The one operates in three degrees: BS, MS, PHD. On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 8:18 AM, Mrs. Rabbit <[email protected]>wrote:
> > http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14483 > > I found it here Travis. It's nice when people add links to their > sources. > > > LMAO, "Change you can believe in".....more of the same if you ask me! > > But then again, did I *really* believe either of my choices would > bring the change that we need....NOT! > > Thanks for the cool post Lone Wolf! > > > > > > > > On Aug 6, 2:59 am, Travis <[email protected]> wrote: > > Anyone know where this came from or who the author is? > > > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 4:10 PM, "Lone Wolf" <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > Six months of the Obama administration > > > 21 July 2009 > > > > > Six months ago yesterday, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th > > > president of the United States. > > > > > The election of Obama represented a popular repudiation of the Bush > > > administration and its domestic and foreign policies. The principal > > > slogan of Obama—“change you can believe in”—struck a chord with a > > > population fed up with eight years of war and single-minded focus on > > > the interests of the corporate elite. > > > > > Obama’s persona and individual history symbolized, for broad sections > > > of the working class and youth, this desire for change. The fact that > > > Obama would be the first African-American president was seen by many > > > as reason to believe he would instinctively sympathize with the poor > > > and oppressed. In any case, it was thought, he would be very different > > > from what had come before. > > > > > What evaluation can be made in light of six months’ experience? The > > > facts speak for themselves. On every critical issue, Obama—presiding > > > over substantial Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress—has > > > continued the basic policy of his predecessor. > > > > > Military policy > > > The direction of the administration on military policy was signaled > > > early on. On January 23, three days after his inauguration, Obama > > > ordered missile strikes by unmanned Predator drones on a location > > > inside Pakistan, killing 18 people. With this initial blood on his > > > hands, Obama proceeded apace. > > > > > The war in Afghanistan is now definitively “Obama’s war.” Under his > > > watch, the US has set in motion a doubling of its forces, from 32,000 > > > to 68,000, and is presently carrying out a major operation to wipe out > > > popular opposition in the south. At least 30 US soldiers and 25 NATO > > > troops have died so far this month, making July the deadliest month to > > > date for occupation forces. > > > > > With Obama, however, the operation has become the “AfPak” war. US > > > missile strikes within Pakistan, often killing dozens of Pakistani > > > civilians, have become a regular occurrence. The administration has > > > pressured Pakistan to carry out its own offensive in its northwestern > > > territories, resulting in hundreds of thousands of refugees and > > > massive causalities. > > > > > The occupation of Iraq continues. The drawback of US forces from the > > > cities does not herald an end to US military involvement in the > > > country. Some 130,000 troops remain in what amounts to permanent > > > military bases outside the cities, and the administration has begun > > > the process of relabeling troops as “advisors.” In the event that the > > > fragile political situation breaks down, the US military will > > > intervene with full force. > > > > > Economic and social policy > > > On domestic policy, Obama’s overriding concern has been to defend the > > > wealth of the most powerful sections of the corporate and financial > > > elite. Through cash injections, subsidies and loan programs, trillions > > > have been handed out to the banks and financial institutions, with no > > > strings attached. The administration has opposed any real constraints > > > on executive pay or bonuses. > > > > > Utilizing the government handouts, the largest banks reported massive > > > profits in the second quarter of 2009, including $3.44 billion for > > > Goldman Sachs and $2.7 billion for JPMorgan Chase. The banks plan on > > > handing out record bonuses this year to their executives and traders. > > > > > The very institutions that precipitated the economic crisis through > > > their speculation and looting operations are doing better than ever. > > > This is not an accident. It is the intended outcome of the policy > > > carried out by the Obama administration. > > > > > Many auto workers looked to Obama for positive change. Instead, the > > > administration has forced through massive cuts in wages and benefits, > > > along with the destruction of tens of thousands of jobs. Obama has > > > shepherded General Motors and Chrysler through bankruptcy court, where > > > the two companies left billions in unwanted liabilities behind, > > > including health care obligations to tens of thousands of retirees. > > > > > The administration is carrying out a similar policy in relation to > > > state and local governments, refusing to give them the type of loans > > > made available to the banks. The largest state in the country, > > > California, is on the verge of economic meltdown, and the state > > > government is seizing on the crisis as an opportunity to gut > > > education, welfare and other social programs. Similar draconian > > > measures are being implemented throughout the country. > > > > > As for the Obama’s principal domestic initiative—health care “reform”— > > > the administration’s proposals are driven by the desire of > > > corporations to slash their employee health care costs and are > > > tailored to the demands of the major players in the health care > > > industry—particularly the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. > > > > > Health care “reform” has been shifted from providing decent care for > > > all to cutting costs. Obama insists that reducing health care > > > expenditures is imperative for lowering the budget deficit and > > > restoring the economy, even as he declares he will do “whatever it > > > takes” to bail out the banks. > > > > > If a bill on health care eventually passes, it will require workers to > > > pay more for inadequate health insurance and rationed care. This > > > “expanded coverage” will be used as a pretext for slashing federal > > > health care programs, particularly Medicare. > > > > > Like everything else, health care is being restructured as a more > > > openly class-based system. Workers will have to choose between their > > > health and their other needs, while the rich are afforded the best > > > treatment money can buy. > > > > > The outcome of the administration’s policies to deal with the economic > > > crisis is a massive redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the > > > top. > > > > > Democratic rights > > > On all essentials, the Obama administration has continued the > > > antidemocratic policies of its predecessor. It has invoked “state > > > secrets” to block court cases challenging torture and domestic spying. > > > The administration reversed a promise to release photos showing US > > > torture of detainees. It has continued the military tribunals and > > > indicated it plans to adopt a policy of indefinite detention for > > > prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. > > > > > Obama has repeatedly insisted that there will be no prosecution of any > > > of the crimes carried out by the Bush administration. This means no > > > one will be held accountable and that the crimes will continue. > > > > > * * * > > > > > The outcome of the 2008 elections is an object lesson on the failure > > > of American democracy. These elections produced an outcome that is > > > diametrically opposed to the aspirations of the voters who cast > > > ballots for the victor. > > > > > It is not possible, through the existing political system, to effect a > > > change in government policy. The basic reason is that the political > > > institutions and parties are the unvarnished instruments of class > > > rule. The financial elite exercises absolute control over every aspect > > > of political life. > > > > > What is perhaps most remarkable is the fact that the Obama > > > administration barely makes an effort to conceal its class character. > > > It seems to assume that Obama’s persona by itself is sufficient to > > > quell opposition. To the extent that the administration’s attention is > > > focused on the Democratic Party and its periphery—the assorted coterie > > > of “left” publications and organizations—this evaluation is correct. > > > > > However, there has already been a significant fall in Obama’s poll > > > ratings, including substantial declines on the economy and health > > > care. According to the most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, > > > Obama’s overall approval ratings have dropped below 60 percent for the > > > first time. We suspect that public unease is, in fact, far broader and > > > deeper than these figures yet indicate. > > > > > Here, Lincoln’s famous aphorism is appropriate: “You can fool some of > > > the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, > > > but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” > > > > > Public disenchantment and anger are being driven by the objective > > > impact of the economic crisis, the consequences of Obama’s wars, and > > > the ever more glaring contradiction between the popular sentiments to > > > which he appealed to get elected and the social interests that he > > > serves. To the extent that the American people feel they have been > > > taken for a ride and played for suckers, the mass opposition will be > > > that much more intense. > > > > > The administration has yet to reckon with the independent intervention > > > of the American working class. When this class movement does develop, > > > it will seek new channels independent of and in opposition to the > > > entire political and social system. > > > > > Joe Kishore- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
