The immediate, radical changes that America needs in order to survive. Lots of them.

[Zalatix]

Look at what has happened to America in just the last 30 years:

1. Half of working class America's wealth has been lost in the last 4 years.
2. The economy is rapidly descending into a Plutonomy so bad that even immigration is down.
3. Unions are disappearing. We couldn't even get Scott Walker kicked out of office. Unions lost face across most of the country as a result.
4. Global warming is proceeding apace. Ocean acidification. And now the nastiest drought in the United States since the 1930s Dust Bowl. So you can add skyrocketing food prices to what the 99% has got to deal with.
5. A coast to coast assault on women's rights.
6. Rainforests are being cut down like wheat before the scythe.
7. Global water supplies are dwindling into crisis level shortages.
8. America is leading the way with extrajudicial executions and the killing of innocent bystanders on a scale that makes MyLai look like a Facebook internet brawl.
9. Diebold. Citizens United. Foreign nations are intervening in American elections with their multibillion dollar campaign contributions.
10. Our nation's infrastructure is collapsing with funding perpetually coming up short.
11. Mass privatization and disaster capitalism are running amuck. Elected officials are being replaced with private industry managers in Michigan.
12. Public worker pensions are going byebye, and private sector pensions are long gone.
13. Minority unemployment is sky high.
14. The Reagan revolution is still running wild.
15. Corporate profits are running wild, productivity is way up, but wages aren't keeping pace with productivity or inflation.
16. $21 trillion has been moved out of nations' economies into offshore Galt Gulches.

Can anyone explain how we're going to solve this with "small, incremental steps"?

Ya damned right I posted this before. Because these problems are still with us, and if the status quo remains, they will only get worse.

We need to do something about this, now. Something big. Somethings big. We don't have time for bullshit "small incremental steps" out of the hole we're in. We've already got millions sweltering under a killer drought and the world about to be hit with another food crisis. How hard does nature have to hit America in order for America to ditch the loser concept of "small, incremental steps"? How hard does the economy have to hit America?

Stage 4 cancer requires major chemotherapy. Take a look at America's wheat fields and the sheer number of our homeless and ask yourself... what stage is this cancer we're dealing with?

This is my list of SPECIFIC changes that we need to make. NOW.


We need to start building solar plants in America. LOTS of them. Using the technology that is available to us. Germany did it, on a very large scale. Spain has a solar power plant that can run at night. We can do this, and we need to build these plants with American workers and American hardware. We need solar on Every. Damned. Roof. We need to start ditching coal-fired power plants.

The government needs to start subsidizing the construction of urban vertical farms. And subsidies for window farms as well. Food prices are going up, folks. We can attack this problem or we can let it whallop us... what'll it be?

We need countervailing tariffs that strike right at the cheap labor movement among corporations. If you want to exploit cheap labor, prepare to pay a high price to sell that stuff in America. We need tariffs against products made in high-polluting countries. We haven't made pollution go away - all we've done is outsource our pollution to other nations. This cannot continue. Neither can all the tax breaks we give companies to move overseas. That's gotta GO. ASAP.

We need subsidies for electric cars and electric-hybrid cars. And more research into fuel cells. We need better intra-city rail systems and high speed inter-city rail to help cut down on the number of cars on the road.

We need a nationwide law banning all "emergency manager" laws. Elected officials should NEVER be replaced by appointees.

We need to put an immediate end to the use of drones and the policy of summary executions. To hell with the "but it puts our troops in harm's way" excuse - our policy of summary executions is killing innocent civilians and bystanders. To that we must say not just no, but HELL NO!

We need to target those who move their money out of the United States to avoid taxes and put them behind bars. Confiscate their assets. And summarily execute their foreign bank accounts. At the very least, cut them off from their assets. Send an unambiguous and strong message that we won't tolerate that crap. Take their money and use it to fund the rebuilding of our infrastructure using American workers.

Democrat women and all conscientious men need to rise up en masse, 24/7. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Demand the ERA. Every second of every fucking hour, and damn anyone who pushes back. Demonstrate, protest, and if the police thugs jump bad, make them know there's not enough fucking money OR jails to hold your numbers! ERA or bust. ERA or break America in half. ERA or everything, everywhere, grinds to a total screeching halt.

We must demand a total moratorium on fracking and blowing off mountaintops for coal. Put an immediate end to the poisoning of our environment and our water supplies. We ain't got much of that left, folks.

America must enact laws that impose automatic eminent domain on bank-held houses that are not sold within a year. And we need to work out an eminent domain program for houses whose mortgages are underwater. To hell with the banks and Wall Street.

Eliminate the Social Security taxable maximum. Make payroll taxes apply to the first ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of earnings. Tie the Social Security COLA to 1% above inflation or the consumer price index, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.

Adjust unemployment insurance coverage to cover workers indefinitely in states with unemployment over 8%. Across the board.

Make the CAPITAL GAINS TAX equal to the TAXES ON WAGES. Go back to the top marginal individual income tax rate of 70.1% in the pre-Reagan years.

Institute a national LIVABLE WAGE law that is significantly higher than the national minimum wage. Tie it to inflation.

End the "war on terror". Use that money to fund free higher public education for everyone, and better salaries for ALL teachers.

Medicare For All. NOW.

Make it ILLEGAL for background checking services, medical companies or financial institutions to move personal information overseas. Offer a FAT BOUNTY for anyone who breaks this law.

Follow STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA's example and pass a national law guaranteeing that in case of a municipal bankruptcy, the pensioners get covered first.

Nationalize the banks.

95% taxation on any CEO pay that exceeds 50 times the average wages of their employees. If they don't like it they can take their company elsewhere and enjoy very high tariffs while trying to sell their bullshit here.

Overturn Citizens United... by any means necessary. Along with corporate personhood.

Edited to add: KILL the USAPATRIOT Act, completely demilitarize the police forces across the country, eliminate warrantless surveillance, and abolish the death penalty, nationwide.

[a geek named Bob]

1. Zalatrix...

As I agree with all of your points, we can't have much of a debate...


Other than on how to bring this about.

[Zalatix]

2. Let's start with the ERA.

How do we get people to rise up for an equal rights amendment?

Why aren't the streets clogged with protesters...?

[dogknob]

13. Why aren't the streets clogged with protesters...?

Because the #1 product in the United States is Fear.

Fear permeates every decision an American makes.

[nanabugg]

70. Your solutions are sound. American minds are not. Greed and fear reign and ignorance is

promoted by the ruling class. If anything is to get done along the lines you suggest, it must begin with the ERA and the election of ruling class officials who have a quest for peace, justice, fairness, and critical thinking. Otherwise, the universe will simple unfold along the path we set.

[hfojvt]

15. perhaps because most people do not care about the ERA?

I am not sure why you want to start with that. Given the title of your thread, why do we need an ERA to SURVIVE? What does that do to regain the wealth of the working class? What does that have to do with global warming, or global water supplies or all the rainforests being cut down in America?

As far as the equal rights amendment, or getting people to rise up (I don't know, wouldn't voting be better than street protests?) on any of these issues, I would start with rational, persuasive arguments using facts. Not rather hysterical claims like "omigod, we are all gonna die unless my ideas are implemented."

[Zalatix]

19. You don't see the situation with women's rights as being dire?

Women's rights are swirling in the toilet bowl for God's sake. You've got places like Arizona giving employers the right to ask women why they're using birth control.

It's utterly laughable to talk about pulling the environment and the economy from the brink of collapse while ignoring the war to destroy the rights of women.

So yeah I threw that in there - because women have as many rights as the environment and the working class.

So sue me.

[loli phabay]

27. I think we need a manhatten project, or apollo program on a grand scale

something everyone could get behind and work towards, whether its renewable on every house, hydrogen cells, space colonization something that pushes us as a country.

[Zalatix]

28. The Space program. It's a veritable incubator for sustainability research.

In outer space, especially long-term missions, you waste absolutely nothing if you want to survive.

We could take all the innovations from learning how to sustain ourselves "out there", back here to spaceship Earth.

[loli phabay]

29. I think we eventually will have to leave this rock if we want to survive as a species

so why not start doing it now, identify what we want to do then start working out the problems.

[Zalatix]

30. But.. but it's not cost effective, it's too hard! It'll take too long!

And other excuses that made Darwin weep.

[loli phabay]

32. we need a definite end date, ie giant asteroid going to hit us in 50 years

then we would go balls to the wall and get it done.

[former-republican]

17. this is why

[HiPointDem]

21. america has rainforests that are being cut down?

[datasuspect]

36. yes, there are rainforests in the Americas

North America, and UHHHHmerica are a part of those.

[former9thward]

44. The poster said America not Americas

But to the point where in North America are rain forests being cut down?

[datasuspect]

47. do you mean the United States of Uhhhmerica?

cool post bro

[former9thward]

49. The OP said the U.S.

You obviously have no answer to my question about your statement so you attempt to deflect.

[datasuspect]

50. so what you are saying (lemme see if i got it right)

is that global influences don't affect the United States of Uhhhmerica?

the OP was saying (in part) that certain global influences affect this country.

BONUS: you do realize there are rainforests in the continental US and Puerto Rico?

parse much?

so what are YOU saying?

ON EDIT

i reread the OP, what that person says makes perfect sense. global influences ACTUALLY DO affect this country of ours.

how old were you when they taught you how to read?

[former9thward]

53. Show me the rainforests in the "continental U.S."

Or maybe Cal Tech is part of the conspiracy too. http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html. Of course you will answer with yet another personal insult. You have to go with what you have I guess.

[datasuspect]

54. i didn't insult you, i asked you a legitimate question

continental US rainforest - go to the pacific northwest.

what is your angle ma'am?

don't tell me you're being CLEVER?

[former9thward]

55. Cal Tech, National Geographic and every other site on the subject disagrees with you.

But I'm sure you the expert on the subject.

[datasuspect]

56. you realize there is a distinction between temperate and tropical rainforests?

move goal posts much?

anywho, no more snacks for you!

[former9thward]

60. Tell that to Cal Tech, National Geographic and everyone else.

They are in desperate need of your insight.

[antigone382]

76. The redwood forests of the Pacific Northwest are referred to as temperate rainforests...

...as this National Park Services page makes clear.

http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/temperate-rain-forests.htm

Now, my understanding is that those forests are protected in the United States. However, whether at-risk rainforests exist within the U.S. is not really a factor in whether their destruction is attached to our country's fate. There is no doubt that the large scale destruction of tropical rainforests throughout the world is a devastating exacerbation of the already dire picture regarding climate change. There is very little doubt that climate change is already having devastating impacts on our agricultural and economic system, stretching our emergency management services to the very brink, and causing a great deal of suffering, particularly among those who live in substandard housing with inadequate means of keeping themselves cool on dangerously hot days. And similarly, I have very little doubt that a large factor of rainforest destruction is at least partially connected to U.S. demand, either for the lumber itself, the agricultural products that can be grown on the land, or the minerals that can be extracted from the land.

We live in a global economy, in which our society is absolutely dependent on the resources and work forces of other nations to survive. This has its good and bad elements. But discussing America's problems as if they are all firmly located within America's geographic boundaries is unsophisticated, somewhat immoral (given that many of our own problems are tied to global disparities and other forms of injustice), and, at the crux of the issue, totally inadequate to solve those problems.

[lunatica]

66. The Occupy tried to clog the streets

but the police state crushed them from the start.

You should send your post to Congress. They're the one's who are forcing the small incremental steps. And that only because they can't stop those.

[Zalatix]

68. There are 70 million Democrats, or 34.9% of all voters.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/partisan_trends

Are there enough cops, much less enough JAILS, to hold that many people, if we all became Occupiers?

[lunatica]

74. No, and that's why they crushed Occupy while it was still crushable.

But even if Occupy became huge, do you really think the city Mayors and State Governors wouldn't bring out the drones and tanks? We have ample proof that they will and they do. Why do you think the police arm themselves with riot gear, tanks and stunners and more? Why do you think we're being surveilled both on outdoor locations as well as electronically? When was the last time our streets were so bloody and violent from the uprising of the people that they needed to quell it with violence? And Occupy has been peaceful and it's been met with violence.

I don't know what the solution is but I don't think it lies in citizens taking to the streets in huge numbers. Not unless they're ready for violence and for a protracted stay in the streets. Marching for a day or two in the millions won't even be covered by the media and it will soon be forgotten. And Occupy has been rendered pretty toothless. Mostly because no one even hears about them anymore.

Maybe the solution does lie in incremental steps. I don't know.

[Zalatix]

75. The drones and tanks didn't stop the people in Tunisia.

But it would take the people engaging in a massive, prolonged protest.

They simply don't have enough tanks, riot gear or ammo for that. The system would collapse and their money would dry up if all of us just protested and went on strike.

The issue here is cojones, and... herding cats.

We're on the road to a Plutonomy... Mexico... and nobody wants to rock the boat.

BTW I joined several Occupy protests, I saw exactly what you mean, almost up close and personal. But Occupy is not toothless - the media ignores them, but that's like ignoring termites...

[limpyhobbler]

3. Pretty good list. Especially the solar panels.

I would agree with it if just 4 words were removed:
"by any means necessary". Makes it sound potentially violent.

Other than that, seems decent. I'm sure details would need adjusted. But just as a thing on a web forum, it sounds good.

Also I don't quite understand "nationalize the banks".
You want to eliminate all private banking?

[Zalatix]

5. Nationalize the banks that needed a bailout, at the very least.

As for "by any means necessary", I mean do it at the state level if we absolutely have to.

[limpyhobbler]

10. Seems pretty good.

[Scootaloo]

34. I'll be candid with you

This is existential stuff we're looking at. it's not a case of "well, I disagree with policy, take up arms!" it's "this shit will end my existence if something is not done about it."

Violence should never be anyone's first course of action. But the truth is, it should never be summarily dismissed as an option, either. Even famous nonviolent methods like those of Gandhi and king, had a simmering stew of anger and the threat of violence behind them.

if the option comes down to violating some religious belief in a John Lennonist utopia, or allowing my children and yours to enter the world as slaves in a fucking wasteland, then I'll tell you what, John Lennon can go fuck himself.

[limpyhobbler]

39. I see the logic in that but

these things take shape as big marches and gatherings in the streets and squares. The non-violence is an important part of the strategy. I'm getting too old to being running from the cops. If people are going to be smashing windows, setting cars on fire and throwing bottles, I would rather just stay home. There is a non-violent way to take mass action such as was advocated by MLK. It's probably more likely to have success than smashing windows and flipping over cars. I can dismiss violence because it is not likely to achieve any positive results. Violence against what, against who?. You can not win a battle against the police. It's not practical.

ymmv

[Zalatix]

69. The cops don't care if you're nonviolent. Ask Occupy.

And they also assassinated MLK.

[limpyhobbler]

78. So? Neutral third party observers care.

MLK was a successful leader and non-violence was central to that success. As violent as the 1960's were, with a different leader besides MLK, things could have gotten a lot worse. People were lucky to have him then and we should be so lucky now.

[northoftheborder]

4. We could start by sending this post to every person we know, and every paper we read.

I agree with all of this. But no one with the theoretical power to do any of this HAS any power because he or she has been bought off already.

[flamingdem]

6. I vote for Medicare for all and early SS benefits if needed / wanted

and I feel that ACA otherwise known as Obamacare is a path towards Medicare, in fact it seems that if you have low income the subsidies will make the cost as much as Medicare plus a supplement. So that works if you're a part timer or on early SS.

[Freddie]

35. Medicare for all

Right there a significant amount of our problems would be solved. People would be free to start their own businesses without being chained to "real jobs" for insurance. People who could afford to could retire and free up jobs for younger people. Would be a start to changing society to the better. So of course it will never happen at least in my lifetime.

[Care Acutely]

7. Grow food to feed people instead of feeding animals. Forget biofuel, that's not the problem.

Our gluttonous consumption of meat - far, far above any amount beneficial for our health - that is the problem.

[Zalatix]

8. Aside from beans, how would people get enough protein?

[Care Acutely]

11. Well . . .

The vast majority of the world eats far less meat than we do, many with longer life expectancies and lower incidences of western staples of disease like clogged arteries, stroke and diabetes. Too much animal protein isn't just bad for your brain, heart, pancreas and circulatory systems - it can be a real kidney killer too.

We don't need near as much protein as we've been led to believe, especially in the form we've been told is the only way to get it. Quality protein is in many things you don't think about. Skim milk, cereal, grains and bread of all kinds from sandwich bread to pizza crust, corn, peas, legumes, pasta, peanuts & peanut-butter, almonds, other nuts, broccoli, chickpeas and potatoes, just to start.

We just don't need to eat as much meat as we do. It's not good for us, or the environment.

[hfojvt]

16. I was lead to believe we need about 45 grams

Is that wrong?

It says there are 8 grams in 8 ounces of milk, 12 grams in a cup of rice, 7 grams in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 8 grams in half a can of ravioli, and even 1 gram in an ounce of potato chips.

So I can get to 45 grams with - 1 cup of rice, 2 glasses of milk, 4 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 3 ounces of potato chips. Which may or may not give me a proper mix of amino acids.

[HiPointDem]

22. protein requirement depends on body weight and muscle mass, also activity level (athletic/high

activity/hard physical work etc).

figure .8 grams protein/kg for the average person.

so 45 g is ok if you weigh 123 lbs.

if you weigh more like 150 it would be more like 68 g.

[limpyhobbler]

18. my gf is vegan. Seems to be a pretty healthy choice. It might be harder for

harder for people with resitrictions like diabetics.

I've started eliminating meat from just one meal per day. Breakfast is just fruits and nuts, but I feel like it's a pretty healthy choice. It's not strict. Yesterday I had sausage for breakfast. But most days just the fruit and nuts for breakfast.

[former9thward]

46. What nations eat less meat and have longer life expectantcies?

[Comrade Grumpy]

63. This meta-study compared populations in Europe and North America:

http://www.ajcn.org/content/78/3/526S.full

It said:

Conclusion: Current prospective cohort data from adults in North America and Europe raise the possibility that a lifestyle pattern that includes a very low meat intake is associated with greater longevity.

-----

That doesn't directly answer your question, but it does suggest a low-meat diet increases lifespan.

[former9thward]

65. I was just curious because Scandinavian countries are heavy meat eaters.

And they generally have higher life spans than U.S.

[longship]

31. Let's leave the vegetarian discussion for another thread.

I agree that meat production wastes resources wildly. But I also think that changing that would be much more difficult than the changes the OPer is recommending. You might as well recommend that we get rid of all religion. Both are culturally engrained beyond elimination.

I am an omnivore myself, and an atheist. I understand the issues and agree with many of them. But this thread is very important and I don't want it to descend into a meat vs vegan war.

I apologize for cutting your point off.

[Care Acutely]

62. You shouldn't apologize for something you can't do.

It is, after all, a discussion board.

And it's not a "meat vs. vegan" war. It's a "try eating a little less meat, you can improve your health and lower your carbon footprint" discussion.

Vegan is a fine choice but many find it extreme. That's ok. Just cutting a little bit back helps. Like recycling helps. You can get extreme about that too but many have trouble fitting extreme recycling into their lifestyle so they just do what they can, even though not so long ago recycling was something only "hippie types" worried about. Same way with renewable energy. It's made a difference. Will you tell people they shouldn't talk about that too?

[longship]

82. That's fine, then.

I just didn't want a good GD thread to descend into chair throwing over vegetarian vs omnivore.

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

[90-percent]

9. ROOT CAUSE

There is a root cause for all this. I even managed to distill it into bumper sticker format, which is now plastered on the tailgate of my Ford Ranger.

OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE INFESTED WITH CORRUPT SOCIOPATHS

The people our planet relies on to run everything for the good of everybody ARE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY* and they are succeeding in running the entire planet and the future of everyone on it INTO THE GROUND!

I GOT MINE AND SCREW YOU is no way to run a planet, son.

-90% Jimmy

*We're only in it for the money is one of my favorite original Mothers of Invention albums

[Zalatix]

20. The entire nature of capitalism encourages sociopathy.

The only billionaire I've heard of who wasn't is JK Rawlings and she charitably donated her way off the billionaire's list...

[mick063]

12. I'm an old man.

Last edited Mon Aug 20, 2012, 01:00 AM - Edit history (3)

Anyone under 40 simply cannot fathom the rapid changes in this country in the last 40 years. How can you explain to someone that doesn't know any difference? Someone that thinks "it has always been this way."

I feel much sympathy for the next few generations.


The wealthy have just about sealed the deal.

The movie "Hunger Games", minus the lottery death match, is in the future.

Hell.........it may already be here.

Their is no longer a fuzzy line between government and the aristocrats that control it. In the last ten years, the aristocrats have become blatantly arrogant in making their agenda clear. They don't even try to hide it anymore.

Since they have used FOX News to steal the American flag as their symbolic means to rally simple minded folks, the master plan has worked amazingly well to cast those who dissent from the aristocratic coup as "outsiders", anti American, anti constitution, anti God.

I served in the armed forces to protect our constitution. Since FOX News has stolen my flag from me and used it as a rallying cry to keep aristocrats in power, the American flag has much less meaning to me. Lately, it seems much more representative of the swastika.

I didn't serve my country for THIS!

Call it what you will, but if aristocratic control of the USA is the American way, then put me in that anti American category because in my mind, it simply isn't the same America any more. It is a foreign country to me now. It has changed so much, I don't even recognize it anymore.

Let me make this clear. I am 100% patriotic for the America I grew up in as a kid. The flag waving manipulators at FOX sicken me. Their use of it as a divisive tool sickens me. The American flag was a uniter when I grew up.....not a divider.

[Amonester]

14. At this pace, there's no turning back (unless...)

There must be a radical 180 turn sooner than later... otherwise, I'd rather be dead when the shite will hit the fan...

It won't be pretty.

[cali]

23. Pie in the sky

these things just aren't going to happen, and you don't give any viable way they can happen.

[Zalatix]

25. I love the way you move your goalposts.

First you make up some lie about how I supposedly didn't have concrete ideas for change. When that got exploded last time, you must have sat there hatching a new plan for moving your goalposts around.

It's not even worth asking you what ideas do you have. Your ideas are to naysay others'.

[HiPointDem]

24. guess america isn't going to survive, then. personally, i don't think it will & i think that's the

plan.

all the social/economic changes going on now are intensely divisive.

[orpupilofnature57]

26. Greed , expedience ,and apathy must all be outlawed ,

We need to stop aspiring to be what kills the rest of us ,I mean the 6 billion of who are part of a community .

[FrodosPet]

38. Mindcrimes!

Wouldn't it be great if there were machines that could read your deepest, most innermost thoughts and fears?

Then the government could force everyone to go through them, and if someone is greedy, apathetic, racist, homophobic etc perhaps they could be arrested or detained for mental health treatment.

[orpupilofnature57]

43. What if we took everything they said ,did or didn't do, as a clue????

[FrodosPet]

51. ACTIONS should be illegal

But it looks like you are wanting people arrested for what they are FEELING. Maybe I'm wrong, I hope I am.

How do you define what constitutes "Greedy" or "Apathetic"?

[orpupilofnature57]

52. Making money on peoples health ,wealth and freedom .

Obvious Misanthropes let their feeling be known by way they live ,make money and effect the people and planet they inhabit ,through Actions ,words and contributions.

[FrodosPet]

61. So nurses are misanthropes?

They make money from the poor health of others.

Prison guards get their paychecks from the incarceration of others. Some of whom belong there, some of whom don't.

Obviously someone who steals or defrauds others is a misanthrope, but your criteria is so vague it could encompass millions of decent people.

[orpupilofnature57]

64. Only if they made them ,sick ,criminals or stole their money

Last edited Tue Aug 21, 2012, 06:09 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm a ditch digger , not Edwin Moses and if you can't tell the difference ,this ping pong game is fruitless .

[Codeine]

67. You're driving me nuts here, dude -- comma, then a space.

Not a space followed by a comma.

[orpupilofnature57]

81. Sorry , I'll work on it, I promise.

Last edited Tue Aug 21, 2012, 08:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Could you get what I was trying to say though ?

[Scootaloo]

33. Nice to see a post from you I can wholeheartedly agree with, Zalatix

[hunter]

37. Your platform is excellent.

My own is a little different, but only in the details.

Raising the minimum wage, establishing generous welfare and unemployment benefits, a national single payer health care plan, and upgrades to our transportation infrastructure that reduced fossil fuel use would get everybody back to work.

Our wealthy ruling class isn't spending OUR money in ways that promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.

Yes, OUR money, the dollar itself is created by and is the property of WE THE PEOPLE... It belongs to us, and we have the right to tax it away from those who accumulate wealth and use it against us.

[Zalatix]

40. If you hoard cats people think you're nuts, but our society absolutely glorifies hoarding money

Damn, I wish I could find the picture that illustrates this point hilariously...

[raouldukelives]

41. Stop supporting Walll St.

That is the easiest thing people can do. Stop investing in it, stop working for it, stop being a cheerleader for the speculation & evisceration of our natural world (what little is left of it) and start fighting to stop it. If our environment isn't worth fighting for I'm really not sure what is. It is the only lasting legacy we can really leave and talk about the Greatest Generation. If we could tighten our belts and start saving the natural world there would be no doubt in tomorrows minds who the Greatest Generation was.
What is the actuarial value of our oceans, forests and climate? That is what the corporations who have used propaganda and falsities against us to continue abusing them have to pay back.

[CabCurious]

72. Divesting pensions from Wall Street is essential for our future

[bvar22]

42. I'll sign on,

and would like to add:

*Immediately Bust Up all the Too Big to Fails.

*Return to Fair Competition Regulations that prevented Large Corporations (the "Big Boys" as my Union father called them) from "coming to town" and undercutting the locally owned businesses and farms.
Mom & Pop should be able to compete on a level playing field.
The benefit of "Free Trade" is self-limiting to ONLY the Giant Global Corporations

Righteous Rant.
I wouldn't be upset to see it posted every week!




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[renie408]

45. I imagine nobody is going to argue with you. So, now what?

I swear, I admire your passion. I swear, I do not disagree with either your assessments or your solutions. I am a little baffled by the emergency manager thing, but I figure you know something I don't.

Sure, all of these things need to be done. Soooo.....HOW? Recognizing a problem is the easiest part. Throwing out a solution isn't that much harder. Figuring out how to implement it; that is the tough step.

To do ANY of these things we have to totally get rid of the Republican Party. I mean, dismantle it and inter all of its followers. Yeah, really, that's what this is going to take. Which doesn't bother me one bit, but I don't see it happening.

No, incremental change is NOT ideal. But it is better than no change at all or, worse, movement in the wrong direction.

[Zalatix]

57. How do we mobilize people who really are concerned? That's the question I have left.

We have 70 million registered Democrats out there. How do we reach even half of them?

[YoungDemCA]

48. "radical changes"

You must want to "fundamentally transform" America, and we can't have that!!

[Norrin Radd]

58. kr

[bvar22]

59. Our neighbors in Latin America have given us a Blue Print for this kind of "change".

They have accomplished nothing short of near bloodless revolutions.
They have successfully wrested their governments from the hands of the 1%.

When the Working Class & The Poor realize WE have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the 1% and their employees in Washington,
THEN we can have "change" too!

[font size=3]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights,
so there IS precedent for that here.
Unfortunately, FDR and THAT Democratic Party are long dead,
so we have some work to do.


Spread the WORD.
VIVA Democracy!!!
I pray we get some here soon.
WE outnumber THEM!

[CabCurious]

71. Agreed on all points except: drones, eminent domain, and bank nationalization.

Eliminate drones? No. That's an emotional and ideological position I don't agree with. It's the usage of drones, not the opportunity of drones, that is the issue. And I do not have a problem targeting an expatriot who is publicly calling for attacks on US civilians while hiding in known terrorist camps in the wilderness of Yemen. He is on the battlefield.

While I do not accept civilian casualties like the Bush admin did and I do think we need to increase our capability to do such assessments, a lot more lives can be saved with the usage of drones when it comes to clear missions with legitimate purpose. Al Qaeda is one of the only such missions.

Eminent domain on houses not sold by banks in a year? That's absurd. While I respect the good intentions on that, it's the kind of rule that ends up causing endlessly more harm than good.

Bank Nationalization? What we need is more transparency on the Federal Reserve.

[Zalatix]

73. But we have no PROOF that he was calling for any attacks on Americans.

All we have is hearsay.

What happens when the Plutocracy decides to accuse YOU of such things, and a drone is sent your way? Do you just accept that you've been accused, then lay down and die?

[mattclearing]

77. Democrat is not an adjective. n/t

[kenny blankenship]

79. Incrementalism: making things worse - more slowly

They can dress their appeasement up as "incrementalism" all they want, it still smells like excrementalism to me. It's just window dressing to sell 1%er policies to the 99% and stall them when they object "hey, this shit's not working!" Give it time! they say. As you point out, as a country we don't really have any time left to give.

[Zalatix]

80. Yup, incremental changes mean jack shit when you're buried alive, 6 feet under.