(07-20-2014 10:46 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-20-2014 10:27 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  But they didn't overthrow the government. They merely neutered it, which works out to the same effect.

Actually the deregulation of the 80's permitted the rise of multi-nationals and that coupled with the laws requiring independents to have to meet voter qualifications in all 50 states (passed under Clinton) made the viability of a non billionaire candidate practically impossible without the backing of the Democrats or Republicans. Then the purchase of political power through PAC's made it possible to simply buy both aisles in Congress. With both houses under the multi national dole and the nominee for the White House secured it was only a matter of time that enough Justices could be replaced before they gained control of that branch as well.

If we go back to the requisite number of registered voters nationwide signing a petition of candidacy and had automatic qualifying in all 50 states for those meeting that requirement then the voters would once again have a chance to unseat incumbents from both of the parties and clean House literally. Tyranny always begins with the little things being changed, the things the public has little interest in. Once the procedures are in place then anything goes.

In 1963 the move to Federal Reserve currency followed by the Federal Coinage Act of 1965 enabled those entities that underwrite the Federal Reserve to make money off of our national debt. That money was shrewdly used to purchase influence in both political camps. By the 80's party platforms were all but gone. The reason was it kept populist candidates who finished strongly from shaping the debate for the campaign. The issues of the masses then took front and center to create division. Abortion, gun laws, gay rights, and even the tea party itself became polarizing issues that led the attention of the public away from the burgeoning debt, procedural changes, treaties, and public bids.

As long as the idiots of the country knocked themselves out over prayer in schools nobody cared if the Southern Company acquired public lands which over several decades have become privatized, or public utilities like the local water departments sold to foreign interests.

Show the masses all of the sports they want and give them trivial details to fight over and you can distract them long enough to steal their very government from them.

You are right in that it was neutered, but by procedural changes. Now with 4 multinationals holding the reigns on virtually all of the news the outlook for meaningful reform and repeal of certain procedural changes will get no mention at all and your neighbor, when you inform them of what has changed, will look at you blankly as if you are the one who has lost his mind.

Decades ago a logic teacher of mine said that we would lose our country through public education and she was a consummate public school teacher. She said when we no longer cared to teach our citizens to think for themselves but rather spout answers to rote questions that end of the Republic was at hand. I'd say she nailed it. Here's to you Gertrude! You remain as the best teacher I ever had.

So what do we do now? Do we fight? No. Our kids are employed by those multi nationals, our country still has the best standard of living for one of its size. Our education system is still very good although on a steady downward trend. Our families live here and many of our family have given the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life. Like a bad cold we don't destroy the body to kill the disease. These things are cyclical and we simply out wait the corruption as like with all diseases it will eventually destroy itself. Our mission is to support the country remembering that is comprised of our neighbors, friends, and family and if the people are not like us in ethnicity I guarantee you they are like us in supporting neighbors, friends and family. It is those bonds that make us strong and must be preserved. Our task is to get to know as many of our neighbors as possible and to talk with them about the virtues we would like to see again in government, and wait. We must refuse to let the politics of petty division to distract our desire for a sense of community and we must together hold those in leadership accountable for their decisions whether the evening news points it out or not. That is what civic responsibility is all about and it's been lost in recent decades due to the movement to find jobs, and electronic devices that keep a shy society from actually meeting face to face and talking with others.

The problem with many people is that they think that one party or the other actually cares about the issues important to them. They don't. All these issues people yammer about are merely catchphrases whose entire purpose is to keep the people distracted from the issues that really matter. I agree with your teacher completely. She nailed it.

It doesn't matter which party wins. No matter who wins, the people lose. And trying to change things is a waste of time. It's always here comes the new boss, just like the old boss. The average man doesn't stand a chance. The secret is to not let it get you down.

Illegitimi non carborundum!