So, in this current right-wing capitalist society we have no corporate or political whores, wow, I would never have guessed. Everything is peachy… we have high gas prices, we have the biggest debt ever, we are number 163 on the list of debtors, we have a military budget that is nearing a trillion dollars (and that is what’s reported), we have crime out of control and one in hundred in jail, we have a government and the Fed that bails out it's buddies, we have food prices shooting through the roof, we have peoples homes taken from them because of corporate greed, we have nothing made in the USA now, we have a broken healthcare system that costs twice as much as the any other country, we have fifty five million without health insurance, a million kids are abused each year, we are the number one polluter, our dollar is sinking, we have companies that rip off workers pensions and health benefits, well, and the list goes on. If we spent our hard earned tax dollars on our countries infrastructure, building betters schools and a better educational system, and providing universal healthcare, we would still have enough money left over to make us the biggest military spender. This country has been hijacked by the south who are the real victors in a civil war which continues even today – I dare all on this blog to see a film called Earthlings, then you tell me if we are civilized. Here’s the link http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/video-earthlings.html My opinion as an idependent mind.

We havn't changed much since the days of John Ball

For a country that has one of the highest number of church goers and one that is continuingly touting family values, it's amazing we have the highest number incarcerated.

The two always go hand in hand...

I'm a lib and proud of it. Jim, in actual fact you couldn't have expressed my feeling more eloquently. Yes, indeed give us your money and your lives will be peachy. Just look at out economy today, money you have given has made your life hell. The trillions we have given have achieved zilch, zilch, in fact it’s made matters worse, much worse. The list is impressive but I would hate to bore my fellow bloggers.

Indeed we don't. And, have no right too...

It is with intelligence we give this quote five stars - if only our money was spent on helping instead of convicting - ignorance abounds in the corridors of insecurity.

Good for you Lupas and well said Archer - its amazing we send harmles people into prison for smoking pot and award the banks and corporate America for stealing from the poor.

Hearst must have been playing Golf with Kamehameha

Are we insane or what? take this diatribe and flush it.

Editor, what are you up to here? These are so obviously thumbs down... How the hell do these morons get into government - Oops, sorry, I shouldn't of said that.

In that case there must be a lot of families smoking the stuff.

I'm came in late and you have said it all - well done! Have a great weekend, Robert

Archer well done - why aren't you running for President -- no, I'm not being facetious, you have made a good point, we need a people's Bank. What I don't understand is that there are two accountabilities when it comes to a return on investment, one for the government and another for municipalities. Municipalities now are obliged to account for all pensions and medical benefits for retirees (since the Enron and MCI debacle) why don't we hold the government to the same law?

Its a stupid remark for a professor of economics, but true. He totally misses the point - SS is not there for those who want it.

Here lies the problem - it's not a matter of the program it's a matter how the program is administered. If all the funds that are contributed to SS and Medicare benefits AND left alone without encroachment AND allowed to grow with interest, like any savings (which this should be), AND to redirect our priorities that allow for national pride from industry and commerce, then there would be no problem with these two programs. We steal from these programs to pay for wars, incompetent banks, the Federal Reserve, and tax breaks for corporate America (using the defunct Ragan policy of trickle-down economics). The problem with SS and Medicare is not the program or idea but its administration - we need a Manhattan project that will come up with ideas to totally reorganize these systems.

I would imagine he said this as the former Chairman. SS is there for those that do not save and for those that make NO provisions for their retirement. As we currently have negative savings in America this problem becomes very acute. It's all very well for the average Joe (and I'm being kind here) to shout 'ban SS' 'do away with SS' but there are many out there that have not save a dime and had no way to save a dime. This is not a socialist or Liberal program, it's a program that is a safety net for those who do not have the power or intellect to take care of themselves in their old age - it's called Compassion (forced as it may be). And, unless we practice this virtue we may as well pack our bags and switch out the light. As Thomas Jefferson said 'The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

Yes, that's as simple as it gets - It's the biggest money laundering scheme in the world - they print money then get real money we pay in interest. We need a GASB for all banking systems including the FED

I wish he was alive today - perhaps we could call on the fumigators to tent the White House

Yes, the biggest scam ever perpetrated on the American people.

Mike and Archer hits all the nails on the head - well done! I have no debt and becuase of this I have no credit - what a great country we live in!!!!

The reason for the decline of America is the FED, arrogance, a stupid tax system that allows the wealthy to pay very little or no tax, and our perpetual wars which keeps ignorant politicians in power and feeds the coffers of corporate America. WE NEED CHANGE before we continue along this road to oblivion and self destruction. Do away with centralized banks, regulated all money exchange systems, provide a flat tax of fifteen percent, do away with property tax, do away with funding ANY religious agenda, take God out of our pledge (or do away with the pledge altogether); provide care for the infirmed, for the elderly, and a great educational system that teaches ethics over academic achievements – WE NEED CHANGE before we are totally taken over by the patriot-act. Washing DC is right on and basically spells out the problem – as I said before, we have socialism in America but not for the people for the banks and corporate tyrants – look what just happened we gave billions in tax breaks to the oil companies and yet they made more profit than ever before – gotta go, Uncle Sam needs more money.

Wow! Archer, well said. you forgot - 'Oh, Lord, save me from your followers.' The reason why goodness shall always prevail over evil is that goodness needs no memory - the force is stronger when the focus is pure.

Steve, how's Clapham Common? I used to play Chess there

Let's storm from within then...