Nino no like his privacy invaded
Posted by: taggles on: April 30, 2009
Above the law has a good story about SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia.
Back in January, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was a speaker at the Institute of American and Talmudic Law’s midwinter conference on privacy issues. Sitting in the New York office of Weil Gotshal, Scalia told attendees that privacy was not that important to him.
Here is his exact quote:
Discussions of privacy rights in the digital era should distinguish between such confidential data as medical records and information that might be personal but is easy to find out, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Wednesday.
Considering every fact about someone’s life private is “extraordinary,” he said, noting that data such as addresses have long been discernible, even if technology has made them easier to find.“Every single datum about my life is private? That’s silly,” Scalia [said].
Well the professors at Fordham challenged their students to compile a dossier on Scalia using all available information on the internet. Here’s what they found:
the dossier (available online somewhere, but password protected) is 15 pages long. Among its contents are Nino’s home address, his home phone number, the movies he likes, his food preferences, his wife’s personal e-mail address, and “photos of his lovely grandchildren.”
Well, needless to say Scalia was none to happy with this turn of events. Seems as though these people in high places can’t bring themselves to metaphorically walk in the shoes of ordinary Americans. Until it actually happens to them. I thought these people were suppose to be smart. Here is Scalia’s response to the online dossier:
I stand by my remark at the Institute of American and Talmudic Law conference that it is silly to think that every single datum about my life is private. I was referring, of course, to whether every single datum about my life deserves privacy protection in law.
It is not a rare phenomenon that what is legal may also be quite irresponsible. That appears in the First Amendment context all the time. What can be said often should not be said. Prof. Reidenberg’s exercise is an example of perfectly legal, abominably poor judgment. Since he was not teaching a course in judgment, I presume he felt no responsibility to display any.
I guess Nino doesn’t like it when the shoes on the other foot, does he??
145 Responses to "Nino no like his privacy invaded"
April 30, 2009 at 12:12 PM
thanks gary — you saved me the trouble.
I’ve actually met that a–hole — summer law school semester in Greece — he’s a tool.
April 30, 2009 at 12:15 PM
He is also a member of Opus Dei, one of the most secret and ultraconservative wings of the Catholic Church. It was sinisterly depicted in The DaVinci Code. They are raging anti everything and hold a very tight hold on the Vatican. Weird people.
April 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Typical attitude of the ruling class. The law applies to us lowly peons but not them.
April 30, 2009 at 12:19 PM
..Privacy…Griswold…Roe….FOCA (a sneaky way to re-post Obama’s anti-choice answer at the “press-conference” last PM.
FLVoter permalink
OT, has anyone seen any left blog reaction to Obama’s downgrading of FOCA?
**********
I am sure that this is another brilliant political move that “ordinary” pro-choice people couldn’t possibly understand. This is what Obama said about FOCA:
““The Freedom of Choice Act is not the highest legislative priority,” Obama told reporters at a prime time news conference marking his 100th day in office. “I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on.”
Tamp down the anger???? What a fu*ckng ass-hat!!! I wonder if this decision has anything to do with the fact that his religious “advisors” are anti-choice homophobes. Way to go Nancy Keenan and NARAL!!
April 30, 2009 at 12:21 PM
See, the problem here is that these corporatist *ssholes all tell us we should put our faith in someone else’s judgment. Yes, yes, let’s make everything legal and “hope” that our politicians have the “judgment” to obey the spirit, not the letter, of the law.
It is absolutely humiliating that this f*ckwad is a Supreme Court Justice. The law protects private citizens against “bad judgment” by public figures, you unmitigated sh*t-for-brains. If you think otherwise, you should be removed from the bench immediately, and replaced by someone who, you know, actually understands why we have laws in this country. Preferably, Angie!
)(*$&!)(*$&!!!!
April 30, 2009 at 12:22 PM
SHV – I will be ranting about that later on today. Stay tuned.
April 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Wow, madamab is letting loose!!!!!!
IMHO, there is no commonground that I can see where the pro lifers and the pro choicers can agree on. The pro lifers insist on women carrying to term regardless of her decision or life situation. And they are uninterested on how she became pregnant to begin with. Rape, incest, whatever, they refuse to budge.
The pro choicer is interested in maintaining her right to made a decision based on her situation in consultation with her physician and free from interference. So tell me, what fucking middle ground are we looking at? What political or religious agenda are we about to concede to?
No woman is ever “a little bit pregnant”. This mandate by Obama is just another wishy washy attempt to have it both ways. He is a sorry p.o.s.
April 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Pat, When I first lived in Spain in the late 80′s I learned that Opus Dei was one of the powers behind the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Many of his fascist followers continued to use it as a way of trying to reorganize politically after his death, but with very little success. Most supporters were super wealthy, and the organization was never short on cash. I was a naive 18 year old at the time and my first boyfriend came from one of these families (I could write a book). Take it from me, Opus Dei is bad news.
April 30, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Pat, they are also uninterested in what happens to the baby after it is born. They seem to care more about a fetus than a real live human being. Doesn’t make much sense.
April 30, 2009 at 12:30 PM
thank you, thank you, but I could never be appointed — sadly, not enough political connections.
April 30, 2009 at 12:30 PM
“Wow, madamab is letting loose!!!!!!”
That’s 2 days in a row. That pretty little innocent face to the left of her post is just a bundle of mystery and joy!
April 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Oh, and, taggles. Wondering if you have a dent in your mantle from that silver candlestick that grew wings and flew last night?
April 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Opus Dei is sinister and the people who are members are a little shy of carrying a full load. Most are wealthy and able to contribute to this “secret society” who has its tentacles all over the world. Louie Freeh, former FBI director and a full blown opponent of Bill Clinton, is also a member of that group. I think I once heard that Pat Buchanan was associated with it but I could be wrong. The membership overall is very secretive.
April 30, 2009 at 12:35 PM
And just for the record should anyone get the wrong idea: I was raised Catholic. This is not meant to be “Catholic bashing” but an opening into a secret organization who has some pretty bizarre offerings based on nutty thinking.
April 30, 2009 at 12:36 PM
la-t-da, my mind is still hurling objects through the air! LOL
April 30, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I am off to Lowe’s (before they declare bankruptcy) to order the last 6 windows for the den. The way these businesses, both local and chains are toppling, I don’t want to take any chances that I cannot make use of these gift cards and coupons while they last.
April 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM
taggles: Not sure, could be, but he went over to the Born Agains which would exclude him from Opus Dei. One must be a Catholic in good standing, taking the sacraments regularly, and must be referred by a member of the clergy (and banker).
April 30, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Latda – I would make the world’s best criminal with this face! Plus, by some freak of nature, I don’t have recognizable fingerprints either. LOL
Too bad I just don’t have the inclination. 
I’ve been savoring my outrage like a fine wine. Tonight it’s coming out! Watch out, Obotia!
April 30, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I have absolutely nothing on topic or productive to say today. Everyone have a good one. LOL
April 30, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Pat, Thomas went to a seminary to become a priest. He is a Roman Catholic.
http://www.oyez.org/justices/clarence_thomas
April 30, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Love this article and love Prof. Reidenberg! I might send him a “thank you” post-card. Now I just need to find his address on-line!
These Opus Dei folks are scary. And I detested “The DaVinci Code.”
April 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I believe that “Justice” Alito (called “Scalito” by many of us on the left because he is Scalia’s “mini-me”) is Opus Dei as well. Taggles, what say ye?
April 30, 2009 at 12:57 PM
OK, I have a plan. I’m going to go lay on the couch, eat chocolate, and reread DV Code, and fantasize about a female descendant of Christ who will take over the world in 2012.
April 30, 2009 at 12:59 PM
am I remembering the movie correctly? a woman was the descendant, no??
April 30, 2009 at 1:06 PM
OT, but this is your credit card “bill of rights”:
Measures before the House and Senate are designed to enhance protections for credit card customers. The House debated a bill that would prohibit so-called double-cycle billing and retroactive rate hikes and ban the issuance of credit cards to people under 18, but wouldn’t take effect until a year after enactment. Another requirement in the bill, that customers receive 45 days notice before their interest rates are increased, would go into effect in 90 days.
so I have the right to be told beforehand that they are going to up my interest rate to 30%? Why are they not keeping these vampires from charging such outrageous rates? This really is lipstick on a pig.
April 30, 2009 at 1:09 PM
business as usual. the corporatacracy is not in danger and will live on to bleed us dry!
April 30, 2009 at 1:15 PM
The corporatacracy will also give us swine flu. This story should make that chocolate go down more easily.
“How “The NAFTA Flu” Exploded
Smithfield Farms Fled US Environmental Laws to Open a Gigantic Pig Farm in Mexico, and All We Got Was this Lousy Swine Flu”
http://www.narconews.com/Issue57/article3512.html
April 30, 2009 at 1:16 PM
taggles> If memory serves on DVC, the whole point was that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child. And the character Audrey Tatu played in the movie is the descendant of that child. (Hence she’s Jesus’ great-great-great-infinitum-granddaughter.) And the remains of Mary Magdalene are buried under that ridiculous pyramid at the Louvre.
April 30, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Opus Dei – I think I also read about it another conspiracy type, political mystery novel years ago. Think it was an early Katherine Neville novel. (A really good conspiracy writer). It was the first I’d heard of it, and what she said was so outrageous it was hard to believe it really existed. Don’t remember details, though. It might have been “The Eight”. Though “Da Vinci Code” wasn’t particularly well-written for fiction, I loved the ideas in it. I found most of them surprisingly credible. Love the idea that Mona Lisa is a man in drag! I never understood its appeal, even after standing in a very long line to see the original at the Louvre. The fact that (s)he’s really a man would totally explain it though. Though most (all) people aren’t aware that that’s the reason for its fascination.
Well, what else is new?
Oh, and I love the idea of angie for Supreme Court. Actually, I love the ideas of some of us Pumas running for office. Anyone game? Also love madamab’s idea of creating art around Puma. I started last summer with 80% of a novel I wrote that relates, with disguised characters, of course. Life intruded, got busy, computer printer problems. I know. Excuses, excuses. I have a whole new plot now, haven’t started writing it yet.
As you might guess, I agree with shtuey that we need more action.
April 30, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Oh, and Pat, if you’re still out there, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I just finished reading the thread from last night and found out.
April 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I have watched it about 5 times and can’t stop laughing! I don’t know why, but it tickles my funny bone!
April 30, 2009 at 1:37 PM
OMG!!! It’s Pat J’s birthday?!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!
(sings high C in Pat’s honor)
April 30, 2009 at 1:46 PM
delurking
Gary, your comment brought to mind a rhyme/tongue twister that is probably forgotten today.
How much wood could a woodchuck wood
If a woodchuck
could chuck
wood.
As much wood as a woodchuck would
If a woodchuck
could chuck
wood.
Reason it sprang to mind, it’s mindless, meanliness drivel, as are the “measures” before the House and Senate. It’s a shiny penny, meant to divert attention.
We really have fallen down the rabbit hole – They are the Walrus & Carpenter and we are the oysters.
Insofar as Scalia is concerned, what is that quote….
something about the Bell tolls for thee, but not for me?
Looks good on the simpleton. Someone should really explain to him that when one opens one’s mouth, there is a tendency of the uppercrust, out of touch, elite who are convinced of their own superiority to insert foot, and when one does that, there is a tendency of the plebes to kick them in the a.s.s.
April 30, 2009 at 1:47 PM
This may be unpopular but this is how I see the credit card debates
I believe that it is a service, I believe that the companies that provide this service should be able to charge whatever they can get for their service…….. BUT I believe that if they are going to increase your rate… they should only be able to raise it on FUTURE charges. The past charges should be billed at the rate agreed upon when charges were made…. the interest on the money that gets tacted on to your balance should also be on the original time that the charges were made…. All future charges and interest on those future purchases can be charged at the new rate…I believe that rates should not be able to be raised without 30day notice..
I believe in the consumer should have a choice and be able to make that choice…so yes I believe that the rules and agreements should have to be printed in plain English.
I also believe that Banks should only be allowed to provide credit cards to actual clients that have a history with that bank….
Credit card companies separate from the banks can provide credit cards to whom ever they wish, but should have to live by their decisions on who they provide that credit to. In other words, if these Credit card companies go bankrupt because they have made bad business decisions, don’t expect the tax payers to line your pockets with cash, because you are so called too big to fail.
just my 2cents
April 30, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Have a happy birthday, Pat.
I recommend DVC in book form. The movie leaves out a lot of fascinating ideas. Feminist woman power ideas, addressing connections between patriarchy and religion. It was based on an earlier non-fiction book I loved, think the name was ”The Templar Revolution”, something like that. It was well researched and thought out.
One idea was that Jesus had to be married. He was Jewish, a rabbi (?), and Jews believe men need to be married, for spiritual balance (yin-yang). They then go further, and talk about spiritual initiation, which is related to Tantric (Buddhist, Hindu mysticism) initiation, through sex. Basically, the idea is that Mary (Miriam) was Jesus’s wife, and the real teacher, through sex and power of feminine truths. Actually, that all the women were the true leaders and teachers. Also (I think this was in the movie), that one of the disciples in “The Last Supper” was Mary Magdalene. (The Code). And homosexuality, transgender, etc. related to mysticism. Gender roles. All left out of the movie.
The movie’s focus on live descendents was the least credible, and also, the least important, IMO. The ideas about feminine and masculine power were really the story, to me.
April 30, 2009 at 1:51 PM
now that being said…. Happy Birthday Pat!!! hope it is the best!!
(and Madamab you got to quit the high C’s… there are wine glasses shattering all over the pumasphere!!!!)
April 30, 2009 at 1:57 PM
LOL invalid!
I guess I’d better not hit the high F above high C, then!
Speaktruth – I liked the DaVinci Code for that same reason…I believe it also stole quite liberally from Riane Eisler’s book, “The Chalice and the Blade,” another non-fiction masterpiece.
April 30, 2009 at 2:02 PM
This was satisfying. They should have put the info on a public website so we can all e-mail/call our favorite judge.
my e-mail would have contained my favorite quote of his:
“The Constitution was enacted to sometimes protect us from the will of the people” (Princeton, 2001). I wasn’t very clear then who “us” wad, but now with events like Obama, Specter et al, it’s becoming clearer and clearer.
April 30, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Of course, our favorite Preznit, Ronald Reagan, was the one who appointed this jackoff to the Supreme Court. His M.O. was claiming to hate the government which employed him, so it makes sense that he’d appoint a judge who hates the Constitution to the Supreme Court.
April 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM
The DaVinci Code borrowed the greatest amount of material from the non fiction book, “Holy Blood, Holy Grail”.
April 30, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Happy B-day, Pat. These folks must really really love you to give you all those really weird videos
April 30, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Latda – My husband said the same thing. I didn’t read the book, but that was where all “the Holy Grail means a living descendant of Christ” stuff came from in DVC, as I understand it.
April 30, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Did you guys know that Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of FOCA in 2007?
Ah, how the WORM has turned.
April 30, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Invalid, I see your point, but I just don’t see how charging 30%+ interest isn’t just plain old loan sharking. And it’s not like they haven’t ever regulated interest rates before. If I recall correctly my first credit card back in the 80′s had a cap of 19% (I think that was an NC state law) and I thought THAT was outrageous.
April 30, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Gawd Gary! The monkey sounded like Kate Hepburn on a bad day. 
April 30, 2009 at 3:02 PM
On credit cards: Got a note from Discover that the min interest would go to prime plus either 6 or 9 %! It’s no biggie for us…it’s paid off each month and otherwise we use the debit cards, but sheesh! Guess they are trying to get their interest rate jumps in before Congress passes anything.
April 30, 2009 at 3:06 PM
The Da Vinci code took info from a lot of places. Holy Blood, Holy Grail was one, but I got interested in the whole subject via the Gabriel Knight computer game series. Gabriel Knight 3, “Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned” told the whole Jesus/Mary/Grail story in a RPG format, with lots of links to all kinds of info. Developed by Jane Jensen/Sierra games, each version comes with its own graphic novel, and delves into some alternate religion, or quasi-religious, theme. The first was voodoo, the second werewolves, the third the Holy Grail. But all of them were well researched with a lot of in-depth info included that propelled me all over the internet, bookstores and the Bible. The Da Vinci Code probably didn’t study it at all, but the info in both likely came from the same scholarly and non-scholarly, sources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Knight
April 30, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Happy birthday, Pat. Remember, you’re not getting older…you’re getting better!
April 30, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Madamab — don’t be so impressed — “co-sponsor” means he got to put his name on it to take credit for other’s work. He only “co-sponsored” to fool the suckers at NARAL, NOW, MS. etc.
April 30, 2009 at 3:11 PM
invalid — I see your point too, but still the thing I love best about my job is getting to tell the credit card companies to f*ck off on a daily basis. I just wish my clients had MORE credit card debt, so I could really hurt those sob credit card companies.
April 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Um, angie – you really think I am impressed by anything that Obama has ever done, or will ever do?
For shame, girlfriend! I was just using that as an example of how shameless an opportunist he is.
For the record, I disagree with invalid. There used to be usury laws in America, and we need to bring them back. I say 10% interest should be the very tip-top that credit card companies should charge, and they should only be able to do that for customers with very high income levels. Otherwise, they’re just being given a license to steal, which (surprise surprise) they did!
April 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Gary, looks like Sestak wants to run agains Specter in Dem Primary:
April 30, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Madamb-you are right about the usury laws.
I recall the **first** thing I bought *on time* was a portable color tv at Grants.
I think my interest rate was something like 14 or 18% in the 70s!! But I wanted to get my credit established and they were willing to do it. I paid off the tv in a few months just to have the record of it.
Some of the interest rates they are charging are just dooming people to never be able to get out of debt.
April 30, 2009 at 3:26 PM
angie> If you want clients with CC debt we must talk! Let’s hurt the credit card companies together! LOL.
April 30, 2009 at 3:29 PM
DYB: Run ‘em up as far as you can before you go talk to Angie.
April 30, 2009 at 3:33 PM
FROM WIKI on OPUS DEI
Much public attention has focused on Opus Dei’s practice of mortification — the voluntary offering up of discomfort or pain to God. Mortification has a long history in many world religions, including the Catholic Church. It has been endorsed by Popes as a way of following Christ who died in a bloody crucifixion and who gave this advice: “let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23)[64] Supporters say that opposition to mortification is rooted in having lost (1) the “sense of the enormity of sin” or offense against God, and the consequent penance, both interior and exterior, (2) the notions of “wounded human nature” and of concupiscence or inclination to sin, and thus the need for “spiritual battle,”[65] and (3) a spirit of sacrifice for love and “supernatural ends,” and not only for physical enhancement.
As a spirituality for ordinary people, Opus Dei focuses on performing sacrifices pertaining to normal duties and to its emphasis on charity and cheerfulness. Additionally, Opus Dei celibate members practice “corporal mortifications” such as sleeping without a pillow or sleeping on the floor, fasting, or remaining silent for certain hours during the day.[14][62] They may also wear a cilice, a small metal chain with inward-pointing spikes that is worn around their upper thigh. The cilice’s spikes cause discomfort and may leave small marks, but typically do not cause bleeding.[66] Numeraries in Opus Dei generally wear a cilice for two hours each day.[14][67] Although use of the cilice is no longer common, its practice in the Catholic Church is “more widespread than many observers imagine.”[8] In modern times it has been used by Blessed Mother Teresa, Saint Padre Pio, and slain archbishop Óscar Romero.
Critics state that self-mortification is a “startling,” “extreme,” and “questionable” practice — one that borders on masochism.[68] Critics assert that “due to modern psychology and thinking, the practices which inflict pain are sometimes considered to be counterproductive to one’s spiritual development, as they can easily lead to pride and an unhealthy attitude toward one’s body.”[14]
Escrivá’s opponents refer to his personal mortification practices that were even more extreme than those typically performed by Opus Dei numeraries— in one incident, Escrivá flailed himself over a thousand times.[69][70] Opponents likewise criticize Escrivá’s maxim on suffering: “Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain. Glorified be pain!” [14][71] Critics have cited mortification as one of the reasons for their opposition to Opus Dei.
—————————————————————-
I do not care what anyone says .. that is sick, clinically psychologicallly pathologically sick ..
April 30, 2009 at 3:36 PM
taggles, I would be willing to go volunteer to campaign in PA against Specter. maybe that could be a PUMA objective. To try to keep the seat in the hands of a REAL democrat. Kind of like the fauxgressives did with Lamont and Lieberman. They proved that they were a real force, and we could do the same in that race. It’s a place to start at least…
April 30, 2009 at 3:37 PM
and I don’t know that much about sestak, but isn’t there a woman we could run against him in the primary?
April 30, 2009 at 3:49 PM
well, I’m all for it. I bet there are a lot of people out there who were on our side in the primary (there were 18 million of us) who sucked it up and voted for Obama. They have got to be realizing that they were right about hime all along. I don’t see why we can’t re-ally ourselves with those people. Hillary won PA by 10 points. If all those people came out to support a real dem over Specter he wouldn’t stand a chance.
April 30, 2009 at 4:19 PM
LOL Taggles!
I like the idea of running a woman against Specter. If she could be a woman of color, like Anita Hill, that would be even sweeter.
MB HAKA 
April 30, 2009 at 4:19 PM
This is a genuine request for explanation….. really not looking to start a fight, I like being able to hold contradicting ideas in my brain at one time. (call it a hobby)
Madamab, you came up with a limit on what you think credit cards should be able to charge clients for their service…. why 10 % ? Is there reasoning behind that number? why would credit card companies choose to invest their money on clients with only a chance that they may get a return of only 10%… (in fact that return on their investment would be less then 10% due to that fact that some clients will default) when these companies could invest that money elsewhere in different markets and expect better than a 10% return? And why in the world would customers with very high income levels, be expected to pay a higher interest rate then low income level clients??
In normal market conditions 10% return is considered good …but certainly not great.
(these questions were addressed to madamab only because of her post, but I would like to hear from anyone who would like to explain this view point. )
April 30, 2009 at 4:21 PM
psssssssss… OMG……did anyone else get a yes, on taggles test???…..
April 30, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Okay, invalid:
A credit card company does not “invest its money.” It is a business. A business takes risks. If its product does not appeal to people it goes bankrupt. C’est la fucking free market. In a free market, there is no guarantee that businesses will succeed – at least, there shouldn’t be, since there is no guarantee that I will not lose my job and go bankrupt because of a health emergency. No corporate safety net for them if there’s no social safety net for me.
My idea about higher income customers paying more is something called “common sense” and “fairness.” If they have more money, they can be charged more interest. Guess what, they will have higher balances as well. Yippeee, more money for the credit card companies – and the rich people will hardly feel it! (BTW, this is already what happens to rich people with credit cards, but they pretty it up with names like “titanium card” and disguise it by charging higher fees.)
There are regulations about honesty in business. Charging more than 10% interest is not honest. Yes, I pulled that number out of my butt. Why do you ask?
This concludes the “credit card companies are greedy fucking vultures” portion of the interview.
April 30, 2009 at 4:50 PM
You guys are too much!! Thank you for the best wishes and the hilarious videos! You make me feel special (blushing). Off to dinner and drinks.
BTW: If gary decides to run for office, I am willing to work in his campaign. Anything for gary and he knows that without having to ask.
madamab: I too agree that 10% is a fair rate. It would also increase sales as well. Good for business, good for us, good enough for the banks.
April 30, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I completely agree there should be no safety net, for credit card companies.
In the following scenario both subjects have the same credit score based on past credit history…
If Jill buys a radio for 200.00 on her visa card, and Jill takes 1 year to pay off that radio Jill should have paid x amount of dollars in total..
but if Suzie buys that same radio on her visa and takes the same year to pay it off, Susie should have paid x + y because Suzie works in a job that pays better then Jill???
That is like deciding what you should pay for things, by how much money you make….
that loaf of bread for you is $5.00
but that loaf of bread for me is only $2.50….
(am I being a dunce here??…. it’s ok, you can tell me if I am… I can take it)
the higher fees for things like the “titanium card” is a choice thing…. rich people could have plain old Jane cards if they didn’t want to pay bigger fees.
April 30, 2009 at 5:04 PM
invalid & madamab — the credit card industry does take a risk — the risk is not being paid back — that is why their rates are so high — to mitigate potential future loss. But the problem is that for far too long the credit card companies have been extending crazy amounts of credit for the sole purpose of bleeding people dry with those rates.
But basically you are right — credit card companies are greedy fucking vultures.
April 30, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I guess somehow in all the ruckus last night I missed this question from the NYTimes:
The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny asked Obama a four-part question that had nothing to do with any of the top headlines of the day: “During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office? Enchanted you the most from serving in this office? Humbled you the most? And troubled you the most?”
Are they sure he isn’t working for Teen Beat???
April 30, 2009 at 5:10 PM
I will concede that they are greedy fucking vultures……still
shouldn’t those rates be corrected by “If its product does not appeal to people it goes bankrupt” and not by the government of the United States????
April 30, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Does H1N1 have some fancy new symbol like Prince did too?
Public health officials on Thursday confirmed two “probable” cases of the virus formerly known as swine flu in North Carolina and 10 confirmed cases in South Carolina.
April 30, 2009 at 5:12 PM
We love you Pat J! (sings another high C)
Invalid, you are very far from a dunce!
Just as the higher fees for the titanium cards are a choice, the higher fees for higher balance would also be a choice. (If they want to pay off their credit card faster, or not buy as much stuff on credit, they can. They’re rich; they can afford it. It’s like a convenience fee.)
But as for your analogy, foodstuffs like bread are not luxuries; a credit card is one. Just ask people who are truly down to the wire. They can go without their cells, internet, teevee and such; but not without food. So, I don’t think it applies.
Angie – thanks for weighing in.
April 30, 2009 at 5:13 PM
OT — Elizabeth Edwards says John should not have run — ya think?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/04/29/2009-04-29_i_cried__screamed.html
April 30, 2009 at 5:15 PM
invalid — I see your point but you are not taking into account the fact that the government has always regulated the financial market — well, in theory, anyway — now I think we all know that the financial market is running the government.
April 30, 2009 at 5:16 PM
hey madamab…..
Think this over!!
pumas drinking wine from papercups… not a pretty sight!!! lol ….. (in reference to the high c’s…….lol
April 30, 2009 at 5:19 PM
OT — Elizabeth Edwards says John should not have run — ya think?
***********
Revisionist history won’t let her off the hook.
April 30, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Invalid – One of the things the government gets to do is regulate businesses in America. Businesses do not get to do whatever the hell they want, or the economy goes bust. The past eight years were a textbook example of what happens when the radical deregulators take over the Executive and Legislative branches.
Again, when a business is simply ripping off its customers, it used to be called “usury,” and it was illegal. The credit card companies practice usury, IMHO. It is simply unreasonable and unfair to charge so much interest and have no oversight whatsoever.
April 30, 2009 at 5:38 PM
It’s weird though. AmEx will make money on their platinum card on fees and transactions. Citi, on revolving credit. Discover, somewhere in between. Also a Citi platinum holder may actually pay a lower interest, presumably on a larger balance, than a regular cardholder…like lower rates for someone with a prime mortgage versus subprime. It’s regressive. And the reason for the sky high APRs (which should be capped, no help from Joe MBNA Biden) are: 1) the regular strategy of card issuers writing off bad debt from defaults, 2) the current credit squeeze in the secondary market which TALF is meant to address, and 3) because at heart, all credit card issuers are loan sharks. The Angies of the world keep many consumers from having their knees capped. In general, the card industry is moving faster into debit cards instead of credit cards, which is the way Europe and Asia already are. One less cash cow for the commercial banks, and living on credit lines will become more difficult for us.
April 30, 2009 at 5:40 PM
ok, my thick head won’t wrap around both sides of this…. I will continue to try…
yes, I can believe some relation is required, in some instances…. best I can do for now…….
I agree that changing interest rates on purchases made under old agreements should be considered “ripping off” (and would agree in regulating the credit card companies not to be able to do that, I could sign on to)
I can’t (right now) agree that after giving enough notice that the interest rates were going to change on all Future spending, could be considered “ripping off”
I think that a bit more of delayed gratification by the bulk of the American public could whip these credit card companies back into acceptable lending levels
April 30, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Lucky for Justice Tony they did not discover the Super 8 footage from his college keggers and the one time his frat budies felt sorry for him and procured a little quality time for him with a member of the oldest proffession….a certian “peaches Flambeau” who since her transition to “real” womanhood in 1987 is now know by her real “woman” name that I am not releasing to protect her privacy!
Since he doesnt believe in privacy I guess It is ok to acknowledge that Justice tony likes a little freaky every now and then!
April 30, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Btw wonderful Widdershins, comments sent by Blackberry not getting through as of couple days ago. No biggee. Just an FYI, may be a problem on my side.
April 30, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Did you guys see that Congresswoman Foxx R-Va refered to the matthew shepard hate crime murder as a Hoax? Holy cow the elephant caca really hit the fan…
Oh she later appologized for her “poor choice of words”…but not the sentiment that was behind said words.
Gary where is the thread on this?
April 30, 2009 at 5:48 PM
fuzzy, I was going to write about that in my morning post tomorrow. she is a total nutjob. I read that and had the same reaction as you. She said that they didn’t murder him because he was gay. My first thought was, um wasn’t that part of their defense? you know the “he came on to me” gay panic bullshit? I hadn’t read that she apologized though…check back tomorrow because I’m going to be writing about the hate crimes law.
April 30, 2009 at 5:49 PM
just a note,,,, just watched a replay of the white house press conference… not one word, not one question about what the president said about FOCA, or abortion not being completely about a woman’s freedom …. a quick check at NOW … nothing… … The new agenda??? nope……
Is this really going to be given a silent pass?????
April 30, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Invalid – Not by us. My post on this topic is almost done.
But as for TNA, this is their great weakness, IMHO. They do not take a position on abortion. Thus, they can’t talk about this at all.
April 30, 2009 at 5:58 PM
well I thank you in advance for the efforts you will put forth….. sorry new Agenda didn’t realize that is was something you choose not to take a position on….
April 30, 2009 at 6:06 PM
and NOW??? Is that still Kim Gandy??? Perhaps she has also decided to take no position…
This is posted at NOW written by Kim Gandy
“President Barack Obama’s first 100 days have brought real change for women”
“In just 100 days President Obama has begun reversing the extensive damage done to women’s rights these last eight years, giving us an idea of what is possible with enlightened leadership.”
I so beg to differ …..
http://www.now.org/press/04-09/04-28.html
April 30, 2009 at 6:24 PM
garychapelhill said:
Does H1N1 have some fancy new symbol like Prince did too?
Public health officials on Thursday confirmed two “probable” cases of the virus formerly known as swine flu in North Carolina and 10 confirmed cases in South Carolina.
It’s like the first war we fought over in “Arabia” with Dubya’s daddee.
Initially it was called (by DOD and VA) the Persian Gulf War. We kept calling it that for a long time. Then, the Arabs (the Saudis?) bitched thru the State Dept. about it. It appears they are overly sensitive about all things Persian and apparently Iranian. Soooo, we had to call it the Gulf War.
Same thing going on here. I guess the swine lobby got upset. Don’t know if that includes the Congress or not in that lobby, but it should.
April 30, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Interesting AP comment about the swine flu:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu_name
April 30, 2009 at 6:31 PM
fuzzy — are you serious about that “peaches” flambeaux/Scalia story or is that a joke?
It is funny, if so. But I can’t tell if you are playing.
April 30, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Re: credit cards> I think credit cards also get paid a processing fee for every transaction by the retailer.
Re: FOCA> Is Kim Gandy insane? Can we have her locked up?
“…first 100 days have brought real change for women”
Is she that stupid?
April 30, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Breaking — Kelly McGillis (of Top Gun fame) just came out of the closet — Hollywood’s worst kept secret, but congrats Kelly!
April 30, 2009 at 6:34 PM
But, but but Angie…what about all those scenes with Tommy? You mean they were just acting????? 
April 30, 2009 at 6:37 PM
DYB — Kim Gandy is insane — looks like I’m going to have to cut & paste my MiSogyny magazine letter & send it one to her too.
I think (traditional) Amex is the only one that gets a processing fee from retailers — that is how they made $ (in addition to the yearly membership fee). Visa/MC don’t — which is why it is so difficult to find retailers that take Amex anymore.
April 30, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Kelly McGillis? Does anyone care anymore?
I think Kevin Spacey is Hollywood’s worst kept secret!
April 30, 2009 at 6:39 PM
angie> If Visa/MC don’t take a processing fee – why do some retailers insist on a minimum amount before accepting a credit card?
April 30, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Angie, the retailers do have to pay a fee…it’s to the card processing companies like this one:
http://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/
April 30, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Fredster — HA! those were just about the most un-sexy sex scenes in the history of movies — the only ones less sexy were Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut (btw Stanley Kubrick — I still want those 2.5 hours of my life back).
April 30, 2009 at 6:43 PM
LOL Angie! I heard at the time that Tom and Nicole had to be coached during some of those scenes.
April 30, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Boy oh boy…I come up with what I think is a good one (the swine lobby and Congress) and NO ONE has a yuk yuk for me! Arrrgghhh!!
April 30, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Fredster & DYB — I stand corrected about the processing fee — I was talking about fees paid directly to the credit card company — vendors pay a fee directly to Amex for every Amex charge; not so with Visa/MC.
April 30, 2009 at 6:50 PM
fredster, the swine lobby hasn’t gotten any respect for decades. I mean they call wasteful spending pork, there is always talk about the pigs lining up at the trough. And then there is that unfortunate phrase about pigs and lipstick
April 30, 2009 at 6:53 PM
DYB — I’ll give you Kevin Spacey as worst kept secret. How about Will Smith?
April 30, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Breaking — Kelly McGillis (of Top Gun fame) just came out of the closet — Hollywood’s worst kept secret, but congrats Kelly!
************
(from wiki)
McGillis, long rumored to be a lesbian, came out in April 2009 during a SheWired.com interview. She said that coming to terms with her sexual orientation has been an ongoing process since age 12, and she was long convinced that God was punishing her for being gay.[
April 30, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Dayum those wiki freaks are fast — I just read that about McGillis on ENews.
April 30, 2009 at 7:16 PM
On the topic of choice – a good Romanian movie – won many prizes – about getting an abortion in the times it was illegal – tonight at 10 on Sundance channel
4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846/
April 30, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Believe the networks (AmEx, Discover, Visa, MC) make varying transaction fees, AmEx up to 3-4%, the others closer to 1% or less. The issuers (AmEx, Discover, Citi, Chase, MBNA, etc) make most of their money on revolving credit as in the case of most commercial banks, or on member fees and the transaction fees as in the case of AmEx (except Blue). Discover does a bit of everything, depending on the card. Debit cards on the other hand are provided more as a service than a revenue vehicle by the banks. Like ATM locations, they cost the banks money but they have to provide them to remain competitive. That’s my best understanding at least. It’s not my industry, financial service. I met Kevin Spacey once, regular guy, sharp.
April 30, 2009 at 7:42 PM
3 Wickets — LMAO — love how you threw that in about Kevin Spacey at the end there! LOL
Cinie — I don’t think Tom Cruise can actually be considered a “secret” anymore.
April 30, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Cinie, you’ve been writing some mean scripts over at the World lately. Been enjoying it.
April 30, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Thank you, Three Wickets, but I’m just trying to keep up. The competition’s tough out here in the PUMAsphere.
April 30, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Wow, a former Clinton-Admin attorney just died and they think he did it to himself. *sigh*
April 30, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Well, guess it sharpens the edges for the real battles to come. Bring it on!!
April 30, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Cinie — you have no competition — PUMAsphere or otherwise (and I’m not just saying that — I’ve got two ex-husbands & a mother, so I’ve got no reason to lie to you).
April 30, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Regency — well, its better than them thinking the Clintons did him in. {rolls eyes}
April 30, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Reg — you’re right — probably been sent over the AP wire as we “speak.”
April 30, 2009 at 9:00 PM
angie> I was thinking the same thing; how long before they say Bill and Hillary killed him!
April 30, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Also, I actually think Tom Cruise is straight. Will Smith – possibly bi.
April 30, 2009 at 9:04 PM
DYB — you must be the only person who thinks Cruise is straight in the entire world OR you could be (like fuzzy) of the “we don’t want him” school of thought. LOL
April 30, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Nope, I think Tom is straight too.
Will Smith is straight as well. I saw him in person. He is just incredibly masculine.
New post up!
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April 30, 2009 at 12:07 PM
“I guess Nino doesn’t like it when the shoes on the other foot, does he?? ”
Or when he finds it sticking out of his mouth. Evil man.