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You are absolutely right! However, as a wise man once said, "You get what you pay for." We got stuck with this mess because we either participated in the voting process recklessly, or we didn't participate at all. The vote is as good as it gets, man. It is how we legally abolish our government that becomes destructive. It is the means in the Constitution that the founding fathers put there to ensure that no destructive regime will be able to remain in power indefinitely. It is all the power we need and can afford. Like I said before, if you expand it beyond that then you have an unstable government that can be attacked by anyone for any reason.
Don't get me wrong. I've been looking at what has been going on in the last 40 years just like you have. I have 10 more years than you watching this sad drama play out. In that time I witnessed the horrors of the Vietnam war--both here and over there. Be glad you missed that!
Democracy isn't a preferable Government because it is easy; but rather, because it is hard. It levels the playing field between the rich and the poor and gives the masses a deciding advantage. Dismantling Democracy is exactly what the rich folks want us to do. Don't fall for it. Pure Democracy is the domination of the wealthy few by the poor masses. It is the enemy of the rich. That is why they pour so much money into destroying it.
Stay calm and be clever and together we can easily wrestle back the reins of our Government. The wealthy know that and want you to act out. Then they have a reason to get you. They are overwhelmingly prepared for all sorts of nonsense. You're only hope is to reorganize and rock the vote when it comes up again.
Exactly...Sacrafice...My generation - I am 41 - as well as my parents generation (those reaching retirement...Baby Boomers) have no clue what it means to sacrafice. My Grand Parents knew first hand about sacrafice.
If we truely want to stop the evil and vicious cycle of kicking our problems down the road for future generations to suffer by, then...THE BUCK STOPS HERE!!! We need to take responsability for being selfish and greedy, and hold those accountability that are corrupt and commit fraud by buying off government, just so they can live a luxury life and pass the bill onto the middle class.
Don't get me wrong, though I am one of the 99%ers I am not so delusional to think that our countries economic and social issues is to be blammed entirely on the 1%. I believe WE ALL are to blame. 99% + 1% = 100% accountability...This is the "United" States of America. Now I will further say that "Joe the Plumber" didn't collapse the housing market, then again there were ALOT of people signing morgage loans that they themselves knew they could not affoard.
Should a Capitalist System have a certain amount of regulation???The last 30 years is your answer to that question.
You are definitely right about that my friend. Perhaps that is the one great National service the current Administration and Congress will serve--to permanently discredit both currently dominant political parties; and, open the floodgate of opportunity for all the other political parties and their candidates. They might avoid the need to match the vast money vested on the mainstream parties by waging their candidacy through the Internet; such as, posting speeches and debates on Youtube. Perhaps the greater mass of voting citizens will jump ship and rally around a new party candidate just like you suggest. Perhaps a similar mutiny can occur with all our representatives in Congress as well. Without a doubt, my friend, that is what I intend to do. It certainly is worth a shot.
I used to "think" (and I use that word loosely) it would be great to have a Constitutional Law Scholar in the White House; but now, I'm 100% in favor of a Doctor, Teacher, or Scientist taking that office instead--especially if he knows how to say, "No."
I "kind of agree" with you regarding voting...Yes everyone should get out and vote! BUT look at how the "Democratic Process" has been basically hijacked by Corporations that are working hard at dismantleing the U.S. Constitution and diminishing the Rights of We the People. Are you really going to sit there on you fat ass and think "voting" is our only saving grace? Where the fuck have you been for the last 40 years???Living the American Dream!?!? Well open your eyes and wipe your ass...We the People have a moral and ethical obligation to alter or abolish any government that "becomes destructive" of the principles set forth in the Declaration Of Independence; The EQUAL RIGHT to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
No we don't need to take up arms, though we do have that right, however as Gandhi once said; "an eye for an eye and soon the whole world is blind", but he also practiced Civil Disobedience, and Non Violent Resistence, and in doing so, prevented two wars and motivated an entire country to take back their Independence from the heavy oppressive hand of England. Was it as easy as voting???No Did it happen over night???No. But in the end it was England that had innocent blood on their hands.
Actually Kend, no, I don't mind my taxes doubling one bit if it insures everyone has access to health care and preventative medicine. I also expect that no one will have to declare bankruptcy, sell their house, or plunge their children into debt for the rest of their lives just to pay for catastrophic medical expenses. Kend, do you ever think about anyone other than yourself? Aren't you willing to sacrifice a little for the betterment of other members of your society?
You can say that again. Luckily, I wasn't drinking anything when I read David Abbot's post or I would have got a snoot full too. Kudos on the Twain Report Dave! You really should be writing for Colbert.
You can say that again, too. I sure am getting sick and tired of all these phony scams and scandals this ineffective "Soda Jerk" (as Ken Ware calls him) allows to happen. He's clearly playing all of us as a fool. I hope we have all learned a lesson about voting in a popular Dufus at a critical time in history. Right when we need another Theodore Roosevelt to go in and crack skulls together and take names we have a passive bipartisan Howdy Doody dancing on the end of strings to the tune of an unseen puppet master. I want my vote and my money back!
Sure, we might be able to find a legal way to do that. The only problem is that if we do the Billionaires will use it as well when it suits their needs. No, my friend, as much as I agree with you, I think it best to leave the Democratic process the way it is. At least that way we protect our Theodore Roosevelt the same way Howdy Doody gets protected. Chock it up to a very expensive lesson and vote more wisely next time. The vote is the best and only way to rock the houses of Government!
Well MORED...I don't think the U.S. should use Canada as an absolute model; though I, and millions of other Americans, would rather see 50% of our taxes go towards a Universal Healthcare System, instead of the Pentagon and unnecessary/illegal wars.
A better model to study and draw from - and I am speaking from personal experience - would be Australia's Healthcare System. Some how they have figured out a way to provide quality medical service without having to wait for months, and emergency wait times are on average less than 8 hours.
Heck, I was in the ER - here in crapola U.S.A. - last year with a broken leg..I waited 8 hours before having an x-ray, and an addition 3 hours before getting a cast put on; by the time I was released...Put it this way; I went in just after breakfast and left well after dinner time. Then, since I do not have Insurance, I received 3 bills a months later totaling $14k. I am basically having to pay $10/month until it is either payed off or written off. I will say they did offer me a 60% discount...But only if I could pay the balance in full. Sorry but I don't have a whimsical $6 grand stowed away. I'm one of those average working shleps that is luck if after I get my morgage, utilities, and car insurance, paid can afford to put food on the table for my family of 3...And that's with two incomes!
If you want the inside truth about our corrupt DEATHcare system look up Wendle Potter, a former VP for Cigna Helathcare turned whistleblower...I have read his book, been to 2 of his lectures, and have heard many of his interviews...What he is revealing...I am surprised he hasn't been - as Eric Holder would say - Nutralized.
What baffles/frustrates me is that WE (you, me, those people down the street) are ALL living in the Information Age...We are ALL negatively affected by greed and corruption yet it continues to go on. Why, I ask, are We the People not rising up against Corporate America? Why do we (well majority of Americans) continue to ellect (Left and Right) less than par Leaders, and Representatives. Why do Americans "think" (I use the word loosely) that we need "Buisnessmen/Lawers" running the country. Haven't we seen the writing on the wall!?!? What we need in government are more teachers, scientist, doctors...true representatives of our communities that have a "family invested value", not just a profit intrest by any means necessary.
HOPEFULLY OBAMACARE IS a foot in the door to national health care - but for now it is an attempt to serve two masters at the same time - the public who need it - and health care CEOs, who each have a half dozen presidents, two dozen vice presidents, and the investors.
Just who do you think did the lion's share of this spending? I'll give you you a hint, it's the same group your Tea Party has been hoodwinked into supporting. Look up the facts, it's real easy.
Has anyone heard of the military organization called F.E.A.R. (Forever Enduring Always Ready), which was started by a few soldiers in the U.S. Army.
Just yesterday (5/16/13) I was listening to a community radio show out of Tampa Fl. (88.5 wmnf) and they were interviewing two parents whos kids were assisnated by 5 members of this organization. One of the victims was in the Army and the other victim was his girlfriend. It has been reported that they were both killed to prevent them from reporting to authorities the organizations plans to assisnate President Obama.
Apparently not because I just heard that 70% of the people are still in favor of Guantanamo, so the media is doing a really bad job of covering it. Actually I think I heard that 70% figure on The Big Picture just last night.
OFF TOPIC...Here in Florida a election propaganda bill has been put on Gov. Dick Scotts desk. What's it entail??? A $400.00 cost, to anyone who challenges a Photo Traffic Camera Violation. This would be in addition to the 186.00 ticket. Of course if you win you only pay court fee's...Key word being "IF".
Will he sign it??? Of course not; Dick is running for re-election. The bill is merely a campaign tactic to make the Crome Dome look good...Like he feels are pain and understands our frustration.
He was actually in my town yesterday...Well my town but not my neighborhood; which is made up of average working and out of work middle class Americans. No the Dick was - of course out of touch - rubbing elbows with rich elitist at the Lakewood Ranch country club.
I HOPE Floridian's don't get fooled again! Lets "Get To Work" and run this limp prick out of office.
GLOBAL, it is so typical of a Neo-Nazi Tea Bagger - to be clear I am talking 'bout you - to forget...Romney was first to put pen to paper when he was Govenor and wrote a healthcare plan that Obama pratically coppied.
That being said you are correct; "Obamney Care" is not good for Americans...We want/need a Single-payer-medicare-FOR-ALL healthcare system.
Just because my wife and I, and 100 million other tax paying Americans, are not rich enough to afford Private Healthcare Insurance, should not mean that our health and wellbeing is any less valuable. NO AMERICAN should have to worry about going bankrupt or being denied medical treatment, just because they can't afford Healtcare Insurance.
Had a Universal Health Care System been in place 10 years ago my daughter would have received the treatment she needed and would be alive today.
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As a fully certified megalomaniac it is easy to characterize modern society especially those attracted to the new “Face book society” that America’s modern media rants on day after day, is the common core of Narcissism.
Commonly called Narcissistic personality disorder, is displayed in both political parties, predominant in the current Republican Party, but overzealous in the major media journalism. America has today what is called prosecution reporting, half the swastika now and the other half later.
Truly stands out in the former presidential election. The identity of the Severe Conservative counter balanced by the Severe Liberal, projected forward by Severe Egocentrism by both parties. Especially the economic group that knows the end is near.
Even Wiki defines the term and converges into *one percent* of the population. *You who* did you get that. Here trying to be funny and chuckling to myself looking at Wikipedia’s own definition that is striking but seems true. Really funny to think major non for profit think tanks spend all day blogging and editing Wikipedia while you and I sweat at our jobs they sip cocktails and dream.
The kicker to what is displayed so true;
“Egocentric people are unable to fully understand or to cope with other people's opinions.”
So after fifty years of media carping, here we go, to here we are, way screwed up. Ladies and Gentlemen of America it was said before and says it again the mainstream media via the one percenters brought America to where we are at now.
Bang on Mored, what I think the biggest mistake is doing at a Federal level. We do it at a provincial (state) level at least you can compare different states that way and see what is working and what isn't. Also every state has a different make up of age etc. So they have different needs. We do have a National act that the provinces have to meet a certain level of care though. It just seems Obama care was pushed though without a lot of though.
There are many topics here lately that I have been troubled by. Although I do think something needs to be done with the health care system, I'm not certain Obamacare was it. Unfortunately I don't have an answer. Kend is correct that 50% of Canada's taxes go to health care alone and they have 3-8 month waiting periods for MRI's, 3-18 month waiting periods to see a specialist and the average wait time in an ER is over 15 hours. That is because when the government pays for health care it has a limited amount of money and so the health care now needs to be rationed or the county will be bankrupt.
I don't think Obamacare will solve the problems it was designed to solve but I don't think the system in place now works either. Possibly a hybrid between Canada and US???
Although something needed to be done about the health care system there, does anyone know how you are going to pay for Obama care. You are 17 trillion in debt and you are going to add 30 million people to a health care system. In Canada 50 % of our budgets go to pay for health care. We are loaded with every kind of resource oil, gas, iron, copper, potash, diamonds, gold, silver, etc etc etc all on government land and we still can't afford to maintain our over burdened system. Start putting as much as you can in a savings account. Your taxes are going to double. You don't think the wealthy are going to pick up the tab do you?
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