It has been observed that european countries have socialist institutions because...

[lumberjack_jeff]

... the leaders fear the citizenry. This is a french protest over unemployment and laws that threaten to erode the protections they enjoy.


This? This is sidewalk chalk.


OMG! Did you hear? A Sanders supporter knocked over a chair!!!



We have no standing, at all, to call the French people wimps.

[JaneyVee]

1. France's unemployment rate is 11% and population only 60M.

[snowy owl]

7. Neither important.Safety net protects unemployed.Population? So??? More people, more business = jobs

Weak. Simplistic. So what?

[Demsrule86]

25. You don't starve

But being a permanent part of the underclass sucks in France just like anywhere..doesn't matter it will never happen here.

[underthematrix]

28. US unemployment rate is 5% and we have 350 million people

And fun fact. if you have a college degree (bachelor's) unemployment rate is 2.3%

[Human101948]

31. U.S. unemployment is about the same...among African Americans twice that...

When you add people working part-time who want full-time jobs to the people who want jobs the total is over 12%.
That doesn't even include the people who have given up.

And most of them have no benefits to keep them afloat.

[YouDig]

2. More apologies for violence and death threats from Bernie supporters trying to override

the democratic result.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. My keyboard is oh, so far from my fainting couch!

Whatever shall I do?

If your view of your role as an elected official is to do what your donors want to the detriment of the people you represent, the least you should expect is to hear an occasional four letter word.

[YouDig]

4. The people voted for Hillary. The idea that Bernie and his supporters represent "the people" is a

joke. The reason the Bernie supporters are so angry and chanting sexist slurs and throwing chairs is because they want to override the will of the people, who have Democratically selected Hillary. They want the marginalize the will of the people in favor of their own personal preference.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. The images above are what "consent of the governed" is all about.

That consent can be withdrawn.

[snowy owl]

16. "the people" - you mean members of the exclusive club called Democratic Party."

"The People" are all those who quit parties because they don't reflect the people anymore. Just their members.

[Demsrule86]

26. Bull shit

Seriously hope they lock the Bernie Sanders supporters who make threats and vandalize up...it is what they deserve.

[Human101948]

32. They should lock up the Hillary fans who endlessly post crapola...

Many of the "usual suspects" are posting incessantly right here.

[lumberjack_jeff]

41. Yes, cusswords like that one. Instead of directing that anger at the voting public...

... perhaps it should be directed where it belongs, at the oligarchs.

[snowy owl]

9. Protesting corruption used to be American Way. How did you turn to the dark side?

[snowy owl]

5. Our unemployment rate higher than said; unemployed don't lose everything. Good post, Lumberjack.

Americans are going to be surprised in another ten years if they don't stop the plutocracy, oligarchy now. Although with each generation, we get used to less and less. Americans now have no idea what's possible. No institutional memory left. Good post. Use your liberty or lose your liberty. These people use it.

[Ferd Berfel]

6. yep, SOme of us got our heads cracked and arrested protesting VietNam

The protests alone didn't end that but they did force the Masters to change the draft rules (start the Lottery and end the 2S deferment) I think the lottery and end of 2s is what ended VN. More people/families had skin in the game.

Americans are cowards these days. The Masters have figured out how to placate the masses juuust enough (through various means carrot and stick) using the corporate media among other things.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Agree. n/t

[Ferd Berfel]

11. My final point that I forgot to include was

that not enough people feel that they have skin in the game - YET!

That's what needs to happen. And it will be difficult with the corporate media now on the wrong side of the issues and the People

[snowy owl]

12. I can't understand what changed? Should reinstate the draft for all.

Everybody should feel vulnerable to war demigods in Congress. Things would change fast. Maybe that's the place to start. The military. We now have a protected class that doesn't have to worry about war anymore. Maybe that is what really changed...every eighteen year old should have to spend time in military on equal basis.

[Ferd Berfel]

13. This is exactly WHY the Masters won't have another Draft.

if there is any way in hell that they can prevent it.

[GreatGazoo]

14. I had a roommate who was born in Moscow

He said that when the big demonstrations against the government were scheduled, the government announced a TV marathon of Swedish soft core programs for the same afternoon. Then they added a call-in quiz/contest where the prize you win is banned history books.

My first thought was that is Machiavellian yet brilliant. My second thought was that's every day in America.

[Ferd Berfel]

18. Banned History BOoks

LOL
Americans would'nt give yuo the time of day for a book, banned or otherwise.


Porn now....that's different !

[VulgarPoet]

17. "Americans are cowards these days."

Too bloody true.

[FSogol]

15. So our leaders and parties should be influenced by any angry, unruly mobs that comes along ...

because there is a whole slew of armed wing nuts that are just wishing for that day and they don't have our best interests in mind.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Better yet, they should attend to their needs before they become violent, unruly mobs.

Circumventing democracy is only a good idea if you want unrest in a country with more guns than people.

"We can't afford social programs, because war" is only a useful rationale if you consider the concepts separable.

[FSogol]

30. Situational ethics. n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

43. Not situational... reciprocal.

If the oligarchs are gonna fuck the working class...

[snowy owl]

21. Yes, they should. And the size of the protest should be considered. Why not?

Wishing for what day? That they can influence leaders or that they can enjoy shooting up the town? The first? Absolutely. The second? What evidence do you have that would happen? Are the American People now all wing nuts?

[FSogol]

29. Tantrumocracy: Rule by whoever yells the loudest.

[Human101948]

34. Yeah, it certainly didn't work during the runup to the Iraq war...

Which I assume you supported 100%.

[FSogol]

35. A passive aggressive insult? Yawn. I was here back then (with the same user name unlike others) go

look up what I supported.

[Human101948]

36. Great! Then you supported those protests?

I thought you were against protests?

[FSogol]

38. Fail. Not equivalent. n/t

[Human101948]

39. In your mind of course...

I can see why you have difficulty since your frame of reference is a children's video game.

[FSogol]

40. Another passive agressive insult! So friendly.

[pdsimdars]

20. Every American needs to watch Michael Moore's new movie .. "Where to Invade Next"

It opens the eyes to what is possible and they don't pay that much more taxes. For what they get, it's a great deal.

[snowy owl]

22. People don't care. They will one day. It will be too late.

Then we'll all be wingnuts in the streets. We'll have no choice left.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. We cover civil movements

So I can tell you that people are becoming well...restless.

[lumberjack_jeff]

24. The media is doing a poor job of covering political movements.

I have my doubts that they'll cover civil unrest unless it becomes impossible to ignore.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. I suspect the convention will be a happening

A 1968 echo. I am looking forwards to seeing prim and proper political reporters try to cover a riot. We are clear on the other side of the country, way out of my beat. And justifying the parry attire might be difficult with TSA.

And if there is a credentials fight inside...well at least a couple of the old hands were young in '68. Andrea Mitchell comes to mind. So perhaps she will remember the running shoes.

[lumberjack_jeff]

42. I'm thinking WTO redux. Overdue, if you ask me. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. Again I am stuck on the other side

But we are ready if the local events get a whiff of pepper spray as well. This summer will be a continuation of last summer

[Hiraeth]

33. fear = awe = respect afaiac. nice OP. K&R

[liberal_at_heart]

37. K&R