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These jerks got in the way of EVERYTHING President Obama tried to do, and then they have the nerve to call him a "do nothing" president. You're not a failure if you are not allowed to try. He should point this out to the nation, over and over.
There are some industries that are calle "natural monopolies" (gas, electricity, perhaps water,etc.) and it has traditionally been the position of not only socialists but Liberal Democrats like Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois - who was a mentor to Dick Durbin - that those industries, the natural monopolies should be operated by the state (or government) at cost.
It's a start, not a perfect budget, but a beginning. There's still far too much for the military-industrial-security state, and some nasty twists. Like trying to put a user fee in General Aviation, apparently those of us struggling to fly a little with Cessnas and Pipers can be lumped in with business jet owners. But that aside it faces a House which has stupidly voted to repeal the ACA 50 times. Any group that wastes its time like this will never vote for any decent plan that the president proposes proposes, and the public be damned. It would take an invasion from Mars to get today's Republicans to cooperate on anything.
The only thing they'll take seriously is a huge scary march on Washington. Nationally we need masses of people dressed in rags swarming some of our lovelier Malls , Resort areas, and Banking districts.
Why not get all grubbed up and parade past local Rolls Royce, Hummer, and cars over $100,000 dealerships?
Why not cut up all our credit cards and refuse to make purchases bearing interest?
And don't forget to boycott all bottled and canned beverages. That'll fix the Wells Fargo Wagon.
Actions speak louder than words...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT3K0_jEX7s&list=UUuFCfiQxxQFt3ELgYceCElw
If wrestling and Jerry Springer get taken off air; we may see a revolution of the worst kind.
The Republcans will not under any circumstance help the people of this nation, nor will they participate with any bill that the President or the Democrats bring to the floor. I have resigned myself to this since the Republicans took the House in 2010. All we can do is hope that Dems take back control of the house in 2014. its a long shot.
Bravo for the comment on "I know someone who...", Thom. I don't mean to imply anything about the caller, but I've recently come to realize how much the right-wing lie machine resembles the rumor mill of high school, something that was damaging to me personally. Rumors are a softer form of bullying, but have just as much long-term consequence on their victims.
I think there's actually a bullying instinct, one that should be suppressed in modern society. This instinct, acted out in childhood, causes individuals to place themselves automatically at either the top or bottom of the pecking order in adulthood, depending on whether they are the perpetrators or victims, respectively. From the bullies' point of view, bullying is an investment, not that it's a conscious calculation.
William King makes a valid point. If public safety is involved, as in the transportation (pilots and truck drivers, for instance) industry, then drug testing has a place. Other than that, it should be abolished.
Aliceinwonderland ~ I don't know if I would say that. The constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written. It is the law of the land regardless of whether or not it is being enforced; and, as such, is the greatest weapon for We the People to use against the oligarchs who would have us believe otherwise. It will always hold that intrinsic value as long as our government stands and isn't replaced completely by another one. Keep the faith and hold tight to the few things we still got!
PS You also might want to read the Autobiography of John L. Davies. He proves that anything is possible and any giant can be toppled. His story is true and truly legendary.
http://oaklandwiki.org/His_Honor,_the_Buckaroo
http://www.amazon.com/His-Honor-Buckaroo-Autobiography-Davie/dp/0943077125/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
My review read post # 54 above.
Alice, I'm very much on the same page. My second wife and I had a son, but he was born dead though seemingly physically perfect -- as if, even in 1967, the prospect of life here in SlaveWorld was just too much. After that, I made no more procreative efforts. And, yes, I too am thankful I'm old. The future is literally too horrible to contemplate. I doubt our species -- even the One Percent with all their wealth and fortifications -- will survive. As it said on a bumper sticker that was popular around these parts (the Pacific Northwest) during the 1970s, "Goddess Is Coming and She Is Pissed." My only remaining hope is that I'm out of here before terminal climate change (which is what it should be called) becomes too routinely deadly to deny and the government starts filling the concentration camps with anyone who dares speak out against capitalism.
The Republican Obstruction Crisis: America Held Hostage -- 5 years 1 month 23 days --
Today, a new record for non-confirmation of judicial nominees, and much, much more!
I often feel grateful not to be young anymore. I'd hate to have most of my life in front of me in the 21st Century. And I'm glad not to have had any children; when I was still of childbearing age, I determined that this country - and world - aren't good enough for my kids. I hated the thought of bringing an innocent new life into this shit hole. - AIW
stock transfer tax:
an ill logic means of making social welfare dependent upon profiting from growth in rampantly rapacious financial speculation
______________________________
The APT: American Political Terms
www.chenangogreens.org
Sorry to disillusion you, FractionallyUnnerved, but the Internet is no more enlightening than the Ruling Class allows it to be. In fact its primary purpose is that of an electronic Father Gapon -- encouraging us to show our true selves just so the modern-day equivalents of the guards at the Winter Palace can gun us down and the 21st Century version of the Okhrana then round up all the survivors. (Why else would the government be building dossiers on all of us?) As to the Internet itself, it's no more revolutionary than our supplies of water, food and electricity -- any one of which the Ruling Class can turn off with a flick of a switch.
Bull's eye, Marc! To claim that people "consent" to drug tests is not a viable argument when jobs are scarce, you're living paycheck-to-paycheck, and refusal to submit gets you fired. It's coersion, pure and simple. We've strayed so far from these constitutional guidelines, the U.S. Constitution is hardly worth the paper it's printed on anymore. So what comes next; the branding iron?! If we can't be "secure in our person" and must submit to employers and other authority figures snooping through our underwear, then what have we got that can we call our own? Drug testing is one of the more vivid examples I can cite to illustrate why it nauseates me to the core, each time I hear one of these chest-thumping, flag-waving idiots crowing about "freedom" and how "free" we are, and how life here is so much "better" than anywhere else, because it is such a bloody crock. Whenever Ken Ware gets on his soapbox with that bull crap about the U.S. being the "greatest country in the world", I have to ask, by what measure; longevity? (Not.) Education? (Not.) Standard of living? (Not.) Upward mobility? (Not.) Personal freedom? (Not.) Americans have got to be the laughing stock of the world by now. Like ole Jim Morrison once shouted from the stage: "You're all a bunch of slaves!" - AIW
Aliceinwonderland ~ A most interesting analogy. I guess when you get down to it what difference does it make whether or not you inject or extract bodily fluids without consent? Of course it could be argued that people consent to drug tests. However, it could also be argued that when one's livelihood is at stake the consent has the same willingness as the consent to hand over your wallet when someone aims a gun at your head.
Either case, warrantless search and seizure is still illegal search and seizure and a blatant violation of our right to be secure in our person. I certainly agree that this policy is an attempt to condition the masses to not feel secure in their person and to not resist surrender of their Constitutional rights. "Resistance is futile," as I once heard somewhere...
It certainly sounds like the mantra of a rapist.
"Beam me up, Scotty."
Ms. Metcalfe, thanks for your input. Your experience vividly illustrates the problem, along with the double standards and mind-numbing hypocrisy it embodies. There's simply no way I could ever tolerate such an extreme - and obscene - violation as having some authority figure snoop through my body fluids, just to find evidence of something that's none of their business anyway, that they can still use against me! It is fascism du jour.
Palin, it really doesn't matter whether you get high or not and whether you have to "worry". That is beside the point. Our body fluids are private. The only person who should have the right to examine them is your doctor, for your benefit. Whether or not you have "something to hide", it makes no difference; you're still being violated. This is really about corporate control and police-state fascism, not all that different from a "cavity search". It makes the workplace more like a prison. We really have to ask ourselves, is this how we want to live?!!!
What I find especially sickening about the whole issue is that working people in this country are so disempowered, so desperate to hold onto these crappy bullshit jobs, they'll meekly submit to this abuse year after year without complaint. The more they grow accustomed to being treated like livestock, the more intrenched it becomes as a standard practice. It really is nauseating. To be brutally frank, I view drug testing as a form of rape.
I'll confess, Ms. Metcalfe, I'm more than a little envious of your situation. If I could retire comfortably and securely as you have, I'd be a whole different person; not only happier but (ironically) more productive as well. - Aliceinwonderland
This concept is the only fair and equal way to stop corruption in our system People\Human Standards Sunday, November 24, 2013 People\Human Standards Starts with the concept of equality starting at the middle, and the middle being the poor and working class.This means that then we have to have A Standard to go by,The... Standards have to be by A Legislative branch. In the United States this would be The Congress because the Congress Makes the Laws for wages,So that being said, Then the wage should be set the same as Congress,This means that the person on the street who is without home and food and the essentials of life.This means the Disabled, This means the 18 year old person, man or woman.And any person to any age even if they are 115 years old. OK example $174,000.00 minus taxes minus health care minus education and any other fundamental right to humanity and evolution as A society.This means then we have to have A banking system,That would be in the United States the Treasury, Now the standard for this Bank would be People\Humans.Because People as A Value is unlimited,This means that the Bank is infinity.Always evolving as A society.Each person in this Country is of the standard put forth. That means the highest of the executive of Government the highest executive of business and all the way to the poorest, This meaning that it being the middle and the starting point.And having society Starting from there and going forward.OK everyone is now making from top executive's to poorest $174,000.00 same as Congress,minus Federal, state,Local taxes, minus Health care,minus Education tax, Any monies people have or people make over this $174,000.00 will be classified as business and taxed the same as People,Now how are the people going to be paid. Then we Have to have A source for accounting for each individual.And That Accounting source in America would be Internal Revenue Service.The Internal Revenue would be responsible for Cards made for each individual, Their children, Their spouse,Tying them together or individually if separated,These cards can only be used for Legitimate Business or products and or service. Now what this concept does is helps the Government to be more efficient it will pay all employees from top executives in the Government to the lowest paid contractor and all other people the same pay making it equal and efficient. This concept puts all people in an energy efficient home saving power, puts all people in an energy efficient vehicle saving on resources, It puts all people in the higher education to move the society into the future and putting people on the same level. it Puts all people in health care working towards eliminating any disease that would enter the society.It takes out Corruption in all issues because the people can't buy illegitimate products or service. This concept can be used for any Country and recommended to be used to make the whole world as one Society.
I've got to sign off early tonight got to get up early in the morning....
DAnnemarc: I read some of those things you mentioned but not in such detail...but, I guess the railroad finally won out because there was a train line that runs right through Jack London Square. I don't know when that line went through..maybe sometime after Davie died? Yes, you paint a very compelling enticement to read his autobiography. I tried to find it on the free on-line books sites but I guess there is still a copyright on the book.
Palindromedary ~ I'm glad you got a kick out of it. Most of the story can be summed up by synopsis. It's a short book but a fast and interesting read. It's jam packed with tidbits about a very interesting life. Here's some of my favorite parts. A picture of a lake Davies made alone and by hand by strategically constructing a dam. A split level fence around his ranch he also built alone and by hand. Both still exist today. How he was attacked and severely beaten by railroad thugs, stumbled home, got his gun and a bullwhip and returned stopping at every bar along the way to tell his story, then surprised the railway men with a mob of people he met at the bars and escorted them to the bay where he made them disrobe and take a bath at the end of his bullwhip. Stories about numerous assassination attempts by the railroad that he foiled every time. How when the railroad tried to block his ferry boats by using their own to get in their way to slow him down; and, how he successfully rammed and sunk one with his lead ferry "The Rosalie" and ended once and for all that little problem. How the railroad slowed him down in the estuary by delaying the raising of the railroad bridges between Oakland and Alameda and how he solved that problem one day by using "The Rosalie" to pull every draw bridge between the two cities into the bay and destroy them. How he cracked the back of the Central railroad and destroyed the leaders careers and eventually caused the mega giant monopoly to be disbanded and renamed the Central-Pacific Railroad. How he further defeated the Railroad in court and won all 25 miles of Oakland's ports back for the city and the people of Oakland. The rest of the stories seem minor compared to these major accomplishments; however, they do compare to some of the legends about his name sake Davy Crockett; yet, in the big picture even Crockett couldn't hold a candle to John Davies.
If ever you do find the time it won't be wasted reading this autobiography. I hope someday Hollywood has the good sense to make a motion picture about this guy's life. He truly is a real American hero; and, as such, a real inspiration to us all. Thanks for the response.
FractionallyUnnerved: Your link doesn't work...try this one:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10285552-54.html
I would not have to worry about taking drug tests because the last time I ever smoked MJ was several decades ago and I only did it maybe 3 or 4 times then. I have never had a drinking problem and I haven't drank any alcoholic beverage...even beer...for about 5 or 6 years now. I don't smoke or take any tobacco products. I don't eat red meat...ok, ok, I digress...
So, I wouldn't have any problem passing a drug test...unless the tea I drink or occasional coffee can trigger a false positive. But, it is still a violation of my privacy and dignity. It reeks of police-state mentality and corporate control.
Built in obsolescenc keeps you changing the lines.Dave .No doubt you've herd of the the hundred year old light bulb? a diverse combination of industrial commercial and residential Forest in mind Geo Thermal for the res. is also good.SupercunductiveSuperconductors: Cure for grid transmission woes? | Green Tech ...
Mr. Bliss a great amount of Global Karma is being triggered a new age of mass Inlightenment internet ect.Unity! shedding of the old.. The Utility of Truth in the hands of All