Let’s see how we might cut that 40% you claim: 1) Raise taxes on the 1% (back to
Ronnie Ray Gun levels,say), (2) allow Medicare to negotiate pill and other
medical costs (3) have a single payer medical system (4) stop these ceaseless wars,
(5) put some constraints on manufacturers moving jobs abroad,etc

Get it ?

You can always define a problem so that is has only the solution you advocate. Like
doing none of the above.

I’d change one point- “nationalistic” = I think we have been,and are being,
pushed into simply accepting authority- the 1%,Wall Street,Courts,etc.
If an invader presents us with an authority figure,many people will just
accept that. This is a consequence of being ill informed,failing to check
factual content of statements,etc

Our language has become totally debased. We need an on line dictionary–
translator that can be kept up to date (daily). It would include names
of political organizations including their goals,sponsors,and orientation.

The MSM are a total failure. Our rep is one of the tea party and when
asked to respond about his vote parrots the line about job creators,reducing
taxes etc. It is never pointed out in the “interview” that his vote has
hurt many of the people he represents- a rural area with many unemployed
or older folks barely making it.

We need more Bernie Sanders and Claude Peppers in Congress!

I agree. Also with OldFatGuy @10

Remember when Fortas had to resign? Times sure change.

Doesn’t the SS CPI exclude the cost of food and energy? So it is already false.

I sit on my organization’s benefits committee and am located in a rural community.
We have outside consultants helping control health care costs. These controls
are on the patients (consumers is a charged word). I have asked many times
for price lists to be posted. E.G. what is the cost of a room? How much can I
save by bringing (and administering) my own pills/drops?. How much does a CT
scan cost? A colonoscopy? What is the price of pills? Why do we have 2 hospitals
in an area that can support one? [e.g.it makes CT scans more expensive as there
are not enough patients to cover much more than base costs].We even have an ex-med
billing person on our committee who tells us how difficult it is to determine
these costs-as they change so rapidly to maximize hospital’s profits.We’ve
had a member’s blood pressure go “sky-high” on generics. As he is a chemist,
he analyzed the brand and generic pills and discovered a significant difference
in the active ingredient (he’s now back on the brand name). Using the health
system is like shopping in a supermarket with no prices,and then being
punished for spending too much. Actually worse,since some of the “food”
can do you quite a bit of damage.

As much as $7500? I’m surprised it is so low. Dump charges can be this
much and older homes may well have asbestos problems. This
is a subject of concern to me as member of the governing board of a rural
community. We have several blighted houses that need to be torn down,
but it is too expensive to do so. We have been offered some of the
properties for a tax write off,but we can’t afford to demolish them.
One is owned by the state (taken for
taxes) and it poses a problem for the neighbor whose insurance is very
high due to the problem of potential wall collapse. None of these structures
has been occupied for years.

LBJ probably would have kneed Mitch in the b..ls. I think he did kick HH in
the shin while in the Senate. He also kept a list of those he favored with
Texas oil $ he collected which was quite effective. Read Robert Caro’s books
(hope RC finishes his last volume!)

Probably over 9% think the earth is flat. As evidence,they may quote
the title of Thomas Friedman’s book. All those pictures from space are phony/s
Whenever surveys/polls etc are done a % should be subtracted which represents
the flat-earthers, those who believe in green beings in UFOs scooping up citizens
in rowboats drinking beers etc

..disenfranchise voters at the state level.. But these voters couldn’t vote for
him either. So why doesn’t he have the DOJ objecting/investigating.. all these
state moves? Why didn’t he support the recalls in WI? Why did he dump on the
Central Falls teachers? Why did he not support ACORN against the false attacks?

On Equipment left in Iraq. Yes,it is disgusting. But here is some extra info.
Our Village bought a dump track from the US military and paid $20 000 in shipping
charges (from Korea). Combine that with the near worn out nature of the Iraq equipment,
most of it not being the newest model, the possibly to-be-constrained
military budget,and the lack of civilian use for most of it,one gets
a truer picture.. It comes down to the fact
that wars are enormously wasteful in human and material terms.

How about turning this around: No Regulations Kill people!

O has already begun caving on his weak AJA . He says he will accept pieces of
it. This is not the way to negotiate. You negotiate a single package,and you
don’t yield any ground before negotiations begin.

What a shame! I lived there 77-79 when it was on the “drach” (and was paid at the
Greek level). Essentials (wine,bread,public transportation,flea market.) were
affordable for entry level workers and just about everything else was high
(including tax avoidance).While Greece has little manufacturing,it was a glorious
place to visit (especially the islands!). Part of their mistake was to host
the Olympics and spend big on them (including a circumference highway system,
subway,etc). They never should have gone to the Euro and should get back to
the drach. Certainly they should not be selling big hunks of their land to
outsiders (they had been able to absorb a significant influx of well off
people from Lebanon during the time I was there,without driving prices through
the roof.)