Beware The Government "Smokescreen"
A nod to Baz Luhrmann's 1997 spoken-word hit, "Sunscreen"

  Read more here...
 

A War On Evil? The War On Bad? A War On Scary Stuff?
A Nondescript Vague Enemy That Promotes The Threat Of Never Ending War
NewsFocus Op/Ed, by Tim Watts - 112211

What is war?

We all have a pretty good idea. We know that it's a very bad thing for humanity. We've been through enough of them in our lifetime to understand the horror of war, but what actually is the true definition of the concept, of the word itself?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines war as such:

1 a (1) : a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations (2) : a period of such armed conflict (3) : state of war

2 b : a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end
<a class war> <a war against disease>

With this clarification in mind, how do we reconcile the "War On Terror" by such a simple definition? Never in the history of warfare have we had such a vague description for a state of war.

The War On Terror is very unique and new to the American experience. The overall ramifications of this constitutionally heretical concept are huge. Never before have we encountered such a personal threat, unless maybe you were a Japanese-American during World War II.

With all of this in mind, let's first take a quick historical review of what is war and our experience with it. Let us first digress about the state of war and why we fight.

Once again, to reiterate, we've never had such a vague outline for war as we have with that of the War On Terror. Our wars have always been defined. Our enemies have always been identified, until now. ... (Read More)
 

The Media Needs To Be Held Accountable
Silence Over 9/11 Should Warrant 'Accessory' Charges
NewsFocus Op/Ed, by Tim Watts - 110211

It's been ten years now since the attacks of 9/11. The truth movement has made many inroads, most specifically borne out in a 2006 CBS/New York Times poll that showed 81% of Americans feel the U.S. government is hiding the real truth when it comes to 9/11.

• Telling the truth 16%

• Hiding something 53%

• Mostly lying 28%

• Not sure 3%"

With numbers that large, it's quite frustrating for those participating in the 9/11 truth movement to not yet have any arrests or indictments of government officials.

So what is the hold up to reaching the critical mass of awareness?

That's a very simple answer. In two words, "the media." ... (Read More)
 

The Anti-America Movement; Don't Fall For It
A Concerted Effort Is Being Made To Destroy American Patriotism
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts - 110611

A movement is underway in the United States to get the American people to lose faith in their country. It is a concerted effort with a diabolical motive at its underlying foundation.

Anti-American sentiment has long been a popular foreign theme of disgust, with good reason, based upon United States intervention in foreign affairs, all for U.S. corporate interests. Like it or not, we have been an imperial empire for capitalist gain. The U.S. corporate backed war machine has been a tool for the banking cartel that has run this country since 1913. If this revelation is new or unsettling to you, please consider one of America's greatest, yet least known, patriots, General Smedley D. Butler, who  wrote about this war machine in his landmark book, "War Is A Racket."

This anti-America mindset is now being cultivated right here, in the U.S.

Since the advent of 9/11, many unpopular legislative acts have been implemented in the name of preserving our American freedoms, all the while they strip these valuable precepts of liberty away from us. The enactment of the Hitler-esque Department of Homeland Security, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, the Homegrown Terrorism Act, the TSA, and countless other Constitution killing ventures have had an adverse effect on not only our rights, but our patriotism as well. ... (Read More)
 

The Fight Over Your Social Security

Lest anyone forget by buying into the rich man's disinformation campaign on social security... THIS IS YOUR MONEY!

Check your pay stub. Each and every one of us pays into this retirement system with each and every paycheck. It is money set aside for you, along with everyone else that works hard for a living as we make the corporations and the rich even richer.

To keep hearing politicians threaten our social security is absolute blackmail, all so that the rich can bargain with us to get even richer. Social Security is a protected fund. It is very solvent and not subject to economic duress. The only threat it faces is from corrupt politicians who illegally raid its coffers.

Let's face it... people in America are too naïve and trusting. They believe the bullshit and lies that come from our bought-and-paid-for politicians of both political parties, but also from a corporate media that is owned by a mere SIX ultra wealthy billionaires, serving the interests of the ultra-wealthy by keeping us in the dark.

Most people are wrongly under the false notion that our media does not lie to us, or hide stories from us that we need to know in order to understand the real issues that affect us all. Our media was infiltrated first by JP Morgan over 90 years ago, and later by the CIA through "Operation Mockingbird."

Are you one of them? Are you one of the sitcom lemmings that are so blind-ass stupid that the only reality they know is from watching reality TV about dysfunctional celebrity families?

Did you know that while the rest of us are being slaughtered in an orchestrated economic war, the ultra rich were secretly paid $16-TRILLION DOLLARS in bailout money??

That is not a typo... $16-TRILLION DOLLARS!! Not $800-billion or so, which is a lot of money, but $16-TRILLION DOLLARS! ... (Read More)

See these exclusive NewsFocus articles...

The Federal Reserve
www.newsfocus.org/federal_reserve.htm

The Media Coup
www.newsfocus.org/media_coup.htm

American Assault
www.newsfocus.org/american_assault.htm

Class Warfare
www.newsfocus.org/class_warfare.htm

 

The influence of money in our politics is so pervasive that it is causing enormous harm to 300 million Americans, not to mention lesser but still serious damage to the rest of the world. This problem keeps getting worse and there is no tenable plan to reverse it. Millions of people will lead increasingly poor and even impoverished lives into the foreseeable future. The rest of us will ignore this plight and sit by and count our (ever diminishing) blessings as the rich soak up more and more of our wealth and labor.

If we keep on voting for the lesser of two weevils, even the lesser weevil will continue to bite our behind.

The influence of money in our politics is so pervasive that it is causing enormous harm to 300-million Americans, not to mention serious damage to the rest of the world. This problem keeps getting worse and there is no tenable plan to reverse it. Millions of people will lead increasingly poor and even impoverished lives into the foreseeable future. The rest of us will ignore this plight and sit by and count our (ever diminishing) blessings as the rich soak up more and more of our wealth and labor.

Historically, the powerful and the rich have exploited the weak and the poor until the masses on the short end of the economic stick make it impossible for the powerful to retain their power. The denouement may involve hyperinflation or bankruptcy, either could quickly devolve into violence in the streets, in other words, a revolution.  

A violent revolution would be worse than no revolution, so long before our situation becomes desperate we must use the potent power of civil disobedience to replace the current government. Most people have not yet been stressed enough by the tightening net of economic deprivation to make the effort to flood the streets with protest, but the first step toward ending the rule of the two major parties would involve no effort at all. We should passively demonstrate our refusal to accept the status quo by refusing to vote for the parties that represent the rich and the powerful.

It is difficult to escape the hallowed culture of "voter virtue" that we were fed with our mother's milk, but extraordinary times require radical departures from habits that have admirably served generations. If a substantial proportion, perhaps as little as 35% of voters stayed home or voted for an independent candidate in 2012 the press would be forced to let these people say why they opted out of the two party system. They should say "F*** it. I voted outside the two party trap" or words to that effect.  
 
Here is a historic opportunity to begin the end of plutocratic rule.  Just dont vote or vote for the independent candidate of your choice. 

- Dean DeHarpporte
 

Investigation Into Whether America Is Still A Constitutional Government
www.Constitutionally.Blogspot.com

The United States has been in a declared state of emergency from September 2001, to the present.

On September 11, 2001, the government declared a state of emergency. That declared state of emergency was formally put in writing on 9/14/2001:

"A national emergency exists by reason of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, New York, New York, and the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby declare that the national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001 . . . ."

That declared state of emergency has continued in full force and effect from 9/11 to the present. ... (Read More)
 

While we were not watching, conspiracy theory has undergone Orwellian redefinition.

A “conspiracy theory” no longer means an event explained by a conspiracy.  Instead, it now means any explanation, or even a fact, that is out of step with the government’s explanation and that of its media pimps.  

For example, online news broadcasts of RT have been equated with conspiracy theories by the New York Times simply because RT reports news and opinions that the New York Times does not report and the US government does not endorse.

In other words, as truth becomes uncomfortable for government and its Ministry of Propaganda, truth is redefined as conspiracy theory, by which is meant an absurd and laughable explanation that we should ignore.

When piles of carefully researched books, released government documents, and testimony of eye witnesses made it clear that Oswald was not President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, the voluminous research, government documents, and verified testimony was dismissed as “conspiracy theory.”

In other words, the truth of the event was unacceptable to the authorities and to the Ministry of Propaganda that represents the interests of authorities.

The purest example of how Americans are shielded from truth is the media’s (including many Internet sites’) response to the large number of professionals who find the official explanation of September 11, 2001, inconsistent with everything they, as experts, know about physics, chemistry, structural engineering, architecture, fires, structural damage, the piloting of airplanes, the security procedures of the United States, NORAD’s capabilities, air traffic control, airport security, and other matters.  These experts, numbering in the thousands, have been shouted down by know-nothings in the media  who brand the experts as “conspiracy theorists.”

This despite the fact that the official explanation endorsed by the official media is the most extravagant conspiracy theory in human history.

(Read more)

See Also:

The Absurdity of The Conspiracy Theory Fallacy
When Facts And Reality Give Way To Cover-ups And Lies
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 070409 

The Nature of a Conspiracy Theory
When Does An Investigator of A Large Crime Become A “Conspiracy Theorist?”
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 121109

The Truth About "Conspiracy Theory"
How One Simple Phrase Is Pushed Upon Us, Over And Over Again... Just Like Brainwashing
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts - 013110
 

War Is A Racket: Joe Rogan Talks Politics

This is the way it is. The only people that don't get this are those that follow the corporate media.

A political-economic oligarchy has taken over the United States of America. This oligarchy has institutionalized a body of law that protects businesses at the expense of not only the common people but the nation itself.

CNN interviewed a person recently who was seriously burned when his vehicle burst into flames because a plastic brake-fluid reservoir ruptured. Having sued Chrysler, he was now concerned that its bankruptcy filing would enable Chrysler to avoid paying any damages. A CNN legal expert called this highly likely, since the main goal of reorganization in bankruptcy is preserving the company’s viability and that those creditors who could contribute most to attaining that goal would be compensated first while those involved in civil suits against the company would be placed lowest on the creditor list since compensating them would lessen the chances of the company’s surviving. This rational clearly implies that the preservation of companies is more important than the preservation of people. Of course, similar cases have been reported before. The claims of workers for unpaid wages have often been dismissed as have their contracts for benefits.

But there is an essential difference between a business that lends money or delivers products or services to another company and the employees who work for it. Business is an activity that supposedly involves risk. Employment is not. Neither is unknowingly buying a defective product. Workers and consumers do not extend credit to the companies they work for or buy products from. They are not in any normal sense of the word “creditors.” Yet that distinction is erased in bankruptcy proceedings which preserve companies at the public’s expense. ... (Read More)

Don't tread on us.
 

The use of organized propaganda is not a new phenomena nor technique. Nazi strategist Joseph Goebbels noted that "if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it". ...
 

UFC's Joe Rogan Speaks Out On US War Machine
(Caution: Strong language)
 
Common sense prevails for some. Good to see.

Now that the WikiLeaks releases about Tunisian corruption have directly sparked a peoples' uprising in Tunisia; now that Egypt is in the throes of pro-democracy protest driven in large measure by WikiLeaks' revelation in the Palestine Papers about US manipulation of Palestine, surely one would expect key U.S. news organizations and journalists to rally prominently to the defense of the right to publish that that site represents. One would expect lead editorials supporting Assange's right to publish from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and USAToday, not to mention every major TV outlet. But instead, what we have heard is the deafening sounds of what middle-schoolers call 'crickets' -- that is, an awkward silence. As Nancy Youssef in the McClatchy papers reported recently, most U.S. journalists -- and, even more shamefully, journalists' organizations -- decided, regarding supporting Wikileaks' freedom to publish, to "take a pass." ...
 

Are TSA Airport Screenings Getting 'Out of Hand?'
Homeland Security Receives Thousands of Complaints After New Procedures
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts - 121710

What were we doing wrong? Ever since 9/11 we have stepped up security in all public venues, including airport security. Arguably one of the biggest transitions for Americans has been the increased security at airports. So far, even though it has been a huge inconvenience for most, we've been getting by, with no major disasters. So why then the sudden shift to the heavy handed Nazi Gestapo tactics adopted since October? I mean, what gives? Suddenly our Constitutional rights took yet another blow with the new TSA forced personal searches. The way it stands now, you are given two choices: 1) Submit to a revealing full body x-ray scan, complete with cumulative radiation exposure health risks, or 2) an extremely intrusive personal grope and grab that makes nothing off limits as far as genital fumbling and fondling goes.

So what kind of choice is that? "Would you like us to hang you or shoot you?"

How about getting to say, "neither?"

What we're being presented with, against our wishes, is not a "choice," per se. It's an assault on American Constitutional rights. Plain and simple.

Again, where were we failing in our airport security since 9/11 that we needed to ratchet up the police state tactics like this? Oh sure, we had a failed shoe bomber and a guy who lit his crotch on fire, but nothing we couldn't handle. Certainly nothing to warrant the loss of freedom and our quality of life.

The new scanners at issue are now reported to be incapable of detecting bombs within body cavities anyway, so why are we using them? It's already been proven that they truly don't make us safe.

Oh, yeah... that's right, former DHS head Michael Chertoff went out of his way to  initiate them into the system before he left Homeland Security, profiting directly off the machines as a result of his representation of the company making the scanners.

Nice.

Americans need to quit believing the false premise that giving up our rights gives us a better quality of life. So far all we've seen is government power grow over the people, with checks and balances thrown out the window in the interest of "national security." Meanwhile, many former high level US officials are now directly involved in private corporations which are immorally profiting from the "War on Terror," causing many to wonder and publicly ask questions as to the impetus and integrity of US efforts.

Contact your Congressional representatives, including your state and local representatives. Tell them enough is enough. We want our rights back, along with the freedom they were meant to protect.
 

The More Things Change
 
As always, Fiore is right on the mark.

This is just plain disgusting. A 17-year-old kid, tasered for running onto the Citizens Bank field? What threat was he to anyone? Tasers can be deadly weapons, and taser use by cops is completely out of control. Tasers are supposed to be an alternative to deadly force, remember?

From the video, it sure looks like the cop shot the kid in the back - one of the zones Taser International recommends police avoid.

Fortunately for the city, this kid isn't one of the 479 people so far who dropped dead after being tasered. ...

The Taserification of America
Philly.com - 050410
Unless you've been living in a Waziristan cave for the last 24 years, you've heard about the unfortunate misdemeanor-breaking dude who got Tasered at a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.
 

Nothing Will Improve in America Until Some People Go to Jail
Agonist.org
Here are some candidates among the elite and powerful in the U.S. who should be put on trial, convicted, and sent to prison with lengthy terms: ...
 

There Ain't Gonna Be No Revolution
InformationClearinghouse.info, by Joe Bageant
As I see it, there is no "will of the people" mandate. Hell, the people want more cable channels, fried chicken buckets and someone to tell them there really is a free lunch. ...

NewsFocus: Americans have been conned and sadly most are either too naive or too stupid to realize they've been royally screwed.
 

The Bush regime was determined to vitiate habeas corpus in order to hold people indefinitely without bringing charges. The regime had acquired hundreds of prisoners by paying a bounty for “terrorists.” Afghan warlords and thugs responded to the financial incentive by grabbing unprotected people and selling them to the Americans.

The Bush regime needed to hold the prisoners without charges because it had no evidence against the people and did not want to admit that the U.S. government had stupidly paid warlords and thugs to kidnap innocent people. In addition, the Bush regime needed “terrorists” prisoners in order to prove that there was a terrorist threat. ...
 

Gay Or Straight: The Morality Of It All
 
Ah yes, the morality of marriage.

Well, it appears that the latest fad in apocalyptic fear is upon us with the coming of the year 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar. Just like Y2K, and the 5/5/2000 planetary alignment, the powers that be are going to try to get us all to wet our pants again and scream in fear like little children.

Our government, through the use of NASA, is already whipping up fear of a solar flare breaking through our weakening magnetic field, announcing a little over a year ago that our protective solar shield also has a recently discovered hole in it, four times the size of the earth.

Wow. That's huge.

If true, what then is saving us from all of that solar radiation? Why haven't we seen the northern lights everywhere then? This is pretty odd indeed.

Ask yourself this... if the government and NASA were truly worried about 2012, why would they be involved in pointless wars of aggression and imperialism when A) it could be all for naught, and B) we could be using all of that money to enhance and strengthen infrastructure needs to help us prepare for a natural disaster?

Many share the belief that the Mayan calendar does not mark the end of all mankind, it is merely the end of a solar age, merely a measurement of time, a cycle if you will. Just like finding a calendar with December 31st as the last day. It doesn't mean that will be the end of time and life as we know it. It's just the end of that calendar period.

In light of the government's potentially meaningless expensive wars, coupled with the outrageous expenditures of bail-out money to the bankers, Wall Street and the numerous corporations, how seriously worried is our government about 2012?

We can only hope and pray that this is indeed another false doomsday scare that will once again pass without consequence.

One thing is certain for sure though, many will exploit this alleged coming event and make tons of money as they once again try to scare the pants off the rest of us.

[Previously published on the The Edge page]
For Many, The Year 2012 Is The Next Big Fear
New Movie Plays On the End Of The Mayan Calendar, December 21st, 2012
Coming to a theater near you in November 2009

Does the discovery of Planet X have any relation to 2012?
 

Believe It Or Not, MAD Magazine Was Right All Along
It Has Been 'Spy Versus Spy' In This Country (And The World) For Generations
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts - 123009

 An Open Call For Help
To The Real Good Guys In U.S. Intel

The United States has been involved in sponsoring "false flag" terrorism for years now, and that fact has already been proven by just about every major war we ever fought since the late 1800s. One undeniable event was the escalation of U.S. involvement in the Viet Nam War, allegedly provoked by the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident," now openly admitted as never happening by former DoD head Robert McNamara. Many suspect "false flag terrorism" on domestic soil as well, ranging from the first World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing and the 9/11 event. What is undeniable in the latter domestic attacks, is that a high degree of intelligence and funding were required to pull these events off. Who exactly sponsored and orchestrated them is the big question.

It is also an undeniable fact that most Americans and the world do not trust the CIA, because of the terror that they have perpetrated on behalf of weak politicians and immoral ideology of the ruling elite. These rogue factions will argue that sometimes we need to do unpopular acts to maintain our superiority in the world. This concept in itself is an extreme oxymoron, for we have no "superiority" if we have to stoop to illegal and treacherous activities to sustain what is supposed to be the greatest superpower the world has ever known.

Intelligent and reasonable Americans have every right to be suspicious of such a clandestine operation that has perpetrated the overthrow of many legitimate democracies, while assassinating or deposing democratically elected leaders, all in the name of 'U.S. interests.'  ... (Read More)
 

Americans are mad as hell...

Fictional newscaster Howard Beal tries to wake the masses in "Network."
What does it take to stir the people to stand up and say no more?
Contact your Congressman and let them know how America truly feels.

Saving America: The Necessary Steps To Reclaim Our Democracy
"We the people" Need To Insist Upon Restoring The Vision Of Our Forefathers
NewsFocus - 122609

• Election Reform - Get rid of Political Action committees (PACs) and corporate donations.
• Media Reform Break up media monopolies and encourage diversity of news and opinion.
• Take over the Federal Reserve Return power to print money to U.S. Government.
• Balance the Courts We should not lean left or right, but strike a fair balance in our courts.
• Tax Reform Make the rich pay their share accordingly, as we do, with no more loopholes.
• PATRIOT Act Reform Re-establish the Constitution & Bill of Rights for "We the People."

If we don't act soon, it may be too late to reclaim the country we once knew. Those that have all the power are counting on you to be complacent, unmotivated and ignorant.
 

Welcome to Orwell’s World 2010
InformationClearinghouse.info, By John Pilger - 123009
In Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell described a superstate called Oceania, whose language of war inverted lies that “passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past’, ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past’. Continue

The Fear Decade
Since 9/11, We've Embraced Our Inner Coward
InformationClearinghouse.info, By Ted Rall 010110
Home of the free and the brave. Live free or die. Shoot first; ask questions later. Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out. These were the mottos of a brash, impetuous, audacious-to-a-fault nation. That nation is dead. Continue

One Day We’ll All Be Terrorists
InformationClearinghouse.info, By Chris Hedges  - 122809
This corruption of our legal system, if history is any guide, will not be reserved by the state for suspected terrorists, or even Muslim Americans. In the coming turmoil and economic collapse, it will be used to silence all who are branded as disruptive or subversive. Continue
 

New Year's Redux

The less things change, the more they stay the same.

Jack Rice: When People Make an Argument for Racial Profiling They're Either Lazy, Arrogant or Racist
Former CIA officer Jack Rice hits back hard at the comments made by Pete King and his cohorts about racial profiling on the Ed Schultz Show
CrooksandLiars.com, by Heather Wednesday Dec 30, 2009 7:00am

Schultz: Jack Rice this is a political hot potato for the White House. How far does the White House want to go with this kind of line of defense? What do you think?

Rice: My response is they push back hard on what Peter King said, what Pete Hoekstra said—I mean there is no room for racial profiling in this country. Every study that I have seen—and I’m a former prosecutor too—every study I have seen has shown that it’s far more effective to follow what it is that people do rather than what they look like. And if we think about the broad picture now—let me see if we get this right. If we’re going to racially profile, we racially profile everybody across the Middle East. Now we find that this young 23 year old man from Nigeria—most of Nigeria is Christian by the way—so I guess what we’re going to have to do is include all of the people of Africa. But now let’s contemplate al Qaeda in the Philippines, so now we have to include people in Southeast Asia, so now we have about four billion people.

Look, I think when people make an argument for racial profiling they’re either lazy, they’re either arrogant, or frankly they’re racist. This is a foolish idea and the worst part of it all is that what we’re going to do is alienate about 1.5 billion Muslims. We desperately need these people on our side. If we go down that path we’re in a very, very serious problem. ...
 

President Obama, Your Legacy Clock Is Ticking
CrooksandLiars.com, by Josh Glasstetter Thursday Dec 03, 2009 2:00pm
It's been over a year since Americans elected Barack Obama, but we're still living in George Bush's world – two wars, a recession, a deficit, and so much more. President Obama has his hands full cleaning up these messes and establishing a legacy on healthcare and climate change. I get that. But there's one blind spot that he can't afford to ignore any longer.

We're living under the rule of George Bush's judges. He picked over 40% of all current federal judges. We're talking about lifetime appointees, and so few cases ever make it to the Supreme Court that they usually get the last word. Bush's judicial legacy didn't happen by accident, or overnight. He made it a priority. The numbers are telling: as Obama approaches the end of his first year, he’s picked roughly 30 nominees, 11 of whom have been confirmed. By the end of his first year, Bush had nominated 65, and nearly 30 had been confirmed. ...
 

Americans Are As Blind To US Fascism As Nazi-Era Germans
Examiner.com, by Carl Herman 121209
Psychological research demonstrates that large-scale dramatic change can escape attention when the change is unsuspected, unannounced, and agents causing the change act as if nothing is different. Two areas of this cognitive study are “change blindness” and “inattentional blindness.”  When we include consideration of “cognitive dissonance,” the rejection of facts when they conflict with important beliefs, we can approach an explanation of how educated citizens could accept fascism when it was unsuspected, unannounced, and the responsible agents fraudulently represented the new government as no different from the old. Cognitive dissonance would deter many people to accept the new reality, even when the facts were clear.

The definition of “fascism” has some academic variance, but is essentially collusion among corporatocracy, authoritarian government, and controlled media and education. This “leadership” is only possible with a nationalistic public accepting policies of war, empire, and limited civil and political rights. ... (Read More)
 

WAKE UP AMERICA! YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS.
Basic Stuff That Most Americans Are Embarrassingly Clueless About
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 122309

Let's face it, Americans, for the most part the middle and upper classes, enjoy a pretty comfortable life. We own lots of cool things to make us feel good about our lives and we have oodles of fancy technology to provide us with modern conveniences never before ever imagined by our grandparents. Most of all, we are the most overly entertained society in the world. If you think that's a good thing, you would be remiss in understanding how the desire for comfort and pleasure has dumbed-down most of the lemming herd to the point that our only intellectual challenge these days comes from mindless trivia games that test our knowledge of pop culture.

There once was a time when the education of science, mathematics and history were the keys to knowledge, real knowledge that you could grow a society upon. Sadly enough though, that concept has now given way to what I like to refer to as mental minutia. What was Jimmy Walker's favorite catch phrase on Good Times? Who were the main pilots in Top Gun? How many kids did the Brady's have and what were their names? Americans appear to know more about inconsequential bullshit than we do about the inner workings of our political system, or the convoluted mechanisms that drive our economy and financial institutions. We have become disinterested in matters of the real world, accepting instead a narrow view provided by the talking heads of our overly glorified media. We have become complacent in our intellectual curiosity. We have become dangerously gullible and overly trusting of our politicians, but most threatening of all, we trust our media talking heads implicitly, with little question for the real news that affects us all. America has lost its way and we ourselves must shoulder a great deal of that blame.   ... (Read More)
 

If you've done nothing wrong, you have everything to worry about
Vancouver Sun, by Pete McMartin, - November 21, 2009
Whenever someone frets about the erosion of personal freedoms in our modern society, such as in the steady proliferation of surveillance cameras in public places, the stock answer, which is one I read all too often in my e-mail, is:

"If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about."

People who say this are fools, not to be too blunt about it. Not only are they willing to trade away my rights, since they haven't a basic appreciation of theirs, but their understanding of the relationship between government and the governed is one of subservience based on fear, and the idea that their fear is not only natural, but justifiably permanent given the state of the world.

Thus, we should all be fearful, all of the time. We should empower government to do whatever it feels necessary to protect us. The unquestioning nature of this logic not only institutionalizes fear, it makes it a patriotic duty. And the good citizen, the one who has done nothing wrong, will have nothing to worry about.

Oh, yeah? ... (Read More)
 

Big Money Is The Root of American Evil
The Troubles We Have Are Not Left Vs. Right. The Ultra-Rich Are Dividing Us Along Political Party Lines To Keep Us From Seeing The Real Menace To Us All.
NewsFocus Op/Ed 101809
We need to get a collective clue in this country as to what is really going on. This is not about left versus right, or Democrats against Republicans. It doesn't matter if Bush is in office or Obama. This is about the fleecing of America by the ultra-wealthy. Plain and simple. This game is rigged against us and we're quibbling amongst ourselves like naive children. The tea-bag protesters are being manipulated and so are the liberal protesters. A well oiled, extremely well funded faction of society is dividing us all. "We the People" need to rise up against our real adversary and the true evil that seeks to manipulate the game, the uber-rich that control everything. These are the 1% and 10% of Americans who have all the wealth and are greedy for more, caring very little for the common man, nor the struggles that we endure, often a result of the avarice of the rich.

The ultra-wealthy would much rather have us all fight against ourselves, left versus right, instead of against them; all the while they sit back in their mansions and steal our hard earned money through bailouts, predatory banking and crooked capitalism. Don't be fooled. The White House and Congress do not run America; the obscenely wealthy have controlled it for many, many years. Big money has controlled our election process and the politicians it sends to Washington. The biggest issue that faces this country isn't health reform, it's wealth reform. Wake up America and know who your real oppressor truly is. We are all being punked, plain and simple. It's been that way for quite some time. We need to realize and understand who actually runs this show and engineers the real division among us. We are headed to a civil discourse not seen in this country for over 150 years. We need to get a grip on ourselves now, before we destroy our union. Politics are being used against us, to incite us and divide us. As the old saying goes, "United we stand, but divided we fall." Whether you're left or the right, we're all Americans.
 

The Hegelian Principle is alive and well and working against us all right now. Where, you ask? How about our economic downturn? What unpopular reforms might spring forth from this arguably orchestrated worldwide disarray? How about a change of currency, or the possible formation of a new world order? These radical ideas are currently being considered. What about the health care fiasco? HR-676 and a single-payer plan is what we need, yet all we hear about is a public option that will create more revenue for the insurance industry. Whether or not it is a cheaper option, regulated by the government, the insurance industry will indeed prosper with the addition of 46-million new customers.

Perhaps "Change" was a calculated ruse to prepare us for a grand transformation. Considering what is occurring right now in America, it is reasonable to entertain the concept of a premeditated ruse. We are all hopeful for change, but let's make sure it benefits "We the People" and not simply the ultra-wealthy.

As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

See also: Naomi Klein on Disaster Capitalism
 

American Capitalism: Economic Dysfunction
If You Think Our Economic System Is Fair And Just, Or The Best There Is, You Might Want To Think Again After Reviewing A Few Facts

When 10% of America Controls All The Wealth, Is That Good For All?
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 092809

Is It Time To Reform Capitalism Too?

With far-right conservatives doing their best to rail against the perils of socialism, let us intellectually weigh the merits of arguably the most dangerous economic system to man and society, capitalism.

• Capitalism consumes wealth and places it with the capitalist/investor. It takes from the poor and middle class and gives it to the rich.
• 10% of Americans are the wealthiest. This is a tremendous disparity, one which feeds upon and takes economic advantage over the other 90% of Americans.
• 1% control most of the overall wealth. This is a dangerous and obscene number when one realizes the amount of outrageous wealth in the hands of only a few.

Capitalism, as we know it, is a system fraught with greed, which favors the rich more than it serves the middle and lower class. Our economic system is the polar opposite of the Robin Hood mentality, for it is the overall stealing from the poor and giving to the rich.

This is not a pretty picture for humanity. We can do better as a society.

Socialism Is Not A Dirty Word!
Unless You Are A Capitalist Trying To Profit From Public Services
A Message To The Non-Thinking Lemmings Of America
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 090209

Once again the ultra-wealthy have fooled the mass populace of stupid Americans. In case you don't know, let me clarify who the stupid ones are. Those are the people who do not look at both sides of an issue or a story. Those are the people that stay within the narrow confines of their warped political paradigm, accepting only information from those with their same political viewpoint, mouthpieces that are also ignorant, or else getting kickbacks in profit to keep you in the dark.

What? Someone would actually profit by keeping you in the dark?

This can't be true you might say. What possible scenario would exist where something like this could occur?

Well, first you need to crawl out from the big huge rock you're hiding under for a moment and then we can try to think real hard of an example. Let's think together now, real hard.

Hey! I know, the health care debate, or as I like to call it, health scare.

Let's see now. Our elected representatives have written a bill that would reform the health insurance industry and give us free health care, like Canada, so that we can live a better life and escape from exorbitant medical bills that crush families and drive many to poverty, while others get filthy rich denying us all needed medical services.

What's that you say? Canada has a medical system that sucks? ... (Read More)
 

What You Seriously Need To Know About America
How The American Dream Has Been Usurped And Stolen From "We The People"
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 090209

Vulnerable Through Arrogance

America is being divided and conquered, yet unfortunately most of the country is unaware that shots at our democracy have already been fired. This goes unnoticed because Americans are quite sadly as gullible as they come. If ever there was a name synonymous with sheeple, it would be Americans. Many will take issue with such a comment because we as a nation and a people have become undeniably arrogant and pompous with our republic and its democracy.

We boldly proclaim ourselves to be number one and the best at everything, out of a blind patriotic pride. We often claim to distrust our politicians, yet we naively swallow everything our misguided corporate media tries to feed us, until we're choking on a combination of disinformation and our own gullibility. ... (Read More)
 

Something Is Wrong In America

You have to be asleep, ignorant, or far right conservative to not notice.

See also: Naomi Wolf On The Death of America
 

First off, HR-676, universal health care for all, is hands down the least costly, yet the best coverage and health plan for Americans. Every single American would get coverage, while still being able to see the doctor of your choice. So why argue about being forced out of your costly private insurance plan for a government plan when the bottom line is that you still get to choose your doctor?

Secondly, all other plans still allow the insurance companies to profit handsomely, raking in over 33% of health insurance premiums for their profit, driving up the cost of American health care while putting themselves in league with the excessively lucrative oil companies, all during arguably the worst economic downturn in this country's history.

Under HR-676, the Conyers-Kucinich plan, the insurance company profit would not exist, forcing the cost of American health care down. The reason being, HR-676 is a non-profit plan.

That is the primary reason why the insurance industry has spent over one-million dollars per day to dupe Americans on health care reform. Not only have they spent quite handsomely, but they've pulled in all of their political favors from the politicians beholden to them through millions in campaign donations. Every politician fighting against health care reform is on the big money gravy-train from the insurance industry.

The biggest ruse is the public-option. They make it seem as though they don't want us to have it, in essence out-Freuding many to then scream and beg for it, so they think they're getting something they shouldn't have. This is nothing more than psychological warfare. The Republicans and Blue-dogs want Americans to believe the insurance industry doesn't want it, but truth be told, even though the public-option may be government regulated to feature a lower cost, it still delivers 46-million new customers to the insurance industry to profit from. A huge win for the insurance industry.

Are you starting to get the picture?

The best plan for America is one that emulates the European health care system, a government provided system that is free for all Americans. With a single-payer plan, we get the freedom to choose our own doctor, to visit the hospital of our choice, but with no premiums or co-pays. Single-payer HR-676 is free health insurance that will cost less than all other health care plans out there.

Don't be cheated by our bought-and-paid-for politicians, or a deceptive health insurance industry. There's a reason they've spent close to $400-million in this fight so far, to fool you so that they can keep their own share of over one trillion dollars in health insurance profits.

If you're tired of being denied due to pre-existing conditions, while enduring ever rising insurance rates, don't be a chump and allow yourself to be spoon-fed a blatant lie. Take the time to look at non-biased sources of health care info and get the real facts on universal health care, single-payer HR-676. Hands down, the best plan for America.

Fight for your right to the health care we all deserve.

Why The GOP Is Hiding The Best Health Care Plan From Us All

The health insurance industry doesn't want us to have the best plan.
HR 676, 'Universal' Health Care For All Americans!

It's all inclusive, more comprehensive and cheaper too!
The Cost: Conyers-Kucinich Plan HR-676 $387B  |  Baucus Plan $856B

Congressman Kucinich HR 676 Health Care Webpage

Sign the petition for single-payer HR-676

Read The Bill: HR 676

See Who The Insurance Industry Has Working For Them On Capitol Hill:

A long list of health insurance bought-and-paid-for political leaders

OpenSecrets | Contributions from Health Sector to Lawmakers

Health Sector Has Donated Millions to Lawmakers
 

One has to openly wonder why some people still listen to the lunatic rantings of Rush Limbaugh. This is a blowhard who clearly wouldn't know the truth if it bit him in his oversized fat ass. The propaganda and disinformation minister of the extreme far right is an embarrassment to humanity and arguably the worst slime that ever crawled from the sewers of broadcasting. Rush is the most foul of all rotting scum that a cesspool could ever fester. The most vile and odorous bile that could ever stink up a waste treatment facility or garbage dump. The sewage that flows from this insecure and pompous jerk is a diatribe of lies that would make Goebbels look like a rank amateur. If abortion was ever a moral imperative for society, it was most certainly missed opportunity in this case. That one person could ever make the three stooges look like Harvard intellectuals is surprising to most, but enough of the pleasantries.

Any savvy journalism or communications major will tell you that the excrement spewing from the sewer that is Rush Limbaugh's mouth is, like this piece, an op/ed at best, or a calculated act of treason at its worst. Rush Limbaugh makes his fortune by disseminating outrageous lies and fomenting discourse. Anyone who could stoop to the subterranean depths that this human cancer does on a daily basis must truly be soulless or the bastard child of the devil himself. (My apologies to devil worshippers.)

Those that truly follow the news know that Rush has always been willing to disregard facts and reality in order to serve the overlords of a twisted far right political ideology. Many conservative commentators are willing to spin or massage the facts of a story to fit their brand of politics, but Limbaugh is an undeniable media slut, willing to whore himself out for cash no matter how big the lie. Rush is incapable of reasoning any compromise between left and right that might best serve the interests of our nation, possibly the result of years of oxycontin drug abuse which has fried what little brain he might have been born with. Rush only knows one thing, hate speech. Like Adolph Hitler, his agenda is to beguile those who dare to lend an ear, or might unwittingly listen to his message of political anger and hostility.

A great many Americans are starting to see the person behind the curtain for what he truly is, a divisive cockroach that does nothing but spread disease to society. Our great country is a melting pot of color and race, but Limbaugh chooses only to see white. America is made up of many political ideals, flowing from liberal to moderate to conservative, but Rush can only see the very far right. Blue does not exist in the color spectrum for the king of all wing-nuts, only red, which matches the anger that he readily dispenses in his perverted form of patriotism.

The FCC should have done its duty years ago and pulled this whack-job from the air, ending his reign of social terror on our public airwaves. For that matter, the American Psychiatric Association could also have stood up and made the case for his forced incarceration into the most secure nuthouse in the land. Sadly none of this has taken place, yet, but for now we still have the one option available to us all, as a nation that struggles to recover from bad capitalism and years of far right ideology and two horrid Bush administrations, turn the knob on your radio off! We will all be better off for it.

Many Psychiatrists Would View This As Unstable Behavior
 
The racism and anti-American anger that is Rush Limbaugh pours from this tirade.
 

The Great Divide
Who Is Trying To Splinter America?
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 081209

Politics in general have most always been ugly and contentious when trying to govern, but the rancor and vitriol that exists today is arguably none like any other ever in this nation's short history. Right versus left has become a Hatfield's and McCoy's donnybrook, in every literal sense of the analogy.

It has always been said that it is not proper to discuss religion or politics in mixed company, but that age old adage could never be more true today. Americans have been pitted against each other in an 'us versus them' mentality. We are increasingly becoming a right versus left society. If you don't fit into that mold, then you are clearly a minority.

A divide has now formed and that is not good for the United States. ... (Read More)

More reading:

Fascism In America

Right-wing voices unite

The Real News in the O'Reilly-Olbermann Feud

CNN Bans Radio Talkers As Guests

Frank Rich fears right-wing 'rage' will lead to violence

The Right Wing Conservative Media of Lies And Disinformation

The FOX crew is doing their best to divide "we the people."

What In The World Is Wrong With The United States of America?
A Nation Once Considered A Model of Democracy And Beacon For Freedom...
NewsFocus.org, by Tim Watts 031009

An Essay To Stimulate Discussion On What Ails A Once Great Nation

During the 2008 election, one mantra seemed to be prevalent across all major campaigns, Americans wanted "change." Whether Democrat, Independent, or even Republican, it seems that most had finally had enough. With the lowest ratings ever for a sitting U.S. president, the American people were united together on one thing, they all wanted change. ... (Read More)
 

The Trap
The Documentary You Need To See To Understand Our Political Leaders Mindset In Governing Us All
You Will Be horrified When You See The Blind Leading The Blind
(Or is that perhaps, the naive leading the ignorant?)
NewsFocus 083009

The Trap - Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3

The profession of psychiatry has always been overrated, if not worse than the alleged mental health patients it incorrectly attempts to diagnose and treat. Combine their myopic research and flavor-of-the-month whacko theories with politicians seeking to control the populace and you get what we have, "World Gone Wild."

Please watch this stunning three-part documentary from award winning producer Adam Curtis as he explores psychoanalysis and its political misuse in governing.

The Century of the Self
How Politicians And Corporations Learned To Manipulate You And All Of Society
Most Aren't Even Aware Of The Persuasive Influence They Are Attacked With
(The media has employed these same tools to fool you also)
NewsFocus 083009

The Century of the Self  (Google) - Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4

Sigmund Freud had some revolutionary ideas on how the human animal thinks and what motivates us all. Many do not know that his unscrupulous nephew, Edward Bernays, took his famous uncle's theories and applied them for commercial gain (pun intended). Bernays is considered the father of advertising and marketing. His work coerced people to subconsciously buy material goods, even when they truly didn't need to buy them. His application of Freud's work became such a powerful tool of public influence and persuasion that  governments, intel organizations and politicians all adopted his precepts for their own interests. We are all being subconsciously affected with powerful advertising and marketing tools that many do not understand. Watch this outstanding four-part documentary and be enlightened.

The Corporation
The Influence Of The Corporation On Society And Its Disparaging Affect On Us All
The Aim Of The Corporation Is To Protect The Owners Financially By Giving It The Rights Of A Human Being, But What Type Of Person Would It Actually Be?
(The rise of the new fascism: Corporatism)
NewsFocus 083009

The Corporation

The award winning documentary delves into the mindset of the corporation, accepting it for what is has legally been set up for, as a human entity with the rights of an individual. What they set out to ascertain is, what type of an individual would the corporation be if it were psychoanalyzed as a person? The shocking conclusion is that the all pervasive and controlling corporate entity would be characterized as a psychopath.
 

Wal-Mart's Dead Peasant Policy

Just how heartless and ruthless is Wal-Mart? You're about to find out.

What Hell Hath The GOP Wrought? Discourse and Vitriol Are The Fruits Of Their Labor (You Reap What You Sow)
What Powerful Financial Group Is Behind This Movement? Follow The Money
NewsFocus Op/Ed, by Tim Watts 091509

After eight years of a tumultuous and arguably corrupt Bush-Cheney regime, a common theme throughout the 2008 presidential campaign was simply one word, "change." While all candidates promised to reform the doings of Washington, one person was able to slickly package and market the theme of hope and change and turn it into a decisive win in the November election. That election was a near landslide for Barack Obama, a mandate of sorts for a new direction in this country, moving away from the draconian ways of the previous administration.

Along with that win came a thorough drubbing of the Republican party, but as the GOP has proven time and time again, they don't die easy. They come back with a vengeance. Their animosity and disregard for the will of the people didn't take long to surface as the GOP attacked America's first ever African-American President within the first 30 days. While the previous administration claimed two terms in office under some highly suspicious voting irregularities, the Bush-Cheney team never ever encountered the degree of political ill will that was dealt from the start towards the new incoming Democrat elect President Obama. That's saying a lot! Bush and Cheney were also opposed from the start, but not quite like this. ... (Read More)
 

The Great Public Option Health Care Rip-Off
We Are Being Screwed By Politicians And Wealthy Corporate Institutions
NewsFocus, by Tim Watts 060609
Americans should be outraged by the fiasco known as health care reform. First off, the best plan for the people is hands down HR-676, the Conyers-Kucinich plan. It is the only not-for-profit health care plan out there. With over 33% of health care going to the health  insurance industry, it is the one plan capable of single handedly bringing down the exorbitant price of health care.

What is most galling in this endeavor is the greed and politicization that has taken over, with no regard for the initial concept of caring for the people. At this point the Republican Congress and conservative blue-dog Democrats have opted to side with the multi-trillion dollar insurance industry, rather than giving any substantive regard to their constituents. When you hear Congress members remark that a government backed public-option would be too attractive and hurt the private insurance industry, you know their priorities are not in our best interests to begin with. Most glaring of all, where is any mention of a single payer government paid for plan? ... (Read More)
 

One of the biggest lies from those at FOX and other media talking heads is that Bush and Cheney kept America safe while they were in office. For lack of a better term, that is a bald-faced lie. (See: 9/11 and also the anthrax attacks, both under their watch.)

These mistaken talking heads then try to justify the abhorrent and inhumane use of torture by claiming it yielded a litany of information to protect us from the "evil-doers." Unfortunately for their twisted argument, many CIA and military officials have since come forward to now claim that we gleaned no useful information that helped prevent more attacks. If anything, these officials claim that our own terrorism of foreigners has provided a deeper hatred for the United States and made it much easier to recruit those willing to pay us back for the horror and suffering that we inflicted upon them through the use of torture and the killing of innocent people. (See: Abu Ghraib, the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War)

Per their false charge that Bush and Cheney kept us safe, let's set the record straight.

Fact # 1: It was under the Bush-Cheney watch that we suffered the worst attack ever on American soil on 9/11. After receiving over 50 warnings (and the August 6th, 2001 PDB, Presidential Daily Briefing) alerting us to an impending attack, the Bush-Cheney team literally took no action whatsoever. This is important to note because they terrorized us over and over again after 9/11 (with no tangible threat) through their Homeland Security color coded terror warnings, but the one time that they had a real threat and literally 50+ warnings, they did absolutely nothing to warn or prepare the country. Again, they did absolutely nothing.

Fact # 2: We were attacked a second time with deadly anthrax, a crime for which no one was caught or officially indicted. Cheney likes to claim that because of their ever watchful vigilance we had no more terrorism after 9/11, but he conveniently likes to forget about the anthrax attacks. Once again, the Bush-Cheney team did nothing to alert the nation about a possible threat, but for some reason known only to them, the White House staff was given the anthrax antidote, Cipro, one month prior to the attacks. It would appear that they obviously decided to keep themselves safe instead of us.

Fact # 3: Over 1,500 people in New Orleans drowned due to Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. government knew the levees had been breached and somehow failed to warn the city. With FEMA standing watch, the people of New Orleans were left to drown with no warning. Bush cared so much that he decided to take one of his numerous Presidential record setting vacations. Just like 9/11, he did not react nor show his face in a time of national duress until the damage was done and the disaster was complete. He then insulted the people of New Orleans with his careless and ignorant historic statement to FEMA head Michael Brown, "You're doing a heckuva job Brownie." 

For anyone to say that Bush and Cheney protected the American people is undeniably disingenuous at best and a politically motivated lie in the least. Such a grossly ignorant comment is beyond sane reasoning and most insulting to those with real intelligence to know better.

While we're at it, let's also not forget that under the Bush-Cheney regime we had many of our cherished constitutional rights neutered and taken away for the first time in our nation's history under the heinous Patriot Act. Under the Bush logic, the terrorists hated us for our freedom, so he and Cheney apparently did their best to take as much of that away as they possibly could, so that the terrorists wouldn't have to hate us so much. As they say on the Guinness beer commercials, "brilliant!"

Cheney and Republican political leaders now say that if the Obama administration tries to investigate the doings of the Bush administration, we'll open ourselves up to another terrorist attack. How some on the right can justify such twisted political rhetoric is quite puzzling to many. What is becoming ever more apparent is that the right has a warped sense of responsibility in regards to governing.

Say what you will about the Iran hostage situation in the late 70s. At least Jimmy Carter did not make a treasonous secret deal to keep the hostages captive longer, just to swing a covert arms deal and also make himself look good to win an election.

Complain all you want about a sexual affair in the White House during the 90s. At least Bill Clinton didn't have family members working for the security firm which handled the World Trade Center up to 9/11, nor did he have his Vice President watch and track an attacking aircraft from over 50 miles out while it was on a collision course with the Pentagon.

So long as we keep these disturbing points of fact somewhere in the forefront of our cognitive reasoning, the right may now continue on with the outrageous fallacy / fantasy that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney kept America safe during their eight year reign of inept governance. After all, it's allegedly a free democracy, so people are allowed to think whatever they want. Just please don't try to force a very poor understanding of reality on those that do follow politics closely and have a better grasp of the actual truth.

We all love America, but let's at least remember the immortal words of Sergeant Joe Friday, "Just the facts maam."

To coin a spin from the Southwest Airlines commercial, "You are now free to roam about your delusions." (Just don't bother the rest of us with them.)
 

All I Can Say Is, Holy Shit! Ignorance Is Indeed Bliss  <sigh>

These people are extremely uneducated and don't know the benefits of health reform
Easy to see who listens to FOX and the Bought-And-Paid For Wingnuts.

This next video would have the anti-healthcare crowd thoroughly confused.

I can see them staring at the screen like dogs, with their heads tilted sideways.
(Very clever and funny stuff. Point made.)
 

Bill Maher On America: Not Everything Has To Be For Profit

Watch The Full Version Here

Maher With More On Profit And Healthcare

Right On Bill!

Imagine what American athletics would be like if bats and balls of all types and the broadcast of athletic events were as rare in American homes as books. Americans need to recognize that no nation was ever made great by its entertainers, athletes, and shopkeepers; yet a nation of entertainers, athletes, and shopkeepers is what America has become. None of these is an intellectual pursuit. ...

Bill Maher On The Problems In America

From Real Time With Bill Maher

Bill Maher: America Isn't # 1

 

Olbermann Comments On Lack of Obama Spine for Prosecution

Keith has this one right on the button.

Where Is The Outrage?
Original op-ed (in blue) published in Wall Street Journal 080808)
A Libertarian Reply To A Conservative View (libertarian response in brown)
Ed note: What is painfully obvious is that a dangerous divide has been nurtured in this country. The right is more often than not these days hard pressed to not police itself beyond party lines and talking points (see David Vitter), while the left appears more apt to be objective to a greater degree, in most instances. (see Elliot Spitzer ) We need to find truth among common ground or we are doomed as a nation. We're Americans First Folks. This political discourse has to be moderated or we will kill ourselves from within. It would seem that is what some group wants from us all. Remember the civil war?

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Of Beverly Hills , CA . in response to the Wall Street Journal article titled "Where's The Outrage?" that appeared July 31,2008.

Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice. The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement. 

I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates.

I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.   

No, you are a Human Resources Consultant who has earned her way into Beverly Hills by cannibalizing the manufacturing base of this nation and adding your finger prints to the greatest financial debacle since the Great Depression. (read more here...) 

It would seem apparent to most that we've had enough of Reaganomics and the 'trickle-down" theory. It has been proven undeniably that this rationale is very clearly a gross financial myth, if not simply a bald faced lie from the fat cats that have gained all of their wealth off the middle-class and the poor.

The rich easily forget where they earned (stole) their money from, through the over-valuing of retail goods and services, ripping off the American consumer in the end process for obscene, outrageous profits. I like to refer to this as "unchecked capitalism."

The benchmark of American capitalism is that you charge 100% of what an item costs you in order to make your tidy profit. Many have now egregiously overstepped that rule with the sky as the limit principle for their unchecked, immoral avarice. For all the crap rhetoric that this country likes to spew about communism and socialism, it appears that unchecked capitalism has indeed truly been the worst evil for humanity and the world.

Fact: The Bush administration gave those 1% of America's most wealthy the largest tax breaks immediately upon coming into office. So what did Americans ever get in return? Oh yeah, our economy is in shambles.

Fact: More corporations leave for off-shore tax shelters, refusing to pay their fair share in an economy whose infrastructure they freely use and abuse on a daily basis. According to a 2008 Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, over 66% of these ultra-wealthy corporations and overpaid executives give nothing back to America by paying NO taxes whatsoever. With revenues of over $2.5 trillion dollars in untaxed income, this is, to coin a new term, taxation treason.

Fact: Rather than use bail-out money for what it was intended for, the wealthy elite have instead used it to, 1) get richer, 2) as a next egg for their own bad times, 2) grow more powerful by buying up smaller institutions and competitors, and 4) paying dividends to their top wealthy shareholders. All against the TARP and what the stimulus was intended for.

Fact: Wall Street pariahs fervently seek to destabilize markets and institutions through short selling and other outlandish financial schemes, all so they can make a buck for themselves, with no personal responsibility for the economic backlash they create.

Excuse me, but what is wrong with this picture?

If the term "criminal behavior" pops to mind, you're definitely on the right track.

For anyone to blame middle-class America for accepting loans that our government and private financial institutions enticed and teased them with is a wildly disingenuous accusation. As cold as it sounds or truly may be, rape has always been a hard case to to prove in a court of law when the victim eagerly urged and teased the predator on. So why do we accept this disgusting reasoning when it is now applied to inflated mortgages and loans in the current housing and financial crisis?

It would seem that if you seriously wanted to stimulate the economy, you would help the 99% of Americans who hold the true buying power in this country. That is where true economic recovery begins. It does not take a master economist to grasp the principle in this concept. Trying to appease the wealthy has already been proven to be a waste of time and money. It merely depletes the middle class and creates more of the poor and lower class.

Momma always said, don't trust bankers, lawyers, politicians or insurance salesman. I guess we can now add Wall Street investment brokers to that list as well.

Let the richest 1% wallow in the financial cesspool that they created. Throw the bail-out lifeline to the other 99% of Americans who truly need it.

There I said it. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sign me,

Just one more pissed off American.
 

Is The Leahy Truth Commission Really True?

One American's opinion on the proposed truth hearing.

A Republican Who Actually Speaks For 'We The People'

Congressman Ron Paul before the US Congress

Should CEOs start sharing the billions?
Albert Lea Tribune - ‎Mar 7, 2009‎
When you think the American worker could not possibly be beaten down any further, corporate America conspires with the Republican Party to crush the Free Choice Act (Card Check). One wonders how they can keep a straight face in their “concern” that the Free Choice Act deprives workers of their right to a private vote.
 

Glenn Beck Tells Bill O'Reilly The Mob Is Coming For Him

It's never a surprise when O'Reilly doesn't get it.

Bush Can Add 'President' To His List of Failures
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - Jan 27, 2009
The Democrat party has painted a horrible picutre of the Bush years. Maybe you should do your own research. " " poor betty...all i am going to say is you ...

World Newspapers Skewer Bush on Eve of Departure
Rancor for President almost universal
John Byrne Published: Monday January 19, 2009
On the eve of his departure, newspapers across the world are letting loose in editorials on the man seen as responsible for diminishing America's standing in the world: President George W. Bush.

A Humorous Look Back At 2008

Uncle Jay Explains 2008

In 2008 we all started living in interesting times
guardian.co.uk, UK - Dec 31, 2008
What does 2009 hold for us all? More than usual it's wise to admit we don't know, but that, collectively speaking at least, it will probably be nasty. ...

Another brutal year for liberty
The good news is that it's clear what the Obama administration must do to end the decade-long war on the Constitution.

Obama Should Worry About the Bush Family Tentacles Undermining His Plans
Bush may be gone, but his influence -- and the forces that put him in office -- aren't.
By Russ Baker, AlterNet. Posted January 22, 2009
As George W. Bush leaves office and Barack Obama takes over, we are in danger of missing the opportunity for change our new president has promised -- unless we come to grips with what the great historian and Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin called our "hidden history," not just of the past eight years but of the past half-century and more.
 

O'Reilley Asks, How Should America Deal With The Arab World?

FOX Anchor Goes Off On Shoe Thrower

Before conservatives nod their heads in agreement, I'm not referring to "the liberal media." I mean the propaganda that issues from the US government and the Israel Lobby.

It was neoconservative Bush regime propaganda fed to America through Judith Miller and the New York Times and through Murdoch's Fox "News" that convinced Americans that they were in danger from a small secular Arab country half way around the globe called Iraq. It was the American media that convinced Americans that getting rid of dangerous "weapons of mass destruction," weapons that did not exist in Iraq, would be a cakewalk paid for by Iraqi oil revenues. ... ( Read more... )

They Lied About Iraq in 2003, and They're Still Lying Now
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Monday, December 22

Easy money
Las Vegas Review - Journal, NV - 13 hours ago 122308
Problems inherent in the October rush by Congress to "do something" about the faltering economy have now become patently obvious. ...

George W. Bush Belongs in Prison
By Joel S. Hirschhorn
To ensure that no future president behaves like George W. Bush we must punish him. Not merely through the words of historians, but through the physical punishment that he has inflicted on so many millions of people. In previous eras citizens would have demanded “off with his head.” Now we must demand “lock him up.” How poetic for a pro-torture ex-president. Continue

Farewell Dubya. Now to undo the damage done ...
Independent, UK - Nov 4, 2008
“Both McCain and Obama are quite close to each other.” From a European perspective, she says, the statements by both senators on working to ending torture ...

The Worst Is Yet To Come
Anonymous Banker Weighs In On The Coming Credit Card Debacle
By Joe Nocera
A few weeks ago, I published an e-mail message sent to me from an executive who works in the banking industry — and had become disgusted by what he sees all around him. This weekend, that same banker sent me another e-mail message, which he has also agree to let me publish. It’s another wake-up call. Too bad nobody is listening. Continue

Programmer who rigged 2004 election dies suspiciously

Disemboweling America

Helen Thomas - It's A Depression
By HELEN THOMAS HEARST NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- Few prominent economists will say it, but to me it looks and feels like we are in another Great Depression or a reasonable facsimile.The current meltdown is dubbed a "financial crisis." But a rose by any other name would still inflict the same hardship and suffering on most people and businesses.

Expert Opinions, From Neutral Observers
New York Times, United States - Nov 29, 2008
Those were robust opinions, on the pages meant for them. But the reporters and columnists covering the economic crisis for The Times’s business news ...

Opinion: A new relationship with China will get Obama off to a ...
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 11 hours ago
By George Koo The Obama administration takes office on the promise of change while inheriting a host of challenges. If Obama were to overhaul the bilateral ...

Opinion: Create a downside to executive pay incentives
San Jose Mercury News, USA - Nov 27, 2008
By Christopher Kutz There has been much blame for the market meltdown in recent weeks on reckless bankers, brokers and investors. ...

Do modern Americans care enough?
York News-Times, NE - 9 hours ago
Certainly we care, but let’s not confuse caring with opinion and responsibility. We all have opinions. They are shared from the coffee shop to the halls of ...

Opinion: The fair value fallacy
FinancialWeek (subscription), NY - Nov 29, 2008
By Cindy Fornelli and Jeff Mahoney If we've learned anything from our current economic troubles, it’s this: Our financial system depends on accurate ...

Opinion: Richardson, not Clinton, should be secretary of state
San Jose Mercury News, USA - Nov 25, 2008
By Ruben Navarrette Jr. Check out this gold-plated résumé: seven-term member of Congress; special envoy to North Korea, Iraq, Cuba and Sudan; UN ambassador; ...

How the Financial Crisis Was Built Into the System: In 1910, seven men held a secret meeting on Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia. It's estimated that those seven men represented one-sixth of the world's wealth. Six were Americans representing J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and the U.S. government. One was a European representing the Rothschilds and Warburgs.

Death of the American Empire
By Tanya Cariina Hsu / Global Research - 102308
"Banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies"
(Thomas Jefferson)
America is dying. It is self-destructing and bringing the rest of the world down with it.
Often referred to as a sub-prime mortgage collapse, this obfuscates the real reason.

End the Fed, End Wall Street Bankster Rule, End the Derivatives Depression 
by Webster G. Tarpley / Global Research - 112308
The November 22 End the Fed rallies raise a vital issue: it is past time to abolish the unconstitutional, illegal, and failed institution known as the Federal Reserve System, the privately owned central bank which has been looting and wrecking the US economy for almost a hundred years.

Farewell Dubya. Now to undo the damage done ...
Independent, UK - Nov 4, 2008
“Both McCain and Obama are quite close to each other.” From a European perspective, she says, the statements by both senators on working to ending torture ...

Guest Columnists Warn Obama About Escalating in Afghanistan Editor & Publisher

The two best things in newspapers today
Baltimore Sun, United States - 10 hours ago
... rampant conflicts of interest among the retired generals whom the national news shows use as independent "analysts" for the Iraq war and other matters. ...