In Obama-Nation: The Angry Mob Rules
Did anyone learn about the dictatorship of the proletariat?
Just checking. Must have been a nightmare or something.
Let’s establish some common ground first. A handful of major corporations have made some dreadful decisions that have resulted in their unraveling and have not only cost thousands of jobs in their company but the spillover effect has damaged the economy at large. When a company is failing, how can anyone justify their top officials pocketing “performance” or “retention” bonuses?
Americans have plenty of reason to be angry. The “system” has brought us down. For all we’ve invested in 401k’s to have those assets devalued often cut in half and to have our jobs on the line are the kinds of things that ruin lives. Not since the late 1970’s and early 80’s have economic conditions been so bad for so many. Unemployment and inflation haven’t risen to what we saw back then, but lots of other things are as bad or worse.
It’s only natural to want to blame someone. The Republicans were the first scapegoat suffering miserably in the last election. John McCain looked out of touch and clueless on the affairs of peoples’ day-to-day life. How refreshing promises of “hope” and “change” must have sounded, but the public was too dazed to realize those were the words of a charlatan and thief quick to ignore the lack of experience and horrifying background of the person they’d elect.
How can folks not be angry at corporate America? We see poorly run companies in the hands of greedy fools who are making off with millions while thousands lose their jobs. Some of these companies average folk don’t even know just what they do like A.I.G., but if you’re receiving a long term disability check and they’re the company that issues that check, you know darned well who they are. The world of high power finance is in a free-fall with the most familiar components, the well-known banks being the most conspicuous casualties.
Let’s be clear, these big corporations deserve plenty of blame. Let’s include the auto industry, Chrysler and General Motors, had they not developed the reputation as companies peddling junk for years and built cars that people really want to drive, they wouldn’t be begging for money in Washington. Ford saw in coming and responded. The Japanese and Korean automakers are far more responsive to reality.
The challenge is to channel our anger into action that will lead to effective solutions. On that score, the American people are failing miserably. That the public could so enthusiastically fall for Barack Obama shows just how out of touch with reality the public is. Worse, our anger is being exploited by the forces least likely to contribute anything constructive to solving our problems but are heavily involved with what will make things much, much worse. The villains are the Obama White House, both houses of Congress with the Democrats leading the way but the Republicans so far are part of the problem too. Organized labor is flexing its muscle feeling boldly empowered with their puppets in the White House and on Capitol Hill. The news media is failing miserably telling the truth about what’s going on and is doing much more to fan the flames. Never has the Democratic party had a better opportunity to exploit their class warfare rhetoric. Right now, corporate America makes an easy target. Still, when the Democrats start talking of “rebuilding the middle class” and looking after “regular working people and their families” one has to wonder just what they have in mind.
Meanwhile, the base of the Democratic party, organized labor and radical left activists supporting all kinds of legislation to alter the structure of society and redistribute wealth are going wild. The first activity that showed the angry mob at work was in California in revolt against the peoples’ wishes. California voters sought to protect the sanctity of traditional marriage between a man and a woman by voting to amend the state’s constitution to make that definition clear. With a 79.42% voter turnout, 52.24% of California voters supported the amendment; 47.76 voted to defeat the amendment. The majority position was designed to put the measure beyond the reach of the California Supreme Court which had reversed a similar measure enacted as state law.
The opposition’s radical core’s response was astounding and terrifying. Quickly, they targeted individuals and organizations who supported defining the time honored definition of marriage of a man and a woman subjecting their opponents to all kinds of harassment from “outing” financial contributors who supported defeating the amendment to direct confrontation. Publishing their names provided a strategy to subject marriage supporters to a wide range of possible consequences in a community prone to political correctness. The Mormon and Catholic church even faced their activities being interrupted by the angry mob.
Where was strict law enforcement and a loud condemnation of these goon tactics?
The message is clear. Take a stand contrary to left wing orthodoxy or be employed by or support any organization or company that has offended them in any way, be ready to suffer the consequences. It didn’t take long for these “activists” or “organizers” (remember what Barack Obama’s background was before entering elected office?) to focus their attention on the financial chaos feeling embolden with their stooges in power.
The first chilling message came while A.I.G. Edward Liddy was facing his inquisition on Capitol Hill. Keep in mind, as this chaos broke loose, Liddy was retired. He returned to A.I.G. for a salary of $1 per year to help return order to the former insurance giant. Subjected to crass insults and insinuations by figures such as Barney Frank whose roll in this fiasco is as one of the key government villains, Liddy cautioned that A.I.G. employees were being subjected to around the clock harassment consisting of death threats, malicious phone calls, and other confrontation. The congressional panel appeared absolutely tone death in response to these concerns pressing their accusations while grandstanding and flaunting their power never acknowledging for one instant that maybe some of this (actually a good part of it) was a result of their conduct.
A.I.G. has taken extreme security measures to protect its employees at its corporate headquarters imploring its workers not to wear anything that would identify them as A.I.G. employees and to travel in pairs and park in well lit secured areas. The Fox News Network caught on camera the taunting and harassment people entering the A.I.G. headquarters faced entering their workplace by week’s end.
What the mob fails to understand is, most of these folks are just regular working folks like the rest of us and many of them fear for their jobs too. How off target, sick, and sadistic the radical left is encouraging this kind of misplaced rage.
Even worse, organized labor and activists groups have recruited bus trips to travel to the private residences of A.I.G. senior officials to subject them to the wrath of the angry mob. 40 mob madmen stopped at the residence of A.I.G. official Doug Poling who had already relinquished his bonus. While the Poling residence was singled out as one victim of the mob’s contempt, what is lost in the insanity is Polings’ contribution to charities and their community, the kinds of things wealthy folk do with little fanfare or self promotion, including a homeless shelter, theaters, and schools.
While any mob confronting private residents in the security of their homes is disturbing, it should be noted the larger mob was that of the members of the press covering the mob scene.
This mob activity raises some very difficult questions. Right or wrong, agree with them or not, protest is an important part of the American experience. Citizens should be encouraged to speak out and call attention to issues where they feel their life and liberty is threatened even if or especially when it goes against what appears to be the prevailing wisdom. The writer of this blog is proud to have been a highly visible activist involved in anti-Vietnam war protests. There is no denying the huge sea of humanity parading in Washington, DC and through out the nation helped turn the tables on the conduct of the Vietnam war as Martin Luther King’s activities particularly the huge Washington rally which served as the stage for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech was crucial in raising public consciousness to support long overdue civil rights reforms.
Surely it is appropriate to show anger and contempt against the companies that have squandered billions as one of the main driving forces behind the country’s economic downfall. However, how much do most citizens understand what’s going on in corporate America, the issues, and the accountability for the crisis. Watching the treasury department and congress in action, clearly they don’t know. The main media outlets are clueless and misleading. At times, watching financial analysts hash it out provides some insight, but even there, it’s too soon to snap to judgment on many issues. We know what companies are failing. We know some of the causes. We are well aware of some government policies which helped facilitate the problem and many officials in Washington who have benefitted tremendously through huge financial contributions from some of the biggest perceived villains in this mess.
In Washington, the media has long established the Republican party as the party most responsible for looking out for corporate interests with every negative connotation thrown in to taint public perception, while the Republicans have acted far from nobly, the best tool of investigation, “follow the money,” shows some disturbing evidence against some of the Democrats in the highest positions of power to deal with the financial crisis.
Where are the protesters surrounding Connecticut senator, Chris Dodd? Not only has his campaign received the largest sum of campaign funds from A.I.G. and mortgage interests, he is also the person responsible for amending out of recent aid legislation that would have forbidden the bonus payouts. Could there be any more obvious bold faced lies and denials until finally the evidence was so black and white he had to concede his action but naturally he blamed it on the “treasury” department allowing some to conclude it could have been the Bush treasury.
What about Barney Frank, one of the loudest, most mean spirited members of Congress who perhaps exceeds even Nancy Pelosi for his harsh partisan rhetoric and condemnation of anyone who’d dare criticize even in the most polite terms any of the baloney he supports? His portfolio benefits tremendously from banking and activists piggy banks. Examine the financial policies Mr. Barney has supported and their contribution to setting the stage for current financial woes, Barney Frank is one of the most villainous figures of all.
There’s much we don’t know about the causes and responsibility for our nation’s economic slide; however, several things stand out. Going back as far as during Jimmy Carter’s administration, Congress passed legislation loosening mortgage requirements subjecting lenders to higher risk. In the 1990’s, Congress passed many measures that changed the complex of the finance industry further diluting mortgage requirements and eliminating the separation of commercial and investment banks taking the secured environment of commercial banking and subjecting them to higher risks in a more speculative environment. Meanwhile, back in the late 1970’s, it was clear that our dependence on fossil fuel subjected our way-of-life to danger. The rising fuel costs and long gas lines created havoc across the nation demanding less dependence on foreign fuel and the hard work to develop alternatives. Soon, oil prices dropped, the amount of imported oil increased and exploration for alternative energy sources scaled back. Continued turmoil in the middle east including the upheaval in Lebanon, the Iran/Iraq war, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the first Gulf War, 9/11, a Marxist lunatic, Hugo Chavez taking power in Venezuela, the Iraq invasion, and mounting instability in Mexico, our number two source of foreign oil, could not get our oil industry or elected leaders moving toward a more secure, more self-sufficient energy market. Speculation, in part brought on by the freedoms granted the investment industry, and increased demand shot oil prices up to record highs pinching budgets causing over extended individuals and organizations to default on overdrawn credit (also a product of the financial “reforms” cited above), and before long the column of dominos and house of cards collapsed.
When assessing blame, the public should look in the mirror and see what each one of us has done to contribute to this mess. Paying more attention to the idiots we elect would be one place to start, but there are many other concerns on how and where we spend our money and how we manage it that deserve serious consideration. Fixing the nation’s problems starts with the responsible behavior of all citizens one person at a time.
The real culprits though reside in Washington, DC where the public trust has been auctioned off in favor of power and influence built up by trading favor with those with deep pockets who keep the incumbents in power and elect those most easily influenced by special interests. Special interest groups, organized labor, and giant corporations know what buttons to push and whose integrity is for sale. Ignore the rhetoric and look at the voting record, but so much of what is really going on is buried deep in budget bills where earmarks and set asides along with self-serving amendments are buried deep where they are difficult to reveal even under the most meticulous scrutiny. That the bailout bill could be completed late on a Thursday night and voted on the next afternoon should be no surprise and that elected officials vote on measures they’ve never considered, debated, or presented for public scrutiny demands far more wrath than the corporate executives who are receiving bonuses.
There’s far more to talk about on this subject but so much is still obscured.
Did anyone learn about the dictatorship of the proletariat?
Just checking. Must have been a nightmare or something.
Let’s establish some common ground first. A handful of major corporations have made some dreadful decisions that have resulted in their unraveling and have not only cost thousands of jobs in their company but the spillover effect has damaged the economy at large. When a company is failing, how can anyone justify their top officials pocketing “performance” or “retention” bonuses?
Americans have plenty of reason to be angry. The “system” has brought us down. For all we’ve invested in 401k’s to have those assets devalued often cut in half and to have our jobs on the line are the kinds of things that ruin lives. Not since the late 1970’s and early 80’s have economic conditions been so bad for so many. Unemployment and inflation haven’t risen to what we saw back then, but lots of other things are as bad or worse.
It’s only natural to want to blame someone. The Republicans were the first scapegoat suffering miserably in the last election. John McCain looked out of touch and clueless on the affairs of peoples’ day-to-day life. How refreshing promises of “hope” and “change” must have sounded, but the public was too dazed to realize those were the words of a charlatan and thief quick to ignore the lack of experience and horrifying background of the person they’d elect.
How can folks not be angry at corporate America? We see poorly run companies in the hands of greedy fools who are making off with millions while thousands lose their jobs. Some of these companies average folk don’t even know just what they do like A.I.G., but if you’re receiving a long term disability check and they’re the company that issues that check, you know darned well who they are. The world of high power finance is in a free-fall with the most familiar components, the well-known banks being the most conspicuous casualties.
Let’s be clear, these big corporations deserve plenty of blame. Let’s include the auto industry, Chrysler and General Motors, had they not developed the reputation as companies peddling junk for years and built cars that people really want to drive, they wouldn’t be begging for money in Washington. Ford saw in coming and responded. The Japanese and Korean automakers are far more responsive to reality.
The challenge is to channel our anger into action that will lead to effective solutions. On that score, the American people are failing miserably. That the public could so enthusiastically fall for Barack Obama shows just how out of touch with reality the public is. Worse, our anger is being exploited by the forces least likely to contribute anything constructive to solving our problems but are heavily involved with what will make things much, much worse. The villains are the Obama White House, both houses of Congress with the Democrats leading the way but the Republicans so far are part of the problem too. Organized labor is flexing its muscle feeling boldly empowered with their puppets in the White House and on Capitol Hill. The news media is failing miserably telling the truth about what’s going on and is doing much more to fan the flames. Never has the Democratic party had a better opportunity to exploit their class warfare rhetoric. Right now, corporate America makes an easy target. Still, when the Democrats start talking of “rebuilding the middle class” and looking after “regular working people and their families” one has to wonder just what they have in mind.
Meanwhile, the base of the Democratic party, organized labor and radical left activists supporting all kinds of legislation to alter the structure of society and redistribute wealth are going wild. The first activity that showed the angry mob at work was in California in revolt against the peoples’ wishes. California voters sought to protect the sanctity of traditional marriage between a man and a woman by voting to amend the state’s constitution to make that definition clear. With a 79.42% voter turnout, 52.24% of California voters supported the amendment; 47.76 voted to defeat the amendment. The majority position was designed to put the measure beyond the reach of the California Supreme Court which had reversed a similar measure enacted as state law.
The opposition’s radical core’s response was astounding and terrifying. Quickly, they targeted individuals and organizations who supported defining the time honored definition of marriage of a man and a woman subjecting their opponents to all kinds of harassment from “outing” financial contributors who supported defeating the amendment to direct confrontation. Publishing their names provided a strategy to subject marriage supporters to a wide range of possible consequences in a community prone to political correctness. The Mormon and Catholic church even faced their activities being interrupted by the angry mob.
Where was strict law enforcement and a loud condemnation of these goon tactics?
The message is clear. Take a stand contrary to left wing orthodoxy or be employed by or support any organization or company that has offended them in any way, be ready to suffer the consequences. It didn’t take long for these “activists” or “organizers” (remember what Barack Obama’s background was before entering elected office?) to focus their attention on the financial chaos feeling embolden with their stooges in power.
The first chilling message came while A.I.G. Edward Liddy was facing his inquisition on Capitol Hill. Keep in mind, as this chaos broke loose, Liddy was retired. He returned to A.I.G. for a salary of $1 per year to help return order to the former insurance giant. Subjected to crass insults and insinuations by figures such as Barney Frank whose roll in this fiasco is as one of the key government villains, Liddy cautioned that A.I.G. employees were being subjected to around the clock harassment consisting of death threats, malicious phone calls, and other confrontation. The congressional panel appeared absolutely tone death in response to these concerns pressing their accusations while grandstanding and flaunting their power never acknowledging for one instant that maybe some of this (actually a good part of it) was a result of their conduct.
A.I.G. has taken extreme security measures to protect its employees at its corporate headquarters imploring its workers not to wear anything that would identify them as A.I.G. employees and to travel in pairs and park in well lit secured areas. The Fox News Network caught on camera the taunting and harassment people entering the A.I.G. headquarters faced entering their workplace by week’s end.
What the mob fails to understand is, most of these folks are just regular working folks like the rest of us and many of them fear for their jobs too. How off target, sick, and sadistic the radical left is encouraging this kind of misplaced rage.
Even worse, organized labor and activists groups have recruited bus trips to travel to the private residences of A.I.G. senior officials to subject them to the wrath of the angry mob. 40 mob madmen stopped at the residence of A.I.G. official Doug Poling who had already relinquished his bonus. While the Poling residence was singled out as one victim of the mob’s contempt, what is lost in the insanity is Polings’ contribution to charities and their community, the kinds of things wealthy folk do with little fanfare or self promotion, including a homeless shelter, theaters, and schools.
While any mob confronting private residents in the security of their homes is disturbing, it should be noted the larger mob was that of the members of the press covering the mob scene.
This mob activity raises some very difficult questions. Right or wrong, agree with them or not, protest is an important part of the American experience. Citizens should be encouraged to speak out and call attention to issues where they feel their life and liberty is threatened even if or especially when it goes against what appears to be the prevailing wisdom. The writer of this blog is proud to have been a highly visible activist involved in anti-Vietnam war protests. There is no denying the huge sea of humanity parading in Washington, DC and through out the nation helped turn the tables on the conduct of the Vietnam war as Martin Luther King’s activities particularly the huge Washington rally which served as the stage for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech was crucial in raising public consciousness to support long overdue civil rights reforms.
Surely it is appropriate to show anger and contempt against the companies that have squandered billions as one of the main driving forces behind the country’s economic downfall. However, how much do most citizens understand what’s going on in corporate America, the issues, and the accountability for the crisis. Watching the treasury department and congress in action, clearly they don’t know. The main media outlets are clueless and misleading. At times, watching financial analysts hash it out provides some insight, but even there, it’s too soon to snap to judgment on many issues. We know what companies are failing. We know some of the causes. We are well aware of some government policies which helped facilitate the problem and many officials in Washington who have benefitted tremendously through huge financial contributions from some of the biggest perceived villains in this mess.
In Washington, the media has long established the Republican party as the party most responsible for looking out for corporate interests with every negative connotation thrown in to taint public perception, while the Republicans have acted far from nobly, the best tool of investigation, “follow the money,” shows some disturbing evidence against some of the Democrats in the highest positions of power to deal with the financial crisis.
Where are the protesters surrounding Connecticut senator, Chris Dodd? Not only has his campaign received the largest sum of campaign funds from A.I.G. and mortgage interests, he is also the person responsible for amending out of recent aid legislation that would have forbidden the bonus payouts. Could there be any more obvious bold faced lies and denials until finally the evidence was so black and white he had to concede his action but naturally he blamed it on the “treasury” department allowing some to conclude it could have been the Bush treasury.
What about Barney Frank, one of the loudest, most mean spirited members of Congress who perhaps exceeds even Nancy Pelosi for his harsh partisan rhetoric and condemnation of anyone who’d dare criticize even in the most polite terms any of the baloney he supports? His portfolio benefits tremendously from banking and activists piggy banks. Examine the financial policies Mr. Barney has supported and their contribution to setting the stage for current financial woes, Barney Frank is one of the most villainous figures of all.
There’s much we don’t know about the causes and responsibility for our nation’s economic slide; however, several things stand out. Going back as far as during Jimmy Carter’s administration, Congress passed legislation loosening mortgage requirements subjecting lenders to higher risk. In the 1990’s, Congress passed many measures that changed the complex of the finance industry further diluting mortgage requirements and eliminating the separation of commercial and investment banks taking the secured environment of commercial banking and subjecting them to higher risks in a more speculative environment. Meanwhile, back in the late 1970’s, it was clear that our dependence on fossil fuel subjected our way-of-life to danger. The rising fuel costs and long gas lines created havoc across the nation demanding less dependence on foreign fuel and the hard work to develop alternatives. Soon, oil prices dropped, the amount of imported oil increased and exploration for alternative energy sources scaled back. Continued turmoil in the middle east including the upheaval in Lebanon, the Iran/Iraq war, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the first Gulf War, 9/11, a Marxist lunatic, Hugo Chavez taking power in Venezuela, the Iraq invasion, and mounting instability in Mexico, our number two source of foreign oil, could not get our oil industry or elected leaders moving toward a more secure, more self-sufficient energy market. Speculation, in part brought on by the freedoms granted the investment industry, and increased demand shot oil prices up to record highs pinching budgets causing over extended individuals and organizations to default on overdrawn credit (also a product of the financial “reforms” cited above), and before long the column of dominos and house of cards collapsed.
When assessing blame, the public should look in the mirror and see what each one of us has done to contribute to this mess. Paying more attention to the idiots we elect would be one place to start, but there are many other concerns on how and where we spend our money and how we manage it that deserve serious consideration. Fixing the nation’s problems starts with the responsible behavior of all citizens one person at a time.
The real culprits though reside in Washington, DC where the public trust has been auctioned off in favor of power and influence built up by trading favor with those with deep pockets who keep the incumbents in power and elect those most easily influenced by special interests. Special interest groups, organized labor, and giant corporations know what buttons to push and whose integrity is for sale. Ignore the rhetoric and look at the voting record, but so much of what is really going on is buried deep in budget bills where earmarks and set asides along with self-serving amendments are buried deep where they are difficult to reveal even under the most meticulous scrutiny. That the bailout bill could be completed late on a Thursday night and voted on the next afternoon should be no surprise and that elected officials vote on measures they’ve never considered, debated, or presented for public scrutiny demands far more wrath than the corporate executives who are receiving bonuses.
There’s far more to talk about on this subject but so much is still obscured.
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