The Weekly Riot: Critical Mass

by phrolen | May 12, 2009 at 08:34 am

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Can I ask an honest question without arousing incredulity? What the hell is going on? I mean really! Every week I propose that we all have a serious discussion about the unprecedented nature of our current national policy. And, every week instead of a serious discussion I get the same old pedantic groveling over the new President giving him a chance. As I said in my column last week, I don’t care about the new president or the historic nature of his new presidency. Presidents come and go; it’s their policies that endure after they are gone.

Let me hit the restart button on this conversation. I feel that President Obama has a calming presence and a fantastic family. Everyone breathe easy. I, unlike many of my fellow conservatives, do not believe the President is the Anti-Christ. I have no opinion either way on the color of his skin. (As long as it isn’t some crazy shade of Fuchsia; I’m terrified of Martians) Our current policies however, are insane! Why can’t we address that? Bush’s spending policies were insane! The Democratic Party correctly lambasted Bush for those policies. Why is the American public so afraid of an intellectually honest discussion?

This year’s budget deficit is FOUR times larger than it has ever been. Isn’t that important? Since early 08 our nation has doled out trillions in supposed stimulus cash and guess what, unemployment is at record levels, the global economy keeps shrinking, and the United States is borrowing 46 cents of every dollar we spend this year from China. Now we are told that the only way we can truly fix the economy is to sign off on a national healthcare system even when the unfunded liabilities of the current Medicare and social security system reach over 10 Trillion dollars.
The great German writer Johann Wolfgang Von Gothe once said that “None are more enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.” Republican and Democrat, have we actually gotten to the point where we believe that superfluously using our credit card without any regard to repayment is really a revolutionary and ingenious economic policy. Was Gothe America’s prophet? Are my far right friends correct when they tell me that the spending crisis is a planned scheme to collapse the dollar and implement a North American Union? Or are my Liberal friends right when they quote John Maynard Keynes and say that proliferate spending is the only way to jumpstart a flailing economy. The cynic in me says they are both wrong and that when something blatantly audacious is going on out in front to look past the shiny objects and see what’s really going on.

But nothing is going on, right? Oh yea except the nationalization of the banking industry, the handover of the bankrupt auto industry to the workers unions (the culprit of the bankruptcy), congressional hearings on the fate of the news industry, and the unprecedented appointment of hyper-internationalists to key foreign policy posts. I completely disagree with those who say that the President is naïve and inexperienced; bumbling clueless. I think he is highly educated and understands exactly what he is doing when he says he is “Remaking America.” My question is do you know what he means? If your answer is “Yes we can,” the first lady has wonderful shoulders and biceps, and ohhhh the White House is getting a new puppy, thank a teacher’s union member and visit www.all4ed.org to see where you stack up against the rest of the world. If you don’t know, stay tuned and we’ll learn on this journey together. If you do know however, you better pick up your pen and megaphone and start fighting. History has been truly unkind to those who turn their nations over to demagogues. “A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

P.H. Rolen is the Chairman of Liberty for All USA.com and the Author of “Liberty for All: The Patriot’s Primer.” He has been featured in the World Net Daily Commentary Page and The Heartland Institute’s Infotech and Telecom Newsletter. He contributes to Major General Paul E. Vallely’s (U.S. Army Ret.) Stand Up America USA and is involved with the campaign of Congressman Denny Rehberg.

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Amy Judd

at 12:27 on May 12th, 2009

I think people are so afraid of saying anything against Obama because he really was looked upon as the saviour of America when he was elected - the first sigh of relief from those who just wanted Bush to get out. The thought that he might not have done the best job possible already might be too much to admit to ourselves just yet.

Not being an American it's harder for me to say, but this is what I think is happening.

Maireid Sullivan

at 16:38 on May 12th, 2009

Everyone expects president Obama to "save the world" – like the super hero. That is the mythology we've been raised with. "Ordinary" people think they cannot make a difference on their own, so why should they even try.

The USA was built on the expectation that individuals have the freedom to create great wealth for themselves - at the expense of others. "Greed is good."

You just have to read "The Secret Life of Real Estate - how it moves and why" by Phillip J. Anderson, or "The Corruption of Economics" by Prof. Mason Gaffney, to understand how Western neo-classical economics has given us the system we live and die under today. For over 200 years, we've had a system based on 18 year real estate boom bust cycles, and every bust, such as the currently unfolding example, leaves a higher percentage of people in a state of poverty.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:32 on May 12th, 2009

“None are more enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.”

Unfortunately, people in the US have been led to believe they are free; and I always say, "The indoctrinated mind is blind."

Thanks for a great Opinion post, phrolen.

Iffy (not verified)

at 14:00 on May 12th, 2009

Americans live in a an airtight bubble: it is one that tells them everyday they are the freest people on earth and the richest. Any information contrary to that is censored out of the media. It is only when Americans step outside - a trip to Japan, or Sweden, or Dubai - that they realise other people in the world have wealth and freedom. Loving Obama is part of the bubble groupthink. It won't end until something big happens. The history of the US is one of great periods of stability punctuated by horrific instability (9/11 for example, or the civil war).

Jarrett Martineau

at 09:05 on May 12th, 2009

Great post. Thanks for this.

Vinny

at 14:58 on May 12th, 2009

Good opinion piece Phil!

158

at 15:01 on May 12th, 2009

We cannot look to Obama to solve our problems.

They ar too deep.

He can maybe keep things from getting worse but the problems with the system will remain long after he is gone.

djermano

at 05:51 on May 13th, 2009

Whatever is going on...it is going on in each and everyone of us.

Some people will cast Judas as a hero, because he brought to life Jesus and his resurrection; while discounting that the disciples who were identified with Jesus denied they knew him....Fear for their own lives, when Judas made money. Were they liars, or not part of the Pharasee's payoff? Certainly knowing Jesus is suppose to mean making money, or denying him to make him as God's Son. I prefer to accept the latter....

Which leads to the struggle in becoming a Taliban. Do I accept the American philosophy that a guy in a poor country had anything to do with a plan to crash 4 airliners into America's psych? And deny the huge pile of evidence that 911 was an inside job? Knowing full well Bush has closed down the investigations, funded a phoney 911 Commission Report, refuses to answer questions about building 7 (the OEM) that miraculously collapsed later in the day...when it was not even hit by a plane, and was further away from other buildings that remained standing while also conveniently not even mentioning building 7's collapse in the 911 Commission Report.

Then I am to believe that the banks failed, because of crooked workers who can't pay their mortgages....while they gave bailout money to bank CEO's while also giving them the power to foreclose on homes.

Then I am to accept that the US killed 1 million innocent Iraqi people....when Bush admits Saddam did not do 911.

Then I am to accept Obama who says he will end the war, and yet he is ramping up the war in Afghanistan, putting pressure on Pakistan to kill innocent people who are defending themselves who happen to be Taliban?

Then the money issue comes flying in my face...well America has all the money..I just can not go against the American Government, big military establishment....besides that is why we have voted for our Congress people, and Senators to find answers...but the banks have failed..and there is no money to conduct investigations, and an unwilling President to make rational decisions...

Oh my.... more and more up against the wall is all I come up with.

And so I am to believe that my Congress people really represent me...when they have failed me for all these years? There comes the point do I do the unthinkable?

Join the Taliban? They have no money, like they do in the US. Yet they are the manufactured bad guys the US government has painted into our minds....but the evidence doesn't show them to be the bad guys.

Do I go on supporting the money Judas got, or deny I know Jesus and really go to him in Mountains? Do I support the State or Religion? Afterall America says they do not discriminate against Religion..but they certainly do with our Muslim brothers....by invading their homeland in Afghanistan. Jesus did not come with the intent or design of military establishments....and yet the US is killing our people...to support a lie about 911.

Start the ATF? American Taliban Federation...and be the minutemen that they are in fighting the American Military machine. Go to Vietnam and ask the North Vietnam Miltiary advisors to help manufacture weapons to move up through Laos, and Cambodia, and Myamar to help out our Taliban brothers in Afhganistan.

Americans unite against the criminals in the US. Bush has manufactured this War on Terror...
We know Jesus rose from Judas, and Judas hung in his tree....are we to remain in the US as Judas hung in a tree? Or follow Jesus, follow Allah, follow the life.....which is to deny Jesus, or follow death which is the money hanging in the tree in the US.

Struggle to be a Taliban...or die to be an American? I know I have become a Taliban. Long Live Allah... long live the Taliban...

Rev. Jermano......

Uwe Paschen

at 19:25 on May 12th, 2009

Some 25 years ago I spend some time studying in Russia in an exchange program and one of my professors there told me on the subject of Freedom that the fundamental difference between Russian and American was the fact that Russian know that freedom does not exist no matter the form of government, yet American live in the elution and believe that they are free.

His rhetorical question to me then was, what is better for the future of a society? To be aware and pragmatic or to believe in fairy tails?

I personally rather live in reality even though it may at times seem depressing. However it is the only way forward and the only to solve our problem effectively.

gerrypopplestone

at 06:26 on May 13th, 2009

I think you need to look at what occurred in Japan when they went through their last serious recession. They did nothing about finance and the banks and the bad debts became toxic and the recession lasted for 10 years. Keynes put forward an elegant theory showing why demaqnd side economics was so cruicial in tackling. You give the impression that savings rates are kind of sacrosanct and debt is bad! I think you need a more sophisticated reading of what is currently happening. Try Martin Wolf of the Financial Times!

djermano

at 06:40 on May 13th, 2009

Gerry you are comparing Japan who has always been propped up by the US. Now the big propper has crashed.. I think you need to realize that the Federal Reserve is the problem..and Keynes the liar that he is....because his theory always supports boom and bust... Think about it Gerry...the banks can not pay off the 700 billion pillaging until the economy gets going....Yet the economy can't get going until they pay off the other 787 billion stimulus....And they can't do that because of the War machine...and Obama's follow the yellow brick road to the Bush ranch......increasing military spending and escalating the war into Afghanistan. Good news is the Military is starting to see its error..and they are shooting each other... Hopefully the scoundrels namely Bush and Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove will be indicted.....and it will usher in a new hope for the Republican Party.... If republicans maintain their foolish support for the contiuned Bush Obama doctrine....they are going to be facing serious troubles in the next election....when people realize this is the time a third party candidate will take the prize..... I will be voting 3rd party...and already starting to campaign awareness.

Rev. Jermano