Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[Munson]

education reform and college tuition was another big topic, at least on my priority list since i have school aged kids who are not far from being college aged kids.     

I love the fact that he is pushing so hard for support of community colleges. State and Private Universities have become a Big Business of their own with ever increasing tuitions that put students in debt for decades. There is literally only one competetive force (from an economic standpoint) in the country that could start to act as a counter-balance to that and it is the system of community colleges. They provide inexpensive education and if resources are pumped into them they can act as true competition to bigger universities and hopefully, maybe, possibly start to bring the cost of education down to a reasonable level.

While I agree 1000% that Community colleges should be supported, it opens the door for corruption.  Where i live, the county has a Community College which is basically funded money that should go to the school system, and instead it goes to the college thanks to the buddy buddy system these hicks have.

This is a smaller view, just my podunk area that angers me since my wife works in the school system, and they get shafted while the Community College gets addition after addition added.   

Are you talking about Cecil? I've heard that place is pretty zesty.

[Seabiscuit36]

yeah, its the good ol' boy system too where all the money gets allocated to the college over the rest of the county schools.  So they skimp on school programs, and instead built the Technology center, which no one goes to .

[rjs246]

I'm ashamed to say that I stole this commentary from someone, but it got a chuckle out of me so suck on it.

In the wake of last week's Supreme Court decision, Murray Hill, Inc. is literally (semi-satirically) running for Congress. This piece of corporate property is entitled to civil rights in the eyes of the Supreme Court, so perhaps Murray Hill Inc. ought to be able to vote and get married too. But what if Murray marries... another guy-corporation? Gay corporate marriage? What then, Samuel Alito?

Link to actual story...

[ice grillin you]

im ashamed and embarrassed to say that samuel alito is a phillies season ticket holder and a huge fan

[PhillyGirl]

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/obamas-sotu-clintonian-in-good-way.html

Interesting read

[rjs246]

(Stolen from Matt...)

Just in case anyone was worried that massive corporations and the uber-wealthy didn't have enough political power, the Supreme Court just ensured that they will be buying elections for the foreseeable future.

Washington Post editorial...

[Munson]

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-vast-majority-of-government-deficits-people-hate-was-caused-by-the-bush-era-2010-2

[rjs246]

Anyone paying attention to the Toyota witch-hunt? It's a sneaky, protectionist movement that is directly benefitting the US auto-industry. A significant portion of the auto sales that Toyota is losing is going to Ford. Great for our economy, so I'm not really complaining, but I haven't really seen anyone talk about that angle. A hit to Toyota's reputation is beneficial to US companies and the political powers are pushing the subject pretty hard right now...

[Seabiscuit36]

yeah, kinda sickening how GM/Ford are dealing with it, and how the NTSB said to not drive at all now until its fixed.  As a toyota owner, i love my 4 runner, and have been beyond suprised by how nice it is, and this doesnt affect my my opinion of Toyota. 

[rjs246]

Tea Party Convention opening speaker kicks off the celebration with overtly racist and inflammatory remarks.

The former congressman from Colorado and 2008 Republican presidential candidate blasted President Obama, saying "people who could not even spell the word 'vote', or say it in English, put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House. His name is Barack Hussein Obama."

Wow.

[Seabiscuit36]

they're a bunch of morons. 

Also, Unemployment dropped to 9.7%

[rjs246]

they're a bunch of morons.  

Based on the evidence I've seen I would agree, but the idea is at least defensible. The problem is that they focus on the wrong things. The government is wildly ineffecient in the way it spends money and that is what should be addressed. Blindly screaming that the government spends too much, and arguing that they should cut services, only serves political motives rather than actually encouraging fiscal responsibility and progress.

[Butchers Bill]

The problem is that they focus on the wrong things. The government is wildly ineffecient in the way it spends money and that is what should be addressed. Blindly screaming that the government spends too much, and arguing that they should cut services, only serves political motives rather than actually encouraging fiscal responsibility and progress.

Unfortunately when you get your "news" from the likes of Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh et al., a good message becomes corrupt and perverted to the point where no one will listen to you.

The fact is that government spending has been out of control since Reagan, neither party is willing to address it, and the current situation is totally untenable.  The US dollar is going to be worthless within 5 years at the current pace, and we will officially join league of nations that has hyperinflation, high unemployment, and a devastated infrastructure.

Obama cannot and will not save the US economy, and another Dem or Republican can't either.  Both sides are so corrupt at this point the only way to save the US is a revolution or an overwhelming third party victory.  This is not just hyperbole, this is a fact.  Since Nixon "opened" China in the 70's there has been a slow and painful transfer of employment and wealth to third world nations that the US generally pisses on.  There is no economy in the US anymore.  Service economies cannot sustain themselves because they are built on finance and fake paper.  You have about a 30-40 year window in that economy and we are at the end of that now.

Buy commodities (gold, silver, wheat futures, other precious metals) now...at least more responsible nations will still trade those after the US collapse.

[Susquehanna Birder]

The original "tea party" mentality was to shake off the government saddle and put down the corruption. Unfortunately, the swelling public support is too juicy for the power whores to ignore. They are latching onto the movement, watering it down, and making a mockery of it.

[ice grillin you]

the problem with the tea party movement is that other than anti spending just about every single other belief they hold is non progressive non inclusive borderline insane and hateful

even if you have a singular respectable stance on something it will never get taken seriously when you mix it in with a potpourri of nonsense

kind of like if the kkk was pro enviroment