I never thought I’d write this, but here it is: the Corporate,
Mainstream Media Has Failed.
Our Big Time media people have lost their way. Turn on the network of your choice, including NPR and FOX (!). What will you find? You will
most likely hear: bladder, blah, blah, stupid, lazy uninformed garbage presented
as “News” or “Informed Commentary”.
To best support my opinion on this matter, here is Cody
Johnston’s recent video on the mainstream media’s coverage of Bernie Sanders. I am sooo sorry Mr. Cronkite, the most trusted newsman ever, that current media talking heads are empty. I wish you were steering the "media ship" once again.
7 Ways The Media Sure Is Freaking Out About Bernie Sanders -
Some More News, Cody Johnston, 11 Feb 2020
Hi. Here is a handy guide that details all the fun ways the
media tries to shaft Bernie Sanders and his campaign.
Following Mr. Trump's Republican acquittal, we have no alternative but to move forward supporting one of two potential candidates who can defeat him this November.
I choose to support Sen. Bernie Sanders for the reasons he addressed in his recent State of the Union rebuttal speech.
Way back in the 1936 at Madison Square Garden, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt said:
FDR was right then.
Likewise, Bernie Sanders is right today. During his speech at George Washington University, 12 June 2019, he said,
“While President Trump and his fellow oligarchs attack us
for our support of democratic socialism, they don’t really oppose all forms of
socialism,” Sanders said. “They may hate democratic socialism because it
benefits working people, but they absolutely love corporate socialism that
enriches Trump and other billionaires.”
In 1944, FDR proposed an economic bill of rights but died a year later and was never able to fulfill that vision. Our job, 75 years later, is to complete what Roosevelt started.
I’ll bet 10 cat’s eye marbles that there is one thing that you and I both know for certain.
That is American Predatory Capitalism is a clear failure for 99.9% of Americans. The U.S. has metastasized into a corporate oligarchy, dominated by a few billionaires, and is only a step or two away from becoming a full-blown Fascist dictatorship.
The .01% have it made, of course. And, even the top 10% are doing good, too.
But the rest of us are struggling. We are barely eking out a living.
Importantly, it’s not just about money. It’s about quality of life.
After all, most of us don’t go home to protected, gated communities, riding in an armor-plated Mercedes, chauffeured by ex-Special Ops armed guard.
No, we’re living every second in a war zone of sorts. Just going somewhere – around the corner or cross town – requires remaining on guard, trying to avoid the people with the guns – the car rage people, totally insane and ready to explode for some perceived driving error – and the hoodlums ready to take your life for the $10 they think you might have in your wallet.
Today in America, you must now also be on guard to remain clear of and far away from those other people with guns – the police. Because if you are stopped for any reason, you may not survive the encounter. You can end up dead for making the wrong move or pulled out of your car are pummeled for God knows what the “bully-with-a-badge-and-gun” perceived as a provocative infraction.
Finally, we are forced to constantly remain on guard, alert for the next scam coming our way via those maddening, unsolicited phone calls, or the unending rip offs – from the cable company, the bank, the grocery store, the gas station, the insurance company, the doctor, the hospital, and without a doubt, the politicians.
No, American Predatory Capitalism is not working for 99.9% of Americans.
I’m for giving Nordic-Style Social Democracy some time at bat. It has worked for others. Let’s see what we can do with an Americanized version.
Let’s change our societal paradigm away from welfare for corporations and the .01%.
"What the United States needs is not bigger government but smarter government, government for the twenty-first century that is simpler and more transparent, that provides the basic social services and regulations that a government can best provide, and that then leaves the market free of all the targeted meddling that the United States is infamous for now."
For me, there were only two sentences that mattered…
“So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong. And together, we are building a safe, strong, and proud America.”
I agree with those statements. But I totally disagree that Mr. Trump and his administration has even in the most itty-bitty way had anything to do with making our people strong.
On the contrary, he is sucking the very soul out us all in the U.S. and throughout the world. It is without a doubt his policies, his decrees and his appointees through which he has done his very best to destroy our quality of life and lower it in comparison with other nations, a fraction of our size and wealth.
Under Mr. Trump’s direction we have made a sudden u-turn. We are heading backwards in nearly every measure, especially quality of life.
That matters to me. I’m sure it does to you, as well. Because it is what you measure that counts the most. And, our quality of life measure is sliding backwards.
Here’s the proof
“The World Economic Forum’s Inclusive Development Index (IDI) is an annual assessment of 103 countries’ economic performance that measures how countries perform on eleven dimensions of economic progress in addition to GDP. It has 3 pillars; growth and development; inclusion and; intergenerational equity – sustainable stewardship of natural and financial resources.”
“The IDI is a project of the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on the Future of Economic Progress, which aims to inform and enable sustained and inclusive economic progress through deepened public-private cooperation through thought leadership and analysis, strategic dialogue and concrete cooperation, including by accelerating social impact through corporate action.”
This is the WEF’s 2018 report on the USA:
“The United States’ performance, ranking 23rd on the IDI, is rather uneven. Indicators relating to Growth and Development are driving the country’s performance in the Index. The country performs relatively better on measures of GDP per capita, labor productivity and employment, all of which have improved over the last five years. Though following a positive trend, the average healthy life expectancy is among the lowest in advanced economies, pointing to the need to tackle broader challenges with regard to access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. The United States is lagging behind most other advanced economies in economic inclusion (28th). Poverty rates in the country have been falling but remain among the highest in advanced economies at 16.3%, surpassed only by Israel (19.3%). In parallel, the median household income level has also declined, which may be the result of the economy generating a larger number of low-wage jobs, thereby increasing the number of working- poor households. The United States also displays the highest levels of economic inequality among advanced economies, a trend that has continued to rise over the last years. Though the country also ranks low on measures of Intergenerational Equity and Sustainability, its score has improved, notably due to higher net saving rates and a decline in carbon intensity. Unfortunately, the recent tax reforms put forth by the current administration are likely to increase the size of the country’s public debt and further widen economic and social inequalities in the long run.”
So, realistically, what is the state of our union? Sen. Bernie Sanders has a good understanding.
Please watch his statement.
Bernie Responds to the State of the Union - 30 Jan 2018
Monday, June 12, 2017
When all else fails, reboot.
That’s a lesson I learned many years ago. When my Mac or PC went on the fritz I worked endless hours trying to get things working again so I could make my deadline. Nothing I could do solved the problem… no service tech… no software upgrade… etc. Zero.
Then I remembered… unplug the d**mn thing!
That usually worked and my computer was up and running once again.
The other day the thought occurred to me that we should try rebooting our failed political system. Since both parties are under the thumb of the mighty .001% and they have all of everything now. Well then, maybe we can get things back on track once again by rebooting… unplug and turn things back on.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So, let’s reboot.
Here's Why
Sen. Bernie Sanders, HARDtalk, BBC Interview - 5 June 2017
Sen. Bernie Sanders at the People's Summit in Chicago - 10 June 2017
Santana - Evil Ways 1969 "Woodstock" Live Video Sound HQ
The Revolution Really Does Continue Sanders Statement on Trump
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 9 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States:
“Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media. People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer.
“To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.”
Ah... I'm with Bernie. The guy who flys coach class, center seat is the MAN. He really is one of us. www.legacygrandkids.info
What happens now?
We believe in America. We fought for America. Still, we are people who believe we are a free people. Not one of us will knowingly accept slavery.
While our blood boils and our anger has risen to unimagined heights — just like the characters depicted in Les Misérables — we will take a different path to right the wrongs. We have a plan which will spread throughout the world because it serves the 99% everywhere. After all, Freedom is international.
It was not what we did that mattered, although that was important. It was not what we said, although that too was important. What mattered was our 'beingness'. The essence of who we were, that is what made the British choose to leave India. Mahatma Gandhi, Jan 1948.
We are All Partners in This Life. First, We Agree to Help Each Other.
