Death of an Empire

As Britain's top cop resigns over the Murdoch/media fiasco, the evil scandal spreads to North America like an unstoppable oil spill.

The Causa Causans of this ongoing "hacking" scandal is simply pure greed. The US "Tea Party" modus operandi is pure greed, based on a foundation of pure ignorance.

The Boston Tea Party was not about higher taxes per se (in fact the tea tax was reduced at the time) rather it was about British Parliament supplanting the rule of local government. The so called tea-party was a riot led by what we call today "lager louts" who stormed ships and threw crates of tea overboard.

The tea party in the USA today is a wealth lead anti-tax regime whose members are grossly ignorant on government, world affair and the economy who masquerade their real objective which is reducing or eliminating taxes on th wealthy.

Murdoch and FOX television have supported this grand ignorance by offering almost traitorous TV in the guise of news and now is reaping the whirlwind of illegal acts.

The US economy teeters on the brink of oblivion as the GOP would rather see the USA to default, than reelecting a black man to president.

Ignorance, entrenched racism and Goebbels style media propaganda will be the legacy of the once great USA. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence would week if they were alive today.

We (Canadians) shouldn't be

We (Canadians) shouldn't be so smug. Our mass- media is nothing to be proud about. The Globe and Mail endorsed the Conservatives during the last election when that party was defeated due to contempt of Parliament. Listen to some of the pap that Bill Good and his merry band of idiots pump out and ignores the financial raping of this province by the Liberals.

The real debt of the USA is

The real debt of the USA is close to $70 trillion, according to very reliable sources.

The country has been bankrupt for many years, mainly on account of totally irresponsible military spending to "protect American interests", otherwise known as the exploitation and profit demands of US multinationals, eagerly supported by our "conservatives".

What humanity will have to come to grips with is the sordid reality that profits are not "earnings", but a form of "taxation without representation", the battle cry of the original tea party.

Of course, profits are necessary for the survival of any business, the same as taxes are for the survival of societies, but in both cases the recipients must be held accountable to the public, or they become daylight robbery.

The uncontrolled profit racket is going on all over the world, destituting and killing people with legalized exploitation and thieving rights.

With Murdoch and his ilk the best examples, while millions are starving to death for the lack of a few pennies.

Ed Deak.

But as the idiot says,...

"Greed is good".

Monkey see, monkey do........

.....is the motto of the mainstream Canadian media.

Murdoch - Greed

Kai Nagata said it all. Greed is endemic and it's going to take another cycle to restore democracy and hopefully morality. Greed has led us to abandon or stylize both to suit our personal desires for wealth. This is a revolving event which ends in societal ruin, poverty and eventually revolution.
The cycle has been going on since the dawn of "civilization."
Until or unless we reach a level of awareness that transcends greed, humanity will continue this cycle, ad infinitum.

Harper and Murdoch

Although hardly covered by our media, Stephen Harper had a lengthy private meeting with Murdoch some time ago. [UNSUBSTANTIATED COMMENT REMOVED.]

The ramifications of the pending collapse of the Murdoch empire, a media bully, have yet to be understood.

This could also be the long

This could also be the long awaited beginning of the awakening of the human race to the long standing plans for setting up a global, corporate dictatorship.

There are certain signs that people are beginning to realize the extent of the royal screw they've been subjected to for the past 40 years, since the fraud of the neoclassical market economic theory was forced on the world and accepted in our universities as a "science".

Harper being one of its products.

Ed Deak.

About the so-called "loopy" consipracy theories ....

Mr. Anderson said:
"Loopy conspiracy theories have become so mainstream in America that at times the U.S. electorate seems to resemble Lord of the Flies more than the bastion of rational thought envisioned by the founding fathers. While this used to be merely a tragedy of American politics, it has now become a real threat to the global economy."
I don't think any of the TYEE commentators are immune to "loopy conspiracy theories." Just look at the comments about Harper. I, for one, am a follower of Naomi Klein, Donald Gutstein, Jeff Rubin, Susan Jacoby, Michael Moore, and at times, Ed Deak -- all of whom have certain conspiracy theories. A lot of right-wingers would consider them "loopy." Perhaps the Brits who knew what Murdoch was up to and made the early accusations about his papers were also considered loopy. My personal favourite is the all time favourite of millions around the world, -- the 9/11 conspiracy theory.

The Global Economy is Not Crumbling

Pardon me, but I see no sign of the global economy crumbling.

By and large it is rumbling along, sucking up resources and spitting out consumer goods.

What is happening is that Western democratic governments are being battered by full frontal attacks by the neoliberal set, whose deregulation and high debt budgets are set to destroy governments as we know them, taking with it the democracy that we've grown up with.

It's all according to plan, and if this is a conspiracy theory you can find the conspiracy written down in myriad places.

To be fair, I don't think the writer of the article wrote the headline, which is misleading.

Corruption

How powerful is Rupert Murdoch? How many people; journalists, reporters, politicians and police chiefs are in his pocket- I mean the ones we DON'T know about?

Politicians over the years have waved him on when he wanted to acquire and use media outlets for his type of machinations - they have ignored and blasted any opposition to his empire building. It took a Whistleblower, now dead, to do the right thing.

Is it any bloody wonder that politicians are so hated?

Blame Murdoch

"If Global Economy Crumbles, Blame Murdoch" and the mentality that he has lived by. It drives us all to default.

Perhaps it's time.......

....to throw a sabot into this so-called "global economy". It isn't advantageous to the majority of earth's 7 billions.

Murdoch doesn't fully explain the problem

Murdoch's media brainwashing is only part of the problem. People have to want to believe right-wing clap trap as well. With the Internet it is possible to find a host of alternative views in seconds. The fact that many Americans don't want to read or understand these alternative views is a choice on their part. Basically they choose to be stupid. A lot of this comes from religious lunacy which prepares the way for acceptance of other loony beliefs, but I don't think that explains it all either. What does, I don't really know. I do know that authoritarian upbringing tends to stunt a person's curiosity and the US is the developed world capital of child beaters.

How many times have we said

How many times have we said it over the last two decades? If you think education is expensive, try ignorance?

We said it over and over, hoping it would sway the powerful. But the powerful are stupid, and don't listen.

Chickens coming home to roost, here.

ignorance and want

“The fact that many Americans don't want to read or understand these alternative views is a choice on their part. Basically they choose to be stupid.”

There are 50 million Americans that read at grade 4 levels. That is more population than lives in this entire country.

"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/christmas-carol/1951-xmas-ignorance-want.html

Chickens coming home to roost indeed.

Why should they learn to

Why should they learn to read, when they can watch and get any information on TV?

Especially from Fox News.

In reality, it isn't Murdoch who may bring on the crash, but our and the world's universities, where the "science of neoclassical market economics" is used to brainwash students with, forced on and paid for by the international corporate mafia, now controlling the world.

Look at Harper as the shining example of this "science"

Ed Deak.

exactly fiat lux

So because the reading and comprehension skills are lacking they rely on TV for their information.

Murdoch and all of the media have long known this fact.

Just this morning at the inquiry, he denied any responsibility for the mess there…typical abdication by corporate leaders.

Harper will do the same when it is his turn, just like Scampbell...

Piano....people should read,

Piano....people should read, or hear, Hitler's Last Will and Testament, as I'm sure our leaders have and learned a lot from him.

Of course, there are great psychological differences for their actions. Mulroney was a cold blooded predator, "on the take" as per Stevie Cameron, while Harper, very much like Hitler, is a megalomaniac, fundamentalist, mental case who doesn't have the intelligence to comprehend the reasons for and the consequences of his actions.

We won't end up with death camps under Harper, but he'll sell off the country, causing huge damage to people, believing that it is the God ordained and predestined thing to do.

Ed Deak.

it doesn't happen here

That was essentially the line from a retired journalism prof who provided his learned commentary to CBC Radio listeners at noon yesterday.

Puh-leeze!

The media-politics-police alignment of interests is just as smelly here as in the Old Country. And more effective; no need to start snuffing whistle-blowers. So far.

How soon we forget the convenient tipoff to the Glen Clark deck raid. Or the election eve rediscovery of the retired cop's notes on Jack Layton's massage mishap. Strangely, that item seems to have sunk without a trace.

If ...

...it does crumble ought we shoot the messenger?

It is crumbling

Why the 'if'?

Murdoch didn't force anyone

...to do anything. You don't have to watch his TV empire, or read his newspapers. No one has to watch FOX business or news, or act upon what they broadcast. People CAN start taking personal responsibility for their own (wrong?) decisions...

And, as for influence with government, I'm sure the TUC and the AFL-CIO have just as much the ear of leaders as does Murdoch. If not MORE.

I earnestly hope this Ponzi scheme of a global economy crumbles. Not because it's "unfair", or because "the rich" have too much, but because it progressively beggarizes both middle-class wage earners AND investors alike.

The writer is naive to think that there is some way, somehow, to "fix" the U.S. and western world debt problems. The problem is intransigent and taking on increased debts can never make it possible to pay back mountains of old ones.

Did anyone see the UK parliament witch-hunt last night? The hunt was on: Murdoch's "guilt" was already decided, the left-wing wanted his blood and, to Mr. Murdoch's credit, he came out looking rather statesmanlike in the face of insulting and insinuating questions only a $$$-focused lawyer could devise. That they appeared and submitted to this personal-assault-by-government is a credit the three individuals being "questioned".

None of this excuses the phone hacking activities of some individuals in the company. But to tar and feather the entire corporation (with a view to bringing it down) is obsessive.

Yes, time to stop "shooting the messenger" and start accepting personal responsibility one by one...

Kreditanstalt

The investor class is going begging is it?

As for personal responsibility, by all means. Just remove the state's police and I'm sure we'll see lots of wealth redistribution and a refusal by many to allow their environment to be wrecked by the thoughtless and greedy.

Murdoch like a statesman?

Puleeze! The guy claimed he knew nothing. He builds his fortune on substituting entertainment for news, propaganda for facts, all in the interests of neo conservative ideology and he claims he knew nothing about how the "news" was obtained? If the British MP's did not treat the man with deference, and why should they, it is because his media empire crapped on any visions other than his.

Skywalker

"He builds his fortune on substituting entertainment for news, propaganda for facts, all in the interests of neo conservative ideology"

That and naked girls on page 3

"Come in the back door"

What was Gordon Brown doing inviting Murdoch around to No.10 and asking him to use the back door? Seeking advice on neo-conservative strategy?

The left wingers and socialists have been cuddling Murdoch just as much as anyone.

This circus-under-threat is

This circus-under-threat is what happens when the indebted and money-grubbing masses, driven mad by economic envy, proclaim that "50%+1 controls the gun" and proceed to steal as much of the earnings of anyone with any initiative or enterprise as possible.

To accomplish this "redistribution",they make use of their governments, both "left" and "right", and of their "justice" system, courts and police to forcibly extract wealth from anyone with any "excess" capital.

This process, which is usually preceded by a lengthy period of intense lobbying, whining about "fairness" and threatening on the part of numerous interest groups struggling for control of the gun, is called "democracy"...

Kreditanstalt

The funny part is that poor people can't afford lobbyists. That sound you hear is your argument falling apart.

By the way, in her last years Ayn Rand used Medicare. She didn't take care of herself.

Frank,

I've never read Ayn Rand. But a hell of a lot of middle-class people see nothing wrong with relying on medical care paid for by the few remaining net taxpayers.

Kreditanstalt

If you're a true Libertarian you wouldn't accept medicare. It is after all "stealing" from someone else's pocket.

But I'm sure Ayn Rand was torn up inside about it.

Economic envy????

Surely NOT.

What you're talking about Kreditanstalt, is class warfare.

And you know who's fighting and winning that war?

It sure as hell isn't the poor or th working class.

But don't take my word for it - listen to what Warren Buffett has to say on the subject.

The myth that everything good comes from a 'few' remaining net tax payers is complete and utter bullshit.

“There’s class warfare, all right,” Mr. Buffett said, “but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”

Envy.

Envy is such a distasteful sentiment. It's no wonder the Ten Commandments repeatedly say 'thou shalt not covet ...'.

Do they still teach this in school?

Who is envious?

The only people "driven mad by economic envy", are right wingers who turn green at the thought that some union worker gets 2 bucks an hour more than they do, or that some beaten down person is collecting welfare. People on the left are no more envious of the kleptocrats than a man with a tape worm is jealous of his parasite.

End of The World?

Don't bet the farm on it.

20 July 2011

"American Airlines has announced multi-billion dollar orders for 460 new Boeing and Airbus planes.

The world's fourth-largest airline by number of passengers, American is buying 200 Boeing 737s and 260 Airbus A320 aircraft.

American described the twin deals as "the largest aircraft order in history".

Everything's gonna be alright..

What was that crashing sound?

Quote: "There’s class warfare, all right,” Mr. Buffett said, “but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning."

The rich class are delusional - and are 'winning' in the same way that Charlie Sheen thinks he's winning.

The system has crashed.

The delusive thinking still remains, desperately clinging to its comforting addictions.... eyes wide shut.

Actually, Buffett's the best of a bad lot lynn

I should have provided a link to the whole article the quote came from.

Here it is:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/business/yourmoney/26every.html

Warren Buffet's the best

GWest is right Lynn. What with 17 bill in Coca Cola and around 9 bill in Wells Fargo, billions more in Procter & Gamble, Walmart etc., how can he not be the best? Just one of his shares is over $114,000. Down from its 2008 peak but still not too shabby. Someone to look up to.

Thanks, G West for the link.

Oh, now I understand his intention - and the context of how he was using the word 'winning'.

"Someone to look up to."

No thanks, realisticman.

I rather like shabby....as in 'The Velveteen Rabbit'.

Did you ever read it in childhood?... before the glorious advent of stocks and bonds in your life. ;-)

R/Man

That's BUFFETT, not Buffet...If you're gonna idolize him, at least spell his name correctly.

Maybe you should know a little bit more about the guy...in fact, he actually is on record as saying the following:
"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further," ... "But I think that people at the high end -- people like myself -- should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it."

Perhaps you could make a note of it.

Deprived or Depraved?

Delightful fiction that stimulates the imagination was, unfortunately, not something I was elaborately exposed to as a child, Lynn. Particularly that from American writers. Some might say that our formative years were a bit shabby but we were treated well and found our own way to literary fiction, starting with comic books. Quite normal I suppose. Many say that it's never too late for so many things, I might yet pick up a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit. I expect McClouds have one or two. I'll walk over there after my buffet at the club.

Never too late.....

"I expect McClouds have one or two. I'll walk over there after my buffet at the club."

LOL. Nice rebound, realisticman.... and witty, too. Well done. ;-)

Except for one thing...

It's MacLeod's Books,
455 Pender St W,
Vancouver..

Chickens Landing

Pianosaurus:

"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/christmas-carol/1951-xmas-ignorance-want.html

Chickens coming home to roost indeed."

Did you mean Dickens coming home to roost?

CBC and violence

While CBC reporters excoriated Vancouver Stanley Cup rioters, the CBC had no problem showing ads - between the Stanley Cup broadcasts - for movies whose violence made the Vancouver rioting look like sandbox play.

G West

"Except for one thing...
It's MacLeod's Books," G West

Oh, I think realisticman knows that, G, and is just having some fun with the word play .....as he is with 'after my buffet' following his comments about Warren Buffett.

In any case, even though r/man and I often do not agree when it comes to politics, I got a chuckle out of that...;-)

typical right wing capitalist

This circus-under-threat is what happens when the indebted and money-grubbing masses, driven mad by economic envy, proclaim that "50%+1 controls the gun" and proceed to steal as much of the earnings of anyone with any initiative or enterprise as possible.

To accomplish this "redistribution",they make use of their governments, both "left" and "right", and of their "justice" system, courts and police to forcibly extract wealth from anyone with any "excess" capital.

This process, which is usually preceded by a lengthy period of intense lobbying, whining about "fairness" and threatening on the part of numerous interest groups struggling for control of the gun, is called "democracy"...

...so says Keditansalt

But never once do these types give credit to the climate created in this country that offers individuals such as he to actually be able to set up business and make profits. Without that awful 'social' government that manages school and road systems, police for law and order and even little things like sewers and electricity systems what would there be? Perhaps he should go to another country that does not have this level of government, rules and regulation and set up his shop there. Then you can well and truly shine and keep it all for yourself.

It is exactly this type of capitalist, like Kreditansaldt, that we do not need here, always on the take, but never wanting to give back a single thing.