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Re Occupy & Trinity Church: You don’t need to be religious to understand -and embrace- the idea that "Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." But many of the 1%, in blind greed and endless schemes, have forgotten this. They have closed their eyes to what the word "society" should really mean, what it can mean. But due to Occupy Wall Street, we are finally talking less about CUTS and more about BLEEDING. Instead of demanding m-o-r-e budget cuts -to be borne by the middle class and poor- we are FINALLY focusing on the shameful bleeding that the poor and middle class has endured, for all too long. Instead of talking about even m-o-r-e cuts in the taxes of millionaires....we are now talking about fairness and justice - about an economy and a political system that is increasingly run for the rich, and by the rich. Instead of talking about LESS government, we are talking about a government that WORKS FOR ALL OF US, not just a favored few. Thank you OWS, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter, and for helping open our eyes to what’s going on in this country, and why. The attempt by OWS to occupy Duarte Square (the empty lot owned by Trinity Church) is much more than a plea for sanctuary. For like Zuccotti Park, it’s an attempt to carve out a protected space, a living conscience for the city, amid the repression. A refuge...in a city where control-freaks would sweep us under the rug, and out of the way. In a city where they would pen us in, and permit us to death. In a city that tells us to “move on, move on”..... you don’t belong, you don’t count, you don’t have a right to be here...don’t assemble, don’t block the street, don’t trespass, don’t EXIST! They would deny us, deny our lives, deny our very futures. IF WE LET THEM. But OWS responds, both in word and in DEED: it says we’ve had ENOUGH - we BELONG, we STAND our ground, and we DO matter! This IS our land, and we want it BACK! The word OCCUPY...says it all! That’s why OWS has captured our imagination. That’s why a living breathing OCCUPIED public space is important for OWS. Like Lady Liberty’s never extinguished torch that burns in our harbor, OWS needs to have a concrete, persistent, in-your-face presence.. ..to continually remind us of what we’ve lost, of what we are, and what we can be; a protected place to affirm, to illuminate, to defy...and to inspire. Trinity Church, with its oft-proclaimed ideals (and its huge land holdings), should look deep into its collective soul, do the right thing, and help OWS secure a sanctuary. Not merely a space of refuge, but one of hope, non-violent change, and compassion. And dare I say: a space of love - love of country, love of your fellow man and woman, love for the poor and oppressed. Can thoughtful Christians argue with these simple Christian / human values? For if Christ were physically with us today, as He was 2000 years ago, He would be among the FIRST to climb those fences, and occupy Trinity’s Duarte Square. Of this I am certain. Let us pray that Trinity Church -and others -hear the call, and respond. For the old ways are not working....
Everyone should check out a video on you tube. Perfect song for us 99%ers. The band name is 'The Mysteries Gone' and song is 'Poor Mans Lament'.
... So now Bank of America will dish out a couple hundred million dollars to make the crime go away – and not one executive will go to jail for robbing poor people.
Thank You President Obama, and Attorney General Holder.
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Berni or Thom : Can Medicare order its pharmaceuticals through the Vet. Admin. so that the VA can negotiate the drug prices instead of paying exhorbitant prices directly to the manufactures? Dan Grifka DDS.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
I think we've seen the tip of the iceberg with the Republicans caving into the Democrats for once. I fervently hope that people will wake up in time for the 2012 elections and get rid of all or most of these radical extremists that were voted into the House in 2010. They have done nothing but impede any progress to get us out of this recession, or depression?
Just curious if the $335 million "settlement" to the federal government was paid for out of the bailout funds provided by the tax payers...
Maybe not hard left, but I see a revulsion against all the austerity-bringers. The 99% WILL have their American spring. WE need to spend every day this coming year working on putting Democrats (not blue dogs, yellow cowards, Leiberoids, Reagan traitors, or any other corporate subsidiaries) into a veto-proof/filibuster-proof majority in both house and senate, and in every state's governor and legislature we can. It's the only way we can steer Mr. Obama into doing what we want: he only can obey the voices that get to him and now it is Eric Cancer and the other delusional lunatics he hears because we sat out the 2010 election and left him to the shark-pool we call Washington DC.
If we make it a national campaign and persue it locally even in such antebellum "paradises" as Florida it will change the national conversation so much that even devotees of the Faux Ecochamber won't be able to believe the outrageous lies. I don't think any of us are socialist, communist, marxist, or any of the other lies they blow about us (at least not in the unamerican extremist (I'm kind of an anarchist, myself, but will obey any law YOU need me to to feel comfortable), and our visible, public, nonviolent revolution WILL prevent the lies from being believed.
I echo the proceeding, by John , by who? Themselves this is a traditional Republican strategy point the finger at anyone but yourself and then tell on yourself.
nobama "tries" to be fair?!?! what idiocy This tax "cut" is merely stealing from social security...what lies we are hearing. They are messing with my RETIREMENT!!
nobama and the damnrats can go to HELL!! and when will thom go live in a tent with the unwashed lying tent people who are not indians??
Wait and see what happens in February! mcconnel and senate republicans are going to get their asses KICKEDD!!
My retirement and that of many others is being affected by this kick the can down the road!! ??!! $4 billion a day more is being spent by the damnrats tah is coiming in! And nobama claims to be the 4ht best presisdent. Unbelievable! Where's his legit birth certificate????
Maybe it would be a good idea to just give the senate what it wants so that everyone can look forward to more doom and gloom predictions in January. Two months really is just kicking the can down the road. Both parties need to get it together.
There is always an upcoming republican to blame no matter what the situation is and the dems like to hold the American people hostage when they can.
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The Repubs and the Demos are two roughly hugh jackman broadway tickets identical sides of the Business Party and very little actually represent the majority of Americans spider man turn off the dark tickets because our political system is crooked and bought out by the verdict privileged.
Bank of America prove with every transgression that they have no shame, conscience,or consequence for what they do as all Corporations do. There by showing beyond a shadow of a doubt they are not a person.
Is it good to be rich?
Why does the government sue and get the settlement? What about all the people who were robbed of their homes and livelihoods by the banksters? Seems the government gets the money back so they can, once again, give it BACK to the banksters as soon as they whine again about needing another bailout. None of the money ever gets back to those who really suffer from the moneytraders at the top. The System is not "broken," it's working REALLY well for a few people. Time for a system that works for EVERYONE.
Good morning Thom,
Been listening to your show on XM radio for about 2 years now. So you know, the only reason I renew my XM contract is because of you and others on the same channel.
I often wonder, why doesn't the Democrats actually get together and set an agenda to go after rich people, bankers, republicans, corrupt media and start attacking them first? I mean, they try to screw the middle class, unions, working families, education and use religion to hide behind. Are they not the ones who say religion should not be involved in politics? Are they the ones who use the bible to defend their case? I don't understan and how can they do this and not get pointed a finger at?
It's time for us to embarrass them and do onto them as they do onto us. If they don't like paying their fare share of taxes, why don't we set a MAXIMUM WAGE in this country? Who's job is the most imprtant? The president? CEO of a corrupt bank? A corrupt politician?
If the republicans don't like to raise taxes then how can they allow this tax to expire? Should they not want to renew or even further the tax deduction? They speak with 2 tongues.
The job creators have had tax breaks for a while now and recently extended too. But no jobs! So, why don't we state to the republicans, that we did it your way with tax breaks extension for the rich but still no jobs. Now it's time to help the middle class... I say the heck with the extension, we should get $2k more back in tax breaks and until the jobs do infact come back. AND the RICH SHOULD PAY FOR IT UNTIL THE JOBS DO COM BACK!
Also on a final NOTE!...
A new rule they should adopt and set up regulations for is to change the way banks charge interst on a mortgage! Banks front load all of their interest in the first 10 years of payments. I think and I beleive if they make the interest payments EQUAL during the life of the mortgage that would HELP everyone who gets a mortgae. It would allow everyone to build equity faster on their homes and allow someone to have more money saved to buy their next home if they wish.
What do you think about making interest payments eqaul for the life of your mortgage and nt front loading all the interest in the first 7-10 years of the mortgage?
A new agenda for an election year to get banks out of putting us in debt so they control our lives. They control our country's debt so thats whay they control our government.
Inflation is really caused by DEBT and TAXES we pay.
PEACE ALL!
An Alternative to Capitalism (if the people knew about it, they would demand it)
Several decades ago, Margaret Thatcher claimed: "There is no alternative". She was referring to capitalism. Today, this negative attitude still persists.
I would like to offer an alternative to capitalism for the American people to consider. Please click on the following link. It will take you to an essay titled: "Home of the Brave?" which was published by the Athenaeum Library of Philosophy:
http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/steinsvold.htm
John Steinsvold
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."
~ Albert Einstein
Bernie Madoff could use the company of some like minded gentlemen!
Hey tea-bagger reps, it looks like you might still have a chance to voice- "vote no", and prove to everyone you don't mind raising taxes on the working poor! Norquist and the Kochs rule at any cost, even if it costs the entire working class more hardship.
My profession is organizational development - my entire career is built around working with broken organizations. After dealing with B of A for nearly a year on the short sale of my Chicago condo, I can say without reservation that it is the most irreparably broken organization that I have ever encountered.
All current & past executives of both B of A & Countrywide should be in jail & the organization should be forced into receivership, at the very least, or shut down completely.
Holder is a wimp BoA pays 335 mil but Robbed taxpayers / home buyers of billions Another WAll St scam . And GOP demands we remove regulations put on them NO NO Regs must even get stronger ! Wall St banks should be broken up . They are Bigger and more powerful & corrupt than ever Goldman Sachs rules WAll St and the FED . BoA bought Countrywide for a pittance Taxpayers got scammed big time as usual Fact Only reason AIG got bailed out is they owed Goldman Billions Bush Paulson Bernacki took care of their own
Not hard left but veering away from right wing nuts toward the middle left Away from the antics of the GOP Bagger Congress who are a disgrace to the USA 2010 Voters now see what they have wrought
We should keep in mind, that if B of A didn't purchase Countrywide, we the tax payer would be on the hook. Countrywide's violations, as a mortgage banker quite separate from B of A, and fully regulated, would be the responsibility of the Washington bureaucrats and regulators. Thanks to an incredibly poor decision on the part of B of A, with no public money, Countrywide was purchased.
It should also be noted, the our AG, decided that Countrywide did nothing illegal, and let the CEO off with a small fine. Countywide could never had become so big, without the assistence of Fannie and Freddie. Recently, four of their executives have been indicted.
to be fair, BofA bought Countrywide in 2009
... So now Bank of America will dish out a couple hundred million dollars to make the crime go away – and not one executive will go to jail for robbing poor people. It’s good to be rich in America.
And, of course, BofA will just tack the $335N onto their cost of doing business and we screw-ees will end up paying it. Yes, it's good to be rich in America. Changing the laws so as to pierce the corporate veil and permit actual humans to bear the consequences of corporate misdoing is the only way we're ever going to stop such behavior. Until then, good luck.
And none of those loans will be corrected to the proper and fair rate, will they?!
THAT'S the real travesty here- those who were robbed get no restitution. Only in America...