I wonder if there was any time in the history of this country when things looked so gloomy that people didn’t see their present as anything more than a temporary speed bump, still seeing a bright future whose only limitation was the extent of human ingenuity. It seems to me things are very different now, or at least should be. The ignoring of the warnings of the consequences of abuse of the environment and our fellow minions of nature promises the exaction of a fearful vengeance. There is an almost insane expectation by a majority of people that some miraculous technological breakthrough will save us when oil wells run dry in a future nearer than one thinks. The corporate elite seems to possess an irrational fascination with the accumulation of ever more useless riches, “safe” from the misery trailing behind them in the fortress built by their political puppets, like the aristocrats in Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death.”

Decades of “voodoo economics,” fiscal mismanagement, and permitting corporations and financial institutions to run amuck in a climate of irresponsible deregulation has led the country right to the edge of de facto bankruptcy, although because of the importance of the U.S. market it is unlikely that other countries will allow this to happen. But the fiscal situation gives one cause to be concerned about the long-term future if this country. The Federal debt by the end of the year will be over $12 trillion, which doesn’t include the $5 trillion in debt of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or the money pilfered from the Social Security Trust Fund. State and local debt is equal to the federal debt, as is household debt—which nearly a trillion dollars is revolving credit card debt. It has been claimed that living standards have risen “dramatically” in the past 25 years, but this is not because wages have kept pace with inflation for most working people, but because access to credit cards has created the illusion of it. Debts accumulated by businesses, however, seem to be in a different category; government—federal and state—seem to jump through whatever hoops are required to save the giant corporations from themselves with tax payer money.

The U.S. trade deficit is at record levels and moving upwards. There have been calls for renegotiating trade agreements and exacting tariffs on imported goods. But is that going to happen? The U.S. and European countries are loath to keep those cheap goods from China from flowing freely. Why? Because they keep a downward pressure on inflation, forcing domestic manufacturing to compete on the Chinese-set price level, and giving corporations the excuses they need to downsize, keep wages low and enrich themselves.

To combat this increasingly untenable situation, the Federal Reserve has printed mountains of money and sent it down a black hole of secrecy; it refuses to say who, where, what and how it loans out money, and what it accepts as “collateral.” It is estimated that $7 trillion has been used to prop-up banks, with little or no accountability on how it is used, or provide tax-payer security for it. That the country’s fiscal well-being is in the hands of a secretive cult that isn’t answerable to anyone should be a disturbing harbinger for the future.

With six million jobs lost in the past year, fearful consumers are doing the opposite of what they need to be doing—buying products that keep the economy moving and people in work. The fear tactics of the Republicans, meant to protect their corporate backers, has rather pushed many working people into a bunker mentality, afraid that the Obama administration is going to “steal” whatever “wealth” they have.

This is why it is so essential for this administration and the Democrats to simply do what the country needs to be done, and the paranoid and the party of “no” be damned. This country is on the precipice; it can build a bridge to the other side where the future leads, or blindly fall off that cliff.

By the way, the fate of that company I used to work for has been settled; it was bought-out, which is of little comfort to the employees: the warehouse here is being closed and all its inventory to be sent to a warehouse in New Jersey.

B Roll,

Thanks for you wonderful, thoughtful post at the end of yesterday's blog. I read it twice and will probably go back and read it at least once more.

I am aware of the info. you cite regarding Akenaton (or Akenaten, also accepted spelling.) Maybe I misphrased my previous comments. I understood, from my readings, that Akenaton was the first to worship one god, which I thought later may have inspired the idea of worshipping one Jewish god - YHWH.

When I did most of my reading, I could find no apparent proof of a link between monotheistic Egypt and a Semitic group which left Egypt (the Hebrews.) All I could find was info on Hittites and I knew that wasn't even close, tho interesting. Since then, alot of additional archeological info. has come to light which helps to fill in the gaps.

btw, I also spent alot of time at the local library reading through the biography and the sci fi sections, as well as stacks of magazines of all sorts. The library has always been my "home away from home." Whenever I moved to a new city, one of the first buildings I would locate was the public library (my "candy store.") You can imagine how I felt when I moved to NYC and got my library card at the 49th St. library!

RE: "You can imagine how I felt when I moved to NYC and got my library card at the 49th St. library!"

s.b. 42nd St. library!

I have always thought the Inuit had it right --- I've heard that elderly members of the group who felt it was time to "go" would wander out into a snow bank and freeze to death:

"The prefix "eu" means "happy." Thus, the word "euphoria" means "happy mood," the word "eugenics" means "happy genes," and the word "euthanasia" means "happy death." The question of euthanasia is hardly a new one in biomedical ethics. Cultures which live in extreme conditions, such as nomadic cultures and those who live in more delicate ecosystems, for example the Inuit people who live in extremely low temperatures, have often practiced euthanasia as a matter of course. When a member of that culture grew too old to care for himself or herself, when a defective infant was born, the culture had developed rituals for hastening the deaths of people for whom it could not properly care."

http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/home/lmoon/EUpage.html

What does this guy know about having children or being a parent. No wonder no one wants to go to church anymore - wack job. Usurping the throne of G-d. Dr. Tad Potato head check. A real- tater tot big time that guy. Who wants to go to his heaven- next.

After reading all those anti-Israeli rants for the past couple of days, no wonder the Israelis feel isolated, and are a bit paranoid. The fact remains that Israel exists because of ranters like this, and centuries of virulent anti-Semitism in nearly all countries Jews immigrated to after being expelled from Israel by the Romans for fighting for their freedom. After the establishment of the state of Israel, there were four multi-nationsl invasions between 1948 and 1974 whose purpose was to obliterate Israel. As I stated on Monday, the Palestinians must take some accountability for the actions of their chosen "leaders" who have never wavered from their sole purpose of existing--the destruction of Israel. I personally think a two-state solution is a fantasy, because I don't think the Palestinians are capable of establishing a coherent state without being heavily subsidized by other nations. And let's remember that Palestine for the past 2,000 years has never existed as an independent state, but always under the control of various "empires," and its modern incarnation is the creation of the British mandate after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Hypocrisy on this matter doesn't change the reality on the ground. The bottom line is that the Palestinians could have peace if they want it; it is not up to Israel, it is up them to decide if they want it.

The reason why the AMA won't let you die is because you will no longer be generating a profit for them.

Yes- going to G-d will relieve pain - hello. Who are you to get in between me and G-d.

i will never forget the 60 minutes piece on remote area medical. remote area medical is an organization of doctors and nurses that volunteer to go to ares around the world to give medical care to the poor. the 60 minutes piece was done in Tennessee in the united states. to see the lines of people waiting to seek all kinds of care from a medical doctor, dentist or eye doctor . these people where poor white Americans. many had to be turn away. i need to learn more to understand why some poor white Americans would vote republican.

I am always amazed when people tell me they know the mind of "God", and I am to listen to them.
We all create "God" in our own image.
My image of "God" does not wish for me to suffer in order to grow spiritually. My image of "God" allows me to die with dignity.

YHWH is the Rapturian Rights attempt to weasel outta the sin of idolatry.

The God of the matriarchs and patriarchs is יהוה

Richard Adlof,

RE: "YHWH is the Rapturian Rights attempt to weasel outta the sin of idolatry."

I only used the term because it was my understanding that early Hebrews weren't allowed to speak the name of Yahweh and that this was one way in which to refer to that god. Please forgive me if I misapplied the term.

It's the trials and tribulations, the problems we live through and overcome that makes us stronger and more enlightened, not extreme physical pain! That's just cruel!

Quark -

Yahweh is actually in itself a substitute for the unpronouncable name of God. At least, that's how they 'splained it to me in Hebrew School (at a Reform Temple - Orthodox & Conservative Jews may have a different take).

Quark,

I see no reason for you to apologize for not using the Hebrew spelling of a name that actually is meant as a substitute for the real name which can't be spoken.

For more information read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahweh or Google for other references.

mstaggerlee,

I SAY I don't allow myself to imagine the pain of losing a child, but I'm sitting here thinking of you and your wife and I can't stop the tears...

Quark - Thanx for the sympathy - we recently observed the 8th anniversary of his passing - time doesn't really heal all wounds, but it does get one used to living with them. We try to remember the happier times with him, and not allow ourselves to dwell on the pain of his loss or the "could've-beens" - that, my friend, is the road to insanity.

Richard Adlof - YHWH is simply the English-alphabet represenation of יהוה. :)

THIS name of God was traditionally only spoken once per year by the Head Priest during the Days of Awe. The High Priest would open the doors to the Holiest of Holies (an empty room) and implore that God give his people another year to worship God. The vowels to yud-chei-vav-chei are unknown, although it is felt by a good number of folk that the name of God is pronounced as a breath drawn in then a breath expelled . . . Thus the name of God is the sound of life itself and the soul is the breath of life.

The YHWH is the American from the German from the Latin from the Greek translation of the Hebrew. In short, it ain’t their book and they lack the social and cultural references to fully interpret it. Like any time one folk assumes the understanding of another group of folk, they tend to impose their social, ethical and /or cultural references upon that understanding . . . Often pooching the screw in the attempt.

Side Note: If the breath of life is the soul . . . Most forced anti-abortion folk are incorrect in their interpretation of the beginning of life question.

BUT I digress and ramble . . .

Wow, Gilbert Eriksen is absolutely painful to listen to.

The sniffing, the heavy breathing, the NOT GETTING TO A POINT is horrible.

I have been thinking about Thom's comment concerning Peter Defazio's concern about the schedules for Medicare payment to Docs and how cost of living increases are figured.

I think that for this very first go-around this isn't important and that we can fix these Medicare issues as time progresses. I feel the goal for the first round is to simply be sure that all Americans can get a regular checkup and the medication they need. Even an imperfect public option will assure this.

We already have many clinics that provide services to people on Medicare and the numbers of those clinics will increase and more than likely be very grateful for the much-needed extra revenue. I am more than willing to go to a clinic that provides services to Medicare patients who other Doctors aren't willing to see.

Also, Doctors may self-regulate themselves and encourage one-another to take on more Medicare patients if suddenly there are thousands of people on the public plan.

The worries about the public plan are coming from people who already get to see a doctor and are nit-picking about service details. Those of us who simply want to see a doctor for various ailments we have been self-treating for the last two decades don't have time for this kind of arguing. We don't care if we see a recent grad, a retired doc, visit a clinic or a high class hospital. We simply want some basic care.

I don't think we should worry about these details right now. i think we just need to get this bill passed so millions of Americans who can't get basic care will be able to get that care. Care for patients no on will see right now, because they have NO money, can be provided by clinics staffed by doctors hoping to reduce his student loan costs or whoever wants to work there.

Helen,

i am sorry. I was writing my post while you were writing yours and I didn't see the story you wrote until after I had posted my comment.

That sounds like some of the nightmares I have experienced with dental care, too. We definitely need to have dental care as part of our public plan. If more money from a public plan is provided to low-income clinics, they will be able to offer much better care, hopefully.

I am sorry you are going through this pain and worry right now. Teeth issues can be very scary.

OH MY FARGING DEITY . . . I hate fatalism and the pre-destiny folk . . .

The deity of my choice chose to give me free-will . . . OR . . . The twisting and turnings of carbon atoms allows me to interpret my omniverse to the best of my understanding through my given senses and through the filters of my interpretation of my experiences, knowledge and understandings. Either way, nothing is written in stone AND if it were I can buy a sledgehammer. That includes stars, also.

Side Note: (Going back to the 'it ain’t their book' conversation . . .) The nevi’im (prophets) are speakers of truth to power; NOT woogie-woogie chicken-bone throwers. Divination is a sin . . . A discouraged as superstition.

Even though I am in Tennessee I listen to the show through KPOJ's web site. I find myself jonesing for fish tacos from Hawthorn or Corbett fish house. Do they ship them?

It's improbably, I know, but the best fish tacos I've ever had were from dumpy taco stands in Fresno, CA. For some reason, they do it right there.