Robin Hood Is Dead

Saturday 12 February 2011

by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

Robin Hood Is Dead
(Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: krnlpanik, Alex Thompson)

The streets of Cairo were alive with jubilation on Friday after the announcement that Hosni Mubarak had finally surrendered to the inevitable and lit out of town. After more than two weeks of protest, tension and sheer grit, the deal went down and the air rang with shouts of victorious joy.

In America, by contrast, all was quiet. The rich got richer, the poor got poorer, millions of people went without work, and the “news” media kept everyone up to date on the latest criminal doings of Lindsey Lohan.

...but but but...

Things are better in America than they are in Egypt.

Right?

Right?

Well, let’s see.

Corporations are people, and they own the news. Money is speech. We are fighting wars in Eurasia and Eastasia simultaneously. It’s cheaper to die if you get sick, unless you’re a car, in which case you are required to have insurance. Rape isn’t rape anymore, if you ask the right people. Being gay means the Bill of Rights isn’t for you. Having brown skin is original sin. Guns don’t kill people. Keep your damn government hands off my Medicare. Clean water is a socialist plot. The polar caps totally aren’t melting and stuff. Have some seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Visit the 9th Ward in New Orleans. Your vote counts, especially in Ohio and Florida. American citizens don’t get “disappeared,” except for Jose Padilla...remember him? He doesn’t.

...but but but...

Hosni Mubarak was a dictator who stole elections and reigned with an iron fist for 30 years. America isn’t like that.

Right?

Right?

Ronald Reagan took office thirty years ago. He was a product of General Electric and the “defense” industry, right down to his dyed roots. George H.W. Bush, a subsidiary of the Carlyle Group, followed. Clinton took him down so as to deliver NAFTA, GATT, and The Telecommunications Act. Then came Al Gor…oh, wait, right, another Bush, who was his own man, the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with, because he wasn’t running anything. Cheney, on the other hand, was still getting paid by Halliburton/KBR while in office, and yeah...he was the boss. Or was he?

So, yeah, who’s been in charge?

Hm.

Nobody knows Pharaoh better than Egyptians. Those nifty stone triangles soaring out of the soil give testament to the benefits of absolute power, slave labor, and why it’s good to be the king. Everyone thinks Pharaoh went away thousands of years ago – it’s in the textbooks, so it must be true – but the fact of the matter is Pharaoh yet remains, and has no interest whatsoever in letting his people go. Pharaoh is ExxonMobil, BP, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon…yeah, any corporate entity dealing in oil, bombs and/or bullets is rich beyond the dreams of avarice, even in the current crummy economy…or should I say thanks to the current crummy economy.

Yes?

Indeed.

Who runs America?

Not you. Not me.

Know how I know?

I know because Barack Obama is the President of the United States. Like Bush, Clinton, Bush and Reagan before him, Barack Obama is running the show. He is in charge. He spoke oh so eloquently on Friday about Egyptian freedom, change, and the new normal in the Middle East. Barack Obama is the place where the buck stops. Hope and Change and all that good stuff.

So, yeah, “This is the way democracy works,” he said. Like he would know. Like any of us would know. Ours is a tepid, controlled, managed failure of a democracy, if the streets of Cairo are any clue.

Know how I know?

President Obama is preparing to slash home heating aid to the poorest of the poor in order to get an “Atta boy!” from the GOP that will never, ever, ever, ever, ever come. He is likewise preparing to slash environmental protections while on bended knee to economic fallacies proffered by right-wing fools. He has done nothing, but nothing, but nothing, except to give long luxurious back-rubs to the criminal bastards who stripped us of our future. He has made sure those with money will keep their money and make more besides, but for those with no job and no hope and no heat, well…there’s always suicide, I suppose. Maybe you can move to Egypt, if Pharaoh lets you.

Who runs America?

Yeah.

I thought so.

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Comments

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Really? Are you suggesting

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:05 — Anonymous (not verified)

Really? Are you suggesting we rise?

Cus it'd be about damn time.

Yeah but as long as we're

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:07 — Anonymous (not verified)

Yeah but as long as we're kept abreast of the status of the Atlanta housewives and we can watch sports on the weekend, it's all good.

Still no evidence that the

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:10 — Isocrat (not verified)

Still no evidence that the pyramids were actually constructed using slave labour at all. That little bit of information comes only from the Bible and - more specifically - a part of the Bible which finds zero evidence in historic record. Aside from that...

Democracy works quite well in the United States. It works in splendid form. Democracy is not a guarantee toward a liberal nation or even a free nation. Democracy is - in its most pure form - a tyranny of the masses. Similarly, the Republic is alive and well and healthy too. The Republic is nothing more than the tyranny of the few.

A Democratic Republic? A tyranny of the few empowered by a tyranny of the masses. And the masses in the United States have spoken time and time again. This is what the masses want. What we have right now is what they want. Maybe enough people -say- they want something else, but actions do speak more loudly than words. So yeah. Democracy is working exactly as it is meant to work.

If there is one iconic

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:10 — Giovanna Lepore (not verified)

If there is one iconic image, if not one iconic individual to rally against our collective rage then it is Wall Street. Let's shut it down with millions of us and bring this Wall of Western "civilization" down! Our demands must include the total resignation of not only the government wedded to the business elites but a new constitution where the people rule. A NEW Bill of Rights which states that people, not corporations, have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness BUT ALSO the right to economic security. And yes, socialism for the PEOPLE NOT the corporations for the central disease of the very founding of this nation was this mercantile mentality, this notion of commodifying everything in nature and all human beings and it must perish! Let's ring in Earth Day., April 22 with real hope and change!

"...the central disease of

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 14:07 — Michael G (not verified)

"...the central disease of the very founding of this nation was this mercantile mentality, this notion of commodifying everything in nature and all human beings and it must perish!"

That's a big part of it, that and the fact that most of the authors and signers of the Constitution were rich people.

Well now we know better. So how long does it take change to arrive once we know better? The Egyptian youth have one idea about it, and so far it appears to be working.

Quite so; but what's to do?

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:04 — Ancient Londoner (not verified)

Quite so; but what's to do? People have to be getting desperate to do as the Egyptians are doing now - or the Hungarians did in 1956...
Americans (and Britishers) are demonstrably not yet desperate.

So... tell us something we

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:34 — Anonymous (not verified)

So... tell us something we don't know.

William, you're so not alone

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:43 — AML (not verified)

William, you're so not alone in your frustration. Wealth would not be seen as evil if the wealthy weren't greedy as well. There are so many ways that we can ALL prosper, and yet it's portrayed as the "haves" and the "have nots". The tax laws have favored the top 2% for so long, we don't even talk about what an outrage that is. Why should millionaires only pay 15% income taxes, and the middle class pay 35%?
Then they have the nerve to go after the only program that has a surplus and is not part of "spending"- Social Security!!!
Pardon me while I rant..... but I totally agree, and wistfully watch the events unfold in Egypt and envy their joy.

You don't need guns to

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:46 — Bob (not verified)

You don't need guns to control sheeple, media works quite well. From the lies your (ignorant) parents tell you to the school propaganda to your first Disney sales cartoons to the constant barrage of hustle you will experience all your life in America, I'm amazed anyone can be sane & rational. Even your religion is commercialized, your popular culture is crap, your McFood is unfit for human consumption. Even PBS is payed for by the Koch's & Monsanto. The country started in genocide & not much has changed over the years. You are all "free" though to sleep under the bridge. Hope the Chinese empire will be better for the grandkids but I doubt it; then again, they have built the first paved road from the North to the South of Africa, something whitey could not accomplish in 400 years.

Lindsay Lohan is a sick

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:48 — Anonymous (not verified)

Lindsay Lohan is a sick woman, and needs help, not ridicule. She probably wouldn't accept help, but she still should not be ridiculed.

Excellent . . . and

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:05 — Tom Camfield (not verified)

Excellent . . . and succinct. Unfortunately, the self-absorbed oblivions who make up such a large segment of our population don't want to hear this sort of talk.

. . . or any mention of the vicious ever-growing circle of destruction that has been brought on my global warming!

The

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:06 — Anonymous (not verified)

The pyramids-built-by-slave-labor is Hollywood, actually, not the Bible or history. But aside of that, this is the cold truth. Wish it were being read by the people who need it, not the "choir".

Another difference between Egypt and the US is that Egyptians have never been fooled by their govt-controlled media. For years they sneered at it and laughed and made jokes. Perhaps that's where we need to start.

How many unfortunate

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:09 — Tom Camfield (not verified)

How many unfortunate everyday Americans can't afford the comfortable pandering of rehab centers?

They are the ones more deserving of compassionate help.

Who runs America? The United

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:48 — hbro (not verified)

Who runs America?
The United States Government of course.
But, as the US has become a "Banana Republic", the important question is, "Who owns the United States Government?"
Answer: The United States is a colony of the modern day empires, the 100 or so largest international banks and corporations.Our government is their property because, instead of conquering with armies, they bought and paid for it.
So - the President, Congress and the Supreme Court make up a Colonial Government.
They know their masters and they serve them well.
We maintain the myths of American exceptionalism and representative democracy so we don't have to face reality.
Like Ancient Rome we are distracted by bread and circuses.
And the self destruction of pretty little rich girls is a favorite entertainment.

To Mr. Jack Licursi: I can

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:51 — sassyfafa (not verified)

To Mr. Jack Licursi:
I can tell you what's gotten better in the last 50 years: American women's lives, for a start. Childbirth. Equal treatment under the law. Credit access (I wouldn't have to ask in 2011, as I did in 1978, for my ex- husband's co-signature to get a credit card from a local bank even though I was working full time and supporting his two children on a school teacher's salary with almost no help from him.) Women are governors and representatives and senators and Supreme Court justices. Today, I'm a Full Professor at one of America's finest universities, and I can demand equal pay and speak my mind without fear of reprisal. Many things are better today, and some things are worse. But here's the truth from my perspective: Pre-1961? Those were the bad old days.

Our president is a brilliant and well-intentioned man who's doing his best to deal with a very bad situation in this country. He knows, as all mature people do, that he must act with caution and pick his battles if he is to protect the interests of the American people. Only teenagers think that every problem has a simple solution and every issue is either black or white. There is both truth and exaggeration in what Mr. Pitt says, but your truth, Mr. Licursi, is that you need to grow up. And, yes, the American people need to wake up too.

If these so-called

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:57 — Anonymous (not verified)

If these so-called corporations or these people of wealth had any love or loyalty to our country--they should not have any qualms about paying their fair share of taxes, instead of hiding their money or going through all these loop-holes, just to avoid paying taxes. Too bad that GREED has taken over!!

Mass murderers bush/ cheney-

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:01 — tioche (not verified)

Mass murderers bush/ cheney- never elected; and obomber- his nothing is to continue with the mass murder of thousands- for amerikan Imperialism !

Thank you Mr. Pitt. This

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:01 — Jeff Syrop (not verified)

Thank you Mr. Pitt. This essay is as true as a report by a completely unbiased extraterrestrial sociologist sending information about Earth back to his home planet. It will be a long time before we're able to rise up like the Egyptians did, taking on the Empire's Machine with their bare hands in an insane, brave display of human spirit. Half of us didn't even vote to stop George Bush in 2004, let alone impeach the greatest enemy America had ever faced: killed our soldiers, robbed our treasury, despoiled our land, turned our allies against us = the actual definition of enemy, an enemy as bad or worse than the communists we feared, during the Cold War, would infiltrate our nation and ruin it.

My e-mail

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:04 — Jeff Syrop (not verified)

My e-mail is:
jeffsyrop@zenhell.com

Raw vegan can be found in

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:07 — JadeQueen (not verified)

Raw vegan can be found in Portland, as in London, where Janine Benyus recently dined with a guy from the Hawken/Lovins speakers' bureau. Oprah is back to telling people they can eat vegetables, after the beef industry sued her for letting a recovering flesh-o-holic talk. The federal government is owned by Monsanto, but last I heard, their stock was diving. The Egyptians made a wide and deep target. They lost 300, but who knows if those were leaders. The leaders were not wearing signs of specialness. The U.S. does not have a central square. Who can afford to travel 3,000 miles to be put in a private prison? Funny thread though. U.S. people throw good fits.

If you want the power back,

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:13 — Anonymous (not verified)

If you want the power back, stop driving stop shopping and stop paying your mortgage.

The thing that really

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:24 — Ron Kushner (not verified)

The thing that really disturbs me is the acceptance by the federal, state and local political apparatuses as well as the press (and hence a large majority of the public) that, because of the recession, governments are running out of money and essential services have to be cut as a consequence. The cost is being born by those who can least afford it - the poor and the working middle class. The "brothers' keeper" mentality that represented the bulk of America, at least until the 80's, has disappeared and a much more selfish and cruel mentality has emerged in its stead. Federal, state and local budgets would be in much better shape if the political establishment and the press had the courage and will to point out that a greater tax contribution by those best able to afford it would solve the crisis. But there seems to be an inability and an unwillingness on their part to point out that the quality of life of a very large segment of America is suffering and will continue to deteriorate because of the greed of the few. Where are the Edward R. Murrows and Edward Kennedys of today? Has the plutocracy finally arrived?

This country was born as the

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 18:34 — Anonymous (not verified)

This country was born as the people in the Colonies threw off the rule of the king and his rich corporate friends who were taxing and cheating the colonists into poverty. Some of the rich living here moved to Canada.

The Founding Fathers worked very hard to develop our Constitution which was designed to stop the abuses the colonists had been suffering. It is a brilliant document, but it has to be known, respected and followed to work.

Do the Egyptians need a Constitution? We might as well give them ours; we are not using it.

Our President, the House and Senate and the Supreme Court all use it for toilet paper.

Let's keep our Constitution and flush all those whose job it is to carefully follow it, but don't know it, respect it or follow it.

"Democracy is - in its most

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 18:47 — MNGeezer (not verified)

"Democracy is - in its most pure form - a tyranny of the masses." The only people who believe that bullshit are the few who actually are responsible for the world's tyranny. Democracy has never seen the light of day in the United States or the Americas, for that matter. The rich, powerful elites who run both parties, the media, and the world's corporations have been in charge since 1776 and will be there until they and their banking system is run off of the planet.

Maybe its time to just do

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 19:40 — Anonymous (not verified)

Maybe its time to just do what the French did to the King and Queen. The guillotine.

A large part of the American

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 20:01 — Anonymous (not verified)

A large part of the American disease is a cluster of delusions surrounding the right to own property in the means of production.

Invariably, whenever the Socialist left shows signs of life, a lot of fake progressives start to cry about the nasty Left/Right dichotomy, and how we need a Good Man to show us a Third Way.

Only a few years ago, this drivel was attached to the now-completely-exploded John McCain. At this delusional yap is being ginned up around Ron Paul and his skull-bashing filth of a son.

As long as the disgruntled are chasing this well-aged herring, true progressivism will be dead on the launching pad.

Ah yes! America is going

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 20:15 — AH_Melb (not verified)

Ah yes! America is going thru hard times and needs lots of money to put it right. Can I suggest not spending hirendous amounts of money on fighting wars overseas, that would sort all your problems and more, however your corporations might suffer a bit and will loose some control over the masses (poor people are so much easier to control). As for the debate on Democracy, I get the impression democracy is just a way of buying power! After all if some people(corporations) have more wealth in a wealth based system then it follows that they will have more power. Next step is to sell voting rights, or is that the case now?

"President Obama is

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 21:35 — Anonymous (not verified)

"President Obama is preparing to slash home heating aid to the poorest of the poor in order to get an “Atta boy!” from the GOP that will never, ever, ever, ever, ever come."

I've said it before: Obama is a Republican. Please listen. He's worst than a Republican, because he appeals to the Left when he needs a boost in ratings, something no honest Republican would do.

Amen, William. I look with

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 22:03 — Anonymous (not verified)

Amen, William. I look with envy at the Egyptian people, able to get out into the streets and within a month, force Mubarak out of power.

Why can't we do that with Congress? They are sold out to the corporations, with representatives who promise and betray us on everything from the economy, these endless wars, heathcare, education, housing and homelessness, you name it.

Americans should be out in the streets demanding that just about every single one of them taking dirty money be out on the streets on their butts. Lining up for unemployment they won't receive, healthcare they won't receive, and every one of their spoiled children off to a public school in the worst neighborhoods followed by a bloody stint in the Middle East.

We are being ruled by traitors and bandits.

Quite honestly, this country

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 22:44 — Anonomous (not verified)

Quite honestly, this country is on the verge of failure.

I'm not going to be here when it does. There are other parts of the world where you can live and live in peace.

I'm sick of the bickering back and forth. It has gotten progressively worst since bush (chimp) stole office.

Wars started though illegal means, and the SOB, et al get away with it?! Try warring with a neighbor and see if YOU get away with it?!

Getting ripped off DAILY by just about anyone that you deal with for a product or service?!

Paying highest cost for oil and it's coldest winter on record, PLUS Obama FUCKING the Poor w/cutting the same assistance?!

Gov't, politician wannabees and Media constantly lying, or in the least 'Hiding the truth' to citizens/viewers.

Back and forth, back and forth...I'm fed up with the bullshit. I'm also sick and tired of the lies and the bullshit from these pundants wanting to run for president, congress/senate every time theres a campaign. It's getting OLD!

This country SUCKS...I'm outta here ASAP!

Legalizing industrial hemp

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 22:55 — RuthClaire (not verified)

Legalizing industrial hemp and medical marijuana is one move we could make immediately to help revitalize the economy. Some side benefits: breaking the back of the narco-trade, undermining the innate racism of the prison/industrial complex.

People did not vote a straight party ticket in 2008, and Obama is first a politician. Seems to me he's taking "all the right steps" to garner Republican support to get himself re-elected, even if I don't like them. You want to bet that Biden will take over as Secy of State so Obama can run on an Obama/Hillary ticket?

Mr. Pitt is on the mark, so how are we going to effect and BE the change we want to see?

Brilliant and alarming

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 23:46 — Tim W. (not verified)

Brilliant and alarming observations, in so few words. If only America....the REAL America....would wake up and listen.

Mr Jeff Syrop, It is true

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:01 — Philip (not verified)

Mr Jeff Syrop,
It is true that much of Mr Pitt’s points are legitimate. I have an inclination to agree with much, but I sense no caution in your post. But to move in such a dramatic shift with haste would create some chaos. The ship will turn slow, and it is turning (Maybe it does need a good nudge on the wheel). Just keep inching it that way, all of us The People, cautiously, and enthusiastically, and peaceably. We believe that all are created equal, and that means even “them”. Democracy through Truth and Justice will win every time.

The only person we can

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:44 — SIMPLYNONNA (not verified)

The only person we can LEGITIMATE LEE blame is OURSELVES!We can't effect (sp) anything else. YOU are the one willing to conspire with all those to get "YOUR PIECE OF THE PI";)If u believe for 1 minute anyone else is to blame or anyone else can solve things then you are back in that [BOX] again. Pres. Obama can't do anything because u need to understand the 3 branches of gov't supposed to "run" independently of each other. FooLow the money $$$$
All the hacks have been put in by Bushy and his cabal. MayB an old allegory, butt look to Merlin and queen MAPP-the only way she lost her power was when peeps didn't pay any attention 2 her. Your life & how you live it is YOUR responsibility-judge no-one unless you walk in their shoes (OUCH!)..
You can all go back to sleep now cuddling your furry snuggies and cheering for your team! Hooh RAH-pop a brewski and break open the chips..;)

Here's the little stuff I'm

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:48 — diane moran (not verified)

Here's the little stuff I'm going to continue to do: write my Congressmen, post on MSM and alternative media sites, buy local & healthy, support community garden, never use a credit card.

Here's the BIG stuff: financially support some young people to attend protest rallies. (I'm 77 and cannot participate myself.)Yes, it is time to get active.

Re: voting, it's clear there's no difference between Dems & Repubs, so we must have a 3rd party other than the Teas. An earlier poster, Fred Cooper, suggested Russ Feingold. Maybe he or Dennis Cucinich could be drafted. Any other suggestions? (And please, no more inexperienced rhetoricians co-opted by the corporate oligarchy.)

I guess in the weeks to

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 03:15 — Anonymous (not verified)

I guess in the weeks to come, we will hear interviews with people who participated in the Egyptian overthrow, telling us what it was like throughout the period it lasted. What journalists could also ask them about is how it led up to being what it so explosively was - i.e. ousting this leader? That may provide better insight for all of us in the United States as to how we might get out from behind out televisions and into the streets to demand changes of our "elected" officials, as well.

I remember the day. People

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 09:01 — Anonymous (not verified)

I remember the day. People at my work were crying. Some people were not happy at all. Didn't matter we had a black president, a black family in the house that slaves built. I said to someone that is all well and good but how will he govern. The response was not fun. Guess we know now. So, how is all that change working for ya. We are not poor, we can pay the heating bills, we can buy food, we have health insurance, our child is in graduate school. Sooner or later they will come for us. Probably on the way. Naomi Wolfe should be required reading for everyone. Problem is there are too many republicans and too many democrats and not enough patriots. Daughter of a friend told her parents if George W. won the second election she was leaving the country. I think she is living in France. Want some democracy?, want some of that change? Lets all move to Egypt.

And you William were one of

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 10:05 — Bornagaindem (not verified)

And you William were one of Obama's biggest supporters. Half the democratic party saw him for what he was and tried to stop you but no you guys wanted your token and you got him, a republican in democratic clothing.

And while there were some things Clinton did not do right (some parts of NAFTA) the poor did much better and the country was brought into fiscal balance when it was the right time to do it. So please quit lumping him with the other horrors.

I'm looking forward to

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 10:56 — Anonymous (not verified)

I'm looking forward to retirement. It won't be much, but with a bit of part-time work and some investments in some of those same corporations, I'll make it, I hope. The retirement pay would be for health care insurance and paying bills, and the part-time work will be to live on and have some 'fun.' Meanwhile, I realize that as those greedy bastards want to take more and more, who's to say that the retirement pay won't be stolen? I mean, all those public employee retirement systems could fund more billion dollar stadiums, corporate jets, another war...

If Sassyfafa is so free, why

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 10:58 — Jan Boudart (not verified)

If Sassyfafa is so free, why don't we know who she is and where she teaches?

Could not have said it more

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:17 — Huguette Salahuddin (not verified)

Could not have said it more clearly! Well done.

David from your comments

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 13:53 — Anonymous (not verified)

David from your comments below,
YOU ARE NOT THINKING STRAIGHT! Add a dose of realism to your frothing hate.

"David Lynch10:02 am. "I am still perplexed about all the people still supporting Obama, saying "he's doing the best he can", when in reality, he's doing the best he wants. FDR would have turned this oligarchy upside down, and he would have done it in 6-12 months. Obama's Senatorial voting record revealed he was a corporatist then. He is a corporatist now, and knows that his job is to toss the American people just enough crumbs of false hope to keep us glued to the sofa, rather than take to the streets."

Irony as history: The one

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 18:41 — Loren Bliss (not verified)

Irony as history:

The one great-power ally of the American Revolution -- the ally that enabled victory over the British -- was pre-Revolutionary France, the France of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and the House of Bourbon.

How Ironic the United States that defeated the British solely because of Bourbon support is now the neo-feudal United Estates -- the modern reincarnation of pre-Revolutionary France.

"He knows, as all mature

Mon, 02/14/2011 - 04:32 — Anonymous (not verified)

"He knows, as all mature people do, that he must act with caution and pick his battles if he is to protect the interests of the American people. "

So, when is obama going to pick a battle? I have yet to see him stand his ground ONCE.

he pre-emptively guts every measure until even the hollow, worthless shell threatens to collapse, claiming "bipartisanship".

Adults also know that there is no point negotiating with a lunatic. When Manson wants to kill 40 people, you don't "compromise" by proposing to kill 20 instead, you tell him to go stuff it and kick him out of the debate (this is where republicans belong, the sanitarium, BEFORE this nation collapses like the soviets did from military overspending)

@anon-13:53.. I say david

Mon, 02/14/2011 - 04:35 — Anonymous (not verified)

@anon-13:53..

I say david has a prefectly crystal clear understanding of today's reality.

Obama is a tool of the Koch brothers and the national Chamber of Commerce. His purpose is to put up a facade of compassion while continuing to allow these institutions, backed by a group of oligarchs small enough to fit in one room, to continue gutting our nation and it's middle class.

I like the way he puts it:
"his job is to toss the American people just enough crumbs of false hope to keep us glued to the sofa, rather than take to the streets."

The Invisible Govt's secret

Mon, 02/14/2011 - 04:45 — Anonymous (not verified)

The Invisible Govt's secret plan is Depopulation. There will be wars and other man made disasters until the world is a manageable size for the elites. The president is doing all that he can do. He wants to stay ALIVE and that is why he cannot do what he said he would before he took the oath of office.
Read Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.

LindsayLo wants you to

Mon, 02/14/2011 - 09:26 — Anonrcmous (not verified)

LindsayLo wants you to notice her breast+enhancements.

OK,I hear you William Rivers

Mon, 02/14/2011 - 09:58 — kissdskye (not verified)

OK,I hear you William Rivers Pitt!But here's what our old asses should do:Rent the movie"A Clockwork Orange,"break out the popcorn,chips and high fructose sodas.Sit back and enjoy the movie because you'll be looking at the world's future.The American youth will deal with their high unemployment,poverty and feeling of worthlessness by doing a Bradley Manning on the US oligarchy.They will form alliances with other young people in the world to ruin the capitalist banking system.They'll have no racial bigotry in their ranks,only regionalism.They will do here what they did in Europe,Africa and everywhere else.Their enemies are old,bald-headed lecherous farts,including their own parents.The young always have the courage and stamina to effect change,and this crop,as witnessed in Egypt are ready and proven.
Oh,and they won't trust anyone over 30.

Why all the shouting? End

Tue, 02/15/2011 - 03:31 — bugjackblue (not verified)

Why all the shouting? End of empire, decline of the species, mass extinction... all natural processes to be appreciated and savored. It's surely happened countless times all over the universe, and will continue to happen in countless more places as long as that universe is operating. Struggling with inevitability is unbecoming, and worse-- it undermines enjoyment of the ride down.

See you dancin' in the ruins.

I have just noticed that

Wed, 02/16/2011 - 20:24 — Anonymous (not verified)

I have just noticed that more recent Truthout articles are requiring a Facebook account in order to comment. How can a newspaper purporting to defeat corporatism operate under such a set of rules? William Rivers Pitt, as a voice of reason, will you speak to the Editors about this preposterous idiocy? Thax, Signed, a reader who would like to continue commenting, but nothing will compel them to join Facebook. This, to me, is Sick.

I agree, I will not join

Wed, 02/16/2011 - 22:48 — Anonymous (not verified)

I agree, I will not join facebook, nor should I have to join their orwellian community to post. Facebook gets people fired.

The rich got richer BECAUSE

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 01:25 — Anonymous (not verified)

The rich got richer BECAUSE THEY EARNED FREAKING MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!! and the poor got poorer BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT'S MARXIST WELFARE ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way truthout does what truthout wants about facebook, just like you do what you want about not joining facebook. Welcome to capitalism, and freedom for that matter.

Earned? The statistics show

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 03:19 — Anonymous (not verified)

Earned?

The statistics show upwards of 90% of wealth is gathered via inheritance or marriage. It must be very hard work to be born to a rich person, or to pretend to love them until you can divorce them for half their money.

As for welfare, what would

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 03:21 — Anonymous (not verified)

As for welfare, what would you know about adversity? Did you know a month's supply of medication for crohn's disease costs 2 thousand dollars and rising?
Crohn's disease is not lifestyle related, and even genetic links to it are tenuous. It's on the health insurance exclusion list (uninsurable at any price), and strikes an estimated 1.4 million americans at random. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
crippling abdominal pain,chronic runs,fevers,dehydration,malnutrition,chronic fatigue.
Clearly helping people cope with severe afflictions which are no fault of their own is "discouraging productivity". I hear people are very productive while bent double and unable to exceed 110 lbs.

In the summer of 2009 I got

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 03:24 — TAG (not verified)

In the summer of 2009 I got a call from an acquaintance who worked in the Middle East......

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/exclusive-excerpt-america-on-sale-from-matt-taibbis-griftopia-20101018

It seems it really is true,

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 22:15 — Anonymous (not verified)

It seems it really is true, this site has insulted it's long-time readers, subscribers, and donors by drowning their comments in the vapid bloviations of facebookers, and when these people, the people who actually pay them with donations, complained about this, they were heard, and then gagged.
now only facebookers are allowed to post, and thus my checkbook closes for this site.

Any site claiming to be "for the people" over the influence of corporate greed should not require exposure of one's personal information to what is arguably the most polarizing and invasive social media sites. Do you know how many people have been fired for innocuous vacation photos or daring to show political beliefs on facebook?

All wealth was earned at

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 23:12 — Rush Limbaugh (not verified)

Thu, 02/17/2011 - 23:21 — Someone who makes since (not verified)

All wealth was earned at some point along the line. Scratch that. All wealth short of the money that the government prints and gives to the poor is earned. The truth is that to save the economy, we have to cut social security, medicare, medicaid, and welfare. If we demolished every other government agency and/or program we still could not even break even. If we leave welfare alone, it will crash on its own. That would be far more painful. Whether it was marxist or not we can debate some other time. Welfare will crash, that was not a political statement, it was a mathematical fact. You may have to work alot harder, but it is possible to break the poverty cycle, and welfare is just another excuse not to break that cycle. welfare eliminates the poverty cycle only to replace it with the government dependence cycle.

I just love driving the communists on these liberal blog sites crazy.

"All wealth was earned at

Fri, 02/18/2011 - 00:24 — Anonymous (not verified)

"All wealth was earned at some point along the line"

I'm sorry, but no, on two different levels.
section I.
While a healthy profit can be earned, we're talking wealth on the order of entire national budgets here. This is only acquired by rigging the system. Examples include agreements with political cronies by which monopolies are preserved and enforced, or by which state funds are funneled in shady contract deals, or by which special measures are tailored to keep incumbents firms in power and crush their competitors.
If the conservative cause involved true government non-intervention, this would be quite different, but the forces of the market are suspended whenever large incumbent campaign donors face business failure due to their own incompetence. I could only support true deregulation if the concept of "limited liability" is one of the many regulations removed. If the investors, owners, and operators of businesses which engaged in unethical behavior were prosecuted for criminal actions of the company, there would be a great deal less corporate abuse.

Section II: Even assuming

Fri, 02/18/2011 - 00:25 — Anonymous (not verified)

Section II:
Even assuming wealth of this level was actually earned legitimately "at some point", Grandpa making money and giving it to you in inheritance produces the exact same end result: money is given to someone who did not work for it, and who who will not have to pay for his/her sloth because of it.
There is one difference, however. With welfare, there are actual hardship criteria which must be met, and are usually rigid enough to prevent too much gaming of the system (this can not be said of the rampant corporate welfare I mentioned in section 1 of this post).

"if we leave welfare alone,

Fri, 02/18/2011 - 00:32 — Anonymous (not verified)

"if we leave welfare alone, it will crash on its own."

of course it will, it's a government institution! The same could be said of the military, the police, the highway department, and the fire department.

"You may have to work alot harder, but it is possible to break the poverty cycle"
Spoken like someone who has never experienced real poverty, especially through circumstances of birth or unpreventable, unexplained medical conditions.

"welfare is just another excuse not to break that cycle." Care to prove this in a scientifically rigorous way? I hear it's very psychologically rewarding to know, every waking moment of every day, that in the land of opportunity you are not self sufficient enough to live on your own. Have you read any of the studies on how heavy a psychological blow going on welfare represents? It's compared with divorce and the death of loved ones.

"welfare eliminates the poverty cycle only to replace it with the government dependence cycle."
Given a choice between pride and life, most would choose life. It seems, however, you'd rather people die of exposure, disease, and the many other maladies only seen in truly non-interventionist nations like somalia.

I pray there is more than

Sun, 02/20/2011 - 13:44 — Anonymous (not verified)

I pray there is more than just this. Are we hopeless? We've been drugged and duped by corporate America. Haven't we learned anything about the past? What about our youth? Remember the 50s, 60s, 70s?Does this have to be the bottom line? Have we grown too old and lazy to do anything about it? Maybe it is time we chant "No, we won't" rather than "yes, we can". We won't put up with our government dictating to us what our lives will be like. Once voted in, they succumb to Washington politics. Haven't we gotten wise to their bait and switch games? Where are our "fearless" leaders? The Egyptians are putting us to shame. We have freedoms they don't have, and yet the majority of Americans sit on their butts and do nothing. Let's open the windows and scream out in unison, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" That would be a start.

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Robin Hood Is Dead

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