Comments by "Coreysaurus" (@ggadguy) on "Thom Hartmann Program" channel.

  1. Somalia was a Communist country that COLLAPSED, had civil war, and had a hyperinflationary currency collapse just a few years ago. Somalia is an example of where government FAILED! Now it's in a recovery mode. Remember, America was a great country founded on liberty that grew to a great capitalist country. It grew because free thinking people built it slowly. It didn't happen because of COMMUNIST COLLAPSE. Know the truth!
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  2. @Beannaich Finally, the "me" mentality certainly seems like a greedy mentality. But when anyone spends $, whether rich or poor, a business and the workers benefit. In a "me" society, progressives could give far more money to causes, or create a business that help others. Instead, your $ is squandered through a bureaucratic organization that only gives about 25% of the money to the poor, while private charities give around 90%. The middle man we call government is simply horribly inefficient.
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  3. I agree with Thom and Bernie. The banksters should go to jail, and the markets should be allowed to operate and let the banks fail that deserve to.
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  4. The book should have been called "End the War On Drugs and Get Less Crime". Many non-violent "criminals" are going to jail, because they may sell or use drugs, when they should be getting voluntary treatment. Yes, drugs can be dangerous, depending on the drug, dosage, or amount of use, but locking people up in prison destroys their lives, removes them from the workforce, and clogs up the court system. Not to mention it's expensive for the taxpayer.
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  5. The bottom line is that countries with the most unfree economies like North Korea, Cuba, etc, have the worst economies and massive poverty. When the U.S. was a more free nation with no federal income tax for over 100 years it became the super power of the world, has an industrial revolution, and gave poor people the most prosperity. Ever since the Bushes and Obama, we've been running up massive debts and will continue to see a lower living standard and soon a dollar crisis.
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  6. @MadXMax187 I agree. I think running a third party candidate usually drains votes away from the main two parties, unfortunately. I also agree, that the positive with a third party campaign is they can help promote issues, like Ross Perot warning about the debt, or giving a platform to Nader, or whoever. America should at least hear more than just two views, since there are realistically 5 points of view (right, left, moderate, statist, libertarian).
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  7. @TruthAndMoreTruth You are correct. Reaganomics, which is supply-side economics didn't work. It drove up debts. The one solution we haven't done is cut government, end costly wars, end subsidies for corporations, bailouts, stimulus, etc. Both parties are controlled by special interests and it may be too late to do anything.
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  8. @Beannaich One more thing. I'm no fan of Ayn Rand and her books or movies. I know, based on America's history, that liberty did work to give immigrants a new life. Millions fled in droves from their tyrannical countries that tried socialism and fascism, just to get a chance at working and keeping the fruits of their labor. A free society pulls people out of poverty and gives us the power to help the less fortunate. We are less likely to give if we have less abundance and wealth.
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  9. Don't forget. Obama and Democrats voted to extend the Bush tax cuts, the Patriot Act, corporate subsidies and the Afghanistan war. And they will continue to do so, because they're just as corrupt at the Republicans. They may differ while they campaign, but they're best friends when they cut deals behind back doors, just as Jesse Ventura once said. youtube.com/watch?v=VH9YhNLS-mw
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  10. No loopholes for billionaires. No deals to GM, Fannie and Freddie, Goldman Sachs or Wall Street. A flat tax would be a better solution so that the rich pay their fair share. I'm in the middle class and believe the rich shouldn't get these tax breaks because they've greased the palms of the politicians.
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  11. @LouieArrighi Exactly, "stimulating" through bailouts, cash for clunkers, sending out checks like Bush did, spending money on projects, etc. The bailouts were a part to "save" the banking system, even though it was a scam that the middle class and poor will end up paying for through inflation.
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  12. The only guy willing to talk about austerity and not Republican deficit spending is Ron Paul. He's a minority versus the other big spending Republicans. The Republicans AGAIN are offering a budget bigger than the one in 2010. Incredible.
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  13. @celainea Only government can create true 100% monopolies. For example, utility companies, water companies, cable companies, etc. They all have monopoly privilege due to government.
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  14. @etzel33 Stability for a currency is in demand right now and that's why people are buying gold, instead of world currencies. So demand is an important element of your currency. If your currency is not in demand then countries and people will not use it. Government can't create real money or value in the first place. They try adding zeros on their money by that only leads to hyperinflation. The only true debt free money is currency backed by gold/silver. There is no debt with a commodity.
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  15. Thom should have someone on his show that doesn't want to raise the debt ceiling. It doesn't make sense to keep expanding the debt like Reagan, Bush, and Obama have done. It makes sense to balance our budgets, otherwise who's going to bailout the government? Nobody. Get ready for a dollar collapse.
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  16. @tangent272 Both sides use "the gun" with the government monopoly on force. If you don't pay your taxes, men with guns will come to your home and take you to prison. So government, no matter who's in charge use this power for their programs. The left funds the welfare state through "the gun", and the right funds their corporate bailouts, wars and police state with "the gun". Both sides use the gun, but they will lead you to believe they are for "freedom" as Bush claimed.
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  17. Trickle up economics is what we need. And the best way to do this is simply cut the taxes for the middle class, who shoulder a large portion of the tax bills. Then to pay for the tax cuts, close down most of the 130 military bases all over the world, cut corporate subsidies, end the insane war on drugs, and means test for Social Security. It's either this or the U.S. dollar is going to tank in value in the future.
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  18. @oolong2 Yes, many economists were talking about it, but I wonder if they predicted the housing when Bush tried to stimulate the housing markets. I like Bill Maher and watch him on HBO, and I'm sure he mentioned housing because Bill is a smart guy, but a lot of other people were in denial. The monetary system has a LOT to do with the government. Where did the "stimulus" come from? The Federal Reserve is private, but the head is appointed by the President and drastically effects the economy.
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  19. @oolong2 So if the government "system" is always corrupt, and we agree it will most likely be, should we as taxpayers give them more money or less? I say less. But I'd like to hear your ideas. You're right, we'll never have 100% free markets. But I advocate for FREER markets. In earlier years of our country, we did have freer markets in drugs and medicine, health care, business licensing, zoning, Federal regulations, etc. There are areas where markets and competition can improve our lives.
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  20. @ArtetlaMusique87 Yes, unfortunately Republican and Democrats have no fiscal restraint and only benefit the special interests that line their pockets. When I bring up the different sides of an argument, I just you to be clear that there are 5 sides to an argument. Don't assume I'm a conservative Republican, because I am not. I'm an independent libertarian. Big difference! Seriously, go to wikipedia and search for the Nolan Chart to understand the difference.
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  21. @ 5:46 Thom joking about shooting Governor Walker is just as bad as any neo-con joking about shooting people prior to the Gabrielle Giffords shooting. Stop the violent talk, Thom.
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  22. @oolong2 Yes, some individuals can't make these choices because they don't prioritize health over eating something unhealthy. We do have to take some level of responsibility. At the same businesses hire all sorts of scientists, researchers, nutritionists, health experts that are involved in creating our food, which do this because they want to appeal to people's desires of fast food, healthy food, organic food, cheap food, knock-offs, etc. Freedom gives us more choices.
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  23. The Communism Thom refers to is actually the "We" society where everyone works for the collective. The Founders believed in very limited government, so does that make them believers in a "me" society? Thom has it BACKWARDS! Ayn Rand and other immigrants didn't like their "We" or government tyranny. It is not selfish to keep more of what you earn for your family and community. We should create a society by means of peace and not government force like the "We" society of the former U.S.S.R.
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  24. Let's keep sending college kids to school so they can rack up MORE debt! Let's keep them in the debt system!
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  25. @FRSFreeStateES I agree, however the conservatives don't even stand for economic freedoms in many cases. Especially when they were involved in the bailouts, TARP, stimulus, government prescription drugs, subsidizing certain industries, in energy for example, or building sports stadiums, etc. Yes, both are for big government. You're one of the good "liberals" out there!
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  26. Thom, you're right that there is violent talk on the right, but it happens on the left too, including subscribers to this channel who name call and swear. I just hope that this killing and this past rhetoric (on the right and left) does not lead to future censorship or legislation. Hopefully dialog can be more civil, and we don't take people out of context. Last thing... 9/11 wouldn't have happened if there were pilots who were trained and armed with guns. It would've saved 3,000 lives.
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  27. @BJBoi18 This isn't conspiracy theory. History shows that when guns are banned governments have killed over 170 million people in the last century minus the wars. I hope you arm yourself if a tyrannical Republican dictator ever took office. Since carry laws were legal here in Minneapolis, violent crime and property crime is down. See John R. Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime". Ultimately, a lot of violence stems from the drug war, turf wars, etc. which would never happen if drugs were legal.
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  28. @Homer177 What's funny is that there are only about three libertarians in Congress, so they're not going to privatize the country as you say. The three are Jeff Flake, Rand Paul and Ron Paul just announced he's retiring in 2012. So we're talking a super minority. Congress and the Presidency has been ran, by in large, big government Keynesians who believe in either a warfare state or welfare state or sometimes both, Those are the facts.
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  29. Thom ABSOLUTELY LIED about Pell Grants, which a Democrat Senate and Democrat President signed into law with the debt ceiling increase. Google "Federal Pell Grants Protected Under Debt Ceiling Agreement" for the truth . Thom is one of the biggest liars and that's why I'm on his case. The solution is to not encourage kids to rack up $200,000 of debt. Instead, some students who are not suited for college, should use that money to start a business or save the money, instead of living in poverty.
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  30. @captcrais101 Actually, I went to a gun show last year and you have to show your permit to purchase a firearm. At least this is what happens in Minnesota. However, it may be different in other states.
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  31. @flake452 Yes, $250,000 is not much for a business. However, much of a businesses capital is tied up in other areas outside of the banking sector. It's in bonds, corporate bonds, brokerage accounts, stocks, various capital, property, etc. It's not all lumped in one bank. It ultimately depends on the business owner(s). If they have these concerns they could have their money in several banks to dilute the risk.
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  32. @imaginepeace63 I'm not a conservative. But I'll respond anyway, even though I don't know how we got on the topic of guns... Any person that owns a gun should be responsible for their gun at all times, which means they should own the proper safe, and practice shooting at least once a month, and also know proper defense. Even government gun certification classes do not even teach these things, but it also depends on the state.
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  33. Whenever government mandates businesses pay for employees while they are out of work, whether it be vacation time or jury duty, the business still pays that employer. So that business can't free up money to hire more people. Where does the money magically come from? Instead, there are fewer jobs if the business has more salary expenses. It's quite possible that the businesses are forced to pay the people less.
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  34. Yeah Thom, let's just shut down free trade so we can't import coffee beans, bananas, fruits, fish... Let's cut ourselves off from the world and be isolationists. What you'll see is people leaving in droves if they can't trade with other nations. The current "free trade" is actually managed and regulated trade, since NAFTA and GATT were regulatory trade agreements. So we actually have more regulated trade that favors corporations. We need real free trade!
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  35. @MaryJesusJoseph It's more Authoritarian or Statist, versus left or right. Check out the Nolan Chart for more clarification on Wikipedia. : )
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  36. @captcrais101 I'm no fan of Pat Robertson, since I'm an Atheist. And I'm not a fan of Buchanan, although I agree with him a little more than Robertson. When it comes to a campaign manager, they hire people with experience with winning elections. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like he has a good track record. I still like Ron Paul, and people will vote for Ron and not the campaign manager. Remember, Bill Clinton had that weasel Dick Morris, because of strategy, not because he's a nice guy.
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  37. The topic of violence and children is an interesting one. I'd recommend folks check out Stefan Molyneux on raising children with absolute peace and unconditional love, and to deny and reject violence in every form, including violence from the government and in pop culture.
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  38. The positive is that if we "cut" government, that means poor people can keep more of what they earn. They will not need the assistance and give them a sense of achievement. Or people like myself can give to more charities. Government is one of the most inept, inefficient institutions, but we should give them more money? I'd recommend people watch this video to see if we should spend more money on education? How do we really truly help people in need? watch?v=C7BqMSAo3DQ
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  39. Electric cars can happen, but the government regulated and shut down the free market and then gave big money to the oil companies. The government needs to stop picking winners and losers in energy and let whatever works work. I'd LOVE renewable energy and be self sustaining and improve the environment. We need to get the government out of the way, and only when there is a polluter then the government should prosecute them to the highest degree. RON PAUL 2012!
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  40. @xxcrysad3000xx In general, government should protect our liberties instead of taking them. Ideally, government should be much more local and closer to the people. This way people can have a better chance to know their representatives or to be the representatives. I believe the federal and state government should be much more smaller, but they should be involved in environmental protections, defense, infrastructure, etc. That's a start.
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  41. According to this guy, you have two choices... the fascist Republicans and the socialist Democrats. Either way, it's more government monopolies, corporate handouts and back-door deals that screw the average worker and family.
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  42. @YY4Me133 Yes, end corporate welfare. End the wars. Sell our military bases. End the war on drugs and save billions in prison time and court room time. And no tax breaks for the ultra wealthy, while I have to pay nearly 40% in Federal, State and Local taxes. Close the loopholes. All I am saying is that I should have the freedom to opt out of any program. If people want to stay in it then let's keep it. I just want out so I can afford health insurance. Just give me freedom. That's it.
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  43. Thom believes that all money from billionaires is stashed away in Swiss bank accounts. While some of their money may be there, they do invest the money back into the economy through purchasing their own stocks, investing in other companies and growing their businesses. A good portfolio would have about 1/4 in currencies, 1/4 in precious metals, 1/4 in bonds and 1/4 in stocks. My point is that money is typically diversified, not just in a bank making 0% every year.
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  44. If Thom likes Thomas Jefferson so much he should really hear what this historian has to say about the modern day politician is most similar to Jefferson. watch?v=4RiBWVxbH8c
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  45. The health care solution is to allow competition and remove health care regulations, so that, for example, new health care college grads can get jobs by helping people, but corporate lobbies write the laws and regulations that prevent free markets from happening. We have the most regulated health care industry in the world, which makes it way too expensive for those to get the care they need. Over-regulation is literally killing people.
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  46. @celainea It's not a one way street. Employees and employers both negotiate the terms of employment. If businesses were so EVIL why do they give you days off that are not mandated by the government? It's because they need to be competitive. In the past it was common for businesses to give pensions and weeks off, because our economy was more free market. We no longer have a pure free market economy, so pensions are a thing of the past and vacation time is being cut. Markets are good for labor.
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  47. Ironically, the current recession we are going through now with 17% real unemployment has real tent cities, with people who can't find jobs. Their jobs have been cut, but government unions can't cut back. Again, why should government unions get paid more on the backs of private unions, which make up 90% of unions?
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  48. @oolong2 How about cut military spending, entitlement spending, delegate the powers to the states, and that would help cut the government. Then sell off 10-20% of the federal land to help bring in revenues. Then use those proceeds to have just courts, strong private property rights, put criminals in jail and get full restitution from corporations who break the law.
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  49. @sinistar99 I would argue that those bonuses were because of government bailouts, stimulus and TARP, etc. I would argue that we do have corporate/government power. It's called fascism and it's been done many times throughout history to benefit both government and the corporations. They scratch each others backs at the expense of the taxpayers.
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  50. No. There's no such thing as FEMA camps... yeah right. Here's the truth: watch?v=rHb83VNijBM
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