Open Thread – Six Phases
This is a copy of a little sign my dad had hanging in his office. As they say in New Jersey, he had a great “sensayuma.”
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[…] The Mudflats | Open Thread – Six Phases. […]
I have commented in a couple of places above, I would have added comments to several other astute comments but it is glaringly clear that I would only be preaching to the choir. We all agree here that there is a lot of misinformation being spread, that we, normal people who may well disagree in a reasonable way on many things, are being bombarded with a barrage of disinformation that would make Mr. Goebbels blush. So the only question of any import seems to me to be, what can we do about it?
Well for one thing, stop just talking to each other. I have to qualify that clearly because it is a subtle phrase. I don’t at all mean stop talking to each other, that should by all means continue. The operative word is “just”. We must do more, all of us. We must inform those who depend entirely on the propaganda machines to look elsewhere, to be skeptical of convenient truths that happen to justify horrid actions. We should also think hard about how we are unwitting and unwilling supporters of those who would increase their hegemony and render us slaves if they could.
We are the government. We elect it. Or so we think. If we do not think then what gets elected is the government bought by the highest bidder, and sad to say, the price is very cheap. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of the way democracy can be corrupted. The billionaire Murdoch arranges for her to make millions, and she is ecstatic. She has always coveted wealth. And in the process, she is given a platform, a loudspeaker, an avenue into the awareness of a large number of people to spew hatred, racism, and incitement to violence with impunity.
We have only one weapon. The market place. The oligarchy feeds off the labor of the many and it is through that and that alone that they hold sway. So we are presented with a kind of quandary, endure the present suffering, or revolt and perhaps incur even greater suffering. It is a gamble but not a good bet. If we choose to endure, we will lose because the game is fixed. The banks always win. If we choose to revolt we may not win. But we cannot lose, because revolting in and of itself is both noble and fullfilling. There is a line from Paradise Lost by Milton that I used as a signature back in the day when this debate was just about teaching mythology versus science. Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.
Are we nothing more than servants to the rich?
How can we take from them even tiny motes of their immense power? Stop using and trading in their goods. Yes, walking to the store and being selective about what you will buy is troublesome and results in a decrease in your quality of life, in one sense. Less ease. In another sense though it is a profound step to take. It will require long term dedication. It is awkward, suffer now or suffer more later.
Apologies in advance for the rant, sometimes it just becomes so fantastically absurd that an outburst of ire cannot be contained.
You know, I really ENJOYED that rant! thanks!
(what does it say about me that I didn’t think it all that rant-ish?)
Sister A,
Maybe that you are paying attention? Thanks for the sentiment.
The Christian Science Monitor has published a review of Mr. Dunn’s book – if it weren’t so bogus, it would be laughable. The kicker here is that the author apparently wanted Mr. Dunn to also talk to people in Alaska who do like Palin. Can I say “Where’s Waldo?”
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/review-lies-sarah-palin
Hey! One through five has been stolen by the Queen Twit – I knew her MO was familiar! She steals, and then mangles, just about everything. She’s just the Twit hanging out in the Quote Garden, makin’ her word salad grow.
John Ashcroft has been hired by Blackwater to run its ethics commitee. There has to be a god somewhere who is ROFLH/HAO.Irishgirl,I agree that you know who is a you know what. Enjoy your reading materials.
Yippee!!! Just received my book in the mail! “The Lies of Sarah Palin”! Now to settle down for some serious reading!!
I got mine too! My serious reading was interrupted by having to fix and eat dinner, but now I’m diving in again! 🙂
There is some serious rebranding of Palin happening today in the most unexpected places. There must be huge money behind her. It has been referenced by mo and OMG above. More here.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/05/what-if-palin-had-run-her-record/37536/
I’m not surprised Andrew Sullivan moved.
You caught me totally unaware! What’s not to like about her…she’s so pretty….
Oy vey…this was supposed to be in answer to your comment at 12.1.
and brainy, and loves poetry and guns…..
I am afraid I will swear …..
Sullivan doesn’t let us down in his reaction to Green’s piece (of……):
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/05/sarah-palins-greatest-accomplishment.html
I say let the Tea Party have at her.
Ya gotta love Sully. 🙂
I think its just you and me tonight OMG!!!
The twitter-quitter is in a snitter,there be a rapper in the White House some night.
Poetry be the game come Wed.night,she’s so lame to have bad words for a poet who ain’t White.
So out come the robes and pointy hoods to hide the faces in the woods where they be burning crosses and praising up their lord.
And though our Potus he be Black his education didn’t lack,his charm and wit portends his critics be ignored.
Next week be something new for the haters to eschew they have to figure out some plan they can devise.
I hope this marks the end racist attacks they can’t defend-I trust in Obama for he’s proven to be wise.
She is an out and out racist. Have I ever said just how much I despise her?
Dunn’s book is due to arrive tomorrow, and I simply can’t wait until THE OTHER BOOK arrives on my doorstep later in May.
Stay strong AKM.
Sadly, the reviews have not been kind to Mr. Dunn’s efforts so far.
Where are the reviews? I’ve seen nothing negative out there about his book, which I’m currently reading and finding fascinating. I’m in Alaska and many of the things mentioned in his book are known about here….but, he has more proof and the input of others involving the varied situations.
Palin is a fraud and his book helps reinforce that fact. I can hardly wait to receive Frank Bailey’s book which will further show her many flaws and unethical ways.
The Christian Science Monitor’s review:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2011/0510/The-Lies-of-Sarah-Palin
And the Kirkus review:
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/non-fiction/geoffrey-dunn/lies-sarah-palin/
I’m glad to know that you are enjoying the book as I plan to read it as well.
According to two non-partisan groups,the rethuglican medical overhaul will leave 36-40 million more low-income people uninsured in ten years. Their mission is to eliminate middle-men so more taxpayer”s dollars get to the top faster.
“Billionaire’s role in hiring decisions at Florida State University raises questions”
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/billionaires-role-in-hiring-decisions-at-florida-state-university-raises/1168680
brazen billionaires, those Koch brothers
Sometimes I wonder why we don’t just hand over the keys for the entire country to the Koch brothers. That’s what they’re working towards and it would save us all a lot of aggravation if we just turned it all over to them now.
It really frightens me how powerful they’re becoming and how they’re involved in just about everything. The fact that they’re extreme RWNJs makes it even scarier.
Koch and Murdoch….
This is called buying the veil of legitimacy. It is a tried and true tactic that has been used for decades by creationists who want to have the “theory of Intelligent Design” taught along side the theory of evolution. The whole strategy was rolled out ten or twenty years ago in that context but it is only in the last decade or so that it has been expanded upon by oceans of partisan money to try to corrupt and destroy any populist non-secular institutions that might realize that allowing two or three percent of the population to own virtually everything is not a good idea. Particularly people like the Kochs who subscribe to the shallow and pathetic philosophy of Ayn Rand. Yet if you delve into the constaints the “grant” imposes, you will find that that very thing is a big part of the whole ploy.
Tax the rich, heavily. Take away most of their wealth. We earned it for them and they systematically have cheated us, the vast unseen, unheard, unimportant majority. Yet how can the system work without us?
Thanx for this link. Pass the word.
Here’s where you can sign on to be a “citizen co-sponsor” of legislation to bring the troops home from Afghanistan:
http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/512?t=skg
I’m very proud of Senator Gillibrand for being one of the four sponsors.
Jwa @6
What I don’t understand , is why is the media interviewing all these Bushy people. Rummy, Condy, and all the other. Even CHenny and his daughter! What BS they coming up with.
I swear to God – I think the U.S. media does nothing more than try to create havoc with our government – and it certainly seems as though they try to make things more difficult for President Obama to be successfu which he IS in spite of them. There are so many lies told….they repeat what another outlet says…no fact checking, etc.
I stopped watching American news quite awhile ago. Folks, go to other outlets – BBC et al. You’ll find it non emotional – facts only – truthfulness – etc. Plus, you don’t see the crap on Bristol Palin, Snooking, DWTS, etc.
What is on TV today in America is nothing more than dumbing down the society and boy does it appear to be working. Look at the supporters of Palin – absolutely idiots that only watch FOX News.
i am with you on that Millie. i refuse to give US media one more moment of my time. except for Maddow, O’Donnell and one or two others i just will not allow these pundits in my home anymore.
NBC, CBS, ABC are no longer broadcast networks independent of other influences, they are all owned by larger conglomerates. Fox is of course the model. Go to wikipedia and look up News Corp. and you will see how many outlets Murdoch owns. Make particular note of the fact that he owns the National Geographic Channel on cable/satellite. General Electric and Disney own two of the other networks… connect the dots. Corporations with $14 billion in profits who pay no taxes couldn’t care less whether they are producing quality information for the electorate to make informed decisions.
Decades ago television was referred to by an obscure pundit as a vast wasteland. We can only wish it still was so. Now it is a fetid cess-pool of lies, misrepresentations, and studied propaganda designed and intended to give the oligarchy free reign. Do a little googling and look at the list of corporations who have paid thousands to have a voice in ALEC. Draw your own conclusions.
I suppose the theory is that, when a Democrat (especially the President) does something significant, they should invite Republicans to comment because they’re the ‘other’ party.
Of course, when a Republican does something, they should invite Republicans to comment because they’re on the same side.
HEY, wait a stinkin’ minute………when do the Dems get to discuss stuff?????
(last Sunday the morning shows had 3 Repubs for every 1 Dem…that’s just WRONG!)
Otherwise known as standard operating procedure. A classic case of having not just the thumb but the foot on the scale of so-called balance.
Phase 6 certainly applies to the Bush admin members who are desperate to claim credit for the bin Laden operation.
Does that mean we are finally in the last phase of the GWB administration???
An inside look at Syria’s opposition movement.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0510/Young-protest-leader-sees-civil-war-emerging-in-Syria/(page)/2
Palinbots out in force in the comments section:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/06/the-tragedy-of-sarah-palin/8492/4/
I was just going to post this article–what a load of……. The author gives Palin way too much credit for her short time as governor. It seems to me that she was the ultimate opportunist and not a real reformer. She took on her party because she wanted something: she wanted to get off the oil and gas board and she wanted the governor’s mansion (until she realized that she had to live there).
The story in the magazine can be found here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2011/06/the-tragedy-of-sarah-palin/8492/
And let us not forget the Alaska Democrats who actually got the reforms hammered out and passed. Couldn’t have done anything without them.
WAsn’t it basically raising taxes big time on the job producers and redistributing the wealth? Not from AK but that’s what it sounded like.
I read the article,but,somewhere along the line he forgot that Quitty didn’t die in the Alamo with John Wayne. She must have been having hernailsdone.
I was really surprised to see who was to be in the reality show with Bristol Palin. Boy—–is he ever making a big mistake!
http://bit.ly/mwwAVN
Speaking of searching for the guilty…Here’s a pastor who made a name for himself by telling all that he had been a Navy Seal who was never a Navy Seal:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/pastors_tale_of_navy_seal_days_undone_by_bin_ladens_death.php?ref=fpb
I wonder what step Frank Bailey is in? Today’s ADN will have the story of Capt. Zero’s A.G. investigating their former queen. I guess the truth hurts huh Sean?
I meant investigating Frank’s book of their former queen. Sorry, it’s getting late.