winter wrote: 
Much like the brainwashed masses in Orwell's book, I don't see that happening.  The masses want to believe the illusions more than anything.  To believe otherwise is far too uncomfortable for people immersed in relative comfort.

 sirdroseph wrote:
  yep.

 oldslabsides wrote: 

I think that Orwell fella was on to something there.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Exactly my point. So if we reject the illusion - and we can always choose to do so - then the whole house of cards comes tumbling. We are never powerless.

 winter wrote: 

Yes.  It allows us the illusion that we matter in the great scheme of things.  An illusion of freedom and representation.  The masses have to be kept happy and the illusion of representative government is a relatively cheap means of maintaining a sense that things are as they should be.

1984

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
Kitties, ponies - tomato, cucumber.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Don't forget the kittehs!
 

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Then it's a necessary dog-and-pony show, or they'd do away with it.

Besides, I've worked for the bankers. Believe me, there's a LOT they'd change if they ran things.

 winter wrote: 
doesn't matter who is elected, they do the banker's bidding because the bankers finance them.  elections are a dog & pony show.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Not true. Either the elections matter because we're picking the pols, or Our Hidden Masters need to maintain the fiction so we don't revolt - either way, the ball's in our court.

 winter wrote: 
yes, bankers on one end, government on the other.  we haven't been part of the equation for a very long time.

 sirdroseph wrote: 
Because it's just not the case.

Power is a leash - a rope with a noose on each end.

 sirdroseph wrote: 
Exactly why I almost never engage in threads like this one.  People are arguing about what the trees are made of and how best to finance the fire fighting effort as the forest burns around them.  Or something like that.

 oldslabsides wrote: 

It is amazing how many people do not realize this as they bicker back and forth over liberal Democrats this and convservative Republican that; what a waste of time.

 oldslabsides wrote:
 
Of course you're right, I guess my HOPE was misplaced. We are so screwed. As disappointed as I am with our President, I cannot imagine how a GOP President would make things better, at least not for the hundreds of millions of Americans who still have to work to make ends meet. When GOP leaders fight against eliminating a tax break for corporate jets, you know they simply do not care about anybody but the wealthy.

I know the jet thing would only put about $2 billion back into the Treasury: a pittance against the debt we have. But how many teachers can $2 billion buy? How many children can be immunized against measles and polio? How many schools could stay open? Sure, it's ONLY $2 billion, but are our priorities so completely broken? Corporate jets are more important to the welfare of this country than educating our children? Is that really the message the GOP is sticking to?

Sure I'm pissed off at Obama, I think he has missed opportunities to call out the GOP on their policies (trickle-down supply siders? Hello? We have plenty of 'supply', you morons, what we don't have is any 'demand'.) But the alternative is too frightening to contemplate.

 cc_rider wrote: 

  why?  the bankers are his bosses - same as every president since the creation of the fed.

 romeotuma wrote:  Indeed. I am very disappointed in Obama's handling of the bankers, and his handling of the GOP, for that matter. Very disappointed.

 kurtster wrote: 
Oh Holy Smoked carp or crap.

  I am no Joe Walsh.

At no time would I deprive this country of Joe Walsh as President.

  I would willingly serve as the countries burrito czar however.

 As usual, I'm not really sure what I meant.

 So vote for me!

 

 bokey wrote: 
You are my man.  A man of transparent honesty. 

I now have someone else to vote for besides Joe Walsh.

You both play a decent guitar, that's all I need to know.