Billionaire Bonanza as Wealth Surges Among One Percent

New study by market research firm Wealth-X found that not only has the number of billionaires grown, so have their fortunes

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer for Common Dreams

There is little doubt that the global one percent is winning. In fact, a new study has found that the number of billionaires reached an all-time high in 2015 at the same time that their portfolios and piggy banks also continued to grow to record proportions.

According to the 2015-2016 Billionaire Census by international market research firm Wealth-X, which bills itself as "the global authority on wealth intelligence," the billionaire population grew by 6.4 percent last year and now totals 2,473 people worldwide.

The combined wealth of those individuals also increased by 5.4 percent, amounting to $7.7 trillion—which is more than every country's gross domestic product (GDP), except the United States ($17.9 tr) and China ($11 tr). 

Private insurers run for the happy hills of healthy customers

Aetna Shows Why We Need a Single Payer

By Robert Reich

The best argument for a single-payer health plan is the recent decision by giant health insurer Aetna to bail out next year from 11 of the 15 states where it sells Obamacare plans.

Aetna’s decision follows similar moves by UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest insurer, and Humana, one of the other giants. 

All claim they’re not making enough money because too many people with serious health problems are using the Obamacare exchanges, and not enough healthy people are signing up.

The problem isn’t Obamacare per se. It’s in the structure of private markets for health insurance – which creates powerful incentives to avoid sick people and attract healthy ones. Obamacare is just making the structural problem more obvious. 

In a nutshell, the more sick people and the fewer healthy people a private for-profit insurer attracts, the less competitive that insurer becomes relative to other insurers that don’t attract as high a percentage of the sick but a higher percentage of the healthy.

The Donald Trump resume few have seen

Coming up at the Mystic Aquarium

Recognizing the heroic work of our police, fire & emergency medical services teams. Treat them to a day full of fun through free admission with a full-paid ticket! Explore the Aquarium at night then fall asleep next to your favorite indoor exhibit! The Aquarium comes to life with Estuary-theme activities and crafts. Celebrate Connecticut's Submarine Century with fun submarine-themed activities. Start fundraising efforts today for the 10th Annual 5k run or 2-mile walk. Mystic Aquarium | 55 Coogan Boulevard | 860.572.5955 TAIL US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

How easy is it to spot a lie?

Researchers look at the art of deception during group interviews

Frontiers

"Who broke Grandma's favorite vase?" As you listen to a chorus of "I don't know" and "Not me," how will you determine the culprit? 

Conventional wisdom says, divide and conquer, but what does scientific research show us about questioning a group of people at one time? Unfortunately, very little.

Dr. Zarah Vernham from the University of Portsmouth in the UK and her colleagues looked at 20 studies which examined deception in groups. 

Their review of the results was published in Frontiers in Psychology. The researchers discovered that in only one third of the studies were the participants interviewed collectively.

Keeping critters away from your sweet corn

Green laser lights may be the answer

Todd McLeish

Professor Rebecca Brown poses in the URI agronomy fields
where she is testing various strategies for keeping birds from
feeding on sweet corn. (Photo by Nora Lewis)

Large flocks of starlings and blackbirds are voracious consumers of sweet corn, costing local farmers as much as $800 per acre in lost product. And this year is turning out to be a particularly bad year for bird damage.

But the most effective and economical strategy farmers have used to scare the birds away – propane-powered cannons that make a loud booming sound at random intervals – are not especially popular with neighbors, many of whom complain about the noise. 

So the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management asked a University of Rhode Island researcher to investigate alternatives.

Rebecca Brown, a URI professor of plant sciences and an expert on growing vegetables, said the problem of bird damage in commercial corn fields is a serious one.

“Flocking birds can cause an enormous amount of damage to sweet corn,” she said. “They get in there and shred the husks and eat the kernels, and then the farmers can’t sell it. Some birds have even figured out that if they follow the picking crews, they’ll get the best corn at the best time.”

In addition to propane cannons, some farmers have tried tying reflective tape or balloons throughout their fields to frighten the birds or used spray-on bird repellents. But neither is cost effective.

Pay very close attention to the weather....

Note: if you have not yet received the excellent issue of the Charlestown Pipeline on what to do in case of disaster, CLICK HERE.

Healthy dissent

Standing up for beliefs in face of group opposition is worth the effort, study shows

University at Buffalo

Going with the flow might appear easier than sticking up for yourself when confronted with unanimous disagreement.

But a new study from the University at Buffalo that assessed bodily responses suggests that standing up for your beliefs, expressing your opinions and demonstrating your core values can be a positive psychological experience. 

There can be a clear divergence between what people do and say and how they feel, according to Mark Seery, an associate professor in UB's Department of Psychology.

"People can show conformity, but going along with the group doesn't mean they're going along happily," he says. "The external behavior isn't necessarily a good indication of their internal experience."

A serious look at progressivism

Democracy as progressive ideology

By Michael Fine, M.D. in Rhode Island’s Future

EDITOR’S WARNING: This essay is long. It contains long sentences, paragraphs and words. It is not for those whose internet use makes them used to short articles, paragraphs and words.

Ideas are mental constructs, imaginative pictures or associations of concepts that help us try to understand the world in which we live. Ideas are often motivating – ideas can move individuals to take action or help them make choices. Ideology is a belief in an idea or ideas that are shared by more than one person. Ideology can also move individuals to take action or to help them make choices.

But ideology is more powerful than a simple idea, because an ideology can bring numbers of people together around an action or a choice. The ability to motivate numbers of people to action is what most of us mean by power.

Today, progressives need to re-discover the power of an ideology that can unify us and make us effective. That ideology is democracy itself.  Democracy, the fundamental political philosophy that the US brought back to life two-hundred and 40 years ago, is the most successful progressive accomplishment in recent history. American democracy, despite all its problems and challenges, is still the most effective tool we have ever seen to make people more equal, to allow universal participation, to facilitate community building, and to create an identity that focuses on freedom and justice for all.

"To know if a man is honest, ask him — if he says he is, he's a crook."

Donnie's Little Lies are Huuuuuge

By Jim Hightower for Creators.com

An old saying asserts that falsehoods come in three escalating levels: "Lies, damn lies, and statistics." 

Now, however, we've been given an even-higher level of intentional deception: Policy speeches by Donald Trump.

Take his recent highly publicized address outlining specific economic policies he would push to benefit hard-hit working families.

It's an almost-hilarious compilation of Trumpian fabrications, including his bold, statesmanlike discourse on the rank unfairness of the estate tax: "No family will have to pay the death tax," he solemnly pledged, adopting the right-wing pejorative for a tax assessed on certain properties of the dearly departed.

Fine, but next came his slick prevarication: "American workers have paid taxes their whole lives, and they should not be taxed again at death." Workers? The tax exempts the first $5.4 million of any deceased person's estate, meaning 99.8 percent of Americans pay absolutely nothing.

Still loved

...And so does Jim Mageau (CLICK HERE).

No West Nile or EEE in latest mosquito samples

But DEM found some of the mosquito species that carry Zika

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced 172 mosquito samples from 32 traps set on Monday, August 15, 2016 have tested negative for both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Given concerns about the Zika virus, Rhode Island – like many states in the region – has increased surveillance for the Aedes albopictus mosquito species, which can transmit the virus. Six Aedes albopictus mosquitoes have been trapped in Barrington between August 15 and 22.

These six mosquitoes represent a tiny fraction of the overall 14,099 mosquitoes trapped in Rhode Island since June 1, 2016.

Due to this increased surveillance, additional trappings of individual Aedes albopictus are possible; however because Rhode Island winters have thus far been cold enough to kill most eggs of this species, mosquito experts don't expect the species' population to grow large enough to effectively spread the disease locally.

Trump really is making my head spin

Trump’s Immigration Speech after Mexico Visit FILLED With Lies, Deceit, and Racism

By Ryan Denson

After meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (and lying about what was discussed), Donald Trump flew back to Phoenix, Arizona to deliver a 10-point plan on how to fix America’s broken immigration system.

As pointed out by the Hillary Clinton campaign, the speech was overwhelmingly applauded by the alt-right, including white nationalists David Duke and Richard Spencer, and closeted white nationalist Ann Coulter (who is apparently back on the Trump train).

In typical Trump fashion, the immigration “proposal” was laced with lies, deceit, and rank xenophobia, with outright lies regarding President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s determination to tackle the issue of illegal immigration.

Popular program helps Rhode Islanders save energy, money

YOU HAVE TO ACT FAST: DEM, Arbor Day Foundation offer free trees to homeowners this fall

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Arbor Day Foundation are teaming up once again to give away 1,000 trees as part of the State's Energy-Saving Trees Program. The Program helps homeowners conserve energy and reduce utility costs while beautifying their neighborhood.

"We're happy to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation again this fall to offer free trees to Rhode Islanders," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "Last spring the program was wildly successful – with all trees spoken for within the first 24 hours of registration opening. Tremendous! Planting a tree is a great way for homeowners to reduce their monthly expenses while promoting a healthier environment and creating a beautiful memory with their families."

Trees play an important role in cooling streets and homes, filtering air, and reducing stormwater pollution.

The trees distributed under the Energy-Saving Trees Program are approximately four to six feet tall and will be distributed in three-gallon containers for easy transport.

The Rhode Island Tree Council will provide planting and care instruction to homeowners – as well as guidance on how to maximize energy-savings. When planted properly, a single mature tree can save $30 annually in heating and cooling costs.

Registration opens Monday, September 12 and is required in order to reserve a tree. Supplies go fast, so early registration is recommended. 

Debt Collectors Get Away With Daylight Robbery

The GOP is known for being tough on crime—except when it's padding their pockets.

By Jim Hightower

I thought Donnie Trump and his fellow Republicans were big law ‘n order politicians. So, why are they trying to scrap the sheriff and unleash thousands of robbers to run wild across America?

The sheriff they want to nix is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The thieves they’re out to help are corporate debt collectors who pay pennies on the dollar for huge databases of overdue bills, then hound the borrowers to pay up.

Debt collectors profit from weak regulations that let them bully, harass, and run roughshod over tens of thousands of consumers every year—including people who’ve already paid off their debt or never even incurred it.

Every year, debt collection firms routinely abuse the law and overload our courts by filing hundreds of thousands of lawsuits against debtors.