patrick.net

uomo_senza_nome_0 says

When fear becomes collective, when anger becomes collective, it’s extremely dangerous.

Big bad Republicans, who are completely racist and eat poor peoples babies while secretly planning to put negroes back to pick cotton, are out to get you, so better vote for Bernie to save yourself! Quickly, before the Republicans get you, you don't have much time.

FortWayne says

Big bad Republicans, who are completely racist and eat poor peoples babies while secretly planning to put negroes back to pick cotton, are out to get you, so better vote for Bernie to save yourself! Quickly, before the Republicans get you, you don't have much time.

Ah the sarcasm. If only you realize there's truth in it.
A Republican presidential candidate has based his entire candidacy on divisional rhetoric.
Another Republican presidential candidate wants to carpet bomb civilians.
And then there's the myth of the pragmatic progressive.

This video describes clearly the state of electing a president in an empire.

www.mBZLnfKSa_k

uomo_senza_nome_0 says

Ah the sarcasm. If only you realize there's truth in it.

Noam Chumsky is a brilliant man, but all his stuff is theories and ideas.

uomo_senza_nome_0 says

A Republican presidential candidate has based his entire candidacy on divisional rhetoric.

Every single candidate is "divisional". You don't get a party nomination if you don't do that, for there is no "American" party. There are liberals and conservatives, D's and R's, you get the point... The most divisional are Democrats, they call everyone a racist, an anti-woman, Hitler, just about anything.

So the only difference is you picking the side you probably what easier appeals to you, if younger = Democrat, if older = Republican.

Whenever liberals want to drag out an "intellectual" they go pull old Noam out of the woodwork. In the times I get suckered into listening to him, I feel that his voice after about two minutes is like gargling nails. His circumlocutory rants are insane, nattering, endless logorrhea, like he needs his meds doubled or tripled to make him actually get some kind of syllogistic perspective going.

Taking a class from him, aside from the bizarre commentary, must be pure torture.

Ceffer says

In the times I get suckered into listening to him, I feel that his voice after about two minutes is like gargling nails. His circumlocutory rants are insane, nattering, endless logorrhea, like he needs his meds doubled or tripled to make him actually get some kind of syllogistic perspective going.

Taking a class from him, aside from the bizarre commentary, must be pure torture.

Excellent Ad-Hominem. Bravo! Not a single word actually critiquing the message.

FortWayne says

but all his stuff is theories and ideas.

That indicates you did not even listen to what he had to say. Mainstream academic papers, such as this are showing citizens have zero effect on public policy. Chomsky also cites IMF studies that show how subsidies benefit big corporations (corporate welfare).

Even with these practical references, calling what he says as "theories" is not sincere.

FortWayne says

Every single candidate is "divisional". You don't get a party nomination if you don't do that, for there is no "American" party. There are liberals and conservatives, D's and R's, you get the point... The most divisional are Democrats, they call everyone a racist, an anti-woman, Hitler, just about anything.

I think the establishment Democrats are divisive, but not Bernie.
He is pointing out why division is useful in a political sense, but very damaging in a human sense.

It's probably a standard freshman prank at the MIT cafeteria.

"Hey, there's the brilliant Noam Chomsky. He just loves to talk to freshman, why don't you go over there and say hello!"

Snigger, Snigger as they watch the expression on the newbie's faces as Noam launches off on one of his endless schizoaffective tirades.

They have guys like him on the street corners in Berkeley.

FortWayne says

Big bad Republicans, who are completely racist and eat poor peoples babies while secretly planning to put negroes back to pick cotton,

Well, let's go over the Republican record since the Southern Strategy was implemented. Republican were for
- segregation
- the Vietnam War
- shooting Vietnam War protesters (which they actually did at Kent State)
- pollution that causes miscarriages, birth defects, developmental diseases in fetuses and children, methylmercury poisoning
- destroying the middle class with economic policies that allow the owner class to steal vast quantities of wealth from the workers that produce that wealth
- a war on drugs that has killed millions including innocent grandmothers, sleeping children, and babies
- letting criminal police literally get away with murder
- preventing U.S. citizens from legally casting votes as is their right under the 15th Amendment
- gerrymandering districts to a ridiculous extent
- lying under oath to Congress and the American people during questioning about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and NSA domestic spying
- engaging in a political witchhunt against President Clinton derailing mid-East peace talks and ultimately lead to 9/11
- starting an illegal war on false pretenses which killed over a million civilians including children, a body count that is still rising, destroyed America's credibility, prevented us from stopping genocide in other areas, and allowed ISIS to rise to power
- allowing cops to strip search and body cavity at gunpoint search men, women, and children for traffic stops and other alleged minor offenses without them even being charged with a crime
- forcing every man, woman, and child to get a virtual strip search at airports using machines that record images of breasts and genitalia and saving these images, some of which have been circulated around the Internet
- yet at the same time bitching and moaning that a post-op transgender using a woman's bathroom is somehow a perversion and will lead to rape
- allowing the NSA and other agencies to remotely activate mobile phone cameras, steal pictures including nude selfies that adolescent girls take of themselves, and listen in on private phone conversations including sex talk between deployed soldiers and their wives, all without warrant, accountability, or oversight

So now, I don't blame Republicans for making negroes pick cotton in the 21st century; that's what they use illegal immigrants for. But I do blame Republicans for all the above. And feel free to challenge me on any of those issues so I can write a 15-page exposé on it.

Dan8267 says

Well, let's go over the Republican record since the Southern Strategy was implemented.

Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. - freed slaves and made America great.
Theodore Roosevelt was a Republican. - fought against Monopolies and made America great and strong.

Jimmy Carter (D) - increased welfare, increased inflation, failed the nation miserably.
Kennedy and LBJ (D * 2) - started Vietnam war, failed America.

Dan8267 says

So now, I don't blame Republicans for making negroes pick cotton in the 21st century; that's what they use illegal immigrants for. But I do blame Republicans for all the above. And feel free to challenge me on any of those issues so I can write a 15-page exposé on it.

It's the Democrats who keep on trying to bring them here as much as possible and give them government assistance so subsidize their lifestyles. You probably missed that Republicans want these people out, or as usual like a typical liberal put your head in the sand to ignore reality.

uomo_senza_nome_0 says

This video describes clearly the state of electing a president in an empire.

Damn good video.

Have to comment on the part that begins at minute 17.

U.S. Marines have no honor. They illegally attacked a hospital, the doctors and patients in it, because the hospital released honest casualty statistics, something that one expects from a hospital. As long as those marines, and the assholes who gave them the orders, are not tried and punish, this despicable act reflects on ALL marines. There is no honor in the U.S. Marine Corps until there is justice for this atrocity. Period.

FortWayne says

Jimmy Carter (D) - increased welfare, increased inflation, failed the nation miserably.

Carter's economic record is stronger than that of George W. Bush, in the sense of jobs created per capita and other metrics.

The inflation of the 1970s began under Nixon and Ford; Carter appointed Volcker, whose actions brought inflation under control early in Reagan's first term.

Most of the inflation was due to energy supplies. The Brent oilfield in the North Sea solved that problem.

HydroCabron says

Carter's economic record is stronger than that of George W. Bush, in the sense of jobs created per capita and other metrics.

The inflation of the 1970s began under Nixon and Ford; Carter appointed Volcker, whose actions brought inflation under control early in Reagan's first term.

Most of the inflation was due to energy supplies. The Brent oilfield in the North Sea solved that problem.

Carter's inflation was there because he was a tax and spend politician. He did not know how to "WIN" (if you remember those buttons). It took a visionary like Reagan to turn it around. And boy he did. Carter was proposing tax increases on the middle class, so that the government would spend the money. Reagan turned it around by letting us keep more of our money and spend it the way we want to.

FortWayne says

"WIN"

"Whip Inflation Now". We didn't until 1983.

1965 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.9 1.6

Great Society spending starts along with Vietnam, both from the same impulses at home and abroad:

1968 3.6 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.9 4.2 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.2

1970 6.2 6.1 5.8 6.1 6.0 6.0 6.0 5.4 5.7 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.7

1974 9.4 10.0 10.4 10.1 10.7 10.9 11.5 10.9 11.9 12.1 12.2 12.3 11.0

1980 13.9 14.2 14.8 14.7 14.4 14.4 13.1 12.9 12.6 12.8 12.6 12.5 13.5

1981 11.8 11.4 10.5 10.0 9.8 9.6 10.8 10.8 11.0 10.1 9.6 8.9 10.3

1982 8.4 7.6 6.8 6.5 6.7 7.1 6.4 5.9 5.0 5.1 4.6 3.8 6.2

1983 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.9 3.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.3 3.8 3.2

FortWayne says

Reagan turned it around by letting us keep more of our money and spend it the way we want to.

Reagan turned it around by writing a rubber check for 2 trillion dollars, 1980's dollars. The godhead of the republican party was the greatest keynsian of the 20th century. How soon they forget.

FortWayne says

Carter's inflation was there because he was a tax and spend politician. He did not know how to "WIN" (if you remember those buttons). It took a visionary like Reagan to turn it around.

Carters inflation was mostly the collapse of nxon's (hint, republican) wage price controls along with energy prices going up by a factor of 4 in an extremely energy inefficient economy. I don't suppose you've ever heard of nixon's wage price controls. Whip Inflation Now (WIN) was ford (hint republican) not carter. It took a visionary like volcker to turn it around. I'm guessing you honestly don't know volcker was appointed by carter. I'm also guessing that you don't have a clue that government spending went from 24% gdp to 21% gdp under carter's tax and spend then up to 26% gdp under reagan. Don't let facts interfere with your babbling.

There is this really cool tool called google that lets you look shit up before you spout out nonsense and look like a total fool. Check it out sometime.

FortWayne says

Jimmy Carter (D) - increased welfare, increased inflation, failed the nation miserably.

He is the one President who actually spoke the truth on energy crisis.
He wanted to wean US addiction to oil.
He is also spot-on in recognizing US is an oligarchy.

www.hDsPWmioSHg

FortWayne says

It took a visionary like Reagan to turn it around. And boy he did.

Oh yes, boy did he kill the middle class by cutting taxes on the wealthy.

Creating a middle class is always a choice, and by embracing Reaganomics and cutting taxes on the rich, we decided back in 1980 not to have a middle class within a generation or two. George H.W. Bush saw this, and correctly called it “Voodoo Economics.”

Despite what you might read in the Wall Street Journal or see on Fox News, capitalism is not an economic system that produces a middle class. In fact, if left to its own devices, capitalism tends towards vast levels of inequality and monopoly. The natural and most stable state of capitalism actually looks a lot like the Victorian England depicted in Charles Dickens’ novels.

Reality has a well-known liberal bias - Colbert.

bob2356 says

I don't suppose you've ever heard of nixon's wage price controls

Yes, Phases I and II--inflation was already hitting 3% and 4% by 1968 before Nixon was elected--up from the less than 2% in 1965. The controls were a cynical way of trying to reign in inflation to ensure Nixon's re-election, but both phases failed, building up huge inflationary pressures by the end of 1973 which exploded in 1974 when they were removed at the end of '73, hardly accounting for the still virulent inflation through the 70's and early 1980's.

uomo_senza_nome_0 says

capitalism is not an economic system that produces a middle class

It seemed to do so for the better part of the 20th century until the federal government decided to insinuate itself into every molecule of human existence from the mid-60's on. And where are the cars of socialism? I know Sweden has the Volvo, about as exciting as, well, a Volvo. What socialist country could have given us the 1957 Chrysler 300, '64 Riviera, '92 Viper or even the 400 HP Corvette of today? My friend has a photo of his mother in her 1929 Packard Dual-Cowl Pheaton her first husband bought her after they sold out their chain of food stores in Arkansas when he anticipated the Depression. They were flush with cash and the Packard was the car to be seen in during the Depression when as she often said other people were jumping out of windows. How ironic is it that Cubans are still driving the icons of American capitalism 57 years later when American capitalism brought the automobile in 50 years from the horseless carriage in 1905 to a fully fleshed out factory hotrod complete with V-8 and AC by 1955.

FortWayne says

Dan8267 says

Well, let's go over the Republican record since the Southern Strategy was implemented.

Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. - freed slaves and made America great.

Theodore Roosevelt was a Republican. - fought against Monopolies and made America great and strong.

Exactly, you have to go before the Southern Strategy (SS), before the entire population switched parties. The Dixiecrats, the entire American South, changed into Republicans when Nixon adopted the Southern Strategy and the Northerns gained power in the Democratic Party and started a pro-civil-rights platform.

Your ancestors were all in the Democratic Party before then. Yes, your slave-owning, slave-raping, pro-segregation, anti-gay, anti-interracial marriage, conservative ancestors were all Democrats back then. And now you want to take credit for the actions of liberals in the pre-SS Republican Party? Honey, every time you attempt that you admit that liberalism is good and conservatism is evil. The anti-abolition movement, that was liberal. Teddy Roosevelt, a liberal who was strongly for environmental protection and preventing the extinction of species. He started the liberal, green national park system. He was a socialist and an environmentalist!

Neither Lincoln nor Teddy Roosevelt, nor their policies, would be tolerated in today's Republican Party. Neither would Dwight Eisenhower and his policies. Eisenhower warned that the military industrial complex and America's dependency on oil were the two greatest threats to our nation and our democracy. And he was right. Eisenhower taxed the rich at 90%. Eisenhower believed in social safety nets like Social Security and anti-poverty programs. Eisenhower was more socialist than Bernie Sanders!

So thank you for pointing out how great liberalism is regardless of what party is the liberal one, and how god-awful conservatism is regardless of which party is the conservative one.

FortWayne says

It's the Democrats who keep on trying to bring them here as much as possible and give them government assistance so subsidize their lifestyles. You probably missed that Republicans want these people out, or as usual like a typical liberal put your head in the sand to ignore reality.

That's bullshit. Mexicans -- and we're really talking about Mexicans here -- come to the U.S. legally as temp workers for big farm because Republicans insist on farm bills that make this possible. Instead of importing the workers once and turning them into U.S. citizens with permanent residence, in order to keep farm labor cheap by preventing them from having any bargaining power, Republicans make these workers temporary so they have to lose their jobs and homes or become illegal workers who cannot bargain for higher wages or fewer hours. There are 14-year-old boys picking strawberries for 18 hour long days because of Republican policies.

To keep labor cheap, more and more labor must be imported from Mexico. And the laborers must be prevented from becoming citizens or they could vote in local elections to improve their lot in life. So the federal, state, and local government must demonized these people while ensuring that massive numbers or "illegal immigrants" are always available as a cheap labor source.

So yes, this is a problem Republicans made, and they are very happy with the status quo. As a liberal, I say either make these people citizens immediately or stop this slave trade altogether and let produce prices go to $50/lb as the free market demands. Good luck in finding American-born workers picking fruit in the hot sun for less than $50/hr. That's the price even plumbers charge and they work in air conditioned houses.

Boy, you conservatives really don't let the facts get in the way of your fantasies.

FortWayne says

Jimmy Carter (D) - increased welfare, increased inflation, failed the nation miserably.

Disproved by others above, so no need to repeat.

FortWayne says

Kennedy and LBJ (D * 2) - started Vietnam war, failed America.

Yes, the single greatest mistakes of both those presidents was the result of giving into enormous pressure from conservatives. The liberals did not want the war. The left did not want the war. Only conservative "kick some commy ass" small-dick warmongers wanted the war, just like always.

P N Dr Lo R says

It seemed to do so for the better part of the 20th century until the federal government decided to insinuate itself into every molecule of human existence from the mid-60's on. And where are the cars of socialism?

Are you freaking kidding me?
FDR's financial reforms were necessary to regulate the banking system and stop speculation with other people's money.
The largest federal government program at the time of 1930s was the New Deal.
You don't get to rewrite history with your own belief system.

P N Dr Lo R says

I know Sweden has the Volvo, about as exciting as, well, a Volvo.

Got me laid many a times.

Of course, it depends on what you like. I like cruising comfortably and looking sexy. I don't care about drag racing because I'm not 17 years old. That's why I picked this car over the BMW 3 series. Plus, it's a far safer car.

www.hEkC28QI1vc

Dan8267 says

I don't care about drag racing because I'm not 17 years old. That's why I picked this car over the BMW 3 series. Plus, it's a far safer car.

I believe you know the point I was making--the cars I mentioned are super cars that are super expensive, but apparently a significant market exists in our capitalist society that allows them to be produced in significant numbers. If you don't want one of those, then there is a car for, as Alfred P. Sloan of GM stated nearly 100 years ago, every purse and purpose, given to us, again, by the engine of capitalism in quantities far beyond the capabilites of any other economic system--this is a significant feat considering next to your home your car is your most expensive purchse. Capitalism works so well it allowed GM to begin giving away its nearly 50% market share after 1970 by building crappy cars and conceding their market to the Japanese, Germans and later South Koreans who started late in the game, but when they did they started building the best cars in the world, but significantly not North Korea or East Germany, and now GM has a well deserved less than 20% market share and no more Oldses or Pontiacs. By the way, Buick is considered a symbol of high status in Communist China today.

P N Dr Lo R says

1982 8.4 7.6 6.8 6.5 6.7 7.1 6.4 5.9 5.0 5.1 4.6 3.8 6.2

1983 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.9 3.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.3 3.8 3.2

Interesting how the inflation numbers came in line after Reagan finally raised taxes (which he did 11 times), as he grew the federal government.

This was Reagan's panicked reaction to the unemployment rate jumping to 11% as a result of his initial ill-considered tax cuts.

FortWayne says

It's the Democrats who keep on trying to bring them here as much as possible and give them government assistance so subsidize their lifestyles.

This statement is correct. Establishment Democrats are also FOR corporate welfare.
And that is the exact problem that Bernie is highlighting, without the divisiveness.

FortWayne says

You probably missed that Republicans want these people out, or as usual like a typical liberal put your head in the sand to ignore reality.

I think you have your head in the sand expecting Republicans to solve this problem, because they are completely unhinged.

Dan8267 says

Only conservative "kick some commy ass" small-dick warmongers wanted the war, just like always.

Ah, I miss Carlin -- but there's always Youtube.

www.BtSv3x6lh3o

PCGyver says

If he really wanted to be a hero he would have cut spending as well as taxes

To hell with the facts, it was morning in America. LMAO.

PCGyver says

Reagan increased the national debt 130% in his first six years. Far more than Obama has percentage wise. If he really wanted to be a hero he would have cut spending as well as taxes

That's not exactly how it went. You see he fixed tax system by lowering overall taxes. Because when he came into the office a millionnaire could pay less in taxes (as in total amount) than a many earning 80,000. Reagan fixed that crony Democrat driven system of bullshit. Some of it was horse trading, but he got the job done. Can't say the same about many others that followed him. He was a rare great individual. No Bush's or Clintons and much less Obama have done as well, they all failed in comparison.

And btw Comrade, Reagan won the cold war. He took a brilliant position and won it. Obama so far has hightailed out of every situation where he is under pressure.

FortWayne says

That's not exactly how it went. You see he fixed tax system by lowering overall taxes. Because when he came into the office a millionnaire could pay less in taxes (as in total amount) than a many earning 80,000. Reagan fixed that crony Democrat driven system of bullshit

You are seriously on crack. Reagan LOWERED taxes for billionaires and RAISED taxes for lower income families. He called it "broadening" the tax base. Under the Tax reform act of 1986, the top tax rate for individuals was lowered from 50% to 28% while the bottom rate was raised from 11% to 15%. He also lowered cap gains tax rates as well.

Reagan made inequality worse, not better.

Facts on Ronald Reagan:

1. Spent enormous sums on military while cutting social programs for the poor.
2. Reduced taxes on wealthy and doubled both military budget and national debt
3. Deregulated industries and eroded environmental standards (there is something called 'EXTERNALITIES' which require regulation)
4. Deregulated savings and loans institutions which led the start of TOO BIG TO FAIL, by 1995 costs $87 billion for taxpayers
5. Helped Repeal the Fairness Doctrine leading to enormous right-wing brainwashing

i thought the military WAS a social program for the poor.

Ceffer says

i thought the military WAS a social program for the poor.

No, it's a social program for rich fat-cats who run weapons companies like Boeing and Lockheed-Martin. Cannon fodder, er, soldiers, don't get paid shit.

FortWayne says

And btw Comrade, Reagan won the cold war. He took a brilliant position and won it.

Bullshit. Reagan simply presided during the end of the cold war which was winding down years before he was even elected. It's like walking past a slot machine, putting a coin in, and getting lucky that the machine decided that it's time for a payout. That's not skill; it's luck.