· With trucking diesel fuel prices now over $4 per gallon in many locations, food prices are reaching an all time high, since the average grocery store item has traveled 1500-3500 miles.
· Over the past year, alone, consumers have been forced to pay significantly more for staples like eggs (25%), milk (17%), cheese (15%), bread (12%), and rice (13%). This is partially due to increased costs of transportation and partially due to massive amounts of cropland being converted to biofuel production. As a result, consumers are paying more for their food and paying $15 billion in increased taxes per year for biofuel subsidies.
· Fuel prices have nearly doubled the expenses of commuters over the last year. Recent polls show a strong majority of U.S. citizens are in favor of allocating a larger portion of the federal budget for mass transportation.
· In contrast, the amount of federal money earmarked for mass transit projects (example: rail and bus) has been reduced by nearly 70% since the Bush Administration took over in 2001.
· A record number of consumers are using credit cards to pay for increased fuel costs. Although the recession has negatively impacted employment, the New York Times reports one of the few booming occupations in the current job market is as a Debt Collector.
· Since 2001, the top five oil companies have increased their annual profits by an average of 500%.
Source: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11013.cfm
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Leroy
(A woman walks into the downtown welfare office, trailed by 15 kids.)
"WOW" the social worker exclaims, "are they ALL YOURS???"
"Yep they are all mine," the flustered momma sighs, having heard that question a
thousand times before. She says, "Sit down Leroy." All the children rush to find
seats.
"Well," says the social worker, "then you must be here to sign up. I'll
need all your children's names."
"This one's my oldest - he is Leroy."
"OK, and who's next?"
"Well, this one he is Leroy, also."
The social worker raises an eyebrow but continues.
One by one, through the oldest four, all boys, all named Leroy.
Then she is introduced to the oldest girl, named Leighroy!
"All right," says the caseworker. "I'm seeing a pattern here. Are they
ALL named Leroy?"
Their Momma replied, "Well, yes-it makes it easier. When it is time to get them out of bed and ready for school, I yell, 'Leroy!' An' when it's time for dinner, I just yell 'Leroy!' an' they all come arunnin. 'An' if I need to stop the kid who's running into the street, I just yell 'Leroy' - and all of them stop.
It's the smartest idea I ever had, namin' them all Leroy"
The social worker thinks this over for a bit, then wrinkles her forehead and says tentatively, "But what if you just want ONE kid to come, and not the whole bunch?"
"I call them by their last names."
"WOW" the social worker exclaims, "are they ALL YOURS???"
"Yep they are all mine," the flustered momma sighs, having heard that question a
thousand times before. She says, "Sit down Leroy." All the children rush to find
seats.
"Well," says the social worker, "then you must be here to sign up. I'll
need all your children's names."
"This one's my oldest - he is Leroy."
"OK, and who's next?"
"Well, this one he is Leroy, also."
The social worker raises an eyebrow but continues.
One by one, through the oldest four, all boys, all named Leroy.
Then she is introduced to the oldest girl, named Leighroy!
"All right," says the caseworker. "I'm seeing a pattern here. Are they
ALL named Leroy?"
Their Momma replied, "Well, yes-it makes it easier. When it is time to get them out of bed and ready for school, I yell, 'Leroy!' An' when it's time for dinner, I just yell 'Leroy!' an' they all come arunnin. 'An' if I need to stop the kid who's running into the street, I just yell 'Leroy' - and all of them stop.
It's the smartest idea I ever had, namin' them all Leroy"
The social worker thinks this over for a bit, then wrinkles her forehead and says tentatively, "But what if you just want ONE kid to come, and not the whole bunch?"
"I call them by their last names."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
