stevendedalus

Let Go in Politics JoeUser Forums

I’m a believer in political dialogue and debate. There comes a time, however, when too much of a good thing must end, such as the over abundance of Democratic candidates. Sharpton and Kucinich have had their say but are going nowhere. As much as I admire Braun’s magnificent reason and balance, there is little hope for her, though surely if one of the candidates should become president, there will be a place for her. Lieberman with his hawkish posture and tendency to swivel at the slightest

A Blogger's Dilemma in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Jill-user’s problem with the high cost of labor in decorating her home with holiday lights stems from the early 50s’ housing boom. Many theretofore city-dwellers suddenly became homeowners and met up with repair and maintenance they never had experienced. Since most were ordinary Joes and Jills they catalyzed the do-it-yourself industry—another enormous boom. Of course, not all were handy or could even muddle through tasks and had to take part-time jobs to offset the cost of trades

Reply to News Reporting has become a joke in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Right on! CNN is currently preoccupied with the beauty race against MSNBC which is leading in the best looking chicks facing the camera.

Here To Stay: Affirmative Action in Politics JoeUser Forums

We have not been able to close the book on the Civil War in the wake of Confederate flag waving and racism still rampant in all sections of the nation. Nor will the chapter on Affirmative Action be concluded until we finally empathize with those of color and gender. In fact, another chapter on Affirmative Action must be drafted for unskilled workers who must be given every opportunity to better their lot. There has always been Affirmative Action for the privilege; for it is seldom wha

Confederate Flag in Politics JoeUser Forums

In the South there are still those who feel the flag of a tragic past should fly high rather than relegating it to a museum and its image embedded in history books concerning the Civil War. There is only one appropriate place for it to be displayed and that is in a memorial cemetery honoring veterans who died for a cause that was wrong. Of course, freedom of expression cannot be deterred anymore than those who parade waving the Nazis flag, but just as the Ten Commandment monument

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

All the above are insightful comments; most, however, miss the point that some countries do make make an effort to appropriate for their own defense--inadequately, definitely. Why? Because we spoiled them for decades.

Reply to Hello? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Thanks, and Amen.

Hello? in Politics JoeUser Forums

In the McCarthyite inferno of the 50's there was as much outrage over the insertion of "under God" as there is now in the omission of the phrase in this era of religious righteousness. The irony in face of 9/11 is that religious zealots are just as militant in a political sense as Islam is in reality. For congress to lead the nation in a childish demonstration by pledging allegiance with emphasis “under God” is tantamount to Islamic adherents saying they are of a peaceful faith or the demon

Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

“Yankee Go Home” doesn’t apply to South Korea where only a half year ago its citizens demonstrated against our 37,000 troops stationed there — what with the north’s incessant provocation. After fifty years the south is nevertheless more than a match against its neighbor despite its larger army but poorly equipped. Even though South Korea spends ten times what the north does in armament — $320 per capita, or 3.4 percent of its GNP — it could fortify itself independent of the US, except for

Notions on the Pledge in Politics JoeUser Forums

The Pledge of Allegiance Case, U.S. v. Newdow, is simply a waste of time. School children have been held hostage of this rote exercise since McCarthyism. This is not to say that children shouldn’t show symbolic patriotism on occasion, nor is it so terribly obnoxious to show as an aside of religion once in a while. The flag, however, has no — implicit or explicit — reference to God; it is simply an allegiance to Stars and Stripes, as is the national anthem, and its implicit sac

Political Fantasy in Politics JoeUser Forums

John Nichols’ [The Nation, political magazine] “...Rural Strategy” is dead wrong for presidential candidates. On the contrary, “If they” [the farmers] ”pay serious attention” long enough to recognize their own distorted psyche, perhaps strides toward their interests will be reasserted. Nichols himself admitted that after the FDR improvement of the farmer’s status, the farmer in the 50s went back to his old rugged individualism ways and the Republican party. Of course, the same

Weird in Politics JoeUser Forums

Does it make any sense to rebuild Iraq’s schools when millions of kids here are stuck in obscene portable classrooms? And how about the billions for Iraq’s infrastructure when we’re stuck with pre-WWII railways and inner cities?Why is it that Medicare is an exclusive club for the elderly when untold millions of average citizens can’t afford even basic health care, let alone major medical? Compassionate conservative is a misnomer; rather, it is reactionary with a passion. Nowad

It Could be a Good in Politics JoeUser Forums

Globalization has been kicked around lately as it should be what with China trade dominance and NAFTA in shambles. In itself it is a positive because opening up trade routes since ancient times generated civilization. Yet globalization has always been controlled by thugs, such as in the slave trade and the exploitation of much poorer or less advanced countries. This has not really changed. Since China can exploit its own labor by offering western capital an attractive bottom line to produc

Reply to Medicare: an Exclusive Club in Politics JoeUser Forums

Dear Hippy Girl, Thank you so much for the support; I was afraid too many people are so apathetic to this crisis that changes for the better will never be a reality. We seem to go on accepting mediocrity. I laud you for your most important work that seldom is rewarded.

Medicare: an Exclusive Club in Politics JoeUser Forums

Ever since Roosevelt and Truman were shot down in their efforts to institutionalize health care, the US has been wary of “socialized medicine.” That Medicare in itself was passed is owed to JFK — nostalgia and legacy. Slowly, however, the nation is more wary of the monolithic determinism of the AMA, the pharmaceutical industry and insurance companies dictating the terms of health care. They abhorred Medicare because it acted as a check and balance against the laissez-faire profit motive in

Reply to Before Looking Down, Look In in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Thank you; as far as featured, though, I fear JU site leans to the right.

Reply to Patch Work in Politics JoeUser Forums

yes, thank you -- take over and police."

Reply to Talkin' Pictures in Movies & TV & Books JoeUser Forums

A sense of humor has no age.

Before Looking Down, Look In in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Eliminate the credit card today and tomorrow rolls in Great Depression II. The bread line of the 30s was a result of blanket layoffs owing to the crash of capital, which is the facade of wealth. In reality what is the stock market but a gigantic credit card by which surplus capital is lent out to those who wish to partake in the growth of an economy. A child of wealth [capital in trust] not unlike royalty is crowned the billionaire of tomorrow by the simple process of investing in those that get

Talkin' Pictures in Movies & TV & Books JoeUser Forums

As a kid I couldn't understand why my school chums didn't rush home from P.S. 33 to catch Jack Armstrong on radio. I guess each in his own way wanted to be the All-American Boy in rough play, whereas I chose to be Jack in my imagination. If my friends knocked on the back door between 7:30 and 8 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, I ignored them—lying low on the parlor rug with my ear riveted to the Philco console listening to the Lone Ranger. Radio now as it's supposed to be doesn't exist

Reply to Live and Let Live in Politics JoeUser Forums

You're even allowed to hate your parents, just don't kill them!

The End Run in Politics JoeUser Forums

The End Run Vogue in this era seems to be to skirt real issues and trump up lame excuses to thwart peace and prosperity. George W. Bush is the epitome of this — war of choice, tax-cuts. He learned from Sharon who quickly — what little hope there may have been in September 2000 — crushed six years of Clinton and George Mitchell’s efforts to bring peace to Israel by treading, with armed police, on the Temple Mount and/or Al-Haram al-Sharif, which was precisely the lame excuse on whic

Blogger Screw up in Personal Computing JoeUser Forums

Hi, I’m now stevendedalus — I used to be EZP. For the past week I’ve been going crazy trying to get access to my blog site but I was repeatedly denied. Apparently my login was lost — I thought at first I had somehow forgotten my password — only to discover from Stardock that there was no record of my email address! So if any of you bloggers know how I can retrieve my EZP articles — they’re still around — to drop into the new URL, I’d appreciate the tip.sd

Another Note on Social Security in Politics JoeUser Forums

Since its inception diehard elected officials in the Republican Party have been against social security — except at reelection time. Now they try to hide behind “privatizing” the fund, though it is primarily a safety net for millions who depend on it. Along with these diehards are the wealthy of both parties who simply don’t get it. The vast majority of us underlings are Wall Street ignorant and except for those lucky enough to have retirement pensions and 401K’s they have no inves

Black Enlightenment in Politics JoeUser Forums

[1970] To play the heavy is as a rule a more difficult task than the role of protagonist on the side of righteousness. Rhetoric and oratory rely on the underpinnings of logic and ethics to persuade the enlightened; whereas sophistry relies on gyrations of half-truths, innuendoes and prejudice — no small task if deliberate, but ironically very simple if out of ignorance.Little wonder, then, that giants like Douglass, Walker and Garvey ring out through the ages as exemplars of style and persu