Vermont’s homegrown Wall Street grillionaire, Bruce Lisman, continues to spend a modest portion of his wealth on his vanity proj– er, public advocacy group, Campaign for Vermont. Last week, he held three more of his Famous Forums. Sadly, I was out of town and couldn’t attend, but I’ve heard that at least one of them was completely unimpressive. Tiny turnout, not much real discussion.

Oh well. Bruce, undeterred, marches on. CFV is now proclaiming itself, without offering any evidence, to be “the fastest growing grassroots organization in the state.” And now he’s got himself a cadre of young adults to help spread the CFV gospel:

The independent, non-partisan coalition Campaign for Vermont today announced the formation of a new Grassroots Advocacy Team.

Throughout the summer, the seven-member team, with Partners of Campaign for Vermont, will be participating in community events such as parades, festivals, fairs and field days…

In other words, paid cheerleaders.

First chance to meet the CFV Clones: Fourth of July parades this week in Montpelier, Warren, and Brandon, where they’ll have “t-shirts, signs, banners, and balloons,” according to the CFV Facebook page. Because yeah, nothing says “festive” like a bland, “conservative in centrist’s clothing” advocacy group.

Well, the kiddies sound pretty amped about Lismania. To judge by CFV’s latest radio ad, I’d say they’ve been slammin’ the Red Bull something fierce. (Seriously, take 30 seconds and give it a listen. Awful production values and a frightening onslaught of good cheer.)

So, who are these excitable youth?  

Dunno. As far as I can tell, their names are not revealed anywhere. At least not yet; CFV does promise a series of “video vignettes” introducing the team. If the radio ad is anything to judge by, the videos will probably make Up With People look like a goth-emo outfit. Here’s how the Clones are described in the CFV press release:

The Grassroots Advocacy Team is made up of young Vermonters with a range of experience and expertise. Some have worked for Democrat politicians; others have worked for Republicans and independents, including Senator Bernie Sanders. Others have experience in other disciplines, such as design and marketing.

Please note the Republican-style pejorative use of “Democrat” as an adjective. Not the best way to demonstrate your nonpartisanship, Bruce.

I do look forward to learning the identity of the Clone or Clones who used to work for Bernie Sanders. Otherwise, folks, please keep your damn balloons and T-shirts to yourself.  

Why bother with paychecks?  A growing number of low-wage workers are no longer getting paychecks but receive prepaid cards from their employers that work like debit cards.

At first glance this might seem like a helpful option for “underbanked” low-wage employees, who may not have bank or checking accounts. However, bank charges and fees are tacked on when workers use the paycheck debit cards to accesses their money. Fees can range from $1.75 for each withdrawal to $2.95 for a paper statement and a $6 charge to replace a lost card. In some cases, an “inactivity fee” is deducted if the card is not used often enough. These charges take unwelcome bites out low-wage earners’ already tiny income.  

The debit payroll cards are supposedly optional, but many employees are not aware they have a choice; other companies are not even offering standard payroll services. Not surprisingly, this option for employees is a big cost saver for companies and a substantial money maker for card issuers.

Companies and card issuers, who include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup, say the cards are cheaper and more efficient than checks — a calculator on Visa’s Web site estimates that a company with 500 workers could save $21,000 a year by switching from checks to payroll cards. On its Web site, Citigroup trumpets how the cards “guarantee pay on time to all employees.”

[emphasis added]

The NYtimes.com reports that dozens of major companies – including Taco Bell, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart – offer pre-paid cards to workers. In 2012 there was $34 billion on 4.6 million active cards. One business research firm estimates by 2017 there will be $68.9 billion loaded onto 10.8 million payroll cards. Each card generates fees for the bank that issues the card in addition to whatever the bank charges a company for their employee payroll card service.

The largest issuer of payroll cards is NetSpend, based in Austin, Tex. Chuck Harris, the company’s president, says it attracts companies by offering convenience to employees and cost savings to employers.  

NetSpend is a 14-year-old company that pays its execs handsomely. The publically traded company shelled out $3.4 million in salary and stock compensation to president Charles Harris. In addition, CEO Dan Henry got base pay of $401,500, but with “bonus” and “incentive” compensation and stock equity payments, his earnings for 2012 were up at $2.4 million. As you might expect, none of the executives here are “underbanked”- if anything, they are overbanked. They are definitely not paid in debit cards.  

Did I detect just a hint of sarcasm in today’s Freeps story about the Genuine Progress Indicator?

One thing most probably could agree on is that there is no perfect way to measure a population’s well-being, however defined. But the measures keep coming, and a new one for Vermont is in the pipeline, thanks in part to the environmental movement.

Oh, those wacky environmentalists.

The traditional way to quantify how well a state or nation is doing, is by means of its “GDP” (Gross Domestic Product) which is

That a smaller and smaller class of Americans enjoys the lion’s share of this productivity seems to have escaped the attention of Wall Street and the rest of the Sunshine Boys who point to the GDP as an unimpeachable sign that things are looking up.

The Free Press article acknowledges that the resulting figure does not take into account negative impacts generated by that economic activity, including things like pollution, erosion and loss of significant habitat; stuff that is apparently of only limited interests to people other than environmentalists, until a price tag for necessary remediation is attached.

But environmental impacts are only a part of the story of why a Genuine Progress Indicator is needed in order to truly understand how well one state or one nation is doing.

GDP looks only at the amount of economic activity that is generated  over a given period of time, without judgment as to whether that activity contributes to or detracts from a sustainable future.  It then divides that “product” on a per capita basis, concluding that each unit of population (or person) enjoys an equal share of that “productivity.”

As income inequity has grown exponentially in the U.S., continuing to apply the same old GDP yardstick seems akin to economic malpractice.  

It speaks well for Vermont’s legislature that they recognize this fact and are moving toward adoption of a GPI which will take into consideration both the positive and negative effects of commerce and development, as well as quality of life factors that have previously been ignored in quantifying our well-being.

Establishing GPI standards would be a positive step toward shaping a sustainable future; and Vermont’s legislature deserves our respect for having recognized that value.

It’s not that I am any less overjoyed that DOMA got the toss from SCOTUS this week.  It’s a victory for fairness and equality; and for plain common sense.

That it happened this week means  we must celebrate the news while bitterly recognizing that social justice battles are NEVER over; because this was also the week in which that same black robed posse rolled back the clock on civil rights to the shameful days of 1964.

In remarks explaining why it overturned a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the nation’s highest court completely discounted blatant attempts at voter suppression that occurred in the general election as recently as last November.

As far as the Supremes are concerned, racial equality is a done deal.

Finishing the job begun with Citizens United, this decision sets the stage for future U.S. Congresses to be even less representative of “we the people” than they are now.

As if to illustrate the complete disconnect that exists between the supposedly post-racial U.S. that SCOTUS imagines we’ve got going on here, and the simmering stew that actually exists, American media has virtually ignored the knee-capping of  votier rights to focus instead on the etiquette of racially charged semantics.  

They devoted hours of debate to discussing whether or not celebrity chef Paula Deen ought to be run out of town on a rail for her use of the ultimate racial perjorative, not for the bizarre antebellum reference in which the word was used; then they capped off the week by “examining” whether use of the word “cracker” in the Trayvon Martin murder case was somehow an equivalent outrage!

Whether the target is black Americans’ or women’s rights, we are witnessing new assaults on those values that threaten to undo much of the good that was accomplished over decades of struggle.

So, even once marriage equality finally (inevitably) becomes the law of the land, LGBT Americans would be well advised to stay organized and activist.  Someone will (also inevitably) be waiting in the wings to try and take it all away again.  

Well.  All the Gays and Lib-er-als are happy, happy, happy!  Wednesday, The Supremes dumped DOMA and won’t go near California’s Prop 8.  Yes.  After all, they had to do something right after gutting the Voting Rights Act on Tuesday.  It’s like:

“Well, we fucked the Blacks, Hispanics, the Elderly and Disabled, and all those other voters out there on Tuesday, who are the same voters that made us turn around on Wednesday and look like we’re supporting Gay Marriage,” says Scalia to Roberts.

“You’re right, Tony,” says Roberts.  “It made me sick how we had to throw this Gay bone out there, but it will keep all the Lib-er-als so happy, it will be weeks before they catch up with what we did to Article 4 of the Voting Rights Act.  And they probably won’t even care about it.  Cause Gay Marriage is IN.  We’re hip, you and me, Tony.”

“What’s this WE shit, asshole?” says Scalia.  “You and I voted to uphold DOMA.  God, I told Bush you were a dim dim bulb when he appointed you.”

“I know,” says Roberts.  “But listen, Tony, they’ll be celebrating so much, they won’t even know or care which four of us voted in favor of DOMA.  You think Lib-er-als care about Black people?  Hell, Lib-er-als don’t even want Gays moving in next door to their kids, let alone Blacks.”

“Speaking of which,” replies Scalia, “we’ve got to do something about Clarence.  He’s been harassing that new white lesbian aide of mine.  She told me yesterday that Clarence asked her if she noticed any pubic hairs on his briefs.”

“Tut-Tut, Tony,” says Roberts.  “Clarence is our ace in the hole–heh-heh–yeah, ace of spades.  I mean, a Black Supreme Court Justice dissing the Voting Rights Act?  Hell, with a different Black Justice, it could have gone 5-4 the other way.  So, if the Lib-er-als and the Blacks and whoever start getting bitchy, we just point to Clarence and say Black Power Has Spoken.”  

“Bitchy?” says Scalia.  “What is that?  You picking up that Gay lingo now?  I’ve been wondering about you?  I saw you with that Gay Civil Liberties attorney last week.  So what is it, John-Boy?  Are you like Clarence?  Cross-addressing?  Man, this court is getting fucked-up.  Am I the only one here with integrity and real male balls?  Am I the last straight white male Supreme Court Justice?  Let’s see:  Breyer’s a fag.  That’s one.  And now I’m not sure about Kennedy.  That’s two.  And Alito?  Yeah–a fairy.  Close enough.  Three.  Clarence?  Yeah, all that sexual harassment of women.  A big act.  Definitely a closet fag.  Or at least queer-bait.  Four.  And you?  Tell me, John-Boy?  Say it ain’t so.  Cause that would make it 5-4 again as far as…hey, wait a minute…no…Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan are absolute lesbos…Shit!  That would make it 8-1!  Say it ain’t so, John-Boy.”

“It ain’t so, Tony,” answers Roberts.

“Good,” says Scalia.  “This shit keeps up, the Corporate Persons are going to turn Gay too.”

“Hey, Tony?”

“Whaatt?!  I’m fucking thinking.  Of an Opinion.”

“Tony, what if all the Blacks and Spics and Immigrants and the fucked-up old people all turn Gay?” asks Roberts.  “And then these nine states and other counties we let off the hook, along with a shitload of other states, start fucking with these new Gay people’s vote?  Then we’re right back where we started.  Only worse.”

“Hell,” says Scalia.  “We’ll have to address the Constitutionality of Black people and other fucked-up people turning Gay for voting entitlements.  There must be something in the Constitution about CrossGender-Race-Age-SameSex-Marrying-Your-Daughter-Sexual-Citizenship-Literacy, or whatever.  Maybe in that Article where they wrote that the more slaves you had, the more representation you had.  I’ll look it all up.  If it’s there, I’ll find it.  I’m the fucking Constitutional Scholar here.  That fucking old dyke Ginsburg!”

“Okay, Tony,” says Roberts.  “You’re the swellest Constitutionalist I’ve ever known.  Want to go get a drink?”

“Jesus F. Christ!  I don’t need this.  Get your fucking hand off my robe, John-Boy!” yells Scalia.  “That fucking Reagan!  Yeah, definitely a fruitcake.  At least a fairy.  And probably an outright fag!  He did this to me!  And Bush appointed you, John-Boy.  Bush!  Another one.  I’m outta here, John-Boy.  Got to go write an Opinion about whether the Constitution says fags can become President.  Or Supreme Court Justices.  Shit.”

“Can I watch you do it?” asks Roberts.

“Jesus F………….”

So remember, folks.  This ain’t exactly a week that calls for a big CELEBRATION of one people’s civil rights being upheld in exchange for another’s being shit on.  Think about it.

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, Vt.

More evidence of Wendy Davis's status as folk hero has emerged on Amazon.com, where the shoes she wore to filibuster have started to gather the kind of reviews previously accorded to the Three Wolf Moon t-shirt and the pink Bic pen.

 The shoe is the Mizuno Wave Rider 16 and it's made just for women. Take a look at what some of the satisfied customers are saying:

She's a real hero, so why don't you just go ahead and contribute to her campaign right here? That would be just great. 

Congratulations to all who benefit from this decision. BUT, one big problem that is now made worse is that an entire class of people is even more marginalized. Those who cannot marry because of circumstances other than LGBT issues. An entire class – hidden, marginalized, no one to speak for them, no one to lobby for them, no legal dream team to fight for them. They should not be denied the legal benefits of marriage.

This marginalized class of citizens includes those with medical issues, age, circumstances that make marriage unavailable. Imagine a disabled mother of 6 children widowed or abandoned by a spouse.

A ‘next-of-kin law’ would remedy this. Allow anyone to chose anyone else as their legal next of kin… a brother, sister, friend, neighbor. Get the government out of marriage. Give the legal/financial benefits to all, or to none. (A simple trip to a lawyer will not fix this.) Justice means giving all equal rights. This could happen only if the legal benefits of marriage were open to everyone. They are not.

This decision marginalizes the most disadvantaged among us. Who will speak for them?

UPDATE: Republican abortion vote fails. 

Not what I thought happenetd, but here's the report from Talking Points Memo:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-abortion-bill-fails-after-challenge.php?ref=fpa 

As we saw a couple of years ago in Wisconsin, the Texas Senate President is ramming through a draconian anti-abortion bill by means of bogus parliamentary maneuvers, and the crowd in the gallery is refusing to sit still for it.

 We'll see if the demonstrators will recognize the end of the session or continue to sit in, which in Wisconsin is really what gave rise to the Occupy movement. 

UPDATE: The president has found that a third point of order was well founded. The question was whether the senator's comments were germane to the bill. She was discussing the impact of this new bill on Texas women in the context of other legislation that Texas has already passed that also restricts access to abortion.

 This is a blatantly partisan ruling, and has now been challenged from the floor, to tremenous cheers from the gallery.

My prediction, unfortunately, is that the Republican, anti-woman majority will uphold the chair and end the filibuster. 

You should load this page and start watching right now.

It's a debate in the Texas state senate, and a pro-choice senator, Wendy Davis, is attempting to sustain a filibuster through the scheduled end of their session tonight to block a vicious anti-choice bill. 

A lot of it has to do with the pecularities of the senate rules, which apparently provide that the speaker must stand on her own without leaning on anything, may not take a sip of water, may not leave for a bathroom break, and must confine her comments to what is germane to the bill.

For a parliamentarian this is intrinsically interesting, but what's more important is that here we have an individual state legislator doing everything she can to stand up to the nationwide Republican war on women.

She has hours yet to go and I don't know if she'll make it. She's already had two points of order sustained against her, and if another is sustained they can move to vote to cut off debate, but she appears to be pretty composed  and focussed, and she has allies who are doing what they can to help her.  

Go, Wendy! I admire her for standing up for this.

 “We've traced the call… it's coming from inside the house. Now a squad car's coming over there right now, just get out of that house!”

If I even thought about it, I assumed that security and defense contractors had monitoring systems (like in the movies) to prevent a lower level employee such as Edward Snowden from walking away with the family jewels. But if they do, that system isn’t working – turns out ‘the calls’ are coming from inside a broken system.  

Public revelations by Booz Allen employee Edward Snowden about government phone record and data collection may have the security/surveillance-state industrial complex spooked. Booz Allen and businesses like them may be worried that because the information came from one of their own – from inside – their reputations are tarnished beyond polishing, their potential for leaks beyond the power of self-adhesive pipe wraps to prevent.

And now Sphere of Influence of McLean VA, specializing in “big data” and behavioral analysis, is attempting to capitalize on the crisis and fear. Sphere of Influence is a small company (and likely not the only one) looking to get a new piece of a huge pie and hoping their software catches on in the surveillance market.  

Sphere of Influence says cyber security breaches are a red herring – the real threat is “abnormal behavior”

Chris Kauffman, managing partner and director of R&D at Sphere of Influence: “Fundamentally we are talking about abnormal behavior in and among the workforce. The insider threat is an industrial security problem, and detection needs to focus on behavior, not breaches.” The new software will analyze and detect subtle behavioral anomalies and will alert security contractors to possible threats from a company’s own employees.

The number of people now “guarding” secrets and whose “subtle behavioral anomalies” may now be monitored is huge. As of last fall, almost five million people held government security clearances. More than one third of the 1.4 million people with Top Secret clearances are private contractors. And in true MAD Magazine Spy v. Spy style, most of the background checks are done by private contractors.

Most of the news stories about this issue today will probably be about where Edward Snowden is located, and not about the information he made public. Since there is so little talk of reining in or reforming the laws that allow BoozAllen and similar big data gathering missions, maybe Sphere of Influence’s dream of capitalizing on watching the watchers isn’t too outrageous.