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There was a time where I would agree with that. However after seeing Senators King and Sanders--both Independents--in action over every other impotent Democratic representative in Congress expressing disdain over such issues as the AUMF expansion by the Pentagon and The Monsanto Protection Act, I have to wonder and question this reasoning.
We are not robots, we are voters. There is no better time to capitalize on the gross failures of the Democratic party elects and pressure the party to change in the future if we do not vote for third party candidates now. The worst thing that will happen is the third party will lose. But at the same time they will cost the Democratic party crucial votes and force them to listen to the electorate in the future or pay the price. You are right that we need to apply a powerful force to our elected officials to cause change. The best way to do that is at the ballot box by casting your vote for anyone other that any Democrat that has let us down repeatedly. Any vote for a third party candidate, or even a Republican, can send that message to the Democratic party. We have had it!
chuckle8 ~ I follow your reasoning. It will take great power to push campaign finance reform through the Government. Yet, I don't follow the reasoning that this can be accomplished only with Labor Unions and the "card check law." I realize it is a scenario of as to which should come first, the chicken or the egg.
In this case it would certainly seem easier to pass Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform with the full weight of an Unionized America. On the other hand, it seems that this reform would be equally possible through other grassroots organizations and groups. After all, we do out number the 1% by 100/1. It seems to me that if Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform was passed, certainly the "card check law" would naturally follow--along with every other serious legislation that we need.
Please pardon my naivete. I have never had the privilege of belonging to a labor union--although I've always wanted to. You probably know the ins and outs of the system better than I. If you could elaborate on why labor unions are so essentially significant in this process I would be happy to share that info every chance I get. Thanks! DAM
npatrick -- The factual evidence supports DAM with regards to term limits. California has had term limits for several years. It has resulted in a dysfunctional govt. The CA govt is partially recovering because of the redistricting proposition we passed.
I agree that comprehensive campaign reform is our only hope. Now the question is how do we get comprehensive campaign reform. We need some power to fight back against the 0.1%. My current thinking is the most likely weapon we have against the 0.1% are labor unions. The most probable way to get unions back in the power game is to have the "card check law" passed. When the democrats had the house, Nancy Pelosi was able to get the "card check law" passed. It was filibustered by the senate on a 40 to 59 vote.
The side effect of this line of reasoning is that, in spite of all their blemishes, we need to vote for democrats, not the green party or whatever.
J, that is the best description I've read about this!!! I rarely agree with anything Thom says (but still like watching him, for cardiac development) As far as GMO's, Monsanto goes, I'm right there with him! Monsanto needs to go down! Along with their poisonous GMO'S they've been stealing farms in this country and in Canada for years!
npartrick ~ You are sure right about Bernie Sanders. I hope he considers running for President. He's got my vote.
Here I couldn't disagree more. The very name "term limit" is an oxymoron; that, in practice would only help stack our representative bodies with Corporate Shills. We grant our representatives terms because that is their chance to prove themselves. The end of their term is our chance to replace them. If they prove themselves worthy continuously there is no reason not to re elect them. Tossing out a good representative just to toss out a bad representative who might get re elected because his electorate is full of idiots does not solve the problem. You lose a good representative and have to contend with the second bad choice of an electorate composed of idiots. Chances are you will get an equal or worse caliber representative from them due to the simple statistical fact that dishonest politicians outnumber honest politicians in nature. The chances are in your own State that you just sacrificed a Bernie Sanders for another two-faced Shill that you will be stuck with for another term. How many Bernie Sanders are there in Vermont? At the end of Bernie's last term there will be a long line of Corporate sponsered Shills waiting to take his place. Not only does Vermont stand to lose, but the rest of the country as well. No, my friend, "term limits" only benefit the interests of Corporate sponsors, not we the people. Preserve our right to knock these people out of office with our vote and their own performance. The only major reform we need to worry about is Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform. That is the reform that will solve many or our country's problems in my opinion.
RE: Bernie is truly America's
"Bernie is truly America's senator. Too bad so many people don't realize it."
Fortunately, those of us living in Vermont realize how fortunate we are.
Unfortunately, most of Congress does not feel compelled to represent the will of the people. In spite of polls showing how 'We the People' believe regarding the issues, they vote their own will upon us. Servitude requires a frightened, uninformed, uneducated population. So far, they are right on schedule in creating such a citizenry.
In my opinion, many of opur country's problems could be solved with term limits.
War for territory! How long should we see this? This world will collapse soon because we are looting the world properly. Please stop blood shedding
Petra g ~ You're most welcome! Feel free to comment on anything you wish. We are not myopic here.
To everyone ~ Especially those who signed the petition to repeal The Monsanto Protection Act that I linked to above thank you as well. Since I posted the link the number of signatures climbed from 88% of what is needed to 91%. I feel confident that at this rate we will have enough signatures to put the Amendment up for a vote by Monday. If you haven't already, please sign the petition.
Petra G -- Not only papaya, I thought no GM products were allowed in the Eurozone. I remember in the Heathrow airport there was a restaurant that advertised they served no GM. When we were there in 2011, they no longer had that advertisement. That is when I was told there are no GM foods allowed in the Eurozone, so they no longer needed that advertisement.
From my readings most of the commercial papaya in Hawaii is GMO. I hope small indepent farmers use NON-GMO seeds.
Like you, I too grew up with a full garden of vegies and berries. The taste of fresh picked is the best.
"Genetically modified papayas are approved for consumption both in the US and in Canada. Several Asian countries are currently developing transgenic papaya varieties resistant to local viral strains.
At this point, GM papayas are not approved in the EU. Until now, no application for approval has been submitted. Therefore, importing and marketing genetically modified papayas is not permitted in the EU."
http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/14.gene...
Thank you Dannemarc...Yes, I'm still not sure how to access other topics and comment on them...I'll figure it out eventually.
Obama reportedly backs Monsanto & urged the court to stay out of this case because it could have implications for patenting other products that can reproduce in fields likee nanotechnology & genetics.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has proposed legislation to repeal 'The Monsanto Protection Act' in an Amendment to the Senate Farm Bill. I urge all to sign his petition at:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/monsanto_protection_act/?sp_ref=2195658.4.125.o.1.2&referrer_akid=8053.6860497.mZWW0M&source=clickcopy_sp
At least one week - preferably a month, like in Europe.
douglas m and MMmmNACHOS ~ That doesn't surprise me either. While growing up my father and I always worked our own garden at our house. The food we grew always seemed to taste better than the food from the store. When I was younger I thought that was just my imagination telling me that because of the sweet reward experienced when you create something with your own hands.
Recently, however, I traveled to Hawaii where I went on a road trip with several friends around the island of Oahu. Along the way were several roadside stands selling fresh Papaya, Pineapple, and Mangoes. We bought several bags along the way and ate them in the car. The taste was at least 3 X's sweeter and stronger than any such fruits I've ever purchased in the mainland. I couldn't believe the difference. These Papaya, Pineapple, and Mangoes tasted better than the sweetest candy.
It's no wonder we suffer in this country from so many catastrophic eating disorders when our fruits are so bland. If Monsanto is behind this phenomenon then perhaps they can also be held accountable legally, and financially, for all the health issues facing this nation as a result of poor diet and malnutrition? Certainly this is a reasonable course of action that deserves serious attention?
Interesting diagnosis Doctor. I must concur. It would also be this fact that is the root cause of all our problems as well. Could it be that a stupid electorate is worse than no electorate at all? It is interesting that you blame the airways for doing nothing about this situation. In my opinion, it is the airways who have caused this problem in the first place. Particularly TV. TV is the perfect device that lulls people--especially children--into a trance that makes their brains devoid of thought, and fixates their minds on glorified rubbish.
What treatment would you prescribe for this social ill? Separating the viewer from the box would be the ideal solution in my opinion. Banning all but educational programming during peak child viewing hours might be another approach. Unfortunately, such solutions would require such tight coordination between parents, children, airway controllers and their sponsors that I doubt we will see the light at the end of this tunnel any time soon. What a shame? The education of the masses would heal so many ills in our modern society. TV is the perfect means to accomplish that ends--if utilized properly.
That doesn't surprise me DOUGLAS M.
To add to your testiment, my brother did an experiment with a patt of Margerine and a pat of pure butter...The ants would not touch the margerine...They devoured the pure butter. Hmmm...Interesting Indeed!
Several years ago a friend of mine spent several months in S.E. Asia. Among the amazing places and new friendly faces he ranted on about the food, in particular the taste of raw peppers, onions, squash, beans, bananas, etc. He said the flavours were brighter and more tasty. This was do to standard Organic Farming techniques and the use of unadulterated seeds.
In my opinion I say Screw Labeling!!!Instead we should demand better; BAN the practice and use of GMOs...STOP MEDDLEING WITH MOTHER NATURE!!! Anything else is a bad compromise...Diminishing Expectations.
I think they have rebuild everything again. ANd maybe there are already any new building too. Glock parts
It can attract many people to visit your site. Most of people are searching for news and information. Glock parts
You should grow it in a smart way. So it will good for everyone around you. Glock parts
You are so right, that is correct, Nancy O. Also consider not buying their products. After all consumers are financing their operation.
Have you ever tasted a gmo peach or other produce. They are the most god awfull tasting things.
You cant even hold down one bite.
Regular milk/meats versus organic growth hormones steriods antibiotics,
I have cats from a country that doesnt use substitutes for real food and the cats wont eat out crap food, they can actually tell the difference and wont eat it. My own little test one day i did one day.
The American public suffers from mass stupidity...you know it and your your friend Papantonio's been courageous enough to refer to it openly, but nothing will be done because of who's controlling the airways.. (The producers of COM.com.). You guys are the best and thanks,
Tony Cohen, MD.
Uhhhh, please, the next time, write before your twenty martoonies.....
Thom
I've differed from you quite often, but this is so very important. Deserving of all of your powers to put, spread the word of MONSANTO's greed, control and their destructive manners by using their big, deep pocketed money to screw farm owners! Their product to me is as destructive as any nuclear bomb! Please keep their nose to the pavement and attack them with every ounce of your mite and your team of investigators!!!! thank you man!!!
What bothers me is that when gas was 25cents a gallon wages are still at that level but gas increased 16 times that as has almost all food and other necessities. Wages should be increased the same!!
Another thing is we had an anonomous senator introduce a bill that exempted monsanto from being prosecuted of ANY wrong doing from even the superior courts! Since when can a sleazy senator hide behind anonimity? And even place it in a bill that had nothing to do with this to begin with? WAKE-UP PEOPLE!! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT DONT HIDE THEIR SLEAZY ACTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE!!