Disqus - Latest Comments for southvalley

Re: Why Health Care Reform is Going to the Dogs

hopeforchangenow — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:22:22 -0000

If the Catholic church wants to be a political party and write laws for our country, the should lose their tax exempt status. You can't have it both ways - either form legislation or preach. You cannot do both.

Re: Why Health Care Reform is Going to the Dogs

southvalley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:24:24 -0000

Because they keep saying that "most Americans are anti-choice and that most Americans are "moderates" (read conservative) They've come to believe their own propaganda, regardless of the polls.
Also, the Dems were watered down by a generation of Supply side economics, ability to rig the elections and the takedown of the American middle class. they don't need us anymore and they're showing it clearly while publicly worrying about votes.
Another major factor is Rahm Emanuel who has set up DLC financing for conservative Dems. And HE is Obama's Chief of Staff!
And then, there were the Catholic Bishops unconstitutionally cocercing our duly elected Representatives.
The whole bill may be unconstitutional. I've never heard of forcing people to buy a lousy service they can't afford.

Re: Pew: Anti-incumbent sentiment surges

southvalley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:37:37 -0000

The only incumbent I'd like to see lose are the Blue Dogs Democrats...Democrat in name only. I plan to work for the more progressive candidates like Martin Heinrich.
To go running back to the "arms" of the crazy Republicans is the worst form of short term memory. They came close to ending this nation.
I do not plan on letting them do it some more.

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

Bill527 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:10:56 -0000

"The number of people caught illegally entering the U.S. dropped by more than 23% during the past year, continuing a longer trend, federal data shows. ...Economists say the souring U.S. jobs market is a driving force behind the decline in illegal crossings. The U.S. unemployment rate last month passed 10% for the first time since the early 1980s. Fewer jobs mean fewer people are willing to risk a journey that has become more perilous and more expensive, experts say." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125781594948540...

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

Guest — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:47:36 -0000

...try going without eating for 24 hours to get a sense of what it's like to be really hungry, better yet leave the comfort of your home and spend a night on the street - it might give you a better sense of perspective.

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

AlbertoG — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:01:55 -0000

I was interested because this kind of hard work is usually only done by people who are desperate and have no other decent way to make a living for themselves and their families, so if in fact the demographics of the labor force (the majority of which are typically imported from Mexico by labor contractors) changed this year, that could be very significant.

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

maxroom — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:31:46 -0000

So why then did you lay all that phony b/s on us about the pickers?

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

southvalley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:11:04 -0000

Well, somebody picked it and they were having trouble finding pickers so you figure it out.

With all the chemicals you mention, who'd want to pick ( or eat for that matter) the things.
And yes, I know it's slave labor.

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

Extranjero — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:49:38 -0000

Typically about 15,000 chile pickers, including women and children, are hired each year in NM but I bet you didn't know agricultural workers are by NM law exempted from the $7.50 an hour minimum wage and don't have to be covered by workers compensation or provided with any sort of health coverage. In any case, most chile pickers are hired by labor contractors to work on large corporately owned farms where they're paid a "piece" rate for what they harvest. For example, for each bucket they pick the worker will receive one plastic chip, which typically is worth around 60 cents. In order for a picker to make anything approaching the minimum hourly wage at that rate they have to fill around 12 buckets, each of which weighs about 40 pounds when it's full, then carry it to a trailer. Typically the picker's work day starts at about 6 am and finishes at around 4 pm (10 hours) - but that doesn't include the time it takes to get to get to work or return from it, nor any time off for lunch (which translates into less chile picked and take home pay at the end of the day). Also there are environment issues having to do with health since commercial chile producers are using ever increasing amounts of chemicals to deal with crop diseases and to increase production, as well as using large doses of pesticides such as Nemacur, Furadan (carbofuran) and Methyl-Parathion, in addition to various fungicides and herbicides.

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

FastEddy8 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:56:48 -0000

...of course there was also the matter of El Patrón being in the midst of the CDR Financial Products / GRIPgate scandal at the time
http://newmexicoindependent.com/40769/cdr-finan...

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

AlbertoG — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:50:39 -0000

I was wondering where you got your information about the labor that was employed during this year's chili harvest - I couldn't turn any up.
Incidentally some interesting info about this years crop and NMSU's research into mechanical harvesters and destemmers at http://westernfarmpress.com/vegetables/chile-pe...

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

southvalley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:49:00 -0000

Yes, the governor's race in VA proves that the America people are sick of Dems acting like Republicans. The progessive base stayed home.

I've asked Heinrich a few pointed questions me own self! Like if they're going to expand Medicaid, are the Feds going to fund it? or just throw more people into a system which is going broke what with the HMOs skimming and Walmart giving out applications for food stamps AFDIC and Medicaid to their new, low paid hirees.
Not to mention all the people allowed up here to "do the jobs Americans won't do" who stayed home for the Chili harvest cause they're doing just fine off the Social Services, thankyouverymuch. so, Americans desperate for jobs picked the chili!
GEEZ LOUEZZ!!!!

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

southvalley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:42:16 -0000

I was very disappointed that Denish didn't get the governorship when Richardson wasn't tapped for Washington. I guess Obama doesn't like political expediency any more than anyone else, at least not in this case.

Re: Firm faces big fine, possible loss of contract, state says

southvalley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:42:07 -0000

I know quite a few people who really NEED these services. But they aren't getting them. Is it because of THIS?

Re: Firm faces big fine, possible loss of contract, state says

Dr_Benway — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:54:47 -0000

Why you ask, because we're nothing but harmless chumps to them - fools who continue to mill around just waiting to be fleeced.

Re: GOP’s Turner formally enters gubernatorial race

southvalley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:52:59 -0000

I just want a BETTER Democrat...like we used to have in the old days;a populist. I frankly so distrust the Republicans agenda that I could never vote for one. I DID like Johnson, however, but he was a rare bird in this state!

Re: GOP’s Turner formally enters gubernatorial race

southvalley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:48:50 -0000

Out of the frying pan into the fire! Why do we have to stick with these same old two party dog and pony shows?

Re: Firm faces big fine, possible loss of contract, state says

southvalley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:44:48 -0000

This is what you get when you outsource. And outsourcing is de rigeur in government these days. What they're really doing is handing over government to private contractors.

And WHY is Optum only being fined 1.4 million dollars if as thsi article says Millions are owed??

It seems that corporations now believe they have the rights to not only overcharge for their services but not to pay anything at all to those they have contracts with!

Take a look at this article on McClatchy:
How Goldman secretly bet on the U.S. housing crash
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/77791.html

We all better start paying attention her ein the land of Manana`. The thieves are all over the place and we're going DOWN

Re: Legislative leaders urge Guv to not cut Medicaid

GregorSamsa27 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:37:30 -0000

Don’t fret; all this is nothing more then game of chicken being played by someone who’s running out of cards and trying to start a stampede in order to keep the upper hand. As a result he's turned into a monarch gone mad, driving forth with wild imprecations all but the most faithful of his courtiers.

Re: Legislative leaders urge Guv to not cut Medicaid

southvalley — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:44:17 -0000

That's alot of people you'd be putting out in the cold, Mr Richardson! Ask Walmart if THEY want to pick up the tab.

Re: Medicaid not held harmless in budget cuts

MrCharlie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:46:06 -0000

...and he rushed down towards the village calling out "Wolf, Wolf," and the legislators and the people were so alarmed that they came running out to give him whatever he demanded.

Re: Medicaid not held harmless in budget cuts

southvalley — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:07:48 -0000

This would be penny-wise, pound foolish as it would reduce the federal grant matching funds. With so many people needing Medicaid now, it would also be immoral. So the House healthcare bill expands Medicaid 150% in it's current form.
Will Richardson continue his petty power plays with the lives of New Mexico citizens just to get back at the legislature for taking away some of his political appointees?

It's recall time. We'll have thsi guy for another 2 years. He helped very much to cause thsi mess with his profligate spending and out of state contracts with corporations and his TIDDs.
You better NOT cut Medicaid, SIR! Very ill-advised

Re: They always sacrifice the bottom-dwellers

GregorSamsa27 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:28:54 -0000

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Saul.
Saul who?
Saul Mayer who's talking to the Feds and knows which closets the skeletons are in.

Marc and Anthony ('Big Tony') Correra, come out come out wherever you are.

Re: They always sacrifice the bottom-dwellers

MrCharlie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:11:58 -0000

“Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they GET ANGRY, they bring about a change.” Malcom X (1925~1965)

Re: They always sacrifice the bottom-dwellers

southvalley — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:26:23 -0000

Excellent article! Thank you.
I wonder, with all the corruption in our state government and how very little they care about ordinary people, what they will do when it comes time to decide to "opt in" or "opt out" of this public option Washington wants to allow the states to decide on?
Are we going to have to fight the insurers here as we have done in Washington? Because it's very difficult to fight for things in this state with the legislature only in session one month out of the year. By the time we find out what they've done and the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ they've pocketed, it's too late.
Frankly, I can see Richardson deciding there just isn't enough $$$$$ to allow the public option in this state as he seems to find it more important to hire folks who do nothing with our $$$$$$$ and, of course, give it away to out of state corporations and the rich...like himself.
That is, I think, what we see here, the rich don't want to raise taxes on themselves, so they don't roll back what they did here or in Washington in 2003. What a terrible year THAT was!

ERG!!!!!!!