And could be solved easily with rational simple legislation ....

But both parties are corrupt and profit from the corrupt evil process ....

Once again, democracy is shown to be a sham ...

Without revolution or legislation that allows the reasonable establishment of third or multiple parties, not a damn thing will change.

The american people's passivity disgusts me and they'll continue to get the ass-reaming they deserve.

I agree ........ desperation leads to self-deception ..... we see what we want to see ...... we project our own values and beliefs (which is why Obama won the election) ..

Mediocrity can make the "normal" appear exceptional ....

The mediocrity of the republican presidential candidates gave the democrats a victory and made the democratic candidates look like sane moderate individuals ....

Things had shifted so far to the right by the time George Bush became president, that moderates and republican lites could pass themselves off as liberals and even as progressives..... even though the "progressives" of our parties would be hardly considered "liberals" in europe ....

Likewise, the aggressive unilateral actions of Bush make Obama appear as a moderate man of peace.

Rhetoric (and the associated intentions) have nothing to do with action.

We must measure a man by his actions ...... not his words.

Obama is a moderate ........ tied to the status quo in all regards and he will not challenge any of its fundamental economic pillars (including the mil-ind complex) ....

Walking a fence is not an easy tasks however ....

Perhaps the award was to encourage Obama to take risks he otherwise would not.

And prostitutes pretend to be aroused (ie, they lie) as do the running-dog-lackeys who call themselves Congressmen.

The USA has 5% of the world's population and 25% of its inmates ...... much more than even military dictatorships.

People aren't recognized or rewarded in our culture for being knowledgeable about anything besides their job (which is usually a limited field of memorized facts and OJT skills (be they a plumber or a surgeon)

Being able to think bestows very little advantage in our culture.

Materialistic and obsessed with entertainment, their heroes are rock stars, movie stars and tv personalities ....... people who makes lots of money but need no exceptional wisdom or knowledge or the ability to thing.

Then there are the sports figures ....... tons of money for exercising a genetic talent they were born with (not that they worked for) whose efforts do not involve more than those of a college student with a demanding major.

Its too bad our priorities are totally reversed from what they should be ......which will figure greatly in our downfall.

I don't like celebrities in general but should one disappear I would not miss them greatly ....... however, if my garbage man disappeared for a few weeks, I would miss him/her.

Our teachers, and our workers in general ...... the ones doing the work that needs to be done, are not respected and are abused.

If you want to make huge amounts of money, please do not do anything that is needed ......... the more irrelevent your pursuit, the greater is the likelihood of your reward.

Intellectuals are viewed as unexciting and boring or as freeks and geeks.

Is there any wonder most americans don't even know who their congressman is ...... let alone the actions of Jefferson or Jackson ???

This is as the corporations and the govt want it ........ a passive ignorant rabble tranced-out by entertainment and other bullshit.

One cannot hold the govt or anyone else accountable until one is willing to hold oneself accountable.

An illusion ......... right wing and liberal talking heads ....... the illusion of diversity and choice ...... certainly the illusion of reason.

The mass media parallel of the two-party congress ...... both beholding to the money interests ....

Who holds the real power ? Well, those with the power to print money and it isn't the US govt but a private corporation representing international investors.

Is ignorant self-centered americans who think entertainment is the reason for living ...... of course it does make them forget about their ignorant self-centered existence.

The developing ADD geek before he starts guzzling adderal and ritalin.