The very nature of our country is based upon plurality. The idea of a vast "melting pot" of cultures and ideas unified by the core belief of liberty, equality, and opportunity.

That's why I chafe at the idea of certain Americans being more "authentic" than others. All Americans are authentic Americans, and we all bring different ideas and approaches to our societal discourse.

The myth of the "rural" American as somehow being more "true" or "valid" is something cooked up by Republican identity politics thirty years ago- it was a way to sucker people into voting against their own self interest by buttering them up as somehow "better" than Americans who live in urban areas.

And what about all of those urban Americans? Don't most Americans actually live in urban centers? Last I read, they did. And their opinions are just as valuable as anyone else.

or as anyone with any sense would call it- Racketeering.

An unregulated financial market is exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. Financial firms played fast and loose and wrecked our economy by selling the country out from under us. But what did they care? They knew Uncle Sucker Sam would bail them out at a moments notice.

When I think of the Change I voted for in November, a good amount of that motivation was based upon an assumption that there would be a return to the rule of law. Part of that return is a necessary regulation of the financial industry to prevent this kind of full scale looting from happening again.

We need to make sure that our representatives in Congress actually do their jobs for once, and back this kind of reform. I'm aware that the banking industry "runs the place" but this kind of behavior from our financial sector is reckless and unsustainable. How can we, as consumers and citizens, have any faith in the financial sector when it's been blatantly run by loan sharks, robber barons, and the worst kind of greedy, subhuman scum?

They don't care about creating bubble after bubble, because they can always shunt that bailout money to the Cayman Islands. It's people like myself- who was laid off over three months ago in the fallout from these shenanigans- who get hit hardest when the bubble collapses.

There is no reason at all why we should trust any of these individuals, at Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan. Not after their psychopathic greed crashed the global economy. Tough and transparent regulation- regulation with real teeth- is the only way forward.

"We have the CIA flying drones killing people who we conceive to be combatants"

Well then, the question begs to be asked- How can you be SURE? Perception and reality are not always the same thing. And in light of how many innocent people we have rounded up and tortured...I mean, Interrogated. Advancely. over the past few years, how can we be absolutely sure that the 43 people we blew up in Pakistan had anything to do with the Taliban or Al Qaida?

Jesus Christ, this entire War on Terror is turning into the Vietnam war on a global scale. "Can't be sure if that Vietnamese is NVA or just a civilian. Better kill him just to make sure!"

We need a full, non-partisan investigation of this entire affair, whatever the outcome. This country has lost its mind. Only a return to the rule of law upon which it was founded will restore it to balance.

On this and many other issues, the Republicans in Congress don't give a damn about what is best for America. They care only about obstruction and antagonism, because they believe it endears them to their "base". Nevermind that they have NO ideas about how to solve the pressing crises this nation is facing. They only whine in opposition to every single one of the Democrats and Obama's plans.

It's not surprising that they would be against healthcare reform, as anything that doesn't allow massive amounts of cash to funnel into corporate executive pockets is automatically "Communist" or "Socialist" or "evil" or whatever shopworn 1950's phrase they're bandying about this week.

It illustrates something very profound, however- Obama and the Democratic members of Congress need to grow a goddamn spine and FIGHT for what needs to be done. They need to get over the idea of making nice with obstructionists who will never vote with them, no matter what the issue is. The Democrats have a majority now- they need to FUCKING USE IT!!!

"I pay my own way on, get this, an average income of 80k."

Lucky you! That's about twice what the average American makes in a year. Some people only make half that working two or three jobs. But I'm sure they don't make as much as you because they are lazy, or on welfare, or don't apply themselves, or don't pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or some other nonsense.

"I know a lot of you flaming liberals out there have sampled all that life has to offer, and now have health problems because of that. Choices have consequences."

Yeah, you're right. Like all of those people with hereditary or genetic conditions that strike them from out of the blue. Or people who get into car wrecks. Or get respiratory disorders from pollution. How smug can you get? You act like everyone who supports single-payer insurance is just some dried up hippie who drank, drugged and fornicated themselves into poor health. Not so!

It's your attitude- the "I've got mine, now screw all of you!" -that has plunged this country into the messes it now finds itself in.

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