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The Square Deal, The New Deal, and now The Raw Deal !
Far too many citizens are afraid to take action that may lead to the dissolution of this government as it now stands. The ongoing removal of those programs and laws that were crafted over the years to protect average citizens as they counteracted periodic attempts by various special interest groups that sought to change government structure to a system that catered exclusively to them has resulted in an empty shell that no longer provides any meaningful promises to average American citizens. Given the ongoing dismantling of those past achievements over past decades, not much remains to be preserved as the Capitalists masters who have been continuously financed by American taxpayers over the past century have now abandoned this country to increase their profits on the backs of cheap third world labor leaving this country and it's citizens in ongoing financial collapse as government is occupied exclusively by the wealthy oligarchs. No past obligations remain so let's take out the garbage and start over !
Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.This is my first opportunity to chat this website I found some interesting things and I will apply to the development of my blog.Assignment Writing Help Pakistan
"Shillin' like a villain"..... I love it. Witty and poetic. Would make a killer song title.
"All warfare is based on deception" -- Sun Tzu, c. 500 BCE
Knowing something of the history of our species' long and mostly unsuccessful struggle for economic democracy -- knowing also just a bit about the Chinese revolution -- I have always found the apparent Chinese embrace of capitalism perplexing. East Asian civilization, with a cultural continuity extending back at least 5,000 years, has no counterpart on this planet. Though the civilizations of Europe and the Middle East are equally old, the inherent savagery of Abrahamic religion has ensured the total suppression of all of the cultural wisdom of these region's first 3,000 years, with the result that -- never mind for example our European DNA can be traced to the paleolithic-- we "barbarians" (for that is how East Asia regards us) -- are, culturally speaking, mere children. For this reason China has always seemed to me far better prepared to resist the deadly temptations of capitalism, which in truth is not just an economic system but an entire universe of hierarchy, governance and exploitation based on a single precept: that there is no greater virtue than greed. Thus I was genuinely astounded when the People's Republic of China seemed to adopt the very ideology against which its people had fought for most of the first half of the last century.
The easy answer, of course, was that the Chinese government had been infiltrated and co-opted. But that never felt right to me -- and though now I was in the realm of gut feelings and journalistic intuition rather than facts or even factually based speculation -- I began to suspect the Chinese were (again) following the principles of Sun Tzu, one of which is defeating an enemy by turning his greatest strength into his greatest vulnerability.
Viewing the relationship between China and the United States from this perspective, it appears China has used the bottomless greed that is capitalism's greatest strength to seduce the U.S. with cheap labor and endless credit and so ensnare it. The U.S. no longer has an economy; it's manufacturing capabilities have all been outsourced -- mostly to China -- and it is as dependent on Chinese money as any junky is dependent on the pusher for the next fix. When the incipient U.S.-Chinese conflict ends in war, as is inevitable, the U.S. will have its master-race ideology of divinely ordained "exceptionalism" and the Fourth Reich arrogance of its military omnipotence and the zomboid submissiveness of its Moron Nation masses as cannon fodder but none of the manufacturing capabilities essential to a sustained conflict. That is why the better-dead-than-Red capitalists will most likely try to nuke China into quick surrender and by so doing will destroy the world instead. Any other sort of war -- that is, a conventional and therefore extended war -- the U.S. would lose precisely because it no longer has an economy of its own. (Ironically, the same conditions -- lack of economic depth and manufacturing capabilities -- are what defeated the Axis in World War II.)
But what if China did not really embrace capitalism? What if China's embrace of capitalism was merely an expression of Sun Tzu's principles in present-day strategy? What if China today is as Communist -- that is, as committed to real economic democracy -- as it was under Mao Ze Dong? The relentless prosecution of capitalists reported by Mr. Hartmann suggests this is may well be the case. If this is so, the global Working Class has precisely the powerful ally it hitherto seemed to lack. Remembering that it was the Russian Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union that terrified the world's capitalists into making all the humanitarian concessions of the last century, the implications for the future are profound indeed.
I finally got out my Arabic dictionary. For "believe", it gives "āmana bi" and "iʿtaqada". For "belief", it gives "ʿaqīda" and "īmān". I can't tell how to form a word for "believer", but it seems the root should be "ʿQD", so possibly "muʿqid" if "muslim" can be taken as a template for occupations.
Reply to #17 & #20: chuckle8, DAnneMarc, your responses are much appreciated. I’ve since started a thread featuring the entire editorial from that douchebag. I'm inviting everyone to join me with comments for the blog accompanying his column in our local paper. How about hopping onboard? The title of the thread is “A Libertarian’s Smug Screed” and for your convenience, here is the link:
http://www.thomhartmann.com/users/aliceinwonderland/blog/2015/03/liberta...
Aliceinwonderland ~ So our friend thinks that economic inequality is a result of freedom? Isn't that peachy? Well, Mr. Stossel should realize that where people are free to steal the wages from their workers, workers are also free to steal their wages back. After all, what is Democracy if not the rule of the many over the few?
The assets that the 1% own were made on the backs of workers who were never compensated for their increased productivity. Instead, the extra money they made was pocketed by the 1%. The 1%--in their infinite generosity--then saw fit to make even more money by loaning that surplus back to the workers at interest. The result, a massive balloon of debt owed by the workers; and, very little personal property fully owned by the workers.
I have a solution for Mr. Stossel that I think he would find most attractive because it fits his love of freedom. I say We the People use the freedom of the Democratic process to demand a Jubilee year and forgive all credit dept. That would, at one stroke, restore private property to its rightful owners, return stolen wages to its rightful owners, and remove another threat to freedom that Mr. Stossel appears to be overlooking. You see, history shows that when you rob and overburden people too much they tend to strike back; and, the result never turns out well for people like Mr. Stossel and the 1% that he represents.
Of course, if it wasn't for people who are as self deceived, blind, and clueless as Mr. Stossel obviously is, major events such as the French, Spanish, Russian, Mexican, and American Revolutions may never have happened. Perhaps he is just doing his small part to make sure that history takes its natural course. For that, we must thank him.
Mark J. Saulys ~ "Shillin' like a villain?" Without a doubt. "Just playing dumb?" Not so sure about the 'playing' part. "Fell off a turnip truck?" Also, probably likely.
So far we got two conservatives here who call themselves "Chicago" something. Fortunately, one isn't as much an idiot as the other is. Nevertheless, I feel for ya, buddy.
Complex issues, but from another perspective: We need to restore and preserve the New Deal. Now, what came to be called AFDC was actually first included in FDR's Social Security Act. Bill Clinton ended that, and began similarly "reforming" Social Security itself, targeting the disabled. In fact, by 2000, the disabled became the fastest-growing group of homeless Americans. President Obama finally restored disability aid, but the (Clinton) Dems in Congress promptly began cutting again. For the upcoming budget, Dems are either considering, or have already agreed to, deep cuts to the disabled, far exceeding those made by Clinton.
Unfortunately, we looked at the policies and programs that were implemented from FDR to Reagan, which took the country to its height of wealth and productivity, and CHOSE to do the direct opposite. We got rid of the agenda that created the massive middle class we used to have. The inevitable has been happening. Lib media have largely ignored these issues to appeal to middle class consumers and campaign donors alone.
Suggestion for generic questions:
Can you think of a circumstance when it might be acceptable to ---?
Could there possibly ever be an exception to your opinion/position?
Might it be the best decision in a bad situation?
No, we haven't had that. President Obama never said he was a progressive, and indeed, from the time of his first campaign, he stressed that he is a "pragmatist." Nevertheless, esp. on socioeconomic policies, he has been far more progressive than the media marketed to middle class libs. What we've had from the latter is another six years of ignoring our poverty crisis (with VERY rare exception) while focusing on appealing to the better off, the middle class alone. Meanwhile, the right wing of the Dem Party in Congress continues to ensure the passage of Republican legislation.
On a related point, what are we to think about a lib media that went into overdrive to try to sell (neoliberal) Hillary Clinton in place of VP Joe Biden as the 2016 Dem Party candidate? The bottom line is that there has been no public call for a legitimately progressive socioeconomic agenda.
chicagotim ~ Really? You could have fooled me. All I have seen in the past 35 years are a series of Corporate lapdog Presidents. If you don't think Thom just "called out" every President since Carter, you'd better reread the article above. This time, put on your glasses.
America has a profoundly different situation. Liberals promote a notion of the "1% vs. the 99%," and this simply isn't correct. What the rich are now doing to the middle class is what the middle class already did to the poor. The proverbial "masses" -- those who had united to push back during similar times in our past -- have been deeply divided and pitted against each other.
Chuckle8 -- Sorry, I didn't realize that his one anecdote (Walmart) combined with a research paper sponsored by union forces should be taken as a full explanation of the almost complete collapse of private sector unions. My bad.
I still contend that Unions had a good 100 year run. If people really wanted to belong they would. They apparently don't want to.
We've had a "progressive" and interventionist President and Attorney General for the past six years. Perhaps you should call them out directly?
AIW -- I am sure you can do quite well without any help from any of us. However, it is so hard to resist. John Stossel was on ABC's 20/20 a couple of decades ago. I think he has now been relegated to a Faux News commentator.
I like to go after the heart of their arguments. What is with this unsustainable debt? The US Debt is 75% of GDP. In 2010, the Japanese Debt was 200% of GDP. That is the same year when Japan became the wealthiest nation in the world, surpassing the US. That sounds like we need more debt. My first choice would be to increase the US debt by $1 trillion by forgiving all student debt.
chicagotim - Will you please acknowledge that Mark S told you why in his #10 comment?
We don't need a 'new' square deal; we just need to dust off the old one and put it back to work. And there's no such thing as 'too big to jail' - the collapse of a big bank would be an economic punch in the gut, compared to the pounding migraine of financial corruption.
And just for the record, China doesn't just jail people for corruption...some of them they execute. Hmmm, maybe we should try that in this country.
chuckle8-- Did you view tottcaterings posted link on the subject of geoengineering?
Tom,
I worked with and was a victim of Ted Haggard. I went to Moody Bible Institute for 4 years and was kicked out for being gay. Ted took advantage of that. Ted was the president of the NAE and President Bush's spiritual advisor. I've seen these situations play out in person with politics and religious figures. Ted was outed because his church was supporting an anti-gay bill.
The Bishop Council Nedd II, most likely lives in this same fantasy world where gay people are sinners, abortion is wrong in every possible situation, and his propaganda is simply fear based. He want's people to FEAR Obama, gays, women's rights, other cultures, because either a) he was truly raised this was and immersed in this hierarchical culture since birth; or b) for profit.
Grant Haas
Bishop Council Nedd IIBishop Council Nedd IIBishop Council Nedd IIBishop Council Nedd IIBishop Council Nedd II
Tom can you help with some information that I think I heard on your show some time ago about how Gorge Bush got a law or executive order which would help foreran immigrants coming into this country be able to start a small business and would be allowed to be exempt from having to pay sales tax on what they sell and I think they where exempt from having to pay this tax for up to 10 years is this correct or am I wrong on this? After searching on the web this is all I could find
Yes, there are many government grants available to immigrants specifically. Anywhere from specific buisiness startup loans that have to be repayed, to grants that don't have to be repayed to tax exemptions of up to 7 years.
One I've personally seen firsthand is where buisines's owned by immigrants get tax exempt for 7 years but still get to charge sales tax and keep it. After 7 years the exemption goes away however the way around is transferring ownership to a family member who recently came over in the last 5 years and they can continue the exemption for another 7 years. Back in the early 90's was very popular with Indian's who immigrated to the US but today there are far more programs available not available to citizens.
"Muslim" is formed from the 3-consonant root "SLM" which refers to peace, and "muslim" literally means "one that has submitted (to god)". "Believer" would be a different word. (Dictionary.com's tranlsator is giving me "NWMN" for "believe", but I can't put much trust in it.)
Arabic has no distinction between capital and small letters, so of course the distinction that Ani Zonneveld mentioned could not exist in writing, but that doesn't mean that there can't be different meanings in different contexts. As a random example, "clown" might be someone's job, or it might be an insult. The meaning of "That guy's a clown," depends on context.
Coos Bay, Oregon is the most conservative area I’ve lived in my entire life. It took us old Berkeley hippies a long time to find our social niche here.
I’ve got a friend I’ll call Sandra who’s a lefty like us. Sandra is a poet and activist who lives in North Bend, the next town just north of here. She’s written letters to the editor of our local paper for years, which has earned her all kinds of friends and enemies in Coos County. Sandra’s a fiesty, take-no-prisoners kinda gal, not afraid to call it as she sees it. But she’s pushing eighty now, is paying the price for a decades-long cigarette habit and doesn’t have the energy she once did. So Sandra has begun urging me to carry the torch. This seems like a good idea to me, so I’ve signed up for an online subscription to the paper.
However there are moments when I feel like a glutton for punishment, just reading some of the stuff in The World’s opinion column… like for example, this libertarian editorialist who they publish on a regular basis. His name is John Stossel and he’s one piece of work. I’m not about to quote his entire column here, but take a load of these first few paragraphs:
Donald Trump's kids and Paris Hilton's siblings were born rich. That gave them a big advantage in life. Unfair!
Inequality in wealth has grown. Today the richest 1 percent of Americans own a third of the assets. That's not fair!
But wherever people are free, that's what happens.
Some people are luckier, smarter or just better at making money. Often they marry other wealthy, well-connected people. Over time, these advantages compound. Globalization increases the effect. This month's issue of Forbes says the world now has 1,826 billionaires, and some struggle to find enough parking places for their jets.
President Obama calls inequality "the defining issue of our time." Really? Not our unsustainable debt? Not ISIS?
Politicians constantly find crises they will solve by increasing government power. But why is inequality a crisis?
The first time I read that, my blood pressure must have risen twenty notches. That's as noxious as anything I’ve ever read. It cuts a vidid profile of that in-your-face, “Nyah-Nyah” kind of attitude we’re getting from libertarians. Now that their plutocrat’s paradise has been legislated into reality, they’re like schoolyard bullies.
I've every intention of posting a fitting response to this condescending screed. But first, I better give myself time to cool off, because what I’d really like to do right now is punch the guy’s lights out. What a PIG.
The Powell doctrine worked. Pointing out that it exists is like pointing out that the Titanic was going too fast when it hit the iceberg. It doesn't raise the ship from the bottom of the ocean.
Progressives need to accept distrust of the Federal government as the norm for a lot of people, and incorporate it into their ideology.
80 Billion is a little?
But first I need to know how they figure those numbers. Is that just Federal welfare spending? Are they including state spending too? What about non-governmental charities?