When progressives talk about federal jobs programs (not military service); Medicare for all (not Pay or Die health care); free higher education (not just for the elite); tax incentives for industries that are developing or using clean, sustainable forms of energy; or any other social programs to help people the centrists and rightists scream:
"SOCIALISM!" But when a capitalist company (usually banks or mortgage banks go under, we the tax-payers bail them out.So our economic system is Capitalize the profits, but Socialize the costs. So socialism is okay, if it is benefiting the already wealthy elitists.
Well in this new round of bailouts I want to scream:
Socialism!!! I had a very interesting week studying how my opponent, Nancy Pelosi (D-SF), Bill Clinton and his band of crooks sold us out to Citicorp which became Citigroup. In 1999, Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act and Clinton signed the law. The repeal of Glass-Steagall is what led us into the mess we are in now. Research it yourself. The law repealing Glass-Steagall is called the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: a bi-partisan effort to impoverish us all. Other major players: Roger Levy the lobbyist for Citigroup and Robert Rubin a Clintonista who also pushed NAFTA over health insurance reform.
Like the late, great George Carlin said: It's one big club, and we ain't in it.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan, who was KIA in Iraq on 04/04/04. She is a co-founder and President of Gold Star Families for Peace and the author of two books: Not One More Mother's Child and Dear President Bush.
Right on! Cindy's quite right. In this context, Germany's first Chancellor - Otto von Bismarck - was a Socialist. He instituted universal health care for all citizens in his country; and, guess what? Germany's system is among the best in the world! In reality, Bismarck was a Conservative; yet, he followed Jesus Christ's admonition to care for the most vulnerable in his society: the very young, the very old, the sick, and the defective - those who are unable to care for themselves.
A society that does not provide for its most vulnerable members eventually disintegrates into chaos and violence; whereas, a society that does provide for its most vulnerable members eventually thrives, and positively impacts the world. Unfortunately, American society is more akin to the former; and it shows in the political discourse today. And, this can be pointed mostly to the policies and actions of the G.W. Bush Administration.
by
eileen kuch (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 52 comments)
on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 3:57:45 PM
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 6:16 PM EDT The Associated Press By JENNIFER LOVEN Associated Press Writer
{Bold type, underlining, and comments added by Boomerang -- What's YOUR impression fellow Taxpaining Americans? Are you feeling particularly PHILANTHROPIC right about NOW?}
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pushing back against an increasingly aggressive Moscow, President Bush said Wednesday the U.S. will send an extra $1 billion to Georgia to help the pro-Western former Soviet republic in the wake of Russia's invasion. {Propaganda? Factually challenged? Certainly disputed!}
"Georgia has a strong economic foundation and leaders with an impressive record of reform," Bush said in a statement. "Our additional economic assistance will help the people of Georgia recover from the assault on their country, and continue to build a prosperous and competitive economy." {These are American Taxpayer's funds being shipped to a former Soviet satellite. 47 million Americans cannot afford Health Insurance, are being fleeced by OILMEN at the pumps, had their jobs shipped overseas, are financially plundered by rapacious corporatism, and are bleeding Trillions for an illegal war -- Start fixing things HERE, and Keep our guilty fingers out of other people's countries!}
Vice President Dick Cheney, due in Georgia on Thursday, planned to make the massive aid package a major highlight of his discussions with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Cheney is on a tour of three former Soviet republics that are wary of Russia's intentions in what Moscow likes to call its "near abroad" sphere of influence and what Cheney termed while in Azerbaijan on Wednesday "the shadow of the Russian invasion of Georgia." {Again, skewing events with Lies to suit Hegemonic designs}.
"The free world cannot allow the destiny of a small independent country to be determined by the aggression of a larger neighbor," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at the State Department in a simultaneous announcement with Bush. {TALK ABOUT THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK! IRAQ!!!}
She mocked Russia for its recognition of the two separatist regions in Georgia that are at the heart of the conflict that broke out last month, and for its failure to garner international backing.
"Almost no one followed suit, I might note. It isn't really an impressive list to have Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognize each other," she said. {Pissing off Russia would seem to be a foolish move; while trying to legitimize the U.S. lack of backing for it's aggressive and pre-emptive wars by mocking Russia shows tremendous arrogance}
Also in tandem with Bush, the International Monetary Fund announced it has agreed to lend Georgia $750 million for economic recovery. {Fanny Mae & Freddie Mac are certainly getting Economic Stimulus -- but not Joe & Jane American -- they're getting the bill and the shaft!}
The administration is delaying an announcement on some sort of punishment of Russia for its actions against Georgia and its refusal thus far to comply with a French-brokered cease-fire. However, the decision to shower tiny Georgia with such substantial aid and have Cheney talk about it in Moscow's backyard will likely be seen by the Kremlin as highly provocative, if not a punitive measure in and of itself.The dollar total is half the $2 billion a year the U.S. gives Israel, its largest aid recipient. {What good could have been done with the Trillions blown on Iraq? $2 Billion annually to Israel?! How many can be covered by Health Care by that much?} But the sizable amount still shows the strategic importance the U.S. places on both supporting Saakashvili's Western-leaning government and countering the desire by a newly resurgent and energy-rich Moscow for greater regional influence.
Cheney made a point in Azerbaijan of saying that Washington has "a deep and abiding interest" in the region's stability. {American Job Security and Economic Stability is in the trashcan -- Obviously, our leaders are NOT interested in helping the non-elite Americans. Actions do speak louder than words.}
That said, the U.S. has found during this conflict that it has little leverage with Russia. Moscow has drawn condemnations from the United States and Europe, but little else. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Russia closed its embassy in Georgia, following Georgia's severing of diplomatic ties with Moscow.After years of tensions, the recent fighting began Aug. 7 when Georgian forces went into its breakaway province of South Ossetia in hopes of re-establishing control. Russian forces repelled the offensive and pushed deep into Georgia proper.Both sides signed the cease-fire in mid-August, but Russia has ignored its requirement for all forces to return to prewar positions.Bush said the money will meet humanitarian needs, such as helping to resettle families that were displaced. The U.S. already has provided $30 million in humanitarian relief since the conflict began.The United States has sent two military ships bearing aid to Georgia, and the USS Mount Whitney — the flagship of the Navy's 6th Fleet — steamed through the Dardanelles early Wednesday and was expected to pass through the Bosporus later in the day. The two Turkish-controlled straits link the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.The new funds are also aimed at helping impoverished Georgia, wedged between Russia and Turkey on the Black Sea, to rebuild infrastructure and boost an economy that has been growing but is nowhere near grown. {SIC}
Georgia wants to rebuild and modernize its badly routed military. Though U.S. officials emphasized that none of the current package was for military aid, there was no effort to rule that out for the future. Russia has accused the United States of delivering arms on the U.S. warships that have docked in Georgian ports with humanitarian supplies. {Would we covertly supply ARMS? Isn't the U.S. the largest Arms Dealer in the world?}
Rice said that $570 million of the funds will be made available in the remaining months of the Bush administration, though Congress will have to approve $200 million of that. That also leaves a sizable portion — $430 million — up to the budgeting discretion of next year's Congress and the new president. {Sound financial decisions made using TAXPAYER'S MONEY! If we don't want to support this type of expense, shouldn't we withold Tax Donations?!}
But Bush feels confident in that area, as both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, have expressed strong support for Georgia's embattled government and Bush's approach to Russia's invasion. {Perhaps they are all working for the same group?}
On trade, Bush said the United States would negotiate a deal to provide preferential access to Georgian exports. The president said his commerce secretary would dispatch a trade mission to Georgia in the coming weeks. {Again, I think we flipping sand into the face of the Russian Bear!}
———Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Desmond Butler contributed to this story from Washington, and Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili from Tbilisi, Georgia.
by
boomerang (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 326 comments)
on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 5:37:53 PM
On Meet The Press August 24, 2008, Tom Brokaw made Nancy Pelosi squirm when he asked her about the $100,000 dollar investment she and her husband has made in T. Boone Pickens natural gas for tomorrow's energy needs bundle. Brokaw wanted to know if, since she is Speaker Of The House, whether she shouldn't see a conflict of interest between her investment and her position to influence energy legislation.
If natural gas is so plentyful, why is the cost of barely heating my home in the winter in the thousands of dollars, another 28 % increase just in time for this coming winter? And will gas powered transportation create even impoverishing higher home heating bills just as corn for ethanol drove the price of food into the stratosphere?
by
Robert Arend (4 articles, 16 quicklinks, 19 diaries, 179 comments)
on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:59:29 PM
" In The mean time , when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people , insomuch that they trode one upon another , he began to say unto his disciples first of all , Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees , which is hypocrisy . For there is nothing covered , that shall not be revealed ; neither hid , that shall not be known . Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light ; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops ." - Luke 12
by
Keystone (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 173 comments)
on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 12:43:23 AM
Very perceptive your view of bail outs being socialism for the elite. This should come as a surprise to no one as it is always the elites that control the government to their advantage, the intentions of the advocates of regulation not withstanding.
Which leads to the question, what's the alternative? Your article is long on criticism & short on alternatives.
You correctly point out that the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act got us into the present mess. Keep that in context though. It only happened that way because the finanacial institutions were operating in a regulated environment with a central bank inflating the money supply & keeping interest rates artificially low, & regulators restricting entry into the field & insuring the deposits. In a free market with privately issued money the repeal of Glass-Steagall Act would have been good. See "Banks on the Dole".
by
Darren Wolfe (7 articles, 199 quicklinks, 106 diaries, 779 comments)
on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 7:41:59 AM
Darren Wolfe needs to get a clue. We already have privately issued money. Private control of money creation is the problem not the solution. The Federal Reserve which is a privately owned and controlled central bank by the international bankers prints money and loans the money to the government and forces the government to pay interest on the loan. Private control of money creation is also unconstitutional. The US Constitution says that Congress is supposed to coin money and regulate its value. Even your idol Ron Paul opposes the privately owned Federal Reserve and private control of money creation.
Socialism basically means economic democracy. That means workers' cooperatives.
by
Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments)
on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 9:46:03 PM
What doesn't some bright Lawyer in Office or not, step up and say that Socialism is not Unconstitutional? The whole idea fo our giant military is socialism at its worst.
But then I'm looking ahead to even 2012. I'll dow hat I can to find someone to run in only New England, on on the West Coast, and on in Florida. Because I am under no delusion that Obama (hopefully.) wil not go far enough. Its going to be a long battle to crack the heads of this 2 party system, with all its intrenched tough nuts to crack.
by
Michael Dewey (4 articles, 1 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 209 comments)
on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 7:47:40 PM
I am a Rightist and sometimes I wonder what is going on. For starters, Ayn Rand opposed government aid to corporations. In Atlas Shrugged she plainly pointed out her opposition to lobbyists; she believed corporations should not have them. Also in Atlas Shrugged she stated her opposition to government bailouts of corporations.
Presidential candidate Alan Keyes (whom I heard speak) tells us that we have private duty, and whatever is not done privately must be done publicly.
People oppose socialized medicine, while it is obvious every American should have health insurance. It is possible to provide health insurance without socialized medicine.
There are heated discussions going on within and without the Republican Party. There are millions of conservatives opposed to the illegal wars and the P.A.T.R.I.O.T Act and Dep'tment of Homeland Security.
Cindy, keep up the good work. In protest I voted Democrat for the first time in my life for Congress two years ago on 'Regime change Day', waiting for the 'First 100 hours'. It is a sad fact the 'Contract with America' signed by the GOP in 1994 was more successful - we still remember it fourteen years later while 'Regime change Day' has already been forgotten except as a sign of weakness and failure.
You Leftists are right there are billions of needy people around the world and capitalism is not helping them. What we need is pure capitalism - every person in the world the right to become wealthy. Leftists and Rightists agree that coporations produce wealth for the owners and executives. The answer is obvious - make everybody a corporation.
When I see starving people in Africa I feel like calling Shawn and Dan, my brokers, and ask them to go to these villages and incorporate the starving people.
by
Barker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 120 comments)
on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9:53:18 PM
You admit capitalism isn't working. Then you say we need pure capitalism. So basically you want to continue what doesn't work. Businesses are incorporated not people. You can't make a person a corporation because a corporation is an artificial entity created by the legal system. Getting rich is a privilege not a right. There would be no rich people if there were no poor people. Great wealth can only exist amidst great poverty.
by
Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments)
on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 10:12:22 PM
Government bailout of businesses isn't socialism but a form of corporate welfare, something which socialists adamantly oppose. We have an elite controlled government because our system of government was originally created by elites called Federalists, such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
by
Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments)
on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 10:22:58 PM
Government bailout of businesses isn't socialism but a form of corporate welfare, something which socialists adamantly oppose. We have an elite controlled government because our system of government was originally created by elites called Federalists, such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
by
Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments)
on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 10:22:59 PM
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