CPAPtalk.com

ems wrote:

49er wrote:Actually, I think the government uses the Internet in addition to the gadgets you mentioned to spy on people. I could be wrong.

Nope, you aren't wrong... but who cares, I have more important things to worry about. And none of this is new news... been going on for years. All of a sudden people are up in arms about it.

I feel I should care but unfortunately, I am not currently in a position to do so for various reasons. So I am not going to be a hypocrite and tell others they should also.

However, as much as I have disagreed with Dreamstalker, he raises some valid points that are quite upsetting. When Eugene Robinson wrote a great article about the issue of NSA reform, one of the best comments was about how the greatest victory of Al Qaeda has been causing the erosion of the US Constitution which both political parties can be thanked for.

49er

great little film Nate! Thanks for sharing. eloquent.

I was kind of hoping for some discussion of the Economic and Social Issues raised by the Ed Asner video, as for example:

The results of Deregulation of the Banking and Finance Industries;

The Purchase and Ownership of the Political System by Big Business, as approved and condoned by the Supreme Court in its so-called "Citizens United" (what an ironic misnomer) Decision;

The successful implementation of the "Look Over There" ploy used to influence and manipulate large groups of ordinary people to blame their fellow citizens for the economic destruction actually caused by Deregulation.

What have have learned Reagan really meant when he was talking about "Getting Government off the Backs of the People" - since we have now learned whose "Backs" he was really talking about - the very corporate interests who have used "Deregulation" to shaft the American people.

etc.

Regards, Nate

In my opinion, Ed Asner is a marxist stooge. Left wing bullshit makes me tired. I know I will not change your mind, nor can you change mine. So don't waste time lecturing me.

I don't think that some one stating the facts makes them a marxist.

Also, I didn't read where any one tried to make you change your mind. I always say let them facts prevail.

Sorry. Yep, he's a marxist.

SMenasco wrote:Sorry. Yep, he's a marxist.

And everybody in the Great State of Oklahoma knows it, yep? Yep.

What Red All Over? Oklahoma (Reddest State In The Nation Alert)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2128530/posts

Regards, Nate

SMenasco wrote:Sorry. Yep, he's a marxist.

According to Asner's Wikipedia bio, he's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
One of the founders of that organization was Michael Harrington.
According to the Wiki on the DSA and about Michael Harrington: "Throughout his life, Harrington simultaneously embraced the thinking of Karl Marx......"


Den

.

Despite the fact that I hear that Ed Asner is a commie pinko, I thought the video was an interesting summary of where we've landed. I really don't see how we can move forward, though, like Ed, I'm puzzled. Now that the wealthy and corporate interests own the government, including the Supreme Court, apparently (corporations are equivalent to people and we no longer need to worry about anyone's voting rights), it really isn't clear to me where we go from here.

I have no idea how we can regain a functioning government, when it is apparently in its owners' interest that it not be functional. After all, one of the parties main stated objective is to repeal anything passed or backed by the other guys, not to work on the major problems of the day like jobs, immigration, health care, ending costly wars, etc. Hard to move forward on our many problems from there. Or threatening to shut down the government if their demands are not met. Really hard to move past that one.

I just don't see that the US has much future except as a banana republic if we stay on the course we're currently on (no insult meant to bananas, I do like them *smile*).

Thanks for that

NateS, This is a brilliant summary. Thanks for posting.

Ed Assner tells communist lies.

I must assume that Nate is making fun of me and my state. Most progressive elitists do. I'm a lifelong Okie and pround of my state. Since our history is fairly young compared to other states, our population migrated in from other states when the land was taken from the Indians and opened up in the land run. Most of us used to be democrats. However, the democrats of today are FAR to the left of yesterday's democrats. Most of us Okies didn't leave the democrat party; it left us. We do have progressives and leftists here, but they are not a majority, for which I am thankful. Are we a red state? Crimson. We are the only state where ALL of our 77 counties rejected the leftist candidate in the last presidential election, and is actually considered a badge of honor by most. So if progressives want to vacation here and see our beautiful areas, we welcome you with open arms. Bring money and stay a while. We then wish you a safe trip back home.

SMenasco wrote:I must assume that Nate is making fun of me and my state. Most progressive elitists do. I'm a lifelong Okie and pround of my state. Since our history is fairly young compared to other states, our population migrated in from other states when the land was taken from the Indians and opened up in the land run. Most of us used to be democrats. However, the democrats of today are FAR to the left of yesterday's democrats. Most of us Okies didn't leave the democrat party; it left us. We do have progressives and leftists here, but they are not a majority, for which I am thankful. Are we a red state? Crimson. We are the only state where ALL of our 77 counties rejected the leftist candidate in the last presidential election, and is actually considered a badge of honor by most. So if progressives want to vacation here and see our beautiful areas, we welcome you with open arms. Bring money and stay a while. We then wish you a safe trip back home.

SMenasco,

I find your post interesting because as one of those "evil" Democrats, I feel Obama is way too conservative.

By the way, a relative of mine who used to be a Republican said the same thing about the party leaving her. Just you know it works both ways politically as far as what people believe.

49er

I hate being in debt and we do our best to save for expenses so we can stay debt free. We live on a budget. It really frightens me that our country will never be out of debt. What is going to happen when we fail to pay our debt to China? I can't speak Chinese. Living in Utopia would be wonderful but what happens when the bills keep rolling in and there is no money to pay them?