It's true that it was Bush's housing bubble but Obama had plenty of chances to bring the culprits to trial but instead gifted trillions of dollars to the banksters. It is Obama's responsility now as he choose to "look forword, not back" and he is part of the same crowd. The economic crisis is manufactured and can be remedied by putting the banksters responsible in jail, fining the banks real fines, re-directing a trillion or so dollars to the people/states that need it rather than the approximately 21 trillion given or "loaned" to the Goldman Sachs of this world. If the Federal Reserve can dole out so much to so few it can also help the American people.

The "progressive" liberals lifelong dedicate themselves to the (D)evil ensuring that no good ever comes from elections; they deploy their Art of the Possible to prevent every change needed; and they insist upon glacially slow incrementalism thereby making a sick society sustainably sick — their corporate party compliant complicity resulting in the creation of a permanently sociopathic society — then they complain about the product of their depravity, and worry about damaged individuals responding to it.

It's obvious that the surest way for Americans to MoveOn further into the far Right is to get more of the corporate party's Democrats elected.

Now the reactionary Democrats are eager to disarm the public, while they continue to militarize the police, they routinely launch predator drones to remote-control murder any "suspects" suspected of resisting invasions and occupations, and their "Justice Department" hounds peaceful internet freedom advocates literally to death... while providing banksters legal settlements to protect them from prosecution.

The Devolution of Liberalism:

http://chenangogreens.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...

Dow I guess you did't my comment after only 6 years a bus driver makes $29.00 / hour Plus benifits. That is far from a minimum wage.

I have some faith that business can, when pressed hold costs to a budget and make some hard decisions. However that limited principle, does not justify total deregulation with humungous corporations in collusion with government (the worlds largest bureaucracy) -- serving only themselves at the expense of the workers and people.

IF we are to run anything as complex as the US country, it must be run intelligently with all sectors doing their share, using their best skills, with respect for other sectors, within overall best-practice principles.

Any well run project, involves many sectors, all similarly critical to the success of the overall project. We can not have any one sector serving only itself at the expense of the whole. That simply doesn't work for the overall best result. Without Workers, Management and Finance for example can achieve nothing -- all sectors are essential.

Where necessary, intelligent regulation or procedures must maintain balance. That's where Government should serve the whole, rather than only part or itself.

It's rather frustrating to see some people vehemently oppose doing anything about a real tragedy, while my employer decided to heighten security over a non-event. All that happened is someone sent an e-mail that sounded kind of threatening, but a police investigation ruled it non-credible. So why did the company decide on extra security measures? Because, as Thom's promo soundbite says, they're terrified little people.

The beauty about gun liability insurance is that it would be a perfect "free market" solution. If you have easily accessable high capacity weapons, kids, and mental issues within the family (including the kids), then your rates should be $1000/mo, otherwise a responsible person with a weapon for security kept in a safe might have rates of $50/mo.

Tough cookies if they attack him for acting like a king! Obama had better damn well start acting like a President FOR THE PEOPLE! If he can't stand the heat then he can leave office!

In other words, do what the People hired ya to do. Any consequences to his position are his problem not mine - if you do what the People instruct you to do, you get my vote, if you don't you don't get my vote. I am sick and tired of letting the country take it on the chin to protect the career of our President. Tough cookies, if his "acting like a king" makes it uncomfortable for him at his next cocktail party in the Hamptons.

He will only be a dictator to the Tea Party 25% that would critize him for curing cancer.

I did a little fact checking. They start at $14.00 but in just 6 years there wage more then doubles to $29.00 plus benifts. The bus budget has exploded from 100 million in 1979 to a whopping 1.1 billion today. It costs the city of New York $6,900.00 per child per year to bus them. On an average children attend school just over 200 days a year so that about $35.00 per child per day. That is the problem. Hire Bain Capital and I bet they get that cost down to $20.00 / day no problem LOL. But just think it cost the city of New York $20,700 to drive a family of Three children to school a year. No way more then the benifits wait we still have to buy the bus, insure it, put fuel in it tec etc. If you add up the 12 years each child attends school that is $248,400.00 plus plus then add inflation. This makes me wonder how much the real costs of education is all in. We just took them to and from school. WOW

In retrospect Palindromedary, I must agree you are right. The burden does fall on me to provide support for my theory. Unfortunately, as you suspect, I have none. My idea is based on the fact that proving mental illness is caused purely by organic causes and nothing else is also impossible. The mind is a complicated thing that we know very little about. The concept of the Soul is far more elusive.

I base my theory on knowledge of the Bible and Nostradamus prophecies, the historical fact of the infamous Reagan Presidency which perfectly fulfills many of these ancient predictions, his prioritized Executive actions once in office that make no sense for any other reason, as well as the evil consequences of those actions not only for the immediate victims; but for our Nation as well. I assure you my faith is based on reality and not superstition; although, I can see clearly how you might misperceive me. I agree that we may never know whether this theory holds any water, I merely press it because it neatly fits the facts we do know and explains clearly what is going on as well as what we may be up against.

Whatever the case at least we both agree on the solution to the problem--REINSTATE PUBLIC FUNDING OF MENTAL INSTITUTIONS.

I respect your atheistic point of view. I spent 10 years in a Catholic school. Before I went there I was a devout believer as a child. After 10 years I became a confirmed Atheist myself. I demanded to be put in public schools. Never regretted the decision. I put my focus on academia for the rest of my school tenure. I attended College in San Francisco and saved money by commuting there by motorcycle.

After graduating in 1987 I started trying to get my career going. At this time I began what can only be described as a Magical Mystery Tour. My girlfriend, family and other friends experienced it with me. It involved a chain of coincidences that would overlap, interconnect and wouldn't stop. Everything I did to avoid them only lead me to more. I began to realize that my life was being manipulated. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that a powerful, intelligent, creative, and benevolent force must be behind what was going on. It was scary and exciting at the same time.

The whole experience lasted till October 17, 1989. The third game of the Bay Bridge World Series and the Loma Prieta earthquake that I'm sure you are familiar with was the finale of that year and a half long experience. After that it abruptly ended. I haven't experienced any such events since. By the way, if you have ever suspected that the World Series of 1989 was something of a peculiar series of coincidences, you are right. The Biblical implications of that event are off the chart. Believe it or not, ancient prophecies throughout the Bible were fulfilled that day--all at once. Most Theologians haven't processed them all yet. LOL I wrote a poem about that day called "Candlestick". I'd be happy to share it if anyone is interested.

That's a topic for a completely different discussion. Suffice it to say, I love baseball and am a huge A's fan. That particular year was a dream year for a baseball fan like myself in the bay area. However, I was so distracted that year by my personal experience of coincidences that I didn't watch a single game of baseball. No, not even the World Series.

It's hard to convey the impact that experience had on my life or what it actually was. Suffice it to say, it fully restored my Faith with a vengeance. My faith is a personal one and not affiliated with the Church. The Church drove my faith out of me as a child and I refuse to take part in it as an adult. I don't need it. No one does. In my opinion if you have to go somewhere outside your house to find God you're looking for something else. Besides, the idea of hanging an image of the Son Of God on a cross over an alter creeps me out! Always did!

I apologize to you and everyone else who reads my comments when I refer to scripture. I don't do it lightly or as a result of superstition; although I am aware how it can be perceived and accept that. My only intent is to help shed light and share my perspective with everyone. I assure you I do not intend to covert anyone. I don't have anything to convert you to anyway. You can do or not do that on your own. Personally, I'd prefer an honest atheist to a devout hypocrite any day.

To me personal Faith is a private issue. I do try to keep mine as private as I can, but sometimes I need to cite sources to give sage advice. What you do with it is your business. That's between you and God. Please forgive me and take it for what it is worth to you. I hope I didn't offend! Thank You!~DAnneMarc

Late to the party but-

A response I posted in the Washington Post to an article about Gov. Cuomo's newly passed gun law may be of interest.

Reasonable people should be able to own guns but I don't want to be getting into a gunfight every time I leave my house.

I'm more concerned about low self esteem and irrational fear when it comes to guns and the threat they present.

When we get beyond the warlikeness of our society, we'll all be safer

War is not the answer

Thanks Thom for the good work you do