@dustcirclenews - HEADLINES: US Agents' Impunity, Fired for Any Reason, 70 Military Rapes Daily, Tax Dollars Fuel Inequality, Armed March in DC, Medical Billing Confusion, Doomsday Preppers, Religion and Human Rights, Hawking Joins Israel Boycott, Anonymous Launches #OpUSA, Food Giants Hooking People, School Surveillance State, Guantanamo Hunger Strikes, DHS Whistleblower Labeled Terrorist, Israel Wants Religious War, more.

 http://www.dustcircle.com

"Over the Line" - 
US Agents Shooting Dead Innocent Mexicans Across the Border With Impunity

It's All Too Easy to Get Fired in America: In 49 of 50 States, You Can Be Fired for Any Reason
http://www.alternet.org/economy/we-work-whim-our-bosses-49-50-states-you-can-be-fired-any-reason

Pentagon survey: More than 70 military sexual assaults occur per day
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/07/pentagon-survey-more-than-70-military-sexual-assaults-occur-per-day/

11 Most Heartless GOP Ideas for Immigrants
http://www.alternet.org/11-most-heartless-gop-ideas-immigrants

How Your Tax Dollars Fund Bad, Low-Wage Jobs and Help Fuel Inequality
http://www.alternet.org/economy/how-your-tax-dollars-fund-bad-low-wage-jobs-and-help-fuel-inequality

Confronting the 1 percent directly
http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/confronting-the-1-percent-directly/

Sexual Assaults and Nuclear Missiles: What's the Matter With the Military?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/military-sexual-assault_b_3244317.html

Armed march turns into massive civil disobedience event
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/349775

3 Ways Sequestration is Taking a Toll on Struggling Americans
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76142

Confused By Medical Billing? Government Survey Reveals Dark Secret Of Healthcare Costs
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/09/confused-by-medical-billing-government-survey-reveals-dark-secret-of-healthcare-costs-video/

‘Doomsday Preppers’ Are Prepared To Take Up Arms Against The Government
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/08/doomsday-preppers-are-prepared-to-take-up-arms-against-the-government-video/

Religion and Human Rights
http://hcco.org/node/255

Accessible porn reduces rape and prostitution
http://human-stupidity.com/stupid-dogma/child-porn-witch-hunt/accessible-porn-reduces-rape-and-prostitution

Indispensable Guide: Where to Shop to Avoid Buying from Businesses that Endanger Workers
http://www.alternet.org/indispensable-guide-where-shop-avoid-buying-businesses-endanger-workers

President Obama, Don’t Let the CIA Control the Torture Narrative
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/08-1

Professor Stephen Hawking joins academic boycott of Israel in solidarity with Palestinians
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/professor-stephen-hawking-joins-academic-boycott-of-israel-in-solidarity-with-palestinians/

The U.S. Government Is Monitoring All Phone Calls, All Emails And All Internet Activity
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/the-u-s-government-is-monitoring-all-phone-calls-all-emails-and-all-internet-activity_052013

Anonymous Hackers Launch #OpUSA against US Banking and Government Agencies
http://thehackernews.com/2013/05/anonymous-hackers-launch-opusa-against.html

How Food Giants Are Hooking People
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/07/how-food-giants-are-hooking-people-video/

America and Israel: Imperial Partners in Crime
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34845.htm

The Fight Against the Total Surveillance State in Our Schools
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76127

Neither Admit Nor Deny: Big Business Allowed To Pay Millions to Avoid Jail
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/06-0

Guantanamo Hunger Strike Forces Debate About Detention
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2013/05/06

7 Ways the Sequester Is Actually Increasing Gov't Spending
http://www.alternet.org/7-ways-sequester-actually-increasing-govt-spending

DHS Whistleblower Labeled Domestic Terrorist (Censored from 60 Minutes)
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/dhs-whistleblower-labeled-domestic-terrorist-censored-from-60-minutes_052013

Understanding Obama And Other People Who Kill
http://www.countercurrents.org/burrowes070513.htm

Secularism as Political and Social Movement: Denying Church Authority Over State
http://atheism.about.com/od/secularismseparation/a/Politics.htm?nl=1

Why America May Be the Last Empire
http://www.alternet.org/why-america-may-be-last-empire

Anonymous op to close Guantanamo: detailed report here
http://darkernet.in/anonymous-op-to-close-guantanamo-detailed-report-here/

Warren Buffett signs $2 billion check in support of Israeli apartheid
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david/warren-buffett-signs-2-billion-check-support-israeli-apartheid

Former FBI Agent Says All Phone Calls In U.S. Are Recorded By Government
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/former-fbi-agent-says-all-phone-calls-us-are-recorded-government

How Much Money is There on Earth?
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76128

Ministry of Endowments: Israel wants to ignite a religious war
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/ministry-of-endowments-israel-wants-to-ignite-a-religious-war/

@dustcirclenews - HEADLINES: Patriot Act Double Standard, Stop the Imperial Presidency, Guantanamo Burns $900k/Inmate, Hunger Gains, Infant Mortality, Anti-Constitutional Agendas, Go Fossil Free, Downplaying Israel's Occupation, End Times vs. Climate Change, Corporatocracy Idiots, Palestine Distortion, Failure of Capitalism, Armed Revolution Necessary? more.

 http://www.dustcircle.com

Double standard on Patriot Act
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/op_ed/2013/04/double_standard_on_patriot_act

Move Over, Koch Brothers: A Bigger, Darker Rightwing Funder Is Out to Destroy Public Education
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/03-7

We've Got to Find a Way to Stop the Imperial Presidency Before It Permanently Destroys Our Great Country
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/weve-got-find-way-stop-imperial-presidency-it-permanently-destroys-our-great

Guantanamo camp burns through $900,000 a year per inmate
http://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2013/05/guantanamo-camp-burns-through-900000-a-year-per-inmate.html

The Hunger Gains: Do hunger strikes usually succeed?
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2013/05/guant_namo_bay_hunger_strike_do_hunger_strikes_usually_work.html?wpisrc=newsletter_myslate

The More Vaccines An Infant Receives In Its First Year, The Higher The Mortality Rate
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/the-more-vaccines-an-infant-receives-in-its-first-year-the-higher-the-mortality-rate_052013

Anti-Activist 'Ag-Gag' Laws Under Fire
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2013/05/03

Using National Tragedies to Propel Anti-Constitutional Agendas
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Using-National-Tragedies-t-by-S-Paul-Forrest-130504-39.html

Torture at Guantanamo: The cover up
http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/government-corruption-1/torture-at-guantanamo.html

War on Whistleblowers: Brave New Foundation's Newest Full-Length Film
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2013/05/02-0

Time for Big Green to Go Fossil Free
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/02-6

The President and the Hunger Strike
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/opinion/president-obama-and-the-hunger-strike-at-guantanamo.html?_r=1&

BBC admits downplaying the scale of Israel’s occupation
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/amena-saleem/bbc-admits-downplaying-scale-israels-occupation

6 Insidious Ways You’re Getting Ripped Off, and How to Fight Back
http://www.alternet.org/economy/6-insidious-ways-youre-getting-ripped-and-how-fight-back

Belief in biblical end-times stifling climate change action in U.S.: study
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/01/belief-in-end-times-stifling-climate-change-action-in-u-s-study/

Obamaheads--like Extreme Right--Are Useful Idiots for Corporatocracy
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obamaheads-like-Extreme-R-by-Patrick-Walker-130504-698.html

10 signs that you are one of the 'sheeple'
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/10-signs-that-you-are-one-of-the-sheeple_052013

American media distortion on Palestine
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/american-media-distortion-on-palestine-by-alison-weir/

Big Oil Profits—and Tax Breaks—Remain High Despite Sequestration Cuts
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2013/05/02/62098/big-oil-profits-and-tax-breaks-remain-high-despite-sequestration-cuts/

Climate Collision Course: CO2 Levels About to Hit 400 PPM
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/04/29-2

Report: Toxic Chemicals Found in Thousands of Children's Products
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/01-5

The Failure of Capitalism
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Failure-of-Capitalism-by-Nick-Beams-130503-576.html

America's Real Deficit Crisis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/americas-real-deficit-crisis_b_3204683.html

You and Your Family Are Guinea Pigs for the Chemical Corporations
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/04/29

6 Brave Govt. Whistleblowers Charged Under the Espionage Act by Obama's Administration
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/6-brave-govt-whistleblowers-charged-under-espionage-act-obamas-administration

Poll: 29% of Registered Voters Believe Armed Revolution Might Be Necessary in Next Few Years
http://cnsnews.com/blog/gregory-gwyn-williams-jr/poll-29-registered-voters-believe-armed-revolution-might-be-necessary

Why Lobbying Is Now Increasingly In The Shadows
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/03/180582381/why-lobbying-is-now-increasingly-in-the-shadows?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20130503

Imperialism Is Now Murdering Stories
http://www.countercurrents.org/vltchek050513.htm

Terrorism And The United Stateshttp://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34836.htm

@dustcirclenews HEADLINES: Schoolkids Brainwashed, Bradley Manning Recording, Homeland Security Ammo, Imperial Presidency, Guantanamo Hunger Strike, Wealth Inequality, Survive Capitalism, Christian Domination Fight, Roman Catholic Church, America's Wars Cost, more.

11 Most Absurd Lies Conservatives Are Using to Brainwash America's School Kids
http://www.alternet.org/education/11-most-absurd-lies-conservatives-are-using-brainwash-americas-school-kids

Recording Of Bradley Manning's Statement In Court Leaked
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130312/13325322300/recording-bradley-mannings-statement-court-leaked.shtml

10 Worst People on Forbes 2013 Billionaires List
http://www.alternet.org/economy/10-worst-people-forbes-2013-billionaires-list

If Corporations Don’t Pay Taxes, Why Should You?

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/03/12-0

1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2013/03/11/1-6-billion-rounds-of-ammo-for-homeland-security-its-time-for-a-national-conversation/

The Threat of the Imperial Presidency
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/03/12-3

Over 100 Guantanamo Detainees on Hunger Strike
http://www.alternet.org/over-100-guantanamo-detainees-hunger-strike

Why Do Americans Tolerate Extreme Wealth Inequality?
http://bigthink.com/praxis/why-do-americans-tolerate-extreme-wealth-inequality

Can Civilization Survive Capitalism?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34198.htm

Hugo Chavez, R.I.P. - Leader Broke Venezuela Out of America's Imperial Orbit, Threw Neoliberal 'Economics' in the Trash
http://www.alternet.org/world/hugo-chavez-rip-leader-broke-venezuela-out-americas-imperial-orbit-threw-neoliberal-economics

One of the Most Powerful Portrayals of What Has Happened to America That You Will Ever See
http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/alyssa-figueroa/one-most-powerful-portrayals-what-has-happened-america-you-will-ever-see

Israel mistreating detained Palestinian children: report
http://jurist.org/paperchase/2013/03/israel-mistreating-detained-palestinian-children-report.php

5 Kids Bravely Fighting Christian Domination of Their Schools
http://www.alternet.org/5-kids-bravely-fighting-christian-domination-their-schools

How Authoritarianism Created the Crisis Engulfing the Roman Catholic Church
http://www.alternet.org/belief/how-authoritarianism-created-crisis-engulfing-roman-catholic-church

The Cost of America’s Wars – $3 Trillion, $4 Trillion, $5 Trillion, $7 Trillion, $8 Trillion, Going Once, Going Twice, SOLD
http://judymorrisreport.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-cost-of-americas-wars-3-trillion-4.html

IRS will pay whistle-blowers less because of federal budget cuts
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-irs-whistleblower-budget-cut-sequester-20130305,0,4579241.story

Momentum builds to declassify CIA detention program
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/03/05/momentum_builds_to_declassify_cia_detention_program?wp_login_redirect=0

Americans living longer, less healthy lives
http://machineslikeus.com/news/americans-living-longer-less-healthy-lives

Keeping Watch: The Latest, Biggest Threats From The Religious Right
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/03/08/keeping-watch-the-latest-biggest-threats-from-the-religious-right/

With Millions in Assets And Hundreds of Attorneys, Christian Right Is Waging War on the Church-State Wall
http://www.alternet.org/belief/millions-assets-and-hundreds-attorneys-christian-right-waging-war-church-state-wall

-----------------------------------------------
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Don't forget to subscribe to our updates on the website!
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19.Oct.2012 - Get Your Free Book! Democracy Now Expands the Debate, Clean Water Act, Defense of Marriage Act, Overturn Citizens United, More Cyber-security Mandates, Biodiversity for Food Security, Training of Soldiers, U.S. Imperialism Unleashed, Afghanistan and U.S. Once Were Friends, Translation of Rachel Corrie Judgment, Who Are the None's?

This month, we are giving away a FREE copy of The End of Faith by Sam Harris. Simply go to our Facebook page, and start sharing our posts. The person or organization that shares the most DH posts by Halloween wins the book!  

 

You are viewing this from http://www.dustcircle.com. Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for exclusive content.

‘Democracy Now!’ Expands the Debate

Marking the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act By Protecting It

Statement from Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/10/18-1

Court of Appeals Strikes Down Defense of Marriage Act

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Thursday has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, the federally imposed ban on same-sex marriage passed into law in 1996, saying the legislation grossly violates the equal protection clause found in the US Constitution's fourteenth amendment.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/10/18-2

New Jersey Becomes Ninth State to Back Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

The state assembly signed the resolution Thursday afternoon that "Expresses strong opposition to U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission; calls upon Congress to propose amending U.S. Constitution."

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/10/18-7

Should Industry Face More Cybersecurity Mandates?

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has warned that the United States faces a possible “cyber-Pearl Harbor” attack by foreign computer hackers who could dismantle the nation’s power grid, transportation system, financial networks and government. But in August, Senate Republicans, siding with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce blocked legislation that would have required new standards at critical private-sector facilities, saying such rules would be too burdensome for businesses.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/17/should-industry-face-more-cybersecurity-mandates

Biodiversity Is Key In The Road Map To Food Security With No Role For GM Crops

There has been much talk around biological diversity and biosafety in the country as India was host to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (COP-11) and the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP6) in Hyderabad. 

http://www.countercurrents.org/saigal181012.htm

The Training Of Soldiers

Within individual countries, murder is rightly considered to be the worst of crimes. But the institution of war tries to convince us that if a soldier murders someone from another country, whom the politicians have designated as an “enemy”, it is no longer a crime, no longer a violation of the common bonds of humanity. It is “heroic”.

http://www.countercurrents.org/avery181012.htm

Approximately 50 % Of World’s Wetlands Lost During The 20th Century

How many of us have ever bothered about the wetlands of the world? To the common man a wetland is just a waste of ‘good’ land, and we never understood what the real use of wetlands are and how important it is to protect them. Unfortunately we humans sit up and take notice of issues with our planet only if we are affected by a problem and after we have destroyed a lot of the ecosystem.

http://www.countercurrents.org/nazareth181012.htm

Get the military out of our public schools

In 1966, when I was a senior at Fortuna High, military recruiters were a fixture at our school. They made regular appearances in their dress uniforms with all their pleats and flaps and brass buttons and medals. And they would give us their best speech. “You'll be heading off to Vietnam,” they told us. “You'll see plenty of action and come back heroes with a chest full of medals because you fought for the most powerful army in the world. And you'll be better for the experience.”

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32789.htm

Has the US Banned the Autobiography of a Former Guantanamo Prisoner?
People might remember the name David Hicks. He is an Australian who was held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay from 2001 until 2007. In 2010 he published an autobiography entitled Guantanamo: My Journey. Reportedly the book details the years of torture he underwent while in the custody of the US military. Sounds like a book you might want to read. But strangely, it does not seem to be for sale in the U.S. Barnes and Noble does not list it at all. Amazon, conversely,does list it for sale— at its Kindle Store —but at the very spot on the page where we’d expect to see the “Buy Now” button, we find instead a notice reading, “This title is not available for customers from: United States.” Amazon also has a used hardcovercopy for sale—only one—but it is available at the outrageous price of $105.15. 

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32787.htm

Toward Barbarism: US Imperialism Unleashed

With signs of a global economic downturn mounting, US aggression across the Middle East and North Africa ratchets up.  Once again, US imperialism stands poised to open the gates of Hell.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32786.htm

Turkey Leads US-sponsored Military Encirclement of Syria

Despite widely reported concerns of blowback in Syria due to the arming of jihadist groups, a military build-up on Syria’s borders is proceeding apace.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32785.htm

Does Anyone Remember That Our 'Enemies' in Afghanistan Were Once Friends and Allies of America?

It's all to easy for the media to forget.

http://www.alternet.org/world/does-anyone-remember-our-enemies-afghanistan-were-once-friends-and-allies-america

Future Jobs Depend on a Science-Based Economy
The next administration must prime the true growth engine

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=future-jobs-depend-on-a-science-based-economy&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20121018

English translation of the Rachel Corrie judgment

You can download the translation here (PDF) and it is also reproduced after the break below. I should emphasise that this is not an official translation, but it does appear to me to be a very good effort indeed.

http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2012/10/18/ask-and-you-shall-receive-finally-an-english-translation-of-the-rachel-corrie-judgment/

Who are the ‘Nones’?

More than 13 million atheists and agnostics and nearly 33 million claim no particular affiliation. About 20 percent of U.S. adults say they had no religious affiliation, an increase from two decades ago when about 8 percent of people were deemed so-called “nones,” according to a new study released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. The group will be the subject of an upcoming PBS miniseries this month.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/who-are-the-nones/2012/10/09/e3669952-1238-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_blog.html

Bryan Fischer of AFA Claims Jesus Wants Women Out Of The Political Arena

Six Arrested in Illinois Protesting Bain Capital’s Plan to Close Sensata Plant, Move Jobs to China

DOWNLOAD:  VIDEOAUDIOGET CD/DVDMORE FORMATS

Greg Palast on "Billionaires and Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps"

DOWNLOAD:  VIDEOAUDIOGET CD/DVDMORE FORMATS

Minnesota Anti-Gay Constitutional Amendment Fuels National Battle over Marriage Equality

DOWNLOAD:  VIDEOAUDIOGET CD/DVDMORE FORMATS

Al Jazeera to Air Opposition Presidential Debate Amidst US Black-out

When: Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 8:00pm CSTWhere: University Club of Chicago – Chicago, IllinoisDebate Organizer: Free and Equal Elections FoundationMedia Coverage: The debate will be broadcast live at www.freeandequal.org/live, and Al Jazeera.

In Conference Call, Romney Urged Businesses To Tell Their Employees How to Vote

America the Great ... Police State

By Gore Vidal, Truthdig

01 August 12

The works of Gore Vidal will live on, even as we mourn his passing. We decided to share with you one of his essays that would be very timely if he had written it today. -- SMG/RSN

or those of us who had hoped that the Obama administration would present us with a rebirth of the old republic that was so rudely erased a few years ago by that team of judicial wreckers, Bush and Gonzales, which led, in turn, to a recent incident in Cambridge, Mass. that inspired a degree of alarm in many Americans. But what was most alarming was the plain fact that neither the president nor a "stupid" local policeman seemed to understand the rules of behavior in a new America, where we find ourselves marooned as well as guarded (is that the verb?) by armed police who have been instructed that they are indeed, once armed, the law and may not be criticized verbally or in any other way and are certainly not subject to any restrictions as to whom they arrest or otherwise torment.

This is rather worse than anyone might have predicted, even though the signs have been clear for some years that ours is now a proto-fascist nation and there appears to be no turning back; nor, indeed, much awareness on the part of our ever-alert media. Forgive me if you find my irony heavy, but I too get tired of carrying it about in "the greatest nation in the country," as Spiro Agnew liked to say.

I was first made aware of this development in 1946 when I was limping around in army uniform in New York City and noticed that the local police (admired by none) were beginning to run wild, possibly because so many of the able-bodied young had, like myself, been serving for some years overseas. I recall that some sort of parade was being held and what looked to be a thousand or two citizens were trying unsuccessfully to cross Fifth Avenue. I waited on a street corner for an hour in my uniform, limping from my disability earned by my service in the war. But after nearly an hour of waiting, I stopped a policeman who was wandering idly around and asked him politely when I’d be able to cross Fifth Avenue. He shrieked at me, "Go call da mayor!" And I said, "Oh I will, I will." Actually, I did know the mayor at that time, but he was not available on that sacred day. I did make a protest as a veteran who had mustered out with a disability for life, but this seemed to be a cause of great merriment. In any case, that was my first experience of a Nazi-like police force in New York City, a city pretty much home to me from childhood on.

The New Totalitarianism: How American Corporations Have Made America Like the Soviet Union

AlterNet / By Sara Robinson

 160 COMMENTS

Free-market capitalism was supposed to save us from the tyranny of faceless apparatchiks. But that's not what happened.

 

July 15, 2012  |  

Photo Credit: Viajar24h.com

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The great power struggle of the 20th century was the competition between Soviet-style communism and "free-market" corporatism for domination of the world's resources. In America, it's taken for granted that Soviet communism lost (though China's more capitalist variant seems to be doing well), and the superiority of neo-liberal economics -- as epitomized by the great multinational corporations -- was thus affirmed for all time and eternity.

There's a small problem with this, though. An old bit of wisdom says: choose your enemies carefully, because over time, you will tend to become the very thing you most strongly resist. One of the most striking things about our victorious corporations now is the degree to which they've taken on some of the most noxious and Kafkaesque attributes of the Soviet system -- too often leaving their employees, customers, and other stakeholders just as powerless over their own fates as the unhappy citizens of those old centrally planned economies of the USSR were back in the day.

It's not just that the corporations have taken control over our government (though that's awful enough). It's also that they've taken control over -- and put serious limits on -- our choices regarding what we buy, where we work, how we live, and what rights we have. Our futures are increasingly no longer our own: more and more decisions, large and small, that determine the quality of our lives are being made by Politburo apparatchiks at a Supreme Corporate Soviet somewhere far distant from us. Only now, those apparatchiks are PR and marketing executives, titans of corporate finance, lobbyists for multinationals, and bean-counting managers trying to increase profits at the expense of our freedom.

The Great Transformation: United States From The Welfare State To The Imperial Police State

Printer Friendly Version

By James Petras

Countercurrents.org

Introduction: The United States has experienced the biggest political upheaval in its recent history: the transformation of a burgeoning welfare state into a rapidly expanding, highly intrusive and deeply entrenched police state, linked to the most developed technological innovations.

The ‘Great Transformation’ occurred exclusively from above, organized by the upper echelons of the civil and military bureaucracy under the direction of the Executive and his National Security Council. The ‘Great Transformation’ was not a single event but a process of the accumulation of powers, via executive fiats, supported and approved by compliant Congressional leaders. At no time in the recent and distant past has this nation witnessed the growth of such repressive powers and the proliferation of so many policing agencies engaged in so many areas of life over such a prolonged period of time (a time of virtually no internal mass dissent). Never has the executive branch of government secured so many powers to detain, interrogate, kidnap and assassinate its own citizens without judicial restraint.

Before The Collapse

By Timothy V. Gatto

Countercurrents.org

A few observations:

1. The Media is controlled by the government and most of what you see and hear from it is a lie.

2. The United States is engaged in wars all over the planet for resources.

3. Sociopaths run our government.

4. The U.S. government is attempting to destroy our basic civil liberties to consolidate their power.

5. The Bankers are stealing America's wealth.

6. Our economy in America is collapsing.

7. Anyone that is critical of the current policies is considered to be mentally ill, a malcontent or a "terrorist".

8. The U.S. is in an economic depression.

9. There is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans.

10. (Most importantly) Many people understand what is going on (and the numbers are growing larger every day) and the government of the USA had no idea this would come so swiftly.

This is the situation we find ourselves in. We have a few ways to deal with it. Americans can revolt, remain passive or ignore reality. We can move to another country, commit suicide or spend all of our savings like there will be no tomorrow.

Basically, the day has arrived where the proverbial piper is rolling into town and someone's got to pay him. The trouble is that there is no money in the bank. Obama isn't going to pay him, and neither is Congress. Nobody in Washington will part with any money unless it's for weapons.

We are not in a good position. The government of this country actually believed that we would remain ignorant forever. The truth is I also believed the people of this nation would prefer to remain ignorant of the true state of affairs. I still believe that if there were a way for Americans to stick their fingers in their ears and sing until the situation resolved itself, they would.

But the reality is they can't. The situation is not going to resolve itself and go away. Things will get better or things will get worse, but they will not remain the same. The banks are going to fail, we are going to find ourselves getting shot at or bombed or many of us will get arrested for expressing our opinion.

I don't exactly know where I'm going with this piece, but I know that I want to make one thing clear to anyone that reads this: If you believe that "someday" the American people will wake up, or that "someday" Americans will understand the true nature of the corporate duopoly (Republicans and Democrats) or that "someday" the floor is going to drop out beneath this huge pack of lies we call our nation's history, that "someday" is today.

I'm oversimplifying the situation but not too much. The country won't go to pieces before midnight, but in historical terms, the fall of the empire is right around the corner. Many people today (but not as many as yesterday) will see everything collapse and won't have a clue as to why the collapse is occurring. There are others that will wonder why it didn't happen sooner. One thing will be apparent; no one will be able to ignore it.

I'd like to see a few things happen before the fall;

1. Trials for war crimes to include people in the two Bush regimes, the Clinton and the Obama regimes. Some of the charges should be murder, conspiracy, torture, unlawful imprisonment and blackmail.

2. For the bankers and other members of the Wall Street criminal gang: Conspiracy, blackmail. Theft and racketeering.

3. For the Flag Grade Officers of the military (Admirals and Generals): Conspiracy, numerous war crimes in violation of the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), murder and graft.

4. For Members of Congress: Impeachment for dereliction of duty and failure to do their oversight duties as spelled out in easily read English contained in the U.S. Constitution.

5. For the U.S. Supreme Court: Impeachment for favors given to wealthy corporations in violation of the People's General Welfare provision in the U.S. Constitution.

Of course there should be others that should be charged with crimes, but that would be determined by the Attorney General or a Special Prosecutor. I only hope that charges be brought against those who are guilty of malfeasances or murders or any other violations of the law.

My other hope is that this all occurs before the collapse of the U.S., and I hope its televised and in color.

Tim Gatto is former Chairman of the Liberal Party of America, Tim is a retired Army Sergeant. He currently lives in South Carolina. He is the author of "Complicity to Contempt" and "Kimchee Days" available at Oliver Arts and Open Press.

More Than A National Gathering: A New Continental Congress has convened in Philadelphia

By Michael Pollok (about the author)

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opednews.com

While the Occupy National Gathering was protesting and marching in the streets of Philadelphia, Continental Congress 2.0 (see www.the99declaration.org) quietly met from July 2nd to July 4th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center just blocks away. This new Continental Congress convened exactly 236 years after the Continental Congress met to adopt the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. About 90 delegates attended after they were elected using an online voting system whereby ballots were emailed to hundreds of thousands of people asking them to select their neighbors to represent them at the three day Congress. The delegates travelled from all over the United States to Philadelphia to draft and ratify a "Petition for Redress of Grievances" which will be served upon the three branches of government before the November general election. About 100 grievances submitted by the American people from October 7, 2011 to June 15, 2012 were debated, voted upon and selected by the delegates for inclusion in a final petition.  Many of the grievances deal with the corrupting influence of unlimited money in politics, Congressional ethics, election reform, fiscal responsibility in Washington and real regulation of Wall Street.

The Petition for Redress of Grievances is specifically authorized in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and intended to go beyond the rights to assemble and speak freely. It was envisioned that the Petition Clause would be utilized if the government stopped listening to the people. In the 18th century, a Petition for Redress of Grievances was viewed as a formal legal document or writ based upon a long line of historic precedents including the  Magna Carta , the Petition of Right of 1628, the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Writ of  Habeas  Corpus. Familiar with this history, our founders, whatever their faults, knew the need for a mechanism to formally petition the government if it started to ignore the will of the people. The founders themselves attempted to avoid further bloodshed after the battles at Lexington and Concord by sending King George III the so-called Olive Branch Petition listing their grievances and proposing reconciliation in July 1775. Obviously, the King ignored the petition and eight years of war ensued.

In 1789, having borne witness to the terrible price paid during the Revolutionary War, the founders made certain that the Bill of Rights contained a specific provision allowing citizens to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Like the other checks and balances in our Constitution, the petition clause is a power specifically reserved to the people rather than the states or federal government.   The Supreme Court discussed the petition clause last year in Borough of  Duryea , Pennsylvania,  Et . Al., Petitioners v. Charles J. Guarnieri, 131 S.Ct. 2488 (2011):

"This Court's precedents confirm that the Petition Clause protects the right of individuals to appeal to courts and other forums established by the government for resolution of legal disputes. '[T]he right of access to courts for redress of wrongs is an aspect of the First Amendment right to petition the government.' Sure--Tan, Inc. v. NLRB, 467 U.S. 883, 896--897, 104 S.Ct. 2803, 81 L.Ed.2d 732 (1984); see also BE & K  Constr . Co. v. NLRB, 536 U.S. 516, 525, 122 S.Ct. 2390, 153 L.Ed.2d 499 (2002); Bill Johnson's Restaurants, Inc. v. NLRB, 461 U.S. 731, 741, 103 S.Ct. 2161, 76 L.Ed.2d 277 (1983); California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited, 404 U.S. 508, 513, 92 S.Ct. 609, 30 L.Ed.2d 642 (1972). . . Both speech and petition are integral to the democratic process, although not necessarily in the same way. The right to petition allows citizens to express their ideas, hopes, and concerns to their government and their elected representatives, whereas the right to speak fosters the public exchange of ideas that is integral to deliberative democracy as well as to the whole realm of ideas and human affairs. Beyond the political sphere, both speech and petition advance personal expression, although the right to petition is generally concerned with expression directed to the government seeking redress of a grievance."

However, more so than protected speech, a "petition conveys the special concerns of its author to the government and, in its usual form, requests action by the government to address those concerns." See Sure--Tan Inc., supra, at 896--897, 104 S.Ct. 2803. The word "redress" means more than simply listening to a person exercise free speech. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the verb redress means to "remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation)" or "set upright again." While the Supreme Court in Guarnieri left open the question of whether speech contained in a Petition should be afforded greater constitutional protection than the rights to speech and assembly, the plain language of the First Amendment suggests that some action be taken by the government to "remedy or set right" the complaints contained in a Petition for Redress of Grievances.

Thus far in our history, the courts have held that the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, while absolute, does not compel the government to take affirmative action on the petition, or to adopt the views advocated by the petition. See McDonald v. Smith, 472 U.S. 479, 482, 105 S.Ct. 2787, 86 L.Ed.2d 384 (1985). Today many would agree that our republican democracy is at an unprecedented crossroads confronted with the unlimited expenditure of money in political campaigns without any public disclosure of where the money is coming from or how it is being spent. In this environment, where the lobbyists and politicians operate under this astonishing conflict of interest, it is clear that lawmakers are unable or unwilling to regulate themselves and stop taking this money. The political branches of government, the executive and legislative, have run off the rails and the third branch must intercede and compel these politicians to respond and redress the people's grievances regarding the corrupting influence of money in our government. These hundreds of millions of dollars have rendered traditional free speech meaningless unless the speaker can afford to hire lobbyists and pay the vast sums of money required to obtain action from their representatives by contributing to political campaigns. Put another way, anyone can stand on a corner and give a speech or write a letter to their congressperson but that kind of speech is no longer meaningful unless it has the same  amplification  as other speakers. Unlimited money has introduced a new high-powered amplifier that drowns out all other "free of charge" speech.  Another analogy is in sports; an athlete can win all the medals for himself if he is permitted to take anabolic steroids or other enhancing substances but what happens to the sport and the value of the medals if that happens? They become a sham.

As part of our "checks and balances" system, our conflicted Congress must be required by the Courts to pass new laws that prevent owners of concentrated sources of wealth from dictating policy for the benefit of a select few. In essence, the people's right to petition the government is now being blocked by the practice of lobbyists and wealthy special interests who, with the aid of unlimited money, gerrymandering and new voter suppression techniques, have exclusive access to policy makers in both  parties  who work exclusively for their financial donors rather than the voters they are supposed to represent. This conflict of interest constitutes a perversion of our constitutional government and an ongoing deprivation of the people's constitutional rights to honest governmental services, preservation of the public trust and protection of the general welfare. It must be remedied now while the solutions to our national and global problems are still attainable. 

http://www.the99declaration.org

New York attorney and co-founder of the 99% Working Group whose mission is to fund and organize a new National General Assembly called "Continental Congress 2.0" which is a meeting of 878 elected delegates from all 50 states and the U.S.

Michael Pollok is a New York criminal defense attorney and co-founder of the 99% Working Group. See www.the99declaration.org or www.facebook.com/The99PercentDeclaration for more information about the Working Group and the creation of Continental Congress 2.0. You may also follow the group on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/99Declaration.

http://www.the99declaration.org