Daily Topics – Thursday January 21st 2010
By Thom
Quote: The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.
-- Aristotle
Hour One - With the Supreme Court ruling on the Citizens United case, did the gates of hell just get opened up? plus....Banksters & healthcare
Guest: Shannyn Moore, The Shannyn Moore Show on KUDO 1080AM www.kudo1080.com
Hour Two - With the Supreme Court ruling on the Citizens United case,did the gates of hell just get opened up? David Cobb, DemocracyUnlimited of Humboldt County and 2004 Green Party PresidentialCandidate www.duhc.org
Hour Three - Amy Goodman (just back from Haiti) www.democracynow.org
What is going on in Haiti
Comments
#2
Today the children of the East India Company have been awarded the property stolen from them over three hundred years ago, with intrest. With the Supreme court ruling this morning the children of the East India Copmany(transcontinal corperations) have been given the right to reclaim the American colonies that they lost over three hundred years ago.
#3
I do take comfort in this quote though (Princess Leia to Grand Moff Tarkin)
"The more you tighten your grip, the more systems slip through your fingers."
Eventually this too will pass. (Probably not in my lifetime though)
#4
Nels, it may come sooner than you think.
"Citizens United" may kill democracy in our United States, but there remains the European Union, India, Japan etc. They seem to be using our mistakes as cautionary tales. Let us hope they continue and develop the democratic (small 'd') experiment.
Once our corporate owners have sucked our United States dry and moved on to their next conquests, we may be free again, just poor.
#5
Some of the articles and news reports insert unions also benifiting from this decision. This is bogus since members who do not agree with the endorsement can petition the union for a refund of the portion of dues spent towards political action. What recourse do employees or the individual shareholder have if (s)he does not support the endorsement?
#6
GEPh
Re We should the demand the same rights as corporations such as limited liability.
Good Point!
#7
Let us subjectcorporations to "Three Strikes You're Out".
Since we can't put corporations in jail, we can simply subject them to the same restrictions as prisoners: limited physical mobility, all communications inspected by jailors, no possession of weapons.
#8
Thom,
The Repugs. (and "The Family"?) are also supporting the military coup in Honduras.
#9
I can only hope that progressives rally around Instant Runoff Voting and Public Campaign Reform now, heck yesterday. Too much time has been wasted on hoping that our political leaders will act appropriately.
IRV...PCR... IRV...PCR
#10
RE Shareholder proposal to obtain requiring permission before the corporation can spend money on campaigns.
Don't think it will fly.
Stockholders own a corporation, but the Board of Directors is responsible for managing the corporation.
#11
Since corporations are entities created by states, we could deal with this issue by amending state constitutions and/or corporate laws or regulations.
The states could rule that corporations could not give money to politicians unless approved by a majority of the shareholders.
#12
Thom, you said to wake up the youth… unfortunately they did get a wake up call over the past year and again today… your voice will only change who hurts you not whether on not you will be hurt…
WE the corporations need to change what the wake up call is – Damn, it’s started already – I meant we the people…
It is going to be tough to change what the message is – and as we have seen Democrats are only slightly better for the people than republicans are BUT we know how bad republicans are going to be so we can prepare for it…
So really, who at this point is better for us??
the vote is not the problem, we need to wake up the youth and get them into the party at the ground level because by the time the vote occurs it is too late to make the change. How do we get THAT to be the wake up call???
#13
I would like to share with you some information. I read an article a few years ago by Jane Eisner, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The article mentioned Islam and how the Islamic culture was well advanced around the time of Mohammed and for some years after his presence.
The Islamic culture could have been a role model for Western cultures. Why did the Islamic culture cease to progress in comparison with the Western cultures? The reason centers with the role of women. Women in time became a second-class citizen and they were not considered a viable resource in the Islamic culture.
What I fear from the Islamic culture is their lack of women involved in various governmental issues and their lack of governmental positions in the decision making process. We can see how important women are in the daily activities and life of America. Women are a valuable human resource, especially women who possess the two characteristics of nurturing and sensitivity. These two characteristics make them God’s greatest creation.
Women are the key to a better world, especially women who possess the characteristics of nurturing and sensitivity. Let us give more trust to the women of the world.
I have believed for at least two generations that women should be in control of all governments of the world. Men have been in control for at least five thousand years and our world is a mess.
Let me restate that women who possess the characteristics of nurturing and sensitivity are the women who should rule the world governments.
Here is my observation of American women. Only one third of the women possess the characteristics of nurturing and sensitivity. These women are part of the feminine gender. The other two thirds of American women belong to the “It” gender. Surely, they are not part of the masculine gender and they are not members of the feminine gender. They are just members of the “It” gender.
#14
Haiti: Is this the USA's new method to end Poverty?
Supreme Court decision: Will Texas school books re-write the Constitution “We the People of the United States" to "We the C.E.O.'s of Multi-National Corporation"?
#15
rewinn
don't forget:
They can't profit from their crimes
They can't earn a living while paying the price of their crime
They can only buy what is offered by the prison system and are not allowed to sell anything
and for the worst of them - no connection with the outside world
#16
Do you think the corporate media will give this much attention? After all, they stand to gain millions/billions in revenue from television advertisements.
We should all be screaming about Activist Judges to news papers and everyone we speak to.
#17
One killing of God's children is too many in wars.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/wars-not-as-deadly-as-the...
#18
This ruling solves the problem created for big money lobbyists by the growing influence of small donors via the internet, which Obama benefited from. This is exactly the opposite direction needed on the political compass to help our democracy move forward.
#19
"Citizens United" leads to the Burlesconi-ization of America.
Which rich guy will buy all the media and make himself king?
#20
thom great show i feel very encourage to keep fighting to end corporate personhood. thank you so very much
#21
Here is a repeat of a comment I made yesterday.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/We-Tried-to-Warn-Obama-But-by-Rabbi-Mic...
#22
Re: GE ownership of NBC/CNBC/MSNBC: GE recently sold NBC to Comcast; I assume that includes CNBC and MSNBC.
"Beer is proof god loves us and wants us to be happy." -Ben Franklin
#23
MSNBC (the place for politics) cut away from a democratic senator talking about this to do a story on the Conan/Leno battle... Yes Thom the Corps are using all there power to keep us uninformed... Thank Earth for you!!!
#24
There/their... obviously keeping me illiterate and poorly grammaritized...
#25
Are we heading toward a nuclear holocaust?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-01/21/c_13144534.htm
#26
Suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or democratic republic and our individual liberties has suffered a deep wound today, with the Supreme Court's decision awarding "free speech" rights during elections to corporations. First the Court conflated the meanings of free speech with that of money... now... it awards this sacred, individual, and protective right to special interests with the most money. It dilutes person-hood. It drowns out our voice and threatens our sovereign rights of self determination to elect our leaders freely, without the tyranny of any master. This is a perversion of our Constitution and our concept of democratic principles.
This day needs to serve as a wake-up call to all true patriotic Americans. Whether you be a strict constitutional constructionist, an ardent Tea Party...er, or a Federalist Society member, the sincerity of your convictions are at test. Of the corporation?, by the corporation?, or for the corporation?, is the question.
Will the "left" lead the way in their duty to "keep this republic" by making it a beacon issue? Is there an issue that the Democrats are willing to take a solid stand? What better ones than patriotism and democratic ideals to unite around? With great challenges comes great opportunities.
Maybe we should name this day, in order to draw attention to the freedoms lost and the threats posed to our shared values by this dangerous decision of the S. Court. Black Thursday? The Corporate Coup? Coup d'etat Day? Fascist Day? There are better ideas out there about the names. Come on! all you creative types! What's your idea? What cannot be debated, is that our very way of life and our nation are at stake. If we as Progressives don't realize our duty to be willing to take a stand on this issue, then we should sit down and shut up.
The stars are aligning. Whether we would have preferred to deal with another issue first, these most vital of all issues: Campaign Finance Reform & The Power of Corporations stand before us hand in hand. It is a fight worth having, that is...if you love your country and the promise it represents.
#27
DDay,
Yes, I agree that today needs a name. It should be powerful and bring to mind what we have lost.
#28
Do you remember where you were on one-twenty-one when corporations were given the vote?
#29
If the largest, most profitable corporations are indeed foreign then perhaps we will soon see the domination of our American politics by those corporations. Let us hope it is by the more socially responsible Euros instead of those from, let us say, the former Communist states.
#30
Now that corporations have an even bigger opportunity to buy out our representatives, can we at least make them wear jackets like NASCAR drivers - so we know who's is sponsoring them...
#31
Since corporations are considered personhood, they should be taxed as persons. 75% tax for profits over $3 million and 90% for profits over $10 million!!! Offshore tax havens are treasonous acts and a life in prison sentence for the people in charge.
Elizabeth Warren should replace Bernanke. The woman whose name I cannot remember whom Somers ridiculed and drove her from the WH for alerting the public to what the banks and Wall Street was doing to average Americans. She should replace Somers. If you can remember her name, please let me know it. Thank tou! Reich or Voelker should replace Gaithner. Please excuse any names that were misspelled.
#32
Howzabout "The Day They Sold America"?
#33
mstaggerlee,
'Works for me!
#34
Thank you quark and Blue Mark-
Blue Mark, I was thinking the same thing about Guy Foulks Day, (sp). I couldn't quite get it, (like my spelling of Foulks). I'm serious though. We could start something here if we put our heads together. We need a name and to get it launched virally. This is an issue that could not only drawn in people, but also allow us to bludgeon our opponents and expose their unpatriotic ideologies, for all to see. This could,... and... I think, should, be a movement . Think of it...The Far Left as the Defenders of Democracy and the Constitution!
Who better? It is up to us.
Instead of Guy Fowkes Day, how about Everyone Fowked Day? no? Come on people!
#35
DDay,
Yes, I saw the same potential in your idea!
#36
Thank you mstaggerlee! keep going! Note: Everyone knows that Quark is easy. Remember her teabagging comments? Everything works for her! :-)
#37
DDay,
We should try to call in tomorrow (maybe when Bernie is on) to mention this idea. It needs lots of exposure.
#38
DDay,
If everything works for me how come I'm not rich?! LOL!
#39
The 1-21 project?
The Coffee Party Patriots?
Actually, if we frame this right, the Tea Party'ers might climb on board if they can be made to recognize it as rights being taken away from natural born citizens and given to multi-national corporations.
#40
Blue Mark,
This idea is getting more amazing every minute! (or at least filled with potential)
#41
Quark,
print this post out and bring it to the Blue State Bash Saturday. It will be good for 2 drinks! Present it to a fat bald guy with DDay on his lapel. (You'll probably find him either near Thom or Stephanie or the bar.) :-)
#42
Blue Mark,
re: attracting Tea Baggers if played right...
Exactly. The idea is to frame the issue so that being on the other side of the argument is very very uncomfortable.
Quark,
Darling...you may not be literally rich...but... you are in the eyes of your myriad admirers.
#43
DDay,
How about if I send you thanks and a virtual hug? Maybe we will meet at some DFL political convention or gathering. (And I bet I will talk your ear off I'm so wound up by what's going on! I attended an SD41 meeting the other night and found a number of us just couldn't exchange thoughts and ideas fast enough! Great, smart people!) BTW, I had to laugh. The speaker said we in MN should stop introducing ourselves by SD numbers! It confuses new people.
#44
Actually, the true "tea-baggers" are more in line with the Ron Paul libertarians. Guys like Dick Armey and other opportunists have taken advantage of their message. So, I would not be suprised if TB'ers aren't already on board.
BTW, not a TB'er myself. A little to much militaristic for my blood.
#45
DDay,
'Should have said the last URL is for the speaker, George Greene. Do you know Chuck Prentice? He's a dynamo. You'd really like him, I think, if you don't know him already.
#46
Just read on Congress.org :
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said the decision will lift the veil on how campaigns are financed.
"I've always believed that sunshine in the best disinfectant," he said. "Let the American people decide how much money is enough."
I'm sure he's lining up "interested parties" as we speak.
#47
And Now for Something Completely Different
Space Weather News for Jan. 21, 2010
SUNGRAZING COMET: NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft has discovered another bright sungrazing comet. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has a good view of the comet's death plunge, which is happening today. .
NORTHERN LIGHTS: A solar wind stream hit Earth on Jan. 20th sparking the first geomagnetic storm of the year and an intense display of polar auroras. Images from around the Arctic Circle may be found here: http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01jan10_page3.htm
#48
Lost Freedom Day, Black Jacked Day, Founders Spin Day, (in their graves), Corporate Logo Day, etc.
(As long as it ends in Day....(I like that ending)....:-) 01-21-10 the Day that democracy bled, or died....We could put it to the Don McClean song: Bye Bye Miss American Pie.....They sold our freedoms for some logos so our elections are mere promos...for....Bye Bye to our American Rights ....All hail the corporations, the true owners of our nation...This will be the day that Justice cried . Or this will be the day that we all die. That January was funerary, for the promises so long carried, it was the twenty first that freedom died. Oh this...
Man...I gotta stop smokin this stuff...
#49
Quark, I read George Greene. I think he has been reading some of my crap...
I don't think I know Chuck Prentice...but...I cannot be certain....I have C.R.S.
Sounds like you are wimping out on Sat. nite. Bummer....3 Drinks?
I thought you said you were easy? LOL G.nite Gracie :-)
Bye Bye Miss American Pie PFFFFFFFT.....whooosh......ahhhh...
#50
The shape of things to come ...
Dear Cincinnati city council members, We need you to drop your zoning rules about adult entertainment clubs nearby schools, and we need a 15 year tax abatement for our "Barely Legal" gentleman's clubs. Your average campaign budgets are $25,000 per candidate, we are prepared to spend $10 million in ads opposing anyone who opposes our initiatives.
Sincerely, Larry F.
Dear Enid OK city council, Luigi Brothers Construction of Queens is pleased to announce that we will be opening a branch in you city. We will be needing the contract to build the new county stadium, along with a waiver on all city fees, As an incentive we have a contingency fund of $4 million to pay for issue ads during your next election should we find it necessary.
Ciao. Bruno Luigi
Dear US Congress.
We need another war. Doesn't matter where.
United Defense Industries.
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@AVATAR
I wasn't really trying to spin it as positive for progressives,
just trying to fit a meme that would make the right wingnuts as upset about it as the rest of us.