I didn't vote for Walker and so didn't many others. Walker was the best governor money could buy....see Citizens United. Tom Barrett was outspent 8 to 1. How's Jan Brewer working out for you? Why does AZ keep voting her in? I hope you're enjoying the results.

OUTSTANDING comment Sis! Brewer is every bit as much of a political WHORE as the koch whore is!

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

Thank you, Sis! There are ways Brewer is even worse than Walker.....if that is possible. I'm just tired of the whole state being blamed. Before making a comment, check to see who YOUR governor is first. In fact, I just read a story on Alternet listing who the 10 worst governors are.....yes, Brewer was included as well as Walker.

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

The subject is not Jan Brewer - change the subject much? Jan is an embarrassment but that isn't the subject of my comment is it? We have Jan Brewer because she connected with the vast sea of old people that she scared using illegal immigration - but at least we own up to it - unlike you in Wisc who continually attempt to establish how enlightened it's citizens are and somehow Walker stole the election the first time. Sorry, that is my entire point is that your citizens not only voted him initially, they confirmed it during the recall election so please, stop saying he bought the election and stop bitching about it like Wisc was tricked yet again.

Will you change your comment in a year when It is proven that they just didn't count votes or he was up to some other cheating to win? Blaming the whole state is pretty chicken shit after the 2000 election and Florida!

Walker was behind in the polls until the Koch money took over. This has nothing to do with owning up to anything. You just missed the point. You're state has just as many stupid, gullible voters as WI. It's the same subject.

Actual voter fraud absolutely changes everything! But aside from that, my original point is that this country is full of ignorant voters easily manipulated by 30 second political fluff and that Wisc is a great example of that. Trying to say that Walker won because he spent more money is a bullshit argument and glosses over the fact that the vast majority of Americans are grossly uninformed, intellectually lazy, and easily led. The reason Walker won the election is based solely in the fact that people voted for him - the reason is totally irrelevant.

Again, stay on topic here... I've already admitted a million times on this board that the vast majority of people in this state fall into the old senile will vote for a stick if it were republican, and grossly uneducated redneck yokels types. Your point that the only reason Walker won the election was money and that is bullshit! The reason he won twice is because more people voted for him. Suck it up and deal with it! Stop bitching about him buying the state. The Democrats could have spent just as much cash but they didn't.

Didn't find your comment harsh at all!!! I've got a very thick skin anyway!!! That was my original point is the fact that the vast majority of American voters are totally uninformed and intellectually lazy and was using Wisc as an example. The video was hilarious!!!

After reading that story about the judge in Oregon trying to screw the rape victim I just feel shame. I am stuck right here now due to my plight but I will figure out how to be useful in getting out the truth through video so the world can see. Leaving this country is not an option because I would never be able to stop thinking about it. I have to stay here for now and be a father with the time.

I find myself growing more apathetic towards this country on a daily basis. It really hit home how fast we are hurling toward collapse as I was in Italy all of last week and was standing in the Colosseum gazing at that incredible structure. We are quickly walking in the same exact footsteps as the Romans did! My wife and I are actually researching and visiting countries outside the US to relocate to in the next few years!

Your logic plays like this, "Grass is green, because it's green". It is circular in reason and continually revolves around the end result but no ability to debate the reason for that result. In an earlier post you say, "How about the voters are a bunch of ignorant fucks who are easily manipulated by 30 second catchy ads - see Wisconsin". But then you can't comprehend why easily manipulated people seeing 8 of one sides ad to one of the other sides doesn't influence their opinion? What are you missing? Repetition is the theory behind Pavlov's dogs. You play the same message over and over again and it dwarves the opposing message, the uninformed start to believe mass propaganda. Did you ever hear about that used in Nazi Germany by Goebbels who used it to sway the thinking of an otherwise intelligent populace? It works and that was what anyone who paid attention to WI saw. I'm dealing with the result just fine because I know eventually it will come back to bite everyone who voted for him in the ass in some way. The Dems did spend money, but will always be outspent by the rich conservatives who BUY influence. I think my point is obvious to anyone who is capable of coming to an informed opinion. I rest my case because enough time has been wasted here.

" the vast majority of American voters are totally uninformed and intellectually lazy"

Yes, therefore I think that the voting age should be raised to 25 and there should be a test. Not an intelligence test, but a test of very basic knowledge, like how many states are there, who is the vice presidential candidate, how many Senators are in each state. That is all.

Many of the lazy and indolent will not bother to take the test, so that gets rid of that segment. Another proportion is so uninformed that they would not be able to pass, so that gets rid of them.

" My wife and I are actually researching and visiting countries outside the US to relocate to in the next few years!"

I have lived abroad - in Latin America, Europe and Asia - on the local economies. There is more to it than meets the eye, and I am not referring to residence visas or cost of living. I am referring to culture.

Where do you have in mind? What are your thoughts? What do you hope to find in another country?

Not to be rude or presume, but I generally do not take people seriously when they say that they will move to another country. I remember many, many people would ask me about working overseas and say that they wanted to do it. I would give them the information, practically run through it for them, and when it came down to it, there was always the excuses: My parents are getting older, the house has a big mortgage, I want to wait until the kids get out of school, blah, blah, blah.

I do not mean you are that way, but I am just relating my experiences. If a person really wants to do it, they can do it.

Yes, I was using Wisc as an example of ignorant, intellectually lazy voter. My ENTIRE point is that if you, regardless of the message or the number of times you've seen it, are swayed to vote for a candidate solely based on a 30 second political ad you've seen on TV or heard on the radio, then you ABSOLUTELY fall into the ignorant and intellectually lazy voter category. If you vote for a candidate solely based on the fact that they put more signs on more corners, then you ABSOLUTELY fall into the ignorant and intellectually lazy voter category. Walker did the EXACT same thing in his previous job as he is doing as the Gov. and yet, people voted him in. He then enacted the exact same slash and burn tactics and somehow now the citizens take notice and start bitching and moaning. I don't know how many interviews of Wisc people I watched that stated that they voted for Walker but didn't realize he was going to do what he was doing. Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?! Several of these people were police, teachers, firefighters, and other union based occupations. ALL they had to do was a bit of research to find that Walker voided union contracts in his previous job and replaced them with low payed unskilled 'private' firm resources to get a glimpse of how he would act as Gov. That, is the textbook definition of grossly ignorant and intellectually lazy voter that I am talking about. Cast your vote for this guy then complain that you didn't realize he was going to do what he is actually doing. The laughable interviews of these people always ended by saying - had he campaigned on those issues, then I wouldn't have voted for him! Complete stupidity on display interview after interview after interview. Please - don't even remotely try to compare Nazi tactics of propaganda to airing political ads in a free country that has massive numbers of free and available outlets for people to educate themselves on. That is completely inappropriate and not even in the same galaxy of relevance to this topic. Pavlov's dog is about getting a dog to drool - not the same thing again, but nice try!

I totally agree with your statement!!! I was also thinking that it would be a great idea to make it a requirement to view/listen/read a non partisan summary on each candidate and issue prior to being able to vote. I don't know, but anything that attempts to ensure at least a basic knowledge of these candidates and issues prior to vomiting out a vote is better than what we have now!

I don't know if intelligence tests would work because as we all know, there are people that are really quite ignorant and unable to read and comprehend even the simplest of ideas or concepts. That is why I thought of the 'video' approach with a non biased summary of a candidates stances, his/her past experience and the programs they've implemented, etc would at least be a good start!

Mishima - we are not focusing on one place to call home for the rest of our lives, but more on a nomadic sort of viewpoint. My job is in a field that would enable me to work remotely for a period of time until I feel like retiring, although given that virtual ability and traveling around the world while doing it, doesn't really scream for me to give up a fat paycheck all that quickly!!! We absolutely loved Costa Rica and there are just so many areas in Mexico that would be quite awesome (I lived in Mexico City for a year for work). We are eying many Central and South American destinations to visit as well. We haven't check off the Asian locations either. Funny, the more research you do, the more areas you find that would most certainly fit our criteria and the more research we do, the more opportunities pop up that alter the criteria.

When we first decide to leave the US (at least for the vast majority of the year each year) and live abroad, it was focused on getting all of our real estate assets liquidated, selling everything, and living off rental property and investment income so the criteria was based on cost of living, availability of technology, the culture, government stability, and other items in those types of categories. Now, after finding out that my career experience, expertise, and skill sets are easily transferred abroad and can be done virtually, that opened it up considerable since we would have a constant source of income far exceeding investment and rental property income. It went from a doable starting in 5 years to doable immediately!!!

Right now we're looking at Germany and Ireland based on the type of companies that are hiring in my wheel house right now. Germany really looks awesome since they are having quite a bit of trouble hiring resources in the technologies field!

The best thing about our situation is that we will keep one of our condos in Scottsdale (paid cash for it as an investment property) so we can utilize it in a few great ways. We will always have a place to come back to in case we want to return back to the US. It is in a fantastic location and since it is paid for, the cash requirement to live there are pretty much nil. There is also a tremendous market for 'house swapping' and Scottsdale is a desired location so we can utilize it to secure free housing in a great number of cities throughout the world by switching houses with those that want/need to come to Arizona!

I can see exactly why you're coming from on people not following through on what they boast about. Since we don't have children and we've been living very debt free for some time now, we have really nothing to tie us down and prevent us from making it happen. It's just a matter now of what is the best situation and where do we want to start! This trip to Italy absolutely put it into hyper drive because we both thoroughly love immersing ourselves in other cultures and enjoying the experiences, both good and bad, that each area has to offer!

I'd love to hear about where you've lived and what your thoughts are on the subject!

“I was also thinking that it would be a great idea to make it a requirement to view/listen/read a non partisan summary on each candidate and issue prior to being able to vote.”

Yes! I like that. Maybe a set list of issues, like positions on taxes, health care, defense, etc. Every candidate would write a very brief statement to the same list every election.

During the 2008 election, my daughter was in college. She has no interest in politics, did not even vote, but I asked her to do me a favor: Just ask some people who their choice is and why. She told me: Most of the students she asked – predominately female – went for Obama. And why? Because McCain was against abortion! They did not even vote FOR Obama for anything, but only AGAINST McCain, and for a single issue!

I am not saying that this is any kind of a representative view, but simply pointing out something else: This is how people choose. One small issue without knowing anything else. My friend’s mother visited her son in rural Georgia. They spoke about politics at the church. They were all for Bush at the time. And why? He was a born-again. Same mentality. My cousin voted for Obama because he promised not to ship jobs abroad. Her company has lost some jobs to Indians, and she was stressed she might be next.

Sounds like a great plan! And leaving the option for returning to the US sounds wise. I heard many good things about Costa Rica, and it is a quick flight back to Arizona.

On the general economy, I lived in Colombia for a half year, Europe for two, and Japan for eight. Traveled a lot, too: SE Asia, the Middle East, etc. Lived in bush Alaska for five years.

I mean no slight to people in business or the military, but when one lives via an American company or the government overseas, it is something entirely different than having to depend totally on the host nation. Right here, I see both people who live off the Japanese economy, and those connected to the military. It is completely different: The people in the military really do not – cannot – know what life in Japan is really like. It is no criticism of them, just the reality of the situation.

I noticed a consistent pattern with expats wherever I lived: The first stage is love of the place, even thinking it is superior to one’s home country in so many ways. Then, that wears off, and reality sets in: The reality of the host country, with the habits of the people, the business, the medical facilities, shopping, attitudes, everything. Most people get frustrated and even angry at that point, and they start criticizing the country and the people. That is the crossroads: Either they adjust or not. Many do not. I have seen so many convinced that it is the people and culture of the host nation that is the cause of their discontent: “If only they would….” I see this in Japan a lot, probably because the language and culture are so different, but I saw it in Europe and in Colombia, too.

Then, if the adjustment comes, a kind of peace sets in: Things are the way they are.

I think if one does not burn his bridges and move abroad, it is great. The biggest adjustment in living in America for me is that in most places, I have to put my living abroad experiences and life in the drawer. People are not interested and cannot relate to it. I lived in Flagler County, Florida for two years. In those two years, I never spoke about living abroad, even though it is actually my identity, my life. Even among relatives, I do not speak about it much at all, except with one cousin who lived in Italy and married a man from there. She “gets it.” My other cousin and brother took a trip abroad, and they talk about the food, the museums, the interesting customs. They have no idea, but I keep my mouth shut.

But last year, we looked carefully into Sarasota, Florida, and were pleasantly surprised. The people there are more cosmopolitan. I mean it is very common to come across people who have had an international life for years. We will be moving back in a couple of years, so this is our big concern. We picked Sarasota.

That is not a small issue!

"That is not a small issue!"

Now, it is not, and it is because the Left-wingers keep making it important. We need to look at each other as Americans. Stop the nonsense of ethnic and racial categories. I suggest, first, eliminating the racial category from all federal information, starting with the US Census. There was such a movement, but not enough people refused to respond to that part of the census. If enough people did, the federal government would have much difficulty with their freakin' categorizing people - related to income, education, marital status, etc. - based on this classification of skin color. They would be at a complete loss.

Hey, peaceful non-compliance with the GOVERNMENT categorizing human being related to their skin pigmentation!

If your spouse or kid forgets to take out the garbage, some people just complain a bit and are done with it. Others make it an issue that blows up into fights, screaming, anger, and accusations of laziness, irresponsibility, not caring, being a slob, etc.

This is a small issue. Do you understand now?

It is one of the biggest issues on both sides of it. It is about what is expected by someone else and their believes not about skin color. Just because you think about things the way you believe does not mean those things are right for others. I don't care to fight with you. This is just a chance to think about things that may mean little to you but are giant to others no matter which side they fall on. Blacks are equal and women are completely equal but not everyone is there yet and hold opinions the it is not that important while others will kill over it which makes it at the top of the list because love is a giant issue as well.

t" Just because you think about things the way you believe does not mean those things are right for others."

Really? You think that we should look at people in terms of race?

I prefer to think of them as individual human beings. Possibly the label of "American" might also be appropriate.....

"Blacks are equal and women are completely equal but not everyone is there yet and hold opinions the it is not that important while others will kill over it which makes it at the top of the list because love is a giant issue as well."

As a nation we have to stop the nonsense. People are people. We need to be strong and give the message to look at people in terms of skin color - for any reason - is ignorant and absurd. People do not want to feel like fools, so hopefully fewer will look at others in terms of this nonsense.

Thanks Leen61....

You're welcome, kenny. Straight out of Naomi Klein's book, "The Shock Doctrine." Take over a country with a severe shock to the national psyche.

Agree!

wow. great video.

Thanks, gump. That video says it all.

No, put the Nobel Prize winner, Milton Friedman up against that anti-capitalist, and there is no comparison.

Summed up perfectly!

Wanted to add the reading under the video.

Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda is often biased, with facts selectively presented (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political, or other type of agenda. Propaganda can be used as a form of political warfare.

"There's no doubt that one of the major issues of twentieth century history, surely in the US, is corporate propaganda.... Its goal from the beginning, perfectly openly and consciously, was to 'control the public mind,' as they put it. The reason was that the public mind was seen as the greatest threat to the corporations."—Noam Chomsky

"The man who is possessed of wealth, who lolls on his sofa or rolls in his carriage, cannot judge the wants or feelings of the day-laborer. The government we mean to erect is intended to last for ages. The landed interest, at present, is prevalent; but in process of time, when we approximate to the states and kingdoms of Europe, when the number of landholders shall be comparatively small, through the various means of trade and manufactures, will not the landed interest be overbalanced in future elections, and unless wisely provided against, what will become of your government? In England, at this day, if elections were open to all classes of people, the property of landed proprietors would be insecure. An agrarian law would soon take place. If these observations be just, our government ought to secure the permanent interests of the country against innovation. Landholders ought to have a share in the government, to support these invaluable interests, and to balance and check the other. They ought to be so constituted as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority. The senate, therefore, ought to be this body; and to answer these purposes, they ought to have permanency and stability." - James Madison.

Statement (1787-06-26) as quoted in Notes of the Secret Debates of the Federal Convention of 1787

Thanks!

Respect!

Id like to expand on a point noam made during this recording when he is speaking about how deeply propagandized writers in the media are, that they are so propagandized themselves they cannot think in other terms. You must remember that even people that you look up to, admire and respect fit in this category. For example Bill Maher a favourite among liberals and progressives has stated many times that he believes it is impossible to revolt against the state, along with counterparts on fox news both sending the same message. But since its blended in with so much you may agree with, entertaining satire and laughter you will miss what is happening but receive the brainwashing. Its really ingenious the way these messages have been disseminated in the public, it is brought to you by people expressing their beliefs genuinely. I suppose that goes directly to how powerful and dangerous, clever and intelligent the state is. How are ordinary people and so called intellectuals fight that which they do not realize is there?

You're Welcome.

By always asking questions even the things you think you know the answers to. Look for patterns in speech and more important in actions and remember that lying is one of human controls that goes back to the beginning of written history and most likely further. Again always revisit your opinions and beliefs and why you think they are true. Bill makes me laugh but he is trying to keep his job which is greatly supported by BS. Great comment!

Every citizen should hear this , whether you agree or not , powerful food for thought !

Indeed, it is in this context i again ask Occupy Wall Street supporters isn't it odd that the leaders of Occupy managed to vanish from sight even before the protest had reach epic international proportions?

Why was it that people could not confirm who was receiving much of the donations and how was it being accounted for or spent?

We all know occupy was a powerful movement at one point but suddenly these activist leaders turned into recluses?

Was the head of the snake cut off so to speak?
Something to ponder.

agreed.

Very well said!

That really needed to be said. Thank you!

! Yes, the worst thing most Republicans will ever do is vote for Romney. Hardly sounds like an enemy.

Ive observed several instances where the left and the right absolutely agree on a subject yet because the speaker of such truth may not play for their team they never gave their position on the issue the time of the day. Yet when a person on their team says the samething they are in absolute agreement. The point america has come to is very much a shoot the messenger rather than analyze the message mentality therefore people can't see eye to eye because of their disdain for who is speaking rather than what is being said.

Thanks Jim, it is totally unbelievable their are actually people who still deny the reality!

Cut from a blast in typical demo style!

Can I get a Date for that Kenny??? =(

Soon, thats all I can say!

Does anybody ever take the reality into context??? Can you imagine no heat or electricity for a month or two, how about buying gas to get to the grocery store for food??? Is anyone really that well rationed to stand for such a time??? We are held by the Balls and they know it!!! The Sh*t hits the Fan and we are done!!!

Me too! Wanna be sure to pencil that glorious (and yes dare I say, holy) day into my calendar!

It never is!

Right on, Sis!
Pwr 2 the FED-UP peons! GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

It's amazing how much we think alike :-)! I've wondered about this for a lot of years, but had to have enough evidence b4 I could no longer deny the truth.

Pwr 2 the FED-UP peons! GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

Don't forget the drones and NDAA!!!!!
Are we fed-up enough now?????

Pwr 2 the FED-UP peons! GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY -- NO more political WHORES!

I cannot agree......LOOK at how many stupid people are not capable of critical thinking that I had in 6th grade. They vote for these people over and over......

exactly !!!!!!!

Is that the first denial? If so you need to get a Lawyer and proceed to court!

No it is not the first but the first time they did not even look at a doctor report. This time they ignored it and found one they could misinterpret his views. It took me a week to get over that visit because he went deep into my mind and ignored my body. Yes law is the next course but that doesn't pay any bills and ends costing every tax payer a lot more money and probably drives many to kill themselves. I will most likely not be able to do any of the many things I do know how to do but perhaps in five years and some new education I might be able to teach or research. Getting up and food and basic cleaning are a big challenge everyday right now. I am definitely not ready to even drive yet and riding exhausts me after an hour or less. Now I sound like I am whining...... just a bit angry I guess.

Kenny's right -- so often they do this just to see how you'll react. If you go away then they can pat themselves on the back for saving some money ... if you just keep plodding away at it you will get it eventually in no small part because they will get tired of putting up with your 'bright, shiny face' :-)! Talk to at least 3 lawyers about this -- just to find out if they all deal with this sort of thing the same way.
Hang in there treewolf, it might take a while, but you will get it :-).

Man that Sucks!!! =(

Keep fighting, I know someone who got denied and took em to court and 4 years later they owed her 4 years pay!

I'm with the hang in there group-It WILL get better-you have a lot of people just on this site wishing positive things for you-I think that can help sometimes

Thank you. I don't have any fight in me except for protecting my kid. Anger will kill me quicker than much anything else. I have a close friend who had to fight 2 years but the lawyer won and that is the ride I am in for. The hardest part is where to exist until that time without putting others out because that is just not okay for me to do. Interesting I have already excepted death because being scared by the situation gave me my first panic attack and it really sucked.

Thank you all. Many of my friends were people who I was helping with their challenges and I can't even bring myself to tell them. I have also seen a person who I thought was a friend already steal and sell over a thousand dollars of my things that were at one of my jobs. I knew he wasn't that good but had been playing music with him for the last 10 years. This is rather healing just to write about it.

I noticed that many have it worse and are not carrying the joy of love that I have. On that note last weekend the police shot dead an 18 year old friend who is in the graduating class with my brother. It was in the middle of the night and he was not who they were looking for and the property was his left to him by his father when he passed away. A great kid and the police did not even announce themselves. Not driving and taking care of my young one I could not go to the wake last night put on by our community. Very sad and made me think of how this country has really changed for the worst.

Keep fighting the good fight treewolf39.... =)

Don't loose hope treewolf , a Good lawyer can turn things around ... some of them just get a percent ...

I will let you know what I find. I think Wednesday is when I get a number of a good one in this field I am told. Thanks to all here. I don't tell many if any what I am going through.

I hope things soon will be set right .

thoughts and prayers are with you....

Thank you. I am not sure they are wrong. I am getting an education of a lifetime and had to really change little assumptions about the decent behavior of this country. If anything I have become more of an earthling with a much greater view of what many others have been going through. You have really touched my heart in a way I would never change.

I am not much of a believer but I found myself sharing with my daughter today the prayer of St Francis Assisi which is a book-marker in one of my different translations of the Bhagavad-Gita.

They turn everyone down first time. Persist.!!!!

I just got to learn that. I want anything but to have to be apart of a corrupt system and my choices are very small.

I am so glad !