Daily Topic - Wednesday April14th 2010

Hour One - Mayor Matthew T. Ryan - Binghamton, NY www.cityofbinghamton.com/mayor.asp How can we control the military and banking industries that own our politicians?

Hour Two - Dan Gainor www.businessandmedia.org When are American conservatives going to stop pushing us to give more money to Al Qaeda?

Hour Three - Jim Hightower www.jimhightower.com Wasn't the real Boston tea party about the Wal-Mart of the 1770's?

Comments

constans's picture
constans 12 years 49 weeks ago
#1

Mark K: Some people might remember the film “Being There” starring Peter Sellers. In it he portrayed a mentally-challenged middle-aged man who lived a sheltered life in which a garden and television set comprised his entire world, until he was forced out onto the street after the death of his warder. He managed to find a new warder in a politically-connected billionaire, and everyone who met him thought his minimalistic gardening tips were nuggets of wisdom and genius. At the end, there was even talk among party elders to set him up as a candidate for president. There is a person today who also thinks in minimalistic terms, but without any suggestion of forethought, and yet who some would also regard as a serious presidential candidate. The difference, of course, is that Chance the gardener thought in terms of nurturing that which was under his care, while Sarah Palin only seems to care about nothing save nurturing her own ego and bank account—which makes it seem that the people who are the more pathetic are the ones who allow themselves to be fooled by what they wish to see in her. What makes it all the more immoral is that this media creation has in the last year reportedly made $12 million from a book of which her only labor was a jumble of half-baked expectorations that a ghost writer put into legible form, and from repeating ad nauseam the same obtuse lines over and over again that paranoid bigots drink-up like booze-besotted drunks.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#2

The cost of war clock needs more than just the bottom line cost in dollars.

It also needs the death and injury tolls of soldiers on both sides (best estimates is suitable).

constans's picture
constans 12 years 49 weeks ago
#3

A week or two ago, New York police charged four young men with a hate crime after they followed a man of Mexican extraction and beat him with baseball bats, two-by-fours and a chain. New York, it seems, has lower standards for what constitutes a hate crime than places like Texas, where in a Houston suburb called Spring, a Latino teenager can be kicked unconscious, burned with cigarettes, have a racial epithet scrawled on his chest with a knife, had a patio umbrella pole thrust into his rectum—causing massive internal injuries—and had bleach poured over and inside him to “cover-up” the evidence, all perpetrated by two skinheads, one who sported Nazi tattoos, all of which Texas prosecutors claimed did not qualify as a hate crime (nor of course, does dragging a black man tied to a pick-up truck until he is decapitated). The Seattle Times published a brief paragraph on that story, the few details it left in made it seem that the special-ed student was somehow at fault; when I contacted an editor why they paper omitted the gruesome details, he responded by saying the editors didn’t want to “revolt” readers, to which I responded isn’t that the point? It seems that it is OK to hate, but it’s not “OK” to learn the consequences of that hate.

Anyways, I had indicated a few weeks ago that I wanted to offer my view concerning Thom’s talk with Charles Bowden’s and his book “Murder City,” which according to reviews I’ve read tells stories in a novelistic tone revolving around the lives of certain people engaging in or effected by the drug violence in Cuidad Juarez, rather than illuminating the nature or context of the problem. The failure that is the “War on Drugs” is patently obvious by the fact that despite how the U.S. aided in the destruction of the Colombia cartels by extra-legal means, the “inadvertent” side-effect of “winning” this battle was transferring the violence from Colombia to Mexico; there apparently is not the stomach or the will to employ the same tactics that took down the Medellin Cartel, because it is much closer to home, and Americans don’t have the stomach for viewing their foreign doings close-up (the out of sight, out of mind syndrome). But the source of the cocaine traffic remains Colombia, and the eventual destination for most of it remains the United States. Mexico and its people are caught in the middle. As long as there is large market, and as long as “recreational” drugs are illegal, there will be no stopping those willing to employ violence to continue the trade. It is also a bit hypocritical to pretend that this country doesn’t have its own home-grown variety of violence from illicit trade, or that it has a conflicted attitude about drug use; cable television shows like “Weeds” and “Breaking Bad” are suggestive of this phenomenon.

The U.S. is so preoccupied with controlling drugs that heavy-handed methods seems to have the opposite effect intended—with even higher rates of use and addiction. Similarly to sexual Puritanism leading to a greater incidence of sexual deviancy in this country, preoccupation with controlling drug use only makes that problem worse. If a vice is left to the imagination, then imagination creates an alternate reality receptive to vice. Drug and alcohol use by teens is reportedly on the rise again, and for adults, pain-killers and prescription drugs is rapidly becoming the drug addiction of choice (just ask Rush Limbaugh). All this drug use seems beyond the capabilities of law enforcement to control, no matter how many people they lock-up. The fact is that if the trade in illegal drugs were brought out into the open market, it would be easier to control and regulate. But few in authority want to face reality.

The drug violence in Mexico should be seen as the logical result of failed policies and their unintended results. Passing judgment on Mexico or Mexicans denies the culpability of America’s drug use and dealers. Americans have no moral leverage, because they cannot even control themselves.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#4

@Mark K. I think what a lot of Palin's supporters like about her is that she is getting rich and famous for basically doing nothing... hell she can't even do proper prep for interviews or speeches. They see that this nobody from nowhere is getting paid tons of money for doing nothing more than getting involved in local politics and moved up from there. Her political rise hasn't been much more than being in the right place at the right time... plainly DUMB LUCK. Her followers see that and want that for themselves too (not necessarily the political life, but the easy money). I bet if you took a survey of the audience at one of her speeches, and asked this one question: Do you play the lottery? I'll bet you dollars to donuts that over 90% will answer yes. Its the same mentality, these kind of people really are hoping they'll get the big pay off for doing virtually nothing, and Palin is the embodiment of this concept and therefore they idolize her for it (subconsciously).

rladlof's picture
rladlof 12 years 49 weeks ago
#5

Lincoln Takes Populist Turn On Wall Street Reform

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/lincoln-takes-populist-turn-on-wall-street-reform.php

AFSCME Ad Blasts Blanche Lincoln As 'Part Of The Problem' In Washington (VIDEO)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/afscme-ad-blasts-blanche-lincoln-as-part-of-the-problem-in-washington-video.php

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#6

Elizabeth Warren --- Saving American Homes Key to Recovery

Bailed-out bankers don't want to help desperate home owners. Interesting interview with Elizabeth Warren on Rachel Maddow last night:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#36488161

rladlof's picture
rladlof 12 years 49 weeks ago
#7

@Mark K RE: “Sarah Palin only seems to care about nothing save nurturing her own ego and bank account”

Isn’t the American dream since President ‘Ron-dog’ Reagan?

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#8

re: Blanch Lincoln turning over. A politician that's prone to flip their stance 180 degrees is like being on a ship that's prone to capsizing. When you set out for your journey and the weather seems fine, the ship is wonderful, but when you're out in the middle of the ocean and a storm comes up and flips your ship, whether you're stuck inside the ship trying to get out or thrown off directly into the sea, either way you're screwed, because you didn't set sail in a vessel with proper ballast.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#9

@rladlof, I think Palin's sheep dream of a world where they can buy a box Ammunition, 2 Lottery Tickets, a cheap Porn mag, a dozen donuts and a bottle of Jack all for less than $10. Yeeeeha bubba!

rladlof's picture
rladlof 12 years 49 weeks ago
#10

It maybe CRUDE but yesterday’s and today’s Rude Pundit on Nebraska and Arizona lawmakers running amok is worth knowing about (CAUTION: If you have languaging issues you may choose to Google “Nebraska Abortion” and “Arizona Police Power Immigration” instead):

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/

rladlof's picture
rladlof 12 years 49 weeks ago
#11

@ MAXBOT: Road trip to WalMart!!!! YOOHOOO!!!

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#12

@rladlof, don't for get 'dem diet pills. 'merica god bless us everyone ('cept 'dem brown people... 'dey ain't no 'mericans no how)

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#13

Any one here listen to Thom on LA's KTLK... if so I'm wondering if anyone else find's canidate for Gov Meg Whitman's campaign against Steve Poisner as hilarious as I do. Everything that she's pointing out about him in these ad's only bolster's his case for progressives. I can only assume her campaign has no idea that she's bought ad time on a progressive talk radio station.

I'm not going to vote for either, of course. I just think there's just so many flaw's in this campaign embodied by such a glaring oversight, it makes you wonder just how out of touch this politician is.

harry ashburn 12 years 49 weeks ago
#14

@Maxrot: do you get paid by the apostrophe?

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#15

Thom,

You're forgetting that, just as ancient armies used the SALT, today's military uses the preponderance of the OIL!

DRichards's picture
DRichards 12 years 49 weeks ago
#16

Oil

It seems to me that if there really is an oil shortage, then we would also have a shortage of Petrochemical products, such as detergents, fertilizers, medicines, paints, plastics, synthetic fibers and synthetic rubber as well. Is peak oil just another means of maintaining a high price by manipulating supply and demand?

DRichards's picture
DRichards 12 years 49 weeks ago
#17

It amazes me that we use Petrochemical fertilizers to grow corn, which we then convert into gasohol.

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#18

That 50% coal figure is years and years old. The new figure is 23% for 2009 EIA publication is http://energyaction.blogspot.com/

Perhaps someone really ought to look into this further as to exact critera. I have not and I should, but these are the latest numbers. Maybe we have been doing a better job of activism than we admit.

Energy Usage- in general, coal 23, petroleum 37, natural gas 24%, nuclear 8%, renewables 7% [solar 1%, geothermal 5%, wind 7%, hydropower 34%, biomass 53%].

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#19

SOLAR THERMAL - its nuclear without the mining. SAC Utility to build 400MW, we already have army with a 400MW in the mojave....pretty sure.

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#20

Sign the Billion Dollars a Day petition and see the video here. Vote Vets has a campaign going to get us off sending money to the very enemies they are fighting.

http://www.billiondollarsaday.com/

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#21

Yuuca Mountian out in the middle of nowhere? Jesus! There are entire indian tribes living there. Why doesnt anyone talk about SOLAR THERMAL -

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#22

Right on Thom! We are an interconnected circuitry with the natural world and the quick fix technology pill is not always the answer. Our planet is a living system.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#23

@harry 'scuse me, am I using too many punctuation marks. I'm not certain that I pay much attention to the number of apostrophes I use. I don't think it matters all that much really, ain't hurtin' no one. Can't really be 'fending you can it?

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#24

@quark, if we had wars for salt, and have wars for oil, if we move to solar energy will we have wars for sunlight?

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#25

Maxrot,

LOL! Which came first --- the war or the commodity?

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#26

Maxrot,

It would be interesting to know how much oil we could save by closing many of our bases around the world and ending our wars...

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#27

@quark, I don't know which came first, but I live in Southern California, so I'm going start bunkering down and arming up. 'dey ain't takin' my sunlight without fight gul' dang'it!

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#28

@quark, yeah, the savings not having to spend on political kick backs alone would be in the trillions in the first few months (maybe weeks).

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#29

@quark, It'd give Cheney another heart attack knowing that his beloved Haliburton would be going bankrupt (again).

(I wonder if Cheney would even notice if he had a heart attack at this point, he's had so many already. Obviously he's proven that, like the decifit, heart's don't matter.)

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#30

What a shame --- the use of lycra funds tea parties. To me, this was one of the best ever additions to natural fiber fabrics...

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#31

Maxrot,

I've admired your southern California sun all my life --- since I was 5 years old, watching Roy and Dale ride their horses in your lovely weather year round! : D

We should just refer to Cheney as the original "Tin Man" --- hollow!

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#32

Great point, we see change as evolving, advancing, the other uninformed of what is possible, only see their cheese being taken away from them.

WendyBluEyez's picture
WendyBluEyez 12 years 49 weeks ago
#33

Aaahhh, I just tuned in and caught the last of Jim Hightower! I love Jim!

Guess I'll have to grab the Thomcast! =)

Thom, please have Jim on more often.

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#34

Yes, my Tai Chi Master/ Writing coach told me about Jim Hightower back in the 90s. However, I have never heard a single broadcast of Hightowers. Plesae have Hightower on more.

rladlof's picture
rladlof 12 years 49 weeks ago
#35

BEIC LOBBIED Parliament . . . Their Royal and Gentle STOCKHOLDERS . . . You can’t drop that part out.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#36

Quark, I don't think Cheney is the Original Tin Man, I think he's Tin Man 2.0, this model doesn't want the weight of conscience.

As far as the sun year round goes... it's overrated. As a redhead, I avoid it whenever possible or get sunburned. (Sunblock sucks too, makes you feel like a grease ball).

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#37

I do so enjoy storytime on Thom's show.

Zero G's picture
Zero G 12 years 49 weeks ago
#38

@Maxrot,

It, too listen on K-TALK, 1150 AM and yes the GOPher primary ads are humorous, but I think it is due to a corporate ad buy campaign and the station is owned by clear channel.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#39

@Robert S. I'm sure you're correct. Still hiliarious to me none-the-less.

Zero G's picture
Zero G 12 years 49 weeks ago
#40

@Quark

US military energy consumption- facts and figuresby Sohbet Karbuz

As the saying goes, facts are many but the truth is one. The truth is that the U.S. military is the single largest consumer of energy in the world. But as a wise man once said, don't confuse facts with reality. The reality is that even U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) does not know precisely where and how much energy it consumes. This is my Fact Zero.

Reading this article takes time and concentration...more than I have time for now.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#41

re:The original Tea Party. Here's what today's tea partiers don't get about the original tea party. The original tea party members acted in secret to avoid being identified by authorities, today's tea partiers run after every camera they can get in possibly get in front of. In other words, they're not rocking any boat, they're fighting over who gets to man the oars.

Quark's picture
Quark 12 years 49 weeks ago
#43

Robert S.,

Thanks so much for that URL. That's exactly the info. I wanted! : )

harry ashburn 12 years 49 weeks ago
#45

Wendy, you can listen to Hightower any time at his website. :{)

Foodfascist's picture
Foodfascist 12 years 49 weeks ago
#46

I figured we might be able to listen to Hightower over the internet, but now it is getting to the point where the progressive media has so many good voices to listen to, its hard to hear them all! But will try!

We need a best of podcast to listen to on the weekends. The podcast would be an hour of each progressive host, what do ya think?

harry ashburn 12 years 49 weeks ago
#47

@Foodfascist, I think the challenge is to get them onto mainstream media.

Maxrot's picture
Maxrot 12 years 49 weeks ago
#48

Foodfacist, its a great idea, but instead of 1 best of podcast why not 3 or 4 podcasts each with different line ups. That way different tastes can be accomodated.

harry ashburn 12 years 49 weeks ago
#49

@Maxrot, no offense, I just thought it was funny, like seeing a roadside vegetable stand with a sign that says: "beet's and tomato's for sale."

gerald's picture
gerald 12 years 49 weeks ago
#50

An evil nation cannot break the habit of eternal wars and war crimes.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/551164/war_crimes_in_iraq_and_afghanistan

Thom's Blog Is On the Move

Hello All

Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.

Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.

From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom is a national treasure. Read him, embrace him, learn from him, and follow him as we all work for social change."
Robert Greenwald, political activist and founder and president of Brave New Films
From Unequal Protection, 2nd Edition:
"Hartmann combines a remarkable piece of historical research with a brilliant literary style to tell the grand story of corporate corruption and its consequences for society with the force and readability of a great novel."
David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World and Agenda for A New Economy
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Right through the worst of the Bush years and into the present, Thom Hartmann has been one of the very few voices constantly willing to tell the truth. Rank him up there with Jon Stewart, Bill Moyers, and Paul Krugman for having the sheer persistent courage of his convictions."
Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth