Displaying 2,941 To 2,970 Of 19,504 Comments Burning The Flag That Feeds You Agreed VB, I’m talking about the social mentality of those in India, many of whom are men, who are both unconcerned or understanding about the violence against women in their own country but frothing with outrage over this incident. It’s basically the mindset of, “You have no right to mistreat our women, that’s our job!” Certainly that does not go for many other Indians who live there or here. It’s no different than people in other countries calling out Americans (who are in the RW mostly) for being mysoginist, racist and xenophobes, I know they’re not talking about me and that there is in fact a segment of our population that is like that. The article I linked to goes on to explain how the remnants of the caste system does impact the views of many Indians as to the elite deserving to be treated as special. I think that’s another element here. To those in India who are incensed about this, what would they have us do instead? Not arrest someone who has brazenly broken the law and mistreated a poor and relatively helpless woman? Where’s the outrage about her keeping an Indian woman as a servant at illegal and fractional wages? The disregard and silence on that by those who are outraged is very telling. » Posted By AdLib On December 19, 2013 @ 12:57 pm VB, I relate to your outrage. Primarily, it is the utter hypocrisy of a nation that at the very least, condones gang rape and the violent treatment of women by not passing and enforcing laws to protect them. Who here would doubt that the many Indian women who have been physically assaulted while their attackers aren’t even charged, would be happy to have instead been strip searched…had they broken the law and been arrested. What are all the physically assaulted women in India guilty of? Yet this woman who did break the law, was treated like a lawbreaker and India is outraged? Yes, I know there is a cultural thing here but for people in such a brittle glass house to be throwing stones over something as non-hostile as this while passively sanctioning hostility towards women in their own country is outrageous in itself. There was an article on this in our news widget this morning which went on to say that part of this is due to the legacy of the caste system in India, where the privileged and elite are expected to receive and deserve special treatment and to be above the law(if it was the maid who was arrested and strip searched, I doubt this would have been an issue). Sorry but that doesn’t fly here. It is especially when the elite are punished that Americans have greater respect for the law and their society. I’m sure the elite here would love for India’s affirmation of class superiority to be the popular mindset here in the U.S. but such beliefs are the enemies of a fair and just society. Here’s a link to that article: http://news.yahoo.com/mistreated-maid-profound-insult-153429104.html Very timely article, VB! Well done! » Posted By AdLib On December 19, 2013 @ 10:30 am Social Security, Medicare, The Deficit, Poverty, Unemployment – One Vote Could Help Them All PocketWatch, you point out the two ends of the spectrum which is rather revealing. Corporations have been declared to be “people” and yet as you point out, they operate with no conscience or compassion for human beings. Meanwhile, many small business owners act like human beings, including displaying the misguided decisions feelings can sometimes lead to. Heartless, soulless corporations make better business decisions than compassionate small business owners? It may be true (plenty of corporations have also made bad decisions because of their mercenary nature and harmed their business because of them, Lehman Brothers and most banks for example) but a balance would seem to make more sense, in between the two extremes. » Posted By AdLib On December 19, 2013 @ 10:46 am Thanks for that poll, Escribacat! It may be most popular to raise it to $10.hour or so but to really change the dynamic, $15/hour would reverse years of erosion of the standard of living in America and the shift of much wealth from the 99% to the 1%. It would also be a kind of domino effect, as minimum wage goes up, the wages of other Americans would go up since the baseline would be raised. What would Americans do to discover their wages rising again, they’re bringing in enough money to save and handing a better future to their kids? That’s what’s at stake. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 4:38 pm Nirek, what a great looking horse! You’re right about the Congresspeople protecting the wealthy on the SS tax but if the public gets riled up enough, they will fold. Obama has said he wants to pursue economic inequality as a major focus, if he and the Dems can make 2014 about that and he pushes for it the rest of his term, I think changes like that could happen. Though I think raising the minimum sage would be the first best step. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 10:44 am Nirek, in the delusional world of Repubs, truth has nothing to do with their believing something is true. So disproving their BS with facts is a pointless exercise on that count but at least enlightening any who might believe them makes it worth doing. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 10:41 am whatthel, doing their worst is what Republicans do best. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 10:37 am Thanks VB! You point out an enormous disconnect, Congress rarely increases the minimum wage, which was supposed to represent a wage on which people can subsist, but as inflation grows, it’s only common sense that what might have been an adequate amount in the ’70’s or 90’s is insufficient to live on in 2013. So it’s a transfer of wealth to corporations in particular, instead of them having to pay a minimum wage that’s liveable, they pay only a fraction of that amount and U.S. taxpayers pick up the rest of the bill through SNAP and other social programs. It’s a fraud, that money has to be paid anyway, why aren’t the companies that benefit from people’s work paying for that instead of taxpayers? Coincidentally, I heard yesterday that Obama may be devoting the last two years of his Presidency to addressing economic injustice. Sure hope he does, as I proposed in my post, I think this is the key moral issue of our time and it is the one issue that if addressed, would help people of both parties, improve our society in many ways and lead to a rising economic tide that raises all ships. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 10:36 am Hey Pocketwatch, excellent and reasoned argument undermining the various RW propaganda attacks on why everything they don’t like hurts jobs and the economy. The whole “Job Creator” bullshit label they’re applied to the wealthy is just as dishonest when one considers what you listed. And most small businesspeople are not millionaires so the real “Job Creators” are not the wealthiest 1%…at least when it comes to creating American jobs. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 10:26 am Funk – And let’s not forget why GDP dropped in 2008, was it minimum wage workers getting a .70 cent raise or perhaps…banks and Wall street blowing up the U.S. and world economies? Hmm, that’s a toughie. Thanks for documenting this, a solid economics argument disproving what Repubs are claiming. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 6:49 pm Right, though between Sep 1997 and July 2007 there weren’t any increases nor were there any increases between July 2010 and July 2013 so in a study of 14 years, there were no raises in 11 of those years and tiny raises in 3 of them. So, my take on the study and its conclusions, at least about raises in the minimum wage not impacting job growth, is that it’s a bit skewed. And the increases were so minimal, just .70 cents per year for 3 years so it’s not that surprising they had little impact on job growth and economic stimulus…compared to the more than doubling of the Minimum Wage that I’m proposing. Here are the raises: Sep 1, 1997: $5.15 http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/chart.htm I would bet a lot of money on doubling the minimum wage driving our economy and job growth into overdrive. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 6:45 pm Thanks Nirek (and haven’t mentioned it but like your Gravatar!). I believe I heard that adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage is at one of its lowest points in modern times. For that to be the case in the midst of high unemployment and economic sluggishness is awful. It needs a big raise and corporations need to shell out a fraction of the huge profits they’ve been reaping since the recovery (for them) began. Heck, I’d remove the cap completely for Social Security and let the wealthy pay back some of the wealth the many have given them by helping the finance Social Security for the many. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 4:47 pm Hey Escrib, I’d have to imagine that the amount it’s costing each of us as taxpayers to subsidize the poverty wages Walmart, McDonalads, etc. pay is far more than the .50 cents a Big Mac (that I’d never buy anyway) would cost us. That means, we’re saving money by mandating that employers pay workers more. Simple math…IOW, Republicans will never understand it. Costco is the perfect example, they pay a living wage, have great employee and customer loyalty, turn bigger profits than Sam’s Club and offer products at great discounts. Higher pay has only made Costco better off, they save a lot of money on the cost of employee turnovers and training. It’s true, the average age of a fast food worker now is 29! So yes, we’re talking parents with kids to feed! As you point out, so many of the good paying blue collar jobs they would climb up to from their fast food job are gone so many have nowhere to go. Are they supposed to quit after working there for a while and have no job because they’re too” self-respecting” to stay in such a job…as Repubs would have it? This is the reality we live in, not the delusionary land of Republican thinking. In reality, millions of adults are stuck in minimum wage jobs with no higher paying job to move to. The only way to help them without taxpayers subsidizing their corporate employer is to raise the minimum wage and juice up the economy so more better paying jobs are created. Raising the minimum wage would accomplish both of those goals, IMO. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 4:43 pm Maybe so, agrippa but a huge part of the Repub base is in this demographic, working for minimum wage or near it and would be hugely helped by its being raised. They might actually cause problems for Repubs who vote no on it. So, it is possible but as you say, with a Dem House, it would be probable. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 2:39 pm Funk, as I mentioned, I’m not an economist and I could be wrong on this but I don’t know that the report’s conclusion is as applicable to the current time. I couldn’t find that there’s been an incident of a doubling of the minimum wage when it was at a level like this in such a period when income had been and continues to be falling. We also have a unique economy as part of the mix, far more older people and adults currently employed at minimum wage and many willing to work for it. As well as a restrained job market thanks to Republicans and corporations. I would say that in a more typical time, the report’s conclusion might apply but I really don’t think that it would as much today. There’s a job boom being unnaturally held back, I think this would pry it loose. In any case, as you say, if the worst thing to happen is bringing a million or more people out of poverty, a reduction in government spending on the working poor and millions living better lives, those are all great reasons by themselves. » Posted By AdLib On December 17, 2013 @ 2:34 pm The Weekend Music Thread-Part 2 Killgore, just posted big time apologies on your original music thread which is now back up and wanted to post them here as well. It went missing because of a total error. Now we have two, two, two threads in one…weekend that is. Thanks so much Killgore for being so great about this and posting this follow up thread! » Posted By AdLib On December 14, 2013 @ 7:46 pm Ladies and Gentlemen, Our Corporate Anthem RF – I was going to include THX1138 but didn’t, great reference! Saw that many years ago, not too long after it came out. As for The Planet, thanks for your very kind compliments. For all of those who’ve contributed to making The Planet what it is, it’s very appreciated to hear. The Planet is what it is primarily because of its members. It’s member run and member powered. And I think most members who have been here a while would share my delight at having so many great folks from HP joining us since last week. Thanks for jumping right in with your post and making your self at home here. This is now your Planet too and you’ve already added to it’s character and substance with this post. Cheers! » Posted By AdLib On December 15, 2013 @ 9:31 pm Brilliant and effective post, RF Dude. Good science fiction extrapolates issues and trends in a way that appears prescient and Rollerball sure did that. I too saw Rollerball in the theaters. That was an era of many science fiction films as cautionary tales (Westworld, Soylent Green, Logan’s Run, The Stepford Wives, etc.) and though they may feel somewhat dated when watched today, their basic stories and themes aren’t. It does give one pause to think what a culture shock and how unacceptable many of the compromises we accept today would be to America of 1975. All Americans being spied on by their government, websites tracking your every move and trying to get their users to give up their personal information and privacy, the regularity of mass killings which can’t be addressed because of the money and power of gun manufactures and their lobby, the NRA. Corporations as people? That alone could have been a 1970’s science fiction movie. Your positive message is very appreciated. The people can and continually do overcome the powerful minority that tries to oppress them. There are victories all the time, some are small and others are big. There are losses too but they don’t negate the people’s ability to beat the corporate and wealthy forces arrayed against them in other cases. We do have a President Obama, elected twice. We have the ACA, the end of DADT and the spread of marriage equality, we have states raising the minimum wage and boycotts and protests that force corporations to back down. None of these things and many others could have happened without regular citizens coming together and believing they can change things. Looking down the barrel of the corporate money and power canon can be unnerving but when enough people stand up to them and take the fuse out of their hands, they’re helpless against them. It takes strength and principal to stand up against those who offer bargains and convenience to us in exchange for a worse future for ourselves but for those who see the big picture, there is no greater bargain than making sacrifices of time and energy today to win back one’s own and one’s children’s future. Again, well done on your debut article here at The Planet. Looking forward to more! » Posted By AdLib On December 15, 2013 @ 12:44 pm The Weekend Music Thread-Welcome One and All Killgore, massive apologies on this mixup! This post was accidentally poofed! But as you see, not for good. Now, we have two Kilgore Trout music threads for the price of one, what a wonderful weekend deal!!! Once again, big fat apologies!!! » Posted By AdLib On December 14, 2013 @ 7:42 pm Done! » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 12:52 pm Smot, I enjoy clever and skilled writing and give props where props are deserved. Now, you write something crappy, that’s a different story! Good point about Karma, looking forward though to her visit to HP…if she’s not there already. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 12:04 pm Smot, just let me know what you want changed and I’ll make the revisions. » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 12:01 pm SmotPoker, great post and so well written! Sort of an outtake from a more grown up “A Christmas Story”! We’ve all been there with the out of control, bratty kid, either at a restaurant like you recounted, sitting behind us on the plane kicking our seat or blabbering loudly through a movie in a theater and how often we’d like him/her to get a little comeuppance. Though if part of the package deal is getting a comeuppance ourselves for being so impatient with a kid being a kid (even if a badly behaved one), it’s not worth getting smacked in the face with frozen gravel. Why is it that Karma is so undependable? When you want it to descend on people like the Kochs or despotic leaders (is there a difference?) Karma seems to be on vacation. Once again, really enjoyed your writing, you’ve got quite the chops there, a great read! » Posted By AdLib On December 18, 2013 @ 9:55 am AOL To Buy Delta Airlines: Will Require All Passengers to Fly Naked Very interesting and disappointing at the same time, IBWatching. One would have assumed that they would be far more liberal with allowing comments after purging so many members from their site with this policy. And I thought their whole excuse for the FB link was that trolls would be posting less attacks and they wouldn’t need to moderate as much. Hmm…as some have suggested, there sure seems to be a much different agenda at work here then what is being represented. More misrepresentation and dishonesty from a site that has been using a great deal of both lately? » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 7:14 pm McKMN, no such thing as being too late to find something better. Thanks for filling me in on how you found us, very cool and interesting that our article popped up first on your search. The right place and the right time, I think you’re right all around. » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:56 pm Cal haughtly, but where are you going to pin your badge? » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:54 pm Hey Allymax, welcome to The Planet! And you’re right, I left that part out and that as you’re boarding, you will be suddenly ordered to fly as cargo instead of riding in the seat they promised you. » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:53 pm Hey Ruby Tuesday, welcome to The Planet. Really, HP banned you for exercising free speech and signing a petition? Man, they’ve just giving up trying to hide their true colors. » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:49 pm Thanks so much, IBWatching and welcome to The Planet! » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:48 pm jj, I sure don’t wish for this but if we have another attempted airline bombing using clothes, this might be reality anyway. » Posted By AdLib On December 16, 2013 @ 3:47 pmComments Posted By AdLib
Jul 24, 2007: $5.85
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Jul 24, 2009: $7.25
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