(12-21-2011 01:09 AM)JDaveG Wrote:  You hit on some of the problems, but just to drill down a bit -- lack of regulation is not the problem. Double standards is the problem. The tax rates are a diversion. The truly rich pay very little tax in this country, and changing the top marginal rate won't change that. I don't see the benefit in soaking people who make $300K per year (and cannot afford to buy the type of influence the truly rich can buy) when the billionaires will still skate on their tax liability. While corporations will still receive taxpayer money to cheat taxpayers. When we will start wars so our campaign donors can get huge military and construction contracts. When we set up drug policy so prison contractors can build and staff more prisons.

We could deregulate and still have a level playing field if we are willing to actually work to level the playing field. Or we can hyper-regulate and keep the current arrangement. I'm not dogmatic on what level of regulation we have but I am far more interested in whether the regulations are fair and apply to all versus being targeted to help some and push out others. In the latter instance, we'll keep getting what we're getting. And the former instance will require real change from someone with the guts to call a spade a spade, get the government out of the business of propping up corporate and banking interests, and end the military-industrial and prison-industrial complexes. Ask yourself this -- who is that candidate?

(12-21-2011 02:11 AM)Dale4Saul2Red0 Wrote:  I agree with most of what you are saying but I'm not a big advocate of the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street movements. You might be right that they have some sort of clue as to the problems with this country but both sides do a terrible job of representing themselves and I see the movements fizzling out because of that. The Occupy Wall Streeters appear to be a bunch of jobless kids who don't want to work for their fair share, and also it's the same group of kids that voted Obama into office. It's somewhat hypocritical and pointing the finger at "the man" is a flawed approach. Every single one of us has had some kind of hand in the direction of this country. We need to first look at ourselves in the mirror before we start pointing fingers. The system is flawed from top to bottom. From the little guy to the big guy. We keep voting these people into office, into these seats so we need to be held responsible as well. As for the Tea Party they did support Ron Paul but now for whatever reason they have flipped over and are backing Newt Gingrich strong. Makes absolutely no sense why they would do that. Their inconsistencies and lack of a true direction scare me. They try to appear to be different, but pull the curtain back and they aren't. Both of these movements also had a selfish agenda. They claim they want what is best for the country, but they are only after what is better for them personally.

As for Paul I'm just happy his voice is finally being heard like you said. It's a small step in the right direction. Still an uphill battle for the guy, but a small victory is better than nothing at this point. I just hope I'm around long enough to see the change and culture start to change and finally go into full effect.

(12-21-2011 12:32 PM)Dale4Saul2Red0 Wrote:  The scary thing is programs like Fox News which is not a News program. It's an entertainment program try to make you think Ron Paul is crazy. Basically that's all they say, he is crazy x1000 and I guess people just believe it. They won't tell you what is wrong with his policies, they'll just say his foreign policy is incorrect without actually diving into the issue. They won't address current foreign policy or policy's of past Presidents either so they are failing to even educate the masses.

Fox News is one of the more dangerous channels in this country. I actually went to school and was going to major in Mass Communications and I was planning on doing a media job. Unfortunately the more I learned about the media, their ruthless ways, and agenda driven ideals I felt that it wasn't the career path for me. And that doesn't just go for political ways, all media is very dangerous and doesn't have a heart or soul. Not something I want to be involved in. It's baffling to me how some people can go on tv or write an article and spew some of the drivel they do, the lies, etc. knowing damn well it can influence people. Don't know how you can live with your self.

(12-21-2011 04:04 PM)takeitdown Wrote:  If there truly could be a non-profit unbiased newspaper or show that simply broke down real events (and told true foreign policy stories) it would be amazingly helpful. Right now the closest we have is the Daily Show and it's a horrible state of affairs when the only thing close to journalism is a comedy show (and it's also from a biased source, so it doesn't cover the full credibility angle, though they do take shots at everyone.)

(12-21-2011 05:13 PM)JDaveG Wrote:  PBS news is actually quite good, but most people don't watch it.

(12-23-2011 04:02 PM)skn Wrote:  I like to watch NOVA on PBS, but with that said, PBS is no better than NPR. What you end up with is people like Soros pumping in donations to slant the message.