A major difference between then and now is that the billionaires have a LOT more money now than they did then, and they now have full control over the CON "news". They did not have as much control back then as they do now. I have a hypothesis that the ultra rich have decided that now is the best chance they have ever had to finish the job, and completely capture all of the government and military and make them work exclusively for the billionaire class. All of the wars now are about resource control and keeping potential competitors beaten down. It is why they blew up the Nordstream pipelines, to make sure that Germany and Russia never formed a lasting partnership. They didn't blow up the pipeline because generals in the military told them to, they did it because the RAND corporation said it would help further divide Russia from Germany and keep competition down. So far, it has worked perfectly, but that may not last.
We are never going to fix things until we fix the problem of unregulated, unlimited capitalism (or according to Jeff, unlimited corporatism).
Well, considering the US has never been a democracy because of the electoral college, the senate, and SCOTUS. All three entities are anti democracy. Oh, both the DNC and RNC are private corporations.
It has always burned my ass that the closest I could come to meeting my representative or senator was at rally (limited to about 50 ft. distant) or one of the lower level receptionists in his/her office. That's MY representative/senator I'm talking about. Your representative or senator? forget it! They won't even receive mail, email or phone calls from me.
On the other hand, anyone who calls with 100 grand or more in his pocket can meet with anyone's representative or senator and take him/her to lunch, golfing, cruising, pub crawling or whoring at his convenience. All it takes is money.
The US has indisputably the best politicians money can buy.
That is not just the "Power Game" in America, Bill.
They who have the Wealth have access to the Power. And they who have the Power have access to more and more Wealth; so as to access, get, keep, and expand that Power.
That's how America was set up back in the late 18th century; and that is how every Nation State and Empire that has ever existed on this Planet came into existence, rose, flourished, declined, and ultimately fell.
America‘s practice of government has been a rigged political game since it was established. The actual name should be a constitutional plutocracy. Recently I read that the great Washington was elected by 11% of the people of the newly established USA. A little tinkering here and there was done to make the system look a bit democratic. It never was a real democracy and never will be.
I was just telling my wife: It's best not to know how the sausage is made. As in the "sausage" of the laws passed and actions taken by the U.S. government.
Contemporary politics predicted not in (fill in religious tome of choice) but by Upton Sinclair in "The Jungle." Yes, everything but the squeal, and it's the electorate that does the squealing.
After Nov 5th, Guy Fawkes Day, and Kamala Harris actually does become the 47th POTUS, ably assisted by her right-hand man Tampon Tim, the movie "Soylent Green" may become reality in the home of the brave and land of the free!
Soylent Green is a 1973 American dystopian movie. In 2025 the cumulative effects of Government collapse, overpopulation, global warming and pollution have caused ecocide leading to severe rioting, looting, and worldwide shortages of food water and housing ~ bringing civilization to the brink of collapse. With roving tribes of Democratic Party and Republican Party armed Militias. As called for by the Constitution.
In New York City only the elite (and the NY police force) can afford apartments, clean water, and food in gated communities. Their homes fortified, with moats, security systems, and patrolled by machine gun armed guards. They include concubines, who are referred to as "furniture", and have no human rights and are passed from one apartment owner to the next. Oh dear!
The majority of the poor live in squalor, haul water from communal spigots, and eat highly processed food wafers made by the Soylent Corporation ~ a large Food Processing Company. Their mainstay products, Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow are a staple food, and the latest product, a new, more nutritious, and flavorful wafer derived from plankton, Soylent Green, is introduced to the populace.
The climax is when a waste disposal truck transporting human bodies from the euthanasia center to a waste-disposal plant breaks down. And the public discovers that human corpses are being transported to the Soylent factory processed and turned into Soylent Green.
Well said! Even when we get a 'somewhat' Populist running, they are one against The Machine.
But, I'm an optimist, so I think if you can hurt Democracy you can save it as well. It's certainly worth a try.
A major difference between then and now is that the billionaires have a LOT more money now than they did then, and they now have full control over the CON "news". They did not have as much control back then as they do now. I have a hypothesis that the ultra rich have decided that now is the best chance they have ever had to finish the job, and completely capture all of the government and military and make them work exclusively for the billionaire class. All of the wars now are about resource control and keeping potential competitors beaten down. It is why they blew up the Nordstream pipelines, to make sure that Germany and Russia never formed a lasting partnership. They didn't blow up the pipeline because generals in the military told them to, they did it because the RAND corporation said it would help further divide Russia from Germany and keep competition down. So far, it has worked perfectly, but that may not last.
We are never going to fix things until we fix the problem of unregulated, unlimited capitalism (or according to Jeff, unlimited corporatism).
Well, considering the US has never been a democracy because of the electoral college, the senate, and SCOTUS. All three entities are anti democracy. Oh, both the DNC and RNC are private corporations.
BIDENomics is so bad that billionaires are now working at McDonald’s to make ends meet
WATCH: Trump mans the fries at McDonalds | LiveNOW from FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCKMNMbVdY&t=406s
This how you keep in touch with reality and the middle class. Trump 2024
How can this man lose? He can't if they don't cheat like they did in 2020!
It has always burned my ass that the closest I could come to meeting my representative or senator was at rally (limited to about 50 ft. distant) or one of the lower level receptionists in his/her office. That's MY representative/senator I'm talking about. Your representative or senator? forget it! They won't even receive mail, email or phone calls from me.
On the other hand, anyone who calls with 100 grand or more in his pocket can meet with anyone's representative or senator and take him/her to lunch, golfing, cruising, pub crawling or whoring at his convenience. All it takes is money.
The US has indisputably the best politicians money can buy.
Tony Montana, Al Pacino "Scarface""First you getta da money, then you getta da POWER!!!" And in the case of DJT then you also get the pussy...:/ :o)
That is not just the "Power Game" in America, Bill.
They who have the Wealth have access to the Power. And they who have the Power have access to more and more Wealth; so as to access, get, keep, and expand that Power.
That's how America was set up back in the late 18th century; and that is how every Nation State and Empire that has ever existed on this Planet came into existence, rose, flourished, declined, and ultimately fell.
I don't want any Debby Downers in my platoon, Jeff. :-)
“When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” ~ attributed to Sinclair Lewis.
Fascism is here, folks; whether Your next President is Trump, Harris, or anybody else.
America‘s practice of government has been a rigged political game since it was established. The actual name should be a constitutional plutocracy. Recently I read that the great Washington was elected by 11% of the people of the newly established USA. A little tinkering here and there was done to make the system look a bit democratic. It never was a real democracy and never will be.
Bill, I just read Kamala's' Plan for the Economy under her new administration.
Its four sentences.
1. Sausages cost too much. We all can't be sausage makers - who would eat all the sausages? Cackle
2. The poor cannot afford birth control. What can be, unburdened by what has been*? Cackle
3. We need to fix the Economy that we, Biden/Harris, created. Cackle
4. Run spot Run. Cackle cackle cackle!
Nah, just joking.... Trumpy just made-up No.4!
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amhTPJS0jdk
When she is out of politics we really will be unburdened by what has been.
I was just telling my wife: It's best not to know how the sausage is made. As in the "sausage" of the laws passed and actions taken by the U.S. government.
You quickly lose your appetite for "democracy."
Contemporary politics predicted not in (fill in religious tome of choice) but by Upton Sinclair in "The Jungle." Yes, everything but the squeal, and it's the electorate that does the squealing.
hahahahahahaha. Too true! Speaking of appetite!
After Nov 5th, Guy Fawkes Day, and Kamala Harris actually does become the 47th POTUS, ably assisted by her right-hand man Tampon Tim, the movie "Soylent Green" may become reality in the home of the brave and land of the free!
Soylent Green is a 1973 American dystopian movie. In 2025 the cumulative effects of Government collapse, overpopulation, global warming and pollution have caused ecocide leading to severe rioting, looting, and worldwide shortages of food water and housing ~ bringing civilization to the brink of collapse. With roving tribes of Democratic Party and Republican Party armed Militias. As called for by the Constitution.
In New York City only the elite (and the NY police force) can afford apartments, clean water, and food in gated communities. Their homes fortified, with moats, security systems, and patrolled by machine gun armed guards. They include concubines, who are referred to as "furniture", and have no human rights and are passed from one apartment owner to the next. Oh dear!
The majority of the poor live in squalor, haul water from communal spigots, and eat highly processed food wafers made by the Soylent Corporation ~ a large Food Processing Company. Their mainstay products, Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow are a staple food, and the latest product, a new, more nutritious, and flavorful wafer derived from plankton, Soylent Green, is introduced to the populace.
The climax is when a waste disposal truck transporting human bodies from the euthanasia center to a waste-disposal plant breaks down. And the public discovers that human corpses are being transported to the Soylent factory processed and turned into Soylent Green.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_jGOKYHxaQ
Hopefully in 2024 the election landslide will be "TOO BIG TO RIG"
TRUMP/VANCE/RFK Jr/GABBARD 2024 VANCE/GABBARD 2028
Charlton Heston- "Soylent Green Is People!!!" Classic!! Saw this while home on Leave in 73...
How about: "Unburdened by a has-been who never was." Trademark Bracing Views 2024.