How about that--the environmentalists want America to fail

The sociopathic lamebrains strike again:

Seriously, if I wanted America to fail:

• I would spend enormous sums of money convincing the populace that government was inept at best and evil at worst.
• I would support an authoritarian style of "leadership" and would use economics to coerce people into submission.
• I would call out every one who voiced an opinion different from mine as unpatriotic.
• I would value corporations over people and spend huge sums of money to "prove" that corporations are America.
• I would insist that the opinion of one paid-off scientist was correct while the data from 99 independent researchers was fudged.
• I would pretend that breathable air and drinkable water were the "agenda of the radical fringe."
• I would insist that my interpretations of the desires of an unseen deity were more valid than common sense and empirical evidence.
• Ironically, I would do everything I could to damage the beauty and the bounty the unseen deity provided.
• I would lobby for laws to force other people to follow my interpretation of the rules passed down from my unseen deity. Because of my role as interpreter, I would be exempt from and forgiven for not following these rules myself.
• I would hold up rapacious corporations as the proxy for that unseen deity.
• I would hold up rapacious corporations as the proxy for American citizens.
• To be clear, I would use every means at my disposal to convince you that the well-being of rapacious multi-national corporations is an indicator of the well-being of our nation as well as its citizens.
• I would remain ignorant about the difference between industrial capitalism and financial capitalism.
• I would exalt as job creators the very people who have been on a long spree of job destruction.
• I would remove every regulation and ensure the destruction of the very resources we count on for survival.
• I'd call people who think social safety nets make good sense "socialists."
• I would perpetuate the myth that a true free market needs no regulation as if a free market were not a human construct.
• I would narrowly define the American Dream to fit my lifestyle and choices and demonize anyone who had a different idea.
• I'd twist and distort every fact about how we got to this sad state of affairs to suit my agenda.
• I'd perpetuate this silly game of Left vs. Right so that no meaningful or wise decisions could ever be made.

After an almost three-year break from this blog, I find the need to be here again. I've been spending most of that time reading other blogs that have said what I wanted to say so much better than I could have and in far more exhaustive detail. During this time, I've left many comments throughout the blogosphere, doing my share to participate in the discourse.

I'm back not so much to rant and rave, but to drop off data points. For the most part, I don't think you need my opinions, but you might be interested in my finds. Here are some of the topics for which I'll be sharing sources:

• My country turned into an oligarchy (a political system governed by a few people, particularly the wealthy or elite) or maybe a plutocracy (governance by the wealthy) or more likely a corporatocracy (a government dominated by corporate influence) or maybe a combination of those.
  
• Both major political parties are reprehensible and there is no hope for America's future with either Republicans or Democrats. There aren't many reasons to have faith in any of the third parties at this time, since they're being gamed people of the two dominant parties. Our hope lies in the American people, but not those being duped by astro-turf movements like the Tea Party, Obama for America, or the new and unimproved MoveOn.org. It's not the peoples' fault they're being duped; see the next point.
  
• The media is completely disgusting. There are no journalists anymore, only "senior analysts" pretending to spar with lobbyists. To be fair to the media, they are corporations and they have serious goals and can't be playing around with lofty ideals like providing factual information.

So, I'll be posting links here on those topics and others. You can follow the links and draw your own conclusions. That's not to say that I won't go on a rant once in in a while!

Here's the first installment:

1. Bill Moyers interview with the authors of the book 13 BANKERS: THE WALL STREET TAKEOVER AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN. Although Moyers has lapses in judgment when he lets his heart get in the way of his head, this segment stands on its own merits.
2. Want Green Jobs? Learn to speak Chinese.

That's it for now. Enjoy.

He can't go home again

Gonzo's classmates give him a remedial lesson on the law. Members of the Harvard Law Class of 1982 took out an ad in the Washington Post that all but calls for a resignation.

Gonzo probably doesn't remember attending Harvard.

The Softball Playing Field

I watched the first Republican Presidential Candidates Debate and thought, Where are the leaders---these are all lesser-of-evils men. Unlike the first Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate, which presented a real selection of viable leaders. You can still watch both debates from the MSNBC site.

It was moderated by outed sexist Chris Matthews, who didn't think to comment on the 19 times St. Ronald's name was invoked and didn't ask some of the hard questions or obvious follow-ups? Some (by no means exhaustive) examples off the top of my head:

• Do you think corporations have too much influence over the political process?
• Rudy, you've said that if a Democrat wins, we'll have another 9-11. Didn't that happen on your (Republican) watch?
• Do you think gay marriage would hurt straight marriage and if so, exactly how?
• Follow up: Doesn't divorce (Guiliani, McCain) or adultery (Tommy Thompson) hurt straight marriage?
• Would you consider meeting with the Log Cabin Republicans (a gay organization)?
• Follow up to Ron Paul's comment: What do you think about wire taps on American citizens and the death of habeas corpus?
• Follow up to John McCain's repeated request for line item veto power: Don't you think such a power would obviate the need for a Congress? Would you be willing to give that power to Hillary Clinton?

"If I knew then..."

People (actually pundits) keep calling for Hillary to go beyond her "If I knew then what I know now" excuse for authorizing military force in Iraq and apologize outright. I don't think she needs to apologize, but I do think she needs to remind the public of the history. Unfortunately, a Senate vote is digital. Floor speeches are analog and here are some excerpts from the October 10, 2002 Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

If we were to attack Iraq now, alone or with few allies, it would set a precedent that could come back to haunt us. ... So Mr. President, for all its appeal, a unilateral attack, while it cannot be ruled out, on the present facts is not a good option.

Even though the resolution before the Senate is not as strong as I would like in requiring the diplomatic route first and placing highest priority on a simple, clear requirement for unlimited inspections, I will take the President at his word that he will try hard to pass a UN resolution and will seek to avoid war, if at all possible.

Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely, and therefore, war less likely, and because a good faith effort by the United States, even if it fails, will bring more allies and legitimacy to our cause, I have concluded, after careful and serious
consideration, that a vote for the resolution best serves the security of our nation.

My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world.

One by one

Please take the time to watch Bill Moyers Journal, Buying the War, an indictment of the press and their nearly unified unwillingness to question the Administration during the the coordinated marketing effort between the White House, State, and the Pentagon to sell this war to America.

Between the "Patriot Police" strong-arming individual journalists and the corporate interests of the media outlets, the American people are in a no-win occupation, in extraordinary debt, still subject to wire-taps and illegal searches, no closer to independence from foreign oil, and show no signs of recovering soon.

Can't we just be nice?

http://www.beniceorelse.com/

In a recently posted AP news article, I read:

"Long before he boiled over, Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui was picked on, pushed around and laughed at over his shyness and the strange way he talked when he was a schoolboy in the Washington suburbs, former classmates say."

It sounds so simple, but why can't people just be nice?? As a young child, my father would always refer to the golden rule - a sensibility shared by MANY around the globe.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm

Sure, we all have bad moods, bad days... but I'm going to try to stay mindful of being a little more golden in my every day actions, deeds, words, and even thoughts.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me....

Muzzles on the current administration

This comes as NO surprise... I haven't believed a word I've heard since the stolen election of 2000.

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has honored the Bush Administration with a 2007 Muzzle Award.

http://www.tjcenter.org/

Too bad the muzzle can't get them to really shut up (and move out!)

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

In Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins tells a fascinating story of intrigue and deception about his previous job ripping off other countries on behalf of American corporations. He would sell inflated infrastructure projects (airports, electricity grids, etc.) to foreign countries that couldn't afford them. The countries would take out loans from American banks as long as the project contracts were given to American companies. The money never left America! The projects and loans were designed for default and the countries would become American puppets after being bailed out.

Some readers cannot believe this story, claiming it's fodder for conspiracy theorists. I have no problem believing this story. I have a problem accepting that he waited 20 years to tell it for fear (and greed). And I do think he needs to make way more restitution than this confession.