Lessons from the past #23

(I stole this thought from another blog that I barely use)

As I happened to be reading Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, this Sunday morning, I came across a passage that resonated as regards the current and approaching Circus. Here I share it with you now:

For a long while before the appointed time is at hand the election becomes the most important and the all-engrossing topic of discussion. The ardor of faction is redoubled; and all the artificial passions which the imagination can create in the bosom of a happy and peaceful land are agitated and brought to light. The President, on the other hand, is absorbed by the cares of self-defence. He no longer governs for the interest of the State, but for that of his re-election; he does homage to the majority, and instead of checking its passions, as his duty commands him to do, he frequently courts its worst caprices. As the election draws near, the activity of intrigue and the agitation of the populace increase; the citizens are divided into hostile camps, each of which assumes the name of its favorite candidate; the whole nation glows with feverish excitement; the election is the daily theme of the public papers, the subject of private conversation, the end of every thought and every action , the sole interest of the present. As soon as the choice is determined, this ardor is dispelled; and as a calmer season returns, the current of the State, which had nearly broken its banks, sinks to its usual level: but who can refrain from astonishment at the causes of the storm.

Thus do we continue to return to the thing that we try to escape from.

Lest we forget, in the juggernaut one body, two headed political system of big business, that there are other parties out there, vying for votes they will never get with energy that will never be appreciated. Here, today, Stewart Alexander, representing the Socialist Party of America. Here is his platform. Watch as it is crushed and ignored. So sad.  Here, for the few who follow this blog, is their dream for a better tomorrow: A man can dream, a man can dream. Genuine democracy for the 99% Free speech, press, assembly, association An end to wars and military occupation Bring the troops and the money home Initiate global disarmament Deploy our troops for disaster relief Create a democratically-controlled national bank End Bush-Obama tax cuts to the wealthy Productive jobs and/or a living wage for all Single payer universal health care Free dental, mental, optical and long term care Decent affordable housing for all Free or inexpensive reliable public transit Hire more teachers – Reduce classroom size Free education through college level Legalize and tax marijuana – End the drug war Restore our air, water, land – Protect the environment Rebuild America’s infrastructure
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Lest we forget, in the juggernaut one body, two headed political system of big business, that there are other parties out there, vying for votes they will never get with energy that will never be appreciated. Here, today, Stewart Alexander, representing the Socialist Party of America. Here is his platform. Watch as it is crushed and ignored. So sad. 

Here, for the few who follow this blog, is their dream for a better tomorrow:

A man can dream, a man can dream.

  1. Genuine democracy for the 99%
  2. Free speech, press, assembly, association
  3. An end to wars and military occupation
  4. Bring the troops and the money home
  5. Initiate global disarmament
  6. Deploy our troops for disaster relief
  7. Create a democratically-controlled national bank
  8. End Bush-Obama tax cuts to the wealthy
  9. Productive jobs and/or a living wage for all
  10. Single payer universal health care
  11. Free dental, mental, optical and long term care
  12. Decent affordable housing for all
  13. Free or inexpensive reliable public transit
  14. Hire more teachers – Reduce classroom size
  15. Free education through college level
  16. Legalize and tax marijuana – End the drug war
  17. Restore our air, water, land – Protect the environment
  18. Rebuild America’s infrastructure

Source: stewartalexanderforpresident2012.org

On Thursday, Newt Gingrich told CNN that the South Carolina Republican primary "is going to be Armageddon." On Friday, the candidate picked up the endorsement of the co-creator of the End Times series, Left Behind.

motherjones:

Coincidence??

mundusnovus:

There are no coincidences in South Carolina…

ryking: 17 Of The Top 20 Biggest Political Donors This Election Cycle Are [Right-wingers] Egged on in no small part by the Supreme Court’s decision to turn campaign finance into the wild west, a small group of donors have gotten increasing aggressive in their efforts to us their enormous wealth to influence elections. As Mother Jones lays out, this has given a decided advantage to Republicans and [other right-wing] candidates. Seventeen of the top 20 spenders seeking to buy election results are [right-wingers]… mundusnovus ONE DOLLAR ONE VOTE… GAAAAAH.
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ryking:

17 Of The Top 20 Biggest Political Donors This Election Cycle Are [Right-wingers]

Egged on in no small part by the Supreme Court’s decision to turn campaign finance into the wild west, a small group of donors have gotten increasing aggressive in their efforts to us their enormous wealth to influence elections. As Mother Jones lays out, this has given a decided advantage to Republicans and [other right-wing] candidates. Seventeen of the top 20 spenders seeking to buy election results are [right-wingers]…

mundusnovus

ONE DOLLAR ONE VOTE… GAAAAAH.

It sort of took a life of its own, and the vest gave me this power.

Rick Santorum finally admitted the source of his strength: his sweater vest. (via think-progress)

Does that mean that his vest is like Venom? What price will he have to pay? Don’t do it Rick, it’s not worth it!

(via think-progress)