"Something of Historic Proportion is Happening"
by Pam Geller
I am a student of history. Professionally. I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied it all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.
Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two
We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we know can never pay back? Why? We learned just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "We the People," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders.
Apparently not.
We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why? We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, and school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?
We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?). We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?
Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, and Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10.
And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.
And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla, Alaska. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important.)
Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change. Why?
I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.
And that is only the beginning.
I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.
And then he was duly elected to office, with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. (Does the take over of the Census by the White House ring a bell?) The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name,
where they were taught what to think!!
How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.
He did it with a compliant media - Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and ... . . change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.
Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe. It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.
As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.
Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe - and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong.
I do not think I am.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb."
~ Benjamin Franklin
"A good Marksman with the Luck of the Irish can eliminate both Wolves with one shot". If you want Liberty, ARM YOURSELF
Dead Bullseye, Center Mass.
I actually agree a lot with this article. But i'd like people to realize that it's not just democrats and libs who got us here. As a country, we are never going to turn ourselves around unless we recognize that our political system has been hijacked by a group of people who are only interested in profit. They play both sides against eachother and rake in whatever they can grab in the process.
As always, the Internet is a gold mine and a mine field. If you cannot confirm the author of a piece, can you trust its content?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/proportions.asp
Thanks again Indy for having the moxy to do the investigation it takes when we see something on the internet. In some fashion, the internet is much wose than the backyard fence for spreading lies as the spreader can remain anonymous. It is good to know that some would rather choose to think for themselves. 8) 8)
The content is damn good. Anmar, you are very right. Democrats are not the only ones who have gotten us in this mess. Its a corrupt money hungry system, and those that are playing with the game pieces are the only ones that seem to be able to use the system for their own agenda. And right now, they are not doing anything to stop or slow the process of destroying all that is held dear by True Americans. In fact they and the commander in chief are stirring the pot and adding rotten vegetables to it.
Coming from Europe where I lived 45 years of my life, I have lived here but 5 years and I can see the writing on the wall where some people are refusing to look and actually see what is happening.
Quote from: sixdogsmom on May 27, 2009, 09:24:20 AM
Thanks again Indy for having the moxy to do the investigation it takes when we see something on the internet. In some fashion, the internet is much wose than the backyard fence for spreading lies as the spreader can remain anonymous. It is good to know that some would rather choose to think for themselves. 8) 8)
I think I spoke my mind on this last posted comment of this thread, in another thread.
Actually, Indy brings up a good point...
Quote from: indygal on May 27, 2009, 06:01:19 AM
As always, the Internet is a gold mine and a mine field. If you cannot confirm the author of a piece, can you trust its content?
Seeing as how obama is hardly ever off of teleprompter, which tells me he doesn't write his speeches, can we trust him???
Which president besides Lincoln wrote his own speeches?
I don't know, but then again I don't think that I would trust any person who wanted that much power.
Have you trusted any of our presidents?
Not really.
And yet, you CHOSE to go serve under one that you didn't trust. You CHOSE. The operative word here is CHOSE. I lived through the time when the young men didn't have a choice.
Well you better be damn glad he and others like him CHOSE to go. Because of that , you still are able to enjoy your freedoms.
Now ......I"M going back to bed and try to go back to sleep..
you're right wilma, I did Choose. That decision had nothing to do with who was president. In my opinion the Draft never was and will never be right. What is your point?
My point is that many, many young men went to fight for this country, left their wives and small children, not knowing when or if they would see them again. They didn't have a choice. Their country needed them in a way that it had not needed them before. They went because it was the right thing to do. In a way, they did not have a choice. If they had chosen not to go, we might not have the country we have today, no matter how bad it might be. You made the choice because you wanted to. They made the choice because there was no alternative. Maybe I don't know what real combat is, but do you know what the threat of invasion is?
Wilma, instead of constantly finding fault with and criticizing and belittling Billy, as you do.... we all and I do mean ALL Americans owe a huge debt of gratitude to our military who have and still do make it possible for us to live in a free country.
My husband, brother-in-laws, nephews and niece have all helped in that cause, and I am profoundly proud of them. I should think you would be too.
Jo
I am proud of them. Jo, you lived through the same era I did. Maybe you didn't get as much news at the time as I did as I had a daily paper available and unlimited access to the newsreels at the movies. In my opinion, what the young men did then was just as heroic, maybe more so, than what the young men do now. Either way, it is horrible but necessary. I would still rather have it happen over there than on my home land. The only reason I am "picking' on Billy is his attitude that he is someone special because of what he went through. He isn't the first one, the only one or the last one to do this. But does that give him the right to constantly find fault with, criticize and belittle his president and country or to pick on other forum members when they don't agree with him? Lucky him, he came home. Now I would like to hear him say something good about the school system, our govenment, our county. I know all about freedom of speech but that applies to all of us, doesn't it?
This used to be a fun and friendly place to be, but now there is very little other than complaints. Which reminds me, I have a Soap Box Day Today entry to make and I am really frustated about it.
Quote from: Wilma on May 28, 2009, 07:46:46 AM
My point is that many, many young men went to fight for this country, left their wives and small children, not knowing when or if they would see them again. They didn't have a choice. Their country needed them in a way that it had not needed them before. They went because it was the right thing to do. In a way, they did not have a choice. If they had chosen not to go, we might not have the country we have today, no matter how bad it might be. You made the choice because you wanted to. They made the choice because there was no alternative. Maybe I don't know what real combat is, but do you know what the threat of invasion is?
You say that you're proud of them, and yet you belittle the troops for wanting to join, for not waiting until they had to, but for joining out of a sence of honor, duty, loyalty, and commitment. Oh, yeah, you sound real proud. Frankly, I don't give a damn why someone chooses to join the military. The man that is drafted sacrifaces just as much as a volunteer. You see, thats the thing about bullets, they don't stop to ask why a person is there, they don't make a distinction.
Quote from: Wilma on May 28, 2009, 09:46:09 AM
I am proud of them. Jo, you lived through the same era I did. Maybe you didn't get as much news at the time as I did as I had a daily paper available and unlimited access to the newsreels at the movies. In my opinion, what the young men did then was just as heroic, maybe more so, than what the young men do now. Either way, it is horrible but necessary. I would still rather have it happen over there than on my home land. The only reason I am "picking' on Billy is his attitude that he is someone special because of what he went through. He isn't the first one, the only one or the last one to do this. But does that give him the right to constantly find fault with, criticize and belittle his president and country or to pick on other forum members when they don't agree with him? Lucky him, he came home. Now I would like to hear him say something good about the school system, our govenment, our county. I know all about freedom of speech but that applies to all of us, doesn't it?
I NEVER stated that I was the first, last, or only man to serve his county and how dare you accuse me of such. I have NEVER criticized my country nor have I belittled it. If Freedom of Speech applies to all of us, then why can I not state my opinion as freely or in a manner I choose? Or does Freedom of Speech only apply when we are in agreement with you????
I didn't say that you said that you were the first, the only or the last. I said that your attitude says that. I don't know you, Billy, so the only way I have of determining what kind of a person you are is from what you post and the words and tone of your posts do not speak well of you. And don't ask me how I can tell what tone you are using because I cannot explain it. It is just there and I am not the only one that takes it that way. If you want a different image, try tempering your posts.
Maybe Pam could explain how a person can read attitude into a written post. She seems to be sensitive to things like that, too.
Now wait just a minute.
To be fair, I don't know you Wilma. Never have met you, but by the tone and sound of your posts to me, it doesn't speak well of you either. (and as you so quickly pointed out to Mr. Roe, I am not the only one who takes your posts that way.) It doesn't take much to read Attitude in things that are written. It is easier of course when you know that person, but also easier to make a mistake of THINKING you are reading attitude when you do NOT know that person and have no idea how they speak or the facial and physical mannerisms that they use while talking. You say you don't know Billy, but yet you claim to be able to know that he has attitude.
What, may I ask, do you think people get from you when you post what you do?
I am a neutral party in this. I have not lived here all my life and because of that, I don't have the life history that my wife has when it comes to knowing people and how they act. So I feel I can speak freely here.
What you don't realize; what you all don't realize is that Teresa and I get all the personal emails and all the personal pms from a very lot of people on the general census of posts on the forums. We are like the "psychiatrists couch for the web" I guess you could say.
If there is a dislike of someone, we hear about it.
If there is distension among people on the forum, we hear about it.
If there is personal problems aside from the website, we hear..no, Teresa..is told and hears about it.
In fact Teresa , because she is a good and trusted listener is actually the one who gets all the correspondence.
When she says she badly needs a break from her forum duties, the fact of the matter is, she only takes a break from posting. Her behind the scenes maintenance job and personal duty continue on daily.
People write and voice their displeasure (and pleasure ) all the time with what is happening on the forums. I am amazed by the amount of emails she receives from this on a daily basis.
We are bound by our own rules and standards to never disclose or as Teresa likes to put it *blab* to anyone what is told or talked to us about. And we will hold strong to that.
Wilma, you said that Mr. Roe needs to temper his posts. I will step out here and tell you that you are in the minority on this one.
There are a whole heap of hard core American Patriots out there reading this forum that if they could ( as one gentleman from Indiana so plainly put it) "he would stand up, throw his hat in the air and cheer at the top of his lungs, when Billy Roe posts."
Elk County's mild political attitude does not mirror what most of the Old Timer Americans feel.
We get more dissatisfied feedback from what others on here are posting than what Billy Roe is posting.
I think I can say this much. The terms; self righteous, constantly an authority, pretending perfection; continues to come up time after time. So I think there has been enough sandbox fights in here for awhile.
What we all have to keep in mind is that we have the members that post and then we have 1000 times that many people who are reading.
All I am saying is, no one is above changing their tone or their attitude. A few people have openly voiced their approval of the way Diane posts. Just as many have privately voiced other opinions.The same for Wilma and Pam and even Teresa gets her fair share of 'disapproval ' and ass chewings from the outside at times. So no one is immune from others judgments. Just because you haven't been publicly singled out and told, doesn't mean that they are not there.
Public forums are hard to monitor because of the great diversity and differences of people. That's why we must all try to remember that because you are not in a room with like minded people, that everyone isn't going to agree.
And with passionate subjects being discussed, the old saying to 'agree to disagree' generally loses air after a few posts.
There are always going to be people we like and dislike. There is always going to be the challenge of interacting with those people if you want to be in a public conversation where no person is banned from that conversation.
I don't have the right answer. But I do know that I built this site as a free gift to those in Elk County who wanted to get together and discuss and talk. We make no income at all from this site...and we absorb all the maintenance and software costs ourselves. This is what we both agreed and decided on when I built it. That it was to be a no cost or user fee to anyone who wanted to join and use it. What I didn't realize is how fast and how large that 'Elk County" group became.
That is something that should be held in high pride for our little community.
But for some to assume that because someone isn't posting "the way that they should properly post".. that they should have some sort of bit and bridle on them, to appease the 'correct few' is wrong.
Teresa and I both keep a tight eye on all that goes on in all our websites and forums. If things get disrespectful and too far off the path we have decided to send that person a pm. talking to them about it. But lots of times we miss something too. We are far from perfect in this area.
Not to make this as long winded as my wife's posts :D but our working hours are 80% of our days and nights. It is never ending when you are dealing with websites, content videos, programming etc. Plus the travel time to locations filming for 3 different sections of TV , plus the hundreds of personal emails and calls that we get , and then there is the personal family and domestic obligations to roll into that.
Sometimes it is like a hard rock and roll song that is on high volume 24 hours a day with no way to get away from it.
Please.. state your viewpoints in any way shape of fashion you want. Everyone has their own way and signature to their posting. Billy, Pam, Warph, Anmar...and a few others You have a certain way with your words that if you never added your name, we would know who you were.That is good. It is what makes a good writer that people keep coming back to time and time again.
So yes... Something of a historic nature is happening here. I hope we all can carry on and enjoy yourselves on the forum. :)
Very good Kjell!!
All right, Kjell, I will refrain from tormenting Billy if he will refrain from misquoting me. And in spite of what has been read into my posts, I am grateful to the people who have taken the time from their lives to spend in the armed forces. As to whether or not they should have had to actually fight is another story and not one that I am sure that I agree on. Some I could see the necessity of but recently I am not so sure. As I said it is another story. If we weren't fighting where we are now, whether it is justified or not, what would this world be like? But on the other hand, do we have the right to be in these countries, fighting their battles? Aren't we, by doing so, trying to tell the rest of the world how it should live? Am I the only one that is perplexed by this?
You know, Kjell and anyone else that is interested, I have looked back over some of the other threads and Billy is questioning as many of my posts as I am of his. What is the difference? Because he agrees with the popular opinion here and you don't think I do? I have many times said that I am not a supporter of Obama, but he was elected by the majority of the voters to be the president of our United States and as such should receive some respect. Instead, he is ridiculed about everything he does, even when what he does is what other presidents have done. No, I don't think that is happening only on this forum. It is happening everywhere and I can't understand it. Where is our unity? Have we lost it just because we are no longer threatened by foreign powers. Maybe if we had fewer reporters and more news it would be different. It seems to me that the newscasters are so hard up for something to keep our attention and raise their ratings that they will report anything, over and over and over. If they can't get your attention any other way, they find something that they can sensationlize so they can raise their ratings. Even our local newscasters are doing it. Giving out a teaser with misleading information just to be sure you stay with them. I have read it someplace here on the forum, once it is out there, it is picked up, enlarged and sold for truth. I wish we could all be told the truth and be able to believe it.
I know I don't have to read everything that is posted on this forum, but within all that malarky are some nuggets of truth and wisdom. How does one pick out the truth without reading it all?
I wouldn't have butted in, but suddenly my name was mentioned.I asked people who have a negative comment about my posts, NOT to bother Teresa!!!! I certainly don't know everything, but I do know about a lot of things. Not just parroting information, but true knowledge. I'm usually very good at critical thinking and seeing cause and effect. Maybe that's why I'm an Independent moderate. I'm very sorry if some people think I'm a sanctimonious know it all. I try not to come off that way. I will tone it down and turn it off. I'm very sorry I upset Teresa and Momma Jo as they both mean a lot to me and I have huge respect for them both. (I've known of Jo a lot longer than she knows.) I don't know how much more I can say about how bad I feel.
But I will stand by my position. I don't find the cussing necessary by anyone. I don't like generalizations and labels and never will. I don't care for in- your- face name calling, even by my friends. No, I am not trying to be Miss Manners, but why did I insist that my students not be foul mouthed or verbally mean. At what grade is that suddenly alright? If I am wrong to feel that way, so be it. I just wasn't brought up that way. Do I need to donate something since I'm not in Elk County? Would that help a little? I already sent money once for a get together out there that never happened. Did that finally go to forum costs? That would have been fine with me.
I just cannot believe my eyes (ears); people are emailing Teresa and Kjell over what folks say on the forum? What a bunch of pissy little kids we are indeed. ???
Diane-
I'm thinking that an Independent moderate is a
combination of a Democrat and a Republican.
What's your definition?
I may be setting myself up for something here, but I see myself as someone who looks at the merits of both sides of an issue or candidate and chooses what seems to me to be best of what choices there are. Pres. Obama wasn't my first choice during all the debates, but he is now our President. It is what it is. I chose sometimes based on law, sometimes based on what the majority thinks or would who benefit the most, trying to keep fairness in mind too. I am definitely not an extreme liberal and definitely not ultra conservative.That is definitely part Republican and part Democrat. Maybe the elephants head and the donkeys butt?
Quote from: Wilma on May 29, 2009, 01:32:27 PM
All right, Kjell, I will refrain from tormenting Billy if he will refrain from misquoting me. And in spite of what has been read into my posts, I am grateful to the people who have taken the time from their lives to spend in the armed forces. As to whether or not they should have had to actually fight is another story and not one that I am sure that I agree on. Some I could see the necessity of but recently I am not so sure. As I said it is another story. If we weren't fighting where we are now, whether it is justified or not, what would this world be like? But on the other hand, do we have the right to be in these countries, fighting their battles? Aren't we, by doing so, trying to tell the rest of the world how it should live? Am I the only one that is perplexed by this?
Wilma, if I misquoted you, I apologize, that was not my intent.
As too our military fighting others battles...We are engaged in a war against terrorism. They attacked Us, I don't care what country they hide in, we need to find them, engage them in battle, and kill them. I don't see it as fighting others battles.
Quote from: Wilma on May 29, 2009, 01:32:27 PM
You know, Kjell and anyone else that is interested, I have looked back over some of the other threads and Billy is questioning as many of my posts as I am of his. What is the difference? Because he agrees with the popular opinion here and you don't think I do?
Wilma, by all means, question my posts, I don't have a problem with that.
Quote from: Wilma on May 29, 2009, 01:32:27 PM
I have many times said that I am not a supporter of Obama, but he was elected by the majority of the voters to be the president of our United States and as such should receive some respect. Instead, he is ridiculed about everything he does, even when what he does is what other presidents have done.
This reminds me of a question my parents would ask me sometimes, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you??" Just because other presidents have committed the same wrongs doesn't excuse his guilt. Instead of stopping it, he continues in it.
Quote from: Wilma on May 29, 2009, 01:32:27 PM
It is happening everywhere and I can't understand it. Where is our unity? Have we lost it just because we are no longer threatened by foreign powers.
We do not have to support the president to be united. He is not a King, he is merely a spokesperson for We The People. He is sworn to uphold and defend the Consitution. he has not done that.
Since when are we not threateded by foregin powers?
Wheres our unity...given the results of the last election I think a better question would be, Wheres our morals, values, and principles as Americans?
Been thinkin for a couple of days about this...................I cuss, sometimes a cussword is the ONLY one that gets the feeling of frustration across in writing. I've seen a lot of bad things done by people and long time ago I decided if cussin was somebodies worst habit more power to em.
I know anybody anywhere can will and has read whatever I have written on here and it don't make me want to change anything I've said. If I decided I was wrong I generally said so on here. I don't say things cause I care whether anybody agrees with me or not, specially people that don't participate in the conversation with me to start with ( and no that does NOT mean Teresa or Kjell) I totally respect their right to to call me down but not anybody elses.
I'm a fairly progressive person on a lot of things, I don't just follow cause somebody says But it's the great American way and you ain't patriotic if you don't. I think I'm patriotic as the next person. I just don't have blinders on and I KNOW for a fact there are MANY rotten things in this countries past that have NEVER been atoned for. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world I can think of. I love my country.... I'm connected to the land we live on. But I don't need anybody ELSES validation of that fact.
I don't think it's the right way JUST because that's the way they did it 300 years ago. Countries HAVE to evolve with the years or fade away. Things change like it or not. This AIN'T a white Christian male dominated world anymore.
I have my religion, Jesus is a major player in it and I don't need THAT validated by anybody else either.
I've enjoyed talkin to EVERY person on here even the ones who don't like me and the ones I've argued with. Conflicting ideas are what makes things change for the better in this world and gets people thinkin about out-dated ideas.
I don't think I have anything to apologize for quite frankly.
Quite frankly, Pam, I don't think you have anything to apologize about either. And I don't think I do either.
Pam, you don't..... just keep on keepin' on. I enjoy what you write. Wilma the same...just don't cuss at me!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D