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Arlen is a writer/blogger living in Monterey, CA. His political blog is thebigpicturereport.com. He also wrote a quotation quiz "What's Your QQ?" at the Monterey Herald for 9 years. see quotationquotient.com.
(12 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 29, 2012 Is the CIA Everywhere? Maybe Your Paranoia is Justified
The American security/police state keeps expanding. Jesse Ventura found out "there is a CIA operative inside every state government." And that was pre-9/11! How bad is it now?
(65 comments) SHARE Thursday, September 1, 2022 America's Choice: Semi-Democracy or Fascism
Our election choices in this country are narrow. You will either get the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. The parties have set it up in this way to make our choices limited.
This time around the stakes are especially high, because the Republican Party seems to prefer fascism over democracy, Should the GOP regain power, Democrats may not get another chance to counter the right-wing MAGA takeover.
(20 comments) SHARE Monday, August 22, 2011 The Fed's Unprecedented Generosity
Results of a government audit reveal the Fed gave big banks and corporations a $16 trillion bailout. That amount exceeds our national debt. Why wasn't this covered by the corporate media?
(37 comments) SHARE Thursday, April 19, 2018 Syria Used Chemical Weapons--Are You Sure?
Do we have proof that Syria used chemical weapons on its own citizens in Dourma? We don't and President Assad had no rational reason to do so.
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, October 25, 2017 The Billionaires Won. The Rest of Us Lost.
Billionaires and Big Corporations own the United States. Democracy is essentially gone. It's painful to acknowledge, but nevertheless true.
(21 comments) SHARE Tuesday, November 13, 2012 How Occupy Wall Street Helped Obama Win
While ignored by the mainstream media, Occupy Wall Street helped President Obama win re-election. By pointing out wealth disparity and Wall Street crimes, Occupy painted a picture of an America divided between the One Percent and the 99%, and Romney appeared to represent the former. That image cost him at election time.
(9 comments) SHARE Monday, June 25, 2018 All Trump, All the Time: A Recipe For Disaster
Trump speaks and the news media report. But it's all one-sided. The press needs to report on what the opposition party, the Democrats, have to say. Otherwise, the country only hears the reality of Donald Trump. No wonder he is able to keep his approval rating as high as it is.
(5 comments) SHARE Saturday, February 11, 2012 The Power of the Occupy Movement
The Occupy movement has accomplished a lot in a short time, and their influence is still evident. Will they re-emerge stronger than ever?
(28 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 17, 2011 A Republican Sweep in 2012?
Three major trends point to a Republican sweep of the 2012 election. An unlikely shift in strategy and presentation by President Obama would be the only way to reverse that probability.
(12 comments) SHARE Saturday, August 27, 2011 Speculation: The Osama bin Laden Death Hoax
This is my conspiracy theory about the death of Osama bin Laden. I can't prove it, but the government can't prove their story either.
(27 comments) SHARE Friday, February 17, 2017 Will Trump Step Down?
Will Donald Trump resign from office in the next few weeks? I think the current Russian election collusion scandal combined with his fragile ego might cause him to step down sooner than later.
(23 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 15, 2012 Why I Want Barack Obama to Win, But Won't Vote For Him
I want Barack Obama to win re-election, because if he doesn't Mitt Romney is the alternative. That would be a disaster. Still, I won't vote for President Obama, knowing my vote for a 3rd Party candidate won't hurt him.
(42 comments) SHARE Saturday, June 21, 2014 Are 7 Billion People Too Many?
The Earth faces serious problems, and overpopulation plays a big part. But very few people, governments or media platforms talk about it.
(12 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Single-Payer Health Care--Now Is The Time
Okay, Papa John's and Applebee's, you're threatening to fire or cut back on your employees because of ObamaCare. Fine, then join forces with liberals and progressives to pass single-payer nationalized health care. If that happened, you wouldn't need to provide health insurance and it would make your life so much easier.
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Senate Stuck in Quicksand of Record Filibusters
A record number of GOP filibusters means little gets done in the Senate. The majority vote in favor of the "Buffett Rule" wasn't enough to pass it because 60 votes were needed for cloture.
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, March 25, 2015 The So-Called Threat From Iran
What do we have to fear from a nuclear Iran? Unless they are crazy or suicidal, Iran will not be using a nuclear weapon.
(3 comments) SHARE Friday, September 2, 2011 THE WAR BETWEEN THE CLASSES: America's Second Civil War
America is in its Second Civil War but the losing side is so overmatched it has become a rout.
The top one percent has no intention of slowing down their offensive.
(2 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 30, 2016 How the Corporate Media Has Failed Us
America's corporate media has neglected to properly warn the public about two impending disasters: Climate and Terrorism. The consequences are deadly.
(60 comments) SHARE Friday, November 26, 2021 Putin Won. We Lost.
President Putin of Russia worked to get what he wanted. He helped get a compliant U.S. president installed, an American government divided and dysfunctional, with total political chaos. Russia should be happy with the result. American democracy, however, appears to be in serious danger.
(38 comments) SHARE Tuesday, December 17, 2013 The American Injustice System
Does America have a justice system or an injustice system? In many cases, including these seven examples, there appears to be a significant shortage of fairness in our justice system.
(5 comments) SHARE Saturday, February 16, 2013 American Soldiers: Heroes or Victims?
A Medal of Honor winner, a famous Navy sniper: they were called heroes, but are they? They killed enemy combatants defending their countries from a foreign invader for the benefit of oil and other multinational corporations. Aren't they really just victims?
(11 comments) SHARE Friday, August 16, 2013 The Never-Ending "War on Terror" Hoax
The specter of terrorism has been used to frighten Americans for many years, and exponentially since the attacks on September 11, 2001. But is the "War on Terror" for real, or is it a monumental hoax and scam?
(11 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 8, 2012 The Unspoken Reason For the Rise and Fall 0f America
America is in decline, and the reason for it is the same economic system that once made it great. We just went too far and need to reel it in.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, October 27, 2022 Brace Yourself--Fascism Is Coming to America
With the midterm election just days away, it is entirely conceivable Republicans will be in control of one or both houses of Congress.
As the party gets more extreme, we can see them embracing the principles of fascism. We are close to finding out what American fascism looks like. It won't be pretty.
(16 comments) SHARE Tuesday, May 8, 2018 War With Iran--Is It Inevitable?
A major war in the Middle East would be catastrophic, yet that is the direction we are heading.
(10 comments) SHARE Sunday, January 19, 2020 The Eve of Destruction--Coming Soon?
The survival of life on our planet is in question, and it could be sooner than we are willing to acknowledge. It feels as if humankind doesn't take seriously the peril the Earth faces. The biggest existential threats to life on this planet can be boiled down to two: weapons of mass destructive and world climate change. Either one can destroy life on Earth.
(6 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Are 7 Billion People A Problem?
Now that the Earth has seven billion humans, what effect does that have on our lives and the health of the planet?
(2 comments) SHARE Tuesday, March 31, 2015 Media Blackout: Child Rape in Colombia by Americans
In Colombia, children were brutally raped by American soldiers and contractors, according to an official report in Colombia. The American corporate media has completely ignored the story.
(18 comments) SHARE Wednesday, December 22, 2021 Fox News: A Whole Different Reality
Is Fox News a real news network? Most of us know it isn't. Rather, it is the public relations arm and propaganda machine for the Republican Party and Donald J. Trump. They have no concern for truth, facts and reality.
(5 comments) SHARE Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Democrat Party vs. Republic Party
Republicans taunt Democrats by using the name of the party as an adjective, i.e. Democrat Party. It's time for the party to fight back.
(21 comments) SHARE Friday, April 14, 2023 Why Donald Trump Is Responsible For the Tennessee Travesty
Donald Trump has poisoned the political atmosphere so much that we can expect more incidents like the one in the Tennessee state House of Representatives. So much hatred and bitterness everywhere that politics is dysfunctional all across this nation.
(10 comments) SHARE Friday, October 4, 2019 Capitalism Works Great--Except When It Doesn't
Here's a challenge: name an important problem in America today that is not caused or exasperated by capitalistic greed. It has ruined what is left of our democracy. A massive restructure of our economic system is desperately needed.
(21 comments) SHARE Wednesday, June 28, 2017 The American People Never Win--Here's Why
The American people never seem to get what they want. The reason is that we live in an oligarchy, not a democracy. Billionaires and large corporations own this country and control the political process.
(3 comments) SHARE Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Why Election Campaigns Are a Waste of Your Time
If you are paying attention to this 2012 election campaign, you are wasting your time. Nothing a candidate says or does matters. It's all about getting votes.
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 21, 2012 5 Great Things About America...That Aren't True Any More
America was once about democracy, peace, a free press, freedom and upward mobility. All of that has disappeared or is slipping away. Is it gone forever?
(10 comments) SHARE Sunday, November 13, 2016 The Good News About the 2016 Election
If there is any good thing about the 2016 presidential election, it is this: Being in control of the entire government, Trump and the Republicans must put up or shut up. They cannot blame Democrats and liberals if things go bad, which they likely will.
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, May 10, 2012 Wall Street Has No Worries -- Obama and Holder Are Shooting Blanks
Wall Street has so far gotten away with the crime of the century: the collapse of our economy. No prosecutions of top bank executives. Where is the justice from the Obama/Holder Justice Department?
(21 comments) SHARE Saturday, March 26, 2016 Terrorists: Why Do They Want to Blow Us Up?
Missing from the commentaries and responses to the recent Belgium bombing was the basic question as to why Muslim extremists attack us. But isn't it obvious, and why don't we even want to talk about it?
(7 comments) SHARE Sunday, April 29, 2012 Are You Suffering From OLS (Obama Letdown Syndrome)?
OLS (Obama Letdown Syndrome) began infecting millions of liberal/progressives soon after the President took office. Will it continue to get worse, or is there hope for a cure?
(2 comments) SHARE Tuesday, September 18, 2012 They Dislike Us For More Than Bad Movies
Americans are being attacked and shot at in the Middle East for more than just bad movies. A long history of war and interference in this region is the main reason we are disliked in the many of these countries.
(19 comments) SHARE Thursday, October 21, 2021 "It's the Media, Stupid!"
The gaping political divide in this country can be blamed mostly on the rise and popularity of right-wing fake media. Because of it, our democracy is endangered..
(5 comments) SHARE Friday, August 26, 2011 Why You are Going Broke Filling Up Your Car
Even wonder why gas prices go up and down, but mostly up? What causes these fluctuations? Here are the answers.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, October 3, 2016 98 Minutes That Changed History
98 minutes of debate may have given Hillary Clinton the presidency. The reason: Donald Trump revealed his true self while a national audience looked on.
(3 comments) SHARE Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Which Republican Will You Vote For?
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney--which Republican will win? Sure, Obama is running as a Democrat, but when you come down to it, we have a Radical Right Republican Party vs a Moderate Republican Party (the Democrats).
(3 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 22, 2023 No Truth, No Facts, No Reality = No Democracy
With the rise of the Trump MAGA cult, democracy (or at least the version of it we have here) is in real danger. The appetite for a fascist-style authoritarian government is stronger than ever. Those of us who fear a MAGA power-grab need to step up to save our flawed democracy. If we don't, the results would be devastating.
(11 comments) SHARE Monday, August 29, 2011 Obama, QUIT NOW!
It is time for Barack Obama to step aside and let a strong progressive Democrat take up the fight he seems unable to lead.
(14 comments) SHARE Friday, October 28, 2011 Iraq: Now Can We Apologize?
Now that American troops are leaving Iraq, don't we owe a few apologies for the waste and destruction we left behind?
(8 comments) SHARE Saturday, March 5, 2016 President Trump? It Ain't Gonna Happen
If Donald Trump won the GOP nomination, conservatives would run a 3rd party candidate against him. And if he didn't win the nomination, Trump would run as a 3rd party candidate. Either way, it's good news for the Democratic nominee.
(5 comments) SHARE Monday, November 12, 2018 How the Media Serve Trump
The media has made Donald Trump. They wait impatiently for his next tweet or rant.
The corporate news media has given him millions in free, inadequately challenged advertising for his 2020 re-election campaign. The news media should rethink how they cover this president.
(8 comments) SHARE Sunday, September 3, 2023 Why American Elections Are a Sham
Our elections are far from fair and democratic. We rely on the electoral college to pick our presidents. More than once candidates with less popular votes became president. Besides that, the Supreme Court says that money equals speech, so that the wealthy in America have much more control over who gets elected than ordinary Americans.
(7 comments) SHARE Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Obama's Last Stand
Obama's Jobs Speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday is probably his last opportunity to change the course of his failed presidency. He better go for broke. This is Obama's Last Stand.
(15 comments) SHARE Friday, February 8, 2013 It's the Postal SERVICE, Stupid
The Postal Service is under attack by Republicans who want to see it privatized and its labor unions weakened or eliminated. Congress has made it so the Postal Service is losing money and therefore is justifying more cuts and elimination of services. But why does the Postal Service need to make a profit anyway?
(4 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 17, 2011 Are Poor Americans People?
With the Supreme Court Citizens United decision, do corporations have more standing as people than those living in poverty?
(2 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 23, 2022 How Putin--and Trump--Ruined America
The efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin to help assist Donald Trump become president paid big dividends. America has turned into a mean, intolerant, and bitter nation, split apart into two widely divergent political and cultural factions. Putin must be happy to see the results of his interference.
(8 comments) SHARE Tuesday, February 19, 2013 It's Time to Choose: Democracy or Plutocracy?
We mustn't allow campaign finance reform to slip to the bottom of our priorities. With all the other GOP election tricks, and with a favorable Democratic election in 2012, Citizens United runs the chance of being ignored. If so, Democrats and progressives will likely pay a heavy price.
(8 comments) SHARE Saturday, August 27, 2022 The Trump Empire's Final Days
Why did Donald Trump fight so hard to overturn the 2016 election? Most likely because he realized that if he were the sitting president he would be immune to criminal charges. Not so if he was out of office.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, February 29, 2024 Merrick Garland Must Go
Merrick Garland was a poor choice to become Attorney General. He has dragged his feet on holding Donald Trump accountable for his multiple crimes, to the point that Trump can use his stalling techniques to avoid charges before the November election. And Garland's choice of Robert Hur to investigate Biden's mishandling of official documents turned out badly. Biden nominated Garland and needs to correct that mistake.
(3 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Is This How Fascism Begins?
Does America have some of the same conditions that spawned fascism in the 1930s? There are similarities, enough to make us worry.
(6 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 11, 2021 9/11: The Senseless Way We Handled It
Let's not dwell too much on 9/11. In so many ways it ruined our country, especially the way we handled it afterwards.
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, October 2, 2023 Trump Will Not be President--It Will be His Choice
There is only one logical way for Donald Trump to avoid what terrorizes him most, going to prison. Merrick Garland is probably uncomfortable with sending an ex-president to jail. The solution: a plea deal in which Trump will avoid prison, but it will have to be at the cost of agreeing not to run for president. It will be in the best interests of the country.
(3 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 10, 2011 Cynical and Suspicious Observers
Some cynical and suspicious observers might question the veracity and timing of the latest "credible but unconfirmed" terrorist threat.
(1 comments) SHARE Friday, May 20, 2022 The Last Days of American Democracy?
Democracy, as we know it in America, is in great danger. The Republican Party is nuts but they are surging. If they win back Congress in November, democracy will be in danger. They seem poised to win and Democrats appear hopeless. The Supreme Court draft resolution on abortion rights gives Democrats something to run on and energize their passive voters. Can they take advantage of this great opportunity?
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, October 31, 2012 Best-Case Election Scenario: The Status Quo
Even if Barack Obama wins the presidency, he will likely be stuck with the same kind of Congress we have now. So don't go overboard celebrating an Obama victory...unless you enjoy Washington gridlock.
(1 comments) SHARE Saturday, September 1, 2012 The Big Lie--History Repeating Itself
The GOP appears to be doubling down on its lies and distortions of reality. But it's nothing new, as we see in a 1944 campaign speech by FDR.
(1 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 7, 2012 Wisconsin: The Final Nail in the Coffin of American Democracy
It is no longer accurate to call our political system a democracy. The money that corporations and billionaires can pour into American elections overwhelms popular will
and determines who controls our government.
(13 comments) SHARE Monday, November 23, 2015 How to Control Terrorism--A Radical Plan
How to get out of the endless cycle of violence: Get Our military out of the Middle East. Even more radical: Use the saved money to help Muslim countries. Long-term goal: Less violence and more peace.
(6 comments) SHARE Sunday, October 9, 2011 Hope at Last? The Path Out of the American Nightmare
Two solutions, and the second must piggyback off the first, may offer hope that the decline of America could be reversed. It's a long shot, but there are signs that a reawakening is upon us.
(2 comments) SHARE Thursday, October 6, 2011 Hope at Last? The Path Out of the American Nightmare
At last, a ray of hope? Two solutions, and the second must piggyback off the first, offer a chance to reverse this country's disastrous political and economic problems.
(1 comments) SHARE Tuesday, March 12, 2024 The Night Joe Biden Woke Up
As his poll numbers stagnated and it became conceivable Donald Trump could return to power, Joe Biden needed to shake things up. His best opportunity to do so came up: his final State of the Union Address. Biden seemed to come alive and surprised most observers. But will his newfound energy be enough to make a difference? We only have until November to find out .
(6 comments) SHARE Saturday, May 26, 2012 Even Best-Case Election Scenarios Not Very Promising
Even if the Democrats sweep the 2012 election, the best-case scenario, the path toward a theocratic police state corporatocracy will only be slowed, not stopped.
(7 comments) SHARE Wednesday, February 6, 2013 Should We Know Why the Government Can Decide to Kill Us?
Does the CIA have a right to assassinate a U.S. citizen without due process? This is a question that should come up in the confirmation hearing for CIA director nominee John Brennan and this policy needs to be reexamined.
(9 comments) SHARE Sunday, February 8, 2015 A Radical Plan to Curb Terrorist Attacks in the West
Why not use the manpower and money we are wasting to fight wars in the Muslim world and instead go in there and rebuild and help them. It would change everything, and the risk of terrorist attacks would be drastically reduced.
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 11, 2012 When Top Tax Rates Rise, So Does The Economy
The evidence is clear: the economy does best when the top tax rates are high. The inverse is also true: when top tax rates decline, so does the economy.
(17 comments) SHARE Friday, February 17, 2012 Can It Get Any Better Than This For Democrats?
The trends are all pointing up for President Obama and the Democrats. That's quite a change since last year. What is different and will it last?
(3 comments) SHARE Thursday, November 17, 2011 The Very Excellent 2010 Election
Strange as it might seem, the 2010 midterm election helped trigger the Occupy Wall Street movement and weaken the clout of the Tea Party.
(3 comments) SHARE Tuesday, August 23, 2011 What If There Were an "American Spring"?
Why can't there be an equivalent to the "Arab Spring" in our country? I explore some reasons why it is not likely to happen anytime soon.
(3 comments) SHARE Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Why the Wall Street Protestors Can't Quit
Traditional democratic methods are useless against the power of big money and greed. Mass protests may be the only way to make the powers-that-be take notice.
(2 comments) SHARE Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Chris Hayes Is My Hero (Or Almost Was)
Chris Hayes was right. Soldiers should not be called "heroes." To do so is to make war more exciting, palatable, and easy to wage. Better to tell the truth: War is death, injury and destruction--always and without exception.
(12 comments) SHARE Monday, November 5, 2012 By All Rights, Democrats Should Win in a Landslide
By all rights, Democrats should win in a landslide on election day. But they won't because of two significant obstacles: (1) the enormous money advantage of the GOP and (2) the influential right-wing media machine.
(3 comments) SHARE Monday, September 26, 2011 Another George W. Bush Clone?
Does anybody really want another intellectually challenged conservative Texas governor running for President?
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Obama's Burden: The Right-Wing Media Machine
President Obama and his party face an antagonistic conservative media but rarely go on the offensive. No wonder their message so often fails to resonate.
(3 comments) SHARE Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Our Unpredictable Country: Who Could Have Known.....?
We are told low taxes help the economy, health insurance from insurance companies is best, and free trade is wonderful, and yet the results show us something totally different...Who knew?
(5 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Paul Ryan For President?
With the current Republican field floundering, could they turn to an outsider--Paul Ryan?
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, April 2, 2012 Drugs & Prisons: Time For a New Strategy?
The numbers are indisputable: We as a nation are doing a terrible job balancing our commitment to schools and prisons. Our money, as shown by California's statistics, are moving toward incarceration and away from education.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, July 2, 2012 The Fate of Health Care and the November Election
In a fair world, the American people would learn about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, which will help Obama and the Dems. But in the real world, ruled by money, the lies will dominate and the people will end up confused and overwhelmed, and willing to scrap ObamaCare. This will help the Republicans.
(1 comments) SHARE Friday, September 2, 2011 Obama Put in His Place, Again
President Obama again caves in to the Republicans. He seems incapable of projecting strong leadership.
(2 comments) SHARE Saturday, March 24, 2012 The Difference Between NEWS and Not-News
What kind of news are you likely to find in the corporate media? And what kind of news are you not likely to see?
(1 comments) SHARE Thursday, February 1, 2024 Will Trump's Senility Save Us?
Conventional wisdom tells us President Biden will be facing the inevitable GOP nominee Donald Trump. But there are obvious signs that the ex-president is losing what's left of his mind, and that, combined with his endless legal problems, may take him down before we get to November.