“…the “capitalist” system has a purpose that isn’t to promote democracy or equality or prosperity, but specifically to prevent authoritarianism. Inequality is the consequence, which we must try to adjust as it arises. Criminals, corruption, thugs, bosses, cronyism, tribalism/nationalism– these are the natural states of human beings. So are, unfortunately, murderers, rapists, arsonists, cannibals. Contrary to the Wired Creed, I see no evidence we have “evolved,” we’ve just made one of those two choices harder and less rewarding. What the system prevents is physical domination of A over B (though it allows for psychological domination through branding.) You’re going to have to pick which of those two worlds you want to live in over the next 25 years. I wish there were other choices.- The Last Psychiatrist

Bonus quote from the same post:

“…ideology, which is ultimately societal narcissism. And when that narcissism is threatened the response is rage, which for a society is revolution.”

I think it’s funny that the Occupiers complaining about inequality want to replace free market capitalism with socialism.

“You see, here we are at the bar, we support the economy this way.” –Caterina Valenti

“One of the many dangerous delusions that too many people suffer today is the delusion that tells them that as long as ‘their’ government is democratically elected – and as long as ‘their’ government largely refrains from using brutality openly and of the sort that was routine in 20th-century hells such as the U.S.S.R. and East Germany – then ‘their’ government is largely civilized and an agent for Good for The People.” — Don Boudreaux

“The recidivism rate of a room temperature violent criminal with a sucking chest wound is 0%.” –Mike W

“We have no authority to stay an execution in light of an “appeal of the President,” presenting free-ranging assertions of foreign policy consequences, when those assertions come unaccompanied by a persuasive legal claim.” –US Supreme Court

“We ate brownies, got free tactical hats, giggled at kitty videos on the internet, rode up and down (& up and down) the escalators, carried a stuffed bunny around the exhibit hall…all while I carried a gun on my hip – and it was fun! The new normal, one girl at a time.” –Breda

“The Bill of Rights doesn’t grant privileges. It guarantees rights. The only granting is that of certain enumerated powers to the government. The government is not a parent. The government is not an ideal. It is a necessary evil. The government is not to be obeyed by the people. The government must obey the people. The people must respect the laws which fall within the enumerated powers of the government.” — Joe Huffman

If you set out to design a policy that impoverished 80% of the citizenry and channeled a larger share of the national income to the top 10%, then this is precisely the set of policies you would pursue.

It doesn’t matter if it’s on purpose or not. Actually if it is on purpose then at least they are competent. I don’t think that’s the case.

Nothing important has been fixed; nothing important has even been addressed. The institutions of governance are captured and corraled by the monied Elites to the point that the government has lost control of its own institutions, which now rule as quasi-independent fiefdoms. The citizenry, bought off on the cheap by stale Bread (rapacious student loans, food stamps which offer the veneer of normalcy, extended unemployment benefits so no angry mobs form, etc.) and dazed and distracted by the Media Circus, keep quiet in their complicity, while the Power Elites revel in the freedoms offered by a caretaker Administration.

I hope he’s right and the silver lining of the crappy economy is that Obama gets to check in with the unemployment office. Unfortunately the Stupid Party can still lose and even if they win the can continue the same disastrous policies of the last 50 years.

–Rep. Thaddeus McCotter

You really need to listen to this clip. I love the contempt for congress that drips from his voice.

“Steve Jobs is killing the music business.” — Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi accusing Jobs of killing the music business is like a twice divorced politician claiming that gays will destroy the sanctity of marriage.

Who is killing what?