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Banker Brutality: Beyond Tony Bologna
At the Wall Street protest, a young woman carried a sign, “REVOLUTION IS FUN,” and I don’t doubt that she was having a great time, because it can be exhilarating to engage in a just and noble fight, and to feel that you are an agent of change, a participant in history even, and not just one of its faceless victims, as is the common lot. So fun, yes, at least for her, and at least up to that moment, until the violence explodes, as nearly always happens in anything approaching a political revolution. 
NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna.
The violence of September 24th, the 8th day of the anti-Wall Street Protest, appears to not have caused severe or permanent injuries, though it was brutal enough, and some outrage has even flared in the mainstream media. Anthony Bologna, a 28-year-veteran of the New York Police Department, has emerged as a clear cut villain. Without provocation, he pepper sprayed two young women in the faces, and for this he should certainly be fired, then locked up, but this commotion has overshadowed, at least momentarily, the real target and meaning of this protest. Though police brutality is never to be taken lightly, Occupy Wall Street is aiming to expose and hold to account goons much more vicious than any garden variety Anthony Bologna. Though they maim and cripple countless households, even entire countries, these bigger thugs are rarely condemned and never indicted. In fact, some are given plush jobs in the US Treasury, if not a Cabinet appointment.
Who am I talking about, exactly? Here is where it gets murky, and all by intention. (Theirs, not mine.) When people say Wall Street, as in Wall Street has ruined this country, and it certainly has, what do they mean, exactly? Though there are those who object to financial speculation of any kind, most people have in mind the biggest banks when they rail against Wall Street. They’re really talking about Citibank, for example, that gargantuan money-laundering house, or Goldman Sachs, the world’s leading swindling outfit. Their criminality is well documented, though hard to untangle, since most of us are fairly clueless about the intricacies of the dismal science, and since financial, white collar crimes aren’t as vivid as, say, a middle-aged cop pepper spraying the eyes of two defenseless young women, then calmly walking away as they collapse and scream.
But consider this: there are those who are defending Bologna even now and think that these “hippie chicks” got what they deserved, just as there were those who saw nothing wrong with cops whacking Rodney King with a baton 56 times, kicking him 6 times, then bragging and joking about it afterwards, and even the sadism of Abu Ghraib was cheered by many Americans, so it often comes down to where you’re coming from, but what kind of bias can blind anyone to the fact that it’s criminal for Stephen Friedman, Chairman of the New York Fed and a former CEO of Goldman Sachs, to give 10 billion dollars of our money to Goldman Sachs? Bad publicity over conflict of interest forced Friedman to resign, but if you really think about it, there was no conflict. The Fed can give money to these monster banks because the Fed is owned by these monster banks. If you grant private banks the monopoly to create money, of course they will shower themselves with cash, year in and year out, and use this unlimited power to buy up all of our politicians.
So protest police brutality, media whoredom or governmental corruption all you want, but if you’re willing to overlook the fact that our money supply is controlled by an elite group of criminal bankers, nothing will change. And don’t hold your breath waiting for “our” Attorney General, Eric Holder, to prosecute any of these banksters. Where is Eric Holder, by the way? Has anyone, in any time zone, seen him lately? In any case, the last thing Holder would want to do is to inconvenience, in any way, his true bosses.
Considering the violent police reaction to protesters marching from Liberty Plaza to Union Square, what would have happened had they gone to the Goldman Sachs Headquarters instead? Surely the foot soldiers of empire would not allow the unruly riff raff to desecrate this tall, dignified temple to computerized and three-piece-suited mugging. Kitty-corner from the site of the pulverized Twin Towers, it’s also a Ground Zero. Live, in real time, this is the epicenter of the destruction of the American economy.
Remember that Smith Barney commercial where a sonorous, no-nonsense elderly gentleman intoned, “We make money the old fashioned way. We earn it”? Yeah, right, as in generating money out of nothing, then lending it at interest? As in laundering bloody cash for pushers of heroin or weapons of mass destruction? Smith Barney was owned by Citigroup, a main player in the Federal Reserve. You can’t say these boffo mofos don’t have a fine, sick sense of humor.
Though the mainstream media have stayed clear of this topic, the truths about the Fed are leaking out all over the web, so Big Brother has a solution. The New York Fed is seeking a vendor to help it monitor online conversations about the Federal Reserve. It wants “an alerting mechanism that automatically sends out reports or notifications based [on] predefined trigger[s].” This cyber spook will “provide sentiment analysis (positive, negative or neutral) around key conversational topics" and "identify and reach out to key bloggers and influencers.” With the Fed all eyes and ears, even this trifling article may appear on its radar, so I will take this opportunity to send out an unequivocal greeting to all of our fine banksters, “Gentlemen, for enslaving hard working people, taking food from children, stealing money from senior citizens and degrading countless communities, may all of you be locked up as soon as possible, then rot in hell into eternity.”
- Posted in
69 Comments so far
Show AllThis is exactly the kind of clear assessment that we need an endless supply of, and another reason why the "occupy" movement is brilliant, generating sparks of clarity that arc between us.
Thanks again Linh Dinh.
May the Federal Reserve finally bomb so many times that it condemns itself to failure because of the policies of terror it forces upon the citizens of this nation. It's principals belong in jail after being duly tried and convicted in a criminal court of law.
Just using descriptive words Mr. Holder. No harm intended here, just a wish that honest justice could finally prevail. I know, with this bunch currently at the helm, that's asking the impossible.
No one really can predict what form and flavor a revolution in the US will take on. But I seriously doubt that 'fun' will be an accurate descriptor of the proceedings.
When the actual transformation begins (and I hope and pray that what we are seeing in NYC is the beginning,) we should be prepared to face a no holds' barred resistance from the oligarchy.
We are the peasants taking on the king and his armies and we should never underestimate the cost of our struggle. Or the significance of the outcome.
Good post, iowapinko!
Right on, Linh Dinh!
Some pulverized the Twin Towers and took down Building 7, and we still don't know who exactly they were.
But we do know who pulverized our public coffers and took down the lives and work of so many among us, and turned our economy into ground zero.
Maybe Borat Obomber will use the "Officer" Bologna incident as a teachable moment. I can almost visualize the two sipping beer in the Rose Garden.
Beer summit!
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The last beer summit was a great success. I heard that the racist cop even drank a dark beer. What kinda beer do you think Tony Bologna will have?
Keystone Light or cheaper. Either that or he will show his prohibitionist colors and drink O'Douls.
"We make money the old fashioned way. We earn it .... through extortion, arbitrage, plunder, theft, slavery, propaganda, exploitation, and domination. Kapital Uber Alles!"
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A clear and precise expose.
The Fed is owned by the big banks. The Fed can print as much money as it pleases and give (that's right, give at no cost) it to those same banks. These banks then lend this money to make a profit, speculate in markets (distorting the markets) or influence peddle..
Cluelessness of the dismal science is a canard. Most Americans, if told, will understand this private theft of wealth and the corruption of political "donations/contributions" forcefully pursued by Lloyd Blankfien, Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, Vikram Pandit and John Stimpf.
"Most Americans, if told, will understand this private theft of wealth and the corruption of political "donations/contributions" forcefully pursued by Lloyd Blankfien, Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, Vikram Pandit and John Stimpf."
Thank you. I wanted to repeat your statement and name some key players again. Let's get posters with these crooks' photos and names on them, and let's post them to go viral.
The number one "key player" is the Federal Reserve System itself. Instead of the US government - which is supposed to be "We, the People" remember? - creating its own money, Treasury borrows, at interest, from the Federal Reserve system - which is a government/private hybrid - that creates the money out of nothing, with our tax dollars going to pay the banks the interest.
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In other words, all money in this system is debt. Did you see in the O'Donnell piece the video where a woman is holding up a sign that reads, "Debt is Slavery"? Well, this could well be what she was indicating, that we are literally slaves to the bankers.
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I urge everone here to watch the documentary "The Secret of Oz" and its call to end the Federal Reserve and end the practice of banks creating money through fractional reserve banking. It identifies the central problem like the libertarians and Paulistas do, but comes up with a radically different solution that makes sense to a lot of people. One could say it is the progressive response to the situation (and of course there is a heated debate between the two camps).
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It's kind of dry, but it provides a historical perspective on just how much the history of the US is a history of the war the bankers have waged against democracy.
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(as an aside, I know this country was stolen from the Native Americans and much of it built with slavery, making the use of the word "democracy" dubious, but those issues go beyond the scope of this post. Of course I think that any real change will have to deal with those issues).
I find it so simplistic as to be nearly meaningless.
“The Fed is owned by the big banks.” No, it’s not. Not technically, not legally. It is true that there is a revolving door policy between gov’t and the banks that results in the banks having enormous influence in gov’t, but the reverse is also true. If the Fed were owned by the banks, why was there so much angst about the bank bailouts; why did Congress have to get involved? (For example, Elizabeth Warren rose to fame from being on the Congressional TARP oversight committee.) If the Fed were really owned by the banks, #Occupy might as well just fold their tents and give up, game over.
The Fed can give or lend to the banks whatever amount it wishes (though it doesn’t do it by printing money, just by changing amounts in banks’ reserve accounts at the Fed), but since its primary purpose is to prevent inflation or deflation, the amount it gives is subject to restraint. Likewise, the banks' ability to engage in reckless speculation used to be subject to regulation (Glass Steagel) and could be again. But if the banks "owned" the Fed no such possibility would exist.
A previous article here by Lin Dihn showed he is hopelessly ignorant about the Fed. It is critical to have a clear understanding of what one is up against. Dihn’s ravings only muddy the water.
See my post above. The Fed seems to be a government/private hybrid. If you go back in history, you find that the Federal Reserve Act was crafted by mostly bankers and pushed through by one Senator Aldrich. the legend is that this was done in a secret meeting at a resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Books written on the subject seem to have valid sources to verify that this meeting did indeed take place, but I dont claim to be an expert on the subject. It is indeed a murky subject, and there is much heated debate about what the Fed is.
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I know people here are wary of Jesse ventura - and I perfectly understand why - but the episode of his show Conspiracy Theory that deals with Wall Street is actually quite informative if you can stand and ignore his bombastic style. Matt Taibbi and Nomi Prins appear. as with everything, it is the viewers/readers responsibility to try to separate the information and facts from the noise. Not an easy thing to do these days...alas!
(To all)
As somebody who considers myself 'wary' of Jesse Ventura, I really can't find much wrong with the mentioned video, other than its sensationalist tone which I could do without. But there's much useful info to be found within the mentioned 'Conspiracy Theory' episode, and it is recommended viewing.
Found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXkQAwUHOZY
Thanks Kitaj for bringing it to my attention (don't own a TV, so others' recommendations are where I find out about cable programming).
'The Secret of Oz' is also an -excellent- resource for anyone protesting the Fed and the private globalist bankster cartel. Also highly recommended.
Watch it streaming, here:
http://www.archive.org/details/dom-102850-thesecretofoz
And yet another excellent source for this info is 'Zeitgeist III, The Federal Reserve'. Similar to Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory program, some may find the tone of the Zeitgeist series to not be their cup-of-tea. The former is perhaps 'too mainstream' and sensationalist, whereas Zeitgeist is often described as 'skirting the fringes' or not mainstream enough. Personally, this formula works better for me than Jesse's.
Zeitgeist III is found here, in multiple parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dmPchuXIXQ
A quick search, or torrent download should get you the unsplit videos in better resolution if that matters to you.
As Kitaj correctly notes, this information should not simply be taken as rote fact — much of it is contentious, all of it is controversial. Research your sources and information thoroughly before assuming your arguments are iron-clad, and can stand up robustly against the banksters deeply ingrained memes and frames.
Let's put an end to these criminals' rule, and join the fight to crush the infamy!!
Écrasez l'infâme!
re: "“The Fed is owned by the big banks.” No, it’s not. Not technically, not legally."
Not legally... but who cares about legal intent? "The Federal Reserve [...] assumed sweeping new powers in [2008]. In an unprecedented move [...], the New York Fed advanced the funds for JPMorgan Chase Bank to buy investment bank Bear Stearns for pennies on the dollar. The deal was particularly controversial because Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, sits on the board of the New York Fed and participated in the secret weekend negotiations. In September 2008, the Federal Reserve did something even more unprecedented, when it bought the world’s largest insurance company. The Fed announced on September 16 that it was giving an $85 billion loan to American International Group (AIG) for a nearly 80% stake in the mega-insurer. The Associated Press called it a "government takeover," but this was no ordinary nationalization. Unlike the U.S. Treasury, which took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the week before, the Fed is not a government-owned agency."
Not Private and Not for Profit?
The Fed’s website insists that it is not a private corporation, is not operated for profit, and is not funded by Congress. But is that true? The Federal Reserve was set up in 1913 as a "lender of last resort" to backstop bank runs, following a particularly bad bank panic in 1907. The Fed’s mandate was then and continues to be to keep the private banking system intact; and that means keeping intact the system’s most valuable asset, a monopoly on creating the national money supply. Except for coins, every dollar in circulation is now created privately as a debt to the Federal Reserve or the banking system it heads. The Fed’s website attempts to gloss over its role as chief defender and protector of this private banking club, but let’s take a closer look. The website states:
"The twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks, which were established by Congress as the operating arms of the nation’s central banking system, are organized much like private corporations – possibly leading to some confusion about "ownership." For example, the Reserve Banks issue shares of stock to member banks. However, owning Reserve Bank stock is quite different from owning stock in a private company. The Reserve Banks are not operated for profit, and ownership of a certain amount of stock is, by law, a condition of membership in the System. The stock may not be sold, traded, or pledged as security for a loan; dividends are, by law, 6 percent per year."
"[The Federal Reserve] is considered an independent central bank because its decisions do not have to be ratified by the President or anyone else in the executive or legislative branch of government, it does not receive funding appropriated by Congress, and the terms of the members of the Board of Governors span multiple presidential and congressional terms."
"The Federal Reserve’s income is derived primarily from the interest on U.S. government securities that it has acquired through open market operations. . . . After paying its expenses, the Federal Reserve turns the rest of its earnings over to the U.S. Treasury."
So let’s review: The Fed is privately owned. Its shareholders are private banks. In fact, 100% of its shareholders are private banks. None of its stock is owned by the government.
The Fed generates profits for its shareholders.
If the Fed were actually a federal agency, the government could issue U.S. legal tender directly, avoiding an unnecessary interest-bearing debt to private middlemen who create the money out of thin air themselves.
Admittedly, this is all Ellen Brown speaking, not me. My expertise is largely informed by hers.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10489
http://iamacitizen.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/who-owns-the-federal-reserve/
But I thought I'd bring this before you CM, as the above is my understanding of 'Who Owns the Fed'. I trust that you know enough to set me straight as to how this does, and does not apply to your assertion that the Fed in not owned by the same private interests who control the nation's, and the worlds' for-profit banking systems.
Cheers, and I look forward to your response.
"Who Owns The Federal Reserve?" - The Fed is privately owned. Its shareholders are private banks - by Ellen Brown
www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10489
You should also read books such as "Web of Debt" by Ellen Brown and then you'll see that Linh Dinh is not far off the mark.
Marvelous essay from Linh Dinh. Too bad the New York Times can't give one of their resident cliche meisters a week off and publish it on their Opinion Pages. (How about a nice long vacation for David Brooks?)
I know -- it's no more likely than Eric Holder going after the banksters.
"Identity politics" is phrase worth exploring. If one considers the configuration of corporate power, privatization (education especially), naming human beings as "consumers", the negation of voice, and designating the creation and life as resource and commodity - this must be held in historical balance of colonization.
The Doctrine of Discovery stands, from the 15th century to today, as a basis of US property law. The long strand of razor wire negating humanity that is not of the old European crowns and papacy is generally veiled and regarded as having been around so long that it cannot or must not be changed. It is unsustainable, perverse and will change simply because the nature of reality does not accommodate it at root.
The confluence of collapse of ecosystems and the militarization of the corporate system is a recognition most important for those deeply invested in the system. Reaching these persons is a major challenge. This can only be done with presentation of the diversity of options and clarification of the delusions being perpetuated by the system. Truly - live the change you want to see.
I'm not one to do the "good comment" routine, but from one old goat to another - well said.
I would only add that we (the 99%) are consumers. It's that we used to get paid decently to do our consumption. Then 'they' decided that wasn't proving enough profit for 'them', they kept wages flat and then credit was provided (with the interest as additional profit for them) so we can continue to consume.
Talk about a ponzi scheme. That should be an alternate definition of that scam. It's a house of cards that the downfall gets blamed on Unions and Government.
What you said goes to the heart of the whirlwind we are reaping: the negation of human worth, dignity, and independence that happens when people are convinced to see themselves as primarily consumers. Every aspect of the various disasters unfolding flows from this, whether it’s the erosion of true democracy, the horrific imbalance in distribution of wealth in the world as a whole, the lack of respect for the planet that comes from our lack of respect for others and for ourselves and from the vitiation of our commonality as human beings with other humans and with the whole of Nature herself, from which humanity derives – one could go on and on.
Regarding the photo that accompanies Linh Dinh's fine article, note not only the sadistic fascist Bologna, but the moron to his right, apparently trying to impersonate an ape. Was this jerk sent by the enemy to discredit the demonstration? Why didn't the more serious protesters tell this fool to get lost? Many seem not to understand that a demonstration is intended to influence the larger population and not an occasion for unrestrained egoism. Some apparently think these demonstrations are their opportunity for a Woodstock. In fact if you are truly defying power, you are placing yourself in harm's way. Molly Ivins recalled the constant fear she endured in the civil rights struggle in Texas in the sixties and said that she had no sense of nostalgia about those days. To underline that point, she said every time she was arrested, she wet herself out of fear. Grow up, some of you out there, keep in mind what you are trying to do and save the turtle suits for Halloween.
Tony Vodvarka
Linh Dinh:
Excellent article!
Thanks for articulating so well the crux of the problem. Police are just goons for the ruling-elite and have been for centuries, but the real criminals, as you've said are the money manipulators on Wall Street and elsewhere who have caused so much harm around the world, with their loansharking methods and "austerity" programs imposed upon the working-class here and abroad, to enrich themselves even more at the expense of so many others.
For the past several years after the 2008 scare of the "banks too big to fail" fiasco, I said, how about an "extraordinary rendition" of the Wall Street banksters on railroad boxcars from Wall Street to Sing Sing Prison, on the Hudson River. Put them on a vegetarian diet, give them non-GMO seeds and let them plant row crops, fruit and nut trees, and manufacture sustainable, biodegradable products at affordable prices for the public to purchase, and the profits from them to be used to help worker-owned businesses get started.
After serving ten years in prison, they'll be eligible to go before the parole board, and determined whether they are worthy enough to be released into society again.
For those of you who are interested in worker-owned businesses, the San Francisco Bay Area has wonderful co-ops, and the group name is an acroynm pronounced like "no boss." Check out: www.nobawc.org and see for yourself.
Stop borrowing billions of dollars every year in order to give it to rich people.
Standard tactics for fucking up third world countries.
I'll say again some of the things I've often said before. I worked in the world headquarters of one of those large banks, at the time the largest in the world, during the first half of the '80s in a job where I got to bear witness to senior management in action. I came to these conclusions: 1) the large financial institutions are criminal conspiracies; 2) the people working at those levels don't think or feel as if they're being criminals, they are nice socially to each other and to their families and economic peers and believe wholeheartedly that they're doing good despite the nickle-and-diming ripoff scams they're promoting. This is because for most people (I being an exception) it is impossible to be in those positions without buying into what the institution is doing; someone who does not become a true believer won't survive (they attempted to "manage me out" twice and finally laid me off during a downturn calling it "enhanced redeployment" because they had to pay me a severance package, though they found every tricky way to cut back on it), and 3) the senior managers at that corporate level are not as smart as they think they are; they're smooth and can spout the corporate party line with sincerity, but they really aren't bright despite their MBA degrees (I used to wonder what what business administration expertise were they supposed to have acquired a mastery of).
Their lack of genius and believe that they do not have such a lack means they are more vulnerable than most leftists, liberals, and progressives realize. But still as of today less likely than we might hope to consciously accept that they are causing societal harm. The billionaires behind the scenes who own the stock and direct most things but are too entrenched in the wealthy elites to dirty their fat cat hands with day-to-day operational issues are a different story. I'm talking about the middle managers on up through the CEOs and CFOs, not just of banks but of the corporate world generally, who believe in "doing well by doing good.". Not only are they not as smart as they think they are, they're not as smart as most of the citizenry thinks they are.
They believe their own TV commercials. Their faith is that if they present something as good -- e.g., the new spate of "green" "we're doing good" commercials the car and oil companies are now putting out -- that is must be for real.
Efforts to get them to see the truth of the harm they are causing are beginning to have an impact, though not fast enough yet to get them to change their low down cash hogging credit denying foreclosing default swapping ways.
P.P
Excellent comment.........Thank for sharing an up close experience we all can learn from.
Thomas Gilbert-
Put all the 'Wankin' Bankers' in stockades in the park where all the 'hippies' are. I'll supply all the rotten eggs and overripe tomatoes. No offense to 'hippies' since I am one, an old one.
Down with the oligarchs!
Down with the Economic Royalists!
Bring back real regulation, and democratic oversight!
Hand the Fed -over to the people-, and let us finally see a real share of the profits that are deservedly OURs, as they are underwritten by OUR bailout money!
Investigate and INCARCERATE those who have taken advantage, and defrauded us, like we were children handing over our candy!
Down with the Empire Builders!
Down with the War Profiteers, who have turned our country into a casino of gambling on widespread and perpetual death and mayhem!
"These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power!"
—FDR
Long Live the Occupation of Wall Street, and écrasez l'infâme!
This article is excellent, as always with Linh Dinh. The comments which follow are indicative of the fractured state of progressive politics, and the true reason why the right is winning so totally. Everyone on this side of the political spectrum knows, with absolute certainty that he/she has the correct approach and that everybody else is ... well ... perhaps intellectually challenged. Meanwhile, those 'well meaning nice guys' who have destroyed the American economy to enrich themselves are giggling on their way to the deposit box. They control the money, they control the jobs, they control public information, and they control the guns. Revolution? Dream on.
Say stuff like this and people will post at you telling you you're "carrying water for the ruling class" because you point out things that cut into the enthusiasm for the struggle for change.
I agree with you about the circular firing squad quality of posts on this site, but I have sympathy too. Everyone who tunes into this channel is frustrated. We can't get at the Powers That Be or get them to listen and actually hear us, so we vent our frustration on each other. I've done it though I've regretted those posts after.
It is presently counterproductive, but I still think there must be a way of using our diversity of opinion against them. I'm waiting for the genius who figures this out. It's beyond me.
P.P: The flaw in your argument comes from your seeming to believe that the arguments that break out here are among "equals," or persons equally committed to ideals that would benefit this nation and its citizens. Evidence suggests that this site (like others) is compromised, and agent provocateurs spend time in these threads PURPOSELY sewing divisiveness, when not bringing pro-libertarian arguments into what requires a far more egalitarian/progressive/socialist approach.
Having been a target of a very well orchestrated smear campaign--that uses as its cover, the idea that I argue with those who don't share my views--I can tell you that I recognize the same tactics used on me, as those cited by Glenn Greenwald and others.
IF this forum was not compromised, the Kumbala call for all of us to get along would make sense. Otherwise, to suggest that we find common cause with Amerikan Fascists, is not the means to peace, environmental justice, or human rights. Not by a far cry...
Even in the time of the Nazis, mystics were considered persons of interest. The last thing the New Authoritarians want, or will tolerate, are ALTERNATIVE portraits of our collective estate (or shared reality). Higher truth is a HUGE threat to those with hidden agendas. And it's been this way for centuries!
Dang. Hit Save twice again.
My opinions (not, in my mind, arguments) are frequently flawed. I have no doubt whatsoever that this site is thoroughly compromised. Number 2 on the Most Ignored News Stories list is that U.S. Command Central signed a contract with an L.A. based (where else; my place of upbringing) enabling U.S. servicepersons to use fake online personas on social media sites to influence online chatter. Maybe calling out "trolls" by using that word has more value than I previously thought. Doesn't seem to stop them.
Nevertheless, I enjoy having postings critiqued (not just name-called) although I don't always check back to see what, if anything, has been said. Usually there no responses to ones I think should (the dreaded "S" word that I have perhaps wrongly criticized people here for overusing) lead to widespread discussion, so I wouldn't worry much about anything I say influencing anyone.
Paranoid: I like you, respect your views, and just want to make sure you understand the point I made... as you do. One obvious aspect of their M.O. is to seem to agree with an important voice on the Left, only to then lay into them with lethal criticism. In my view, their aim is to damage the credibility of that individual.
Today's example is the "new girl" Cathy Mason, who suddenly appears on the threads as if she owns some natural authority, and in this case arrogantly sputters points designed to damage the author. The mocking tone of condescension is the DEAD giveaway.
The FED is a private organization and it is composed of bankers. This is why the point made by Elizabeth Warren to set up a NATIONAL bank, or STATE banks (as is the case in North Dakota, a state with no budgetary shortfalls) is so important.
I've seen this group go after Amy Goodman, Medea Benjamin, Ralph Nader, Chris Hedges, Phil Rockstroh, and others.
If there is a legitimate point or argument to make, that's one thing... but they take aim at the JUGULAR. And what should be comical about this is that the ones doing this critiquing have never published a thing in their lives, have probably never taught a class, or distinguished themselves through any effort, enterprise, or evidence of excellence in anything! Yet they see fit to judge, and in judging, seek to decimate another human being's sincere, brave efforts in a particularly outrageous and challenging time.
They are not interested in seeking common cause, or forging coalition... they may give LIP service to that objective, but their acting in so divisive a fashion betrays it. And when I point this out--as I do often (too often for some), the very things they are guilty of, they project onto me... as if my motive is disunity, as opposed to calling out the FRAUDS in our midst.
One thing I can say, I have watched how these games operate for more than 2 years; and I now have a pretty good education. Perhaps what I've learned here will serve me, if the day comes when voices like mine are back in the limelight. A society that silences its visionaries blinds its members to the way(s) of seeing out of the Matrix. That's what the authoritarians in our midst would never allow... for they are the gatekeepers, the thugs with mugs who guard the castle.
Another excellent commentary from Linh Dinh.
Just a side note:
"Remember that Smith Barney commercial where a sonorous, no-nonsense elderly gentleman intoned, “We make money the old fashioned way. We earn it”?"
That was the actor John Houseman, who was hauled before Joseph McCarthy's HUAC for his collaborations with such leftists as Orson Welles and Marc Blitzstein. But with time he learned how to be comfortable, and his Smith Barney commercials cashed in on his recent fame as a demanding Boston Brahmin law professor on a recent teevee show.
"Has anyone, in any time zone, seen him [Eric Holder] lately?"
LOL.
I read tweets that one protester was "in critical condition" at the hospital after this violent assault by the criminals calling themselves cops. Where's the coverage on that?
Of course, these cops are protecting the elite with all the money. The protesters know it too as they yell "Who do you protect" when they attack the peaceful people. And they are NOT ALL YOUTHS!!!! I saw many gray-haired women and senior citizens there. Don't go along with MSM calling them hippies, etc. There are people in that crowd in their 60's and 70's!!!
Does Bologna think, do you think? What goes on in that pea brain? Does he think "Well, what bad people. Who do they think they are coming out here and staying just because there are no jobs, they have student loans that can't be paid, their parents were tricked out of their homes, etc. Ack, they deserve some violence for being upset about a couple of little things."
Nope, he's a typical Repukican which means he is unable to reason and think logically. They are all like that. Brain-damaged. I hope he gets personally SUED by some of the injuries he's caused.
I'll bet if he ever shed a tear it's for HIMSELF. He thinks he looks cool in that uniform -- I'd like to see a prison population get a hold of him.
Right now, CNN and MSNBC are covering the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. I'm so glad they have their priorities straight.
One problem as I see it, is that Wall Street criminals, who by the way, are much worse than Tony Balooney, hide their evil and nefarious deeds behind the corporate veil of Goldman Saks, Citibank, Bank of America, Chase Manhatten and other Wall Street crooked bankster companies.
They need to be exposed just like Anthony Bologna.
Not only that, but their tentacles reach deep down into the MBA and finance programs that are offered in many of the US colleges... take out the top CEO's of these banks and you will have thousands of young MBA grads students drooling and clawing their way up the ladder to replace the exiting bank executives. And these grads students all believe that this game is legitimate... and why wouldn't it seem that way to them? Cornell University taught them so...
William Black spoke about this total corruption in a talk he gave about the banking crisis.
On the other hand, it's pretty difficult for me to believe that normal, non-psychopathic people would like to complete an MBA. All the fuckwits with MBAs I know seem to be genetically sociopathic.
Eric, your point is well taken. I watched/listened to William Black's talk online, and I have heard other writers speak about this same issue. In fact, 38% of this year's MBA graduates from Harvard found jobs working on Wall Street. You can google Crains for the article -- September 2011.
Originally, Eisenhower's speech, in January 1961, included the word "academic" -- "the military-industrial-academic complex." The word "academic" was then removed from the speech. Chris Hedges talks about this issue in one of his books, and I have heard him talk about this issue when I have attended his lectures/talks.
And, I would suggest to anyone interested -- read David Hare and Paul Babiak's book, SNAKES IN SUITS: WHEN PSYCHOPATHS GO TO WORK. At this time, the U.S. is producing, exponentially, more psychopaths than any other nation. The unfettered competition to succeed, as you described so well -- "young MBA grads students drooling and clawing their way up the ladder to replace the exiting bank executives" -- in your comment is spot on. There is NO shortage of young people who are willing to claw their way to the top -- using any means necessary.
In 1972, David Halberstam's book, THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, was published. The author was using irony to question who, exactly, were the best and the brightest. His conclusion was that, possibly, those who graduate from Ivy League schools aren't as smart as they think they are. He was warning us and telling us to question these men, their authority, their tactics and strategies as well.
The highest money-makers on Wall Street belong to a club: The Swinging Dicks Of Wall Street. Michael Lewis describes these men in his 1989 landmark book, LIAR'S POKER. Scott Patterson writes about these same men in his recent 2010 book, THE QUANTS. Both authors also discuss the book, BEAT THE DEALER, written by Ed Thorp, and how that book underpins Wall Street and their unfettered beliefs in casino capitalism.
Rather than replacing individuals who work within these systems, it's the systems, themselves, that need to be changed and replaced. Corruption, as most writers and readers on this site know, is rampant!
Can you imagine if the genius of, say, Jonas Salk or Margaret Mead wasted away in a tiny cubicle at some multinational corporation? What a total waste of great minds and talents, passions, individuality, dreams. All for a pay check, health insurance, a gold watch. Who or what are we working FOR? Nor am I aware of any real contribution a billionaire hedge fund manager has made to the world.
As to the media, a great site to realize the extent of narrow and manipulative corporate views we've been fed is www.cjr.org/resources/. Enter your choice of media giants and look at the hairraising extent of its reach, not only in newspapers and broadcast, but in book publishing, entertainment, movie studios, financial holdings. Truly, we must act for net neutrality or suffer the consequences if we don't.
"Can you imagine if the genius of, say, Jonas Salk or Margaret Mead wasted away in a tiny cubicle at some multinational corporation?" -- barredowl
No, I can't!
Prior to media deregulation in 1996 by Clinton, I worked in radio. I can't begin to tell you how many letters I have written to my MIS-representatives, and to the FCC as well, about various media issues -- newspapers, radio, television, etc. M$M, in all its forms, is dangerous to the health and well being of this country, which continues to slip further and further into the abyss. I talk about these issues to people whenever the opportunity arises.
I agree, barredowl -- we need to act for net neutrality!
I'm also a casualty of the music industry, one of the first industries to completely cave in on itself, due to mergers/consolidation and debt accumulation. Each time a bigger company bought a smaller company, friends of mine lost their jobs and lost their benefits. As you stated, this same scenario has played out in book publishing, movie studios, Broadway theaters, etc. The arts, overall, are in bad shape!
The corporations are sucking us dry -- with creative voices and independent-thinking individuals completely marginalized. The M$M does its job, making sure they remain on the margins. You are so right -- the situation as it stands is a "total waste of great minds and talent!"
re: "One problem as I see it, is that Wall Street criminals, who by the way, are much worse than Tony Balooney, hide their evil and nefarious deeds behind the corporate veil of ....."
ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, MSNBC, et al, or more accurately, Disney, AOL-Time Warner, Viacom, General Electric, News Corp, and Microsoft.
It's The Media, Stupid! (not you, PR)
They [also] need to be exposed just like Anthony Bologna.
SS: Right on brother!
dupe