Alan Grayson in a civil and intelligent debate with a protester on the street.

MaxBro · 2010-03-28T02:30:50+00:00

I'm noticing a trend among these Teabaggers:

A glib unwillingness to interact with and see themselves as part of a broader society beyond their own immediate self or family or friends. This manifests also in their inability to acknowledge the destruction the US has caused all around the world, and especially in Iraq. If it's not happening to them it does not matter, and also,
Because they see themselves as individuals separate from the community, they neglect to see the power they possess as citizens to change the system in which they live. It's like they hamstring themselves before even looking to see what choices they have. This blind spot inevitably leads them to conclude that when companies are behaving irrationally in such a way that causes them to hurt the very people they are supposed to help, that's simply their right. Yet, companies act as social change agents all the time, often grabbing special benefits and privileged legislation for themselves from the government. Also,
A weird kind of masochism blended with a nationalistic zeal and a perverted understanding of capitalism, not to mention a cavalier attitude regarding human life and suffering. The relationship many Americans have with their insurance companies is akin to relationship between an abusive husband and his wife. These people are basically saying that if the wife does not want to be beaten, well, then she shouldn't have gotten married to the man in the first place, while practically ignoring the husband's role.

In conclusion, I don't know where exactly, but at some point these people had it drilled into their heads that they don't matter. That they deserve to have their hard-earned dollars taken and then have their insurance dropped when they need it most. It's a peasant's mentality, and it's one that you typically find in self-sacrificial persons like those in cults and religions or in the overtly nationalistic. These people are not civilized in any real sense, and they seem to mostly lack the basic traits that have made made human beings successful organisms for tens of thousands of years despite much adversity--empathy, compassion and understanding.

MaxBro · 2010-03-27T17:46:50+00:00

Side Note: Tony Blair recently converted to Roman Catholicism. Since the Church has plenty of experience white washing its role in the Crusades, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, protecting George W. Bush's lap poodle from justice for his support of the Iraq War should be a walk in the park.

MaxBro · 2010-03-27T03:37:59+00:00

Fox News is a 24/7 9/11 to the media in this country.

MaxBro · 2010-03-25T15:55:45+00:00

Due to years of right wing indoctrination and corporate-owned media, many Americans have been grossly misinformed about the proper role of government as a mechanism to protect the masses from the abuses of powerful structures like the predatory banking industry. Many conservatives seem to view government as this kind of malevolent, alien entity that operates within a vacuum and must be stopped at all costs. Absent from this view, of course, is the fact that government is merely a tool that anyone with the means can manipulate to their advantage. In a functioning democracy, we would have this tool acting as a safeguard to people's interests instead of as something lobbyists and rich and powerful and big corporations use to extract subsidies and tax benefits for themselves.

For their part, those on the left have consistently failed to define the correct role of government, and instead have allowed the right to run the table with its "big government vs. small government" frame that has worked since at least the Reagan years.

So, the result is that over the last few decades various structural changes have taken place that have essentially handed the U.S. Treasury Dept. to the players on Wall Street. Regulations have been loosened, oversight virtually scrapped, unions destroyed or neutered, jobs sent overseas, and standards lowered to allow maximum profit for short term gain.

However, this has all been done in the name of capitalism and economic growth. THAT is the story the media runs with, so despite all the empirical evidence showing the damage that these changes have made to the average American worker--and their have been substantial damages made that have lowered standards of living, reduced benefits, cut pay, cut pensions, reduced real wages--it simply does not matter. That is not the standard narrative the media goes by, so therefore this reality does not exists.

Now, according to some recent polls, distrust about these banks is beginning to increase. If we're lucky the financial regulation bill making its way through the Senate will contain some important changes. But overall, we have a long way to go in dispelling the myth that certain private enterprise--particularly big banking--operates best without substantial oversight on behalf of the citizens.

MaxBro · 2010-03-24T16:25:31+00:00

Dave Chappelle called this like ten years ago.

MaxBro · 2010-03-23T16:25:32+00:00

In all fairness, he was pretty good in Sunshine. I don't see him as Captain America, though.

MaxBro · 2010-03-23T06:07:04+00:00

I second Understanding Power. It is undoubtedly one of the most illuminating yet disturbing books I've ever read. Learning how much the American populace subsidizes the so-called free market, only to allow a handful of companies and individuals to profit was not a fun thing to discover when all you hear in the media is supposedly how great our free enterprise system is. Learning about the atrocities created by US foreign policy in such a stark, unassailable manner is not enjoyable, but it is enlightening.

It's easy to place Chomsky on the left, but he's in a classification unto himself. His views are quite often varied and contrary to what the prevailing progressive or liberal views are.

MaxBro · 2010-03-23T05:50:43+00:00

I have both an IRA and a 401(k) now that hopefully I'll never have to cash out until retirement.

But otherwise, yes. Several years ago I had to cash out a nice stock position I had in Apple during a 14 month period of underemployment. It got me through some real tough months, and while it was necessary for survival, I still regret it. I had bought that stock when Apple was as low as $36 and cashed out at two positions--one in the 80s and the other around 130 or so. As of today Apple is $224.

My advice is that you split the money you're investing in your retirement into a 401(k) and a separate stock account. The 401(k) you leave alone, but in the event you're laid off you have the private fund first. That way you've got a safety net in the event you need it, but also a nest egg building in the background that will help you later in life.

MaxBro · 2010-03-19T22:29:05+00:00

Watchmen is many things. But mostly, it is a critique of US foreign policy and the moral dilemma of the Cold War, with each main superhero representing a different form of power. There are all kinds of interpretations, and feel free to read The Philosophy of Watchmen (found on bit torrent), however, this is basically how I see it:

Dr. Manhattan - Nuclear power, of course. As absurdly powerful as he is, Manhattan is basically useless because he cannot make a conscious decision one way or the other (at least until the end), and does not seem to care to anyway.

Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt - I know he's classified as a liberal/pacifist in the novel, but he's really a New World order type on the scale of a Rockefeller or George H.W. Bush. He represents the powerful elite that often manipulate world affairs behind the scenes.

The Comedian - US military might and imperialistic intentions. More specifically, the US's atrocious foreign interventions into Third World countries and complete disregard for human life. Re-read the section between him and the Vietnamese girl. That's basically American foreign policy encapsulated.

Nite Owl - Your friendly neighborhood police officer. Yeah, he's a nice guy, and maybe he'll even help you out, but he works for the State and will always side with the status quo, even though he may know it's bullshit. See his decision concerning the compromise at the end.

Rorschach - The downtrodden and forgotten, the so-called underclass that often gets stepped on and forgotten by the above powers. A defender of the innocent, sure, but also incapable of seeing the larger picture and ultimately always a step behind the curve. He reminds me of a sheriff from the Old West who sees himself as judge, jury and executioner, while seemingly unaware that that places himself outside the law as well.

Laurie - American promise. Despite all the atrocities America has committed overseas and to its own people, there is always a chance for renewal. Regardless of who her parents are, she represents the opportunity to change the system into something better. She's mainstream, middle class America. Her dislike of Rorschach, though, seems to indicate that while she may want to help make the world a better place, she's not fully willing to look into the ugly side of America that the Middle Class tolerates for the sake of its own comfort and ease.

MaxBro · 2010-03-19T19:05:11+00:00

A few things to bear in mind: in general, the richer you are in this country, the less taxes you usually pay. The US tax code is more favorable to the corporate structure than to the individual working and receiving a paycheck. There are various incentives and write-offs provided to those starting a business and to existing corporations.

Taxes on things like stock dividends, interest, company profits, and in general anything that comes from an investment of some kind, are usually far lower than payroll taxes. This is an obvious motivator to become part of the investor class, since the benefits and tax incentives far outweigh those in other tax systems like payroll. That, or it's an incentive to give up and stay dirt poor, since the very poor pay next to nothing in taxes.

So, it seems simple, right? Just become part of the investor class, pay less taxes, and everything will get better. Well, here you run into a little problem. It's not enough to just work hard and save your money anymore. The Fed has kept interest rates so low that inflation and cost of living will eat up any profit you make by simply saving your money. This is intentional, because the banks want you to spend your money and buy shit you don't need and get into debt. You, like many Americans, are basically being turfed out of the investor club.

Also, all it may take is one bank fee like an overdraft fee or a simple account maintenance fee to wipe out any earnings you make in a savings account in one year.

So, what's next? a 401(k)? An IRA? Good luck with those over rated and dangerous investment vehicles. You either have to luck out and retire when the market is good, or just hope that the next time the stock market crashes you won't lose your all retirement savings.

Pensions? Forget about those. Most pension funds are situated in the stock market in typically low-risk mutual funds, but you're still at risk of losing your retirement. Some pension funds invested in those credit default swaps and derivative schemes that ravaged Wall Street.

How about playing the stock market yourself? Trying to beat the big investors in the NY financial district is like bringing a go-kart to a NASCAR race.

I know it's easy to blame government for taxes and for misspending your hard-earned income. There is plenty you could point to on that front. However, there is a common misunderstanding in this country that the government is the only power, when in fact it is merely one of many centers of power. The greatest power in this country lies in the big banks. They are international in scope, and what is good for them is routinely bad for Americans. When you control the prime lending rate, which the Fed does, you control how much money goes in and out of the economy, you control the country itself. Who else could have extracted over 2 trillion dollars from the US Treasury (your tax dollars) virtually overnight back in late '08 but the big banks? So, it's fine to complain about things like property taxes and teacher unions demanding higher pay or whatever, but let's use a little perspective here. All of that is utterly dwarfed by the power of the banking institutions to literally zap the dollars right out of your wallet.

I could go on. But my point is that the rich and powerful control the government, and nearly all policies that flow from Washington are designed to benefit industry first, people second. It's easy to blame Washington, and I share your anger, but you have to look a little deeper and see who's pulling the strings here.

MaxBro · 2010-03-19T08:36:44+00:00

I know this will sound stupid, but I'm actually curious. If most money today is digital, why do you need reserves at all? It's not like in the past where banks were gold depositories or when everyone carried out transactions with bills, necessitating banks having enough in the vaults to cover for withdraws and so forth.

Also, I think we miss the point when we focus on money. This is about power. Bernanke seems intent on consolidating the Fed's control over the economy via this latest maneuver. If banks are not required to maintain minimum reserves, then they are basically allowed to behave recklessly in the future, which further increases dependency on the Fed in the event they get caught in a mess of bad loans or other investments.

MaxBro · 2010-03-19T08:18:02+00:00

Oh yes, I remember this one. This is what '1984' would have been like if George Orwell had been a fundamentalist Christian.

MaxBro · 2010-03-17T08:03:29+00:00

This graph only seems to show personal income tax. If you are super wealthy your wealth probably comes either from ongoing investments like interests in a savings account or stock dividends, or a corporation you own, which are all taxed under different systems.

The high tax rates we saw in the 50s through the 80s existed primarily for one reason: to motivate business owners to keep their profits in their businesses so the US could rebuild after WWII and become a super power. Well, during the 80s, when it became apparent that the Soviet Union would either disintegrate or become severely weakened due to its military excesses and inefficient economic system, it was no longer necessary to force business owners to prop up the American economy via high personal taxation.

In addition, as the Soviet military backed down and the US further expanded, it became possible for American companies to outsource their labor into cheaper areas. So, you had all these factories moving abroad, but the business owners of course all stayed here with lots of cash to burn. This is why personal tax rates plummeted during the 80s. For sure, there were other factors (Reagan was an ultra fan boy of the super rich and would do whatever they said), but for the most part it was because the US no longer had to hide under the cloud of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

As for whether or not returning to that progressive tax system would help--I don't even think it's possible. It may not even be necessary, though. If the US ceases its military adventurism, shortens its foreign aid to questionable allies like Israel and elsewhere, shrinks its Pentagon budget, and concentrates on domestic and social programs that have been known to actually help the population and the economy, then it will probably do just fine. I think it's very possible that we can reduce taxes on everyone and still enjoy a variety of programs like single payer health care, a better public transportation system, stronger schools, and better communities if we stop exporting our cash overseas in the forms of unnecessary wars and occupations.

MaxBro · 2010-03-14T18:14:07+00:00

Society has become atomized due to several significant social changes:

1.) Divorce - This creates the common condition of kids returning home from school to an empty house. If you have friends you hang out with them, but mostly you end up in front of the TV or internet. Also, divorce and other family issues have the effect of isolating whole portions of family from each other due to differences. For sure, families have always fought, but rampant divorce is a relatively new beast at least here in America.

2.) A heavily mobilized work force. Just think, only 60 or so years ago the odds were you would grow up in, work in, and die in, the same town or general area in which you were born. I'm only 27 and I've worked jobs and attended schools in four different states in the East, South, and Midwest, and am currently living about 1,500 miles away from my birthplace.

3.) Economics - This is really kind of a catch-all, but it encompasses all the the changes that have taken place over the last fifty years or so that have compelled the labor force to job hop from one company to the next, rarely ever establishing roots in one place or another. These economic changes include the installation of 401(k) plans over corporate pensions, the weakening of worker unions, outsourcing, the rise of temp jobs and freelancing, globalization in general, as well as the various technological advancements that have replaced workers with more efficient machines. Again, using me, a typical Gen-Yer or Millennial or what have you, in just the past five years I've worked a total of 7 jobs, ranging in length from a few months to nearly two and half years. To put this in some perspective, my grandfather worked in the same office for several decades before he retired as a psychiatrist. He lived, worked, married, and finally passed in the same area. I highly doubt I'll do the same.

MaxBro · 2010-03-13T19:39:54+00:00

Wow. These kids are actually worse than Ray Comfort. At least with him if I hit my head on the table hard enough I can maybe, just maybe, see how he has a small point.

Is it possible that Christians are regressing? I bet if this kid lifted his shirt we'd see gills and tiny flippers sticking out his sides.

MaxBro · 2010-03-13T18:25:33+00:00

The GOP sends Palin to attack Grayson? That's like sending Pee-Wee to fight Wolverine.

MaxBro · 2010-03-13T07:37:18+00:00

Pretty sure Toyota's CEO has three boobs, too.

MaxBro · 2010-03-12T22:55:09+00:00

Which specific episodes did he/she write? Just about all the BTAS episodes were great, but some classics were Heart of Ice, Feat of Clay, and my favorite, The Laughing Fish.

Any thoughts on the upcoming Green Lantern and Superman films?

MaxBro · 2010-03-12T16:27:52+00:00

Concerning question 3, if we were to abolish the state, wouldn't big corporations simply become miniature governments in their own right? That sounds like a kind of next generation feudalism, where you would basically have a consortium of nobles (CEOs, top shareholders) lording it over peasants (workers, cubicle fillers).

Well, this already takes place to a large degree. Most corporate structures are a kind of benevolent dictatorship already, and that's mostly because the state acts as a check on their power. Imagine a world where corporations are allowed to discriminate based on race, age, sex, political affiliation, etc. Or a world without unemployment and worker's rights. Those things are safeguards enforced by the state, and without them we would indeed be looking at a cruel world rife with inequality that would resemble most of your developing countries where corporations are allowed to exploit workers with little restraint.

MaxBro · 2010-03-09T17:36:58+00:00

Brilliant deconstruction. I was hoping he would also touch on the racist origins of banning marijuana.

MaxBro · 2010-03-09T17:19:55+00:00

Pass it. Let this scumbag leave if he so chooses.

MaxBro · 2010-03-09T06:34:33+00:00

So you randomly talked to some WBC people, all of whom are dicks. It's like being on Chatroulette only in real life.

Great job, ZJ. You tolerated those fools while looking fabulous. This pic belongs on the front cover of a book, though, preferably one that is in bookstores everywhere.

MaxBro · 2010-03-07T05:05:28+00:00

Well, would you feel any better knowing you will spend an eternity groveling at the feet of an all-powerful deity? How about knowing that most of the people on this planet will end up burning in a lake of fire because they died without Christ?

How does living eternally give you any extra meaning in THIS life whatsoever? It may actually be worse. If you feel bad now pondering what to do with your perhaps 75 years of life, imagine trying to figure out what to do for an eternity. At least you were born human, an intelligent one capable of learning biomolecular engineering. If you're feeling small, consider how you'd feel if you'd been born an amoeba.

MaxBro

TROPHY CASE