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Post by Karen on Sept 22, 2011 21:21:41 GMT -5
Wasn't going to look in on the debates. I wish I hadn't.
3 questions in 3 minutes - all religious based.
And it looks to me liked they are canning the applause.
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Post by Sue on Sept 22, 2011 22:06:27 GMT -5
Wasn't going to look in on the debates. I wish I hadn't. 3 questions in 3 minutes - all religious based. And it looks to me liked they are canning the applause. There is another debate going on? Who knew?
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Post by Karen on Sept 23, 2011 10:50:53 GMT -5
Wasn't going to look in on the debates. I wish I hadn't. 3 questions in 3 minutes - all religious based. And it looks to me liked they are canning the applause. There is another debate going on? Who knew? Put on by Google (I bet Rick Santo rum loved that) and someone else. Wasn't on many channels. The questions were lame, as were the answers - of the few I watched, anyway.
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 23, 2011 11:04:14 GMT -5
Wasn't going to look in on the debates. I wish I hadn't. 3 questions in 3 minutes - all religious based. And it looks to me liked they are canning the applause. It's so very odd to see the GOP do the circular firing squad thing, especially this far before the election. You know that the little clip gatherers from Laurence and Rachel and Ed are busily recording everything that will hurt any of them in the general election, ditto Jon Stewart's minions, and every one of them has already said something which may prove lethal in the primaries. And the audience reaction- booing Rick Perry when he talks about "having a heart" last night, cheering the idea of letting an uninsured 30 year old die in the last debate- doesn't exactly prompt one to want to ally oneself with that audience. Julia, humid at my house, good gracious, what is wrong with this weather?
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Post by Sue on Sept 23, 2011 12:49:55 GMT -5
Wasn't going to look in on the debates. I wish I hadn't. 3 questions in 3 minutes - all religious based. And it looks to me liked they are canning the applause. It's so very odd to see the GOP do the circular firing squad thing, especially this far before the election. You know that the little clip gatherers from Laurence and Rachel and Ed are busily recording everything that will hurt any of them in the general election, ditto Jon Stewart's minions, and every one of them has already said something which may prove lethal in the primaries. And the audience reaction- booing Rick Perry when he talks about "having a heart" last night, cheering the idea of letting an uninsured 30 year old die in the last debate- doesn't exactly prompt one to want to ally oneself with that audience. Julia, humid at my house, good gracious, what is wrong with this weather? Sadly: Minority of squeaky wheel is going get played to way more than majority silent majority.
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Post by Queen E on Sept 24, 2011 10:15:18 GMT -5
I loved Elizabeth Warren's fiery speech about what corporations owe America. I wish I could vote for her! That being said, when she mentioned roving bands, I thought about this story, which horrified me and made me wonder, like you guys, what the hell this country is coming to. Man With Down Syndrome Beat By Police Over Colostomy Bag
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Post by Sue on Sept 24, 2011 12:16:45 GMT -5
I loved Elizabeth Warren's fiery speech about what corporations owe America. I wish I could vote for her! That being said, when she mentioned roving bands, I thought about this story, which horrified me and made me wonder, like you guys, what the hell this country is coming to. Man With Down Syndrome Beat By Police Over Colostomy Bag"what the hell this country is coming to" Erin - Sometimes I worry about that too. About the poor and underprivileged who seemed destined to stay under-educated and on welfare vs the archetype of previous decades or centuries where people "pulled themselves up their bootstraps, etc" But, at heart I remain an optimist and don't actually believe that this is evidence of some huge decline and "what are we coming to." I think that historically probably lots of people were beaten and thrown out of homes or financially terrorized by dumb cops, bad cops, greedy bankers (It's a Wonderful Life?), corrupt officials, stupid family members or violent neighbors. We just didn't hear about every single minor local issue. I"m not saying this poor man's beating was a minor issue or that such behavior shouldn't be remediated (why does spellcheck hate that word? It wants to replace it with re-mediated.) I"m just saying I'm not convinced that it, or even dozens of reported incidences like it, are necessarily actual evidence of going to hell in a hand-basket. Just evidence of the omnipresent 24/7 500 channels of news. But maybe I'm just a pollyanna or maybe (worse) my sense of outrage has been deadened. But I am outraged over that individual incident and those specific cops. I'm just not convinced that it means society overall is "worse." I think there are so many examples of people, young people, poor people, lots of people who share kidneys with strangers, donate money to every tragedy big and small, etc. We just know about all of it so much more.
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Post by Queen E on Sept 24, 2011 14:35:10 GMT -5
I loved Elizabeth Warren's fiery speech about what corporations owe America. I wish I could vote for her! That being said, when she mentioned roving bands, I thought about this story, which horrified me and made me wonder, like you guys, what the hell this country is coming to. Man With Down Syndrome Beat By Police Over Colostomy Bag"what the hell this country is coming to" Erin - Sometimes I worry about that too. About the poor and underprivileged who seemed destined to stay under-educated and on welfare vs the archetype of previous decades or centuries where people "pulled themselves up their bootstraps, etc" But, at heart I remain an optimist and don't actually believe that this is evidence of some huge decline and "what are we coming to." I think that historically probably lots of people were beaten and thrown out of homes or financially terrorized by dumb cops, bad cops, greedy bankers (It's a Wonderful Life?), corrupt officials, stupid family members or violent neighbors. We just didn't hear about every single minor local issue. I"m not saying this poor man's beating was a minor issue or that such behavior shouldn't be remediated (why does spellcheck hate that word? It wants to replace it with re-mediated.) I"m just saying I'm not convinced that it, or even dozens of reported incidences like it, are necessarily actual evidence of going to hell in a hand-basket. Just evidence of the omnipresent 24/7 500 channels of news. But maybe I'm just a pollyanna or maybe (worse) my sense of outrage has been deadened. But I am outraged over that individual incident and those specific cops. I'm just not convinced that it means society overall is "worse." I think there are so many examples of people, young people, poor people, lots of people who share kidneys with strangers, donate money to every tragedy big and small, etc. We just know about all of it so much more. Sue: You absolutely make a fair point. I've argued that myself. I mean, the access to information from all over the world is in theory great; in reality, we are inundated with information all the time, and because news outlets also wanting high Nielsen ratings, they focus on the spectacular and horrible because it sells. I know that sounds cynical, but it's true. I think the news would be a lot more balanced if it wasn't judged by the same rating system used for dramas and sitcoms. That being said, the bloodthirsty way that some people are acting (cheering for Rick Perry overseeing the execution of 284 people in Texas, shouting "let him die" about the hypothetical uninsured guy) really disturbs me. It feels like there is something of a cultural step backwards since 2008 that has a lot to do with the election of President Obama. Because racism never really went away in this country; it just shifted expression. Now it seems to have shifted again; it's still not as overt as in earlier decades, but racists have shifted the dialogue so it doesn't seem like they are being racist. Like claiming the Civil War was about state's rights, not keeping slaves. They can dress it up any way they want, but it's like putting a pig in a dress. It doesn't make it a lady, just a really uncomfortable pig.
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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 24, 2011 22:35:35 GMT -5
I loved Elizabeth Warren's fiery speech about what corporations owe America. I wish I could vote for her! That being said, when she mentioned roving bands, I thought about this story, which horrified me and made me wonder, like you guys, what the hell this country is coming to. Man With Down Syndrome Beat By Police Over Colostomy Bag"what the hell this country is coming to" Erin - Sometimes I worry about that too. About the poor and underprivileged who seemed destined to stay under-educated and on welfare vs the archetype of previous decades or centuries where people "pulled themselves up their bootstraps, etc" But, at heart I remain an optimist and don't actually believe that this is evidence of some huge decline and "what are we coming to." I think that historically probably lots of people were beaten and thrown out of homes or financially terrorized by dumb cops, bad cops, greedy bankers (It's a Wonderful Life?), corrupt officials, stupid family members or violent neighbors. We just didn't hear about every single minor local issue. I"m not saying this poor man's beating was a minor issue or that such behavior shouldn't be remediated (why does spellcheck hate that word? It wants to replace it with re-mediated.) I"m just saying I'm not convinced that it, or even dozens of reported incidences like it, are necessarily actual evidence of going to hell in a hand-basket. Just evidence of the omnipresent 24/7 500 channels of news. But maybe I'm just a pollyanna or maybe (worse) my sense of outrage has been deadened. But I am outraged over that individual incident and those specific cops. I'm just not convinced that it means society overall is "worse." I think there are so many examples of people, young people, poor people, lots of people who share kidneys with strangers, donate money to every tragedy big and small, etc. We just know about all of it so much more. To me, this kind of story is about human nature, not this country in particular, or anything it's coming to. Tragedies have always proceeded change - the world over. People's lives are lost or wasted or made miserable, for decades or centuries even - due entirely to the actions of other people - before an institution like slavery ends, or women are granted the vote, or gays can live openly without fear, etc., etc., etc. Why, why, why? Why are human beings this way? Why are they so horrible as to create institutions like slavery, and at the same time, so brave and noble as to lay down their lives to end them? I have no answer. And I would suggest that it was exactly that question our ancestors were trying to answer, when they came up with creation stories that included serpents in the garden and such.
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Post by Karen on Sept 29, 2011 19:41:31 GMT -5
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Post by Karen on Sept 30, 2011 21:24:48 GMT -5
Today in NYC. Amazing.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Oct 4, 2011 20:30:43 GMT -5
The more I hear about this Occupy Wall Street movement, the more I am intrigued. It will be interesting to see where it leads. Kind of makes me wish that it had been going on when I visited NYC in July so I could have checked it out in person.
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Post by Karen on Oct 6, 2011 6:47:49 GMT -5
The more I hear about this Occupy Wall Street movement, the more I am intrigued. It will be interesting to see where it leads. Kind of makes me wish that it had been going on when I visited NYC in July so I could have checked it out in person. I've been watching the livefeed from the Occupation. One of their mottos: "Have your say, but hold your peace." The NYPD were beating on peaceful protesters last night. They were unprovoked beatings. There are a lot of videos showing this disgrace. My heart hurts. livestream.com/globalrevolution There are a lot of videos online that show what has evolved since September 17. They will be marching today in Washington, DC. Good luck to them! They might be our last hope for change. (Michael Moore talking last night to the crowd.)
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Oct 11, 2011 21:18:47 GMT -5
Great sign from OWS (from a random Greener on my facebook list) Julia, after a day of overwork and ridiculous weather.
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Post by Sue on Oct 12, 2011 7:26:40 GMT -5
Great sign from OWS (from a random Greener on my facebook list) Julia, after a day of overwork and ridiculous weather. Julia - sadly, not showing up.
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