May 19, 2013

TeaPublicans Speak for Corporate Money (But you knew that, right?)

TeaPublican Candidate Behavior: Not All That Surprising

And this guy was elected, that's incredible.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/03/14/ryans_blurred_vision_what_the_new_republican_budget_reveals_and_conceals_117433.html

Could we have anticipated this behavior BEFORE the 2012 elections? Of Course!

(Note: First posted before the 2012 Election)

This is the best the GOP has to offer? These Primary Candidates, Really?

They're Corporate "Shills", offering the face of "Conservative Values" to the public while selling us out to Big Business and other "Special Interests", their supposed Integrity has long since been bought and paid for.

Their campaign money defines them. Given the opportunity, once in office, they'll carry out the agenda of "Reform" we've heard so often from TeaPublicans, what they loosely refer to as "Austerity Measures".

What they were "Hired" to do by Big Business interests who don't want our National Safety Net programs to be supported by their taxes.


+AS PREVIOUSLY POSTED+:

The Social Safety Net doesn't serve Corporate Interests, who've apparently spent huge campaign money trying to convince former Republican "Independents" and other unaffiliated voters that the current system simply isn't worth investing in.

Conservative Political Investors (IE Koch Brothers Et Al) want Social Security and related programs removed Entirely, which can only be accomplished if they first destroy Public confidence in our current system.

They'd like to implement THAT by offering "We the Public Entity" a false choice, and Super Pac funding provides the means of delivery. What's the "false choice" being delivered by Conservative Media?


Trading Economic Recovery for Social Programs, GOP Treachery

Ideally, Conservatives would like to convince the rest of us that measured spending on "Social Programs" is the cause of our Economic Problems, that Wall Street and Investment Banking Bailouts were completely justified, that preceding Deregulation (IE Unregulated Derivatives) combined with uncontrolled Iraq/Afghanistan war spending are NOT larger contributors to our current economic deficit.

AND we're being led to believe that the "Bush Tax Cuts" had nothing to do with current funding deficits, that increased Tax Revenue isn't the solution to that problem, that the 2008 Market Meltdown didn't devalue our entire Investment and Banking System functionally destroying our Real Estate and 401k savings literally overnight.

These being the results of "Deregulated" Conservative Economic Policies, Predatory "Home Loan" practices included.

So "We The Public" must be made to feel uncomfortable, more concerned about current "Deficit" conditions than our own Economic Future, so that we'll trade our "Social Safety Net" for their ideal of "Economic Recovery" amounting to complete Austerity Policy.

Results of the 2012 election will be determined based on these contrived Public Deceptions, if TeaPublican Conservatives are successful our future may be in the hands of "low information voters".

+END+


True GOP Election Platform: No Economic Recovery

In support of that, Economic Recovery will be avoided at all costs, legislation proposing Stimulus or Jobs Programs MUST be blocked by Republican tactics of Filibuster for the foreseeable future, the Public must be made to feel "Discontented and Anxious" about the Economy in preparation for the 2012 election.

We're supposed to believe that TeaPublicans would resolve our financial problems if we'd only allow further measures of Conservative "Deregulation" combined with deep Austerity cuts that specifically target All Social Programs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022798037
(Post 2012 Election, obviously)

So our entire "Social Contract" is being betrayed by Monied Interests who’d like to decimate "Social Programs" or (alternately) crash our current system entirely along with reliance on ALL those Government managed programs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022862501
(This one too)

Current economic conditions are amplified, made much worse by potential cuts to “Safety Net” programs by the same Monied Interests who want to avoid paying into them. Removal of these programs would allow these same Entitled Corporate Interests to pay even less than allowed by the Subsidies and Tax Breaks they enjoy.

Greed Incorporated, the Conservative Agenda.


Post Election Update:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/04/30/maddow_only_the_most_powerful_are_spared_gop_austerity.html

Even now, today, "Austerity" measures are the only "Reform" offered under Republican Legislation.

If not controlled they'll dismantle Social Security, take back "Obamacare" programs that assist our uninsured, Medicare, Medicaid, all of these are targeted to be severely cut or completely dismantled if Conservatives are given that opportunity.

Current measures of Sequestration aren't NEARLY enough for the TeaPublicans, they're reaching for much deeper cuts, ideally they'd remove our "Entitlement" programs completely, programs we've paid into our entire lives. If they're successful that support will be lost to many of us.

Example of GOP Abuse of Power?

http://www.thenation.com/blog/173510/austeritys-cruelest-cut-democracy-denied-detroit

May 7, 2013

Basing my statements on current behavior, not church theological history.

My first posting was commentary based on social affects of the skewed religious values we're dealing with today, but by my understanding you have the history essentially correct.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”
~John Kenneth Galbraith~

But let's not overlook the Conservative Political influence. Think that quote was from 1929 or thereabout, not much has changed in that respect.

Per my opening post many current (IE Right Wing) Fundamentalists seem intent on avoiding New Testament values, they're not inclined to accept recognized values of Compassion or Empathy since that would be in conflict with their inclinations of GREED.

Under tenants of "The Golden Rule" they'd have to accept Liberal/Progressive values "which is NOT going to happen" so they disregard that context completely and justify their "New Improved" values within a new religious framework contrived specifically for that purpose.

As John Galbraith was pointing out, they're simply replacing God with worship of money, tho that's an unspoken imperative of that twisted morality.

But my immediate interest (larger context) is as stated above:

Militant Evangelicals of today speak out of "Both sides of their mouths" as the saying goes.

And don't hesitate to use the religious faith of others in support of their own Political Ambitions.

With the rest of us paying the hidden "Costs" of those opportunistic, cynical manipulations.

Even in terms of lives lost, regarding limitless Middle East war ventures.

I intended to point out blatant ongoing Political Manipulation of supposed "Divinely Inspired Moral Values", especially Religious justification for widespread displays of Intolerance toward we "Outsiders". Even to the extent of encouraging War against other religions (Listened to Pat Robertson lately?)

Thanks.

May 5, 2013

Yes, agreed. Essentially they're replacing God with Wealth, tho that's unspoken.

Calvinists and "Dominionists" share that essential flaw, they're confusing the "Value" of people with their attached wealth.

It's by design, of course, intended to convince the rest of us that the Wealthy are favored by divine fate, and we should accept their "Dominion" over us. In times past wealth wasn't so easily acquired, sustained "middle class" values of today were beyond the reach of nearly everyone.

Attributes that have been common throughout history, and continue today to a lesser extent. Mostly under the lineage of "Royalty" in support of Empire, Kings and Queens who supposedly spoke for and represented the Will of God and ruled by "Divine Right".

To this day, It's still considered treasonous to critique the Royalty of the United Kingdom (By Law), and Saudi Royalty can behead "Dissidents" based on their accepted "Authority from God".

On a Related Topic:

And today we're not entirely rid of that mindset in the USA, Fundamentalists still try to impose their "Divine Will" on the rest of us, and self appointed (divinely inspired!) "Voices of God" are running for political office. Which could under other circumstances be REALLY funny, if they weren't so inherently dangerous to themselves and others.

Apparently, Fundamentalists of many stripes still use that rationale to justify their behavior, they're "Favored by God" and speaking for that chosen god while encouraging "Divinely Inspired" intolerance of anyone in disagreement with them

Intent on imposing their combined Religious/Political ambitions on the rest of us. How comforting.

May 4, 2013

Economic Recovery: How to Avoid it for Political Gain

(Notice: Posted prior to 2012 Elections)

Starving "We the Beast" under Conservative Policy

GOP Legislators won't even bring the Jobs Bill up for vote, since by doing that they'd expose their own betrayal of Public Trust while voting in lockstep against it, by those actions blocking economic growth and resulting intended Recovery in the Public Arena, openly exposed to all.

Instead, their party representatives quietly refuse to devote ANY attention to the Jobs Bill for those same reasons, it would improve the economy and allow increased Jobs Market Growth (to the benefit of we “99%” who approve of that).

Bottom line? Under GOP policy our country cannot be allowed to substantially recover before the 2012 election, economic growth won't be allowed to reflect positive credit to President Obama even if impending Catastrophic Economic Failure is the alternative.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/veterans-jobs-bill-blocked-in-the-senate/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/opinion/no-jobs-bill-and-no-ideas...

Implementation of those bills implies REVENUE of course, and Republicans simply cannot accept it, no increased taxation of the Economic Elite can be allowed for under current TeaPublican policy.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/09/07/812251/republicans-blocked-jobs-act-one-year/?mobile=nc

WHY is the Republican Party so adamant about rejecting ALL TAX REVENUE? Besides obvious intended slow starvation of the Economy and reliant Social programs, I mean.

As mentioned above, “Starving the Beast” is considered to be a legitimate long term (Disgusting) strategy for the GOP but is not entirely relevant to the current campaign environment.

The 2012 Election is the answer, of course. But we've not yet here identified how complete denial of ALL REVENUE will gain them that election, other than immediate economic impact to be blamed on the President. But that's only an effect, not motivation for the intended cause of current revenue attrition.

And attempting to blame we Dems/Liberals for "Party of NO" legislative blockades is a risky proposal at best, the Public won't remain blissfully ignorant forever, not even the Conservative Drones.

Other ideas? Perhaps an “Oath” against taxes?

Think some largely insubstantial “Oath to Grover Norquist” is their persistent over-riding concern?

Only substantial to the extent that campaign money can be withheld from RNC (National) sources, but let's discuss what's being presented to the public, an "Oath of Honor" under pretense of "Loyalty" to their party.

An imaginary imperative of such VAST prevailing weight that Oath of Office is completely dissolved under the stress of overwhelming gravitational pull, right? Yeah, sure, must keep them awake at night

Nope. What motivates the TeaPublicans isn’t lofty ideals, they’re concerned (obsessively!) with Campaign Finance, of course. They're trying to assure future resources, "Super PAC" and related Corporate financial support.

They've sold the Trust we've given them (IE Oath of Office) to the highest bidder, they're now wholly owned, functionally reliant Corporate tools.

Accomplished by refusing to cooperate with ANY programs relying on Tax Revenue, in effect depriving *We The People* of jobs and critical infrastructure while providing a *Tax Free Future* for the Corporations at our expense.

More about Grover Norquist?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1091851

NEXT POST: More of "Starving the Beast" for political gain

May 4, 2013

99% Disregarded by Conservative Media

(Note: First posted before the 2012 Election)

Protests and Upcoming Elections:

The GOP is intent on ignoring these Main Street protests.

They generally disapprove of Public interest in those events since conspiring Corporate Media and Wall Street vested interests are one and the same, Birds of a Feather under Republican policy. So "The Revolution Will Not be Televised", will in fact be “Disallowed”, or at least not acknowledged by Republican controlled media.

They'll continue to treat these protests as Non-Events while (by contrast) providing TeaPublican activities all the free media coverage they want, as they have across the past 2+ years.


***As Previously Posted***

These protests represent rejection of institutional corruption, they’re rightly concerned that lack of regulatory "Oversight" has allowed gaming of our Wall Street and Banking (Investment) assets across decades.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/interviews/born.html

THAT occurred because of a combination of deceitful "Dark Market" business practices and lack of concern for regulations. Disregard of those standards to the extent of wholesale removal in some cases (IE Glass-Steagal).

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-12/in-financial-reform-keep-it-simple-like-glass-steagall

Greenspan and the SEC eventually admitted to this, but not before the corrosive, damaging effects of Derivatives combined with Predatory Loan Practices and Market Deregulation allowed Investment Banks to throw our *Public Funds* into the investment market, for at least a decade.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/economy/24panel.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/business/27sec.html

Not surprisingly, the 99% protests reflect outrage at our huge market losses and related financial instability, those crowds represent recognition of the complete lack of accountability for the actions of the “Experts” among Wall Street and related Banking/Investment markets, where are the “Perp Walks” we’ve all been waiting for?

Who’s being held accountable for our current diminished National Economic condition and why haven’t we imposed broad measures of reform to control those mechanisms of failure, to prevent future “Market Failures” caused by further “insider” corruption?

Our savings and Real Estate holdings have suffered Monumentally for the actions those pretentious fools, whether our current “State of the Economy” was the intended result or not, and even in today’s broken economy the Deregulation and Investment experts collect their annual bonuses (at our expense).

***END***

Yet 99% protesters are being considered nothing more than a relative nuisance among the “Conservatives”, they’re being dismissed as insignificant, portrayed as having no possible effect on upcoming elections in the eyes of the Republican party.

What’s easily apparent up ‘til now is that substantial mainstream media exposure hasn’t been provided, those protests continue to be withheld from Public view as another "Inconvenient Truth" the GOP insists we shouldn't pay attention to.

TeaPublicans continue to ignore the 99% protestors in support of the same moneyed Constituents mentioned above.

Wall Street and related Investment Banking Lobbyists have nothing to do with THAT, right? The corrupting influence of Campaign Finance money never comes into the picture, obviously

Especially since Citizens United has progressively reared it’s ugly head courtesy of the Right Wing majority SCOTUS. Unlimited finance $ firewalled against all potential disclosure, the GOP wet dream come true.

Further 99% Commentary?

http://open.salon.com/blog/m_kitt/2011/10/13/99_protests_largely_ignored_to_date#comment_2661746

NEXT POST: Walking the economic tightrope, starving "We the Beast" for political gain

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022798037