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.
Aliceinwonderland ~ What an enlightening and entertaining rant! I love it! Thank you so much for doing your patriotic duty; and, doing it so well. I'm so glad you're back. It just hasn't been the same.
By the way I shared your little "Beam Me UP" sign off with my wife. I had to explain it to her since her English and familiarity with the American culture isn't so good. (A very refreshing handicap by the way.) She loved it. Now every chance she gets I'm hearing it. I'll say, "Honey, I can't find my keys." She'll say, "Oh, Beam me up!" "Honey, the cat threw up on the carpet, again." "Not again! Beam me up!" "Honey, I can't find my other sock." "Oh, please God, Beam me UP!" If you're making as big of an impression in Europe as you're doing right here in my own house, the world will be a' changing pretty quickly. Thanks again for the posts. They make the blog something to really look forward to.
By the way, anytime your Der Speigaling and think any of my posts might fit, please, feel free to copy and paste away. Tell those aristobrat, Billionaire Teabrains DAnneMarc says, "Greetings!"
Kend ~ I can't say I completely disagree with that one. Federal employees got what is equitable to a big free paid vacation. Some bills might be a little late is all. Any debts incurred should be paid off by the end of the month. It is those who rely on their services, like WIC recipients, social security recipients, national park and monument vacationers, environmental regulation violator's victims, and other effected citizens who will suffer without recompense. No harm done unless you're unemployed, infirmed, handicapped, dependent on social services, on vacation visiting a park or monument, or in any other way dependent on federal services. If you have a comfy federal job its just a temporary inconvenience. For everyone else it is a monumental disaster. The most damage that will affect all Americans is if our credit rating is negatively affected. The Teabrains can take all the credit for that one. This is 100% their doing. That is a fact that will be clearly reflected in the next election cycle.
Kend ~ Oh let me be the first to answer that one. Obama is only responsible for doing exactly what I and millions of my fellow Americans demanded he do. That right, Obama for once did what we asked--word for word. You cannot negotiate with hostage takers. That is exactly what the Teabrains attempted to do, undermine one of the few recent laws that We the People demanded and approved of. As far as I am concerned he did his job the way I demanded for one of the first times in his administration. He has my full support even if he had to allow the nation to default. I put that in writing to him. I'm glad he--or someone on his staff--actually read it. When The President Of The United States upholds the will of the people while protecting and defending the Constitution of The United States that President gets a free pass... and deserves a Medal.
The law of cause and effect has been known to our scientist,s for a long time .The problem is follow the money to alter this the solution would be to make our monetary system completely visible and transparent so everyone can see what is really going on.
Pax
Good morning fellow bloggers! I've been on a roll with Der Spiegel. Hey, damned if I'll let those ignoramus teabaggin' idiots have the last word! So here's another little message from moie to counter them as we slug it out across the Atlantic:
If there's one thing Obama has done right, it's refusing to cave to the ransom terrorist tactics of the Tea Party. Give in to those thugs and you've set a dangerous precedent, one that could be mighty hard to shake off. Because they'll keep doing it over and over, whenever they want something... and then elections don't matter anymore! Seems to me our democracy is in bad enough shape without Obama giving in to these ugly fascists. I kid you not, they are determined to destroy this country. And if you're not a member the Billionaire Club - well, too bad for you! You're on your own, pal. Their agenda is as simple as it is evil: to manipulate public opinion, so the "masses" get duped into believing GOVERNMENT is the PROBLEM... and then these nasty little toadies can steal the commons out from under us, and PRIVATIZE EVERYTHING! So there goes our country- to the robber barons, the plutocrats, the kleptocrats, the aristobrats and their enablers. You Tea Party cheerleaders and Ayn Rand recruits are all under their spell, stridently claiming those European "leftists" have it all wrong. But hey, their kids graduate from college with a career and a future; ours graduate with a mountain of debt and no job. Their citizens get health care without bankruptcy, paying a few bucks for prescription drugs costing us hundreds. They've got high-speed rail; we've got potholes and collapsing bridges. So who are the suckers, the peons, the losers? Europeans, or us? Every day is April Fools' Day here in America! The rest of the world laughs at us, not with us. So keep on squawking, suckers.
Hah-HAH! That oughta git'em up in a lather... Ya think? Sure is fun anyhoo. But seriously, I get awful tired of these alpha-male macho types with that "I got mine and screw you" attitude of theirs. I'd like those Europeans (or "European leftists"- tsk) to know not all us Yankees are knuckle-draggin' fools asleep at the wheel, carrying on like they've no clue what they're actually defending. Can't have that now, can we? Just doin' mah patriotic duty! - Aliceinblunderland
Exsponge Congress! What good is a system that doesnt work?
In todays world I believe the people should have the right to vote on all issues. Email???
The businesses would have to catter to its customers, us!
How can you not see the USS Titanic/America with its current leaders at the wheel.
You know everyone in Congress votes however they are paid by unlimited campaign funds
not how the people want them too. Its peoples fault in my book by not getting rid of the obvious.
Thats a democracy! 51% of the vote wins. We both know it will not happen, just praying.
We would hace respect and honor worldwide not embarrassment and hate.
No wonder the rest of the world is trying to go on without us.
Even though the shutdown was only 16 days as a government contractor I can not get back to work until November 12th due to re-scheduling. So I lost more than a month of work and income.
Thanks Ted.
"For example, small businesses that rely on federal clients, ......will likely be paid late on outstanding invoices, and be forced to finish projects in much less time". Welcome to the real world. That's the way it is for private sector small business every day.
Those poor federal workers will all get back pay. If they do get laid off they get massive packages Or take early retirement and a big fat pension. Sorry but you are going to have a problem getting sympathy for most of the private sector.
Is Obama not responsible for any of this. How does he always get a free pass.
Hi, B-4 i comment on Mass Extinction caused by mankind's Lack of interest, could U-please advise---> my insurance rates have increased while my income remains the same as it was in 2010. gasoline goes up. i was transferred to a location 18-miles further. groceries are way-up. i have less hair/but my haircut cost more. my work-week is 'around 65-hrs (not travel-time), making it difficult to find "additional income" w/a part-time job---that won't 'work-around-my-full-time-job. Let's see.... the crucial topic is: Climate Change, oh-yeah....i just thought of something else. my kids ! THEY won't be able to afford kids ! i guess i CAN'T afford "my kids", as time goes by year by year.. back to topic. We might become Extinct, for many reasons, before Climate Change is a Factor. p.s.-- didn't Climate Change, begin -right after the Earth's existance began ?
Hey comrades, I've paid another visit to Der Spiegel, who just put out another great article about our little freak show here in America! It's titled "US Democracy Is Nearing Its Limits". And just like I predicted, folks, its blog slots have been filling up fast, with mostly angry conservatives all up in arms with their panties in a knot. What follows are my submitted comments (starting with the subject line where I wrote: "You Yankees are so predictable!")
"When I first read this article, no posts had yet appeared. But I knew that before long, we'd have a tsunami of angry Yankees retaliating in a massive hissy fit, venting their collective outrage with accusations galore about how "ignorant" these "leftist Europeans" are about American affairs. Yeah, my fellow Americans, the truth hurts... but when the truth hurts, we shoot the messenger! Hey, it's the American way! As American as pay-or-die healthcare, student debt, homelessness and poverty wages! I pledge allegiance to the Koch brothers' fossil fuel empire and their phony Tea Party! So you guys don't like what you see when Der Spiegel holds up a mirror... Gee that's too bad. You're all a bunch of crybabies. Grow up!"
Gee I feel so much better now. That was the most gratifying psychic bowel movement I've had in a while. Have a lovely evening, my friends, and good night! - Aliceinwonderland
This is just so infuriating. Congress shuts down the government, leaving millons of people twisting in the wind without the barest essentials of life; while THEY, who caused this tragedy, still enjoy all the salaries, benefits and perks without missing a beat! Compensation that, incidently, happens to be way more generous than most of us can even dream of. Ole Bone Head Bohner has his paycheck, his healthcare, his vacatons ad nauseam... He's not missing a mortgage payment or a meal over this! It is truly crazy-making, witnessing all this. I'd be disinclined to watch a drama this sick in a theater, given a choice; but to live through it?!!! Beam me UP. - Aliceinwonderland
The Graderman ~ Yeah, that's right! I forgot about that one. Thanks! You can also throw in all the loopholes and subsidies these companies get. Corporate welfare, I believe Thom calls it. Tax and spend is such BS. Pure Corporate propaganda!
How about the tax breaks for going off shore?
chuckle8 ~ A very good point. I share your concern. Personally, I am hoping that the upcoming budget committee will undo that debacle before it does any more damage. Unlikely, but it could theoretically happen. One good sign that I just heard on the show is that Senator Bernie Sanders has been appointed to that committee today. That makes me optimistic.
akunard ~ I'm sorry but that is not correct. Free trade--or the removal of taxation--is what sent the jobs off shore. Reinstating those taxes is the only thing that will bring them back.
Once all the money and power is at the top, how will the starving masses react?
Imagine150+M people rioting because certain people have gold plated faucets?
Is this real?
Why has nobody suggested the most obvious solution - we boil those damn tea partiers in their own tepid tea!!! Shall I be mother?
Sequester was Barrys idea!!! 2 stinking %. And now it's the republicans fault. The left is not entitled to change the facts. Tax and spend has destroyed the middle class by sending those jobs off shore.
DAnneMarc, I agree with everything in your response; particularly about the power elite's "divide & conquer" tactics against the "masses". Noam Chomsky opened my eyes to this, in one of his books. I'm not holding my breath, comrade, but when those midterms roll around, imagine witnessing the bulk of the Tea Party unceremoniously dumped from their congressional seats, gettin' the ole heave-ho! This would be cause for celebration!! (Sigh...) - AIW
Many of the Tea Party people, Ted Cruz at the head of the line, do not believe that anyone was harmed during the "slimdown." Some of them are angry that we did not go into default. We are dealing with anarchists and terrorists. These Tea Party folks are not living up to their oath to protect the Constitution and serve the interests of the nation. I cannot see the difference between the economic terror they caused and the terror activities of any other extreme group. I believe a case can be made against Ted Cruz for sedition.
10/17/13 7:00 AM
A open letter to Thom Hartmann:
Thom,
To prevent any misunderstanding, let me say I am a big supporter! (and no Libertarian)
Your views on Ronald Reagan, conservative philosophy and a host of other subjects often mirror my own, with the exception that you apparently think global capitalism can be saved and is NOT inherently evil (except on a local non-industrialized scale).
But Thom, I cannot abide your strategy of presenting absolutely disgusting conservatives on your show to, ostensibly, show them the error of their way or debilitate them with rational fact-based argument.
This is another fool’s errand (much like the shutdown).
A case in point would absolutely (!) have to be Horace Cooper and (didn’t bother to catch his surname or organization; suffice to say it had “guns” in the title) Neil, his mindless grinning bulldog.
Thom, I never have to endure the needle of, say, an Abbie Hoffman or even Noam Chomsky when I tune in to listen to the poignant philosophic insights of Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity.
Do I?
Why, oh why, then Thom must I endure Horace Cooper, who I find even more offensive, wrongheaded, obstinate and arrogant to almost the point of violence (but not quite, he’s not that good) than the two previously mentioned bloviators.
And here’s the thing Thom, Bill Maher does it too.
I would like you to explain to me why it is that I must endure Horace or any number of Maher’s ludicrous conservative panelists when I tuned in to catch (wait for it)…PROGRESSIVE, FORWARD-THINKING IDEAS.
Who do I get instead? Horace bloviating. With your refutations.
I don’t want to hear that stuff anymore, Thom. I have heard it before. Many times.
There’s plenty of it coming from what John Stewart marvelously coined as “Bullshit Mountain,” also known as Fox “so-called” News.
Thom, you shouldn’t offer any sort of a platform to those types or their “views.”
We can refute their ideas without actually hearing them come out of their mouths…again.
Yer pal,
mike willis
the Walmart/McD form of capitalism could be called (ted) Cruz Control Capitalism............And here is a wierd conspiracy theory for you Could speaker Boner(sic) have conspired??? with Obama to take the economy to the brink in order to destroy The Tea Party once and for all????? Too diabolical ??? Speaking of Walmart...possibly 10 years ago an artical in the local paper announced that Walmart heirs had reached 10 billion $$$$ for the first time ...it also gave the number of employees so I calculated that if the 5 heirs would settle for 1 billion each they could give each employee $3,333 or if each hier could decide they could live on a paltry 100 million each employee would get $6000 .... would that not be better for America???
Naomi Klein said it best with her "Shock Doctrine - The Rise of Disaster Capitalism".If there is not a natural disaster for them to take advantage of, they create their own constant disasters, gathering money and power for themselves and taking it from the masses each time.
I have known intuitively for years that Big Money was using the republican party to destroy our civil liberties and indeed, bring about a fascist dictatorship and perhaps even a police state. Economic hit men are keeping the Dems in line. Everyone said I was an Alex Jonesian cook. FINALLY folks like you, Thom, are starting to wake up. They should have labeled it Medicare 4 all. Most people did not understand the terms “single payer” or “public option” because Corp. Media did not inform the public. When Obama suddenly fell silent early in his first year, dropped the ball on the BP spill & Medicare 4 all, renewed the Bush tax cuts in their entirety...when Reid refused to reform filibuster... I knew that at the very least the Dems had knives in their back. I feel it would be naive to presume that at least the more powerful Dems. were unaware of the Republican strategy. :amy: did an interesting piece on internet corruption and the ACA this a.m. I believe the repugs are behind the sabotage of the exchange websites, preventing proper web development so they would not function properly.
As they enjoy so comfortable a living independent of the success of our country, the jerrymander protected billionares have no interest in our collective prosperity, and they all lied upon taking oath to serve. Saddly, our Monsanto backed President is negotiating another behind the scenes internatioinal unfair trade "agreement," even as he appears to be championing for we American people. Why did he offer negotiations on social security rather than propose a modest raise to the cap on paying into it?
Aliceinwonderland ~ Thanks for sharing that enlightening perspective from the German press. I must say they are spot on. Supposedly Campaign Finance plays a huge role; however, so does the deep dividing dogmatic opinions of the constituency. The Germans did everything but say the word--racism. Here we have Corporate sponsored mercenaries in Congress that have been elected on a racist platform and are being held accountable to a racist constituency with a racist agenda. Racism, like any other form of hatred, blinds people to reason and common sense. Therefore, you have what you have--an America that "is already politically bankrupt."
Since time began sowing discord amongst the masses has been a most effective method of control by the ruling elite. It functions to distract and to occupy the time and resources of their groups of opposition better than any standing army. In a melting pot of segregation such as the United States is, there is no room for hatred of any kind. As we can see, it is counter productive to our best interests. Perhaps this nonsense might serve a greater purpose in the long run. In the short run it will deeply damage the credibility of the United States and it's standing in the world community. However, in the long run, there may be three positive outcomes. First, it may help the people of this nation come to grips with their own prejudices and hatreds in such a way as to show them how counter productive and useless those sentiments really are. Such an evolution of thought is critical in a multinationally diverse society like ours. Secondly, as a side effect, this adventure might underscore the need for Campaign Finance Reform. As stated by the German press this is one of the main differences between German politics and our own--our politicians are privately owned. Finally, without a doubt, the immediate positive result will be the banishment of this Tea Party influence in our next election. Assuming our dumbed down nations memory lasts that long. Good riddance!