Open Thread - Friday, December 8, 2017
The fact that so many people choose to live in ways that narrow the community of fate to a very limited set of others and to define the rest as threatening to their way of life and values is deeply worrying because this contemporary form of tribalism, and the ideologies that support it, enable them to deny complex and more crosscutting mutual interdependencies-local, national, and international-and to elude their own role in creating long-term threats to their own wellbeing and that of others.
- Margaret Levi -
The Republican "tax reform" bill passed by the United States Senate during the late-night hours last Friday is evil. It has no redeeming social value. It takes money and resources from those who have the least in order to further subsidize the rich and corporations. It will worsen those problems its proponents claim it will solve. It is a nightmare. Republicans and others who support this legislation have revealed once again that they lack any human decency or wisdom or sense of civic responsibility.
This evil is facilitated by an extreme rightward turn in American society that has made normal and healthy politics all but impossible.
This evil will kill people and increase human misery so the idle rich and other plutocrats can have even more money. This statement is no exaggeration. It is a plain fact: The Republican tax bill will raise taxes on the poor and working classes in order to give the very richest American hundreds of billions of dollars. This is a clear statement of social and political priorities: The amount of money gifted to the rich by Republicans is so large it could have paid for debt-free college and universal health care.This evil also reveals a moral and ethical rot. The Republican Party and Donald Trump's desperate desire to win a legislative victory at any cost was more important than being responsible public servants.
This evil is empowered by a party, a president and a right-wing movement that feels nothing but contempt for the very idea of democracy. The United States is in extreme peril. Moreover, the evil of the Republicans' "tax reform" bill is not a result of happenstance, accident or coincidence. It is an outgrowth of a much deeper malevolent ideology.
Senator Slammed for 'Booze and Women' Comment Amid Call for 'All-Out Blitz' to Stop #GOPTaxScam
As grassroots groups urge increased pressure on members of Congress to stop the #GOPTaxScam from becoming law, a pair of Democratic lawmakers on Monday were among those to shoot down a top Republican's defense of ending a tax that benefits a small group of super wealthy—the estate tax.
The House bill phases out the tax entirely, while the Senate version, passed on Saturday, doubles the amount of inheritance exempt from the tax.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told the Des Moines Register that ending the tax, which affects estates valued at $5.5 million for individuals and $11 million for couples, "recognizes the people that are investing as opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it's on booze or women or movies."In a Monday afternoon tweet, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said, "Just so we're clear, Senator Grassley, here's what my constituents are spending 'every darn penny' on: Rent. Groceries. Prescriptions. College tuition. You just made their lives harder in order to give billionaires massive tax breaks."
Is it any wonder I walk around funkin' angry?
The reality control project has convinced the weak minded that a person's net worth is a measurement of their humanity. How funked up is that?
What a funkin' tool! Could it be possible that some people do not have enough and some people have too much?
Grassley: Ending Estate Tax Recognizes Investors Over Spenders
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, commenting on the GOP tax overhaul, tells The Des Moines Register that ending the estate tax is about rewarding people who invest over those who spend everything they earn on "booze or women or movies."
A promise to end the so-called death tax has been a bulwark of Republican electoral politics for decades. A House version of the bill would do just that by 2024; however, the Senate's version of the tax overhaul, which narrowly passed the chamber early Saturday, would keep it, but instead double the current exemption to $11 million from $5.5 million per individual. For married couples, the current exemption is already at $11 million.
"I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing, as opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it's on booze or women or movies," Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, told the Register on Saturday.
The members of the lucky sperm club are self made! Rand Paul, Mitch Romney and Paul Ryan are funkin' leaders! Funk you Chuck!
These sorry excuses for humans, hiding behind Jesus, are irredeemable and need to be purged.
Paul Ryan won’t let indictments stop him from cutting taxes on the rich
A central question in American politics today is what, if anything, congressional Republicans will do if President Trump decides to follow the advice of Fox News and fire special counsel Robert Mueller rather than allow the investigation to proceed. The question is hardly hypothetical — the Trump team has been relentless in attacking Mueller for months, and the president already fired FBI Director James Comey in what he admitted was an ultimately failed effort to halt the investigation.House Speaker Paul Ryan was a guest this morning on WTAQ, a local Wisconsin right-wing talk radio station (it airs Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, and Sean Hannity, but Ryan was appearing on a local host’s morning show), and declined to offer any substantive commentary on the indictments. Instead, he said that “nothing is going to derail what we’re doing in Congress.” As far as he’s concerned, small matters like the integrity of the American political process and the rule of law are unimportant compared to the greater good of tax cuts for rich people and large corporations.
Funk Eddie Munster, there is a reason he does not mix with "common people".
I don't know how long I can walk around funkin' pissed off.
Hang in there!
They can't kill us all, and underestimate our resolve.
Heh, that video reminded me how sublime it is to hold a baby and dance. Hey Chuck, you know what keeps me from coming for you?
Well, I guess it is time to slide out of here. The sliding board is waxed for smooth escape.
The thread is OPEN. Have a great weekend!
Comments
Good Morning, sort of
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
People are strange
You can't make this shit up!
BREAKING: Trent Franks To Resign From House After Asking Staffers To Serve As Surrogate Mothers
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Take 2
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Obviously
Rep. Franks does not understand the what constitutes harassment.
The audacity of these pervs is mind numbing. I had always thought of Trent Franks as a poor human specimen, whom exhibited a number of recessive traits.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
See what I mean ->
What woman, man of child could resist that kind of animal magnetism?
You have to be funkin' kidding!
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
We were wondering what they had on Franks.
Happy to say adios to the creepy bastard. There will be some interesting congressional races in AZ this time.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Hola
I always thought TF had dead eyes. The kind that signal the pilot light is out.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Thanks for the funkin' reggae.
Here's another one from Toots Hibbert: Famine on de Land.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvOcdc-BC0Y width:400 height:240]
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
I heard this morning and began to hysterically laugh to myself
driving to work. I mean what kind of entitled dipshit asks a subordinate to be a surrogate? The scary thing is I bet those aides were flattered he asked!
O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.
Good morning, Tim ~~~
I'll get right to it. Without revolution, we, the people, are doomed to a life of squalor. Their next move will be to make all money electronic so they can trace our every penny and how we spend it so they can take it. We are all on shaky ground.
There is a good article on Truthdig titled, "Resisting Trumpism Requires a Grand Unifying Theory," which is worth a read.
Have a beautiful day and weekend, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Sadly
I think you are correct.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Levity
The Internet is inane, but I rather enjoy some dark humor.
Punchable Faces
All winners! And a few nominees.
Whenever you are ready to throw down, anytime, anywhere ->
Just funkin' saying. Just think how much revenue could be raised raffling off chances to punch assholes in the face.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
D-Putrefaction California primary delusional
Liberal group wades into primary fights early, endorses challengers in four GOP-held districts
305,000 / 33 million = .009242424 another dot zed zed nine two four uh huh. Donors.
Forgot die-in-a-fire mortis.
Some Sacramento Values they want to send to D.C.: High housing prices are forcing hundreds of Sacramento State students into homelessness
Look at the photo of that poor woman, look in her basket. SNAP is another hidden health disaster, nice profit center for the shitty grocery industry, tax right-offs galore AND keep wages at starvation level.
omfg good luck
Surprise snow last night
Glad I got the row covers on the lettuce and greens...
Just an unexpected dusting. Temps to hit upper 30's today so it won't last long.
As to the tax scam, David Cay has it right,
https://www.dcreport.org/2017/12/02/a-tax-law-for-the-forbes-400/
and so does Bill Black, economist and white collar criminologist. (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:20632:GOP-Tax-Bill%3A-The-Great-American...
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:20652:Children%27s-Health-Insurance-Prog...
The corporate coup is complete and the police have been militarized to enforce the system. So I'm to the point where I say forget government. Build community wherever and however you can...we will have to help each other as the empire collapses. I think John
Prine offers some wisdom here:
The Spanish Pipedream (or blow up your tv)
She was a level-headed dancer on the road to alcohol
And I was just a soldier on my way to Montreal
Well she pressed her chest against me
About the time the juke box broke
Yeah, she gave me a peck on the back of the neck
And these are the words she spoke
Chorus:
Blow up your T.V. throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try an find Jesus on your own
Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naive
For I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve
Well, she danced around the bar room and she did the hoochy-coo
Yeah she sang her song all night long, tellin' me what to do
Repeat chorus:
Well, I was young and hungry and about to leave that place
When just as I was leavin', well she looked me in the face
I said "You must know the answer."
"She said, "No but I'll give it a try."
And to this very day we've been livin' our way
And here is the reason why
We blew up our T.V. threw away our paper
Went to the country, built us a home
Had a lot of children, fed 'em on peaches
They all found Jesus on their own
Hope you all have a good day....stay warm....seek peace.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning, Tim. Happy funkin' Friday all.
Temps in the mid thirties here. Lookout has a good answer there, grow and make as much as one can, build community and be at least part way outside of the system. Deal direct where possible. Opportunities to do so are seriously limited for urbanites & suburbanites, but at least shift to credit unions. I still say we need a multi-front war, try to change it all. Try to find and attack weak points.
Oakland has returned to the negotiating table, strikus interruptus or victory? Dunno, but, keep in mind:
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Bizarre, that video was supposed to be Savio's gears and levers
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Ya, I don't know how people can read
about what our own government is doing and not get funking angry. Every day, I try to recalibrate, many times telling myself I'm not doing this anymore. Then I'll read how they're killing children here, starving children there, taking all the wealth, etc., and what the funk am I supposed to do? Just take it?
There's an article going around the corporate media, started by the Wash Post, about how Trump is listening to a small group of his richest friends to make changes for them in the tax plan. Evidently Trump said this,
"There are very, very few people that aren't benefiting by [the tax package], but there's that tiny little sliver, and we're going to try to take care of even that very small group of people that just through circumstances maybe don't get the full benefit of what we're doing," Trump said Wednesday at the White House."
Now, it could be part of an effort to discredit Trump and the tax plan, but then again, it's very believable all things considered. The message in that is astounding as is this tax plan.
How do you read about that and not want to do something about it? I guess you just have to go numb. Numb Nation.
His followers will buy it. The plundergarchs love it.
The HEResistance, quasi resistance and all the rest will largely see it as lies only due to the extremity and enormity of the bill. They fall into several groups, but they all support the fundamental basis of Reaganism, neoliberalism, & Chicago School "economics" that currently underpins the plundergarchy. Some truly believe it, it is an ideology, and like all ideologues, they are blind to reason. Others are con-artists, plundergarch wannabees and toadies hoping to get fat off of the largess and/or crumbs they get for loyal service.
I go back and forth on whether Bill & Hill are true ideologues or con-artists. Can there be a hybrid, con-artists who nonetheless indulge in a willing suspension of disbelief in order that they might worship at the trough? It doesn't matter, since both are an impediment to progress, equality and human liberties.
There are other followers and supporters to various degrees who sort-of buy in out of lack of anything else. The daily drumbeat of lies numbs them, they have no ideas of their own, and somehow no knowledge of other ideas and ideals.
Who does that leave and how many of them are totally disengaged?
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
plundergarchy
Clever! I am using it!
O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.
Because most people don't read BA
they watch tv and maybe follow a tribal news source on FB. In casual conversations this week most people don't know how this will effect them. I talked to a kid, I say kid because he was in his thirties which to me is a kid, about WI testing government assistance recipients for drugs. He was all for it and said he didn't know why other States didn't do the same thing. When I told him other states did do that and the evidence shows a very low number of people were shown to have tested positive and that all this was was a giveaway to the Companies that do the testing he didn't believe me.
I am oh so proud that the State of WI was able to cough the phlem of Joe McCarthy and Paul Ryan (NOT)!
O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.
Was reading something the other day showing
unreal stats on how many adults can't read and how many can't read above the 5th grade level in this country. I don't remember what they were and don't want to incorrectly guess, but ya, that's a big problem too. Let alone those that can read like those you've described. By design as was discussed the other day.
The 5000 of us left are just going to have to do something about that.
Emojis!
That's how we'll communicate in the future!
O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.
Numb Nation
I picked the wrong
weekmonthyeardecadelifetime to stop sniffing glue ...Anthem for being a member of
the American Working/Middle Class in 2017:
I love the tunes, diary, and commentariat. Rec'd(as always)!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Just a reminder for the PDX folks...
that we're having a meetup on the 16th at the Lucky Lab on Hawthorne at noon.
Stay sane, because the world has gone crazy...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm3-XmN1og]
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.