Alterion's Comments (112)

“EW is right about everything.

Its interesting how some people try to blame irresponible behavior on the middle class for their problems, but in reality the luxuries have become surprisingly affordable. Top of the line Digital Cameras, TVs, Game Consoles, etc. can be had for $300-$600.

Its the neccessities, House, Car, Health Care, that have become abusively expensive, and are crushing the middle class.”

“This is an interesting article, and there are some interesting legal, as well as philosophical points here. Who should be paid for content, and when is it ok to aggregate it?

Let me take Murdock's point one step further and present a point not often though about. He seems to say if Newscore does a story on Tiger Wood's current problems, for example, that Newscore should be paid if that story is aggregated.

But shouldn't Tiger Woods be paid?

The media itself is basically an 'agregator' of the lives of others, many who don't want their name on TV or in print.”

“One of the greatest coups in business history was Apple and music. The recording industry was presented with a huge problem - people copying music online, costing them a lot of money. While the recording industry had the brilliant idea to sue 13 year olds, Apple created the innovative iTunes, that catered to customers so well they began to PAY for music they were getting for free. (no, I don't work for Apple, or even own an iPod).

Media is now presented with a similar problem. The message to the big shots in the news media these days, who will you be? The innovators who come up with a new, great idea? Or the petulant, snarling whiners who threaten to sue loyal customers who actually LIKE your product?”

“It just seems to be a disheartening fact that both democrats and republicans are in on the take. You knew Republicans were, but now I'm fairly certain democrats are too.

Obama used the term, "economy brought to the brink of ruin". So why arent the national attorney general, the NY attorney general, and the FBI CRAWLING over wall street trying to find the crimes that were so obviously committed? Has the white house told them to "back off" and let Goldman fix things ? What exactly does the 'brink of ruin' mean then?

Oh well, at least they're going to nail that guy who lied about a balloon.”

“You keep taking things to extremes. Instead of that, would you agree to a 1% increase in taxes on those making $10 million a year or more, just to help get us out of debt? I'm just curious.”

“I agree with this article mostly, we need a more progressive tax rate. Going back to 91% may be way too high, but its disturbing that, even though their policies nearly destroyed our country, there are some (*cough* republicans *cough*) who are fighting tooth and nail to prevent raising taxes on the uber-rich by even 1 or 2 percent.

With a few exceptions if you took that top 400 wealthiest in the country and did a ratio of good done in the world to wealth, you'd probably be looking at most of the people in the BOTTOM 400 in the entire country.

When did sacrificing for your country become a 'bad' thing? ( hint: soldiers still do it. why not honor them by paying your taxes and shutting up? Or, you can honor them by stopping making up things about Sarah Palin. )”

“Everyone is avoiding the simplest solution. The republicans have written the script - if you raise taxes you are evil. I think the rich benefit most from society, especially in the last 10 years.

Obama needs to stop worrying about raising taxes. 36% to 39% is not socialism. Heck I'd even pay more as the middle class, the whopping $70 I saved from the super rich tax cuts of the last 10 years didn't help me much.

The rich benefit the most from America, I don't think there's anything wrong with them helping out just a tiny bit more. If you're rich and you hate America so much you don't want to contribute an extra 3%, then why not just leave? You already have an offshore account in some foreign country to hide your money from taxes, why not just send yourself there too? Especially when soldiers are giving their LIVES for this country, its rediculous for rich people to cry like big babies about ponying up some money.

Supply side economics is a lie. Its been around for 30 years, and the debt and deficit have done nothing but go up. Lets try this - raise taxes for a year. If the world ends like republicans say it will, I'll pay them back.”

“Its cool to try to analyse the sociology of games, but if you're into video games you'll understand it, if you're not into Playstation and XBOX games you probably won't like any of them.

But Rock Band is just played for fun. I no more believe I'm a rock star than I believe I could be a special forces soldier when I play Splinter Cell, or a space marine when I play Halo.

And no, I don't believe I'm actually Batman when I play Arkham Asylum. (Actually, that might be the exception - sometimes I do believe I'm actually Batman! danananana danananana batman!)”

“I'm just saying that I think the family's wishes should be respected above all else in cases like this, that's all. It makes me sad that the media often decides without their consent, based on their abstract 'people have a right to know so and so' beliefs, which I find disingenuous, I believe the media tilts towards making money.”

“The 'blah blah blah' comments were for the media justifications.

The family requested the photo not be shown, I believe their wishes should have been respected, not flaunted for anti-war propoganda. I disagree with war too, but the man gave his life for his country, it is the media showing the image against their wishes is extremely disrespectful.

If the the family agreed to it, then it would be ok in my opinion.”

“It is not acceptable in any way to show this image without the family's consent, whatever blah blah blah you want to cite it is morally wrong. But that never stopped the media before.

Yeah go ahead cite your blah blah people have a right to know, blah blah people need to see the horrors of war blah blah blah. But we all know the truth, don't we?

Ka-Ching.”

“I don't know why people are so annoyed at Glen Beck. The kind of crap he spouts, Oreilly and Hannity have been doing for YEARS. Not to mention the 'lesser liars' numbering a dozen or so on other shows on Fox News. There's only a handful of reputable reporters on that channel.”

“That's an elitist attitude about journalists. Hiking is a noble pursuit as well, in my opinion. And considering people like Oreilly, Hannity, etc. pass for journalists, I'm not so sure about journalism anymore.

In both cases neither deserved to be taken hostage and I sympathize with anyone who gets into a bad situation like this, and their families.

By not being a callous jerk, it usually saves me the trouble of worrying about these nuances.”

“No they recently admitted they crossed into NK.”

“How is it different?”

“Do you feel the same way about the 2 North Korean Journalists?

I didn't see this level of callousness when they were captured.”

“Do you feel the same way about the 2 journalists in North Korea?”

“I hope these guys are ok, this is similar to those journalists who got caught in North Korea.

Personally I have more respect for hikers than journalists, so I sympathize with these guys, as I did with the two journalists in Korea. I hope the state department can get them out.”

“Rescuing hostages is no doubt complicated, different situations may require different actions. In the Boat Captain situation, Navy Seal snipers got the job done. This time it was able to be accomplished more peacefully.

Theorize all you want about about how the 'bad guys' will be encouraged, or that in some vague, abstract, ideological way this 'rescue' was a bad thing, but the facts remain (for those who care).

Obama: 2
Bad guys: 0”

“Too many times 'It will hurt small businesses!!!!' is held up as a shield for some policy that helps big businesses or might raise taxes on the rich oligarchs. ( you know, the kind who stuff their pockets with multi-million dollar bonuses from publicly held companies as those companies fail ).

No more bailouts of the greedy. Find a way to separate small business so they can no longer be held up as shields for bad policies.

This reminds me of the movie 'The Dead Zone' where the politician is getting shot at and he holds up a baby as a shield.

Enough.”

“This is a good post but one odd point you make, "Government taxes is a legal form of theft."

Too many times libertarians are more than willing to reap the benefits but not pay the price for what they receive.

The most blatant reward is freedom, paid for by the lives of millions of US soldiers over the years, who served in a military paid for by TAXES.

The very fact that you live in a society that allows people to own property, accumulate wealth, and bask in the freedoms we have is your benefiting from the sacrifices of others. Maybe its time for us to make our own sacrifices.”

“I'm against financial innovation at all, but couldn't they at least support some kind of 'review' process for new financial 'products', something like the way the FDA has to approve food and drugs?”

“Interesting post, its something I've wondered for a long time. Why is there so much 'evil' in the upper class aristocracy of America, and throughout the history of the human race? Is it just in human nature?

It was disturbing to see just how many of the bankers were in on the take in this latest financial crisis. I've wondered, do you have to be a self-centered sociopath to become rich and powerful, or does becoming rich and powerful make you one?”

“Good in theory, but not in fact. The hopes and dreams he destroyed will have vast repercussions, and yes, in some cases probably result in death. A 70 year old having to return to work because his retirement is gone? He may have health problems that make working unfeasible, maybe problems he can't even get treated now because his retirement is gone.

Its a fact that can't be denied - money is power in this country, it is everything. Maybe there's some distance, some denyability, but some people will not survive this disaster.”

“Also - you have a good point that not all bankers are absorbed by greed. The lesson is for those who are, and also for those who are not - to not go down the path of BM. Take seriously the fact that you have people's life's savings and retirement funds in your hands. You can't deny that many recently have disregarded this fact.”