Michael Moore writes, "Right now Thompson is fighting a frontline battle in a war that's been raging for the past 30 years - the global war of the world's rich on the middle class. It's a war the people of Flint and all of Michigan know much too well. It's a war going on right now in Wisconsin. And it's a war where the middle class just won a round in Egypt. (You probably didn't know - because the US media was too busy telling you about Justin Bieber - that Gamal Mubarak, son of Egypt's dictator and his chosen successor, worked for years for Bank of America.)"

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

Global War on the Middle Class

By Michael Moore, Open Mike Blog

25 February 11

Why I Support the People of Thompson, Canada - And You Should Too

o people down here in the US, Thompson, Canada, and its fight with the Brazilian mining giant Vale may seem very far away.

It's not.

(Don't be embarrassed if you need a map to find Thompson, though - blame the US media, which will only tell you about Canadians if they have some connection to Justin Bieber.)

Right now Thompson is fighting a frontline battle in a war that's been raging for the past 30 years - the global war of the world's rich on the middle class. It's a war the people of Flint and all of Michigan know much too well. It's a war going on right now in Wisconsin. And it's a war where the middle class just won a round in Egypt. (You probably didn't know - because the U.S. media was too busy telling you about Justin Bieber - that Gamal Mubarak, son of Egypt's dictator and his chosen successor, worked for years for Bank of America.)

Here's what's happening in Thompson, and why it matters so much:

Canada isn't like the United States - it's still a first world country, where corporations are supposed to exist to benefit people, not the other way around. They don't just have universal health care - they even have something called the Investment Canada Act, which says multinationals like Vale can only invest in Canadian industries if it will benefit all of Canada. I know, crazy!

The mine in Thompson used to be run by Inco, a Canadian corporation that made peace with unions and shared the wealth. When Vale bought Inco in 2006, they signed a contract with the government setting out what they would do to benefit Canadians.

Immediately afterward, Vale violated the contract and went on the attack - forcing miners in Sudbury, Ontario out on the longest strike in their history. And now in Thompson they're trying to shut down the smelting and refining operations that have made the city a major economic hub of the province. Meanwhile, the Conservative government of Stephen Harper - think of George W. Bush with a Canadian accent - is actually helping Vale do this to their fellow citizens, with a giant $1 billion government loan which Vale is using to move jobs out of Thompson. Moreover, the largest institutional investor in Vale is Blackrock, an investment firm which in turn is owned by several of America's bailed-out banks ... including Bank of America.

So this is about one thing and one thing only: killing the social contract of Canada. Vale and the Harper government don't want a future where Brazil gradually becomes more like Canada. Instead, they want a future where Canada becomes Brazil. And not just Canada: the corporations' plan is that the Third World will become the Only World.

That's why people everywhere need to support Thompson. As Niki Ashton - the MP who represents Thompson and the second-youngest woman ever elected to the Canadian Parliament - says: "It Was Flint Yesterday, It's Us and Wisconsin Today, and Tomorrow It's Going to Be Everyone."

And that's why I'm proud to feature Ashton and voices of the people of Thompson on my website. And it's why I'm asking you to watch their powerful video (below), hear their stories, and share them with everyone you know.

Regular people across the world are standing up right now and saying "No!" to the future they have planned for us. We won in Egypt. We're waking up and fighting back across the US. Let's all stand with Thompson and make it the place where we turn the tide in this awful war. As Kamal Abbas, one of Egypt's most important union leaders, said in a video message to Wisconsin: "We stand with you, as you stood with us."

(Confidential to people of Thompson: we're not saying Americans will only help if you promise to introduce us to Justin Bieber. We're just saying, you know, it couldn't hurt.)

Our Community. Our Resource. Our Canada.

Comments

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+73 # Anthony J. Mendonca 2011-02-25 22:26

I created and teach a college-level course on globalization. The scope and accuracy of Moore's assessment is most impressive. He gets it. Class struggle has been globalized. You go Michael!

+36 # portiz 2011-02-25 22:39

This video should be seen by EVERYONE - it is amazing!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Thank you Michael, thank you, thank you, thank you!

+43 # Beau Leeman 2011-02-26 01:10

Does 'big corporate' do vile things? I've seen quite a few take overs and have been frankly taken back by things too numerous to count. Things like mass firings of personnel and discontinuances of various products support, oft before their time.

In early '61 I went to work for Fender Musical Instrument in Fullerton CA, met Leo Fender along with a plethora of working musicians, some whose names you'd remember. CBS had just taken ownership, with Leo still employed there for a time.

I believe it was on a Friday that we were informed that we had the option of taking Monday off, if it would be too much of a strain to do the dirty work scheduled for that day. The task at hand was to literally destroy a half million dollar's worth of inventory. Guitars, keyboards, tube amps (solid state was emerging, but not fully developed), and more. We were not allowed any of it for ourselves, even to purchase, just assigned hatchets.

As a musician and repair guy, it was probably my hardest day to get through, ever. And never since have I been a fan of big corporate. If Vale has truly contravened any agreements to the detriment of the community, and it certainly appears that way, let’s make our voices heard.

+38 # cake eater 2011-02-26 08:48

Mr. Leeman's comments clearly demonstrate that this is a worldwide ideological push by the robber baron class to rid all workers, in all industries of their rights. The Detroit Symphony remains on strike against management's refusal to negotiate. Like the unions in Wisconsin, they have put forward more than reasonable concessions and compromises, but management is not interested unless worker protections are completely abandoned. Like Wisconsin workers, they are portrayed as greedy layabouts with a a strong sense of entitlement. Management was hired to run the business operations of this world class musical organization, yet they now insist on the right to hire and fire at will with no input from the musicians in the orchestra. The musicians themselves have agreed to massive paycuts but stand strong against this union busting agenda. All over the world, multinational would-be feudal lords are attacking workers rights. Negotiation is not possible with this mentality. They seek nothing short of a completely emasculated working class, a wage slave class with no rights, no voice and no hope for a better future. Civilized society is itself under attack. Mr. Leeman's example and the struggle of the Detroit Symphony demonstrate that this tyrannical push knows no boundaries. The arts in all forms are to be eviscerated. Only profit will remain.

+2 # Christopher Brooks 2011-03-01 16:52

Why would rich people want to eviscerate all art form?

+6 # pappyg 2011-02-26 01:40

The cancer on middle class working Americans: The Pathology Report: http://sobreport.com/?p=66 The Treatment Plan: http://sobreport.com/?p=70
The Government Can radio show weekdays at 9am eastern: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pappyg

+58 # Windy126 2011-02-26 01:51

Thank you for supporting us in Wisconsin. It is far from over. There are many other parts of that same bill that are not being discussed in the open. Like Walker being able to sell the state owned power plants to any one he wants to at any price he sets. Can anyone say "Koch Industries"?
The way I figure he is trying to get rid of unions so he can shut down the state run Veterans home. It has long been a thorn in the side of Republicans. Plus it sits on State owned land that developers would give their eye teeth for. Never mind over 700 Vets who call it home, some with their spouses would have to leave. It would put the staff out of a job and devastate the economy in the area. Pox on Walker and any other curse you can place on him.

+43 # John R Williams 2011-02-26 04:44

Arch Bishop Fulton J Sheen some 40 odd years ago commented "that the Godless Corporations grind out human souls like so much fodder in the pursuit of profits". We all need to stand up in an effort to prevent this "Orwellian" existence from permeating our world. We hear you, Thompson.

+15 # Darlene Pope Polzin 2011-02-26 12:34

"All that is needed for evil to conquer is for good men to do nothing."

At no other time in history has there been the opportunity for evil to spread worldwide so quickly.

Corporations (power) are running our governments in First World Nations. Is Revolution or Socialism the only answer?

+39 # genierae 2011-02-26 05:14

Workers need to join hands around the world to stand up to these rich plutocrats. No nation on earth can resist the combined will of its people, but it must be a sustained, peaceful revolution, based on justice and the common good. It was reported yesterday that Mubarak's people are still in the government, and so the revolution is not yet successful, the Egyptian people still have much work to do to take their country back. The people of Wisconsin, and Thompson need to realize that their efforts must be long-term and sustained if they are to succeed, because the corporate Republicans are entrenched and will not be easy to dislodge. But if the people persevere, with goodwill and fearlessness, they will prevail. Bravo!!

+18 # tomo 2011-02-26 10:20

One of the things we can do is pick a corporation that is truly egregious (I would think an oil company would be a good start--there are so many of them operating entirely outside the moral law.) Electronically, we organize a boycott. It's very easy. Can the U.S. government say: "There will be no boycott?" Well, yeah! Obama, or some other front man, can SAY it--but what can it do? It could try to pull the plug on the Internet, but the operation would be very, very awkward. Suppose we were to pick Chevron. Why? Well, for its contempt for the people of Ecuador, and for its contempt of law. Would Exxon come to Chevron's rescue? After all, Exxon shares Chevron's contempt for ordinary people and is as contemptuous of law as Chevron is. So maybe Exxon SHOULD try to protect Chevron. But Exxon has been so stupified by greed for so long, it would be hard for Exxon to act from "enlightened self-interest." Just as it's inspiring to see one despotic regime in the Middle East bite the dust, so it would be inspiring to see one great oil monster bite the dust. As we boycotted Chevron into bankruptcy, we could, I'd think, continue to buy gasoline from others--perhaps even BID DOWN the price of gasoline. One victory would lead to others. Just seal your ears against all the stockholders who predictably will cry: "You're making us INNOCENT people suffer for no reason."

+13 # Dave Ewoldt 2011-02-26 18:52

How about if we refuse to patronize in any way any corporation that pays less in taxes than the average American does?

+10 # genierae 2011-02-27 07:26

tomo: Have you read about how hydro-fracking is spreading across this country, polluting the water systems, and destroying habitat? They brag about how much cleaner natural gas is but it is as harmful to the environment as oil, just in different ways. Ignorant people are selling their land, or drilling rights to these lying companies, and they will be sure to regret it someday. I agree that we need to boycott environment-destroying oil companies, and I also think that we should frequent only small businesses, as much as we can. Small, local bank chains; farmers' markets; local grocers; small cable companies; etc. We need to support local businesses and shun multinational ones, if we want our towns to thrive. Mega-corporations are like vampires, sucking all the life-blood out of our communities, and it is up to us to turn that around.

+34 # Jawbone Grouch 2011-02-26 05:46

A war against humanity.

WTF will they do when the planet won't support BP and all the other industrial giants....AND....nobody to feed or serve them champaigne and fill their tanks with their products with no one to buy or sell for them...and on and on

Ignorance is curable
Stupidity is not

+34 # judith ackerman 2011-02-26 05:54

You have my love, blessings and support. We are now in a fight between the wealthy and the working/poor/middle population.

+22 # bigkahuna671 2011-02-26 09:34

Maybe we need to see North African rebellion spread around the world, including in North America. After all, the patriots of the American Revolution rebelled because they weren't getting represented which is really the case today since neither party really cares to take care of the people who elect and reelect them. The Dems are too darned spineless and simply gnash their teeth and whine, and the GOP is too concerned with answering the demands of its lobbyist friends and wealthy supporters like the Koch brothers, leaving the rest of us poor fools to fend for ourselves. Of course, some of our brethren like Wolfie and the Tombstone are either too ignorant or too short-sighted to realize they're being used as they scramble to defend the ultra-rich, far right agenda. Go Libya, go Yemen, good on ya' all you who are fighting for your freedome. If only we in the U.S. had your courage to stand up to those who abuse us.

+8 # Pat Gray 2011-02-26 10:45

Unfortunatly the Democrats do not "simply gnash their teeth and whine", they are ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS in this class war against the working people. You must know this fact to move up to ignorance that can be overcome. Being stupid and voting for any Democrat is a self inflicted wound to the lives of all working people.

+4 # m 2011-02-26 11:19

I agree... though I am naive enough to think maybe some Democrats are 'Conscience-Conflicted' in their back-turning, head in the sand, corporate campaign donation collecting 'UnAmerican Activities'....

It seems to be the last, almost completely faded away bare minimum only feeble hope I have in the 'Who Do They Still Think They Are Kidding' Corporate Democratic Party...

+7 # genierae 2011-02-27 07:36

m: There are still some decent Democrats that are standing up for our rights, Kucinich, Franken, and Sherrod Brown come to mind. But I agree that most of them are rich and have lost touch with the people that they are supposed to represent. Time after time, they vote against the will of the people and this won't change until we have public-funded elections.

+5 # Virginia 2011-02-27 10:44

Don't forget Waters, Conyers and there was Grayson...

+6 # genierae 2011-02-27 07:41

Pat Gray: You think that it is smart to stay home and allow Republicans to be elected? As long as there is only one "electable" alternative to Republicans, I will vote for Democrats. Noam Chomsky agrees with that, advising us to vote for Obama in 2012. I don't think that he is stupid, do you?

+7 # bigkahuna671 2011-02-26 15:50

Sorry about the misspelled word. It should be freedom, not freedome. Pat - Not all Democratic Congressmen are useless, just
the majority, unfortunately.

+35 # Tathata 2011-02-26 06:47

Comments like these do my heart good. If we all stand together and say NO to the oligarchy, they are powerless. Their prinicpal weapon is misinformation and fear. Same as it ever was. Capitalism is like a nuclear reactor. Without the carbon rods of constraint and regulation, the plutonium will heat until the whole system melts down. This is the madness of unbridled Capitalism. Capitalism MUST be regulated to avoid the China Syndrome.

+15 # Darlene Pope Polzin 2011-02-26 12:42

"Capitalism MUST be regulated". This is the truth that needs to be understood by all in government and most important, it MUST be understood by the PEOPLE. It is imperative that the ignorance of this fact must be 'cured'.

+10 # m 2011-02-26 22:36

so true...

Corporatists, Conservatives and Republicans would have us all believe that a completely ungoverned, uninhibited, run amok 'free' market system is the absolute panacea for all mankind and the entire universe and even the will of all Gods...

They would have us all believe it because its profitable and empowering for them...

Completely Ungoverned Capitalism is no more a panacea than its antithesis, Communism.

Government.., flexible, evolving, expanding and contracting as necessary Government which acts on behalf of all is the closest thing to a panacea we will ever achieve.

We are now living with an overly contracted government and a lot further from 'panacea' than 30 years ago... In fact, we are closing in on becoming a de facto Corporatacracy or Government by mediated Corporate Interests

+31 # Bill Duckworth 2011-02-26 07:33

It was a surprise to me to see Wisconsin go to the Repulicans. It has generally been more progressive than Michigan in the past few years, especially since the labor has less voice in Michigan affairs. I worry because Republicans have obviously sold their conservative views to more in Wisconsin and I think we all need to make sure people understand that the corporations lean to the "right" (conservative) for all too apparent reasons. People need to understand that the Republicans are more oriented toward corporate support while Democrats are more oriented toward "people" issues. I think that corporate sponsored news has successfully hidden that disctinction.

+28 # cake eater 2011-02-26 08:56

If we are to place any credibility in our system of government:

1) electronic voting machines must leave a paper trail and can no longer be outsourced to companies with ideological agendas.

2) The stain of Citizens United must be removed. Corporations are not people. The right will not budge on this, so we need to make them understand that if corporations are to be considered as "people", they are not immune to the death penalty.

+8 # Capn Canard 2011-02-27 06:39

I agree, but those items are the tip of an huge iceberg. There is also the incredibly vile, and retarded issue that a Supreme Court decision(Santa Clara RR v. USA, May 1886-the court reporter was ) that legally gave "PERSON HOOD" to Corporations.

Court Reporter Bancroft Davis, former president of New York and Newburgh RR, wrote:

"The court does not wish to hear argument on the question whether the provision in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids a State to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, applies to these corporations. We are all of the opinion that it does."

This is interpreted to mean CORPORATIONS are LEGAL persons. Of course this court decision is complete nonsense, but were talking about the influence of wealth...

+6 # genierae 2011-02-27 07:54

cake eater: I am against the death penalty, but I will make an exception for corporations. I think that voting machines in Wisconsin were rigged to defeat Democrats, especially Russ Feingold. They only have to tip them enough to throw the vote count to the Republicans. Using legitimate polls, they can pretty much tell what the percentages will be. Does anyone remember if Dems were leading in the polls prior to the election?

+19 # mtnview 2011-02-26 08:19

Another section of the Wisconsin Bill, Section 127, limits funding of education, health care, social services to LEGAL American Citizens. This would require everyone receiving such services (ie: Kindergartners) to prove they are citizens. Can you say 'National identity card'?

+20 # Frank Winkler 2011-02-26 08:39

It would seem at first blush that both the Canadian government and the people of Thompson, respectively, have a legitimate legal right to exercise the option of eminent domain and initiate action to re-take, or seize, the property in question, based on the argument that Vale failed to lilve up to its contractual obligations, and moreover, that it acted intentionally to mislead both the Canadian governnment of ane the community of its actual objective regarding use of the acquired property. There comes a point where the Canadian Federal government has an obligatory right and need to step in to avoid or at least reduce economic harm and to defend by legal action its nation, its economy, and its people. The prima facie case as presented here reflects apparent intent by Vale to have misrepresented itself and its intentions from the outset by acquiring this property under false pretenses with the apparent objective of generating profit by liquidating this enterprise at the expense of the Thompson.

+1 # mbaker 2011-02-28 09:07

Frank, thanks for that idea!

While I believe it is of great value to bring out all aspects and examples of problems, I believe it is of much greater value to (then) bring up possible solutions. And then, with many people putting forth positive energy/thought towards various solutions, and about all the good details, and good outcomes of those solutions, … some of those solutions will start manifesting!

The protests provide raised awarenesses, and solutions, like Frank’s, can be the seeds for all of us to envision, and create, a better world. And the internet can certainly help in this process!

I read above about boycotting one particular, troublesome corporation. …What are some other possible solutions??... Some ideas we can “wrap our heads around”! Thanks.

+1 # mbaker 2011-02-28 10:12

How about correcting the voting/vote counting process...with a more open, transparent procedure.

+25 # Capn Canard 2011-02-26 09:07

Plain and simple, this is a war on the middle class. WEALTH will use any means necessary to increase profits. It starts out with legal tactics and then digresses from there on... The actions of Vale is more pathetic than sad and we are watching these same things happen all over the world. YES, Egypt is similar to Wisconsin? Some Egyptians thinks they are very similar, and Union members in Wisconsin believe the same. Is Thompson similar to Wisconsin? ABSOLUTELY, both members of the public employee union of Wisconsin and Thomspon workers believe this is so. Where will it end? It never ends so long as WEALTH WANTS MORE WEALTH.

+3 # Darlene Pope Polzin 2011-02-26 12:51

The only thing new in the world is History Unlearned.

"The graveyard of History is full of the bones of the haves over run by the have nots." Why can not we learn from history. Stupidity? Stupidity cannot be cured so, this indeed, is frightening.

+13 # m 2011-02-26 10:26

AMERICAN MEDIA.....a.k.a
THE CORPORATE MEDIA MINISTRY FOR CORPORATE INTERESTS AND PUBLIC DISTRACTION.
Almost all of which is now owned, CONTROLLED and EXPLOITED by just a very few GLOBAL CORPORATIONS beholden ONLY to its wealthy shareholders thanks to just one outcome of 30 years of rampant DIS-EMPOWERMENT of the American People through relentless Conservative Deregulation Schemes.
Welcome to the Shrinking American Republic of 'We The People' and the growing Fascist Corporate American Inc. State where 'We the Mere Consumers' now dwell less well....!

So tune in, go dumb and sing along with the bouncing ball---
'We are poor Little Lambs who have lost our way... Bah, bah, bah'
'We live now with less to serve the Corporate Way... Bah, bah, bah'
'Lets bring back King George from the Corporate Board... Bah, bah, bah'
'And don't expect anything from Our Corporate Kings... Bah, bah, bah'
THE REPUBLIC IS DEAD..!
LONG LIVE THE CORPORATACRACY..!!!
God Save Our Republican Deciders..!!!!!

Maybe soon, we will watch CEO NUMERO UNO deliver That State of the DisUnion on TV every year under the Global Corporate Banners of the Top Ten Nation Controlling Global Corporations.

I wonder if they will have to pay more for that than they would for a SuperBowl Commercial..?
And where would the money go..?

-8 # sid 2011-02-26 10:44

No, this is NOT about the MIDDLE class. The WORKING Class revolted in egypt and the middle class was not necessarily against Mubarak. Some of them were and others benefited from the neoliberal policies.
The idea that everyone should be middle class is an idiotic concept. The middle class is collaborationis t by definition. It lives off the crumbs falling of the table of the rich elites, a table which represents the exploitation of the masses of poor working people around the world.
Right now the so-called american middle class still lives off crumbs but now they are paying for it at a cost of 2 trillion dollars per year borrowed from china and their own descendants.
Michael Moore is a foolish liberal.
What we need is a worldwide ecosocialist revolution of the working classes. The hell with the middle class if all they care about is calories and their own white-based privileges.

+19 # banichiI 2011-02-26 13:11

Hey, sid! What makes you think there is any real difference between the "working class" and the "Middle Class"? The so-called "Middle Class" is practically gone since it was just a bunch of working people who had a little bit of money to spend on non-essentials. Don't kid yourself, saying there is a difference is just falling for the elites' methods of dividing us all so we will be weaker. It is only in us all coming together that we will be strong enough to take back what we have been slowly drained of: our will as CITIZENS to take back our country.

If you see the middle class as any different than you, you just contribute to the divisions that hurt us all. I've made poor people's wages and I've made better wages, and at the end of the day we are all just working stiffs trying to make life better for ourselves and those we love.

+5 # Tremblechin 2011-02-27 09:56

[quote name="sid"]
Michael Moore is a foolish liberal.
What we need is a worldwide ecosocialist revolution of the working classes.
================================
Settle down, Beavis. We need to take small steps. The fascists (aka corporatists) have controlled the world for a very long time. Taking it away from them is going to also take a very long time. I submit that once we lop off their heads, we will have a period of anarchal chaos. Since nature abhors a vacuum - I predict it will be filled by a militaristic government that will grow our nation - not by turning on us - but rather by attacking other countries - looting, sacking and pillaging in order to support our own lack of a cohesive government. After we are defeated a few times in such an effort, we will settle back into a representative republic based on the rights of the working class. Its just going to take time, Sid. Maybe not even in our lifetime: but unregulated capitalism is doomed to implosion, Be patient, grasshopper.

+2 # Capn Canard 2011-03-01 08:22

Tremblechin, I tend to agree but we have the major tools of using cell phones and the Internet and this has brought down nations. Just like you I think this will be difficult, but I believe that the transition may be far quicker than it was in the 1780's Paris. That's not to say there won't be mistakes, bloody violence, and the greedy trying to hold on to power. Hell, just look at the insanity of FOX's Beck and Co. IT'S HAPPENING NOW.

+2 # Capn Canard 2011-03-01 08:13

wow, sid, I looked at this article a second time and I see your post. My, what a strange way to achieve your goal of self castration! This kind of division leads only to failure. Should we assume you are a agent provocateur?

+12 # fredboy 2011-02-26 10:52

Bet it scares the heck out of them when they see our numbers. And realize the massive backlash that's coming.
Take no prisoners.

+14 # angelfish 2011-02-26 11:01

What was it that Louis XVI said, "Apres moi, le deluge"? I believe "Le deluge" has arrived! People ALL over the Globe are rebelling against the tyranny of the MEGA-Wealthy and fighting to break their death grip on the people who MADE them that Wealth! They will NEVER pay their fair share as long as they have us under their collective boot-heels. Their goal is to DIE with the MOST toys and Piss on the rest of us who made those toys possible! Hopefully, they will see the error of their ways BEFORE Push comes to Shove! As we see in Wisconsin and Egypt and Syria, the power of one becomes the POWER of MANY! There are MORE of US than there are of them. Think about it.

+5 # Tremblechin 2011-02-27 10:05

[quote name="angelfish"]What was it that Louis XVI said, "Apres moi, le deluge"? I believe "Le deluge" has arrived!
================================
[Applause]
Je vais vous voir a la Bastille!
Vive la revolution!

+8 # Gilda Blackmore 2011-02-26 13:32

Alas. Canadians are not really more aware of the danger of what is happening than are the USians. The polls show that an election would reelect Harper, possibly even with a majority. So sad. Justin Bieber gets more attention than politics here too!

+9 # Debbie Watson 2011-02-26 14:11

I have a premonition
An alleged superstition
My mind won’t let me rest
Each hour till the sunrise
Functioning on coffee and lack of sleep highs
How’s this liberal to escape all the stress
America once the land of opportunity,
Provided protection to the middle class with impunity
Globalization’s what they call it and the future’s not looking bright
It’s the corporate malfeasance, the conservative agenda, any wonder why I’m feeling uptight?
Debbie Watson

+4 # ImaLouiseWright 2011-02-26 19:44

sorry-i havent read beyond the title, so i shouldnt b adding my 2 cents. but I'M MAD! poor middle class. [i'm MC] DO YOU REALIZE THE USA IS TORTURING PEOPLE EVERYDAY? i'm not only talking about gitmo et al. i'm talking about right now & in the usa.

i'm talking abt SAMs laws.

i'm talking abt how the DOJ defends, protects, & hides torture. any1 charged under SAMs gets justice denied; the DOJ protects sadistic CIA & contract killers; it has destroyed justice in the usa. all of the terrorist cases r shams due 2 torture 2 get bad info & isolation 2 get bad convictions. the middle class can hang on a bit longer. there is much worse stuff going on. {continued}

+3 # ImaLouiseWright 2011-02-26 19:47

[continued]
its all good with me if terrorists r convicted in a reasonably fair trial & locked up in barely minimal human conditions, but 1.SAMs have 2 be thrown out or revised & 2.reducing someone to liquid & pulp before you hang them up to slowly die is just 'unamerican' [in principle]. there r too many cases 2 even mention.
these cases dont seem to reach the media in any detail at all. u have 2 scrounge around in UN reports or remote sources. this doesnt seem 2 touch the american conscience in the slightest. have we turned in2 nazis? in some ways even worse?
i know the MS media is bad, but when stuff does come out, no1 does/says much & its 4gotten.
if the MC has any heart left, they'll stop SAMs/torture right now.
mr. moore-do something abt SAMs.

+17 # Tremblechin 2011-02-26 20:26

Michael - I'm 62 years old - no chance to retire and will most likely die on the job. I'm not alone - we are fast becoming the future our children have to look forward to. I don't understand how so many people - and I do mean the right wing - can be so ignorant of the class warfare that is going on in broad daylight. I'm getting old - I've been working for over 45 years without a real break. I'm tired. Class warfare is real - and I'm on the losing end. I hope and pray that enough people will be affected by this latest attempt by the super-rich (and their Republican puppets) to take not only our life savings - but indeed our very dignity - to finally rise up and storm the Bastille. I have been weaving baskets to catch their heads at the guillotine when that time comes. I can still enjoy a good Louis XV1 moment.
I raise my lone voice in support of the American worker. Solidarity.

+9 # genierae 2011-02-27 08:13

If you look carefully at the rightwingers you will see that most of them are either wealthy, white "Christians", or easily-duped, lower middle-class whites, who are brainwashed by their narrow-minded churches to be Republican white supremacists. Both groups have been raised in families that follow church doctrine without question, and they attack anyone who dares to disagree.

+14 # granny 2011-02-27 06:14

Let the Rethuglicans vote to tax millionaires and billionaires and then we'll know they are serious about balancing the budget.

+9 # granny6x 2011-02-27 08:38

I think the mega-rich have found the perfect device to take over all governments: the general acceptance of voting electronically. The counting process is hidden from us within these machines and can be controlled through programming.

Voila!

They can strategically put into office those needed to further their own power.

Have you noticed how remarkable unresponsive our elected representatives are since the introduction of these machines? Without the ability to remove them. we have lost our leverage and they have little to fear from us.

+10 # A. Zide 2011-02-27 11:46

Time to boycott the Koch plutocracy -- no more Brawny, Northern , Sparkle, Dixie etc.

Since their 'god' is money, if enough people boycott Koch products perhaps their pocketbook ( if not their mechanical hearts) will feel the effect...

+2 # mbaker 2011-02-28 09:26

Also see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch_Industries

+8 # DPM 2011-02-27 13:57

O.k., Zide. I'm with you. No more of the products that you mentioned and I will pass that along to everyone I know. Do me a favor? Ask anyone that you know, to withdraw their money from BofA and put it in a credit union. Pass it along, too. Thanks!

+4 # genierae 2011-02-28 09:44

There is much that we can do in our local areas. Writing letters to the editor of our town paper (respectful letters of course); getting involved in local politics; going to council meetings; recruiting young people to run for office; speaking out at local organizations; etc. Did anyone else watch Chris Hedges on C-Span's Book-TV Sunday? His new book about the death of Liberalism sounds like one that we all need to read. He also thinks that we should prepare ourselves for the coming great depression, and take measures to become self-sustaining. He thinks that the rich will close ranks and hole up in their enclaves, letting the rest of us starve. That wouldn't be much of a surprise, now would it? We need to close our own ranks and create our own society, where everyone works together for the survival of all. After watching the events in Wisconsin and the nationwide response, I am greatly heartened that we really can unite as one to take our country back. Our spirits have been ignited, and we must not allow that fire to go out.

+2 # fredboy 2011-02-28 11:06

To Tremblechin.
I am with you.

+2 # ritaague 2011-02-28 12:47

Here's a message to all our brother and sister sheeple in the U.S. of (greed and power) A.(ddiction), Can A Duh, and the rest of our oh so suffering world:

Thanks be to God for Michael Moore,
and his heart and brains and guts galore.

Let's all follow Michael's lead, and

PROTECT THE SHEEPLE'S RIGHTS -
VILLAINAIRES, GO TO HELL!!!

+1 # Activista 2011-02-28 22:32

This USRaeli MONEY CULTURE is killing everything and everybody. And the rest of "uncivilized" world sees US as a monsters.

+2 # Capn Canard 2011-03-01 08:29

ABSOLUTELY... Our MONETARY SYSTEM is a COMPLETE FAILURE that has concentrated wealth in the hands of those who haven't actually done anything to earn it.

-1 # skeptic 2011-03-02 09:19

Hey Michael,

When you made "Roger and Me", you shot on film. Now all your material is shot on video. Don't you care about the families working at Eastman Kodak, Panavision and Technicolor? I guess it was CHEAPER though, so it's just their tough luck!

You HYPOICRITE!

+1 # ywsf 2011-03-03 12:48

I am hosting a 23 year old Swiss foreign exchange student here in San Francisco, here to improve his English. He worked for a Swiss company for 2 years as an IT guy. HP then bought this company, came in and told everyone they made too much money and to take the pay cut or quit. he quit. he said HP was rude, heartless and arrogant and everyone was shocked. It is a global effort to make everyone poor.

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