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It is becoming increasingly difficult to remain optimistic about the future of our nation. President Obama continues to fraudulently expound his policies to the public. His actions are contrary to what he states his policies to be. Net Neutrality is just the latest in a line of policies not matching his actions. President Obama appointed Tom Wheeler Chairman of the FCC Nov. 2013. Mr. Wheeler comes from corporate media, just the right choice to protect the people from giant corporations from continuing their takeover of all media! I have read his speeches, since he became Chairman, and he talks in glowing terms about his philosophy as FCC chairman. This is a direct quote from one of his speeches: “Network Compact – universal accessibility, interconnection, public safety, and consumer protection - constitute the things we have to promote and protect if we are to be faithful to the public interest imperative.” Yesterday, Chairman Wheeler did a 180 on his philosophy, when he declined to protect the peoples’ “commons” (public airwaves) by affirming “net neutrality” as the law governing the internet. Now, the internet, that is one of the few sources of communication and information left to find the truth, is up for sale to the same corporations that now control our TV news.
My firm belief is that no other time in the history of our Republic has capital so completely taken over our governments. The complete takeover of newspapers, magazines, TV, and cable, has destroyed our First Amendments right of a free press. The sad fact that no test of the actions of Congress and the FCC has been challenged in the courts is incomprehensible. The Justice Department and the President do not seem to recognize these unconstitutional acts. They, along with the other two branches of our government have violated their oath of office, to protect and defend the Constitution. Why is our government no longer representing the people and not enforcing the Constitution? Simply put, the Constitution is no longer relevant. It has been purchased and destroyed by money. The United States of America no longer exist!! It has been destroyed by Trans-National Corporations, whose goal may be to create The World Government of Corporation, whose Constitution will read: We the Corporations of the World, in order to form a more perfect union of multinationals, establish domination, insure domestic submission, provide for resistance, promote the Welfare of The World Government, and to secure the Blessings of Wealth to ourselves and our heirs, do decree and establish this World Order of the World Government of Corporation. WGC!! WCG!! WGC!!
You handsome devil you...
palindromedary,
have you ever found a conspierency you didn't like:)) ?
;-)
Remember when 4 out of 5 doctors recommended people smoke Camels? That's right back in the 50s and 60s there was a big marketing campaign to get everyone to smoke cigarettes because doctors said it was healthy to do so. Well, doctors today are really not much different than the ones back then...many are still being bought by criminal organizations that market dangerous and lethal drugs to people who shouldn't really be taking them. How many deaths has Statins and other dangerous drugs prescribed by doctors caused?
Aw shucks, PD! I wanna see your mug. I've shown you mine; now I wanna see yours! - AIW
Thanks Aliceinwonderland. Actually, anyone can use tineye.com to look up photos...like avatars. Just right click on an avatar and then "copy image location" then enter that location into tineye.com and if it is not a one of a kind photo then others may also be using it as well. If you do this on any of the avatars on this blog...some will show that they are only used on thomhartmann.com and others are used a lot of places. For one thing, I guess it could show how popular an avatar is...and an indication of who is using them. If you own the copyright to that photo and if someone else is using it without permission....well....that's one reason why I don't use them anymore...If I used one of my own creation..then I wouldn't have to worry about it. But that's not about to happen.
"podcasts"- I'm glad you didn't misunderstand me, because I definitely do not view you as a racist. However you accuse Obama of using his race as some sort of political device, and this has got me very curious. I've never observed this myself. Could you offer some examples? And by the way, we're on the same page about Cynthia McKinney; she rocks!
Palin, I don't know how you manage to dig all this stuff up. You are amazing. But I've gotta say, I'm glad you're no enemy of mine! I'd sure hate to have a bloodhound like you digging into my closet, or sniffin' my arse... Hey I bet you'd make an incredible private eye, were you so inclined.
Under all those images of Obama's middle-finger salute is an ad for urinary catheter supplies... I found that pretty amusing.
I don't think I'd want to be in Obama's shoes. The neocons and teabaggers all hate him, and now he's alienated most people on our side of the fence... When his second term is up, that guy won't have many friends. His legacy is toast. I doubt the historians will cut him much slack either. Oh well... the guy made his bed! He'll just have to lie in it. - AIW
Aliceinwonderland: Take your pick....
http://www.tineye.com/search/e54ce1f5e49a89c4856c45ee60af30cc503e1894/
It doesn't say where the photo originated..just that a lot of people are using the photo....but, perhaps, one of those entities was the originator....??
And many people who subscribe to Comcast are finding they are now having problems with their on-line surfing. Comcast is now (well, since 2012, I understand) using your Comcast home wireless access point to broadcast other traffic in your area. The person next door...down the street...in the street..can now access the internet wifi coming from your wireless access point.
Just wait till AT&T Uverse tries this with customers that are stuck with the last mile copper wire (even though beyond that is fiber...so they say). If it was fiber to the home, it wouldn't be so bad but that's just not the way it is with about 95% of Uverse customers...they all have that last mile of copper that slows things down and clogs the bandwidth.
Cable, as with Comcast, is certainly not as bad as the last mile copper on DSL connections and many people are still having problems. Cable has more bandwidth but still bottlenecks with increased numbers of customers in your area.
If everyone called up Comcast and opted out of the "internet everywhere", or whatever marketing term they now use, then Comcast would find it too much trouble to continue with it. You don't want your neighbors to be downloading porn over your Comcast wireless access point do you? People have been seeing lots of activity on their Comcast access points when they are not even on-line with their computers or other devices. So the neighbors are obviously using your access point.
Thank you, Alice. I'm glad you enjoyed the page. I understand your point about references to Obama's color, but I don't agree that his race has to be ignored because 1) Obama has been more than happy to use his race in the most cynical way imaginable when it benefits him politically, and 2) the supporters who joined his personality cult back in pre-2008 have consistently operated off of the assumption that, because he is half-black, he has to be a progressive-- an assumption that is far more racist than anything I have ever said about him. Obama apologists are always going to use the "racist" charge against anyone who criticizes "the first black president"-- that goes with the territory, but I'm not going to hold my tongue to placate them. If I am a racist (and I know you're not calling me one), I'm a pretty strange type of racist, since I voted for Cynthia McKinney instead of Obama in 2008. Anyway, there's more I could say on this subject, but it's late, and I need to go to bed. Thanks again, though. If you'd like to converse some more, feel free to drop a note via my tumblr page.
Oh, and regarding the one-finger salute photo, don't remember where I found that, actually, but I'm pretty sure it's photoshopped. I just added the text to it.
"podcasts", I checked out your tumblr page and laughed my ass off. You sure have a way with sarcasm, and I'm a crusty enough old gal to appreciate it, expletives and all! That is most definitely my kind of humor..... with one exception. I think it is unwise for you, or anyone, to make reference to the color of Obama's skin (i.e. "Half-Black Vanity Candidate"). Barak Obama's skin color is not the problem; the problem with Obama is his corporatist/fascist policies. I've more than a hunch you know this as well as I do. I hate putting a damper on this exchange, Pod, but we've really gotta avoid racial slurs; even the milder, understated variety. They don't strengthen our case one iota. We've plenty of ammunition against our president without having to resort to that shit.
Where did you get the photo of Obama's middle-finger salute? Is that for real or is it computer-simulated?
I love the "Exposing treason is treason" part, and "This is how much change you've gotten..." and the part about pot prohibition. Hilarious! I highly recommend it to anyone on this forum who could use a good laugh. - Aliceinwonderland
The buying of America continues thru the propaganda of Fox and their other right wing media friends along with the Kochs buying state legislatures like they are penny candy; delvering voter supression, filling both houses of congress with republicans ;walla control of judicial nominees.
These Democraps are either total frauds, or they are the weakest, dumbest, most ineffectual, cowardly political figures in the history of mankind. Either way, they are no longer worthy of any support.
Thanks. I've been voting since the late '80's, and I'm proud to say I've never, ever voted for a Republi-Con, but I'm done now with the Democraps too, and the fraudulent two-party game.
Feel free to check out my tumblr page if you like: http://brutusworks.tumblr.com/
Weak Obama,weaker Democratic Leaders. Have wasted thousands of dollars.Finished!
I'm with you, "podcasts". "Corporatist Democrap"... Ha-Hah! Priceless. - AIW
Chuck, I've nothing against stray dogs. I could have picked a better metaphor. Sorry…
Kend, nothing personal; I don't hate you, I just hate your opinions on 99% of the issues we discuss.
Craig Bush says "How many of us are going to die without healthcare compared to taliban terrorists?" Bull's eye!!
My husband and I lived in Santa Cruz for ten years; 1981-1991. Sounds like that town has become a police state, with law enforcement taking more than half their county budget! Wow. And they want to build a new prison, while schools are getting cut and homeless people are dying of the cold? What the hell are we coming to?!! Far as cannabis prohibition goes, forget turning that over to the states or anywhere else. That prohibition needs to go bye-bye, into the dustbin of history.
Anyway Mark S, I hate to break it to ya but Kend isn't the only Canadian I've heard bitch about their healthcare system. And frankly, I've zero sympathy. They oughta come here and try our uniquely American for-profit death panels on for size if they want something to complain about.
- Aliceinwonderland
I have also got to wonder about blood pressure standards. They started out saying normal blood pressure is supposed to be 120/80...then I believe they lowered that even. I suspect that you just can't pigeon hole everyone by the same standard. Physiology varies from not only the sexes but also from the races. And I'm sure there are other valid variables as well. I think it serves the pharmaceuticals and the medical industry as a vehicle for keeping people unnecessarily afraid that they are at risk so they are pushed into taking dangerous medications that will end up killing us anyway.
The rich get richer and they weed out large segments of the population, you know, those pesky dregs of society that are always demanding the thieves, who stole from our Social Security or other programs, pay up. The doctors could, of course, stop over-prescribing some of these dangerous drugs and tell the people the truth...stop pigging out...eat right...lose weight...stop smoking...but then that would put a dent in those capitalist pigs who get rich on selling super-sized fries and cigarettes and booze. So, they certainly are not going to do that!
You really can't blame the fatties, future lung cancer patients, and drunks too much because all of those commercials constantly drum into us to pig out and smoke and drink. It's psychological warfare compelling people to act against their best interests.
They used to get Indians drunk and hooked on alcohol. The British got the Chinese hooked on Opium. Reagan helped to get South Side LA hooked on Crack Cocaine! Freeway Ricky knows!
Now, they got people hooked on abusive credit and everything else that's bad for us!
My transcript of a small segment of the documentary "Branding Illness":
"In the extreme, their aim is to persuade everybody that the cholesterol levels, as defined in 25 year old men, are the norms. This is where we all should be at. And based on this, what we find is that the cholesterol levels, as defined, that a population such as in Germany means that 95% of Germans and French are technically ill. And from the industry point of view this news is wonderful. It's a HUGE market. They are in the business of being able to say to huge numbers of people that they should be on the Statin group of drugs to lower their cholesterol levels in order to lower their risk factor so that they don't have a heart attack or stroke. As a matter of fact we know that if you don't have the other risk factors, that if you haven't had a heart attack, or stroke, or that you aren't over weight, or that you don't smoke..taking this group of drugs, just because you have got a marginally raised cholesterol level, increases your risk of death."
--David Healy, MD
Psychiatrist and Historian of Psychopharmacology
"And in the cholesterol guidelines, the last major revision was in 2001. In the American cholesterol guidelines, 9 out of 14 of the experts who were on the panel that set the standards, have financial ties to the drug companies. Now this is very important because the 2001 guidelines almost tripled the number of Americans for whom that therapy was recommended.
The number went from almost 13 million to 36 million. And most of the 23 million people whom Statins became recommended, based on those guidelines, did not yet have heart disease."
"The cholesterol team, which later become known by the critics, as the "Cholesterol Mafia".
Their interest is not in pursuing not only the premise that lowering cholesterol results in better [??] outcomes but in really pushing forward the promotional message to the American population, on a sort of an individual consumer level, on an expectation level, and on a provider based level. That is multiple tiers of targeted promotional vehicles to get the American population concerned about their cholesterol. This "know your number" campaign. As a
way of getting Americans to identify with their number. That they should have a sense of consciousness of what their cholesterol number is.
--Jeremy A. Greene, MD
Historian of Medicine, Harvard University
"So, doctors will measure their patient's cholesterol. And the patients will ask for their cholesterol levels to be measured. And if the cholesterol is high, the doctor will often say 'Mr or Mrs Jones, your cholesterol is a little bit high. Why don't you come back in 3 months and between now and then why don't you exercise more and eat a healthier diet and we'll see if your cholesterol goes down and then we won't have to treat you if your cholesterol goes down.'
And, more often than not, cholesterol won't go down that much with these healthy lifestyles.
Then the doctor will say, 'Well Mr or Mrs Jones, I'm sorry your cholesterol hasn't gone down. So, we'll give you a cholesterol lowering medication. And, then you won't have to worry about it.' But, they have completely missed the boat! Because, taking the action of exercising more and eating a healthier diet, is going to decrease the risk of heart disease by somewhere around 60-80%. That's enormously effective therapeutic intervention. And when the doctor says 'Well, we'll give you cholesterol lowering drug...you won't have to worry about all that other stuff (that's so hard to do).' The doctor is focusing on the wrong thing because the patient has done the successful intervention to change their lifestyle. "
--John Abramson, MD
Author of "OverDo$ed America"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSHI9adcNyY
Well, maybe hardcopy books and magazines will come back into fashion, as well as free, broadcast radio.
Or, we'll get a fascimile of net neutrality, for a price, and essentially, the corporations will be able to control and censor the internet now like they do other media shutting out Amy Gooman and Thom Hartmann and the like.
This essentially privatizes the net. So, we'll get "net neutrality" with none of the "unnecessary" parts. Only the good old American, consumeristic, fun hogging, empty headed, loud mouthed drivel.
I agree completely with every situation and history that you have stated.
I have watched each of these situations and have asked what I, as a voter can do. I read the news, I follow the information I find online, and I am always aware of the local government where I live.
We all have to remember that what happens in Washington is OUR responsibility. Government begins at home and if we allow local politicians to run roughshod on the needs of our communities then we deserve the governance we get.
If we don't vote we are lost. If we do not support programs that work on improving our lives in our Communities.
Everyone is always ready to let others make the decisions for us. This is what we have allowed to happen. It is time for 100% voting and really taking the Government back from the Politicians who are driving our Country to Fascism and a Police State.
Too many are only interested in making money at the expense of the many and not trying to help build our economy for everyone.
As a retired teacher I have had music classes with as many as 35-38 students in them. It is almost impossible to teach, let alone evaluate the individual child's advancement.
I believe that no child should be passed who has not been able to learn the material taught. I always used the National Standards to write lesson plans that correlate to the School's Curriculum. I had parents and even administrators ask me why I didn't give an A/Ex Grade to all students. I always responded that each student learned differently and not all thought they had to put the effort into the lessons offered them. If they did poorly, on purpose, I graded them appropriately. If they were able to learn the basics of the lesson they got good grades. If they only learned parts of the lesson they got a lesser grade.
I have done this all the years I have taught and when my classes were too large it was more and more difficult to do the job I was asked to do...to teach General Music to children from grades K-8.
Being a responsible Citizen means doing what we can do to put honest dedicated candidates into office. It also means that we need to correspond with our representatives and let them know what we think of proposed legislation and other things like Ecological necessities, Human Services for those who are in need, and Community needs as well as State and National needs.
We MUST Vote or we will never be able to get the representation we need. We will only get what we are willing to be forced upon us.
This includes looking at more than a 2 Political Party system.
Both Parties are now looking more and more the same and are not fulfilling our Countries needs. It is time for major changes within the Government and within the Parties. More Parties need to be added to the GOP and the Dems in order to truly represent the People of this Country.
Essentially every democrat voted for card check (Employee Free Choice Act). I do not know any who didn't. How can you call a democrat that voted card check a corporatist?
This is an importanrt issue and we sshould publish all the names of the Senators and Representatives that voted with corporations over the people or at least let the people know how to find out how the Represenatives and Senators voted.
It is apparent that we do not have a government that works for the people who they are supposed to represent and who elect them. And the people should be made aware of this!
Our politicians, from the White House down, have basically been bought by the corporations and side in their favor against the American public. Voting in America and around the World is based on the dollar and how much of it you can donate in order to buy their (politicians and courts) favor. Presently the Supreme Court is just a mouth piece for the Republican Party, since they have a five to four advantage (seats) by Republican Presidents putting their guy behind the bench. But, apparently even our so called Progressive President is nothing but a mouth piece for the highest bidder. (off subject) His so called healthcare program is fixed in the favor of the Insurance Corporations. The so called "Silver plan" has a $5,000 deductible in California! Besides allowing the major internet carriers to over charge us and to monopolize the industry, Comcast just bought my carrier Time Warner, have there been any notable cases where they have blocked the ability to go to any specific websites? (Not just monetarily, actual censoring) I guess what I am asking is this just a monetary game or does anyone believe they will censor the internet as is done in China and Korea and other countries that repress the right to access the internet freely? Have there been any cases where American Corporations or where the Government has blocked access to any legal web sites? It should not be a big surprise that these carriers are in it for the profit, in the beginning I believe the most accessed sites were pay porn sites, so in a sense it has been profit that has been the primary catalyst for growth. Google is starting its own I.P. with a promise of up to a 100 times faster access to websites using fiber optics. The reason is for more profits, not to help the users have an easier and faster time accessing the web. So I guess what I am saying is the internet has grown because it is a platform for profits. Google, Yahoo, Bing (Microsoft) and other providers have expanded the net because of profits by hosting advertisements and this is just another step by the corporations to make larger profits and our Representatives in Washington follow the money trail and who has the biggest purse wins. Idealistically the Internet should be, by all reasoning, a net neutrality setting, but again money talks and our freedoms take a walk...K.W.