maybe the best way to dig out of the economic mess would be to divert 90%of the military budget to other purposes. america would still be spending more than no. 2, just not more than the rest of the world.

no one's going to invade, as long as we're polite to canada and mexico.

will the world continue to turn if there are no american troops shoring up dictatorships around the world? yes, it will.

.. is the problem. the fundamental social rules of the nation should be beyond the reach of the current office holder. otherwise, with the stroke of the pen, the next monster will authorize torture when he wishes.

there will be another, they are common, for unfettered power magnifies human weakness.

the only principle obama has demonstrated is that america has no principles, just a succession of kings, each saying "what i wish, is the law."

the fortunes of 300 million people dependent on haggling among a few hundred politicaristos motivated by god-knows-what.

not surprising the economy collapses from time to time, the wonder is that it has thus far recovered, leaving only a few million lives ruined.

america needs to declare a state-sized 'national experimental political park' and install political/economic regulations there, chosen by scientists, in search of a foundation of rationality which can later be transferred to the nation at large.

feudalism plus iphone is not good enough.

slick willy and bad vlad, saving the world? seems unlikely. they each played a significant role in creating the latest catastrophe, more of the same mind-set is not going to help.

some democracy would be better. if the nation had citizen initiative, when the next 'dubya' gets in and talks about de-regulation, the people could pull his plug.

this is the nature of elective monarchy. it has been maturing since 1789, and if you don't like the result then get off your dead ass and rebel.

america needs a new constitution, a democratic constitution, a constitution establishing the rule of the people, by the people, for the people.

or you can just complain that politicians aren't the tooth fairies you thought they were.

move the staff to the web, carry on reporting.

what's the problem?

you can't run an empire without an army. they must be motivated by money, because calling what they do 'defense' only works for a while.

a professional army is the tool of a ruler, king or president, not the defender of the nation. it is used for empire when the rulers see that possibility, for suppression of dissent more often still.

the usa has never been a democracy, and the alienation of people from government grows with each passing year. the combination of concentration of power, professionalization of the army, and alienation of the people, leads to a 'foreign legion'. one that not co-incidentally, is to be used for internal 'defense' for the first time in american history.

he's weaseling his way toward a second term, increased dem majorities, avoiding investigations that would simply convince a few voters that dems are bad, reps are worse, is there a 3rd way?

in short, he is the amoral pragmatist he always said he was.

actually you can. if you're a president who 'looks forward', you can. the crimes are in the rear view mirror.

the usa is not a democracy. the rulers do what they wish, within the limits set by other members of the oligarchy.it's pretty much the same system they use in the people's republic of china, except the voters get to choose between a right wing crook and a far right wing crook.

is it true the marine corps hymn is being changed to "entry of the gladiators"?

or was it "darth vader's theme?"

the trouble with pulling out a rotten plank is, you never know how many more will have to go.

in any event, no administration can make laws that the next administration can not change, so talk of 'fixing it' from within is just talk.

if you want honest and competent politicians, they must have a master that can control them directly. that master can only be the electorate armed with citizen initiative.

there can be no 'right' without power. the liberties enjoyed by americans are privileges, extended by the power-holders in the congress and courts. if the political class agrees to limit liberty among the people, the people have no legal recourse.

that is the value of democracy- fundamental power lies in the assembled electorate. changes to law must pass through the referendum process.

the bush regime should have made this clear to all.

until the democrat party institutes democracy in america. a power of citizen initiative would wonderfully concentrate the minds of politicians on doing the will of the people.

i remember the rage and contempt the news of the nazi death camps inspired, the widespread agreement germans were some kind of sub-human monsters.

naive. it turned out torture was ok. who'd have guessed. naturally, only when done by our guys.well, by our foreign sub-contractors since obama announced "we don't torture". i suppose he thinks we are still too sensitive to do the dirty work ourselves.

americans begin to hear "capitalism good, socialism bad." that's about the limit of political education in the land of the free.

consequently, medical care is not only not free, it's more expensive than need be. shame, really, but if you're ignorant you must expect to be cheated, it's evolution in action.

save some of your contempt for that lawyer in the oval office who is so committed to 'looking forward".

save more for the poor taxcows who imagined pressing the 'obama' button would bring real change. elections change faces, change lies, and change problems.

only referenda change laws beyond the reach of yoos and double - yoos, too bad americans haven't figured this out.