Recent comments
ADHD: Hunter in a Farmer's World
Thom Hartmann has written a dozen books covering ADD / ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Join Thom for his new twice-weekly email newsletters on ADHD, whether it affects you or a member of your family.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
David Asman used Ron Wyden to claim that all Democrats must either agree with destroying medicare or be considered extremists. I would respond to that by pointing out the lack of unification in the Democratic Party, because we don't take away the personal freedom of party members. Republicans on the other hand are pressured into signing pledges and taking back statements of truth. (Remember the 24-hour turnaround in which Secretary. Rice said she didn't "literally" mean that the Bush Administration had made mistakes?).
So I'm wondering if they did away with the wand because most people would opt for that and not go thru those machines
The first time I opted out all went smooth. The woman was very nice but she asked me a very interesting question. She asked me if I preferred the groping or the wand of old. I said the wand of course did I have a choice? She indicated there was a choice made at some point between the two and that they were both viable. The second time I opted out a supervisor came over and asked why I was opting out. I said I didn't want the radiation exposure. He asked me if I was aware that I am exposed to radiation flying in a plane. My response to that was, so I should expose myself to more? He left me alone then and allowed the pat down to be done. Then the third time I was approaching the dreaded machines and I guess because of the last encounter I told myself to go ahead and go thru. Really not feeling very good about that decision I approached the entry and out of the blue the TSA officer asked me if i had a problem with the machines and I said yes I did and he waved me through! I didn't even have to be gropped! Go figure. I'll never go through those machines as long as I have a choice.
I opted out of the CPXray last year in southern California. When I told them I would not go through it, the man then put alot of energy into announcing to the rest of the people in line that the machine is perfectly safe. I presume he was trying to discourage others from following in my footsteps.
I had breast cancer this year so going through one of those machines was not ever going to happen. I was made to feel like I was an inconvienence and it took forever for them to get the woman tsa agent to me. During the grope she was very nice and I didn't make a scene, however it was not a pleasant experience (and I like women :) ). I used to love to fly. Not so much anymore.
Thom,
I, too, avoid the scanners completely and have been patted down numerous times over the past year of frequent travel. One time, the fellow was obviously tired of the nonsense and just let me go through the metal detector. Another time, this well-meaning but overly soliticious attendant let me know I could 'read the information' about the scanner, thinking that would change my mind and I would be a good girl and go along. I didn't need the information to know that I do not need a heaping helping of radiation -- my dentist has kept me well-supplied. It amazes me that people follow along like sheep. And, when I travel with my young daughter, she will also be skipping the radiation gift that the TSA has so graciously provided.
THanks for your great show,
Kathleen
When I had the option, I chose the lines without the invasive machines. Unfortunately I had to opt out from the evil machines twice during the holidays (Honolulu and Indianapolis) and get the "grope". The women both times were nice but it was still an intrusion. I told them I refuse to go through those machines as I do not trust that they are safe.
This 65-year-old grandmother got groped. When I mumbled something about the hefty TSA ladies violating my 4th amendment protections, the boss lady informed me that--according to a sign outside the security area that I had missed--I had renounced all constitutional rights by entering the area.
When I mumbled some more thoughts in French as I walked off, she yelled "What!!!" at me. I just said I was a crazy old lady talking to my secret friend.
I didn't notice any other passengers resisting the process. Sheeple everywhere.
I went through the Chertoff Porno X-Ray Scanner in Sacramento (and will likely get it again on the way back home). My answer is "Yes," I didn't feel like being groped by TSA.
I saw an article in the San Francisco Chronicle last week about Americans Elect. Thom talked about it last week and I can't remember the sources of money he revealed. Can anybody help?
Craig
That's sad. I believe Obama's and Holders career will be ruined, if they don't do their job. First step, appoint a special prosecutor.
MaryMary, We believe it's their job, but it never happens. Why not? I've been given the answer by an AG.
"Because too many careers would be ruined."
I think that taking advantage of anyone (and yes as a white woman I get taken advantage of by every business) should be a crime. As far as those sub-prime mortgages go, they tried to get me to take one. Of course, common sense told me that I could not afford what the so called "experts" said I could. A person taking a $300,000 mortgage on a $30,000 per year or less income is not very wise especially with high interest rates.
Bankers are not the only ones to blame for the housing crisis. The people taking out these multiplier loans seems to be people who never should have applying for a mortgage in the first place.
Party don't matter, Ron Paul will win because of who he is and what he stands for. Period
Good idea, but first they have to be indicted, tried and convicted. It's up to President Obama, and AG Holder to take the first step.
In the worst cases, prison terms for executives and public officials who commit impossibly serious banking and federal crimes, will generally mean mowing lawns on an air force base a few years while domiciled in a minimum security federal facility.
Considering the hundreds of millions in booty already stashed away before "the takedown," while waiting for parole, hundreds of millions is very good pay for a few years of groundskeeping, not an unpleasant occupation at all. Though law-abiding groundskeepers scarcely receive hundreds of millions for their time.
Instead, white collar convicts should be relieved of rider mowers and be made to clean up biohazards, suicides, and bloody drug related crime scenes, since their higher intelligence will make them careful at their work, less apt to expose themselves to a terrible disease. Such work may also show them the role of greed in social disease, and why they, as former "more fortunates" should be held responsible.
While the big financial institutions are definitely a big problem, so is our Congress! Why do our lawmakers think they can continue to spend and spend and spend beyond our income? It doesn't work for individuals, and it doesn't work for governments! I suspect it's already too late, but let's get on the right track! We Americans have come to expect our government to supply all our needs, and that's going to be the downfall of our nation!
Trying to make it work by selling sheepksin rugs.
Bank of America and all the other banks plus the wall street people should be in jail for a very long time and not the country club jail either. They should share the cell of all the other criminals. Maybe, they will learn something from being scared out of the wits.
I heard/read somewhere about 2 weeks ago that wind power is becoming a huge industry in Texas of all places. That says a whole lot. It's an oil state, but not as stupid as it's leaders want us to believe it is.
The 1/2 dozen or so self-admitted Liberterians that I know love the smoking dope part. Thom might very well be onto something here.
Tom, my friend the SNL produce says: "fyi: Trinity Church is one of the largest holders of commercial real estate in Manhattan, and it is The Vestrymen of Trinity Church to whom rent payments are made. I know this because our office for many years was in a Trinity owned building at 304 Hudson St. and I always wondered: are they are exempt from paying taxes? If you look closer you'll see the original deeds to the land on which their dozens of buildings sit are still held by the Anglican Church of England... which is technically helmed by yes, her majesty the Queen of England. As I recall, the Brit monarchy has some experience in dealing with nonviolent civil disobedience?" You should get his name & contact info from me and interview him.
The AG already let the CEO of Countrywide off the hook.
Stersource, I'm betting the Christmas ghosts with the loud clangy chains missed you again last night, better luck next year.
The photo was taken during The Great Depression, an economic disaster caused by a very human vice known as greed....WOW, it's pretty cold to be offended by this picture! Anyway FDR worked hard to ensure our generation would never have to relive the economic terror portrayed in that photo...... terror caused by a few who lacked self control.
Well guess what? A few people like Phil Gramm spun their webs and succeeded in bringing the nightmare back to life. We the 99% want to correct the mistakes created by their lack of self control, which will most likely enhance your quality of life as well.
By the way, via hard work my entire life, I happen to be pretty well off, but you know what, it's poverty of the soul I fear most!
Also, no one ever got rich without the sweat off a poor mans back!
......And I love camping in tents...but do not know of any indigenous people living year round in them... historically they never did in the Northeast.......where I live!......... Merry Christmas !
Nobody ever worked for a poor person. And the poster "give my dad a job" BARF Tell him to get off his ASS and go get ajob! Only in socialist countries does the gov't "owe" people a job!! and you, child, better learn that! We were just in vegas on business and a vacation. Big sign "On government subsistence (welfare) Free phone and airtime" Many of us are paying for these nobma phones!! GET A JOB!!!
Move out of the tent You are not an Indian!!!
Sadly, we’re just scratching the surface when it comes to how dangerous nuclear power is – yet we keep subsidizing reactors with our tax dollars. YES that is the case BUT, we have over 100 nuclear plants built in the 50's that have tons of stored depleted rods with no permanent place to store them. Those rods must be safely stored for 10,000 years until the radiation is depleted. That was the thing that made Japan melt down so horrible was the number of depleted rods just sitting in a water bath and no way to keep them cool. All current nuclear plants use pumps and require large quanitites of water to cool the rods. The three major nuclear accidents was caused by pump failure, Japan, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
Before you write off nuclear would it not be better to put research effort into utilizing that energy left in those rods. You and get C02 emission free energy while burning out that remaining energy. Take a look at what Terra power is doing and will be using waste nuclear . http://tinyurl.com/49ohg2c. The other option is Nuscale another small nuclear units http://tiny.cc/awu9s. Both do not rely on pumps.
In addition to the 100+ aging nuclear plants, we have aging coal plants that provide a large % of our electrical power in the US. They MUST be replaced with C02 emission free energy sources or face the worst of climate change impacts. Solar and wind are not energy intensive enough to do it. Only one large wind farm exists can equal the energy produced by a nuclear plan and that wind farm covers 30 square miles and the wind doesn't blow all the time.. The largest solar power unit produces enough energy for only 6,000 homes. The world wide damage and deaths caused by climate change extreme weather events this year alone has already surpassed the numbers of deaths listed in this column.