I think 2011 may be the "make or break" year.

[Atticus]

I think that this slide towards blatant out-in-the-open fascism by act of Congress COULD still be turned around, but it would take
a Democratic party that was more interested in winning than being "nice" and bipartisan.

What is on the table is just about every social program you care to name and the survival of any semblance of Constitutional democracy.

Sadly, I think the President has already telegraphed that he is willing to compromise on any issue the GOP wants if they will let him claim it as a "victory for the American people".

If Congress can't stand up for us and do its job, I fear we will not see America again within my lifetime, if ever. "Camelot" will have vanished in the mist of history.

[peacebird]

1. sadly - I must agree with you...

[asjr]

2. It may come to our storming the Bastille.

[jaxx]

3. What a shame you have lost before you started.

The negative projecting doesn't do anyone any good. Instead it says "give up". No thanks.

[azul]

8. "No thanks"

Polite negativity doesn't do much either.

To me, something is already broken and is getting worse. How do we go about fixing it before there are massive species extinctions?

I think people's main power to fight mindless corporate profiteer domination is in their jobs and spending. Do not buy shit that is unsustainable - search out and demand alternatives to crap. Likewise work for employers that have as their purposes to make sustainable and non-polluting products and to widely distribute wealth.

We are looking at too many easy and bad choices, choices that are shutting out better alternatives. Look harder and act as best as you are able.

Look at this company's purpose, if you please: http://www.tata.com/

[azul]

4. I think something broke in 2000.

And it really showed up in 2008 when capitalism collapsed and push came to shove. The pretenses of democracy and rule of law are coming down faster now that corporate power is unleashed and exposed.

[rhett o rick]

21. Something broke and unleashed capitalism. Can we get it back in the box? nm

[lib2DaBone]

5. President Obama can do a lot of damage between now and 2012...

..and then we face the prospect of another 8 years of Republicans.

I don't think the the economy (or the country ) will hold together that long.

Too much damage has been done and the masses in America are totally on-board with it all. Grow a vegetable garden and learn Chinese... its the coming trend.

[rhett o rick]

6. If we are going to depend on Congress for the "make", then all is lost.

The current Congress sold us out and the next one doesnt look better. We are in the dying throes of capitalism. There is no turning back. The vultures are picking the carcass of the dead middle class.

[azul]

9. Disaster capitalism. G Bush junior the disaster

brought to you by big business via the supreme court.

What do you suggest doing about it, rolling over and playing dead? Were not we taught that democracy is a responsibility requiring vigilance and action to keep it from corruption and tyranny.

Have too many traded in freedom for security, and the majority will rule themselves back into serfdom or slavery?

[rhett o rick]

12. I dont suggest we play dead. I am willing to fight but many Americans arent.

Trying to fix this mess is like trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol. Congress is corrupt and wont fix itself. I dont see anyway out. If someone does, please share.

[anamandujano]

14. DC barbers and beauticians can lead the way by

denying services to the preening incompetents. If they can't get their hair did, they will stop in their tracks.

Ok, that will never happen.

[azul]

15. Since there are only dead and demonized populist leaders left,

maybe direct millions and millions of water pistols onto CO2 and methane fires.

Stop buying gas, stop buying meat products. Demand alternatives, with your hard earned damned dollars.

Support businesses and corporations that have as a purpose the wide distribution of wealth and sustainability.

Stop putting you hard earned cash into too-big-to-fail banks. Use credit unions and local small banks and dictate the conditions that they use in lending it out.

Support real news media, then it can grow into a major network and service to function properly. Call out the sponsors and owners of the tabloid media crap and rub their faces in it.

Corporations, if you can't beat them, join them and direct them. We are the creators and masters of business, not the slaves.

[rhett o rick]

20. I agree with your ideas. We need to be organized to make any impact with your suggestions.

We need to try to put pressure on our elected officials. Currently, most are members of the financially elite class and really dont give a shit about us.

Do you know of an organization that is trying to do these things?

[sendero]

23. Alas..

.. you are entirely correct. But only 10% of the population, or less, has the SLIGHTEST CLUE WHAT IS HAPPENING and even fewer are interested in doing anything about it.

We are on a Ship Of Fools and there are plenty of them right here at DU, defending Obama as he continues to dismantle everything.

So, phony "optimism" and "calls to action" are a joke. The die is cast, I really believe that and by the time that things suck bad enough for the masses to wake them from the American Idol stupor it will be very very difficult to change anything -- at that point it will be acquiescence or all out civil war.


In any event my personal mission here and elsewhere is to try to get people to PREPARE. The train is coming, you cannot stop it but you MIGHT be able to get out of its way.

[RKP5637]

11. Yeah, that's what I think too. Congress is not only a bunch of lightweights, they

can't even get along well enough to do what is right for the country and ALL of the citizens. Instead, they are ripping apart and picking the carcass of the dead middle class. Most are looking out for themselves and their special interests paid for by the corporate regime and well-monied contributors.

One solution for starters is to get the endless money out of elections.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Sadly, I am only uncertain as to the timing. The path is crystal clear.

[rhett o rick]

13. I agree Stinky. We are in the final throes of disaster capitalism. nm

[purrFect]

10. when you look at everything going on in the world today, especially the resources wars, it certainly

looks pretty bleak =(

[roamer65]

16. I think we will see a massive currency crisis this year.

I am dreading 2011.

[RickFromMN]

17. Do the Conservatives oppose redistribution from the rich states to the poor states as well?

From what I can tell, the Conservatives and the Tea Party oppose redistribution from the rich to the poor.
They want limited Federal Government. They want the Federal Government to leave them alone.

Fine. Let's take this lunacy a few steps further.

Let's fan their flames and get them to oppose redistribution from the rich states to the poor states.

It makes sense wealthier states would pay more in taxes, and get less benefits from the Federal Government.
Poorer states would pay less in taxes, and get more benefits from the Federal Government.

This sounds vaguely like the claim the rich are paying more in taxes and getting less benefits.
I don't believe the rich get less benefits...I believe the rich benefit handsomely...but never mind.

I found, on the Internet, research titled, "Federal Taxes Paid vs. Spending Received by State",
at http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/92.html

According to this research, some very rich, progressive states, like California, Connecticut, to name a few,
pay much more to the Federal government than they receive in benefits from the Federal Government.

Other states, like Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, even Texas,
to name a few, receive more, in benefits than they pay in taxes to the Federal Government.

Clearly, this isn't fair to California, Connecticut, and other rich states...(laughter).

California should fund it's own Social Security, Medicare and federal entitlements.
California shouldn't have to send money to the Federal Government only to get the money back.

The same should be true of other states.

The Tea Party wants limited government. Limit what the Federal government does within a state's border.
Extend this lunacy to include all Federal programs within an individual state.

The Federal government should only pay for military bases and military operations overseas.

If a state has a military base, the state should pay for that military base.
The state should pay the salaries, upkeep, all costs, of that military base.
That state should not benefit, from the Federal Government, financially.

If a state doesn't want to pay for the military base within the state, let's move the military base.
I'm sure other states would love to have the military base.

Am I wrong in believing rural states are more conservative? Are farm states more conservative?
Let's put a stop to farm subsidies...clearly farm subsidies are a Federal Government redistribution.
Let a state provide farm subsidies if it wants and can afford it. Don't ask the Federal Government.

Another Federal Government redistribution is FEMA.
There are some conservative states that benefit from FEMA each time a hurricane visits.
Let's get rid of FEMA. Let George Bush's thousand points of lights help states hit by hurricanes.
The Tea Party people believe in personal responsibility. Fine...let's have personal responsibility.
Where is the personal responsibility in building and rebuilding in an area constantly hit by hurricanes?
Let the state fund it's own reconstruction each time a hurricane hits. Don't ask the Federal Government.

The Conservatives and the Tea Party want limited Federal Government.
Fine. Let them have it. Let them have it where it hurts...in the pocketbook. Let them feel the pain.

Before anyone says what I am suggesting is lunacy...let me agree...what I am saying is lunacy.

But isn't this the same lunacy the Tea Party wants when they want to coddle the rich and not help the poor?
Why can't I extend this lunacy to coddling the rich states and not helping the poor states?

The devilish side of me believes more poor states are conservative, Tea Party friendly states.
The devilish side of me wants to punish these Tea Party friendly states.
Let's tell them to have really limited Federal Government, if we can possibly say it with a straight face.

[Kaleko]

19. You nailed it.

Welcome to DU.

Let the poor states with their brainwashed flock of sheep have what they want. The way things are shaping up, eventually, a bankrupted USA will break up into separate states with distinctly different cultures anyway.

[rhett o rick]

22. Wont work. The TeaBeggers are not rational. They would cut off their foot if Glen Beck

told them too.

[Selatius]

18. The make or break year past a long time ago. 1968, the year RFK and MLK were finally destroyed.

The corporate thugs had been wanting them out of the way for a long time. When they went, gone was any obstacle to a government grossly dominated by corporate lobbyists. Sure, people can still vote, and the people win a battle or two here and there, but largely, the corporate lobbyists win overall.