The Llano Ledger

Newsletter Text V168        ©2002, 2001, 2000, 1999  All Rights Reserved
September 16, 2002
 

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Publisher's Note: This publication receives no financial support through advertising.  Although shaken down, looted, and abused by corrupt government, area businesses remain unwilling to stand up.  Locals are too gutless to donate financially, cowardly fearing retribution.  For this publication to survive, national readers need to contribute.  Furthermore, desperately need an additional laptop or desktop computer as back-up to a failing Dell Latitude notebook currently being used.  Got one gathering dust in the closet?  Care to donate? While conveniently accessing these webpages "free" of charge, never forget this publication remains non-profit and depends entirely on nearly non-existent community support. At the same time, The Ledger is, has been, and will always remain beholden to NO ONE. -- Precisely why there is no financial assistance.  ... From day of launch and certainly a no-brainer to this very day, firmly resolved to walk away first rather than compromise principle. -- To the chagrin of many and delight of few.  … Right, "Judge"?  T.C. 9-15-02.

Index:

FBI Abuses Ignored
"President" Addresses Nation
Sabre Rattling Intensifies
Capitalism Sorely Tested
Proposed Medicare Pay Increases For Providers
Improper Influence?
Letter To Dell CEO
Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department
Fraudulent Deletion Of Ledger Websites
Klee's Kaleidoscope
An Honest Business
Unbridled Fear
 


FBI Abuses Ignored

At a time when congressional oversight should be increasing scrutiny of federal law enforcement, the direct opposite has occurred in the last year.  FBI treatment of Dr. Steven Hatfill is an egregious example.  Nazi Attorney General John Ashcroft recently labeled this scientist a "person of interest" in the anthrax catastrophe last year.  -- A novel quasi-legal term conveniently coined by Johnny Boy to ensure Hatfill's career is over, despite absolutely no evidence the former researcher is guilty of any crime.

Precisely how an exceptionally abusive "Justice" Department and FBI pressure anyone considered suspicious, -- to force them to crack.  Hatfill's identity was cowardly leaked to media by Nazi government goons.  Although Ashcroft has nothing on him, he's determined to ruin the man's life.  Ole' Johnny Boy considers himself judge, jury, and executioner.  -- The mark of an egregiously unstable abusive fascist.  … For the sake of political expediency and party loyalty, has conveniently ignored former Reagan Administration officials who apparently looked the other way when American-produced anthrax was reportedly sold to Iraq decades ago.  ... Hey, Johnny?  Why so reluctant to investigate the earlier anthrax sale?  Protecting your own?

Mr. Ashcroft no longer considers Americans innocent until proven guilty.  … If ever.  Gestapo FBI goons trashed Hatfill's girlfriend's apartment.  With impunity.  In Nazi America.  A standard tactic used by law enforcement thugs at all levels of government to pressure and intimidate a witness.  With the Patriot Act and fascists occupying both the Oval Office and "Justice" Department, FBI thugs are empowered to do as they please.  Still can't get it right, though.  Despite all the abuse over all the years, didn't take advantage of an informant who had lived with two of the 9/11 hijackers prior to the catastrophe.  Stunning, isn't it?

Consider the predicament of Osama Awadallah.  The Jordanian-born college student had the terrible misfortune of having his first name and old phone number scribbled on a discarded piece of paper in a vehicle used by one of the Flight 77 hijackers.  FBI thugs tracked him down and wrongfully charged him with making two false statements during questioning.  Precisely why it is aggressively stupid to provide these goons any information, -- other than tell them to go to hell.  Why foolishly allow government thugs to distort anything said and use it against you?  Why foolishly help these corrupt and abusive bastards shove an ungreased shaft where the sun seldom shines?

Awadallah spent some three months incarcerated, much of the time in solitary confinement.  In May, perjury charges were dismissed.  That's right, dismissed.  Furthermore, District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin ripped into the unconstitutionality of his detention as material witness, declaring government goons have no "authority to imprison an innocent person in order to guarantee that he will testify before a grand jury conducting a criminal investigation."  Awadallah has rightfully sued the bastards.  Nazi Attorney General John Ashcroft is at the top of the list.  Hope Mr. Awadallah prevails.

House Government Reform Committee Chairman Indiana Republican Rep. Dan Burton is virtually the only lawmaker applying intense pressure on the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  At hearings earlier this year, Burton investigated criminal conduct by FBI thugs dating back to a 1968 murder they hung on four men they knew were innocent.  Two died in prison for a crime they did NOT commit.  Two others were released, -- after being incarcerated for over thirty years.  Innocent victims of a vicious Nazi organization.  An unspeakable treasonous betrayal of innocent citizens by fascist government.

Working definition of fascism for new readers? An abusive and dangerous oligarchy based on a pernicious blend of government, big business, and religion. ... A boot-heel cynically placed on the throat of the masses, justified in principle by perversion and bastardization of religion.


"President" Addresses Nation

In a carefully staged speech with the Statue of Liberty as backdrop, the "President" of the United States addressed the nation on the evening of September 11, -- after a day of visits to all three battlefields of that terrible day last year.  The "Chief Executive" disingenuously declared:  "We resolved a year ago to honor every last person lost. We owe them remembrance, and we owe them more. We owe them, and their children, and our own, the most enduring monument we can build: A world of liberty and security made possible by the way America leads, and by the way Americans lead our lives."

How, George?  Exactly, how?  By eviscerating the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments through enactment of an outrageously unconstitutional Patriot Act and equally unconstitutional Executive Orders?  Illegal imprisonment of "detainees" on no charges, denied access to attorneys and courts?  What "security", Mr. "President"?  While travelers continue to be outrageously delayed, probed, poked, prodded, fondled, searched, forced to remove shoes, etc., reporters have been able to easily smuggle weapons past "security" personnel.  Again, Mr. "President", what "security" do you speak of, sir?

Mr. Bush went on to assert:  "The attack on our nation was also an attack on the ideals that make us a nation."  The "President" is either aggressively stupid, a liar, -- or sincerely believes his unadulterated bullsh-t.  Apparently cannot comprehend the fact Muslim terrorists attacked the United States because it is not an even-handed broker in the Middle East.  Far from it.  On the contrary, has mindlessly supported Israel no matter what it does.  -- Including use of American-supplied F-16s and ordnance in violation of U.S. export law to kill Palestinians in highly populated areas.  ... Equally horrendous assassination of Palestinian government officials, bulldozing of Palestinian homes, exile of Palestinians in violation of international law, and refusal to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories.

While all this in no way justifies the 9/11 catastrophe, it IS precisely why this country was so viciously attacked.  For the "President" to claim otherwise is unquestionably the height of folly, severe distortion of reality, and demonstrative of egregious Aryan arrogance.  Guarantees this country will again be targeted.  Unquestionably, Mr. Bush is either aggressively stupid, utterly uninformed, or a liar.  Refuses to take responsibility for his glaring indifference to Israeli atrocities perpetrated against Palestinians.  Cowardly places the blame everywhere but where it truly belongs, -- on Israeli and American intransigence.

Ole' George "The Tush" rambled on falsely claiming:  "Our deepest national conviction is that every life is precious, because every life is the gift of a creator who intended us to live in liberty and equality. More than anything else, this separates us from the enemy we fight. We value every life; our enemies value none — not even the innocent; not even their own."

Again, Mr. Bush lied.  He certainly does not believe "every life is precious".  If so, he would not have presided over the execution of scores of condemned prisoners as Texas Governor.  Some of them, innocent.  ... Didn't stop the Nazi and his equally evil state cronies from legally murdering them, however.  Didn't even think twice.  Certainly would not have perversely expressed boundless "Christian" love mimicking Carla Faye Tucker shortly before presiding over her execution.  ... Life precious to this unabashed fascist?  Laughable.  Who are you kidding, George?

For the "President" to assert the enemy doesn't value life, seriously misses the point and demonstrates glaring ignorance and understanding of how the enemy thinks and why it does what it does.  … Condemning the United States to an interminable unwinable war on terror.  To win any conflict, thorough understanding of the enemy and its motives is extremely critical.  Absolutely, vital.  -- Note the operant concept is "understanding", NOT "acceptance" or "acquiescence".  Big, big difference.

Americans are too aggressively stupid and/or arrogant to fully understand terrorists do not view themselves any differently than other soldiers willing to sacrifice themselves for a cause they deeply believe in.  For the "President" to think and claim otherwise, foolishly underestimates the determination and dedication of the enemy.  … To our great peril and that of our exceptionally courageous and dedicated military.

Although in no way justifying flying hijacked jets into buildings, perversely, it DOES take courage to do so.  While extremely misguided and cruel, it takes guts to sacrifice oneself for a fervently held cause.  Even  when profoundly wrong.  Just because we, as Americans, do not agree with that cause and take enormous and justifiable offense, does not make such action any less courageous, -- or cowardly as suggested by the mindless fascist element in the United States.  On the contrary.  Failure to fully understand this, grossly underestimates resolve of the enemy and exponentially increases the difficulty of winning.  Also leads to unnecessary American casualties.

While the deliberate killing of civilians is always unpalatable and extremely aversive, there is more than ample history of it in our past.  Sometimes such barbaric warfare is necessary, -- as it clearly was during the Second World War.  The Allies rightfully saturation-bombed Nazi Germany.  The United States rightfully obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  All such actions deliberately killed civilians.  Now, when Palestinians kill Israeli citizens in suicide bombings, the United States conveniently ignores its own history.  Now, when terrorists view civilians as willing tools and accomplices of abusive government and considers them acceptable and legitimate targets, the United States conveniently ignores its own history.

This is NOT to justify terror.  It is said to reinforce the absolute need to understand the enemy's motives, resolution, dedication to  cause, and perceived injustice.  While its methods are wrong and misguided in our narrow view because we are the target, the injustice suffered by the enemy is real and must be addressed by the United States and Israel if terror is ever to end.  Decades of barbaric injustice suffered at the hands of insatiably bloodthirsty Israeli fanatics.  Supported financially and militarily by their masters and frequent shills in Washington.  There is no military solution to this problem.  As the enemy is killed, new recruits take their place.  Sadly, Palestinian mothers dedicate newborns to the cause.  In the shadowy world of the terrorist, the conflict can continue indefinitely and extend anywhere.

Rightly or wrongly, the terrorist views flying a jet into a building no differently than an unarmed U.S. fighter pilot flying his weaponless aircraft into a hijacked jet to force it down, -- as could have happened on 9/11 had both unarmed F-16s intercepted Flight 93 in time.  Again, this in no way justifies 9/11.  If the United States does not understand the enemy and its motives or underestimates resolve, however, it will never prevail.  … As happened in Vietnam decades ago.  Apparently, we learned incredibly little from that earlier debacle, costing 58,000 of our best and brightest.

Mr. Bush went on to disingenuously and falsely declare:  "And we seek the freedom and opportunity that give meaning and value to life. There is a line in our time, and in every time, between those who believe that all men are created equal, and those who believe that some men, and women, and children, are expendable in the pursuit of power."  ... Hey, George?  What about the hundreds of thousands of American personnel you so easily intend to place in harm's way toppling a dictator for the sake of domestic political expediency in the United States? To bolster GOP interests in the coming election and the presidential one two years from now?  Are these men and women you seek to place at risk just as expendable?  Pointedly, where is new evidence of Saddam's impending threat?  To date, neither you or your henchmen have provided any.  None.

Laughably, the "President" does not seek freedom and opportunity for the American people.  Not by a long shot.  Quite, the opposite.  First, he's decimated liberty and civil and constitutional rights in his supposed war against terror through enactment of the Patriot Act and unconstitutional Executive Orders.  Has in fact cynically taken advantage of the war to conveniently impose fascism on a formerly free citizenry.

Second, has done what he could to destroy opportunity by shamelessly favoring his cronies in Corporate America.  How?  Has to date refused to aggressively prosecute the most egregious executive management offenders, failed to propose substantive change in corporate law to prevent such ongoing abuses, refused to release the names of oil industry cronies sitting on "Slick Dick" Cheney's energy commission, refused to protect patient medical records privacy in an effort to enable providers to deny coverage and employers to ultimately discriminate against employees, did all he could to eviscerate your right to sue and prevail against healthcare quacks and outrageous malpractice abuses, etc..  The list could go on.  Suffice it to say, however, when corporate cronies are coddled and protected, opportunity for employees evaporates.  Precisely what the fascist appointed to the White House profoundly wants and desperately strives to impose.  Despite phony claims to the contrary.

Mr. Bush further declared:  "There is a line in our time, and in every time, between the defenders of human liberty, and those who seek to master the minds and souls of others. Our generation has now heard history’s call, and we will answer it."  Sadly, the dolt has it glaringly ass-backwards.  He and his henchmen are not "defenders of human liberty."  In fact, quite the opposite.  Indeed, it is the fascist "President" and his friends who desperately "seek to master the minds and souls of others."  Using perversely bastardized "religion" to do so.  It's called fascism.

While the "Chief Executive" claims "Now and in the future, Americans will live as free people, not in fear, and never at the mercy of any foreign plot or power", he conveniently and disingenuously ignores the fact it is Nazis in the United States government the American people are now beholden to.  Not any foreign power.  Least of all, Saddam.  Our own government has conveniently and quickly become the enemy in its supposed zeal to "protect" us.

Despite no additional attacks over the last year, the "Administration" continues to whip up the cowardly public in a frenzy of fear.  How better to justify the worsening boot-heel on civil and constitutional rights and liberties?  Mr. Bush and his henchmen continue to cry wolf to justify corrupt and abusive government Gestapo tactics.  The constant terror alerts are ignored by the vast majority since none have materialized.  What happens when one is real and no one pays attention?

Desperate to justify having done little over the last year to break up the enemy network, the "Administration" conveniently announced this past weekend breakthroughs in Pakistan and Buffalo.  How much substance?  We'll see.  Although refusing to discuss specifics and provide evidence, officials claim the five men arrested in Buffalo attended terrorist camps overseas.  No further information has yet been released.  -- Other than the assertion the group had no imminent plans to attack.  Interesting, isn't it?

The "President" piously, arrogantly, and falsely declared last Wednesday evening:  " I believe there is a reason that history has matched this nation with this time. America strives to be tolerant and just. We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith. We fight, not to impose our will, but to defend ourselves and extend the blessings of freedom."  Again, Mr. Bush has egregiously lied.  Who are you fooling, George?  ... The aggressively stupid public or yourself?

The United States is not "tolerant".  Far from it.  Examples?  Racial, ethnic, and homophobic bigotry.  Glaringly malicious prosecution of innocent citizens nationwide by corrupt and abusive "prosecutors" and thugs in law enforcement.  Bush "Administration" imposition of American will on the world community, generating enormous resentment globally.  The list could go on.

The United States is certainly, not "just".  The most glaring example is unconstitutional detainment of foreigners and at least two Americans on no charges for months.  In a few cases, years.   Refusing prisoners access to attorneys and the courts.  Refusing even to disclose the identities of those "detained".  Precisely, as the Nazis did during the Third Reich.  The "Administration" has also eviscerated the Bill of Rights.  "Just"?  How?   Arrogantly imposes its will all over the world.  Precisely why our allies, with the exception of Britain and Israel, have refused to date to go along with the "President" on plans to topple Saddam.

Ludicrously adding insult to injury, Mr. Bush disingenuously pontificates: "Tomorrow is September the 12th. A milestone is passed, and a mission goes on. Be confident. Our country is strong. And our cause is even larger than our country. Ours is the cause of human dignity: freedom guided by conscience, and guarded by peace. This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it."

Already has, Mr. "President".  Criminally, at your hands, sir.  In fact, Lady Liberty sadly no longer holds her lamp high.  Instead, callously gives the finger figuratively to the world, George.   At least has turned her back.  Courtesy of you and your henchmen, sir.  What "conscience", Mr. "President"?  You lock people up on no charges for months.  -- At least two of whom, Americans.  Who's next, sir?  Those who ferociously question your Nazi tactics?

What "peace", George?  For political expediency and to guarantee GOP success in the midterm elections as well as the presidential sweepstakes two years from now, you seek to overthrow the Iraqi dictator, -- having made no case for pre-emptive military action nor offering new evidence against the son of a bitch regarding any supposedly increasing impending threat.  Apparently willing to unconstitutionally go to war, with no declaration from Congress, to impose your will.  A cowardly bully.

"And our cause is even larger than our country."  Is that right, George?  Sounds remarkably like Adolph Hitler prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939.  ... Considerably impressed with yourself, aren't you, Mr. "President"?  And unconstitutional power grabbed by you and your equally fascist henchmen, no?

Finally, you distort, eviscerate, and bastardize religion to impose your glaringly fascist principles:  "We are prepared for this journey. And our prayer tonight is that God will see us through, and keep us worthy… May God bless America."  The attention of readers is also drawn to the last two lines of the quote four paragraphs ago:  "And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it."  Remarkably removed, carefully edited, and conveniently bastardized from a passage in the Bible by speechwriters for the "President".

Working definition of fascism for new readers? An abusive and dangerous oligarchy based on a pernicious blend of government, big business, and religion. ... A boot-heel cynically placed on the throat of the masses, justified in principle by perversion and bastardization of religion.



Sabre Rattling Intensifies

Although still offering no proof or evidence of Saddam's supposed pressing threat to the United States, rhetoric from "Administration" shills has ratcheted up.  Recently, "Slick Dick" Cheney shrilly opined "the United States may become the target."  Is that right, Mr. "Vice President"?  Why all of a sudden such impassioned concern?

Not to be outdone, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice stepped up the attack on the Iraqi dictator disingenuously crowing:  "The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons.  But we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."

Get a life, Condi.  Wild self-serving hyperbole is aggressively stupid and unbecoming of brilliant government officials such as yourself.  Is it worth impugning your integrity to support a jackass unfit to be dog catcher?  Why would an unprovoked Iraqi dictator foolishly risk nuclear obliteration by first-use of a nuclear weapon?  No sale, Ms. Rice.  Try harder.  While Saddam is indeed evil, certainly not stupid.  Should be removed from power by his own people, -- when they've had enough.

The National Security Adviser went on to declare:  "How long are we going to wait to deal with what is clearly a gathering threat against the United States, against our allies and against his own region?"  Again, Ms. Rice, where is your proof of the "gathering threat"?  What evidence do you have?

In the finest tradition of Adolph Hitler, "Slick Dick" Cheney continues to assert the United States has the right to pre-emptively first strike anyone it considers a threat.  Sieg Heil, Mein Fuhrer.  Wake up, dear readers.  We're living in a fascist police state run by a megalomaniacal appointed fascist who fervently believes he has the right to unilaterally declare war with or without Congress.  In direct violation of the United States Constitution.

The "President" addressed the UN September 12.  In a stunning turn of events, the jackass occupying the White House took a clever and diversionary tact in his policy towards Saddam.  Nearly the entire well-crafted speech was devoted to cajoling the United Nations to enforce 16 resolutions against the Iraqi dictator.  Mr. Bush offered absolutely NO new evidence of Saddam's imminent threat to this country or the world.  None.  Successfully pulled the wool over many members of Congress, however, including Democrats who were mesmerized by his charisma.  ... Nothing quite like good speechwriters, is there?

For what the United States government is lawlessly doing on the national and international levels, ordinary citizens would be rightfully prosecuted.  Pointedly, the high position of the criminal perpetrator does not make the crime any less criminal.  -- Only conveniently protected and coddled.  What the "President" and cronies propose is no less than legalized murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis.  Mr. Bush reportedly ordered the CIA earlier this year to assassinate the Iraqi dictator.  If true, amounts to no less than attempted murder.  If successful, turns into premeditated murder.  Yet, the "President" and his equally fascist henchmen remain beholden to no one.  Had any other group in this country done likewise, would have been quickly prosecuted for organized crime via RICO statutes.

Despite no additional attacks over the last year, the "Administration" continues to whip up the cowardly public in a frenzy of fear.  How better to justify the worsening boot-heel on civil and constitutional rights and liberties?  Mr. Bush and his henchmen continue to cry wolf to justify corrupt and abusive government Gestapo tactics.  The constant terror alerts are ignored by the vast majority since none have materialized.  What happens when one is real and no one pays attention?

Desperate to justify having done little over the last year to break up the enemy network, the "Administration" conveniently announced this past weekend breakthroughs in Pakistan and Buffalo.  How much substance?  We'll see.  Although refusing to discuss specifics and provide evidence, officials claim the five men arrested in Buffalo attended terrorist camps overseas.  No further information has yet been released.  -- Other than the assertion the group had no imminent plans to attack.  Interesting, isn't it?

Although the fascist appointed "President" by a Nazi Supreme Court offered no new evidence of imminent Iraqi threat, his shills have embraced his call to war.  … A war to be fought for self-serving political expediency and gain.  The "President" knows armed conflict with Iraq will bolster GOP chances in November and two years later in the presidential election.  For selfish political purposes, Mr. Bush is willing to unnecessarily expend the lives of American military personnel.  … Precisely what he so hypocritically accuses Saddam of doing.  To say nothing of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi lives to be lost in the process.  As occurred earlier during the Gulf War at the hands of Bush, The First.  The son remains determined to avenge Daddy, -- and finish what the father could or would not.


Capitalism Sorely Tested

No question, capitalism is the finest economic system.  Provides the most for the largest number of people.  Indeed, we're incredibly blessed in this country.  Sadly, however, there are systemic abuses, conveniently ignored, never addressed.  The greediest of the greedy don't earn multi-million dollar incomes.  They steal them.  Mercilessly looted from the people on the bottom.  Precisely why the rich get richer, the poor, poorer.  While this has always been a problem and will continue to be, the current crop of executive management is arguably the greediest in history.  Certainly, hasn't been reined in.

Consequently, capitalism is severely compromised.  Our economic system has always been a juggling act.  -- Too little substantive regulation and control lead to enormous abuse and looting of the true source of all wealth generation, -- the people on the lowest rungs of the food chain.  -- Too much regulation, however, stifles competition, ingenuity, inventiveness, and risk-taking by entrepreneurs.  Killing initiative.

Currently, Corporate America has been foolishly given enormous leeway and indeed so much rope it's beginning to strangle itself.  Squeezing the life out of the golden goose.  Not just Enron.  All of them.  Prosecuting executives is extremely difficult.  Precisely why no kingpins have been imprisoned yet.  As horrendous as the behavior is, most of it is legal.  Hard to codify and put into statutes.

Sadly, the American people have no clear idea how corrupt the entire system is.  Much of it is carefully hidden as in the compensation package doled out to former General Electric CEO John F. Welch Jr..  Readers are reminded Mr. Welch received $16.7 million in 2000, his last full year as chief executive officer.  Also receives approximately $9 million yearly in pension funds.  That's right, $9 million.  … Your company take such good care of you?

GE also publicly disclosed his generous retainer as consultant for an additional $86,000 annually for the first 30 days work, $17,307 for each additional day, and lifetime access to corporate "services and facilities".  Did not explain, however, what the latter meant or how much it amounted in cash value.

Welch, however, has been subject to a contested divorce recently and his wife craftily filed court documents delineating exactly how well GE has taken care of him.  Information not privy to stockholders.  Conveniently withheld by the board.  … After all, one hand washes the other, doesn't it?

Mr. Welch enjoys lifetime use of the company jet amounting to $3.5 million yearly.  Has access to a company-owned apartment on Central Park West, amounting to a cash value of $80,000 monthly.  Many other perks such as New York Knicks floor-level seats, satellite TV at each of his four homes, U.S. Open courtside seats.  The Central Park West apartment includes all expenses:  laundry, newspapers, toiletries, food, wine, etc..  … Wouldn't want him or the old lady to go without, would we?  The hell with the hungry and homeless, right?  -- Their problem, isn't it?

Welch holds some $900 million in GE stock alone.  Needs some more, doesn't he?  Despite all the wealth, goodies, loot, etc., the former executive grudgingly limited his estranged wife to a paltry $35,000 monthly expense allowance after canceling joint credit cards.  … Far below her previous living standard.  Tough, isn't it?  More to the story, however.  Mrs. Welch is a scorned woman, having been traded in for a new model.  … Hell hath no fury.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William McDonough hit the nail right on the head in a 9/11 speech at Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan declaring: "Beginning with the strongest companies, C.E.O.'s and their boards should simply reach the conclusion that executive pay is excessive…Sadly, all too many members of the inner circle of the business elite participated in the overexpansion of executive compensation."   Amounted to "terribly bad social policy and perhaps even bad morals."

Indeed, stunning words coming from so prominent a member of the business community.  Absolutely right, however.  Certainly, courageous.  Questioning the erroneously assumed correlation between excessive executive compensation and increased shareholder value, Mr. McDonough strongly asserted: "It is reasonably clear now that this theory has left a large number of poorer stockholders, especially including employee stockholders, not only unconvinced, but understandably disillusioned and angry."

No question.  About time someone in high management had the guts to admit it.  McDonough went on to note CEOs currently enjoy compensation packages 400 times the pay of production workers.  As opposed to twenty years ago, at 42 times.  Fascinating, isn't it?  Sadly, no limit to greed.

Point of all this?  Time for Corporate America to wake up.  Ordinary people are losing good jobs, healthcare benefits, life savings, retirement accounts, etc.. while the rich get richer, and the poor, poorer.  The middle class is quickly vanishing, leaving the "haves" and "have-nots".  What used to be limited grudging sharing of wealth throughout the food chain has become no more than a zero-sum game.  Winner-take-all.

Unless the business community wises up and changes policies, sadly more than just the public school system will become thoroughly socialized.  With disastrous results, such as what's happened in the educational system.  Greed is NOT good, -- contrary to Michael Douglas and his Hollywood portrayal of the business community.  Only leads to crime, broken families, ruined lives.  Ultimately revolution, when enough become disenfranchised.


Proposed Medicare Pay Increases For Providers

Weeks ago, the patrician Senate rejected proposals for prescription drug cost relief for the elderly.  Now, this august body is considering increasing Medicare pay to healthcare providers.  Interesting, isn't it?  Not surprisingly, consumer advocates are outraged.  So are the elderly.  Senators are more interested in helping their own, -- Corporate America, rather than healthcare recipients.  Need to be sent a strong message in November.  Particularly, greedy Republicans.



Improper Influence?

Remember recent coverage in this publication regarding California gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon and the "President's" careful distancing of himself from Mr. Simon due to a $78 million civil fraud judgment against his family's investment firm?  Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant solved the problem, conveniently doing the occupant of the White House and Simon one hell of a favor.  Dismissed the judgment.  That's right.  He threw it out.  Remarkably fortuitous for the GOP, no?  Think the "judge's" action impartial, unbiased, and in no way a result of "Administration" pressure?


Letter To Dell CEO

Michael Dell
Chief Executive Officer
Dell Computers
One Dell Way
Round Rock, TX  78682

August 18, 2002

Dear Mr. Dell:

A Dell factory refurbished Latitude was purchased from Mr. Notebook by [redacted] of [redacted] and donated to this non-profit publication about a year ago.  Despite a nearly $900 expenditure, this machine has been a piece of trash since purchase.  Support from Mr. Notebook was non-existent.  Sadly, Dell Support was not much better.

Clearly, after a year's worth of problems, factory "refurbished" does not mean factory "rebuilt".  Apparently, the hard disk, floppy, and CD drives were never replaced.  -- The most likely sources of product failure.  In addition, the supposedly replaced lithium-ion battery module has a design flaw.  Although the machine has always been run on AC power and the battery maintained at 100% charge, intelligence circuitry in the module failed, rendering the battery worthless.  -- Coincidentally occurred during the latest email foray with Dell Support regarding floppy disk failure.  … Aren't I lucky?  Incredibly blessed?

All that was requested from Dell Support this time around, however, was a pointer to diagnostics that would have pinpointed the problem with the floppy drive.  … Not absolutely sure yet whether the failure lies only in the drive itself, or may also involve the socket and possibly bugs in drivers common to both the floppy and CD ROM drives.  Sadly, the CD ROM has never worked flawlessly either and has had occasional problems of reliability.  … At least, it's still working, however.  Unlike the floppy.

While Dell Support indeed provided a pointer to diagnostics, the download ironically requires use of boot disk and floppy.  Indeed, a problem of not being able to get from here to there.  When pointed out to Support, received no further assistance, -- just an outrageous run around.  … Despite assurances on the Dell website such email support supposedly exists for life of the product.

Mr. Dell, I can certainly understand you cannot be aware of all problems within a large corporation.  You do, however, have unaddressed flaws with "refurbished" machines sold by disreputable vendors fraudulently and phonily invoking Dell corporate name, image, and prestige, and more importantly, horrendous problems with a totally unresponsive Dell Support division.  No question, it is doing damage to corporate public image and reputation.  Sadly, although your machines are extremely popular, the greatest problem I've heard from users is lack of support.  Can certainly attest to that from personal experience.

Support outrageously refused to provide an email address for your office, -- unlike HP and other corporations more responsive to unresolved customer problems and complaints.  … An email address would have certainly provided an easy practical way of sending the entire email exchange over the last year.  Would have sorely indicated glaring obfuscation, non-responsiveness, and interminable intentional delay.  Hard to believe you're unaware.  Than again, Dell Corporation could apparently care less.

Mr. Notebook sold the Latitude as a Dell factory refurbished machine, supposedly tested by Dell-trained technicians, clearly so indicated on the bottom of the computer.  Again, the floppy, CD, and hard drives apparently were never replaced.  The most likely components to fail.   Since factory refurbished clearly does not mean factory rebuilt, the computer is no more than a used machine.  … A machine that could have been bought for half the price at a resale shop.  Even less if purchased privately.  With the price of new notebooks precipitously dropping recently to the $900 range and technically capable of running circles around this dinosaur, assuredly have no intention of dumping additional money into this piece of trash.

Mr. Notebook, on the day of purchase, claimed this machine to be factory refurbished.  Repeatedly made the claim.  Clearly, it was not.  Mr. Notebook quickly washed its hands of this lemon, failing to answer follow-up correspondence from this publication regarding product failure shortly after purchase.  Have no intention of wasting additional time and effort haggling further with Mr. Notebook, -- other than to publish an investigative article exposing this entire fiasco.  After all, the public is entitled to know exactly how business was done.

Due to several serious problems never corrected by Dell or Mr. Notebook since purchase of this falsely alleged Dell factory refurbished product, however, can honestly say at this point I would never again purchase a Dell computer, -- new, used, or "factory refurbished".  From anyone.  Certainly would never encourage others to purchase Dell either.  Indeed, why take the risk and put up with the hassle?

Regardless of whether or not Dell Corporation is technically or legally responsible for fraudulent claims made by a vendor of Dell machines, the damage done to corporate image is indeed severe nonetheless.  The lack of competent support and assistance from Dell Corporation in the matter is stunning.  Certainly, costly in terms of good faith and product loyalty lost.  Regardless of legal responsibility.

Have enclosed the last few emails from Support upper management refusing to provide an email address for your office and highly indicative and glaringly demonstrative of ongoing obfuscation over the last year.  Little more than canned, computer-generated messages containing phony platitudes and false concern designed to obfuscate and stonewall rather than provide technical assistance or resolution.  Apparently, the problem is top-down, since tone and substance of upper management Support is no different than that of lower level techs.  Although unquestionably a public service, have held off publishing an investigative article until I hear from your office.

Sincerely,
 
 

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://www.llanoledger.com
tchorney@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
_____________________________________________________________________________

From: dhs_on-line_order@dell.com | This is Spam | Add to Address Book
To: tchorney@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: AT20020803_0000009749 Site Problem or Error
Date: Tue 06 Aug 2002 08:39:05 CDT
 
 
 

Please include the following line in all replies.
Tracking number: AT20020803_0000009749
 

Dear Mr. Chorney,

Thank you for the additional information.  Please accept my apologies
for this inconvenience.  Please be advised that Mr. Dell does
not have an e-mail address for customer inquiries.  Anything
you wish directed to him must be done through standard letter
carrier.

If there is anything else I can do for you, please advise.

Respectfully,

M. C. DeRosier
Dell DHS Customer Care
DTG0368
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday

If responding to me, please use the *REPLY* function of your
e-mail program.  This will keep the SAME SUBJECT LINE as our
e-mail.  Otherwise, your message may be delayed or lost.
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visit the NEW Customer Care Website!
http://www.DellCustomerCare.com
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visit the Dell T@lk Support Forum!
http://delltalk.us.dell.com
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visit Dells Technical Support Center!
http://support.us.dell.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Tim Chorney" <tchorney@yahoo.com>
> Sent: 05 Aug 02 20:26
> To: uscemcsd1@dell.com
>
>
> Dear Mr. DeRosier:
>
> You still have not answered my question regarding the
> email address of the office of the CEO.  While the
> nature of my business with that office is none of
> yours and your comments a bit presumptuous, suffice it
> to say the sheer volume of material I wish to send
> regarding this and earlier related matters make doing
> so electronically far more convenient.  To the point,
> are you refusing to provide this publication with an
> email address for Mr. Dell's office?  ... This is not
> the end of the matter, Mr. DeRosier, only the
> beginning.
>
> Tim Chorney, Publisher
> The Llano Ledger
> http://www.llanoledger.com
> P.O. Box 997
> Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
>
> --- csd@dell.com wrote:
> > Please include the following line in all replies.
> > Tracking number: AT20020803_0000009749
> >
> >
> > Dear Mr. Chorney,
> >
> > Thank you for contacting Dell Customer Care.  I
> > apologize for
> > any inconvenience this issue may have caused.  In
> > looking through
> > your history, my understanding is that this issue
> > revolves around
> > the floppy drive and battery malfunction.  The
> > on-line service
> > technician made the presumption that your unit was
> > still under
> > warranty and asked for the system Service Tag.
> >
> > Unfortunately, since this unit was not purchased
> > from Dell, we
> > are not obligated to offer warranty service.
> > Therefore, you
> > must seek repair or replacement through Mr.
> > Notebook.
> >
> > To answer your question, Mr. Michael Dell is our
> > CEO.  Our address
> > is as follows:
> >
> > Dell Computers
> > One Dell Way
> > Round Rock, TX  78682
> >
> > Once again, I apologize and truly regret any
> > inconvenience or
> > frustration this matter may have caused. We value
> > you as our
> > customer and your satisfaction is very important to
> > us.  If I
> > can be of further assistance, please advise.
> >
> > Respectfully,
> >
> > M. C. DeRosier
> > Dell DHS Customer Care
> > DTG0368
> > 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
> > Monday through Friday
> >
> > If responding to me, please use the *REPLY* function
> > of your
> > e-mail program.  This will keep the SAME SUBJECT
> > LINE as our
> > e-mail.  Otherwise, your message may be delayed or
> > lost.
> >      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > Visit the NEW Customer Care Website!
> > http://www.DellCustomerCare.com
> >      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > Visit the Dell T@lk Support Forum!
> > http://delltalk.us.dell.com
> >      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > Visit Dells Technical Support Center!
> > http://support.us.dell.com
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "Tim Chorney" <tchorney@yahoo.com>
> > > Sent: 03 Aug 02 21:05
> > > To: dellweb@dell.com
> > >
> > >
> > > * * * PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT WHEN
> > REPLYING * * *
> > > * * * This is a feedback Message from the Dell
> > Online Communications Center. * * *
> > >
> > > Customer Information:
> > > ************************************************
> > > Name: Tim Chorney
> > > Email: tchorney@yahoo.com
> > > Service Tag:
> > > ***********************************************
> > > Topic: Site Problem or Error
> > > Customer Referring URL:
> >
> http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/webmaster.asp
> > > Problem Description: Have some correspondence to
> > send Mr. Dell and was not able to find an email
> > address for the office of the CEO.  Can you kindly
> > supply one, please?
> > > Tim Chorney, Publisher
> > > The Llano Ledger
> > > http://www.llanoledger.com
> > > P.O. Box 997
> > > Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
> > > ***********************************************
> > > Sent to: webmaster@dell.com
> > > Referring URL:
> >
> http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/webmaster.asp
> > > Remote Address:
> > > Remote Host:
> > > HTTP User Agent:
> > > Date submitted: 8/3/2002 9:05:01 PM



Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 825
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609

Dear Fire Department Supporter,

Generous support of your Fire Department assures that we are there when you need us with the right equipment and training.  We all think of our Fire Department when we think of fire, but your Department is also equipped to provide emergency support in other areas ranging from responding to hazardous material spills to removal of the injured in auto accidents.  A recent training exercise used the 'jaws of life' to provide entry to a severely damaged vehicle.

Your Fire Department is currently staffed by 14 volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  These members have jobs, family lives, social and civic responsibilities, and yet they manage to quickly respond to calls for aid regardless of time, day or night. Your Firefighters need safe and effective equipment and training to continue to meet the expanding needs of our community.  Community population has increased by more than 54% between 1990 and 2000, and by another 16% between 2000 and 2002.

Through your support, and grant funding from LCRA, we have replaced our 1967 Pumper Truck with a much more capable 1987 Pierce Pumper.  We have also modified two surplus military vehicles to maintain and expand our brush truck inventory.  While we have upgraded our main Tanker in the last few years, our smaller 1969 Tanker is not reliable and requires replacement.

Our current planning includes replacing the old tanker, upgrading and expanding our breathing apparatus (for use in structure firefighting), and the addition of defibrillator capability.  Once again, we are requesting your assistance in meeting the needs of your Fire Department.  As always, we appreciate your contributions!

JUST THINK!  What if you had a fire and no one came?  We also have need of a few good people who are willing to help out their community.  We meet the first & third Thursdays of each month at 7:00 PM at the Fire Barn on Hwy 261.

FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING BURGLARIZED

Sometime between 10 PM Tuesday night, 5/21/02 and Thursday, 2 PM, 5/23/02 the fire station was broken into and over $4000 of equipment was taken.  If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Buchanan Fire Department, 793-9085 or contact the Sheriff's office in Llano.

CALL 911 IN AN EMERGENCY

MAKE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO:

BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 825
BUCHANAN DAM, TEXAS 78609

$5.00___$10.00___$25.00___OTHER $____

NAME:_______________________________

ADDRESS:____________________________

CITY:________________________________

STATE____________  ZIP:______________

*NOTE:  IF GIFT IS MADE AS A MEMORIAL, PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS FOR APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT



Fraudulent Deletion Of Ledger Websites

A letter To Burnet County Sheriff Joe Pollock has been posted recently.  Access it by clicking here.

As promised, the letter of complaint sent to Burnet County Judge Martin McLean, regarding fraudulent Ledger Maxpages and Stormpages site deletions originating from the Burnet County Library System and resulting in the ejection of this writer from library computers, has finally been posted.  Readers are reminded this is not the end of the matter.  Just the beginning.  For ongoing coverage of the criminal attacks as well as the letter to the Judge sent in response, click here.



Klee's Kaleidoscope

Be sure to click on Klee's Kaleidoscope for Harvey Klee's latest edition.  This publication is a forum for a diversity of viewpoints. All are encouraged to submit material.



An Honest Business

A rare commodity, honest businesses need a plug.  Although this publication receives no financial remuneration or funding of any kind from Mike's Transmission, this writer has personally known the owner of this new business quite some time and has enormous respect for his integrity.  Mike has had years of experience working on transmissions, -- foreign and domestic, standard and automatic.  This guy has heart and takes enormous pride in his work.  Give him a call at 915-423-1694.  The business is in the process of being launched.  If you like the quality of service, let me know.  Better yet, ask him to send a donation to the Ledger.



Unbridled Fear

As strongly asserted in the last 72 editions, gut-wrenching fear generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team is quite impressive. After all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only outrageously intimidate defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even innocent third parties who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive hands.

Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly, the survivor got cold feet.

Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to stand up and expose them to the light of day?

Every time a source cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and abusive sons of bitches win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another nail is driven into the coffin of liberty.

If you don't have the courage to stand up and do the right thing, why should this writer continue to place himself in physical and legal jeopardy trying to expose the outrageous corruption and abuse?

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
 

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Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609