They Only Have 400 Votes

The Creeping Fascism of American Politics

FOCUS: States Unite Against Citizens United

Cut It Out: An Open Letter to Black Bloc Anarchists

Dimon's Deja Vu Debacle

This Is What Tyranny Looks Like

Michael Moore writes: "America is not broke! It's just that the wealthy have absconded with the money! They've removed it from circulation and left us begging for school supplies and fire trucks and libraries. Even the Wall Street Journal admits that the uber-rich are currently just sitting on almost $2 trillion of cash. They're not creating jobs with it. They're not re-circulating it. They're just hanging on to it hoping to make more money off it by continuing their casino games in the stock market, the derivatives market, the credit default swaps market and any other crazy scheme they can invent."

Portrait, Michael Moore, 04/03/09. (photo: Ann-Christine Poujoulat/Getty)

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+52 # sark 2011-04-05 08:23

"They" have the voting machines. "They" manufacture, program and service the voting machines. That with their media control means "They" have means to make sure there is no election integrity. Please Michael Moore, address the electronic voting machines. Then we may have real victories instead of the occasional illusion of victory. Verifiable elections where the vote is counted as the voter intended is the real key to victory and that will never happen as long as we vote using machines manufactured, programed and serviced by hard-right Republican supporting corporations.

+24 # Rebecca Rodriguez 2011-04-05 09:12

In addition to electronic voting machines, why not start asking why we can't have "one-man, one vote" now that communications and media bring rural areas into the big picture every day? THAT would change the balance of power in Congress AND in State Legislatures dramatically (I think).

+20 # Karinajoy 2011-04-05 12:25

Right on! Unless we get rid of the "voting machines" AKA "cheating machines", then they don't have only 400 votes, and we have lost our democracy.

+12 # giraffee2012 2011-04-05 12:35

Sark - In Alameda County, California, any voter has a right to request a paper ballot and NOT use the "voting machine". Thus, my vote, has a paper traail. Check in your county before you use that voting machine.

BUT, as Michael Moore stated, please go out and VOTE in 2012. And go house to house in your neighborhood and ask the elderly and disabled (etc) if they need a ride or help filling out the mail-in ballot.

VOTE - it is ALL we have left to overcome the BIG $$ controlling our country. (Thanks to the Supremes for giving them a right to use big$$ to buy our elections)

Corps don't pay income taxes but they pay a corp tax (and the loop holes within the "structure" must be plugged up.)

+20 # sark 2011-04-05 14:02

I have the right to request a paper ballot, was told so by the chairman of the local Board of Election so I requested and voted on one. Then the local Board of Elections asked the State Board of Elections to invalidate my ballot because there was no real reason for me to not vote on the machines and my ballot was not counted. I spent thousands of hours trying to get at least optical scan in my county (and entire state) but they went with DRE machines so the BoE does not like me. That said, I agree that paper ballots and optical scan are better than DRE machines but there are clearly shown problems with the counting of the vote on optical scan machines. Also, these machines are manufactured, programed and serviced by the same corporations that make the DRE machines. For the most part, recounts and audits are a joke in this country and do little if anything to assure the vote is counted as the voter intended. I have voted 99% of the time since 1972, even the little county school board elections but since 2000, I have never trusted that my vote has been counted as cast. I have also been a big get out the vote participant but as far as I can determine, we have lost the vote to the electronic machines because there is no way to protect the integrity of the elections as long as they are manufactured, programed and serviced by corporations with an agenda.

+5 # rf 2011-04-06 05:05

I will vote and it won't be for any of the two parties...I'm tired of getting stabbed in the back..VOTE SOCIALIST!

+8 # Observer 47 2011-04-06 05:39

Giraffee2012, do you REALLY think election results make one bit of difference in how this country is run? If so, you've learned nothing from the events in this country during the last five or six decades.

+13 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-04-05 18:25

Quoting

"They" have the voting machines. "They" manufacture, program and service the voting machines. That with their media control means "They" have means to make sure there is no election integrity. Please Michael Moore, address the electronic voting machines. Then we may have real victories instead of the occasional illusion of victory. Verifiable elections where the vote is counted as the voter intended is the real key to victory and that will never happen as long as we vote using machines manufactured, programed and serviced by hard-right Republican supporting corporations.

What truly pisses me off is that the Dems are their own worst enemies. They can't even see the noses on their faces, they're so blind. When Obama won the pres & the Dems took strong control of both house of Congress, they could have easily nullified HAVA, the Help America Vote Act, & required by law that all elections be held using paper ballots & counted by hand. But, like everything else they could've done, they failed to do this.

Ask yourself what will the people of Wisconsin do when they hold these recall elections with polling showing that the recall should've succeeded but, in the end, didn't? There will be nothing that they can do about it, & I fully blame the Dem leadership in Washington for being so naive and weak.

-2 # rf 2011-04-06 05:07

it is not that the Democrats failed...they did exactly want they wanted and got exactly what they wanted.

No more Democratic votes for me...hear that Nader!

+6 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-04-06 08:12

What you're implying is that the Dems are masochists, that they enjoy doing things that are knowingly self-destructive to themselves. That would be defined as insanity.

I say that they are simply stupid & naive which is almost as bad. It makes no sense that Obama & the Dems would do things that they know would in fact hurt their own survival. That means that they either are stupid & naive or that they are completely insane & masochistic. I choose the former, but insanity is also defined as doing the same thing over & over again & always expecting different results.

Either way, we're all in deep doo doo. Assuming that it's even possible for the Dems to win over the Repubs with rigged & fraudulent e-voting machines, the only way the Dems can ever regain power & prestige is to fight fire with fire, to attack the Repubs as viciously & as emotionally as the Repubs attack them, but, instead of lies & deceptions, tell the American people the cold hard honest truth as to what awaits them down the road if the Repubs continue to control state govts & take control of the Senate & the WH in 2012, a true Fascist dictatorship. At the same time, the Dems must also do everything in their power, which, at the moment, has been severely lessened, to fulfill the promises made to their liberal base.

But, let's face it. The Dems aren't going to change.

+23 # ruthee 2011-04-05 08:50

WHY NOT ABANDON VOTING MACHINES? Why not overseen elections by community members? Why not each county and parrish responsible for its' own processes for voting? Why not give up on the Republican Party since on so many blogs, in so many conversations, in these many social and adversarial movements across our great midwest, we hear NO GOOD NEWS about, or from, their quarters? Americans, have you no imaginations or motivations? Tell the Chamber of Commerce (Horrors) it is no longer needed! Republican influence is eating the common man, alive!

+31 # rm 2011-04-05 09:16

You are so right, Michael Moore. But the 400 ruling elites are both ruling and elite because they have the power of propaganda. Americans are the most propagandized people on earth. Enough of them DO really believe that teachers and firefighters caused the economic crisis we are in. They believe we are even in an economic crisis.

About half of Americans are brain dead -- killed off by 60 years of saturation propaganda sponsored by the ruling elite. In 2012 they will vote for some republican for president, say Mitch Daniels, because they trust him more to fix the economy.

There's no hope for Zombie Amerikkka. I say just let it collapse. Let the 400 steal all the wealth and then like the predators they are they will move on. American can then be rebuilt on the foundation of no propaganda.

+34 # Realist 2011-04-05 09:52

Remove the need for money, and we will reclaim our government I propose the following bill to be introduced by whatever congressperson still has a conscience ( maybe you know one that does): All television and radio stations and networks must give an equal amount of time to all candidates. If one candidate buys any additional time, the television and radio stations and networks selling that time must donate an equal amount of time to all the other candidates. This will be done on an area or national basis, depending on each initial purchase. If a station or network gives free coverage to any candidate, through interviews, talk shows, etc., that station must give all other candidates an equal amount of time. All equal time provisions are interpreted to mean at equivalent time slots.
Remember, the airwaves are owned by the people, and licensed to various networks. If these networks or individual stations do not agree to this public service (as required by FCC licensing agreements), they must lose their license(s).

+19 # dadepfan 2011-04-05 10:41

I have suggested in the past that ALL campaign contributions go to the RACE, not the CANDIDATE. The money is then divided equally among all the candidates. But beyond the campaign finance problem is the total lack of "truth in advertising" when it comes to politics. Anyone with the money can buy time on any network and tell any complete lie they want. You could not do this with your product, why with politics? Why are not slander, libel, and defamation of character not applicable to politics?

Americans voting Republican are mostly well-meaning, conservative-leaning people, who have been deceived by decades of lies and manipulation into voting against their own self-interest. An informed voter is a non-Republican voter.

+3 # Patch 2011-04-09 03:10

You are on the right track, Realist. Let's make it illegal to show political ads at all. It is illegal to advertise liquor or cigarettes because they are dangerous to our health. Political ads are equally as dangerous and should therefore be banned as well.

+12 # angelfish 2011-04-05 10:01

God Bless you Michael, but you're preaching to the Choir! We are with you! I want to know how we light a FIRE under our President to make him see that without his help and support, THEY win! The "Lame stream Media" seems to be sitting on their hands as well by continuing to give air time and space to inconsequential "sensationalist Bull-Puckey" while they neglect the ROOT CAUSE of our problems. Unless and until the Mega-wealthy grow some sense of responsibility and fair play, which seems HIGHLY unlikely, we must fight this battle ALONE. As our populace is at last awakening to what "the 400" have in mind for us, the RECALL elections will FINALLY show them the POWER of the PEOPLE, as opposed to the Corporations they had their SCOTUS deem as such!. In the meantime, Thank you for all you do!

+20 # in deo veritas 2011-04-05 10:03

Let the "government" shut down! They did it in Belgium and don't miss it. There is no point in trusting anyone to fix the economy except ourselves, one at a time. Identify the companies not paying taxes and boycott them. If you were stupid enough to invest, sell their stock. Withdraw all funds from Bank of America and others of their kind before they can steal it- and then put it someplace safe. I heard that people in WI are doing this already. Even if we cannot break these criminals, we can thus achieve some self-respect instead of being part of the sheeple.

+14 # dadepfan 2011-04-05 10:34

The sad thing is that, even these 400 wealthy Americans will lose if the middle class is destroyed. Their short-term greed is self-destructive in the long run. The economy runs on the backs of consumers, not 400 wealthy individuals.

Of course, these 400 votes would be worthless if we did not have a tri-fecta of evil destroying America:

UNLIMITED spending on UNCHECKED deceit by UNREVEALED donors!!

http://www.desautel.net/reversespin/?p=328

+4 # James Robert Smith 2011-04-05 10:43

They don't have "400 votes". By your own reasoning you admit that they have "2 trillion" votes. That's the deal. You can't trump that. Nobody can.

+2 # Observer 47 2011-04-06 06:21

EXACTLY!!!!!

+13 # Carl Stilwell 2011-04-05 10:51

Money to get power, power to protect money" -- Medici family motto

+3 # Gary Ray Pierson 2011-04-06 06:14

Quoting

Money to get power, power to protect money" -- Medici family motto

Some body knows history and I am so glad.. The most powerful family in Italy at it's time. They controlled every thing.The bad and the good.. Kind of like what use to be our Government has done and is doing. And like the Medici family, greed among them will tear them apart. Problem is, it won't happen fast enough here and has any one thought about why all the rich people around the world are sucking up as much wealth as quickly as possible? Wonder what and whose super computer told them to do this? Hello Dec. 21st 2012. ? Cpl. Pierson, 101st Airborne, Vietnam

+29 # Michael Keenan 2011-04-05 11:04

All voting is hand counted in Canada within a few hours of closing polls. That is probably why they have single payer medicine.

+24 # Kayjay 2011-04-05 11:15

Obviously we need to make CHANGES in how our votes are counted, the role of money in politics and how campaign information is disseminated. But any changes will be seen by the 400 as a threat and end up in the courts. So... we need to address the fact that the Supremes are firmly in corporate pockets. A Supreme court seat is in theory for life. But it is time to challenge their cronyism. The Judicial branch is supposed to provide a check and balance to corruption/misdeeds in government. By all means push for the above changes. But a looooong look at the Supreme court is past due.

+4 # sark 2011-04-08 04:47

Well put Kayjay! It is sad that two members of the Supreme court are only there because the voters ballots were not counted as cast in 2000 and 2004 elections.

+7 # Bobs Johnson 2011-04-05 11:54

150 mill to 400. Sounds like good odds for our side. But they bought for the politicians who vote for them, not us.

Is there another way to rectify this situation? I'm just saying.

Goerge Carlin had it right. You Tube George Carlin, American Dream. And we're likely to lazy to do anything about it.

+13 # giraffee2012 2011-04-05 12:41

I do not understand how anybody who does not make billions / year can vote for a Repub. But I know some personally. Also, many in the Southern states seem to want to return to slavery (this time slavery will not be only black men, women, children - but all of us - including them)

Watch Russian Television if you get it - or go to RT.COM to hear about the BIG banks around the world sucking money from citizens and you'll see WHY all these countries are going broke and other matters.

Do not be fooled our big 10 (or so) banks are sucking us dry and so is the FED whose "board" etc are part of the international theives.

+6 # pazyluz 2011-04-05 12:48

too true, the system was broke b4 we voted. 1) clean up voting ~ have notary publics [they are under oath] become a world-wide voting verification source; 2) limit ALL campaign offerings with a very small cap; 3) require all candidate messages to show both sides and limit number to small amt + exerpts from public debates, again w/both sides 4) depersonalize corps [corpses] and cut all spending & make all reportable; 5) cut congressional salaries by 1/2; 6) stop electoral votes - it discourages most from voting at all particularly in the west 7) have voting on wkends and stagger polling hours so NY runs 7a to 7p while CA runs 10a to 10 p giving the west the same opportunity to pull pundits instead of making us after-the-fact why bothers.

+2 # derekupdegraff 2011-04-05 14:10

Citizens,
If you really wanted it, we could have online voting that's completely verifiable within six months. Don't you already do your banking and bill paying online? So, how important is your vote?

+7 # VSweet 2011-04-05 14:22

Michael thank you for sharing and keeping us abreast with facts. Dr. MLK was a hero for all laborers. One thing the rich forget is they can hold on to their millions of dollars but what good will it do them when U.S. Dollar has no significant value? Yes, this will happen one day. The rich will freak out! The poor will still survive.

+7 # theshift33 2011-04-05 16:39

I agree. The US dollar is losing value by the minute. Small shops on the coasts are now putting up signs that they are accepting foreign currencies. Even they know our dollar is crumbling.
If the oil barrons quit using the US dollar as the standard for trading oil, China figures out we can't pay back the trillions we owe, the bond and treasury markets will fall out the bottom and the rich will be lame ducks. The poor will survive because we've know how to squeeze a penny 6 different ways and still create positive memories for our children.

+12 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-04-05 18:14

Quoting

Michael thank you for sharing and keeping us abreast with facts. Dr. MLK was a hero for all laborers. One thing the rich forget is they can hold on to their millions of dollars but what good will it do them when U.S. Dollar has no significant value? Yes, this will happen one day. The rich will freak out! The poor will still survive.

Yes, the dollar is literally losing value each and everyday. Just look at what's happening with gold and silver as well as the emerging markets. From Aug 20th, 2010, till now, the price of silver went from $17.59 to $38.34, and no none seems to care that the U.S. dollar is literally falling apart.

But, you're wrong about the extremely wealthy getting hurt in the process. They're protecting themselves by investing in gold and silver and in overseas markets. Unlike most Americans, the very wealthy are painfully aware of what's happening to our currency and it's buying power while the average American is completely oblivious to what's happening.

The U.S. has not officially devalued the dollar, but it is literally being devalued virtually everyday underneath the table. If and when the U.S. dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency, it will completely collapse, and when it does, you can be sure that the very wealthy will no longer be holding any of it.

+6 # tarantilla 2011-04-05 16:27

Voting is a good idea, but not practical. Votes are controlled and voters manipulated. The "ruling class" can be brought to their knees if people were organized. They could make a public demand and then, if necessary, one day a week SPEND NO MONEY! If demand is mot met, up it to two days a week. Spending is our weapon. We should use it.

+7 # Helynn Coles 2011-04-05 16:36

Why are we not hearing from the people more? Does it take what we had to do at UC Berkeley to stop Nixon and the Korean War. Folks, this is our rights going done the drain. We are subsidising the Rich, their the only ones making money and keeping it during these hard times. All I see is poor people getting poorer and the rich getting richer. ENOUGH! PLUS NO ONE HAS GONE TO JAIL BEHIND ALL OF THE CRAP THAT WENT DOWN UNDER Bush. Where is justice. Again, just us.

+7 # Gary Ray Pierson 2011-04-06 06:36

Quoting

Why are we not hearing from the people more? Does it take what we had to do at UC Berkeley to stop Nixon and the Korean War. GONE TO JAIL BEHIND ALL OF THE CRAP THAT WENT DOWN UNDER Bush. Where is justice. Again, just us.

They were all scolded and let lose. I'd sit and let some suck up scold me for a few billion, no problem.. But Helynn.. It was Nixon and Vietnam. Korea, was from 1950-1953 and 58,000 American souls lost so Niki can make shoes.. Vietnam, 1964-1975 almost 60,000 souls lost in a war I was in and still have no idea why. Population control? Some try to lay blame on JFK. He wanted out of Cuba and Vietnam. He wanted to disband the CIA, get rid of the closet gay FBI cock sucker Hoover, the Mafia and many others. Thus, he paid for it with his life..Eisenhower sent (advisors)over in 57'. The French connection left and we took it. Made a lot of money no one has to account for. Good old heroine.China White.. Bank of Whacovia (sp?), made millions on the drug trade with Mexico and got fined about 2% of the millions they washed and No one went to jail. It's like what's been mentioned, take your money out of the banks and watch what happens... The beat goes on. Cpl. Pierson, 101st Airborne, Vietnam

+5 # Observer 47 2011-04-06 07:05

I can't speak to anything in your comment, Gary, except the part about JFK, but years of research and observation tell me that you're wpot-on there. Have you read L. Fletcher Prouty's books? If not, he was on the "inside" from the end of WWII until Vietnam was well underway, and confirms much of what you say.

+4 # Gary Ray Pierson 2011-04-06 08:03

Quoting

I can't speak to anything in your comment, Gary, except the part about JFK, but years of research and observation tell me that you're wpot-on there. Have you read L. Fletcher Prouty's books? If not, he was on the "inside" from the end of WWII until Vietnam was well underway, and confirms much of what you say.

I haven't read his book, what I know is what I saw.. Doesn't take a genius to know that bullets don't zig zag in mid air after going thru a body and the head shot,was from the front..Not some book store.. I've shot people.. You get shot in the back of the head,it falls forward or off,depending on weapon... And it was just some other George H. Bush that worked for the CIA in Dallas that day.. And I believe em.. Really.. I just threw up! grp

+6 # fredboy 2011-04-05 17:24

What most amazes me is President Obama--the man we elected to turn the tide, to right the wrongs, to stand up for us--has failed on this and so many measures.

Has he praised the police? The firefighters? The teachers? Perhaps faintly, but has he gone to the mat for any of you?

We needed an FDR or a Churchill, yet we got a Chamberlain. Now I shudder to think of the next election, as Obama has repeatedly and increasingly more closely resembled the Republican side of the aisle.

One tip for Obama: Fear nothing. Repeat, fear nothing. I cannot think of another President who needed that advice.

+5 # Observer 47 2011-04-06 06:26

JFK wemt ahead with his policies despite his fears, and look what happened to him. Six weeks after he announced that the U.S. would pull out of Vietnam completely, he was dead.

+4 # Gary Ray Pierson 2011-04-06 07:55

Quoting

JFK wemt ahead with his policies despite his fears, and look what happened to him. Six weeks after he announced that the U.S. would pull out of Vietnam completely, he was dead.

Bingo! Do as they say or die.

+7 # Bucky Burro 2011-04-05 18:32

I've thought a lot about these "1 Percenters"/"Filthy Rich"/"Fat Cat 400", whatever you want to call them. If they're smart enough to make all that money, can they really be so stupid as to destroy our economy, our country, our world, simply for the sake of sheer greed?
Somehow that just doesn't ring true to me. There must be something else going on, some complexity which is hidden from our view. Maybe Obama can see it better from his vantage point in the Oval Office. That would explain a lot of his actions, and inactions.
Then again, I could be wrong.

+5 # Observer 47 2011-04-06 06:28

You're not wrong, Bucky. Obama was made to "see the light" either shortly before or shortly after he took office. He decided to toe the line, and stay alive.

+4 # Trina 2011-04-05 20:27

I suggest using your energy toward growing food this summer and canning it and saving seeds for next year if you want to eat. The economy collapse's, your money will not buy food or utilities, gasoline,clothe s you name it. Unless you want to trade it in on another currency , if you still have a job left. I would get that hunting rifle and all the ammo while you can or take up some form of hunting or livestock if you like to eat people . This is REAL. Do not wait till the other shoe drops.

+8 # Patricia Chang 2011-04-05 20:30

Robert Reich has said we are heading for a double digit dive. I agree. Congress and the Great Appeaser are busy taking buying power away from as many people as possible. Add to that stagnant wages. Add to that the unemployed(forg et the dumb tricks the Dept. of Labor plays with the figures.), add to that the number of homes in foreclosure, add to that the number of bankruptcies, add to that the number of people with maxed out credit cards, add to that the homeless, add to that increasing healthcare costs, drug costs, gasoline costs, food costs, etc,add to that increasing costs for higher education, add to that increasing book rental fees, activities fees, and any other fees struggling public schools have had to add. It boggles the mind, and keeps on adding up. The whole mess is top heavy, with the foundation crumbling more and more every day. The dollar is losing ground fast. Think Weimar Germany. We are headed to the abyss. Call me nuts, but I am getting a wood-burning stove, rain barrels, canned goods, batteries, and other survival gear. Don't laugh too hard, or I wont share my woodpile for winter heat.

+2 # josé wellington 2011-04-06 08:26

US dollar is worth less, due to decrease of investments in production goods and those dumb ass are retaining money?
They´re getting poorer, they don't?

+7 # ken sayers 2011-04-06 11:38

They only need 400 votes and Diebold http://itpolicy.princeton.edu/voting/

+2 # johnmulkins123 2011-04-06 21:30

A must see http://www.peoplescongress.org. This is a direct action addressing the underlying issues we would almost all agree on. This is not another demonstration. This is a proposal for a real "People's Congress" to assemble on the mall in D.C. to pass real legislation to be given to Congress. This event will focus on reform the 4 key issues undermining our democracy. Allow yourself to imagine what a real solution would look like. Get involved!

+2 # Stewart Evans 2011-04-08 12:14

How can such extreme differences in ideology be settled peacefully. The compromises, concessions that the Democratic Party has made over the years has diluted the values of the Party. A cloud of meanness overcasts the United States. Here in Hoover Alabama the City has bought apartments to run the Hispanic population out. Many of my friends have used Planned Parenthood and they are being assaulted. Spain Park High School in town is being used for Evangelistic religious and political enlistment. The contrary forces seem pale by comparison. Thank goodness for you Michael Moore you are an oasis in a desert of middle class misery.

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