An out-of-breath fourteen-year-old girl in cheap shoes hurries to cross the street, her hand clenches over some cash and an electricity bill. A mother feels like forty miles of bad road, stands abandoned in a super market and ponders whether to buy milk or bread. After he sees his neighbor's newer model Rolls, the crushed millionaire drives his older model into poor areas and feels better. A grateful busboy eats his lunch in the alley next to a dumpster. An au courant angry, bitter, skinny woman wonders how much thinner she should be before becoming rich and famous. Insanity creeps on a teary-eyed father as they take his son—the college student—away to prison on pot charges. Technologically astute BFFs engage in a heated texting fight over whom should convert…the Kim-girl or the Paris-girl; two bros debate, which give more bulk, kettle bells or battle ropes; and an iPhoneless poor beautiful young woman chooses community college over porn but finds no classes available; she still learns to beg instructors for 'add-cards'. "What sin have I committed? You keep sending these stupid ugly heads my way," a television hair-and-makeup stylist says to God. A delusional Tongue-Fu master works his "magic" on his wife as she thinks, "Oh, loser! I can draw you a map, it's never gonna happen!" A priest contemplates a no-brainer: should the church buy food and shoes for poor children or finance Alzheimer's research? In an emergency room, a racist-in-the-make holds his sick daughter for seven hours watching undocumented non-English-speaking people receive treatment while his loved one remains in pain. An IRS agent interrogates an elderly small business owner into a heart attack; after all, he will not let her get away with a few hundred dollars of "taxpayers' money!" The government hands the Wall Street hustlers (aka the "talent" that brought the world economy down) a big chunk of money to cover tens of millions in bonuses. The US Supreme Court rules that money equals free speech, and the defeated Satan apologizes to his trusted demons as he leaves Hell, "I am sorry, I can never top that!"
Meanwhile, a despicable talking head on TV obscenely says, "The American people want this…the American people think that…" What "American people?" To which "people" is this vermin referring?
As guard labor, news anchors/political commentators invite "experts" on political talk shows to do their masters' bidding. No real news, no relevant information, no follow up questions, simply a whole lot a nothing and the message is always, "the status quo is great!" Watching these mockeries, one can easily detect the fake discourse and moronic bullshit. Disgusted by the charade, one cannot help but also realize that even the mediocre suits are worth far more than the talkers in them are. These TV heads redefine politics as cheap gossip; they make the National Enquirer look like a highbrow newspaper. None of these parasites could ever get a job outside the US, let alone be on TV. We, Americans, should demand the return of honest investigative journalism, where the main bulk of the news exposes corruption (Wall Street, banks, corporations, and their gofers) and pernicious legislation. Tell us who is stealing our money and how; otherwise, fire these assholes and give us some decent drama shows.
When a speaker calls on a citizenry, she understandably addresses the poor, the working class, not the rich, and politicians and crowds of all nations know this human universal. The rich do not need help. They have enough money to pay for anything and everything, except may be love and good genes. They also have the same rights as the rest; even the rule of law, by design, protects the rich "more equally." Capitalism is not an egalitarian system. There will always be lucky and unlucky, and everyone loses at some point. Yet illogically, in America, there is a fierce war against the poor, and more people fall into the unlucky category as the gap widens. If you lose in this game of chance, the word is, "You did not want it bad enough; you did not work hard enough."Yet, I can assure you, these are not the reasons I came in third place at the international championship sponsored by prettypenis.com ©.The smug attitude that one should claim all credit for his wealth and that success is eternal is as lame as it is nocuous. The owners of this country have an old simple policy called, "eating the cake and having it too:" in a façade of democracy, legislation will favor the rich and keep the peasants in check. It is all you need to know about American politics.
Every few years the big money commissions the media to stage a fight between the Democrats and the Republicans featuring the President and the Congress. In the last episode of each season, one or both sides will appear to compromise, and the peasants—that is what the big money calls the 90%—will buy the bridge. Meanwhile, each time, the big money ends up getting what it wants: sending the poor to war; cutting taxes for the rich; deregulating Wall Street and repealing the Banking Act of 1933; or raising oil prices. Unfortunately, for Obama, the big money's mandate this term is to cut social programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Education—when the exact opposite is long overdue—and lower taxes on the rich. Even the "liberal media" is selling this cruel injustice by regurgitating the Right-wing slogan, "We all have to make tough choices!" To sustain the illusion of democracy, the big money will occasionally give the dog a fake bone…and later take it away—the Supreme Court rules for Obamacare and the Congress may let the taxes go back up on the rich by 3%, rather than fairly raising their taxes by 30-50%. Incidentally, stifling the internet, the last standing venue of free speech, under the guise of property rights laws, is next.
This obscene level of corruption should neither surprise you, nor faze you in the least. As a citizen, you still have the most power: you can vote. You are the original politician. You do not need an expert to tell you what you want. You know what you and your family need. Vote for those who will deliver; if they don't, vote them out. Don't stand by and watch the states deny others the right to vote; instead, protest, assemble, petition, and take those votes back. You must also closely monitor legislation and know exactly what you are voting for, because the Congress keeps passing many of the most restrictive, most oppressive and most idiotic laws in history…the war on drugs is just one catastrophe. The Religious Right's backward rhetoric against birth control and abortion stems from the belief that women who have sex out of wedlock are whores. Therefore, next time think hard before you vote to keep sex work illegal, for example. A woman's right to have absolute control over her body should be sacred. To legislate what a woman can and cannot do with her body is the ultimate slippery slope. On the other hand, if those nice "family values-Christians" bring back the Inquisition and abortion becomes illegal, who do you think will suffer? Any rich woman can have an abortion during a long weekend in Paris and comes home as she left…with an extended middle finger!
The big money is running out of money to steal (and ways to steal it) while holding a big chunk of the country's capital hostage as dead wealth, chocking our economy. It is political blackmail, an insurance policy, if you will, in case the President or Congress wants to play hero. No loans, no investments, industries disappearing and manufacturing is slowing down. Raising taxes on the big money (including corporations) is the one right solution; it is the only incentive. That is, as long as you are investing your money building, producing and creating jobs, you will make even more money. Yet, if you decide to bury your money, the government will invest it for you. Moreover, the government should put its full weight behind certain industries or even take them over to level the playing field globally, just as China and many European countries do. Finally, since the poor and the Middle Class always spend their last dime, which strongly stimulates the economy; therefore, cutting social programs, let alone raising taxes on the Middle Class, is as stupid as it is putrid.
Beware! As I write, the "pious" Right is gaining might. The goal is evil: a time medieval. When the wingnut dim young farts, call the decent, "bleeding hearts," you tell them these two parts, "our hearts are meant to bleed, lest turn to stone by greed."
Thoth © 2012


Salon.com
Comments
I am so there in November. I'm scheduled next week to do a training session to become a voter registrar and sign people up at tables set up in grocery stores. It's time for the real citizens-united to step up. R!
Another one with his long list of "what's wrong with America".
And then the "solution"...... good grief man do you not know that your solution of "voting" has been tried for the last 500 years? Do you not know that (at least in America) you CAN'T "Vote someone out"? Only in. In order to get one set of assholes our of office you have to vote another set - who obey the same masters - into office.
What a glorious solution! The voters can chose to be beaten by a club instead of by a whip. Democracy in action! Don't come whining to "your" representatives if you don't like being clubbed - you freely and democratically chose it!
So "vote in your own interests". Sounds great! Uh, just what are MY interests? Oh, I should get an education about such things and "learn" what they are. OK sounds easy enough - um, where do I go to get a truthful education about such things? "Why, come right on in citizen our party has the "truth" heck we even have the endorsement of a church!"
"No, no! Don't listen to them others! They're all liars and bad guys. Come over here to our side; we're the only ones who have love in our heart - well, except for them others of course."
So take yer pick then get out there and vote for your favourite liar. The one who owes allegiance to power and money and greed. He'll look after your interests right well, he will - as soon as he confiscates them.
Vote? For any of those @#$%holes? Not on yer life, me friend. No on yer life. I'd never be able to look myself in the face if I legitimize their great fraud by taking part in it.
;-(
.
Thank you so much for your visit.
@ skypixieo
Let us just say for the sake of argument that Obama means well. Yet he is almost alone, no one is really defending him or giving him strong support. FDR had the people's support, Obama is on hid own.
We need tangible consistent participation by the voters. Thank you so much for your visit and comment.
To the MoneyPower the world is just a giant Monopoly board, and they have a bizarre drive to win it all even though it's completely suicidal to destroy the planet and have everyone despise them. These completely insane people are taking everyone else down with them.
Glad to see you posting again, sad things, true things. The politicians are also insane, they won't stop, they will have to be stopped.
Having said all that I’m not going to vote Thoth. Who for? A write in that’s certain to lose. To vote for either the republican or the democratic candidates is to make reservations in hell.
“I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go”
Yea I had to let it go at least until Americans realize they have a second amendment that was put there just for the situation we have now. I promise I will take the point when that finally does happen. The best thing about this election is that it is a win win for the sane people still left in America. If the republicans win then Paul Ryan can euthanize all the vindictive old bastards that voted for him. Then he can finish off the red necks by enforcing the NDAA and locking them all in concentration camps. If the democrats win Obama can continue his merry way skipping down the primrose path to Armageddon his fat boyfriend Nutandyahoo by his side. They can both just keep kicking that bear egged on by auntie Cheney and her neocon cult and their counterparts in Israel the Likund. A shower of Satan missiles is bound to incinerate the urban constituency of both of them in the very near future. Yep:
“I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go”
With the greatest respect - Obama doesn't have a mandate from the people to "mean well". He has a mandate to govern on the people's behalf for the purpose of ensuring those same peoples' well being.
He is in breach of that mandate as is every other politician in (or out of) office. They are all "playing the money/power game" at the expense of the very people whom they are supposed to be representing.
If you consider this to be the right thing for your representatives to do, then keep on voting them in. And don't even worry about which set of them you put in office, they ALL take their marching orders from the same wealthy, powerful elite. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to be beaten with a club than a whip. I suppose that choice mens a lot to many people - an example of America's fine democracy in action.
Yup, we do the same thing up here in Canuckistan too!
.
It is always good to see you too, my friend.
@ Jon
Thank you, Sir, for your gracious visit
@ Marilyn Sands,
Thank you, I appreciate it so much.
@ Jack Heart
Why, thank you, my dear friend; yours ain't bad either.
No argument here, my friend, I belong to the same Supreme Cynics Club. I just see no other solution: the people must speak louder for their rights. I mean, why are the democrats such pussies, for example. The Republicans are lying and cussing 24/7, and no APPROPRIATE response from the Democrats. Thanks again.
Rated.
This is ridiculous. I have been trying for an hour to get on OS with no errors and it just doesn't happen. When you're on the top rated in the last 4 hours with two comments it's pretty pathetic...
This is ridiculous. I have been trying for an hour to get on OS with no errors and it just doesn't happen. When you're on the top rated in the last 4 hours with two comments it's pretty pathetic...me..not you
Yes, we need to be aware of the dangers of lack of action. Thank you so much as always.
@ ThroughMyEyes
Me too, it is really slow today on OS. Always great to see you, my friend.
@ Matt Paust
Thank you, Sir, it is always great to receive a visit from the fiction guru.
Frustration with the system is creeping into my heart, my friend. I will vote, but my heart won't be in it this time.
Lezlie
Frustration with the system is creeping into my heart, my friend. I will vote, but my heart won't be in it this time.
Lezlie
I know exactly what you mean, Lezlie. I wish praying works. Thank you so much for your visit.
Yes, I was. So much ugly talk against the poor, and many people spewing it, is a sad thing, but a wake up call all the same. Thank you, my friend for your visit.
@ Maureen J Andrade
You hit the nail on the head. Many of my OS friends keep ask me when is my next post, and I tell them this. Often I get an idea for a post, and just before I post it, someone else had done it...better. OS has so many great writers, who inform and entertain, and I am grateful. Thank you, Maureen for your visit.
{{was thinking that these past few days especially might bring you out of the wood work ;) }}
Rated for I'll be voting from the cynical corner..
Sometimes the process is almost more important than the outcome.
And done for those who will carry this to those needy of our hearts, our truth. Highly Rated>>>>>>>
Me Too, Mary, me too. Thank you for your support and visit.
@ Libby,
I wish the Green Party gets its time in the light. Thank you, my friend.
@ Seer,
Oh boy, do I know the cynical corner! Always great to see you, my dear friend.
@ J D Smith,
Hey stranger! It is great to see you again, my friend.
The chatter around us is getting uglier and louder by the minute, and I think the only way to change people's minds is to press the truth. Thank you so much for your visit and kind words.
I don't know either, but it is not going to be good. Thank you so much, Jan, for your visit and comment
I have to vote. The reason is ultimately one I got from Tom Cordle, a great word: Pyrrhicism. I am not interested in the Pyrrhic victory I'd get out of not voting; I'm more interested in the practical aspects of limiting the damage.
Vote people, vote!!
Of course, voting for the other guy is insanity. Thank you so much for your visit and comment.
@ Kosh,
I seriously do not know why, but I am going to vote for Obama. Thanks Kosh.
@ jmac1949
Thanks man, I appreciate your comment.
R
Rated for THINKING before Voting.
And perhaps they'll have the decency to vomit on themselves.
I will vote. I will vote. It is my duty as an American to exercise my franchise. I hope I do not lose it in the booth. Will bring a baggie just in case. But I will vote.
Read: http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/08/31/why-youre-a-lot-poorer-than-you-thought-you-were/
I think I know why that is, Thoth. I think it is because we choose our politicians from the human population of America…and as we all know, the human population of America is preoccupied with self-interest—almost always putting self first and the good of everyone else second. (A very distant second, I suggest.)
Most never volunteer to do work in their communities; most never pick up stray garbage in the streets; most don’t visit shut-ins except for relatives; and most take a buck where it is available without regard to whether it is costing society for the taking.
Humans in general, and American humans especially…are the problem—not the politicians. Become a politician yourself—anybody here—and devote yourself unselfishly to working your ass off. Be sure you turn down all the temptations that come your way—as surely they will. Forget about your families and your retirement…just work your asses off and never succumb to the temptation to make a buck where it probably is not appropriate. Work…and keep everyone else in mind and not yourself or your family.
Then complain about the politicians.
I will vote for Obama, Thoth. I will not withhold my vote nor waste it on someone with no chance of success. I expect my candidate to lose, but he has a chance. I expect come next January 20th to begin getting use to the expression, “President Romney said…”
And as expected - You deleted me.
I re-read my old Troth Post Again.
It was @ my ` Arthur James Post.
You called me a friend. No Respect.
Why Respect You? Who are you?
`
Alice in The Looking Glass ask:
`
Who am I in this world? Who?
You may be a twin of Kerry L.?
Tweedledee or Tweedledums?
`
I'll visit the @ Arthur James.
Why respect Coward deleters?
You reall can Fool Folk. Sigh.
I assume you delete this.
Tell us about your life.
You Hiss with nasty.
We elect mere imperfect humans, not messiah-avatars.
I wonder how things would differ if 80% or more voted in the U. S.
On the subject of "big money buying elections, that doesn't always work, ref Meg Whitman's big money loss in California.
Thunder on the Mountain!
I am still bogged down in your beautifully perverse pastiche , a crazy quilt of American realities I see every..goddamn…day…
I am just grooving on your juxtaposition, here…I will get to the ‘’content’’, the intellectual argument of your piece, the prophet long thought to be napping in the Desert, maybe in a coma, who knows, …suddenly..wakes up.
~
Oh such drama here. A new Thoth. And with venom. Good venom, the kind that actually shuts your consciousness down, not to death, as these tv heads wish, but to a kind of kinky rebirth.
~
I shall be back. I gotta savor this post, Maestro. Like a damn early Christmas present.
Ha~” "What sin have I committed? You keep sending these stupid ugly heads my way," a television hair-and-makeup stylist says to God.”
~
It’s the ugliest heads I have ever seen. Reptilian in their rhetoric.. cold blooded, calculating, advised by agencies on what emotions to try to plunder…
Too bad I gave up on Emotion a long long time ago..
Thunder on the Mountain!
I am still bogged down in your beautifully perverse pastiche , a crazy quilt of American realities I see every..goddamn…day…
I am just grooving on your juxtaposition, here…I will get to the ‘’content’’, the intellectual argument of your piece, the prophet long thought to be napping in the Desert, maybe in a coma, who knows, …suddenly..wakes up.
~
Oh such drama here. A new Thoth. And with venom. Good venom, the kind that actually shuts your consciousness down, not to death, as these tv heads wish, but to a kind of kinky rebirth.
~
I shall be back. I gotta savor this post, Maestro. Like a damn early Christmas present.
Ha~” "What sin have I committed? You keep sending these stupid ugly heads my way," a television hair-and-makeup stylist says to God.”
~
It’s the ugliest heads I have ever seen. Reptilian in their rhetoric.. cold blooded, calculating, advised by agencies on what emotions to try to plunder…
Too bad I gave up on Emotion a long long time ago..
arthur!
the Bothered Besotted Benevolent Brotherhood
calls to you!
Troth is one of us!
ay.
no one with any sense would delete you.
shush!
?
hm.
what is up herein?
i HATE to see friend.mentors clash in the Night.
I keep getting the Obama-campaign-mail,and I can't help but think that each mail,addressing me,sounds like desperate screems of (a) drowning person(s).
It looks like a fight between David and Goliath.
Only intelligence,superior strategic movements and a good portion of luck/fate will bring the desired turn.I observe the development in the US with great discomfort,and like others,I am afraid that the country will get involved in a civil war or other kind of rebellious conflict resulution.
The idea of a green party should be given more attention.
There is some deep wisdom in the proverb:
"When two people quarrel,a third rejoices".
If the green party gets enough seats to get into congress,they can't be ignored.This happened here,and when at the beginning the "Greens" were considered to be asocial and a bunch of freaks,they have established a strong party with tendence growing.
(Joshka Fischer; Daniel Cohn-Bendit)
Whatever the outcome of these elections:We can only hope for the best.
Loved the analogies.
Deep
in
the
VA
That's right. Thank you for reading and commenting.
@ Brazen Princess,
Thank you so much, Princess; good to see you.
@ janicephelpswilliams
Well, you are on the right track, then. Thank you so much.
@ Heidi Banerjee,
I will vote for Obama too. There is no otherway. Thank you for your visit.
Thank you for your kind words; yes, the words are mine. I appreciate your visit and support.
@ Erica K,
I had a fit when Chris Mathews--talking to Jeff Daniels--hinted that he, Chris Matthews, is like Will in the series. I remember Matthews having a nasty fight with Phil Donahue live on TV--getting Donahue fired from MSNBC--when Donahue criticized American exceptionalism/"beating up our chests," The same thing Will went after in the first episode of Newsroom. Thank you, Erica, always good to see you.
@ keiko alvarez,
Right! I bet you anything, in a monarchy, there will be less thieves .
Thank you so much.
Thank you, thank you! Always good to see you, Ande.
@kenneth houck,
What boggles my mind is how passive the Democrats are; the Republicans are lying their asses off and insulting the Democrats 24/7, and no response. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Thank you, my good friend, I know you know.
@ Lucinda Bliss,
Great strategy, I would stay home too if I were that close to those nice folk! Thank you so much, Lucinda for the kind words and support.
As I said before you commented, I will vote for Obama too, Frank. Voting the other way is the definition of insanity. You make a fine point, as George Carlin said once, "Where do you think American politicians come from? They come from American families, America schools..."
No one in history has ever attacked the poor publicly, not even Stalin. Not only the Republicans started attacking the poor publicly, but also---and this I will never understand--there are people that support their inhumane politics, and they all falsely call themselves Christians. This is simply sick. I am sorry, but I don't think you can call them people, let alone Americans.
I think letting the Right-wing spew lies and insults 24/7, unopposed is very dangerous. I believe the Democrats MUST drop this lame political correctness for now and fight back loud and mean. Thank you so much for your visit and comment, Frank. It is good to see you.
Thank you, Marcia, for your integrity and humanity.
@ another steve s
Thank you so much , much friend for your visit and comment.
@ john blumenthal,
I will never forget that you said it on this blog a while ago and I am paraphrasing: it is slavery any way you slice it. Thank you so much for your gracious visit, John, it is always a pleasure to see you here.
Why, Thank you, Deborah, I appreciate your kind words and visit.
@ James M. Emmerling,
Thank you, my dear philosopher friend. I appreciate your gracious visit and kind words. Please, come back with more comments.
PS. I am grateful for your help and support.
@ Buffy W,
Oh, thank you, my dear friend. It is always a pleasure.
Thank you for reading
@ Inzain,
I appreciate your input as a gamer/popular culture expert. From what I understand, the term bros refers to mostly white, superficial, all about fake flash, gym-going young guys. Thank you so much for your kind words.
@ Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall,
I agree. I just trying hard not to give up on the power of the people. Thank you so much for your great work on OS, your kind words and visit.
Your vote doesn't count:
"Forget the politicians. They are irrelevant. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice! You have OWNERS! They OWN YOU. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls.
They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying, lobbying, to get what they want. Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I'll tell you what they don’t want:
They don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. Thats against their interests.
Thats right. They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table and think about how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago. They don’t want that!
You know what they want? They want obedient workers. Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shitty jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this fucking place! Its a big club, and you ain’t in it! You, and I, are not in the big club."
YEARS ago, by the late great George Carlin, may He r.i.p.
-R-
I appreciate it, my friend. I understand that the level of corruption is obscene as I showed in this post. I try to provide solutions for our system and our problems, but I don't have solutions for corruption.
I said it before, and so did our friend Jan Sand, I know that prayers only work 50% of the time, but that is all I have.
The only thing I believe we can do through vote, assembly, petition, and talking loud is may be stop the terror of the Religious Right. I think the Democrats, the Liberals, and those with conscience should put political correctness aside for the moment and respond appropriately to the constantly lying Right-wing.
Thank you, Mark for your visit and comment.
Thank you so much, my dear friend. Always good to see you.
Just superb; really cuts to the heart of things. I especially like this:
Meanwhile, a despicable talking head on TV obscenely says, "The American people want this…the American people think that…" What "American people?" To which "people" is this vermin referring? "
I am so sick of the phrase "the American people." I don't even know what that means.
Just superb; really cuts to the heart of things. I especially like this:
Meanwhile, a despicable talking head on TV obscenely says, "The American people want this…the American people think that…" What "American people?" To which "people" is this vermin referring? "
I am so sick of the phrase "the American people." I don't even know what that means.
I have taken the talking heads out of my diet altogether - they were making me fat and diabetic. I try to find nutritious, unprocessed information.
I cherish my votes. Thanks for reminding me what I have to contribute.
Joining what looks like a groundswell of votes for this piece - R.
I know, this phrase pisses me off the most; too bad they cannot make it illegal. Thank you, Margaret; it is always a pleasure to see you.
@ Emily Conyngham,
Thank you so much for your gracious visit and comment. Glad to make your acquaintance.
The two parties are said to be "at war with one another." So, one party will win and the other will lose the presidential race and the losing party will do everything in its power to derail the winner's efforts at passing legislation and the winning party will cry the blues that the losers are being poor sports. The goal of politics these days seems to be excelling at the competition, not at governing.
Thanks for your post. And, yes, I will definitely vote this election.
He just wants us not to vote in the next election so Romney gets elected, at which point he figures the American populace will soon be so disaffected that it will be easy to foment revolution, and he's preparing for a Finnish takeover of the distracted American government.
Speak any Suomi, Dude?
From the mind of Nokia.
They couldn't do any worse. But learning their language would be a bitch. Finnish is distantly related to Hungarian but has no other linguistic links that we know of, at least not recent ones. How Finnish came about is an historical mystery.
That's the real reason Jan's here: He's recruiting Finnish agents.
Estonians also speak a related language and there are a few places in Russia where a relative of Finnish is spoken. But most here also speak English which is a real obstacle to learning the language.
The results that we get each time say that both parties are working for the same boss, who is definitely not the people. Thank so much you for reading and commenting.
@ cindy Prochnow
That is the point, Cindy. Recognizing the bullshit, let alone not buying into it, means you know politics. Knowing what you and your family need and what make your country a better place is all the politics any citizen needs. Thank you so much for your visit and kind words. It is always good to see you.
@ fernsy,
Hey, my good friend, great to see you and thanks for the visit.
I just want you to know that I am elated; I am having a ball reading you guys. Thank you.
We don't have only two choices, but we only have two realistic choices. The last time we ran into a choice like that and said "let's go with a third choice" was in 2000 because so many Nader supporters thought Gore was no different than Bush.
Let's see, what would life look like now if we'd elected an environmentalist, renewable energy supporting President with less of an inclination to support the extremely wealthy over the rest of us, no personal reason to get us involved in Iraq, a plan to separate the Social Security budget so that money wouldn't be used to pay other Government bills, the sense to raise taxes if he really had to raise spending, and an ideological bent that wouldn't have led to the Supreme Court majority that gave us Citizens United?
I'm not in love with Obama, but I'm not crazy enough not to understand how much worse Romney would be.
I understand that there's a lot of support on OS for saying "We can't vote for Obama under any circumstances. My answer comes from OSer Tom Cordle, who calls that "pyrrhicism." In other words, "let's win a victory, even if it's a Pyrrhic one." Sorry, but we can't afford one.
If the Greens are going to advance in the US, they're not going to do it by starting with the Presidency, short of an unbelievable miracle. Yes, my issue stands are closer to the Green candidate than they are to Obama, but we all understand that the Greens aren't taking a substantial number of votes from Romney but will get almost all their votes from Obama. In other words, a vote for the Greens is, in Republican strategic terms, a vote for Romney. It accomplishes exactly what voter ID requirements at the polls do: keeps people who would ordinarily vote Democratic away from doing so.
If the Greens are going to get anywhere, they have to start by concentrating a lot of resources in some winnable races and getting some seats. This is too long a shot and, more importantly, way too potentially expensive a gesture.
The moral of this piece is this.We live under the illusion that things change politically in this country.
They don't. The big money always gets what it wants
Recognizing the corruption and political bullshit is enough knowledge to make any citizen a politician.
And then comes the most valuable piece of information ever:
The citizens should exercise all their rights to make the following a fact: If you do not legislate in the people's best interest, we will vote you out, and raising taxes on the rich by 30-50% (including a whole new tax raise on corporations) IS THE FIRST LEGISLATION THE COUNTRY NEEDS. The second is removing religion from politics.
This should be the goal of every citizen and congressman. It really doesn't matter what color is the party.
Thank you so much, Christine for your visit and comment.
You are right, letting Romney win is insanity. Yet, Obama winning is a save at best, a lesser or two evils at worst, but never a Pyrrhic (a battle that ends up destroying the victor) victory. If Obama wins, the people may not win much, but we are definitely not going to lose more. If Obama wins, I hope that it will be an incentive for him: the people reelected you, so you better start doing what you promised in the first place.
But again, going back the core point in my post. The people's duty--to vote, petition and assemble--should by no means stop when Obama wins. The people should monitor Obama as well as every congressman. That is our job as citizens.
The only fight should be to raise taxes on rich. It is the only thing that matters--and all other talk is either bullshit or disinformation. It is the difference between prosperous Americans and enslaved Americans.
I couldn't agree more. On either count.
Obama needs to be elected, then monitored and pressured.
As to the role of tax policy, particularly when it comes its role in income polarization, that was the subject of my very first post on OS. I've also reposted that once. I posted it first because I thought it was the most important thing I had to say. I still do. I can't say how many times I've posted about this topic in one way or another.
In other words, a vote for the Greens is, in Republican strategic terms, a vote for Romney. It accomplishes exactly what voter ID requirements at the polls do: keeps people who would ordinarily vote Democratic away from doing so.
Amen! In fact, AMEN!!!
I'm not in love with Obama, but I'm not crazy enough not to understand how much worse Romney would be.
Exactly. And trying to make “voting green” seem okay by touting it at every opportunity because one lives in a state like New York or California that seem safe from the Republicans…is every bit as potentially destructive as doing it in a toss-up state.
The only sane thing to do right now is to support Barack Obama…and campaigning for the Green Party is NOT supporting him--and not supporting him IS supporting Romney.
Touting the Green Party IS being "crazy enough not to understand how much worse Romney would be."
Your visit and comment are much appreciated.
@ escrito por nada,
This next election, staying at home is a huge mistake. I wish I knew how to make people not vote against their own interest. Thank you so much for visit and comment.
Thoth - Great to read you...passion, imagination, grand ideas and huge heart.
JD - Loved your line..."Sometimes the process is more important than the outcome." Love that!
Sky - What can I say? You get us, our 'limp dick politics' and pretty much what happens south of the Canadian border. Mirrors of minds and imaginations will prevail, whether in success or failure.
My lost sentiment, perhaps...no more big, bigger, biggest government. We are lost in it. Disguised in delegated importance; buried in platitudes, lost in time and space. We live ad die.
It is always a pleasure to see you, my, now, philosopher, friend. Thank you so much for your kind comment and support
@ Mary Stanik,
Thank you so much as always for your gracious visit and good words.
It is discouraging how the money is able to buy our politicians. In England, spending and the time period on elections are limited.
It is discouraging how the money is able to buy our politicians. In England, spending and the time period on elections are limited.
You wrote this before the dem convention. I always vote however futile. But anyone who's read you, heard Michelle and Clinton, and plans to sit this one out is totally missing your points, so well said, and theirs. love WO
If we apply the British political system, we solve all our problems.
@ wendyo,
Thank you as always my friend for your gracious visit.
@ zanelle,
Thank you so much for your visit and kind words.
My first question is, "Just when do you plan to run for office?"
Although I would be afraid that if you did, even "you" would lose that special innocence and breadth of humility that some of us in the non-politcal arena can still boast of possessing.
From personal experience as an investigative political journalist by trade who has worked for what is now known as Corporate Journalism empires such as CNN, The Wall Street Journal, CBS and The Huffington Post, I have to "quite sadly" agree with you that the media, which is now quite undefinable, has indeed changed for the worst by nearly all accounts and on all fronts.
Had journalism lost its moral, intellectual and humane integrity when I was but a young lass, I am sure I would not have joined the ranks and wreckage of what has now become a joke and an embarrassment.
About five years ago was when I first began to receive the negative reactions from people when I admitted to being a journalist, I might as well have told them I was an ambulance-chasing attorney, tax auditor, their future funeral director or traffic cop.
As I have sentimentally reported before on these hopeful pages of OpenSalon, I became a reporter after growing up with the likes of Edward R. Murrrow, Walter Cronkite and the beginnings of 60 Minute programs that whistled their steadfast and masculine voices throughout the rooms of my liberal-minded but fair home, echoing messages of balance and civility, respect and truth and a sense of humility and broad-mindedness we are not allowed to hear today in the same essence.
Journalism is now infused and distorted with the Paparazzi, and what is passed off and cleverly or not so cleverly disguised as real news is nothing but a nightmarish and surreal Circus that I keep hoping we will wake up from.
This goes the same for a lot of politicians, who are also so controlled by money, ratings and focus groups that they get lost in any message that might have actually turned into anything of value that could make people feel more valuable as a result, as you can't put a value on integrity.
As Mark Twain once said, "Get the facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please."
I don't believe that even Twain could have predicted that nearly all reporting and campaigns might eventually begin first with distortion, with never a plan to find the facts, as they may be.
I, too, hope to see the day where we have a party--regardless of its color--that works for the people. Thank you so much for your gracious visit and comment.
@ Natalie K. Munden,
Why, how are you my good friend? I miss your posts.
@ Francesca Biller,
You know, I love it when "serious" anchors, like Chris Matthews--and he's a good guy--refer to clips they air from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as funny, when Stewart and Colbert provide more truth, substance and information in one minute than Chris would in a life time.
Thank you so much for your fine and informed comment and gracious visit.
@ Jennifer Prestholdt,
Thank you so much, it is always good to see you.
I missed you too, my dear friend; it is always a pleasure to see you. Looking forward to your posts.
Thank you, Heidi, for your kind words. Your good work inspires us all.
Thank you for your visit and fine comment.
@ What I've learned,
Thank you for your visit and comment; glad to make your acquaintance.
Thank you so much, my good friend, for your visit and kind words.
One post a month, old chap?
Cuz reading these comments explodes my head . all the best
And brightest, here for you. You maybe gotta try to
Set up what dear erotic cowboy says:
Monarchy.
MONARCHY OF MIND. You.
~
So much to absorb herein.
I appreciate your gratitude, but it is never not a two way thing.
Like, this is what I think too:
This obscene level of corruption
should neither surprise you, nor faze you in the least.
(it never does. The way of the world, they say.)
Now here you delve yourself into philosophy: and a lockeian good stuff: rousseau too!
You are the original politician.
You do not need an expert to tell you what you want.
You know what you and your family need.
Vote for those who will deliver; if they don't, vote them out.
It is always a pleasure and an honor to see your comments here, my philosopher friend.
And yes, Sir, I will try my best.
Yeah, let us save this country. Thank you so much; it is good to see you.
Thank you so much for your visit.
As far as breaking the law by smoking pot, the world has enough problems and this one right now is not even in my worry basket. I worry if I will have a house come mid winter. I worry if my husband willl have a job because the new head cheese think out sourcing is cool that prick.
Pensions are being cut and the world does not even realize the half of what is happening. Why did the big pricks at GM get to keep all their wealth and then they destroyed my Mom and Step-Dad's health insurance, took away their eye and dental, then just a few weeks ago they cut both their pensions in half, which means they are going back to work.
And we are on a world economy so someone go make Greece put their citizen's to work. Germany nor anyone should have to bail them out because their citizens want three month vacations and 28 hour work weeks. And when they fall, Ireland is second, and etc... etc.... it will be a domino effect and anyone who thinks this will not effect the US is crazy because we are in a world economy.
But, let's get back to my Grandmother who raised me like I was her own. She has altzheimer's and if her medicare and social security is taken away then it will effect everyone in this family.
Then there is my son who is on medicare and is suppose to be given social security when he turns eighteen. He has to have his medicine's reviewed every two years with a week stay in a hospital. It cost $46,000. Our insurance never pays a penny that we pay $800 every month for. No, medicare does now imagine how fast we will be on the streets if we cannot pay for it? What will we do?
And you say, "That is, as long as you are investing your money building, producing and creating jobs, you will make even more money." Not many people that I know can get out of the loop of living week to week. When you start talking about people who can invest like you are talking, you are talking about a minority, not the majority.
My husband is trying to keep his job, and do what you say, even if we only have the money half the time to eat campbell's soup for dinner because of those dumb asses at the top that keep cutting the bonus and for most people in that company, the bonus made the salary pallatible. That is why most of them signed on. O'Bama pressed Mother's to go back to school, so I did. I have a B.A. in history. Thanks O'Bama because your programs we were not able to fit into but now we will lose so much. I do have some pride so I will not tell you how far we have fallen with everything that is going on in this country.
They are taking from the middle class to pay to the lower class while the dumb ass 1% don't even pay the percent they should. Am I angry? Yes, but my heart still has not turned to stone. I still try to help and give, except one who is the richest.
But remember, "the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last." And I am sitting her trying not to
tell the democrat national committee, and local candidates, you won't vote democrat until the democrat party is the champion of democracy. they must demonstrate this commitment to democracy by promising to amend the constitution by establishing citizen initiative as the sovereign law of the nation.
And especially this time! Thank you so much for your visit.
I wish. This takes a strong support from millions of informed citizens who are willing to physically stand up to corruption. We don't have that in this country. Thank you so much for reading.
For what? Thank YOU.
First, let us give thanks, to the Good Lord above. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord, for without Your mighty hand on my shoulder, I could not do what needs to be done. Without Your mighty hand on my shoulder, I could not say what needs to be said. Without Your mighty guidance, I would not have direction. But I want to thank You, Lord, most of all, for Your merciful love, for, without Your love, I could not feel the love I feel.
We have been brought together here today for a reason, and I, to deliver an assessment. As I look around, I see that the American People of this great nation have chosen to elect Mr. Obama to head the Executive Branch of our Government, which tells me that America has been busy these past few decades, and has grown, and finally closed the doors to some of its ugly attitudes and bad behaviors of the past, that for long had bound it in the chains of prejudice. America has come far. And I know that these changes took time, and this new attitude didn't come easy, and my heart is filled with pride as I now look out upon this lovely mall, and gaze upon the lovely fall color that is beginning to spread and herald a new season, for I see that we now see only the beauty, as we look upon the maple, the dogwood and the burning bush, and are no longer distracted by the color of its boughs, nor do those boughs lessen the beauty in any way. America has come far.
But this great nation still has work to do, for it has been sliding, and its poor are now poorer, while the rich are now richer. And so, I'm here to say that America has slid too far. When their are ugly scenes of homelessness, when there are unfed children throughout the land, when there are not enough jobs and not enough money, when we see the homeless mother, dressed in rags and hungry, with no milk for her baby, we know that America has slid too far. And when we see the families, forced from their homes because they don't have any money, then we know America has slid far. And when whole cities of homeles people, living in the streets and living in tents, begin to spring up inside every major metropolitan area all across this great land, then we know that America has slid too far.
America has slid too far because of a long train, a long train that has left in its wake the destruction of the American Working Class. The sign above this train's engine reads 'Keep Out'. No, we don't ride this train, nor would we want to. Nor does this train want us. This is the Train of Gold, of the wealthy, and this train does not stop, and has security at the door to keep us out. No, there is no room for us on this exclusive train, and no seats would we find there for us to rest our weary bodies, not even in the back. This is the 'long train of abuses and usurpations' that the American Declaration of Independence warned us about, and this train has stolen from us for too long now. It is the long train of the wealthy pursuing their 'common Object', which has been their self-enrichment at the expense of the Working Class. This long train has taken from us, and this 'long train of abuses and usurpations' has crushed the American Dream. And we know that in its holds are carried the 'abuses', which include misrepresentation and oppression, and we know that the 'usurpations' include the wholesale export of the entire American manufacturing sector offshore. And we know that this train's riders are no friends of ours, and that their laughter is tight, and fearful, and we know that they are blind. And we have seen that they are deaf, and we know that they do not love us. And we know that their greed has known no bounds.
Let us understand that this train of gold has been the cause of the widening gap between the rich and poor, and that it is not a question of class envy, because we know that there are only two classes of people in God's eyes, and those two classes are Right and the Wrong.
But nevermind all that. Let us not waste are precious time on such jealousies, let us not be bothered by their train as it passes. Let us instead carry on, and maintain our dignity, let us cross those tracks one more time and move to the higher ground.
As we walk, let us pause to remember that we don't need to ride any train, and that we know how to walk, and that we have walked before. And let us pause in our minds to recall that change wasn't easy, and that it took time. But change came. We know how to walk. We have walked before, brothers and sisters. You and I. Yes we have. We have walked before and now the time has come to walk again, and this time, our walk will be to the polling booths of America, and we shall walk together, and if you see someone who can't walk, help them there. And if you see someone who can't see, take their hand and show them the way, and tell them that 'though they might not see, they can speak, and they can vote, and tell them that their voices are needed all across this great land in these troubled times, and tell that they are not alone, and that our voice will be heard, from the voting booths of Maine, to the voting booths of California, from the voting booths of Chicago to the voting booths of New York City. And when the Obstructionists come out and try to invalidate your vote and deprive you of you Constitutionally guaranteed right, tell them that we have seen their kind before. And tell them that change is coming, and that We, The People are coming, because We are no longer satisfied with the staus quo, and we are no longer going to put up with the wealthy building their fortunes at the expense of the American Living Wage. And tell them that change is coming, and that a new kind of Freedom is coming, and that this Freedom is the Freedom From Want that my friend and brother Franklin Roosevelt spoke of in 1941. Tell them this. And tell them that their train of gold must be stopped, and its plunder returned. And tell them that you have not come alone, and you are in righteous company, and that we shall be free from shackles of economic slavery and the Obstructionists, because they are wrong, and they are standing on the wrong side of history. And let the wealthy among us who hear these righteous words and know them as true, and who are our friends, join us. And then the wealthy and the poor shall walk together. And finally, let those who have given up, and cast down their weary heads and their weary bodies because they have lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their sense of purpose in life and no longer have any faith that change is possible, lift up their weary heads with hope once again and walk with us. Let us walk together. And when we get to the polling booths this election year, all across this mighty nation, we will know that we bring our higher standards, and they will know that we now stand together, and they will hear our voices ringing out as one, this year, next year, and for all time.
God Bless America.
Beware! As I write,
the "pious" Right is gaining might.
The goal is evil: a time medieval.
When the wingnut dim young farts,
call the decent, "bleeding hearts,"
you tell them these two parts,
"our hearts are meant to bleed,
lest turn to stone by greed.
that is submission to an overlord, and the creation of a gatekeeper.
democracy is administration of referenda and initiative.
Yawn.
So if we don't vote for people, then who or what should we vote for?
Oh.
Fuck.
My mistake.
I didn't realize that We, The People could vote for Dr. Who.
Yawn.
So if we don't vote for people, then who or what should we vote for?
Oh.
Fuck.
My mistake.
I didn't realize that We, The People could vote for Dr. Who for President..
@ Steve Kenny,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an informative and objective comment. I appreciate it.
@ algis
Thank you again, my dear friend.
@ Rolling,
Glad you liked it. Thank you for your visit.
@ al loomis,
I don't think that the majority of Americans are there yet. We have a long way to go. I am merely warning against some really nasty people and their nasty agenda. Thank you for reading.