Is America The Most Materialistic Society In The History Of The World?
When it comes to materialism, has any nation ever surpassed what we are seeing in the United States right now? We define our lives by how much stuff we have, to a large degree our personal and business relationships are defined by how much money we make, and even most of the important dates on our calendar are all about materialism. Just think about it. We throw outrageous birthday parties for our kids and we shower them with gifts. Most of our "holidays" have become highly materialistic, and the biggest holiday of all in our society, Christmas, is an absolute orgy of materialism. We make lists of the "wealthiest Americans" and we glorify their achievements. We spend most of our time either making money or spending it. Even the phrase "the American Dream" reveals how materialistic we are.
After NATO Strike Kills 8 Afghan Women, Pundits Still Wonder: Why Do They Hate Us?
The protests and violence in Egypt, Libya and Yemen have caused a notable uptick in media discussions about, as Newsweek's cover puts it, "Muslim Rage."
Coordinated Actions Worldwide this Weekend Call for Banning Fracking
Concerned people from the U.S. and numerous other countries will join in a global campaign event Saturday to call for a ban of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking." More than 150 events, on five continents, are planned for this weekend’s “Global Frackdown” -- a day of action against fracking -- coupled with the promotion of the expansion of clean, sustainable energy options.
American Trust in News Coverage Falls to All-Time Low
Gallup poll finds that US news consumers are tuning out and losing faith with each passing cycle
GOP 'Cranks and Crazies' in US Biggest Threat to World Economy: Australian Official
Providing an outside perspective on American politics today, the Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan, said "cranks and crazies" had taken over the GOP.
Natural Gas Fracking Fires Protest over Pollution Fears
The toxic chemicals used in shale gas extraction are the industry's dirty secret. But Americans won't stand for it
Who’s Deceiving Whom? Push to Label GMO Foods Frightens Big Ag Interests
Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, Pepsi and Coke are scared. They’re afraid that California’s proposition 37 to make labeling of genetically engineered foods mandatory will end their unchecked, unquestioned power to hide GE ingredients in the majority processed foods without their customers’ knowledge.
DC Circuit hears arguments on ACLU request for information on drone strikes
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] heard arguments Thursday on whether to grant a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) [5 USC § 552] request by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] to obtain information from the CIA [official website] on its use of unmanned Predator drones[JURIST news archive].
Mitt Romney's Role as Mormon Bishop Shows His Extremist Religious Beliefs
Romney has consistently avoided having his Mormon beliefs put under scrutiny. There are some good reasons for that.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/mitt-romneys-role-mormon-bishop-shows-his-extremist-religious-beliefs
Right-Wing Religions of the World Unite to Oppress Women and Gays More Ruthlessly
Religions that were once infamous for their mutual hatred are joining forces in a bid to preserve their shrinking spheres of privilege.
Shocking Report Explodes 5 Myths About American Education
We're number one? Hardly. The entire idea of American exceptionalism should be called into question.
The Federal Reserve, a Privately Owned Banking Cartel, Has Been Given Police Powers, with Glock 22s and Patrol Cars
Shocking signs of business control of government
Getting Rid of the College Loan Repo Man
Our current system for collecting student loans makes no distinction between deadbeats who cheat and the much greater numbers of people who just don’t have the money to repay. As predatory debt collection agencies ruin the lives of more and more Americans, we are ignoring an easy and fair solution.
Overpopulation: Food Crisis And Future Hunger Wars
Wake Up: Reject The Two-Party Plutocracy
Millions of Americans will soon vote for either the Republican or Democratic presidential candidate not because they deeply believe that he is absolutely the best possible president the country needs and can have. No, they will know that they are compromising and choosing the lesser of two evils, mainly because most people know that both major parties and their candidates stink. The lesser evil is still a loser.
Obama vs Romney Debate Schedule: As Oct 3 Looms, Candidates Must Stop With PR and Refocus
Mitt Romney’s push for the presidency has not been without numerous gaffes, obstacles and overall PR nightmares. But the PR question which both Romney and Obama now face has less to do with leaked footage and more to do with authorized footage: the upcoming televised presidential debates.
Simply Irresistible: Scientists Trace Gluttony's Path in the Brain
How much is too much chocolate? Desperately devouring 5 percent of one's body weight might sound extreme, but scientists tinkering with the brain chemistry of rodents have found it's certainly possible.
Unions Boost Economic Mobility in U.S. States
Democrats and Republicans alike believe that mobility is a critical part of the American Dream. President Barack Obama says the “very heart of America” is that we tell our children “that in this country, even if you’re born with nothing, work hard and you can get into the middle class.” Similarly, Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN) echoes the views of conservatives when he points out that “upward mobility from the bottom is the crux of the American promise.”
Shedding more light on the Russian government’s order that USAID end all operations in the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a statementconfirming speculation that indeed the move was related to concerns of election tampering.
Are religious people really suffering workplace discrimination?
A lot of people have issues with working on a Sunday. For many, shift-work is the only work they can get. A lot of them would prefer to have a job which doesn’t make them work at weekends. But, alas, when you accept a job you accept the terms. At least, most people do.
Italy Court Upholds Convictions on CIA Agents for Torture and Rendition Program
The 23 Americans sentenced were not extradited, but were found guilty of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric in Milan
OCCUPY Anniversary: The REAL Story- Sunday: The Celebration!
Now that the dust has settled, the cops have all gone home, the reporters and protesters have been released from jail, and the "journalists," of mainstream media, are safely back in their cubicles, it is now time to tell the true story of the first anniversary celebration and protests of Occupy Wall Street, OWS, in New York City.
Apartheid Never Died In South Africa. It Inspired a World Order Upheld by Force and Illusion
The murder of 34 miners by the South African police, most of them shot in the back, puts paid to the illusion of post-apartheid democracy and illuminates the new worldwide apartheid of which South Africa is both an historic and contemporary model.
Open the Debates: Demand inclusion of Jill Stein and Gary Johnson!
It's time for Americans of all political persuasions to unite and demand real presidential debates, with the participation of Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson.
Torture, Executions, Drone Killings, Indefinite Detention -- a Nation Without Morality
There was a time when law professors taught that indefinite detention was a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Now justices are openly allowing the President of the United States to indefinitely detain American citizens. This is a violation of the oath taken by any judge or justice so ruling and a violation by the President of high crimes and misdemeanors, an impeachable offense.
Israel's Future if it Continues on its Present Course: a Worldwide Boycott, Isolation and Castigation
There is no way of knowing just how extensive this movement to censure Israel is but with each passing day there are more nations and entities within these nations that are making it known that they are in total disagreement with Israel's hubristic agenda. The government of Israel has shown that it is out of touch with the world and is totally unable to carry on normal relations with nations and people of different ideologies and beliefs.
Disdain for Workers
y now everyone knows how Mitt Romney, speaking to donors in Boca Raton, washed his hands of almost half the country - the 47 percent who don't pay income taxes - declaring, "My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." By now, also, many people are aware that the great bulk of the 47 percent are hardly moochers; most are working families who pay payroll taxes, and elderly or disabled Americans make up a majority of the rest.
Romney Is a Corporation Masquerading As an Individual for President
here was something missing from the release of a tape showing Mitt Romney pandering to fat cats in Boca Raton, Florida with these very inflammatory words: "There are 47 percent who are with him, (Obama) who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. These are people who pay no income tax."Romney said his job "is not to worry about those people.”
America’s Path To Economic Slavery Under The Republicans
As Republican rhetoric leading into the elections becomes increasingly bizarre (Mitt Romney’s infamous “47%” remark being the latest example), I have scratched my head about what the Party is really trying to accomplish. But then it finally dawned on me. What the Republicans are pushing for, and what their mega-rich financial donors want, is to tie the chains of economic slavery around America, and more specifically, the working class.
The 10 Most Deadly Foods on the Planet
Sometimes the food you eat is trying to kill you. Not in the traditional sense, with saturated fat, refined sugars and cholesterol. There are a few foods out there that can literally end your life if improperly prepared, or at the very least make you terribly sick. While you probably won’t encounter most of the items on this list during the normal course of your life, a few of them are surprisingly common.
Hunger and the 2012 Presidential Election
As the 2012 election heats up, it is important to remember the role our elected officials can play in helping us achieve our vision of a hunger-free America. More importantly, we as their constituents can do a lot to urge them to act. Everyone can play a role, and because of the scope and reach of programs like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) — which put food on the table for hungry Americans — our federal government plays a particularly important role.
http://www.care2.com/causes/hunger-and-the-2012-presidential-election.html
http://www.care2.com/causes/hunger-and-the-2012-presidential-election.html
Declassified Files Link U.S. to Palestinian Massacre
The outburst of anti-Americanism sweeping much of the Arab world was ignited by an off-the-wall film insulting Muhammad, but the underlying outrage is fed by decades of resentment against the U.S. and its ally, Israel.
Beyond God and Guns: Why the GOP May Lose the White Working Class
A new study busts harmful myths about white working class men and women.
http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/beyond-god-and-guns-why-gop-may-lose-white-working-class4 Ways Christianity Sneaks Into Our Secular Government -- And Why it Matters
Kent State - 1970
"Mystery" solved
"What made the Americans come over here and attack us?"
Jill Biden Delights Audience With An Impressively Long Double Entendre
Occupy Wall Street Special (Arun Gupta + Marina Sitrin Interview):
As American Income Decreased, Billionaires' Brothers' Wealth Skyrocketed
Italy Sentences 23 CIA Agents in Rendition Case: Obama Refuses to Prosecute Anyone for TorturePart 1
Part 2
The American War Machine
An Impeachment Warning to Obama
Drone secrecy put to test in court
Big Media Bury Occupy, Phony Terror Plot, Afghan Airstrikes
OWS Is a ‘Tactic’ That Is ‘Far From Over’
Troy Davis One Year Later: Execution Fuels National Movement to Abolish Death Penalty
Ted Koppel takes down Bill O’Reilly and launches war on ‘partisan ranting’
This video is from “The O’Reilly Factor,” broadcast Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.
This video is from “Rock Center with Brian Williams,” broadcast Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.
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