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POPSCloward/Piven Strategy of Economic Recovery Obama adheres to the Saul Alinksy Rules for Radicals method of politics, which teaches the dark art of destroying political adversaries. However, that text reveals only one front in the radical left's war against America. The Cloward/Piven Strategy is another method employed by the radical Left to create and manage crisis. This strategy explains Rahm Emanuel's ominous statement, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." The Cloward/Piven Strategy is named after Columbia University sociologists Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven. Their goal is to overthrow capitalism by overwhelming the government bureaucracy with entitlement demands. The created crisis provides the impetus to bring about radical political change.
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POPSKucinich: Why I voted NO I'm so torn. I think we should have fought harder for a single-payer bill, even though I know that would have been a much harder battle. But I don't think that voting no on this was the solution, either. As much as I would like BIG CHANGE, I know that can't happen in one fell swoop. Baby steps, unfortunately, will get us to that final goal. Hopefully, the public will realize, soon, that we need single payer!
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POPSHealth Care Takeover Roll Call Vote — and What GOP Rep. Joseph Cao Got from Obama
Well, since he was elected, Cao has backed the S-CHIP expansion, the $108 billion IMF bailout, and the omni-waste spending bill. And he voted to rebuke GOP Rep. Joe Wilson for calling out President Obama on his health care lies. That is a steep price to pay for Rep. William Jefferson’s removal. Can’t the GOP do better? For what it is worth, here is the cheap price the Democrats paid for Cao’s vote: Louisiana Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao on Sunday morning released a statement after he voted as the only Republican in favor of the Democratic health care reform bill. The health care reform bill, dubbed the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” (H.R. 3962), passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 220 " 215 vote. “Tonight, I voted to keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortion and to deliver access to affordable health care to the people of Louisiana,” Cao said in a statement released by his office. “I read the versions of the House
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POPSKeep the government out of the news business
Turning to Washington for help to save the declining news business says much about the mentality of mainstream journalism leaders, an attitude that we and the government are on the same side. This is the mentality that led to the news establishment’s acceptance of the Iraq War. Go to the clip to learn what happened to Mother Jones after becoming a tax exempt non-profit after it reported on lobbying in Washington. Once you allow the government or private corporation to have any controlling link to the media you lose independence. Editors become fearful of criticizing the hand that feeds it. Publishers and benefactors become cozy and unbiased reports become fewer and fewer. Journalism becomes a de facto advertisement for consumer products. We hope in the future we’ll see more I.F. Stones, more guerrilla warriors on the Web, in print and on the air. Because of them—and not because of a government handout—great reporting will survive, as it always has.
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POPSThe Root of Much of What Ails Our Health-Care System ~ “Third-Party-Payer Problem” to create impenetrable bureaucratic barriers between you and their money. There’s a reason why claims forms are so complicated.... There is much to lament about that system, and real reform is needed. A meaningful body of reforms would do three things: 1) establish a real market for health-care services and health insurance, one that is fiercely competitive and driven by consumers who are not beholden to their employers, the government, or any concern other than their own needs; 2) take intelligent steps to reduce the expense of health care and health insurance, and the bureaucracy attached to them; 3) offer intelligently designed support for the poor, the sick, and other vulnerable participants in the market. Here are ten things that would go a long way toward getting that done: 1) Insurance Choice. 2) Real Competition: A National Market for Health Insurance. 3) Price Transparency. 4) High Ceilings for HSAs (and No Taxes). 5) Insurance on Your Insuran
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POPSTrying to create a giant bureaucracy is now a “fight against death” In Olbermann’s fight against death, death won and claimed his audience’s brain cells. A "fight against death." I guess that’s kind of like how sorting out your bottles and cans from the trash is “saving the world.” Note to Liberals: There are actual big problems that could use solving, like Iran getting nukes and keeping the Taliban from taking over in Afghanistan. If that’s too big for you, you can help the needy with your own time and money. I know things that don’t result in a bigger government pushing people around don’t tend to interest you, but give it your consideration, please.
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POPSBig Government's Intrusion Into Blogger Content, Free Speech Decisions about violations will be made on a case-by-case basis, but if someone receives cash or an in-kind payment to review a product, it’s considered an endorsement. The government is attempting to put all website, both personal and professional, under its thumb under the guise of protecting consumers from dishonest bloggers and bloggers from dishonest companies. It shows a lack of faith in both the public and the blogging community which has been doing just fine and doesn’t welcome the bureaucracy. This is all about the Benjamins in the name of regulation. Uncle Sam saw a way to make money while controlling speech. I myself receive free items regularly and it’s always been my own personal policy to disclose this, which I have. I’ve refused offers from companies who’ve suggested that I act otherwise. I created this self-policing policy because I, like most other bloggers, realize that our reputations are virtual currency.
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POPSAn Interesting Take On Healthcare What do I have to fear from a public health plan? That they might charge me less or, heavens, that I might pay the same amount, and actually get coverage? Some might say the Corporate Government is more American, because I have the freedom to not buy it. Freedom to go bankrupt if my child gets sick in this bloated, parasitic health care system. Freedom, once I’m bankrupt, to go to the emergency room and foist the costs off on everyone else. Freedom, if I ever get out of bankruptcy again, to pay whatever skyrocketing price my insurance company might happen to be charging five years down the road. That’s the Corporate Government’s idea of freedom. In this modern age, where power abhors a vacuum, you’re always going to have one Government or the other. As your doctor might say, choose your poison.
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POPSBeijing National Stadium (bird's nest) designer didn't get an invitation to the Opening Ceremony ?!!
Q: You’ve coined the phrase, “pretend smile,” as a label for China’s Olympic effort. Why? Ai: I did say it’s a “pretend smile.” I was questioning whether it’s possible for a society that doesn’t have democracy to excite the joys and celebrations of its people. Q: What disappoints you about China’s Olympic effort? Ai: The biggest disappointment is that China has fallen short of its promises, which is, “One World One Dream,” or to show the world a “New China, New Beijing, New Olympics.” I doubt there’s anything new here. What we’re seeing are the deep-rooted lack of courage and confidence, and the want for real happiness and civil participation. Instead, we see more of inept management and a blind sense of self-defense. Q: How can China benefit from the Olympics? Ai: Maybe China and its people will further realize that today’s world cannot be divided. China has common political, cultural and economic interests with the rest of the world. The only way for it to produce wonders is
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POPSWorld's Smallest Political Quiz Take the test here: http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html This clip was my personal result, on which, if I am not mistaken, my dot has moved!? Different tests though.
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POPSHouse Democrats’ Government Takeover Creates 53 New Government Programs, Offices, & Bureaucracies: Detailed Analysis Washington, Sep 3 - Democrats continue to claim that their health care legislation will not increase the federal deficit, even though the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has revealed the truth: the bill actually increases the deficit by $239 billion. One of the reasons it’s so expensive is the plethora of new federal government programs it would create. House Republican Leader John Boehner offers comment. Here they are, as identified by the House Republican Conference, chaired by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) (#1 through #53) http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=143465 Print version of this document at link
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POPSThe Dutch Say: Yes We Do... Why is it that New Orleans - a strategically critical US port - is portrayed as doomed and beyond saving when proven solutions to the flooding problem there are readily available? Some New Orleanians recently took a trip to Holland to see the flood control systems they have there. Why does the US look like a broken down Third World nation in comparison?
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POPSNTSB: Controller didn't warn plane in midair crash Three factors are usually contributing to any catastrophe: negligence, recklessness (kind of boasting stupidity) and bureaucracy. If controller was on the phone and his supervisor ran somewhere - so it was routine practice for everybody in this airport. I am pretty sure pilots used this airport have a lot to say, although they also could prefer to keep their mouth shut since it is private planes in private businesses. It was said before that pilots of helicopters check for each other in the air. There is no any other control system besides pilots, covering their asses? Sound like bad joke, but if it is what was said...
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POPSMoney For CIA Witch Hunts, Federal Boondoggles, and ACORN But Not For Locking Up Terrorists with Joshuapundit focusing more on the institutional impacts and Right Truth going after Obama's motives. The reflexive liberal sympathy for terrorist prisoners - a sensibility usually justified with gestures toward the rule of law or toward "our values" - extends all the way into freeing filthbags like Megrahi and coddling rogues like Iran and its proxies. See Soccer Dad's post on that. Bookworm Room described sitting through Julie & Julia. Liberal filmmakers seem to believe they get extra credit for slipping gratuitous anti-conservative stereotypes into their works (they used to in cinema school - old habits die hard). This self-satisfied sneering is a particularly charming aspect of Blue State cocoons, though to get the full experience you really need to go to Broadway. Those tools are still slipping unscripted anti-Bush references into their songs, much to the delight of their aren't-we-oh-so-liberal-together audiences.
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POPSAlternative to AARP, AmericanSeniors.Org "At American Seniors Association, we don’t just take the government’s side like some other associations. We are not some big liberal bureaucracy here to try to scare you into going along with Big Government all the time or telling you what to think. Instead, • We’ll offer you real, useful information so you can make up your own mind. • We’ll ask: What do you think? • And, we’ll take your side. And instead of pretending to speak for you on every issue, we’ll help provide you with the information and the tools you need to speak for yourself."
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POPSEducation - how it could be better We believes that education needs to move out of this constricting framework into the real world of work, responsibility and the practical application of ideas.
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POPSThe squeegee guys of health care President Obama has failed to convince Americans that our health care is broken. Just saying so doesn't make it so. The evidence just is not there. We don't have a broken medical system. If 84 % percent of the US population is happy with their health insurance, why break it all down and promise to start from scratch for just another couple of trillion bucks? The stimulus bill was a gigantic waste, the biggest waste in American history -- except for TARP. And TARP has been denounced by its own Inspector General for a lack of transparency. That is a signal of corruption -- and it's typical of humongous government projects that are way beyond oversight and accountability. In Europe, the EU bureaucracy has failed its internal accountant's reports for twelve straight years. It is way too corrupt to expose to public view.
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POPS"Cash for Clunkers"--Success or Gov't Selling Socialism? It should more accurately be called Dollars for Dupes, the dupes being the American taxpayers who were tricked to pick up the tab. It was Socialisms first public marketing pitch and sale, a great transfer of wealth program, and not for the poor! Here is a reality check on the program that spent billions of taxpayers money, to benefit the few, not the many.
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POPS NOT N.I.C.E. (criticism of NICE has been ceaseless) saw nothing wrong with running this unabashed love-letter to a health-care system, in effect, ruled by death panels (See my post on this last Friday, or Tom Maguire's Sunday item for more). Now, suddenly, to even suggest such a possibility is McCarthyism " now called Palinism " according to Richard Cohen. What drives me crazy about liberal complaints about conservative tactics these days is how selective they are. Obama, Barney Frank, Jacob Hacker, and others have said that they want these reforms " specifically the public option " to lead to single payer. But when conservatives take them at their word, suddenly it's outrageous misinformation and "fishy" stuff. When the wind is at their backs, liberals look way off to the horizon, like Obama at a podium, dreaming of a future of European-style statism. But when conservatives use this to their advantage, suddenly it is outrageous to even consider the possibility of a road to hell being paved with good intentions. . . .
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