Recent comments
ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer's World
Thom Hartmann has written a dozen books covering ADD / ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Join Thom for his new twice-weekly email newsletters on ADHD, whether it affects you or a member of your family.
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.
A propos to identity cards. In many nations, Identity cards are quite acceptable, and used for official purposes, in banks, and all the other places that a person has to prove that they are "who they are". Only in America is the identity card regarded as a taboo, a sign that they are being regimented, and forced into a kind of lock step. Where I live, in Israel, and likely other places, you phone in a payment and give your ID card number to verify the account and it ain't no biggy.
Speaking as an ex-Pat, and reading how many US citizens that have been living abroad for all sorts of reasons, frankly, the way it seems to be going, we are better off than most US citizens, and the only motivation to keep our citizenship is a special feeling about "where we were born". In fact, there are ex-Pats that have decided discontinue their US citizenship, as well, for a variety of reasons, taking up the nationality of place where they currently live. Gone are the days when an American like Josephine Baker, the cultural icon for decades in the previous century would say "Paris et ma Patrie".
Otherwise, all we read about is a future dystopia where, as the popular song of the '20s reads "the rich get rich, and the poor get poorer, ain't we got fun" It isn't fun and like many others, we hope for the best, but we don't motivated to "return" to our native land.
Matt's repeating that conservative shuck'n jive bull crap about government we've all been hearing forever, or so it seems. You know the mantra: how inept government is, how incompetent and untrustworthy and what a bumbling disaster it is; that gubmint only "hurts" those it is "trying to help", that gubmint can't do anything right, that gubmint should be small enough to "drown in a bathtub" and blah-blah…
Just the same tired old neo-con BS talking points they've hammered at us since the 1980s, to convince us that gubmint is evil… all so that they can steal what's left of the commons and privatize everything.
What these government-bashers conveniently overlook is that a government is only as good as the people running it. Vote for riff-raff, and riff-raff is what you get.
After thirty years of hearing this toxic drivel broadcast through the corporate airwaves, parroted by the impressionable and gullible among us, we have thirty-somethings and twenty-somethings like Matt carrying the torch for the next generation of self absorbed, sanctimonious ditto heads who think a privatized post office or fire department would be swell, who say that anything a gubmint can do a church could do better, who think prayer belongs in places like the classroom or the courtroom, who tell us that if some of us don't like it that's too bad, that we should keep our mouths shut anyway and behave like "adults".
Matt describes himself as a "well-adjusted adult who isn't easily offended", and says he's "doing the mature thing" and "ignoring" our "constant attacks" on his "religion of choice". While claiming moral superiority, he dismisses our concerns about the growing gap between rich and poor in this country, accusing us progressives of only being jealous of the one percent.
In the nice cushy neighborhood where Matt resides, he doesn't see anyone around him getting "screwed into a life of hardship by some elitist conspiracy" (as he describes it). Matt thinks everything is dandy just as it is, that the working poor and their allies should stop complaining and spoiling the party. In post after post, Matt asserts that as long as he, his family, friends and neighbors are all prospering and happy, it doesn't matter if others are left out; too bad for them… "But do you see how, if this world I was born into has been fairly good to me, I might not want it to change?" he implores, before going on to smugly assert: "Even if there is some evil elitist conspiracy to control everything and everyone - apparently I've been selected to be one of the ones that they placate with a decent life." To top it all off, in one of his next posts he claims to be "turning the other cheek". So nice and Christian of him!
I don't know how much more of this shit I can stomach right now. Maybe I need to take a break from it and chill for awhile… - Aliceinwonderland
What little I know about National Health is that it began with Otto von Bismarck as part of his Social Conservative policies that held the view that the State was responsible for the basic needs of its population. It was bound to provide "basic services" at an acceptible level. Needless to say anything more would be provided privately and was obviously an out of pocket expense. Those that had the means opted for more, while most people took used the plan provided by their taxes. Most of Continental Europe followed suit, land England joined in after WWII.
What I know of Israel is that is not strictly "Socialist" and some beknighted folks might bleat, but it was a system of voluntary HMO's estblished in Mandatory Palestine based on party lines where health services became the lynch pin of the membership along with educational, sports and cultural, and in some cases economic functions After the establishment of the State of Israel, these HMOs continuted to function within the previous framework outside of the government, but recieved subsidies from them. Over the years the system, being political, often raided the kitty, especially the Labor Party, knowing the government, of which they were the majority, would subsidize the shortfalls.
This way of doing things "worked" until the the plurality of "believers" in the Labor Party began to wane, and eventually, there was a call to separate the health services from the other functions. Needless to say the major pols were not so willing to remove this ready source of income from the package. As well, to some extent, the other parties, the non-Socialists ones may of made noises about separating health services from the others, but also like the idea of ready cash for election campaigns. At some point, the system corrupted, and the government bought the HMOs out, as it were, and they were part of a National Health system where people remained in whatever plan, but it came out of their taxes. Finally, you could switch plans without penatlies.
The change did create some additional costs mostly because the plans were unable to be as generous as they were. Instead of getting your meds free, you paid a surcharge, not much, but a surcharge. If you need a specialist, there was quarterly surcharge, as well. In addition, the HMOs offered Complimentary Alternative Medical services, Naturopathy, Acupunture, Shiaztu, Homeopathy, and other forms of non-standard medicine at a fee, mostly affordable. Indeed, these services compete quite successfully with the Conventional Medical service. At it is, compared to similar services in the States, it is down right inexpensive--Chiropratic is something like $US 20 a session, Acupunture $US 25, to cite a few examples.
The bottom line is that it works. I had two cataracts removed by the best specialist in my region, one time by the specialist himself, and the second by his assistant, each time of a morning, and returning home to recuperate for $US 100 that included the operation and follow up examinations. Not bad, wouldn't you say. If you wanted the specialist at "his hospital", of course you might pay something closer to $US 300.
I guess the Neaderthals in charge of the political process process prefer to let their "friends" to keep on gettin' rich off the middle class.
Zev
I don't think the First Amendment was authored by all our forefathers and someno doubt, didn't quite get what the amendment was for or what it was about. Jefferson, for example, who I think had to be the main author, was definitely against theistic prayer in the context of government function. Some others were probably not. The custom of invocation over a meeting significantly predated the Amendment and it may've taken more than a couple of days for all to realize it and to change habit.
Anyway, previous Supreme Courts have decided in favor strict separation. Don't forget the current court has a fascist majority and the decision was 5-4.
ChicagoMatt ~ Perhaps you will all morph into some kind of a vegetable; or, perhaps a beautiful flower. Just imagine the possibilities!
There certainly is nothing like a happy ending!
No, Matt, there is no difference, not in this case. If, at a government function, the presiding government official opens the meeting with a prayer it is, in effect, endorsing it. No prayer can be so inclusive as to speak for all religious convictions, even that of the non believer.
Aliceinwonderland ~ Why thank you so much. Coming from you, that is high praise indeed.
Kirien ~ How very well said!!!
Kirien, you go!
Actually, Matt, the American people wanted healthcare reform and the ACA was the best compromise solution. Nixon and the Heritage Foundation also meant it for the entire country.
Canada did something like what you suggested. Their single payer started with one province and all the others followed on their own initiative and each has its own unique version. The ACA isn't as centrally controlling as you seem to think, it also allows the states to impement it as they like as long as some basic points are kept - no denial for pre existing conditions, for example. Vermont does, in fact, have a single payer system, other states do not.
Opposition to ACA by governors in the red states is really just the politics I was talking about characteristic of Republicans. They just don't like it because they didn't think of it. Their supporters are the dupes who've allowed themselves to be convinced they are being victimized by being given a good health care system - which six years ago they were demanding.
first off there is no right to secede. go read texas vs white. secondly..how come the republicans dont obey the people? after all the vast majority of the people want the minimum wage raised and taxes raised on the rich.
and that small government claim is a crock. you republicans have no problem sticking government up womens vaginas. when california tried enacting stricter auto emissions standards there were the republicans in congress and the bush administration...moving to block it. the republicans also want to make people with solar panels still pay money to the power companies as well.and lets remember that it was the gop that so pushed for the government to have carte blanche to spy on us.
you guys want small government for the same reason crooks want fewer cops.
you guys cant even prove voter fraud in any significant numbers and yet you guys want the government to make it tougher to vote. as if a poor person working three jobs just to get by will have time to go get an id....especially when the gop have been shortening hours athe dmv offices or simply shuttering them in democrat heavy areas. and how exactly are two of my uncles who have been confined to nursing homes for the last few years because of parkinsons and a stroke supposed to go renew their drivers licenses? after all..they are perfectly mentally competent...they just are physically unable to go the dmv.
republicans, matt, are the ones who so love to claim to be oh so christian.
what is christian about refusing to lift a finger to help those who need it? what is christian about giving the rich tax cuts while others are homeless and starve?
whereas my insurance company dothered for two years on a surgery i needed. and the insurance company my mom left when she retired and went on medicare tried billing my dad a hundred grand when my mom died a few months later.
every country that has single payer has better quality health care for cheaper. why is it that the united states cant equal that?
There are and have been more than a few statesmen and public servants (naturally, mostly Democrats) and, until relatively recently, most Washington legislators had enough sense of decency to maintain, at least, a basic modicum of concern for the well being of the country. This out and out "greed is good, corruption is good" attitude, dropping any pretense of propriety, of the current Republicans is a new phenomenon.
The "small government" rhetoric is euphamistic. It really means government that serves their elite cronies but betrays the people. This idea that democratic government that serves the people is tyranny is dishonest on its face. It really means that democratic government, whose action protects the weak from the strong, is tyranny for the strong who would, without it, abuse the weak at will.
Without democratic government, business would supplant government and have complete control of society - without accountability to the people as government has in democracy. Democratic government is for the people what a union is for laborers. It represents them, protects their rights and furthers their concerns. Business hates democratic government for the same reason it hates labor unions. It hates democracy. It wants autocratic control of society. Business is of the "strong" of society and wants nothing to represent or defend the"weak" and to impede them from using and abusing the weak at will.
Republicans are not against government, they are against democratic government. They want business to be the government as in some feudal oligarchy. And yes, Matt, those who vote for them are either hoping to benefit from membership in the elite clique or, more commonly, are stupid enough to fall for the fraudulent PR campaign.
Thanks, Marc. All excellent points. Great for posterity, whether Matt gets it or not. - AIW
ChicagoMatt ~ Yes, you've already mentioned that; and, yes I've already told you what I think about that. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." That is how I envision "...doing to the least of my brothers." There is nothing like the gift of empowerment. Handouts only lead to more handouts and result in a permanent class of the disempowered. The only people who benefit from that are your church. It makes them look good at the expense of others.
Thanks Marc! It was kind of you to share all that info. But I think I'm gonna stick to the flash drive and just let the professionals handle it. They do it so much faster at the printer's, and what they charge is way more reasonable than the price tag on that ink.
That's a mighty slick marketing trick by the way, selling these wonderful printers for dirt cheap only to stick it to us later... not as a one-shot gouger but as an ongoing, continuous source of nice easy cash, flowing out of our pockets right into theirs. Just one big money-sucking racket is all that is. They can take their ink & toner and shove it 'cuz I'm done with home printing for good! - AIW
P.S. While I meant every word of that rant, I should confess that I've been going through some shit lately and am not in a good mood. If my posts sound even more ornery than usual, just know it's not personal.
ChicagoMatt ~ How very interesting. It is that very Catechism that turned me into a devout atheist for 8 years.
No. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If any of the states you've mentioned have a majority that want to succeed from the union I'm more than happy to see them go. Adios! However, you also cut off all federal aid to your people as a result. Adios!! Perhaps that is the real reason they are so hesitant to commit to their idle threat? Adios!!!!
As far as giving up the fight against "Koch brother Zombies" is concerned consider that to occur the day we all die. Adios!!!!
ChicagoMatt ~ Request denied!! I have no problem whatsoever with you and your crazy cult crawling into any hole you want and saying amongst each other anything you want. That is a protected freedom under the Constitution. However the minute any of you want to inflict your beliefs on a public forum you have crossed the line. Back off!! There is no place in a public forum for any perspective that is outside of the jurisdiction of the public; and, any preference given to any establishment of religion clearly qualifies as such.
There shall be no encroachment upon public affairs by any establishment of religion as far as I am concerned. That would be the most dangerous encroachment to our system of politics I could imagine. There is every reason to not "tolerate" it, no matter how benign it might appear to be.
All religion belongs on the personal level. Religious organizations have proven their inability to "tolerate" religious freedom. As Madison and Jefferson foresaw, they are acting in ways that will eventually cause their own demise. In the mean time, they will inflict untold suffering on countless of innocents--the same way run away religion has always done in history. I personally envision a future where all religious cults and institutions are banned and individuals are free to believe as they see fit in the privacy of their own homes (closets) The closet is where religion belongs--not the pulpit.
ChicagoMatt, this is ChicagoMark, could you cite some sources, I've been in Cook County forever, I'm keeping upon things and I've never heard of this. If anything, I suspect it's just a small handful of yayhoos of which you'll find to say just about anything.
I hate to sound like a broken record...but
Even though the ploy of requiring IDs to vote seems like a big issue, the issue at the heart of voting is the method of COUNTING the votes.
"Election fraud" is the real problem.
As long as there are computerized voting machines, it is very easy to flip vote numbers.
Remember the fate of Mike Connell?
See Brad Friedman's blog: http://www.bradblog.com/?cat=403
Maybe that's the problem - I don't see anyone around me being screwed into a life of hardship. At least, not by some big elitist conspiracy.
I live that teaching as well. I think the difference is where we put our faith. I see a problem, I donate to the church to help with that problem, and I see the immediate results. I have little faith in the government to help. I put this in my bio too - I see the government sort of like Lennie from Of Mice and Men. Well-intentioned and good for some of the heavy lifting, but ultimately will just hurt the people it's trying to help. In fact, (I know this really IS a Republican talking point, but I think it's true anyway), the government tends to hurt the people it's trying to help.
And, like a well-adjusted adult who isn't easily offended, I am doing the mature thing and ignoring your constant attacks on my religion of choice. You could almost say I am turning the other cheek.
Guys! There really is something you need to know about the printer industry. It is really the sale of ink/toner that drives the entire economy. The sales--and most unfortunately for me the service --is only to support the fancy colors. In my business we have actually sold printers so cheap that we make no profit at all; however, we lock the customer into a contract of toner. Very lucrative.
Also, FYI, toner is cheaper than ink. If you can afford it go for a laser printer rather than an inkjet. It really depends on how many prints you do. If it is very few the inkjet is the way to go. However if you volume is in bulk, you will save substantially with a laserjet/toner product.
Another thing to consider is color. If you only print text there is no reason to buy a color printer. Color ink and toner drastically increases the cost of the print.
Finally, if you already have a color printer of any kind you can save a lot of money by limiting prints to black and white. You can do this by configuring your driver. Start by going to your printers folder in your control panel, selecting properties--or preferences--by right clicking on the icon, and then selecting black and white--or monochrome--in the options box. Then click ok. That way all your programs will default to black and white and bypass your color ink/toner supply.
If you want to do a color print, after selecting print in the menu of the program you are using you will get a printer dialogue box for that job. You can change the preference in the box to color for just that print. This will not affect the general default setting of your computer for any other files. (You might also want to change the preference from print to high quality in that same box if it is a photo.}
One last note on photos. You will always get the best quality and longest lasting photos from toner as opposed to ink. Ink discolors and evaporates in short time. Toner will outlast the paper it was printed on. If you want photos built to last and you have an inkjet, I'd recommend going to your local printer service store with a flash drive.
I forgot to respond to this a minute ago. This is typical Progressive "white knight here to save the day" stuff. Progressives are SO ENLIGHTENED that it's up to them to save people from themselves. No need to thank me citizen who didn't ask for my help in the first place, just doing my job as one of the un-brainwashed people. I have determined what is best for you, and even though you fight against it now, you will thank me later, like a parent to a child.
They clearly didn't think, period. Or clearly didn't give a rat's ass.
There goes our Constitution and Bill of Rights, right down the toilet. - AIW