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Can't say this, as you say, 'Utopia' has never existed, nor could I say it could ever exist... would have to consult tribal Elders of indigenous peoples around the world...as they are plainly the most qualified to attest. Much of the ancient folklore as well as history seems to suggest that repeated die-offs of advanced civilizations seem to keep happening because we can't seem to learn the lesson of living w/in our means as a species. Just because we are "doomed" in the current incarnation of things as it were, doesn't mean we are doomed eternally. The logic is simple; exponential human population growth + finite resources = fewer and fewer resources/capita. In short, the petri dish is full, the medium is exhausted...what are we going to do about it? Fight over it like Barbarians or share it like enlightened beings? We are all connected. We are one global people. We can shift paradigms and cooperate, or die in a perpetual cycle of competition. 'Utopia' or 'Distopia', neither will have anything to do with it. Capitalism, by it's very nature, can't be controlled...because the very forces that try to regulate it are undone by capitalism itself. It is as old as modern civilization. Just ask Richard Wolff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZU3wfjtIJY ...
Could you please define what era it was when the peoples of the World came together and shared all its resources in order for everyone to sustain an equal standard or quality of life. All the history I have read during my college days and up until now states or suggests tribes or nations have always been at war with each over natural resources such as water or animals needed to sustain life. Whether it was the plains native Americans or Neanderthals vs our caveman ancestors, they were at war with each other for natural resources. I guess the World is doomed because the Utopia you state we need to sustain life on our planet has never existed. I guess the communal living of the 60's would be a perfect way of living and sustaining life for humans on our world, and as you know, that was a failed experience. I doubt the Utopia you suggest we need to survive in this World has ever existed. Controlled capitalism in my opinion is a good thing.
Well said, Marc! Time and again I observe these protests proceeding peacefully until the cops barge in with their riot gear, and start attacking nonviolent dissenters. Happens all the time.
Recently a young woman (whose name escapes me) was participating peacefully in such a demonstration when she was assaulted by a police officer, who snuck up from behind and grabbed her breast. Since she wasn't yelling "Fascist" or smashing windows or breaking any laws, this assault was without provocation. Her instinctive reaction was to resist with an elbow jab; consequently it is SHE who has been charged with assaulting a police officer, for which she now faces the prospect of seven years in prison.
Our constitutional right to dissent is not respected by the police. Their mission is not to serve the public; they are simply doing the dirty work of their elite puppet masters. As usual, Matt, you don't know what you're talking about. - Aliceinwonderland
P.S. Grabbing a woman by the breast constitutes sexual assault. Since when was self defense a crime?
ChicagoMatt ~ It would take an even greater amount of imagination to see a situation in which a cop is paid extra to defend private corporate interests and is in any way tempted to legally use physical force to stifle dissent as anything other than fascism 101.
The true fact of the matter is that usually in these situations it is the protestors who are right and not the law enforcement--turned corporate mercenaries.
My perspective is not from a single nationalistic view, German, American, Chinese what have you, but rather from a single global economic perspective. I'm not suggesting China or any other country in the world has any interest in sharing...only that as a global people, Humans must share if we are to survive...20th century American way of life is unsustainable. From the dawn of humanity until FDR's new deal, the population of the planet grew to 2.3 billion, most of that in the VERY recent past. Now it's over 7 billion. In just the last 75 years, the population has more than doubled and grown more than in the history of humanirty up to 1940. As it has been widely reported for years...if everyone on Earth lived as Americans do (did)...it would require 4 Earths. Trouble is, now Everyone wants what America had in the 20th century. Without access to resources that exist multi-nationally, we can't rebuild...and even if we could..if we rebuild conventionally...at what cost to the planet? Think of the fossil fuels/raw materials needed to rebuuild. Most rare earth minerals needed for the electronics/solar technology we need to compete in the global economy going forward are controlled by China. Even with trade policy favoring our labor force, we still have to...well...share resources...even if for a price...and it's the price tag in terms of $$ that kills any hope of long term stability...such as the native peoples of Earth have known for milenia before the rise of capitalism.
Kend ~ As I think Ken was trying to tell you, your oil isn't intended for us anyway. We're just the step bridge to the actual clients. How would you Canadians like to be stepped on?
Kend ~ What is "Venusuala?" The capital city of the planet Venus? Is that the same planet with "Nigria?" Kend you just misspelt 2 countries out of four. That's 50% in your geography test for the day. Stand up and take a bow! Go to the front of the class and stick your head in the "clean ethical" corner. You should feel hurt!
Good to see your back correcting me. are you saying you prefer to get your oil via ship from Nigria, Saudi Arabia, and Venusaula. None of these countries have any environmental ethics at all instead of a clean ethical neighbour like Canada. I am hurt.
I remember when Thom announced that Obama was investing in 1000 new hybrid trains...he was hailing it as a Green victory...I knew as soon as the words left his mouth the only reason it happened at all was for the Tar Sands. Scary stuff. Rail Traffic through my little town is around 10-20 trains a day now. Only 4 trains/week are passenger trains. I live ON the OH river.
During the Chicago teacher strikes a few years ago, the cops were called in just to keep traffic flowing smoothly and those sorts of things. They got along with the teachers, since they were all public employees and in unions. There are pictures of the chatting and laughing together, even though one was a protestor and the other was a cop. And the teachers weren't protesting to change an entire system. They just wanted more money/respect, which is understandable for any working person.
I can't remember if it was during the G7 summit here, or the OWS movement in NYC, but I've seen pictures of cops in full riot gear with "thanks for the overtime" painted on their shields. It was more adversarial between those groups, because, to the outside observer, those protesters were trying to change the whole system.
What you have to remember, when it comes to cops, is that they are, in most cities, well paid and had to work hard to get those jobs. So when they encounter protesters who are trying to change a system that has been good for the cops - especially if those protesters seem to have no respect for the cops - tensions are likely to flair. You don't need the 1% telling the cops what to do.
The average cop in Chicago takes home about $60,000 plus benefits. Most can increase that to over $100K with side jobs, overtime, etc. In this economy, that is very good. If you were in that position, and some young person with no job was egging you on and calling you a fascist or whatever, it would take great restraint NOT to go after them.
This we agree on. I think we might agree, also, that even if that happened and the manufacturing base came roaring back, the inner cities would still be left behind, due to a combination of a poorly-educated labor force, high crime, high taxes, etc...
Kend - Keeping your type of oil out of our Country all together would be a safer approach for Americans. The oil going to be shipped to the refineries in Texas are going to be shipped out to the countries in the East like China and other countries in need of fuel for their growing population, not to Americans. You keep forgetting to bring that point out when you speak of the dirtier type of shale oil coming out of Canada. Keep it, it is not for Americans with the exceptions of the Koch Bro.'s and others of their type. America first, every other nation second in my book. Yeah, I am one of those American Patriots that still believe in our Country and the Military as well. A dying breed perhaps, but many of us still remain. K.W.
There has never been "Obamanomics", unprecedented Congressional obstructionism has not allowed a single of his policies to be enacted.
I hope those kids in their parents' basements realize that "all that glitters is not gold" and not want to go "from the frying pan to the fire", as it were - or, for that matter, the adults.
Anyway, I don't think unemployment and student debt cause people to lean right. Those were major impetus for Occupy. Anyone can see that Obama has tried, how many times, to help student debt crisis and unemployment but was blocked by Republicans in the House and Senate.
The strategy of Republicans may, in fact, be to obstruct, sabotage the economy and then blame Obama - successfully, because most people in the U.S. are so ignorant they think the president is the king and have no idea there is a legislature or what it does. Of course, the shills are everywhere to help that strategy along.
I'm not going to defend myself too much, because it is something I'm not happy about. But in a way, yes - I have a hard time getting into the "story" of a movie if the picture quality looks dated. As for music, there has only been one change in format in my lifetime - from CDs to digital. The quality is identical to me. I've had a few opportunities to listen to casette tapes, and I found the background static very distracting.
I've never even seen an 8-track. There could be one in front of me, and unless it was labelled, I wouldn't know what it was.
On a sort-of related topic: My students, who were all born post-2000, do not know that the little icon for "save" on Word and other programs is a 3.5" disk. They don't know what those are. It's just an icon to them.
KEND - Glad to see you still speak without thinking your thoughts through. Brat is basically stating there should not be a standard of living tied to minimum wage for workers with lower skills. I do not see how his statements would resonate with young people, those that have been jobless due to the actions of politicians linked to Wall St. and the idea those who have achieved and amassed wealth are any more deserving then those who have not been given the chance due to circumstances beyond their control! Obama has stated several times we need to find a way to help those who owe large debts due to their need to borrow (student loans) to get a degree, while the Republinuts have fought the idea all the way. I am not an Obama fan, but let’s get some of the facts straight when we compare the right wingers and Tea parties and those on the left. Okay! K.W.
A little off topic but you might want to know. here in Alberta because Keystone Doesn't look like a go. They are building a massive train yard to increase the amount of oil shipped by rail from Canada to the US from 220,000 bpd to 650,000 by 2017. I think you should have went with Keystone it would have been much safer.
After reading your comment, I have to ask the question, what makes you think the rest of the World is interested in sharing anything? We have absolutely no influence on any up and coming production power houses like China and India. Do you actually think China is concerned with saving the World, while becoming the production hot house of the World. Here on the West coast of America we are paying the price of higher levels of air pollution finding their way here on the trade winds that blow west from China. L.A. and California have enacted good pollution laws as well as those enforced by Washington and have had a half way decent effect on our pollution, and now we are faced with dealing with the pollution caused by a country, not so long ago as being perceived as a political foe, and may well be seen that way in the not so far future. Their main concern is growing somewhat of a middleclass as to appease their billion plus population from rebelling and bring their present political base down. The only thing that keeps their populace from imploding politically is they believe they have a shot at having the material wealth of our perceived middleclass here in America and Western Europe! I do not think Hartmann's point reached any further then our own nation and taking care of our people and that in itself will be a monumental goal to achieve. At this point in our history the idea of trying to achieve goals outside of our borders is ludicrous in itself. Our political system is in chaos due to the Supreme Court’s decision that Corporations are the same as the individual American voter and money is free speech in the Citizens United case has destroyed any hope of a fair and just political system. As far as the infrastructure goes, if we do find a means to "fix" the problems we are faced with, we will be faced with a crumbling and antiquated system to move people and goods around our nation. To hell with worrying about the rest of the World, we do not have the time nor the resources to concern ourselves with matters outside of our physical borders. I personally believe the billions of dollars we are sending to other countries should be spent here on resolving our needs. I would go even further to say we should cancel and nullify all and any free trade agreements we have entered into at the costs of losing jobs here. How many free trade agreements do you think China or Germany have signed that endanger the workforce of their respected countries. I believe the answer is very close to none. As far as minimum wages and Unions go, take a good look at the German workforce and the number of their workers that are engaged in unions and I think it is about 60% and that number also influences the wages and benefits of none union companies and industries in Germany. So to think minimum wages that are linked to a higher standard of living for even the lowest skilled workers in unststainable, just does not work out to any logic when comparing us to another country that is a Democracy! Even the idiots that are profit driven must realize rebuilding the roads, bridges and waterways is a win - win resolution for everyone. Just one idea to think about when stating a higher standard of living and rebuilding America is unsustainable, we might take a look at the German economy and infrastructure, because after W.W. II Germany was rebuilt in our image during that time period and it is still the strongest economy in Europe. Comparing ourselves to a nation like China is not realistic, unless you want to reinvent a form of communism/capitalism run by a non-democratic political system. I realize I have limited my explanation(s) on why we need to reinvest in our country and that we need living wages that are sustainable, but this comment is long enough and I have tried to cover the most ground with the least words. I will not be able to respond to any rebuttal to my comments due to restraints on my time today. But, I look forward to reading them tomorrow if there are any. K.W.
Thom, your colleagues are liars. You said nobody can lie on the radio for three hours a day. Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, etc. have been for decades. They are, in fact, shills for big business. Every radio talk show host knows they can make much more money doing the right wing talking points than as a progressive. I recommend Toxic Sludge is Good for you: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, if you haven't already.
What's really amazing is that most working people will accept Brat as an authority on economics and vote to cut their own throats. Just illustrates what the Association of Ethical Economists - a group or caucus within the American Economic Association (AEA) - says, that Economics is not a science but a religion - and economists, the priesthood that is called out by policymakers to bless whatever policies are desired by them and their cronies.
The problem us Obamanomics isn't working either. Brat does have somewhat of a point and I think you are going to see more people leaning right exspecially the ones that have been out of work for a while or a twenty something with a huge student debt and a room in their parents basement. Sooner or later you lose hope and want change. This is very much like it was just before Reagan got in wasn't it.
A Democratic Congress and Democratic president (Jimmy Carter) enacted the Monetary Control Act of 1980 which removed all remaining controls on interest rates and repealed the federal law prohibiting usury (note that sky-high interest rates and ruinous predatory lending have been with us ever since). It was the 1980 legislation that took the lid off banking and doomed the savings and loan industry, the mainstay that used to provide housing loans and home mortgages. The thrifts were able to raise capital because they were allowed to pay a half percent more in interest to depositors. Bankers wanted them out of the way. The Democratic party obliged.
Deregulation was bipartisan. It is entirely speculative to suppose that, had Carter been reelected, the deregulation of banking, including the relaxation of mortgage standards, would have ceased. When the Democrats regained the presidency in 1993, banking deregulation continued, culminating in the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, which had split commercial banks from investment banks, and in the rejection of regulation of the new derivatives, notably credit-default swaps. Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers, Clinton’s principal economic advisers, were steadfast supporters of banking deregulation. They are both Democrats.
P.S. Stop blaming Ayn Rand. Blame those who co-opt her extremist philosophy supporting creativity and productivity to instead encourage their own greed. They are the true Ayn Rand villains.
Where's the FCC on this?
Brat...well, today on Thom's show, he interviewed Lee Fong (I think) who said Brat won because he campaigned like Eliz. Warren. Watch Out! Remember how Scott Walker campaigned on the opposite of what he intended to do once elected. If we are still so stupid we believe a word that comes out of their mouths, we deserve what we get. How did Brat win? By lying his way into office pretending he hated banksters and DIE!bold. Lets not forget what's really in control at the ballot box (which no longer exist) ...the voting machine! BTW; proof that Brat is in bed with, if not in love with the Banksters: http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/bbandt.html
Hi Alice...I agree. With 7+ billion people on the planet, we will drive ourselves and the planet to extinction all the faster with a "new" New Deal. Even with implementation of 100% renewable energy, unless we learn to live much like we did in college, for example, All of us sharing...EVERYTHING, or unless a lot of us die off, We are screwed. Not negativity, just common sense. We need to start addressing how to change the paradigm if we want to save this planet instead of screaming for ‘fair’ wages which are desperately needed but not realistically sustainable, the rebuilding of infrastructure which also is desperately needed but unsustainable (how ‘bout a total ‘rethink’ of what infrastructure is needed for local survival and sustainable global infrastructure which is shared). Paying living wages around the world would lead first to increased demand, then to world-wide shortages, then to inflation, then to another need to increase wages...and so-on. How 'bout the great society? An end to money, guaranteed min. access to resources necessary for modestly comfortable survival, etc.? Capitalism and endless growth are UNsustainable. Time to reinvent the deal, not just do the not-so-new deal over again.
Hey Sandles, I'd rather have duplicate posts from you than none at all. - AIW
sorry, don't know why the above posted twice...originally...
For me...Even if the 1% crushes and kills every last one of the 99%, eventually, they will still have to either turn on one another or look in the mirror and learn something. Mother Earth will have the last word anyway..I'm guessing. Over all, in terms of consciousness and the universe as a whole...I'd still rather end up on the end of not fighting with violence...just my thing, I'd never stop or judge any who chose another path...