ANSWER: ....Because things like this don't happen by accident!

[bvar22]

[font size=4]QUESTION: [/font]
Why are the RICH 1% Elite directing the politicians in Washington to build a MASSIVE Surveillance System to Spy on American Citizens?


Things like the economic trend documented below do NOT happen by accident.
They take careful planning, preparation, marketing, buying the right politicians, message control, and the marginalization of any opposition.

New Rule (Passed by Congress and signed by President Obama) signals Kiss of Death for Pensions
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100694955

Wealthy win lion's share of major tax breaks
http://www.boston.com/business/news/2013/05/29/wealthy-win-lion-share-major-tax-breaks/Ua0UyYle21EUXub7g1suCI/story.html

Half of America is in poverty, and its creeping toward 75%
http://www.alternet.org/economy/real-numbers-half-america-poverty-and-its-creeping-toward-75-0

Wealth gap widens as labor's share of income falls
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/wealth-gap-widens-labors-share-income-falls-1B6097385

As the Economy Recovers, the Wealth Gap Widens
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/03/11/as-the-economy-recovers-the-wealth-gap-widens

Top One Percent Captured 121 Percent Of All Income Gains
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/top-one-percent-income-gains_n_2670455.html

Corporate Profits Hit Record High While Worker Wages Hit Record Low
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/12/03/1270541/corporate-profits-wages-record/?mobile=nc





This Economic Trend is ALSO Unsustainable.
It is surprising that it has lasted THIS far,
and it wouldn't have, had the RICH not been able to inject a $TRILLION Dollars of your money into the gasping corpse.


The RICH have studied History, and KNOW what happens when Wealth Disparity reaches the final stages.
They are hastily grabbing up everything of value still remaining in the hands of the Working Class, and pulling up the ladders,
because something is gonna break, and when it does, it won't be pretty.

THAT is WHY the 1% is busy militarizing the local Police Forces,
building a mammoth Security/Surveillance State,
with tame "secret courts",
rubber stamp warrants,
massive propaganda & marketing teams,
and a trashed 4th Amendment (among others).

Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstien were on TV last week saying they are just fine with the NSA Spying on Americans.
I thought to myself,
"Well, they would be."
Old, Extra White, Extra RICH 1%ers WOULD be.
"They" are going to need Militarized Police and the Homeland Security State to protect themselves and their loot when the peasants realize how badly they've been screwed for the last 30 years.




You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS,[/font]
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[TransitJohn]

1. Love your posts, bvar, keep it up.

Something is gonna come down the pike pretty soon. It's got to.

[Roy Rolling]

58. Ditto!

Keep up the good work, bvar. The 1% know they will need protection within the country they, themselves have created.

[bbgrunt]

2. big fat hocky stick k and r

[L0oniX]

3. +1 & K & R ...for the pretty green letters

[msongs]

4. yes but it is 100% legal and as we learn at DU if it is legal it is perfectly okey dokey :-) nt

[magellan]

8. I didn't learn that

Where on DU do I go for this re-education? Is there a lake with canoes there? I love lakes with canoes.

[sabrina 1]

24. Don't worry, they know where you are and they know you are in need of some catapulted propaganda.

They will come for you soon!

[forestpath]

5. K&R

[pansypoo53219]

6. the true results of ronald fucking reagan's tinkle down.

[BillyRibs]

7. No Matter How Many police, National Guard, Or regular army, It's not going to end well for

ANYBODY! The 1% have more to fear cause they have the most to lose! It ain't gonna end pretty.

[jtuck004]

14. They will hire half to kill the other half and not even leave the beach. They are not scared, the

rest of the people don't even cross their minds most of the time.

They don't have jack to fear - that's just something the 99% tell themselves because they can't figure out what else to do.

[BillyRibs]

31. For Boss Tweed,

This didn't end well in NY either!

[jtuck004]

36. Boss Tweed was a little nit, local nothing. Typical of small thinkers. Think about Jay Gould,

Rockefeller, (who, after the Ludlow massacre, said he would have taken no action to stop the thugs he hired) others who are in the category of really wealthy.

People here have never gotten to them and most likely never will. It's just a fairy tale workers like to tell themselves.

[Doctor_J]

40. Don't give up entirely.

there are some who are planning subversion that will at least get their attention. Just because the Kochs and Waltons themselves are protected doesn't mean that we can't revolt. Keep the faith and think outside the box

[jtuck004]

51. If I gave that impression I apologize. I mean it more along the lines of a diagnosis.

Because if you don't see the disease clearly, you can look busy, feel busy, easily convince yourself and others that you are doing the right thing, get all self-righteous when questioned...and still be dead wrong.

Between about 1865 (Lincoln saw it coming, and referenced warnings about it in his writing) the capitalists simply ran amok over labour. During that time there were several, mostly people we aren't taught about, who worked among working folk, attempting to help them understand the need for owning the means of production. Not communism, as business so successfully and viciously tarred the effort with, but more along the lines of a wider capitalism, or even co-operatives. Seeing the threat from that clearly, business spent upward of $80 million a year, in 1920 dollars, on thugs, spies, assassins, police and politicians. They spend much more than that today.

But what won the day for them was the people supposedly on the side of the workers, such as the AF of L and what would become the Democratic Party, FDR, etc. They adopted the idea that what was good for business was good for everyone. Instead of putting infrastructure in place that would help workers become more equal, they instituted SS and other programs, essentially a system of patronage that satisfied enough people that it usurped the power of those who organized for more.

And here we are today. Lots of people want to point to FDR as being the highest ideal, and yet this is the result. Petty squabbles over who is in office, discussions about politicians and traitors, invective hurled by each other by supposed allies, all while the wealthy and rich take millions of dollars every minute of every day, money that could otherwise be used to end poverty and hunger, provide medical care, and train everyone for the next decade. They stick it in the empty black hole they call their pockets, seeming never able to have enough.

Our discussions are far different from those who are actually in control of our lives, I suspect. And they like it that way. They would far prefer that we continue killing each other than stop and think that there are over 300 million of us, and only a couple million of them.

We could go in the streets and even attack them, and a lot of people would die, but without a change in our thinking, new/old concepts, the result would be that next group of capitalists would simply take it all again.

It was true when La Boetie said it in the 1500's and it is just as true today. You don't need to raise a hand against them, you just need to quit supporting them, (which is what we do with our current behaviours and excuses) and they will fall of their own weight. But the whole idea of control and ownership is, now, foreign and scary to many people in this country, so they take the easier route of beating up on each other, instead of adopting a point of view that will let them leave the plantation.

I do think it can change, but the effort required would be tremendous, and the organizers would have to be willing to endure all the hardship people like the organizers of that time period did and more (and I guarantee most aren't ready for that level of pain) and find a way to avoid what happened in the 30's.

That won't start until they "diagnose" the American disease that keeps people in their place, instead of owning it.

[rhett o rick]

61. The problem is that the 99% are not unified. We are fighting among ourselves. The 1%

propaganda machine will make it worse.

[jtuck004]

74. Exactly. n/t

[bvar22]

44. Violent Revolution isn't really what I had in mind, though that IS a possibility.

Our neighbors in Latin America have successfully taken their governments back from their 1% through near bloodless Ballot Box Revolutions.
That is WHY you won't hear much about it from the US media or US Politicians (protectors of the 1%)

They have given us the Blue Print for "change".
All we lack now is the will to use it,
and as the Wealth Disparity Widens, the WILL increases.

When the American Working Class & The Poor realize WE have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the Ruling 1% and their mouthpieces in Washington,
THEN we can have "change" too!

[font size=3]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in his SOTU Address 1944 (Economic Bill of Rights).
There IS precedent for these values here in the USA.




VIVA Democracy!
I pray we get some here soon!

[byeya]

45. Economic Bill of Rights; Workplace Democracy; People Before Profits - the antithesis

of the governing we are suffering under.
It's pathetic when wage earners can't capture even a small part of their incresed productivity and lose their private pensions to boot.

[Demeter]

49. Yes, the US took its focus off stomping on Latin America

with the exception of special Bush projects like Colombia and Paraguay, after Nixon, Carter and Reagan made such a hash in the Middle East that the Bushes had to concentrate on grabbing Iraq (which they failed to do) and Iran (which we won't even try) and anything else that wasn't nailed down.

The more they tried to grab, the less they held. They are losing Africa to China, the Middle East to the Shia, which annoys and terrifies both the Saudis and Israel, the German banks tried to grab the Eurozone, and in the process are destroying it, one nation at a time.

It's a ludicrous situation. Nations, Keep your armies and resources home and fix your OWN problems.

But that would mean breaking up the 1%....and capitalism, pirate style.

[jtuck004]

53. Violent revolution here won't accomplish a thing. Get a lot of people killed, and then the

capitalists that are left, or those that replace them, will just do it all again. And I don't think we can vote our way to a solution. I think that people, slowly but surely, need to figure out how to gain assets and operate them, just like any co-operative. That takes the income away from the capitalists and gives the power to the owners. It is the same idea that people were pushing before FDR helped take the wind out of their sails, and it is likely the only thing that will result in a long-term solution.

[bvar22]

66. "slowly but surely gain assets"

The game is rigged against THAT happening.
It is like the board game Monopoly.
After a few hours, one player winds up with the dominant amount of "property",
and at that point, it is impossible for anyone to make a come back,
or for any newcomer to join the game with a chance of anything other than being slaughtered by the dominant player.
Most people have enough sense to quit THAT game before it ever reaches that point.

Much of America is now in that situation, especially in Small Town America
where WalMart dominants the commercial environment.
The only commercial areas left open are for the things WalMart hasn't yet decided they want to take yet.
Tattoo Parlors
Tanning Booths
Payday Loan/Rent to own clip joints
Hock Shops
and
Antique Boutiques
Unfortunately, THAT, and vacant store fronts, is now Main Street America.

Not too many years ago, hundreds of local owners and their employees made a good living,
and kept THAT money in town for other owners and workers.
Back in the 50s and 60s there were regulations and laws that prevented BIG Out-of-State Corporations from coming to town and undercutting the local businesses,
and diverting that money out-of-town to the pockets of their private investors.

We could have that again, and MUCH more including Universal Health Care and Free Higher Education
[font size=3]IF we had a Political party that represented the Working Class.[/font]

I know it is chic in the Academic World to theorize that FDR actually STOPPED the coming Socialist Revolution, and to use that oblique avenue to discount the advances he gave to America, and you are free to waste your time speculating about that instead of looking at the "change" he brought to Millions of Working Class Americans & The Poor.
He, Truman, and LBJ actually took BIG steps in the direction you claim you want to go.


I would prefer an enlightened blend of Socialism and regulated Capitalism, like in Europe.
That blended system seemed to work well until recently when the NeoLiberals and "Free Marketeers" got too greedy.
Yes, I would prefer a system of European Democratic Socialism, but I'm willing to compromise,
and settle for a return to FDR/LBJ traditional Democratic Party Values as a starting point.

"
In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established[font size=3] for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.[/font]

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being."--- FDR, 1944

Please note that FDR specified that the above are Basic Human RIGHTS to be OWNED by the People and administered by our Government of the People,
and NOT as commodities to be SOLD to Americans by for Profit Corporations.

There was a time not so long ago when voting FOR the Democrat
was voting FOR the above values and principles.
Sadly, this is no longer true.

---bvar22
an FDR/LBJ Working Class Democrat

[jtuck004]

75. "I know it is chic in the Academic World " - don't know about that, I'm in the world of work.

But I don't think it is theory to suggest that doing the same things done in the 30's will somehow get us a different result. That's just crazy.

FDR had some good speeches, but I don't think the evidence suggests that he wanted the people to be in control. For example, they had to drag him into signing off on what became FDIC insurance, although maybe he thought that was because the banks would take advantage of government backing. Apparently he was right about that.

And "The game is rigged against THAT happening. " Take a look at the Basque in Spain, I'm sure you know about their cooperatives. It couldn't have been more rigged against them than having a dictator that killed them when they got out of line. But that didn't stop them from pooling money, buying into industry, (paraffin stoves - but hey, it was the 1950-'s) and today they are doing far better than the rest of Spain. I haven't checked since last year, but up until then they hadn't laid off a single person, while the rest of Europe, and the U.S., was suffering from the loss of tens of millions of jobs.

One can say what they want, but until people control power, assets, production, property, they are just fodder. And that's not academic.

[bvar22]

81. FDR did nothing to outlaw Co-Operatives, nor has anyone else.

I am currently on a Rural Electric Co-Op,
shop for our supplies at the local Farmer's Co-op.
We access our Medical Care from our local Community Health Center...a Co-Op.

My Wife and I are members of another Co-Op of volunteer rural Firefighters.
We are also members of our unofficial rural Co-Op where our neighbors SHARE Goods & Labor for other Goods & Labor. There is a THRIVING Black Market in most rural areas.

Nothing in FDR's Economic Bill of Rights was even remotely opposed to "Co-Ops".
Why would you imply that it did?

FDR was saying that our entire GOVERNMENT should be a Co-Op protecting the Basic Human Rights of Health Care, right to a good paying job, Food, Shelter, Clothing, Education, Leisure, and Retirement Security,
and was moving the country IN that DIRECTION with later assists from HST and LBJ.

I really can't understand ANY of the complaints that FDR wasn't Socialist enough for me,
or was somehow responsible for impeding Socialism in America.

[jtuck004]

87. I didn't. I said the dictator in Spain was against what the people wanted, and was.

From what I read of the people who actually worked in the trenches, and then wrote about it, and the things written about them, I get the impression that FDR looks kinder now in retrospect, and in comparison to what wound up happening. When I read Mother Jones, Haywood, Matles and a lot of others they make the case that efforts to stop people from gaining control by giving them things were, in part, designed to break them, to keep them from gaining control. And it seems to have worked. So to go back to that time, do the same thing again, and expect that it will wind up any differently than today seems delusional. But that's my opinion, gathered from my own reading. As far as academics agreeing with me, that's nice to hear, I guess, but I haven't been around a university in a long, long time except to get books from their libraries. Not really too interested in what their opinions - I trust my own more.

The only thing that controls power is assets, (money, property, means of production, etc) and until a lot more people own, and thus control, them, they are screwed.

What you are saying, that it needs to be a mix of cooperatives and "socialism", whatever that is, is where we most likely agree, I think.

[Doctor_J]

67. A major difference between us and South America

There, every citizen is required to vote. Here, the same group that is stealing our money is working to make sure that millions can't vote. If everyone was required to vote here, or even if everyone was allowed to vote, electoral revolution might be feasible. As it is now, I don't think it is.

[bvar22]

89. They also have transparent, verifiable elections.

We do NOT have that here,
and it is laughable that the Democratic party leadership has the BALLS
to question the validity of the recent election in Venezuela.

John Kerry and the Democratic Party didn't have the balls to question the 2000 Election in Florida,
OR the 2004 election in Ohio,
but has the audacity and arrogance to question the election in a foreign country,
one NOTED for its transparent elections with international verification?

Why YES, Alice.
We HAVE fallen down a Rabbit Hole,
and everything IS Backwards!

[reusrename]

52. Who are you going to point your pitchfork at?

The deputy sheriff when he comes to execute a terrorist warrant on your neighbor?

Your congressman?

The mayor?

Just wondering.

[magellan]

9. k&r

[tblue]

10. Look at Wisconsin and Michigan

That's where they're aiming to take us. And the Tea Party rabble will get hit as hard as the rest of us, though they'll be told to blame black and brown people.

One thing the elites don't want is an angry mob. They're prepared to deal with that, as you say.

[CrispyQ]

28. Shock Doctrine, state by state.

Anyone who can't see that, what the OP has stated is coming down the pike, has their head stuck far up their ass. Sadly, I know a lot of them, dems & repubs.

[DissidentVoice]

48. K&R on Michigan

I live in Michigan.

Rick Snyder got elected simply because he wasn't Jennifer Granholm (who got a bad rap undeservedly).

He promised that he wouldn't get in bed with the far right of his party...and promptly did.

We are now a right-to-work state.

Walter Reuther must be spinning in his grave.

[ErikJ]

11. ONLY solution to greed-bring back 90% top tax rate!

Without a "confiscatory" top tax rate of 90% on any income over $3 million the motivation for unlimited greed and corruption will remain.

[reusrename]

55. Make people personally responsible for their wealth.

Article V congress to make corporations<>people.

Tear down the corporate veil.

Lock up the owners of BP, Haliburton, and any other criminal organizations.

[WillyT]

12. HUGE K & R !!!

[ReRe]

13. K&R

One little K&R for your outstanding OP just seems deficient. Gawd, that picture brings back a sick feeling in my stomach. I don't care much for Harry Reid, but at least he looked like he was aware of the gravity of the moment. But Nancy and Max Baucus are in la-la land or something.

Yip, looks like they did their homework. With our money. Without asking.

And a very very bad horrible day will some day this way come.

[bvar22]

43. Well, they HAD just helped themselves to a big HEAP of our money.

Back in 2006/2007 Wall Street Firms & Investment Banking Stocks were HOT.
While they all claim to have their "investments" in a blind trust,
they ALL knew they has a bundle riding on the Big Banks.

Had they allowed the Banks to FAIL (Free Markets, except for them), the BILL for the Gambling Losses would have gone to their "IN" Box,
and these elite 1%ers do NOT pay their gambling losses,
THAT is what the Tax Payer Rubes are for.

They claim to have "Saved the Economy",
and congratulated each other for their heroism in taking on the Special Interests (doesn't have to make sense, only look good on TV),
but that isn't what they did.

They "saved" the quarterly profits of their own portfolios,
while Main Street lost their homes.

[ReRe]

88. Exactly.

And here we are.

[Jessy169]

15. Totally agree

Something is up. Something big. My suspicion has always been that the economy was rigged very efficiently and purposely to funnel the majority of wealth to the top 1% BECAUSE we are approaching an energy and resource crunch much faster than the government is letting on, and the goal was/is to immediately suppress economic activity, consumption and energy usage. To accomplish that goal, they took all our money away. Just a suspicion... Whether that is IT or not, the signs do all seem to be pointing to a major turn of events.

[TheKentuckian]

16. Yup, this build up is preparing to put a lid on the blowback.

[midnight]

17. K&R

[AnotherMcIntosh]

18. For those whose education skipped Peterloo, it's something that they may learn about.

History will repeat itself, and it's not going to be pretty.

[antigop]

19. and nothing will change if people don't knowledge that corporate Dems are part of the problem. nt

[zazen]

54. ^^ this ^^

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. It is a rigged game

That is all

[brett_jv]

21. Peak Oil/Resource Depletion is what's coming down the proverbial pike ...

Many of the elite (esp. those that are well-connected with the MiC) are well-aware that we've entered into the 'undulating plateau' phase of global oil production, and that once the inexorable down-turn begins, and the world at large becomes aware of it, the 'jig' will be up. Life, as we've become accustomed to ... will cease to be.

Absent the discovery of a MIRACULOUS substitute (for which, I'm sorry to have to tell everyone ... there's NOTHING at the moment that can be brought online in the timeframe that we're dealing with here ... esp. not with our government in the back pocket of the people who stand to benefit the most from high oil prices), we are facing an imminent disaster of epic proportions.

Simply put, a decreasing world oil supply means no promise of future (overall) economic growth, rather it means the opposite: a guarantee of economic retraction (and a guarantee of a decreased overall standard of living for the world).

This in turn will mean that most of the credit markets will dry up, because the reason that credit is issued is because 'economic growth' has been a 'given' over the past century. No expectation of growth = no credit.

The drying up of credit will in turn hasten the decline of world production because the oil industry is HEAVILY dependent on credit to operate.

Also, at that time, the countries that HAVE oil will begin to 'think twice' about selling it, at anything but the highest price. Once the downturn on available global exports becomes well known and observed by all, petroleum will come to be seen as, quite simply, more important than money. It will be bartered/brokered in exchange for things like food or other types of energy, but the countries that have it will be in a position to absolute RAPE the rest of the world on price.

The fact that we have *such* a large footprint in the Middle East, and our government 'cares' SO much about what's going on over there absolutely bears this idea out AFAIC. We literally need to be in a position to take over one of the major oil producing countries on a wholesale basis ... KSA, Iraq, Iran ... once the crunch-time hits.

And it's coming folks. Don't let the recent breathless stories of Saudi America fool you. What all that crap is about: it's a desperate plea for the investors to jump aboard to fund the low EROI tight oil 'plays' that we have on our soil, which cost a relative fortune to start up (and the wells deplete VERY rapidly). Sure there's good money to be made right now, but the overall claims of the US becoming a net crude exporter again someday are a COMPLETE and utter joke.

Something that many people don't realize is that back when the Arab oil embargo happened in the early 70's, the US oil supply was only cut by 5% ... and when that happened, the inflation that resulted was about +200%. $.50/gal went to $1.50/gal. And we even had to freaking ration gas, remember the odd/even days ... just from losing 5% of our crude?

Once we're on the downside of the global peak, many experts expect overall production to fall on the order of 4% PER YEAR, and for global EXPORTS (remember that just under 60% of our crude is still imported, and that's unlikely to change significantly) to fall much faster, perhaps as high as 7%/year.

Imagine that 200% oil price inflation we had in the 70's happening every year, compounding. $4 one year. Next year, $12/gal. Next year, $36/gal.

Obviously, that would crush the worlds economies, so it won't 'go down' quite like that, because massive price hikes will quell demand, like we saw in 2008. You think it was a coincidence our economy crashed as oil prices skyrocketed to nearly $150/barrel? No way it was, friends.

The economy crashed, demand was quelled, the price fell sharply for a brief time, but has quickly risen back up, and shows absolutely no sign of ever returning to previous lows ... iow, the oil prices that our economy was essentially 'built upon'? Those prices will never return.

And the standard of living and economic growth that could've been provided by $20/barrel (keep in mind that the price strongly reflects the NET energy available to society, that is, available for economic growth and for 'standard of living') petroleum is also gone with it.

We are in the 'undulating plateau' phase right now friends. As the world economy picks up, the supply will get tight again, the oil price will rise along with it, and then economies will begin to crash due to this rise in oil price, and ... well, we'll get ourselves 2008 all over again.

Each time this happens, the 'top price' and the 'baseline price' will be just a bit higher than it was the last time. We topped at $150, and have settled around $90 after the last 'bump'. Next time, it will probably be $200 top, and a baseline of $120 once things stabilize a year or two later.

Over time, these cycles will begin to get closer together, and they will become more and more obvious to everyone. TPTB KNOW that they can't hide what's happening from everyone, forever.

Fact is, on the downside of the peak in global production, our lives are going to become extremely unpredictable, and people will become very desperate. This is coming, in the not-to-distant future. There will be no gas at the gas stations, and no food on the shelves of the supermarkets ... in many places. There will be almost no 'jobs' in many areas, because w/o economic 'growth' to depend upon, and with 'credit' dried up ... who's going to be starting businesses?

Trust me, if you're 'feeling something BIG is coming down the pike' ... I promise you ... it IS. It's called the downside of the bell curve on world oil production. It ain't gonna be remotely pretty.

[CrispyQ]

32. "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight"

A good book, but I especially love the title.

Fact is, on the downside of the peak in global production, our lives are going to become extremely unpredictable, and people will become very desperate. This is coming, in the not-to-distant future. There will be no gas at the gas stations, and no food on the shelves of the supermarkets ... in many places. There will be almost no 'jobs' in many areas, because w/o economic 'growth' to depend upon, and with 'credit' dried up ... who's going to be starting businesses?

Trust me, if you're 'feeling something BIG is coming down the pike' ... I promise you ... it IS. It's called the downside of the bell curve on world oil production. It ain't gonna be remotely pretty.

An excellent post, Brett.

[Jessy169]

60. undulating plateau

I never heard that term before, so I googled it and found this website:

http://peakoilmatters.com

We are clearly nearing the point at which global oil production begins to diminish. The consequences will be severe. There is no denying it.

I believe that the powers that be decided to "buy some time" and stretch out the existing oil/gas supplies as far into the future as they could. To accomplish this, they gave us the real estate collapse, the financial meltdown, lower taxes for the wealthy and austerity. The goal is to severely limit consumption, to take as much money out of the general population as possible and to give it all to the 1% who, because they already have everything they could possibly want, will not go out and "consume" any more than they already are.

There seem to be a lot of DU'ers who imagine a time when we take to the streets and through various means restore a more just society where the 99% possess a greater share of the wealth -- which, in turn, would lead to dramatically increased consumption and energy usage. Because one thing in general we know about the 99% -- when they have money, they spend it.

Hard and dangerous times are approaching. I hope that everybody realizes that.

And what's with all the recent news articles I've read about how nutritious insects are, and how it is possible to raise insects for one's dining pleasure?!!

[felix_numinous]

22. Thanks bvar

--so glad you're here. I am amazed at what I'm reading on this site these days.

What was wrong with Bush&Co in the WH is still wrong--and now with a Democratic administration we have the best chance to confront the NSA. We don't know who will be in the WH in the future, or what further laws will get passed that will make it even harder to challenge the Patriot Act than it already is. The longer we wait, the more entrenched the surveillance state will become-- and more people will become indoctrinated into it too.

[Hydra]

23. The strategy is working

Mostly because too many people think they are in the 1%.

Talk about failing math...I know 1 family of 1%ers. 1. And I'm surprised I even know that one.

As long as people think this system is nurturing them and protecting them and making them "rich"...we're going to see support of it. The best places for me to do activism are among people whom the system has screwed, and there is no lack of that pool.

[RevStPatrick]

27. I know a few 1 percenters...

I think it's defined as $50 million in assets and $500,000 in annual income?
I know a half dozen or so people like that.
And they are all totally and completely oblivious.
They are all too wrapped up in making and spending their money.

It's the .01 percenters who know what's going on.
They are the ones who are dangerous...

[CrispyQ]

30. It's the .01 percenters who know what's going on. They are the ones who are dangerous...

Yep. There's a great video, that shows the disparity in the 1% group. It's quite stunning.

I'll see if I can find it.

on edit: That was easy!

[Doctor_J]

38. Best explanation I have ever seen of this

I wonder if the teabaggers watch this and think, "This is what comes of too much regulation!". I think they are indeed that stupid/brainwashed.

[CrispyQ]

50. There are also many who think that the rich deserve this kind of wealth,

because they made America great. They're the same ones who think you shouldn't raise taxes on the corporations because they will raise prices. Like prices haven't gone up because they pay no taxes now? American's put rich people on a pedestal.

[Hydra]

37. I crunched the numbers at one point

A lot is made of annual income(because they want to show themselves as productive), but the 1% are about assets. Minimum buy-in of $100 mill in assets. For comparison, I think Mitt has $250 mill, so he's not even a super big fish.

And you're quite right- the billionaires are the ones you need to watch. They are heavily invested in policies that protect their wealth and privileges and get them more access to lawmaking(breaking).

The 1%ers I know own a megacorp. They play while their company makes money for them. Nice enough people, but as you say, WAY out of touch. They think anyone could be where they are if they were smart enough.

[JEB]

25. They have taken our jobs, our property, our privacy

and they are all geared up to stomp down any rabble. Fascism.

[WCGreen]

26. And then they will make any excuse to keep people under surveillance...

1984 style.

[CrispyQ]

29. Anyone who doesn't see this coming has their head up their ass.

TPTB know civil unrest is coming. Income disparity, climate change, dwindling resources. It's gonna get ugly here on planet Earth. I used to think I'd get out just in time, now, I'm not so sure.

K&R

[hfojvt]

33. kinda ruins it for me

when you link to a nonsense post that I spent so much time debunking.

"Half of America is in poverty."

Also I happen to be "old" and "extra white" myself too.

Are you looking forward to a race war? Expecting one?

I, and millions of other white males voted for Barack Obama - twice. And yet the great non-white hope still made most of the Bush tax cuts permanent, when he could have let them expire by doing nothing. Instead, he CHOSE to promote and sign into law, permanent tax breaks, most of which go to the rich.

You didn't mention that in your OP.

I thought this article might cover it http://www.boston.com/business/news/2013/05/29/wealthy-win-lion-share-major-tax-breaks/Ua0UyYle21EUXub7g1suCI/story.html

but it is mis-titled since they haven't WON anything recently. They win from tax breaks that have been long established. I proposed that they be abolished, because they mostly benefit the rich, and I mostly got nothing but grief for my trouble http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x915881#915985

[Doctor_J]

39. If you follow bvar22's posts, you know that (s)he considers the president a 1%er

or an employee of them, who will enter their ranks as soon as he retires from the public sector.

[bvar22]

47. I'm not sure where we disagree.

I'm old and white also,
but I'm not sickly, pasty, doughy, pampered, powdered, privileged, 1% white like Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein. I actually get dirt under my fingernails, like to work in the sun,
and am lucky to be able to do so.

I certainly don't want a "Race War", that is something the 1% and their mouthpieces want,
since it keeps us divided. I have no desire to fight my own economic class.

When the Working Class and the Poor realize WE have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the Elite 1% Rulers and their Mouth Pieces in Washington,
THEN we can have "change".

I advocate for a return to the Tax Rates and Trade Policies (International and Interstate)
of the 60s that built the largest, wealthiest, and most Upwardly Mobile Working Class the World has ever seen.

If you disagree with anything I have posted,
raise a specific objection,
and I am willing to discuss it.

[hfojvt]

59. we apparently disagree about this headline

"Half of America is in poverty, and its creeping toward 75%
http://www.alternet.org/economy/real-numbers-half-america-poverty-and-its-creeping-toward-75-0 "

You think that headline is true, I think it is nonsense.

Might as well include a link to the flat earth society, or an article about Tax Freedom Day http://cnsnews.com/news/article/tax-freedom-day-2013-april-18-five-days-later-last-year

I also do not see why it is necessary to attack the old and white when attacking a 1%. Is Lebron James okay, because he is young and black, but DiFi is not because she is old and white? Even extra-white?

We in the bottom 80% can only realize we have more in common with each other when we stop being divided with descriptors used as insults like "old" and "extra white". Using that phrase makes me identify with them, because I am old and extra white, and am not poor in a wealth, or even income sense (even though I AM in the bottom 50% by income).

[bvar22]

69. So, apparently, you are essentially quibbling over the semantic meanings....

...and personal interpretation of a select few of the words I chose to use,

and your personal disapproval of this article published by Alternet:
The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping Upward

http://www.alternet.org/economy/real-numbers-half-america-poverty-and-its-creeping-toward-75-0

I'm, curious, did you actually READ this article,
because the author did a good job of explaining that
Yes. According to the Census Bureau, only 15% of Americans live in poverty,

BUT, there are many OTHER ways to determine "POVERTY",
and he explained some of the other "metrics" he thought were important to use when determining "Poverty", what it means, and the DIRECTION we are headed.

I thought it was an excellent article,
and see nothing of any substance that you can "debunk".
You, of course, are entitled to your own opinion.
Will you agree with the author and myself that MORE Americans are falling into whatever metric YOU use to determine "Poverty"?

[hfojvt]

90. am I supposed to write about somebody else's opinion

besides my own personal one?

As for debunking the alternet article, I note something when I check on that link

First, here's where I debunked that piece of crap before
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022906982

and now I note this at the end of the article

"Note: This is an updated, corrected version of the original article, approved by the author."

So apparently we were talking about two articles with the same title.

As the Greek philosopher said "you cannot step in the same river once"

But this article is still just as silly. The author wants to claim that more than 50% of Americans are living in poverty while at the same time including the statistic that median net worth is $77,300. So apparently some "poor" families have $75,000 in net worth.

Then there's this

"4. Based on household expense totals, poverty is creeping into the top half of America.

A family in the top half, making $60,000 per year, will have their income reduced by a total tax bill of about $15,000 ($3,000 for federal income tax and $12,000 for payroll, state, and local taxes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau agree that food, housing, and transportation expenses will deduct another $30,000, and that total household expenditures will be about $50,000. That leaves nothing."

So a family that consumes $50,000 is somehow poor just because they don't save? Families that make less than $30,000 a year must find that odd. Because "poor" generally means that you can NOT afford that extra $20,000 worth of stuff that the other richer people get to have, whatever that is, be it central air, a nicer car, a better apartment or house in a nicer neighborhood, high speed internet, etc.

And so on, I could go on, because I find his reasoning as spurious in this re-write as I did in the first incarnation.

I think alternet and the left should have higher standards.

[bvar22]

91. Abnd that is certainly one way to define "Poverty".

"Will you agree with the author and myself that MORE Americans are falling into whatever metric you use to determine "Poverty"?

[LuvNewcastle]

34. I've been thinking along the same lines.

There's a reason why they've been building all these fortified gated communities for the rich. In the past, rich people have always lived in the better parts of town, but their houses were on city streets just like the working class houses were. You could drive right by their houses just as you could anyone's house. That's not good enough anymore. They have to live behind walls with checkpoints.

I've never been to a third-world country, but I've seen pictures of rich enclaves behind walls, right next to slums. That's the vision for America, folks. Since the 1980's we've seen our good jobs disappear, only to be replaced by minimum wage service jobs. People are spending $100,000 or more on a college education and are getting the same entry-level jobs that a person used to get as his first job when he turned 16. Even if you do get a job outside of fast food, don't expect much pay, and forget about raises or opportunities for advancement.

The handwriting has been on the wall for some time now, but people haven't taken time to read what it says. The rich know how they got their money, and they know it's just a matter of time before we come to get it back. They've also been preparing for what's coming and when we get ready to fight back, it's not going to be as easy as we think to take back what is ours.

[DLevine]

35. K&R. nt

[Catherina]

41. Standing ovation! n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

42. THIS is the best of DU. Thank you! K&R n/t

[Demeter]

46. Corpses don't, by definition, gasp, but I cannot fault the rest

[Hotler]

56. Let me know when you DUers take to the streets in mass protest. ......

I'll join in and stand at the front of the line. Oh! Wait I forgot I've been told here that protest will not work. Nothing to see here. Move along please.

[sabrina 1]

64. Huh?? Protests DO work, that is why the OWS protests scared them so badly they sent out

ARMIES of militarized Robo Cops to try to crush them. They beat some of them nearly to death, the world was shocked to the point where the UN Rappateur asked the American Government to do something to protect the people. The Government was silent, in fact, FOIA show that the parts of the government was coordinating the attacks against Americans who were peacefully protesting.

Were you awake over the past two years? Did you miss the International protests, some still going on? You can go to the front of the line anytime, they are still going on and they won't stop despite the brutal crackdowns that sent many to the hospital, including War Veterans, elderly women and even journalists.

Wake up, the world appears to have passed you by. But anyone time you want to do as you say you would like to do, no one is stopping you. Lots of DUers were on the streets.

THAT was a complete disaster of a talking point! Let me give me some advice when you want to try to appear 'concerned' while hurling an insult at the same time. Make sure you are well informed. It is essential if you don't want to be caught firing duds.

[Hotler]

84. I stood on the line here in Denver for ten days straight. At best we had...

less than 200 protesters. What is needed is tens of thousand. There was over a million people on the Washington mall for Obama's inauguration. Where is everybody now? Imagine if a million people showed up in Nebraska to protest the pipeline.

[Catherina]

57. Of course the are. Have you counted how many times whistleblowers mentioned Feinstein specifically?

These people are openly, defiantly standing side by side with Cheney, the corrupt ex-CEO of Halliburton, the architect of all this terror, torture, perpetual wars. That alone, without any of their other many actions, shows what we can expect from the ruling political establishment that operates as a perpetual criminal conspiracy against working people all over the world.

I had to come back to your thread because you really hit this one out of the ballpark.

Double, triple rec.

[99Forever]

62. K&R

Let the Revolution begin.

[blkmusclmachine]

63. Chains You Can Believe In!

[JDPriestly]

65. Thank you.

Should we stop using the internet for purchasing things unless we absolutely have to?

[bvar22]

79. That depends on you.

My Wife & I went On Strike in 2006.
We just said, "No More."

We sold everything,
cashed out our IRAs, paid the penalties,
and bought a place in The Woods with abundant water, fertile ground, mild Winter, and a long growing season.
We live there now and produce a good percentage of our own food.
We don't buy ANYTHING new if we can avoid it, Internet or not.
We have no Mortgage, and No Credit Cards.
Wall Street can Live or Die without our concern.


Our focus has become local Humanitarian Issues,
and thinking of NEW ways to deprive The Machine of its fuel...MONEY.

Something as small as this...

...CAN be an act of Revolution.


We are waiting for 100 Million more Working Class Americans to join us "On Strike"....or not.
We'll be here either way.
Our Strawberries this year were the BEST ever.

---bvar22 & Starkraven
living well on a low taxable income,
and stuff we learned in the 60s.

[leftstreet]

68. DURec

[Fire Walk With Me]

70. Big K&R! Definitely a vulture capitalism smash-and-grab going on! n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

71. Wearing a mask at a protest in Canada today becomes punishable with a 10 year prison sentence

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023049081

Goes to their increasing repression of dissent.

[Egalitarian Thug]

72. Another K&R. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

73. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bvar.

[CincyDem]

76. Better be careful there bvar

It's posts like this that'll get your name pulled out of the meta data and actually read. Yep, you're gonna be moving up the food chain to be charged with "truth tellin'". There isn't a law against it yet, but as soon as there is, they'll have all the meta data to retroactively address this kind of subversive thinking.

...but only part of it.

[WCLinolVir]

77. Great thread. I had a dream once where there was massive flooding, some sort of huge

natural disaster. Those that survived rebuilt based on agriculture. I have a large garden now and try to be as self sufficient as possible.

[bvar22]

83. We do too.

My wife & I Took-the-Leap in 2006.
We sold everything,
cashed in our "retirement investments" and paid the penalties,
bought fertile property in The Woods
with abundant On Property Water,
surrounded by National Forest,
with a LONG growing season and a mild Winter.

This is our 7th Growing Season,
and we have learned how to produce and store a good percentage of our food,
and get a little better at this every year.
We also Keep Chickens and Honey Bees,
and use our Eggs and Honey as a local medium of exchange.

Our focus has turned to local, rural Humanitarian Issues,
and finding new ways to deprive the Wall Street/War Monster of its food....our money.
So far...So good.
We haven't regretted a single day.

We aren't "Survivalists". We are just Old Hippies that have always been attracted to an independent, self-sufficient lifestyle.

Coincidentally, it was my experience in New Orleans immediately after Katrina that provided the final motivation. The massive flood and natural disaster wasn't a dream...it was REAL.
When I returned to Minneapolis after a month in New Orleans,
I told my wife, "Its time. Lets GO."
and that is when we started the research and planning for real.
It took us a year to find a place that met all of our requirements.

Its not for everybody.
My Wife and I are lucky to be healthy and strong with good backs,
and together we have a matched, complimentary Skill Set that makes this fun (most of the time).

The Rural Farm Group used to have many members that Walked the Walk,
but most of them have been driven off of DU.
I still post there occasionally, and the Gardening Forum has a few people that are committed to Growing their Own Healthy Food as a part of Sustainable Living and Reducing their Carbon Footprint.

Hope you have a good growing season.


---bvar22 & Starkraven
living well on a low taxable income
and stuff we learned in the 60s

[HiPointDem]

78. kr

[lastlib]

80. you just THOUGHT george bush wanted to build "the ownership society".....

What he REALLY was trying to build was "the Own-A-Ship society"--meaning everybody who had a yacht got to owneverything (and everyone) else...........and got all the tax cuts...........

[cantbeserious]

82. Yes - Agreed - The Oligarchs Are Driving Everything To Protect Themselves From the Proletariat

eom

[Octafish]

85. The greatest wealth in human history lines just a few pockets.

They better open up the bank or the planet is kaput, but not before their last tumbril ride.

Thank you for another outstanding post, bvar22.

[madfloridian]

86. Well said, Bvar22