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Of course, the most effective way to fight these corporations is to simply boycott their products and challenge them in court. Protests themself are all well and good; however, how good they are is determined by how many people see them. With the media as it is, protests have lost much of their persuasive power in our society. I think the effort is better spent organizing an effective boycott or court case. Of course, even these peaceful endeavors have been deemed illegal by the current Cabal. More reason than ever to act defiantly.
"Do you thank...?" The plain answer, if dkmich has listened to your show at all is YES--you HAVE REPEATEDLY thanked all public servants as (mostly) dedicated and essential to The Commons and indeed, to the continued success of the U.S. Experiment.
It seems plain that dkmich has likely had personal bad experience with law enforcement officers, and is unfortunately not alone. While visiting our neighbor, Albuquerque, I was a bit leery of even appearing to speed, etc so as not to catch the attenton of a possibly trigger-happy, ill-trained policeman. Those guilty of lack of self control and/or who don't respect the humanity of possible offenders should be held accountable. The bigger picture is that poor employment conditions throughout NM aggrated by the Repub.Legislators' and the Exec Branch's ability to block progress also bear great responsibility. Let's not even talk about the horrendous actions and inactions of the repub.House and Senate.
Sandlewould ~ When war is forced upon you, the only solution is to fight back. Fight fire with fire. I hate to point out the obvious but a natural alliance between right wing militia groups and environmentalists seems like a perfect solution. Any hired mercenaries confronted with a mob of well armed citizens who are really pissed off will cut and run in a second. Of course since this militia will probably be carrying heavy weapons they will have to be caught off guard and trapped. That is when the cunning of the environmentalists will pay off. There is always a creative solution to any problem.
It's all show...just part of the ruse to keep people herded down the corrupt two party chute to the slaughter house. Nothing, of any significance, will change to our favor as long as people keep falling for the false hope that is the Democrat party. They are the bait-and-switch party. As long as people believe that they only have one of two choices, the Republicans being the boogey man, the owned Democrats preaching false hope for "change we can believe in" (not), then nothing, of any significance, will change....except for the worse!!!
There will always be a ruse and excuse for why the Democrats were so "bullied" by the Republicans. But the thing people should realize is that the Democrats are part of the scam. Only when people start to vote en masse for parties outside of the good-old-boy cabal...like socialists or communists will things scare the monied powers so badly that they will have to relent. It's either that or take to the streets, en masse, like the people have in other countries. But it will have to be way bigger than the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.
Hey, Folks...
Let's hope the media shield law protects 'acts of journal-ism' and not journal-ists.
After listening to today’s show on FSTV, I just had to write re. the gun violence issue. (couldn’t call in, not live) So a bit off topic. Hope that’s OK. Kudos to you Thom, for calling it terrorism. My question to the pro-gun guest and callers would be “Given the DOD’s definition of ‘terrorism’, how are these shootings NOT terrorism?”
My intuition is screaming that the the richest .01%, the corporate-dirty energy-financial-military industrial complex is desperate to make it not only legal for us to kill each other, but easy. As Allen Grayson says, “..they want you to die and die quickly.” True, he was referring to sick people, but I think it applies to anyone who is not wealthy. With resources on the planet running out, and run-away climate change poised on, if not over the brink of irreversible, they see 2 possible solutions; 1) Decrease/shift demand- unacceptable. This would cost money and shift power from the few to the many. Altering global society to the degree necessary to scale back consumption enough to save the planet in their view, is also not realistic. 2)Decrease the population- they see as the only workable solution. In order to do this, they have had to cultivate endless war, Ayn Randism and divisive social/economic attitudes that would enable pandemic sociopathy and infighting, and consolidate access to resources as much as possible.
According to Mother Jones; “In 2012, six oil and gas companies contributed a total of between $1.3 million and $5.6 million to the NRA, according to CAP. (The companies are Clayton Williams Energy, J.L. Davis Gas Consulting, Kamps Propane, Barrett Brothers Oil and Gas, Saulsbury Energy Services, and KS Industries.)”
We are all aware of the infamy of ‘Citizen’s United’, declaring corporations as persons and money as speech. While we knew it would render our political system a gluttonous, whoring debauchery, I, for one, could never have foreseen what is taking shape before me now. As such it would seem these ‘persons’ are more like evil villains with super powers. Their voices are heard everywhere. They have the ability to apply force many thousands of times greater than a mere locomotive or speeding bullet. They are almost omnipresent. As such, their rights trump those of natural persons every time. So, what happens now that we know any person in a “stand your ground” state can kill anyone they deem a threat without consequence? What happens when one of these villains with superpowers feels “threatened” by a peaceful protestor? These “shoot first” laws originated with ALEC, a bunch of the biggest, meanest, most powerful super-villains. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/09/1004961/-ALEC-s-International-F... Are they chomping at the bit to mow us down with impunity? With trade agreements shaping and even trumping national law it’s horrifying to imagine what their motives are. Let’s take the the ‘person’ Gogebic Taconite (sounds like kryptonite). They had hired another super-villain, Bulletproof Securities to ‘stand their ground’ for them, to help them cope with peaceful protestors, now referred to as “eco-terrorists”. Bulletproof Securities is not licensed in WI, so Gogebic Taconite has temporarily suspended their contract with them while they apply for licensure and replaced them with militia men who are members of a group called the Watchmen of America. http://www.channel3000.com/news/gogebic-taconite-suspends-use-of-armed-g... and http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ominous-alliance-militiamen-show...
If a single person (Zimmerman) can get away with stalking and killing an unarmed child, as if hunting for sport, how then are we to defend ourselves from the villains with super powers? Referring to us as eco-terrorists turns logic on it’s head. Those with super human powers destroying the land, air and water in ways more unspeakable than anything read in a Stephen King novel are claiming to be the victims of terrorism while unarmed pacifists trying to stop the destruction are labeled terrorists.
The police state is already out of control, now you want to label everyone a terrorist?
Across America, Police Departments Are Quietly Preparing For War
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-09/across-america-police-departmen...
I couldn't believe you thanked that cop for his service on the phone today. Do you thank teachers? road workers? When cops police their own and speak out against the sadists in their ranks, then you can thank them. They are a bigger threat than any criminal on the streets. In the list of the 10 most dangerous jobs, cops don't even appear. Their biggest hazard is choking on a donut.
Chi Matt -- I forgot my favorite example of smaller level govt being better -- Clive Bundy. All his neighbors were terrified of him or at least they filed a lot of complaints.
DAM -- I found an interesting link It mostly supports your idea. It does say that putting CO2 in the water and feeding plants with it seems to help. The link is
http://www.co2science.org/subject/r/summaries/roots.php
Palin -- My usual response is for the 13 weeks when we had democrats in control we had so many positive results that I cannot see how one can say the 1% own the democrats.
DAM -- I would like to put my refinement on what you have said. Keep in mind I think the most defining statement of America is contained in the first 3 words of the constitution "We the People".
I do not think you, me or SCOTUS should tell those people where their head is, I think the 99% need to tell them where their head is. I think that is true freedom and the only freedom.
Chi Matt -- You really should study history. It seems the evidence is overwhelmingly against you.
I think the Articles of Confederation, Charter Mongering and the Eurozone show you are wrong. Also, ALEC loves to work at the state level. In other words, the 1% love your philosophy.
Do you think you are providing any new information by saying selling "snake oil" is easy?
A fools errand....
Liberal=L Conservative=C
C: give me your money!
L: No!
(He hit me and robbed me)
C: give me some more money!
L: No, you bully!
(He hit me and robbed me again)
C: Be my slave and work for peanuts!
L: No, you're vile and contemptable!
(he hit me and robbed me yet again and spit in my face)
C: Now die because I'm tired of hearing you whine, but hand over the rest of your money first!
L: No, you'll be sorry when we vote in more Democrats!
(He kicked me and pissed on me and called me a whining, lazy loser)
-------------------
So, we voted in more Democrats
-------------------
L: See there, I told you we'd be in control this time!
(He laughed at me and chided: "Fool, don't you know that we own the Democrats as well as the Republicans, ha! ha! ha! Now bend over you coward.)
L: Yes, Sir! I'm so sorry we upset you...master!
The really scary question about this incident is that if we have these ticking time bombs out there; just how many more are out there waiting to explode? If the corporate media is really the major influence behind this event then the group that such people belong to by far represents the majority of the population. This might just be the tip of the iceberg.
ChicagoMatt ~ Completely different subject Matt. I'm talking about the rights of the "individual" and the role of government to protect it. However, since you brought up groups you might want to know that I have no problem with people organizing in groups to address the federal government either. Be they the Tea Party, Minutemen, Gun Owners, the KKK, or Labor Unions I think that any group that is not affiliated with an establishment of religion has every right to be heard. Likewise, it is the government's responsibility to protect that right and give those groups an equal opportunity to be heard.
I think that is the main problem with your argument, you constantly mix the idea of the individual with groups. Groups have the right to be heard, however, only "individuals" have human rights.
Money is not free speech! I don't care what SCOTUS says... They are wrong!
The federal government is the only entity capable of protecting human rights. If it is challenged by any other entity then you have anarchy and chaos.
ChicagoMatt and Aliceinwonderland ~ I'll just add this thought -- Ignorance is bliss!
Right wing cable news they have the capability to mislead the ignorant down the path of self-destruction with Americans in their way, just for the promotion of the elite and privilege to unbelievable wealth, while putting the average working American family into debt and into a indentured service which there is no end to, but to serve the master. Freedom of speech, it does have a cost, we should hold these Cable News Network’s responsible for their actions, not by government law or power, but by saying no to their noise of misleading information by not watching their network, that will encourage the ignorant into needless violence.
Matt, it is a reich-wing lie that government "just makes a mess of things…." unless of course, government seats are occupied by politicians who hate government and are hellbent on "proving" that government "just makes a mess of things" by not doing their jobs.
I don't believe a majority of Americans are happy and content. Ever hear of Occupy and Moral Mondays? Walmart and fast food worker strikes and protests? (Just four examples...) Mainstream corporate media would have you believe Americans are "happy" and "content", and since you obviously are happy and content, I will leave you to your happiness and contentment. - AIW
P.S. "Socialist Utopia"? Good night, Matt. This conversation is over.
10K, I couldn't agree more; especially your closing line where you remind us of the source of so much of this xenophobic violence.
Billionaire sponsored Republican TV, indeed. Not on my nickel! That stuff's evil incarnate, and dangerous.
Hey, I love life without TV. Try it, you might like it. - AIW
I think, with most societal issues, the smaller the level it's being done at, the better. It's human nature to take care of yourself, your family, the people closest to you (tribalism), first. This country is much too large and too diverse for programs that address societal problems to work well at the federal level.
Michael Pollan actually talks about this in "The Omnivore's Dilemma". He tells the story of a fast food restaurant owner who noticed people felt gluttonous ordering two large sodas, but would pay extra for a single soda that was double the size.
When I first heard about the soda ban in NYC, I thought it would be smart for someone to invent a thing that would hold 4 20-ounce sodas together, with four straws that gather into one straw. Then you could say, technically, it was four drinks, even if you sold them as a single unit.
By the way, I only read one of Rand's books - Atlas Shrugged - when I was 19. I barely remember it.
A lot of what you say makes sense though, about caring for the sick and people who fall through the cracks. I think we would disagree on where the burden falls in those cases. The smaller the level of government that's in charge of something, the better (usually). Water distribution? Works well on the city level. Police and fire? Same thing. Military? Better left to the Feds. Healthcare - I'd go with the state level at the maximum. Minimum wage laws? City level. I applaud Seattle's $15 an hour decision.
That's because you think the majority of people are as disgruntled as you. I think the majority of people are happy or content like me. The last statistic I heard was that 1 in 6 Americans are living in poverty. No, that's not right. But only a pessimist would look at that and think the whole system has to be done away with. An optimist looks at that and says, "Five out of six people are middle-class or better, and those people probably like the status quo just fine. Especially when compared against the rest of the world. Those five out of six people don't want to risk losing what they have on a roll-of-the-dice system change that promises to make things better. It's too risky. (Or, more likely, they aren't paying attention in the first place.)"
The best way to help people in poverty - I believe - is through charity. I know this is a righty talking point, and you've been hearing it your whole life and you're sick of it, but it's how I feel most of the time - the federal government, even if well-intentioned, will just make a mess of things, and be inefficient in the process. You're better off giving $100 to charity if you really want to help people, than having that same $100 taken from you in taxes to get lost in the Federal bureaucracy.
And, even if you don't like to admit it, for your Socialist Utopia to work well, you will need willing participation from at least some of the people you keep calling fools. It will never work if half of the country is against it and looks for ways around it. And the polarization only gets worse when each side calls the other side names.
In a polarized climate like today's, Conservatism wins. Because nothing major can get done, which is what Conservatives want. The best thing Progressives can do is to keep calling people on the other side names. It just pushes them further into their ideology.
Thom gets that by the way, which is why he is always respectful to his Conservative callers. As the #1 Progressive radio show, he knows he has to set a good example.
I have no problem with people getting money back from programs they were forced to pay into in the first place. The same thing with FEMA - when a Red State has a disaster and the lefties call them hypocrits for calling in FEMA. Their tax dollars paid for it.
It is my understanding that there is no upper income cutoff for collecting social security. Even Bill Gates will get it when he reaches that age. And he's entitled to it if he paid into it. Not sure about Medicare.
Replace the term "Federal Government" in that quote with "Tea Party" or "Minute Men" or "Gun Owners", and you have a right-wing talking point. Same idea, just different target. A righty might say that the Federal government is the most powerful, tyranical group of them all.
I totally agree. Freedom to marry who you want, smoke or inject what you want, spend your money the way you want. But also the freedom to opt out of government programs, unions, etc.
Fox has the blood of the Vegas victims all over it's hands. Fox progams the litttle minds of borderline Teabag personalities like Jerad and Amanda everyday. Many are gun toting and have no clue that it's indirectly a few out of control billionaires screwing with their heads.
Just like Gabrielle Giffords in Palin's crosshairs, crazy Teabaggers feed off unreality being presented to them as if it were coming from a stable source with authority.
The National media isn't saying a word about these two being Cliven Bundy Teabagger types, but Jerad and Amanda left behind a trail of social media evidence that needs to be exposed right up to the midterms.
This violence has been spawned by billionaire sponsored Republican TV plain and simple.
chuckle8 ~ You got me there. Chemistry wasn't one of my stronger disciplines. I would imagine though, the same way you measure it in the air or in ice. I might also imagine that it would be easier to find simple carbon in the ground than CO2. CO2 is a gas and if it were to exist in the ground it would be trapped there in a bubble. Unhindered CO2 would always find its way to the surface and float up into the atmosphere. But then, what do I know? I'm no scientist, just a geeky nerd.
I can't wait till Thom looks up those "facts". That little addendum would be most interesting to listen to. Let me know what he says if you catch it.
Chi Matt -- The k bros are heavily invested in the tar sands oil. If they invested in renewables, it would weaken the demand for tar sands oil.