Daily Topics - Tuesday August 17th, 2010
By shawnt56
Quote of the Day: Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters. -- Abraham Lincoln
Hour One: How do we save the U.S. Economy from the corporate world trade vampires? Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch will be here www.citizen.org
Hour Two: How could lowering the voting age to 16 change America? Thom has a rumble with Reagan Biographer, Craig Shirley, President of Shirley & Bannister Public Affairs www.craigshirley.com; Plus, Jeffrey Nadel, the 17 year old President of the National Youth Rights Association talks to Thom www.youthrights.org
Hour Three: Should we regulate violence the same way we regulate pornography? Thom debates Jacob Sullum of Reason Magazine www.reason.com
Comments
#2
@harry, who says I want kids to be good thinkers? >:-)
N
#3
Can you believe it? Israel demands to be invited to the peace talks. Israel is a country that seeks the genocide of Palestinians. Israel is emulating Nazi Germany.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/08/16/israel-demands-us-invite-them-to-peace-talks/
#4
Afghanistan is Obama's Vietnam!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/by-us-deaths-as-of-today_b_683441.html
#6
As a Jew you should?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/As-a-Jew-You-Should-by-Mark-Sashine-100817-284.html
#7
How close is America's demise?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Close-Is-America-s-Dem-by-paul-craig-roberts-100816-736.html
#8
n8chz, I agree with you 100%. I was just pointing out a small inaccuracy in how Thom presented certain political figures in Germany today. When I said "old-school libertarianism", I was just trying to find an American analogy for reference to explain the politics of the FDP. In continental Europe, they don't use the term "libertarian". What we think of as completely laissez-faire libertarianism (figures like Harry Browne come to mind) is called "liberal" there, whereas a progressive/American liberal would just be called a "social democrat" or "leftist" there.
Personally, I'm not a libertarian at all. I'd put myself somewhere around Northern European-style Social Democractic or slightly to the left of that. If I were a German citizen, I probably voting for people from any of the three parties on the national scene that are left of center: SPD (Social Democratic Party), Die Grünen (The Greens), and Die Linke (The Left Party). Their coalition-style government makes voting there quite a calculus.
#9
Average Americans are hated.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/American-Propaganda-by-Timothy-V-Gatto-100817-531.html
#10
This portrait looks ugly.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tomgram-Chalmers-Johnson-by-Tom-Engelhardt-100817-53.html
#12
Bring our war money home!
http://www.opednews.com/articles/BRING-OUR-WAR--HOME-How-by-Lisa-Savage-100815-433.html
#13
American dreams are dying.
#14
My own role these past 20 years has been that of Cassandra, whom the gods gave the gift of foreseeing the future, but also cursed because no one believed her. I wish I could be more optimistic about what's in store for the U.S. Instead, there isn't a day that our own guns of August don't continue to haunt me. - Tom Engelhardt!
#15
While I was growing up, there were two pictures. In the living room was a picture of Jesus sitting on top of a hill and looking down into the city. His head was down and He appeared saddened as He looked upon the city. Was He seeing into the future where human beings would experience endless pain and suffering? Was Jesus seeing the demise of the United States of Satan's Disciples? Was Jesus actually helping me to see into the future? I am truly sorry my fellow Americans but our country's soul is dead. Eternal damnation awaits America and Americans. It's all over but the wailing of American souls in the lake of eternal fire that never subsides.
#16
Our son was on television in Sweden. To see him takes 100% link time. Yes, our son is a hero.
http://en.tackfilm2.se/?id=1282017265815ID76
I hope that it links up for you to see.
#17
Enfranchise Me!
I was listening to Thom's program and this idea really captivated me. I thought it was just the way things were, that a <18 person would never be allowed to vote. Hearing Thom speak in favour of it as motivated me.
I am 16 years old and live in Manitoba, Canada. Obviously, I am in favour of lowering the voting age to 16. Some raise the point that 16 years olds are disinterested in the political system and I think this could not be farther from the truth. In my group of friends, we often discuss Canadian, American and world politics. It is something that interests all of us. In fact, when I took American History in gr. 10, we were so interested in the political process that 25 of the 30 students in my class, agreed to go back to school at 19h00 to watch the coverage of the American election.
Youth bring a different view to elections. Generally, we are more optimistic. To give another example, in Grade 6, there was a national election. My teacher had each of us get into teams and represent different parties. The New Democratic Party won the election , followed by the Conservatives. Interestingly enough, lesser considered parties like the Marxist-Lennist Party and the Christian Heritage Party also received a few votes. Youths today do pay attention to the political system and with instruction in the system, this proves to be a good exercise of democracy.
In the broadcast today matters of education came up. Other policies, like military policy and minimum wage are closely watched by youth. The minimum wage in Manitoba has increased by $1 in the last year. This has been a very nice improvement. What's funny, is that people my age are most affected by this increase, but we really don't get a say in the process.
Maybe I have typed to much. But here's my summary. Youth aren't monolithic. Quite a few of us are interested in politics and democracy, if we were enfranchised, then more of those would be. A voter turnout of 56% in Canada, doesn't really present a high bar for youth participation in the electoral process. Also, one can't assume that all children a liberal. My best friend is very conservative. We were debate partners in the national competition and we spent most of our prep time fighting each other's points. Finally, children see issues differently. We are the one's most affected by military policy, minimum wage, education, tuition rates, and environmental issues.
#18
Holy crap Gerald . . . Drop knee-jerk, mindlessly hyperbolic rhetoric about Israel.
Israel does not seek the genocide of the folk who label themselves “Palestinians.” In fact since the Arabic neighbors of the “Palestinians” abandoned all support of Gaza and the West Bank, the major of support for the “Palestinian” territories has come from Israel. The “Palestinian” territories remain a huge/gigantic drain upon Israel’s resources and Israel craves peace in the region so they can get on with own business.
The running issue is the sovereign nation of Israel is being forced to attempt to make peace with a marketing gimmick composed of flesh and blood humans, designed with the specific intention to destroy it. Financial backing of the “leadership” comes from folk whose rhetoric for the last 60 plus years has been the destruction of Israel. Peace is difficult to obtain when that folk cross the table shoot thousands of missiles at you civilian population every time you stand down. The “leadership” of the “Palestinians” has zero interest in peace or anything remotely looking like it.
You exhibit a marked tenancy to toss about NAZI references about nearly everything but they are offensive to folk with any relationship to that period of history and have no relationship to the topic at hand. The Christ that you go on about so often would mostly likely consider your characterization of this subject dramatically outside of Halakaic parameters . . . SO please show restraint and refrain from being . . . well . . . yourself on any posting you make regarding this topic
#19
@rladlof, the triad of evil nations are America, England, and Israel. Yes, Israel!!! All three nations are interested in creating chaos so the people will be fearful and it is easier to control fearful people.
#20
@Gerald:
Not one of those nations (United States of America, Great Britain or Israel) has any interest in generating evil, creating chaos or fostering fear. There are authoritarian elements in all three of those countries that have those interests and act on those baser intentions BUT it would require gymnastics of insanity to label entire countries for the heinous acts of a few. In short:
While all white horses are animals, all animals are NOT white horses.
Inverted logic and half truths are not examples of good rhetorical methodology. While the recessivist right wallows in that sh**, it is remains unacceptable.
I understand your anger and note that you are moved to express yourself. I even applaud that behavior. Unfortunately, you continuously demand responsibility in others and continually fail to be responsible for the effect of the words you type. The cliché that when one points, there are three fingers pointing back at the pointer is true. I ask you to be better than that and cease your hypocrisy. You, of course, have the right to ignore my all too reasonable request as your apparent habit suggests you will.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
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Hello All
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From Unequal Protection, 2nd Edition:
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"With the ever-growing influence of corporate CEOs and their right-wing allies in all aspects of American life, Hartmann’s work is more relevant than ever. Throughout his career, Hartmann has spoken compellingly about the value of people-centered democracy and the challenges that millions of ordinary Americans face today as a result of a dogma dedicated to putting profit above all else. This collection is a rousing call for Americans to work together and put people first again."
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