The Underground Economy

Being part of the recently unemployed masses here in Michigan, a little more worldly now than say ten years ago, I have found the underground economy.

It raises some ethical questions. Why? Because the law can't stand it.

The underground economy for those who don't know is the transfer of monies or services without record or taxation applied.

I have heard of this before but never in action as much as it is now.

I have heard "rumors" of doctors avoiding the hassle of the insurance claim system and the atrocious effect the insurance industry has on health care on the whole, and taking goods and services in it's stead for treatment rendered.

Re-read the above paragraph, I said doctors. This isn't just those malpractice magnets you imagined when you read the above, this is leaders in their fields at prestigious hospitals.

This is disturbing, for one I would COMMEND any doctor willing to take this path showing care for those uninsured or unable to afford coverage for health treatment or more often than not, not covered by some technicality of the insurance company.

But back to point. Aside from my theoretical example of the underground economy above, this occurs in virtually every business field in existence in one form or another.

A tile contractors completes some work for a another contractor without cost, the contractor later gives the tile guy a new set of tile cutters he came across.

A guy fixes someones computer for a case of beer.

A hairdresser cuts hair for free for a year but gets their salon painted for free....you get the idea

This has always happened so what's the big deal?

Well now it's happening with high level professional fields where previously it would have been considered unethical or immoral but now seen as a viable resolution to the increasing ridiculous demands of bureaucracy, red tape, the criminal insurance industry or the crippled economy as a whole.

Read that again, this means the economy is now significantly more fucked up than its ever been.

But this again has always been happening. Big business has ALWAYS used it.

What? Think I am making that up?

Just ask the bidder who takes a potential client to the tittie bar for a few free lap dances if this has ever happened in big business.
They will let you know ALL about it. How much it cost them, how they explained the cost on the books and how it got them the contract in the end.

I knew one guy who always demanded being taken to Hooters for business meetings.
How lame is that? But I digress.

The higher the office, the bigger and usually more criminal the underground economy transfer.

But when normal, ethical citizens decide this is the way to go, since it's the only way they can survive month to month, it can be seen as a huge flashing red light indicator that the "above board" economy is headed for the toilet el pronto.

Strangely enough there is very little on the underground economy I could find on the net.

I am not saying its not talked about but it just doesn't seem to be a hot topic.
More of a scholastic argument for a thesis paper or someone hawking their book on it.

Here was a relatively good one though from 2002

So whats my point? I guess I don't really have much of one other than this is yet another indicator of the poor ass economy.

If "I" start to see it with how limited my "streetwise" capabilities are, it must be pretty prevalent.

Where do you see it?

Illegal activities? Under the counter deals? Swapping services? Grandma not claiming her casino winnings?



Welcome to Detroit

Primerica

Today I received my 2nd rip off company asking me to work for them.

Primerica

A quick search pulled up this:

Pissedconsumer.com

Plenty of people went into how this company raised rates up 400% for customers and pulled automatically from the checking accounts of it's employees for 800 numbers, web sites, etc. etc. etc.


The Primerica company has a snazzy looking website with a lot of content in the link above. Almost looks legit. Almost.

The guy who wrote me to try and recruit me wrote from a yahoo account.

C'mon your going to have to try a little harder than that you morons.

I am quickly getting disheartened in my search for employment.

On the plus side I found a new website for job searchs:

Indeed.com

I like it a lot and recommend it currently.


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Mayor Kilpatrick Plays Race Card, Has Whole Deck Appearantly

Source

Detroit is possibly the most racist city I have ever been to. Why is it every scandal has to be defended with the race card? or at the least accusations or innuendo of racism.

Here is some of Mayor Kilpatrick's blather and ranting:

"I think the prosecutor's case is going to hell quickly," the mayor said at a morning press conference to announce Labor Day celebrations at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit. "She's definitely trying to poison the jury pool. ... Her hope is that the racism of this region will convict me."

This coming from a man whom in the text messages to one of his mistresses, Former Mayoral Assistant and junk slobber groupie, Christine Beatty, commonly referred to each other with the affectionate term "my nigga"

Source

Kwame Kilpatrick to Christine Beatty: "Hell no! Don't start none. Won't be none niggette! LOL"

CB to KK: "I look forward to it. It's official, I need a night. How about you? You don't need to answer now. Enjoy the game."

KK to CB: "Shit. I need it real bad."

KK to CB: "My nigga! I love you, you know that."

CB to KK: "Yep! Ditto! You know that?"

KK to CB: "More than you could ever know!"


Yeah, sure Kwame, the suburbs are racist and would contaminate the jury pool...whatever....be a man and own up to where your little head has thought for your big head.


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Skull And Bones Society Pays Off

I can look you in the eye and tell you I feel I've tried to solve the problem diplomatically to the max, and would have committed troops both in Afghanistan and Iraq knowing what I know today.

--George w. Bush

Irving, CA
04/24/2006


Sorry, Any President that says "to the max" is to me a probable product of fetal alcohol syndrome.



Welcome to Detroit.

People In Michigan Are In The Dark About Gas

People In Detroit Are Possibly Mentally Retarded

Source

Michigan voters say high gas prices cramp their style, favor more drilling
Mark Hornbeck and Charlie Cain / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Discouraged Michiganians , who believe the sputtering U.S. economy is worsening, say gas prices are cutting into their lifestyles and they're willing to embrace a broad array of solutions including offshore drilling to bring fuel costs down, according to a Detroit News/WXYZ-Action News poll.

Seven in 10 voters said soaring fuel costs -- at $4.09 a gallon for regular this week -- are having a significant or major impact on their lives and are swaying two-thirds of residents to back offshore drilling in Florida, California and other states with ocean shorelines.

Nearly half said they'd even favor drilling for oil and gas along the Great Lakes.


I won't go into this too much, lest it be said, Detroit and Michigan have virtually NO public transit, no elevated trains (the people mover is a joke.), no subways, no bus system to speak of, no taxi cabs.


They want gas? No shit they want gas...future planning by all previously elected officials was TOTALLY negligent in forecasting what a major metro area needs in terms of public transit.

Detroit and Michigan wants gas, damn straight they do...THERE IS NO OTHER VIABLE OPTION!

So Michiganians (or Michiganders depending on which rag you read, they are both owned by the same corporate tools and are the only papers in town.) would be willing to look at (smell, deal with pollution, wildlife devastation.) an offshore rig in the great lakes as long as they get 2 cents off their gas...this is why incest is illegal, it produces morons.

Aside from other less learned persons in Michigan, I HAVE been around the country, every other major city I have been to puts Detroit to SHAME with their level of public transit...the motor city is a moniker that may be deserved but has been a curse for the last 30 years.



Welcome to Detroit