We need to limit our debt, the yes & yes "choice" is not acceptable.

We need to end spending for the endless illegal wars, the drug war, foreign aid with weapons, bombs, fighter jets etc etc, end aid to our enemies, end aid to Israel, cut corporate welfare, corporations are not "people", eliminate tax breaks for corporations who move our jobs off shore, end all free trade agreements, get corporations out of our government, out of our voting system and $ is not "speech" raise taxes on the rich and large corporations that are not paying their fair share if anything, remove the cap on Social Security taxes and raise tariffs.

There is a lot of fat that needs to be cut from the budget not social programs but war mongering, violating our rights with private for profit prisons, and supporting terrorists and dictators.

Impeach the "supreme" court, war criminals Bush/Cheney & Obama.Off with their heads!

I agree with you Bob, and the real change will be possible when the social group of woman with her better behaviour is included in a balanced way with EQUAL GENDER GOVERNMENTS. Four men to one women as it is now creates a situation where sustainability is not possible, where money not honey rules the roost.

Bob Hearns ~ You appear to be somewhat knowledgeable in psychology. I have a bit of background in that discipline myself; however, I've studied sociology a little bit more. I have spent my life observing immigrants here in the San Francisco Bay Area from all over the world and I can assure you that the fundamental root of the dysfunctional psychological tendencies and disorders that you've mentioned are a result of culture. Culture, as I interpret it, is defined as the "total life-ways of a group" of people. That is every role a person assumes, every belief a person holds, every desire a person has, every like a person embraces, and every prejudice a person fears is learned from and spawned in their culture.

Among immigrants I have observed in my home town--Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Central American, Russian, German, Irish, South American, Jewish, Arab, and Indian--I can tell you this: Within three generations they all lose their original culture. It doesn't matter what country they come from it is always the same. The immigrants bring their functional culture here. That culture fill them with a strong sense of right and wrong, a vigorous religious tradition, a sound and healthy diet, and a strong work ethic. They can live in smaller spaces, eat less food, spend less money, live more frugally, work harder and longer hours, party more vigorously, and live very happily with very little. Their children share much of the same values, however experience conflict because of their Americanization in school. However, they are so eager to please their parents that they respect their old culture and much of it's values. The grandchildren are fully immersed in the American culture. They have little or no knowledge of the grandparents original culture and absolutely no respect for it. As a result, you begin to see the same dysfunctional psychological and physical tendencies and disorders you see amongst the general American population.

I have also had opportunity to learn Spanish and travel abroad to experience what the culture is really like in Mexico amongst the Gemeinschaft rural populations. Once you know the indigenous Mexican and the Gesellschaft Mexican American you can see first hand the powerful influence that culture and environment have on the psychological processes of human beings. I know that their are some schools of thought that believe that thought, beliefs, and behavior is genetic. I can attest without a doubt that it is learned.

DAnneMarc and Aliceinwondeland, I've used the word thought as the source of the problem. I need to elaborate as I haven't been specific enough, my oversight. Thought is obviously needed to remember your name, where you live, how to do your job, how to cook breakfast, to decide whether to buy this car or that car, and a myriad of other things. Thought in these cases is essential and appropriate. Thought used in this way is not the problem I am referring to. Problems requiring this area of thought (call it technical thought or mechanical thought or practical thought) do occur and they can be looked at, analyzed and resolved. For example, your car won't start. With the appropriate knowledge about how your car works, the problem will be resolved, as will all other similar problems, some harder, some easier. When all technical thought is removed from the word thought, we are left with what I call psychological thought. Psychological thought was what I was referring to when I used the word 'thought'. Sometimes the word ego is used, or baggage, the shoulds and shouldn'ts that you were taught, images and judgments of others and of yourself, beliefs and many other things. This is where I am saying the problem is. This is where those symptoms stem from. The belief in overpopulation, greed, wanting to control, being afraid of entire groups of people because they speak a different language, have different customs, dress differently, have a different skin colour and so on. This is where the problem is. Yes, the problem looks enormous and it is. But nothing will be resolved by trying to end or change symptoms. Yes, DAnneMarc, I agree, thought as the problem is esoteric. Less than 400 years ago only a handful of people thought (knew) that the Earth was not the centre of the Universe. Addressing symptoms may be successful in delaying going over the cliff, but it won't stop it. Trying to control by legislation, coercion, moral suasion runs through all recorded history and where has it gotten us? Here and now is where it has gotten us. I'm done with symptom solving. It's time to address the problem. This is where we need to explore and investigate. Let's explore the roots of greed.

We must find a way to reduce the many, many barriers that prevent us from solving our crises. Artificial ceilings, deadlines, due dates, etc., need to be flexible enough so they don't stop us from solving serious problems. A "debt ceiling" is merely a guideline, and such guidelines must bend to meet current circumstances and conditions.

Aliceinwonderland, this is an answer to world population. I give you two sources. First, Dr. Jonas Salk and his son wrote a book 'World Population and Human Values' published in 1981. They use the sigmoidal curve as a basis throughout the book. It may be out of print. I read it back in the 80s. If you google it you will get an good idea of it. They estimate that world population will top out around 11 billion people. I don't want to go into it in detail. I think it's worth exploring. I found it fascinating. Second, the earth can provide food, clothing and shelter for 12 billion or more people. Once again google it, there's lots of articles. With those kinds of figures, we are not overpopulated. However, the way we live in the developed world cannot be sustained. We grossly overconsume, which is a symptom, and our overconsumption is not sustainable. Which brings us to the question 'Why do we overconsume?' I think this is worth exploring.

I don't understand people who keep suggesting various "negotiation" ideas to offer these extortionists. What part of NO negotiations UNTIL you reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling don't they understand? But to me, the simple fact that Obama is talking to them is already a cave. He said he wouldn't do that. In my opinion, this is a CRUCIAL showdown. The GOP is being seriously damaged in the polls. All the pressure is on Obama's side, so what does he do? He starts talking to them -- that is effing negotiating!!!!!

And Obama and his people are once again falling short on the messaging. Why don't they make it clear to the American people that the HOUSE approved the expenditures that they are now refusing to pay without a ransom??? It doesn't work to say we need to pay the bills we have already incurred! They need to know in no uncertain terms that the HOUSE approved the expenditures, and now they're renigging.

This is not normal politics. This country is under the control of EXTORTIONISTS right now, and if you deal with extortionists, they'll just come back for more ransom. I firmly believe that if he gives into them AT ALL under these circumstances, we might as well kiss EVERYTHING we hold dear good-bye. If what Obama and his people are thinking now is they can negotiate with them because they believe dems will take back the House and hold the Senate in 2014, that is an UNACCEPTABLE GAMBLE.

And, by the way, I'm sick to death of hearing people that know Boehner saying he's a good guy! Anyone who is willing to do this kind of thing to the country is NOT a GOOD guy, no matter how you cut it.

The only thing that should be reasonably considered is to squeeze the House membership to sign the discharge petition and take the vote WITHOUT Boehner to reopen the government -- and they need to do it now! We need a MUTINY. At that point, I think the pendulum will have swung to the degree we can force the raise in the debt ceiling.

This country and our politicians have got to realize that when you allow a handful of MORONS to be elected, it costs us all too dearly.

Quote Aliceinwonderland:By the way, I was wondering... do you (or anyone) know why Thom & Louise haven't posted anything since Tuesday? Seems kinda odd. They usually post something every day except on weekends. - Alice I.W.

Aliceinwonderland ~ I've wondered about that myself. Last week all of Thom's posts were about the pledge drive. I assumed then that was because the pledge was a priority that deserved to be repeated and discussed. I can only assume that Thom wants to emphasize Global Warming with the same urgency. That is why he's given us all week to comment on it--he wants us to think about it.

Of course there may be another issue involved. It used to be that Louise Hartmann would submit all the blog entries. I've noticed lately she hasn't. I doubt that has anything to do with it, but it is odd. I understand she's being treated for something?

I wear that cap so much, it's almost become part of me. Suits my persona as well as my politics. And by the way, last winter I watched that video clip of you wailing on guitar. I enjoyed it and wish you'd share more. It was kinda trippy getting a glimpse into your private little world, seeing your wife puttering around in the background while you're hammin' it up. Keep on rockin', bro!

By the way, I was wondering... do you (or anyone) know why Thom & Louise haven't posted anything since Tuesday? Seems kinda odd. They usually post something every day except on weekends. - Alice I.W.

Bob Hearns ~ Thought, as important as it is, is esoteric. The more money you have the less likely it is to influence. I have worked wonders on myself. That is it. All I can do. That is all anyone can do; other than being a good example to others. Changing society for the better is my goal. To do that I need concrete factors to work on. I realize that nothing I can do is going to influence the thoughts of someone with over a billion dollars to play with. They are hopeless. They don't even acknowledge you or me. That is why their influence must be removed from the public arena. Only then you can help to influence their thoughts. Meanwhile all we can hope to accomplish as part of a society is to influence how they can spend some of their money in the public arena. Greed is a symptom of thought; but, if controlled and manipulated, will influence behavior. Changed behavior will influence thought. It is a feedback loop that can be positive or negative depending on how you calibrate and control the greed factor.

For instance, raise the Corporate tax from 75% to 95% on all profits over a million dollars. Now a CEO has a choice he didn't have before. When his profits near a million dollars he can hand 95% of them over to Uncle Sam; or, reinvest them into his company by raising wages, hiring more people, or distributing them in bonuses. Suddenly, giving a huge Christmas bonus looks like a great idea. After that CEO experiences the gratitude of his workers... Guess what?? You just influenced his thoughts a la Ebenezer Scrooge.

To make billionaires understand you have to talk their language; and, that language is money. Of course, I didn't do it, and you didn't do it--we, together as a society did it. Thats the ticket, manipulating greed. The "trickle down" effect does it for us all.

Food for thought!

(As always, I'm happy so listen to any other suggestions.)

Aliceinwonderland ~ That a great cap! Too bad I can't hear the song. I'm a musician too (mostly guitar, some keyboard [I learned some piano to help write music but suck]) and I relate as to how playing music can change the way you think. Keep rock'in!! ...and don't throw that hat away!!

DAnneMarc, in your replies you say that you see that symptom solving does not solve the problem and that greed is a symptom and you then propose that we address greed, not even greed in all of us but greed in corporations and government in the US only. For me this doesn't follow logically. I don't see your point. The problem is enormous, much bigger than greed. But only by addressing the problem will there be a chance to avoid the destruction that has already begun and may end in mass extinction of many species. When we see clearly what the problem is, the solutions will likely be apparent. I said that thought is common to all of these symptoms and suggested that inquiry, investigation and exploration into that is necessary. Are you or anyone else interested?