Originally Posted by pbrower2a

President Obama does nothing to stop that.

The oil companies want control of policy in energy, transportation, and perhaps the environment. But even if that would bring oil prices down that wouldn't be worth the cost -- first, because effective control of government by an industry is a serious erosion of democracy, and second, because the oil industry can not stop speculators from bidding up prices of petroleum or could never be stopped from speculating in the market if they choose to do so (and if that is so we could have $7.50-a-gallon gasoline... and you saw that right).

Monopolization of a commodity with a nearly-vertical demand curve is good only for profiteers before it leads to an economic collapse.

True. The Antitrust laws have become such dead letters that no one even notices any more.

Originally Posted by TeddyR

I will tell you how, drill baby drill.

Good snark, but you forgot Mr. Smiley:

Originally Posted by KaiserD2

True. The Antitrust laws have become such dead letters that no one even notices any more.

I've often wondered what happens when all lthe safeguards are just ignored, and now we may finally get the opportunity to find out. Apparently, the financial collapse wasn't devastating enough. The obvious follow-on to that is, how do we recover? I'm not pessimistic enough to ask WILL we recover ... at least not yet.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I've often wondered what happens when all lthe safeguards are just ignored, and now we may finally get the opportunity to find out. Apparently, the financial collapse wasn't devastating enough. The obvious follow-on to that is, how do we recover? I'm not pessimistic enough to ask WILL we recover ... at least not yet.

As usual, we agree. It's harder and harder to find anyone who cares about anything larger than themselves--although I would exempt Gen X parents from that in their attitude towards their families. How many people, for instance, care about the values of the institutions they work for? Of course, the institutions don't care much about them either. .

Originally Posted by KaiserD2

How many people, for instance, care about the values of the institutions they work for? Of course, the institutions don't care much about them either. .

It's a chicken and egg thing. When labor feels like their employers are shitting on them just because they can, it makes it harder to give a damn about improving the company's bottom line beyond what is necessary to keep their (declining real wage) job. Loyalty is a two-way street that worked well for about three decades after WW2, but once labor became disposable commodities to many employers, labor told them where to stick it when the economy was strong and everyone was hiring. The pendulum, of course, is now in the other extreme.

Dennis Kucinich lost out to sell out Kaptur.

Originally Posted by Lady Vagina

Dennis Kucinich lost out to sell out Kaptur.

yea, that sucks. Here's some coverage on it -


http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/...primary-race-w

Kaptur Defeats Kucinich in Ohio Primary Race - Will Face Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher in General

Yea, she's going to face Joe-the-Plumber. Ohio has become bizzare from their re-districting.

Also, that GOP piece-of-work known as Jean Schmidt lost. However, she lost to a T-bagger more right wingnuttery than even she was!

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal...set-schmid.php

Ohio has gone off the track.

Originally Posted by Lady Vagina

Dennis Kucinich lost out to sell out Kaptur.

Very sad. He always stood up for the citizens.

Originally Posted by KaiserD2

As usual, we agree. It's harder and harder to find anyone who cares about anything larger than themselves--although I would exempt Gen X parents from that in their attitude towards their families.

Most observers said boomer parents in that respect too, if not more so.

Originally Posted by KaiserD2

An interesting example of how far beyond the pale some Republican candidates are: Santorum is losing Ohio at the moment because he is losing Catholic voters. Romney is doing better among them than among Protestants. Santorum's medieval positions are unpopular even in his own church.

Your observation points to why the fevered social conservative hope that Catholic voters will rally to their church's position on contraception will not come to pass. The culture wars really are past their sell by date.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I've often wondered what happens when all lthe safeguards are just ignored, and now we may finally get the opportunity to find out. Apparently, the financial collapse wasn't devastating enough. The obvious follow-on to that is, how do we recover? I'm not pessimistic enough to ask WILL we recover ... at least not yet.

We've still got to hit rock bottom before recovery becomes possible. Because recovery only becomes possible when the fear of a different future outwieghts the pain of the dysfunctional present.

Originally Posted by Deb C

Very sad. He always stood up for the citizens.

I don't really trust a guy who suddenly turns pro-choice when he starts running for president

I am not a liberal or conservative, I'm not really anything politically, but what is with the obsession with contraception in this election? I find it bizarrely escapist. It's like we're trying to crawl back to the culture wars using the, "I don't wanna spend my money on some slut's birth control!" excuse to try and back this up. "Anyone who takes birth control is a slut anyway..." just sounds like mean, snide typical politics to me, except Xer politicians are meaner than Boomer ones were. I don't like this attitude of meanness.

The reason I started taking the pill was for a medical reason way back in high school. It's good for women who have irregular menstrual cycles. To see people saying "insurance companies shouldn't support this!!" really bothers me. To me it's like saying insurance companies should refuse to support my epilepsy medication. (which plenty do or refuse to even insure me because I have a pre-existing condition) In order to be a healthy person, I and many other women, need to take this. So shut up and butt out of our private lives, at least if you expect the same from everyone else.

I also find it hypocritical of people to say we should monitor birth control, but let others shove ho hos and other fattening garbage down their children's throats. Why do people care more about embryos in this country, than actual human beings existing on planet earth?

Originally Posted by Felix5

I am not a liberal or conservative, I'm not really anything politically, but what is with the obsession with contraception in this election? I find it bizarrely escapist. It's like we're trying to crawl back to the culture wars using the, "I don't wanna spend my money on some slut's birth control!" excuse to try and back this up. "Anyone who takes birth control is a slut anyway..." just sounds like mean, snide typical politics to me, except Xer politicians are meaner than Boomer ones were. I don't like this attitude of meanness.

The reason I started taking the pill was for a medical reason way back in high school. It's good for women who have irregular menstrual cycles. To see people saying "insurance companies shouldn't support this!!" really bothers me. To me it's like saying insurance companies should refuse to support my epilepsy medication. (which plenty do or refuse to even insure me because I have a pre-existing condition) In order to be a healthy person, I and many other women, need to take this. So shut up and butt out of our private lives, at least if you expect the same from everyone else.

I also find it hypocritical of people to say we should monitor birth control, but let others shove ho hos and other fattening garbage down their children's throats. Why do people care more about embryos in this country, than actual human beings existing on planet earth?

Because they don't really about the unborn, it's about controlling women.

Originally Posted by Felix5

I am not a liberal or conservative, I'm not really anything politically, but what is with the obsession with contraception in this election? I find it bizarrely escapist. It's like we're trying to crawl back to the culture wars using the, "I don't wanna spend my money on some slut's birth control!" excuse to try and back this up. "Anyone who takes birth control is a slut anyway..." just sounds like mean, snide typical politics to me, except Xer politicians are meaner than Boomer ones were. I don't like this attitude of meanness.

The most cynical view is that the Right simply abhors contraception because it allows people to enjoy one great joy without breeding children who will eventually fit traditional roles as cheap labor, cannon fodder, baby-factories, and perhaps even settlers of "new lands" -- really, lands stolen from previous residents. A high birth rate is the ultimate Ponzi scheme.

I thought that the issue of contraception was settled in America with Griswold vs. Connecticut in 1965... but the Right seems to try to rewrite public policy. Look for the economic implications and assume the worst.

Then there's the infamous Rash Libel (OK -- Rush Limbaugh) who makes the unsubtle statement that unmarried women who use contraception are "sluts"... or worse, the sorts who film their own pornography with themselves as participants. Let's get this straight -- it is their choice so long as they find willing partners.

The reason I started taking the pill was for a medical reason way back in high school. It's good for women who have irregular menstrual cycles. To see people saying "insurance companies shouldn't support this!!" really bothers me. To me it's like saying insurance companies should refuse to support my epilepsy medication. (which plenty do or refuse to even insure me because I have a pre-existing condition) In order to be a healthy person, I and many other women, need to take this. So shut up and butt out of our private lives, at least if you expect the same from everyone else.

If anything that is imposing moral values upon an insurance company.

I also find it hypocritical of people to say we should monitor birth control, but let others shove ho hos and other fattening garbage down their children's throats. Why do people care more about embryos in this country, than actual human beings existing on planet earth?

We are probably the most superstitious people in the industrial world. Did anyone notice that calling Ms. Fluke a "slut" is on roughly the same level as calling women "bitches" and "whores"?

If anything that is imposing moral values upon an insurance company.

How is it a moral issue to do your job? When did this become a moral issue? Is it not the job of a health insurer to provide health care? Birth control is something that must be medically prescribed by a doctor.

who makes the unsubtle statement that unmarried women who use contraception are "sluts"... or worse, the sorts who film their own pornography with themselves as participants.

Exactly. Are people not allowed to be sluts in American society if they so choose to be? Telling other people how much sex they're allowed to have is ridiculously, shit your pants funny. Especially coming from a man who's been married four times...

Did anyone notice that calling Ms. Fluke a "slut" is on roughly the same level as calling women "bitches" and "whores"?


At the end of the day it's just childish name calling. Someone wants to be mean to someone else so they call them a slut.

Originally Posted by pbrower2a

We are probably the most superstitious people in the industrial world. Did anyone notice that calling Ms. Fluke a "slut" is on roughly the same level as calling women "bitches" and "whores"?

The irony of ironies--this (feminism) is looking like a uniting force for the left.

Cheers.

Limbaugh ought to be taken off the air wherever possible. There are petitions going around; lately some of these have had a big effect. Let's do it. If you live near a station that has him on, send a comment. There has never been a worse talk show host than Rush. Never.

Now THIS should be interesting. This is also happening in other states.

Ohio State Senator Wants a Vote on Viagra

Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner is flipping the script on the contraception debate that’s become the top issue for culture war enthusiasts by proposing a bill that would oblige men to go through similar kinds of preliminary steps to get Viagra prescriptions or vasectomies as women will for their reproductive health needs if another bit of legislation becomes law. —KA

http://www.truthdig.com/eartothegrou...ohio_20120306/

Originally Posted by Eric the Green

Limbaugh ought to be taken off the air wherever possible. There are petitions going around; lately some of these have had a big effect. Let's do it. If you live near a station that has him on, send a comment. There has never been a worse talk show host than Rush. Never.

Yes, yes and yes.

And yet ... one wonders if simply leaving him alone to spew his venom in evermore noxious amounts will ultimately have the effect of marginalizing the anti-intellectual, misogynist, intolerant choir to whom he preaches. It could turn out to be the friend of civilized discourse - his example being that which reasonable persons eschew.

Originally Posted by Eric the Green

Limbaugh ought to be taken off the air wherever possible. There are petitions going around; lately some of these have had a big effect. Let's do it. If you live near a station that has him on, send a comment. There has never been a worse talk show host than Rush. Never.

Spare us the faux outrage. Where was your outrage when Bill Maher called Sarah Palin the "C" word? Where was the outrage over his previous constant innapropriate attacks on Palin and her daughters? Where was the outrage when Keith Olbermann called Michelle Malkin a "mashed up bag of meat with lipstick"? Where was your outrage when Special Ed Schultz called Laura Ingraham a "Right wing slut"....Nary a peep of outrage even from women's group, and when they do, its a tepid almost lackluster outrage when its a conservative woman being attacked.

Im guessing you, like many left wingers, had NO problem with Bill Clinton's sexual harrasment of Paula Jones, his rape of Jaunita Broadrick...nope they were just "sluts' making up the charges....You probably had no problem with his (and John Kennedy's) predatory and obsessive womanizing....But of course Bob Packwood (senator from Oregon)was forced to resign for much less...but he was a Republican.....

Of course you are going to demand that the PAC that got 1 million dollars from the misogynist Bill Maher must return the money....I wont hold my breath.....

Right now we are more worried about free morning after pills versus Cancer treatment for those who are dying! Keep it in prespective folks.

This should happen, I want free condoms and Viagra on my Government's dime. Wait, the Insurance companies will pay for it with a higher premium on the back end for all those who believe Health Insurance costs will be lower.

Originally Posted by The Rani

Agreed. It's a distraction from more pressing issues.
Like this one:
Seven Million Pounds of “Pink Slime” Beef Destined for National School Lunch Program

Our tax dollars at work!

Ewww, I just saw that a few minutes ago. Can you say "regulatory capture"? Where's Upton Sinclair when we need him? And what was the old adage about laws and sausages?

Originally Posted by Weave

Spare us the faux outrage. Where was your outrage when Bill Maher called Sarah Palin the "C" word? Where was the outrage over his previous constant innapropriate attacks on Palin and her daughters? Where was the outrage when Keith Olbermann called Michelle Malkin a "mashed up bag of meat with lipstick"? Where was your outrage when Special Ed Schultz called Laura Ingraham a "Right wing slut"....Nary a peep of outrage even from women's group, and when they do, its a tepid almost lackluster outrage when its a conservative woman being attacked.

Im guessing you, like many left wingers, had NO problem with Bill Clinton's sexual harrasment of Paula Jones, his rape of Jaunita Broadrick...nope they were just "sluts' making up the charges....You probably had no problem with his (and John Kennedy's) predatory and obsessive womanizing....But of course Bob Packwood (senator from Oregon)was forced to resign for much less...but he was a Republican.....

Of course you are going to demand that the PAC that got 1 million dollars from the misogynist Bill Maher must return the money....I wont hold my breath.....

I hope you have PROOF for that rape accusation against Clinton.

Many on the Left think Maher is a misogynistic ass, and Ed Schultz apologized (a REAL apology, not the fake non-apology Rush did) and was off the air for a time as punishment.

And neither viciously attacked the person several days in a row.

There is no point try to argue with you RWers, it's like arguing to a wall, you guys live in your own fake reality built up by Fox and RW Hate Radio.

Originally Posted by The Rani

Agreed. It's a distraction from more pressing issues.
Like this one:
Seven Million Pounds of “Pink Slime” Beef Destined for National School Lunch Program

Our tax dollars at work!

I think I'm gonna be sick...