You may never have heard of this case... read up and dig in your heels. There is a petition to sign.
No country should have political prisoners much less the United States.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Resonant Story Lines
There are no particular pictures for this idea. We, as a country, have far too much debt... that is, the National Debt has increased to more than we can handle or very soon will be at that point.
You won't get much argument from either side, left or right, on this being a fact and a problem. What you do get is a lot of finger pointing about why this is the case and a lot more finger pointing about what to do about it.
Essentially the Republicans say we can cut spending and pull ourselves out of the debt through austerity. Much the same approach being used in Europe right now. It is the what has led to people in countries like Spain to pull their money from the economy and send it to safe havens all over the world. The Democrats say that we can combine ideas and do some trimming but that we also need tax increases in certain sectors to raise revenues. The Dem's also say that some additional stimulus will awaken the economy and that will add to the income side of the equation while shoring up the economy with a bit more deficit in the short run.
That is a huge difference based on the agreement that we have a common problem. The Neo-Republican idea is fairly narrow in scope. It says simply that we can cut, cut and cut. Okay, what shall we cut? They say that it should be across the board, starting with social programs. Why do they say this? They posit the idea that ALL federal spending is equal. That is, a dollar is a dollar no matter where it comes from. A very infectious theory. They further say that we need a one to one approach... for every dollar we spend we need to cut a dollar thereby "saving" a dollar to then "spend" on bringing down the deficit. Our interest expense is eating into our national budget and just like a household whose spending is out of control we should focus on this until we can "afford" to spend again. Hidden here is the fact that it will shrink the economy in the process.
This view is not complete without saying that the Republicans are targeting Social Security and Medicare spending even though these two programs do not contribute to the debt. In fact, Social Security is one of the largest purchasers of government debt! These are self funding programs that are viable well into the future and can be made even better by thinking about better ways to fund the insurance plans. Along the same lines defense spending is, for the most part, off the table for discussion even though it IS much of the cause of and for the deficit. Hmmm... well, in any case, the ability to walk away from negotiations and say things like, "My way or the highway," is to say there is a diminution of useful discussion. Thus here we have a position that carves out support by giving a seemingly simple set of ideas and then does not bend. One would say this is a then a radical solution or at least based on a radical take-no-prisoners approach. Yes, a very political, one sided way to attempt to accomplish laudable goals. Thus the charges and counter-charges of lies and deception take hold rather than real debate.
By contrast the Democrats propose a multitude of ways to bring down the deficit by the dual approach of cuts and enhanced income. As my brother once relayed to me the advice of a CPA we once knew... the key is to make more money while you get your budget in order, spend less. This too is a pretty basic and simple idea. Fairly straightforward. The first thing on the negotiating table should be the thing causing us the most initial pain. The recently undertaken unfunded wars were at the heart of the matter. The Pentagon has funded more hardware even as they cut direct spending on the people of war, our volunteer army and the veterans. The Pentagon tends to support the Republican ideas and is loath to adopt the Democrat's ideas. Additionally, the placement of where the increase in income will come from has taken center stage. The Republicans oppose any tax increases outwardly saying that it is based on a pledge most of them have signed to someone other than their constituents. At this point no group of them have stood up to Grover Norquist and his organization and walked away from this pledge en-mass.
In short, without the distractions, the two sides are vying for hearts and minds by displaying this contrast. The Republicans are pouring lots of money into shouting down the opposition while the Democrats are relying more on the ground game to flush out support. Either way we are buried in a national bumper sticker, sound bite ride for votes. There IS a crisis looming in the near future but I doubt either side knows what it really will be. The Fourth Turning is upon us.
You won't get much argument from either side, left or right, on this being a fact and a problem. What you do get is a lot of finger pointing about why this is the case and a lot more finger pointing about what to do about it.
Essentially the Republicans say we can cut spending and pull ourselves out of the debt through austerity. Much the same approach being used in Europe right now. It is the what has led to people in countries like Spain to pull their money from the economy and send it to safe havens all over the world. The Democrats say that we can combine ideas and do some trimming but that we also need tax increases in certain sectors to raise revenues. The Dem's also say that some additional stimulus will awaken the economy and that will add to the income side of the equation while shoring up the economy with a bit more deficit in the short run.
That is a huge difference based on the agreement that we have a common problem. The Neo-Republican idea is fairly narrow in scope. It says simply that we can cut, cut and cut. Okay, what shall we cut? They say that it should be across the board, starting with social programs. Why do they say this? They posit the idea that ALL federal spending is equal. That is, a dollar is a dollar no matter where it comes from. A very infectious theory. They further say that we need a one to one approach... for every dollar we spend we need to cut a dollar thereby "saving" a dollar to then "spend" on bringing down the deficit. Our interest expense is eating into our national budget and just like a household whose spending is out of control we should focus on this until we can "afford" to spend again. Hidden here is the fact that it will shrink the economy in the process.
This view is not complete without saying that the Republicans are targeting Social Security and Medicare spending even though these two programs do not contribute to the debt. In fact, Social Security is one of the largest purchasers of government debt! These are self funding programs that are viable well into the future and can be made even better by thinking about better ways to fund the insurance plans. Along the same lines defense spending is, for the most part, off the table for discussion even though it IS much of the cause of and for the deficit. Hmmm... well, in any case, the ability to walk away from negotiations and say things like, "My way or the highway," is to say there is a diminution of useful discussion. Thus here we have a position that carves out support by giving a seemingly simple set of ideas and then does not bend. One would say this is a then a radical solution or at least based on a radical take-no-prisoners approach. Yes, a very political, one sided way to attempt to accomplish laudable goals. Thus the charges and counter-charges of lies and deception take hold rather than real debate.
By contrast the Democrats propose a multitude of ways to bring down the deficit by the dual approach of cuts and enhanced income. As my brother once relayed to me the advice of a CPA we once knew... the key is to make more money while you get your budget in order, spend less. This too is a pretty basic and simple idea. Fairly straightforward. The first thing on the negotiating table should be the thing causing us the most initial pain. The recently undertaken unfunded wars were at the heart of the matter. The Pentagon has funded more hardware even as they cut direct spending on the people of war, our volunteer army and the veterans. The Pentagon tends to support the Republican ideas and is loath to adopt the Democrat's ideas. Additionally, the placement of where the increase in income will come from has taken center stage. The Republicans oppose any tax increases outwardly saying that it is based on a pledge most of them have signed to someone other than their constituents. At this point no group of them have stood up to Grover Norquist and his organization and walked away from this pledge en-mass.
In short, without the distractions, the two sides are vying for hearts and minds by displaying this contrast. The Republicans are pouring lots of money into shouting down the opposition while the Democrats are relying more on the ground game to flush out support. Either way we are buried in a national bumper sticker, sound bite ride for votes. There IS a crisis looming in the near future but I doubt either side knows what it really will be. The Fourth Turning is upon us.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Huffington Post User
This from a Huffington Post user (Outlandish):
"What do a handful of billionaires want from the wholesale purchase of American Democracy?
Does having your kid’s education sold from under them and all schools being privatized for profit, teacher’s wages cut for profit and class sizes much larger for profit make you want to vote for their cause, because all you want is a far more expensive yet inferior education for your kids? How about giving them tax cuts even though about 100 billionaires make more money annually than 100 million of you working stiffs and most pay little or no taxes, is that what your hoping for and how will you benefit apart from admiring them for their greed?
Maybe you want to drive on toll roads and pay retail to have your roads and bridges repaired so a bridge you cross doesn’t collapse when you and your family are on it, for surely they will own the companies that will set your bridges to right and you’ll pay the going rate. Be sure that they will skim a lot of profit by cutting costs and under paying the workers but will charge you a premium without a guarantee of a job well done.
Maybe you want to pay an annual levy that is half profit in case you are burgled or your house catches fire and you might just want it put out, you might be in need of first responders so be prepared to pay those billionaires a higher rate than you do in taxes for the same service and therefore depriving those good for nothing first responders a living wage. Because the services are privatized, an extra layer will be added for profit. Of course you have to believe the media has a left leaning bias but rest assured, the same billionaires own that media and have programmed you into thinking that a left wing media exists in America by allowing a token.
They are banking on the fact that a lot of you will be gullible enough to kiss democracy goodbye because far too many of you already have and are on board the billionaires propaganda express. When everything that your precedents worked 2 centuries to own and develop for you is in the hands of a small number of billionaires, will you feel that losing the America you knew, your ancestors fought and died to create was worth losing will you sleep comfortably in your beds, knowing you did nothing to stop the future from being stolen away from you, my brave little Republican corporate soldiers? If all you hold sacrosanct vanishes and you’re living on sub minimum wages, will you be proud of your gullibility and be relieved because you’ve been had? Seriously! What’s wrong with you?"
Good on ya, lad!!
"What do a handful of billionaires want from the wholesale purchase of American Democracy?
Does having your kid’s education sold from under them and all schools being privatized for profit, teacher’s wages cut for profit and class sizes much larger for profit make you want to vote for their cause, because all you want is a far more expensive yet inferior education for your kids? How about giving them tax cuts even though about 100 billionaires make more money annually than 100 million of you working stiffs and most pay little or no taxes, is that what your hoping for and how will you benefit apart from admiring them for their greed?
Maybe you want to drive on toll roads and pay retail to have your roads and bridges repaired so a bridge you cross doesn’t collapse when you and your family are on it, for surely they will own the companies that will set your bridges to right and you’ll pay the going rate. Be sure that they will skim a lot of profit by cutting costs and under paying the workers but will charge you a premium without a guarantee of a job well done.
Maybe you want to pay an annual levy that is half profit in case you are burgled or your house catches fire and you might just want it put out, you might be in need of first responders so be prepared to pay those billionaires a higher rate than you do in taxes for the same service and therefore depriving those good for nothing first responders a living wage. Because the services are privatized, an extra layer will be added for profit. Of course you have to believe the media has a left leaning bias but rest assured, the same billionaires own that media and have programmed you into thinking that a left wing media exists in America by allowing a token.
They are banking on the fact that a lot of you will be gullible enough to kiss democracy goodbye because far too many of you already have and are on board the billionaires propaganda express. When everything that your precedents worked 2 centuries to own and develop for you is in the hands of a small number of billionaires, will you feel that losing the America you knew, your ancestors fought and died to create was worth losing will you sleep comfortably in your beds, knowing you did nothing to stop the future from being stolen away from you, my brave little Republican corporate soldiers? If all you hold sacrosanct vanishes and you’re living on sub minimum wages, will you be proud of your gullibility and be relieved because you’ve been had? Seriously! What’s wrong with you?"
Good on ya, lad!!
Time After Time...
The constant yammering from the Right says that they want to "fix" Medicare/ObamaCare. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This time around we can "fix" the Republican party. The Tea Partiers have broken it so severely that is unrecognizable.
This time around we can "fix" the Republican party. The Tea Partiers have broken it so severely that is unrecognizable.
ObamaCare v. VoucherCare
What no one spouting the Republican nonsense seems to get is that Paul Ryan is the author of voucherizing Medicare. The math of that is pretty simple. By ineffectively running a voucher system to replace Medicare, one the most efficient programs anywhere, it will make it easier to "drown government in a bathtub," to quote Grover Norquist.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Spin
In commenting on a Huffington Post story about the string of lies told at the Republican Convention this past week I collected a very negative return comment about how the Democratic Party is always lying:
"There has never been in American history a bigger group of downright liars than we have seen from team Obama and the Democratic Party every day. I hate to see a person try to do what he is unable to do. Obama is completely out of his league, he is incompetent and incapable of being President. The evidence is everywhere."
My response was:
"I am pretty sure that you misspelled Democratic it is spelled R-e-p-u-b-l-i-c-a-n. The mounting lies from the Right are stunning in their size and volume. Use a bit of fact checking and you will be forced to admit you are full of the Right-side Koolaid. Only the low information voter can believe the Righties any more. They have become the Party of Treason."
What has struck me more than ever that those on the Right are suddenly, blatantly saying things that border on or have crossed the line on what is treasonous language. It has happened subtly and at first I didn't even notice. They are charging ahead now however and saying they want to dismantle all of government. It is not enough to dismantle parts of government a brick at a time they are closer to a take over and burn mentality now. These are very scary times.
There may well be riots in the streets from the 99%-er's at some overtly oppressive moment but the gun toters are mostly Right-wingers not Lefties. The hate speech is Right-wing driven for the most part and the stack of lies being doubled down on is thickly from the Right. Fact checking has become a defense of sorts but the volume and vitriol of the lying is astounding.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Another, "Stupid is as Stupid does," Moment.
Are you as tired of repeating the same activity over and over again as I am? There's that currently popular quote (or, idea) that says,"If you continue to do the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome it is the definition of insane...", or something like that.
Republicans have ZERO to offer us.
That will make thirty-one (31) votes of the same sort on the same subject. If I were a moderate Republican (are there any left?) I would caucus with other moderates to vote against this next vote on "defeating" Obamacare (yes, that would be the ACA legislation/law). Such a struggle to show just how stupid you are if you vote with the TEA PARTY surrogates on this one. Eventually the public will identify that you were trying to take away Rights and take away Benefits. Do you really want to go down in flames at the next election cycle by being identified WITH insane people?? No, really, do you want the forever label of "insane"??
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