I have seen this situation coming for decades, yet no one has or will do anything about it. The reason being the most powerful military on the planet will be turned against you (The U.S. military). We have already seen that voting in elections is not going to do it. The start of or one of the starts was when Ronald Regan fired the air traffic controllers, now we have controllers going to sleep on the job. There are no penaltys for people that do destructive things to this country. They just build librarys to glorify themselves. Get rid of the greed at the top if you want to see any kind of positive change, and put God back in government. I don't think you will see this happen because the bible says there will be wars & rumors of wars until armagedin. We here in the U.S. could not even "MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO", what I mean by that is we could not take a lesson from Russia that went bankrupt fighting in Afghanstan, now we have 4 wars going at the same time. Our economy cannot stand up against that much war & that much greed. Remember when Pharo opressed the jews & God intervened on their behalf, well it is going to take something like that again to stand up against the most powerful military on the planet.

Signed,

Friend of God

I believe wealth inequality in America is hurdling our nation toward civil unrest. It appears that we are in danger of losing a large swath of the middle class if we haven't already done so but I am particularly concerned about the segments of American population that are on the fringe -- groups who are especially vulnerable are the elderly, children, uneducated minorities, felons, physically and mentally disabled, homeless, the incarcerated -- if history gives us any insight into the future, these groups will bear the brunt of the turbulent times ahead and some may even be blamed and used as scape goats

Violent times are around the corner unless the Social Diseases forced upon the world by the rich are not soon attacked and cured. Not only is wealth accumulated by the deliberate perpetuation or ignorance of Social Disease, law enforcers have to spend their time chasing, incarcerating, or risking their own lives to apprehend diseased people, a petty bunch compared to the world's big murderers and thieves who enjoy their Monte Cristos in Monte Carlo. That's right, triple match, Let's make a deal.

We who have been rocked in the cradle of capitalism have tasted too much freedom and goodness to return to the old dominion of sovereigns controlling our well-being and happiness.

It could be 1968, but worse. Snipers, home invaders, bank robbing gangs, looting. We've got the Internets now, heh, heh, and when things get to critical mass, who will be in control?

XXXXX

I keep hearing that Americans are not stupid, SORRY THEY ARE. 8 years of Republican rule and a well financed program for 25 years before that, to destroy the middle class and the country and what does the voting public do. After 2 years of these people obstructing everything Dems try to do to help the American people, we vote them out of office. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This counrty is not heading for Fascism, we're there. We are not becoming a oligarchy, we are one. We have allowed ourselves to be purchased while we where watching American Idol on our HD tv's. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We can hope that our new rulers will be benevolent, history is not on our side.

Each of us needs to serve as examples for a more authentic society. The struggles between political parties is so severe that little or no communication exists between them. With a dominant Corporatocracy running both parties, especially evident in the RepubliCON party, the scene is set for a GREED versus NEED societal mush and the conflicts therefrom.

I propose that we need to go partyless and to have term limits in all political offices as two ways to attend to the GREED-NEED dicotomy.

To put the appropriate sting into this partyless system, term limits installed at all levels of political life (Federal, State, Local) would do wonders to bring a level of participation in Democracy that does not now exist. Imagine what it would be like if an elected congressperson did not, from day one, look to the next election, but was performing as if this were the last term, which it would be. In this scheme, there would be no pensions for the one term politician in congress or the presidency, applying the one term rule, and those elected for their one term would, at long last, be in this for the service to his/ her country. The economy for the non-pensioned politician would, in itself, save millions for tax-payers. In this brave appropriate world, the same one term limit would also apply to justices, supreme or otherwise, who would be elected by the people and not appointed for life. Real change requires a new reality that is based on a participatory democracy which goes way, way beyond anything that now exists.Sooner than later, 85% of all issues would be voted on by the population of all voters, thus emphasizing real Democracy at work. The Presidential revolving committee serving as The President, would only be advisory and would take its issues to the voting public. I dream of a better America in so many ways and look to that betterment with enthusiasm.

I agree, if this doesn't get changed and the middle class comes back to the levels of the 50's, there will be warfare in the streets. The teabaggers talked about a revolution, but it won't be them, it will be the average american finally getting pissed off enough to take back THEIR country from the rich.

Obama's 2 1/2 years did not cause our massive wealth inequality That took many years and was the ultimate GOP scheme since Reagan's 1981 deregulated all he could , tripling the debt- not paying for anything, selling guns to Iran- giving total amnesty in 86 - leaving borders wide open for millions of illegals / cheap labor. Bush 1-2 Cheeny kept that going and then some with more corp tax cuts - loopholes, OIL subsides, waging war based on lies, war profits and Fear tactics. the GOP's best weapon. Bush hid his war debt- kept it 'off budget' Bush admin failed to get Bin laden -they badly mishandled the Afghan war, leaving too soon to attack Iraq. Then they dumped all their failures on Obama. and now blame him for weak economy .Quite a feat of deception but I mostly blame ignorant voters for putting GOP in power again in 2010 .after GOP toxic record - crash . This GOP has done zero for jobs - just demanded even more corp tax cuts - while cutting / gutting our kids education- the old-sick health care- funds for the disabled, as GOP GOV in FLA has done . GOP congress just cut funds for making sure our veggies do not have E - coli . How much lower can they sink ?

Democracy is currently experiencing it's death throws. I think this struggle will be a threefold issue, first, Progressives will be attacked by Government, The Rich, & The radical right/Tea Partiers. second, News agncies will destort the issues and information to blame the progressives as the radicals. The democratic party move move further right, and eventually the middle class will completely disappear, and Thomas Jefferson & Orwell will be proven correct.

Shingles

Is Shingles the reason for me to cut back on comments and posts? I would say that Shingles is a big part but there are other reasons. I have no clout, juice, money, or power. What group or persons in this Anti-Christ nation will be influenced by a person who lives from month to month? If I cannot pay my bills for two months, I will enter the growing list of homeless persons. Only the rich can declare bankruptcy. You need to be rich in order to be bankrupt. This is how our laws help the rich from losing all their wealth. Since stress, tension, anxiety, and uncertainty contribute to the ongoing cause of flare ups that assist in the surfacing of Shingles and my comments and posts are in big part of stress, why should I create the stress that aids in the lingering affects of Shingles? All of the above words are reasons for me letting God take the wheel in my life. From time to time I hope to make a comment that I am still with you. Between such times you will be in my prayers. May God guide your efforts!

Americans may be ignorant but they are not stupid. Our government has laid a foundation to control Americans. If there is unrest, blood will flow from the poor, and working class Americans, like a raging river.

Let me share some information that is not very flattering for me. As you know, I do not consider myself a perfect person. I am striving to be a better Christian and a Jesus’ disciple. What I am trying to do is not very easy for me. You may also recall that I have commented that the conservatives appear to be in a constant state of constipation. God has, through the years, put me in my place. The last forty days or so have been filled with extreme stress and tension. I believe this stress and tension started with my prostrate examination around the fourth week in May. The urologist really jammed me with his examination of my prostrate. My internal system may have been shocked. After the prostrate examination I was called by the medical center that my pacemaker needed a new generator and the procedure was scheduled for June 6, 2011. I was given about seven days to have an echogram (there is usually a waiting list for echograms) and a blood test as well as some other necessary checklists. I was totally discombobulated but I completed the requirements by June 6, 2011. Before and after the procedure I had difficulty going to the toilet. The shock from my prostrate examination and the telephone call from the medical center may have triggered my state of constipation. In fact it was probably twelve days since I had a bowel movement. With my difficulty going to the toilet, I went to my primary health care physician and I was told that there was blockage in my colon and I needed to insert an enema or I could be in serious health jeopardy. I took the enema and a two to five minute wait was necessary for the enema to take effect. At about three minutes of taking the enema I rushed to the toilet and just as I sat down there came an explosion from my rectum. In fact I was lifted off the seat two or three inches. This experience was accurate but I did feel much better.

God does let me know whenever He is unhappy with my comments. It may be possible that my wayward life has caught up with me in Jesus’ eyes. A few days had passed and I was diagnosed with Shingles. Shingles can be triggered by extreme stress and tension. Currently, it is a painful experience. I have been prescribed medication for the Shingles. Shingles can reoccur; the disease may last several weeks; this serious health issue may also require surgery to ease the discomfort and pain; and the disease has no simple answers. Although the rash may go away, blisters may form from the rash. The discomfort and pain may linger for the rest of a person’s life. I needed some improvement with my condition because I was scheduled for my second colonoscopy on July 6, 2011. The results of the colonoscopy revealed a negative finding of any serious problem with my colon.

I ask for your prayers in being a better Christian and a Jesus’ disciple.

I used to be a religious fanatic & sycophant like Thom Thom, so I do understand where the blind hatred is coming from. I also understand that in order to be religious like thom Thom you have to suffer from the following everyday:

1. Hypocrisy

2. Self-Deception

3. Ignorance

Still that doesn't completely explain away Thom Thom's horrible and egregious attitude towards this atheist, and atheism in general.

Let's say, for arguement sake, that we were looking at this from a logical, rational, and reasonable stand point, and we wished this to be fair and equitible...meaning, Does Thom Thom have any legal ground he can stand on to justify his bigotry towards atheism?

After all, we have the following Supreme Court Decisions:

1. The Lemon Test

In 1971, the Supreme Court heard the case of Lemon v Kurtzman (403 US 602). In the case, the Court decided that a Rhode Island law that paid some of the salary of some parochial school teachers was unconstitutional. The case is discussed in more detail on the Constitution and Religion Page. One of the results of this case is the Lemon Test. The Lemon Test is used to determine if a law violates the 1st Amendment.

The Lemon Test is not immutable - there is discussion in the general public and on the current Court about the Lemon Test. However, it has stood as a good guide for lower courts ever since 1971.

The following paragraph is taken from the Lemon v Kurtzman opinion and establishes the rules of the test:

Three ... tests may be gleaned from our cases. First, the statute must have a secular legislative purpose; second, its principal or primary effect must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion; finally, the statute must not foster an excessive government entanglement with religion.

2. Lynch v. Donnelly {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynch_v._Donnelly}

Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668[1] (1984), was a case in the Supreme Court of the United States challenging the legality of holiday decorations on town property.

The issue at hand was whether the inclusion of a crèche in the city's Christmas display violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The plaintiffs alleged that the display violated the Establishment Clause.

The Supreme Court reversed previous rulings in a vote of 5-4, ruling that the display was not an effort to advocate a particular religious message and had "legitimate secular purposes."

Chief Justice Burger delivered the opinion of the Court, in which White, Powell, Rehnquist, and O'Connor joined.[3] The Court held that the crèche did not violate the Establishment Clause based on the test created in Lemon v. Kurtzman. They ruled that the crèche is a passive representation of religion and that there was "insufficient evidence to establish that the inclusion of the crèche is a purposeful or surreptitious effort to express some kind of subtle governmental advocacy of a particular religious" view. They also stated that the Constitution "affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance of all religions, and forbids hostility toward any."

The Court ruled that the crèche has a legitimate secular purpose within a larger holiday display to celebrate the season and the origins of Christmas which has long been a part of Western culture. The Federal "Government has long recognized—-indeed it has subsidized-—holidays with religious significance." For example, the first Congress that passed the First Amendment enacted legislation providing for paid Chaplains in the House and Senate, and "It has long been the practice that federal employees are released from duties on Thanksgiving and Christmas while being paid." The court compared the crèche to the display of religious paintings in government funded museums. In addition, the crèche requires only minimal expenses for assembly and dismantling. The Court also stated, "no inquiry into potential political divisiveness is even called for" because the situation does not involve direct aid to church-sponsored organizations and because the crèche been displayed for 40 years with no problems.

Obama is a master of the rope-a-dope. For instance allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire polled weakly back in September 2010. Now it's polling overwhelmingly in favor of letting them expire. With "Don't Ask Don't Tell" he wanted to slow walk it and the GOP agreed, now a Progressive court is catalyzing a more rapid rate. With health care reform, a single payer system was popular only with the base now "Medicare For All" is a more popular concept. Bottom line is we want Obama to wow us with extreme offensive demonstrations and he's really playing a game of field position.