About a year ago, I tried to warn everyone on commodreams that this day was coming, one poster called me Doom and Gloom. When I warned people of the Housing Collapse, they would smile, and look at me like I was a fool. It happened so often that I quickly stopped caring about people's reactions.

I have prepared myself for this moment, hopefully since you saw it coming, have prepared yourself as well.

Do The World A Favor And Retire!
Green Retirement Planning

ha! Good one.

Okay, calls for a one-up.

Democrats have Pelosi and Reid to lead all of us out of this mess. Everything will be okay.

thanks...

With that debt load no American is credit worthy.

I'm sorry to hear how your mother can think that just because this isn't as bad as the Great Depression that everything is hunky dory. The only reason people are enjoying these pursuits is the borrowing bubble has yet to burst. Remember, America's borrowing from other countries to finance the tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate elites and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other potential targets such as Iran, Pakistan, Syria, etc ... Add to it, the outsourcing of jobs, hiring of illegals, shifting more jobs from full time to temporary contracts, etc ... is not even being taken in account. I assume that your mother like most folks in my area will vote for Mccain/Palin or Obama/Biden with no thinking about the real issues that matter, yes?

As for fossil fuels, the basis for ending our dependence is to overturn the ban on hemp and allow it to compete with crude oil. The results can and will be amazing and will explain why Big Oil and Coal collaborated with Big Chemical, Paper, Cotton, Agri, etc ... to outlaw it first through very high taxation followed later by an outright ban. The same fossil fuels being used to manufacture just about everything can easily be replaced by hemp. Henry Ford's cars were made out of hemp fiber which proved to be stronger than steel. Contrast that to today's wimpy metal autos made in China and sucking up petroleum. Another great example of hemp for industrial use is using hemp instead of oil to manufacture more durable solar panels and wind energy turbines. I could list a whole lot more but I don't want to bore you out.

to paraphrase a line in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner"...

Your mother? Let me tell you about your MOTHER!!!! (cue sound effect)

One person's pessimist is another's realist. How are you optimists going to measure when the pot's half full... if you don't have a pot to piss in?

okay, for those metaphorically challenged bong happy... pot in this case = future.... and get out of your mother's basement.

Don't worry? The Democrats will get us out of this mess and save our country??? FAR OUT!!

I did a post on another site explaining why people still don't feel the effects of a Great Depression already fast approaching us. Sorry to repeat but here goes:

I don't think America and the future president Obama will change things as fundamentally as we would like to think (and as much as we really need). The reason I say this is that things are still not as bad as they were in the Great Depression--the last time there was REAL reform in this country.

Allthough the current economy is nothing to be happy about, it was far worse in the early 30's when FDR was swept into office. Then we had an official unemployment rate of 25% (unofficially probably closer to 40%) and those with jobs had sharply cut wages. The present housing crisis, while bad, can't compare to back then; when in New York alone 5000 families a week were being evicted. When banks were failing by the thousands. My dad was a farmer and he remembers that corn was selling for - 5 cents a bushel--you took corn to the local elevator and you had to pay them five cents to take it.

Americans are so wrapped-up in the myth of Yankee self-reliance that only something as drastic as the Great Depression makes us look at real change.

Another critical factor present back in the 30's but not present today--a strong sense of solidarity in the laboring classes. It was the fear of the laboring classes in this country finally uniting and taking over the truly frightened the ruling economic elite into allowing fundamental reforms to save themselves.

Even with all these factors on his side, FDR still faced tremendous opposition to his reforms; and even an attempted military coup to drive him from office.

So while I do feel that Obama will make some changes, I don't think he or the American people--under the present situation--are going to truly tackle the fundamental problems that need to be tackled for true reform to take place.

I doubt whether ther are many countries that would welcome US citizens right now--unless yu have a bunch of money. Hell, I cant even afford a plane ticket.

Oregoncharles,

You're correct about the right-wingers just chomping at the bit for things to go south so that they can have an excuse to use all that weaponry at their fingertips... which is why it's a GOOD thing that we have the Second Amendment. Who says the fascists should have all the guns? After all, such a position gives them *carte blanche* to steamroll right over us progressives. I'm not going Phil Gramm on you by advocating a position akin to his, i.e. 'I have more guns than I need, but fewer than I want.' What I am saying is, if all else fails - the letter-writing, the protests, the boycotts and strikes - and the wingnuts decide to come after you, why in hell should you present yourself as a sitting duck? Women, gays, and other disadvantaged groups have all been encouraged to even the odds by arming themselves - why shouldn't progressives be willing to defend themselves in like manner, if no other choice is available to them, short of being a martyr?

It's worth noting that this coup is being perpetrated by those who identify with the right, whose adherents DO possess the vast majority of firearms - not only would such an overthrow be impossible if carried out by those perceived to be leftist, but those in charge are counting on 'real Muricans' to act as local enforcers of patriotism - by whatever means necessary. As we know from history, a coup is ultimately unsuccessful unless there are 'boots on the ground', in every corner and byway, to enforce fealty to those in charge.

speedtheplow,

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

Congress controls the Treasury. Constitutionally, they have inherent power 'to coin money.' Of course, this bit of intimidation aimed at Congress and the brain dead populace is enough for the corporate media to ignore it, since any voiced opposition will be muted by wiretap, etc.

Very excellent and I totally agree.

This should be above--the above --post.

You just don't see Americans marching in the streets, protesting things and demanding social justice the way Euros and Latin Americans do. As you say, we're unprepared, maleducated, passive and inert. There's no precedent, so we sit on our asses like sheep. As you say, the regulation - deregulation cycle will continue, probably with decades long periodicity. Really the only thing that will change it is if a dereg phase is so overshot and things degrade so badly, that there is mass unrest, hardship and starvation. Many will die, but out of that the impetus will come.

You cynic!
Remember benchmarks?
That's right, Mr. Smarty Pants, I'm talkin' 'bout benchmarks, that essential element of "holding their feet to the fire" after the 2006 elections.
Well, *I* remember how some Democrats said - publicly, mind you - that benchmarks toward an eventual withdrawl of some or all troops would be a good idea.

I am willing to bet that some of the more courageous Democrats are willing to say the same thing again, this time about taxpayer protection, right now!

Of course, they may need to wait until after the election, political realities being what they are, but still, one day they'll be happy to talk about increments along the road to undoing part of the damage.

And you say that uncritical acceptance of that stance is naive. Ha!

Glad to read discussions about revolution. Non-violent progressive revolution fits beautifully into our progressive policy framework because the two ideas are one in the same. Each individual shift all your exchange/association away from the power centers and toward your local communities. Ignore the elites, resist their demands. The individual citizen has to take the correct action in both the economic and civic realms. So there you have it. Your very own destiny in your very own hands. Your choice, your karma.

I see, though you SAY you're all for a revolution, and that the situation certainly calls for it, you manage to put a big damper on the whole idea. When DO you suppose we "naive simpletons" will be ready for your revolution? I mean look at the state of the media and education---it's never likely to happen is it? I suspect you're a poser with a fine sophistic ability. You certainly won't be leading any revolution with an attitude like that.

The republican fascists have crashed the economy with their free-market deregulation bonanza, and they see the writing on the wall. So what do they do? They paint the democrats into a corner. Either they sign on to the bailout---which, to those with an ability to think critically, is theft---and they get tossed over the coals for capitulating once again. Or they don't sign on to the bailout, and get blamed for not acting to save the economy when they could---it's all their fault. They will take the blame either way. You got to give it to those fascists, they really know how to play the game... and so do you RichM

RichM,

Elsewhere in this thread I made the point that the one possibility the author of this article *doesn't* suggest is to support a third party movement.

Third party movements are common in other advanced industrial countries, as are coalition governments.

As for your point about the Democrats not willing to impeach Bush -- of course not!
The Democrats are complicitous in the mass-murder otherwise known as the Iraq. ... They're complicitous in the current financial meltdown. And they're complicitous in enabling the Bush Administration to do anything it damn well pleases -- not the least of which is "total war" against the middle class!

People keep saying, "Oh, a third party, they can never win." But set aside the idea of winning for a moment, and consider what the political landscape would be like if Nader, McKinney and all socalist candidates garnered, say, 10% of the vote. Given that 45-50% of the voting public *doesn't* vote, the final tally might look something like:

Obama -- 21%

McCain -- 19%

Nader, McKinney et al -- 10%

This would be preferable than a poor third party showing and *either* right-leaning, corporatist in the White House.

P.S. I find your post very interesting and informative, Rich, keep 'em comin'.

Yes, but how many native activists had to die at the hands of the occupying British military?

Then, the country divided, and Pakistan is invaded by the uS (let's get real here--this is what we're doing)

Yes. All except the "isolationist" stuff.

But, the US Govt/Pentagon;s way of "engaging" the world (enemy) is --Shock and Awe.

WTF,

The reason for the coup had to do with the connection of the banks that were still hell bent against rescuing America from the Great Depression despite strong public demand. I earlier said this on another post and I think it deserves strong attention here to:

I don't think America and the future president Obama will change things as fundamentally as we would like to think (and as much as we really need). The reason I say this is that things are still not as bad as they were in the Great Depression--the last time there was REAL reform in this country.

Allthough the current economy is nothing to be happy about, it was far worse in the early 30's when FDR was swept into office. Then we had an official unemployment rate of 25% (unofficially probably closer to 40%) and those with jobs had sharply cut wages. The present housing crisis, while bad, can't compare to back then; when in New York alone 5000 families a week were being evicted. When banks were failing by the thousands. My dad was a farmer and he remembers that corn was selling for - 5 cents a bushel--you took corn to the local elevator and you had to pay them five cents to take it.

Americans are so wrapped-up in the myth of Yankee self-reliance that only something as drastic as the Great Depression makes us look at real change.

Another critical factor present back in the 30's but not present today--a strong sense of solidarity in the laboring classes. It was the fear of the laboring classes in this country finally uniting and taking over the truly frightened the ruling economic elite into allowing fundamental reforms to save themselves.

Even with all these factors on his side, FDR still faced tremendous opposition to his reforms; and even an attempted military coup to drive him from office.

So while I do feel that Obama will make some changes, I don't think he or the American people--under the present situation--are going to truly tackle the fundamental problems that need to be tackled for true reform to take place.

LOL! Excellent observation.