Quote from: the_big_m_in_ok on September 21, 2013, 08:00:01 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Can't_Happen_Here

       An Article in El Reportero alluded to the book above to being what's happening now in this country under the current political system and prevailing economic climate.  Will the current system go to a Gestapo-style dictatorship?   Some say it will.
--Lee

An article in the Sept 4-13, '13 edition of El Reportero indicated...
      1) Whistleblowers are labeled traitors and criminals.
2) The bankers who stole trillions of dollars got off 'Scot-free, as the article put it.  (Bernie Madoff was an exception, probably(?) as a warning to amateurs and outsiders not to get ambitious about doing what the Big Boys do, and in so doing, competing against them?)
3) The American Gov't spies on all citizens and arrogantly demands to continue doing it.
4) The U.S. and it's overseas puppet, NATO, wage war on the world and have opened hundreds of bases worldwide to facilitate this.
5) Result-oriented judges, appointed by obeidient politicians immunize transnational corporations from lawsuits from the public for bona fide grievances.
6) Affordable health care, retirement, and edcuation are reserved for the power elite and the rest of the public suffers in poverty.
7) The co-called 'political parties' are merely servants to the power elite.
8.) Mass media spouts the propaganda of the moment without question to the originators of the propaganda.
9) Prison, war and violence are tools of the Gov't to control ever more rebellious members of the public.
10) Civil rights, voting, and personal freedom are seen as privledges of the wealthy and powerful.
11) Dissent equals treason.   Those who voice opposition to the increasing and advancing police state are considered enemies of the state.

Sinclair Lewis' book had, as a plot point, the eventual uprising of the populace against the police state.   What happened to Germany in the '30's?   Nothing in the way of public indignation.   The same is going on now.
      Only if ANY political revolutionaries present a positive alternative to the worsening societal situation, then the situation continues to worsen.

--Lee

Quote from: triffid on September 21, 2013, 07:55:15 PM
Some News on Obamacare  http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/part-timers-losing-healthcare-insurance-may-want-thank-210354500.html 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-things-boomers-know-obamacare-103029416.html

I can just barely get this out.   The cursor function doesn't work right, but as long as the touch screen works, I can still enter data.

Well, the 'Enter' key finally does work.   http://p.bankrate.com/overnightaverages/
       Okay, this computer is free for me to use, but it's quite limited in the commercial software that's on the hard drive.   The site immediately above won't run if I invoke it.   Let me just say this:  According to the 'bankrate' site above, the mortgage market is finally tanking badly, as it was predicted to do.   Banks in BIG institutions will be laying off staff shortly in large numbers.   Revenue was predicted to fall off a cliff and that's what it's doing.      Right.      Now.
       I believe even the 'experts' don't know what's going to happen in the farther future.   A general downturn in the economy was also predicted by at least one Wall St. analyst.   That includes another recession, even though I think the last/present one never ended.

I think he/she could be right on this one.

--Lee

With a government shutdown looming I can imagine the chaos it will bring.triffid

Quote from: triffid on September 28, 2013, 02:42:17 AM
With a government shutdown looming I can imagine the chaos it will bring.triffid

Hey, triffid,
I was going to address this very question as I logged on.   You just happened to announce it right in front of me to reply.

Okay, this has me worried.   Why?
       I know how deep-set and entrenched each side is on this issue---especially the GOP.   I think they don't mind threatening the country with another recession just to 'poke the ribs' of Obama.   This 'I-don't-give-a-d@mn' attitude wasn't as pronounced in the last two shutdowns.

I'm going to buy extra sodas, juices, 5-gal. water containers, and canned foods beginning tomorrow, the 1st of Oct.

Happy Halloween,

--Lee

Quote from: the_big_m_in_ok on September 30, 2013, 02:06:01 PM
       Hey, triffid,
I was going to address this very question as I logged on.   You just happened to announce it right in front of me to reply.

Okay, this has me worried.   Why?
       I know how deep-set and entrenched each side is on this issue---especially the GOP.   I think they don't mind threatening the country with another recession just to 'poke the ribs' of Obama.   This 'I-don't-give-a-d@mn' attitude wasn't as pronounced in the last two shutdowns.

I'm going to buy extra sodas, juices, 5-gal. water containers, and canned foods beginning tomorrow, the 1st of Oct.

Happy Halloween,

--Lee

The GOP voted for a counterproposal that the Dems will very likely vote down and reject shortly.   That leaves about two (2) hours in DC to act in averting a shutdown of the Gov't.   If midnight is 12 AM in DC, it's 9 PM in Calif. where I live.
       I can return to this computer and see what happened on CNN, Fox, Reuters, ABC, CBS or NBC news.   I'll just have to stay up that late and remember to do it.

--Lee
              OKAY, LATER REEDIT:  The Gov't didn't make it.   They, the non-essential workers, will be on furlough.   I should get paid by bank deposit, but this whole situation can still potentially 'open up a can of worms' if Congress still can't 'get they're act together'.   The 'big worm' will be out on the 17th, when they vote on the debt ceiling.   If that fails, the country goes into fiscal lending default.   "Chaos", as triffid put it, might ensue.