“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington
“For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it.” – Patrick Henry
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Half a truth is often a great lie.” – Benjamin Franklin
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln
As I survey what passes for governance in this country today, I yearn for the days past when truth meant something. The supposedly “progressive” politicians who call themselves leaders of this country would not know truth if it dropped from heaven into their laps. The men and women who fought for and founded this Republic were driven by the aspiration for liberty, justice and truth. They fought to get out from under the tyranny of an arrogant, overbearing government and unjust taxation. The Founders of this Republic believed in the truth. Their actions were pure and true. The definition of truth is:
Sincerity in action, character, and utterance
Is there anyone in Washington DC, besides Ron Paul, who is sincere in action, character, and utterance? Truth is no longer practiced in Washington DC. Political agendas are forced upon American citizens through the exercise of lies, deception, half-truths, and fear tactics. These agendas don’t bother to get bogged down in the truth. That would make these agendas impossible to implement. It is much easier to allow corporate lobbyists who have contributed millions to their political campaigns to write the bills, public relations firms to create the lies, and the mainstream media to spread misinformation and lies. The interchangeable political parties pay in excess of $100 million per year to public relations firms. The Pentagon spends $4.7 billion per year and employs 27,000 people just for recruitment, advertising and public relations. The job of public relations firms is not to tell the truth. The truth doesn’t need to be spun and massaged. Only lies, untruths, and deceptions need to be spun.
The definition of lie is as follows:
To make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; To create a false or misleading impression
The country is being buffeted by a violent tempest and driven towards a jagged reef that will rip a fatal fissure in the hull of our ship of state. As our ship flounders in violent seas driven by gale force winds, the weak pathetic excuses for leaders in our country, rather than lighten the load and reversing course, have chosen to increase our speed straight into the teeth of the cyclone.
The U.S. National Debt is $11.8 trillion. Obama’s own projections show the National Debt reaching $21 trillion in 2019. This is before his proposed healthcare plan that Obama insists will not add one penny to the deficit. It also assumes low interest rates for the next ten years. Good luck with that projection. It is laughable what slimy politicians will promise to Americans with a straight face. In February 2009, Obama conducted a brilliant Orwellian named, Summit on Fiscal Responsibility. After ramming a pork filled $787 billion stimulus package down the throats of Americans, which will drive the 2009 budget deficit to $1.8 trillion from $438 billion in 2008, Mr. Obama stood in front of the American people and stated,
"If we confront this crisis without also confronting the deficits that helped cause it, we risk sinking into another crisis down the road. We cannot and will not sustain deficits like these without end. Today I'm pledging to cut the deficit we inherited by half by the end of my first term in office."
Mr. Obama’s idea of fiscal restraint is to increase the annual deficit from $438 billion to $1.8 TRILLION, conduct a fiscal summit promising to “cut” the annual deficit to $600 billion by 2013, and proclaim his own fiscal responsibility. The gall of Obama and his minions is beyond comprehension. He deliberately can make contemptible assertions because he has unwavering confidence in the gullibility and ignorance of the American public. He knows that 70% of Americans don’t know the difference between the Deficit and the National Debt.
Heaven from Hell
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell? – Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Can you tell heaven from hell? Pink Floyd’s lyrics reflect the alienation that engulfs our nation today. Americans have become alienated from their government. The 535 elected officials in Washington DC no longer represent the people. They represent the entrenched special interests. Do you think you can tell the truth from a lie? Both Democrats & Republicans manipulate public opinion and rely on the extremists and fanatical elements of their parties to spout their lying rhetoric. When their lies are revealed, they just deny the facts or change the story. I wish George Orwell were alive to see how his condemnation of the Soviet Union manipulation of language and oppression tactics have been perfected by American politicians.
“The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield.” – George Orwell
Examples of Orwell’s untruths and twisting of facts have been many in the past two decades:
On Sept. 8, 1992 Bill Clinton said, "The only people who will pay more income taxes are the wealthiest 2 percent, those living in households making over $200,000 a year." According to the NYT, Clinton’s budget raised taxes on people making $20,000. Bob Woodward, in his book The Agenda, revealed, "While Clinton continued to defend his middle-class tax cut publicly, he privately expressed the view to his advisers that it was intellectually dishonest." In other words, a lie.
Bill Clinton’s best lie ever was, “But I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false. And I need to go back to work for the American people.” The next morning Hillary Clinton declared, "The great story here for anybody willing to find it, write about it and explain it is this vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for president." Bill had sex with Lewinsky in the White House nine times. It apparently wasn’t a right wing conspiracy.
On the David Brinkley show in 1996, Al Gore stated, "The debt, which was just ballooning out of control under the previous two administrations, has now been cut by 60 percent." According to statistics released in February, 1996 by Clinton's own Office of Management and Budget, the gross federal debt for fiscal year 1992 was $4.002 trillion. By fiscal year 1995 it had "ballooned" to $4.921 trillion -- an increase of 23 percent. Al was never good at math. He was always gazing out the classroom window at the clouds, the trees, and the ozone layer.
“I believe it is appropriate to have an 'over-representation' of the facts on how dangerous it is, as a predicate for opening up the audience." These are the words of Green Guru Al Gore, as his rationale for lying about the threat of global warming.
Hillary Clinton described her trip to Bosnia during the Presidential primaries as, "I remember landing under sniper fire." Videotape of the arrival show her strolling off the plane in a leisurely manner. Her response was an Orwellian masterpiece. "I did misspeak the other day. This has been a very long campaign. Occasionally, I am a human being like everybody else....I have written about it in my book and talked about it on many other occasions and last week, you know, for the first time in 12 or so years I misspoke."
On March 25, 2004 President Bush stated “Had I known that the enemy was going to use airplanes to strike America, to attack us. I would have used very resource, every asset, every power of this government to protect the American people.” Bush received an August 6, 2001 CIA memo entitled “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” which mentioned bin Laden’s desire and capability to strike the US possibly using hijacked airplanes. The CIA warned that bin Laden will launch an attack against the US and/or Israel in the coming weeks that “will be spectacular and designed to inflict mass casualties against US facilities or interests.” The President lied because the truth would have made him look like a fool whose disregard for intelligence led to the deaths of 2,974 Americans. Dick Cheney takes every opportunity to go on TV and proclaim that he kept America safe since 9/11 with his Gestapo like tactics. Not good enough Dick. Three thousand Americans died on your watch Dick. You knew who, what, how and when and you did nothing Dick. You are an incompetent, lying fool.
"This man poses a much graver threat than anybody could have possibly imagined. The Iraqi regime is a threat of unique urgency. . . . It has developed weapons of mass death." President Bush spoke these immortal words in September 2002. When a President uses words like grave, threat and death, you would think we are about to be attacked. These statements were untrue. Only after the fact, did Bush and his neo-con cronies “adjust” the facts to support their attack of a sovereign country. Democracy in the Middle East anyone?
“We had intelligence reporting before the war that there were at least seven of these mobile labs that he had gone out and acquired. We’ve, since the war, found two of them. They’re in our possession today, mobile biological facilities that can be used to produce anthrax or smallpox or whatever else you wanted to use during the course of developing the capacity for an attack.” Dick Cheney will go to his grave lying to the American public. He told Meet the Press in September, 2003 that we had found biological facilities. This was a lie. The CIA’s Duelfer’s Report Iraq concluded that Iraq HAD NO WMD’s and unilaterally destroyed its undeclared chemical weapons stockpile in 1991. There are no credible indications that Baghdad resumed production of chemical munitions thereafter. In spite of exhaustive investigation, ISG found no evidence that Iraq possessed, or was developing Biological warfare agent product systems mounted on road vehicles or railway wagons.”
In February 2003, a few weeks before the Iraq invasion began, then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki told Congress that "Something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers ... would be required" to stabilize postwar Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz rejected this claim, insisting that he was "reasonably certain that they [the Iraqis] will greet us as liberators, and that will help us to keep [troop] requirements down." Rumsfeld shared Wolfowitz's optimism. Rumsfeld said the post-war troop commitment would be less than the number of troops required to win the war. He also said “the idea that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. forces, I think, is far from the mark.” It would have been highly inconvenient to tell the truth right before the invasion. It was much easier to have Shinseki “retire”.
“We are finding terrorists and bringing them to justice. We are gathering information about where the terrorists may be hiding. We are trying to disrupt their plots and plans. Anything we do ... to that end in this effort, any activity we conduct, is within the law. We do not torture." It appears that President Bush’s definition of torture differs from the United Nations convention on torture signed by Ronald Reagan:
For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
Bush and Cheney contend that water-boarding was not torture. Post World War II war crimes tribunals found that Japanese soldiers engaging in water-boarding and the officers who approved it were guilty of war crimes. The ends do not justify the means.
The Bush administration sold its Medicare prescription drug plan to conservatives in Congress as having a cost of $400 billion over ten years, enabling it to narrowly win passage in December 2003. The White House knew the costs were $551 billion - more than 25% higher. The administration threatened to fire Medicare’s top financial analyst (Richard Foster) if he released the information. Two months after the President signed the law, the administration revised its costs estimates to $534 billion. Our fiscally responsible President also failed to mention that his new plan created an $8 TRILLION unfunded liability, larger than the Social Security unfunded liability.
"So I analyzed that and decided I didn't want to be the president during a depression greater than the Great Depression, or the beginning of a depression greater than the Great Depression. I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system." These remarks by George Bush in December 2008 prove that he is either a fool, a coward, or a liar. Take your choice.
"When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as the president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what's in it before I sign it." President Obama made this promise during the campaign. I do not recall having the opportunity to peruse the $787 billion stimulus bill online before Barack put his John Hancock on this pork filled travesty. Hundreds of “crucial projects” were added at 3:00 am the morning it was passed. This is what passes for transparency in Washington DC.
"I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists — and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not run my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president." This is quite an amusing campaign “promise”, considering there are 15,000 lobbyists crawling around Washington DC like cockroaches spending $3.3 billion “not influencing” our honorable members of Congress. The truth is that lobbyists wrote the $787 billion stimulus bill. The voices of the American people were 10 to 1 against the bill.
President Obama issued a 14 page report on January 11, 2009 geared to sell his $787 billion stimulus plan. The report promised to CREATE (not create or save) 3,675,000 jobs in the next two years. He declared that if his package was not passed it would be catastrophe for the country, with 2 million more job losses and double digit unemployment. According to the BLS, there were 11.6 million Americans unemployed in January 2009. At the end of August, there were 14.9 million Americans unemployed. By my math, that is 3.3 million job losses since the stimulus package was rammed down our throats using fear tactics and lies. Of course, Barack the Magnificent has recently stated, "We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs and provided a tax cut to 95% of all working families." He must subscribe to the Joseph Goebbels School of Lying Journal. The bigger the lie, the more likely the masses are to believe it. I’ll be waiting for Obama to post the results on his website. He only needs to create 7 million jobs in the next 16 months.
"I happen to be a proponent of single-payer universal healthcare coverage. That’s what I’d like to see." These were Barack Obama’s words while campaigning for Senate in 2003. At the 2008 Presidential debate, Obama stated: “I never said that we should try to go ahead and get single-payer (healthcare)." I wonder what he believes now.
Obama makes the following declarations regarding his healthcare plan:
- No one will be compelled to buy coverage.
- No new taxes on employer benefits.
- Government can control rising health care costs better than the private sector.
- A public plan won't be a Trojan horse for a single-payer monopoly.
- Patients don't have to fear rationing.
Barack is counting on the American public to be fooled by his weasel word “compelled”. His plan won’t compel individuals. It will compel companies to dump private coverage for their employees, therefore forcing them into the government option. Obama will tax insurance companies, which will pass this along to consumers. Sounds like a middle class tax increase to me. Please provide me one example of Government controlling any cost better than the private sector. The Democrats have openly stated they will use the trigger as a Trojan horse to achieve their single payer goal. You cannot open up healthcare to millions and reduce costs without rationing care.
Lead Role in a Cage
Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war,
For a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
The American people have imperceptibly traded liberty, freedom and self-determination for safety, security, and protection by their government – Like a frog being slowly boiled alive. They want their government to lie to them. It is easier to not face our intractable problems. Politicians that promise more benefits with no sacrifice are elected over and over again. Anyone attempting to get elected on a platform of reduced benefits, shared sacrifice, and truthful revelations about our fiscal situation is DOA. Americans prefer simple wrong solutions to difficult realistic solutions, talking points to real debate, material comfort to getting involved in governance. The ruling elite in Washington, on Wall Street and in the mainstream media encourage this behavior by Americans because it allows them to preserve their power. By choosing comfort over truth, we have exchanged a part in the war for a lead role in a cage. In the end these choices will lead to despair.
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get neither comfort or truth, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” – C.S. Lewis
President Obama’s speech on his healthcare plan last week was a masterful example of Orwellian doublespeak, lies and language manipulation. The American public was buried under a blizzard of lies. Joe Wilson was the only person in the Congressional Chamber with the courage to call a lie a lie. The mainstream media blathered about the institution and respect for the Presidency. Respect is not a right, it must be earned. Based on my analysis, the Presidency deserves no respect. Liars, knaves, and hypocrites do not deserve respect, esteem or reverence. Obama’s words speak for themselves.
“We are the only democracy -- the only advanced democracy on Earth -- the only wealthy nation -- that allows such hardship for millions of its people. There are now more than 30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage.” For the last six months Obama and his faithful socialist soldiers have spouted the mantra that there are 47 million uninsured Americans. Were they lying then or are they lying now?
“Then there's the problem of rising cost. It's why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally -- like our automakers -- are at a huge disadvantage.” The automakers are not at a huge disadvantage internationally because of healthcare costs. They are at a disadvantage internationally because management signed awful union contracts that obligated them to make bigger payments to retirees than to current employees. The union workers had such rich benefits, it bankrupted GM and Chrysler. It would also have helped if they didn’t make crappy cars.
“Finally, our health care system is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers. When health care costs grow at the rate they have, it puts greater pressure on programs like Medicare and Medicaid. If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined. Put simply, our health care problem is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close. Nothing else.” Mr. Obama evidently hasn’t read his own government reports that show Medicare and Social Security already have $107 TRILLION of unfunded liabilities. Does he honestly believe that he will solve our deficit problem with a new government program? Both Medicare and Medicaid were Democrat created social programs passed and signed by LBJ. They are government run programs that are bankrupt and horribly inefficient, wasteful and inept. The unsustainable burden on taxpayers was created and expanded by the Democratic Party. Obama's solution is to create another government run healthcare bureaucracy.
| Social Security & Medicare | ||
| Unfunded Liabilities | ||
| (Trillions of dollars) | ||
|
2008 |
2009 |
|
| Social Security | $15.8 | $17.5 |
| Medicare Part A | $34.7 | $36.7 |
| Medicare Part B | $34.0 | $37.0 |
| Medicare Part D | $17.2 | $15.6 |
| Total | $101.7 | $106.8 |
| Source: 2009 Trustee Report |
“Nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have. But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Now, let me be clear. Let me be clear. It would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance.” More brilliant Orwellian rhetoric. The government option will be priced well under for-profit insurance companies because government doesn't have to make a profit. They just borrow from the Chinese. Employers will start to drop coverage for employees, therefore forcing millions into the public option. Exactly what Obama wants to happen.
“There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms -- the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” Since these people are here illegally, they will not go into any insurance plan since they don't exist as far as the government knows. I guess they won't get sick. When they go to an emergency room, they will be treated. Who will pay? You and I will pay. Therefore, illegal immigrants will be covered.
“And here's what you need to know. First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits -- either now or in the future. I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period.” This quote has the potential to be Obama’s Read My Lips moment. Every bill floated thus far adds trillions to the National Debt. The only way that he could keep this promise would be if he increases taxes on the middle class. But, he can’t do that because he has promised to not increase taxes on the middle class. He is caught like a fly in his own web of lies. I bet he will sign a bill that adds a few billion dimes to the National Debt. He’ll worry about how to lie his way out of that predicament when the time comes. His contempt for the intelligence of the American people is staggering.
President Obama and the Democrats will pass a healthcare bill this year. His presidency depends on it. It doesn’t matter if it is a good bill. Any bill will do. The politicians must do something, just as they have always done. That is why we have an $11.8 TRILLION National Debt.
“A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures.” – Daniel Webster
Swimming in a Fish Bowl
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here. - Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
As we continue to run over the same ground, year after year, we have allowed fear to rule the day. We have chosen to be enslaved by debt in order to live like the rich. Half of the children that enter public high schools either drop out or graduate as functionally illiterate. The government has used fear of foreign bogie-men to convince Americans to give up their liberty. Despite having the largest most powerful military on the face of the earth by a factor of ten, somehow our leaders always seem threatened by some two bit nation. As I swim in this fishbowl called The United States of America, I wish there were some true statesmen among us. The people who pass for leaders today seem so small in stature in comparison to the wise patriots of yesteryear.
“I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.” – H.L. Mencken
“The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.” – Winston Churchill
“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.” – James Madison
The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. The chart below details the usurpation of our liberty that has occurred since 1900. In 1900 government spending as a percentage of GDP was 7%. Today it is approaching 40%. Americans chose to let this happen. We allowed Congress to create the Federal Reserve and institute the Personal Income Tax in 1913. Excluding the spikes during WWI and WWII, the government has methodically commandeered a greater and greater slice of the U.S. economy. Government can only grow through the seizing of taxes from its citizens and the printing of money by the Federal Reserve. You may notice that government spending surged from 10% of GDP to 22% during the 1930’s without bringing the country out of the Great Depression. The current Keynesian attempts to cure our economic disease will also fail. As the government acquires more authority over our lives by snatching the reins of our financial system, our education system, our auto industry, our healthcare system and ultimately every aspect of our lives, we will sink further into despair as government always expands and in the end becomes totalitarian in its methods.
TALK IS CHEAP, LIES ARE EXPENSIVE
As I watched some of the Sunday talk shows this weekend, I had to laugh at the fools who pass for journalists today. The outrage over Joe Wilson calling the President a liar because he was lying shows how trite and shallow these nattering nabobs have become. Four U.S. Presidents have been murdered in office for their views. Let’s have some perspective people. As I watched Sam (worst toupee in history) Donaldson, Cokie Roberts, and David Brooks heap scorn and ridicule on the thousands of concerned middle class Americans marching on the Mall in Washington, while applauding Ben Bernanke, Hank Paulson and Timmy Geithner for saving the world by printing money, I realized that the existing political and financial system will have to be brought down before we have any chance to regain our liberty in this country. The power of the Washington/Wall Street/Media elite is immense. We will not get the truth from these people. We must turn to the past for our wisdom and truth:
“I am sorry to think that you do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare.” - Voltaire
Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations. – Aldous Huxley
“Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.” – Mohandas Gandhi
Only the old guard, still protecting their special interests, will continue to call for civility and compromise. The time for compromise has passed. The time for severe truth is upon us. Those in power never see the inevitable turning of the national mood. A storm is gathering. Those who choose not to prepare will be swept away. It is time for all people of good conscience to stand up and be heard. It is time to be bold. It is time to proclaim the truth. The alternative is to buckle under to the totalitarian propagandists and allow this country to be smothered under the weight of debt and government control. Truth is self evident. Let it shine upon on this country once again.
Join me at www.TheBurningPlatform.com to discuss truth and the future of our country.
118 Comments
MikeinAZ
Hi Jim
Great article, much better music selection than normal. The Government spending as a share of GNP chart is downright frightening along with all of the others!!
We will take our Country back!!!
Michael Gular
Candidate for AZ House
Gularforazhouse.com
JimQ
Gular for President!!!!!
Anonymous
Human nature hasn't changed, it's always been horrible :).
Anonymous
Awesome piece Jim. The truth will set us free (when it goes viral).
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
Socrates
TLaCour
Excellent, Jim, a fine summary of the very recent examples of the hubris and reach of the New World Orderers. They told us we "won" the Cold War, and defeated communism. Ha! We've been on this road since the first Roosevelt took office, and very firmly riding down "the middle" (our new Worship Word) of that road since his cousin began the New Steal.
The American Revolution was not accomplished during a time when the most powerfully heard voices called for moderation and civility. Henry, Paine, Revere and the like were radical, loud! And there were many others, now nameless, who spoke out as well. Yet today, in the television and radio media, I hear no one calling for true Revolution. Savage comes close but never quite there, and the other self-described "conservative" voices, even Beck and Nugent, continue to call for civility and support of the Republicans. "We've got to take our party back!" goes Limbaugh's chant, as if we ever had it. "We need another Reagan!" cries Levin, as if we should believe, because they tell us so, that he actually governed as a Constitutional Conservative instead of merely talking the talk so very well. Just another set of examples you might have used in your post to show the widespread use of doublespeak.
So, I pray for the Rising, and add my little voice. But let's be honest about the prospect of it actually happening. And let's push for the conditions that would spawn some Paine. Corporate media (radio, TV, newspapers) will NOT allow widespread (probably not even minimal) calls for what is needed, so some other way...
The Internet is already monitored, so they know who we are. It will soon be legal for Rockefeller and Obamao to shut it down, selectively close it like Iran did, so I applaud you and others doing the same for using it while we can.
But it may come down to horses again.
Anonymous
There are those who lead, and those who wish to be led.
So it has been since the beginning, a small cadre of clever and ambitious men will rule over those who either are not able or care not of their own fate. So it was at the nation's founding, so shall it be again. And I got the distinct feeling it won't be 'peaceful' either.
JennJohnson
The PC movement has ushered in an era of moral relativism that is destroying the foundation of our country. No longer is there black and white, just some limp, grey sludge in-between. Schools start the indoctrination early on with their emphasis on self-esteem rather than self-discovery. For example, when a child answers a question wrong, they get an A for effort. F shows up nowhere other than for fantastic! All children receive medals in sports even those that came in last place. Individualism and uniqueness is criticized. If you do not fit in a nice, neat little package; then get with the program, get on board, and quit whining.
We are raising a generation of spineless whimps perpetuated by parents who are spineless whimps themselves. Everyone is afraid to speak the truth for fear of offending someone. If your best friend shows up at your house wearing the most hideous outfit and having just packed on 20 pounds, what do you say? “You look absolutely horrible today. What is going on in your life that you would gain weight?” No, you say, “Wow, you look wonderful. Did you lose weight?” And, while that is a superfluous example, it serves to make a point that we walk on egg shells hoping not to offend and not to be labeled as out of touch.
That attitude transfers itself to our economy and our political discourse. Pres Obama wants to have a discussion on health care, yet only his viewpoint is relevant. Barney Frank wants to reform the financial system that he corrupted. Bernanke wants to save the world but is destroying it instead. The list goes on and on.
So I hope that Jim and Jason succeed in their efforts to illuminate the truth and to expose the system for what it has become. But, I also hope that we all speak the truth and get others engaged in the process. Eventually, all of us working together, can make a positive difference!
JennJohnson
I have to admit that I listened to Pink Floyd, Green Day, REM, Rush, etc in high school/college and never in a million years, thought that they would be words with true meaning today - not just some song with a catchy tune that I could listen to and feel like I was rebelling. I knew there was a reason I liked all the wierd shit and not the teeny bopper crap of the 80s and 90s.
Broadlands
President Obama issued a 14 page report on January 11, 2009 geared to sell his $787 billion stimulus plan. The report promised to CREATE (not create or save) 3,675,000 jobs in the next two years. He declared that if his package was not passed it would be catastrophe for the country, with 2 million more job losses and double digit unemployment. According to the BLS, there were 11.6 million Americans unemployed in January 2009. At the end of August, there were 14.9 million Americans unemployed. By my math, that is 3.3 million job losses since the stimulus package was rammed down our throats using fear tactics and lies. Of course, Barack the Magnificent has recently stated, "We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs and provided a tax cut to 95% of all working families." He must subscribe to the Joseph Goebbels School of Lying Journal. The bigger the lie, the more likely the masses are to believe it. I’ll be waiting for Obama to post the results on his website. He only needs to create 7 million jobs in the next 16 months.
"President Obama's economists asserted today that the economic stimulus package he championed had created or saved 'slightly more' than 1 million jobs so far." (Boston Globe, 9/10/09)
Oh really? The website, RECOVERY.gov lists, by state, the number of jobs that the Council of Economic Advisors estimated would be created OR saved over the next two years...starting in February when the Stimulus bill was enacted. These numbers, by state, can be seen at: http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/impact
A total of all of these estimated jobs for the entire nation (not easily obtained) works out to 3,597,000 jobs over two years. Dividing by 24 months one arrives at a figure of 150,000 jobs per month. Multiplying this number by 7 months (since February, 2009) one gets 1,049,125 jobs.... rounded? a million.... "slightly more" than a million. In other words, the Council's estimate was simply that... an estimate, and one made from their earlier estimate by simple arithmetic. The Stimulus plan quarterly reports are not due until October 1st.
jakgaph
Great song one of my all time favs...perfect...waiting for the article which you use this song
You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's Evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright
You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We'd all Love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want Money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright
You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright
Bill B.
This is the best article I have ever read on the problems of our current, and past governments. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making these comments. I will try to get this presentation to as many of my family and friends as I can. Please keep doing this good work and I pray that God will bless your efforts to correct our errors and protect our American way of life, but more importantly to improve it.
Sincerely yours in Christ the King,
Bill B.
Toobie
Face it everyone. We have a Marxist in the white house now. He is supported by a phalanx of Kool Aid drininking democrats, a pandering media, Wall Street maniuplators, crooked unions, and an empowered and entitlement driven underclass who will vote for him, even when he spills the blood of Americans in our very own streets ( which he will surely do sometime during his reign ).
I don't know what do but I know we must fight back with everything we have. Long live America !!!
MikeinAZ
Unfortunately in Arizona, we have seen what havoc having a left winger in office (Napolitano) can do to an economy. Even after signing a budget into law last week, our interim Republican Governor Brewer has announced 15-20% cuts coming next month in all departments. She even called the good folks on our hill who blocked a sales tax increase a "Fringe element" of Government. Since when did looking out for your constituents best interests and trying to reign in government spending no matter how swiftly make you a "Fringe Element"? It wil take years and solid unwavering leadership to pick up the pieces here and we don't have enough of it right now. Unfortunately, we in Arizona are but a small case study for what's to come when China cuts us off.
Mike Gular
GularforAZhouse.com
Gordo
Yes yes yes I hear it all now. Socialism is taking over. Honestly, give me a break. This is socialism only for the rich and well connected. I has not and never will trickle down to the average American. This is total blind faith in capitalism is amazing. Meanwhile you will be asked to bend over for them. If you have not figured it out by now it is unchecked capitalism that got us here. If you cannot see that you will get more of the same. Grow up.
Agent Smith
Why do guys like JimQ only come out of the woodwork when there's a democratic president in office. Where you out of the country for the 8 years during which Bush presided over his own miracle economy? Last time I checked, the 2 wars, prescription drug bill, financial crisis, auto bailout, and so on, happened on the Republican watch. And calling Obama a socialism makes you sound like morons. Don't use terms you don't understand.
Oilwelldoctor
Hi Jim,
great article. I agree with Michael above about the music too. Don't forget "piggies" by the Beatles.
Jeff
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Anonymous
jim,have you looked at CAFR's(certified annual financial reports) for your city,county,state,nation,school board,liqour control board,PA turnpike,etc. Just curious since you are discussing debt and deficits and not mentioning the accounts that contain asset values between 10 and 100 TIMES GREATER than forementioned CORPORATIONS annual shortfall. every single one INCORPORATED. and loaded. take a look at CAFR1.com while listening to some pink floyd sorry to tell you, YOUR RICH! p.s. and it will help you look a little smarter since your writin in public and all
Anonymous
I fear our great republic is in peril. The corrupt, pathetic excuses we call our representatives have not only ignored their constituents wishes but insulted them with their lies.
Obama's strategy of ramming through his radical agenda as quickly as possible without regard for the consequences they hold for our country can only be characterized as a bloodless coup.
There are storm clouds on the horizon, I fear the tree of liberty will soon be watered.
Dave
Agent Smith, If you actually read the article, Jim was also rightfully critical of the neocon Reps. And you are right, ObaMao is not really a socialist, he is more a fascist/corporatist!
Dave
So what can we actually "DO" now, shy of an actual revolt, which will happen some day but unlikely anytime soon, since the whole system is rigged and we normally only ever get to pick the evil of two lessers in this system where Dems vs. Reps exist only for our division, diversion and confusion and their amusement?
Quisp
Its not you, its not me, its the DC consensus, over there, hiding behind that tree.
Dave
One thought is stop doing any credit card or mortgage or any other business with Citi, JP Morgan, Goldman and their ilk since they hold the bulk of the credit card and mortgage accounts in this country. I have transferred all accounts to Schwab who has been a lot better than most in this whole mess. We cancelled our Citi cards and refinanced away from Citi. Other ideas short of illegal or just waiting for them all to get their Karma in this or the next life?
AndreaB
Great article!
Saw this on the Campaign for Liberty site, LOVED IT, and clicked on your link to this site.
I've spent the last few hours reading several of your articles, the comments and replies, etc, and feel quite at home here.
I'm really looking forward to reading and participating.
Pogo
Agent Smith, your comment on "where were you guys/gals during the Bush administration" has become a rallying cry for the Democrats. The answer is in Bush's poll numbers. The "right" wasn't happy with Bush and he left office with one of, if not the lowest approval rating of any president. In addition, the "outrage" over TARP was very measurable last fall. TARP didn't pass because of Republicans, it passed due to the Dems. I don't have any problem noting Bush was a big government guy and got this process started. Obama, though, has already passed a record $3.5T annual budget, stimulus, omnibus, child healthcare, Cap & Trade (House), auto bailout, housing bailout, cash-for-clunkers, supported TARP I and passed TARP II, and is thinking about a cash-for-appliances, stimulus II and more. These bills were passed w/o being read or understood. And Obama takes no responsibility for anything.....I find that disgusting.
Now I have a question for you. Why is it that Dems resort to name-calling rather than counter a point with facts to support their view? Those on the left, who label people as racists, are really undermining the president. Name-calling is for the weak minded that have no intellectual rebuttal. Plus, who is going to vote for a minority in the future if they know any disagreement with policy will lead to being called a racist.
NateF
I agree that politicians spin the truth, but we as people elect them, therfor we are responsible for our own pain. As Jim says in the article above - "The American people have imperceptibly traded liberty, freedom and self-determination for safety, security, and protection by their government".
In the presidential election of 2008, choices like Bob Barr and Ron Paul were available on our ballots. It is our responsibility as citizens to educate ourselves, and put politicians in charge that seek to tell us the truth. Until that happens, we'll continue to have increased government involvement in our lives at the hands of republicrats.
Mad Max2
Technically, anything less than an eternal lake of burning sulfur is not hell. So don't be falsely attributing this global train-wreck to someone you don't know or believe anyways.
Maybe you think if we just had constitutional money, and rule of law, that all would be well, or some other delusional fantasy. Those principles are derived from the same source that isn't allowed in schools or government. The Ron Pauls, Peter Schiffs and Bob Barrs can't do anything without concensus on historical basis of what worked, and it's origin.
Kaboom
Jim,
Terrific article (and soundtrack!). We have obliquely crossed swords previously re Iraq/Afghanistan, and GWB. I am now starting to come around to the conspiracy theorist's side of things..... not Blood for Oil, but rather the innate stupidity of conservatives hoping to impose "democracy" upon a tribal Muslim nation like Iraq, or indeed Afghanistan. Doesn't work, never will. Ever.
Let's face it, if GWB pressed the Big Red Button on 12th September 2001, most of the civilised world would have been supportive. It is a mark of the man, and indeed a window into his prevarication, that he did not push the Big Red Button.
If there was ever a nation crying out for a "push" towards democracy, it would be Iran, where the populace is educated enough to appreciate the difference. Iraq = taking off your sandal and flinging it at the object of your ire. Iran = we want the best possible for our family, without being arrested. Big difference there, but Iran was never on the radar...
GWB. What can I say? Portrayed by the Left and the unenlightened as a blithering idiot, I forcefully argued the "inarticulate as opposed to imbecilic" point - for all of his years of the Presidency, and afterwards. BUT (note the capitalised "but") BUT GWB proved himself to be a total fool towards the end of his brief, when the GFC started biting.
I am going to have to think long and hard about Iraq - the evidence is that the Iraqi people generally are now better off, but obviously not thankful. If that is the case, why bother in the first place, as you so eloquently point out?
Maybe, just maybe, GWB should have pressed that Big Red Button. Would have been a hell of a lot cheaper....
Anyway, thanks for a thought-provoking (at least for me!) article. Where to from here?
LJ
Nice words but now it's time to tango...unfortunately no one will come to the party until there is a lot more pain.
independent1
Yes, you are correct, Ronald Reagan lied, George Bush I lied, Bill Clinton lied, George Bush II lied, Barack Obama lies. They all lie to protect themselves and their party and to win re-election. However, it is still the office of the President of the United States that deserves respect, not the man or woman who holds the office. What I am disturbed about is the lack of civility and disrespect for the office that was exhibited by the SC senator when Obama gave his speech to the Joint Chambers. This is what I object to.
Expat
@Kaboom: Let me get this straight. You applaud Bush for not dropping hydrogen bombs on one of the most undeveloped countries in the world one day after what was in human life terms a negligeable attack on the US. I'm just checking. Because it seems like you think pushing the button is a simple, basic response to terror attacks.
I don't applaud the 9/11 attacks and while three thousand lives are a great tragedy, they amount to nothing when tallied up against the number of dead killed in Afghanistan and Iraq by American bullets, bombs, and mismanagement. Additionally, they don't stack up against the millions tortured and killed by right-wing regimes trained, funded and supported by the US. We need a little perspective. Americans are not better and no worse than any other people.
jmc8888
You should realize 'progressives' don't run Washington. When you write a piece characterizing progressives, at least know what the hell you are talking about.
If they run things you'd have the fed gone and free single payer healthcare
Want to know who would stand up to corporations? Yep, unless you're a Ron Paul republican, you have to be independent or progressive democrat. Progressive democrats are the largest collection of influential people and politicians that DO stand up to the corporations.
DNC is not the Progressive Caucus nor movement.
Obama is DNC, not progressive
He claims to personally have some 'progressive' ideas, but he is not a 'progressive'.
So let's see what a progressive is for
End the fed
single payer healthcare
gay marriage
infrastructure projects
more education funding
cheaper colleges
various social safety nets
tons of other things
basically anything that sounds like what should be done and HASN'T because of the republican revolution and the weaker dems bending over and taking it up the butt for 40 years.
Basically the difference between Ron Paul and progressives is REALITY. I don't mean that in a bad way. But there's two philosophies. We'd be better off going with either, right now we're getting neither. But Ron Paul, as correct as he has pegged many things, cannot convince a sane person that it is better to let people die than the gov't to fix the problem. (and gov't are good at fixing problem when that gov't is run by honest, intelligent people, and given the power and money to do the job) - in that case gov't is the ONLY entity that can do JUST that. But republicans are so used to 'bad governance" simply put because they elect people who 'believe' that gov't should be as small as possible, and can't do anything right. (well if you think that, and you elect people that think that, guess what the hell you are going to get - bad governance). So in a real way, republicans are right, the gov't THEY elect can't do anything, because they don't want to do anything, and have traditions that somehow prevent them from doing anything.
But since the federal reserve started, that entire philosophy is outdated. With the federal reserve act, the only way people can stay ahead of the guillotine that is the british anglo-dutch ventian style monetary system, is for GOV'T to meet the needs of it's people.
Once the fed was enacted America had two roads to go down. With the increasing ruin of their livelihoods, on a continual and multi-generational basis, we had two roads to go down.
One can be characterized as progressive. Meaning they realize REALITY that people get the short end of the stick and use gov't (through our democratic levers i.e. congress) to enact laws to try to mitigate the effects of the Federal Reserve.
Sure it might COST more, in FUNNY money, and will most likely crash the system SOONER than otherwise, but in the meantime you actually PROVIDE for the people of America with certain basic things ever more out of reach because of the Fed. You think home loans were a huge part of the equation 60 years ago? Hell no, people used CASH. I'm 31, my grandfather build houses before the depression for 3500-5000 dollars. That's right, big, huge, brick homes, with full sized yards, basement, etc. At that price, he paid his workers, bought the material and land, and got PROFIT. He didn't have a big business, 3-5 projects at any given time, so he didn't have 'economies of scale' either. But for that little you could do THAT much.
So you have to realize as our dollar becomes worth less, the minimum wage, what people have saved, etc is all worth LESS. So when the federal reserve act happened, it put us on our course of either gov't steps in to help, or people starve.
This is about the time the repubilcans and democrats switched. If you are a democrat now, you would probably be considered a 'republican' in Jefferson's era. So the republicans were once from our perspective, the 'democrats' or the age. But as the oligarchs gained control finally fully consummated in the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, things started switching. Republican's became democrats, and the republicans became something else.
So in a real way the democrats of NOW are the republicans of Jefferson's era. There's still some overlap of course, so both in a sense are. But in much of the spirit (but not entirely) the Democrats are closest political party to Thomas Jefferson.
The republicans of NOW resemble the whig party.
Except for a Ron Paul republican, who does embody something close to Jeffereson's ideals.
Okay so the 2nd road we could take is Ron Paul where he ends the Fed, but until he does, or we do, we shouldn't spend anything. Let Americans suffer, let them live generations under the fed induce devaluation of our money and debt based monetary system. Think about it, if you were to have lived like Ron Paul advocates UNDER THIS SYSTEM, you could have been born in 1913 lived a long life, and died 20 years ago. Thus Paul's position is one where you could spend your whole life living like crap under this system, because, somehow, not spending funny money you want to destroy is bad?
To me it's just not realistic. Thus why many democrats are democrats. It's not democrats aren't against the fed like Ron Paul. Most dems, and progressives are against the fed. It's that until it's gone, SOMEBODY has to make up the gap the MONETARY system places every American. If the system is screwed and you can't get healthcare, then YES, the gov't needs to step in. Now once the fed is gone, we're in completely new territory. But UNTIL then we need to provide what we need to provide.
Ron Paul would say, well if you do nothing the drive to change would be greater. True, but don't underestimate how poorly people will try to live if that's what's afforded to them. Meaning, you could do just that, and nothing would change. In the meantime all the help you or your recent ancestors received wouldn't of been received, and would have lived much poorer lives.
Again, spending funny money that is inherently worthless, and as you can tell is rapidly approaching just that, to meet the needs of REAL people, to save their lives, to feed, clothe them, etc. Well that is something we should do.
Maybe it crashes the system a couple of years earlier, but it's going to crash nonetheless. So how would you like to LIVE until that happens, like crap, or little less crappy. I'll take little less crappy.
Even when 'congress spends' we see that it takes generations for things to come to a head, so Ron Paul's ideology is wrong based on that. He has the problem right - 'the fed', but 'the money' can be spent, and spent, and spent. Take all the money for wars and it vastly exceeds how much social help we've given over the last almost 100 years.
The failure of Ron Paul is that he doesn't explain why his ideas are so important correctly. But that's probably because again he doesn't see the whole picture, because to him, that if we didn't provide things to who needs it, that somehow someone in Washington would ok, we don't need to provide it, but we also don't need to fix it. Thus the money is not spent AND the situation does not change. The result is that the human being directly effected is effected very negatively.
Ron Paul has more of a picture than most other politicians, including Obama, so even if Paul doesn't have the whole picture, he has a significantly important piece of it. But I think he's wrong on some important things.
Gov't can act as a last resort (i.e. progressives wanting minimum wage laws, single-payer health care, etc) - these things would be less likely under a credit system rather than a monetary system. Some would still be needed, but not all of it.
In the end you need to 'provide' what is needed. If we're using this system, Ron Paul's way is asinine. You can't run things the Ron Paul way while the Federal Reserve is around. BUT, if it wasn't around, and we weren't in a process of going from where we are now, to hopefully a non federal reserve world, then yes alot of taxes could be reduced, and over a generation or so the need by the population at large for social safety nets would be drastically reduced. But they would still be needed.
The difference is that maybe only 1/10th that currently receive help will actually NEED it. People should realize that at that point, the costs for some of these measures are negligible, and will remain. That's how it should be phrased. That these programs should continue until such time as they are not needed, if ever. But I can see less people needing help, less taxes needed, etc In time we have the right safety nets, with lower taxes. But the taxes aren't lowered until after the need for them subsides, which should happen along a downward trend the moment the federal reserve is closed and a hamiltonian credit system replaces it.
So I believe Ron Paul is right on with some things, close on others, and pretty asinine on others, but overall an approach that uses a Ron Paul themed end-the-fed is the direction we need to go.
The author of this article needs to realize what he is saying. Where the lines are actually drawn, and what the situation ACTUALLY is. Otherwise he goes out and makes stupid statements that slows down actual progress.
So again go ahead and blame progressives. You are just shooting your own foot. Instead of seeing progressives as your allies in ending the federal reserve. You see them as 'in control'. Well they're not. You can clearly tell by (no single payer, no gay marriage, no end of wars in Iraq and afghanistan, no bailouts, no death panels, etc).
So if you want people to believe what you are saying make sure the finger of suspicion is pointed the right f-ing way.
Now I'm going to go write for a bunch of currently stellar run teams. The California Angels, the Boston Braves, The St. Louis football Cardinals, the Baltimore Colts, Seattle Pilots, Seattle Supersonics, oh and my favorite non-usa football team the London Monarchs. If you can't guess, they're all teams that do not exist - or had their name changed. Writing about 'progressives' leading the agenda like this author would be like a Sports Illustrated writer making a mistake on the teams above.
That's the reality.
Anonymous
Great Article! I loved the well placed historical quotes as well as the esoteric reading of Wish you were Here.
I also liked the focus on truth and the dismissal of moral relativism. I remember in 2003 during the run-up to the Iraq war going through the evidence that the Administration was presenting to justify the attack. It was relatively easy to see that the Administration was blatantly lying to the American public about the WMD’s and connections to 9/11. This was easily verified by people like Hans Blix head of the U.N. inspections during the period after the first war who was on record multiple times testifying to the U.N. that Saddam had ended his weapons programs, destroyed what weapons they had left, and had never tried to reinstate the programs in any fashion. This was verified by the daily inspections to various facilities around the country which took place until they had to pull out days before our bombs arrived.
The fact that the administration was lying us into war (an act of treason), not misreading intelligence data (for the CIA knew the same thing as the U.N. inspectors), but deliberately lying, and that virtually no media outlet was doing any investigative journalism or reporting on it (just swallowing the words of the Administration and regurgitating them to the American people) was very telling to me.
The truth behind the wars in the Middle East was a catalyzing event for me and has lead to a very deep passion for the truth behind the world events going on in our day. Truth is our greatest weapon and I’m very glad people like you are spreading it, for when it spreads to enough of us, we will have the courage to stand up and take back what is rightfully ours.
Anonymous
When Social Security was enacted, our elected officials knew that the Federal Government had no authority to extend itself into the business of insurance. From our own government’s website regarding the history of Social Security:
“When the federal government seeks to expand its influence in new areas it must find some basis in the Constitution to justify its action. Obviously, the Constitution did not specifically mention the operation of a social insurance system as a power granted to the federal government! The Committee on Economic Security (CES) struggled with this and was unsure whether to claim the commerce clause or the broad power to levy taxes and expend funds to "provide for the general welfare," as the basis for the programs in the Act. Ultimately, the CES opted for the taxing power as the basis for the new program, and the Congress agreed…”
http://www.ssa.gov/history/reports/ces/ces6holtzoff.html
I see the new health insurance scheme as solely a new tax, especially on those of us who can least afford it – those who can’t even afford their own insurance now.
Barbarossa
As usual, your assessment of this country's predicament is concise and well documented. Too bad the sheeple don't want to listen and are in denial. Thankfully, the elite who rule this country have given myself and many others more time to concentrate on their removal. And as you stated, "Only the old guard, still protecting their special interests, will continue to call for civility and compromise. The time for compromise has passed. The time for severe truth is upon us. Those in power never see the inevitable turning of the national mood. A storm is gathering. Those who choose not to prepare will be swept away. It is time for all people of good conscience to stand up and be heard. It is time to be bold. It is time to proclaim the truth. The alternative is to buckle under to the totalitarian propagandists and allow this country to be smothered under the weight of debt and government control. Truth is self evident. Let it shine upon on this country once again." I couldn't agree with you more. Watch your back.
Anonymous
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Anonymous
The “Cloward-Piven” Strategy:
The Cloward/Piven Strategy is named after Columbia University sociologists Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven. Their goal is to overthrow capitalism by overwhelming the government bureaucracy with entitlement demands. The created crisis provides the impetus to bring about radical political change.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/02/the_clowardpiven_strategy_of_e.html
anarkst
Systems are set up by the elite, for the elite, and inherently fail. There's not much more to it.
TLaCour
What to do now, short of firing the shot heard 'round the world?
A third party of any consequence is nowhere in the offing, and the lessons learned from the failures of United We Stand and the Libertarian Party remain fresh. Backing the Republicans as a supposed antidote to the Democrats has been a farce for generations. The GOOOH project may generate an alternative someday, but not if it keeps its present course.
I see a single possible course, a Constitutional Convention.
A massive push by the general populace, like the force seen at the Tea Parties and Town Halls but directed at their State Legislatures, could get us a new Constitutional Convention. A hodgepodge of Amendments at the least, and there is yet hope that enough States remain sensible that ratification is not impossible.
If the Amendments or new Constitution come out and die on the ratification vine, or are worse than what we have, I reckon little would have been lost for trying. The failure of such a Convention would merely leave the refreshing the Tree of Liberty as the last option, which it already is.
patriot
the Ghandi quote is right on...when people are ready to THINK, and can get over the self-delusions they have, the truth is the truth. And it really is that simple. Any political or financial system will fail without it. Our systems will be no exception. Our government is simply a reflection of us (most of us). Most people are corrupt to some degree, liars and thieves. Yes, most people. They like to think they are not, but if you are for "universal health care" as an example, then you are a thief. You support using government as a proxy to take someone else's wealth. There is a reason people become slaves, it is because of ignorance and greed. 99% of the human race does not really want freedom. They want comfort, provided by the church, the government or someone else. The last thing they want is to face the world and the truth on their own.
Zara
Jim, this is just a housekeeping comment. I find your blog posts very difficult to read as the text is wider than my screen so I must either scroll horizontally or Cntl+mousewheel to reduce so that it fits my screen, in which case becomes a strain on my old eyes.
Moto
Is there anyone in Washington DC, besides Ron Paul, who is sincere in action, character, and utterance?
Jim Sensenbrenner - WI?
Moto
Joe Wilson should have spoken softly and carried a big stick and used it.
Anonymous
Go, Jim, go!! And keep 'em coming. You are a breath of fresh air.
Macrocompassion
I am presenting below the true answer to solving the current economic crisis. It requires a radical change and this means inevitably that somebody must suffer. However with care that number could be relatively small whilst the good that it would introduce to the vast majority would make up for this sacrifice.
The nature of our government is no longer to try to help the greatest number in the most practical way. Instead it is dedicated to give a privileged few a greater advantage. this is regardless of which party's government is in power. Therefore the means that it uses are not suitable for most of us and in particular for the tax payer whose is being held to ransom and denied his rights to social justice through our present system of robbery that goes by the name of taxation.
However there is something that the privileged few are taking from our unjust society and from which a perfectly suitable and legitimate revenue (I hesitate to use the word tax) can be simply and fairly collected, and at much lower cost than with our present inept attempt to copy Robin Hood. This method is by the collection of the potential opportunities that any land-holder derives from the ownership of his land. Most of the value of the land is due to the amount of infra-structure associated with the population that surrounds it. Thus in a big city the land is very valuable whilst on in a remote desert the value of the land does not make it worthwhile to build or develop. This great value that occurs in cities was created by the huge investment of public money (taken as taxes) and the public at large deserves a return on its investment. But that return comes solely to the land-owners, many of whom prefer to speculate in its value (and the further public investment) rather than in making proper use of it.
So for a just society we need to replace income and purchase tax with the collection of land-potential or rent in the form of a revenue based on the land-value. This is also somewhat inaccurately called LVT land-value taxation.
My message is to TAX TAKINGS NOT MAKINGS.
U.S.A. wake up! This proposal is not new and was first made by Herry George (North-American economist) more than 100 years ago! see: http://www.progress.org or look up the above name on the search engines.
Anonymous
I disagree Jim. Sorry but you are on the fringe.
Anonymous
HOW DO I STOP RECEIVING YOUR EMAILS AT MY YAHOO ACCOUNT? NO UNSUBSCRIBE VISIBLE (DID I SUBSCRIBE?).
REGARDS
JUNKMOGUL (.UK)
Anonymous
Jim,we are still anticipating a reply concerning the CAFR's of your town,county,state and national governments. Or even one of them. Perhaps you have investigated these assets and are still in shock. The most common response is no response at all,the same one you get from Ron Paul,Jim Puplava or Peter Schiff.Armchair warriors one and all.
Anonymous
Before we idolize ANY of our "founding fathers", recall that President George Washington wanted to be addressed as "Your Highness". I won't even touch on the haughty, exclusive opinions of Hamilton, Adams, et al). These were very flawed people (many of whom were slave owners and/or of aristocratic leanings), yet we might consider respecting them for even considering a few democratic concessions, concessions most were reluctant to give in to, and probably only did so to avert the wrath of the "unwashed" lower elements of the merchant classes. We've been dealing with plenty of Man's lowest instincts since the very beginning of this nation. Franklin's respect for the Iroquois and their "constitution" is to me the highest point reached by this collection of mostly ambitious, greedy landowners, recently come from England, and here above all to make their fortunes. hindered as little as possible by English taxation.
bnfox
Nice piece, Jim - that's more like it. As you may have noted, my whole crusade is to get away from this dead and illusory Dems vs Repubs paradigm. As long as people think one party or the other is going to save us then we will just go around on the hamster wheel and continue to get screwed.Of course it probably isn't true but it almost appears my brutal trashing of you prodded you into spreading your scorn across both parties.My vehemence against you is only the same brand brandished by yourself and many of your readers who trashed me and other posters - I hope you realize that.( I should point out that even though you said to me that you were equally harsh on the Bush administration, you even point out in one of your own articles that you didn't write your first piece until fairly recently, so that statement isn't exactly true.) In any case, you may be surprised to know that I have read most of your pieces and enjoyed nearly all of them - all the pieces on Ron Paul, your well documented charts and graphs, the Beverly Hills piece, etc. We are nearly 90% on the same page.I only trashed you and many others who continue to state or imply that partisanship has anything to do with it.As a person who now has a bully pulpit, I think you now have some responsibility to encourage real change and objective information, not further incite and inflame more ignorance and hypocrisy from either the left or the right. You could have written the excellent critique of Obama's health care speech with out adding stuff like 'lying scumbag' and other vitriolic and inflammatory remarks that appeal to the basest and most ignorant of neocon minions. This whole thing should be about challenging all the power elites, not supporting this ridiculous idea that one party or the other will save us.I myself spend equal time embracing or trashing ideas of both parties in a search for the truth. Right now, all the neocons will inevitably trash Alan Grayson just because - ignoring the fact that he took a Republican seat that stood for 34 years, was an attorney for whistleblowers against Haliburton and war profiteering fraud, attacks the Federal Reserve with admirable zeal, and is essentially right that the Conservatives are more concerned about thwarting Obama than achieving ANY kind of health system reform. I am no liberal, but when you are right, you are right. So, anyway - I expect no peace between us after we trashed each other so viciously but you carry on your fight and I will carry mine, both in the same general direction but with our own distinct passions....
bnfox
BTW - this is perhaps the finest thing you have written, Mr Quinn - and one of the finest things I've seen written anywhere.