Cartoon for February 19, 2010
Inspired by an observation by a pundit on MSNBC. Both the president's healthcare and economic plans are widely acknowledged as too little to work--but they're all that's politically feasible. Seems like it's the system that's unfeasible.
posted by Ted Rall at
12:01 AM
14 Comments:
When I see Barry Obama's nuclear power drive and war-mongering and shoveling trillions to banks, it's pretty clear what he means by "healthcare reform." Obama certainly can't believe in human wellness - except, perhaps, for his own. It's difficult to believe that anyone ever fell for the "hope and change" lie. Not surprisingly, the capitalist media is now offering Nazi Teabaggers as the "new change agents", the new voice of the people and harbinger of progress. The fabricated hissyfits between MSNBC/HuffPo and Fox/CNBC are meant to awe us with the drama of fake debate.
Let's see: unification of corporations and the state = fascism/Democrats. Fascism plus overt bigotry and flag-fetishes = nazism/Republicans. Fascist Democrats vs Nazi Republicans - there's your choice, America, according to the capitalist media. I think there are countries like Venezuela and Bolivia showing us a third way... are we wise enough to learn from braver souls?
Well....yes.....didn't you get that from Evan Bayh's resignation?
Let's see: unification of corporations and the state = fascism/Democrats. Fascism plus overt bigotry and flag-fetishes = nazism/Republicans. Fascist Democrats vs Nazi Republicans - there's your choice, America, according to the capitalist media.
Exactly the case.
And while the media is attempting to shove credibility of the Tea Partiers down our throats. America's most important issues have turned into a fucking soap opera, a tabloid event. I'd love to see all the tunnel-visioned, looking-at-the-money-only microphone holders and brainless motormouths experience spontaneous human combustion while the cameras are rolling. "How do you FEEL about your husband flying his plane into a government building?" Is this a story? Can we assume the wife was either with her husband, but most likely, in denial and hoping for the best? Has it ever made any difference when a nutcase with money and means decided he/she has to teach the world (of innocents, of course) a big lesson? Pundits, talking heads, daytime tv morons, politicians, look in the fucking mirror and stop blaming the citizens all the time because we 'voted' a certain way. We DIDN'T vote a certain way, not all of us. Words fail. Words fail. It's like the 9-year-old, 4-foot-11 inch schoolyard bully has the teachers and principal cowering.
Let's see: unification of corporations and the state = fascism/Democrats. Fascism plus overt bigotry and flag-fetishes = nazism/Republicans. Fascist Democrats vs Nazi Republicans - there's your choice, America, according to the capitalist media.
This isn't the whole picture. There's far more of a revolving door of individuals within the Republican Party and corporations, and it's much tighter, than with the Democrat party. The reason there is a push to move from the public to the private sphere in all things (private market solves everything) is because it is undemocratic, and therefore choices are made without the trouble of citizens and their quality of life issues getting in the way.
The goal of neoliberalism is to marginalize democracy, and thus every candidate that runs on smaller government and privatization is directly seeking to destroy democracy, and with it, liberty and freedom that derives from the protection of individual rights by the state. . . .yes.. . .THE STATE. . . the ONLY entity that with the legitimacy of use of force to ensure individual rights and civil liberties.
This is why it's not OK to sell children into slavery. . .if it were left purely up to the market, it would be. Civility in all its forms derives from an effective State structure which enforces ethical and moral behavior through legislation and regulation.
So...the reason 'the right thing to do' is not politically feasible, is because the Feudalists, who have been fighting democratic liberalization since ancient Greece and before, have been winning over the past 30 years.
In the face of this premise, anyone who argues for 'market rule' is directly and willfully choosing to turn their back on democracy, and with it, liberty and freedom.
Nice strawman Dave. Equating capitalist with child slavery.
Anon, look at the correlation between the emergence of capitalism into traditional systems, and the sex trade. Basically, when everything becomes a commodity and reduced in value to supply and demand, people become for sale, and children become negative assets.
Yes, capitalism and slavery go together incredibly well throughout history.
Yes, capitalism and slavery go together incredibly well throughout history.
And continues strongly today.
Wikipedia says there are currently 27 million slaves, globally, and there are "more slaves in the world today than at any point in history..."
Yes Dave, that is why we have laws outlawing child slavery.
...that is why we have laws outlawing child slavery.
Question: Exactly why do we have laws outlawing child slavery (in Europe and North America, anyway)?
Answer: Many hard years of leftist struggle.
Thank you, Grouchy, for stating the obvious. We have LAWS...which were legislated by a GOVERNMENT....that big evil government that you want to stay out of the market, Anon. It takes a GOVERNMENT and it's LAW ENFORCEMENT to protect individuals from the interests of profit maximization. And we are still fighting those same interests, who would sell you into slavery for the slightest of profit if they could get away with it.
So stop bitching about 'big government' because you don't know what you're talking about, have no historical context within which you speak, and take everything you have for granted.
Question: Exactly why do we have laws outlawing child slavery (in Europe and North America, anyway)?
Answer: The same reason we abolished slavery. The rise of western culture. Oh I know that's going to drive you leftists crazy.
Hey Grouchy,
Look what this corporation is doing:
Apple Says Children Were Used to Build iPhone, iPod
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aiEeeQNHkrOY
Apple Says Children Were Used to Build iPhone, iPod
Of course big business will try to violate child labor laws if they can get away with it.
The whole point of "globalization" is to give multinational corporations a way sidestep labor and environmental regulation.
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