America, failed state.

[kpete]

America, failed state.

Almost half in U.S. are poor or low-income
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-15/poor-census-low-income/51944034/1

A record number of Americans are living in poverty or near-poverty, according to the latest census data.
http://www.petroleumworld.com/sunopf11112001.htm

And:

Six Waltons Have More Wealth Than the Bottom 30 % of Americans
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2011/12/14/six-waltons-have-more-wealth-than-the-bottom-30-of-americans/

[phantom power]

1. Also we can all be imprisoned forever without a trial

[closeupready]

2. Yes, we are losing our democracy, while being told not to get our panties in a bunch.

It's happening, sadly. K&R

[hifiguy]

5. And the saddest part is

that same message is repeated here each and every day by people who should know better.

[closeupready]

6. Depends - I think younger people don't know better because they're young,

i.e., they haven't lived enough to actually 'know better' - they simply parrot Conserva-idiots, thinking that somehow, this will make them rich and powerful.

But I agree that older members here DO know and see how corruption is destroying our democracy and its institutions. Shame on them!

[bhikkhu]

9. The law says otherwise.

Unless you're a non-citizen involved with the Taliban or Al-qaeda, and at war with the US overseas.

[leveymg]

3. We wouldn't be the first democracy to turn itself into a police state by electoral means

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. "Centrists Hold Balance In Reichstag"

Hmmm.

[leveymg]

12. Glad you spotted that too: The Grey Lady still recycles that meme.

Deja Vu all over again. Don't worry, be happy.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. And those who peaceably assemble and speak up re the poverty can be brutalized by public employees

with virtually no objection from those holding elected public offices.

There are a few exceptions such as Dennis J. Kucinich (D - OH), but only a rare few.

Even when the rare few public officials speak up, they don't seem to be consumed by the issue. A comment or two, but that's it. There is no John-Brown-type passion.

The state of the country is shown, of course, not just by the greatly increasing poverty but by the politicial reaction or indifference to it.

The state of the country is also shown by the political indifference towards our ongoing loss of Constitutional protections. Our First Amendment is swirling down the drain and most of those holding elected public offices don't seem to think that this is a priority.

[xchrom]

7. post democracy america. it is what it is. nt

[midnight]

10. K&R

[Dreamer Tatum]

11. Then was America a douple-plus ungood failed state in 1933?

Fail.

We are in a horrible economic cycle, but employment and incomes will rebound.