How badly has Citizens United screwed America and how many Americans will die because of it?
By Thom Hartmann A...
Virtually every developed country in the world is running an economic stimulus program right now for small businesses. In almost every one of them, 100% or close to all of the money the government gives the companies must be given directly to employees.The giant exception? The United States. Here, some of the largest recipients of government aid are politically connected to either the Trump family or the GOP, or have massive lobbying operations, and most of the money is administered by banks who are giving it to their best customers.
No other developed country in the world has the equivalent of the US Supreme Court's Citizens United decision that makes corporations into people and lets corporations and rich people buy politicians. Thus, we get headlines like in today's edition of Judd Legume's popular.info newsletter: "Multi-millionaire Trump donor is top recipient of funds intended for struggling small businesses."
Meanwhile, New Zealand announced today that they have "eliminated" the virus in their country through rapid and aggressive testing and contact tracing. Here in the United States, of course, we have the highest rate of infections and deaths in the world; we have 4.5% of the worlds population and about a quarter of the world's infections and deaths. Our Republican controlled Supreme Court has succeeded in turning America into the most corrupt major western country in the world, and every time our Republican-controlled Senate meets, they throw another few hundred billion dollars to their rich buddies. It's time for a political revolution.
-Thom
Comments
#2
This is why they are so anxious to reopen the economy.
#3
The USA has 33% of the worlds cases of Covid-19 and 4.25% of the worlds population. At 55000 deaths we also just surpassed the number of USA soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam war was 19 years long this is a couple of months.
#4
Everything is going well for the first time in the world. The weather is nice and I don't think that the best way to get a free shopping cart is the most popular. The temperature will be a good time for the next few weeks. We are supposed to have a great day.
The above paragraph was written by starting with the word everything, and selecting the next word offered to me by the SwiftKey keyboard.....it makes more sense than the three posts that were already here.
#5
The Swiftkey keyboard learns your righting style and predicts your next word. In your case simple and without fact.
#6
Yeah, weird, the predictive text software on my various devices always suggests "f*ck Trump!" Go figure. };--))
But really, even tiny computer brains come already installed with that common sentiment -- no need to learn anything new. The tiny lizard brains inhabiting the Fux News swamp must have a hell of a time trying to coax their beaten and bruised keyboards to un-learn basic reality to predict the next lying words sure to spew forth -- an impossible task!
Brainwashed Trumpsters make no sense because they have no sense. Willful ignorance and lack of self-awareness seem to be the deep psychoses, among so many, that wide-eyed followers share with Dear Leader the most. This clip says it all (courtesy Legend, yesterday).
#7
Higher taxes, and better money management over the years, could have realy helped us now. You know. Rainy day savings. Keeping the little corporate children in check. I think, some countries actually do that.
#8
Democrats in New York cancel primary election......has a precident been set?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/us/politics/democratic-primary-canceled-coronavirus.html
#9
15 states have delayed primaries. All the more reason to organize voting by mail. Works great in my state.
#10
Mr Legend:
This is not a delayed primary, the Democrats have CANCELED the election....it will never be held.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
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.
Images of Thom
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"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."
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann is a creative thinker and committed small-d democrat. He has dealt with a wide range of topics throughout his life, and this book provides an excellent cross section. The Thom Hartmann Reader will make people both angry and motivated to act."
From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
Another Monday with Trump at the podium, another day of madness wrapped in stupidity inside an alternative reality (apologies to Churchill).