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Thom, I was listening to the Ed Schultz radio show which airs right before you on WCPT Monday through Friday. He spent quite a bit of time discussing how some Democratic members of the U.S. Congress, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, are up in arms about the passage of the payroll holiday extension because it is depriving Social Security of much needed revenue. As I listened to this, something dawned on me at the very end of Ed's show. The purpose of the payroll tax holiday is to stimulate consumer spending, which in turn stimulates business, which in turn stimulates hiring. If this plan works (and it seems to be working some), then we have increased the pool of people from whom the payroll tax (FICA), which pays for Social Security, is collected. So if we're decreasing each person's contribution by about 2 percent, but we are increasing the number of people contributing, are we really depriving Social Security of money it would have collected? Or is it merely collecting the same (or nearly the same) from a slightly different source? I mean an unemployed person doesn't have FICA withheld from his or her paycheck because he or she don't have a paycheck. So if we increase the number of people taking home a paycheck and thus the number of paychecks from which FICA is withheld aren't we replacing the 2% that is not being withdrawn from someone else's paycheck by withdrawing the amount we are taking from this new employee's paycheck? I'll be listening for an answer. Thanks. Keep up the good work. - Miguel
One more data point from your caller's question - my family are now permanent residents of Canada while I toil in the silicon forest and send my paychecks over the border. We started the process back when it was obvious the US couldn't win two wars without a draft, and my boys were that age. Now we see that winning was never the goal - what a surprise.
- Clark
5 Justices created a "special" class with "special rights. These special class (Scalia's words) of corporate entities can spend as much as they want without constraints for it is a violation of our rights not to hear them? They get a big voice while we get a little voice. There are no "special" class of people in a free society. For our supreme court to create one is a misread of our constitution and subverts the very essence our forefathers tried to prevent from happening. To allow a ruling upper class to control us is a direct attack on our democracy.This would be like allowing the Torres to take over and control our politics after the revolution. We must amend the constitution to reign in this power grab by the republicans using a handful of people on the supreme court. Move to amend .org is a first step. To be more comprehensive we must add 2 more justices, 3 six year term limits with the last one a re-appointement requirement, and strict restrictions on conflict of interest rules.
The 5-Minute Speech that Got Judge Napolitano Fired from Fox NewsPosted on February 17, 2012 by WashingtonsBlog
Kansas?! ..... Well, at least you will have a lot to post then here and it might be very interesting....
I met an African-American on YouTube who lives in the south. He's mainly home-recording and I have to add improvisations. But he complained some about politics down there too and I'm going to use of those facts here....
The right-wingers already seem to own our bodies and decide contraception or not. Now they own our brains too? And if we say we don't wanna have our brains washed they sue us or what?
They should send their curricula to those who have been homeschooled. They already got a brainwash and are used to that kinda nonsense.
I am vraiment Canadien and opposed to the pipeline.There are few jobs, huge environmental risks and we need to get off of skanky fossil fuels.The smart grid would be the largest infrastructure project the world has ever known.We need a National Energy Policy to keep prices down while we wean ourselves off.Cars should be banned from our cities.Vancouver is adding 20,000 cars a year to the city streets and not 1km of road.Gridlock is inevitable.Sure some of Vancouver's suburbs have room for growth, but the Fraser Valley is some of the most productive farmland on earth.I worked on 5 stations of the Canada Line subway.It's a 10 lane super hwy condensed into one.You can go from the airport to downtown in 17 to 21 mins; 3X faster than by car and probably as fast as a helicopter.We are acidifying our lakes, rivers and oceans.Carbon monoxide is taking a decade off everyone's lives and who wants to see another BP rig disaster?No one in my 400 unit apt can even have a car, the parkade is deserted, theft and vandalism are endemic.The parkade is 95% vacant.My scooter was vandalized twice and stolen.I'm taking the bus now.
Be careful what you say about Heartland. On their website--the Heartland Institute says it will SUE anyone who damages their reputation. So much for free speech--I guess only the 1% can afford it.
I think that the State of Montana will prevail. The U.S. Supreme Court has a fight in their Court. The state of Montana has rights in the subjective. The State of Montana is not ruling above the U.S. Supreme Court Law, but is making a legal decision according to their mandate and is being subordinate to the law. The decision of Citizens United sets the stage and the state of Montana limits the decision according to their sights. In other words, you have every right to cross the street, but you cannot “Jay-walk”.
Rockin' good news! Glad I ordered a rare American made product. Haven't got it yet...maybe tomorrow or Monday. BirdlandMusic seems to be a little slow at getting out their shipments..ordered it on the 8th and got a notice that they shipped it on the 13th. I found out that they are a one man operation. The owner runs it. So much for a glitzy web page.
Yeah, I really don't know what the heck I'm going to do about O....I like him but....??? Not like the world is hinging on my decision anyway. The world will either continue to exist long after I do...don't know what state it will be in...Kansas likely! "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtains!" Oh, well, I have been playing some of my old Swing music and my lips are getting better. I think I'll find my "We're off to see the Wizard" sheet music.
I can understand why a rich person would vote Republican because the Republican Party supports the Rich, as evidenced for example, by the low tax rates for the privilaged. But I cannot understand why a poor working person would vote Republican against their own best self interest or against my best interest unless, of course, they fall into being ingnorant or cruel.
"...without looking at the real world consequences of such a ruling..."
This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what SCOTUS is doing. They know perfectly well what the real world consequences are going to be, and that's the whole reason behind the ruling. Do you imagine they care so much about free speech that they've ruled this way on the basis of principle ? Do you imagine that the huge advantage that this gives to the Republican party is just an incidental biproduct of a philosophical stand that they feel compelled to take for the sake of logical consistency?
How about Bush vs Gore? Do you imagine for one moment that if D and R had been reversed and Gore had been momentarily up 600 votes that they would have ruled to "stop the counting"?
DRichards > You are quite right, as we watch the money talks, oh "I mean, show unfold. " Who is Ron Paul! Just A courageous radical, so do not pay any attention to that man behind the curtain.....
!
The supreme court got so strong because congress is not setting the rules, as the constitution says they can. Also the Constitution was passed,rattifyed, and can be amended by a 2/3rds vote. Is not a 5/4 vote UNCONSTITUNAL?? JUST PASS A NEW LAW, With the preamble " corporations are not people, but to allow them to own property, we give them limited PERSONHOOD. Therefore.................
Petition for Redress of Grievances
We believe this Petition for Redress is the right thing to do, based on the founding precedent and our First Amendment rights.
A petitioned that you reverse citizens united v federal election commission 130 S.Ct.``76 (2010)
We the people have the inalienable rights endowed by our Creator. And rights codified in the United States Constitution.
· We are entitled to life, liberty, and property, free speech.
· We have the right peaceably to assemble, consider our grievances, petition the three branches of the Federal Government; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory and proclamations, defamatory declarations, and commitments against the same, are illegal.
· We the People of the United States of America, do claim, demand, and insist on, as our indubitable rights and liberties that the federal government must be answerable and accountable to the people; which cannot be legally taken from us, altered or abridged by any power whatever, without our own consent.
We through Congress have given limited personhood to corporations. And being there creator, entitle them to own property. Any other entitlements should never exist, at least not until a corporation can be jailed, executed, or die.
Therefore it is petitioned that you reverse citizens united v federal election commission 130 S.Ct.``76 (2010)
Whatever the SC decides to do, we probably won't hear much about it on the Corpse NOOZ. But, it oughta be interesting. The right Blats continously about ":state's rights" in terms of discrimination, but I doubt they'll pay much attention to THIS.
Still, it is obviously a challenge to the Constituionality of bribery and high crimes and misdeamenors of all public officials. That this was EVER decided so broadly is tantamount to a corporate cou.
I think the Founder's missed a couple of lines in the constituion about the Supreme Court. Way too much power resides with these people. Of course, that was why O'Conner didn't want a Democrat (Al Gore) to appoint these "Justices" it was all part of the NWO plan
I'm afraid Tom is correct, but I would like to hope that the supreme court has the seen error of its way and that there will be changes in that decision.
Probably I should say: "Noooooooooo, you won't vote for O...!!!"
By the way, I got answer from East Chicago on YouTube: Humes & Berg still manufacture there.
This is mainly a southern issue, it won't ever effect progressive states.
I had a pretty close friend in Tennessee, whom to discuss with was like communicating with the middle ages -- homeschooled Baptist. She was brainwashed alright. Finally I was so fed up, I dumped her and told her she was allowed to contact me again in case she would come to senses. But frankly, I haven't any hope she ever will.
In this minute I decided to keep out of southern affairs. I will never understand that mentality. All I can do is tone down this comment, which sounded pretty tough this morning.
Palindromedary > Very aware of that fact. Sometimes one has to wonder who gave science the right to make a doomsday bomb, And So, without our consent or approval ? "Testing too? And than again , Some say, boys will be boys! Eye will be looking at party's outside the box too. Ron is about the only honest one in the bunch. What will it hurt to stop these insane war's/ Ron Paul does not know verything, and I do not agree with evrything he says, But stopping the wars is big in my book, and a great way to start our recovery. Paul has gone against his own party many times. Paul stands by the constitution. This system as we know is not perfect. Eye for one would like to see the war stop, and perhaps a chance again will arise to work things out.. Did you ever go to Las Vegas, Where Millions of dollar's are throw away very minute from one player for fun and for a relaxing time! Some May lose 100 millions in one day ! That kind of money could run communities to be independent and have a secure life for everyone plus the kids. Lets not vote on the chatter . Look at their voting records.
In today's show you talked about how progressive news doesn't get into enough areas of the country, mostly due to commercial radio network decisions. One of the exceptions is the station I listen to, KPOJ in Portland. There will be an opportunity to get more progressive programming throughout the nation coming up this fall. The FCC will be opening a window (of opportunity) for applications for Low Power FM stations. These will all be non-commercial stations. Those eligible to apply include community groups, educational institutions and religious organizations. The educational institutions and religious organizations have good networks to let their constituents know about this opportunity and to help them prepare their applications. In fact, there are many religious networks that will completely prepare the application and use the name of the local church to make it look like a local entity prepared the app. That leaves the community groups. How do they find out about this opportunity? There are some organizations (but not many) across the U.S. who are working to do outreach to communities to let them know about this opportunity. This is a big country with LOTS of admirable groups who would put progressive programming on the air...if they know about the window. So, why am I telling you all this? I would like to see you have as a guest someone who knows all about this LPFM issue and the upcoming window. Brandy Doyle of Prometheus Radio Project. Brandy is located in DC as her work is policy -- lobbying Congress and the FCC. The main Prometheus phone number is 215-727-9620 in Philadelphia. Her email is brandy@prometheusradio.org. Through your affiliates your signal reaches many communities. Many potential applicants hear your show. Speaking of affiliates, I will remind you that I am the wife of Michael Brown who put you in touch with Ursula Rudenberg of Pacifica. You can contact me if you need more info, betty@c-map.org.
One-two punch! Great show today:
1.
Thomas Linzey from Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) on the municipal rights-based civil disobedience movement.
2. Rick (Staggenborg) from Coos Bay on the Pledge to Amend project.
This is a controversy like smoking being bad for your health. At least with smoking it was the people who smoked (or were close by) that suffer the ill effects. Now all of us will suffer.
Democrat/Republican = TweedleDee/TweedleDum ...stooges for the ruling elite.
Ron Paul is Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, All these man have the qualfications to lead us from this Quagmire we are facing today. > Business insider Ron is Secretly Taking Over GOP~http://www.businessinsider.com/ron-paul-maine-caucuses-gop-takeover-2012-2