Well folks it's been a long time, but I felt the need to ask this question. Does no one see where the United States and Europe are headed? Does no one see, or do you not care that our "elected" officials work tirelessly toward the furtherance of one world government? Hell I might even argue we're already there.
My family fled communistic regimes, apparently only to set up shop in what now appears more like a fascist regime. Camera's at every street corner these days are just the start. It is said that as we approach 500+ times per day on camera, that hardware/software is able to track your location in real-time. Nevermind the cell phones that everyone carries around, or the new generation of vehicle EDRs (GPS enabled black boxes) that every new vehicle must be equipped with. Certainly pay no attention to recently released facts from the FAA (in response to the EFF's lawsuit), showing what approved agencies were flying UAV drones for unlisted causes, in fact "Some of the entities on the COA list are unsurprising. For example, journalists have reported that Customs and Border Protection uses Predator drones to patrol the borders." Sure that makes sense! The article goes on further "It is also well known that DARPA and other branches of the military are authorized to fly drones in the US." This too, pretty common sense, although I question what branches of the military, and where given Posse Comitatus. The article continues "However, this is the first time we have seen the broad and varied list of other authorized organizations, including universities, police departments, and small towns and counties across the United States. The COA list includes universities and colleges like Cornell, the University of Colorado, Georgia Tech, and Eastern Gateway Community College, as well as police departments in North Little Rock, Arkansas; Arlington, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Gadsden, Alabama; and Ogden, Utah, to name just a few. The COA list also includes small cities and counties like Otter Tail, Minnesota and Herington, Kansas." I know I am going out on a limb here, but most of these location's don't make sense, especially from a privacy perspective. I know I have asked in the past, but clearly the answer is that privacy, it pretty much dead for the common man, and freedom…it died with it. (source)
The fact that we are so far in debt (now 15+ Trillion), in fact far more than the whole European Union combined, when China and the rest of our "creditors" (a.k.a. the World Banc, their Fed Reserve cronies, etc.) come calling what do you think is going to happen? Take into account that we're at a point where GDP is almost equal to debt (meaning BROKE), what will we as country do when our money is worth squat? I am not a conspiracy theorist per se, but I do believe in the rule that people in power want only one thing, more power. Money, and all the perks are simple side-effects of power.
It beg's the question, at least in my mind, of when (not if) the revolution will come. In every oppressive situation, man has revolted and not excepted what lay before him. At what point will people be unable to sustain the tax rates, the invasion of privacy, the losses of freedom, the loss of their core belief's, and much more to appease an increasingly oppressive regime. Folks, I have to say, it doesn't matter who is in office, be it Democrat or Republican, the "old guard" and the "old way" of doing things is dead! The actors and the audience simply don't realize it yet.
If I had my wish every politician, every lobbyist, every corporation would be put on notice. You are all fired!!! If you were in government before (no matter how), you NEVER will be again. I'd vote for changes to the Constitution, to further limit any elected officials from that point on to only ONE four year term. I don't care if any one is a GREAT politician or not, time is their enemy and corruption comes in many, many forms. D.C., and politics in general changes people and NOT for the better.
Political life should be as it was, a service to the community after which you "pass the baton", not a life long career that WE THE PEOPLE (YEA REMEMBER US???) are all on the hook for. I believe the Constitution should be amended to reflect a requirement for a balanced budget every year, to keep newly elected officials in check now, and into the future, with impeachment and swift removal from office for not doing so. I also believe lobbyists, and other corporate interests should be banned from being involved in government or politics ever again. Break that code of conduct, and the company and its assets become property of the people, or some such thing. The key is that WE THE PEOPLE must rise up, and take back control or we may never be able to again.
Look folks, it's not too late but please open your eyes, SEE & HEAR the truth for what it is, we are all slowly being cooked like the frog in the pan, our rights, beliefs and privacy stripped away by the day, so we don't see the stark truth. WAKE UP AMERICA, WAKE UP!!!!
Nice to hear from you! Yes, I hate the traffic cameras. It used to be in America, "cop didn't see it, I didn't do it". Now, it's machines issuing tickets. The sad fact of the matter is, all the cameras (the UK is the worst) do is help catch criminals AFTER the crime, they do nothing to prevent violent crimes. My wife got pinched 3 times at an intersection with cameras – SUCKS! California stopping it for right turns on red – $60 per shot……All about the money, and the processing center is out of state….Messed up.
And in regards to spending and debt, COMPLETELY lost in the MSM discussions is the fact that every single government entity, from local, county, state and federal, is in DEBT and scrambling to find revenues. +15 Trillion FED ONLY. And the Fed can print money, other government forms cannot.
I was ranting about the direction of the country during the OWS stuff. And while I agree with "OWS" (whatever that is?)on many points, I disagree with many tactics and with many of their solutions, we do agree on many of the problems. Some of my "stop-gap" ideas as follows:
1) The rancor of Bi-Partisan dissention has destroyed compromise and the only time the parties come together are for wars and economic disasters. Even in those circumstances it’s painful to watch. It is egotistical, childish and destructive behavior that has to stop NOW or it is just a matter of time before the environment will grow beyond repair. People who unwaveringly disagree with one another have a focused, radical agenda. Something needs to come from the middle and fast or it will get out of control.
2) The facts are that not only do we not collect enough tax revenue, we also spend too much. The only way to solve our crisis is to CUT SPENDING AND INCREASE TAXES. Too many social programs combined with fraud cost billions annually as well. Fraudulent welfare claims, mamby pamby programs, fraudulent disability claims (LIRR Disability Scandal – great example), the list goes on and on. (And don't forget the massive Social Welfare Program popularily known as "THE BAILOUTS". It's not merely taxing the wealthy as a solution, we have to hold those who get help to standards too, if we don't we're only stealing from those who genuinely need the assistance.
3) I am for ending politicians participating in the stock markets.
I am for the rich paying more taxes.
I am for repealing the 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act. I am for bringing back Glass-Steagal.
I am for taxing businesses that move their money off shore.
I am for more balanced trade agreements with China and for repealing NAFTA.
I am for securing our borders from cheap labor. I am against hiring cheap foreign labor and stiffer laws against it.
I am for eliminating as much corruption as possible, not only in big business but within our entitlement programs that are trying to help people who need it, not helping criminals.
I am against the lobbies buying influence from local, county, state and federal politicians.
We've strayed from the original path for too long. We're in a huge mess and I have no idea if it will crumble. If it crumbles, I'm screwed because I am currently living in the North East, and even more importantly, on an island. Two ways off, bridge or boat. For the bridges, I have to traverse NYC – and that is tough territory. Can't afford a boat. If I could, I would move down south. If it all crumbles, we're all screwed, but at least down south you will be a little more free.
Keep an eye out for the growing trend from Democrats that will promote the following mantra:
"increasing government spending and programs will lift the country out of recession."
This will be Obama's election strategy to be revealed soon after the race is defined. The Left's answer is to keep money "cheap", (low interest rates), print money, spend money. That just doesn't make sense to me.
The Right's answer, cut taxes, increase spending, consolidate wealth. And yes, every single Republican President, including Reagan, increased the size and reach of government. Anathema to true Conservative Ideals.
And both Parties trudge forward on our Civil Liberties. It's all about control.
And Europe is crazy. The UK was smart to not adopt the Euro, so was Switzerland and much of Eastern Europe. I was just there last May, and it is so freaking expensive. I go to NYC often, and used to always cry about how expensive everything is in "The City". Well, compared to Paris and Amsterdam, NYC is like Cleveland suburbs, inexpensive.
Referencing your article, countries like Germany and Holland may seek further unification as long as they control the processes, afterall, they will be carrying the economic burdens and produce the most. It's scary to think that once again, after an extreme beatdown, the Germans are rising in prominence. Of course, having American bases maintaining the security and peace cost us billions upon billions.
No Union in Europe will be successful. Too many cultures, languages, and bad voodoo/mojo among them.
Good to see you around here Stonez.
While I agree on much of this I'm not convinced that our lack of income is the problem. Sure, as it stands today we spend far more than we bring in, that's incredibly obvious. However, I believe that we collect enough we simply spend entirely too much. Let's take the Post Office for example. 10 billion then 12 now they are looking for 25 billion. For what? To pay for union pensions that WE can't afford. Oh…and let's see you mail a letter for less than 1.00 with FedEx or UPS, not going to happen and yet those two make plenty of money. Name one single government department, program or entity that operates within a given budget. Not one. Not even our vaunted military…which I will still happily pay for.
Before we tax more how about spending less… MUCH less. Instead of taking a look at everything I'd suggest looking at what we really need. Military defense, Federal law enforcement and intelligence and if we'll just go to a fair flat tax we could get rid of the IRS too. Simplify, eliminate and streamline. Let's identify what is absolutely necessary, there will be very few, the rest should go away.
You want welfare? Fine, but be ready to get drug tested and trained to perform a job that you can live off of, no more sitting around hitting the crack pipe while you collect a check from me. Already have a skill? Great, we can employ you for federally funded projects like damns, roads and other infrastructure while you look for something more permanent. Earn your keep.
There are far too many with their hands out and far too few earning a living. Our country has a lot of problems, lack of responsibility for one's actions, desire and follow through to do better, complacency and a serious lack of common sense… for starters. Too many 'reality' TV shows, too much bullshit and not enough substance. We are fast becoming a worthless society.
I'm with NQ in that we need to find some middle ground but the problem is that the left has become so much of the above, how do you appease them? I think there's too much religion in politics today, how do you deal with that? In short, the pendulum is swinging too far right and left and will only get worse. A self perpetuating political meltdown like a runaway nuclear reactor.
I once looked towards the Constitution Party but they've earned the nickname the 'Party of God', hopefully they will do something different as I'm looking for a strict constitutionalist party, no more, no less.
I don't think O or Romney will have the answers nor do I think that either will be able to make any changes because of the political standoff we have now…too far left, too far right, no middle ground and only growing farther apart.
Where there is a vacuum there is a natural tendency for something to fill that space. Maybe a third party will do so before a total breakdown in American occurs.
Gentlemen, thank you, and in fact I never left. I simply read all the time, but rarely post. Mostly I feel my thoughts and ideas are too radical or sane to interest the masses any way.
I will say I couldn't agree with both of you gentlemen more, on the poignant, clear and concise responses each of you illustrated here. I would like to respond to a couple things you both mentioned.
The article about the EU I mentioned really was just a starting point for discussion. I think you are right, the EU or any such amalgamation is doomed from the start given the participating countries, and absolutely the UK is the only sane one of the bunch right now, and even they are a bit batty.
There is no question with regards to US spending, it's out of control, in fact well beyond control, its insane. Especially in recent memory, I can't think of a time when things were so dire. Here's the problem as I see it. This society, this once great society, like Rome is crumbling from within. It is apparent to me, and to many other Americans that they the government, not we the people, spend more than they should, or can. We the people have forgotten what this government, and its role was supposed to be about. Our government is one of the largest employers, if not the largest employer in the union. How will that spur growth? Answer, it won't and it isn't designed to. More power, more control, one step closer to the ultimate goal.
When I said they're all fired, I meant all of them. The DOE, IRS, FCC, FED RESERVE, Law Firm's, Multi-Nationals, ALL OF THEM. We start over. We amend the Constitution, and fix the fewest things possible, so as not to change the intention of the Constitution, and prevent this debacle from ever occurring again. We leave the military in place, and we keep the civilian chain of command intact to prevent a coup, or worsening the fascist grip that has this country already on its knees.
It is my opinion that "La Cosa Nostra" lives on….in the form of the US government, and yes to your point NQ the State, and Local governments as well, it seems they're all puppets, controlled and manipulated toward a single agenda, more power, more control, less "the people" more control of "the people". No more tyrannical, oppressive, or crooked organization has ever existed than one with absolute power. Can anyone argue the US government's power? In fact the government, be it Fed, State, or Local does whatever it wants to. I cannot think of one, not one politician worth a shit. They might start out with great ideas, and morals and the bunch and then somewhere along the way, MAFIA. D.C. get's its fangs in them, and well that's it. Or Columbus here in Ohio, and the whole damn state falls apart, my point is that politicians are like lawyers, hated and despised, and that's mostly because they are all lawyers. My point is, even our founding fathers were once unknowns, unaffiliated, untainted. Perhaps starting over, and revamping the whole damn thing, perhaps that will be enough to shift the balance because as it stands now, the last light of hope in this world is going out.
In any event gentlemen, keep up the great work, this site is one of the few news sites I trust, and religiously check. It has been a privilege, and an honor over these years my friends!
I would love nothing more than to dial this shit back 100+ years. The Federal Gub'mt has it's spoon in way too many bowls. I too, am a strict Constitution Patriot. However, that ship has long since sailed. We have not been free in decades, and the USS Freedom's last good decade was the 1920's.
The Gub'mt indeed takes in way too much money, and spends even more, because it's managing things it should not be managing, and poorly managing them at the same time.
We have traveled beyond the point of no return.
Patriot: Texas and a few other states are the last of what I call "Bastions of Individuality". If you were to spend any time in NY, CT, RI, MA, NJ you would go absolutely bat-shit crazy. And it's not simply the "entitlement mentality", it's an over all elitist mindset. Here on Long Island, the mindset is that there are nothing but Rednecks and simple country folk west of the Hudson River, until California. It's bad, real bad. These people here are too afraid to help their neighbor for fear of litigation or prosecution by authorities. People don't make eye contact, or smile passing one another in stores, hallways, elevators. And business? A whole different kind of deal, every town is it's own fiefdom with it's connected serf system. And California is a mess as well with it's economic affairs. Strangely however, California can also be the USA's saving grace with it's creativity. I like the "individuality" within a lot of the Software Culture companies.
Looking at Europe today, and it's woes, combined with ours, exposes the weakness of Capitalism as a whole. That weakness is too much corporate lobby influence on politicians. We have Big$ paying the politicians campaign bills, politicians abiding the Big$ directives, and most flagrantly – Bailout Big$ when they fuck up. Icing on the cake comes when the politicians come out of their "service", they work for the Big$ Lobbies. Talk about a sweet deal. (I also think science and technology have outpaced politicians as well – a separate discussion) Europeans have more socialist policies than the USA when it comes to an over all picture. However, in our instance, when we're bailing out banks, manufacturing, insurance, and individual homeowners, and the Gub'mt is one of the largest employers, it's just a different kind of Welfare Nanny. At least in Europe they come out and say "We'e gonna take 60-70%, pay up or leave". Here, they let you think you're only giving 30%, but as time goes by, and your 401K sinks, home value tanks, and you pay all the various sales taxes, bailout everyone, and interest rates kept artificially low so your savings are meaningless, it's another 15-25% swipe, with no reach-a-round.
We're in a bad way, and folks don't want to stand up anymore, their bellys are too fat for any heavy labor. Hate to be this pessimistic. I see no alternatives anymore. Not even "revolution". It's just going to have to implode, and it's a slow bleed due to the massive size of our economy.