". . . a republic, if you can keep it."
I thought Michael Moore’s Sicko made a very compelling case for socialized medicine, though it contradicted what I thought I knew about Britain’s health care system.
So, I was very interested to hear the free market perspective on health care from Ron Paul.
Everybody agrees the current system isn’t working. Here’s an LA Times article, which echoes what Sicko demonstrated: Health insurers receive bonuses for dropping sick policyholders.
When do the Christian Coalition and MoveOn agree? When it comes to restoring Net Neutrality.
This post was motivated by another fantastic Bill Moyers show. Here’s what I learned:
– Cable and Phone companies control our access to the internet. It’s a duopoly.
– In 2002, the FCC ruled that net neutrality laws don’t apply to cable-based service.
– In Aug 2005, the FCC replaced net neutrality RULES with PRINCIPLES. Telephone company executives gained the right to charge for access based on content.
– In June 2007, the House refused to reinstate Net Neutrality.
– Cable/Phone companies want customers to pay for faster access. This sucks, because small users can be forced into slower connections. Legally, they can already decide which websites get fast access. They can censor, as Western Union did when they had a telegraph monopoly, or as the railroad barons did in the shipping industry.
– In 2006-2007, phone companies received tax breaks and price deregulations in exchange for building us a fiber optic network (over 100x faster than copper wire). They took the money and never built it.
– The phone companies didn’t get off their ass until Lafayette Louisiana sold bonds and began building their own network – for price and pride. Cable and Phone companies lobbied like crazy and mired them in lawsuits.
– Cable/Phone companies spend $40 million / year lobbying state capitols, and over $75 million / year on Washington. Some states have passed laws FORBIDDING municipalities from building their own fiber optic networks. Cable/Phone preserve their duopoly with great anti-regulation slogans. (See disinformation technique #4)
– Clinton’s Telecommunications act of 1996 is what allowed massive media conglomeration.
– The National Association of Broadcaster is a corporate lackey that convinced Congress to cut back on supporting local, low-power radio, and lobbied the FCC to get rid of it entirely.
author Eric Klinenberg: “I think what Congress and the FCC understand all too well at this point is that the more open and public and democratic a hearing this issue gets, the less support there is for media consolidation. And so the danger is that Congress and the FCC will rush legislation through before anyone has a chance to really participate. I look for the FCC to be rushing to get legislation passed without a democratic process. I’m very concerned about that. It happened in 2003. There’s every sign that it’s about to happen again. . . . In 2003, the FCC said it would do these kinds of hearings. They started. They then aborted the hearings once it became clear that the message, no more consolidation, was not what the then chairman Michael Powell wanted to hear. And then the commission ignored the public input altogether when it came time to crafting legislation. They got reprimanded by the courts. The order got remanded. It’s now back in play. And the question now is whether these kinds of hearings are democracy for show or whether they’re democracy for real. . . . sadly it looks like the FCC has been working in the interest of the small number of companies its charged with regulating.”
I just watched The Clinton Chronicles. It’s full of newspaper headlines, names, dates, and stuff you can look up.
Here is a partial list of dead investigators, bodyguards, lovers, journalists, donors, partners, and associates of the Clintons:
Charles Ruff, Tony Moser, James McDougal, John Millis, Ron Miller, Sandy Hume, Daniel Dutko, Mary Mahoney, Vincent Foster, Admiral Jeremy Boorda, William Colby, Maj Gen William Robertson, Col William Densberger, Col Robert Kelly, Spc Gary Rhodes, Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Conway LeBleu, Todd McKeehan, Alan G. Whicher, Cpl Eric Fox, Ssg Brian Haney, Sgt Tim Sabel, Maj William Barkley, Cpt Scott Reynolds, Aldo Franscoia, Cpt Kevin Earnest, Cpt Kimberly Wielhouwer, 2lt Benjamin Hall, Ssg Michael Smith Jr., Sr. Airman Rick Merritt, Ssg Michael York, Sr. Airman Billy Ogston, Airman Thomas Stevens, Victor Raiser II, Montgomery Raiser, Paul Tully, Ed Willey, Hershell Friday, Duane Garrett, Daniel Dutko, Luther Parks, James Bunch, John Wilson, Bill Shelton, Kathy Furguson, Gandy Baugh, Dr. Ronald Rogers, Stanley Huggins, Florence Martin, Calvin Walraven, Neil Moody, Johnny Franklin Lawhon Jr., Col James Sabow, Eric Butera, Maynard Webb, Caetano Carani, Terrance Yeakey, Suzanne Coleman, Paula Grober, Judy Gibbs, Paul Wilcher, Jon Parnell Walker, Ron Brown, Barbara Wise, Charles Meissner, Kevin Ives, Don Henry, Keith Coney, Keith McKaskle, Gregory Collins, Paul Olson, Jeff Rhodes, James Milam, Richard Winters, Jordan Kettleson, Barry Seal, Steve Dickson, Stanley Heard, Carlos Ghigliotti, Don Adams, Jim Wilhite, Theodore Williams Jr., Larry Guerrin, Alan Standorf, Dennis Eisman, Danny Casalaro, Ian Spiro, Charles Wilbourne Miller, Gordon Matteson
Here is a more detailed list. Many died by gunshot or plane crash. Many were ruled suicides.
Wow. Ron Paul schools Bernanke. (again)
Plaintiffs maintain that current election practices, including the widespread use of computerized voting machines, are unconstitutional because they are ripe for fraud and error and effectively hide the physical vote counting process from the public, effectively denying citizens their legally protected Right to cast an effective vote. The lawsuit seeks an Order from the Court prohibiting the use of all voting machines and to force election officials to instead use paper ballots and to count and total all votes by hand, always in full view of the public. (More)
We should export democracy by setting the best example of it.
Facebook’s Privacy Policy: “[Facebook] may use information about you that we collect from other sources, including but not limited to newspapers . . . blogs, instant messaging services, Facebook Platform developers and other users of Facebook.”
More people reading, trusting blogs, despite what Karl Rove says about them.
Journalist A.J. Liebling said “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” Thanks to the the internet, I do.
Hear me roar!
Daily newspaper circulation dips.
Statistics for top 25 American Daily & Sunday papers (almost all down).
This fascinating piece discusses the tension between our government and Central Banks in every chapter of our history. Worth studying.
“By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens…There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose.” (John Maynard Keynes)
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies … If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826)
“Controlling our currency, receiving our public moneys, and holding thousands of our citizens in dependence… would be more formidable and dangerous than a military power of the enemy.” (President Andrew Jackson – July 10, 1832)
“Whoever controls the volume of money in our country is absolute master of all industry and commerce…and when you realize that the entire system is very easily controlled, one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate.” (President James A. Garfield, 1881, two weeks before his assassination)
On June 4, 1963, John F. Kennedy signed a virtually unknown Presidential decree, Executive Order 11110, a mere four months before his assassination on November 22, 1963. This decree returned to the U.S. Federal government the Constitutional right to create and “to issue silver certificates against any silver bullion, silver, or standard silver dollars in the Treasury.”
(updated)
Peace
–30 Senators warn Bush he has no authority. Can it be the Congress has grown a little stub of a backbone? Sen. Hagel also sent a separate letter to the president.
–EFPs are not exclusive Iranian! The administration knew and (surprise, surprise) made dramatic accusations anyway.
-IAEA cheif, El Baradei, says Iran would take 3-8 years to make a bomb.
–ElBaradei: Military Strike On Iran ‘Would Lead Absolutely To Disaster’
-FLASHBACK: US encourages Iranian nuclear program.
-Former national security advisor Brzezinski compares current bluster to Iraq lies.
-Iraqi political researcher says Iran “has played a pivotal role” in Shiite peace deal.
–Why the recent sanctions will fail.
–Putin says no evidence of Iran bomb plan.
–Putin warns against more Iran sanctions.
–Putin warns against attack.
–Defense Secretary Gates says Iran planning only routine.
-More signs of pentagon resistance to Iran invasion.
-Fantastic AlterNet article about the military’s resistance to striking Iran. It quotes the UK Telegraph in saying that Gates is waging “a subtle campaign to undermine the Cheney camp” and that he is “encouraging the Army’s senior officers to speak frankly about the overstretch of forces, and the difficulty of fighting another war.” Shipman reports Gates has “forged an alliance with Mike McConnell, the national director of intelligence, and Michael Hayden, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, to ensure that Mr. Cheney’s office is not the dominant conduit of information and planning on Iran to Mr. Bush.”
–China opposes sanctions against Iran.
-I publish letter to editor. (They slammed it with a ridiculous title.)
For Voters: Republican debate highlights.
WAR! WAR! WAR!
–White House has “no doubt” Iran seeks nukes. (Oh really?)
–US brushes aside UN statement about no proof of weapons program.
–Fox’s Brian Kilmeade openly advocates US support terrorism inside Iran.
–Poll says majority of Americans want to bomb Iran. I don’t believe this. My skyrocketing distrust of our government and media leads me to think this and other polls are manipulated to create a false reality, though I believe public opinion has shifted since Cheney ordered our “free” press to increase the war propaganda.
–Cheney remains usual self.
–Israeli PM and foreign minister push to discredit UN, IAEA, ElBaradei.
-Joint Chiefs head, Admiral Mullen, says we can do it.
–U.S. Airforce makes logistical preparations.
–UK deploys carrier to gulf.
–Rice: “Iran an Obstacle to U.S. goals”.
–British SAS soldiers enter Iran. (begging for an excuse)
–Christian Zionists attempt to bribe Iranian Jews into leaving.
–New sanctions threat from six world powers.
–Fox “news” pushes for war, the traitors.
–U.S. developing 30,000 lb bomb.
–Guliani team members advocate bombing Iran as soon as possible.
-Republican candidates rattle sabers before Republican Jewish Coalition.
–Some idiot on CNN says war has already begun.
-For my left-leaning friends: Clinton, Edwards, and Obama are all beating the war drum. (psst, vote Ron Paul!)
–Hilary talks of military strike.
–FEAR MONGERING and distortions continue on a massive scale.
–Media continues to censor anti-war voices, and ignore the Americans who’ve taken to the streets.
SEE ALSO:
Be afraid. . . be very, very, super-duper afraid of the menacing Iranian devil-monsters. (comedy)
As pertinent today as ever. His comments about what the press could and ought to be break my heart for how far we’ve sunk. They killed him.
Excellent discussion with PBS’s Bill Moyers, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and Dr. Timothy P. Weber about Christian Zionism, Israel, Iran, and dispensationalism, which about 1/3 of Evangelicals believe.
Dr. Weber: “this is one group in a long line of similar groups . . . which combined a firm belief in bible prophecy and a particular political agenda that has gained more and more power as the years have gone by.” He explains their belief if the Jews get to the Holy Land and stay there, the Temple of Solomon will be rebuilt (and Dome of the Rock destroyed), the anti-Christ will rise, Armageddon will occur, and Jesus will return. Rabbi Lerner points out their belief that all unconverted Jews will then burn in hell.
Rabbi Lerner: “I think that movement has three different parts. One part is people whose primary agenda is conservative politics in America and who are using the issue of Israel as another part of their support of conservative politics. if the US moved away from Israel they would move away from it. The second part are people who are dispensationalists, who believe that getting Israel into a huge battle with the Arab states is going to be good for bringing Jesus back onto our planet. . . . It’s a theological concept. And then there are people who genuinely care about Jews, descent good people, in this movement who unfortunately are being manipulated for a political agent that is very very different, and in my view is not at all in the best interest of the Jewish people or of Israel.”
Dr. Weber: “In previous attempts to understand Bible prophecy Iran does not show up . . . they [dispensationalists] adjust the scenario to fit. Dispensationalists know how to change the subject.”
Rabbi Lerner: “Ahmadinejad is really one of the best allies of the Christian Right and the Jewish Right.”
Max Blumenthal: “CUFI lobbies Congress for an expansion of Israel and a unilateral attack on Iran.”
Rep. DeLay: “[the second coming] is what I live for. I hope it comes tomorrow . . . we have to be connected to Israel to enjoy the second coming.”
Attendee: “I’m looking forward to Armageddon, and I’m looking forward to the cleansing of the Earth.”
Attendee: “When we disappear you better start to worry, because if you haven’t seen the Left Behind series, it’s scary.”
Max Blumenthal: “The one with Kirk Cameron? Growing Pains?”
Attendee: “The one who forces Israel into a peace treat with Arabs is the Anti-Christ.”
Attendee: “Another reason we support Israel is because we have a common enemy, the Muslims.”
Attendee: “We are fighting what is behind the Muslim people, which is Satan.”
Attendee T-shirt: “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Morals are Worse than Animals.”
The Israeli right-winger Max interviewed seemed happy to overlook these beliefs. Perhaps they regard these dispensationalists the same way Stalin regarded his “useful idoits.”
SEE ALSO:
Pat Robertson says agreement with Palestinians risks “wrath of God.” I think his God supports ethnic cleansing.
Blackwater founder thinks he’s doing God’s work. Major connections to Christian fundamentalists.
Jewish American author on his recent book: Overcoming Zionism.
It seems impossible: nuclear reactions at room temperature, electro-chemists succeeding where nuclear physicists have long failed, elements changing — the stuff of alchemy. Yet many scientists can’t ignore it. They keep saying: “excess heat” and “tritium” and “helium” (byproducts of nuclear reactions). Skeptics have come down hard against cold fusion. Who dares to imagine the end of the fossil fuel age? MIT’s chief science journalist resigned over what he deemed a fraudulent rebuttal to cold fusion. Research is rarely funded, but continues. Private companies have formed around the technology.
The possibilities of cold fusion speak to everything that’s best about mankind. It is a rare opportunity to see ourselves as good, beautiful, ingenious and suited to create a better future for all.
Watch the five-part documentary, or skip to part three to be convinced it works.
See also: Patterson Power Cell.
This brief (300-word) letter to the editor appeared in the Daily Iowa, October 16th 2007.
In last week’s Republican presidential debate, all the candidates except for Ron Paul went on ad nauseam about the Islamo-fascist regime bent on destroying all of Western civilization.
This would be quite an accomplishment for a nation whose national GDP is comparable to the state of Alabama’s.
The sentiments are echoed by many prominent figures in the press who have propagated an inexcusable misquotation with frightening efficiency. Ahmadinejad never threatened to “wipe Israel off the map.”
The war cheerleading smacks of the same duplicity that led to the invasion of Iraq. Even the supposedly liberal New York Times subsequently apologized for deliberately suppressing stories that questioned the invasion of Iraq.
The Iranian threat is not nearly as dire as depicted. We have faced a nuclear Soviet Union and a nuclear North Korea. I agree with former CENTCOM commander General Abizaid: we can live with a nuclear Iran. Their regime is not suicidal.
Military action against Iran, no matter how precise and limited, would certainly escalate, erase our modest gains in Iraq and Afghanistan, instantly jeopardize our soldiers overseas, destabilize Pakistan (who already has nukes), and cause terrorism against us to skyrocket.
I doubt the sincerity of those making a hysterical case for war. James Madison warned us “the means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”
If we are supposed to be so scared of terrorists that we start a third war in six years, that we accept concessions already made to our constitutional liberties, it seems like a no-brainer to do something about our completely porous borders.
The fear-mongering is completely hypocritical so long as our borders are ignored. It’s analogous to a child on a playground, sticking out his chin. “Hit me, so I can have my war.”
Enough is enough.
See it in the Daily Iowan. (I didn’t choose their title.)
250-word version published in Fayetteville Observer, Nov 5th, 2007.
