[Prairiegreens-org] Re: [Peace-discuss] Inclusive PresidentialDebates

Thu Jul 10 07:31:33 CDT 2008

!981 was the year Ronald Reagan took office, which began the institutional assualt by corporate interests against our ; 
Standard of Living ( distribution of income, social services, workers wages and benefits, de-regulation of the media, airlines, trucking,etc., ) 
Re-emergence of a bellicose and imperialistic foreign policy,
The begining of the chiping away of our civil liberties, and the list goes on.

I had my differences with the presidetial policies of Jimmy Carter, but from 1975 -1980 things were begining to finally head in the correct direction in this country after Watergate, the Vietnam war, etc.
Until the the corporate forces and the right-wing began to re-group and helped get Ronald Reagan elected. The corporate media had a significant role in this ( after they had a few shinning moments in the early 1970's with The Pentagon Papers, Watergate investigation, the coverage ofThe Church Committe Hearings ).
When the Iranian hostage crisis began and the then oil price crisis ( which is nothing compared to now ), every single night on the news ; day 72, day 145, day 271, the entire time the hostages were held, blaming Jimmy Carter for incompetence, etc.
Compare that to the softening and defense of Bush or even Ronald Reagan at the time by the media.

Anyway, the election of Ronald Reagan began a corporate offensive against us and our institutions which has continued without interuption, yes even under Clinton, and as far as I can tell will continue under Obama.

Don't get me wrong, I hope Obama does beat McCain, but as far as fundamental " CHANGE " for the better for the average citizen of this country, Obama is NOT going to save us. 
He will only do the right thing if WE force him to !

David J. 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John W. 
  To: jencart13 at yahoo.com 
  Cc: unionyes ; Peace-discuss List 
  Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 1:51 AM
  Subject: Re: [Prairiegreens-org] Re: [Peace-discuss] Inclusive PresidentialDebates

  On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 1:13 AM, Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com> wrote:

          David J,

          Yes, an excellent (and depressing) summary. What did you mean by, "And then people wonder why nothing has changed for the better in this country since 1981." What was going on in 1981?

           --Jenifer

  Probably the most significant thing is that Reagan took office.

          --- On Wed, 7/9/08, John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com> wrote:

            From: John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com>

            Subject: Re: [Prairiegreens-org] Re: [Peace-discuss] Inclusive PresidentialDebates
            To: "unionyes" <unionyes at ameritech.net>
            Cc: "Peace-discuss List" <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
            Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 9:55 PM

            Excellent summary, Dave.  You're absolutely right.

            John W.

            On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 4:21 PM, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net> wrote:

              Walter is absolutely correct, when he gives the example of Europe and other countries outside of Europe.

              In Germany ( the country I know the most about since my wife is a German National ) and most other Western European countries, elections are significantly more " free and fair ".
              For Instance ;

              1) Everyone is AUTOMATICALY a registered voter the day they turn 18.

              2) Elections are held on Sunday, when 95 % of people do not work.

              3) It is illegal for candidates to buy radio and television ads. All candidates are given the same air-time via candidate panel discussions every Sunday for up to six weeks before the elections.

              4) Last but not least, there is proportional representation, usually with a 5% threshhold ( a political party receives 5.5 % of the votes, they get 5.5 % of the seats in the parliament or congress. 

              Compare that to what we have here.

              We DO NOT have a democracy. We have the illusion of a democracy with the choices made for us, as to which two candidates are acceptable to corporate interests. This is accomplished via corporate campaign contributions, which buys air time ( no money, no air time ).

              We have a corporate controlled media that benefits financially from the candidate purchased ads and a psuedo public radio / televion network that is also primarily controlled by corporate money.

              We have a Presidential Debates Commission that is a private corporation controlled by the DNC and the RNC, that has the " right " to exclude anyone they want.
              Remember, until the 2000 elections, the debates were conducted by the League of Women Voters.

              We have massive voter disenfranchisement and obstacles to register to vote. Every state with different laws and no federal rights to vote.

              And since the 2000 election, massive voting fraud via electronic voting machines, that are also corporate controlled. Election officials cannot access the machines under penalty of fines and prosecution.

              On top of all this, there is the daily exclusion, distortion, etc. by the corporate media of facts about issues, whats going on in other countries in regards to how they have solved certian problems that we currently have, etc..
              Then when a candidate does come along that refuses corporate money and is willing to speak out about real issues, and is getting some support in the populace, you get the constant spin, over and over and over again, that said candidate " doesn't have a chance to win " , which then becomes a self-fulfilled prophecy with the electorate, thanks to the so called " news programs ".

              Unfortunately the Nazi Propoganda Minister Goebels was right, when he said ; " A lie repeated often enough, will eventually be accepted as the truth by most people. "

              I don't mean to be pestimistic, but this is our reality. And then people wonder why nothing has changed for the better in this country since 1981.

              David J. 

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