Saturday June 30, 2012, 1:37 pm
I had enough reading this garbage. I nearly clicked off until I read this man's bizarre take on the Keystone pipeline. He actually made it a Republican jobs issue, instead of researching that it is an Obama sellout to the oil companies who have donating generously to his re-election campaign.

Saturday June 30, 2012, 1:52 pm

I was polishing the local bartop with my elbows the other day next to a naturalized Irishman who works as an electrician. He asked what I did for a living, and I winced a little before telling him, "I write politics," because I knew what was coming. As ever, when I let people know what I do while in the confines of a drinking establishment, I was immediately subjected to a sustained violation of The First Law Of The Bar: "Thou shalt not talk of religion or politics here."

Such moments are normally excruciating for me, pretty much entirely because the absolute last thing I want to do while nursing a whiskey and watching a ballgame is talk shop. This time, however, was different. My new friend regaled me with a succinct, accurate and scathing assessment of his adopted country - "Millions of people need work, the infrastructure of the country is falling down around our ears, but no one in power seems able or willing to put one and one together and solve two problems with one stroke," he railed at one point - before summing it all up with a single, perfect, devastating brick.

"America," he said, "has a war on drugs that doesn't work. It has a war on poverty that doesn't work. It has a war on crime that has only managed to fill its prisons. It has wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that didn't work. You want to fix everything that has gone wrong? There's only one answer: America must declare war on America."

My new friend did not pay for another drink the rest of the night.
***

Full article at Visit Site.

by William Rivers Pitt | The Smirking Chimp|

Saturday June 30, 2012, 3:01 pm
Many on both sides'll say what it takes to win their personal war. I'm in agreement that we need a strong plan of attack. With really practical and important things affecting everyone like infrastructure, jobs, essential government bankruptcy, unconscionable wars, and other suchness to worry about too many on both sides keep harping on social issues. Fine when times're not so dire. Fine when just idly enjoying a debate. Fine as a minor issue to be kept in proper perspective until later. Not so fine when we're aboard a sputtering airliner and one engine's already on fire. Those in control've a responsibility to put most of their efforts into dousing the engine fire first before worrying about whether everyone deserves to sit in first class, whether the flight attendants've a fair contract with the airline, and whether airline deregulation's really a good thing for the consumer. We can all sit in first class, served by happy and contented flight attendants and get rock-bottom ticket prices - while the plane goes down in flames. Priorities're screwed up.

Saturday June 30, 2012, 3:25 pm
The problem is that the country is so distracted with the division if Red-Blue, Democrats vs Republicans - we are a divided nation and this works to keep US all under control. When we start thinking as a United nation, we can become a real force. The Banks own the Corporation & the Media and the media's job is to misinform, not inform & outright lie to meet the objectives of their masters. We the People are the enemy. Our Governments job is to pass laws that diminish more of our rights and to provide a physical force via Police/Military with a judicial & prison system to control We the People. I am starting to see some signs of both sides understanding this but there are still so many who cannot grasp this or simply want to deny it because it takes them away from their "happy place". Many people choose to live in ignorance because they are lazy or too fearful of the reality. My mission has been to try to break the divide and get the message out that we are all in this together and the spiral will continue downward unless We the People unite and stand with each other.

Saturday June 30, 2012, 3:50 pm
Declare another WAR? Why because the other ones worked so well?

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ―Mohandas K. Gandhi

Saturday June 30, 2012, 3:56 pm
I think many on "both sides" feel this way right now. I have read recently of Tea Party leaders being accused of treason.

Saturday June 30, 2012, 4:05 pm
So glad you posted this Kit, it's an excellent piece with some really good comments from the readers.

Allan, you poor misguided soul, if I was the praying sort, I'd pray that you start reading both sides of a story and use your brain to come to your own conclusion. But alas, you're too brainwashed and angry for anything as reasonable as that.

Saturday June 30, 2012, 4:40 pm
Great article, thanks for posting!

Saturday June 30, 2012, 6:54 pm

Does non-violent resistance work on bullies? Never has and never will. Which is not to say I want to see any more blood shed on or for American soil, the two extreme sides of this current "debate" along with the middle of the road folks all have as much to lose with the current status quo; we would be far wiser to all come together with our mutual discontent. There is power in numbers.

Sunday July 1, 2012, 12:20 am
Thank you Kit. I agree that this is an excellent piece with "many" great comments. I loved your story:
Saturday June 30, 2012, 1:52 pm

Sunday July 1, 2012, 6:13 am
Carlton Ward has wrote here the single most important thing I have read in a long time and he is right....it bares repeating. Thank you Mr. Ward

The problem is that the country is so distracted with the division if Red-Blue, Democrats vs Republicans - we are a divided nation and this works to keep US all under control. When we start thinking as a United nation, we can become a real force. The Banks own the Corporation & the Media and the media's job is to misinform, not inform & outright lie to meet the objectives of their masters. We the People are the enemy. Our Governments job is to pass laws that diminish more of our rights and to provide a physical force via Police/Military with a judicial & prison system to control We the People. I am starting to see some signs of both sides understanding this but there are still so many who cannot grasp this or simply want to deny it because it takes them away from their "happy place". Many people choose to live in ignorance because they are lazy or too fearful of the reality. My mission has been to try to break the divide and get the message out that we are all in this together and the spiral will continue downward unless We the People unite and stand with each other.

Monday July 2, 2012, 5:01 am
Although Carlton's point is excellent, it will require a dialogue between citizens which is all too rare. It will require the motive of finding common ground, real listening, and the respect of civil discourse. We can do this, but it's a tall order given current tendencies.

Great read - thanks, Kit !

Monday July 2, 2012, 6:24 am
If my next breath were my last breath I would be so grateful to never have to put up with republicans again.

Monday July 2, 2012, 7:24 am
It will not happen, because everything, as well as all people except for the ones getting filthy rich and calling the shots, has been masterfully coordinated “to work against each other!” I will not even start to get into all of the intricacies involved, because I have never before seen chaos used in in such a fashion as it is now being used in the 21st century, for securing a means to an end. In our world manipulation through lies has always existed, however now it has been magnified tenfold, and its magnitude and scope is breathtaking! The elite of the world know that this present system is coming to an end, so they will claw for every red cent that they can get their little greedy hands on, while the masses of people “cheat themselves” out of the abundance which they deserve, by following empty philosophies which agitate but in reality change, absolutely nothing!

Monday July 2, 2012, 7:24 am
Sad when an electrician has more insight into what needs to be done than many in Congress

Monday July 2, 2012, 10:25 am
It contained common sense answers and ideas. It may not have been perfect, but which of us could sit down and write out our ideas. Have those ideas make sense to 5 random strangers?

but one thing is certain that unless the republicans/tea party understand that it is not about themselves. We are not going to get an effective government anytime soon.

Monday July 2, 2012, 11:28 am

Sadly the only way we have of up-ending the catastrophic Citizens United decision is by opening the constitution to an amendment. As most in Congress (both Houses) are already tied to debt through lobbies or direct campaign contributions; it will take a huge amount of intestinal fortitude and integrity to vote against their own interests. That's where our votes and voices must come into play. Don't be afraid to speak up, be loud, write letters, make phone calls (to Congress and the President), write for your local newspaper and keep writing till it gets published. The dialogue we have with one another is only limited by the fear to reach out and try to be a part of the change we must have.

Monday July 2, 2012, 12:18 pm
Thank you Kit for posting Mr. Pitt's article. He made many good points and I agree with his assessment of the current situation. We as voting citizens need to let our voices be heard. Democracy is not a spectator sport and we need to let our elected officials know of how we feel regarding their pitiful attempt at governance by phone,letters,email and the voting booth. Read and noted.

Monday July 2, 2012, 3:49 pm
please go to the voting booth this year, if only to swipe the pencil.

Monday July 2, 2012, 4:06 pm
"I have made this point time and time and time again, but it bears repeating once more: the single greatest strength the far right and their paymasters enjoy is their utter and complete lack of shame. They will say anything - literally anything - to gain an advantage in any debate, and be damned to whoever takes a screwing in the process."

What a great article. Hyperbole? I don't think so. I think he hit the nail on the head and his new friend earned those free drinks. We must end this partisan divide that prevents anything from being accomplished at all. We have SO many desperate needs in this country, our entire infrastructure from roads to the electrical grid needs repair, jobs, jobs, jobs as Boehner likes to say. But not on HIS watch, credit might flow toward the other party. Better the economy tank and sink along with Europe than that. Bipartisanship was once a good attribute, we need to make it so again. It is the 1% trying to keep us at each other's throats, we need to learn to ignore the attack ads and decide things based on what is in the long term best interest of our country, not some billionaire's portfolio. If we ever manage that again, we'll be on path to become a great nation again.

Monday July 2, 2012, 4:49 pm
"America must declare war on America, against the fusillade of divisive nonsense that passes for political discourse these days" ... followed by a fusillade of divisive nonsense that passes for political discourse these days.

Monday July 2, 2012, 5:03 pm
Perhaps I should add a little explanation.
He presents a perception of Republicans exactly as described here:
http://blog.ted.com/2011/04/19/on-being-wrong-kathryn-schulz-on-ted-com/
He then calls people names, "walking farce of a fake ..." and "teabagger".

There is obvious divisive behaviour on the "right" (I don't believe that a single political axis really works, but let's go with it for now), but to divide without the center shifting radically, you need divisive forces on both sides. Has the center shifted radically to the "right" in the past few years? From the sizes of the anti-Bush demonstrations, the election of Obama, the passage and upholding of ObamaCare, and mutliple other indicators, no. There are divisive forces on the "left" as well, including, apparently, William Rivers Pitt.

Regarding the issue in question: People need jobs and infrastructure needs building. Unfortunately, they're not going to do the work for free. They have to be paid, and that comes either out of taxes now, taxes later to pay down the debt, or newly printed money. Printing money devalues savings, whether in pension funds, private, or Social Security. That screws over old people. Taking on more debt screws over the next generation of taxpayers, the children. Are you willing to dig into your wallets to pay for all those projects? Last I checked, many people had higher priorities. I'm not arguing that this argument is correct. I'm saying it's reasonable, not just divisive class-warfare as Pitt dismisses it. That total dismissal of the other side's concerns and points is how the division works.

Monday July 2, 2012, 5:16 pm
Thanks Kit--good post as usual.

Monday July 2, 2012, 6:23 pm
This was a waste. I already know the libtard Dummycrats are the worst piles of dung to hit the USA. I've considered the 'Democrat' party dead since 1963, replaced by the libtard Dummycrats, while the 'Republicans' persisted shakily until 1992 when they should have challenged that libtard traitor Dummycrat Komrad Wilhelm Klinton on voter fraud and instead died and knuckled under to be replaced by Repulsivans. I'm voting for Gary Johnson, the dead corpses of the former 'major' parties can go take a leap off the cliff into the nearest ocean!

Monday July 2, 2012, 8:54 pm
i'm not sure it isn't to late. people can't disagree on anything nicely anymore. if you don't follow the party line then you are called names and abused just because your opinion is not the same as others. until we can learn to disagree and then work to meet in the middle someplace we will not last as a country. not everybody on the right or left is right. right is in the middle so it works for all that's how our country was built.

Tuesday July 3, 2012, 8:13 am
thanks

Tuesday July 3, 2012, 2:29 pm
Thanks for the post.

Tuesday July 3, 2012, 4:10 pm
Is there a difference being killed for not going to war versus being killed fighting the bullies or being killed in the worthless war... is there a difference between non-violence as a tactic and non-violence or non-violence against an overwhelming power but then giving into sectarian religious violence the next. Non-violence as tactic may just be another form of violence...

Tuesday July 3, 2012, 6:48 pm
Noted..so much sense in this article...and in most of the posts..there are many people out there who are still thinking with their own minds. That is refreshing.

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 1:38 am
Excellent topic for the 4th!
I'm throwing in my hat with Charles O, who writes; "We Americans must SECEDE from the Empire and recover our humanity, our independent moral sensibility, our sanity, our freedom and our joy. Most of us are so doped up on TV that we no longer know what it means to be human. So before we can free the country, we need to free ourselves, and we need to experience the exhilaration that comes with freedom -- standing alone against the world, connecting with free human beings everywhere, across space and time.

Instead of trying to make government smaller, let's make people larger! "/quote

This finger pointing that has been mentioned previously is harming us far greater than any outside forces; the American people are either being torn apart politically, or they've lost hope in the USA's future.
Is this for our country's greatest good? Ask yourselves, WHO benefits from the severing of our national unity? Look for the power lurking in the shadows & see who the real ememies are. I can assure you it's not your neighbors, in other words it's truly not a matter of Repub Or Dem, but rather those holding the money funding the entire shebang.
Let's mess with their heads & wallets by not buying into their hate mongering & join together as 1 nation starting today; our nation's birthday.
Peace be with us all... Repub, Dem & Ind; The American People.

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 3:48 am
The speech below delivered by Patrick Henry at St. John's Church, Richmond Va on March 23, 1775 is just as relevent today; instead of Great Britain, substitute the US govt/Corp$ who are waging war with the American people.

"MR. PRESIDENT: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable²and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"/

Any questions?

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 6:02 am
Absolutely- all of the above have said it for me.

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 12:37 pm
Noted, thanks.

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 1:29 pm
Greed. So much so that there is a TV show about it. This shows that there is no end to the extremes that people will go to to get more. The consumer model on which our society is based is wrong. Destroy, consume, throw it away and repeat, is not a sustainable model. Things don't make you happy. You make you happy. Children know how to be happy. Playing soccer in the rumble of an earthquake or a war torn city is frequent footage on the news. Smiles for the film crew no matter how bad their situation. Adults need to be able to see the good and not dwell on the bad. I lived through a disaster. It was not easy. I still have PTSD. What I am grateful for is that my family came through it alive.

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 1:56 pm
Sjo D., Xiao B., Jian Shi, Xin X, Bei W.

Obviously, these are STINKING, DISGUSTING ADS!
Please, when you see such STINKING, DISGUSTING ADS, please click on "flag as inappropriate".
A Care2 staff member should take care of it.

You can also go to the "person's" Profile: there is a "flag as inappropriate" at the lower right-hand corner.
In this case, as in many others, THE PROFILES DO NOT EXIST.
These are, obviously, NOT REAL CARE2 MEMBERS.
The expression "amazing surprise" suggests to me THIS COULD BE A VIRUS.
It ONLY TAKES A MOMENT to "flag as inappropriate".
Doing so makes you A GOOD CARE2 CITIZEN. We must ALL work together to keep threads from being INFESTED! Care2 by itself can't seem to stop them.....

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 3:42 pm
Noted !!

Wednesday July 4, 2012, 7:10 pm
MAKE CHANGE: VOTE GREEN!

Friday July 6, 2012, 7:47 pm
Lots of spam.....lots of good comments by most on here. I think Kathy B's comment could be used elsewhere on here. I gave green stars to those I could. Can we have some black holes for those who miss the boat. lol

Friday July 27, 2012, 7:03 pm
America Must Declare War on America -- William Rivers Pitt

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http://www.newamerica.net/