I really, really, really, really, really, really don’t care if Marco Rubio took a sip of water during his speech. So what? Maybe his throat got dry. (He did a good job of looking at the camera the whole time…)
Let’s talk about the things he proposed, the things he just made up and his anti-government, anti-democracy rant.
Here is a comment I left at my post over at Huffington, You Should Be Outraged By What Is Being Done to Our Postal Service:
This is about more than the Post Office, it is about this whole billionaire-funded anti-government operation that has been attacking our We, the People government for some time — all for their personal enrichment. “Privatization” means they get rich from something that We, the People used to do or own. “Limited government” means getting We, the People out of their way. Etc.
The main thing we need to do is get the influence of money out of our politics.
1) Ban corporations for using corporate money for anything other than operating the corporation. That includes funding “think tanks” and other propaganda outlets.
2) Limit the amount that individuals can donate to candidates to a few hundred dollars, and require free TV time for candidates at all levels.
3) Ban “independent” spending on candidates and politics.
4) Ban any government employee from going to a job that pays significantly more than they were paid in government. This stops the “revolving door” bribery.
There are a number of other steps, but first we have to recognize that this anti-government propaganda we are smothered in is really just about corruption, not ideology. (Unless you can name anything the conservative movement advocates that doesn’t just happen to enrich a few billionaires.)
You are probably hearing that the Post Office is “in crisis” and is cutting back Saturday delivery, laying people off, closing offices, etc. Like so many other “crises” imposed on us lately, there is a lot to the story that you are not hearing from the “mainstream” media. (Please click that link.) The story of the intentional destruction of the US Postal Service is one more piece of the story of crisis-after-crisis, all manufactured to advance the strategic dismantling of our government and handing over the pieces to billionaires.
Here are a few things you need to know about the Postal Service “crisis”:
Hey I’m traveling, blogging is likely to be light through the week
One thing Apple is famous for is its “premium pricing.” Meaning gouge their customers for everything they can get, because they are “locked in” to the Apple ecosystem. This practice seems to have finally backfired on the company — people are just sick of it.
Example: the new iPhone (the one with the maps that send people to the wrong places) has a new connector. You can only get it from Apple. $19. An adapter to let you use the new iPhone with the old devices? $39. Never mind that the phone itself costs so much.
The new iPad mini? Starts at $329, but no GPS. To get a GPS is another $130!
I bought a Nexus 7 tablet instead, and I have to say it is so much better than an iPad! The OS is so much more flexible, can do so much more.
But it’s when you start looking for a laptop computer that the Apple pricing really bites you in the ass. A 15″ Macbook Pro starts at $1799! That’s with a 5400 RPM drive. Moving up to a 7200 RPM drive is $150 more, and this is not even a “hybrid” drive that is part SSD! You are literally paying double what you would pay for a comparable PC.
Apple is so over… and they did it to themselves.
Senators, before you vote today on the “make them talk” proposal, go ask members of the public what a filibuster is.
The public thinks a filibuster is senators talking all night. It is not a “nuclear option” to change the rules to what the public thinks the rules already are.
The purpose of the filibuster is to allow senators to hold up legislation that they think is just wrong. Standing in the senate chamber and talking lets senators make the case, and argue why they think the legislation violates the rights of a minority. This gives their supporters time to rally their forces. This dramatic act gets news, and alerts the public to pay attention. Then the public can contact their senators and let them know if they should go ahead or stop.
This is all these rule changes will do, bring back this system that protects the minority in a way that makes it a rare event. It is the rarity of the event that gives it its value.
Once again: The public thinks a filibuster is senators talking all night. It is not a “nuclear option” to change the rules to what the public thinks the rules already are.
People – call your senators now.
Schools and colleges to train our workers?
What about educate our people?
There is a huge difference.
“”I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
That’s preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign AND domestic.
I see that a lot of police officers get shot. So I guess we need armed guards for the police. And when they start getting shot we will need armed guards for the armed guards for the police. And when they start getting shot …
Also, you can’t use a handgun to overpower a crazed gunman with an assault rifle and wearing body armor. So those armed teachers will need assault rifles and body armor.
The “fiscal cliff” deal cuts everyone’s take-home pay by 2% (but cuts inheritance taxes on billionaires). Not sure how that helps us…
Before the elections Republicans wanted the economy to tank so people wouldn’t vote for Obama. But now? Why? Is it just out of spite, they lost so they are forcing everyone to have less?
One day after complaining about too much deficit reduction (“fiscal cliff”) they’re back to complaining about deficits: Moody’s: Credit Rating At Risk If U.S. Doesn’t Address Deficit | TPM LiveWire
Here is a surprise, the gun manufacturers called for a new national law requiring all schools to buy guns – from them.
LA Times: A defiant NRA calls for armed guards in every school,
National Rifle Assn. Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre on Friday forcefully rejected calls to clamp down on guns in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school massacre, arguing instead for a massive deployment of armed guards to every school.
LaPierre pledged that the NRA would spearhead such an endeavor, appointing former Arkansas Rep. Asa Hutchinson to lead an effort to develop a cutting-edge model school security plan and a program to train volunteers who would be dispatched to campuses around the country.
This is the same crowd that objects to Obamacare because it orders us to buy insurance from the giant insurance companies.