Thom - - As a long-time listener (I think as far back as 2003 or 2004), I cannot tell you how happy I was to hear you discussing MMT (Modern Monetary Theory) on yesterday’s show. I discovered MMT a couple of years ago and it has totally changed my view of government deficits and debt. Once one learns and understands MMT principles, one realizes that most of the mainstream media does not know what it is talking about when it discusses government debts and deficits. They basically have it all backwards. That is why it is so great to hear you set the record straight. I would highly recommend that you book Professor Stephanie Kelton from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, as a guest to discuss MMT. I think she is one of the most articulate MMT proponents and is exceptionally good at explaining the basic principles in a clear, easy to understand fashion. She has recently been getting some radio airtime (she was interviewed by Sam Seder on his show and by Harry Shearer on his, among others) and even made it to MSNBC (on Chris Hayes’ show) to discuss the Trillion Dollar Platinum Coin. If you could, it would be great if you could devote a whole hour to her. I would also refer you to Warren Mosler’s ebook, “Seven Deadly Innocent Frauds” (link here: http://moslereconomics.com/wp-content/powerpoints/7DIF.pdf ).

Palindromedary, respectfully I think you miss my point. (Thanks for the sp correction on Kronos) I too like D. M. Murdock have looked deep into ancient beliefs. Perhaps not as deeply as she; but deep enough. This is my explanation for the reference.

Human behavior is natural. Anything natural obeys natural laws and therefore is predictable.

Ancient stories, religious or mythological can be perceived in two ways. The first is literally. In this respect they are 'superstitious' in a sense because they are elevated beyond the meaning of the plot of the story itself. In this respect the true 'moral' of the story can be lost.

The second way to perceive the story is as a 'moral' lesson in human behavior. In this respect we look past the symbology of the main characters and extrapolate the behavior in the story as potentially representing any one, or group, of us in a similar situation. In this respect the story becomes a tool of foreshadowing the events to come given a predictable pattern of behavior.

In this respect you can see that I wasn't talking about the Gods, but rather, comparing the actions of Kronos to the current paradigm. In such a analogy, Osirus, who was slaughtered by Kronos would represent the indigenous Indian peoples who originally occupied the US. Zeus, the son of Kronos, represents the future leadership that will 'come out of' the current Kronos leadership that exists today.

The moral of this Creation myth was that whenever violence is used to obtain power, it will in turn be overthrown by its own internal prodigy. The perpetrators will know this fact and become insanely paranoid and while in power persecute it's very own people. In the myth, Kronos--knowing one of his sons would overthrow him one day--ate each son as it was born. He threw his uncles into Tardes, the prison of the underworld. He also placed all his subjects into slavery. Sound familiar?

In my opinion, such ancient stories are valuable because they help to explain the human condition today. They offer valuable insight and understanding of that which defies explanation otherwise. They also help guide us out of hopeless situations by describing the natural resolution and the path to obtain it.

It is also in my humble opinion the real reason why these stories have stood the test of time. It's not so much there Religious significance, but there Sociological and Political significance. I might add, that it is because of there Sociological and Political truth, that these stories retain a Religious respect from the people in the past who gained from them and in turn handed them down to us.

I have also found that most great ancient cultural stories that stand the test of time share similar ideal truths expressed in this Creation myth. I humbly submit that when you say these cultures stole from each other you may miss the point that it wasn't so much a "void of creativity" that was behind the similarities of the stories; but, rather the similarities of human behavior that make the stories appear to be the same. Remember the FBI stories on TV on Dragnet? "These stories are out of the FBI files. The names have been changed to protect the innocent." The same could be said of these ancient stories. Human behavior is a constant. Change the names and the places and you get a great epic tale that stands the test of time. Any great author that is worth his/her salt knows this little trick.

George Lucas certainly did!

Not many people still alive to orally account for the dark ages of WWII. But if you happen to meet one of the few left go ahead and ask them about how benevolent or restrained the Japanese were.

Ask about how loving Germany was.

Not one of the Axis sued for peace untill there was nothing left but rubble.

To talk of history being written by the victors is a cop out and willfully ignores the full story.

There is not one country on earth whose citizens can advocate/participate in the violent overthrow of the state, in or out of the country, without putting a target on their back.

DAnneMarc: Kronos, in Greek mythology, along with all the other ancient mythologies..Egyptian.. Mesopotamian.. etc. are fun for us to read. But, most people isolate themselves from them because they are held to be the result of over imaginative superstitious people who had no other way to pretend to know the universe. We have our modern day superstitions and imaginative stories in an attempt to explain the universe that competes with scientific method. Some people can't, or won't, understand science so they resort to superstitious beliefs. Many don't even realize that much of what they hold to be 'truths' are really plagiarized from the more ancient superstitions. One early church father (this has actually been know for quite some time), upon trying to explain why the church teachings were so similar to the ancient superstitions so he explained.."the Devil made this all so to try people's faith." Sounds like perfect non-sense to me.

D.M. Murdock (aka Acharya S.) has a website called
www.truthbeknown.com

She is very knowledgeable about all of the ancient religions and how Christianity has plagiarized them. She has studied all the ancient texts in their original languages (being very fluent in reading those languages..Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and others).

DAnneMarc: Nice poem. Guess I am not quite so imaginative or positive about our future. I probably don't have much time left anyway to see a change for the positive. Everyone around me seems to be dying off..acquaintances, family members...I expect I will soon be next. It's hard to be optimistic...especially when I look back and see how fast time has flown and know that the remaining time will be even shorter. It reminds me of the opening scenes of the "2001, A Space Odyssey". One second you are born the next second you are old. But, I guess I am lucky, in a way, because I lived during a time when we made a decent living without the worries of medical insurance because it was part of the package of employment. Young people, now, may very well find themselves foraging for food in the alleyways and tearing each other apart to survive.

I'm just glad that I have been a little more fortunate than Delster. But most of us are just a rupturous membrane away from destitution and despair. Anything can happen unexpectedly that will change everything.

I agree with Pulladigm. Sounds good. At 64 years old I'm broke in a broken system. I've been self employed for over 25 years in an occupation that has almost become obsolete as a result of technology. This occupation used to provide a great income and supported myself and my family of six quite nicely. I have to admit I really challenged my ambition when I started my business and at the highest point I employed seven professionals with a living wage and equal benefits for myself and my employees and my landlord for the eight thousand square foot building I leased. I had a good retirement built up etc. When the technology took a turn then the stock market tanked I was without work trying to hold it together in hopes of a turnaround. When the value of the majority of my retirement investment was at an all time low I owed quite a bit of money. I was forced to withdraw my funds and pay my debts, lay off employees, and swim on my own. I was forced to get a second mortgage on my houe that was almost paid off. I went through a series of graveyard jobs to support myself in manufacturing, and security, limo driving on the weekends etc. until i was laid off and was unable to find alternate work. Cancelling my health insurance was my last draw but we just could not afford it anymore. Thats when my wife got thyroid cancer and diagnosed with rheumatoid

arthritis. She become house bound but not considered disabled enough for SSI. I had a triple bypass a year ago. I don't smoke or abuse drugs or alcahol and in fact am an amateur athlete. We have two disabled peope in our house including my 98 year old mother who can no longer care for herself. I make a living flipping cars, selling on ebay, and the occasional professional assignment. We get food stamps, pay around $800 per month for perscription medication. around $500 per month to our healthcare debt, and most months we can't make our refi payment on our home. We are on the edge all the time. My primary care physician has me on a regiment of anti depressants.

I apply daily for any kind of jobs. I have had a few interviews without success. One human resource person said, " honestly I'll level with you. While we can't desciminate on age, any modern corporation will not hire you based on your age and potential health liability. Now don't tell anyone I said that because I will deny it." Were screwed and I was unable to pay our house payment this month. Not sure what we will do. I've tried it all. I did the ultimate American dream, paid more than my appropriate amount of taxes, supported several families, and fell flat on my face without a future or a plan. Unemployable and destitute. My cell phone service was shut off this afternoon, and this will be my last email for a while due to internet service cancellation. Now some black hole from our nations sphincter muscle wants to endorse austerity while the 6 hour a week golf crowd wants to dance on the backs of the destitute. I say tax with proportional justice, and then convert to a national sales tax and abolish the IRS. Declare lobbying illegal with life imprisonment consequences, and require all elected officials to live within their poorest district on mimimum wage as long as they hold their office.

who in the World came up with these questions? very shallow minded don't you think.

This is an odd poll question. So far the only support he is getting is from the anti-gun nuts and not the other way around.

Other than that I think your fears are well founded. Remember the Greek creation myth with the government of Chronos versus the government of his father or the government of Zeus his son. Chronos was oppressive out of paranoia from his crimes. Your concerns are quite legitimate. It wouldn't be too difficult to defend from such an outrage with our armed citizenry. However, war in the streets wouldn't be too readily accepted by our 'spoiled citizenry' as you call them. The important point I want to make is to not loose site of the ultimate goal. A free and prosperous society. The preservation of our Constitutional Government is key in this goal. We must bare this in mind if we act beyond our private citizen status purview.

Not so fast Palindromedary. There is an Empire that hasn't been created yet; that, I believe will never 'fade away'. It doesn't exist yet but 25 years ago I wrote this poem about it. Let me share it with you.

MY EMPIRE

(By M. G. C. A.)

One day I will find an Island,

A land to call my own.

Here I will build My Empire

With people of every tone.

I will do away with Social Norms.

All crimes will be cast to sea.

Life will be a wonderous treasure

And My People will be truely free.

In this world there will be but ONE LAW!

This one thing all My People must do--

Is to always Love your neighbor,

As they will always Love you.

My Children will grow rich with Love

To this end I will surely see

They will tear down the Fences that separate them

And Unite their community.

Everyone will cooperate with their neighbor

To build a better life.

For every Father there will be a Son

And for every Man a Wife.

Unfortunately, I will be alone

For this Island I've already found--

It lies in the seas of my thoughts...

In my Imaginary Playground.

]~;^}> I like it!

Fighting tyranny is one thing. Killing someone in the process is wrong.

If he was fighting tyranny with non-violent actions, I would say that was a good cause. If he were blowing up empty police cars, throwing tea into the harbor, or something which got peoples attention, but did not kill or injure anyone, I could understand it.

I assume the NRA will be suggesting that all their members get their guns and go hunt Dorner. After all the solution to one nut with a gun is an armed mob.