“He was fighting to save his life to the very end, till he was completely burned up,”
It seems that American economy is now close to this picture of the soldier who was unsuccessfully fighting for his life. People need to understand the difference between Capitalism and Corporatism. Corporations and the wealthy have the welfare state in the United States... Loopholes for the rich, lobbying for corporations and special interests... What is left for "WE THE PEOPLE"? May be it is time to consider the wealth and "welfare" of Scandinavian nations that heavily invest in education and health, while everybody paying high taxes? The astronomical prices of medical bills in USA are staggering...
The orthodontic redesign of the shapes of the teeth can cost $7,000 and more... That is the reality and who can afford it if dental insurance only covers $1,500 for life of orthodontic procedures here (I am talking about our insurance and the need for one of our sons to go through the procedure...)? It is a shame.. There is nothing to agree or disagree with here. This is a statement of fact. The sky is blue, gravity exists, opinion does not factor into it. A lot of Americans go through life with rotten teeth unable to afford even simple procedures (like $1,000 for the root canal, for ex.)... People in Europe where I traveled don't have the stress of feeling they will go bankrupt if diagnosed with a serious illness. No one I know in Europe worries whether, or not they can see a doctor. And when Americans show up in Europe that is always their rant against the USA. Many of us here in the US are but one job loss away from not having access to healthcare (too expensive with all the deductibles, out of pockets, etc) ... Was talking to my doctor today about how easy it is for my friends to get emergency health care in Scotland. It is so civilized.
A lot is learned about a country by the way it treats its poor. We can do so much better as a nation. It's also common human decency.
Wealth inequity in the US is worse now than at anytime since the Great Depression and it is a great drag on the economy and our future.. If the corporate giants and the top 10% wealthy would pay the taxes fairly and not get away with legal shortcut (loopholes, off-shores), a lot of things here would be better. So basically ditch the republicans, built a mighty 3rd party "WE THE PEOPLE", read a lot of books to educate yourself and start to use your brain. There is hardly any real difference between the major 2 political parties in this country. Neither shows any indication of adhering to the founding principles of the country.
The term 'social Democracy' have always been presented as communism to American public. That was the best way to create fear and get votes. You got it... and that started in the teens of the 20th century. Boy, did the concept of socialism scare the pants off the status quo capitalists in this country! Otherwise known as freakishly rich people who kinda liked things just as they were/are.. I think if "we the people" were as truly involved in the democratic process as we could/should be you wouldn't be so worried about how it is now. And it would be kind, community minded and unselfish.
Now, imagine if only the smartest and devoted to the American people citizen from "we the people" could be able to run for President! But a good man cannot run in this country because it is all about how much money super PACs can raise to buy the election. What country do you believe has the truest voice in their government?
Our Republican-controlled Congress has proposed budget cuts directed at our country’s most vulnerable citizens. I have to ask: "What motivates Congressional Republicans to work so hard to exacerbate the gap between rich and poor?"
"With the disturbing redistribution of wealth in our society in the last generation, I’ve been fascinated by an earlier age of unbridled wealth and decadence that I see in my travels. The châteaux of the "one percent" of the Old Regime — those 17th- and 18th-century French tycoons whose insatiable greed eventually drove their country to such despair that it erupted into violent revolution--provide a vivid example. This video clip from my most recent trip to France's Loire Valley — essentially a tour of one of their homes https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152988699982745 — helps illustrate the state of our 2015 union in “1715 King Louis” terms. Bringing home these impressions to an America I care so much about, I've been struck by these words from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders:" - Rick Steves
Bernie Sanders: “As I examine the budget brought forth by the Republicans in the House and here in the Senate, this is how I see their analysis of the problems facing our country: It is apparently not good enough that since 1985 the top one-tenth of 1 percent has seen a more then $8 trillion increase in its wealth than what they would have had if wealth inequality had stayed at the same level that it was in 1985. An $8 trillion increase in the wealth of the top one-tenth of 1 percent! Apparently, that is not enough.
Meanwhile, as I understand the Republican view of our country, as manifested in the House and Senate budgets, it appears that millions of middle class and working families — people who are working longer hours for lower wages and who have seen significant declines in their standard of living over the last 40 years —apparently do not need our help. Rather they need to see a major reduction in federal programs that help make their lives, and the lives of their kids, a little bit better.
At a time when we have over 45 million Americans living in poverty — more than almost any time in the modern history of this country — my Republican colleagues think we should increase that number by cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit, affordable housing, and Medicaid. At a time when almost 20 percent of our children live in poverty, by far the highest childhood poverty rate of any major country on earth, my Republican colleagues think that maybe we should raise the childhood poverty rate a bit higher by cutting childcare, Head Start, the Child Tax Credit, and nutrition assistance for hungry kids.
To summarize: the rich get much richer, and the Republicans think they need more help. The middle class and working families of this country become poorer, and the Republicans think we need to cut programs they desperately need. Frankly, those may be the priorities of some of my Republican colleagues in this room, but I do not believe that these are the priorities of the American people.” (Watch more from at Sen. Sanders at https://youtu.be/gB1efQXFThk)
Tom Colicchio gives an exquisite analysis of the current Plutocratic Oligarchy situation when he takes a break from ‘Top Chef’ to burn Republicans trying to steal food from the mouths of children, seniors and the disabled. When this may be the only good meal kids could have for the day, this is a serious hunger issue. Only 1% of the budget goes to feed the poor - and they want to cut that 1%. But military budget is going up (57% of the budget https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205624694397285&set=p.10205624694397285&). Do we really need more wars?
While the GOP is busy blaming America's problems on hungry children and seniors who use food stamps, Walmart is getting over 6 BILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS in corporate welfare every year. More than 50% of their employees are on food stamps and the poor shop in their stores in droves. How about GE not paying a penny in taxes for YEARS? The heiress to the Walmart fortune is the richest woman in the US in fact according to Forbes - the Waltons hold 4 positions of the top 10 richest Americans. Fortunes made on the backs of employees who can't even afford to feed themselves without government assistance. So really, we are providing welfare to the Walmart corporation because they are completely out of touch with their employee's basic needs - or they are aware of their employee's needs, but their avarice and greed which they have been cultivating in their republican bubble, has much more influence on their business management. Everyone needs to boycott that store. They don't pay their fair share in taxes and they are making huge profits too! But they can't give their employees decent benefits? What happened to the socially responsible company that actually cares for their workers? I am off topic but this contributes to the problem when people don't make enough to feed their families. Where is the compassion? Look what greed has done to our country?
I have wondered about the recent GOP budget. I think they did it just to show it to their base. I don't think they expected it to get passed. If that budget gets put into action, the GOP congress knows they'd lose their jobs, as it actually hurts the GOP base the most.
House GOP Budget Screws The Working Poor And Middle Class - Saves 1%ers Billions
Another House budget proposal takes from the poor and gives to the wealthy. In another attack on everyone but the wealthy, the GOP seeks to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and working poor (http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/house-gop-budget-screws-the-working-poor-and-middle-class-saves-1ers-billions/) Greed is such a rotten concept. The GOP is ethically and morally bankrupt Comments of the people:
- Glenda Schloff: "Evil, vile non-human scum. We have GOT to get these bastards out of office."
- Erik Rønning:"Line èm up & execute them. Seems to be the only solution with such idiots. They`ll never change otherwise or anyway. Enemies of humanity should be treated as such...
-"Ani Dee:"Why so surprised? Americans fall for Republican BS ALL the time...every single time."
- Roseanne Johnson:"Apparently these people exist in a bubble where none of their extended family or acquaintances have ever required any of the above items - including Medicare and/or pre-existing medical conditions or keeping young adult children on the parents' medical policy... "
- Kennorton Vmilly:"Please can we have a reelection (for the senate and house) tomorrow?"
- Carmen Dannenbring:"Isn't it lucky Obama will save them from themselves by his veto?"
- Norman Hines:"There's almost as many republicans as there are cockroaches, and while republicans, just like cockroaches are just as unwanted in one's neighborhood, they're harder to get rid of...."
- Cristina Figgalez: "There are people who will not want you to spread intelligence and common sense with your platform. This is the same reason higher education and loans for such are increasingly harder to achieve and/or enslaving via debt. The 1% of USA don't want a nation of educated free thinkers who aren't tethered to loans. It's a scary concept for them. Travel is liberating and reduces the sick notion that "only America is the best country in the world"... We can learn so much from other nations. Time will only tell if we ever learn."
- Marc Delgado:"I wouldn't mind a revolution, and I'd start with the poor and middle class that vote teapublican, get that stupidity out of the way and watch the GOP politicians freak because no one will believe they're for the people".
- Debbie Pugsley:"It seems that the wealthy want the poor to remain shackled because it furthers their plans. Prisons are private business now. They don't want minorities to succeed. They want to control them. I say we need peaceful protesters to get these messages across"
- Dan Doyle:"We're in deep trouble, but it's not because of current politicians. We The People have allowed all of this misery to happen. Quite pointing fingers, wake up and take some responsibility yourselves."
- Carolyn Filby Furman:"Just start thinking for yourselves...familiarize yourself with the history of corporate America and its long history of complicity with political life in the U.S. They really do conspire. While it provides jobs...and that is wonderful...it's only because of an enlightened and educated few that the struggle for better working conditions and living conditions and cheap, plentiful public education, that we rise to a large, healthy middle class. That is slowly eroding. We lived through decades of Cold War that made many of us hear certain words through the fog of propaganda. Socialism is not just another word for communism. Use dictionaries. Do some research. Think. Just as democracy and capitalism aren't the same thing. We are just used to that particular combination because it's what we're used to. There are healthy democracies that are socialist economies. They work. Yeah, some of them have high taxes...but they also have free health care for everyone, free education, less poverty, great elder-care,...the list goes on and on. And it is a democracy...the people choose to provide those safeguards for themselves and everyone they know. Why wouldn't anyone?"
- Penny Trick:"Educated people are leaving the US. One of my step-daughters lives in Canada and the other lives in Great Britain. What we need is another Democrat as President so nothing that President Obama worked soooo hard for the last 8 yrs doesn't go down the toilet. We need to get our butts out and vote!!"
- Hilde Vernimmen Schmid:"I see the same thing, and my husband (and our insurance company here) benefited from the Belgian Health Care System. He had internal bleeding, had 6 pints of blood, 2CT scans, 2 endoscopies, 3 days in CCU and 11 days in hospital, all for a grand total of $6,400. UHC would pay 80% AFTER we paid, and sent in all the paperwork etc. They fought us for a year, until the union got involved. All of a sudden we got a check for from them for $5,200! And yet, our medical insurance would have willingly paid $32,000 (such price for the same procedures in the US) or more for the same thing here."
WOW!
http://www.oppanews.com/blog/my-thoughts-about-the-current-situation-in-usa#sthash.2lcNN3PI.dpuf
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152988699982745
A lot is learned about a country by the way it treats its poor. We can do so much better as a nation. It's also common human decency.
Wealth inequity in the US is worse now than at anytime since the Great Depression and it is a great drag on the economy and our future.. If the corporate giants and the top 10% wealthy would pay the taxes fairly and not get away with legal shortcut (loopholes, off-shores), a lot of things here would be better. So basically ditch the republicans, built a mighty 3rd party "WE THE PEOPLE", read a lot of books to educate yourself and start to use your brain. There is hardly any real difference between the major 2 political parties in this country. Neither shows any indication of adhering to the founding principles of the country.
The term 'social Democracy' have always been presented as communism to American public. That was the best way to create fear and get votes. You got it... and that started in the teens of the 20th century. Boy, did the concept of socialism scare the pants off the status quo capitalists in this country! Otherwise known as freakishly rich people who kinda liked things just as they were/are.. I think if "we the people" were as truly involved in the democratic process as we could/should be you wouldn't be so worried about how it is now. And it would be kind, community minded and unselfish.
Now, imagine if only the smartest and devoted to the American people citizen from "we the people" could be able to run for President! But a good man cannot run in this country because it is all about how much money super PACs can raise to buy the election. What country do you believe has the truest voice in their government?
Our Republican-controlled Congress has proposed budget cuts directed at our country’s most vulnerable citizens. I have to ask: "What motivates Congressional Republicans to work so hard to exacerbate the gap between rich and poor?"
"With the disturbing redistribution of wealth in our society in the last generation, I’ve been fascinated by an earlier age of unbridled wealth and decadence that I see in my travels. The châteaux of the "one percent" of the Old Regime — those 17th- and 18th-century French tycoons whose insatiable greed eventually drove their country to such despair that it erupted into violent revolution--provide a vivid example. This video clip from my most recent trip to France's Loire Valley — essentially a tour of one of their homes https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152988699982745 — helps illustrate the state of our 2015 union in “1715 King Louis” terms. Bringing home these impressions to an America I care so much about, I've been struck by these words from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders:" - Rick Steves
Bernie Sanders: “As I examine the budget brought forth by the Republicans in the House and here in the Senate, this is how I see their analysis of the problems facing our country: It is apparently not good enough that since 1985 the top one-tenth of 1 percent has seen a more then $8 trillion increase in its wealth than what they would have had if wealth inequality had stayed at the same level that it was in 1985. An $8 trillion increase in the wealth of the top one-tenth of 1 percent! Apparently, that is not enough.
Meanwhile, as I understand the Republican view of our country, as manifested in the House and Senate budgets, it appears that millions of middle class and working families — people who are working longer hours for lower wages and who have seen significant declines in their standard of living over the last 40 years —apparently do not need our help. Rather they need to see a major reduction in federal programs that help make their lives, and the lives of their kids, a little bit better.
At a time when we have over 45 million Americans living in poverty — more than almost any time in the modern history of this country — my Republican colleagues think we should increase that number by cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit, affordable housing, and Medicaid. At a time when almost 20 percent of our children live in poverty, by far the highest childhood poverty rate of any major country on earth, my Republican colleagues think that maybe we should raise the childhood poverty rate a bit higher by cutting childcare, Head Start, the Child Tax Credit, and nutrition assistance for hungry kids.
To summarize: the rich get much richer, and the Republicans think they need more help. The middle class and working families of this country become poorer, and the Republicans think we need to cut programs they desperately need. Frankly, those may be the priorities of some of my Republican colleagues in this room, but I do not believe that these are the priorities of the American people.” (Watch more from at Sen. Sanders at https://youtu.be/gB1efQXFThk)
Tom Colicchio gives an exquisite analysis of the current Plutocratic Oligarchy situation when he takes a break from ‘Top Chef’ to burn Republicans trying to steal food from the mouths of children, seniors and the disabled. When this may be the only good meal kids could have for the day, this is a serious hunger issue. Only 1% of the budget goes to feed the poor - and they want to cut that 1%. But military budget is going up (57% of the budget https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205624694397285&set=p.10205624694397285&). Do we really need more wars?
While the GOP is busy blaming America's problems on hungry children and seniors who use food stamps, Walmart is getting over 6 BILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS in corporate welfare every year. More than 50% of their employees are on food stamps and the poor shop in their stores in droves. How about GE not paying a penny in taxes for YEARS? The heiress to the Walmart fortune is the richest woman in the US in fact according to Forbes - the Waltons hold 4 positions of the top 10 richest Americans. Fortunes made on the backs of employees who can't even afford to feed themselves without government assistance. So really, we are providing welfare to the Walmart corporation because they are completely out of touch with their employee's basic needs - or they are aware of their employee's needs, but their avarice and greed which they have been cultivating in their republican bubble, has much more influence on their business management. Everyone needs to boycott that store. They don't pay their fair share in taxes and they are making huge profits too! But they can't give their employees decent benefits? What happened to the socially responsible company that actually cares for their workers? I am off topic but this contributes to the problem when people don't make enough to feed their families. Where is the compassion? Look what greed has done to our country?
I have wondered about the recent GOP budget. I think they did it just to show it to their base. I don't think they expected it to get passed. If that budget gets put into action, the GOP congress knows they'd lose their jobs, as it actually hurts the GOP base the most.
House GOP Budget Screws The Working Poor And Middle Class - Saves 1%ers Billions
Another House budget proposal takes from the poor and gives to the wealthy. In another attack on everyone but the wealthy, the GOP seeks to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and working poor (http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/house-gop-budget-screws-the-working-poor-and-middle-class-saves-1ers-billions/) Greed is such a rotten concept. The GOP is ethically and morally bankrupt Comments of the people:
- Glenda Schloff: "Evil, vile non-human scum. We have GOT to get these bastards out of office."
- Erik Rønning:"Line èm up & execute them. Seems to be the only solution with such idiots. They`ll never change otherwise or anyway. Enemies of humanity should be treated as such...
-"Ani Dee:"Why so surprised? Americans fall for Republican BS ALL the time...every single time."
- Roseanne Johnson:"Apparently these people exist in a bubble where none of their extended family or acquaintances have ever required any of the above items - including Medicare and/or pre-existing medical conditions or keeping young adult children on the parents' medical policy... "
- Kennorton Vmilly:"Please can we have a reelection (for the senate and house) tomorrow?"
- Carmen Dannenbring:"Isn't it lucky Obama will save them from themselves by his veto?"
- Norman Hines:"There's almost as many republicans as there are cockroaches, and while republicans, just like cockroaches are just as unwanted in one's neighborhood, they're harder to get rid of...."
- Cristina Figgalez: "There are people who will not want you to spread intelligence and common sense with your platform. This is the same reason higher education and loans for such are increasingly harder to achieve and/or enslaving via debt. The 1% of USA don't want a nation of educated free thinkers who aren't tethered to loans. It's a scary concept for them. Travel is liberating and reduces the sick notion that "only America is the best country in the world"... We can learn so much from other nations. Time will only tell if we ever learn."
- Marc Delgado:"I wouldn't mind a revolution, and I'd start with the poor and middle class that vote teapublican, get that stupidity out of the way and watch the GOP politicians freak because no one will believe they're for the people".
- Debbie Pugsley:"It seems that the wealthy want the poor to remain shackled because it furthers their plans. Prisons are private business now. They don't want minorities to succeed. They want to control them. I say we need peaceful protesters to get these messages across"
- Dan Doyle:"We're in deep trouble, but it's not because of current politicians. We The People have allowed all of this misery to happen. Quite pointing fingers, wake up and take some responsibility yourselves."
- Carolyn Filby Furman:"Just start thinking for yourselves...familiarize yourself with the history of corporate America and its long history of complicity with political life in the U.S. They really do conspire. While it provides jobs...and that is wonderful...it's only because of an enlightened and educated few that the struggle for better working conditions and living conditions and cheap, plentiful public education, that we rise to a large, healthy middle class. That is slowly eroding. We lived through decades of Cold War that made many of us hear certain words through the fog of propaganda. Socialism is not just another word for communism. Use dictionaries. Do some research. Think. Just as democracy and capitalism aren't the same thing. We are just used to that particular combination because it's what we're used to. There are healthy democracies that are socialist economies. They work. Yeah, some of them have high taxes...but they also have free health care for everyone, free education, less poverty, great elder-care,...the list goes on and on. And it is a democracy...the people choose to provide those safeguards for themselves and everyone they know. Why wouldn't anyone?"
- Penny Trick:"Educated people are leaving the US. One of my step-daughters lives in Canada and the other lives in Great Britain. What we need is another Democrat as President so nothing that President Obama worked soooo hard for the last 8 yrs doesn't go down the toilet. We need to get our butts out and vote!!"
- Hilde Vernimmen Schmid:"I see the same thing, and my husband (and our insurance company here) benefited from the Belgian Health Care System. He had internal bleeding, had 6 pints of blood, 2CT scans, 2 endoscopies, 3 days in CCU and 11 days in hospital, all for a grand total of $6,400. UHC would pay 80% AFTER we paid, and sent in all the paperwork etc. They fought us for a year, until the union got involved. All of a sudden we got a check for from them for $5,200! And yet, our medical insurance would have willingly paid $32,000 (such price for the same procedures in the US) or more for the same thing here."
WOW!
http://www.oppanews.com/blog/my-thoughts-about-the-current-situation-in-usa#sthash.2lcNN3PI.dpuf
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152988699982745
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