March 8, 2016

But she is not progressive and she has only given us rhetoric about the wealth

gap. Nothing convincing.

She wasn't progressive when she betrayed the Democratic Party and supported the worst foreign policy mistake in recent history. I say mistake, but actually to all that profited from the IWar, and I suspect she profited indirectly, the war was very profitable.

She is not progressive on these issues:

Strengthening Social Security (e.g., raising the cap)
The job killing "Free Trade" agreements
Fracking for oil company profits over people's water
Help college students afford college (telling them to get a job doesn't cut it)
Making major corps pay their fair share of taxes
Ending the unregulated domestic spying
Drone killing of terrorist "suspects" in foreign lands (100 innocents killed for each suspect)
Reducing the defense budget
Taking a hard stand against torture and indefinite detention.
The militarization of our local police forces.
Ending Prisons for Profits
Legalizing marijuana esp. for medical use.
The need for funding rebuilding our neglected infrastructure.
Single payer health insurance.
Regulation of Wall Street (e.g. reinstate Glass-Steagall)
Breaking up the big bank and media monopolies.
The continuous war in the Middle East

February 29, 2016

According to Black Lives Matter, they don't matter to Clinton.

The letter written by Black Lives Activist Ashley Williams is very powerful. It states the case against Clinton quite well.

Here are some important points made by Ms. Williams:

Make no mistake, this is Hillary Clinton. She "left our prisons bursting at the seams." She "stripped funding for college education from prisoners." She supported policies that prevented anyone convicted of a felony drug offense from receiving food stamps or income assistance. Clinton-led welfare reform fundamentally ripped apart the social safety net.”

This is the Hillary Clinton that some believe will fight for social justice. Some like her because she is tough, well she certainly showed that she is tough against the minority communities. And Cheney was tough. I think compassion and empathy are more important than toughness.

February 23, 2016

No, looking for a scape goat might be lower. There were a lot of things that went wrong in 2000

and most were illegal. Ralph Nader was doing his civic duty and it was legal. So who should we blame.

In 2000 the DLC run Democratic Party were high on hubris. Continue the DLC rule via Gore or let Bush have it. But the public was tired of the pseudo-Democratic rule of the DLC and Gore couldn't get enough votes to preclude a little cheating. Dame Ralph Nader. No, no, Ralph didn't cheat. Well then why does he get blamed? Because the hubris of those supporting the DLC candidate didn't want to admit they made a Yuge mistake. What happened in Florida was cheating and second in responsibility (after the stupid decision to run another DLC candidate) for the Bush debacle. Then last but not least, the SCOTUS, a body that was not given much power by our founders for a fracking reason, took it upon themselves to decide the outcome of the election. They had no jurisdiction to do this. But the Powers That Be didn't care. Al Gore and the DLC didn't care either, they jumped over the net and shook hands with Bush and they all went out and had a martini. So who should we blame for Bush the Dim-Son?

Here's my list:
1. The damn DLC and their hubris.
2. Jeb Bush and the bullshit in Florida
3. Sandy O'Connor, who decided "to hell with the people, let the Bush Crime Family prevail."

So if it makes you feel better to hate, hate the DLC, Jeb Bush or Sandy O'Connor. They all had some responsibility. Ralph Nader didnt force anyone to do anything. In fact had he not run, you can't convince me that those that voted for him would have voted for Gore. They voted for Nader for a reason. They were saying "frack the DLC".

February 20, 2016

"The choice is stark, keep living under corporate rule under Hillary and watch things get worse, or

"The choice is stark, keep living under corporate rule under Hillary and watch things get worse, or go with Bernie and fight TPTB to regain our Representative Democracy!"

That says it very well. If you don't mind I plan on using that quote.

I wanted to add another quote from another poster:

"Take the chance - accept the challenge - join the movement that can Change the Narrative. "

February 16, 2016

Funny I've posted my opinion of the People's Revolution.

First of all, the Revolution or People's Movement is happening across the world. In Bulgaria people were in the streets protesting the damage that fracking was doing to their environment while SoS Clinton and Chevron were putting pressure on the Bulgarian government to continue fracking. This is an example. In South America the people managed to kick Neslies out because Neslies had taken control of all the drinking water and were ripping off The People for drinking water.

Here in the USofA we have Citizens United that Clinton is embracing and using to raise money to gain the WH. The People are against CU. We want to get Big Money out of politics much to the chagrin of Goldman-Sachs and Clinton.

Here is a partial listing of what we are fighting the Oligarchy over:

We want to Strengthening Social Security (e.g., raising the cap)
We are Opposed to job killing "Free Trade" agreements
We are opposed to fracking for oil company profits over people's water
We want to help college students afford college (telling them to get a job doesn't cut it)
We support making major corps pay their fair share of taxes
We want to end the unregulated domestic spying
Also end drone killing of terrorist "suspects" in foreign lands (100 innocents killed for each suspect)
We are for reducing the defense budget
We are for taking a hard stand against torture and indefinite detention.
We support the end of the militarization of our local police forces.
We want to end Prisons for Profits
We support legalizing marijuana esp. for medical use.
We believe in the need for funding rebuilding our neglected infrastructure.
We support single payer health insurance.
We want to see the regulation of Wall Street (e.g. reinstate Glass-Steagall)
We want to break up the big bank and media monopolies.

I don't speak for The People. The above is my opinion. From the fact that you continually disparage The People's Movement I assume you want to continue the status quo. Goldman-Sachs doesn't care about those living in poverty.

February 9, 2016

Quid Pro Quo - "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours".

Full definition from Wikipedia:

It seems that since the SCOTUS voted in favor of Citizens United, some Democrats are willing to throw Democratic Principles out the window and embrace political quid pro quo.

It's bad enough when billionaires and big corporations try to influence politicians by giving huge donations to campaigns and “foundations”, but to give money (millions of dollars) directly to the candidate for their own personal fortune it's going way too far.

Clinton would have us believe that the millions given to her by Big Money doesn't influence her positions on issues. Goldman-Sachs gave her over half a million dollars for her personal fortune because they believe she will help them (the very essence of quid pro quo). Clinton would like to say she isn't influenced. That is bunk. Maybe she will argue that she always intended to favor Wall Street and their money doesn't change a thing (influence). Well H. Clinton, the results is the same. The People lose and Goldman-Sachs wins (as does Clinton).

There is a split in the Democratic Party that this primary is shining a lite on. The Progressive Wing wants big money influence out of politics and the repeal of Citizens United, while the Clinton Wing (Conservative Wing) embraces Citizens United and the culture of Big Money corruption of our government.

There is a fine line between quid pro quo and graft which is defined by Wikipedia as:


Democrats have a choice to accept the culture where quid pro quo has given us a disaster in America for those not in the Aristocracy, including 50 million living in poverty; or adhere to Democratic Principles and vote for honesty.

Vote for Sen Sanders and the People's Revolution against corruption in government.

Cross Posted from GD: P.

February 4, 2016

Please don't forget your local foodbank, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens

Foodbanks get most of their donations and attention in the months of Nov and Dec and the least in Jan and Feb. I know we have lots to think about and campaigns to support but please don't forget the homeless and those that rely on foodbanks.

You don't have to give a lot to make an impact.

Please don’t throw away canned food if the pull date has passed. Most canned food remains safe after the pull date. Dented cans are not unsafe. Bulging cans are probably unsafe. If you are in doubt, give them to your foodbank and let them decide. They know best.

I buy up canned foods on sale and keep a supply for emergencies. When they get close to the pull date I donate them and replace them on the shelf.

It always feels good to donate food but donating money is more effective. Foodbanks have access to much better buys on foods than the average consumer. Cash also gives the foodbank the flexibility to buy what they need most.

Some foodbanks need clean glass jars with labels removed for repackaging. They often need boxes, paper sacks and plastic bags. Check with your local foodbank and see what they need. You may be throwing away things they can use.

Don’t forget to volunteer. Even a few hours a week will help.

Some people justify not donating by rationalizing that foodbanks pay their staffs too much. The one I am familiar with is large and has four part time employees earning competitive wages. 75% of the work is done by volunteers. If you have doubts, visit your local foodbank, or better yet join the Board of Directors.

February 3, 2016

American Exceptionalism is an Issue in this Election

H. Clinton is described as “tough”. The use of the word tough IMO in this case means tough on the rest of the world with pushing American Exceptionalism.

But just how “exceptional” are we?

We have 50,000,000 Americans living in poverty.

We have 16,000,000 of our children living in poverty and another 16,000,000 living in low income homes.

We have the poorest health care for our 99% (best in the world for the 1%) in modern world.

We have the widest spread between the haves and have-nots in the modern world. 20 families own wealth equal to 50% of Americans.

While millions of our children go to bed hungry we spend over 50% of our budget on war machines.

We have by far more people incarcerated that any other country. Conservative are making millions via Prisons For Profit.

We have militarized local police killing innocent AA males across the country.

We invaded Iraq for profits for the 1%. And we brought back torture. We still have innocent people locked up in Gitmo.

Our government, in 2008, allowed the big banks and financial gambling houses to loot $5 trillion dollars from the 99% without a whimper. They did nothing to prevent it before it happened and are doing nothing to prevent it happening again.

The Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party incl Sen Sanders are fighting for change to this corrupt culture while the Conservative Wing is fighting to continue the corrupt culture brought to us by the Wealthy Oligarchy.

Whose side are you on?

January 29, 2016

Pragmatism: The Justification to Ignore What's Happening to Those Less Fortunate

How incredible it has become when wanting to end poverty, end the massive incarcerations, end the endless wars, end the domestic spying by the Security State, end the worship of the wealthy, end the oppression of the MIC, etc., or at least head in that direction, is equated with wanting a pony by the Conservatives in our Party. In the 1700's they'd have been known as loyalist. Telling others that wanting freedom from Great Britain was folly, like wanting a pony.

It won't be an easy road but we can't just sit back and drink the kool aid like the Conservatives recommend (they call it pragmatism).

Support change, support Senator Sanders.

January 29, 2016

Somewhere George Orwell is Shaking His Head

Why are most people blind as to what those in power are doing? Why do some ignore the disaster we now live in and vote to continue the status quo, to put their trust in those of the ruling class that have made a total mess of our national security, our economy and our freedoms and liberties? Obama is must nicer, smarter, etc. than Bush but basically we have the same military, the same Security State, and the same economic policies. And if elected H. Clinton will continue with the same culture.

We have the largest defense budget in the world. We have 10 super nuclear carriers with multiple support ships at a very expensive cost while the rest of the world has none, zero (at least not working). We have multi-billion dollar fighter planes that don't work. The list goes on and on.

So what has our military done for us in the last 20 years with all that money? Are we safer? Those that rule us tell us no. Tell us we need a larger defense budget. Yet the conservatives in both parties want to cut SS, Medicare, and Medicaid. This is the status quo, a continuation of the culture you will get with H. Clinton.

The NSA/CIA have an uncontrolled amount of power. Those that believe that's ok because they represent goodness are chewing coca leaves. And we don't have a clue how much their budget is because it's secret. We really don't know how much they are spying on us, because that's secret. Well, are we safer? Why would we even think so. In 2001 we had a major security failure whose total cost is still being tabulated. Did anyone in charge of security get fired for the failure? Actually, I think some got bonuses and/or awards. And it should be noted that those in power got richer because of that disaster. Why would they want change?

Let's look at economic policy. How many times do we let those in power “fool” us with their Ponzi Schemes commonly called “bubbles”? Will Charlie Brown ever learn that Wall Street is going to screw us at every opportunity? After the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression, millions lost their homes, jobs, and retirements, and what was done? Nothing significant was done. Goldman-Sachs (a close friend of H. Clinton) and Wall Street got bailed out by us (the 99%) and gave themselves bonuses. A weak attempt was made to appease the 99% with meager regulation changes, but those have already been watered down, and actually won't help unless they get enforced anyway. Enforcement, or lack of such was one of the problems causing the Great Bank Heist of 2008.

We need to change the corrupt culture of DC that H. Clinton wants to continue. We need Senator Sanders.