Ergon's Comments (5298)

“Nor am I, Margaret :)”

“Replied in your part II educating people comment. It would help if you summarised a link or pasted relevant sections so people could see what you're saying without having to read two long, if erudite articles.
I actually agree with Dr. Roubini's gloomy economic assessment and your shadow government analysis, but Taibbi's article does NOT say "it's Obama's fault", since it predates him with financial deregulation; if anything he blames James Rubin and his economic acolytes. But that Obama and Congress has sold out the American people? Well yes, since most people believe they elected him to effect change.”

“Don't have a problem with your secret government thesis, or 'Dr. Gloom' economist Noriel Roubinis profile, but Matt Taibbi's article only points to Obama's inner group of economic advisors and failure of democrats in Congress to create meaningful financial reform.”

“Wait for the bots to say you lie (about having supported Obama)”

“I have a degree in economics and have not read ONE decent rebuttal to Matt Tabibi's article. Just name-calling. Read the whole article, get an economics major to rebut.”

“Malcolm X, if that's who you're referencing, is sorely missed.”

“We even have defenders of American capitalism crawling out along with the "Change" bots, that America as we know it wouldn't exist!
OK, here's American capitalism, starting with:
Alexander Hamilton's attempts to create a banking monopoly.
Both sides in the Civil War being financed with bank created paper money.
Robber barons.
Financing takeovers of whole South American countries and Imperial expansion evertywhere.
Artificially created cycles of depression, inflation and unemployment. Boom and Bust.
Selected assassination.
Bernard Baruch handing over control of the American industrial base to selected insiders during World War.
The Great Depression
The coup d'etat attempt against FDR where the capitalists tried to enlist Gen. Smedley Butler (See House hearings 1937)
Wholoesale plunder in the S&L scandal in the 80's, Bush's last hurrah as the economy crashed in 2008 and the banks made out like bandits.
Obama is a powerless puppet for the real masters of the elites.”

“All these private security firms have extended their reach into Pakistan. Considering their behaviour so far, a recipe for disaster. They also used to hang out at the same pizza joint in Rawalpindi, till someone threw a er, shoe at them.”

“You may be referring to Views once held by his brother Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-dr-death-cuts-and-runs-when-confronted-about-his-nazi-like-death-panels-and-other-bedtime-stories-about-czars/ and the president's science czar, http://zombietime.com/john_holdren/
John Holdren”

“Did we elect 'Washington'? And are you saying the president's just a figurehead?”

“I like to think that we all would like to help poor people, though the CBC has every right to speak for minorities as well, given the disproportionate effect of the failing economy on their constituencies.
There are rural Appalachian poor, indigent farm workers, students in the failed Louisiana/­Mississipp­i educational system, and those without health care who could ALL use a hand.”

“They co-sponsored bills to impeach Bush. Too bad not one Senator voted as well.”

“Forgotten also is the role of American bankers in financing the Japanese naval build up which led to the Russian defeat. The more things change, the more they remain the same...”

“If Canadians can have one, why can't we?”

“Here's another good example: in a Washington Post candidate profile, Obama was emphatic in his support for a public option:

My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them. My plan includes a mandate that all children have health care coverage and I will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs to help ensure we cover all kids. My plan requires all employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan"”

“Candidate promised, President didn't deliver: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/15/767136/-As-a-candidate,-Obama-supported-public-option
"The Obama-Biden plan was released in the fall of 2008 after Biden joined the ticket, but as a candidate, Obama first detailed his health care plan in May, 2007. The New York Times reported that Obama had proposed a public plan, joining his chief rivals, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

Mr. Obama would create a public plan for individuals who cannot obtain group coverage through their employers or the existing government programs, like Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Children would be required to have health insurance. Subsidies would be available for those who need help with the cost of coverage.

He would also create a National Health Insurance Exchange, a regulated marketplace of competing private health plans intended to give individuals other, more affordable options for coverage. The public plan would compete in that Insurance Exchange, advisers said."”

“I watched his West Point speech. Interesting to me because I used to have a home on the other side of the river nearby, met a lot of West Pointers.
So just as the president was explaining his rationale for the Afghan War, not just to the American people, but, to the future officers of his imperial armies, I could see they weren't buying any of it.
And now, with his pedantic speech in Oslo, it's clear: The Emperor has no clothes.”

“The Maharashtra State police inspector Hemant Karkare who had charged Indian Army intelligence officers with carrying out train bombings inside India (to blame Pakistan for it) was killed by the 'terrorists'.
Just a coincidence, I'm sure, but he had received death threats from Hindu nationalists, and his widow refused the government award, and demanded a public enquiry instaed.”

“Agreed. That's why the sense of betrayal is that much more poignant.”

“It seems that certain people want to remind us of WWII atrocities committed 65 years ago while atrocities committed a few years ago remain unpunished.”

“'People whose homes were paid for by US taxpayers while US taxpayers homes are foreclosed'
Dang, we're the new Palestinians!”

“She writes 'left' good :)”

“Armed Fatah to oppress their own people.”

“On the other hand he wants Roman Polandski released toot sweet.”

“http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=21729
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/03/21
http://www.time.com/time/international/1995/951204/religion.html”