Displaying 121 To 150 Of 3,333 Comments Hi Funk! Well done! Very entertaining, but more than that, very informative. I have a question about his inclusion of South Korea though. IMO, that’s not where the problem lies. South Korea is not the one who threatens it neighbors, firing missiles over their heads. That being said, if that is Mr. Gates’ opinion, oh well… Gates is a very interesting man and one that I would love to sit and talk with. I also liked his analysis of PBO’s style. I loved your piece! Very nice! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 16, 2011 @ 3:56 am Cher, somewhere back in my memory, I seem to remember a quote “You become what you fear the most.” I’m not sure if that was it exactly and I don’t know where it came from. It’s sorta’ dark. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 10:31 pm Cher, I guess I’m still a Jew…just a Buddhist Jew! 🙂 As I understand it, there are a number of us. My Jewish name is, of course, Ruth bat Abraham. What else? But I’ve pretty much given all that up for Lent! Ha! I have seen Frank Schaeffer interviewed a couple of times on TV. Fascinating man! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 9:37 pm Kes, BRAVA! Great comment! So true! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 8:57 pm Cher, good point! Yes, the religion can be the symptom, but I can also see where it could be the cause. There is no question that the followers of these cults, or any cults for that matter, have serious issues. The authoritarian model comes to mind. They feel the need to have that strong leader to provide them with the assurance that they are going to heaven or whatever. I have always felt that organized religion has caused much more harm than good. When a child is raised to believe that he is nothing but sinful and unacceptable to God, how can that possibly promote good mental health? The whole guilt trip thing sets my hair on fire! So, which came first…chicken or the egg? I think the case could be made for either one. I was raised Southern Baptist, converted to Judaism, and much later embraced Buddhism as a way of living. I have some empathy too, like you. I certainly did not intend to make this a discussion on religion at all. My point was about the far RR and the appeal that they seem to have with repubs. There could be several of the personality types within that group. With the rise of evangelism and the mega-churches in the past 20-30 years, we can readily see their influence within the repub party. Sue brought up a very good point about their sense of persecution, part of what you wrote about. This, no doubt, appeals to a broad segment of the repubs. There are some “sick puppies” in that bunch! 🙂 I’m having a lot of trouble trying to get my thoughts out tonight. I know what I want to say but it just doesn’t want to come out right! Maybe I can do better in explaining myself tomorrow. Forgive my feeble efforts! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Kes, you made some great points here. I have known people like some of the ones you talk about. The South votes for those same politicians as the rich repubs, which has always been strange…until you look at it in light of racism. With the poor in the South, I think that a lot of that comes from their fear. When I was growing up, there were no prosperous black people. It just didn’t happen. There was no such thing as a AA manager at a business or at a bank. Virtually ALL African-American people lived in what could only be called abject poverty, segregated into their own neighborhoods with their own schools. At that same time, poor whites had much the same conditions, living in very poor circumstances. There was only a very thin line between living in a poor white neighborhood and living in a poor black one. Poor whites saw their skin color as the only thing that separated them. They were deathly afraid of losing ground to black people. I honestly believe that this fear of losing what little they had was the basis for a lot of the racism. They resented any upward mobility by blacks. We can still see this attitude among poor whites even now. It is certainly not as bad as it used to be, but it is still an ugly stain just under the surface. When the Democratic Party pushed through the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, many poor whites in the South abandoned the Democratic Party. They have remained with the repub party even though they end up voting against their own interests. They have always resented the government forcing integration on them. This fits right into the repub agenda of getting the government “off our backs”. I tend to see this as a societal problem rather than just being crazy. While some of the poor whites certainly have their issues, including the religious beliefs that I mentioned in my comment, I see it more as a struggle to stay “ahead” of black people in general. This is hard to describe and I’ve not done a very good job of it. Hope you can get my point. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 8:17 pm Agrippa, when it is combined with religion, you have a really toxic mix that has a powerful effect on people who are malleable to begin with. The religious leaders know their sheep well. They know how to push those paranoid buttons. The guise of religion gives it a more socially acceptable face. You can be as crazy as you want to be, talking in tongues and flailing around on the floor, and it’s perfectly OK…sanctioned by God and society. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 7:29 pm Cher, excellent piece. Most informative! It certainly puts a bright light on the pathology of the right wing. As I read, I could see the various personality types as you described them. It does give me some solace to know that these people are only 24-25% of the population, not enough to take an election on total votes alone, but they are enough to cause problems. In my opinion, I believe the Christian right wing is far more dangerous to all of us than the people who are simply afraid of change…or of the black man in the White House. They seem to have an ability to foist their brand of moral superiority onto everyone else with their threats of eternal damnation. They are quite successful because, after all, who is going to argue with “the word of God”? If you resist, then you are possessed by a demon and damned for all time. The charlatans who pull off this ruse on the uneducated and the poor have their own agenda of power and greed. They are the sickest among the sick! The followers of this cult certainly fit into the RWA that you mentioned. In terms of their political views, the Dominionists only see winning elections as a means to an end, to bring the kingdom of God to earth. Crazy? Absolutely! For those of us who espouse atheism, this is doubly frustrating. It is a mystery why, in 2011 with all the wonderful and enlightening science at our disposal, people still cling to myths and fairy tales written two thousand years ago by people who were only slightly literate at best. IMO, this is surely a sign of serious pathology. Now, by all means, let’s go see the talking snake out in the garden! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 10, 2011 @ 6:40 pm LIVE BLOG: GOP Debate on CNBC – 5:00pm PST Sabreen, this is hysterical! Thanks! I couldn’t bring myself to watch tonight, but like you, this told me everything I really need to know! Okay guys, what else did I miss besides Perry completely losing it? » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 9, 2011 @ 8:47 pm Dear Cher, understood! You will be missed! 🙁 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 11:56 am Occupy Wall Street: A Vision for A Movement by and for the 99 Percent! Hi Murph! I trust you are well! Yes, I have thoughts…as usual! 🙂 This is getting to be like herding cats! We’ve talked about this before. You can march, carry signs and chant slogans until you’re blue in the face. It won’t do a bit of good if the politicians don’t get behind the demands (when OWS finally gets them together). I believe my worst fears for the OWS movement are soon to be realized. Cold weather and longevity without appreciable results will hasten its demise. Nothing has actually happened to stop the Wall Street crooks, bring jobs, help out students with loans, stop the foreclosures, etc., that is, except for what the President has been doing! I don’t understand this refusal to stay out of the politics. The media will not maintain coverage for much longer. In fact, there has been a decrease in reporting except for the problems in Oakland. The TV audience is only interested in drama. If you are able to bring any influence on the movement, let them know that they are about to waste the best hope we’ve had in decades to actually bring about change in Washington that would benefit us all. Please don’t misunderstand me…I’m as idealistic as anyone out there. I’m just trying to be realistic. Can there be a change from this “consensus” thing to a more practical approach? Some way to actually make a decision on a list of demands/goals for the movement? If not, I fear the same thing as you do. The protesters who have doubled down on staying for the winter are to be admired for their stamina! I’m sure it’s not easy when the weather turns bad. It would be a shame for their misery to go unrewarded because of disorganization in the movement itself. It would also be a shame for the movement to die out before the big event in Washington can even take place. At some point, leaders must take control of the message and develop a plan. I would have to agree with you about a smaller presence for the winter, even procuring indoor facilities for really bad weather. We don’t want anyone getting hypothermia out there. Sorry to sound like a broken record…but IMO, this is the bottom line. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 12, 2011 @ 11:59 am Murph, nothing is flowing right now! I’m pooped and will have to sleep on this! Hope to see you tomorrow when we can take it up again! Have a great night! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 7:20 pm KQ, I also don’t want to be viewed as negative or critical of the ideas or the energy of the movement. I simply do not want to see that immense energy wasted on pie-in-the-sky ideals that cannot be accomplished. I want to see something substantive come from this. There is a unique opportunity here with OWS! This may be our best hope to bring about fairness again for working people in this country. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 4:36 pm KQ, I would agree. This is just too scattered and vague. But as Bito pointed out, these are issues for discussion groups. “Disbanding mercenaries” and closing foreign military bases ain’t gonna’ happen without some significant changes to the DOD, but they may be fun topics to discuss. Gives people a chance to vent! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 3:40 pm Murph, I’m glad to hear that there are some good tents going up in New York. The weather there can really be bitter and I worry about people suffering from hypothermia. Mayor Bloomberg’s taking away the generators was deplorable! As to your questions, there will be some people who, through a sense of their own personal freedom, will resist any rules. They must realize that all functioning “groups” or societies must have rules and regulations in order to be productive. This is not my idea but is basic sociology. It would be a pity for the OWS movement to flounder in its own disorganization because of a few who cannot see the need for rules for the entire group. Take the prohibition on drugs, for example. This is for the good of the movement as well as for the individual members of the group. There is a time and place for personal freedom, but this isn’t it! This is a time when the goals of the group should take precedence. The issues are too important. Discussions should definitely be held and all voices heard. But there comes a time when a decision has to be made. There is something to be said for voting and the rule of the majority in deciding issues. Perhaps the group could agree on a time-line to make those decisions on the goals and demands. Then stick to it. Otherwise, you have people who would hold up the progress of the movement for their own personal issues, whatever they may be. I would be the first to espouse personal freedom. It’s ingrained in all of us, I believe. But with a large disparate group, those individual freedoms must not be allowed to derail the goals of the movement or to hold up its progress. That progress is, after all, what we all want. Sorry for these random thoughts. Hope this can help. 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 2:44 pm Sue, thanks so much for the information. I didn’t follow politics much at that time…busy working to make my business successful. It’s always been a mystery to me how they could do something so transparently bad! But they did set it up beautifully. I still believe that Hank Paulson did much the same thing when the TARP bailout was demanded. You know that he must have made out really well with kick-backs from his buddies at G-S! One of my pet peeves! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 1:13 pm Hi KT! I trust you are well! 🙂 I agree with you about the Glass-Steagall bill. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why Clinton did that…and also NAFTA! Two HUGE mistakes on his part, IMO. It allowed the banksters to gamble with OUR money, and NAFTA allowed the corporations to move overseas for cheap labor. I don’t understand why we can’t fix these problems! Oh…I forgot! The teabaggers! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 12:11 pm Sabreen, I would agree with you about the jobs…that should be the #1 issue. One thing that I don’t understand about OWS is the lack of support for the President’s Jobs Act. I would have thought that the movement would have embraced his attempts to push the bill through Congress. Maybe they are supporting it, but I haven’t seen it so far. I know that there is a large number of folks in OWS who don’t want anything to do with politics, but as I’ve said before, that’s the system we have to work with. If OWS would throw its weight behind the President, I believe he could coast to a big win in 2012. IMO, he is still the best hope we have to fix the problems. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 12:00 pm Murph, my point exactly. I just hope they will try to incorporate these ideas. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 11:46 am Murph, I have to agree with you on this point. That would be a huge mistake, done with too much emotion and not enough critical thinking. I’m disgusted with both parties too, but bringing in a third party will only hurt those who DO support OWS. I also agree about the “organic” approach. Tree-huggers are fine, but at some point, they will need to get real. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 11:45 am Bito, yes, it is a discussion. But this is kinda’ like marching…you can do it all day long and it won’t get you “jack”. As Murph has said, we are one year out from this election and at some point, the movement will need to firm up its demands. IMO, the sooner the better. There comes a time when talking is no more good…time for some action on the issues. That is the only way that Congress will take any notice. I did not, in any way, mean to imply that the issues should not be discussed…but for how long? When is the message honed? We all, I think, know what the problems are. I am not being critical at all of the “organic” style, but it looks to me that the style has overshadowed the message. There has been plenty of criticism from MSM about the lack of message. Even today, MSNBC did a broadcast from there with thinly veiled criticism of the “hippie element”. After two months of protests, it’s time to begin to form one. I don’t want both the politicians and the MSM to ignore the movement. As things stand now, they can just sit back and ride it out without making commitments on any subject. Political goals, policy statements, manifesto…I really don’t care what they call it. It just needs to be, and soon. I think you and I are on the same page…just not sure how this should proceed! Thanks for your reply…you make me think!! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 11:28 am Bito, you are right. It is a discussion, not anything carved in stone. But I am beginning to believe that unless the movement adopts some kind of political agenda, it will fade. What, after all, are they accomplishing besides p*ssing off the mayor and the police? They have done nothing to stop the evil Wall Street crooks, stop the foreclosures, or get people back to work. Imploding the entire system of government and finance is not going to happen, not with the current atmosphere in Washington. The next election is going to determine which way this country goes to correct its problems. I hate to see the immense power of the movement wasted on idealism that cannot translate into real changes. I would be the first to put my ideals out there…but it’s time to be realistic and practical. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 8, 2011 @ 3:34 am Murph, I like the ideas. This was something I was thinking about the other night when we were discussing how to protect protesters in Oakland…forming a circle around the offenders. It might be dangerous if they are violent though. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 9:22 pm Murph, I was going to say that, but I didn’t want to appear to be critical of the ideas. I think it would be better to pare it down to two to four main issues. For example, regulation of the finance/banking industry, overturn Citizens United, initiate the infrastructure bank, ban lobbying money from Congress. These are “actionable” issues that get to some of the major problems that we are facing. Regulation of finance/banking could include Glass-Steagall as well as a financial transaction tax that is being discussed. Overturning Citizens United goes to campaign finance reform. The infrastructure bank provides jobs, and getting lobbying money out of Congress will insure fair legislation for the people. These are just my suggestions…for what it’s worth. IMO, demanding the closure of foreign military bases might be a good way to save money, but it ain’t gonna’ happen right now. We still have to be a little practical. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 8:47 pm Murph, the unions could be an enormous asset in planning large events like a march on DC! After all, they sure have skin in the game too. They also have bucks to help out with any costs involved such as sound systems, porta-potties, etc. Lots to be considered. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 4:55 pm Murph, you have my vote! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 4:32 pm Murph, you are so kind to say so! I did recognize a few words there…like worn-out shoe leather! 🙂 » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 4:31 pm Murph, I did look at it. You said it better than I could. There is this general disgust with the institutions of government, and I don’t blame them for the feelings. But as I’ve been saying, we have to work within the system to change the system. Just marching around with signs and slogans is not going to do anything. There must be a purpose and a way of accomplishing something. I think you are definitely on the right track to write this piece. I hope that it will be widely read and considered. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 4:29 pm Murph, I’m with you on this subject. People think that it “warms” the body, but it does NOT. In fact, it can cause the body to lose heat faster by causing the blood vessels to dilate. This lets heat dissipate faster. That’s the reason that winos sometimes freeze to death in the winter when they drink and pass out on the street, even in moderately cool weather. I used to work as an RN in a big city emergency room. Almost every night in cold weather, we would see a case like this. Sad but true! » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 3:41 pm Sabreen, I have been somewhat disappointed with OWS too. They have tremendous power, but many are completely against getting involved with elections and politics. As I said, this limits the power of the movement! This is a mistake, IMO. I was hoping that by now, they would come up with a list of demands. I can understand their disgust with the traditional two-party system. Both are corrupted by big business special interests. I think we all want to see the banksters behind bars, but it has to be proven that they broke the law. Lots of OWS people don’t understand that banking deregulation helped them to rob us legally. This is such a huge issue. It’s really no wonder that this disparate group of people have such disparate opinions. I hope they can get it together before November 2012. » Posted By Emerald1943 On November 7, 2011 @ 2:48 pmComments Posted By Emerald1943
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