READER’S CHOICE at COMMON DREAMS

Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Irreversible Climate Change Looms Within Five Years.
LONDON – Unless there is a “bold change of policy direction,” the world will lock itself into an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system, the International Energy Agency warned at the launch of its 2011 World Energy Outlook today in London. LAST CALL

Week Ending April 27, 2012 COMMON DREAMS Readers’ Choice / Most Read Views… Robert Alvarez: Spent Fuel Pools Spell Ongoing Disaster at Fukushima   Glen Ford: Private Prison Corporations Are Modern Day Slave Traders   Amy Goodman: The NSA Is Watching You   Chris Hedges: The Globalization of Hollow Politics   Paul Buchheit: The Middle Class Hasn’t Disappeared. It’s Just Sliding Toward the Bottom   Robert Scheer: Halfway Through a Lost Decade   John Nichols: Not Just Labor Rights; Scott Walker Is Also Dismantling Women’s Rights   Pratap Chatterjee: Bribing Mexico: Walmart Accused of Corruption   Slavoj Žižek: Occupy Wall Street: What Is To Be Done… Next?   Amitabh Pal: Austerity is Killing Europe Readers’ Choice / Most Read News… Michael Moore: Hacking Scandal Will Spread to Fox News Susan Sarandon: I was denied security clearance to go to the White House. Article here… Renegade Farmers: ‘Whole Food, Not Whole Foods’ To prevent the sale for private development, citizens plant community garden. Article here… GE Annual Meeting Interrupted by 99 Percent Protesters They were surrounded by dozens of police, including three mounted units. Article here… CIA Officer ‘Disgusted’ Torture Led to Label of ‘Torturers’ Former CIA officer, Jose Rodriguez on waterboarding tape destruction: ‘Just getting rid of some ugly visuals’. Article here… Study: Arctic Methane in Vicious Cycle of Global Warming More methane emissions lead to more warming, and more warming leads to more methane emissions. Article here… Experts Push Back: ‘Social Security is Strong’ Lifting the payroll tax cap and better coverage by journalists would help build sustainable future for essential program. Article here… Norwegians Sing Out in Defiance and Love “It is we who win”. Article here… Who is Serving Whom When Dow Chemical Sponsors PBS? Is ‘America Revealed’–or PBS? Dow-sponsored public TV series tracks Dow’s product lines. Article here… Europe, US Austerity Drive Suicidal: Economist Stiglitz ‘The Occupy movement has been very successful in bringing those ideas to the forefront of political discussion.’ Article here… Humanity’s Choices: Global Equity or ‘Downward Vortex’ Doing nothing would mean a “drift into a downward vortex of economic, socio-political and environmental ills”. Article here…

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The Renaissance considered a world without Revealed Religion.
Freedom From Religion Foundation

YOUR ENEMIES ARE UP reprise

STALLING FOR TIME:

The world doesn’t have any more time to fool around with non-solutions to climate change.  Big oil and big coal wish to sacrifice all of us to their inconsequential wallets.  If they are not deliberately working against all of creation, it is hard to see what it is that they do wish to accomplish.  Their advocacy of fossil fuels has nothing to do with sense, only with greed, and an evident desire for self-destruction.  Unfortunately they are willing to include all of us in their apocalyptic insanity.  Resist these spoilers and fools.  Regulate carbon completely and immediately.  There is literally no time to waste.

We will lose our democracy and freedom if we do not defeat the corporatist assault on America.  These people are traitors and should be eligible for arrest and detention without habeas corpus.  See how they like it.

It is my sense that we must seize the reins and instruments of control and defeat the corporatist assault on our republic.  Or, we shall lose it.  They are so heavily and widely entrenched that their generational war against freedom and the middleclass is easily discoverable.  No conspiracy theories necessary.  This is a war – the rich plutocrats against everybody else – and we can’t let up on them for a minute.

“I am of opinion, upon the whole, that the manufacturing aristocracy which is growing under our eyes, is one of the harshest which ever existed in the world…  …Friends of democracy should keep their eyes anxiously fixed in this direction; for if ever a permanent inequality of conditions and aristocracy again penetrate into the world, it may be predicted that this is the channel by which they will enter.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840.

Amend U.S. Constitution to declare that corporations are not persons and do not have the rights of human beings. We Move to Amend.

We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:

• Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
• Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our votes and participation count.
• Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate “preemption” actions by global, national, and state governments.

Signed by 

Signed by 378,475 and counting . . . CONTACT: http://www.movetoamend.org/   CHECK THIS OUT: Loads of useful information and contact links.

Thomas Paine, American patriot and author warned us to watch, guide, and stop the powerful elite if we want humanity in general to succeed.  Paine proposed that any bill that enriches a corporation or grants a corporate charter should be enacted in one session of the legislature, and confirmed in a second, AFTER A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, to stop corporate raids on the public treasury.  READ MORE: FreeSpeechforPeople.org to learn more and get involved!

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/rights/145361/a_constitutional_amendment_to_wrench_control_away_from_the_corporations/

https://johnlegry.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/independence-day-2009/

“Play it again, Sam!”

American financial crisis, periodically crippling bank failures, is an embedded scam in the United States. Historically the Boom and Bust cycle is well known. It persists because of lack of regulation, enforcement and punishment. The criminal is joined to the businessman in a climate of expediency and greed. The Greed creates, informs and directs the bubbles that always collapse, producing yet another profit opportunity for the exploiters. America would not experience Boom and Bust if it had honest and adequate regulation and independent enforcement powers with teeth. Despite the old saw, business has repeatedly shown that it CANNOT “police itself.” Contrary to belief monopolistic corporations do NOT have the consumer’s best interest at heart.

Posters at:  RAGTIME ENTERTAINMENT at TheAttic Gallery

True Progressives

Eugene Victor Debs (1855 – 1926) was an American union leader, one of the founding members of the International Labor Union and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), as well as candidate for President of the United States as a member of the Social Democratic Party in 1900. Later he was a presidential candidate as a member of the Socialist Party of America in 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920. Debs helped motivate political opposition to corporations. He is honored for his compassion. “Years ago,” he said, “I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” He fought vigorously for the labor movement, but as he told an audience in Utah in 1910: “I am not a Labor Leader; I do not want you to follow me or anyone else; if you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of this capitalist wilderness, you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into the promised land if I could, because if I led you in, some one else would lead you out. You must use your heads as well as your hands, and get yourself out of your present condition.” His running mate was Emil Seidel, the mayor of Milwaukee from 1910 to 1912, the first Socialist mayor of a major city in the United States. Reproduction of public domain campaign poster. 

We the People need each other.  GET INVOLVED:  MOVEON.ORG

ODD SHOTS and IDLE PENSEES #4

Paul Ryan – The Monarchists Are Loose

SAY WHAT?

“On a farm with no watch dog, the fox rules the roost.” – Ancient Sumerian proverb.

First rule about dealing with the Devil: Don’t.

Law of Probable Dispersal: “Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.”

Muench’s Law: “Nothing improves an innovation like lack of controls.”

The Thing: “He came in, flew around the room, and right out through the wall.”  Mr. Fantastic: “I suspected as much.” – Fantastic Four.

“If this is love, how come I can’t get your entire head into my mouth?” – Sharkey, Eek the Cat.

I’m not really a neat, interesting, cool, handsome, intelligent, and friendly guy, but I play one on T.V.!

“I think if I saw a dog I knew from the old days, I’d put my arms around his neck, and just tell him everything.  It would really ease my soul.” – Mark Twain.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES:

“It’s ironic here in Hollywood where we make so much fiction, we haven’t needed it today, because we’ve had so much reality.” – ABC Newswoman, Los Angeles, 1/17/94.

“East is east, and west is west, but really, the east is west of here.” – NPR 2-03.

Q: (Today Show) When will action occur? A: (Leon Panetta) Hopefully right before the break, midway, sometime in July.

“Even if you’re a born loser, you can and should be holy.” – Mother Angelica, Cable T.V. Nun.

“Why so many questions? Can’t we just have a little blind faith around here?” – exasperated Sunday School teacher, The Simpsons.

A state legislator accused of sexual harassment apologized:  “I apologize for anything inappropriate I said, but I don’t apologize for what she said I said, because I didn’t say what she said I said.” – Channel 2, Portland, Oregon, 5-7-93.

News item: “Scientists promise that people who die by the age of 50 will be cut in half.”  Maybe they’re using tinier coffins?

“Let me give you a couple of straws of hope in the wind.” — James Q. Wilson, criminologist, MacNeil/Lehrer, 8-24-94

“They reiterate over and over again and again and again.” — Congressperson Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Miami (R), McNeil/Lehrer, 8-26-94

“Mark Pfizer, CEO of Pfizer Natural Health Supplements, died today at age 44 of natural causes.” – CNN report, 5/00.

 “RIGHTEOUS” SWORD?

“Some Christians pretend that Christianity was not established by the sword; but of what period of time do they speak?  It was impossible that twelve men could begin with the sword; they had not the power; but no sooner were the professors of Christianity sufficiently powerful to employ the sword, than they did so, and the stake and fagot, too; and Mahomet could not do it sooner.  By the same spirit that Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (if the story be true), he would have cut off his head, and the head of his master, had he been able.  Besides this, Christianity grounds itself originally on the Bible, and the Bible was established altogether by the sword, and that in the worst use of it – not to terrify, but to extirpate.  The Jews made no converts; they butchered all.  The Bible is the sire of the Testament, and both are called the word of God.  The Christians read both books; the ministers preach from both books; and this thing called Christianity is made up of both.  It is then false to say that Christianity was not established by the sword.” – Thomas Paine, Age of Reason

 LIBERALS and CONSERVATIVES:

MacArthur Foundation “genius” fellow,    University of Wisconsin law professor Joel Rogers, identified as one of 100 Americans most likely to affect U.S. politics and culture in the 21st century, writes, “Public opinion in the United States is conventionally mapped on a liberal-conservative axis understood to run from government do-gooders without values on one end to free marketeering rich people without hearts at the other end. Most people in America place themselves in the middle.  They don’t find either end particularly attractive.  Today, the fight isn’t really between liberals and conservatives but between the workers/consumers/citizens who actually want the economy to reflect our values and those who want to keep things the way they are with a few irresponsible corporations running the country for their own benefit. In that fight we can win.  It’s our country.  Let’s run it for the people.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Rogers

 PAY FREAKIN’ ATTENTION, G’DAMMIT!

I have always had this desire to reach out and grab a person and shake the living bejazzus out of him or her, and yell, “What the hell’s the matter with ya, fer chris’sakes?  Are you nuts?  Wake up, for gawd’s sake!  Wake up, dammit!”

Just like that, with all the histrionic emphasis and shouting.

When I have their attention, and they’re scared witless, I will say, “Sorry to bother you.  I got a little excited.”  And walk away.

 HISTORY’S WITNESSES:

We are witnesses and victims of the greatest robbery in the history of the world – although it galls me to give such credit to the responsible scoundrels.  George W. Bush and his cronies looted the nation, corrupted our laws, and ruined our military and police forces to accomplish their seamless thus far unpunished theft.  While George W Bush postured in the spotlight, prancing like a moronic jester, his minions and handlers cleaned out the cash drawers, stripped the vaults, and dug up or tore out everything of value in the land.  They undoubtedly even took the light bulbs and the toilet paper with them when they fled the Whitehouse.  The world hasn’t seen a plague of locusts, or an Attila the Hun of greater proportion.  They prepared a massively destructive diversion – attack Iraq? – to facilitate and cover up their crimes and escape.  Their crimes surpassed routine Middle Eastern and Biblical disaster events to become a full-fledged global catastrophe.

Did you ever notice that George W. Bush looks a lot like Ted Bundy?

Finley Peter Dunne’s  nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley sketches (1898) included this advice from the pugnacious Irish bartender: “If somebody wants to give you rights, don’t take ’em, there’s probably something wrong with ’em. Rights are meant to be taken, not given.” Anyone up for a full-fledged reform movement?

 STOPPING RAIDS ON THE PUBLIC TREASURY:

Thomas Paine, American Revolutionary War author-patriot, warned us to watch, guide, and stop the powerful elite if we want humanity in general to succeed.  He proposed that any bill that enriches a corporation or grants a corporate charter should be enacted in one session of the legislature, and confirmed in a second, after a vote of the people, to stop corporate raids on the public treasury.

Tom Paine, author-patriot, 1737-1809

OLDER, BUT STILL VER-RY INTER-RESTING:

COULD DICK CHENEY GO TO PRISON? By Ray McGovern, Consortium News.  Cheney seems to fear that if our system of justice works, he could be in for some serious, uncommuted jail time.

http://www.alternet.org/action/141371/could_dick_cheney_go_to_prison/

THE BANK LOBBY’S INSANE ASSAULT ON CONSUMER PROTECTION by Zach Carter, AlterNet.  Even after causing millions of foreclosures and the worst recession since the 1930s, the bank lobby is still trying to screw us.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/141383/the_bank_lobby%27s_insane_assault_on_consumer_protection/

THE SCANDAL CONTINUES: THE BILLIONS IN GOVT. CASH BEHIND GOLDMAN’S “PROFITS” – by Matt Taibbi, True/Slant.  That Goldman Sachs is getting away with robbery is bad enough – that they’re getting praised for being so smart is damn near intolerable.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/141417/the_scandal_continues%3A_the_billions_in_govt._cash_behind_goldman%27s_%22profits%22/

LOOK OUT, ARE YOU ABOUT TO JOIN THE WHITE UNDERCLASS? By Joe Bageant, JoeBageant.com.  “We’re starting to hear a little discussion about the white underclass… Mainly because so many middle class folks are terrified of falling into it.”

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/141405/look_out%2C_are_you_about_to_join_the_white_underclass/

LAST WORDS: Richard Halasz

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