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DeAnneMarc - Thank you and thanks to all of those who have spent their time and patience commenting on this blog. Not that my thanks should mean anything, I just felt compelled to say it. D, I hope you are 100% right concerning the timing of events I perceive will happen, for the sake of my daughter, grandchild and yours. The government can only strip away a certain amount of dignity and inflict only a specific amount of pain before those who have nothing and nothing to lose take the only actions available to them (violence) to make their voices and demands heard by the politicians and the powerful. Only by inflicting equal pain on those inflicting the pain on them, will change come in our society. It is true I over-react concerning the things that I am passionate about at times of crisis. But remember that our history is littered with events of violence because those who see themselves as nothing in the eyes of our countries powerful feel they have nothing to lose by acts of violence if it will make a change in the lives of their children they love, but cannot protect them from those inflicting the misery. If the powerful and the wealthy think that they and their loved ones are beyond the reach of those who will pay the price of justice to affect change, they will find their world crumbling around them in the future. I hope all of you find peace and happiness, but do not forget our brethren that are suffering on a daily basis due to the actions of the afore mentioned in this blog. (The bastards who would steal from the elderly and young, those who cannot defend themselves from the greed of the wealthy and politically powerful.)
I apologize to you for any comments that were offensive concerning our physical and cognitive abilities, I crossed the line of civility only because I felt somewhat slandered by assumptions concerning my age and abilities ruffled my feathers. Unfortunately for me I am somewhat vain concerning the efforts I have made to maintain my health and hang on to my abilities. Also, I am sorry if I made Alice feel threatened to the point she could not handle my style of commenting. She certainly had no problem expressing how she felt about my thoughts and attitude concerning most issues! (HA!) Have a good and fruitful life.
ABC Marginal Radio News just reported that ole Paulie boy and his party are going to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a better plan. You go Paul Bachmann! How dare ABC soil the Ring of Fire broadcast with such amateur newsbreak crap. What a contrast!
Always remember, SCIENCE is one of Gods greatest gifts!
MMmmNachos Wrote: "I say you two strip down greese up and wrestle! Who ever win buys lunch. ;)"
Thanks for cracking me up MMmmNachos.
Ken Ware: All your points are well taken. Especially the part about my physical condition. I'm limited as to how much I can work out by a congenital problem received at birth. As far as lunch is concerned that sounds like a plan.
Let me begin by saying you are right in foreseeing a potential Revolt coming. What you are wrong at is the timing. Any revolt will only succeed with the support of the vast multitude. Right now too many people are complacent to risk their comfortable lot in life. Not to imply that will not change in the near future.
As far as President Obama's Puppet like actions. I can't disagree with that either. This is why it is so important to exhaust all alternatives before resorting to violence. CLM hit that right on the head. As you mentioned we don't have a chance getting our representatives to listen to us as long as Millionaires and Billionaires can exercise free reign over their Campaign Contributions. For this reason I submit to you that no revolution will be possible to succeed in this country till we struggle to enact legislation for Campaign Finance Reform and fail completely without hope. Until that legislation is fully exhausted the multitude will not take to the streets because their lot in life will not seem hopeless enough. In addition, the full brunt of the currently drafted Austerity measures will have to be upon them for motivation. Just as it was in Greece. Just as it was everywhere else. Till then let us focus on cutting the strings of the Puppet masters. You'll get your Revolution in good time if that fails. You just need a little more patients.
As far as your opinion on my physical condition goes... Well, you might just have inspired me to start power walking. If it pays off, Thank You!
KEN WARE...I know where you are comming from, and I agree with you that if "The People", (the commoners) truely want to - for the first time - establish absolute independence and assure the EQUAL right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for ALL future generations, then The People must be willing to give of themselves...Sacrafice...Take a stand and let out a BARBARIK YAWP!
Where I donot agree with you is that The People will have to
refer to violence.
Now I know that your upbringing "trainning" - along with 100% of the Ameican population - think War is the Answer to resolving our problems and establishing Peace...Talk about your oxymorons!!! History actually teaches us that this philosophy DOES NOT WORK! History shows us that War begot War begot War...Underminding the virtues of a truely liberated and peaceful world.
There are many actual nonviolent actions weaved through out this violent history that have successfully accomplished waaaaaaay more than bombs and bullets have ever acheived.
The cost of war, not the dollars and cents - though that is certainly a factor - will always cripple society with the illness of a false sense of liberation, leaving a foggy notion of peace.
But then you may be right...Life is cheap. Maybe our greedy egos have allowed the U.S. government to reach to far and become to powerful to the point that the commoners who refuse to cooperate will just be squashed like pesky little nats, and replaced by those who will grow up reading about the Greatest World Corporation...America. The history books will continue to be written biasly with great "corporate war heros" - remote control pilots - that flew drones into battle and dropped bombs on all those that no longer were willing to cooperate with the corporate bottom line.
However it goes down I will stand and let out my BARBARICk YAWP! For I am but a human no different than you, and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
Love,
MmmmNachos
QUESTION: What is wrong with the world?
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Answer; Corporate America.
Question;What is wrong with the United Staes of America?
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The answer my friend is reflecting in the mirror; the answer is reflecting in the mirror.
Men are best represented by ACHIEVEMENTS and women are best represented by CELEBRATION.
Sure it is great to celebrate, especially men’s innovativeness, and achievements such as that when a crew of airwomen first piloted a plane. In this case, as it is with most, even if only a very recent achievement, one cannot help but see how these airwomen are living their celebration in the past, back when thousands of airmen developed and flew airplanes; among these creative men were the ones falling to their deaths, in order for all to learn and to make it safe for women to fly airplanes later, therefore availing the very achievement, to women as well. When women celebrate these sort of achievements, it would be fair for them to celebrate men as well.
Women are better than men. There I said it. However there is ONLY a single ground where women are truly better than men, and that ground is:
COMPETITIVENESS
Women are much more competitive than men. For example, many women have even provoked men to compete with each other. As another example, women boxing training and competition engage extensive emotional involvement which is not seen in men who practice this sport. If - in an absurd manner - men were the only inhabitants of the earth, competition would certainly not exist.
Electing more women would NOT make our nation better because women are highly competitive (especially among themselves) and the nation would LITERALLY be then called:
the Divided States of America
Cheers ALICEINWONDERLAND, It was something.
I too will be signing off for an indefinite amount of time. Got bigger and better things to do. To be honest I have grown quite synicle of this site as well as bored with the same old rants. Reminds me of happy hour; After the 3rd cold beer everyone begins ranting on about what's wrong with the country...The Lefty's pointing fingers at the Righty's and vice versa...And there is a Ken Ware, Palindromedary, DanneMarc, (Thom Dick and Harry) in every bunch. Oh and don't for get Norm.
As for everyone having some grand idea as to how to fix the problem, be it a hostle over throw or peaceful voting...No one sticks to their guns...They just roll over and caste a fear vote then create silly Avatars and blog on!!! Blog & moan...While the takers keep on taking.
The frog is cooked!
cheers
I say you two strip down greese up and wrestle! Who ever win buys lunch. ;)
HA!!! The late George Carlon loved that phrase: "near miss"!, along with "seat back forward", "Preheat"...
Palindromedary - I owe you an apology for saying you come off with a pious attitude like D A M. I apologize for the comparison and the comment. We all make mistakes. With the exception of some of the conspiracy theories that you share with others and they may be true, we do seem to agree on many subjects. At this time I doubt anyone would consider that to be a good thing! K.W.
DeAnneMarc - It is apparent you have not even bothered to read the Sequestration Bill. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are exempt from any cuts. It is the cuts in social programs for the poor, elderly, young and the schools that bother me. Coming from someone with no apparent military service and a great fear of the Government concerning free speech I will overlook that part of your comment. As far as canes and walkers, I have seen your video and it appears you are also against physical exercise and proper eating habits. I am 6'2'' in height and weight 205lbs. well within the healthy benchmarks. I power walk 150 miles a month (5 miles a day) and do light weight lifting every other day. My blood work for lipid panel, liver, kidney functions and blood pressure are better than most 40 yr. old males. Not blessed with health, I work at being healthy my young friend. An AK is not my weapon of choice, I use an AR-15, 9 mil semi-automatic and a .357 mag revolver with a 6 in. barrel and I am very proficient with all three. Any time you are in Southern Cal. I would enjoy buying you lunch at the beach and we can have a friendly competition along the strand (the 7 mile running area at the beach) to see who is the most physically fit regardless of age. From the looks of your video there would not be much of a match. Also there are several web sites that we can take I.Q. tests and test our cognitive abilities, again regardless of age. The point being is you seem to talk the talk; can you actually walk the walk? K.W.
The time has come to REVOLT!
CLM - You have almost twenty years on me and I am sure you hold your opinion in high regard. Sir, we it was evident to me that in 1984 that if we continued to sign free trade agreements with other countries with a lower standard of living our society was doomed to and it would only be a matter of time before the middleclass of America would only be a memory. My feelings toward Mr. Obama are that he is a sell out and is not any different than any of the Republicans in Washington that do the bidding of the Wealthy and the Corporations. The man you hold up in such high regard is pushing the T.P.P Free Trade agreement with countries all around the Pacific ring and I believe he steps to the orders he is given by his wealthy political donors that helped him barely win the 2012 election. I hold this President in a high level of disdain and mistrust. There is no possible way I could have you level of experience in Business and I respect you for that, but it does not take an Einstein to see what has happened to our country and will happen to our working class as long as we allow politicians from the Democrat and Republican party to sell us out for the benefit of the wealthy and the corporations that presently run this country through threats of financing a politician to run against any them in their primary election. As you well know money runs our political system and the drug of choice our politicians are hooked on is political power. The greatest fear our politicians have on both sides of the isle is the thought they may have to relinquish their power if they represented the interests of the citizens of our country versus the Billionaires, Millionaires and multi-national Corporations that financed out last federal election. The Attorney General of California (my home state) confirmed they had uncovered a money laundering operation in Arizona that was funding the opposition of a bill to help finance our schools with a minimal increase on the wealthiest in our state. They almost won with their illegal laundering schemes, but the people prevailed and the bill passed to save our schools. Now this man who you hold in such high regard is in part responsible for helping to craft the Sequestration bill that will force Austerity upon the poor and the middleclass Americans for the next 10 years. He promised transparency to the people who voted for him and his administration has been one of the most non-transparent administrations I have known. He refuses to release any information concerning the T.P.P. agreement he is pushing through for the Corporations and the Wealthy. So sir, yes I do blame this President for many of the woes we in America have experienced and will experience due to his lack of leadership. As far as Syria goes and their civil war, I believe the actions we will see in America will be more along the lines of what the Spanish, Greek and Canadians done in trying to make the government listen to their needs and demands. As I have mentioned the citizens of this country would not last against our military and our Para-military police in any type of lengthy uprising. I am not foolish enough to openly advocate violence against our political system and the Corporations that actually run this country, but I can foresee a time in our near future where the citizens would form their own Para-military militias to engage the police and military in civil riots and destruction of Corporate holdings. Combined with massive non-violent protests in all our major commerce centers across our nation, causing financial loss for the Corporations is a scenario that is very plausible. Again, I as a citizen am not foolish enough to ignite such scenarios through my use of free speech or lack thereof, but yes I believe if the Government continues to inflict pain through these Austerity measures they call Sequestration, there very well may be a violent response by the citizens of our country. Obama and the Democrats and Republican politicians who helped craft this horrific legislation are all responsible for putting the costs of "fixing" the deficit on the backs of the poor and middleclass of our Nation. No I do not like this President and would be happy to legally contribute anything I could to see him impeached. I hope these comments answer your questions. I realize I may not have answered your questions in a manner you are familiar with, but I am just an average American that does not have your education or experience. Having said that I do not agree with your analogy of what has taken place in America and Obama has done very little to improve the so called "mess" you mentioned he inherited. Thank you for your military service and your comments based on your education and life experiences. K.W . P.S. Due to your age I will refrain from commenting on your remarks about my rants and the need for counseling. Don't confuse my overwhelming dislike for Your President and the corrupt political system we presently have with ranting, I call out the criminals the way I see them. But, next time I will rebut your comments in like manner. It appears you Liberals think every comment needs to be sanitized to make a point legitimate. Change is on the way, prepare for it because it will not be a sanitized version.
Damn it happened again!
For some reason this site printed my comments twice, I probably hit the wrong botton. So I erased the last copy and left this note!
KEN WARE: Mr. Ware, you seem so strongly against the President and the political system that I would venture most people of maturity would suggest you may need some counseling. You have every right to rant on about anything you wish to do but may I suggest you try to find some points of merit in our badly functioning system? I too have my days when I would enjoy grabbing some of these grand standers by the nap of the neck and shake hell out of them; however, when I see the political systems extant in the other 180 or so nations in this world, I often thank the founders for their hard work, flawed though it may be at times. As a 76 year old former veteran of five years service, I think the military has its proper place: Under the control of civil government and limited in budget and power commensurate with known threats to our nation. I do not think we should be prancing around the world doing Bush wars on credit cards. The congress is clearly dismally corrupt as you state; however, what is your do-able plan to fix it? Myself: I think we need a Constitutional Convention to change the money trees and the apparent ownerships of Senators and Representatives by various businesses and associations. Term limits accompanied by public financing would be nice. These two alone will end up killing our democracy unless we gain control over them. The Supreme Court is so far to the right that we must make some changes. How can a justice sit on the court for his entire term a hardly utter as sound? How can we justify equating money to personhood and giving the dollar the right to vote? President Obama was legally elected twice and was drop kicked on day one in 2009 by an enormous and grotesque financial system failure that has staggered the nation. Do you think Obama was responsible for this mess? I sincerely hope not. As a guy with 3 college degrees two of which are in business disciplines, I think it sad that this man has had to do what the mess has forced on him. I have carefully examined his major initiatives and find that he continues to effect changes to put the nation back on a sound, rock solid foundation rather than the sandy mess we have been in for the 40 years prior to 2008. My business experience, both domestic and international tells me that we have given away our manufacturing base of high paying jobs; allowed about 400 banks to become damned near criminal in their operations and at least 10 need broken up. Obama created the Consumer Financial Protection initiative that is a hopeful sign that the common man finally has some help. His Jobs Initiative was buttonholed by the rotten Teaparty right congressmen and would have allowed work on much needed infrastructure projects all over the nation: He was stopped dead by the budget cutters,most who have never read a page of Keynes. Well, these issues come to mind as comments a person with your apparent rancor might consider. Lets hope there are no civil wars or major riots that you allude to. I would encourage you to read some on the Civil War and consider whats going on in Syria as an example of the carnage that can result. Find a little pleasure in life; it comes just once.
Until the Democrats are the majority in both houses AND the White House, America's at a standstill. Non-Republicanazis defaulted in 2010 by allowing the White-wing party a majority. If you take what they give you, you deserve what you get; It's common knowledge.
DeAnneMarc - Do not confuse age with inability. At 60 I am in better shape than most 40 year olds. Cheney had no problem destroying Iraq and Afghanistan at his age, even if it was a stupid thing to do. Most senior officers in the Pentagon are over 50 years of age. The wise direct the inexperienced in this country. But, I am sure your flower waiving and pats on the back of your fellow commenters will go far in changing our society. It is a shame people like yourself with the capacity to think would actually support the Fascist in the Whitehouse. Do you really think the politicians in Washington stand around and encourage those with an opposite point of view to sit down and have a drink or a beer as we commoners generally consume. Yeah, they are political enemies who try on a daily basis to assasinate each other politically. The idea that everything will be okay if we just hold our breath long enough and click our heels together is why we are in this mess we have to deal with today. I find it odd that those who have never had to experience war are so fast to hug their teddy bears and dream of better days, while condemning those who have put it on the line. The biggest mistake this country has made in modern times is doing away with the draft and breeding young people who have no idea what the reality of life is actually about. For those of you who cannot deal with the realities of life today and want to run and hide in an illusional state of mind, good bye and good luck. Those of us who see the reality around us will try to change the state of affairs that inflicts the fangs of pain into our people and nation. At least outback see's what is happening and has prepared himself for the events that will come about in the near future. I find it sad that our younger people have this habit of hiding from the reality of life and believe the people in power will make the right decisions for them. So my younger friend besides breathing the air around you and having a free ride on the backs of those who have sacrificed for this nation, what have your contributed and sacrificed for this nation? I think I have the answer by reading your comments. As far as the President goes I have made so threats against him or his regime in Washington. But I have made it clear that he has been a worthless politician who has made decisions that are for the benefit of the wealthy and the corporations, like the T.P.P. agreement he refuses to share with this nations politicians and the people who elected him into office (I was smart enough not to vote for this political abscess on the backside of our nation) and believed he would be transparent and truthful with the citizens in our nation. So go spread your fairy dust and click your heels together three times and maybe you and Alice will find yourselves back home in Kansas, safe and secure. As I have said before, if you do not like my comments because you feel threatened simply contact the person in charge of Hartmann's web page and have me banned. I can understand how younger and weaker people have a problem with anything that threatens their bubble of security. Again I would like to state you should never be so foolish as a younger person to believe age has anything to do with a person’s capabilities, especially since you have a habit of kissing up to others and making excuses for yourself. I am giving you just a simple word of advice, since you feel you have the right to advise others on their conduct. Just to clue you in, WE won the war in Vietnam, the poiliticians gave it away to the North because they were tired of playing. K.W.
To: Aliceinwonderland
(Human) existence stands capable for the promotion of INDIVIDUALITY and of compatible UNIONS; not for adventurous generalizations such as are found in expressions of the type "patriarchal world", hammer-wielding men, (gender) equality etc. A woman is much more powerful, intelligent, amazing, beautiful if she values the work given by a man’s guidance. A man is also empowered greatly by a woman who follows him.
I don't understand all the dem-rep smearing (basically name calling) endeavors. The Democratic Party is just a branch of the Republican Party, as far as I know. Am I wrong?
Regarding “To answer Thom's question, I think I'd answer in the affirmative.”
A trick question (like Thom’s), which presents only AFFIRMATIVE answers as "options", can only be answered (suspiciously) with affirmative.
AIW ~ I hate to be responsible for you're departure--especially since KW will probably claim it a victory and gloat. Don't think my attitude toward KW's abuse is a weakness. I have a thick skin. His words bounce of it like gentle flakes of snow. I refuse to give him the pleasure of like response because I know that is what he wants. Any such engagement would be pointless and nonproductive. So I ignore it. I'm less likely to apologize for anything I say anymore unless I think a correction is in order. If I apologize for offending someone its just a polite way of saying, "TOUGH S(Grits). I've always liked your Avatar. I think it looks like a thoughtful woman who had to turn her back on what she saw. Don't we all? The Barret makes her look like an artist and a rebel. Nice touch! You will be sorely missed! I hope you return soon!
KW ~ Don't think I'm trying to put words into your mouth. From what I understood you already wrote your letter to the President. Your funeral! I'm just saying their is a better way to get your point across and make a difference in this approach than copy and pasting your psycho-babble. Quite frankly, whatever kind of a solder you may have once been you make a piss poor leader. I'm trying to offer other members of this forum a constructive approach to your idea--one that won't get them tossed into Gitmo. As far as trying to incite a revolution over cuts in Medicare. Go ahead! I can't wait to see your troops all lined up with canes in one hand and AK-47's in the other. Oh wait, here comes the walker brigade, followed by the wheelchair battalion. Where's General Ware? Oh, he had to go back and look for his teeth. It's a shame you weren't here during the war in Vietnam. Then you would have seen what a real pre-revolution looks like. Oh, but where were you? That's right, you were doing what you were told by tricky Dick Nixon. Very good! What perfect experience to lead the revolutionary forces, Sir! You sure are a funny man!
Why must we fight Congress, our elected representatives, for our civil rights, and why the antipathy politicos and CEO’s show to unionization? Because Congress does NOT act in our interests, and employers busting unions do NOT want workers to have better working conditions, higher salaries or better lives. Both Government and Business oppose the worker. Why does our government support dictators? Why do our industries move to countries known to be police states? Why does our government support the murder of peoples’ advocates? Why oppose unionization and workers’ safety?
It’s in their economic interests to do so. It has nothing to do with freedom, democracy or rights; it has everything to do with money and therefore power. International economic institutions like the World Bank and programs such as NAFTA* have been engineered to benefit the G-8*, WTO*, IMF*, International Banking System, politicians and the haute of the world, not the lower classes, about and to whom they pay exquisite lip service and little else.
“There is no Western …concern for issues of aggression, atrocities, Human Rights abuses and so on, if there’s a profit to be made.” Noam Chomsky.
excerpt from, "Ultimate Poverty, Unlimited Wealth; A Request for World Peace"<antigoldrush.com>
I am still hoping that dumbya's second term was jebbie's stolen Presidency!!!! Twelve years of that bunch was twelve years too many. Sixteen or Twenty years of subjugation to that familial crime syndicate would be unconscionable.
I wonder why Obama doesn't start every speech about the budget with the line 'Social Security is solvent, why would we mess with a program that works!' 'Social Security is off the table, let's start with programs that don't work like no-bid contracts and auditing the two wars'. BTW Chained CPI will cause untold hardship on many Americans, from what I understand...the printing of money given to banks at 0 interest will cause inflation and Social Security in essence will be drastically cut with the Chained CPI. Any comment on that?
Palendromedary, I'm not acquainted with Plato's allegory (my knowledge of the classics sucks) but it sounds like a much more accurate description of conditions that prevail today than my little simple minded parable. As you point out in the part about the prisoners: "They could only see the shadows but really didn't have a clue as to what caused them.", this is where we are. The Paul Ryans of the world are just the "front men". I'm certain there are players far bigger and nastier than the Koch Brothers pulling the strings today, which is where my analogy breaks down. But it was intended to depict the "character" of the various players more than anything else.
Lest anyone (including the NSA) conclude that I'm an advocate of violent overthrow of the government, I'm not! What I see as a much more likely scenario is that "the powers that be" continue to tease the last of the wealth and quality of life out of a once great middle class until finally the system breaks. The food chain collapses, literally. When Safeway can't get the bread and butter we need for survival, chaos will ensue. It's in that context that I have advocated for private ownership of guns as a means of defending myself and family against the anarchy that will result. That's just prudent. And I don't think I'm being a "doomsayer" here as the signs of inevitable economic collapse are everywhere. So no, "the people" won't have to go out of their way to topple a corrupt government; it's doing that quite handily all by itself. And hopefully from the ashes a better society will arise (maybe with its capitol in Phoenix, PD?).
Allice In Wonderland, I for one will miss your frequent and unique commentary. I'd presume to give you a small bit of advice, young lady, and encourage you to try to say what you REALLY feel more frequently ;-D .... Adios.