How did we get to this place?

[FLyellowdog]

Two wars....

Tax cuts for the wealthy....

Unfunded Medicare Part D....

I cannot take any responsibility for these things. But somebody should.

[Avalux]

1. We all need to take responsibility because we've allowed it to happen.

Our society is apathetic; as long as we have a TV and can go out to eat every now and then, we are content to ignore the machinations of the powergrabbers.

[FLyellowdog]

4. Bush is at the bottom of all those....I did not vote for him.

How can I be responsible for the terrible things he did?

[GoCubsGo]

8. Exactly right.

I warned people about that imbecile in 2000. I pointed out that he couldn't even run his own businesses and failed THREE times. They all laughed at me. All one had to do was listen to him, let alone know anything about his background. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the cretin would fuck the country up royally.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[bigwillq]

27. If you voted for Obama

then you're responsible for the wars and the tax cuts.

[Cool Logic]

17. Indeed, it's easy to blame DC; however, in reality, our Representatives work for us...

We are their employers and they are our employees.

Regrettably, the boss is not on the job.

[AEEHINRRTTUW]

19. You are right, Avalux

Countries ultimately get the governance they invite.

[Lorien]

2. Reagan repealled the Fairness Doctrine. Diebold. Citizens United. nt

[rhett o rick]

3. American Apathy. nm

[csziggy]

6. Most Americans do not get the facts about what is happening

And have no way of knowing that what they see on the network nightly news is propaganda rather than reality. They are no so much apathetic as unknowing. My parents get their news from local papers in their extremely conservative corner of Florida, watch network news almost exclusively, and have almost no other sources for information. I can't blame them for having a conservation view of the world as much for those factors as for their age (88 and 90).

Many young people (like my nieces and nephews) are less invested in the belief that the network news is the truth. They don't remember Walter Cronkite and how trustworthy he seemed to all of us. They watch Jon Stewart, read news on the internet from international sources, and are getting a much better idea of what is really going on. That gives me hope.

[rhett o rick]

10. Yes I agree, however, some know to look deeper. Many are blissful in their apathy. I know lots of

people that dont want to hear news that is bad news about the economy or country.

[maryellen99]

15. People will only care once their cable has been cut off

I've stated this before..when people can't watch ESPN,Fox,Pro Wrestling,and reality shows-then they will get up off their asses and do something.

[rhett o rick]

24. Smart capitalists wont let that happen. Never leave enemy with nothing more to lose (Machelliveli).

[csziggy]

20. Most of the uninformed are too busy with their lives

Holding down one job that requires unpaid overtime, or two jobs neither of which are full time. Kids, cleaning, cooking, etc.

When I ran a business full time I had no time to read the information behind the headlines. It was everything I could do just to keep up with the most important stories of the week. And I have a husband to help me and no kids to deal with.

I did try to keep up with what was happening but it was not possible to do it with working the farm twelve to fourteen hours a day, seven days a week. I've only been able to do it for the last ten years and I am still not consistent because of health problems.

[rhett o rick]

23. Yes I realize that. Not sure what we can do about it. nm

[csziggy]

25. Increase minimum wage to above the poverty level

Have a national health care system so people are not worried about getting medical care or going bankrupt if they do need it. Require a minimum vacation and sick leave days per year so people can have some time off.

You know, all those "socialist" things that would allow workers at even the bottom rung of our society to have some time instead of being a slave to the corporations. All those "socialist" things that nearly every other industrialized country has.

Of course, the US is moving towards being post-industrial, losing our manufacturing base and becoming a consumer and service nation, so maybe we really cannot afford to offer more than third world countries do to their workers. Low pay, no benefits, no vacation, no health care, work until you die.

I am not sure what we can do about it. It may be too late.

[rhett o rick]

26. We have to take back control of Congress first. Not easy task with the corp money out there. nm

[Gregorian]

5. Easy money? Cheap energy?

All of this comes from resources. There are lots of very wealthy people who made huge fortunes in the last 20 years. 100,000 square foot homes. Hell, I didn't do so poorly myself. I rode the coat tails of those clowns. My pitiful income was from the crumbs they dropped.

Like someone said in another thread, these were the last veins of cash to be found (Social Security). People grabbing for what's left. I can only imagine a planet with twice the number of people. Talk about a self centered madhouse that would be.

[jberryhill]

7. Musta been that left turn at Albuquerque

[onecent]

22. LOL!!!!!!

[Initech]

9. Decades of talk radio and sensationalist media has turned people's brains into mush.

[Name removed]

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[LWolf]

12. We voted neoliberals into office.

We allowed ourselves to be bullied by Republicans for the last 3 decades.

We trusted "new" Democrats when we knew, or should have known, better, simply because they had a "D" next to their name.

[Fuzz]

13. Idiots quoting Idiocracy and not realizing the irony because they are told they are smart by Rush

daily.

[Fire1]

14. Yeah. Reagun and Bush. n/t

[Name removed]

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[onecent]

21. B-U-S-H-

[guitar man]

28. it took at least 30 years

I noticed it really kick into high gear with Reagan, the roots of this foul movement go back further than that :(