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It's called neofuedalism. I think all the thinkers here can get the obvious picture without my description. Revolution is the only solution to wrest power from the wealthy--history shows this time and again.
The equation is simple: underpaid/unemployed workers equal penniless consumers equals dwindling profits for business (eventually, since they are holding on to their record profits, but cannot realize that when they hold most of the money, there is little for us to cycle back to them.) Are they really that stupid?
I might add that a world population that will reach 7 billion this year is more than the earth can sustain, more than jobs that can be created, more than can be fed and housed. etc.; this the rather large elephant in the room.
We, as Americans, should not be hesitant to use the word treason for certain actions and behaviors.
Welcome to the Machine.
Anyway, I think Americans are beginning to wake up to the spendthrift conditioning of the 80's. I think Americans are beginning to go back to the frugal mindset of our parents and grandparents.
Now, I can't say what is or was the catalyst for this change in consumerism thinking. It's one of those chicken or egg quandaries.
But, what I do know is the capitalistic hyper-consumerism model America has become dependent on to fuel our grown and insure job security is so glutenously bloated and grossly outdated - America will run its self into the brick wall of bankruptcy if it is not revamped/remodeled to reflect the CURRENT spending "power" of the average American.
"Any agreement by Congress to cut the income security programs while leaving the main beneficiaries from our government—the rich—untouched, would be unconscionable. If Congress does not reach an agreement, and the deficit remains unfunded, this will give the president an unprecedented opportunity to expose who the government really serves, because it will be up to him alone, no agreement from Congress would be necessary to decide where to cut. Let him first withhold money from the enforcement and the support of laws that enrich the rich. This would lead to higher wages for workers and lower prices for consumers, and it would therefore be a good quid pro quo for the cuts he wants to make in income security programs."
"If the parties do not reach an agreement and the deficit is unfunded, the president should use his power to cut funds to right-to-work states and redirect them to states that let unions be. This will call attention to the problem and stimulate job creation in states where work actually pays. And with higher wages, workers will be better able to save for retirement in anticipation of Social Security cuts."
"If an agreement is not reached and the deficit is unfunded, the president should stop funding the enforcement for patents that are older than five years. This would preserve the incentive to innovate—if innovation even requires it—while lowering prices substantially on millions of products in the marketplace. With lower prices, workers will be in a better position to absorb cuts in the income security programs if these are made."
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/without_a_debt_deal_obama_can_make_t...
We need to listen to Neil Howe, Chris Hedges, Elizabeth Warren, and other sensible people. We have too much of Limbaugh, Grover Norquist, Ann Coulter, Beck, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham (sp), O'Reilly, and Hannity. The problems in our country have been here for many years. Problems do not occur overnight. If Medicare and social security are gutted, they will never return to you and me as a social safety net. Since pensions will be a thing of the past, Medicare and social security will need to be our pensions.
Rich To bad no one gave a damn and fact checked Reaganomics deregulation-amnesty- Bush Cheney admin debt- or his lies, fear tactics on Iraq. Killing maiming wasting trillions Reagan Bush GOP policies, con judges that greatly favored wealth last 30 yrs - drove our wages in the toilet. No one checked on why Bush gave 2 huge unfunded corp cuts , loopholes and made sweet deals with big OIL & Pharma . Or that Bush gave cuts to Co that sent good jobs overseas. Why Bush GOP congress never said NO ! Not once in 6 long yrs. 2000 -2006 When Dems won congress Jan 2009 Bush vowed to veto or filibuster any Dem bill .The Baggers are on same toxic path and worse
Obama has compromised too much. McConnell / Baggers ? Not at all. Baggers want a default so Obama loses. This is war Baggers v US Economy GOP vowed to cause Obama's Waterloo. They do not care they are harming our economy, jobs. They will do whatever it takes to get their way . Even bring on another meltdown. Baggers are devious Corp Ass kissing good for nothings. Voters you must correct your grave mistake . Vote them out Recall Protest Fight Vote Demand e-mail
www.congress.gov www.senate.gov Do your part or do not complain
We have the choice of two types of government.
One, where one party controls one or both houses of Congress, the executive branch and the other party controls some other combination of these. This has worked well in the past (Bob Dole), but it is obvious that this is no longer an option.
Two, one party controls everything. If this is the Democrates, you will need a super majority to get anything done.This is very unlikely to happen with all the outside money that now controls elections. If Republicans are in power they can control the government with a bare majority, with the help of a few spineless Democrates, they will be able to do whatever they want. Non of these options are good news for Americans. Someone please tell me I'm wrong.
I suspect that at least some right-winger conservatives are reading and listening...especially the ones who want to keep tabs on how much opposition they have. And, in addition, lots of Democratic politicians who might be bought off by big business...Wall Street...might be seeing the ire and disgust which might make them think twice about being a traitor to their constituents...as Obama has been.
I certainly don't watch or listen to Fox Snooze and have boycotted them since before 911...in fact, well before 911..stopped watching and listening even before they started in on Clinton. But very rarely, I do catch snippets when presented on Jon Stewart's Daily Show or occasionally on the CrooksandLiars web site....and even then often just pass them by.
But, one thing is very likely....that everything we write is being noted and categorized and put into some Fascist's hit list for the day they can act against us. Every letter, email, phone call, or message in blogs, or tweets is being monitored in order to pigeon-hole who we are and what we say. Some are psycho-analyzed to detect possible "psychos", or other potential troublemakers...all done by the computer...then fine-tuned with, perhaps, a live psychoanalyst. Of course they didn't catch the Norwegian in time...if he wasn't a Manchruian Candidate that blew his wad too soon...or some other snaffu breached the intended operation....maybe. The NSA dictionary computers, used in the Echelon project to spy on us, would flag certain words used...which, if a hit, will be on an analysts desk for study. This was the original Echelon program that I'm sure has evolved into sampling the gist of all communications and are filed away based on what is said, or written, and how it is said, or written.
Originally, they weren't suppose to spy on US citizens but they got around this by using the Echelon groups in the UK, Australian, New Zealand, Canada originally part of the UKUSA spy system to do it then report back to the US..but today..with the Patriot Act...they probably do it directly. They have facial expression recognition computer systems to not only look you up to see who you are and everything about you but they can read your facial expressions, ostensibly, to determine what you are about to do and what you are up to.
I suppose it sounds paranoid...but if Hitler was able to use technology, IBM punched cards, and tabulating machines to keep tabs on the Jews and all the others that were his victims then modern day computers are basically telling our potential enemies (the ones in control of all of that electronic surveillance equipment) what we think.
The thought police may be knocking at our doors one day soon, I'm afraid. But, what is the alternative? Keep quiet? No friggin' way! If we keep quiet and don't make a lot of noise, they WILL be putting us on the box cars to the "labor camps" sooner than you can say Auschwitz.
But, the modern day Fascist's "final solution" will be a lot more subtle. They will squeeze us till we starve to death or die of some treatable disease because we couldn't afford to see a doctor. What the US, through the use of The World Bank and the IMF, in making deals with corrupt dictators and then enforcing austerity on the people, has done to the third world...they are now trying to do right here in America.
They may also use the things we say as an indicator as to who would make the next great patsy to take the fall for some false flag operation they feel they need in order to frighten more people into their webs of deceit. I believe that the old infamous CIA programs of the past, like MKULTRA, have only been improved on and that they already have patsy's....Manchurian Candidates...already groomed for when they are called into action to create yet another "terrorist" operation.
I know that there are high and mighty sounding organizations that pretend to be liberal but which are in fact being run by, or in collusion with, ultra-right wing organizations. Their whole mission is to fool liberals into supporting them which ends up supporting the causes of these right-wing organizations. I suggest that liberals do their own investigations into these groups.
It's so easy to scare people out of their freedoms...their jobs...and their lives. They are trying to scare us right now with the debt ceiling...trying to scare us out of our social programs.
It also adds to everyone's stress....and stress is a big killer...they are trying to kill us with stress or starvation....and as long as we don't strike back at them they will succeed without so much as a whimper. But maybe we will strike back at them in a previously unanticipated manner when serious highly contagious diseases are a result of the lack of ability to pay for medical care. Even some of our rich tormentors will succumb to their own annihilation because of their own greed and stupidity.
Medicine is running out of it's ability to cure or save some people because their vaccines are no longer able to combat the super-bugs that will possibly wipe out humanity. If these aren't detected and dealt with in a timely manner they could become the doomsday virus that will even get the rich in their lairs or bunkers with solid gold toilet seats.
http://davefromqueens2.blogspot.com/2009/11/fake-peace-activism-tied-to-...
http://www.trinicenter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2024
No!
Not raising the debt ceiling can't crash the economy because it's already been crashed by criminals that Democrats considered too big to prosecute, so they rewarded them. Raising the debt ceiling would only postpone again what should have been done long ago — disposal of imperial ambitions.
It's not surprising to see America's neoliberals outraged at the prospect of America's war machine not having its debt ceiling raised.
Anyone who opposes America's serial wars of aggression being waged upon Muslim people, for the control of remnants of fossil-fuels, wouldn't want the debt ceiling raised. If liberals actually opposed the wars they say they oppose (though they vote for them) they would want America's credit card cut up and discarded.
If Americans were the Great People they see themselves to be, then they wouldn't be borrowing money to keep invading and occupying other countries. They'd be disbanding the destruction at any cost imperial military that they can't afford, and then budgeting their peace dividend enhanced tax dollars for spending only upon societally constructive policies. The most progressive nations are those that have suffered defeat, and lost their empires... and became more humane as a result.
The "Principles" of Liberal Voters
http://chenangogreens.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...
Yes, this could definitely be considered treason. Placing the general welfare of Americans in jeopardy and failing to insure domestic tranquility by failing to raise the debt ceiling and by the kinds of budgetary cuts the Republicans/Tea Partiers are calling for, Congress is indeed committing treason.
If we're going to be peons, why don't we go straight to puttin' our washers on the front porch and making planters out of old tires. As a garden designer and purveyor of garden art online, I speak from the pulse of what's being sold nationally by small to medium manufacturing concerns. Nobody is buying anything and it's getting worse. Garden furniture, artisans and stonewear manufacturers have gone out of business or into bankruptcy or changed hands. Motor freight shipping costs now equal or exceed the cost of merchandise, and many people can't stomach that idea- out of disgust they won't purchase mail order. Especially in outdoor metal furniture, people feel they can only afford the cheap Chinese version of our traditional American manufacturers.
Nevertheless- the expensive items especially for the gardens of millionaires and billionaires aren't being ordered either. I suspect something is going on.
If it weren't for Ralph Lauren changing the pottery in their window designs now and then, I'd have to get food stamps. Thanks, RL.
XXXXX
Your daily blogs are great! I also like your radio show whenever I get a chance to listen to it. The problem is none of the so called conservatives are either reading your stuff or listening to you.
This is treasonous, they are doing nothing but playing games with peoples lives. First and foremost, their wages should be either frozen or eliminated during the time until they finally get this sorted out, make sure the military enlisted are paid first.
Second, these teabaggers have been more concerned with what is going on in a womans reproduction rights than actually govern.
Third, the teabaggers need to realize that the debt limit is mainly based on what has already been spent. Raise the limit then fight out the issue of balanced budget.
Get our politicians out of the pockets of big business, they should be penalized for any and all "bennies" that they had over to their lord and masters (I thought that fighting for our independence all those years ago took care of that problem). If need be, find a way to give some tax break to American companies who bring back the jobs to the US, penalize them for taking their jobs overseas, and kill tax loopholes that gives big business a chance to pay less taxes than the average Joe.
Lastly, get Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security out of this. These are still self sufficient enough to where it can be worked on as we go, not to pay off debts built up over other things, and if these idiotic politicians would create jobs rather than get rid of jobs (which they are doing), then these three could be built back up by the monies brought back in.
(just a thought, maybe if someone wants to opt out of these and local services, thats fine, but should they need any services, they should be obligated to pay up front for it. Imagine having the firetruck at the house but they don't put out the fire 'cause you don't have the money to pay them)
The same can easily be said about President Obama and the Democrats. Both sides want political leverage and are using debt talks, as much as possible, in vein attempt, to proselytize the American people toward their side. As of this afternoon I expect the United States to lose the AAA Credit Rating and have interest rates rise. I assuredly do not agree with everything Hartman, Limbaugh, Medved and others push on their programs. One thing I love about Thom is one of the last lines in his show: "Tag, you're it. Democracy begins with you." Outside of being a political genius, he cares immensely about the country and the people in it. He can have a beer with someone he vehemently disagrees with. Very respectable.
To conclude my thoughts:
I wish "we the people", which is no longer "we the people", would retroact and immerse in "tag, you're it". I wish Washington would digress from the confluence of political posturing and red herring populism that has left our leaders catering to corporations to ensure financial support. Perhaps we, the American people, will rise up, more than we are, and take back our country.
I have no idea when.
There are my two cents.
I would suggest citizens of the U.S. start looking at Mexico for the economic model that has been envisioned for the USA future. Madison may have meant well when he pressed for a Representative Government, but his theory on the wealthy and privileged using humane, fair and logical judgement on behalf of the common dregs has proven to be the worst decision in American History.
Our current situation is not the fault of the common citizenry. The American people did not get to vote on going to war. The American people did not get to vote on economic legislation. The American people did not get to vote on American Foreign Policy. The American people did not get to vote on NAFTA, The American people did not get to vote on Fast Tract Trade Agreements with Asia. The American people did not get to vote on the members of the Supreme Court. The American people have not voted on tax cuts or polices.The American people did not get to vote on voter rights, campaign finance reform or giving corporation unlimited human rights. The American people did not vote for Universal Health Care. The American people have not voted on any significant policy, legislation, treaty, tax or anything that effects their lives, living conditions, health, future, freedoms....
The American people did, however, vote for representives from both parties that have lead us to where we are right now. They've lead us into a manufactured oblivion of their own construction or decontruction. The American people vote on what their given. The candidates they are presented with are the people they vote for. We do have other parties and other candidates but we do not have popular vote. We have a public bound by representative government and now we have a republic that is burning down around the people it is suppose to protect and support. We can go back to the polls agains and elect different representatives to get the exact same results.
Nothing has ever been done at the election booth. The people have to protest and force the hands of politicians. American society has become so fractured and divided, I wonder if we have the strength as a People to come together on a common cause to bring the American government back to serving the general welfare of all citizens instead the economic well being of millionaires, billionaires and future trillionaires.
Obama "Will Not Take Yes For An Answer" On Debt Ceiling Debate
Huffington Post notes:
House Speaker John Boehner says ... "Unfortunately, the president would not take yes for an answer," he said. "Even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the president's demands changed."
While it may be tempting for liberals to write this statement off as mere right-wing positioning, prominent liberal writers agree.
For example, Jeff Cohen writes:
Liberal groups are now mobilizing against the White House and reported deals that would cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. They accuse President Obama of being weak and willing to “cave” to corporate and conservative forces bent on cutting the social safety net while protecting the wealthy.
Those accusations are wrong.
The accusations imply that Obama is on our side. Or was on our side. And that the right wing is pushing him around.
But the evidence is clear that Obama is an often-willing servant of corporate interests -- not someone reluctantly doing their bidding, or serving their interests only because Republicans forced him to.
Since coming to Washington, Obama has allied himself with Wall Street Democrats who put corporate deregulation and greed ahead of the needs of most Americans...
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/
FactCheck.org's Weekly Update for July 29, 2011
New FactCheck Wire Items
Default ‘Danger’ Revisited
The U.S. has been in danger of defaulting before, contrary to what Obama's communications director says.
Romney’s Economic Exaggerations
The presidential candidate made a few false and misleading statements in a campaign appearance in California.
McConnell’s Debt Claim ‘Rejected’
Obama has supported Sen. Reid's proposal, contrary to what Sen. McConnell says.
Medicare Message in Spanish
The DNC criticizes the Ryan Medicare plan in a Spanish-language ad, its first of the 2012 campaign.
‘Spenditol’ Silliness
A spoof of prescription drug ads goes too far in criticizing government spending.
Medicare Misrepresentation
The liberal Patriot Majority distorts Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare plan.
Obama Inflates Defense ‘Cut’
The president misleadingly says he's cut $400 billion from the defense budget.
Barrasso’s Subsidy Speculation
The senator assumes all employer-provided health insurance will go away when making claims about the cost of subsidies under the health care law.
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Wisdom is concern for others tempered with concern for self. ( and visa versa)
IMO.
If just 1 in 5 americans all wrote a one-time check made out to US treasury and sent it to the address where they send their Fed taxes
in 72 hours .75 trillion would be raised to pay down the intrest on the debt. Do the math. Write the check--although it is like extortion--and then let's get on with the show. People get mad because they feel helpless. This is a learned helplessness. EVERYONE ... Put you Egos and hurts aside and fix and embarass the goverment all in one fell swoop--in about 72 hours. This has gone viral. Write your check today and forward this idea--tweet it post it on your blogs.... write those checks.
thanks will in sf
PS I have challenged Congress and the President to ALL write 10.00 checks.
Obama says a debt ceiling solution has to be bi-partisan. Meanwhile Boehner can't even produce a mono-partisan bill!
Pelosi should propose passing a clean bill, with the votes of the Democrats and the non-TEA Republicans. Hell, they only need a couple dozen Republicans to pass that; it's just a matter of Boehner letting it come to the floor. He's done anyway, he may as well do it.
First, my thanks to Thom and to Senator Senators for the (rare) honesty you bring to public discourse. Second, I’ve said for years that Senator Sanders would be an ideal president, so I was thrilled this morning to discover there’s a “Draft Bernie” movement. I hope it’s okay to cite the link here, for others who’d like to sign on: http://draftberniesanders2012.org.
Now for my rant of the moment. Hearing people (sadly including Senator Sanders) speak of “shared sacrifice” is making me crazy. I wish progressives would work from the premise that the working people of this country ALREADY GAVE. Not one cent more should be wrung out of ordinary citizens who earn less in real terms than they did in 1970 and work much longer and harder to get it; who pay more for the essentials of life (disguised by cooked inflation statistics); who lost jobs, benefits, homes, businesses and savings to the "free" trade boondoggle and a series of financial bubbles that made the rich far richer; and in the past decade were bilked out of trillions that were shoveled at war profiteers and bailed-out banksters.
The transnational grillionaire class has robbed working people around the world for 40 years. Now that we have to borrow from them so heavily (due to failure to tax them fairly, plus ruinous wars and bailouts), they've turned to deficit extortion in hope of eliminating every program that actually benefits taxpayers! They want it ALL -- and expect us to doff our hats to them again and politely beg for nothing more than "shared sacrifice" on their part. This is total bull, especially as they continue deliberately bringing down companies, currencies and entire countries via their insane derivatives casino -- where the bets total more than all the money that exists and most cases have no insurable basis. Expecting taxpayers to turn those worthless paper bets into real profits was a crime. So is paying any heed whatever to crooked rating agencies that collude with the banksters (and could be easily put out of business, if our own investment regulations didn’t make us their captives).
Both my son and I, life-long Democrats who ALWAYS voted in the past, will never vote again for any politician who’s willing to cut American social programs that are already laughably inadequate by contrast to those of any other advanced nation. Until Democrats start acting like Democrats again – or wonderful progressives like Senator Sanders offer a genuine alternative – we’re unlikely to vote at all. It would be better for Republicans to win, so people will wake up faster to the need for REAL change. President Obama has gotten away with more of the same old mischief than George Bush could have. That’s because people understood what Bush was, whereas Obama confuses them. He should – indeed, must – be primaried.
Love your show Thom,
I feel overwhelmed when you throw out statistics without reference, you do this very frequently every show. When David Sirota hosted your show he said that we shouldn't believe you or him or even Senator Bernie Sanders whom he worked for unless you actually verify what they say. I would love to see a source reference with every statistic you say with no exceptions. I trust most everything you say yet I sometimes don't have a reason besides the fact that I want to agree with you. Thanks for all you do!!!
@zamfir, you have very good insight. The people who know me say that I have a dry sense of humor.
re:gerald to:dianhow he was being fascetious.