Jim

I agree with some, but not all of this. Conservatives have a range and their voice is needed in the political process - it's just too bad the GOP has decided to vere into the righthand ditch so hard. Correspondingly, it's a bit of a generalization to say liberals what to redistribute income. I think it is valid to say that the upper 1% or so are getting away with quite a scam recently regarding tax policy and absolutely no repercussions following the heist they commited to financial markets. Watch the film "An Inside Job" for a decent summary. And the Politico response has been weak - including from Obama. Very little DOJ prosecutions, a tepid consumer protection law, and generally business as usual. The OWS folks have that part correct - just don't seem to have the political organization now, maybe never. Sheeple will be sheeple.

Based on today's news looks like the Supremes may have buyers remorse on Citizens United. With good reason.

yea. Let's go rapelling too! Also, nothing like sawing into sandstone with your contrivences.

Conversely, this is why toast always falls jam side down.

We are Homo sapiens, the tool users. We earn the name by developing tools to increase our leverage on the world around us, and with this increased technological leverage comes a growing sense of power. This position of advantage which protects us from wild nature we call civilization. Our security increases as we apply more leverage, but along with it we notice a growing isolation from the earth. We crowd into cities which shut out the rhythms of the planet--daybreak, high tide, wispy cirrus high overhead yelling storm tomorrow, moonrise, Orion going south for the winter. Perceptions dull and we come to accept a blunting of feeling in the shadow of security. Drunk with power, I find that I am out of my senses. I, tool man, long for the immediacy of contact to brighten my senses again, to bring me nearer the world once more; in security I have forgotten how to dance. EC, Climbing Ice

Wow, I mean WOW! Thanks for sharing - one leg of this would have been my whole trip. Keep getting' it.

Yea! I've dual Irish ciitizenship and entry to EU!

zzzzzzzzzzz

Apparantly Santorum is now worth a second look

San Francisco (CNN) -- A federal appeals court ruled against California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, arguing the ban unconstitutionally singles out gays and lesbians for discrimination. In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the state's Proposition 8 "works a meaningful harm to gays and lesbians" by denying their right to civil marriage in violation of the 14th Amendment. Supporters of same-sex marriages cheered the decision when it was announced outside the courthouse Tuesday morning.

Show me the $$$!

I know who I'm voting for: [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsSJYrbuaI

Those are interesting examples, but the vast majority of folks don't work in either manufacturing or farming these days. But yes, the computer, as an example, has helped increase the productivity of office jobs as well. That said, I don't know what is the solution - it is apparant, however, that the gains in productivity - increased profit and wealth, are not being shared - I wouldn't even say equally because there is a risk in business ownership - but the upward push of benefits is obvious while the middle class is slumping. Yet cranking it out for the boss man.

The link I provided includes a line for both wages and total compensation. With total compensation worker productivity still outpaces worker wages by a factor of 10. Someone is getting that cash. Trickle up theory in action.

While it's true that those factors have always had a role on poverty, they don't go far in explaining the trend over the past 20 years of a huge gap between gains in productivity and wage stagnation. The only way households are keeping up in the middle class is because now there are two adult workers where there used to be one. The Gap

My wife the teacher had to have two middle-school girls picked up from school because they were hacking so hard she thought they were going to drop a lung on the floor. Guess what they had - and guess what was not up to date. Another teach is pregnant - thanks parents for not vaccinating!

......was being genral not specific. Didn't mean to imply you. Not having lived, but having had extended contracts in the Interior I must say a lot more of one's life energy must go to the basics with corresponding excess time/energy expended close to home. I'm more tired of the city hipster scene that revolves around the latest cafe subculture or whatever naval gazing repertoir.

All too common refrain. Self absorbtion seems to be rampant. I know what I'll do with my free time - I'll take another (fill in the blank) tai chi, cooking, pen and ink class - instead of volunteering or anything like that. [video:youtube]

Like I said:

Yea, and look how well that worked out. The biggest advantage now being home to the Piggly Wiggly chain and inventor of po' boys. Hopefully we'll stave off that fate.

Very interesting Frontline piece. Surprise Oakland! Justice department says it's illegal even with a state medical mojo law! My guess is that if, and a big if, it passes here in WA it will unravel in a sad, short , and similar fashion once the state receives the Justice Dept letter.

Unfortunately I'd have more confidence of the inhabitants of this asylum than those in the one in D.C.

What a concept. Consider another's opinion and be open to a reasonable compromise. WTF already Congress?

Except that no one ever argued that just taxing the rich was the solution. Total straw man. We've argued that, to be just (at all), it NEEDS TO BE part of the solution. Don't know how wide the "we" can stretch. But most of the Dems are avoiding issue like the plague.

The larger looming question is how stupid will the American voter be in November.