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The Great Divide
Sep 14, 2008

I hear nothing from either of America's major political parties that tells me anyone has a CLUE how to to begin to rectify the utter and complete financial mess the Bush Regime has made of our country. I keep waiting for an announcement of intended true change in the approach of our potential leadership as they barnstorm from coast to coast. Instead, I hear adolescent exchanges of insults and recriminations and fluffy, puffy speeches about pie in the sky, national security and reform - and every successive promise seems to contradict the others.

Our economy is in a major tailspin - every economic indicator screams it: it's reflected in all the major commodity markets, in the rising unemployment figures, in foreclosures, in the number of bankruptcies filed, in the failing of major banking and brokerage firms, in how far you can stretch your own paycheck to cover your every living expenses, even in the abandonment of beloved pets when their owners can no longer afford to care for them.

We are trillions of dollars in debt to foreign interests, the bottom is rapidly dropping out of our GNP, we are selling our landmarks, our businesses and even our roads. Big business is gleefully outsourcing every service and production location it can in the interests of the bottom line. There are more homeless, more people living in poverty, more dysfunctional schools and more services being slashed by state and federal agencies every day that passes. Where improvements are being made, they're floating on borrowed money.

Most of us hate to admit that our country's well-being is inextricably tied to the health of our economy. Many prefer to think that if only government cared enough things would be better. To this I say: read history. Read the total history of our country, not just the political or social roots, but everything - the foreign relations history, the economic history and how all of these disparate factors have in the past been divided, producing failure, and integrated, producing success.

If someone - or some group - intelligent enough, knowledgeable enough, willing enough to take the heat and who cares enough about all aspects of America doesn't come up with a viable program to correct the strangling economic mess here at home soon, you can kiss everything - and I mean everything - else goodbye.

We do not have another FDR, with his powerful ability to tap the greatest financial and philanthropic minds of his age, on the horizon to rescue our beloved country. I do not believe either set of presidential candidates is informed enough, equipped enough, in touch enough or un-self-interested enough to correct our financial course anytime soon.

People, it's difficult to motivate folks who are barely paying their daily expenses, barely able to keep themselves and their families solvent. If you think people are apathetic about the causes many of you rightly embrace & promote now - animal welfare, environmental concerns, rights for the mentally and physically disabled, education, world peace, etc. - wait until Americans are standing in line for handouts again, instead of being employed, able to feel good about themselves and feeling like they live a society that values their contributions to it.

Please visit my newest photo album for a brief glimpse of the great economic divide in America today. I welcome insights and observations regarding how we, the people, can bring about effective change to restore the United States to the morally and fiscally responsible nation it once was and could be again.
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Posted: Sunday September 14, 2008, 10:53 am
Tags: food money us poverty depression economy housing jobs indicators economic wages unemployment Bankruptcy recesssion bail-outs [add/edit tags]

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Pete Conrads (91) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 2:44 pm
Cate For President!

Past Member (0) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:00 pm
I agree with Pete. CATE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!
Cate, you could do better then either canidate that is running for president now. thanks for all the work you do. (((HUGS)))

Joan Mclaughlin (133) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:03 pm
I am one of those down trodden.I became handicapped while my hubby lost his job in the textile industry to China.Due to this we lost our home.The government is in no hurry to help us.We didn't pay the rent this month because I need tests that SS won't pay for.I refuse to live on oatmeal again.So I stocked up on veggies and fruit.I pray that God sends the inspiration to someone to help our country and our people out of this unholy mess.We need to fight for medical for our disabled citizens and disabled vets.I've lost my car.But I thank God everyday I still have my sanity,well some of it.If it wasn't for care2,I would be lost.I figure if I can do something good that there must be a way out of this mess.
Pete has a great idea---CATE FOR PRESIDENT.If we stand together we can do something positive.If people would stop being so apathetic and have some common compassion,empathy and believe in Karma ,we would all be better off.Boy do I have big dreams.I am just wondering if we will end up with another "Hooverville"!!!Thanks Cate for your opinions and friendship.HOORAY CARE2-LET'S FIGHT TOGETHER AND NOT FIGHT EACH OTHER.

Louise L. (48) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:08 pm
Dearest Cate, How I wish I had the answer to the questions you pose! I do know this: somewhere along the line, we as Americans have lost our moral fiber. It saddens me that a country with so much potential has lost its way. Louise (new survivor of Ike).

Morgan Griffith (225) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:13 pm
The disparity between the very rich and the very poor gets wider and wider. The mentality of taking control of a company and aggressively cutting and ruining everything that gets in the way of megaprofits has become the norm. Not bringing in 150% profits--fire the CEO but make certain you hand out a multi-million $ goodbye package. Why should they care if the workers have jobs for life, retirement that is ensured not to disappear, forced early retirement, health insurance with comprehensive coverage that insures you will not be forced into bankruptcy. No matter what happens to the workers the management makes out truly like bandits--where is the incentive to keep the American worker strong, therefore there is no incentive to keep America strong. I constantly hear complaints about the attitude and lack of effort of the workers but there is no incentive to be loyal and work hard for a company that will hamstring you the moment you turn into a perceived liability. It all starts in the marketplace and in an ethical marketplace (is there such a thing) is where we will find our way back to a level of humanity. In the mean time we must give all we can to those who present us with the opportunity. We have to change our personal mentality/morality and pass this attitude forward. Like it or not we are our brothers keeper.

Kitt M. (38) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:23 pm
Cate For President!

Margi L. (130) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:37 pm
The photos in your album are stunning examples of the economic divisions in our country. Yet those divisions have existed from the outset. Jefferson was a wealthy man who owned slaves. The divide doesn’t get much wider than that. What struck me most about your photos is how narrow the divide has gotten between Plenty 5 and Poverty1. Only one paycheck or one illness separates them. And it is the group represented in Plenty 5 that supports our nation with their labor and their taxes. It’s the middle class that supports the wealthy and the poor - that is the bridge across this divide. The trickle down economic policies of the Republican party are a failure. The wealth is not trickling down. Jobs are being outsourced, CEOs are making obscene amounts of money, we’re being shafted by big businesses that are profiteering from war, oil and the destruction of our planet. What we have is a middle class that is losing the ability to support everything! To get out of the mess we’re in we need to cast our votes for the candidate that has the best plan to empower them.

DoNotMessage G. (267) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 3:37 pm
to become that nation again, will we see it, you and I? I doubt it. yours are the words none of us wanted to see or hear, because they hurt. it's true, we are screwed, our country has hit the bottom that our founding fathers thought we would never see. the only actions we can take will be for the future of our grandchildren, and hopefully we will be able to help our children rebuild the future for their babies. I'm not afraid, I am just sick thinking about it. what are these leaders thinking? do they give a damn about the future of their own? I don't want another president, I want a leader, I want someone who will abolish the opression and give us hope. are those days gone? is there a capable man or woman who will rise up to lead us? I will follow them into hell if they can save the future of this country. be ready friends, we have to believe that it's worth our life. oh, Cate, you infuse the rebel in us...

Kat Wounded Cougar (400) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 4:01 pm
Since Cate has asked for opinions, that is what I will give. I believe that most of the politicians I have heard are inept. We have shoved the old God aside. Our new god is green. We spend this new god much too freely, and "loan" it to other countries for life-taking weapons. We have become an apethetic country, people. It is time for some action! Margie L. refered to Thomas Jefferson. It was he who said (quote) "A little revolution is a good thing; the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." It is time to take action instead of sitting back and moaning. I am ready to fight for my Country! Who else is? I have extended an invitation to my friend Aron Kay to join in this discussion, Wether he will attend is another matter. I sincerely pray he does...

Kat Wounded Cougar (400) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 4:16 pm
This is something I wrote years ago, but it still applies today.


When I was growing up, I believed the nice stories we were told in school about the founding of the Uninted States and its government. I believed the slogan, "Of the people, by the people, and for the people". I innocently believed that adage, or rule, to still be in effect. I gloried in the fairness and honesty of it all.
THEN THEY GAVE US NIXON.
I remember how, at fourteen years of age, I was disillusioned. The blindfold of Lady liberty had been removed. My faveorite Uncle, who I had staunchly believed in till then, had lied to me and let me down. Yep! Ole Sam was caught
with his political pants down. He had disgraced an entire nation. I was angry and ashamed.

It was then that I, too, removed the blindfold over my own eyes. I became interested and aware...for my own peace of mind.
My family is active politically. One grandfather was a District Judge until his death in the early 1960's. An aunt is a Deputy Sherriff, and an uncle is a criminal lawyer. One grandmother worked in the parish courthouse, and my dad was town councilman, and then mayor. Several memebers of my family are in other law-enforcement fields, including State Troopers. One has given their life in the line of duty. It was common to come home from school to a political discussion. It was not odd to discover a Senator or Congressman in deep discussion with my dad and others. I would often eavesdrop on those intense discussions. I listened and I learned.
When I flew from the "home nest" in 1969, I became a Hippie. I also became politically active, especially against the war in Viet Nam. I sewed a patch of an Amerikan flag on the seat of my bell-bottom bluejeans and I sat on it. I refused to register as a voter until "they" offered us a Native Amerikan. I began breaking laws, consensual and otherwise, and was comfined to jail on numerous occasions. I carried signs and protested actively. I'm sure I was a disgrace to my entire family.

But I believed in what I was doing. I felt that some drastic changes were in order, and I was not content to stand by and hope that others would do my part for me.
My heroes were Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Stewart Albert. My most favored hero was, and is, Abbie Hoffman. Where are they now? What has happened to The Movement? What has happened to our country?
I am an Amerikan. By birth and by blood. Dark blue Amerikan Cherokee Indian blood runs through my veins, which makes me a native child of this land. I love this country. She is my Earth Mother. She is the most beautiful lady I have ever seen. But now she is sick and infected with disease. This does not alter my love for her. I want to help her recover and become well again. I want her to love herself.
Amerika has grown fat, lazy, and too self-confident. She is blinded by a false security and she will not heed the warnings. She is in danger, and she refuses to admit there is something wrong. I fear for her. I ache for her. I weep for her.

This country's backbone used to be the farmers. Now her backbone is made of paper. Our folding currency reads, "In God we trust", and that stands true. We DO still truse in God. Except now we have replaced one God with another. We have edged the old God out, and our new God is green. We spend our new god freely; we loan our new god to other countries for life-taking weapons; we have no respect for our new god. We have even less for the old One.
We discard the old morals and ideals which have worked for so long. We no longer believe in "till death do us part". As a result, we preach one thing while we act out another. Is it any wonder our children are so confused, and angry, and afraid? They hear one thing, yet they see another. "Thou shalt not kill", young man. But go sign up now for the draft and we'll send you to a country you've never heard of, to fight for a cause you don't believe in. Then you will be allowed to die, to give your young unfulfilled life, while you and those who know and love you wonder what the purpose was. You can be a hero! Let's get in there and die today!

"Thou shalt not steal" either. Does that mean we'll return the Amerikan soil to its rightful "keepers"? Of course not! We stole it fair and square! It's ours now and we mean to keep it. Look at all the good things we have given the Indians. They should be proud. They should be grateful. All we did was take away their land, their weapons, their clothes, their shelter, their language, their customs, their beliefs...their lives. All we did was take away their pride and humanity. Why aren't they grateful?
Amerika is a country of fear and hatred now. "Love thy neighbor" is okay when your neighbor happens to be your parents, or your old school pal. But what about that neighbor living in a cardboard box down by the river? Or the neighbor on the street, spare-changing enough to keep from starving another day? Or the neighbor flat-backing to give her children a room to sleep in? We don't like, or want, to admit it, but those folks ARE our neighbors, too! And how do we show them our love? We remove what little pride they have somehow managed to salvage. We attack the tiny amount of dignity they cling to. We exploit them, ridicule them, hate them, and abandon them. We want to get rid fo them so we won't have to look at them. So we won't have to help them or care about them. So we won't have to love them.

Uncle Sam tells his "children" only those things he wants us to know. If a lie will go down easier than the truth, then he'll tell it. And we believe what he tells us. We trust out Uncle Sam!
Big Brother decided what we will learn in all levels of school....and what we will NOT learn. You may offer these courses, but NOT those! And only those who can afford to go to college will. It doesn't matter if your I.Q. IS 160, young man. If you can't pay for it, you can't have it. Better grab that job at McDonald's or go stand in the Welfare line. Or, better yet, grab a gun and DO SOMETHING with your built up anger, fear, frustration, resentment, and despair. You could wipe-out an entire family of well-to-do's. or you could profit financially by robbing the corner Seven-Eleven, or you could do us all a favor and use that gun to blow your own brains out!
Young people don't seem to realize that this isn't the dress-rehearsal. This is the real thing. Suicide is permanent. Happy people do not kill themselves. Why are so many Amerikans unhappy? You may con yourself into believing that you are not responsible. Fine. It's YOUR conscience! Stay in orbit if you want; by doing so, you become part of the problem. How can you care and reach out to another human-being when you don't care about yourself? Apathy is the most deadly weapon of all. It is also the most effective.
So, to those of you who are content to let the situation in Amerika stand as it is, I will pray for your recovery. We desperately need you to wake up and realize the situation we are in. Help us to salvage Amerika. Help us to salvage ourselves.
To my Brothers and Sisters who are already aware and "on the bus", keep on keepin on. We CAN make a difference! One day at a time.


....a natural and native citizen,
Kat.....circa 1975

Faith M. (167) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 4:18 pm
Food for much thought here and I will have to give it some more thought but off the top of my head I say that the first step is to get people awake and to that end I am always working along with everyone here on care2-so many are in denial -I live among the very poor living from paycheck to paycheck I am very active there and just today fired up a dear friend who has never voted-she was going to vote for McCain and Palin till I showed her the arial wolf slaughter and now she has sent it everywhere and is on fire to insure that they do not win-(Go Jenny) I am working on the rednecks of the world with good results so far-all I have is what I have lived. to this end I say we as the people have to look to ourselves instead of leaders for it is clear they are clueless.If we want change we have to be the change we want to see-trade barter -it is what I and others do-yard sales and 2nd hand stores supply most of what I need-farmers co-ops for food and hunters/fisherpeople (if U eat meat) will give much of their kill to those that have little food-it is an everyday thing around this end of the world -garden and make your own clothes or get someone you know who loves to do it to do it for you,knit crochet,buy from those or trade with those who do-we must become more self suffiecent.as far as politics goes-we as the people must take a long hard look at where we are and who has brought us here and I agree with U Cate we must learn from history-learn it. We can by choosing a new way besides corporations and the current economy which is fueled by corporations and send a very loud and clear message that we will take what little money we have and not give it to them to continue this mess. They want to collapse the american economy to promote a NWO. They cannot win if we do these above spoken things - as more and more of this takes off from a grass roots effort we can truly bring real lasting change-we must be very creative and show what we are made of -become your own business -start now in supporting different political processes and vote independent or green party for all lower offices FIRE the democrats and the republicans we can make a huge difference that way.we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Kristi K. (2010) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 5:27 pm
I think that we are close to an economic depression. I hope that whether McCain or Obama gets elected that partisan politics are put aside and they go to work to clean up this mess. It will take years.

Michael Dewey (1077) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 5:34 pm
There is a Cooperative called Mondragon over in the Basque region of northern Spain. The Workers own the Banks and a Collage too. I believe on local levels it can work here. We already have Farmers and such forming Cooperatives. It won't hurt to give it a try. And then there is Hemp and all it could do to give green work to people here. But until we switch at least 50% of our guns and bombs budget over to green teckno stuff, we will be pissing in the wind.

. (0) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 5:58 pm
I am with you michael pass the hemp bill are nation will be strong again

serge vrabec (277) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 6:48 pm
There is some very valuable info. on the subject that you are requesting info. on . Reading this book dramatically changed my life and gave me some answers to lifes "mysteries". it is not for all, yet it is for all. depends where your at...... Thx Cate. If it resonates with a person its a life changer, Warning : Not for the faint hearted.

serge vrabec (277) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 6:49 pm
Pardon me, heres the link: http://www.nomorehoaxes.com/content/view/22/1/

Mary Neal (187) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 6:54 pm
I wish someone would step up and delay Revelations, but we're headed there fast. That is for sure. We used to be against tyranny, and now it seems that millions of Americans embrace it. I don't think a Obama/Biden victory will truly end all our problems, but like Koch, mayor of NY, said - Palin is scary. Anyone who wants to ban books and fire librarians who disagree - that just smacks of Hitler logic to me. I hate to see this abuse of power happening here in America. I hope the worse of the tyranny under Hitler's regime never happens again anywhere.

serge vrabec (277) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 6:55 pm
Right on Faith and micheal., thx.

Past Member (0) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 6:56 pm
This quote from quote from Michael Ruppert's book, "Crossing the Rubicon" sums it up for me Cate...

“[T]he entire continuum of public and private life in the United States has been transformed by 9/11, the lengthy preparations for it, the ensuing cover-up, and the massive consolidation of authoritarian policies and institutions achieved in its wake. In short, I maintain that unless this phenomenon is exposed at its roots, the fundamental changes it has wrought will become permanent. That would constitute the death of the American republic.”

Financial ruin fits into this picture as well...

RC deWinter (418) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 8:21 pm
Thanks for that rousing nomination, folks, but I am one whose heart is in the right place (most of the time, I think) but totally unequipped to be president...LOL! I would be assassinated before I was able to be sworn in, in any case.

I WAS a president once...president of the board of governors of our lake association when I was first married many long years ago. We were actually a mini-municipality. Although part of the Village of Higganum in the Town of Haddam in the state of Connecticut, we owned our lake, our dam, our roads, our beaches and levied legal, due and payable (and additional to town taxes) taxes on those who lived or held property within our boundaries.So I am not totally inexperienced in being a leader in a community.

Let me tell you, even overseeing the board, which governed all of 110 households, and responding to the needs and concerns of the community was a full-time job. We had to arrange for snow plowing, street signs, street lighting, lake draining, dam maintenance, beach maintenance (we had three), disbursements, etc. ad infinitum.

I was president of this board for six years. I got phone calls at 6 AM from seniors complaining the snowplow had blocked their driveway with snow, I got calls in the middle of the night from people telling me there was a campfire on one of the beaches, I got vilified for not lowering our taxes when we had a surplus because I believed in being fiscally prepared for emergencies - and there were ALWAYS emergencies, the biggest one being having to entirely re-design and rebuild our dam. That meant working with the state environmental and engineering departments as well as architects, engineers and contractors.

I felt it was my responsibility to smooth over and improve our community's historically rocky relationship with town, and succeeded enough to be able to buy replacement street signs through them at a substantial savings. I was also able to arrange for the town's department of public works to place large containers of sand at strategic places on our roads, which enabled community members to use it in order to get out on horrendously snowy and icy days.

Of course it didn't hurt to be a duly elected member of the town's board of finance, as well as a member of the board of trustees of the town library and also known for donating my services gratis as a children's entertainer at various local group events.

So you see, I have a tiny inkling of what it means to be a leader. I would never want that responsibility again, even though I do consider myself a modest success at it.

But we DO need people with the vision, energy, diplomatic skills, intelligence, connections and heart to lead our country. Knowing a little bit about it as I do, I am still waiting to see someone emerge as that right person.

I know there is someone out there. We must find a way to identify and support that person - to wade through all the bullshit and the insider entanglements to position that person to lead us to a happier reality.

Michael P. (24) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 8:26 pm
I hate to sound like a pessimist but I don't know if people will wake up in time to avert a disaster. Our entire economy needs to be reversed from making war to making clean energy and the green jobs that go with it. Thomas Friedman just had a great interview on NPR. In a nutshell, if we grow a green economy, we strengthen our country, create jobs, reduce terrorism and avert climate disaster. As he said - " it's a win, win, win, win, win..." Here is the link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=09-08-2008&view=storyview
We spend more than a TRILLION DOLLARS every year on war - think how much good we could do with that much money!!!

Dalia H. (1224) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 8:53 pm
Dearest Cate:) This is the worst time that I have ever seen in this country. As you said, the line in the unemployment is larger than other times, more people are in disgrace due to bankruptcy, more divorces due to financial problems, we have to choose between putting food on our tables or buying gasoline for the car to go to work, the most fortunate have a job. We have to endure this situation until the end and have FAITH AND HOPE that ALMIGHTY GOD will help us thru this situation. Have a good evening and a peaceful forecoming week.
Lots of Love and Friendship
Dalia E.:

Yvonne White (219) 		Sunday September 14, 2008, 9:57 pm
We have to demand it. Period.
I believe we DO have every resource that was available to FDR. But it will take some very BOLD & politically nervy pushing. And Americans are so attention deficit that they SEEM to forget very quickly, so changes HAVE to be Quick & Obviously GOOD FOR THEM or they won't buy it. NO 5 Year Plans - too l-o-n-g... I think we need a Massively Leftist Deal - Nationalizing ALL Utilities & Healthcare & Insurances right off the bat. That alone would save our LIVES and cause major coup attempts.. Pull ALL troops out of Iraq as soon as Whoever takes office. (3 guesses which would be More Likely to do that.)
Ask for Our Debts to be Forgiven - like WE do Every Year or so for 3rd world nations.
Stop ALL Imports - Close ALL Loop-holes for Corporations, No Enron crap, no bailouts, NO Tax Exemptions for BIG OIL, Big Pharma, etc.
Build Factories for America & tax through the nose Any Company that builds Elsewhere.
Freeze All Political Wages! NO Raises to Politicians until the Economy can bear it!
Totally overhaul the Tax Laws. Totally overhaul the mortgage & credit card laws.
Legalize & tax to death Drugs, just like tobacco & alcohol. We waste too much on the fake "war on drugs" - making pushers & warlords & Governments rich while our poor are lost.
ReClaim America - rebuild infrastructure, take back land sold to outsiders (yeah, that Could be a Problem, but we've taken land from people before, so it can be done), Support Green Jobs & Ideas with Real Money!
Break up all the Media Conglomerates that sucked up all forms of media in Reagan's DeRegulating hey-day.. I'm getting finger cramps so I'll stop.
But Seriously Nationalize! Once the water, electricity, and gas are Controlled by we won't be at risk of Forgeign Take Overs by default!

Faith M. (167) 		Monday September 15, 2008, 6:54 am
I believe Michael D is correct about the hemp and Mondragon idea so how do we instute that and get it started we have electrical co-ops here but that is it and those who own stock already have a say -but do not voice it-if you have a 401 K U have a voice- see if U can get others who have the same 401 K or any other for that matter to get involved in what corporations you hold stock in -if U have a mutual fund same thing insist tht the financual comp that buy your stock only buy and support green-we have to start some where and that is another good place and yes Pass the hemp bill !

Past Member (0) 		Monday September 15, 2008, 11:57 pm
Cate,cate cate,what can I my self about you,actualy a lot you lead so many of us in the right direction you let us (me)know just how it is you don't sugar coat you put it out there as you see it And I comend you for sticking to your beliefs you don't talk out ur ass I am on ss and health plusmedicaid and am just starting tolisten and learn about all this politic stuff we really are in BIG BIG TROUBLE people like me dont understand so much of the trouble were in but thanks to people like you bit by bit we can learn more each day so thanks for being who you are and to many things to mention all you do not to help only care2 but helping soooo many diffrent issuesthanks againfor all u do

Denise NotOnlineMuch (485) 		Tuesday September 16, 2008, 9:41 pm
I echo Pete's sentiments! It really sucks that there are NO politicians that truly care...I also wonder if what's happening to our country is karma...

BMutiny TCorporationsEvil (430) 		Wednesday September 17, 2008, 1:27 am
I know, Cate, you said that stumping for some candidate would be deleted; so at the risk of being deleted, I will say what I believe very strongly anyway.
Everyone is correct in saying that there is no one candidate or person who will "lead" us out of this mess. That will take a MASS MOVEMENT; such as the MASSIVE MOVEMENT that brought about Civil Rights gains in the '60's and '70's: not just for Black people and minorities, but for women, gay and transgendered people, disabled people, etc.
There were several leaderS, plural -- not just one person. As another poster here mentioned.
Mass Movements BUILD gradually; there is a dynamic interplay between the group, and outstanding individuals with outstanding talents who RISE from among the group -- maybe the person sitting next to you, a teacher, a preacher, the person you never expected had such talents. A certain young preacher in a Birmingham church -- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Unknown until AFTER the movement had started and got some momentum.

It is my thought, that we can see the BEGINNINGS of such a Mass Movement, in the support I see among Black people, young people, and on college campuses, for Barack Obama's candidacy. The huge turnouts for his speeches, and the response to them. I am distressed that people on Care2 seem to have perhaps sub-consciously absorbed a lot of Repug propaganda against Obama. No he isn't perfect -- neither was FDR. He is an EXTREMELY brilliant, able and talented man -- I get this from reading his two autobiographical works. He has made some compromises that you and I find distressing; perhaps unnecessary. However, Obama is STILL FAR, FAR, FAR BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. ONE of the two major party candidates WILL be elected. God help us if Palin is the next President! With Obama, IT IS NOT AN END BUT A BEGINNING.
I feel that in THE RESPONSE TO OBAMA'S CANDIDACY, there is now the POSSIBILITY for a Mass Movement, like that in the '60's. A Mass Movement against War, that will actually STOP the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- thru the soldiers refusing to fight, and civilians supporting them -- just like the Mass Movement that stopped the war in Vietnam. We are seeing the beginnings of this now, in the Veterans' Movements. If McCain/Palin are elected, THIS MOVEMENT WILL BE BRUTALLY REPRESSED -- YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET. But, if Obama is elected, WE HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE.
From his biography, I get the idea that Obama actually knows A GREAT DEAL ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY -- from actually having LIVED in relative poverty in a "third-world" country. MUCH MORE than ANY "elitist" we've EVER had running for Pres, could POSSIBLY know. Also, with a politically-savvy Mom, he knew and still knows PLENTY about what is REALLY going on with America there -- the CIA machinations behind coups overthrowing foreign governments, for example. Obama is NOT naive; definitely KNOWS what he is getting into. Which candidate would you expect Peace from most? Which candidate do you think would best RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF A MASS MOVEMENT without calling in Blackwater thugs to bloodily suppress it? {What McCain or Palin would do!!!}
So, if this posting is echoing others' call for a MASS MOVEMENT, such as the Labor Movement that got us the 8-hour workday; the hippie movement that gave my daughter the right to wear bluejeans to school; the movement to ban alcohol, and the movement to REPEAL alcohol prohibition; etc. etc.; THIS IS WHAT I AM REALLY TALKING ABOUT. Like it or not, tho, the POSSIBILITY for such a Movement, is tied to the right {correct!} side winning the next elections. And that ain't Palin! Then, I put on my Prophetic Cap here, and I see such a Movement as we are talking about, having as I said a Fighting Chance to Get Our Country Back.
NO wise, all-knowing, all-caring Big Daddy Savior is going to "rescue" us -- WE MUST DO THAT OURSELVES. We will SELECT our leaders as they PROVE themselves on our side. First thing is to GET RID OF THE NEOCONS. Not "get rid of everybody" -- those are the counsels of DESPAIR. And it won't work. There are SOME comparatively good guys in Public Life. Find them and don't go for cliche's and too-easy answers. We can start making Public Life attractive again so that talented people will WANT to go into it. By cleaning out the corruption and religious hypocrisy; and rewarding intelligence.

BMutiny TCorporationsEvil (430) 		Wednesday September 17, 2008, 1:49 am
I want to add, that NEITHER of the two parties in the '60's, Dems or Repugs, had a PLATFORM of support for either Civil Rights NOW for Black people; or, End the Vietnam War.
But, the people in power at the time HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF THE MASS MOVEMENTS.
So, I conclude, the Mass Movement is a LOT MORE IMPORTANT than the puffery and platforms and ads, etc., that the two parties put out.
I remember when the anti-Vietnam movement in Seattle started with ELEVEN people. I remember when the Gay Rights movement in Seattle started {it had already started in New York and San Francisco} with NINE people. The "leaders" came LATER. They were NOT among the "original" people, by the way!
There ARE people with ideas out there -- for the economy and everything else. I have read them in magazines and on the Internet. Ideas for local food and transportation solutions and breaking oil-dependency, etc. etc. Seen movies and videos and heard lectures. A LOT of these ideas are GOOD ones. But, so far, they have made limited headway because we are not DEMANDING them. Like, hey, how about a General Strike or something? Do this OR ELSE...... we SHUT IT DOWN! THAT is the sort of thing that brought results before! We are all fragmented and don't feel our power. As I said before, I think that when people gather in their thousands to hear Obama, THEY FEEL THEIR OWN POWER. I exchange LOOKS with other people on the street wearing Obama insignia! Reminds me of the time 'way back in the past, when us Hippies, even if strangers, used to RECOGNIZE each other.
The Repugs and Neocons are REALLY SCARED of people COMING TOGETHER like that!!! Their WORST NIGHTMARE. They want you to think that your neighbor {or Obama!} MIGHT BE A TERRORIST.......
As long as we allow them to PREY ON OUR FEARS like that, WE ARE LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH LITERAL MURDER.......

Tsandi Crew (95) 		Tuesday September 23, 2008, 10:13 am
I find the lack of education in our country appalling. People believe whatever they are told without a thought. They don't know where they are on the Planet. Where to start? In the long run, education. Education involving Parents, Education involving the Schools where Parents have gone to voice what they want their children to learn. Education involving self education by the student who has been inspired to go looking for information on his/her own.

In the Short run, Regulation, Regulation, Regulation. When it comes to sin and temptation,it requires Regulation.Because human beings are political animals who are tempted by money and sex. This situation involves both.

It also involves the need for resignation of the people responsible. That won't happen. We are to shameful anymore. When we emerge from all this we will be a different nation entirely.

This isi not a national event. Our economy is not a local economy. It is Global. Unfortunately, our leaders are not Global, nor are our politics. They don't match up.

That gap must be bridged. AFTER Regulation.

Tom M. (816) 		Monday September 29, 2008, 8:19 pm
Hi Cate, I'm testing to see if I can put a link in a blog comment: Here is an interesting little video about the coming election. hope you enjoy it.

Tom M. (816) 		Monday September 29, 2008, 8:25 pm

The link worked! OK Cate, here is my response to your blog...

Our government "finds" $600 billion for the Iraq war, $700 billion to bail out the banks, but must cut back on social security, education, veterans benefits, ssi, section 8, medicare, food banks - anything for the poor, sick, injured, mentally ill, too young to vote or elderly - because they don't have "extra" money for those programs. They have to cut "somewhere," they are against "entitlements," "welfare," "socialism," whatever the excuse du jour. Never mind the hundreds of millions of extra dollars they find for "earmarks" for bridges to nowhere and such. Frankly the politicians don't give a shit about you and me. Back in January most Americans were against sending any more troops to Iraq. In March things hadn't changed. When an ABC reporter told Dick Cheney that two-thirds of Americans said the Iraq war was not worth fighting, his reply was "so?

You have to be one of the greedy bastards who got us in to this mess for politicians to pay any attention to you. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr. - the guy who gets to be in charge of handing out $700 billion to his wall street buddies - is one of those greedy bastards himself. He is a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs who grabbed hundreds of millions of dollars from his golden parachute, generous stock options and bonuses that were runner-stamped by his hand-picked board of directors who just happened to be ceos of other wall street firms.

Goldman Sachs has fought insider trading, fraud, perjury and other charges many times over the years. In 2003, Goldman agreed to pay back $3.8 million in profits, $500,000 in interest and a $5 million penalty for just one SEC charge. They write it off as the cost of doing business and gloat about all the other stuff they got away with. Of course, they never have to admit wrongdoing because they are a corporation. If you or I go to court we have to admit we were wrong and show remorse or else.

70% of Americans are against the bailout. Do you think the politicians are listening to us? Remember, the banks that are going belly up and begging for corporate welfare are the same banks that wrote, lobbied for and got the harsh anti-consumer bankruptcy bill passed. They made it next to impossible for anyone with an average income who is overwhelmed by, say, hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills because they can't afford insurance from, or were turned down by, the greedy insurance companies (Google AIG bailout) to get a fresh start like they now want from us.

Where did the $700 billion dollar bailout figure come from anyway? It was a totally made-up arbitrary number. The Republicans know the jig is up. They know they will lose the election. There are only 40 days until a new administration is sworn in. That's why they're in such a hurry to grab the money now. This whole mess has been amplified by Bush and the other Republican fear-mongers, just like the Iraq threat was years ago, to stampede us into accepting the biggest swindle of the American people since, well, the Iraq war. The bailout IS wall street's golden parachute.

In his book, The Squandering of America: How the Failure of our Politics Undermines our Prosperity, Robert Kuttner writes, "Between 2000 and 2006, the productivity of American workers increased by 19 percent. But the total increase in the wages paid to all 124 million non-supervisory workers was less than $200 million in six years -- a raise of $1.60 per worker -- not $1.60 per hours but a grand total of one dollar and sixty cents in higher wages per worker over nearly six years! Labor market researcher Andrew Sum of the Northeastern University Center for Labor Market Studies compares the $200 million for workers to the $38 billion paid in bonuses alone by the top five Wall Street firms during the same period."

John F. Kennedy once said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." I believe this country is headed for a violent revolution, and so do the greedy bastards who are running the country. No, not just the politicians; their puppet masters who give them their marching orders. As deep throat of Nixon-Watergate fame once said, "follow the money." Republican class warfare has been directed against the average working American for many years, and the present economic crisis is the direct result of this.

Corporate union-busting tactics aimed at holding down wages contradicts the necessity for capitalism to sell goods and services to these same cash-strapped workers. In other words, when capital succeeds in keeping wages low (especially in times of increased labor productivity) it constricts consumption and eventually produces crisis. Economic insecurity has increased with dwindling health care and pension coverage and the rising costs of college education, housing, and medical care. Add to these rising costs for the average working American the shredding of the social safety net, the Department of Labor turned into a union-busting institution, and President George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and his vetoing of social legislation such as the S-CHIPS children's health benefit, and we see the Republican class war at its ugliest.

As Dave Chandler said in his July 14th earthside blog, "Today is Bastille Day in France... This nation, the United States of America, is badly in need of our own, new 'Bastille Day'. The walls of corrupt, corporate government need to be stormed and torn down. Corporatism and militarism should be abolished and genuine social and economic democracy and liberty proclaimed.

Donna M. (50) 		Saturday October 11, 2008, 4:12 pm
This is a very good write. I hope to keep up with your sharebook. I, personally, not even being of 'middle,' class rank, am feeling the pain of America's default. I can only hope for the best in this election, whatever it may be. You have made some very good points. Much peace and hugs to you. With Care, Autumn Rain Eyes, United Native America.

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