The news coming almost daily about the GOP’s concerns and actions to restrict Women’s rights are simply flabbergasting!
Within just one single week we have:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): introduced the Heartbeat Consent Act, which would force Women to listen to the heartbeat of their Fetus as part of the official consent to abortion.
Joe Pitts (R-PA): “Let Women Die” Act, which, among other things, permits doctors and hospitals to “exercise their conscience” by letting pregnant women facing emergency medical conditions die.
Jim DeMint (R-SC): adds Amendment to a completely unrelated bill to abolish the right for Women and Doctors to communicate about Abortion on the Internet – What is next, phone tapping to make sure you are not talking about it?
Rick Santorum announces that, were he President, he would work hard to make contraception illegal.
What planet are these people from? Let me be clear: I do not believe that abortion is a good thing. I thank the stars that I have never been forced to be faced with such a decision. However, I am absolutely for the right to make that choice. As for the idea of abolishing contraception – can Burqas be far behind?
I wanted to write about something amusing today but got sidetracked by a number of posts coming up on G+ about the Wall Street protests. So, instead, I have pulled together some information:
The Guardian about the arrests of 500+ protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge.
In connection with the protests, there have been questions about the docility of Americans, first: Howard Zinn said they are too docile:
“ Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”
“Sadly, this myth of the self-made man – with its emphasis on the importance of individual action and responsibility – has instilled within the American psyche a sense of social isolation and disconnectedness that makes it virtually impossible for many Americans to comprehend the importance and effectiveness of collective action when needed to pursue common goals. Unlike the French, who in addition to the idea of liberty, have embraced the values of equality and fraternity, the latter two concepts remain utterly alien to this country’s political vocabulary. “
This image was shared this afternoon by Michael Mozart who is widely followed on Google+ and covering the Wallstreet occupation closely.
I have not been able to find any further information about such intimidation. However, the fact that the american media are obviously very reluctant to report about this, and we know what kind of pressure is brought to bear on employees “team player”, “taking one for the team”, “loyalty” etc. I can fully believe that this young man was sincere.
CNN on Sun. Oct.2nd 2011 – no mention of anything at all on the US Page – nothing to see her folks, move along.
At least FOX News has an insert “below the fold” of the arrests-
To get halfway decent reporting about this you will probably need to go to The Guardian. I am sorry to say that Austrian papers are also ignoring this.
Update: there are some interesting interviews with Chris Hedges about the occupation here.
Today, one of our most respected daily newspapers, Der Standard, had an article entitled “Jeder 7. Americaner lebt in Armut” - Every 7th American lives in poverty”.
man pulling belongings in shopping cart while tourists get the happy story
According to the recently published report by the census bureau, 15% of americans live below the poverty level. It also showed that the the statistical average male with a job earns as much today as he did in 1969 (income adjusted for inflation). This would seem to say that income in the middle class has not changed in the last 40 years.
By the same token, the top 2 percent of the income pyramid today has 3/4 more income than 40 years ago. So, while the one, large group has not had any real increase, the top 2 percent will soon have doubled their income.
These statistics are borne out by the Article in the New York Times from Sunday, Sept. 4th that I shared here: Good summary of economic changes in the last 100 years. Interestingly the article in today’s DerStandard seems to blame some of this on the crisis of 2008/2009 – saying that not enough recovery has happened to be of use to the average person.
Well, no. When the super rich are planing floating cities to avoid all contact with the hoi polloi*, when luxury goods companies like Hermès and Louis Vuitton have earnings increases in 2010 and 20111 of over 20% – then clearly, growth is taking place, but it is not “trickling down”. Maybe it is because the corporate taxes in the US are ridiculously low? And who benefits from that? The same shareholders, who then pay less income taxes than the schmucks driving their limousines.
As my post from last week showed, even the Harvard Business Review sees problems ahead if this course is not changed. Maybe at some point even the most avid believers in “freedom” will understand that there are, and must be limits to pure, unadulterated economic selfishness. Let that day come soon!
* hoi polloi is an antiquated term for "the masses" and I have always wanted to use it somewhere
For the first time ever, I find myself in total agreement with Ron Paul wow!
Check out his statement regarding the “anniversary” of 9/11 . Everything here I can agree with. No matter what else you may think about his views, and his past statements – this was a sensible statement that surely took courage to make.
It seems that he also mentioned it at the last CNN/Tea Party debate and was roundly booed for it.
Two things stand out for me here:
1. Does Ron Paul really want to go there? He must remember the reception this stance received during the primaries of 2007 – being made ridiculous by Giuliani and others. He was accused of changing his mind then, of being unpatriotic and whatnot – and he really wants to repeat the experience? No matter what else, you have to admire his courage and character for standing by his beliefs in the face of hysteria. Which brings us to:
2. Now is this a case of the revolution devouring its own children? (or its godfather?) Compared with the surreal arguments, groups and shouting of the Tea Party in 2011, the responses in 2007 seemed measured and rational. So when will the grown-ups in the Republican Party wake up, smell the manure and react? Maybe we should ask if there are any grown-ups left in the GOP. It certainly does not seem to be the case.
This image was shared this afternoon by 
