???
The inexorable pendulum has again swung to the dark side of reality... Incidently, the dark side of reality, isn't real at all!!!
Caution: if dysfunction is our bad habits manifest, there are those that intend to exploit our weaknesses, ergo bad habits... So honoring our bad habits as our right or privilege, will eventually backfire...
Perceive more and believe less becomes a better habit than believing until we mistakenly think of something as a FACT!!! Perceive the new stuff that is always coming at us... Anything less is our arrogance showing through... Then AT&T can't bamboozle the collective 'us'....
Rod
Posted by James K on January 3, 2006, at 16:35:37
In reply to Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by 64bowtie on January 1, 2006, at 21:32:06
I felt like I was the only one who saw the problem with that merger.
One thing we can do to fight back, is whenever there is an alternative, use it. In Texas our power was deregulated a while back. (it worked so well in California - Thanks to Texas) We thought we would give it a spin. Few people have switched companies even to save some money. I would have switched even if it cost a little more just to not support Reliant anymore after all these years of the highest rates in the country.
I feel like we are in the mid 70's and rapidly heading toward the late 60's.
James K
Posted by Declan on January 5, 2006, at 13:22:50
In reply to Re: Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by James K on January 3, 2006, at 16:35:37
Hi, is this about stuff like Enron and futures/derivatives etc? I'd like the world to stay really still for maybe 10 years while I got up to speed with what's going on.
But James, do you reckon you're right about those dates? Some would like to take us back to the 50's; I just worry they'll end up takeing us back a bit further.
Declan
Posted by James K on January 5, 2006, at 15:56:07
In reply to Re: Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by Declan on January 5, 2006, at 13:22:50
Hi, I think I remember you are Scottish? please forgive me if I guessed wrong. Maybe UK of some kind.
AT&T was the US telephone company and many years ago, I don't remember exactly, it was broken into several smaller companies because it was too big and a monopoly. Now our current administration(s) have allowed those smaller companies to merge back together. A step backward in my opinion.
California deregulated their electricity - kind of like privatizing it or opening it up to competition. Texas energy corporations then manipulated the supply and the market causing rolling blackouts and sky high prices. Some have been indicted and convicted for their activities.
As for the dates, I was thinking of Nixon and Johnson, and domestic spying on activists, and war and all that.
But yeah Hoover and McCarthy are right there waiting for us.
and nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
Posted by Jakeman on January 6, 2006, at 20:58:20
In reply to Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by 64bowtie on January 1, 2006, at 21:32:06
In the early 20th century American went through what has been labeled the progressive era. We got anti-trust laws, the Security Exchange Commission, etc. People got fed up with corruption and price gouging and regulations were instituted to make businesess and government more honest and accountable. In the last 25 years or so there has been a reversal of those reforms. De-regulation and privatisation of public services has occurred. Maybe we need another progressive movement.
The City of Atlanta a few years ago turned over it's water and wastewater services to a private company. Long story short, the private interests put profit ahead of people, prices went up, scandals ensued. The mayor among others were indicted. The City has since taken back control of those utilities.
Regarding deregulation of electricity in Texas, the City of Austin has not participated, to the degree it can. The citizens/government own and control their utilities. The power company is not listed on the NYSE. The prices for electricity in Austin are lower than any other major city in Texas. The phone company is another story. At one time the local phone companies were owned by the people they serve.
So yes, deregulation and privatisation does not always work.
warm regards ~Jake
Posted by crazy teresa on January 7, 2006, at 1:16:44
In reply to Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by 64bowtie on January 1, 2006, at 21:32:06
I received a call from a lady doing a survey of small buisnesses regaring the phone mergers. Boy, did she get an earful!
If I would have had your phone number, I would have had her call you! ;~}
Posted by Declan on January 7, 2006, at 7:23:53
In reply to Re: Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!! » 64bowtie, posted by Jakeman on January 6, 2006, at 20:58:20
I read that in the UK the government has/had a proposal to partially privatise the probation service, in the name of competition, client service and, no doubt, transparency.
Declan
Posted by AuntieMel on January 13, 2006, at 16:44:17
In reply to Re: Oh, goooodie! I get to grumble!!!, posted by James K on January 3, 2006, at 16:35:37
California made it illegal for the power companies to buy power on long term contracts. It all had to be bought on the spot market.
They were sitting ducks for day trading brokers.
And - not all the companies that took advantage were Texan, though the large concentration of energy companies in one area increases the odds.
Posted by James K on January 13, 2006, at 17:08:43
In reply to Re: Don't blame Texas » James K, posted by AuntieMel on January 13, 2006, at 16:44:17
I probably think Texans are to blame for so much because I read the local papers. If I lived in NYC, I'd probably blame Wall Street. So -- no offense meant.
James K
Posted by Jakeman on January 13, 2006, at 19:29:01
In reply to It's Okay, I like it here. » AuntieMel, posted by James K on January 13, 2006, at 17:08:43
Here's a bit of trivia. Whites are now a minority in Texas. Wonder how these demographics could affect the political climate.
Posted by James K on January 13, 2006, at 21:41:53
In reply to Re: It's Okay, I like it here., posted by Jakeman on January 13, 2006, at 19:29:01
I'm afraid things won't change as fast as I would like. If the Louisiana residents who decide to stay register to vote here, instead of back home, that will definately effect Tom Delay's district.
The governor's race is going to be interesting. We have a most votes wins system (not a run off), so Rick Perry (republican) (and Bush's buddy) is facing Strayhorn (independent) (long time Texas political family insider and mother of Scott Mcclellan sp? white house spokesman), Kinky Friedman (independent), and a Democrat probably Chris Bell (one of the guys who lost his seat to Delay's redistricting plan and brought successful ethics charges against Delay). I bet that sentence makes zero sense.
It will be fascinating to see who's vote cancels whom's.
James k
Posted by AuntieMel on January 28, 2006, at 14:30:20
In reply to Re: It's Okay, I like it here. » Jakeman, posted by James K on January 13, 2006, at 21:41:53
I'm saving myself for Kinky.
Which, of course, means I can't vote in the primary. And there's a real (my opinion) loser running for state senate in my area and a reasonable one running against him. Unfortunately, Mr. Reasonable is losing.
Posted by Jakeman on January 28, 2006, at 20:14:09
In reply to Re: It's Okay, I like it here. » Jakeman, posted by James K on January 13, 2006, at 21:41:53
>Delay). I bet that sentence makes zero sense.
>Actually it did make sense. I just shows how wierd politics are in Texas. Interesting point about the new folks from La. I think we need a massive voter registration drive.
I may save my vote for Kinky too.
~Jake
This is the end of the thread.
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