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Audit the Fed and make the FDIC disclose that certificate numbers are actually mutual fund account numbers covertly managed for the benefit of individuals who should be identified. The top of their pyramid has been reached, but "The Eye" is us.
"Sheep Go To Heaven" - by Cake. I've heard Thom mention this bible quote more than once this week and every time I think of this funny song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0mx5ERj1eI
Thom: Don't you mean "Oil-igarchs?
Welcome to the U.S. of Aristocracy during the co-reign of the Koch Bros Kingship. That estate tax giveaway for the heirs of superbillionaires created yet another generation of mega-trust fund babies born between third n' home plate with no catcher guarding the plate.
I thought you were quitting this Blog...? What happened?
"I know I sound like a broken record on this blog, but I feel that this is the ONLY way we can stop the complete corporatization of the US and global economy...
No you don't! Best example of common sense I've read in a long while! Exactly my sentiments.
People Need Good Jobs. to Make decent Wages. With this they can purchase products and services. This greases the wheel of commerse. Making profits for Wall Street. Which creates good jobs....etc etc. Nearly a win-win situation for nearly everyone.
And as you so aptly state, the Plutocrats and Oligarchs only see the Profits part and totally ignor everthing else. This then becomes a lose-lose situation for everyone, and everyone loses.
We need to have a sustainable economy while at the same time saving our Planet for our Children and future decendents.
You don't sound like a Bad Record, but someone who makes a lot of sense!
This was predicted not even a week after this decision (Citzens United). Corporations are People. People move around. They have estates (Corporations) in other countries. Of course this is dangerous! This decision has to be overturned! Lets amend our Constitution to overturn this idiotic decision, the quicker the better! This was a 5-4 decision. Obviously 4 Supremes thought this quite a stupid notion - the 4 bought Supremes were just doing what their Corporate masters were telling them how to vote. As to Justice Kennedy - who knows what he was thinking! But I bet he now feels he made one big mistake on this one!
"The real isue is what do we do if we plan to be in the group that will survive this outcome?"
Flip a coin! And start hording LOTS of gasoline!
Let's be real here: isn't it better that we all work together and preserve what we already have to some degree, then to just give up and start digging holes in the ground?
If our human ancestors would of done that, the human race would still be in caves with no fire!!
Thom,
Don't you think we've reached bottom? My feeling is that we can only go uphill from now on.
If not, woe is us.
Peace, Thom
Political Science by Randy Newman (Lyrics follow)
No one likes us-I don’t know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let’s drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they’re spiteful and they’re hateful
They don’t respect us-so let’s surprise them
We’ll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia’s crowded and Europe’s too old
Africa is far too hot
And Canada’s too cold
And South America stole our name
Let’s drop the big one
There’ll be no one left to blame us
We’ll save Australia
Don’t wanna hurt no kangaroo
We’ll build an All American amusement park there
They got surfin’, too
Boom goes London and boom Paree
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it will be
We’ll set everybody free
You’ll wear a Japanese kimono
And there’ll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let’s drop the big one now
Let’s drop the big one now
There's this old tale of a building being torn down for a new one. In the crowd watching the destruction of the building, the older generation of people are weeping (for they have good memories of being inside that building) while the younger generation of people (having no memory of what went on inside that building) shout with glee at its destruction in anticipation of new prospects and new opportunities that the new building will bring.
The "old tale" above also pertains to the destruction of democracy as we once knew it. New laws/legislation, books and freedom are being rewritten at a frenetic pace today.
Constructively, some of the strong actions we the people can take to change things revolve around legal remedies and the decision not to fatten the wallets of the oligarchs via the purchase of their goods & services which funds, in turn, they use against we the people in an election vote.
What do I think will happen- increasing injustaice and social disorder.
A tipping point will eventuate at some point ? revolution ? collapse of the USA.
http://www.realitysandwich.com/onset_catabolic_collapse
This article argues that the collapse of US society first became apparent in 1974 and the process is now well advanced.
The real isue is what do we do if we plan to be in the group that will survive this outcome?
Barack Obama will be re-elected in a landslide & campaign finance reform will finally happen. People will love Obamacare, once they get used to it.
Thom is right on. We have been under the thumb of an oligarchy since early on the administration of GW Bush. And probably the major mover in that was Mr. Cheney. We no longer have a democracy or even a "republic" as Rush L and the extreme crazies like to say. Sadly, we are leaving a destroyed America for the next generation.
I would not sleep with Mr Speaker for any money. I would help his wife "get even" in a what's good for the goose is for the gander sort of way.
To answer the two questions that John Lott could not. The first question both Lott and Thom are mistaken. Thom was mistaken and Lott is just Lott. They both got caught in the Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc trap. The reason for the different crime problems is all about culture, history and inequality of wealth. The statistics were basically the same when parts of the US (mostly in the south) had stricter gun laws than anywere in Europe. For example, although handguns in Canada required a license since 1934 not other firearm (machine guns registration started in the 1950s, was otherwise easy to legally buy) was regulated on the federal level until the 1970s. Did Toronto or Windsor ever look like Chicago in the 1920s? No. The 2.5 million defensive gun uses that the NRA uses come from peer reviewed research by this guy. I believe that defense, including lethal force, is an inalienable right.
On the second part, Thom was right. If the protesters were to open fire (pistols against machine guns and tanks? You go Mr. Nugent.) the soldiers would return fire to defend themselves and not the state.
I don't think we will know the full extent of the disaster for a while -- and I do believe it is a disaster for democracy. Our government decisions are sold to the highest bidder.
Today is February 3 and in three days it will be February 6. Since our invasion into Iraq, I have spent Super Bowl Sundays praying, reading the Holy Bible, meditating, center praying, and specifically avoiding television and the Super Bowl Game. Our stadiums and coliseums are reminding me of the Roman Empire era and her fall. Empires do fall and the United States of Mortal Sin is ripe for a fall.
February 3, 2011
Here is the Republican’s Golden Rule! “HE WHO HAS THE GOLD – RULES!”
The Republicans will never let the working class or the middle class rule because the crazies consider these classes as CANNON FODDER in the United States of Mortal Sin. CANNON FODDER is used to fight the crazies’ wars that will protect their Golden Rule and their gold.
February 3, 2011
When John Kennedy married Jackie they danced to I Married an Angel. I have been unable to find the lyrics and music for the song. Here is Nat Adderley’s jazz interpretation of the song.
http://www.chrislaich.com/music_services/tag/first-dance/
Whenever I think of the song, I Married an Angel, it reminds me that I married an angel.
You will need to scroll down the page to Nat Adderley on his trumpet.
As a DC Native I can tell you that if you've lived in DC for more than 20 years then you still refer to National Airport as "National Airport." It's Not Regan National!!! Re-naming things after Regan is crap.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster contends that pirates are actually nice people who have been defamed in historical records. And these modern pirates don't dress or talk like pirates, do they? So they're not real pirates, and that's why Global Warming continues.
See? Religion can rationalize it's way out of anything.
For that matter, Social Security itself is, literally, compulsory, mandatory, INSURANCE against old age, death and disability... is that now "unConstitutional"? Knuckleheads!
If "mandatory" insurance purchases are unConstitutional, then a lot of folks in those "red" states need to plan on NOT whining when their homes get washed away after they don't participate in the apparently formerly mandatory Federal Flood Insurance program:
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2954
/end sarcasm
Thom, you should find a song by Arrogant Worms called "Wouldn't It Be Great If Everybody Had a Gun". It's very humorous and to the point.
Thanks, Pretzelogic, it is Tahrir. So one of my guesses was actually pretty close.