Polls are a tool of the corporate media, serving to promote the illusion that Democracy is working…all part of the charade. I stopped paying attention to polls long before I stopped watching TV.

These are the people writing the bills. Our congresscravens often don’t know half of what’s in them, but the lobbyists/aides know exactly what’s in there and why, and their task is to sell the bill (of goods) to the representatives, or at least to get as much smack into it as can be tolerated. Then a rep can sell it to a majority of other reps and the public public, making it look like they’re on our side. Yeah, the MOTU and lobbyists and politicians are all a bunch of deranged junkies.

The same thing is happening with commercial real estate. The scheme has been to crash the system, gain complete control over government and the media, and grab the remaining wealth — which includes privatization of Social Security and other public services.

Meanwhile, heighten the fear of terrorism in order to wage wars, curtail civil liberties, set up a police state, increase military strength, gain control of resources and continue to consolidate wealth globally. This is diabolical and monstrous, but most people don’t seem to have a clue.

Just Martha Stewart? …how about Bernie Madoff? I hear he’s become something of a celebrity in prison, giving out financial tips to his fellow inmates and the guards.

“Beck and call” is incorrectly used in place of “beckon call”.

Similarly, “the bottom line is …” The “bottom line” should only refer to accounts, not stories.

Like the Bradley Manning case, this makes it apparent that our govt is more secretive and anti democratic than ever, because it has more to hide. Eventually, hopefully most of the dirt will come out, but as planned, it’ll be too late for the citizens to do anything to address it. We’re becoming more and more like China where fear reigns.

Eventually, the rest of the world’s countries may adopt their own “no fly list” that will include such ignominaries (I claim the coin) as Dick Cheney, G.W. Bush, B. Clinton, Netanyahu, Assad, etc. Certain provinces in Canada already have a non-official version, but the more aggressive ones may opt to shackle these worst criminals and deliver them to stand trial for crimes against humanity at the Internat’l Criminal Court in the Hague. We hope.

Even if Obama signed an EO, experience has shown that his wimpy Justice Dept. is unlikely to enforce it, so it would probably be another symbolic gesture.

Maybe it’s what was NOT thrown at Schneiderman as punishment. He probably has other skeletons in his closet besides the fleshy ones. “You know, Eric, we have ways.”

No doubt this bill (if passed) will be killed in the Senate. I’ll be ready with my clothespin marked “Dem” come election day to put on my nose. Maybe if we give them one more shot, they will turn this ship before it hits a berg & sinks.

Thanks for writing that so beautifully and succinctly #GlenJo. You might have added, “if you want my vote again,” but we know he doesn’t really care. Many of us have been writing that kind of letter for a long time, including many in the black community who have witnessed the worst outcome imaginable with a so-called black president, but most of us have given up hope that he might heed our outcry. All we have gotten is lip service, empty promises, and a slap in the face for criticizing. Our energies must be put forward elsewhere, and the Occupy Movement is the only answer.

“This is the point where you calmly get up, walk over to the sock draw for things to throw at the tv, and then come back to hurl the entire collection. Don’t throw the drawer.”

No, you throw the TV…out…forever. As I did in 01-2008. Then there will be no further need to comment on these silly characters.

Dump your TV! Pass it along.

People that achieve even a modest level of economic security and comfort tend to believe the system is fair because “they got theirs”, and if you would just work harder you could get yours, too. I have known people like this, Republicans or Independents that often vote Repub. They think of themselves and their chosen representatives (exemplified by Reagan) as “dignified” and “well meaning” men whose policies will benefit us all. They identify with the moneyed class and look down on the masses with disdain. They become hardened and inure to human misery. They think of themselves as disciplined, moral, and “upstanding” citizens, while those “beneath” them are moochers and persons of lesser intelligence. They want to maintain a social structure that rewards the “entrepreneurs” while shackling the workers. They have no desire to elevate the status and living conditions of the less fortunate. They congregate with others of like mind, and reinforce each other in their stereotyping and derision while scheming to beat down the workers so they can profit more. They absolve themselves of their evil ways by making charitable contributions (tax deductible), which then make them feel that they’ve done their share to “give back” to society. It’s a sickness that is endemic in Capitalism, and when allowed to dominate the result is the extreme inequality we have now. We must fight against this with every tool we have.