Talkback: Captive American Readers Chime In
We love your shout-outs, Captive American readers! Please, sirs (and madams), may we have another?
You may have noticed that at the end of every one of the hundreds–going on thousands–of blog posts, Reasons to be Mad as Hell, and other assorted items here on Captive American, we offer readers the chance to pitch their two-cents into the discussion. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank commenters for their input and encourage everyone to, please, take a moment to jot down your thoughts or impressions on our ideas, and offer a few of your own. Love mail, hate mail, whatever. Bring it on. Even if you think we’re the dimmest bulbs to appear on electronic media since Max Headroom stopped shilling for New Coke, we want to hear from you!
Now, we realize that comments slip pretty quickly into the internet netherworld as new posts come online. So we’d like to highlight some of the more interesting or provocative feedback we’ve received in recent days. Consider this the first installment of a regular feature. How regular it winds up being depends on how much feedback we get. So keep it coming.
First off, a repeat commenter calling himself “Wildcat” added these thoughts to our post, “Second Step: Fire All The Experts (Again!)”:
The sad and harsh reality is crap has risen to the top in politics and finance. Because smart people usuaslly don’t go near elected or appointed office or become, goverment lawyers, lobbyists and appointees.
Hear, hear! The fact that the smartest, most qualified people–the “best and the brightest” to use a shopworn but nonetheless apt term–consistently avoid public service is one of the main reasons we’re in this mess. And rectifying that problem is order number one if we want to bring real change to Washington.
Second, another repeat commenter with the handle “datadave” reacted to our post on Obama’s planned stimulus package thusly:
Just blaming the Average American for supporting Republicratic leadership just will not do. Calling for sacrifice and letting go of comforts doesn’t reflect just what’s going on.
For one, sacrifice and comforts are being eschewed as we speak…but only by the ‘victims’ of our system: lower middle class and working people. They already are sacrificing…involuntarily.
We couldn’t agree more, datadave. The recent era of Voodoo Economics Redux, debt-driven consumerism and other delusions must end. But as we point out in the piece, and this follow up, trillions more in government “stimulus” spending is not necessarily going to undo the damage. If anything, it’s likely to prolong–rather than shorten–the pain by putting us even more in hock to foreign creditors, many of whom aren’t exactly friendly to us in the first place, while also drowning the bond markets in government securities.
We’re in a bad spot of our own making. The fact that the middle and lower classes will almost certainly suffer disproportionately (as usual) is unfortunate, even tragic. But maybe, just maybe, this shock will inspire Americans to demand real change in their government. Maybe, just maybe, we will finally see through the charade of the two major parties and their superficial differences.
Moving on, commenter and friend of the site “hcj powell” reacted to our post on Bernard Madoff and Rob Blagojevich by urging us to dig deeper into the subject of media ownership and corporate rule in this country:
Time to pull back the curtain and shine the spot light on those top 500 corporate company boards of directors
…
How about an ongoing feature that spotlights the guys and gals behind the corporate curtains? When the “big three” CEOs are testifying, wouldnt it be great to have a nice little sidebar of who they work for-their board of directors?
That’s a fine idea. We’ll get right on it. In the meantime, here’s a quote from Peter Phillips’ introduction to the book The Last Days of Democracy:
…only 118 people compose the membership on the boards of directors of the ten big media giants. These 118 individuals in turn sit on the corporate boards of 288 national and international corporations.
Yikes. Look for a post soon exploring this information, and much more.
Finally, Frank Martens wrote in from Canada to say that while he is “astounded at how closely Lee’s philosophy parallels that of mine” he warns the Captive American founder and publisher to:
STAY THE HELL OUT OF CANADA. WE DON’T NEED YOU HERE. WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE.
We’ll be sure to pass that message along, Frank! Though we know Lee admires many aspects of your country, we’re pretty sure he doesn’t plan to leave this flawed but beautiful nation anytime soon, no matter how infuriating its leaders can be.
Picking up where I left off late last nite. Why I am MAD AS HELL And indeed I am a Captive American. Just as so many of the participants at this site are. The casual reader as well. Because they have not witnessed the goverments Storm Troopers first hand. They fall prey to the MSM crap and their dandy paycheck mummy and daddykins are so proud of that their spawn brings home. A paycheck that seems large to the parents Depression raised minds. Yet they utterly lack the intellectual skills or acedemic study to realize since Bush stole office. We have been living under a new hybred Martial Law and Fascist Corportacracy. That in the future, if we are to have a future. Will be studied as just that, a new tecnocratic corporate fascism. When compared to history’s previous versions of totalitarian states.
Hitler, Mussilini, Stalin, Lenin,Mao, Napoleon, King George and histories other tyrants would just drool with envy and want. If they saw how our King George took power,stole our privacy and pissed on our Founders. Long after my life the tyranny of today will be in the trash bin of history. With Hitler, Stalin………
Before moving on, I want to say ” HI ” to the DOD, CIA and other alphebet soup of Regime organizations that trool these sites for intelligence.
Also for you right thinking people out there ( “right thinking people” is heard often on C-Span, when covering the English Parliment ) is to recommend a novelette by the late Ayn Rand called Anthem.Great and very suprising read from the founder of Objectivism. In short a man and a women living in a technocratic fascist society, dig themselves into the old subway system. There they “discover”
newspapers and a word they have never heard or seen. The word is–WE
We The People can come to ones mind when they read the book.. MS Rand understood the coming dangers of mixing technology and like Ike, the trap of the Military Industrial Complex. And she was a real ” I ” person
We the people are fed up. Bush didnot cut it. Obama won’t cut it either. Our Citizens votes and weight will.
Sorry I am terribly off point as a Brit would say. Speaking of Brits and the Magna Carta.There is a move afoot in Parliment to put a CCTV up everyones Brits ass. It’s not to look for colon polyops either. Bush and his regimes evils foisted upon lazy American asses is to go back on point.
19) Fourth Amendment Free Zones.Yes it is true and codified. Technically in these zones they can search your butt cause a cop does’nt like your hair That covers for the Gestapo, better than 70% of where Americans live. It is either 100 or 200 miles from our borders and shores. I can’t believe that is not in my copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. My bookseller has a refund due me. Or perhaps an illegal,unconstitutional law was passed. Upheld by a federal judge with a heavy taste for 28 year old single malt scotch.
I am not pandering. Most of the Peace Officers and alphabet soup folk I know are very concerned about the wasteful, illrelevent and Unconstitutional creep that has occured under the Bush Regime.
No incumbants. Citizens, have allies everywhere. We are watching you buddy!!!
20) Allowing the Isreali’s to use American made DIME weapons on the civilians of Gaza. A weapon so new it is not classified yet, as an illegal weapon of war. Such as napalm is.
DIME stands for Dense Inert Explosive Metal. A very very high explosive is wrapped in magnisium (Flammable without O2 ) or tungstun dust. When it explodes it sends out micro-schrapnel of these metal dusts at supersonic speeds. Vaporizing entire persons, melting limbs, boiling,eviserating and vaporizing the head and brain. All in a ” Humane Fashion “, because of it’s short effective range.The shock wave alone can break every bone instantly. Bush of course thought Gaza would be a good test plate for the new humane weapon.
Lord, can he twist and justify anything. Mother ******
21) Using his authority and oil pals to allow gas prices to begin to crash before the election. To help no brain McCain. After he allowed his pals to speculate and manipulate the oil markets to nearly five dollar a gallon gas.Literally taking food from the mouth of babies, healthcare from the hurt and other gutless and heartless pains. Upon the American people.
22) Since the election of 2004 Bush and Congress members up for reelection, promised to address head on with effect. Our nations inhumane system that allows drug companies to rape us financially and permits tens of millions to go without health insurance coverage. Since 2004 ten million more people have fallen into being uninsured. With the Depression looming that number will grow by far more than the 3 million that have lost their jobs thus far.
23) Cleverly 3 years ago with great fanfare and publicity Congress passed and the Pres signed right before the Christmas recess, ( Congress has recess just like elementary school kids. Cute) a bill to fence with real metal and moats, our border with no go Mexico.What they did not tell you in the MSM ,is there was no attendant funding package with the bill. No tickie, no money, no fencie.
So Big Ag still got the cheap ILLEGAL labor and worked ever harder to put REAL AMERICAN FARMERS and HERDSMEN out of business.Quaint isn’t it ? Those little devils. Most Americans now are rubbing their heads. “What happened ? Did I miss something”.
That’s ok pal. Bush having destroyed the American economy, primarily through the worthless, meddlesome, illegal, Unconstitutional engagements with Iraq and Afganistan. Cause they ain’t wars, cause congress never voted to go to war with these nations. So they are illegal engagements not wars. Oh guess what President Karzi’s job was before President of the sand box out back. He was an Exxon employee. A fricking manager for Exxon with the arab folk in that neck of the woods.Still is an Exxon employee. Bet ya!! See a pattern yet ?
24)Supported opening up of the hunting of wolves in Yellowstone Park.When real scientists, with real science, something our president knows squat about. Told him with supporting science, that the wolf population in Yellowstone was still too small, vulnerable to disease and not genectically diverse enough for any culling yet.I do beliieve Bush’s knowledge of science was limited to what he learned at Yale.The difference between a jigger and the whole bottle.
25)Bush through his EPA Secretary told firemen,police, and workers clearing the 911 site of the tragic debris. That it was safe to work there without respiratory protection. Since those days scores have died, hundreds are on permanent disability and thousands suffer permenant damage to their lungs. Sheer recklessness on the part of the Secratary of the EPA and the President ? I call it assault and murder.
26) 25 leads to some NOT shopworn thoughts. Why and how did VP Cheney get authority to tell NORAD to shutdown their eyes and birds on the Northest corridor that tragic morning? Where they could have stopped the flying missilles if NORAD had not been told to stand down.Where does the buck stop ?
27) I am still really pissed off at what has happened to our nation under Bush and his minions. So much lost and wasted. But I am hungry now too. Until we meet again. Godspeed, WILDCAT
WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER DRESSES LIKE A WHORE;TAKES MONEY LIKE A WHORE; LIVES A LAVISH STYLE LIKE A WHORE; SNORTS COCAINE BY THE KILO LIKE A WHORE; GETS BUSTED LIKE A WHORE…BABY, IT\’S HARD TO LET HER SIT IN AND SING WITH THE CHURCH CHOIR ON SUNDAYS; AMERICA HAS STARRED IN THIS GOTHIC PORNOGRAPHIC MELANGE OF DUPLICITY FOR SO LONG.. THAT UP IS DOWN AND BLACK IS WHITE! WE PRETENDED THAT THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT DIDN\’T ASASSIANATE, DIDN\’T BARTER WHOLESALE WORLDWIDE DRUG TRADE; DIDN\’T JERK MEDIA SEEKING ANSWERS AROUND LIKE HOWDY-DOODEY ON A LOOSE-STING-DAY.WHO IS BEING NIEVE? WE, AS A COUNTRY, HAVE SOLD OURSELVES SO MANY TIMES TO THE GOD-ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, THAT WE CAN\’T EVEN DERIVE ANY PLEASURE FROM WHAT WE SLAVE-WORK FOR ANYMORE. MUCH MORE THAN BROKE FINANCIALLY; WE ARE BEREFT OF ANY LEGITIMATE CLAIMS OF LEADERSHIP..AND THERE IS NO GUIDING VISION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE \”BIG CHIEF\” THE PANIC-IN-THE-ELEVENTH-HOUR THAT IS LOOSE AND RAMPANT WITHIN SOCIETY IS LITTLE MORE THAN A CONTINUATION OF DENIAL THAT HAS PERMEATED FINANCIAL COLLAPSE OF THIS SOCIETY..WE \”GAVE IT UP\” IN THE BACKSEAT OF OUR FOREFATHER\’S CHEVY…AND THAT PURITY WAS OUR RIGHTS AND CONTROLS OVER ENCROACHING GREED AND EVIL OF THE ILLUMINADIST CORPORASTOCRACEY….WHORES ARE A CLASS OF SUBMISSION. WE DESERVE BETTER, AND OUR CHILDREN DAMNED-SURE DESERVE BETTER! IF WE MUST FIGHT, WE WILL..BUT LET US AIM AT THE TRUE ENEMY!
IT TOOK GENERATIONS OF NEGLECT AND GREED TO ERECT THIS FESTERING TOWER OF CORRUPTION..YES, YOU AND I ARE DIRECTLY-OR INDIRECTLY- RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING IT HAPPEN; WE ENABLED THE DRUGS, THE GUNS, THE DEBAUCHERY OF THE SACRED TRUST. WHAT WE THREW UP, WE CAN ( A BRICK-AT-A-TIME ) TAKE DOWN AGAIN, AND CLEAN UP OUR ACT AND ONCE AGAIN INSPIRE WORLDWIDE RESPECT. IT WON\’T BE EASY..BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO FOR OURSELVES TO REGAIN OUR COLLECTIVE SOULS.LINCOLN AND WASHINGTON, I\’M SURE. WOULD SEE THE WISDOM IN CHANGING COURSE..WE TRIED WHAT COULD NOT HAVE WORKED..SO LET US TRY WHAT WILL WORK BETTER; NO SHAME IN THAT IDEA! HEY, WE ARE ALL JUST NEIGHBORS STANDING AROUND THE BACKYARD FENCE TALKING OPINIONS..THAT IS TRULY THE AMERICAN SPIRIT. WE WERE BORN OUT OF REVOLUTION, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REVOLUTIONARY..CHANGE IS OUR WAY…STATUS QUO IS DECAY…LET\’S NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LIFE-BLOOD OF DEMOCRACY DRAINS AWAY..IT IS FAR TO PRECIOUS A DREAM TO SQUANDER!
AN OBSERVATION: this society is still bent over the flogging bench, and if we keep being submissive, the beating is rea-lly gonna hurt! STAY THE HELL OUT of paper investments..period!this comes from the intuitive side..i am not a broker, and do not want your money; nor am i selling cd\\\’s or books! THE MARKET ASSETS HAVE BUILT-IN PENALTY CLAUSES WHICH ERRODE YOUR ASSETS, THE INTEREST IS NOT WHAT YOU GET..AND THE BROKERS TRY TO SHNOOKER YOU INTO LONG TERM INVESTMENTS..AND ARE BLAH,BLAH WHEN YOU WANT TO CASH OUT. IT IS YOUR MONEY..FOR GOD\\\’S SAKE DON\\\’T LET THE CORPORATIONS, BANKERS, OR POLITICIANS TAX OR HANDLE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY! THESE ARE THE VERY JACKASSES WHO PLAYED CASINO WITH THE COUNTRY\\\’S ASSETS, AND NOW WE PAY THE PIPER WITH EDUCATION ERROSION, PUBLIC SERVICES DEPLETIONS, HIGHER TAXES, AND CYNICISM THAT IS THICK ENOUGH TO MAKE A CLOWN WEEP…AS WELL AS DEBT AND UNEMPLOYMENT! IT AIN\\\’T PRETTY, MY FELLOW AMERICANS. HELL, WE\\\’VE BEEN IN WORSE SHAPE..LIKE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION..BUT ARE YOU YET READY TO BREAK OUT THE MUSKET-BALLS AND POWDER TO THROW OUT THE ARROGANT ELITISTS WHO HAVE PUT THE YOKE OF OPPRESSION ON YOUR NECKS? ARE YOU READY TO SPILL THEIR LIFESTYLES AND BLOOD? FRANKLY, I COULD GIVE A FLYIN. FIG IN A ROLLING DOUGHNUT IF RATS LIKE BERNIE MAYDOFF GO TO HELL ON THE EXPRESS TRAIN! THOSE PONZI CREEPS DESERVE A LONG STAY IN THE INFERNAL REGIONS..AND THAT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE GREED THAT EASY PROSPERITY BRINGS..IT IS PREDIATORY AND VILE! WE DESERVE BETTER, AND A REAL CHANCE TO CLEAN UP THIS COUNTRY\\\’S ACT! I BELIEVE PRESIDENT OBAMA MAY TRY TO PORTION OUT THE BREAD-AND-FISH, BUT THIS IS ONE MOUNT WHERE THE SERMON AIN\\\’T GONNA FEED EVERYONE! TECHNO-INNOVATIONS, NEW ENERGY PHYSICS, AND MAYBE A FEW BORROWED ALIEN TRICKS MIGHT BE WELL-SUITED FOR THIS ERA OF NEED…ANYONE TALK TO THE CREATURES TO SEE IF \\\”WE CAN BORROW A CUP OF SUGAR FROM OUR SPACE NEIGHBORS\\\”?! SERIOUSLY, THE CHANGE WE NEED, IS INDEED, US!
IN CONCLUSION( DON\’T MEAN TO PUT YOU ALL IN A COMMA!); DON\’\'T BE SO TRUSTING OF THE MEDIA NEWS..IT HAS BEEN CORPORATE-TAINTED..AND IF YOU BELIEVE WARS ARE MERITORIOUS, INVEST YOUR LAST DOLLAR AND YOUR CHILDREN..BUT LEAVE OUR S THE-HELL-ALONE! WE ARE WILLING TO LABOR FOR A NEW WORLD, BUT NOT ENSLAVEMENT TO ELITISM AND THERE IS NOTHING GLORIOUS ABOUT GOING ANYWHERE TO KILL PEOPLE AS A DUE COURSE OF FOREIGN POLICY…YOU FOOLS DIDN\’T LEARN WITH NIXON..REALLY STUPID TO KEEP DOING THE SAME SACRIFICE OF INSANITY AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS! I DON\’T LIKE DEATH, SO IT FOLLOWS, DON\’T KILL PEOPLE..AND SPARE THE HYPOCRISY OF JUSTIFYING IT AS \”WHAT GOD WILL ALLOW\”! GOD HAS NO DOG IN THAT CONVOLUTED FIGHT! WE MAKE OUR OWN HELL, AND IF WE WANT ASCENSION OR SALVATION…THAT COMES FROM AN INTUITIVE AND SPIRITUAL SIDE OF MAN\’S NATURE.YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO KICK-START YOUR LOGIC MEMORY LIKE A CLUNKY HARLEY-DAVIDSON! THESE HARD TIMES WON\’T LAST, SO STAY CLEAR OF THE FOXES, AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE YOU LOVE! (GOD-SPEED)
RINZINGRAND IS CONSTRUCTIVE, BUT HE\’LL BE DAMNED IF HE WILL BE CIVIL! so let it be written-so let it be said!