mbbythesea's Comments (79)

“I generally support President Obama, but not with this plan to surge in Afghanistan. There is not a clear tactical advantage to this surge, just vague indications that "threats" must be addressed.
Threats can be better addressed via intelligence and monitoring--things that hopefully won't create more enemies. The US should work with the international community (G20) to eradicate poppy crops and provide humanitarian aid to impoverished Afghans. We should convert them to other crops and provide goats in order to wean them from their dependence on the worst elements of the Taliban.
In Afghanistan the Taliban are simply the locals--they aren't going anywhere--and they are no worse than the Karzai government.

It is devastating to contemplate another kid from Georgia losing his legs in such an ill-conceived enagement. It is also devastating to contemplate the vast waste of our national resources that we need so badly in this country. All the corrupt war contractors need to be criminally and civilly prosecuted in order to claw-back large amounts of money--our lost national resources. Like WWII, we need to institute a high windfall tax on war profiteers and we need politicians with the integrity, guts and insight to take these measures. Alan Grayson--how about it? We need to hear your voice in congress on these issues.”

“Bernie is great--one of the few who is looking out for the good of the People--not the corporatations that are ruining this country. I want to add to the enumerated list of "Federal Offenses" that the Fed has given a $230 billion dollar bailout to CITI and has kept these funds "off the balance sheet" a trick only a Wall Street banker could love. $230 BILLION DOLLARS to a bank owned in large part by a rich Arab. It is likely Bernanke is dirty and has his money hidden somewhere to go live on island. TAXPAYERS GOT NOTHING FOR THIS GIFT OF $230 BILLION TO CITI. NOTHING. What did Bernanke get? That is the question. We need to get these funds back and we need transparency of the Fed. Under Bernanke's administration it has literally--no exaggeration--run away with the country's money by distributing it enmasse to rich corporations. Sheila Bair of the FDIC is highly competent and a consumer minded executive. If her plan had been followed, homeowners would have received more assistance to keep their homes. She argued strenuously for these measures under the Bush admin. She is--as far as can be determined--one of the only highly competent persons to have popped up during the Bush admin. She must have gotten in under the wire or while they were sleeping.”

“no one said that fraud was the biggest problem with voting systems. The biggest problem with our current election system is CORPORATIONS that have too much influence over policies--all policies. If we do not allow them to purchase campaign ads and they are not needed to fund elections, then we have a chance for people to vote for leaders who are not beholden to them. It's my opinion that pols should also be subject to lie detector tests prior big votes--to try to assure that they are not being bribed or blackmailed. It must be recognized that we are currently very challenged to get leaders who are voting in the public's interest. Right now we have more of a corporate-ocracy than a democracy.”

“thank you Bernie!

Now where is the bill to put a study together to determine the best system of democratically electing political leaders? it is time to do away with the favoritism shown to Iowa and New Hampshire in presidential races --because why???---why would living in these states give some citizens more electoral clout than others.

take a look at suggestions for improved election systems in the below book by 2 harvard professors and look at others too and let's have a national discussion about fraud-resisent voting systems. Then we need legislation to reform this horrible, broken, destructive system we have.

VOTING WITH DOLLARS: A NEW PARADIGM FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE, by Bruce Ackerman and Ian Ayres

Personally, I am for a system where public access TV is allotted to candidates (CSPAN) and paid political advertisements are made illegal. There is no way tax payers should be funding the ridiculous extravagance that goes on today. Make it a simple, austere process about social problems and ideas and the records and backgrounds of the candidates -- not a 3-ring circus of nonsense where indivdual rights are drowned in a sea of corporate commercials. The founding fathers did not envision our country this way. Pilgrims did not board the Mayflower to exchange royal tyrants for corporate ones --but that is what we have -- and it won't change until the public organizes and demands it.”

“wow that's really intellectually rigourous of you! how about when there was slavery--would you come along and say "oh this has gone on for hundreds of years, too bad" ??”

“What Israel wants is not the only consideration. What about what the Palestinians want? This statement of yours coming from an individual would be rather absurd "I just want to get my way with no bother and everyone should just be peaceful and happy for me to get my way"”

“I appreciate the sentiments expressed by President Peres and Kudos to ms. huffington for a great interview HOWEVER

as the gentleman says, actions speak louder than words and Israel has persisted in its settlement activity which is antagonistic to the cause of peace. They have bought US politicians with huge lobbying efforts and they proceed with impunity in doing this thing which they know threatens peace.

Palestinians have had their homes taken -- in a land where they alway resided -- it is one of the greatest injustices that has occurred in recent history. WWII was not the fault of the Palestinians! Why were they made to pay for it? Why do this continue? This is simply yet another perversion of political power that has brought the wrong results. They won't even discuss bringing back refugees that were forced to flee --unwelcome-- to neighboring lands.

Palestinians will require significant reparations to make this right -- and at this point all Israel has done is talk about peace while it continues to expand into areas that it promised not to develop--because they are supposed to be working on providing land to Palestinians -- so they can also live and prosper. Right now Palestinians live under virtual house arrest and all their activities are intruded upon by Israeli soldiers -- who are generally hostile twds them. This is not the way to make peace.”

“and here's some more good news: the head of the Supreme Court John Roberts is looking like he is going to overturn decisions and precedents that are decades and ...guess what?...give even more political influence to corporations. If this goes through it will be even easier for bankers and business men to buy senators and congressmen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/07/AR2009090702040.html

It would be nice if all the blogs and consumer groups started to work to obtain real election reform. It would start with a constant badgering of the obtructing members of the court. Why do they think the rights of artificial persons (i.e. corporations) should take priority over the rights of individuals?
Do they see a pattern of environmental deterioration, denial of workers rights, a growing chasm between the rich and everyone else as a problem that is exacerbated by these decisions?”

“to me this comment makes no sense. are you talking about education or healthcare? healthcare won't cure a 'flaccid mind' per se. you seem to be confusing the need for improved education with the need for affordable healthcare.”

“Ew!!! LOL. err...Well there you go, a nice alternative way of being screwed by your government. Your tax dollars at work....”

“I am totally a liberal and a fan of the Norweigan systems, however it is not paranoia for people to be suspcious of the way the current political systems would set up healthcare. And this is not a knock at Obama. Until we have a reform of our election systems, big business is calling the shots on all political decisions. Costs are so high. People can barely afford their own healthcare, they truly fear big payroll deductions and taxes in order to take on the costs for the whole nation. They do not buy the notion that costs will be controlled and seeing the control that the industry lobbyists have over congress--Can you really blame them one bit ?!!?

We need publicly funded, clean elections that prohibit corporations or groups from buying political influence. We should have election coverage via CSPAN and locally, elections and political campaigning via public venues like universities.

After we have leaders elected by the people, they should take lie detector tests prior to biig votes to assure that they are not being bribed or blackmailed. Then perhaps we will have leaders voting in the public's interest.”

“Go Norway! Finnland is like this too. A friend' moved there and is pregnant. She will get 18 mos paid leave. The Gov't of Finnland sent them (as all citizens receive) a cradle with items needed for the first two years of life.

We have a lot to learn from places like Finland, Norway and Denmark. Why do we persist with the idea that it is appropriate for Healthcare organizations to profit from the illnesses of others? If profit is the motive, they will always be strategizing to reduce care and coverage. This is antagonistic to good care. Costs need to be controlled--not for profits--but for practicality, so that all citizens can receive adequate care and coverage. We cannot serve the profit motive and the goal of decent affordable care for all citizens.

However I understand the concerns of TownHall-ers. Some fear a mandate with huge, uncontrolled medical costs taken via deductions or taxes. We already have an unsupportable amt of debt from the Bush War and Wall Street Bailouts that provided no tangible benefits to citizens. 1/3 of taxes pays the interest on this debt. Do you blame them for distrusting the Gov't when it has always sold out to big business? Until there is meaningful election reform that prevents corporations from buying political influence, we will continue to have the Senator from United Healthcare & Congresswoman from Aetna.”

“the guy frm england Chef Jamie...had a great show on his very long struggle to get kids to convert to eating better. it was very hard, but they got kids involved and had success. it is an education process. otherwise kids have huge rates of diabetes and obesity and all kinds of problems. there is no more important subject to tackle in schools.”

“it's funny to think about Frank McCourt author of "angela's ashes' and the terrible, wrenching childhood poverty he describes, and yet he had teachers who were very strict and there was a certain love of learning. an escape from drab realites in finer ideas. This course eventually took him out of such horrible circumstances. and these teachers were not coddling their students. but they were teaching. The movie Freedom Writers is about a real life teacher who found a way to inspire kids on the bottom to achieve. If her methods were duplicated, we would see a better world and brighter futures.”

“thank you for putting these ideas out there for the children in this country
the prison-industrial lobby has too much power in Washington
this is another issue that needs to be addressed by voter reform

This is another reason..we need publicly funded elections that do not allow corporations to control political decisions...why doesn't the media call for this to happen if they want to see real change?

why are we imprisoning young adults for non-violent crimes?
why are we paying for this? it is insane
if someone has a drug problem, get them rehab and vocational training so they can visualsize a brighter future. THE USA IMPRISONS MORE OF ITS POPULATION THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. This is why we are a nation in despair. A land of broken dreams.

We also need refom of higher education costs--which are as bad as spiraling healthcare costs
We don't need College Administrators making $4 million a year in a mediocre college
this is happening because of the politcal influence amassed by education.
We need 2% student loans, affordable payback options and we need cost controls to any school getting gov't monies (i.e. student loan recipients)
Of course we want successful people to make good money, but not outrageous money
and not on the backs of graduates with so many job opportunities being outsourced.

I Hope Americans will face the challenge of winning back their elections--so we have real leaders
not Corporate Representatives”

“I agree with you topflight and Welcome! I think we all need to put down our red and blue pennant flags and work to remove the money-influence from political decisions by revising our election systems and demanding that our candidates, our groups and the media support such an overhaul. Because the real conflict is not red v. blue, it's corporate interests v. public interest. We need strong corps, but we cannot have them looting our general prosperity, outsourcing viable employment and otherwise dragging our economy down the drain.

as with heathcare, when it comes to the election of leaders, other countries (ex:England) do it better by recognizing the danger of allowing leaders to be marketed like laundry detergent or dog food. Numerous improved systems have been proposed in order to get decisions that truly reflect a consensus of the people. It's becoming more and more apparent that such an overhaul is necessary.”

“The right-wing nuts are channeling their sometimes racially fueled rage and righteous anger over longstanding corporate abuses into misplaced animosity twds the Obama administration and against liberals generally. It is creating a dangerous atmosphere of rage and hostility.

Given the handling the financial crisis, why would anyone think that big healthcare is not going to walk away with compromises that dismantle positive change, more tax dollars in their pockets and regulations that further bury the average American in crippling debt and hardship?”

“YES, I think the townhall crazies and scary, nasty right-wing nuts are simply reflecting (in a lunatic fringe way) the general outrage of the nation--that we are being robbed and looted while paid-off political hacks standby and make excuses.

It is painful to be promised change and handed bullshit.

TARP CEOs walking away with millions and millions in bonus money courtesy of taxpayers? This is absolute bullshit. Less than 10% of loans modified, rising foreclosures. More bullshit. Banks outsourcing jobs and paying slave wages domestically. Bullshit. Record high bank fees on average consumers. Horrible bullshit. It's not Obama's fault, but not enough is being done to stop it. And it could be stopped so easily!!! True we cannot re-legislate the past, but we can legislate going fwd. How about a law that says, "If you do not cap exec salaries at $500K, including stock options and the monetary value of executive perks, going fwd, you may not participate in Fed Reserve Fund loans, TARP or FDIC. TARP recipients, f you do not voluntarily surrender all bonuses over $500K received in the past 24 months, you cannot partcipate in these programs going fwd." Period. Exclamation Point. The system of political bribery that is preventing this from happening must be undone.”

“I agree right wing is generally illiterate--the only time they delve into history is to distort events to advance their agenda of selfishness.”

“you probably receive medicare benefits and social security and want to scold the kids and not rock the boat for yourself.

but when those programs were put into place the same dire labels were trotted out "Ew that's socialism! that's communism!"

what we have now is corporate-ocracy and we have to try to break it's hold on the american peoples resources and on the political system.

so go check on your healthcare stocks selfish grandma because the days of making profit off of the misfortunes and illnesses of others are severely numbered.”

“Um, I wasn't alive at the time.

NO EXCUSE!!...................LOL”

“healthcare CEOs make millions by making shareholders billions Duke. And All this payout is a waste from a healthcare perspective. We can save 30% in admin costs, 15% with collective bargaining for drugs & supplies, 10-15% by updating the billing system to eliminate fraud, improve efficiency with medical records that avoid duplication....and suddenly we have saved over 50% from the current system. If we treat preventively rather than at a chronic emergency room stage of illness, it's likely we will see greater savings, not to mention greater quality of life....”

“um I think the point is we spend too much, we have people who are uncovered and only received care when their conditions are at their most expensive stages (generally speaking) in the least cost efficient way. The point is there is a need for reform. The point is that other countries spend less, cover all citizens and seem to have a comparatively decent level of care--regardless of whatever your personal analysis is of the WHO findings. The point is that the healthcare industry has tapped into too much of our public and private money and provided too little value--why should we support shareholders and CEOs in the context of healthcare? If you have an organization in the business of giving care with the motive of making profits, their impetus is always going to be to skimp on care and coverage to increase profits. This is not how anyone wants to be treated and no "in detail" reading of the WHO report is going to change that. You apparently wish to stall debate with sideline issues....just like our useless & bribed politicians.”

“really it's bad that old people have some form of income in their old age? yeah we should just let those old slackers pile up under bridges......”

“wow you are a real shill for the healthcare industry, won't even ask what your stake is...yeah they are doing so great a job that is why we spend so much and we are uh...wow..number 38 among industrialized nations as per WHO (oh what do THOSE experts know anyway right?) and I don't hear those whiny seniors bitchin about medicare with it's 2% admin costs compared to 33% in the industry... but let's no blame poor little Ronny and his $24.3 mill for that.. and what about being able to collective bargain for drugs (15% svngs), improving systems to avoid waste, fraud & duplication & increase efficiency est. 25% svngs, treat preventively & get rid of the Bush giveaways that help no one. Why lookie, we are over 60% svngs frm the current system. But it PAYS to be #38 right? pays some, but not most of us.”