Open Thread - Wednesday July 22,2015
I have been on the road again for nearly the past week, dealing with some family business out of state and have not had time to really stay up to snuff on all the news lately. For today's Open Thread, I thought I would write about something I read Monday.
Monday morning, I saw a link to an article in the Washington Post and thoughts about it stayed with me during our eight hour drive. To me, it explains so much about the psyche of American Exceptionalism and about this country in general. My husband thinks I read too much into these things, but I am going to throw it out for discussion as part of today's Open Thread.
The article in the Washington Post was written by Dylan Selterman, a lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Maryland. The subject of his article is a challenge he poses to his students in each class since 2008 and it is the based upon the "tragedy of the commons."
Imagine you’re a student and your teacher poses this challenge to the entire class:
You can each earn some extra credit on your term paper. You get to choose whether you want 2 points added to your grade, or 6 points. But there’s a catch: if more than 10% of the class selects 6 points, then no one gets any points. All selections are anonymous, and the course grades are not curved.
I pose this exact challenge to students each semester in my social psychology course at the University of Maryland.
Here is the amazing part about this challenge. In all the classes, beginning in 2008, only one class has ever earned the extra credit points as set forth in his challenge.
In cases like these, there’s a public resource that people can freely use to benefit themselves. In the classroom example it’s points, but in the real world the resource can be food, water, land, electricity, etc. If everyone is mindful about collective consumption and limits their personal use, the group will thrive. But if too many people behave selfishly (trying to maximize their own personal outcomes), then the group eventually suffers and everyone is left with nothing as the public resource is depleted.
With the specter of catastrophic sea level rise due climate change looming in the even more near future than previously thought, we are still choosing the selfish options and ignoring the public good. This country seems to be worse than most in that respect which makes me wonder if our sense of entitlement is due to one of the most destructive ideas ever foisted upon a people, and that is American Exceptionalism.
I know that the tragedy of the commons is nothing new, but I believe it is more important than ever as we hurtle ever faster toward self extinction. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
This is also an Open Thread, so please feel free to post whatever is on your mind.
Comments
I wonder how this will play over the next few days.
Or if it will gain any traction at all.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/tia-oso-protester-who-interrupted-ma...
Probably not much. I don't see it as a big deal
relative to what happened at NN15. As it says, one has nothing to do with the other.
But relative to contradictions and hypocrisy and racism, I still maintain those who vote for the racist
imperialists are thereby racist imperialists themselves. So I wonder how many of these people voted
for Obama and will vote for Clinton.
I think American exceptionalism might be a factor
but maybe it's more complicated within our culture. We're taught to believe in ourselves as individuals
with freedom and liberties others supposedly don't have so we generally tend to believe we're smarter,
braver, and more capable as Americans. I read a long time ago where some studies showed that when asked
75% of the people will say they're above average intelligence.
With these beliefs about oneself and one's collective status as an American, I can see how Americans would
be less inclined to participate in the common good.
But then again, it seems like the more money and status someone has, they're even more unlikely to
participate as such. Kind of like Tom Selleck who stole water for his green lawns. My guess is most Californians
are doing their part, but the more likely scofflaws are those that feel they're entitled because of their money and
status in society.
I am in the car headed "upnorth" typing with my thumb
Just heard on the radio that latest polls show Hillary losing to Rubio, bush and I think Trump. Tahini has a diary/cat fight up at dkos now. If they run Hillary with all her baggage, business as usual and lose to the GOP, I will be so pissed. They will of course blame us and Bernie aka Nader of course.
I'm sick of Hillary, BLM, MoveOn, Democrats, and liberals. They all leave such a bad taste that I don't want to be affiliated with any of them.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Edited comment. Scratch this
I don't want to get into it.
He's using the party to further his goal.
It is a calculated strategic and financial decision. No problem, I don't take offense easily. If we had a socialist party, I'm sure he would affiliate with it instead. Hell in so pissed, I would seriously look at Ventura. I will not vote for any esyablishment status quo Democrat even if I have to gnaw off my voting arm with my teeth. Those assholes have radicalized me to the point that I don't want anything to do with any of them. You could call Obama and the Clintons every name in the book and get no argument from me.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I have trouble processing
the argument that simply because Bernie has used the Democratic party as a vehicle to be able to be on the primary ballots, that he is automatically evil. If being listed as a Democrat makes it easier to get on the ballot, then it is an means to an end. It is very obvious that the party establishment is trying desperately to deep six his campaign, witness Markos Moulitsis.
IMHO, it is the same as calling me evil because I am registered as a Democrat. I personally disavow the establishment, Third Way, corporatists that run the party, but being registered as a Democrat is the vehicle that allows me to chose which Democrat(s) in the primary as I live in a closed primary state.
Does the fact that I am registered as a Democrat mean that I will vote for Hillary in the general should she win the primaries? HELL NO!!!!!!!!! And I am emphatic about that. And I am not of the opinion that not voting accomplishes anything. Each of us has to make our own decisions based upon our own values. So while I understand where Al is coming from, I cannot accept that as the right decision for me.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I've done abit of research admittedly focused on the
negatives of Sanders as written by progressives and socialists. I'm not talking about the criticism coming from
Kos and those like him. They don't criticize Sanders for his views on I/P for instance or his views on the MIC and
foreign policies in general. That's because his views on those issues are too close to theirs and Hillary Clinton's for
them to criticize.
I won't list them now, I did do a diary awhile back with some of the information.
So I would ask, sincerely, if you and other Sanders supporters on here have read those critiques. If you have
and still feel the way you do then that's fine. But if you haven't I would recommend you do so. I didn't do that with
Obama in 2008 or I would not have voted for him and I would have felt the same way about him then as I do with
Sanders now.
My views on Sanders are consistent with my views related to imperialism, antiwar, and geopolitics that I've had
all along and I've come to my conclusion based on researched information.
Have you looked at these?
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/05/sanders-leftwing-economic
http://www.juancole.com/2015/04/president-bernie-sanders.html
I know how important this issue is to you. I don't know if Bernie's policies on Israel and the middle east can satisfy you.
At the risk of sounding just like a Kosbot, Bernie is as good as it gets for me. He' where I want him to be on 90% of the issues. The few where he falls short, well I can't have a pony. I am not making light of you. I am making light of me. You have to vote (or not vote) according to your conscience.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
The problem I see is
who or what are the alternatives? This is exactly why I do not get all the anti-Bernie stuff. I keep asking the question of who and I have yet to see a satisfactory answer. Right now, what Bernie has going for him is that he is not a corporatist candidate. I am so frustrated as a voter and a citizen. Today's hit piece diary at dkos by Eclectablog really pissed me off. It was a hit piece and the HR flame throwers were out in force.
I know one thing from being married. You can't always get everything you want. After coming back on line, I am beginning to think that I was much happier when I was not reading this stuff and just following my own inner compass.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I know a couple times over at the Satan
I've asked if Bernie is so evil and unworthy of my support, who should I back instead.
The most I've gotten in reply is passive aggression. At this point he is the only one worth voting for whose hat is in the ring.
I can see myself going Green in the general depending on when the candidate actually declares, but for now Bernie will do just fine.
They say that there's a broken light for every heart on Broadway
They say that life's a game and then they take the board away
They give you masks and costumes and an outline of the story
And leave you all to improvise their vicious cabaret-- A. Moore
jill stein is an alternative
she ran last cycle as a the candidate of the green party and has announced that she is a candidate for the green party's nomination for 2016.
her web page is here.
one thing that she supports that, in my view makes her more appealing than bernie is this part of her platform:
Just read them. What they indicate to me is what I've
already known and said about Sanders. He's fully on board with the lies. This is from Cole's article.
"Note that Sanders accepts the Washington consensus that Iran is trying to get a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies."
The Mondoweiss article shows how Sanders perpetuates the lies about Israel and ISIS. Zionist Israel is just as
responsible for the spread of ISIS as the U.S., they've been in on the damn thing the whole time. Israel has
supported ISIS.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/09/turkey-israel-directly-supporting...
Sanders is spouting the Zionist line when it comes to ISIS and Israel. He supported the last Israel attack on
Gaza, which is what the video shows. I've posted that video.
Sorry, but the two articles support my contention that Sanders is a Zionist imperialist.
I'm re-registering as
a Dem. to vote for him. I am a dubious, agnostic Bernie voter/supporter. Once bitten twice shy or more accurately chewed up and spit out over and over, not likely to give my consent for more, please. My motivation for once again voting for a Democrat is that I no longer place any hope established electoral politics especially any pol regardless of how 'progressive' they claim to be is that I see a large swath of the population listening to what he's saying. Like my boss at OFA's Oregon headquarters said to me when I quit working for Obama's primary campaign in 2007, remember this is not about Obama this is about the movement of ordinary people who are working and hoping for desperately needed change.
I look at it as solidarity for not a pol or this farce of a democratic system but for empowering people to stand up and be counted. At least people are talking about the underlying issues of economic disparity and our broken anti-democratic system. Who knows where it will lead? I also like the fact that the establishment Democratic machine is having to show it's true colors. Even if Bernie losses I don't think this populist mini 'revolution' is going to just fade away. It's a process and I'm shocked that after Obama and the Democrat's endless betrayals that people are willing to once more listen to any pols message. If he loses and throws his support behind Hillary so be it. I'm going into this eyes wide open. I somehow can't not vote, so I'll vote in the general for Jill Stein. With Hillary as a candidate and some lunatic Republican boogieman as their choice, people are responding to Bernie's populist anti-corporate message maybe Jill will get more then -5% of the vote. One can hope. lol.
I have posted before
That I see Bernie as someone who is giving a leadership face to what Occupy started. It is not so much about Bernie himself as it is about the ideas that he is talking about and what the people really want from our government. So many people who were opposed to Occupy kept asking, where is the leadership and why isn't Occupy involved in the political process? I am not saying that Bernie Sanders is Occupy or any such baloney, but there are parallels and we must seize the opportunity presented here.
First, Occupy is not involved in the political process by fielding candidates, but the Sanders campaign is the closest we will get at this point in our current political system. The bullshit about him pushing Hillary to the left is just that, bullshit. His campaign has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton or the Republicans. His campaign is about us, the people. What his campaign is doing is trying to give a voice to all of those who have not had a voice by raising the issues that are important to the majority of the people and by bucking the political establishment. That is what Occupy was trying to do. Bernie keeps calling for a revolution and by that he is meaning that we the people must continue to push for what rightfully belongs to us in our government, Hopefully, regardless of whether or not Bernie wins, the momentum will continue.
Just my $.02. Your mileage and costs may vary.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I agree much better them my usual hot headed rants.
Thank you so very much Shaz!
I think we need to look at these things from a long range, big picture perspective. I do not believe Bernie is our savior, but I do believe that we can use his campaign as a way of empowering ourselves.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
This is interesting.
"Bernie Sanders will be the first Independent President since George Washington. #FeelTheBern #Vets4Bernie
9:23 PM - 21 Jul 2015"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/22/1404527/-BNR-As-Bernie-Rises-Th...
It's also bullshit. Sanders is running as a Democrat for the Democratic party. And by now everyone knows he's basically
been a democrat anyway, as an indie that votes and caucuses with the Dems.
So why the bullshit?
If you believe he is first an agent
For the party moving Hill to the left, then you would be right. I believe that is second on his agenda and that first on his agenda he's in it to win. If he loses and says "vote for Hill, blah blah, lesser of evils, I will not. I'll stay home or vote for Bambi.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I have a gut's feeling, if all this is going to continue and
this will be the worst racial dirt-throwing campaign it has become already now, that Sanders might not keep his promise to support HRC, if he loses. For some reason I think if he loses, because of all those tactics used by Democrats themselves to destroy his campaign and some of the left not willing to join his campaign, because of him running as a Democrat, he (and I hope some more people) might come up with an "unheard method" of boycott, and if it's not him, hopefully some leading voices will.
I will wait it out. The whole system has to change. So far, he is the only one, who at least consistently talked about a system change. How far he is going to change it, is the question, and how he is going to do it, another and how far he is willing to completely turn around foreign policy positions and support for military engagements overseas is an open question . As long as that is not clear, I am a supporter of his candidacy, but would be in no way a supporter of the Democrats anymore, nor of anybody else.
I was told the other day that all Dem Presidential Candidates
were forced to agree "in writing" that they would support the eventual Dem Party nominee.
Now, I was told by a blogger who quoted another blogger, who supposedly posted this document at yet another blog. I have not had a chance to personally check this out since we're traveling off-and-on.
It would not surprise me, though, considering the rigid top-down control of the national Dem Party. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, from all that I've read, has long been a Clintonite--she's a so-called 'New Dem'.
Hope someone gets a chance to look into this. Seems awful undemocratic to me, if it's true.
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Also
I listened to a Jesse Ventura interview last night. He is supporting Bernie Sanders - not Democrats or Republicans. He's not declaring it, but he laid out an interesting strategy for him ( Ventura) to run for President on the Libertarian ticket if Bernie doesn't get the nomination. He would run on the Libertarian ticket and takes Libertarians and disgruntled independents and Bernie/GOP voters with him. an
As pissed and fed up as people are, it would certainly throw the whole thing wide open.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
How can he support a Democratic candidate for
President without supporting the Democratic party?
Why do you believe they're joined at the hip?
I support not killing black people, and I have zero regard for BLM. I support Warren and Sherrod Nrown, and Jim Webb and the Nelson twins can kiss my ass. I disassociated the two long ago when I became a ticket splitter and split my vote. I have a Republican county exec that I support in his role 110%.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I don't know, seems to me if he's running as a
Dem, then he's a Dem.
Just like when he ran as an Indie, he was an Indie.
Lol - what's a Dem? Nt
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
but the Democrats have no ideology,
they can be anything, so it's not worth getting upset if someone just uses the structure of the party to run for office (because this real undemocratic system forces you to), because if Democrats stand for pretty much nothing, then the independent, who uses the Democratic party structure, can as well be standing for whatever he wants to stand for and that has not to be what supposedly the Democrats have been standing for.
Let's say you go shopping and people tell you to bring your own shopping bag, because it's the "ideology" of the store that you be environmentally conscientious and don't use plastic bags, but they still promote lots of GMO and other junk food sales in their store, you can use "their ideology of bringing your own shopping bag", but still can decide what you buy and put in there.
O wow, stupid attempt to find a comparison. Simply, I think running as "something" in this country, means almost nothing definitive anymore. Turncoat politicians all the way to save their skin, faces and jobs. It's not worth bothering for party affiliation anymore, it seems to me. But I see that as a foreigner with no life's baggage of having been raised in this country or having had parents and ancestors here.
I just wished you could be more united. So sad to watch all of it.
I just watched the video of Sandra Bland getting pulled
over by that cop. Man. I'm a pretty rational person, fairly intelligent (above average??), and fairly
reasonable. But with cops, no, with pigs, I think I'm not.
I hate the fuckers. I've become so pissed at the pigs and what they do that I cannot separate the good ones
from the bad ones. No, it's not that I can't, I won't, I refuse to separate the good ones from the bad ones.
Maybe it's like in a war and relative to the enemy there are no good ones. They're all the enemy.
Doesn't sound rational, but then maybe I don't want to be rational. I don't want to give them any credit for
anything, they're all part of a system that is racist and fascist.
I can't be rational anymore with the pigs. The way they treat other human beings has got to stop.
Sorry for the duplication
I'm losing connectivity and have to remember not to double click done
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I too have a lot of anger at the cops
I have three good "white" grandsons that got entangled with the system over stupid shit. To keep their records clean and protect their futures, cost me a bundle in lawyer fees. In each instance, their rights were violated. One was manhandled, cuffed, thrown to the ground and left there're for 30 minutes while the cop searched him and went thru his car. Cop was pissed because the passenger ran, and he couldn't catch him. My grandson stayed in his car and waited for the cop to return. . He was in a park at dusk. That was his crime. This is in the lily white and affluent suburbs of Detroit. While police abuse is absolutely and disproportionately a black issue, they are not the only ones. The school to prison pipeline is active in all schools. Young people are the easiest prey.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
In most cases
I'd rather be at the mercy of criminals than at the mercy of cops.
I lived in Hollywood, LA
in the 80's in the period where the LA cops were nothing but racist pigs. I was going to art school at Otis Parsons which was right down the street from the notorious Ramparts Division. We lived in a courtyard apt. above Hollywood Blvd near the hills. I watched the LA cops beat an older black man on the sidewalks in broad daylight, they harassed and bullied the people on the street and the local residents . I got to a point where if I saw a beat cop walking I would cross the street and keep my head down. I missed a court date where I was suppose to testify about a unarmed petty thief that had been trying to break into cars. I was at home and getting ready to go to school and he thought nobody was home and was trying to prying the screen off our bedroom window. I went to the front room window and jumped out and ran across the courtyard and used a neighbors phone and called the cops.
Big mistake. They caught him a block or so away taking a briefcase out of an unlocked car. He was hard to miss was he was wearing a bright purple hat and a fringed leather jacket. Later that week I got one of my first art jobs doing storyboards for a tennis shoe ad. While I was at the beach working they mailed me a subpoena. By the time I got back the date had passed and that night two detectives showed up and hauled me off to the Hollywood police station. The captain looked me over on his way out the door with his gold clubs and said 'well little miss liberal your precious ACLU won't help you a bit in here'. They were really furious that a white woman had not showed up to put the 'n-word' black burglar where he belonged they wanted to teach me a lesson. I spent 3 days in Sybil Brand the LA women's jail. I was charged with contempt of court a felony.
My fellow inmates were 80% African American or Latino women who should not have been there as they were not criminals. When they asked me why I was there and heard my story everyone agreed that you never call the cops, you use your feet if at all possible. The burglar named Scarecrow and I were finally brought to court and placed in a room until the case came up. He was actually a nice guy. When they brought me in in shackles his eyes got huge and he said 'wow that's really cold'. He apologized for scaring me and said I had scared him as he thought no one was home. I suggested he lose the purple hat.
They let me go and dropped the charges but I spent another day in jail as I had unpaid parking tickets. Even after Eric paid the fines they still kept me for a few hours. So anyway calling the cops is nothing I will ever do again. They are thugs. The women 'criminals' I met in Sybil Brand were not at all scary just poor black or brown and in the wrong place. Eric and I gave a couple of the women who were released with me a ride back to Hollywood. Interestingly the only other white women I met were being held for conspiracy. They were political activists, also felon's, who belonged to a Free Leonard Peltier group. They had been there for three years. Basically they were political prisoners that had been disappeared into system.
Wesley Clark doubles down on internment camps
Who says Republicans have all the crazy?
WooHoo! At least Clark won't discriminate. Everyone is suspected.
Anti-Iran Deal AIPAC Spin-off Relies on Ex-Terrorist Group
More irony
Texans and muslims
Honest, it's not racism
It's hard to distinguish racism from ignorance.
racism is rooted in ignorance IMO (n/t)
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
imo, not really, racism is an emotion that can derail
any person's character, morals and ethical behaviors or attitudes. I think it's born out of the original sense that people all want to be very, very equal and don't like it if anyone else has something they can't have, even if it's simply "physical" attributes that are inate or any other privileges or gifts". Basic motivator for racist feelings are envy, greed, powerlessness, fear of losing something to someone else, because that someone else has attributes you yourself can't have. Anything that distinguish yourself to others can be the originator of racial-based feelings.
Watch little toddlers playing, they all come with a sense of "justice" to be treated equally vis a vis the next kid (toddler) and complain loudly and furiously if they think something is not fair. That's the first emotion they come with. Later on they learn the trick to blame the unfair treatment they perceive to have endured on to attributes the "other" has and they don't. Profiling on the base of "something inate or adopted (like religion) starts, enhanced by the environment they grow up in and in which they are immersed.
You can intellectually not be a racist, but that doesn't get on to the emotional level and that's were most racial feelings are located. Well, just my two cents. I have no clue either, but that's how I try to explain to myself what is happening.
Drip, drip, drip goes the progress.
http://www.9and10news.com/story/29607210/apnewsbreak-university-of-calif...
Horses ass
http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1404615
Not enough internet juju to open and read it, but the title sucks. Another big cheerleader of what happened at NN. Did anyone see OPOL's post? Yep nothing else matters. Who cares about human extinction or the U.S. Turning into Sudan. Maybe I'll join a gardening blog.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
gardening blog?
If you find a good one, let me know too!
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
crocus99percent?
Awesome!
You get a big thumbs up for that one.
It made me laugh out loud. 
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Love it. Very clever - n.t
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Good one CW
LOL
Thanks for the open thread GG. All these good posts and links will keep me occupied for the afternoon.
lol, how about nuts99percent, I like all kinds of nuts
and want to grow them, macademia, pecan, walnut, almonds, hazelnuts ... all things nutty.
I used to do the Saturday Morning Gardening
Blog on dkos but I'm too much of a grudge holder to be all friendly on Saturday morning with some of the gardeners like Cristen and co. Anybody who finds a good on that's features environmental gardening and is not full of nasty bot's let me know. I still check in and I do like Frankeniod as she's a knowledgeable great gardener with a good sense of humor. Maybe I've just had it with dkos other then going over and taking pot shots or reading and supporting diaries by writers I like. I feel no community there anymore. I'll look around for a good gardening blog surely there are some out there.
The nasty seeps in everywhere
I was online friends with someone who complained in our email list that her diaries were not getting enough readership. She was inviting some important people to write for the group and their diaries were getting very little attention. Finally I blurted out that what drives the site is homage to Obama. I have not heard from her since, it was the end, I had crossed the line. But I still maintain it's the truth.
Some of the gardeners on SMG are environmentalists but few objected to the use of Roundup. One poster wrote "DKos has really jumped the shark, advocating the use of Roundup on a gardening blog."
A green gardening blog would be great. Why don't you start one?
To thine own self be true.
Damn I should right here
I'm not good at putting myself out there but i know my stuff gardening wise. Have to say I'm not scientific in the modern definition but my life long knowledge about is based on science that gets overlooked like botany, balance, chemistry, elements like dirt, composting and worms and all that jazz. I'm really alarmed as all my worms and I had a lot of them, are gone daddy gone.this dust bowl year. Easy to give up in these days of climate havoc but I just don't think I will. Every small plot helps and we all need healthy good food and dirt. Actually we gardeners may have to learn a whole new way to survive and grow.
Please do...
I really wish
you would post a weekly gardening thread. I want to learn more.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
It was a hit piece
That was obvious from the title alone. I just read it and all the comments and I am about ready to leave the internets for a while. The flying Deo HR force was out in full strength too.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
lol gg
I am upnorth and reattached to the internet - praise wifi. I went over and clicked on it, scanned it, saw DEO and crew, and immediately left. He's out of Michigan. I belong to his blog and follow him on Facebook - at least I use to. I am now unsubscribed, unliked, blocked, and gag me with a spoon.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
The gardening blog advocated the use of Roundup
yep, I stopped going there after that.
To thine own self be true.
That was exploiting an incident to get
traffic for his blog and his photographer wife, that's a pattern with him.
To thine own self be true.
FWIW, Obama called for a 'Grand Bargain' yesterday
at the VFW's Annual Convention. He even had the gall to ask the Veterans in attendance to help get it through.
As a consequence, I'm very worried that, over the next several months, the Dem Establishment Politicians/Dem Party shills will use various tactics to distract everyone (Base/Activists) while they eviscerate the social safety net.
(To include the Dem Party primary election--we need to remain vigilant.)
So, please, if you find any pertinent articles on 'lifting sequestration,' I'd be grateful if you'd point me in its direction.
I know that it is probably useless, but I can't imagine not trying to fight off the last real opportunity that PBO has to 'burnish his legacy.' (in his eyes, that is)
Sigh . . .
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
One last big payoff to Wall Street before he goes. n.t
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Hopefully not, DK. I hope that we bloggers can raise a ruckus
about this, and put a stop to it. (At least, in regard to trading-off social insurance programs, for discretionary spending.)
I'm going to try to spread the word a little at DKos (probably EB). Please, you Guys, try to do the same.
All I have right now is his speech to the VFW. I'm hoping to get something that is more direct in language, so that I can screenshot it, and spread it around (the blogosphere).
Have a good one (at the lake)!
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
heh, i looked at the transcript...
of obama's vfw speech - i love how he rails about the sequestration process, calling it "reckless" and "mindless," but failing to mention that he is the guy responsible for creating sequestration!
too bad that he doesn't explicitly state what sort of bargain he's aiming for and what the trade-offs will be. (as if we don't know)
That's exactly right, Joe--thanks for posting the excerpt. And
here's another 'jewel,' where he implores the veterans to help him eviscerate their Social Security and Medicare benefits.
It's bad enough to attempt to slash our social insurance programs, but to actually elicit help from some of those folks who will suffer because of it, is beyond appalling!
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
"increase the defense budget"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gawd. I can't stand it.
This is why Bernie Sanders can't do what he's indicating he can do, not unless he comes out against
U.S. imperialism. The national debt at 20 trillion is just around the corner also. Austerity time for
Americans.
Al...
your constant railing against Bernie Sanders has lead me to the conclusion that you are a clandestine Hillary operative, here to subvert everyone into her camp. There can be no other explanation.
I suppose it would wouldn't it.
I did quit writing diaries because of that. I guess my instincts were correct, I need to wait until
after the primary. Unfortunately, that's a long time, which is kind of the point. The railing against Sanders
is simply an extension of the railing against the system and the ruling class.
Just joking dude...
rail on, that's what this place is about.
JtC was the trouble maker yesterday n.t
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
None of the above
I am with you Al. They are all problematic.
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 -
"the security of the United States"
If he really cared, he would't have sold out the arctic to Royal Dutch Shell today. The arctic is the nursery of the planet and oil spills (and there will be spills) in that nursery will hurt the USA beyond measure.
To thine own self be true.
yes, climate change is the single greatest threat
to the security of the United States and the world. It is so great that we purposely fail to see it.
In the meantime, if we want to rid ourselves of a terrorist threat, we should immediately get ourselves out of the Middle East. Bombing and murdering people in the name of peace is the most hypocritical thing in the world. Everyone in the world knows this, except for Americans.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Agreed
In tandem with potable water, climate change will be a bigger source of conflict than oil has been. People will starve. People will be massacred. Other people will be wasteful and greedy. The end.
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 -
What ever bargin
the WH is touting it's going to be bad news. Guns and butter? Yeah right. Isn't this about the Repugs throwing in a kill the infrastructure spending obstruction in the obscene military budget? The double speak is thick in these three paragraphs. This is a dozzie 'our armed forces are drawing down after two major wars' Yeah right. 'These mindless cuts' says the man who convened the cat food commission and every time he talks 'reform' you know we the people are getting screwed. Eat your peas and if you can't afford them buy catfood.
I think his big payoff is the TPP
and all the other T's as in trade he's fast tracked and pushed through . What a set up for all the horrific multinationals, transnationals or what ever you call these vampire squids. It makes us like the people of Greece or anywhere the we have to deal with the "great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money "
Sadly,
I had to recommend this because it is the truth.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Right Sector calls for impeachment of Kiev government
When you play with fire...
Speaking for Mr M and myself, Al, I believe that Party ID
can somewhat influence one's perceptions of the same events, material, etc.
We were life-long 'Yellow Dog Democrats' until Governor Dean was scr*wed over by the Dem Party Establishment/Corporatist Media. And I'd be a liar if I said that I think that I view events through the same lens that I did when I was a Dem Party activist.
(We have been Independents since November of 2004--which is also when I joined DKos.)
Today, I verify or double-check most all political writings [of serious import]. At one time, I didn't even consider doing that. I took everything that the DNC said, at face value.
BTW, thanks for the OT, Nancy. Can't imagine how hot Florida must be--we're truly suffering, here!
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Hi Mollie!
I got back to the relative cool of western NC on Monday after being in Florida for nearly one week. The heat in Tallahassee was brutal. Tallahassee is inland and very humid so it is like a sauna there!
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Hey, tell me about it. Lived in Tampa
(Temple Terrace), and even coastal/inland Alabama for a while, decades ago--and I can still feel the heat, LOL!
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Ha!
I grew up in St. Pete. I never remember being hot back then. Actually, I have fond memories of the coastal breezes and driving to the beach to watch the water spouts. And yes, I know the Tampa Bay area very well. Saw JFK speak in Tampa four days before he was assassinated in Dallas. My friends and I skipped school that day
When I visited my mother in the Winter Haven area of central Florida last week, it was still shocking to see that Tallahassee was hotter than even inland central Florida. All I know is that I am very happy to be back here in western NC.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Party ID -> Ideology
Absolutely influences interpretation of events. There was a there was a study released recently that basically concluded, people believe what they want to believe and will selectively view something to reinforce their beliefs.
When reading my comments, remember that I think conservatives are greedy pigs and hypocrites.
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 -
In our case, we 'had to' shed our party affiliation
because of our ideology.
Our beliefs, today, are more closely aligned with those of Socialist and/or Democratic Socialist Parties, than with the beliefs/ideology of the present-day [since the mid-1980's] Democratic Party--technocratic neoliberalism.
"We didn't leave the Party--it left us."
(Which is not to say that I don't share your disdain for conservatives!)
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Bernie - 1991 crime and punishment
Social Security cuts negotiated to get Transporatation
Bill through Senate.
[Per reporter Alexander Bolton, The Hill, XM Radio, The Press Pool]
Ms Boxer is retiring at the end of her term.
What the heck!
[The bill was pulled pending further review.]
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.