People often forget, either due to distractions, blinding cynicism or a lack of education, how unique this country really is. The United States of America is a nation forged and grounded in a rich tradition of protest and persistent refusal to accept the status quo. In many ways this tradition has been in hibernation--recent decades will never be known as the years of particularly impressive citizen participation in government and policy. Indeed, the American people have become increasingly apathetic and stupid, but I believe that the spirit has remained alive--in fact, I predict that the drive to change our most negative aspects of society is building momentum; isn't it obvious?Take the town halls on health care, for instance. Though CNN, FOX and MSNBC only cover the crazies, there is some remarkable dialogue going on--and not just by the supporters of health care. When it comes to the Public Option, there is a genuine philosophical debate to be had. Remember that the whole point of the American Revolution was to establish independence from an abusive and invasive government that taxed excessively and unfairly. We have come a long way since then, and have perhaps gone full-circle in many ways. I share many Libertarian concerns of the expansion of the U.S. government, excessive spending and the limitations placed upon civil liberties; not to mention our often tyrannical foreign policies. Indeed, the United States became the very empire its citizens died to defeat. People think I'm a big gov liberal, but the fact of the matter is that the federal government IS WAY TOO BIG! The War on Drugs is a fiscal and societal disaster, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are squandering our treasure. The IRS ought to be torn down and replaced with a simpler tax code, and the Patriot Act ought to make every single American extremely wary of what leaders know about our personal lives. Not to mention the militarization of government that has seeped into the media and saturated our culture. So when people say to me: "I just don't believe the federal government should expand! It's already too massive" I agree! The problem is that in this modern world, there are modern problems that require state intervention. Spying on Americans is not one of these exceptions. Drug abuse isn't either. Nor is Saddam Hussein or Ho Chi Minh! But to the people who believe the Public Option is some kind of government takeover and the onset of communism: should we not fight to end the excessive federal policies that actually hurtpeople? The War on Drugs fuels a culture of crime in the inner-cities. At least a million Iraqi citizens are dead because of the current conflict--not to mention the 4,339 dead American soldiers. But now you oppose a public health plan? A plan that will help your fellow citizens get the care they need? A report by the Institute of Medicine suggests that as many as 22,000 American citizens die annually due to the lack of an insurance policy--one that either could not be afforded or was cut by employers!And let us not forget that the Public Option is an OPTION! While the true Left wing of this USA would really like a single-payer system, it is simply not going to happen with this legislation. Big Insurance is the most powerful lobby in Washington, and certainly has great influence on the bill--in other words, the argument that people will be forced to take the government plan is bullshit. The truth of the matter is that most people will keep their private plans; plans, by the way, made more consumer-friendly due to other reforms that will be in the final legislation (including the preexisting condition issue and the ability to choose your own doctors).Though this is an expansion of government services, I want to tell you how the Public Plan is actually more economical and sustainable than the current system. You see, being private enterprise, Big Insurance seeks to charge as much as possible while providing as little as possible. I have no problem with capitalism (I am a Capitalist), but this is the reality of the basic operations of a firm. While this is perfectly acceptable in most sectors, health care is an entirely different beast. Since 2000, insurance premiums have nearly doubled! In 2007, the U.S. spent about $2.2 trillion on health care,* which comes out to approximately 16.2% of GDP--nearly twice the amount of the rest of the developed world! ** If you aren't worried yet, then you have read these numbers: by 2025, costs are expected to rise 25%; by 2082, 49% ! *** Oh, and did you realize that every GM vehicle is $1,525 more expensive because of employer-based health care coverage? Insurance is by far GM's biggest expenditure--even more than steel! ****And the numbers go on and on. This is the financial argument, and it is all tied to the Big Insurance practice of driving up costs for higher profit margins, and making up for their clunky and inefficient administrative costs. Medicare costs are skyrocketing because they are subsidizing these inflating premiums, and this must be replaced. The Public Option must establish a much simpler and transparent system that injects competition into this stale and unsustainable market. It is fiscally sensical and it is moral.But just any Public Option will not do. Next week I will tackle the question of "what must a Public Option look like in order to drive competition and cut costs?"Absorb it, discuss it, and hopefully support it. Leave your comments below.*Office of the Actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditure Data for 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.cms. hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.asp#TopOfPage**Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD Health Data 2008.***P.R. Orszag, Growth in Health Care Costs: Statement Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, Jan 31 2008), available at http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=8948****R. Wagoner, Testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, December 5, 2008.http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/05/gm-health-care-reform/my blog: http://www.theskyewire.com
Denison University 2011
*Office of the Actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditure Data for 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.cms. hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.asp#TopOfPage **Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD Health Data 2008. ***P.R. Orszag, Growth in Health Care Costs: Statement Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, Jan 31 2008), available at http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=8948 ****R. Wagoner, Testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, December 5, 2008. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/05/gm-health-care-reform/
1st draft:
The American PEOPLE are at the CROSSROADS in 2009. We can do NOTHING and let the Status Quo ruin everything America stands for… OR, we can fight for the UNALIENABLE rights and freedoms that were “endowed by the Creator”. “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION” has been ingrained in the public consciousness by the recent right-wing Tea Party Movement. Once again Republicans/Conservatives took a Patriotic symbol and put their own spin on it. (These LOSERS misrepresent American HISTORY, vital issues and the Constitution as badly as they interpret the Bible, lol)
I want to correct this travesty with facts that are more in tune with what the Founding Fathers had in mind. It’s a slogan that described the grievance, people who lived in the original 13 Colonies, had with the Brits. The British Ruling Class was distant and unsympathetic to the wants and needs of the American Colonists. (sound familiar?)
Here’s the thing… The PEOPLE had BALLS back then, so they REJECTED the Stamp Act of 1765 which was repealed. In 1773, years of fermenting anger/frustration turned to violent uprisings (one most famously known as the Boston Tea Party) which led to the great American Revolution. Like I said… the PEOPLE had COURAGE back then. (and didn’t like being played for FOOLS)Single payer health care WAS Obama’s Waterloo and he already lost that battle. Our sacred Obama/Biden Administration seems to have retreated to the weakest possible version of Healthcare reform. Speaking for myself, if the politicHo’s leave single payer out of health care reform then I rather they did nothing at all. It will only end up being a failure and huge waste of taxpayers dollars.
Let me explain how this ONE ISSUE can dash the hopes of a majority of the American PEOPLE. I have a question… When did the USA become the United Suckers of America? Here’s the average American taxpayer… basically honest, hardworking, law abiding citizens caught in the middle.
On one side are Corporations, who have all the RIGHTS of a citizen but none of the responsibilities (limited liability). The Corporations don’t REPRESENT the American PEOPLE, their only concern is profit and stock holders. On the other side of Mr/MS average taxpayer is the Government. A UNION of Federal, State, County and local government workers and elected officials. Many of these government officials/workers take a sworn OATH to UPHOLD the Constitution, PROTECT, SERVE and work for the best interests of the American PEOPLE. But things CHANGED in the 1980’s. It was a REPEAT of what happened to the PEOPLE before the Great Depression. Government Representatives of the average taxpayer were wined, dined. sexed, and bribed by wealthy powerful men who wanted the game rigged so they would ALWAYS come out on top. (Status Quo) It was and IS hard times, THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER started to NOTICE things… On the one side Corporations spending the last few decades getting huge government subsides and stimulus while *@~/ing over the American PEOPLE every chance they got. On the other side government workers and elected officials (public sector) had the kind of JOB/PENSION/HEALTH CARE SECURITY the average taxpayer could only HOPE for or dream about. (pursuit of HAPPINESS) Civil servants, my skinny Italian-American @$$… just who the #*~/ is serving WHO?Caught in the middle is the average American citizen, PAYING FOR IT ALL while watching their jobs, pensions, prosperity, health and happiness FADE AWAY! They started to realize this was the price of their APATHY of the last few decades. They didn’t hold their leaders ACCOUNTABLE for their actions, they forgot ETERNAL VIGILANCE included DEMANDING ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY! Because of this error in judgment and lax standards (deregulation), an orgy of waste fraud, abuse, scandal, corruption, arms dealing, war profiteering, violations of the Constitution HAPPENED! (which the 4th Estate mostly ignored or diverted attention from) Vain, self-serving, power mad, greed stricken silver spoon Con Artists ravaged, off-shored and expatriated most of our nations wealth and resources… AND THEN GOT THE GOVERNMENT to force the DEBT of these criminal actions ON the average taxpayer. (while the Con Artists got multimillion dollar salaries, golden parachutes, $150,000 speaking engagements and police/secret service protection) PLEASE! Someone tell me WHERE the REPRESENTATION IS in this whole scenario? What did the average American taxpayer get for their tax dollars in the last 13 years? You dumbass numbskull mother#*~/‘s really need to learn that a con is a CON! No matter in a back alley or from the Ivory Towers, the trick is to RECOGNIZE IT and not get played for a FOOL…Whether one believes it or not… Single Payer Health Care WAS the Waterloo of both Obama’s Presidency and rights/freedoms of the American PEOPLE. Y’know, all that about “Of, By, For, Life, Liberty, Happiness, Equal Rights and JUSTICE”. Single Payer was the most efficient, cost effective way to start down the path to the American Dream. This ONE issue can rock the foundations of the Status Quo much like the Tea Party did at the start of this great nation. Not in the way Conservatives think, though. Single payer is not government control over our lives but a way to get out from under the thumb of this Corporate/Government fascist police state that uses strong arm tactics resembling ORGANIZED CRIME to get what they want. A first step to bring POWER back to the PEOPLE. The kind of CHANGE most American taxpayers really want (whether they know it or NOT)
Can anyone tell me with a straight face what it is Insurance Companies DO… beyond creating a pool of people they can profit from? Is making outrageous profits from the suffering of your fellow man/woman a RIGHT or a PRIVILEGE? Single Payer was the way for Progressives to get rid of evil middle-men between YOU and your Doctor. That’s all it was, pooling all Americans so we could watch out for least of our Brothers. I don’t know about what the knuckle-heads think but sick people being denied because of pre-existing conditions or contract fine print and 47 MILLION Americans WITHOUT health care is all the proof I need that our present system is G-damn failure. I’d even go so far to say it’s one of the MANY crimes against HUMANITY our government/corporate entities have gotten themselves involved in.
(if the American PEOPLE don't start DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY from their leaders then you don't deserve the RIGHTS and FREEDOMS you're letting slip away)
EXPOSÉ:Something I been warning about since 1998. What I like to call the Liberal VS Conservative, DIVIDE and CONQUER Scam. The Rich and Powerful (corporations/special interests) turned many of our government officials in to their bitches. The economy was rigged to work AGAINST the best interests of the American PEOPLE. 12/1/2000 - Leaked CIA document Case# F-2001-00009: “International Crime Threat Assessment” defines “Kleptocracy,…rather than serve PUBLIC INTEREST, top leaders use nations resources solely to enrich themselves and their cronies. To cover up crimes the stage is set for social and political upheavals…”Sound familiar America? The CIA will never admit they included USA “top leaders” in that report. I say anyone with half a brain already realizes something is just NOT RIGHT! One news story after another about waste, fraud, abuse, incompetence, corruption, etc. due to the LOW GRADE THOUGHT PROCESSES of our top leaders. Am I mistaken, isn’t the job of our top leaders to protect the PEOPLE from “upheavals”? The problem here is NOT ENOUGH American PEOPLE had the COURAGE to DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY from those in power. Elected officials and public sector officers in general get away with the same things those of us in the private sector would be fired and prosecuted for. There’s NO incentive to be VIRTUOUS.Not only top leaders in government but also those from the business world that have INFLUENCE over America’s future. I think this phenomenon was best described by Benito Mussolini: “… fascism might more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power…” And we all know how badly THAT turned out THEN and what the consequences are of history repeating itself NOW! Single Payer Health Care is only a representation of a much bigger STRUGGLE. An uprising of 40 MILLION AMERICANS struggling BELOW the poverty level… OR the 47 MILLION AMERICANS without health insurance. Don’t THEY DESERVE the government subsidies and stimulus MORE than the wealthy, powerful entities who’ve been sucking the lifeblood of the American PEOPLE? REALITY PLEASE! A bit of factual history so Americans don’t make the same MISTAKES of the past. If our economy is failing it’s because of the low grade thought processes involved with the long range fiscal planning of the Republican Party since 1980... THAT NOT ONE OF THEM WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOW! Republicans believe Corporations have a right to do as they please. Most card carrying conservatives are so ignorant they don’t even know their own ideological CREDO. “Limited intervention in the economy. Substantial intervention in morality”. This means let the RICH/POWERFUL do whatever they please while finger pointing and preaching to the average Joe and Jane Schmuck.Reagan/Bush killed ANTI-TRUST and any regulation that kept industry HONEST. When Reagan/Bush came to power, the USA was #1 on the planet in exporting goods and importing raw materials. This is the very definition of a prosperous economy. In 2009, it is the exact opposite. Why? Years of Republicans selling out the American middle class, that’s why. Oh and let’s not forget Reagan union busting and DEREGULATION. The root of ALL future Corporate scandal. A long list of legislation starting with “fiscal conservatism” and “trickle down economics” led to the decline in federal aid to local governments from $64 per resident in 1980 to $29 per in 1992. To REPLACE the lost funding, a mandate for LAW ENFORCEMENT and Criminal Justice (sic) System to generate revenue for itself, State and local governments. PROFIT margins created a government VS. the PEOPLE mentality. NOTE: (Sunday, April 16, 2000 Press-Enterprise B-1 article titled “San Bernardino County leads nation in forfeitures” WHAT? Joseph D. Mcnamara, a research fellow at Stanford University and former police chief in San Jose, said: “I think in general it’s a BAD MISTAKE to have the police interested in anything other than the pursuit of justice”)Add the special interest pandering which further separated the PEOPLE from “LIFE, LIBERTY, HAPPINESS, EQUAL RIGHTS and JUSTICE”. As a mater of fact JUSTICE became a commodity bought and sold by the wealthy, powerful and well-connected. NOTE: (Robert Ito in Los Angeles Magazine writes: “…YES, the $40 BILLION dollar private prison business is recession proof. The Corrections Corporation of America controlled 52% of the domestic market. Net income grew 75% in 1997, it’s stock doubled…” YEA! Ask Bob Barker about investing in the jail/prison industry. Bob Barker plastic soap dishes, jail shoes… and how can one strip down, bend over and COUGH without thinking of Bob Barker latex examination gloves?)Then we go to the 90’s with Newt Gingrich/Tom Delay/John McCain/etc. controlled Congress... Republican’s busy selling out the American PEOPLE. I wanted to ask the Grich about all the hidden legislation such as the “Expatriate Clause” in Clinton’s Family Leave bill. It allowed the super rich (multinational Corporations, Saudi royals, drug trafficers, etc) take their billions out of the country PENALTY FREE! While President Clinton and the American PEOPLE were MISDIRECTED by the media, fake Christian morality and the famous Monica Lewinski blowjobs… Newt oversaw legislation/policy that paved the way for outsourcing of American jobs, off-shore accounts scandal, media consolidation, predatory lending and the “Corporate Crime Wave” (Enron, etc.) While Republicans were waving the American flag and professing love of our great nation, behind the scenes they were busy selling out our children’s future. Explain to me please Newt, what good can come from insuring the venture capital of Corporations that move American jobs to Communist China? And what were the TOP OFFICIALS doing while all the so-called representatives of the PEOPLE were breaking their sworn oaths and ignoring the SIGNS from the turbulent Middle East? Well, they were hanging out in the Halls of Congress with Larry Craig, Mark Foley and Ken Starr MASTURBATING to Monica Lewinski testimony…THEN the biggest insult to the American Constitution conservatives could possibly come up with… these pathetic morons elect George W. Bush (not once BUT TWO TIMES) and there is the death blow to the US economy. What kind of FOOLS took pleasure in Bush bragging about his TAX CUTS? What you idiots don’t realize is he’s had to borrow TRILLIONS of dollars from foreign entities to pay for his WAR in Iraq. 12 billion dollars a week going to the Iraqi money pit, arms dealers and war profiteers. AND OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN WILL GET STUCK WITH THE BILL! How’s that for fiscal irresponsibility? (explain that to the next generation)
THE DOLLAR ISN’T WORTH THE PAPER IT’S PRINTED ON!Tell me, PLEASE TELL ME one damn thing the George W. Bush administration DID for the American PEOPLE? And don’t give me that bullshit about he “protected us from terrorism”… LIES! You people are so #*~/’n brainwashed, reality is right in front of your EYES but you failed to SEE! If one does the slightest bit of research into the subject the facts are there SCREAMING AT YOU TO LISTEN. The questionable election of Bush/Cheney in 2000 was everything a smart strategic planner like Osama bin Lunatic could have hoped for. With a handful of terrorists he has succeeded in taking DOWN the U.S. ECONOMY! He knew a cheerleader cowboy like Bush and all his sniveling, greedy, conniving cronies would break the bank to show they were tough guys… The basic plan of bin Laden was to
1) get the USA in AN expensive, never-ending WAR.
2) take down the economy of the Great Satan and the infidels. I’m convinced economic among other POLICY of the last decade will hurt the United States of America MORE THAN ANY TERRORIST ATTACK! (read: Vanity Fair magazine article titled “Economic Consequences of Mr. Bush”) Reagan didn’t bring down the Soviet Empire it was that War in Afghanistan that broke the Soviet Union. Bin Laden just used the same method counting on the right-wing hawks to bring down the USA! AND IT WORKED! Really, our economy is already fucked, Bush traveled around the world getting his wealthy handlers to PROP UP THE US ECONOMY UNTIL he left office… then he can blame the Democrats who were sure to WIN BIG IN 2008.
IT was also a good excuse to initiate the Conservative wet dream of what Reagan called “Starving the Beast” Americans who want single payer health care among OTHER Progressive vital issues are what Conservatives consider the BEAST! Which proves just how brainwashed, ignorant, misinformed and un-American the RIGHT-WING REALLY IS! A displeased critic (such as myself) jeopardizes the good life the Ruling Class and public sector set up for themselves. Boat-rockers must be stopped at ANY cost. Better to slap some uncomplimentary labels of terrorist threat or conspiracy nut than to EXAMINE the opposing viewpoints or alternative thought process. Well I say it’s the height of hypocrisy shown by a Ruling Class that holds up core American values like they’re were actually proud American patriots. NO FREE THINKERS ALLOWED! It seems many government officials/workers have taken on the contemporary manifestation of the Neo-Conservative. “…highly skeptical of the PEOPLE’s ability to analyze the complexity of historically developed society or the capacity for correctly planning desirable conditions…” My readers can take this information any way they want… But I’m not so sure even the most open-minded, enlightened individuals among us UNDERSTAND just how IMPORTANT the next few years really are. Everything is in place for true CHANGE. We have all worked so hard to elect Obama/Biden and a Democratic controlled Congress WHY LET IT ALL SLIP AWAY NOW? If the American PEOPLE don’t have the imagination, will or COURAGE to fight back NOW… then we might NEVER (in our lifetimes) get ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET WHAT WE WANT ...WHAT AMERICA NEEDS! I swear to the ALMIGHTY, if you apathetic, dumbass m#*~/ers don’t take this shit seriously then one might as well wipe your @$$ and flush down the toilet everything we hold dear about this great nation.
This is one of those RARE moments in the history of humanity where average PEOPLE can actually affect CHANGE for their own good. NOTHING is more vital to the USA than THAT!
...viva la revolution as posted on blog jinnbad.blogspot.com
© 2009 by Frank Esposito
By Padmini Arhant
The categorical defiance by the theocratic ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the puppet nominee Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the clerics, the Guardian Coucil, The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the Basij and the entire regimen behind the ruthless authoritarian regime is blasphemous of the sacred religion – Islam, they falsely represent in the Iranian Republic...
More @http://www.padminiarhant.com
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
If it's not apparent to you, you're not paying attention. The republican agenda, and philosophy of most modern American conservatives, is based entirely in response to new deal democrats. Oooh they hate us sooo much. How dare we force hard working executives to give back to those free-loaders down on the line. That's why they pick the Sarah Palins when a women loses, and Michael Steele when a black man wins. And this response has created a party that is disgustingly disillusioned, and dangerous to a progressive future.
Modern conservative thought flies in the face of all established belief amongst the greatest thinkers in history, including the lord of the religion they claim to follow. Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed, and Confucius; all agree that the way to an enlightened society is to strive for something bigger than ourselves.
To believe their mindless babble a conservative must go to great lengths to justify their greed and heartlessness. Lindsay Graham hates earmarks but uses them frequently. Rush Limbaugh has been divorced twice but rails in defense of marriage's sanctity. Gay bashers are gay. And worthless bank executives foreclose on thousands of homes but coming running when the hammer's coming down on them.
They don't stand for personal responsibility. They just don't want to be responsible for YOU. They don't stand up for smaller government. They don't want government helping the poor. They think poor is by choice and they are certainly not giving up their hard-earned money to help out those bums on main street. And for all their professed patriotism, they sure do seem close to secession... again.
I fear your revolution, patriot. You revolt against the brotherhood of man. Your is a reformation against knowledge. Your cause is self-interest, and your enemy is the universal right to the pursuit of happiness.
To the conservative it is a sin for companies to sacrifice a little short term profit to provide a quality product at a decent price. That's disloyal to the shareholders. Teachers are only in it to put forth a liberal agenda. Artists create works for the money. And unions should shut up and take pay cuts when the companies going bad, but executives need us to stand up for their contracts when they run it into the ground. Oh, wait, most house republicans ended up voting to tax the contracts anyway.
The neocon transformers want us liberals to be their bogeyman. They want to scare you with stories of socialism. But we will not apologize for a literate society, a 70 year life span, a car in every garage, and highways from New York, to San Francisco, and even to Freedom, Ohio. We take pride in Universal Suffrage, and we relish in the scientific revolution. Liberal spending put a man on the moon and it will one day mine asteroids and explore deep space. And we will not back down from that.
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
AFRICA is such a Big Continent, Imagine 680000000 people, The Biggest Market of the world unexploited
Build AFRICA Should be the theme of the Entire world, The Developed world should concentrate on AFRICA for its growth in the Future.
Major Requirements for AFRICA
1. WATER - Desalination plants are the key, with Water they can be self reliable, Technology can help it use less water and culitvate more.
2. POWER - Solar Power Plants, Geo Thermal, Wind Mills, Energy from Oceans - This Energy can be used for Industrial Revolution in the drier regions.
3. SECURITY - All the Developed nations have to take care of this, Once there are jobs, Rebellions will be oblivion.
When AFRICA Prospers, Imagine the Market we have, Entire 14% of the world Population.
Please comment.
A Democratic Revolution in America
We shed blood, sweat and tears over the last weeks leading up to this election. I volunteered in New Hampshire a total of 9 days and made over 1200 calls for the Obama campaign from my home. I made 300 or so phone calls for the campaign on behalf of other organizations supporting the changes that I felt were essential for the country. We donated money and time. I put my practice of medicine and my family life on hold for this election. I met countless others who did much more than I.
But before the presidential campaign I had the opportunity of getting to know Barack Obama. He tells us about his upbringing and family values of hard work, and eternal optimism. He reads out loud his story in Dreams from my Father. His resonant voice and choice of words and imitation of people’s accents make the story come to life. He tells us about begging lepers who would knock on his home’s front door in Indonesia. He tells us story of how he got the scar on his arm.
I read about his political career in The Audacity of Hope. He won his seat in the Illinois state senate and later the US Senate by running a campaign based on truth, facts and respect for the opposition. He shares his ideals and ideas of community, fairness, faith and citizenship. He tells us about his first private jet flight as a senator. He tells us that his first kiss with Michelle tastes of chocolate.
He becomes the voice for our frustrations and carries our voice from the depths of America. He becomes the voice for all of us who want a better America. One without racism, wars of aggression, poverty, bail-outs, torture, rendition, pride, falling bridges in Minnesota, Abu-Ghuraib, failing levees in Louisiana, potholes, oil spills, snubbing the UN, plummeting dollar, terrorist attacks, orange alerts, wire-tapping, collateral damage, Monsanto, crumbling concrete, Enron, black outs in New York, bigotry, melting icecaps, Guantanamo, killing civilians, atomic bombs, propped up dictators, politics of hate and fear, Halliburton, outsourcing, flag covered coffins, endless consumption and stolen presidential elections.
He becomes a voice for the best in America. A country of justice, apple pie, equality, liberty, due process, Thanksgiving Day, movies, churches, innocent until proven guilty, Habitat for Humanity, telephones, Apollo 11, tractors, fortune cookies, “In God we Trust”, firefighters, jazz, diversity, airplanes, green cards, America’s Second Harvest, innovation, ice-cream cones, civil rights, baseball, state troopers, synagogues, green collar jobs, model T Fords, light bulbs, polio vaccines, mosques, Hershey’s, NIH grants, national parks, Google, temples, industry, rock n’ roll, Harley-Davidsons and pow wows.
Like powerful leaders of the past, he shows how active and peaceful resistance can take the form of a campaign. He proves to us that democracy can work. His experience and leadership provides the impetus. He showed us the way democracy works. Troops of people showed up in phone banks, and swing state offices. We shed sweat in the heat of the summer, walking, running, jogging and knocking on doors to discuss our nation’s issues. We broke out in cold sweat in unfamiliar labyrinthine apartment complexes with creaking stairs that smell of rot and decay. We shed tears when Obama gives his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention. He did so in front of a crowd of 100,000. We shed blood from the paper cuts. Hundreds of flyers, canvassing papers, maps and driving directions, freshly off the printers, cut our fingers: a paper cut that will not stop as you flip canvassing papers and phone call lists. But enough blood to stain the white pages of names of fellow Americans. And yes we shed a drop of blood in a bloodless revolution: a change so profound and deep and wide that the world takes notice. And once again we start a new path in the America for which we stand: one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
of two really interesting people at the campus radio station I manage. I have a show on Tuesdays from 10p-12a but because I'm the GM of WMLU 91.3 FM (www.wmlu.org) I'm often in the station for long periods of time working on paperwork and the like.
Well this means that I have been listening to our student-run political talk show that comes on at 8pm and that is hosted by Chris and Keenan.
They call their show "On the Air with Chris and Keenan" and refer to themselves as "...the Longwood version of Hannity and Colmes." Personally I agree with their assesment of themselves as one (Chris) is a STAUNCH conservative and Republican voter and Keenan is a STAUNCH liberal and Democratic voter. They debate each other on the air and its rather interesting to listen to as each has their own way of presenting the information.
Both are VERY tenacious as well. They will not let a point die until they feel they've debated it to death. Some would call it "beating a dead horse" sometimes but really I've been more educated listening to a STUDENT-RUN talk show than I have with any of the network television shows. Hearing them talk about the debates and what they wanted to hear answered was particularly interesting.
They take callers on their show as well and I admit I have been one as have several other students and townspeople. Its rather interesting when they're caught off guard with a question that they were not anticipating. Unlike network TV or even the debates where the questions are all screened and nothing is done to throw the candidates off guard and make them react to a question rather than regurgitating lines; Chris and Keenan react on the spot and how well they defend themselves and their candidates has helped me to choose Obama for my support.
Yes I know my support doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot. I am one citizen after all....what voice have I in the government? Oh sure, I'm supposed to have one and I have the right to petition the government for redress of my issues but honestly; how often is that done these days?
This is why I love my student-run talk show and why I love my radio station. As one person I can spread the word and report on the candidates. I can promote discourse among people, I can make people think.
One person may not be able to do much but two, or three, or more?
Time to ramp this up people! Follow the news (all of it, even those you disagree with...there is truth everywhere), promote discussion whenever you can, and get people to make a choice. Hopefully they'll choose Obama but as long as they are thinking and choosing for themselves and not as sheep the government will change and things will get better.
Or original government was fostered on dissent and tiredness of the ruling regime...lets bring back that discourse the founding fathers had on a much larger scale.
Thanks for listening!
Recorded for the Library of Congress October 4, 2008; 30 Days before Election Day 2008.
An Open Letter to the 44th Presidency of the United States of America in Congress Assembled and the Continental Congressional Commonwealth of the Free World.
There is no doubt that the present American crisis and global distress is due to a void of competent professional leadership by trustworthy American statesmen of unquestionable integrity, strong moral values, humanitarian ideals and commonwealth principles for sociable governance. Already my knowledge of your Character leads me to anticipate infinite satisfaction of your Presidency.
The American people have been impoverished by an unconstitutional sovereign banking trust that enslaves society’s orderly production of generational wealth to a fourth branch of government called independent agencies. Revolutionary war according to the provisions of the Constitution is once again the Heavenly order for the Commonwealth of the United States of America.
With Country First and love for fellow Citizens, the American people must Change the culture of public service and the body politic. The American people must rid themselves of political extremists which have established an axis of evil in the 43rd Presidency of the United States of America. The GOP Republican Party is Alqaeda! The Republican National Committee is an axis of evil for the base of 513,000 public offices by which all government corruption is conspired. Through complex multi-national corporate interests represented by government legislation lobbyists in Washington D.C. and nationwide mass media personalities, Alqaeda political extremists and networks are entrenched institutionalized global terrorists and criminals against humanity of American origin.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A GREATER URGENCY FOR DEMOCRACY NOW TO RESOLVE OUR NATIONAL CRISIS, RESTORE THE BROKEN TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP, AND END ALL FOREIGN WARS ABROAD.
For this reasonable cause we are advocating a public debate and discourse by the American people on the General Election Battleground of 2008. Our divine purpose is to frame the narrative and make the case for CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE WE NEED NOW under the battleground banner of [[[ GOD: the original Government Office Director and Grass-root Organized Presidency of the Republic ]]] . Our battleground flag is the Stars and Stripes in the colors that don’t run nor retreat, but only knows victory in war for peace.
We hope to resurrect the spirit of the United States Constitution as the Supreme law of America. We hope to influence and guide the inscription of the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution by the American People, for the people’s unabridged sovereign right to make all cash money lawful unit value of United States Dollar Currency - that circulates freely in proportion to trade and commerce under presidential fiscal policy oversight and congressional monetary policy oversight exclusively for the American Working Class, to serve their beneficial commonwealth monetary trust in human service financing for housing, education, healthcare, and free enterprise economic development; functioning with unabridged immunity from systemic control by central bank regulations of every kind and every form; functioning strictly without exception as a medium of exchange, unit of account, standard of deferred payment, and store of value that preserves its purchasing power for food, housing utilities, energy, and consumable products/services essential to human life activities of free sovereign people; and permanently establishes a debt free society with free market capitalism that enriches the highest ideals of all human activity that lawfully pursues life, liberty, and happiness. We hope to righteously repair the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Supreme Court rulings of Justice for All, graciously extended unconditionally to the family of sovereign nations that comprise the free world.
We hereby declare Election Day on November 4th, 2008, a national holiday in the United States of America as my Heavenly sent signature mark of authorization for the 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, wisely crafted by the free will thoughts and sovereign power of the American People for their national security; and as my historical unwavering testament of faith in the excellence the 44th Presidency can most surely achieve above all adversity from its domestic and foreign enemies, present and future, throughout the glorious course of foresworn terms the American people freely elect it to humbly serve and protect their lawful constitutional interests, without compromise or corruption.
We have NO DOUBT the American people will succeed. Any intelligence worth communicating, which first reaches me, shall be related with unreserved freedom, candor & punctuality. May Heaven still continue to smile on our efforts!
With Heavens Love multiplied in all the blessings bestowed on the land of America,
John Hanson,
An American Revolutionary Leader and
President in Continental Congress Assembled.
10/1/2008 – 34 Days before Election Day - - - Gospeltales of American War Heroes, recorded for the Library of Congress 2008
1836 - - - Statement by President John Hanson: Leader of the American War Heroes
The Presidential Election of 2008 in the United States of America is a Revolutionary War for CHANGE. The American People will change the nature and culture of national politics for the sake of peace and prosperity by putting their COUNTRY FIRST. For nearly eight years, the American People have endured the worst presidency in the history of the United States of America. Currently the 43rd Presidency is a DEAD DUCK BEING DEVOURED BY GREEDY RATS.
The well informed conclusion is that the 43rd Presidency of the United States of America in GOP Republican National Committee assembled, with lobbyists, and affiliated political associations in the Project for New American Century is THE AXIS OF EVIL. Americans from all walks of life that follow the Republican Party ideologue is THE ONLY ALQAEDA that inflicted irreparable destruction of the American People and the free world. They have shrewdly masked their terrorist cell networks in the American society. They all are nonetheless criminals that are herein charged with war crimes against humanity, whom we the People of America hold solely accountable for the present distress of the United States of America, as well as the free world.
The Project for the New American Century is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is good both for America and for the world; and that such leadership requires military strength, diplomatic energy and commitment to moral principle… the organization intends, through issue briefs, research papers, advocacy journalism, conferences, and seminars, to explain what American world leadership entails. It will also strive to rally support for a vigorous and principled policy of American international involvement and to stimulate useful public debate on foreign and defense policy and America's role in the world.
PNAC’s Statement of Principles is the core ideology of the national policy for the United States of America which is the root cause of the global distress of every kind. The short list of principals presently operating this organization are as follows: Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Elliott Abrams, Gary Bauer, William J. Bennett, Jeb Bush, Eliot A. Cohen, Midge Decter, Paula Dobriansky, Steve Forbes, Aaron Friedberg, Francis Fukuyama, Frank Gaffney, Fred C. Ikle, Donald Kagan, Zalmay Khalilzad, I. Lewis Libby, Norman Podhoretz, Dan Quayle, Peter W. Rodman, Stephen P. Rosen, Henry S. Rowen, Vin Weber, George Weigel, Paul Wolfowitz, William Kristol, Chairman; Robert Kagan, Bruce P. Jackson, Mark Gerson, Randy Scheunemann, Ellen Bork, Deputy Director; Gary Schmitt, Senior Fellow; Thomas Donnelly, Senior Fellow; Reuel Marc Gerecht, Senior Fellow, Director of the Middle East Initiative; Timothy Lehmann, Assistant Director; Michael Goldfarb, Research Associate. George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, Governor Sarah Palin, Karl Rove, as well as numerous elected officials in Federal, State, and Local government and media personalities i.e. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, and FOX NEWS; serve as the leadership of this REPUBLICAN ALQAEDA TRUST… RAT’s! A bunch of GREEDY RAT’s! War Mongering RAT’s!
Be it known to the American People and the global family of sovereign nations that comprise the free world, RAT’s can no longer hide, abide, and operate in the United States of America. RAT’s ARE AN IMMINENT THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE FREE WORLD.
The names of the RAT’s are being made public so the American voters can govern themselves under the provisions of the United States Constitution when they vote on Election Day, November 4, 2008. In less than 5 weeks, about 34 days from the date of this address, we will eradicate these RAT’s from American politics. We are confident in the resolve of the American people to elect the Trust Executive Administration Mastermind of Senator Barack Obama to be the 44th Presidency of the United States of America in Congress Assembled and give them the constitutional authority to conduct the business of our great nation.
Be very clear, this is a Revolution by the American People. It is the Patriot Act of 2008 for the Love of Country First. The American People do not have any respect of person nor do they owe anybody any apologies. This is a solemn demand to remove all RAT’s from Washington, D.C. along with the lobbyists that control them for special interests. ALL RAT’s are enemies of our nation and the free world.
The American People are a FREE Sovereign Citizenship and DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF ALL RAT’S IN PUBLIC OFFICE. ALL RAT’s running for government office are hereby ORDERED TO PERMANENTLY SUSPEND THEIR CAMPAIGNS AND RENOUNCE THEIR POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE TO THE AXIS OF EVIL, LOBBYISTS, AND ALQAEDA.
The present economic crisis and worldwide distress requires the American people to unite to eradicate the country of war mongering greedy RAT’s. All Citizens of the United States of America eligible to vote are encouraged to register as Democrats or Independents. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS SHOULD BE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY. The Republican Party in its present form should be dissolved and outlawed. The Republican Party should be removed from ALL VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS. The GOP Republican party brand belongs to the American People. NO RAT HAS ANY LEGAL OR LAWFUL CLAIMS ON THE BRAND. Therefore, to preserve the legacy of the original GOP and to unify the voting electorate, we humbly request the beloved Senator from the Empire State of New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton to be entrusted with the brand and form another Democratic Congressional Caucus based on the five principles of LOVE, TRUTH, FREEDOM, PEACE, and JUSTICE.
We encourage the Democratic leadership, comprised of honorable trustworthy statesmen of admirable integrity to perform this work in the next few days. Your serious attention to this national emergency to secure our country’s future peace and prosperity is greatly appreciated. As always, any intelligence worth communicating, which first reaches me, shall be related with unreserved freedom, candor & punctuality. May Heaven still continue to smile on our efforts!
They've taken away, one by one, some of the most crucial components of the America we knew and loved. Sometimes they do it by stealth and sometimes they do it openly, cheered on and encouraged by the thoughtless brainwashed lunatic right wing fringe. They pimp all that's good and fine about conservatives and they lie about all that's best about liberals. It has worked far too well, for far too long.
I'm not going to try to name them all -- I'll just describe them the way the Bible described the bad guys: they are Legion. We simply cannot sit quietly by any more.
Barack Obama represents the finest chance most of us have seen in our lifetimes to take it back from them. To take it back, and to re-enshrine the crucial checks and balances that the inspired founding fathers established. These people have been busily chipping away at them for a long time. If there was ever a candidate who really might be able to help us undo their wretchedly destructive work, it's Barack Obama.
America is down for the count. We have the opportunity to elect a man who'll allow her to come out swinging, Rocky-style. We have a chance to have a true statesman at the helm of this country we love, once again. Someone to also make us proud again. I don't know about you, but I'd really like to have a president we can be proud of -- instead of one we're embarrassed by.
John McCain is a good man. He's done real violence to much of what once made him that way, but he's still a good man. But he is losing his marbles before our very eyes and Sara Palin is a truly horrifying choice. She's George Bush in an attractive woman's disguise. She appeals to all the same unlovely things in the American psyche that he did. God help us that she appeals to a single soul.
Stand the two presidential candidates side by side, and John McCain suffers so badly in the comparison you almost pity him. Then you realize how close the polls have the two, and you realize it ain't over yet by a long shot.
We know they stole the 2000 and 2004 elections. The selfsame machine that accomplished that is untouched, still in place, and probably stronger than ever. I don't know what will happen in November. I cling to some forlorn hope that there has been some kind of quiet, committed effort behind the scenes by the Jedi, to thwart the Sith Lords. There's sure not any evidence of it, but hope springs eternal, right?
God bless this beatiful, miraculous, badly battered country. And if you believe in prayer -- the real kind, not the kind that prays for bad things to happen to other people, but the kind that gives might to the honorable hopes and dreams of those doing the praying -- pray for an Obama win in November. And even if you're as discouraged as I am about the prospects of the elections actually revealing the will of the people, vote, vote, vote anyway. Vote as if your life depended on it anyway. Because the one thing that you have to have if you're going to rig an election is a close election. If the vote for Obama is overwhelming they won't prevail.
Let's make that happen. It might be the most important thing we ever do.
It's official. This is now a revolution.
This presidential race is an open rebellion of the working class against the upper class. Low to middle income families have had enough. Their savings are vaporizing, their debt is increasing, and they are losing their homes. Now their banks and insurers may be disappearing.
Just like the French had enough and started a revolution in 1789. Our revolution will be peaceful, but no where anywhere near quiet.
DONATE!!!!!
If we get a huge influx of new money this week, it's perfect timing. The television season premieres really get going strong soon, now is the time to buy prime time ad space.
I donated $100 earlier this week, and I'm donating again at the end of the week. Any spare dime I have is going to Senator Obama, it's money well spent. I have WAAAAAYYYY more confidence in sending that money to the campaign, than to put it into a bank and pray the bank doesn't fold!
We all need to do our part!
Planning on hitting as many events as possible this weekend. Probably heading to NH to canvass and talk to voters, it's a battleground state that we need to win.
Barack Obama has to hit back against John McCain, because if he doesn't, he appears weak, but the truth is, Obama's always been right - it's about the issues, and particularly the economy, stupid. Not just focusing on the negative.
Obama has released some great anti-Obama ads in the last few days, but I would suggest that the team not just focus on the negative ads, but to put out an even ratio. If you put out an ad about McCain being dishonorable, you also put out an ad that talks about Obama's plans for the economy, how he will get things working again, how he has ideas to grow the middle class.
Both at the same time. This is the very thing the McCain campaign has been doing - they don't rely on just one ad, they rely on two types, and this allows them to get a message across while also hitting their opponent where their opponent can be hit. Even if it's with erroneous claims of sexism and disrespect.
This election is about REVOLUTION. About changing America - not on the small scale, but on the large scale. About helping the American people see that there is flow to the Government of the Republicans, and the way it works, and how it doesn't change, it doesn't differ, no matter which person sits in the Oval Office. It's the world of big business, of tax breaks for the rich, of the belief-that-no-one-really-believes that if you give the rich a significant amount of money, why, their crumbs will fall into the gaping, open mouths of the middle and lower classes in America.
Obama, you've got to do both here. Your message of HOPE and CHANGE has resonated for over a year, and has made you a phenom, and the worst thing that McCain can do to you is have you abandon that message. He wants you to, they want you to become negative full-time, to be in reaction mode constantly. You can't do that. You have to attack him and then attack the current situation in America with HOPE and CHANGE and yes, REVOLUTION.
Because that's where we're at, Obama. We're at that point where America needs more than a little nugget of change, where we don't simple steer our rudder to the left a little bit. We need to make a full-course change, head in the exact opposite direction we've been going, and rebuild America from the ground up.
You get this concept - the ground up to make America better - way of governing. You've got to hit this message loud, clear, and let people know it's their REVOLUTION. The CHANGE is them, not you, and it's never been about you. You're our Ambassador of Change, our Duke of Revolution, but you're not going to do it alone, and you never will be able to. You get this, but sometimes you have to remind the American populace that you get it.
So keep fighting back, please, but don't lose your core message. Don't let John McCain destroy what all of us have built. Keep being optimistic, keep being wide-eyed.
Now that the Leman Brothers et al. situation has happened, don't let this make your brow furrow and your scowl come out. No, instead, let this be the moment that you seize on our desire to make it better, not wallow in the sorrow of a crashing economy. Remind us all that we can change this, that this isn't how it has to be, we only need to move forward and trust in our leaders who do have our best interests at heart.
Keep it optimistic, Barack Obama. And you'll win this thing.
(from Revolution newspaper #141, August 24, 2008)
by Carl Dix
This presidential election season something different is happening. Three years ago, tens of thousands of Black people were left to die as Katrina’s flood waters surged in New Orleans. Last year, lynching nooses were being hung all across the country, from Jena, Louisiana, to New York City. But now, one of the two major parties is about to nominate an African-American, Barack Obama, to be the president of the U.S. This is major.
I received two very thoughtful comments in response to my first blog, and instead of replying to each one (I recommend you read them), I will respond to both and then continue the monologue.
My first responder claimed that this would be the century of the Chinese. Although an interesting read on history, the one thing that it does not take into account is this: China has fundamentals that are not a part of the historic fundamentals that have made for empire. Each empire, be it the USAmerican, British, French, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, or Greek - or original Chinese empires - were based on a territorial expansion, either through actual occupation or spheres of influence, fueled originally by military conquest and then maintained through an exploitative economic system that benefitted the coffers of the empire and the ruling classes of that empire.
Brooks Adams had an interesting theory. He felt that commercial civilizations rise and fall in predictable cycles, heading East to West across the globe. This would explain emerging civilizations from the ancient empires of China to the finality of the US. But the 21st century marks a new era - the end of the frontier. So, we have gone as far West as we can go. There are no new civilizations or emerging markets or new populations to conquer or dominate - the world has become one market.
So the question becomes: what next? Now that empires cannot be built on masses of people who are in large population centers and engage in commercial activities who then need expansion to fuel further economic growth (because the world is now dominated by competing and cooperating centers), how will the "new order" be created? Adams believed that the beginning of empire creation is when the military is dominant, that an empire reaches its peak when the banker is dominant, and that the fall of the empire is also marked by that same dominance because pursuit of wealth without connection to spiritual and/or some emotionally-connecting value(s) is inherently corrupting. After all, higher goals and common motivational values are what usually fuels the development of nations followed by military conquest at the beginning of empire (e.g. "Rule Britannia, Make the World Safe for Democracy, or Deutchland Uber Allis). As the burgeoning empire's desire for wealth grows, they discard spiritual and creative values. Their greed leads to a failure to act in the best long-term interest of the nation/empire, and the corruption and isolation of government that becomes dominated by specialized interests that are out of touch with the needs of the "average" citizen which leads to a crumbling of the society - a society governed without inspiration and without providing its citizens with what they were looking for in the first place - which is having their personal aspirations and needs met while giving them an emotional reason for consenting to be governed within the nation or empire.
My conclusion - the new empire will be the nation or conglomeration that grows through expansion WITHIN as opposed to expansion abroad. China is the example but China has a problem: its population is levelling off and aging (they are going to have a real problem with the elderly in a few years), and it has allowed a level of corruption and environmental poison that will inhibit further growth in about 25 more years. Today, the USA will be faced with the situation where either the government renews its mission to meet both the motivational and personal needs of its citizens, and thereby creates a boom of internal growth based on a restructuring of the economy and resources (see the second commentator on my first blog), or it will continue on its current path to a stratified third-world economy based on a rich elite and a seething, ignorant and dominated population. Should Obama get elected AND follow the correct path toward internal renewal and growth, the US could provide an example for the entire world to grow in similar directions. This will require a Democratic Party that dominates the legislative and executive branches of government, and a sweeping "New Deal" that will change the way business is done on Wall Street and in the halls of Congress. A huge order, but we need a Bismark, FDR, or Mazarin right now if we are to return to a nation of equals.
