Politics
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- TheBlueOne0
Simple, insightful and true observations:
"You're worth more money when you're sick, in trouble with the law, or below the poverty line. Everything follows from that fact."
http://twitter.com/brainsturbato…"Elite power is self-organizing. The rules are iterative, simple and far more effective than mere conspiracy."
http://twitter.com/brainsturbato…In a corollary to the first point above, here is Michael Pollan from a superb op-ed in the NYTimes today:
"There’s lots of money to be made selling fast food and then treating the diseases that fast food causes. One of the leading products of the American food industry has become patients for the American health care industry."
You can rail all you want about weak-willed people and "freedom of choice" that the market supposedly gives, but the people who make that argument tend to overlook the 2nd point above. There's am inbuilt structural bias towards the haves and away from the have-nots. In fact, it's in the haves favor to blame the have-nots problems on their apparent moral and ethical failings while hiding the fact that the dame is rigged. Like, say, living in urban or rural poor areas where fast food is your primary and most affordable source of nourishment.
Once American decided that freedom was about lifestyle and consumer choices and not the General Welfare and the Common Good, well, it was basically all over at that point. Oddly enough the loudest voices today use the rhetoric of the 2nd thing there to support the first.
/rant- Oh, Pollan's op-ed:
http://www.nytimes.c…TheBlueOne - so is he demonizing choice or the choices?********
- becuase i cant see freedom without consequence as actual freedom. as long as people abuse freedom and get bailed out they wont understand it********
- they wont understand it. freedom also means responsibilties for ones actions and or the hand their dealt in life********
- So freedom for you is like the executioner asking you if you want to be hanged or shot then?TheBlueOne
- no freedom is like me asking myself rather i want to live well or die********
- you can do that in countries that have health care, fuckstick.DrBombay
- that is irrelevant to what is being talked about. but no youre wrong. if peopel have to pay for tothers to have healthcare instead of them********
- healthcare instead of choosing to then they dont have that freedom. and theyre held responsible for choices of others********
- others
********
- im jsut trying to understand what this observation is trying to say. sounds liek people dont have choice...not sure********
- I fucking hate you.DrBombay
- and i could careless about u. unless your hot broad id like to stick********
- Oh, Pollan's op-ed:
- joeth0
This is fantastic:
- ukit0
^ Weird, I just realized I know that guy from college about ten years ago. Small world.
Anyway, back to the screaming and yelling...
- Ramanisky20
ACORN workers caught on tape allegedly advising on prostitution
- haha. somehow this is Obama's fault!DrBombay
- I didn't say it was ... but "they" will try to tie him inRamanisky2
- nah ram, I knew you werent saying that he was,.. but someone will pin it on MaObama :)DrBombay
- sofakingbanned0
Saw this the other day, thought it was good.
- TheBlueOne0
PERSPECTIVE
2009: Democrat is in the presidency. Protesters show up with guns, calling the president a "nazi", saying he will take their guns away. Insist on keeping guns, because it's an American.constitutional right.
Of course, Obama has no plans to take anyone's guns away.
http://ken_ashford.typepad.com...
1967: California
American citizens bring guns to political protest.
In response, California Governor Ronald Reagan, a Republican, signed the Mulford Act, prohibiting the carrying of firearms in any public place.
You can draw your own conclusions.
- Fed vs State?********
- If that's how you want to play the game.TheBlueOne
- that guns are the only way to protect your rights if the gov wont?********
- Unless you're a minority and against conservatives. Then you don't get to have guns.TheBlueOne
- i believe minorities can buy gusn without felonies********
- But they cant show up en masse at gov buildings you fucking dolt. Whitey would get uptight about it.DrBombay
- can u state such a case********
- sure they can. can u state an instance when they couldnt********
- State a case? Did you read my fucking post? Reagan banned guns when minorites used them in protest.TheBlueOne
- sorry my bad. was focused on the minority/conservativ... comment of purchasing and carryign guns********
- as far as where states have their own rules but noen say anythign abotu minorities/conservat... restrictions********
- not to mention your pictures show whitey protester and black panthers for comparison. kinda different********
- and i think a group of kkk with guns on steps of a capitol building would also be banned.********
- Fed vs State?
- TheBlueOne0
My head, it reels...Bill O'Reilly just made an argument more radically LEFT than anything Obama has planned, by insisting that the Federal Government can and should over ride State Laws in implementing policy:
"BillO: Why wouldn't the president say, let's let everybody compete. Let's let all the insurance companies compete nation wide and that will drive the price down...
Axelrod: Well first of all we have a system of state regulation, you know that of the insurance industry that makes that difficult. What we want is these individual market places. Some markets have competition, other markets don't.
BillO: The Feds can override the states...
Axelrod: Excuse me?
BillO: The Feds can override the states, you know that. You can make it so that all health insurance companies compete nationwide.
Axelrod: This is a historic moment with you calling for the feds overriding the states. I didn't realize you had that...
O'Reilly: Federal jurisdiction, you know federal jurisdiction takes precedence in almost every legislative area... "
I...er...what?
- I switched on Fox for the first time in a while last night and caught this.IRNlun6
- Compared with Hannity and Beck, he's actually being rational in this healthcare debate.IRNlun6
- the fed should protect open trade agreements amongst states. should be liek car insurance********
- makes me question why states would block such things. probably has to do with campaign finance********
- No it has to do with the commerce clause in the Constitution, and the attending SCOTUS rulings on itTheBlueOne
- You know, rulings that have been around for over 100 years now.TheBlueOne
- if they have been around for 100 years how can car insurance cross borders but not health?********
- seems the commerce clause is being misinterpreted for different motives. such as implied powers********
- utopian0
IT'S BEEN eight years since the 9/11 attacks, and we still don't have answers to the questions that arose before and after the release of the 9/11 Commission Report.
It's still important to demand answers because of the ongoing bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the increasing hatred of the U.S. by Muslims all over the world, and the cost of the wars, none of which would be happening without 9/11.
Within hours after the attacks, the American public was handed a conspiracy theory, and two years later, the 9/11 Commission set out to prove it. However, equally or even more plausible conspiracy theories subsequently came to light.
Within very few days after the attacks, the FBI presented us with a list of the suspected hijackers, who, they said, had a history of suspected terrorism. If the FBI was able to identify these individuals so quickly as suspected terrorists, why couldn't they have taken bold steps earlier to prevent the attacks?
There are many facts about 9/11 that prompt questions begging to be answered, including:
1. U.S. and Danish scientists have found unignited aluminothermic explosive material in the dust that covered the lower part of Manhattan after the attacks, suggesting the role of explosives in the collapse of the towers.
2. At the time of the attacks, U.S. and Canadian joint military exercises were already under way in the air over Canada and elsewhere.
These annual exercises were normally held in October, but that year administration officials moved them up to 9/11.
The exercises had the effect of diverting fighter planes away from
their stations, making them unavailable to pursue the hijacked airliners.
3. When Rex Tomb, a spokesman for the FBI, was asked why there was no mention of 9/11 on Osama bin Laden's Most Wanted Web page, Tomb said, "The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11."
There are many other equally compelling examples casting doubt on the official conspiracy theory of 9/11.
It is imperative that a new truly independent investigation of the attacks be undertaken. We owe it to ourselves, our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the families who lost loved ones in the attacks.
Andrew Mills, Lower Gwynedd
- utopian0
IT'S BEEN eight years since the 9/11 attacks, and we still don't have answers to the questions that arose before and after the release of the 9/11 Commission Report.
It's still important to demand answers because of the ongoing bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the increasing hatred of the U.S. by Muslims all over the world, and the cost of the wars, none of which would be happening without 9/11.
Within hours after the attacks, the American public was handed a conspiracy theory, and two years later, the 9/11 Commission set out to prove it. However, equally or even more plausible conspiracy theories subsequently came to light.
Within very few days after the attacks, the FBI presented us with a list of the suspected hijackers, who, they said, had a history of suspected terrorism. If the FBI was able to identify these individuals so quickly as suspected terrorists, why couldn't they have taken bold steps earlier to prevent the attacks?
There are many facts about 9/11 that prompt questions begging to be answered, including:
1. U.S. and Danish scientists have found unignited aluminothermic explosive material in the dust that covered the lower part of Manhattan after the attacks, suggesting the role of explosives in the collapse of the towers.
2. At the time of the attacks, U.S. and Canadian joint military exercises were already under way in the air over Canada and elsewhere.
These annual exercises were normally held in October, but that year administration officials moved them up to 9/11.
The exercises had the effect of diverting fighter planes away from
their stations, making them unavailable to pursue the hijacked airliners.
3. When Rex Tomb, a spokesman for the FBI, was asked why there was no mention of 9/11 on Osama bin Laden's Most Wanted Web page, Tomb said, "The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11."
There are many other equally compelling examples casting doubt on the official conspiracy theory of 9/11.
It is imperative that a new truly independent investigation of the attacks be undertaken. We owe it to ourselves, our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the families who lost loved ones in the attacks.
Andrew Mills, Lower Gwynedd
- designbot0
The whole 911 I am afraid will be forever shrouded in mystery.
We know SOMETHING went down that day. Something other than the videos and images we saw plastered across every major television for months. No question the government is hiding information and spreading disinformation. While some of the conspiracy theories are total BS, there are just too many oddities of the whole event. The way it was used as a stepping stool to initiate a ridiculous war and take away many of our freedoms alone should be a red light for any thinking person. If only we could KNOW. Man, what I wouldn't give to know exactly what transpired pre 911.
- TheBlueOne0
Well, this is fucking shameless.
"A Wells Fargo executive who oversees foreclosed properties hosted parties and spent long summer weekends in a $12 million Malibu beach house, moving into the home just after it had been surrendered to Wells Fargo to satisfy debts, neighbors said.
The previous owners of the beachfront home in Malibu Colony — a densely built stretch of luxury homes that has been a favorite of celebrities over the years — were financially devastated in Bernard Madoff's massive fraud scheme...."
- well it was bank owned, and bank property, did he move in as perk or did he buy it********
- did the owner do due diligence in his investments or jsut think it was a ok becuase others were investing********
- dont generally demonize the exec and not take in the previous owners personal responsibility********
- after all the property was given up to the owner which is wellsfargo so there use of it is their biz********
- idiotBonSeff
- me? why? did i say soemthing untrue?********
- deathboy, you are hedge.DrBombay
- does a hedge state the truth? was it not wellsfargo property and doesnt that make it their right to do as wished********
- doc u only look for reason that fits your playbook. grow up. its not your birthday********
- or dont whatever u wish but dont expect to be treated like an adult********
- everyone here thinks you are a dick.DrBombay
- Seriously, you see nothing unethical about this at all? There are two America's indeed.TheBlueOne
- what do u see that is unethical? a co. owned property being used in no ill way.********
- Deathboy, I think you're smarter than that. For one, the property is now owned by the bank, not the executive. Did he compensate the bank for it's use?Josev
- compensate the bank for it's use? Wells Fargo received bailout money -- the largest amount paid out at the time it received the $25 billion. Executive compensation abuse is a big issue at the moment.Josev
- received the $25 billion. Executive compensation abuse is a big issue at the moment. This was handled poorly unless he paid for its use.Josev
- the executive paid for the use of it.Josev
- well if wellsfargo didnt know id expect them to fire the person. but almost seems as if they did. and as far as bailout********
- wells fargo was told to take the money and buy weaker banks. if they didnt they very well could have gotten a bad report card from the gov stress tests********
- from the gov stress tests which would hurt them in confidence polls wether true or not.********
- and its a property they own, its not a lavish expenditure. would it be better off not used at all.********
- if the person was told not to use it then yes thats wrong, and the co. should fire their ass********
- im happy ford was smart enough to dodge the trap of gov bailout. makes gov a loan shark that reacts with the public opinions********
- well it was bank owned, and bank property, did he move in as perk or did he buy it
- BusterBoy0
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/…
Flap me. How can anyone seriously believe that 9/11 was a government orchestrated attack. I mean, FFS...I just can't get over how many lemmings believe this shit. You spread enough shit and people with half a brain start believing this crap.
- I do not what to believe anymore. All is know is that George Bush was debriefed about an attack on U.S. soil >utopian
- In July of 2001 by terrorist who wanted to blow up building in the U.S. with airplanes >utopian
- and did absolutely nothing about it. So the question remains why did Bush do nothing about the threat?utopian
- going to be pretty jfk********
- ********0
...It would have been impossible for Madoff to carry out a fraud scheme over some 20 years without an array of financial institutions and highly placed individuals in both Wall Street and Washington who were his enablers....
http://www.wsws.org/articles/200…
even socialist websites can provide some insight of the combo of gov authority and business.
However dont miss the fact that the article ignores personal responsibility of the individuals greedy or not trying to gain huge returns while ignoring the reasons or the how that make it possible. and then calling them victims of capitalism. in the same way then all gamblers are victims of sports like basketball/football/roulette that lose money betting on such things. are we then to judge all casinos, sports and everything that can be betted on as evil.
hopefully no one will get the wrong idea about the conclusion of the article to sell its agenda and can see the contradictions in such thought. but mainly to illustrate the role a gov has in such business. and when the business collapse the role the government plays in blaming free markets while demanding more power/money/control with hollow promises of it never happening again. and usually will only happen again but on a larger scale then the last. very wolf in sheeps clothing scam, that ends in ruins.
so as long as the idea is popular that everyone are these helpless victims of terrible evil, and ignore the personal responsibility and or actions that individuals take, expect more of the same.
Also here is some good writing that should be read.
http://www.capmag.com/article.as…- Government is only useful if it can prevent guys like Madoff from abusing their power. The fact that it failed to do that, is like a cop who stood by and did nothing while a store was being robbed.ukit
- a cop who stood by and did nothing while a store was being robbed.ukit
- Does that mean we get rid of cops and robberies will end? Of course not, we just need the cop and the government in this case to do a better job.ukit
- to do a better job.ukit
- i can see that view. but its more a cop paid not to act. what kind of cop would jsut watch a robbery withotu a motive********
- what im sayign is if u do the gov+biz you will always have corruption and both sides are partners in crime.********
- equally responsible, and in this case so are the individuals equally responsible with greed to get rich without knowing how********
- and i question the motives of the gov in its role to play the part as the savior when they contributed********
- but whats more important is the last link. may help cast off soem conditioned delusions********
- oh and on that cop. mistakes happen, but its not a mistake over a long period of time with multiple instances********
- I didn't say it was a mistake, I mean sure maybe the cop or the government in this example is corrupt, but that doesn't have any real implication for the role of government in general.ukit
- real implication for the role of government in general. Any organization can be corrupt, that doesn't mean you have to do away with it or scale it back.ukit
- away with it. My POV has always been that we need to separate business interests like Madoff from having to strong an influence on the people who are supposed to regulate them. To go back to my analogy, right now you have a system where it's relatively easy for a rich enough robber to bride the cop. Your solution to that is what, to scale back the cop's authority? Mine would be, make it illegal for these kinds of people to have this much influence.ukit
- influence on the people who are supposed to regulate them.ukit
- yea i understand. gov is necessary in parts but to think theyre the security is an illusion. and the illusion makes it easyier for the thieves********
- it easyier for the thieves. in no way am i stating an instacne and declaring the whole evil, i dont do that********
- To go back to my analogy, right now you have a system where a rich enough robber can bride the cop. Your solution to that is what, to get rid of all the cops? Doesn't make much sense.ukit
- but the less the opportunity for corruption the less you will have********
- So the less cops there are the less there are to bride? And you think that will lead to no crime? I think the answer is pretty obvious. It's not a question of less government, but separating special interest influence from it.ukit
- and also place blame where it should be instead of on the idea of "capitalism"********
- obvious LOL. You don't need less government, you need to cut the connection between government and the people like Madoff.ukit
- Madoff - or Enron, to take another recent exampleukit
- It has nothing to do with pro or anti government, which is pretty silly anyway, government is just a means to an endukit
- Anyway, this example is a pretty bad one for your argument because from what I could see in that article, the SEC didn't take an proactive action that helped Madoff - they just didn't investigate him as soon as they should have. So less government would have had zero effect in this case.ukit
- a proactive action that helped Madoff - they just didn't investigate him as soon as they should have. So less government would have had zero effect in this case.ukit
- would have had zero effect in this case. In fact you'd almost certainly have about 50 Bernie Madoffs with no SEC.ukit
- unless there was no sec illusion of safety, people would then need to take their own precautions. and he would have been smoked out long before********
- have been smoked out long before********
- and yes not the greatest example, but jsut one of so many used for power grabs********
- GeorgesII0
God, what is wrong with some people
http://www.flickr.com/photos/424…- I honestly didn't see one attractive person in that entire group.fooler2
- ukit0
HAHAHAHAHA
- Looks like Glenn Beck tea bagged this poor SOB.utopian
- these people needs more the just health care. they need BRAIN surgery.akrokdesign
