Here
and
Now

opinions

America at the breaking point

29 Comments

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges explains why the Occupy protests we’ve seen so far are merely a dress rehearsal for what is to come.

How do the places you visited in the making of "Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt" exemplify what’s behind the Occupy movement?

This is really a book about unfettered, unregulated corporate capitalism – a world that is made to kneel before the marketplace. In all these “sacrifice zones,” there are no legal impediments to what corporations want. They control the legislators, the senators, the governors, and they certainly control the judges. In southern West Virginia, Big Coal even writes the textbooks in the schools. There’s nothing to stop them now from, in business terms, harvesting the entire country. They started in these sacrifice zones, but we’re next.

Sacrifice zones. In the book, it’s a teacher – the son of coal miners in Virginia – who used that term. Is that the first time you heard it?

Apparently it’s a term that’s been used a lot, but that was the first time I heard it and it really resonated with me. I thought, “Wow, all the places we’re writing from are sacrifice zones where human communities, human beings, have all been sacrificed.” It was Julian Martin that mentioned the term to me.

So, sacrificing to, or for, what?

You’re sacrificing for corporate profit. You’re killing the environment, and you’re poisoning human beings, throwing them into utter despair and devastation. In that sense, Karl Marx was right: Unfettered capitalism is a revolutionary force.

In this case, the people who are doing the sacrificing aren’t the people who are profiting from it.

The corporations are sacrificing others for their own profit – it’s not self-sacrifice. As Julian said, they’re being sacrificed so others can leave the lights on in office towers all night in New York City.

The problem is that once you unleash these forces, they know no limits. As they finish these sacrifice zones, they’ll turn on what remains.

The Occupy movement has often been criticized for not having a really defined set of goals. What’s your view on that?

I think they have a very defined goal, which is the overthrow of corporate power. And as Crane Brinton writes in "The Anatomy of Revolution," revolutionary movements adopt a fundamental goal that the power elite can never meet, because if they did, it would mean their own dissolution.

So, I always thought they were really clear about what their goal was. That’s why they were camped out at the foot of Wall Street: That’s where power lies.

But that’s not a goal that those in power can hear. So they keep saying, “What are your demands? Do you want electoral reform, or … ?”

Well, of course we want all that, but you can’t have it under this system. This is a system that exclusively serves corporate power, so appealing to the system is a waste of time. It’s about civil disobedience, and it’s about continuing that civil disobedience until power is wrested back from the hands of corporations.

I think Occupy was always very clear on that. They did not want to work within the system. They understood that everything stems from corporate power, and that if you don’t break corporate power, then you can’t talk about a rational health-care policy, you can’t talk about sustainable energy, and you can’t talk about public education.

If we don’t halt the corporate cannibalization of the country – and the political class is not going to do it – then we are going to continue to barrel toward this neo-feudalism, which we are rapidly close to having with a rapacious, obscenely wealthy, oligarchic corporate elite.

You suggest that the outcome isn’t really known – that we’re observing the tinder but not knowing when it’s going to be lit. What do you think is going to set it off? And what is it going to look like once it’s lit?

1905 was the dress rehearsal for 1917. The Stamp Act of 1765 was the dress rehearsal for 1776. Movements take a long time to come to fruition. They did in Eastern Europe. Charter 77 began in 1977, and the Velvet Revolution didn’t take place until 1989. People like Vaclav Havel were fighting all that time.

It’s always the ruling class that determines the configurations of revolt. If they respond rationally – if they were, for instance, to declare a moratorium on foreclosures and bank repositions, and to forgive student debt, if we had universal health care, and if they instated a jobs program especially targeted at those under 25, that would dissipate the movement. Instead, their only response was force – to physically eradicate the encampments. Which means this is not going away.

What will it look like? When will it erupt? Will it even be called Occupy? No one knows. I’ve covered movements all over the world, and they have a kind of mysterious life force of their own. But I have zero doubt that something is coming back.

In the form of violence?

Well, it can always go the wrong way. We have powerful proto-fascist elements in the United States that do what fascist movements do: They celebrate the language of violence and they blame societal ills on the vulnerable – Muslims, undocumented workers, homosexuals, and intellectuals.

Who knows where it’s going to go? But as long as political paralysis grips the center of power, the more traditional centers of power are discredited, and the more extremists are in power themselves … In the 1930s in Europe, it all went bad. And it went bad in Yugoslavia. It could go bad in the United States.

You’ve compared the Occupy movement to things you’ve seen in Eastern Europe with the fall of communism. Is it possible that this revolt will fail like some others have?

It can fail. Not all movements succeed. There’s no guarantee that it will succeed. It’s different from the ’60s, when the new left was primarily a middle-class white movement built around opposition to the war and the draft. Once the war was over, once Nixon was out of office, it lost its focus. It was never aligned with labor or the working class. And you really need labor to push through significant social change.

This is one of the problems, because we only have five to seven percent of the American workforce engaged in manufacturing. The rest of them are in places like Wal-Mart, and they’re not unionized. So that’s a big question: How do you carry out a revolt without a powerful, organized labor force?

So no, there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work at all.

I think the goal is to try and build the kind of numbers we saw in Eastern Europe. The thing is, if non-violent, peaceful mass protest doesn’t work, and corporate forces continue to disembowel the country.

In the last few weeks, hundreds of thousands of American workers have lost their unemployment benefits, the food-stamp program has been cut, and the Supreme Court made a ruling that severely crippled public-sector unions. They won’t stop.

So, I know there’s going to be a backlash. I don’t know when it’s coming, I don’t know what it will look like, and I don’t know if it will succeed. But I have absolutely zero doubt that something’s coming.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

29 Comments
Login to comment

The TRUE solution to EVERYTHING would be totally free and unfettered capitalism with NO government intervention

Interesting statement.... I seem to recall that Wall Street banks were the ones being bailed out by government and tax payer money after their shonky products went belly up a few years ago.... consumers are held accountable for their actions yet I am yet to see anyone of consequence in the banking industry be convicted for their lies and manipulation of money markets.... oops, I forgot - they are too big to fail...

9 ( +8 / -0 )

"unfettered, unregulated corporate capitalism"

This is the America that George W. Bush and the Republican Party have created along with the corporations that have bought every legislator and corporate director they can get their hands on.

Americans have given up their Democracy, it hasn't been taken from them. When the top one percent own every business, communications venue and government function the result is the Chinafication in America. If you like your dictatorship China-style just let Mitt Romney and his corporate criminals finish the work of Bush-Cheney. Those idiots that parrot the slogans of Rupert Murdock's FoxNews will have all the rest of the 330 million goose stepping into a prison created by Rush Limbaugh and Erik Prince's Stasi.

Good luck with that. Real Americans are going to find their children enslaved and their grandparents slaughtered at the hands of the Republican Insani-Tea Party. Vote Republican and Vote for the Death of the greatest society created by human kind. It's not a dress rehearsal for Romney and the religious zealots they bought. It's the final push to the shackles the GOP and Mitt Romney will lock on the necks and minds of every man woman and child from Charleston to Honolulu.

7 ( +9 / -3 )

gaijinfo

Socialism always tends toward a breakdown of society, relationships, even trust among neighbors.

Well little do you know that countries like Japan and Scandinavia are very "socialist" countries. And you could say that for better or worse, they have the most tightly-knit societies.

The TRUE solution to EVERYTHING would be totally free and unfettered capitalism with NO government intervention. That way, businesses, corporations, etc would be limited by the products they sell to voluntary buyers.

"The" TRUE solution to EVERYTHING? Sounds like a religious calling. Nice utopian dream not backed up by any solid evidence. All utopian dreams are dangerous because reality simply doesn't work like that.

A single nuclear accident like Fukushima would single-handedly blow away all of your laissez-faire fantasy.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The TRUE solution to EVERYTHING would be totally free and unfettered capitalism with NO government intervention. That way, businesses, corporations, etc would be limited by the products they sell to voluntary buyers.

this is just hilarious .... even with current regulations, corporations have to be dragged kicking and screaming into courts to be held accountable when they are caught lying and cheating to boost their profits... let me guess, these same companies should be allowed to regulate themselves if there is no government oversight??...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

American people is being fooled by the ping pong game of Democrats and Republican. In reality they are both run by corporation and the Federal Reserve which is a private banking system which has the power of America's money supply. They are the creatures from Jekyll Island.

7 ( +6 / -0 )

Gaijinfo is the only RATIONAL person here. THANK YOU GAIIJINFO for your posts to counter all these GREEDY LIBERALS HERE.

Obviously the OWS anti-capitalists do NOT want INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY in society. They want control and anarchy. (A lot of good anarchy solves, doesn't it, BoneSmokers...)

And it's odd that they want to entrust GOVERNMENT rather than corporations to run society and deliver goods efficiently to markets. Governments, even more than corporations are fraught with cronyism/corruption and grossly inefficient compared to the private sector.

Oh, wait... these OWS morons don't even think that far ahead.

And to the ignorant wunderkid who commented about Japan & Sweden as being socialist:

Japan is NOT a socialist country. Period. And in case you haven't noticed, Sweden has been going more capitalist because they realized the socialist model was imploding. We're seeing the socialist Eurotrash countries collapsing as we speak under their unrealistic socialist economic model. Tell me ONE socialist country that has been a smashing success and has raised the standard of living for all. The problem with socialism is PEOPLE ARE GREEDY. If you don't understand that, you haven't grown up.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Well, right now we have 'some' government controls in the market, albeit weak ones, and you see where we are now. I can't imagine how much vaseline we'd need if they were left to take care of themselves...... There is a balance that needs to be found in government. No way just democrats, or just republicans can run a country. Checks and balances have to be in place. And even then there's always loopholes. We're being led around by the nose now as it is...I'm afraid to see what happens if obama wins again, but I can't stand romney... do we go socialist.. or feed the big angry corporate machine.....=/ I wanna move to Japan anyways... watch the destruction from afar...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why are they hating zealots??

Merely hyperbole my friend, to get the reader's attention.

As far as me knowing nothing, I suggest "The Road To Serfdom" by Nobel Prize Winning Hayek.

You can read it here free ( in cartoon form, so it won't waste your valuable time):

http://archive.mises.org/8812/the-highway-to-serfdom-in-cartoons/

To restate, all the periods in history of extremes, which brought about the most human suffering were when GOVERNMENTS were the extreme, not the people.

Removing GOVERNMENT is the answer, as GOVERNMENT has always been the root of every societal problem since the beginning of time.

Some references:

Alfred Jay Nock: Our Enemy, The State

Lew Rockwell: The Left, The Right, And The State

Rothbard: Man, Economy, and State

Chodorov: The Rise And Fall Of Society

Governments always depend on an uneducated public to promote their agenda. Ever wonder why Economics has never been taught in compulsory education?

Educate yourselves, free your minds.

Put down the Government kool-aid.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

IN RE: gaijinfo Jul. 27, 2012 - 11:39AM JST "This is guy is about as left as they come,"

Readers should study this posters logic and slogan chant. This as a wonderful example of the ventriloquist's partner brought alive.

What our wooden headed friend purports is repeated into his glassy eyed perception and regurgitated to try to silence examination and regulation of power.

Let the good reader take a moment to ask this Charlie McCarthy (gaijinfo) a few questions. Of course we already know what his answers.

Our dear Charlie McCarthy's world would have no regulation on nuclear power, banking, manufacturing, mining, water or air quality, food, education, medicine, pharmacy, roads, communications, weapons, commerce or housing. Charlie McCarthy wants the elimination of all government to create some imaginary world his master told him to demand of every living being on this planet.

Study this chant. Charlie McCarthy's arguments, put in his mouth and projected from his glaring lifeless eyes are designed to protect his master and his master is fear and wealth. Study this and know it is the Mein Kampf of might makes right and wealth is the only goal for humanity.

Goodbye America, Charlie McCarthy's Mein Kampf has come to claim your rights and protections because you are too stupid and certainly not wealthy enough to need them.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

gaijinfo,

I know it sounds scary to most, and unbelievable to many, but it would be a lot better than it is now.

And you know this how? Looking at history, how have extremes of any kind worked out for mankind?

Admit it. You know nothing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

gaijininfo,

If all the gaijinfo hating zealots here

a rather extreme comment to make don't you think when people are simply responding to your statements?? Why are they hating zealots??

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The problem I have with Occupy is that they remind me too much of most Gaijin.

Whiny, everything is too hard, useless degree, painfully PC, Left-leaning without having done any real research outside of Michael Moore documentaries and damning any dialogue or ideology that is not exactly the same as their own.

Occupy is what happens when you take blue-collar kids, send them to overpriced and underachieving Universities to become "qualified" in Women's Studies, Philosophy or Sociology. They assumed it was going to be middle-class good times from then on, movin' on up out of the suburbs and back to the city to be close to the newest Ethiopian restaurant.

Occupy is the least inspiring organisation to pop-up over the years and even Tea Party has more relevance to the average working person.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

kc - heavy on the rhetoric but not winning me over with workable solutions to Americas woes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

As we say here in the US, what a bunch of hooey. I won't waste my hard earn capitalist-system generated money to buy anything written by this leftist. For what?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Just for clarification, KC and his/her like minded brethren/sistren seem to equate the current state of capitalism with what I was suggesting.

The current state, as has been the state for the last 100 years, of capitalism is absolutely CORRUPT. Corporations bribe governments to minimize choice by consumers.

What' I'm advocating is ZERO connection between governments and corporations. That way, the ONLY way a corporation could stay in business would be to consistently produce, at a profit, products that the public would willingly pay for.

Every ill that KC and the sunshine Band have complained about are not capitalism, but CRONY CAPITALISM.

crony capitalism is not he same as free market capitalism.

crony capitalism, which is what we have now, in EVERY so called "free" country, is what produces the ills of society.

I'm calling for pure, unbridled, unrestrained, unfettered free market capitalism.

With a minimum government that ONLY protects private property.

Verily, verily I say unto thee, behold the truth, and the truth shall set ye free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJeuoMh46JY&feature=player_embedded

1 ( +3 / -2 )

kcjapan, it's awfully hard to take you seriously when you insist on inventing clever little nicknames like a kid on a playground.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

After all the fun and tears the loyal reader will forgive a further examination of the Charlie McCarthy representatives. Let us take one moment to review the dirty dozen required to "produce paradise, and massive wealth for everybody".

No minimum wage, No labor unions, No federal reserve, No welfare, No public schools, Extremely limited Federal government, Open immigration, Open borders, Zero trade restrictions, Hard currency. (Gold or some other standard), Rock Solid Protection of Private Property and No Income Taxes.

Please. If these too big to fail to fail fans have one country in the world which epitomizes their perfect construction let them show by example where these brilliant ideas have delivered what they promise.

Their silence again condemns their ideas as unproven, unworkable and riddled with falsehood. Thank you again for your patience. Game, set and match.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

chris andsb,

The problem with socialism is PEOPLE ARE GREEDY

pardon my ignorance - and the multinational corporations are benevolent societies?? ... they are interested in one thing only - profits - nothing more, and nothing less..... its interesting how you and Gaijininfo bang on about socialism when the last few years of the great capitalist parasitic experiment highlights repeatedly that profits are privatised and losses are socialised..... ie: the masses who understand nothing about economics are forced to compensate the losses of the supposed elite who 'understand' economics....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We again thank our Charlie McCarthy representatives present in this discussion. Let the reader take care to review the twelve points made at gaijinfo Jul. 28, 2012 - 09:13AM JST

These goals require the elimination of necessary controls on power critical in a representative democracy. So sad that that their Ayn Rand tirades are designed to stop discussion not enhance it. Removing appropriate critiques by complaint is just another technique of the wealthy elites control on ideas and responsible examination, but this is not unusual.

Let the good reader review each of the twelve demands at Jul. 28, 2012 - 09:13AM JST necessary to create this paradise they crave. Each one eliminates individual rights and supports a gangster tribalism where the individual is nothing more than chattel to his or her employer. What they seek isn't justice or freedom. What they seek is a cross of iron on the tombstone of democracy.

We again thank our Charlie McCarthy representatives as their own words condemn their ideas as nothing more than a sham enlightenment designed to shield their greed. Let the good reader study these mantras of the Republican Insani-Tea from the past thirty years and see where their corruption of freedom has led the world economy.

You will know them by their fruits and the world wide depression is what they have wrought to satisfy their contemptible greed and stupefying cruelty.

How sad that those who have had the good fortune to enjoy a life of plenty and comfort now demand that everyone else suffer to preserve their certainty and power. They would have their wealth secured by the mass graves of the poor, vulnerable and weak because only the wealthy deserve respect.

Somehow, to these puppets, compassion and shared resources makes their brows furrow and their bitter minds pucker in disgust at respect and care for the suffering of their neighbors, townsmen and national policies. Theirs is the government of Dickens' Fagin and their goal is the elimination of all critique too well proved here.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RE IN: workable solutions to Americas woes, DentShop Jul. 29, 2012 - 12:12AM

The rich must pay a fair share of George W. Bush's Wars since most of them have profited from the fraud and criminal administration of BushWars. Workable solution? Instead of dodging taxes and blaming the poor let them take their responsibility for Bush's four trillion dollar disaster. Pay your taxes for your war.

Bank regulation. Under Bush and the Republicans a mad rage of corruption and skimming delivered billions to banks and shell corporations while none are held accountable for their crimes. Enforce the law.

Social and Nation building. Instead of driving the global economy to the brink let the Republican Insani-Tea join to serve all Americans and the global community to hammer out compromise and the workable solutions government is charged by charter to bring about. Eliminate partisan sloganeering and promote a unified course of action in the Legislature.

With only three points, not twelve from the robo-bleaters, much can will be accomplished. The class warfare, stereotyping and posturing of the Republican Insani-Tea has created much of this mess and now we must all pull together to set the ship right. What the Republican Insani-Tea doesn't want is to be held accountable for their role in the destruction of the world economy and use blame to hide their crimes.

Most importantly, we aren't here to win you over. We are here to demand justice and expose the crimes of the disastrous Bush-Cheney-GOP criminal war, collaboration of criminal bank and business practices and return Americans to work to rebuild America and stop a military industrial complex from driving the world to global destruction.

The goals are huge and only the small minded puppets of power won't see their cancerous effect on discussion and the enforcement of the existing laws. Again that is nothing new. The criminal has always tried to shield his crimes and blaming the victim is always preferable in the designed chaos of disaster capitalism.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

With thanks and respect to gaijinfo Jul. 29, 2012 - 09:28AM JST in the spirit of discussion and reasonable clarity the burden we all carry includes an insightful and prescient synopsis:

"The current state, as has been the state for the last 100 years, of capitalism is absolutely CORRUPT. Corporations bribe governments to minimize choice by consumers."

May we take a moment to commend this directness and olive branch missing from most of what passes as public discussion in the American media. This is an excellent example of joining in a common bond which serves even those who may not be able to judge or discern the merits of contrasting ideas. Even in contrast, we know our common goal must be a world of respect and compassion even for those we may not completely understand.

Here, only a plea for more socialism, not less, can be made with a salute to gaijinfo for opening that window of examination. Let us be clear. We need more, not less, socialism because every benefit and accomplishment of civilized mankind requires it. In every advance of health, wealth and peaceful difference has at it's foundation our shared reliance and dependence on one another.

Our only concern is a world that reduces suffering and maximizes our community to serve every member. If that goal is too lofty then the current state of American politics and dis-union will provide a perfect example of a degenerate society which tears itself apart to spite one another and torture our children with our ignorance and discord.

Peace to everyone who can step aside from the rubber stamps which make one good or bad in some foggy definition. If we cannot join in peace and compassion no political or socio-engineered complaint will save anyone from a world which collapses in hatred and anger. If that is the best we can do, then we deserve the hell we create among all of us.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The pure capitalist system DOES work, mostly because there is no such thing as too anything to fail, big or small. No business or individual is perfect, however in true free market, the ones who do the best generally are successful and stick around, those that scheme and steal or just plain suck end up failing. Liberals seem to confuse government with the economy, but history has taught us that government only distorts the economy and creates the bubbles and busts like we are seeing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

l0zerthAug. 10, 2012 - 02:14AM JST - "government only distorts the economy"

Not quite sure what the message is here. Something about 'liberals' and 'government' and something called 'pure capitalist system'. Our Rand-bots have the admirable quality of being convinced without proof and blind to the failures of the past decades of their policies.

The solution they offer is to let them run free to rob the US Treasury, slay the poor and weak and damn all social responsibility or tally of consequence. Like George W. Bush, they seem unable to find any fault with their visions of paradise and ignorant of their legacy.

Calling criminally callous greed capitalism is a pretty weak chain of reasoning. But, hey, if it lets you have a nice life while condemning the suffering of others as their "culture" that's great. We get it, Romney Bain's selling that as America's future.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If all the gaijinfo hating zealots here could put down their obviously beloved hobby of vehemently arguing with imaginary straw men, you might realize that the ONLY way for corporations (regardless of the businesses: banks, roads, schools, chocolate factories) can take advantage of ANYBODY is through government backed laws that take away consumer choice.

If there were NO connection between businesses and government (e.g. no lobbies, no made up laws to protect large corporations from competition) then the ONLY thing businesses could do to stay profitable would be to make a product that enough people VOLUNTARILY bought.

If the public turned against ANY business, and STOPPED buying their products, then that business would VANISH.

It's only when government gets involved to help out big business do things to haywire.

The Jekyll Island conspiracy is only one (of many) such example.

The reason that people have a hard time accepting this is because NO connection between government and businesses would also mean a much, much smaller government, which means more people would have to work for a living instead of hiding behind the government's "protection", desperately clinging to government apron strings.

The following would produce paradise, and massive wealth for everybody:

No minimum wage.

No labor unions.

No federal reserve.

No welfare.

No public schools.

Extremely limited Federal government.

Open immigration.

Open borders.

Zero trade restrictions.

Hard currency. (Gold or some other standard).

Rock Solid Protection of Private Property. (The only reason for the existence of a governing force)

No Income Taxes.

Everything would be taken care of by the private industry. I know it sounds scary to most, and unbelievable to many, but it would be a lot better than it is now.

Verily verily I say unto thee: Behold the truth, the truth that shall set ye free:

http://www.mises.org

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

@Kcjapan

This is the America that George W. Bush and the Republican Party have created along with the corporations that have bought every legislator and corporate director they can get their hands on.

Amazing how you liberals whine and whine about GWB and the RP are the ones that just put America in the state that it's in now. Every system has its share of flaws. Is Capitalism THE most perfect system out there, no, it is not, but for economic growth, it is. Contrast that to Obama's European Socialist model and it is a disaster that as of right now we see unfolding day after day after day. Under Bush, we had about 4.7$ unemployment, which equals full employment. Obama wishes he had those numbers. No President has ever been elected with an unemployment rate over 7.4%. His majesty is really in a pickle.

Americans have given up their Democracy, it hasn't been taken from them. When the top one percent own every business, communications venue and government function the result is the Chinafication in America. If you like your dictatorship China-style just let Mitt Romney and his corporate criminals finish the work of Bush-Cheney. Those idiots that parrot the slogans of Rupert Murdock's FoxNews will have all the rest of the 330 million goose stepping into a prison created by Rush Limbaugh and Erik Prince's Stasi.

I will give you that. American democracy has been hijacked by a Socialist liberal far-left President that wanted to institute far- left policies that have been detrimental to the nation. The failed stimulus, the bail outs, the constant borrowing money from China, outspending Bush and every other President in the nations history. Funny, how you go on with the Chinafication, Obama is practically in bed with China, not to mention the money we can never pay back. Obama gets a Nobel prize for doing absolutely nothing. Not opening the keystone pipeline, talking to Medvedev that he'll be able to hook him up and have greater flexibility after he leaves office. Bowing to everyone, being apologetic for just being an American. Obama appointing and Naming numerous Communists/Socialists/Progressives to his various Czar positions, not to mention having a former domestic terrorist write up one of his books. Discredited scoundrels like Michael Moore and George Soros that are American hating thugs pumping money into the Democratic machine, thereby creating a Quasi- France style entitlement society. Instituting a healthcare plan that the majority of Americans didn't want. But shoved it down our throats. Where and what is the freedom of that? With the rising unemployment and there is no real immediate end in site. 8.2% unemployment, June he produced only 80,000 new jobs? And who is the head of his jobs council, none other than GE's Jeffrey Immelt, the man that used to run the MSNational Barack Channel. The only great thing is they got Olbermann fired, if anything good that ever came from that network was that.

Good luck with that. Real Americans are going to find their children enslaved and their grandparents slaughtered at the hands of the Republican Insani-Tea Party. Vote Republican and Vote for the Death of the greatest society created by human kind. It's not a dress rehearsal for Romney and the religious zealots they bought. It's the final push to the shackles the GOP and Mitt Romney will lock on the necks and minds of every man woman and child from Charleston to Honolulu.

Real Americans are already slaves to the Democratic party, just like a person on crack. So how did the Democratic party help Blacks and Latinos? Blacks have over 44% unemployment, Obama sends Biden to speak with the NAACP, Biden " *This is a big F****g deal! Biden?? That incompetent nut job? We will be paying our debt for the next 3 generations thanks to this Stalinist President. Democrats are THE worst when it comes to handling the economy, that is just like giving money to a crack addict and telling him to be fiscally responsible and you give him $500 and come back a few days later and all the money is gone and wasted away. Yes, the greatest society ever was reduced and has been on the decline ever since and who toppled it down? Looney liberal failed policies. Look at California, look at what liberal polices have done to the former 7th largest colony. It basically means, you have two choices in Nov. You can vote for a guy that loves and wants big government failed liberal policies and wants to instill that giving handouts are a good thing. Or you can vote for a man that has a proven business success record, encourages free market growth and a strong private sector.

http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/27-reasons-why-california-is-bankrupt/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

bass4funk Jul. 29, 2012 - 03:10PM JST has expressed his view clearly and we might again study this in summary.

Apparently "liberals" are the cause of every failure in every society. "Communists/Socialists/Progressives" are the collective manipulators of American society to destructive ends. And only those who agree with bass4funk are worthy of our admiration.

Conclusion: "liberals" and "Communists/Socialists/Progressives" bad, Republican Insani-Tea good. Thanks for that.

One can only guess that in this view no policy of the Republican Insani-Tea can be questioned or examined and no other views or proposals are worthy of consideration. We again thank bass4funk for providing a wonderful proof of this vapid certainty.

The good reader may chuckle at this caricature of rational thought however it is frightening common an available daily on Rupert Murdock's broadcasts. Normally it takes much more effort to prove a point, thankfully bass4funk has done all the heavy lifting for us.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Maybe Guy-jin will understand the nicknames if they better understood their meanings?

Thanks for trying however, you may be one of those too advanced to detect sarcasm?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Marxism has worked so well around the world, I just do not understand why Americans won't sign on.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

This is guy is about as left as they come, but he's singing the same old, misguided tune:

Bigger government is the solution to everything!

Business and capitalism are the reason for all of our ills!

If only governments took over EVERYTHING and redistributed ALL the wealth, everybody would be happy!

The only thing these economically illiterate big government lovers fail to realize is that if government controlled EVERYTHING, then there would be NO wealth to "redistribute." Socialism always tends toward a breakdown of society, relationships, even trust among neighbors.

The TRUE solution to EVERYTHING would be totally free and unfettered capitalism with NO government intervention. That way, businesses, corporations, etc would be limited by the products they sell to voluntary buyers.

But then that would require that EVERYBODY is responsible for getting EVERYTHING they have by producing something of value in exchange, and NOBODY would get any free handouts from the government.

Unfortunately, there are too many voters who aren't educated in economics and believe that it's really possible to give away free health care, houses (forgive foreclosures) money (forgive student loans) etc.

Basically this guy is saying "give people free stuff and they'll stop complaining."

Never works. The more free stuff you give, the more they'll expect, and the more they'll complain (riot, demonstrate, whatever) when they think they aren't getting enough free stuff.

And the cycle will continue right up to the destruction of society.

Been there, done that, doing it again. We never learn.

-8 ( +6 / -13 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites