Al Jazeera: Jesse Mesner-Hage- 'Cuba Legalizes Sale of Private Property'

Source:Al Jazeera- welcome to Fidel Castro's Communist Republic of Cuba.

"Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة‎, romanized: al-jazīrah, IPA: [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ], literally "The Island", though referring to the Arabian Peninsula in context)[3] is an international Arabic news channel based in Doha, Qatar that is operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera Media Network. The channel is a flagship of the media conglomerate and hence, is the only single offering to carry the name as simply "Al Jazeera" in its branding.

The channel's willingness to broadcast no holds barred views, for example on call-in shows, created controversies in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. One of the station's office was the only channel to cover the War in Afghanistan live." 

From Wikipedia 

"Cuba's government has given its citizens the right to buy and sell their homes for the first time since the 1959 revolution.

The long-awaited reform, published on Thursday in the government's Official Gazette, is one one of the most substantial reforms introduced by Raul Castro, Cuba's president, to liberalize the island's Soviet-style command economy while maintaining the communist system..

Phil Peters, a Cuba expert at the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Virginia, said the move could have broad

ramifications for the Cuban economy, where the cash-strapped government is encouraging the growth of self-employment as it attempts to cut a million jobs from its bloated payrolls.

"The ability to sell houses means instant capital formation for Cuban families. It becomes a source of capital at the

grassroots level," Peters said. "It is a big sign of the government letting go."

Al Jazeera's Jesse Mesner-Hage reports." 

From Al Jazeera

Today there was another indication that Fidel Castro is out-of-power in Cuba and that his brother Raul is President Castro of the Communist Republic of Cuba. Perhaps even one day the President of the Socialist Republic of Cuba or even Democratic Republic of Cuba. But thats probably at least a decade off, but at least the Castro Regime has given its people some liberty and breathing space from this authoritarian regime that took power in Cuba fifty two years ago. 

Thom Hartmann: Ryan Streeter- 'Kick Starting the Economy With Radical Tax Reform?'

Source:Thom Hartmann- debating tax reform with Ryan Streeter.

"Thom Hartmann debates Ryan Streeter,  Editor of ConservativeHomeUSA / Director of Fiscal & Economic Policy-Sagamore Institute, on the Cain and Perry tax proposals." 

From Thom Hartmann 

The economy that Thom Hartmann is talking about was pre-1981 and even pre-1964 before President Lyndon Johnson and later President Ronald Reagan cut taxes across the board. What Mr. Hartmann seems to want is a tax system that ranges from 20-25% to 90%, which is what it was under President Dwight Eisenhower. 

With Ryan Streeter seeming to making the supply side economics argument, that if you just cut taxes especially on wealthy people, investors, and corporations, that alone will not just drive economic growth, but create so much revenue that those tax cuts will pay for themselves. 

We know supply side economics doesn't work at least in the sense that those tax cuts don't pay for themselves. Especially when you're also doubling government spending, which is what the Reagan Administration did as well. 

Current tax rates range from 10-34%. We know that doubling the lowest tax rate and giving lower, middle income people a tax hike whether you're talking about a flat tax, or the Thom Hartmann plan and going back to the Eisenhower tax rates won't work either. Most Americans who aren't either upper class or upper middle income simply can't afford afford any tax increases right now, especially at the levels of 50-100%. 

The best income tax system that we could have is where rates are low on everyone, to encourage economic growth, spending, and investment. Where you force government to pay for everything that it does regardless of what the tax rates are, to keep debt and deficits down. And you eliminate most if not all the tax loopholes in the system, especially if they don't lead to any economic growth or investments and just gives us higher deficits and debt. 

JCV Dude: 'Occupy Wall Street and Health Care'

Source:JCV Dude- talking about Occupy Wall Street.

"How long are you willing to work, from school to grave? Pensions? Health care?What's the deal for the future?

The global economic impact of the five leading chronic diseases -- cancer, diabetes, mental illness, heart disease, and respiratory disease -- could reach $47 trillion over the next 20 years, according to a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

"This is not a health issue, this is an economic issue -- it touches on all sectors of society," Eva Jane-Llopis, WEF's head of chronic disease and wellness, said in a telephone interview.

Social security is already a topic in the US 2012 elections, what will the next decade bring. Our economic quicksand is deepening as more issues tumble in, we are sinking and need a life line..

From JCV Dude

Occupy Wall Street as least the non or bipartisan aspects of it, are about protesting against Wall Street. And are tired of Wall Street getting bailed out for their bad behavior. And their relationship with the Federal Government and all of the corporate welfare Wall Street gets from taxpayers and the fact that they've seen their profits go up the last ten years. While the rest of the country have seen their income go down. And have decided to take out all of their anger on Wall Street and Corporate America broadly.

The guy in this video (whoever he is) is talking about the austerity measures that were taken in Europe and in America, including as it relates to what we call Social Security, which is our pension insurance system. He makes some good points, but when government's run deficits and debt, someone has to pay that price and cuts have to be made. 

If you don't want government running deficits and debt and wasting your money, fire the bozos (to use this guy's word) and replace them with people who know how to manage a government.  

You can also see this post on WordPress.

George Warm: 'Judge Napolitano's Open Letter to Occupy Wall Street Oct 13, 2011'

Source:George Warm- Freedom Watch with Judge Andrew Napolitano.

"The Judge say all protesters not allow the Democrats to Co-opt the Movement but nite behind three simple demands.

1. End the Federal Reserve Bank.

2, End the Undeclared illegal Wars

3. End the Income Tax and the IRS" 

From George Warm 

To say Judge Andrew Napolitano telling Occupy Wall Street what their demands should be when it comes to protesting government and our leaders is arrogant, is like saying it snows in Wisconsin in January: I mean the balls of this guy is earth shattering. 

OWS for the most part of a Far-Left (or 1960s New-Left) socialist movement in America that seems to hate everything that America is supposed to stand for, who blames wealthy people and corporations for everything that they believe is wrong with America and the world in general. They have almost nothing in common with Libertarians whether you're talking about Andrew Napolitano or anyone else.

These demands from Occupy Wall Street are coming not from the Democratic Party or its leadership, the White House or Congress, but coming from the Far-Left flank of the Democratic Party and the Far-Left in the country. The democratic socialist movement in America. Democratic Socialists USA , Green Party, Ralph Nader's movement and others. People who are anti-American capitalism, anti- free enterprise, anti-for profit, etc. And have set out their anger on Wall Street, who they feel is the center of American capitalism. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

MSNBC: Rachel Maddow Show- Paul Krugman: 'Why The Flat Tax Fails'

Source:MSNBC- Left-Wing economist Paul Krugman, on the Rachel Maddow Show.

"Rachel Maddow Why a flat tax fails"

From MSNBC 

One of the few times I’ve ever gotten an opportunity to agree with left-wing economist Paul Krugman on anything, is where he appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC to talk against the middle class tax hike, also known as the flat tax.

“Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist and columnist for the New York Times, talks with Rachel Maddow about why flat tax proposals are a poor solution for America’s economic problems.”

Source:MSNBC- Left-wing economist Paul Krugman on the Rachel Maddow Show.

From MSNBC

Twenty years ago (and I will be nice here) you could accuse so-called Progressive Democrats (Democratic Socialists, in actuality) of being the tax hikers and not just on the wealthy, but on the middle class as well. And thanks to President Bill Clinton the Democratic Party was able to eliminate, or at least scale back that horrible stereotype, because President Clinton cut taxes for everyone and was very fiscally responsible as President. 

The tax hike stereotype kept Democrats out of the White House in the 1970s and 80s. But during this presidential campaign of 2011-12, hopefully that stereotype will be switched to Neoconservative Republicans. (As I call them) As it relates to Herman Cain with his 9-9-9 flat tax and now Rick Perry’s flat tax. Because that’s exactly what a flat tax is: a middle class tax hike. Because you would be raising taxes on people paying 10-15% in Federal income taxes, to 18-20%. While people who are currently paying 28-33% in Federal income taxes, would get a tax cut. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

RT America: Heather Cirmo & Michael Prysner- 'Occupy Wall Street - Capitalism to blame?'

Source:RT America- Michael Prysner talking to President Vladimir Putin's Russia Today America, about Occupy Wall Street.

"RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.[5][6] It operates pay television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian.

RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (since 2010),[7] RT UK (since 2014) and other regional channels also offer some locally based content.

RT is a brand of TV-Novosti, an "autonomous non-profit organization", founded by the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, on 6 April 2005.[3][8] During the economic crisis in December 2008, the Russian government, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, included ANO "TV-Novosti" on its list of core organizations of strategic importance to Russia." 

From Wikipedia 

"Occupy Wall Street continues to voice its disdain for the economic system. The movement's voice has gone global and people all over are tired of corporations influencing government actions worldwide.  So who's to blame - Wall Street or Washington? Heather Cirmo, a conservative political commentator and strategist, and Michael Prysner, an Iraq War veteran, help us answer that question." 

From RT America

Is Occupy Wall Street just that or is there more to it? Is this a group of people that just want to voice frustration, or are they looking for progressive change in America? What's clear is that this movement is diverse and not centralized. That it has Socialists, Liberals, and even Libertarians in this movement. So of course they are not united in how to replace what they are against, because these are three different political factions. That all have different approaches and different visions in where they want America to go. 

If you want to blame anyone for current state of the economy, look at Wall Street for running all of those big banks and companies into the ground and as a result we've seen millions of American jobs lost in the last few years. And then look at Washington for their lack of oversight of Wall Street and Corporate America, as well as all the borrow and spending that they've done in the last 10 years alone.  

You can also see this post on WordPress.

Russia Today: 'Thom Hartmann vs Herman Cain- What Those Dreaded Liberals Have Done'

Source:Thom Hartmann- talking about 2012 Tea Party presidential candidate Herman Cain.

"RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.[5][6] It operates pay television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian.

RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (since 2010),[7] RT UK (since 2014) and other regional channels also offer some locally based content.

RT is a brand of TV-Novosti, an "autonomous non-profit organization", founded by the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, on 6 April 2005.[3][8] During the economic crisis in December 2008, the Russian government, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, included ANO "TV-Novosti" on its list of core organizations of strategic importance to Russia." 

From Wikipedia 

"Herman Cain says Liberals are out to destroy this country....In my Daily Take - I'll make Herman Cain wish he was out delivering pizzas again." 

From Russia Today

Thom Hartmann is right in this sense, a lot of the progress that has been made in America has been fought for by Progressives (not exactly Liberals) but people who believe in moving America forward. 

Calling Franklin Rossevelt a Liberal is a bit of a stretch. I mean this is a man who didn't give a damn about civil rights, or was even a borderline racist, and as a Liberal myself I find that a bit hard to take. FDR was sure a liberal on foreign policy, but unfortunately was a Nationalist on national security with the detainment camps of Japanese, German, and Italian-Americans during World War II, because of their ethnicity. Nothing liberal about that. 

Thom Hartman's problem with liberal and progressive, is that he associates liberal and progressive with everything that government does to move the country forward. That for something to be liberal or progressive, government has to be doing it. And generally that means through new social programs and tax increases or expanding current programs, or passing new regulations or expanding current regulations. 

When the fact is the only that Liberals believe in is expanding freedom for everyone, not contracting it, whether that means more or less government intervention. And Progressives believe in progress, whether that means more or less government intervention. 

It's Socialists who always believe in more government and that the only way to make society better is for government to be doing more and spending more of the people's money for them. Which is what Thom Hartmann seems to believe, whether he calls himself a Socialist (or even Social Democrat) or not.