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KCRuger -- The best set of articles I have seen is 3 articles on Alternet by Larry Beinhart. He shows the high correlation between the economy failing when the top tax rate drops below 50%. The articles are from 2008-9.
The thing that makes the analysis more difficult is the delay between policy implementation and the effect on the economy. Some economics professor said the average delay is 7 years. Another factor that obscures the observation of the effect of supply side economics is the bubble before the crash. Everyone is happy and then they are homeless.
I'd love to see the corpse media do a show about the countries with the happiest people on the planet...Denmark, Norway, etc......all because of Democratic Socialism.
Huckabee's obsession with religion could very well be a sign of mental illness, seriously! Huckabee is every bit as marginal as Michele Bachmann who thinks the world is ending and Pope Francis is the antichrist. In fact religious extremists like Huckabee and Bachmann want to bring about the end times in Israel, so Christ will return and rapture them up to heaven.....not sure if they have to wait for a comet to catch a ride on or something...who the hell knows what they're really thinking????
In the end, the distracted by religion/57%, who obviously know nothing about world history, are still a potent Republican voting weapon....they're citizens who get played like a fiddle to vote against not only Christ's teachings, but the best interests of almost the entire population.
That the press gives unflinching attention to unstable candidates like Huckabee, and totally ignores Senator Sanders, the finest statesman this country has seen in a long long while, is further proof big money is in firm control.
"It does me no inquiry for my neighbor to say there are twenty Gods, or no God." Thomas Jefferson 1782
Reply to #1: Right on, Stecoop! That Lafayette city councilwoman would have had me fuming, too. And I know just what you mean about how arrogant and hateful so many of the religious have become. Were I still in high school, or the parent of a high school student, I would have been a holy terror to those fucking creationists ramming their delusional fairy tale bull crap through high school biology courses! Hell, I would’ve done my utmost to sic the ACLU on those sanctimonious bastards. That shit belongs at HOME and in CHURCH; not in schools, courthouses or whatever have you. I don't even like "In God we trust" printed on our coins.
Liz, much as I share your serious doubts about Hillary Clinton as presidential material, I need to say one thing in defense of that gal. It is in response to that part of your post where you question Hillary's respect for women’s rights “when her own husband violated her private and public space”. Liz, that reflects on him, not on her! Bill is the person responsible for his own wrongdoing, not his wife. That is the one situation where my heart went out to Hillary, because it had to have been as hurtful to her personally as it was publicly humiliating. Nobody deserves that, Liz. I think she was smart not to unleash whatever emotions she had from that in the public arena. This bloodthirsty corporate media would have exploited every last drop of that drama. She was very smart to keep it under wraps, not throwing those vultures the smallest morsel of red meat. I think more of her for that, not less; and I certainly wouldn’t question her respect for women’s rights because of it. Her husband is the one who should be scrutinized or criticized over that… except for the obvious fact that Bill Clinton is no longer in office, making it a moot point at best. But it's still a point I needed to make, Liz. Hope you don't mind.
Given the fact that Thomas Jefferson kept hundreds of people as slaves, I'd say it's pretty obvious he was much too comfortable forcing people to perform services against their will. We need to keep that in mind when thinking about whether or not he was right about conscription.
Thom, if Mike Huckabee becomes our next President of the United States, does that mean he will make me and others attend our local church every Sunday? I sure hope not, for Christ's sake...sorry, I had a traumatic childhood..... however, I did find CNN's documentary "Finding Jesus" rather interesting drama, though. Had the founding fathers been more "Christian", would there still have been slavery, and wasn't there slavery during Jesus' time as well?
If anyone is continuing to speculate about where Hillary stands on the issue of the Transpacific Partnership, the answers are just a click away.... so, where is that presidential candidate Hillary Clinton who wants to “be your champion…” in regard to the Transpacific Partnership? She claims to be neutral on the Agreement but while serving as Secretary of State, she was in favor of the trade proposal but currently, claims neutrality: “Although Hillary Clinton went into great detail extolling the virtues of President Obama’s proposed trade agreements while serving as secretary of state, as a candidate for president Clinton has only offered vague statements about her current position on the deals. ” ...trade consultants close to Clinton remain optimistic about her support (https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/24/tpp-proponents-close-hillary-clinton-remain-optimistic-will-support-controversial-trade-agreements/). [And by one more way of conversation, how does Hillary advocate and have respect for women’s rights, when her own husband violated her private and public space? The only way that Bill could make up for the national and personal embarrassment, was/is for his undying and unequivocal political support for her, as Hillary runs for POTUS, perhaps, the only thing that keeps those two committed to each other is the reason why she never publicly considered a separation/divorce from Bill Clinton.]
I will be writing a check for $100 to the senator from Vermont, who declared his presidential run last week… I am not contributing nor would be supporting Senator Bernie Sanders for president as a reason to get Hillary to move more to the political “left” but instead, supporting his candidacy for being on the correct side on the majority of the issues (at least for now), and he would probably be more than likely vindicated by history when we look back in 2020, to see that his kind of presidency was indeed right, after all.
to the question of, "IF that's so, HOW did so many come to believe we ARE a Christian nation?" .... Kevin Kruse has a great well researched answer ... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/opinion/sunday/a-christian-nation-since-when.html?_r=0
20 years later, I'm still fuming about a Lafayette city councilwoman who, during a dispute about a natavity scene on city property, said: "If you don't like living in a Christian country, MOVE OUT!"
American Christians have become so arrogant and hateful in the last few decades, it's mind boggling how they can claim to be Christians. Have their lives gotten so shallow, all they have is their hatred and arrogance?
I heard from the last caller on 5/5's show that the Great Depression was superceded by a round of tax cuts for the rich. Is there a record (book, magazine article) which shows the various implementations of the fraudulent scheme known as supply-side & their results? It would be much easier to refute the claims of the sheeple if such evidence was readily available. It seems it's just "he said, she said" currently. "The Crash Of 2016" talks about a couple of incidents, but something more comprehensive must be out there somewhere.
The Republican rhetoric in which government is to be feared, lately with the paranoia about Jade Helm, reminds me of the card game of hearts.
Normally any hearts you take in that game count against you, but if you shoot the moon--collect all the hearts and the queen of spades--you're safe and everybody else takes negative points.
The Republicans are trying to win control of the government by ginning up immense fear against it. If they continue this strategy but fail to take one "heart", they'll start an anarchic rebellion that they really don't want.
I'm from Kansas and I'm a first-person witness of the Brownback travesty. But one of two things happened in last November's election: either the Kobach machine fudged the election results or people just failed to vote, because Nate Silver predicted a different outcome based on poll results.
Seeing the daily debacle unfolding is increasingly unsettling for Kansans, and even more of our Republicans have become skittish. But people don't understand the history of trickle-down and that it never actually works. Meanwhile, we have 330,000 businesses plus the Kochs getting away with massive tax breaks while not really creating any new jobs. The predictable is becoming reality in Brownbackistan -- feudalism.
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/Democratic-National-Committee-Debates/2015/05/05/id/642696/
Ugh, DWS really said "...no matter whom our nominee may be." That's bad grammar. Remember, you can always get away with saying "who".
Regarding Ben Carson's denial that he is a scientist. This is not uncommon for Seventh Day Adventist physicians. Although Carson did not go through the SDA educational system, his father was an SDA pastor, so he probably got the religious training at home. I was an non Adventist employed at Loma Linda University Medical School. I was astounded by much of what I saw there. Adventists run parochial schools from elementary to medical school. High school is often at a boarding academy. This fundamentalist religion trains youth to aspire to medical school. While they do remarkable mission medicine all over the world, they teach a kind of intellectual compartmentalization where they do not challenge their religious beliefs with the scientific knowledge that is acquired in the course of medical training.
Is it possible to convince people to think of their relationship with the party's candidate for President as a "child" produced by the voters? I realize that's weird for someone that's supposed to be our leader, but the analogy may still help. You can be very frustrated with your child, but you love them and want them to improve and succeed. You can have several children (nominees for the candidacy), support one initially, and switch to another based on likelihood of success, because there's competition from another "family" to worry about.
Maybe someone that's actually had children, or just someone that's ever been in a loving relationship, can forge that into a better argument.
I only wish more thought like you Keenanone. As I read somewhere, our ancestors would have had the guns out by now.
The most terrifying words in the English language: I'm from the government and I'm here to inflict "trickle-down"!
Trickle-down is the biggest economic lie ever told!!!!! There is zero justification for extreme concentration of wealth in any society past or present.
The "yes" vote should have read......;
"Yes, they are being dishonest by implying negative conotations with regards to socialism."
BALLS ! I knew this was coming.
Look, the United States is so very deep into extreme capitalism that is arguably the planet's new Fascist State!. I mean holy crap, the President is acting treasonously to concentrate wealth with the TPP and WE AREN'T EVEN PROSECUTING IT!!!!!!!
So, yea, you could put a 100% Socialist into the White House and we would still be a Fascist State! We'd still be so far out there that our having a "democracy" or a "democratic government" wouldn't even be on the radar! For Christ Sake, for that matter,you could put staunch Socialists in each and every fucking seat in the White House, the Senate, the Congress and the Supreme Court AND WE WOULD STILL BE A FASCIST STATE for decades to come until the 50 State also elected 100% socialist to every publicly elected position and resulting appointments.
So put Bernie Sanders in the White House! Every thing considered, in hindsight, including this current disgrace of a president that we have now, the real problems, excuse me, "HORRORS" that have flowed from the President's Office haven't had as much to do with a Presidents' political ideology as much as they have had to do with the Presidents' character or lack there of!!!! And that is one series of bankruptcies that MUST END!!
American People have never really had a problem with the President's polticial ideology
thom, i am a diehard conservative the subscribes to yor newsletter because you speak for the working class citizens of this nation. one thing though, please stop acting like all of our politicians are not sleeping in the same bed! DEMOCRAT politicians are doing just as much harm to our nation as bought and paid for republicans. you know they are all being controlled by the tri-lateral commission and the council on foreign relations.
First of all, Kansas is not the "Jayhawk State" and I am gravely offended to be grouped amonst such. Kansas is the Sunflower state and Jayhawks are the teams for Kansas University. Jayhawk was a term coined for people who were followers of a certain military commander named Jay back in the days when Bloody Kansas fought to keep slavery from staining its history.. It was a territory and my ancestors were part of the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape into the bogs around the great lake of the Cherokee in Indian Territory--what is now known as Oklahoma. I grew up listening to the tales of blood and freedom.That being said, no one is more ashamed to live in modern Kansas than I. After decades-long absences, I have been forced to return to Kansas by things outside of my control and I am still in denial somewhat about being here. I hope and expect to go back to being a rolling stone as soon as economically and physically possible. Kansas is a cautionary tale for every state longing to join the anti-government bandwagon. Kansas schoolchildren will start their summer vacation early because our heartless governor decided the education budget was his personal bank account to pay the bills he's wracked up in his committment to not just rein in government but end it completely. Its going to be Bloody Kansas again. I'm planning on buying my assault rifle soon now that anyone can have one anywhere, anytime. Yeeeha.
Okay, Brownback, the experiment is over; it's time to destroy the specimens, clean the petrie dishes, and repair the damage done to the labratory by your careless experiment!
Calling a Democrat a Socialist is degrading....perhaps the reason the media and rightwings do so. As for Socialists being Communists, is that what they are calling Canadians, Swedes, and all the other countries who have free healthcare???!
My Canadian cousins would not trade their healthcare for ours for any amount of money. My expat friends living in Mexico, pay $200/yr for their health insurance and say it is excellent. Why O why can't we have affordable healthcare in this country without the media and rightwingers calling it Socialism?
Considering that the entire educational system is also corrupt and based on just another corporation trying to make a profit, it's no wonder that the fraudulent public 'servants' don't want to spend more of their stock holders dividends. Don't worry though, if Common core is allowed to continue, we won't have to wait too much longer for the dumbing down of society, sigh.
To classify socialism with communism, fascism is dishonesty. Governments are socialistic if they are to serve the People that they rule. Without socialism in government, there is a dis connect, corruption, as we now see.