In addition to Campaign Finance Reform we have to reinstate and enforce laws banning any form of bribery. Corporate influences especially in the form of Lobbyists need to be outlawed. Capitalism is getting out of hand and is not going to survive if we don't regulate and control it.

Thom, thanks for reminding readers of ALEC. I would like to mention a couple things. First, yesterday an editorial in the Washington Post defending ALEC (writer's name escapes me) against 'rants' of organizations like 'Media Matters' which the writer called (have to paraphrase --article not in front of me as I type this) 'loose affiliations of lib's gaining steam as result of the Internet...' Made ALEC into a nonprofit organization whose free speech rights were under attack by knee jerk type reactionaries who basically are against legislation if it favors profit making co's!

If reader were ignorant of ALEC, this Ed. Would make it seem ALEC was a bunch of average citizens sitting around in kitchens and living rooms ..kind of like t-party folks...just putting together thoughts and ideas bout how to maintain freedom 'values' in their personal lives and communities....

2nd thing I want to say is that perhaps you could write a bit reiterating how ALEC and their influence is made ever more worrisome after "Citizens United.' I have a blog (excuse the 'plug') at www.dearpundit.info which explains Cit's U. In some detail.

Thanx again for important info and great commentary.

LolitaPer ~ My Boss--one of my most significant others; who, I have the utmost respect for--constantly reminds me of the undeniable fact concerning the digital age that output is only as good as input. That is, garbage in equals garbage out. Without ascertaining the credibility of the information inputted one cannot take seriously the credibility of the information outputted. Therefore, we must conclude that public opinion--based on garbage--is nothing more than garbage. No other conclusion is possible.

However, public opinion based on garbage, that might influence an election is most credible. I might suggest attempting to influence the garbage influence in information intake rather then public opinion. Given a well informed electorate the output will take care of itself.

DanneMarc: Here's a little tough love my friend, sorry it's off topic, but it's in answer to yesterdays reply.

Republicans block bill on student loan rates.

NLRB nominations blocked by GOP.

Republicans block Senate disaster aid bill.

Republicans block Democrat's jobs bill.

Republicans block bill to end tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs.

Republicans block pay equity bill for women.

Republicans block funding to close GITMO.

I could go on and on brother........

But I'd much rather go back to listening to youtubes by an Irish angel by the name of Imelda May!

How about we do the poor mans version for the people of America. We could right laws and invite democrats and independents to a similar but poorer version of ALEC law making, at least when it comes to mechanics of the activities. Any opinions?

Thanks for the links.

ALEC is scary corporatism writ large. A similar process happens in the EU, i.e. drafting legislation becomes a simple matter of cutting and pasting from a document produced by a corporate cartel think tank.

"Expert advice" is the euphemism.

http://www.thebrusselsbusiness.eu/

http://www.globaljournalist.org/freepresswatch/2013/02/germany/german-jo...

Right on, DAnneMarc! I definitely agree! We may as well have Republicans in office..the Dems are not much different.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Democrats in power,
Will screw you too!

Vote Green this time!!!

Quote MMmmNACHOS:How do we get the masses to stop "lusting for money" and "vying for power" to start valueing "Life"...To stop behaiving like "lemmings" and just "going along with the program" with a " life ain't fair" motto?

I mean face it, Life, in its natural being can be brutal, but it sure does seem like society and all its "artificial systems, and wacky beliefs, and sudo conveinences" make it much more unpleasent...Unless you have millions...I mean billions...I mean hundreds of billions...I mean...

Money...In a Capitalism-run-amuck system of "Greed is Good" and "win by any means necessary" ideology...Only a few reep the bennefits, through the suffering of others.
Money...The root of all that is evil.

MMmmNACHOS ~ A very profound question and observation my friend, indeed. I was just pondering that question myself when I woke up this morning. The only answer to this problem is for the masses to gain Spiritual fulfilment. No, I'm not talking about an extroverted membership to an organized Religion. I'm talking about coming to peace with that aspect of God that resides within people.

Palindromedary ~ For instance, would probably be the first person to refute such a notion. However, Palindromedary, himself, would also be the perfect example of how such fulfilment is possible. You see, Palindromedary is a devout athiest. Yet, undeniably, he is Spiritually fulfilled. How do you know? First he has time and energy to devout to this blog. Time that he could be spending in pursuit of money or material possessions. He prefers to devote his time and energy to participating here instead. Why? Because sharing of himself gives him pleasure the same way it does for you and I. The same could be said of all the participants on this blog. We may not have many material possessions but we have what we need? There may be other things we desire, but we don't need them. Why? Because we are Spiritually fulfilled--whether we call it that or not. The truth of the matter is that those who are Spiritually fulfilled are capable of being happy. Those who are not Spiritually fulfilled are constantly in need of more, are never happy, and can never be happy no matter how much they attain. Their lives become more hollow the more they attain; and, the greater their desire to attain more becomes. It is a dismal feedback cycle that goes nowhere. That is why when they are not Spiritually fulfilled the rich need so much, and the poor are always in debt.

People become Spiritually fulfilled not by worshipping a Religion but by practicing the teachings of that Religion. Living a clean and productive life is the only path to Spiritual fulfilment. Above all is self-esteem, and self-respect, and self-realization. The individual needs to prove to themselves that they are worthy of their own respect. This requires discipline, commitment, and above all action. Once someone learns to respect themselves they build self-esteem and realize that the God within themselves really exists. Then they are able to see the God in everyone else; and, above all, act accordingly.

It is ironic that the biggest stumbling block to this self-realization can be the easy acquisition of money. With our commercial culture inundating us with the constant message that money can buy happiness we often times ignore those opportunities in our life to cultivate our God within. It is a shame, because without self-esteem, self-respect, and self-realization of that God we are doomed to a path of materialistic Spiritual suicide. This is why it is so important for those of us who have Spiritual fulfilment to recognize the pain and anguish that is being experienced amongst our overly wealthy brothers. We must be compassionate and act with tough love. The fact of the matter is that these sad people who seek to bleed all of us dry are Spiritually sick. The only cure for this condition is to remove the main impediment of their condition. We must take all their money away.

Everything! Money, property, assets all must be stripped from this group for their own good. They must be given the opportunity to waken their Spiritual fulfilment; and, the only way that is possible is for them to be given the opportunity to share in the lifestyle of the poorest of the poor. Living on the street, destitute, and dependent on the handouts of the less poor. It must be done! For their own good. Everyday, their crys of sadness echo through the news. It is our responsibility to reach out our hand and help them on their path to Spiritual fulfilment.

MMmmNACHOS ~ Once again, thanks for asking!

Palindromedary ~ How do you like that application of Religious theory? Is it what you expected?

Palindromedary ~ Wow! You spent so much time analysing the phrases and words I used that you never got around to answering the question I asked. Do you think we should relieve the criminal one percenters of their money for their own good?

I can only assume that you disagree. If so, then you are more Christ-like than anyone I know including myself. Bless your little heart! My hat is off to you. Thank you for being such an example to the rest of us on how to forgive and turn the other cheek.

In all, your response has proven everything that I said about you. You are truly at peace with your Spirit; regardless of whether or not you believe in it. Please don't think I want you to change a thing. You are perfect just the way you are.

Thanks again for the response!

Cheers!

Back to reality! Back to the topic! ALEC must go. We should consider a adding a provision to our future Campaign Finance Reform bill, or the Move to Amend bill that would ban any Private Political Action Committee from existing and using private funds and Lobbyist to write public policy. I have long believed that Lobbyist should be outlawed as well.

What ALEC is doing is simply legalized bribery. Bribery has to be illegal. This is ridiculous that We the People are putting up with the bribing of our Political Representatives and having public policy sold to the highest bidder. We the People need to be the sole factors in the influence of Political Policy. Our Representatives need to be freed from the need to raise campaign funds and be threatened with the death penalty if they ever get caught accepting any money or gift from any one or any group while in office that doesn't come from their pay check from We the People.

To me, the very idea that we allow this to go on in our country shows that we are a nation run by criminals, of the criminals, and for the criminals. We will never get our country back until we exorcise these Demons from our Government.

Just say NO, to ALEC!!

Palindromedary ~ Bless your little "Teddy Bear." I hope his name isn't "TED". However, I disagree. My explanation is accurate not ridiculous. Remember, this whole off topic bit began with a good question by MMmmNACHOS as to why so many people in this country are locked in the pursuit of materialistic crap and money. Let me break down my answer in terms you will listen too. People's lives are too easy today. They aren't happy with themselves like they were in an Agricultural economy where everyone relied heavily on everyone else. Today they are inundated with the commercial media that tells them spending money is the path to happiness. This imparts a psychological condition of the mind that could be seen as a psychosis of sorts. How do you cure this condition.

Look at you and I. We have risen above this condition through discipline and hard work. We have achieved lofty goals in our life that we are proud of. Therefore we have a very pleasing view of our own "looking glass" Self--as Charles Cooley called it--that gives us self-respect, self-esteem, and self-realization.

This is the core of the problem as well as the key to the solution. There are many people in society like us. Thom is one. Thom probably doesn't think twice about how much money he is going to get when he writes a book. He thinks about his contribution to society. That is what drives him. That is what is supposed to drive him. That is what is supposed to drive everyone. Someone like that is the model of the "cure" that the masses need in order to overcome the money psychosis that grips the country.

You yourself once condemned Organized Religion because you said it is a tool used by the wealthy to control the poor. Have you ever considered that it is a tool used by the poor as well in order to be happy about their lot in life. My point is that happiness is vital. The simple fact of the matter is that not all men can be rich. What's wrong with trying to help those who can't be rich at least be happy.

I like you think there is a better way to do this than organized Religion. Organized Religion is like getting happy from a drug--it wears off and you have to keep going back for more. However, if you personalize religion on the psychological level and encourage people to develop their Ego and cultivate a pleasant "looking glass" Self then you accomplish the same goal of a Religion while empowering people and freeing them from the servitude of dependance on an Religious Institution. In the long run you also drastically improve society and remedy the major problems in it.

You can call this theory the "Teddy Bear" theory if you will. After all, "Teddy Bears" are tools to help children feel more secure about themselves; so, why not? Cooley's looking glass self is the term best used to explain the goal of my theory in a Sociological sense. If the term "Spirit" bothers you that much, how about we stick with Cooley's definition of basically the same thing.

(If you are not familiar with Cooley's theory I will paraphrase it for you: 'We are not who we think we are, nor are we who others think we are; but, rather, we are who we think others think we are.')

I'm sorry my use of religious terms blinded you to the gist of my analysis. I hope this attempt you find easier to digest.

Quote DAnneMarc: " Have you ever considered that it [religion] is a tool used by the poor as well in order to be happy about their lot in life. [

Are paranoid people, not really absolutely sure of their beliefs, really happy? Many believers have been initially introduced to religious beliefs by being forced to accept them. Often it was initially used to scare people into being good. Parents (already brainwashed by their parents) brainwash their children. And this vicious cycle perpetuates itself. Governments (who are controlled by the few wealthy and powerful people) find it is useful in keeping the masses dumb, unambitious, and ineffective in challenging their status...making the masses believe that they needn't go to any great lengths to fight for their slice of the pie here on Earth because they will get their just rewards in "Heaven". (The checks in the mail!)

Many believers had been, initially, forced into their religions by conquering religious countries. It is really amazing to me that people will knuckle under to a conquering country and adopt their belief system and then believe in that new system so whole-brainedly, even decades later when there was no longer any real threat to their lives, that they treat it as absolute truth. The conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish in Mexico has led to a country that is predominantly Catholic. The "good" Christian Spanish butchered anyone who tried to revert back to their original superstitious beliefs. The Indians in the United States were beaten and/or butchered by "good" Christians who considered the Indians savages with ignorant superstitious beliefs. Father Junipero Serra considered the Indians in California to be children and frequently beat them (among other things, perhaps). "Serra's legacy included forced labor of converted Indians in order to support the missions, and creating an environment equivalent to a concentration camp."--wikipedia

So, how can anyone really be happy when they are all trying so hard to force their beliefs on everyone else in order to make their own lies feel more like truths? It didn't stop with the Spanish Inquisitions or conquests of Mexico and the US. Since people are trying so hard to believe in a lie they are always conflicted...always trying hard to ensnare others into their fantasy so that it helps to make their fantasies more real. The more the merrier, I guess.

When these superstitions start off, they become cults and sects then, with a greater following, they become religions...they become institutionalized...even to the point where countries will put "In God We Trust" on their currency....put "Under God" in their Pledge of Allegiance.

All of this predominant presence is a great proselytizing force to people, especially young people, to sucker them into making superstitious and nonsensical ideas prominent and predominant--deeply imbedding nonsense into their minds. Parents (who were previously brainwashed by their parents) start off brainwashing their children (usually there is always a strong paranoia-inducing element of "God sees everything that you are doing! So you'd better be good!"). The churches the children are made to go to preach the same (they always get a strong paranoia-inducing sermon from the preacher or priest or rabii), then the state sports it's religious mottos and symbols...all work to brainwash people to accept ridiculous nonsense as being truth. That leaves few people brave enough to challenge such nonsense. They mostly will all go along with the predominant paradigm...just what the foxes in the hen house want...unthinking, unchallenging, chickens who will be eaten all without so much as a squawk. Well, maybe one last death-rasp squawk! The foxes love dumb chickens...it makes it so much easier for them to get a meal. That kind of "happy"... I can do without!!! And then, are people really happy when they are starving or dying because the foxes have gamed the system? Even Emperor Constantine knew how to manipulate the people by using religion...so it is really nothing new.

I would guess that part of the reason why people accept the religions of their captors...like when the Aztecs were massacred and abused by the "good Christian" Spanish could be related to the Stockholm syndrome.

"Stockholm syndrome, or capture–bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness."--Wikipedia

There are also various cults who all exhibit similar tactics in brainwashing their new cult members. And those cults start off by someone who takes issue with some doctrine of the major religions. They distance themselves from those religions telling everyone that their ideas are better than those other religions. Perhaps, if they convince enough people they start their own cults...their own followings...like Jim Jones...perhaps. ;-o

Many of the tactics continue even after a cult becomes a major religion. Some cult members eventually fall away from the cults and never really fully dispel all of the nonsense they were subjected to when part of the cult.

One such person, and there are many, who was totally into Jesus, even as a young person, felt compelled to be evangelical and go around trying to convert others...he was very talented musically and even wrote many famous religious songs for children (that are played and sung even now--ironic!). He eventually used his brain and fell away from that trap...he became an atheist and now has an organization called Freedom From Religion Foundation aka FFRF. He, Dan Barker, along with his wife, Annie Lauri Gaylor, runs that organization and frequently fights and challenges the tyranny of religion...in an attempt to keep the state separate from religion. http://ffrf.org

Bob Avakian for President!

It only takes four ingredients..... Conservative lawmakers, ALEC, corporate lobbyists, and red states, shake well, and you get taxation without representation....at least for 99.9% of the population in those states. I wonder if that rings a bell with any tricorn wearing Teabaggers out there?

2950-10K ~ How true!

Quote Palindromedary:But it doesn't address the fact that the wolves are already eating us for lunch. Very well educated and skillful Americans are already overly educated and skilled for the few lousy jobs that have been left since the wolves have sent our jobs overseas. The only way we will be able to reinforce our self-esteem is when we overthrow those bastards and relieve them of all their worldly goods..the goods they managed to relieve us of over the years. I really don't think that will happen through a corrupt democratic system.

Palindromedary ~ Actually you make a very good point! That thought hadn't occurred to me before; but, now that you mention it, that too could be a large part of this countries psychosis on many levels. Perhaps even the major underlying cause. Especially with men. Men like to feel like they are in control as a result of our cultural conditioning. When you place them in an environment such as in our country under this war machine they do tend to shrink from any manly task of doing something about it. That denial and cognitive dissonance alone can lead to a plethora of negative psychosis--everything from drug abuse to spousal abuse. Eating disorders, excessive greed and selfishness could almost be seen as side effects. As someone I respect whose name shall remain nameless once said, 'that to be subject to a tyrant turns good men into mean men.' That certainly makes much more sense now.

Thanks Palindromedary! I knew that between us we could answer MMmmNACHOS inquiry.