Some conservatives are beginning to question whether Fox News is good for their movement. Globalization Marches On: Growing popular outrage has not challenged corporate power. Shifts in global power, ongoing or potential, are a lively topic among policy makers and observers. One question is whether (or when) China will displace the United States as the dominant global player, perhaps along with India. Such a shift would return the global system to something like it was before the European conquests. Economic growth in China and India has been rapid, and because they rejected the West's policies of financial deregulation, they survived the recession better than most.
Nonetheless, questions arise. One standard measure of social health is the U.N. India and China also have very high inequality, so more than a billion of their inhabitants fall far lower on the scale. Another concern is the U.S. debt. In one dimension -- military power -- the United States stands alone. When considering the U.S. economy's other sectors, Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and other economists warn that we should beware of "deficit fetishism. " Naturally they expected to be rewarded. The Super-Rich Want You to Hate Taxes So They Can Keep Your Money | CommonDreams.org.
When it comes to the American economy, there is one fundamental lie and one fundamental truth and it is up to you which you choose to believe. Tax Day is really a chance to ask: “Which side am I on?” The lie is that if the maximum freedom and, thus, maximum benefits are given to the super-rich elites, ultimately everyone will win because the super-rich will create companies and create jobs and buy things and that will benefit the rest of us. It’s been called various things over various times — Reaganomics, trickle down economics, free market capitalism. But mostly it’s just been called bullshit. The average five-year-old could tell you the truth — that if you want to create the most amount of opportunity and prosperity for the most amount of people, it makes much more sense to spread opportunity and prosperity from the get-go rather than give it all to the top and pray it will spread.
The anti-tax agenda perpetuates the lie. Think about it. This isn’t to say government is perfect. Ron Paul: Barack Obama is Not a Socialist - Washington Wire. Chinatown, My Chinatown: An Andalusian Dog<br>love poem in images and music - scanners. Osborne Ink || News that's fairly liberal, but never unbalanced. » Blog Archive » Cognitive Dissonance In Action. It's bad enough that Beck is incoherent, but the flat falsehoods are fatal. Hiring practices preserve America’s permanent underclass - Allison Kilkenny - Unreported. Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife If you’re part of the lucky 29 percent of adults living in the US who attended a college or university, and are now the proud owner of a bachelor’s degree (in addition to a mountain of debt ), you’re no doubt eager to find some employment.
Hopefully, you have a perfect credit score, never committed a felony, and have a solid “in” for an entry level position at your dream company. Otherwise, arrival into the corporate world may serve as a rude awakening. According to a Sallie Mae study, only 17 percent of college kids paid their credit cards in full every month and another 1 percent left that to their parents.
The remaining 82 percent carries a growing debt. In 2009, seniors graduated with an average credit card debt of $4,100 , up from $2,900 among 2004 graduates. Almost one-fifth of 2009’s graduates owed more than $7,000 on their cards. Some employers are now making it a practice to check potential employees’ credit scores. Whaaaat ? Show Me "Ellen Hates America" [VIDEO] Jon Stewart pokes fun at Fox News and Sarah Palin's ignorance of President Obama's nuclear treaty. Anti-government radicalism discourages essential regulations - Allison Kilkenny - Unreported. Image by Getty Images North America via Daylife It’s been a few weeks since I last documented the systemic violence and threats that have become the hallmarks of right-wing extremism, so I figured it was time for an update. First up, we have the Hutaree Christian terrorist organization, a fiercely militant group (including children) who wore fatigues and carried high-powered assault rifles at all times — even during family weddings .
The militia’s leader, David Brian Stone, asked an undercover federal agent to provide explosives to be used against police officers. The plan was to then attack an officer’s funeral using homemade bombs in the hopes of killing even more law enforcement personnel. Hutaree is only one of many such “patriot” movements that desire to “take back their country”. Then there’s Gregory Lee Giusti , the man arrested for making dozens of harassing phone calls to Nancy Pelosi. Next, Charles Alan Wilson of Selah, Washington, who made at least 13 calls to Sen. Yeah! Sigh. YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF.
The Great Liberaltarian Alliance. Toke of the Town - Two Redneck CA Counties Still Refuse To Give Medical Pot Cards. Fourteen years after Californians voted to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana, two counties -- in violation of state law -- are still refusing to issue official identification cards to cannabis patients. Senate Bill 420, passed in 2003, directs California counties to issue ID cards to patients using medical marijuana with a doctor's approval. Unfortunately, SB 420 doesn't list specific sanctions against counties that refuse to do so. The plan voted down by the myopically marijuana-phobic Sutter County supervisors was so reasonable, so middle of the road, that even the county sheriff endorsed it.
Yes, even Sheriff J. Medical marijuana advocates warn that the refusal could invite expensive litigation from the state or from citizens to force the counties to issue the pot I.D. cards. "To be honest, we're disappointed in this decision," said Dale Gieringer of California NORML. "They're sworn to uphold the state constitution and they turn their backs on it," Smith said. Matthew Yglesias » McDonnell Says Slavery Wasn’t a “Significant” Part of Confederate Virginia; Virginia Secessionists Disagree. Proud Of Being Ignorant - National. The Joe Rogan Guest Blog Experience, Day 2: We Are All Still Going to Die: The Q. I think that one of the reasons why people look towards the end of humanity is that people are afraid to die alone. If you die alone the people you love will miss you, or if they die you miss them—the sorrow is inevitable.
When you truly love someone the thought of losing them forever is horrible. If we all die together we can avoid all of this, and literally go out with a bang as well. It's just so much more romantic a notion to think that you're going to go out as a result of a long forgotten 26,000 year cosmic cycle that causes unimaginable catastrophes and wipe out the entire population of the planet than to think you're going to die alone, slowly and painfully because you just can't seem to quit smoking cigarettes. I think another reason why we're all fascinated by this idea of an apocalypse is because there's this silent acknowledgement amongst folks that are even remotely paying attention that there's no fucking way we can keep this up.
"Father, tell us about the American Empire! " State of the Nation. Prosecute the Pope - Page 1. The Neville Brothers were formed by the hard life and hard times, but they are also heirs to America’s richest musical tradition: the aural gumbo of New Orleans. As New Orleans Jazz fest kicks off here’s John Ed Bradley’s 1991 GQ profile on the Neville Brothers. The Neville’s are a national treasure and this behind-the-scenes look lets us in on the men behind the magic. The subject is in good hands. Bradley is the author of six novels, including Tupelo Nights, as well as one of the finest sports memoirs ever written, It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium .
Bradley’s seventh novel, Call Me By My Name, is a Young Adult title that will be published in a few weeks. It is a tender, heartbreaking story, as fine as anything Bradley has ever written and worth picking up, whether you are a teenager or an adult. In the meantime, dig into his story, “Bards of the Bayou” and then do yourself a favor and listen to some tunes by the Neville brothers.
"My new album's called Look for God,” he says. "Duke.” §. CNN’s Response To Erickson Outcry: “He’s all growed up now.” I've actually been doing some work today, trying to unwind from a week of ankle biting CNN and Erick Erickson. I'll have more to say after a full day or two off from this asshattery.
I need some time away from the "Best Political Team on Television. " Fortunately, @Karoli says it all for me. VIDEO: "Howard Kurtz Allows Erick Erickson to Feign Ignorance on the Rhetoric Posted at His Blog" Howard Kurtz interviews the newest member of their "best political team on television", RedState's Erick Erickson and asks him about the hateful rhetoric that's been posted on his blog. Erickson's defense pretty much amounts to pretending he had no idea what he was saying, that he gets any traffic and he's all grown up now, so hey… no worries right? Seen My Post And Video About Erickson? If not, all this noise we've been making about this absurd decision by CNN will have been in vain.Shoqvalue: VIDEO: CNN Joins The Tea Party Responses DailyKos: Oilwellian Diary: CNN-Joins-the-Tea-Party (200+ comments) Hunter S. Thompson, another satisfied customer.
Howard Zinn: Myths of the Good Wars (Three ‘Holy’ Wars) (must-see) Stephen Colbert: 'Sarah Palin Is a F**cking Retard' | News & Politics. February 9, 2010 | Like this article? Join our email list: Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email. Stephen Colbert has fine words for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who defended Rush Limbaugh's use of the word " retard" this weekend after attacking an Obama aide for the same offense.
"Sarah Palin knows that it's okay to call someone a retard if like Rush you clearly don't mean it which is why we should all come to her defense and say: Sarah Palin is a fucking retard," Colbert quipped. Palin's son, Trig, has Down Syndrome. But when Rush Limbaugh used the same word, Palin declared that his usage was acceptable because it was satire. On his radio show, Limbaugh said: "Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards. Palin had no problem with Limbaugh's remarks during an interview with Fox News on Sunday. Olbermann Tackles Fear and Racism in Special Comment. In his President’s Day special comment on Monday’s “Countdown,” Keith Olbermann eloquently tackles our national albatross: racism. Apologists for the Tea Partiers always discount the racist undercurrent that pervades this movement. But as Olbermann points out, fear and an uneasy inherited racism fuels the anger and paranoia.
He says what I always say: not everyone who disagrees with Obama is racist. But recognize the racist backlash of Obama’s election, and ask some important questions. Who are you listening to? Who are your leaders? Why are there so few black faces at the Tea Party rallies? Olberman, who can be shrill and self-righteous during some of his other special comments, finds the right balance here. January 8, 2011 -- The American Taliban Strikes: Assassination Attempt of Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)
Cheney Admits to War Crimes, Media Yawns, Obama Turns the Other Cheek. The Economic Elite Vs. The People of the United States of America – Part I. -I: Casualties of Economic Terrorism, Surveying the Damage——-II: The Rise of the Economic Elite——-III: Exposing Our Enemy: Meet the Economic Elite——-IV: The Financial Coup d’Etat——-V: Overcoming the Divide and Conquer Strategy——-VI: How to Fight Back and Win: Common Ground Issues That Must Be Won “The American oligarchy spares no pains in promoting the belief that it does not exist, but the success of its disappearing act depends on equally strenuous efforts on the part of an American public anxious to believe in egalitarian fictions and unwilling to see what is hidden in plain sight.” — Michael Lind, To Have and to Have Not It’s time for 99% of Americans to mobilize and aggressively move on common sense political reforms.
Yes, of course, we all have very strong differences of opinion on many issues. However, like our Founding Fathers before us, we must put aside our differences and unite to fight a common enemy. I: Casualties of Economic Terrorism, Surveying the Damage Mass Unemployment. Howard Zinn. Historian Howard Zinn's remarkable work, including his most famous book, A People's History of the United States, is summarized best in his own words.
His primary concern, he once explained, was "the countless small actions of unknown people" that lie at the roots of the great moments of history--a record that would be profoundly misleading, and seriously disempowering, if torn from such roots. Howard, who died Jan. 27 at 87, was devoted to the empowerment of these unknowns. That was true from the days when, while teaching in the 1950s and '60s at Atlanta's historically black Spelman College, he participated in... Subscribe Now Get TIME the way you want it One Week Digital Pass — $4.99 Monthly Pay-As-You-Go DIGITAL ACCESS — $2.99 One Year ALL ACCESS — Just $30! [Audio] Marxism and Anarchism. Pricing - Om Free Yoga. Glenn Greenwald. Laffable: Fox News gives platform for former Reagan adviser to push dubious claims*
Previewing President Obama's announcement of his fiscal year 2011 budget plan, Fox News provided a platform to Art Laffer, a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board,* to offer dubious claims about tax cuts. Laffer claimed that in fiscal 2011, "all of the Bush tax cuts expire," ignoring that President Obama's budget plan allows those cuts to expire only for those making more than $250,000 per year, and asserted that the recession in the early 1980s occurred because President Reagan delayed the implementation of his tax cuts and ended due to those cuts, a claim disputed by many economists who instead cite changes to interest rates. From the February 1 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom : LAFFER: What's happening, Bill, is that at the end of 2010, the beginning of 2011, all of the Bush tax cuts expire, plus there are lots of other tax increases coming.
They're raising the highest personal marginal income tax rate from 35 to 39.6. The Economy At Mid-1983. Think Progress » Fox Cuts Away From Obama-GOP Conversation In Order To Get A Head Start On Attacks: He Was ‘Lecturing’ By Amanda Terkel on January 29, 2010 at 4:38 pm "Fox Cuts Away From Obama-GOP Conversation In Order To Get A Head Start On Attacks: He Was ‘Lecturing’" President Obama held a candid, face-to-face conversation with House Republicans today at their annual retreat in Baltimore. After Obama gave his remarks, he had to answer tough questions from Republican lawmakers about health care, the budget, taxes, and other issues. Although the riveting exchange lasted over an hour, both CNN and MSNBC aired the entire event. However, at 1:11 p.m. ET — when there was still 20 minutes left to go — Fox News decided to cut away and begin its commentary. Unsurprisingly, Fox is echoing a Republican talking point. Not only did Fox cut away from the Obama-GOP exchange, but the network then brought on Rep.
Democracy in America Is a Useful Fiction | CommonDreams.org. Corporate forces, long before the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, carried out a coup d'état in slow motion. The coup is over. We lost. The ruling is one more judicial effort to streamline mechanisms for corporate control. It exposes the myth of a functioning democracy and the triumph of corporate power. But it does not significantly alter the political landscape. The corporate state is firmly cemented in place. The fiction of democracy remains useful, not only for corporations, but for our bankrupt liberal class.
Much of the outrage expressed about the court's ruling is the outrage of those who prefer this choreographed charade. Inverted totalitarianism represents "the political coming of age of corporate power and the political demobilization of the citizenry," Wolin writes in "Democracy Incorporated. " Inverted totalitarianism is not conceptualized as an ideology or objectified in public policy. . © 2010 TruthDig.com. The Corporations Already Outspend The Parties - The Atlantic Politics Channel. Inverted totalitarianism: what we're up against. Are Americans a Broken People? Why Weve Stopped Fighting Back Against the Forces of Oppression | News &Politics. Alexander Cockburn: a Journey into Rupert Murdoch's Soul. GRITtv: What's the Value of Government Regulation? Love and Haiti from Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com.
The Daily Undertaker, a Funeral and Memorial Service Journal. Your Guide to Cutting the Cord to Cable TV. President Obama, the CIA and the Master of the Cover-Up. Strike! Wikileaks Says Freed Information Isn't Free. On Reid and Racism.