Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues The Obama Administration Fear Comes of Age

(my bolds)
My reaction was very much the same as yours, Martha. Thank you so much for sharing. That is a kickass article.
As I was reading, I realized I hadn't quite thought of this or that that way but I so do agree with the points being made. Wow.

I would add Ralph Nader and ask why, It. Why are none of those an answer?
If we don't consider anything outside of the mainstream an answer, aren't we part of the problem?

Good post, Rick.
I agree with most of what you say.

Baby Boomers can't get out of the way though like seniors maybe used to. Many boomers can't afford to.
Our generation is not treated well by the health care industry specifically.
Elders here don't get special treatment like they do in many other countries.

As I see it, that was precisely the point of the essay. That it matters not what the "truth" is, or what is best,
but that the "Machine" is self propitiating, a neo conservatism that feeds on itself to become strong. The idealism of the Sanders' and Pauls' and Kucinisch's and yes, the Naders' just exist without being a factor.

Obama "exists" without being a factor.

And so, are we part of the problem? Well maybe not directly... but "liking" these guys, doesn't really accomplish anything.... in the same way that the words of Obama (which we like) aren't followed by action.

I did not see the tiniest sign of "hope" in the article. It was more of a "that's the way it is" statement, and the reason for my own choice to "coast".

I am certain a time will come when the people will understand their future will lie in deposing the "machine", but most likely not in my lifetime.

Goodness, Irked, you missed by a mile. the exclusionary groupings I was referring to were political and based on race, ethnicity, and gender. While they originally targeted only the 'white' male power structure, a funny thing happened on the way to diversity central. It turns out that those who gathered in these politicized groups didn't much like each other and preferred to gather power unto their own kind. Blacks disliked Jews (who had often been their allies), Mexicans and other hispanics really disliked Blacks who really disliked Mexicans and other hispanics, and the sisterhood is, at best, seriously divided along hate lines (dare I mention Sarah Palin?:-)). No wonder a study I posted here sometime ago showed that the increased 'diversity' in society had make people less willing to join in community action or help others - even of the same race, ethnicity, or gender. In other words, people have rationally moved toward a more atomistic stance out of a desire to survive and succeed in a hostile environment of exclusionary groupings created over the decades by the author's fellow travellers.

This is what happens when people see each other as members of a group rather than as individuals. It is what is continuing to tear America apart -- to the delight of some.
Yours,
Issodhos

Each person is free to chop the world up
into exactly the pieces the person chooses. That some will veer horrendously from the One True Path is but to be expected. A certain number of free individuals will stray, such is the nature of Free Will.

Good recovery, Irked.
Yours,
Issodhos