I have chosen not to comment on Hartmann's blog; due to the fact I really have a hard time being civil with people like DAM, but the statement made by Hartmann that the Republinuts are solely responsible for the Sequestration legislation being put into the Budget Act is misleading at best. Sequestration originated in the Obama Whitehouse and was pushed along by Reid and Pelosi, as well as the Republicans in Congress. The Sequestration is a sneaky form of Austerity that Washington has imposed upon the working class and the poor. When it affected the Wealthy Americans and those in Washington who fly home every week, suddenly the Democrats and the Republicans came together and allowed the F.A.A. to move around funds in order to keep the towers in our airports fully staffed, thus eliminating the waiting time Washington was experiencing. Had the delays only affected the rest of us, Washington would have done nothing about the problem, as they have done with the cuts to social programs and the military. I have read articles that Washington has found ways to help the military skirt around certain funding problems, unfortunately I cannot find those articles and therefore they can only be considered hear-say. Sequestration has had a negative effect on our working class and poor citizens, with virtually no effect on the wealthier Americans, as is usually the case in America. The poor families that depend on Housing assistance to house their children have been left out in the cold (LITERALLY) by Washington. Perhaps when it starts to affect the middleclass and their jobs Washington will do something, but I highly doubt it will be the case. Initially the news agencies were reporting the negative effects that Austerity was imposing on our nation, but they have been lacking in any follow-up to the problem. As usual the poor and working class poor and their CHILDREN will be the citizens of our nation that take the brunt of this attack on our society. As usual Obama and Congress will blame each other for what is happening to our economy and the fabric of our nation, when in reality they are all to blame for sticking it to us all. As usual, Hartmann has tried to lay the blame for this sickening legislation at the feet of the Republicans, when in REALITY, Sequestration better known as Austerity has been imposed upon the American Society by both parties. By using the term Progressive's, the Democrats and their media spokes people like Hartmann who use this word to describe themselves is nothing more than a smoke screen to hide the fact the Democrats have not progressed any further than the Republicans, when it comes to protecting the poor and working class citizens of our Great Nation. At least the Republicans do not try to hide the fact they could care less about those in need in our nation. As a moderate Independent, I find both Parties equally repulsive when it comes to protecting our Children, Poor, Elderly and Disabled. Washington is nothing more than a cesspool laden with people who will do anything to retain their political and financial power, even if it sacrifices those who have the least in our country. The Republicans and the Democrats should be labeled as domestic terrorists when it comes to the people they are supposed to serve and protect.

On a lighter note my grandson, Aiden Kenneth (Irish names), was one month old yesterday and we have been blessed with a healthy 10lb. 6oz. beautiful (and BIG) baby boy at birth. Perhaps that is why I have tried not to comment on this blog site, I do not want to carry any anger or stress around my new grandson and this site and some of its commenters have a way of bringing out the worse in me! (ha!) So have a great day and I wish the best of luck to you all. K.W. You can Google Sequestration to get the facts.

This appears more like the End Game for the Oligarchal power brokers. Both the right and left have either been manipulated or convinced to play their roles in this takeover by our economic rulers. Once the economy is totally trashed and there is a willing low wage workforce the elite will be united in dumping condescendinggoodness on the rest of us.........pitiful souls that we are. Methinks the game may at extreme risk at this time. Before the White House is no longer the Obama Whitehouse. They will have their villain for history. B.H.O.

I have never been a pessimistic person. Today, I am pessimistic about the USA.

"The Republican sequester is wreaking havoc on our economy. Yesterday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced a huge revision to previous estimates of economic growth. Initially, the BEA estimated our economy grew by 2.5 percent during the first three months of this year. Now they say our GDP only increased by 1.8 percent."

The sequester didn't cut in until March 31--so it did not affect the first three months of the year.

In the words of John Boehner (interpretation by me): The sequester was only 98% the republicans fault.

Regarding austerity and the sequester.

If I remember correctly one party was for a balanced approach to spending cuts, an approach that included additional revenue while at the same time caving into the other parties demand for austerity cuts. Problem is the other party was trapped in a game of submission with a democracy hater by the name of Norquist and a billionaires faction known as the Tea Party. Thus no new revenue, it was off the table!....and no deal!......although Boehner said he got most of what he wanted...98% to be exact. I'm not sure anyone from the other party mentioned that they got what they wanted with the sequester. I doubt it anyway!

That said, we did have a funding spike in 2009 in order to avoid a bankster caused depression. I think it was called the Recovery Act. But since then non-defense discretionary funding has continued to fall to historically low levels and the mean- spirited sequester only adds to the misery of the economic idiocy known as austerity.

See Jane run. Jane ran fast. Now see spot run to Jane.

ken ware ~ I regret if I rubbed you the wrong way in the past. We do see eye to eye on so many issues it doesn't seem right to let a few differences flare our emotions. I feel much better on your side.

Congratulations on your grandson. Ironically, Aiden is the name of my nephew. Go figure! Small world. May he have a bright and happy future. Take care buddy. Don't be a stranger.

Quote stopgap:Maybe someone can tell me of a country with multiple parties that works better? I can't think of any. It would be like one big never-ending, dysfunctional family reunion. Like now, only worse.

Quote Wikipedia:Lebanon, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden,Syria Taiwan and Philippines (source:Politics of the Philippines) are examples of nations that have used a multi-party system effectively in their democracies. In these countries, usually no single party has a parliamentary majority by itself. Instead, multiple political parties form coalitionsfor the purpose of developing power blocks for governing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-party_system

and Greece

Of course, we actually do have several political parties but none have been able to make meaningful inroads, although, I thought that initially the Green Party had the right idea working from the bottom up winning mayoral races and statewide races, etc. However, they decided to squander all their "political capital" on electing Ralph Nader to the presidency. The rest is history.

Well, now I must go. They are airing a Wheel Of Fortune marathon and I never miss a minute of Vanna White. I hope my Barcalounger doesn't malfunction again. Last time the massager wouldn't turn off and I thought I'd have to call 911. Gotta remember to cancel that Viagra prescription.

Ok MMmNachos, Yes I did cherry pick the list but I was just kinda making fun of the overreach of the list. Actually, had he just listed Denmark, Sweden or Finland; I might have thought OK. Although, their parties might get along just to stay warm. Maybe New Zealand actually does work better? But the rest of the countries on that list… not so sure about. Germany is currently leading the austerity movement that is crippling the European economy. Japan has been in the pits for decades and is just one good tremor from nuclear devastation (and maybe the rest of us with them).

Just because I don't see the multi-party concept as the panacea for Americas ills, doesn't mean that I endorse what we now have. Actually, the problem is that we only really have one party. And you're right, that is the United Corporations of America. But actually, that's not right either. These are multinational corporations that have no loyalty to anything other than wealth and power.

But, I think the clock is running out for the welfare and survival of the planet and time wasted trying to establish a party that can be really effective has long past. I believe, that we do have one party that can still be made to recognize and intelligently deal with the problems that we all face. True, it's a long shot, but Democrats do have a history of supporting the populous.

Now, can I go back to watching Vanna?

Yep, it's been the Dems and Repubs in Unholy Alliance. It's almost as though everyone in the Congress awakened one morning and realized that the children have been kidnapped and--dammit--we'd better play ball. Or is it possibly an example of what Dr. Wilhelm Reich called the Emotional Plague, which obtains in fascist and other tyrannical regimes? Seems hardly anyone..well, yes, Senator Bernie Sanders...and until recently Dennis Kuccinich and Ron Paul...has had the intelligence, the integrity or the balls to question the irresistible momentum toward fascism and corporate capitalism. And austerity? I happen to think we DO need an ample helping of austerity....specifically and implicitly toward the Military-Intelligence budget....ASAP. Bring all our brave troops home (the miserable mercenaries too!) and to hell with the thoroughly lunatic War on Terrorism, jingoistic rhetoric and hysteria-laden propaganda. The reality is that MOST of this business reflects the military-intelligence lament at our loss of the fun and games of the Cold War.

In essence, when Bush and Co. (a low-life crew of Bowery Boys or Brown-Shirts, if there ever was one!) was sort-of elected, we underwent a coup d 'etat, which sprung into full-flower with the 9-11 attacks (by someone…probably not a band of “wet behind the ears,” box-cutter wielding Islamists, with a few hours of flight-training under their belts)... and Mr. Obama was kind enough to continue the authoritarian and barbarous legacy which Bush-Cheney left us...you know wars of conquest and occupation with a large helping of domestic Gestapo-like tactics. Shades of the German "Enabling Act of 1933!"

You might think me quaint, but I maintain that the Declaration of Independence is still part of American jurisprudence...at the very least...via the ninth and tenth amendments. There comes a time when a government is so unrepresentative of its people, so odious, venal and corrupt, that the people may need to rebel...and demand a new republican government. Of course, there is not ONLY the stink of political corruption (and war-crimes), but the fact of the recent Economic Sector criminality. I feel like we are now poised at the American equivalent of the Roman civilization ridge, as it shifted from the status of republic to that of empire. Or maybe the analogy of occupied France is more fitting. And, no, I am not comfortable with the many Obama apologists (and their lame “lesser of two evils” argument) in the Congress and in the media.

And, what of entitlements? This rant about the lazy parasites who feed at the public trough might even bother me a mite, where it not for the vast system of corporate entitlements, in the form of subsidies, tax loop-holes, sweetheart government con-tracts, and off-shore accounts. What about the disproportionate influence of the globalist institutions like the TLC, CFR and the damn Bilderberg Group...and the NAFTA sell-out, which has played a big role in decimating the American and Mexican economies (and led to an influx of thousands of Mexican refugees)? What about the concept of the Commons, the idea that the country and its bounty belongs to every one of its citizens....not to GM, GE, AIG, the United Fruit Company or J.P. Morgan-Chase? And, what about the small matter of the U.S. Constitution and silly details like due process? I guess that in "perilous times," such things no longer matter. In a pig's eye!!!

Thom -- you mentioned using a geiger counter when you and Louise lived in Germany post Chernobyl and you purchased one after Fukushima. You mentioned giving it to your kids (on the Left Coast). Has anyone USED it? Do we know how radioactive our food supply is becoming. I am hesitant to eat miso soup anymore. I've heard some horror stories, but are there any groups regularly testing for radioactivity in regular foods?

Thanks for your insight and all your hard work! Peace Hugs!

A 0% cut in the rate of spending would have ruined the economy. 2% makes it just a little worse. We need a balance of aggregate demand vs supply. We need the federal reserve to try to live up to its goal of balancing inflation (too much demand) and unemployment (too much supply). As Ravi Batra has pointed out every time (like 100% correlation) the deficit gets small (AKA balancing the budget) the market crashes.