WAGE THEFT CRIMES AMERICA 2018: "WANTED/ HIRING ... Sentry Guards for The CRIMES in Our YARDS" ... The "Scream for Liens" Edition ... (AMERICAN JOBS PT.9)- (POVERTY & DESPAIR PT.7)

**** U.S. Department of Labor | Wage and Hour Division ....


**** WAGE/ADVOCATES: How To Report Wage Theft | Overtime Pay Violation Lawsuit ....


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Trump's Labor Department says No Penalty for Wage Theft ... Thanx to Labor This Week



This posting will be for the "American Jobs" and "Poverty & Despair" series of this journal/ blog. It's to look at the current jobs climate and growing problem of wage theft in our own country (USA) ... and most importantly, what to do about it. Wage theft is nothing new, especially for America, but it's been increasing and spreading like a disease over the last several years ... this is a perfect example of what the one sided approach of laissez- faire economics in neoliberalism can lead to. A short intro video above to see what's on the horizon, as far as plans from our loved ones ... President Trump and the Republican side of Congress in particular, as an approach to cleaning this up. And this "PAID" (Payroll Audit Independent Determination), is just the usual smoke and mirror junk, that is meaningless, as far as trying to clean up things ... and even insulting to American workers. These politicians say that they do everything for the workers and middle class of America ... for, you know ... making America great again ... and looking at the blueprint, I assume like the 1920's. I chose some links and video below, out of several others I reviewed, that paints a straight picture of the reality ... and some of the techniques employers been using to basically take advantage of workers, with tips for what has been accomplished and what to do about the theft. At the bottom of the posting, I will add my own input.





***** POLITICO: Behind the minimum wage fight, a sweeping failure to enforce the law ... (newsread)




***** POLITICO: DOL wage theft program ... (newsread)




***** LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER: Kentucky workers cheated by fed contractor, union says ... (newsread/ video)




Undocumented and Unpaid, Until Now: Houston Day Laborers Fight Wage Theft After Hurricane Harvey ... Thanx to Democracy Now!







***** MARLIN & SALTZMAN: Stolen: The California Wage Theft Epidemic ... (PDF)





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***** PD/ RCJ: "AMERICAN JOBS" ... PART'S 8 THRU 1



***** PD/ RCJ: "POVERTY & DESPAIR" ... PART'S 6 THRU 1



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Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp



When someone comes into your yard or property and takes any property that is yours, you either take action yourself and defend your property or call the police ... this is basically theft. As an employee, if you steal on the job ... the employer is going to get their property back some way and fire you, after all, they have your paycheck too, as collateral ... and if they press charges, you wont get a citation or months to change your name and respond later ... you'll go to jail. As a deterrent to crimes against yourself and property, you add a type of sentry, technologies, etc ... and take security measures ... if you let it "slide", they are going to come back and take more, because it's an easy score. Any banking or corporate institution takes many security measures to protect their money and assets as well, including to protect themselves from employees who may burn them. If you take away the guards/ police from a bank or business in the type of system of capitalism we have, they will get robbed as well. You may think ... "so what if some illegal immigrants get cheated, or some low end hospitality worker ... just as long as it's not me ... ". The deal is, that this is a slippery slope, when you give an inch they will take a mile, it's human nature in an environment of capitalism on steroids ... especially when you take away basic rules and securities. Today, it's illegal day labourers, low end jobs/ workers, independent contractors, etc ... tomorrow, it's everyone else up the food chain, one step at a time, just look at a reputable place like General Dynamics above, and what they do to middle America workers and our government, and increasingly with other large corporations. A buddy of mine contracts his services out, he's not a minimum wage worker ... he dont work for less than $35 an hour minimum, transportation, food, lodging expenses, etc. He sets up WiFi and communications systems in commercial and residential building developments in the U.S. and Canada, may be in Toronto for a couple weeks, then off from there to Seattle, Chicago, or wherever. His agency last year folded here in Dallas ... didnt pay up several thousand they owed him on back contracts, they changed their company name, changed hands, etc ... told him that the contract he worked had not paid their bill yet, etc. He aggressively pursued them, got his money after months of run around, today he has a new agency in Portland,OR. If you dont act aggressive in these cases, they will just continue.

This is particularly importante to resist this culture, which has become another fad or sort ... of take everything you can. This it what feeds the culture of those employers that burn workers, and makes them think that the best thing to do, is to gang up and cheat and steal from employees, because there is not enough guards or penalization and enforcement to stop it now. They spend much of their time manipulating legislation through politics, keep us at each others throats, drive desperation, austerity or whatever, just to keep you down and their profit up .... widening the wealth gap, and creating a working class of poverty. It's the workers responsibility to gang up through labour organizing and other means to defend themselves ... and if taking down these folks is necessary, through courts/ litigation even, so be it ... they will take you down if you dont. So much can be done to fight this, so dont dwell on the despair and fear they love to push. Grassroots/ local legislation, as you can see above, does get results too, then move up to the Washington crowd ... look at measures Wisconsin took for example. Making these companies take out insurance policies, and having laws to be able to put liens (generalized wage liens) on them, before they can change company name or whatever other scam, is added security, voting and using the courts, labour organizing, social media, boycotts, etc ... there are so many tools. Use your tools/ resources, just like these companies do that screw you ... and credit to all these people that stand against this and stand by these workers. Make sure they have a backup and security before any court determines the merit of the case, make them wait ... like you have to wait, since they do the same to you. Some will tell you that to impose all these regulations/ rules on companies will hurt business ... it's the same old excuse, over and over ... business has alwayz flourished with regulations and even paying taxes, and have alwayz profited, so that's bullshit too. No business, as history shows, can survive for long without any rules and regulations ... they have rules and regulations for all their workers, they need to have rules and regulations on themselves ... not just for the workers and consumers good, but for a healthy business too. Politicians on the local levels that dont want to serve the people, vote against them. No workers rights of any kind in this country was achieved without a fight ... and the system of past, is the same game now with different players ... so none will be achieved today without a fight.


Word Out ....




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***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST


***** RCJ MUSIC/ ART'S HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY (my hand- selected music/ arts picks)

***** "THE RESISTANCE | PERILS OF THE POWER POSSE" ... ( a 2 part futuristic Ranch Chimp Journal dream to dream on )


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RASHON NELSON & DONTE ROBINSON: Business Entrepreneurs Receive "STARBUCKS JAIL PASS", For "DEFIANT TRESPASS" ... The "Racism 2 Classism" Edition ... (INCARCERATED AMERICAN PT.31)

Men arrested at Starbucks speak out ... Thanx to ABC News



This posting will serve as Part 31 of the "Incarcerated American" series, to review the situation and arrest of Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, 2 entrepreneurs arrested at Starbucks in central Philly for "defiant trespassing". This has got widespread mainstream media coverage, and made many angry, which is a good thing, because it brings to light one more time, the way things really are in our country, and what really needs reforms and change. I also had a few people in my community ask me about this, which is another reason for this posting. Then of course you have the online typical political responses, and folks criticizing these young men, many expressing racism themselves while hiding their identities on their phones and computers. And the usual crowd that say "this was all staged" etc ... but the reality is, this happens all over America on a daily basis in these communities, that look at everyone that is not as polished as themselves, as undesirable, this is the new wave fashion trend of capitalism on steroids, and shaming and discriminating people on class and race. I myself have seen this first hand, over and over and over ... and its worse today, than it was 30 years ago. It was appropriate first, to hear out Rashon and Donte, in the video above ... this was their first public statements on this today. I wanted to include the HuffPost piece below, out of several I read, because Prof. Anthea Butler really hits the spot in her piece. Also a video below with activist Eugene Puryear, interviewed by Eddie Conway. Eddie Conway himself, spent 43 years and 11 months of his life in prison, over a bunk trial and conviction ... Eddie today is Executive Producer of TRNN. A link below that, of some history of issues with Starbucks, and things like race. After, I will add my part below.




***** HUFFPOST: Starbucks Arrests Show How Gentrification Endangers Black Lives ... (newsread)




Starbucks and the Criminalization of Blackness ... Thanx to TheRealNews






***** THE OUTLINE: A short timeline of Starbucks' fraught history with race ... (newsread)



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***** PD/ RCJ: "INCARCERATED AMERICAN" ... PART'S 30 THRU 1



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Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp



As far as the officers call response, request of subjects, and arrest ... I myself just see the officers as following the book on this ... and if one of these officers had the red- ass, it could have led to charging these guyz with other charges related to failure to comply or whatever. Both men handled themselves well too, making it so the tension with officers wouldnt escalate.  But, there is usually choice/ discretion for the officer to use their own judgement on the way they want to handle it, which if the officer is too lenient, can backfire on the officer, as you can see in this case, where a local officer here in the DFW Metroplex was punished, because he did the "right thing", but Walmart wanted the suspect arrested. But I figured they could have just issued a citation, without further detainment/ arrest, I seen citations issued in Dallas for example, without arrest ... the charges were dropped of course, but these men were jailed for at least 8 hours. In this case with Rashon and Donte, the manager who called police, didnt expect the police to arrest them (her own claim), but to ask them to leave ... nor did these men do anything out of the ordinary or criminal. The problem is, that this manager that called 911 to report this, done so within a couple minutes only ... these guyz barely just walked in the door, and asked for some code or key for the restroom ... they were refused, based on they needed to make a purchase ... the establishment has the right to ask that too, or to refuse service even, depending on the circumstances, and there wasnt no circumstances, beyond what any customer routinely does. Bottom line, the manager was too hasty, and did not even assess the situation properly ... and in my view, just panicked and lost her cool ... these gentlemen certainly didnt. I have myself went into places like this, and said I was waiting for someone to arrive, when asked ... and I certainly was not going to order a thing without the person I'm waiting for arriving yet ... I never got any static from staffs. I dont know about Starbucks much, I only been in there like 3 times, and just with someone else that wanted to go there ... I'm not into coffee or related, I just drink lots of water and vegetable juices, I'm hyper as it is without caffeine ... I know my daughter is a regular there, and works from there when away from the office. I didnt even know they have restrooms locked, never used their restroom, or noticed any signs saying "no loitering" or whatever, from what I gather, many folks loiter in there, and Starbucks sort of welcomes it as a hangout type atmosphere for their customers and friends ... that's all these guyz were doing.

It's an issue today, because racism is broadened more with classism, which Anthea Butler sums up perfectly in the HuffPost read above, this Rittenhouse district in central Philly, is one of them gentrified communities. This is going on all over American cities ... I'm sure in Philly, they will probably expand that up into Kensington as well, or other lower income communities. Gentrification is needed in urban America too, because there is so much that is old and deteriorating, but that gentrification should be done with the community in mind. Culture playz a big part in making a community, and much of this gentrification ends up culturally bland and deficient of character ... with endless corporate trendy chain joints, overbloated rent/ prices, and is only done to make as much profit quickly as possible, and turn it over/ sell to someone else that dont give a shit ... turning out highly polished plastic environments/ communities, that most can hardly afford. This gentrification should also broaden hope and inspire those with an American Dream, and invigorate progress, diversity, small investments, and help unify. They say they want to integrate, share, learn, diversify, and other horseshit to sell these plans/ developments to cities, while draining city budgets to throw too much money into these private ventures, calling this crap "public/ private partnerships". In a "public/ private partnership", BOTH public and private should have input/ voice ... what these have been, is private investors calling ALL the shots of where our dollars will benefit "them" most, with no consideration for the "public", then if the investor makes bad decisions and has a loss, they want the public to pay for it all. And when economies take a hit and downturn, even the yuppie puppies that could once afford these joints flee ... same as when these gas prices go up, used car lots are stuffed with SUV trade- ins for sale, because people dump their SUV's for smaller gas efficient vehicles ... this tells you that there is no planning for future growth and longevity of their investments, but just a fast buck, to sell a bunch of cheaply developed properties and businesses, for the highest price grab, and let the tax payers and communities handle any losses on bad investments. Gentrification planning, should include making as much affordable places as well ... you can bet, that there will be more demand, and sustainable demand and business with affordable properties, than strictly multi- million dollar properties and leasing. You are not integrating, but segregating, based on race and class only.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson was quick to take responsibility, which was the right thing to do, and this Starbucks issues goes back even before Johnson became CEO ... and Johnson also met with Rashon and Donte. But Starbucks had to also do this, because of past problems related, and the fact that boycotts and loss of customers will hit them where it hurts most ... profits. Probably one of the worst and most horrible cases from some of this Starbucks culture of calling cops on so called "undesirable" looking people, was with Dontre Hamilton in Milwaukee. Dontre, was NOT in the Starbucks, Dontre was on a bench at a park near Starbucks, when folks in Starbucks called the cops on him. Dontre was severely beaten, then shot at point blank range from the torso up, 14 times by the responding police officer who lost his head ... it was what most would consider ... an extreme brutal murder. This discrimination, abuse/ brutality, and murder of innocent people in our country ... is all over "quality of life crimes", which is not a criminal offense, but a mindset and culture to persecute and harm those, who have not as much as those complaining about them. Starbucks said they will close roughly 8000 stores for a half day for training in sensitivity and how to handle things better. This is certainly a plus, and they said they will forfeit millions in business for those hours in doing so ... but knowing the size of this corporation, I would guess that it will also be written off on taxes too. Not just boycotting Starbucks will change things, but importantly, focusing on these local governments to legislate changes, especially in business and police policies. The training classes is a plus, but it is difficult to change the minds and hearts of some of the people that discriminate, without legislative and community force/ pressure. And NO, I dont think the people overreacted to this ... it was justified and in order ... put yourself in their shoes, and see how you would feel about what happens to these people, and the lengthy history of it. These people are justified in their outrage, it is NOT radical ... it is in order. These people are customers too, they fuel the engine economically as well ... they are alwayz told to comply with this or that ... business and government needs to comply with the people, consumers and communities as well, it's not a one way street. As Rashon points out above, this is not just a black issue, this is an American peoples issue. I wish the best for Rashon and Donte on their business ventures, and getting past this.


Word Out ....





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***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST


***** RCJ MUSIC/ ART'S HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY (my hand- selected music/ arts picks)

***** "THE RESISTANCE | PERILS OF THE POWER POSSE" ... ( a 2 part futuristic Ranch Chimp Journal dream to dream on )


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MEDICARE FOR ALL TOWN HALL 2018: America's People, Businesses, & Medical Providers Movement for AFFORDABLE from DEPLORABLE Healthcare ... The "Disgrace & Insanity" Edition ... (From The FOXHOLE with Bernie PT.36)- (Health Care Reform PT.12)- (American Exceptionalism PT.9)

**** Healthcare- NOW | Home


**** Medicare for All: Home


**** Medicare for All | National Nurses United


**** Medicare for All- Bernie Sanders





Debbie Stabenow Birddogged by single payer activists ... Thanx to Healthcare NOW



This posting will be for 3 series of this journal, to focus on the growing problem and push for affordable healthcare in the U.S., as well as the growing movement behind it. This happened at the end of january this year, and is really a good piece, that is a must for this journal/ blog. This town hall was the first of it's kind in Washington, and Big Thanx to Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), again, because this man busts ass for the people of this country. Thanx to all who put this together and the guests that appeared at it, from business people, medical providers, and supporters, and those from abroad, for their help in making this movement "move". America, whether we realize it or not, has a serious health care crisis going on today ... this lengthy and informative town hall video below, will point out how importante this is, and the need to focus on fixing it. I opened above with a short vid with Senator Stabenow (MI), the questions from the audience that she is asked, is the kind of questions American voters need to ask these folks in Washington face to face, as above ... same as this gentleman questioning Senator Rubio (FL), face to face. You must keep the pressure on, especially in these election years. I also included a good read below ... "Phantoms In The Snow", recommended by Dr.Danyaal Raza of Canada, who is also a guest in the town hall. This posting will also dispel some of the hysterical myths, about how horrible national healthcare systems are ... we have familia in Toronto, who worked for years in the national healthcare system there, we talked about it when they're visiting here in Dallas, and they sure as Hell dont want our system. A short vid below that on U.S. and Canadian healthcare ... and at the bottom, I will add my part.





Bernie Sanders 'Medicare for All' Town Hall LIVESTREAM  | Now This ... Thanx to Now This News







***** Phantoms In The Snow: Canadians' Use Of Health Care Services In The United States ... (PDF)




Health Care: U.S. vs. Canada ... Thanx to Senator Bernie Sanders






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***** PD/ RCJ: "From The FOXHOLE with Bernie" ... PART'S 35 THRU 1


***** PD/ RCJ: "HEALTH CARE REFORM: another "FORM" of "REFORM" ... PART'S 11 THRU 1


***** PD/ RCJ: "AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM" ... PART'S 8 THRU 1


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Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp



I mean, let's stop kidding ourselves, year after year, and face it ... as folks point out at this town hall, it's insanity and disgraceful ... a perfect example of American exceptionalism. Senator Stabenow sayz that the issue is "how do we get there?", a decades old question, by some of these decades old establishment folks in Washington, that have to kiss the asses of corporate lobbyists. For starters, and to simplify it some, you get there by pushing for what the majority of American people want, and moving your ass on it ... not year after year of lolligagging with repetitive excuses of no substance. What would many of these politicians feel, if they had to pay income percentagewise, what most pay for insurance on much more modest incomes, and get the plans most do? I question when Stabenow sayz that these experts say that the plan being pushed by folks like Sanders, will eliminate the insurance industry in only 5 years ... this has also been playing like a broken record out of politicians looking for excuses for their neglect and incompetence. How would insurance companies be totally shut down, even in 10 years? ... when they themselves pride themselves as the best providers for healthcare, even by their own claims ... "the best in the world". Credit to Stabenow though, for at least saying she would support expanding Medicare to folks 55 years of age, or support a Medicare for All "choice/ option", but how sincere of an effort she puts forth (I would have to see), I question some, knowing some of her history on a couple other things, unless I see real action ... not just talk, which includes pressuring her colleagues. I mean, dont paint this picture, that countries with healthcare for all, have no insurance companies, free enterprise, or related nonsense, eh? The idea that any of this would just miraculously shut down the insurance industry suddenly is nonsense. It would actually force them,  pharmaceutical giants, and private care providers to be more competitive and conservative on spending and costs to consumers.

I like the idea for starters, of letting the people/ consumers of this country decide for a change, on what they want ... after all, I'm not a commie, I'm for free market, and conservative on keeping costs down. We start a medicare for all ... by an expansion and revision of the current, and not mandatory, but for folks that choose to participate (and millions are ready as it is), have the deductions from payroll ... and since it's a majority of Americans asking for this, we can also find other wayz to publicly add subsidies. In a "free market" ... it will "earn" it's own way, or fail, by public/ consumer demand, whether private or public, and opening up competition, negotiating prices from services to pharmaceuticals, etc. People can simply choose, just like they do when shopping for anything. I have talked to many people that want to try something else ... a guy I know just found a job to where they pay most of his insurance, he pays like $100 a month ... medical, dental, and vision. The guy was so happy, since his last jobs had nothing to offer (2 part time jobs), and kept him at minimal hours of work, to not have to offer him any benefits ... he had a plan he took up, that was $1500 a month premiums before this new job, and several thousand annual deductible. Insurance for my wife and I, costs as much as our rent, utilities, and groceries per month combined, with a $6000 a year deductible and co- pays. Why in Hell would I want to pay this, if I can get a better plan, at significant lower costs from a "Medicare for All" plan? Why would I want a plan, where I have to buy even more plans with multiple parts and gimmicks in them, to supplement the plan you are selling me? Why would I choose to have a for profit corporation dictating my terms and conditions, over a public government plan that is more transparent, cost efficient, simplified, and supported by the people/ consumers, with the consumers input and oversight? Why would I want a corporate for profit plan that restricts my negotiating power, voice, and choice, according to stockholders demands?

Another thing that is mentioned in this town hall that we dont hear much about, is the burden on so many businesses across the country ... it is squeezing domestic business to death ... and the costs for coverage and keeping step with it all, and it just keeps increasing by the year. I have told many folks that are at least 30 years younger than me, what insurance was like back in the 1970's and 1980's, as far as simplification, out of pocket, deductibles, premiums, etc, and many were surprised ... since their generation knows nothing besides this overrated and overbloated garbage that is force fed to us now ... makes you wonder ... what happened? All your county hospitals are also feeling the pinch these dayz, with emergency rooms crammed to the limits, many even folks with simple care needs, that have no where else to go ... and who gets squeezed on that? ... the taxpayers as well. Much of this could be avoided with more clinics that are government funded through Medicare expansion, and more focus on preventative care, as all explained at the town hall. Look at how our doctors and medical providers staffs are squeezed in this system we have, also explained by folks above in the industries. It has become such a complex system, that so many hours are wasted just figuring out the plans and services, and what or who covers what ... it's become insane. Also understand that an insurance company provides very little, besides to shareholders and their CEO's pay, that is in the 10's of millions ... I mean, they act simply as a middle man management type entity, if anything. And I'm not against insurance companies, I worked for a Fortune 500 insurance company for over 6 years back in the late 80's and early 90's, it was a good place to work for. We are alwayz told that we need to adapt to change ... all these entities/ industries need to adapt to change as well, and throughout history, some become obsolete, just as jobs do as well ... it's a 2 way street in a free market and changing world, eh?


Word Out ....





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***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST


***** RCJ MUSIC/ ART'S HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY (my hand- selected music/ arts picks)

***** "THE RESISTANCE | PERILS OF THE POWER POSSE" ... ( a 2 part futuristic Ranch Chimp Journal dream to dream on )


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