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bingo65 ~ Your fears are understood; but, your logic is flawed and irrational. If you surrender your constitutional rights to Government you create an entity much worse than anything you described. There are laws--federal if not local--and due process that can deal with all the issues you have mentioned. There is no private Army that can match the federal Army. Look at what happened to David Koresh and his followers. Not necessarily due process, but an example of what may follow when a search warrant legally obtained gets challenged. You have nothing to fear but fear itself bingo65.
Salt
I have been reading Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. It seems that the relationship between nutrition/diet and disease is not as straight forward as some make it out to be. Salt became the devil back in the 1970s or 80s when it was linked to high blood pressure. However further research found that the body (kidneys) can deal with excess salt except when there is refined carbohydrates mucking up the works. Sucrose, white flour, and other highly refined carbohydrates hinder the kidneys from removing the sodium and passing it in urine.
This research was done at least in part with people that were not living a 20th century life-style and were introduced to a more modern diet. When they started eating salt they developed high blood pressure and other related diseases of the circulatory system. What the researchers ignored and didn’t report was that people who aren’t eating salt are not eating refined carbohydrates either.
What I have learned about taking the word of the AMA or the USDA with regard to diet or anything (really) is that we cannot assume that they are correct. They are wrong more than they are right, and we must question everything—not unlike politics. So maybe salt is the villain this time, but I wouldn’t get on that bandwagon yet…
On the surface, absolutely justified. My hatred of drones is no secret. But considering the source, I'm skeptical of his motive. I agree with "agebel" that he was pandering to his base. This afternoon Randy Rhodes pointed out that Rand Paul was the ultimate recipient of money left over from his father's presidential campaign, much of which was contributed by liberals because of Ron Paul's anti-war position. So Rand Paul just might also be pandering to liberals in an effort to attract more contributions from gullible liberals. Frankly, I wouldn't trust the guy as far as I could throw him. - Aliceinwonderland
It is cause for deep concern indeed. I sensed it coming the other night when almost everyone on this blog agreed with each other on budget cuts. It was solemn foreshadow of things to come.
Now Republicans and Democrats on the floor of Congress agree to filibuster--the hard way--on a human rights issue against a nominee of a Democratic President? Now if that isn't a sign of the Apocalypse, I don't know what is.
I must say, current events are getting creepier exponentially. Stay tuned. I sense something is about to hit the fan; and, it ain't S(Grits).
Hi Thom. This is my first comment, but I had to chime in on the drones. You are right to be concerned . However, here in the South we have A LOT of anti-government types who are armed to the teeth, have extensive bunker complexes underneath their extensive McMansions. Law enforcement cautions that they are very, very dangerous. These people want another Civil War and will do "whatever it takes" to foment one. They think they are God's chosen people who are supposed to reign and rule over the rest of us. I would hope there is a drone hovering over each and every one of them, because if there isn't we will be the target. In a perfect world your comment that the courts ought to deal with people like this is right on, but they own the courts here. And I would not be surprised if they own drones. A decent person can not imagine what they are capable of. And someone has to push back against them. That is where our government comes in. Anything can be abused and misused. We all need to watch, but we must also realize that there is a lot going on that we do not completely understand.
Why are we pretending the Constitution still matters? Washington politicos have spit on it so much, the ink has been washed off of it.
I wonder what this country is going to look like after the coming revolution? (It's coming...no doubt about that.)
We can/could if people get out there and vote in mid-terms!!!
Somehow this drone policy, overseas, here, makes me tired. It is so wrong. I can't even believe we have to have a discussion on this.
Not only posse comitatis but what happened to the idea that violating a sovereign nation's airspace and dropping bombs or missiles on that nation's citizens, killing and injuring them is an act of war?
Something is rotten in DC.
Rand Paul was just playing to his base.
Is there a difference between the FBI ordering a seige on an armed encapement risking Law Enforcement officers and ordering a drone attack?
Preemptive attacks are wrong in the US or outside of the US. This administration has not done it yet, but the last administration did, and we can only hope the next one will not.
John Kenneth Galbraith a socialist economist ran to England where he helped screw up their health and economic system. He lived out his life basking in the warm embrace of socialim but somewhat sad that the U.S. did not buy into his brand of BS! We have now seen the light and are in a rapid slide into Greek style economic and finance hell.
try getting a civil trial if you have no money. In calif. you must pay a filing fee and also a $150 jury fee or waive it. victim taxation I calls it. Arggh. Then, every motion filed by the defense gets you a four month delay in many counties. terrible. two years to get to court recently on a PRIORITY case.
More importantly as to Washington: when you mix a cocktail of scalia, holder, obama and indifference, it gives you an acid that burns away the Bill of Rights. And people go right on watching stupid-ass tv shows (I should say "numb-ass") that pitch to our lowest common denominators. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND INTO THE STREETS TO PROTEST.
Regarding drones, the genie is out of the bottle. Drones are here to stay. They're cheaper to make, operate, and maintain than manned aircraft. More important, they don't place a human pilot in harm's way. Having said that, it's time now for public debate about the role of drones in US policies, both military and civilian. I consider most of Senator Paul's views to be ill-informed and off-base, but on this issue, he's on the right track. I, too, was dismayed by A.G. Holder's comments regarding domestic drone usage. We must develop policies and legislation, as needed, to make certain that this remarkable technology is used to benefit Americans, not to harm them.
Even a stopped clock is right, twice a day... I usually don't agree with Ron Paul's interpretation of the Constitution, but I have to say... I'd hate for any voicing of my disagreements with any political figure to result in a drone attack on my neighborhood, my home, or any other innocents around me at the time.
What happened to posse comitatis?
Think of the money that will be saved by not having to operate the court system. Post-Constitutional America offers us so much: like being freed from the shackles of due process, no search warrants, execution stays, Antonin Scalia being marginalized by not his doing, "saturday night massacre" being met literally!!!! What would Stalin, Mao, der Furhrer, Caligula, Genghis Khan et al think about this? They must be smiling, wherever they are burning. Hail to the Chief!!!! Did any of you ever think we would find common ground with Rand Paul??
Dear JLC,
Wow. Thanks so much for posting these quotes! I'm just beginning to look into MMT (modern monetary theory), and you've provided a great frame for my inquiry, from what I know to be reputable sources (exception: not familiar with Michael Hudson as yet), while answering a question that's long been on my mind. I'm not an economist by training -- I'm a physical therapist -- and you've just kindly provided me avoidance of what I'm pretty sure would have been a long series of nasty brain blow-outs. Ever since the financial crisis of 2007, when conventional economic pundits started feeding us this garbage about how it's all too arcane for us to understand, I've felt that had to be a lie perpetrated by those who of themselves either did not understand what underlies the issues, or, had a vested interest in keeping the facts hidden. Most problems are simple enough when distilled to their essential elements, and explained by those with a sincere desire to educate. Simple enough for most, with open minds, to understand. Now, on to your links.
All the best to you, JLC... (and Power to People of Integrity)! Keep on keeping on...
Thom - - You mentioned economist James Galbraith the other day. He would be a great guest to have on. Here he is explaining, in his inimitable way, why Wall Street hates federal budget deficits:
“To put things crudely, there are two ways to get the increase in total spending that we call “economic growth.” One way is for government to spend. The other is for banks to lend. Leaving aside short-term adjustments like increased net exports or financial innovation, that’s basically all there is. Governments and banks are the two entities with the power to create something from nothing. If total spending power is to grow, one or the other of these two great financial motors–public deficits or private loans–has to be in action.
"For ordinary people, public budget deficits, despite their bad reputation, are much better than private loans. Deficits put money in private pockets. Private households get more cash. They own that cash free and clear, and they can spend it as they like. If they wish, they can also convert it into interest-earning government bonds or they can repay their debts. This is called an increase in “net financial wealth.” Ordinary people benefit, but there is nothing in it for banks.
"And this, in the simplest terms, explains the deficit phobia of Wall Street, the corporate media and the right-wing economists. Bankers don’t like budget deficits because they compete with bank loans as a source of growth. When a bank makes a loan, cash balances in private hands also go up. But now the cash is not owned free and clear. There is a contractual obligation to pay interest and to repay principal. If the enterprise defaults, there may be an asset left over–a house or factory or company–that will then become the property of the bank. It’s easy to see why bankers love private credit but hate public deficits.
"All of this should be painfully obvious, but it is deeply obscure. It is obscure because legions of Wall Streeters–led notably in our time by Peter Peterson and his front man, former comptroller general David Walker, and including the Robert Rubin wing of the Democratic Party and numerous “bipartisan” enterprises like the Concord Coalition and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget–have labored mightily to confuse the issues.”
Michael Hudson makes a very similar point here:
“Mr. Obama’s first fallacy is that the government budget is like a family budget. But families can’t write IOUs and have the rest of the world treat it as money. . . . . . [E]conomies need government money to grow – and this money is provided by running federal budget deficits. This has been the essence of Keynesian counter-cyclical spending for more than half a century. Until the present, it was Democratic Party policy.
"It’s true that Pres. Clinton ran a budget surplus. The economy survived by the commercial banking system supplying the credit needed to grow – at interest. To force the economy back into this reliance on Wall Street rather than on government, the government needs to stop running budget deficits. The economy will then have a choice: to shrink sharply, or to turn almost all the economic surplus over to banks as economic rent on their credit-creation privilege. . . . . The reality is that running a budget surplus would increase interest rates, by forcing the economy into captivity to the banking system.”
And then there is Prof. Galbraith’s excoriating testimony before the Commission on Deficit Reduction back in 2010 found here, which is well worth the read (particularly section 5 and section 9): http://www.nextnewdeal.net/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/deficitcommissionrv.pdf
I didn't vote because you gave me no option with which I agreed.
Why don't you ask if we believe Republicans can be blamed for the thousands of deaths of our military and those of ordinary citizens when war was declared on Iraq? Why don't you ask why Iran became so powerful after our troops killed his worst enemy, Saddam Hussein? Why don't you ask how many military lives are saved by the used of drones in the Middle East?
Progressives always talk about presenting the FACTS. If you believe in this, then gather those FACTS and print them. Whatever makes you think a US President would target US citizens in their own country is beyond me. I don't think this would ever happen!
Definitely agree on this one in total! Except, to be a little picky...sorry...but 'yeilded' should be spelled 'yielded'. (i before e, except after c) I know, no one is purrrrfect (perfect)!
The DOJ, ie: Attorney General Eric Holder, is a wimp when it comes to prosecuting really big criminals in our banking system but a real tiger when it comes to prosecuting someone like Aaron Swartz. How can you say Chicken Sh1t any better than Eric Holder and the entire Obama administration? They go after whistleblowers and truthseekers but they let the real scumbag criminals get away with anything and everything all the while pretending to be on 'our' side. (I know, I misspelled a word or two)
Here in CA we have an I-Bank for distressed education districts. We are trying to develop a state bank with a new "green" financial sector. A new west coast stock echange. This green sector will sell any instrument that contributes to the green economy. A financial transaction fee will be earmarked for converting all public commons to new conservation technology using green energy.
I greatly admire the new senator from MA. She gave Bernanke a grilling on the long time for change under Dodd. Why are there still "too big to fail" entities? His response was it takes time. Will a drop of water at a time wash away greed? I say dismantle the ones too big to fail now. Never allow for the powerful to hold a gun to our economy ever again.
What has me scratch'en my head...The people cast their vote...The Dem's won the ultimate position...President of the United (not divided) States of America.
Step aside "Bonner" your party isn't in charge. Sure you rule the house and senate but it is the People (voters) by which this country belongs to.
Maybe if you can get a halfway intellagent sane republican candidate for 2016 you can have your cake and eat it too. But for now the People of the United State of America want a stronger social agenda, and a smaller budget for the Pentagon.
And Mr President...Grow a pair and start fullfilling the expectations of those who elected you President. I'll give you a clue as to who the majority of those people are...you won't find them on Wall St.
I wrote my senator Boxer after watching Bernie Sanders do a most wonderful filibuster speech last year. I asked her why don't we make it law again to actually require speech to filibuster? I am glad that this might actually happen? Phuket News
cuts down on how many times they can filibuster a particular piece of legislation" ??? Sounds like just the opposite, somehow. It would be good to know who supported what. Phuket News
Portland and it is no longer on the air. Almost simultaneously with the elcetion of President Obama to his second term, Phuket
We must stop them in all of their efforts before people take to the streets. Or maybe I should say barricades. Phuket