Youtube comments of Coreysaurus (@ggadguy).

  1. I think he meant the first line of code was done in 2006, not 2016.
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  2. Why hasn’t this been reported on CNN? Crickets... at least they could do a rebuttal.
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  3. Vin is Fast. Peter is Furious.
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  4. 40k Bitcoin. This family did well.
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  5. People need to share this. The hypocrisy is so obvious.
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  6. Starchild is a long time freedom advocate. He does dress up in an eclectic manor, but he’s a sweetheart. It’s too bad that security has to treat him like a thug where I thought free speech was safe.
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  7. Bitcoin seems to be going parabolic
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  8. You forgot the mosquitos! They are horrible.
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  9. Capitalism gives opportunity for the poorest to actually keep what they earn and create generational wealth.
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  10. David, you conduct very fair and thought provoking interviews. I'm a libertarian and I thank you for this open discussion. Often times, we don't hear this type of debate in the mainstream media. Keep it up, even if we might disagree.
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  11. “I’m just here to see my probation officer…” Sure.
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  12. Alex Jones is WWE media. He is there for outrage and controversy.
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  13. The ironic thing is that when drugs are legalized people actually use drugs less. It takes the "forbidden fruit" factor out of it. Just look at Portugal.
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  14. The answer isn’t to give “stimulus” to anyone. That’s only going to increase our national debt and crash the dollar. Government shouldn’t be effecting velocity of money. We are going to go through inflation like you’ve never seen before. You’re a Keynesian! Look up the Austrian School of economics.
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  15. Maybe not mindless drones, because they did listen to Peter. That’s what’s important.
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  16. Cenk: “Rittenhouse went there with terrible intent…” Rittenhouse was doing medical duties and was protecting private property. He might be Trump loving, potentially racist gun carrier, but we have to judge the case on the facts. Kyle will likely be not guilty.
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  17. Jones was wrong about Sandy Hook. He should be canceled. Period! But please keep free speech alive.
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  18. This guy is completely uninformed about libertarianism. It's nothing like Communism and Republicans are complete fascists. You can evaluate that by the amount of corporate welfare and warfare they provide to their donors. They are on s path to continue deficit spending and going into deeper debt.
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  19. I’d rather be poor and have the opportunity to live the American dream and build up wealth versus be poor in an authoritarian state with no ownership or ability to start a business.
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  20. I should also mention that I endorse the idea that Congress should read the bills. In fact, I supported the Read the Bills Act from Downsize DC several years ago.
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  21.  @cstuartdc  Both administrations have contributed to problem. They have appointed Fed chairs who are Keynesians that believe in money printing and have quadrupled the money supply since 2000. This has bubbling up for decades.Nobody needs to pick one or the other. Both have been moving us in the wrong direction.
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  22. Remember that in Venezuela they have higher wages but it cost millions of pesos for a hamburger. It’s all about PURCHASING POWER! You can only maintain purchasing power through gold, Bitcoin, silver, etc.
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  23. This lady may be right but she’s nuts.
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  24. Trump did some libertarian things while in office, but he is still an authoritarian on many issues. He grew government and inflation and never drained the swamp. He made the swamp bigger.
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  25. There is no such thing as “free money.” All money comes from the federal reserve and we either pay for it with taxes or we pay for it through inflation which is the hidden tax.
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  26. Right problem, but don’t throw out capitalism. Throw out fascist, crony capitalism. There’s a huge difference.
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  27. Nice belch at 17:30! Haha! 😂
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  28.  @robertcartino9677  of exchange silver for inflated dollars you are holding a hot potato. Keep holding your silver. The inflation hasn’t even begun.
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  29. eBay may sell silver at $62 but you can buy silver for $32 on JM Bullion right now.
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  30. Inflation only comes from the Federal Reserve. They are there ones that control the money supply. The more money in supply, the more inflation.
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  31. How can capitalism be to blame when the country had been under socialist rule under Chavis. Hyperinflation is coming from the central banks. There are government "price control" but they do not work. Real capitalism is when government is small and allows people to trade freely and keep their wages.
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  32. 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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  33. You can’t eat dollars either.
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  34. Musk didn’t create Doge coin. A couple young guys created it like 10 years ago and now no one person or company owns it. Musk’s kid just owns it, but Musk doesn’t own it. He just endorsed it. Get the facts straight media.
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  35. We support you 100% Andrew. Keep up the excellent journalism and getting the truth out.
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  36. I'm tired of hearing people say they have "rights" to this or that. They have privileges! See Michael Badnarik to be schooled on your so-called "rights": watch?v=t26ENNxHiPg
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  37. The inflation started way before covid. The money supply quadrupled from 2000 to 2020. Then in 2020 it looks like a hockey stick. It only got worse with covid, supply chain issues, and the war.
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  38. @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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  39. Diversity to them is Democrat vs. Republican. What a joke!  Both parties are totalitarian and want to keep the corporations, banksters, and war profiteers happy. Think for yourself!
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  40. Here's the data. The birth data only goes to 2011, as far as what I found. So we need more data before we will know for sure. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/unintended-pregnancy-united-states
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  41. 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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  42. 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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  43. 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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  44. Ever notice Peter’s logo looks like part of a gold bar?
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  45. @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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  46. @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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  47. @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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  48. I still think this is the year where Jesse should run. Otherwise he would be 72 years old if he ran in the next election. We can't wait another 4 years.
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  49. 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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  50. Yes, government is corruptible by corporations. However, libertarians like Ron Paul don't give subsidies, pork, bailouts or stimulus to these corporations. The lobbyists know they are WASTING THEIR TIME if they go to Dr. Paul's office. The DC lobbyists go to other members of Congress since they have a price. Dr. Paul doesn't have a price. He cares more about our liberties than Wall Street and the banksters.... unlike Romney and Obama.
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  51. Absolutely. People have never looked at a Federal Reserve money supply chart, but it looks like a hockey stick. This happened way before the war.
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  52. One n word I’m ok with… not funny.
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  53. These guys need to work with Meow Wolf.
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  54. Kaitlin should watch another libertarian Adam Kokesh to see how he actually has productive conversations with those that disagree. Otherwise it looks like she’s stirring up trouble.
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  55. Is CNN going to follow up on the new hard drive story that just broke? Nope. That would be reporting the truth.
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  56. Jenn from NORML made the big point at the end. You can be personally against using marijuana, but politically it makes no sense to continue prohibition. This is an area where Paul and Jenn could have agreed.
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  57. If you don’t have your guns you better get them. The citizens need to defend our property against these thugs.
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  58. David, as a libertarian, you were right on point. Root wasn't answering your questions. Trump is NOT acting like a libertarian.
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  59. 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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  60. @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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  61. Nano (XNO) is decentralized, scalable, and secure. It’s just not well known.
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  62. 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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  63. The Metrodome is no longer standing. But Target Field is much nicer for major league baseball.
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  64. @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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  65. @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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  66. 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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  67. @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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  68. "Vomiting on chocolate chip pancakes" - I love it.
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  69. 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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  70. @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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  71. @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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  72. @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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  73. I'll disagree with Peter a little. Not all gold or silver is the same. Some coins from the Perth Mint may cost more and some bullion coins may be closer to the spot price. Right now, silver is a STEAL at about $31.
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  74. @NoiDontWantFries People are people. To some degree, all people want to use some type of vice. It could be alcohol, jerking off, pot, sniffing cleaner, binging on food, erotic asphyxiation, extreme biking, etc. All of those things could be really harmful. Legalizing "dangerous" things or activities will actually take the criminal, black market element out of things. Instead of funding gangs, you might buy from Marlboro. Plus, cops would concentrate on real crime like murder and rape.
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  75. @ 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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  76. @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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  77. Because of all of the social programs, war spending, banker bailouts, and corporate handouts our debt is ballooning. Cortez will only add to our debt and make us just smother failed socialist state.
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  78. 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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  79. 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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  80. Andrew, the Pelosi comment is out of context. I wouldn’t use it. https://youtu.be/QV7dDSgbaQ0
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  81. @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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  82. Best moment at the end 4:30 !! Great job, Peter. I'm still not voting for Romney. Johnson is my guy. If people are in a state that is already going to one side or another, just vote for Johnson!
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  83.  @morriswatkins5667  These talking points are probably going to win the mid-term elections. It was Biden who stopped the Keystone Pipeline. That didn't age well.
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  84. 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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  85. @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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  86. @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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  87. 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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  88. @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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  89. @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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  90. @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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  91. 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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  92. 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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  93. @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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  94. At 10:50 Sam asks a stupid question. This would never happen and there is no history of this ever happening. Come on, Sam. There are better questions to ask.
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  95. @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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  96. 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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  97. 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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  98. 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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  99. @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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  100. 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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  101. @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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  102. 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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  103. 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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  104. 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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  105. @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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  106. 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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  107. @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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  108. @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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  109. No. There's no such thing as FEMA camps... yeah right. Here's the truth: watch?v=rHb83VNijBM
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  110. @StunnedByStupidity Was there a question in there?
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  111. @oolong2 You can say what you want about the history of slavery, even though the government played a huge role in enforcing slavery laws. My ideology is anti-slavery, anti-force, 100% for peaceful, voluntary solutions from all of society, while your philosophy is to tax the masses and let the few elite decide how to rule us. Also, the killing of the Native Americans would have never happened if we have a peace philosophy. Government is force, while Voluntarism is peace. Bottom line.
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  112. Thom also said that free markets never worked. How about here in America where there was no income tax for 150 years and no central bank, and we were a key driver in the Industrial Revolution. No bailouts, no subsidies to corporations, no tax breaks for millionaires while the middle class gets taxed 50%... just free markets. Our great country was founded in Liberty, not tyranny of a minority. And the "Super" Congress is another step towards tyranny.
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  113. Thom, big government didn't make America great. It was our liberties and LACK of corporations creating the regulation. We were #1 in economic freedom in the world but we have slipped. Now we have one of the largest governments in the world being in over 130 countries militarily and through the largest debt in the world, but in the HISTORY of the world. This might be the most ridiculous video I've ever seen from Thom. He is losing his mind if he thinks the US was founded on big government.
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  114. Legislative branch shouldn't mess with the Judicial branch. The Judicial branch doesn't decide the laws, they are supposed to adjudicate. Powers should be separate, which makes our system an improvement over other forms of government.
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  115. @hollywoodt00 Since I'm nearly a pacifist, I oppose war. Wars just escalate problems and I'd argue we didn't need to lose hundreds of thousands of people. I also oppose the way we handled Native American relations. And there were many problems during these years as you mentioned. However, liberty benefited the average worker. Many arrived here with no money and started small businesses, restaurants, or worked immediately without tyrannical restrictions or taxes. Freedom is pro-worker!
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  116. @oolong2 I know. Big money has done a lot to screw the country, IF they use government. If a business is on the up-and-up, and they're providing a valid service or good, then I have no problem. But I do have a problem with big $ in war, big $ in oil that get subsidies or tax breaks, banksters that receive TARP, etc. Any company that truly does hurt the environment should be prosecuted. As a libertarian, I strongly believe in protecting our property rights. Not let them get trampled.
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  117. @nikkinew123 My medical problems are because I eat too much and not enough healthy foods. So first, I am to blame for my own health. Second, I agree with you that corporations have screwed up health care, by lobbying the government to create laws that favor their industry, and squashing small business.
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  118. Who would monitor the environment in a libertarian society? Dr. Mary Ruwart gives an explanation here: libertariananswers (DOT) com/who-would-monitor-the-environment-in-a-libertarian-society She has a great book "Healing Our World" which is great. She was a former progressive and now is a libertarian.
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  119. @MadXMax187 Yes, they are both bad because they were both in bed with the banks and both massively grew government. Voting third party doesn't necessarily make you smart. I think it depends on the candidate.
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  120. Be aware that the corporations (Monsanto and others) and Obama want to ban these Urban Farms because it's organic. Another reason I'm not voting for Obama in 2012.
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  121. @hollywoodt00 Do you ever have an intellectual argument? Nope. Name callers are usually people who can't give a good rebuttal.
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  122. @hollywoodt00 Remember, inflation is not prices going up. Inflation is an increase in the money supply and credit. Our dollar has decreased in value by 97% since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, destroying the middle class. This isn't tin foil hat shit, but real math. That's why a loaf of bread was once 20 cents and is now $2. Know how the Federal Reserve manipulates money. Here's Tom Woods explaining monetary history. youtube.com/watch?v=91OIBnrjzLU
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  123. Bill Gates shouldn't get social security if he has BILLIONS! Thom, you make no sense. this is an area we could EASILY cut. And here's a conservative advocating taking money away from the rich. You're insane, Thom!
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  124. @oolong2 Also, in free markets, companies reputation is paramount, and most important to the consumer. People only trust those brands that had the best reputation for what they offer. The companies, employees or investors that had unsafe products quickly lost share values and business. Safety is important to markets. That's how markets work. + Government may only check a grocery store or restaurant 2-3 times a year, while tens of thousands of people buy products based on quality and safety.
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  125. They should have politely asked Paul Volcker to leave the stage and allow Peter to explain why this money printing does not equal prosperity.
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  126. @hollywoodt00 There's a good movie from Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership which points out that tyrannical governments that ban guns, then have the power to commit genocide, including Germans banning guns, then killing the Jews. Here's the link for those interested in seeing how tyrannical governments, all over the world, have killed 170 million people in the last century. watch?v=U-H1UY2-YDY
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  127. Here Thom Hartmann doesn't like "men with guns" coming to your home because they have sex, which I agree with, but he doesn't want economic freedom. I say MAXIMUM FREEDOM FOR THE PEOPLE and NOT THE GOVERNMENT. It doesn't matter if it's economic or personal freedoms. We should be more free and "men with guns" shouldn't threaten us with living out lives or business.
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  128. Thom said government is in charge of a stable monetary system but ever since 1913 when the Federal Reserve system was created the dollar has lost 99% of the value. The government has done a great job destroying the middle class. The trend is larger and larger government. government should protect our liberties and not steal them.
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  129. @donteatthefishsticks If I abolished your income tax, you're going to have more money, versus the government. "Redistribution", unfortunately, goes to the corporations. We didn't see any money from the bailout and few jobs from the stimulus. Job data came out today and unemployment is up again. Job growth is not keeping up with population growth. Look at hundreds of countries all over the world right now, you can see that countries with economic freedom have the greatest living standards.
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  130. @biguy617 The reason why multinational corporations have gotten powerful is their ability to lobby by pouring billions into lobbying effects just to get their regulations passed that squash the competition. Period. End of story. There's nothing free market about it and it's no wonder why small businesses are getting beat.
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  131. Here are your two choices for government budgets. Spend money you don't have or spend more money you don't have. Here's some truth. youtube.com/watch?v=drDlNH888_Q
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  132. He's been arrested 15 times? Why is a guy like this even able to walk the streets?
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  133. @oolong2 The "opportunity and jobs" were only available because there were little or no government controls to make a wage or start a business. They came here for a variety of reasons, either because there was freedom, or because of the BENEFITS of freedom which were abundant jobs and ways to make a living. America was very unique by not having an income tax for over 150 years and that was a big incentive for businesses to grow. Now there are few incentives to do business here versus Asia.
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  134. Trickle down economics from corporations doesn't work and trickle down government doesn't work either. Thom loves to gives a false choice of either fascism or socialism. How about our more liberty and less corporate/government control?
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  135. Thank goodness for Wikileaks, the Internet and our free speech! They expose the truth that most politicians are liars and are completely corrupt. I'm sure there's so much more that could be exposed.
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  136. @captcrais101 The Republicans, while in power in the House, Senate and White House during the Bush years, never touched SSI or Medicare. In fact, they massively increased spending in Medicare and never cut SSI. They kicked the can down the road. The Republicans are still not offering bills to cut, meaning spend less than the previous year, because they are conning the tea-o-cons and their base to look tough against the Dems. And Dems are claiming the sky is falling. It's all political theater.
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  137. @ApemanD Yes, you are correct! Newspeak was the term George Orwell used. Yup!
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  138. @MaryJesusJoseph I pretty much agree and gave you the thumbs up. I've been saying for years that it's like the WWE with bad guys and good guys, but at the end of the day they BOTH get paid off and make deals to their highest bidders. Most of it is political theater. There are only a few token politicians you can really trust.
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  139. Bernie has good intentions when he advocates for roads and giving temporary construction work. However, if the roads are built, yet the economy gets worse, you'll have fewer people using those fancy roads. When the Federal Reserve is doing QE1, QE2 and other "tools" of money expansion and debt expansion, you know we are in further trouble. We are in a debt crisis, so we should be talking about how to cut the debt, and it first starts with no more corporate subsidies, no more wars, etc.
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  140. @italstal07 Yes, the CIA could have done it, but for multiple reasons. Of course, nobody will know the real truth. Were just speculating.
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  141. @captcrais101 I think you're missing my point. When I mean "gun" I'm talking about the government tool of force. Besides, how do you know the left uses guns more responsibly? How can you even know? And just to add, I'm not on the right or the left. I'm a libertarian. Check out wikipedia for the Nolan Chart to get the real political spectrum.
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  142. @oolong2 I do believe in limited government. However, it should be funded be more voluntary means, like buying U.S. treasury bonds, collecting user fees that go directly to the programs, or less aggressive taxes like tariffs. We should also give people the choice to opt in or opt out of certain programs too. It's immoral to force people into programs against their will. Here's a good video to add to my comment. watch?v=kZTTQa4QxTU
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  143. @hollywoodt00 And if you haven't heard about how the corporate fat cats like J.P. Morgan set up the Federal Reserve with other banksters, then check out this video "The Creature From Jekyll Island." It was a real eye opener to understand that corporate banksters have been slowly stealing our wealth for almost 100 years. This is why we should oppose them. youtube.com/watch?v=bhMacPvc5qc
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  144. I live in Minnesota and was only 5 miles from the bridge collapse when it happened. Government inspectors didn't deem the bridge as an immediate threat of collapse after their annual inspections. Feel any safer? There you go. The government has the responsibility of doing just the basics and it can't do the job. So we want to give them MORE responsibility? We are in massive debt right now, so if we want infrastructure we need to cut government and tax more.
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  145. @ggadguy Here's a good video from YouTuber DEMCAD talking about how both parties are bought and paid for by the banks, various industries, etc. Peace. youtube.com/watch?v=m0Wirbtf6Bw
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  146. Thom's right. The rule of law has broken down and there is a MAJOR double standard. Government can kill millions in war, confiscate taxes and give it to the banksters and none of them are going to jail. It's an outrage! Most Presidents have done drugs, yet they imprison poor people, clogging up the court rooms and costing taxpayers. Thom is wrong on this point. The founding principles were limited government, liberty, and the Constitution, and the government was to protect our liberties.
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  147. Food prices have doubled due to money printing (i.e. bailouts, stimulus, QE 1 and QE 2) which greatly effects countries where people live on $2 a day. You can see that non-food items like copper, silver, gold, platinum, aluminum, tin and other commodities have also doubled. The CRB Commodity Index is also up. Sorry Thom, it's not just weather, which I agree effects prices, but across the board commodities have gone up due to Federal Reserve policies.
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  148. @SoCalAries Thanks for pointing out some truth. We are are not a Democracy, but a Republic. The problem with Democracy is that a majority controlling the other 49% is mob rule. The majority shouldn't bully the minority by force. This causes more problems than not.
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  149. I agree with Thom on this. The drug benefit program Bush enacted benefits the corporations. Again, government is just a middle man that skims off the top. And it's the same with Obamacare. The health care corporations lobbied and advocated for it, got it, and now their stock prices are shooting way up, benefiting billionaires.
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  150. CFR also has Sarah Palin as a member, so I wouldn't listen to a thing they say. Food prices are up because of QE1 and QE2 (Quantitative Easing) or digital money printing by Federal Reserve. Any slight increase in inflation really hurts people who live on $2 a day. How come Thom doesn't talk about this Fed policy? Even Jon Stewart discussed this on the Daily Show! Thom, you're a joke! WAKE UP PEOPLE!
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  151. @oolong2 Obviously you have no clue the difference between anarchy and oligarchy.
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  152. When taxes were at 90% for the rich they had MASSIVE tax loopholes and write-offs. The rich actually paid far less than Thom would have you believe. The line from Thom "rich people are not job creators" is probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard from Thom in my 10 years listening to him on radio and TV. Rich people employ millions in America. Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg, otherwise they will leave for countries with lower tax rates.
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  153. @etzel33 I don't speak for Rand Paul and neither do you, but he is very much against Plutocracy and for a Republic.
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  154. @47f0 Instead of 500 Joe Blows collecting belly lint for the government, I'd rather have them work in the private sector to service real needs in society, whether it be produce food, create homes, create technologies, etc. Then Joe Blow goes to Pizza Hut, gets his car fixed, and get that money circulating. Then Joe Blow is truly productive while keeping the farmer employed. Hopefully that makes sense.
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  155. Cliff, you teach your children not to steal, right? But that's exactly what government does. It steals by use of force and then redistributes our wealth to corporate welfare projects. It's not right to steal, but somehow we let this government institution have the monopoly privilege to steal our income, counterfeit our money which loses value every year and kill foreigners and ask questions later. The government should protect us from force. Not be the force.
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  156. @rickbar123 To continue the discussion, if you let companies leave, that means a portion of the tax base leaves. My prediction is that the politicians will raise the debt ceiling, bailouts or new programs will continue, things will get worse, the dollar will lose tremendous value, unemployment will go up, government will grow and businesses will leave. And I predicted all of these things during the Bush years! I could see the writing on the wall that both parties will do the wrong thing.
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  157. The Fed will start “the party” again soon with a lower interest rate. When that happens prices will explode.
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  158. @oolong2 I bet if slaves were allowed to carry a gun they would no longer be a slave... and very quickly. And that was another law the government forced... no guns for blacks. watch?v=nckgyfGbdnU
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  159. I also believe in science, facts and sound economics. If you REALLY believe in science then you should also look into real economics.
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  160. People should able to attend whatever fundraisers they want. All judges have a bent, whether it's conservative, liberal, libertarian or whatever. Is this really a surprise? I don't care if it's a judge, Keith Olbermann or whoever. Donate to who you want. In my opinion, this is a non-issue. We already know where they stand.
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  161. 12:30 Thom wants us to be "reinvented" which is just code for a New World Order, where the majority of people are poor and the elite control the money.
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  162. @iownage4youi Correct. Nobody will win now, but over time I had converted from a statist to a libertarian. It took years to figure out that government regulations actually hurts poor people and benefits the rich. But both parties believe more government will solve it. Government likes to break our leg, hand us a crutch and say, "See, if it wasn't for the government, you wouldn't be able to walk!"
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  163. @bohemianwriter1 If that Ron Paul link didn't work, try this. watch?v=foXQbmZxWYY
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  164. @hollywoodt00 and who drove up personal debt? Go look at Bush and how he tried to incentivise poor people into buying homes through Fannie and Freddie. How did that turn out? Then college debt is at an all-time high. Here's a longer video on how college debt has exploded in the last few decades. watch?v=VpZtX32sKVE I never said take away SSI, but give people an option to opt out and you solve a lot of other problems.
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  165. Lots of drone sightings here in Minnesota.
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  166. The movement in the last 30 years has been more managed trade, instead of free trade. NATFA and GATT were all REGULATED trade agreements that benefited the corporations and hurt the average worker. One way we grow business is to let the small business compete with big corporations, by removing corporate-sponsored regulations. More mom & pop shops and less government subsidized corporations.
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  167. When Thom mentions government is going to "cut" spending he really doesn't mean a true reduction in spending. In Thom's world, an example of this would be government was going to spend 15% more, but now they are going to spend 10% more. To me, this isn't a cut, but still an increase. I don't know about you, but I didn't get a 10% bump in pay. Both parties are going to INCREASE spending, which is why our dollar is going down and it's been going down for the past decade.
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  168. @xxcrysad3000xx I agree with you, however Rick Perry still comes off as this slimeball, used car salesman trying to sell you something you don't need. I believe he will be a statist just like Bush and Obama. Bigger government, more war, more bank bailouts and special tax breaks to their favorite contributors. That's why we should support the true patriot Ron Paul.
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  169. We need less debt and more savings. Otherwise we always owe an interest payment to some country! I'd rather have that interest rate payment go to us, the people. The horrible Bush/Reagan policies of unbalanced budgets has caused HUGE debts, which are going to cripple us.
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  170. Inflation up. Cryptos down. What gives? I think there will be short term deflation and then the big inflation is coming…
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  171. @LouieArrighi I'd suggest you read an article on EU protectionism. Just Google "American and European Protectionism is Killing Poor Countries and Their People". The article states "According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, EU protectionism deprives developing countries of nearly $700 billion in export income a year. That's almost 14 times more than poor countries receive in foreign aid." If you care about the poor, allow for real trade, not corporate trade.
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  172. Here's the false debate. The Left says FORCE people into Social Security. The Right says FORCE people into stocks or raise the retirement age. How about GIVE ME SOME GOD DAMN FREEDOM TO OPT OUT? Poor people stay poor because they generally don't live past 65, and they can't give that money to their children. It's KEPT by the government. We don't OWN this money, folks. It's only money the government acquires in taxes every year. If revenues continue to go down, good luck with retirement.
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  173. @captcrais101 People don't get to see my channel because I like my privacy, and I support privacy, civil liberties, the Fourth Amendment, and the ACLU. I even have a box set of DVDs from the ACLU which are fantastic. So my privacy is my business.
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  174. @MaximDude1 They might be racist or maybe not. I guess we will really never know, but we do know there are certainly racists that don't like Obama, that's for certain.
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  175. @seiferganon Yes, he took away bargaining rights, which I'm opposed to. However, I do think there should be more right to work states. Walker is still not breaking up unions. He's just not negotiating on how much union state employees should contribute to their pensions. He's kind of a dick for it, but he's not breaking up the unions.
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  176. BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME... That's all I hear from both the right and left. Or blame the media, blame Marilyn Manson, blame the parents, blame the schools... NO.... I blame Jerad Loughner.
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  177. Sam is wrong within the first 10 seconds. Libertarians are not right wingers. Just go to Wikipedia and look up the Nolan Chart. The truth will set you free. Break the right/left paradigm.
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  178. At 9:28 Sam looks like he's never heard of the initiation of force. Sam, get with the program. This is at the heart of the libertarian argument. If you don't understand this then you don't understand the philosophy. And yes, there is no 100% free, pure as snow, free market. However, you can have countries that are highly free or tyrannical like North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. Let's move towards a goal of more markets, not crony capitalism.
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  179. I heard a class action lawsuit against Taco Bell where apparently there wasn't enough meat in a taco. Some of these class action lawsuits are just lawyers finding pockets to pick. If you don't think there's enough beef in a taco, make your own taco with beef from the store. In some cases there are legit class action lawsuits that serve a purpose, but they can be stirred up by greedy lawyers out to make a buck or a million.
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  180. Also, King George the Third was the epitome of big government which the founders fought against. People just need to do some simple investigation into history to debunk Mr. Hartman. His commentary is an absolute joke.
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  181. I agree with Dylan 110%. Dylan interviews the ONLY presidential candidate who's AGAINST the auctioning of our government. And he's been against the government auction for decades... watch?v=Umy7iZvSUyg ...Otherwise we'll be stuck with bankster funded Obama or Romney who has received the MOST Wall Street money for his 2012 campaign. Let's not vote for the turd sandwich over the douche. Vote for integrity and principle. Vote for someone who will get money out of DC.
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  182. @Talondas I just went to Canada last week to actually do some investigation into property. It may not be any better than Minnesota. In fact, I would say that it's worse in some ways. It seemed like there were more homeless people on the streets, smaller homes, constant police sirens going, but on the bright side they may be more economically free and strong property rights. I think the best bet is to go to a better state with job growth like Texas or North or South Dakota are good too.
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  183. The dirty little secret is that when the dollar goes down in value, due to the Federal Reserve debasing our money over time, the purchasing power of dollars go way down. The elderly who rely on Social Security will not be able to afford the inflated food, energy and living costs. Plus, if the people emigrate out of the country, and people don't pay into the system, the system collapses. Social Security is a complete Ponzi scheme, similar to a Bernie Madoff scam.
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  184. @oolong2 There is a difference between slavery and union busting, miners, illegal immigrants, etc. The slaves were not free and considered property. Illegal immigrants (who should be allowed to come freely to America) are choosing to come. Coal miners had the choice to either leave, starve, work or do something else. There are huge differences. The greatest principle of libertarian belief is free will both politically and personally. If we had that mindset we would never let slavery happen.
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  185. @hollywoodt00 Foxconn is in China, which is a Communist country. When business is controlled by government, the government can dictate the working conditions. And generally, Communist countries have the poorest working conditions for working people, while free economies have the greatest working conditions. It's because of competition. When employers have poor working conditions they can leave. In China, they are forced to work in poor conditions.
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  186. @Tarn1968 She said "some" teachers make 100K. Maybe a few minority make that much. But by in large, she is skewing the truth. On average, teachers make far less.
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  187. @etzel33 If you go to Wikipedia and type in "Criticism of Fractional Reserve Lending" you will find it says: "Within the economics profession today, most criticisms are from non-mainstream economic theories such as those of the Austrian School." I consider myself a fan of Austrian Economics and I've never liked the idea of fractional reserve lending. So that's where you are first wrong. I'll explain the solution in my next comment.
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  188. The Founders and millions of other people left Great Britain because of tyranny and war. They did not want to be ruled like serfs. They wanted liberty, which was the central theme of America. I'm not making comparisons... I'm talking about George III.
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  189. @BJBoi18 My point is just that about 25% of people have "representation" when it would be better if 100% of people were represented through ground-up freedom and community. Yup, I like the old fart Ron Paul. The vast majority of the Republican Party sucks and that's the same with the Dems, in my opinion. Nobody represents peace anymore.
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  190. @captcrais101 You don't think the unions are rich? They gave hundred of millions of dollars to their paid-off politicians to further strengthen their agreements. And when private sector union laborers pay more in taxes for government unions, this is the poor giving to the rich unions. Tell me the unions are not rich. Again, name calling is never productive.
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  191. @etzel33 We need more libertarians, whether you are left or right leaning. Thanks for posting.
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  192. It's ridiculous Thom thinks there will be 70 year old seniors laying bricks! Seniors aren't going to be doing heavy labor when they are older, but I'm sure there are some great exceptions. They will do the jobs that most fit their skills and don't stress their bodies. Bottom line is seniors shouldn't get penalized to work, especially in these economic times.
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  193. @47f0 That's fine. Let the right scream at Justice Sotomayor. They do it anyway.
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  194. @ArtetlaMusique87 I would agree that the "Tea-o-cons" are quite right wing and are not socially progressive. The Tea Party movement is a right wing movement, and libertarians like myself and Ron Paul have distanced ourselves because of their xenophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-choice, pro-religious, intolerant, pro-war tendencies. But we would agree that we should balance a budget for once, like during the Clinton years.
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  195. Thom is flat out wrong. The libertarian philosophy is not to have an Oligarchy, but a Republic. Libertarians are opposed to a Corporate Oligarchy (Corporatocracy) because it's not free market. We want liberty and not rule by a king. This is the BIG LIE Thom is feeding you.
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  196. Both parties have their gate keepers. Worship the state and globalism and you're in. If you challenge the Military Industrial Complex,the CFR, NATFA,the WTO, the Health Insurance lobbyists or the the Corporate Welfare Complex and you will be destroyed.
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  197. If we cut spending the military is the first to cut, and IMMEDIATELY! We just need a defense and not a world-wide empire. Costly in dollars, lives and that creates enemies. But both parties are controlled by the military industrial complex and the corporations. There are only a few people principled in Congress that can stop it. That could be Bernie Sanders or Ron Paul. Promote peace always. Government force only causes unintended consequences.
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  198. I've always thought this floating island was a stupid idea, since the idea's been around for years... and I'm a hardcore libertarian. "Republicans who want to smoke dope and get laid" is a sad misrepresentation by Thom. I've never smoked dope or done any illegal drugs. Thom's viewpoint of them is very simplistic and quite childish. People should read Ron Paul's book "Liberty Defined" to get a REAL viewpoint on libertarians, and not by Thom.
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  199. I think Peter Schiff's only point here is that the media isn't showing any current images of Trayvon. That's it. And it's OK to judge the media and how they are covering this story. However, it's sounds like Zimmerman was in the WRONG to pursue Trayvon and he should go to prison if he escalated the confrontation and it was not in self defense. Mr. Zimmerman could have easily waited for police to arrive if there was an issue.
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  200. I love Thom's choices... You either can either put the SSI money into government treasuries or to the stock market? Both are wrong. How about I keep my damn money in the first place so it's not tied up in the government. I should have the personal freedom to opt out of any system, and be able to choose, instead of have my retirement money lose value over time. Even Thom talked about this on his radio show a few days ago.
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  201. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA That's fine. Let's give vacation time to everybody. But then that time off needs to be paid for. Who's going to pay for it? It needs to come from somewhere. Just answer that question.
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  202. @FRSFreeStateES Glad you're out there. We need more truth tellers out there for liberty.
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  203. @oolong2 Since I had to read "The Jungle" in high school, I'd suggest you read how government regulations kill people, make us sicker and cause massive poverty. Go check out Mary Ruwart's "Healing Our World". It's free on the web if you want to read about these issues of safety and how we can have a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world.
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  204. @FRSFreeStateES I agree with that. Corruption can be in both sectors. The role of the government should be to prosecute those companies that defraud consumers. But that's the only role it should have. Otherwise, when government takes on too much responsibility, and is corrupted by corporations, then it becomes a self-serving system for the corporations and government. That's why I agree with the caller.
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  205. If people want to hear Ron Paul's position on Health Care here's a video: watch?v=foXQbmZxWYY You'll notice he's 100% against corporations and for true free markets. The caller is correct that Ron at least offers a healthy debate.
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  206. @etzel33 The problem is that these social "contracts" do not work. For example, even the Supreme Court ruled that SSI is not a true entitlement and can be eliminated at any time. That doesn't sound like a good deal. I'd rather have government protect property and contracts, instead of the one to operate these programs. Plutocracies are not what libertarians advocate. In fact, we are very much opposed to them for many, many reasons. Sorry, that's not what I advocate.
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  207. By the way, I have progressive friends who know the country is broke. They even turned me on to the movie I.O.U.S.A. which you can find on YouTube. They told ME about it and I'm not on the left or right. I'd recommend others watch this too since it was created 3 years ago.
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  208. @oolong2 Of course, slaves couldn't go out an buy a gun once under those circumstances. You are correct, some couldn't speak the language and they didn't have the same monetary system. I get all that. My argument is that if blacks were gun owners, while in Africa, they would have never been slaves to the white man. They would have defended themselves. There's no question about this. But instead the government banned blacks from owning firearms and kept them slaves for far too long.
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  209. @judyleasugar97 Is it right for government to first steal the money from another person by force? If you don't pay your taxes, government will send you to prison by force. It is more morale in my opinion to make right in a society by peaceful, voluntary means and actions. Not by the use of the police state, the IRS, the prison industrial complex. Real morality is helping people with no force involved. But we need prosperity, which comes from free people and not a tyrannical government.
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  210. @devourerofbabies MSNBC may present facts, but they spin the facts just like that prick Bill O'Reilly. Everyone has their bias. That's just the way news is presented these days. But I actually like to know how my spin is presented. I should know about MSNBC since I watch Rachel, once watched Keith, Chris Matthews and also Lawrence. I watched a lot Keith during the Bush years. He was great in those days.
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  211. @Homer177 I agree that they'll spend it something else like war, corporate welfare, maybe a new police state program. The Tea Party really got taken over by the neo-cons who got us in this mess. I put a lot of blame on the Republicans and they'll fuck it up again, unless Ron Paul gets elected. I'd even be for a more flat tax and not allow big corporations to avoid paying taxes. Yes, close the loopholes.
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  212. @StunnedByStupidity What has shown to be wrong has been statism, where the state decides everything for you. You have limited choices, a lower standard of living, and the controls are in DC. I just heard a stat today that said 40,000 lobbyists contribute 3.5 billion dollars to Congress. That's $875K each. They are the ones that benefit from government, not you and me. I'm working my butt off to pay the bills while these guys are making deals. That's not the markets at work.
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  213. Thom Hartmann honestly believes that Republicans sincerely want to kill old people and we may as well throw new born babies into meat grinders. Another ridiculous comment! If you want to see mass murder just look to statist countries and how they treated their people. The fact is both parties are spending more money, just on different programs, and it will lead to a massive dollar devaluation. Thom knows it and that's why he plugs gold on his radio show.
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  214. @etzel33 I agree. It's not the forum. It's a big topic to discuss. What do you mean a "gold fiat system"? As far as paying taxes in gold, it shouldn't be required, but I do believe money should have real value and not backed by nothing and printed out of thin air. At the very minimum it would be beneficial to legalize competing currencies like gold and silver without taxation like they did in Utah recently.
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  215. @celainea I agree spread the word. It's hard to do it individually, but together hopefully we can raise attention. I'll state again. Corporations are fascist when they get deals from government. I'm more for fair, equal playing field markets. Oh, I think the link didn't work for DEMCAD. Here he is. watch?v=m0Wirbtf6Bw
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  216. If you act in your own self-interest this means you can donate to the charity of your choice, practice your own religion or not at all, marry who you want gay or straight, smoke marijuana if I want to, maintain privacy from the government, or start a small business that creates jobs. To the contrary, government is compromised by corporate-interests or special-interests. That's why government power must be limited, otherwise your own interests are compromised by billionaires with lobbyists.
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  217. Thom gives us false two choices, which both suck. 1) Stay in Social Security which isn't guaranteed according the Supreme Court OR 2) Get a 401K account which is mandated by government How about "None of the Above" and let me keep my own damn money. Many poor people don't live to 65 and can never pass that money onto their children. We just keep the poverty cycle going and going. Instead, we keep the system going while the country is going absolutely BROKE because of wars, spending, etc.
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  218. “Fair and balanced” 😂
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  219. Here's another good issue progressives and libertarians can agree on. Stop government bailing out Wallstreet, bankers and corporations. We need to wake up that both parties are run by the bankers. Just look at the people in their cabinet. Michael Moore even covered this in "Capitalism: A Love Story". As far as the enormous salaries, this has come because of government/corporatism. That's why Michael Moore should have called his movie "Corporatism" which IS NOT FREE MARKET.
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  220. @ArtetlaMusique87 I agree that Republicans are corrupt. But I'd say Democrats are also corrupt as well. Ralph Nader can speak to this better than I can. I think the nature of government corrupts, since lobbyists with big bucks go to Washington to buy off representatives with PAC donations or campaign donations. That's the way Washington operates.
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  221. Exxon shouldn't get these subsidies. We should have a fair and free market instead of a corrupted one.
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  222. @TheyCallHimTheTops First off, tax cuts don't "give" money to people. People earn it, legitimately. Then once an individual or business gets income they reinvest in building more stores, hiring people and providing more services/products. This causes them to make more money to expand their business. That's the incentive. And there are many reasons why rich people become rich. It could be a love of the business, or greed, or it's like a game, or they thrive on competition, etc.
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  223. He may as well just quit like Milli Vanilli. Shame on Obama!
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  224. @rickbar123 Once again, I've never considered myself a tea bagger when they are completely wrong on social issues, the wars, drug policy, immigration, etc.
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  225. How come no mention of their currency collapsing?
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  226. It doesn’t matter what party is elected. We are geared for hyperinflation! Get prepared folks.
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  227. While this is a Satirical video on Obama and his "lavish lifestyle", there is some truth to that when he and his family spent 4 million tax payer dollars on a Christmas vacation and Obama plays more golf than George Bush.
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  228. Did the Koch Brothers do anything illegal? No. Unfortunately, money talks. But left has billionaire George Soros. So as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say, "stop whining!"
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  229. @psgchisolm I looked up Anthony Weiner's track record and he's somewhat pro freedom on social issues and civil liberties. However, he's for the War on Drugs. And he voted for the stimulus, which I've been opposed to. I'm against the banker bailouts, TARP, etc. So in my opinion I'm not a fan. I'm more of a Ron Paul libertarian type.
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  230. Thom has been saying this over and over again. Oil isn't going up because of speculation. Most of the commodities on the CRB Index are going up like corn, wheat, soybeans, gold, silver, copper, sugar, hogs, cotton, etc. This is because of the dollar falling BIG TIME. Thom knows this because he pimps gold on his radio show like Glenn Beck. He knows the real reason, and expert economists know it, but he'd rather give you false assumptions.
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  231. @rodzmen1 And one more thing. You are right that the corporations actually control the FDA and EPA in many ways. And then when the military destroys land they have sovereign immunity, and justice will not be served. The government that has the power to do good, generally gets corrupted and has the power to do bad. And me being cynical, there's almost nothing you can do to stop them, except for vote for guys like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.
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  232. @oolong2 Yes, government will most likely interfere with markets, and businesses will interfere with government. Yes, it's been that way for hundreds of years. I agree. The job of the representative is to prevent the corruption, so we the people need to elect people who do the right thing. Unfortunately, they don't do the right thing and they have their special interests. I'll respond to your other comment in a bit,
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  233. @seiferganon I actually think unions should be able to collectively bargain. I'm not opposed to it. I just think employees should be given an option not to be in a union or not. It gives people more options, and freedom, that's all.
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  234. Here are more quotes from Thomas Jefferson. "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated." The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite."
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  235. @celainea I know the CEOs of many corporations are WAY overpaid. This is due to the deals they make with politicians. Remember, the corporate lobbyists outnumber the politicians and they propose the regulations that favor themselves. When government grows in employment and the private sector decreases, corporations have less competition so they can jack up their prices. Unfortunately, my cynical self believes there's little we can do, since most politicians are bought off, unfortunately.
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  236. @oolong2 When I say we don't have private roads, I meant to say the majority of roads are not private. There are certainly some private roads, and even travel systems at malls, businesses, large plots of land, etc. Yes, toll roads too. In a free market, which we do not have, I bet you could pay for roads with billboard sponsorship, and not stop, just like we get with free or near free television. But it's not for me to decide. The best ideas would come to the top. I'd hate checkpoints too.
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  237. @etzel33 I'd love to hear why you think Rand Paul wants a Plutocracy because this would be news to me and millions of others.
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  238. Thom was out of line by the name calling. That doesn't do anything to help the debate. Thom knows the economy is getting worse. We just hit over 44 MILLION people on food stamps, and actual unemployment is closer to 16%. and when the government food inflation comes, it will be even harder on the poor. It has to do with BOTH parties that are hurting real economic growth. Get real, Thom.
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  239. The price is about the same. What a burn!!!
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  240. I'm all for the freedom to protest and freedom of speech. But saying this may be a "Moammar Gadhafi moment" is quite extreme speech, Thom. Don't insinuate that Governor Walker is going to use bloody, violent force. This isn't the case. You are just angering people, Thom.
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  241. Obama's top contributors in 2008... banks and corporate media. Just like Romney! Romney/Obama... more of the same corporatism. Goldman Sachs $1,013,091 JPMorgan Chase & Co $808,799 Citigroup Inc $736,771 Time Warner $624,618 UBS AG $532,674 General Electric $529,855 US Government $513,308 Morgan Stanley $512,232
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  242. Also, if government mandates 5 weeks of vacation for each worker, and they have 11 employees. That means the employer can only afford 10 employees. Think about it. 52 weeks divided by 5 weeks vacation = about 10. So the business would need to cut one employee to pay for the vacation time for the 10 others. Then the 10 workers need to pay more in taxes for the guy who is unemployed. It doesn't work. Things always need to be negotiated.
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  243. @noldorian86 The stimulus was supposed to create jobs, but we actually lost jobs, we have more people receiving food stamps (44 million) and we have 17% real unemployment or underemployment. The Bush government tried to encourage housing, but that backfired, and the government has tried to create jobs with various bills but that backfired. "Cash for Clunkers" only made cars more expensive for the poor. Government can only destroy wealth. Ron Paul explains: watch?v=B6925PGo04E
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  244. @j0hnwi11iams I like what Ron Paul advocates and that is simply to let people use silver and gold in commerce legally. You don't have to use it. Keep using your paper dollars, but I'd like to use money with value instead of paper. Right now you can't use metals without tax penalties. A gold standard is what we need more than ever. Sincere question here... why would the government stop paying interest on the national debt? Wouldn't this destroy our relationships with creditor nations?
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  245. 6:03 I like Bernie, and agree that The Walton Family are extremely rich. But if they receive the $32.7 billion dollars that's enough of an incentive to keep operations here in America. And how many new jobs does that fund? How many families does it feed? How many new stores open up? I know there are many Walmart haters, and I'm not a fan either, here's a video on the positive side of Walmart. Penn & Teller's Bullshit - Watch segments 1 - 4 youtube . com/watch?v=Y-o1fj1rX7A
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  246. Here's a video of the idiocy of Bernie Sanders advocating all products in the Smithsonian be built in America. youtube.com/watch?v=J0twuU6aUj4
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  247. Good video. But what I dislike about it is that this the data is only showing LEFT vs. RIGHT. This is a limited view since there are libertarian viewpoints, authoritarian viewpoints, and moderates.
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  248. The more likely scenario is that Oprah buys an entire island.
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  249. @youngbuck189 In the past, companies gave pensions, and with no Federal income tax people could save for their own retirements, and commonly gave money to their children. Now companies can no longer afford the pensions due to regulations and taxes, there's an income tax which makes it more difficult to save for retirement, and the value of the dollar has been falling for decades which lowers the standard of living for the elderly that saved. Government is preventing seniors a better life.
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  250. All you hear from Bernie is CUTS, CUTS, CUTS, CUTS, CUTS from the Republicans, but the truth is that their budget actually increases spending. It's a total WWE fake scam between the left and right. The truth is that the Federal Reserve will just print the money to fund the wars and welfare state until the dollar is worthless. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Food prices, gasoline, commodities are all going up due to money printing by the Fed, and government will be to blame.
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  251. @vakeraj I think it is Drew. He's in California where the Price is Right is at.
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  252. @oolong2 The amount of money is totally relevant. Because the government uses that money for what they want to spend it on versus you. Maybe you believe a local charity needs more money, but instead that money may be diverted to something else. I'd rather have the money in the hands of the people instead of the politicians to decide. We are very powerful if we can make constant, local decisions about every issue instead of waiting for Washington.
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  253. @oolong2 Yes, I understand that corporations have the controls. That's why I rail against corporate welfare, against corporate created regulations, corporate eminent domain, anything where the government is compromised by corporations. Libertarians are against the legal protections of a corporation. Conservatives are the ones that don't understand. They believe corporations are free market, but they are clueless. Yes, 100% pure free markets don't exist, but you can try to get more freedom.
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  254. @rickbar123 The cost of living in those countries is very low. It's all very relative. Shutting off the border isn't going to magically help us, in fact it will make things dramatically worse. Products we don't typically produce in America like cocoa, coffee, bananas, oil would all cost more to reproduce instead of import. However, some goods are better produced locally at a lower cost. Ron Paul has good reasoning on why protectionism is bad for our economy. watch?v=riOPrMnWttQ
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  255. I am for REMOVING their power, by REMOVING their tax breaks, loopholes, bailouts, stimulus, subsidies, etc. Washington is just a gigantic pig with piglets sucking at any tit they can suckle. If you remove the pig the companies have to fend for themselves. They have to earn money by earning business, fair transactions, etc. instead of going to Washington DC to lobby Congress while you work a job away from Congress. It's not how the Republic should operate.
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  256. @hollywoodt00 The definition of a troll is: "someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion." According to that definition on Wikipedia I'm not a troll, since I'm giving a counterpoint to Thom's arguments. I'm on here to discuss liberty with some very intelligent liberals.
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  257. @ 3:10 Thom, it doesn't make any sense for a business person just to throw their money around and gamble when they get a tax cut. That's juvenile, stereotypical thinking. First off, it depends on the individual, but the rich tend to invest in companies that they think could be profitable. When they invest, this helps create jobs. The fewer rich people you have in a society, the poorer your country. Just take a look at the poorest countries. The only rich people tend to be in government.
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  258. @ 7:00 Donald Trump brings "a certain dynamic" but that doesn't make him a credible candidate. EVERYONE has an opinion, including myself, but that doesn't make me a qualified candidate for President. We need to consider candidates who understand economics so we can have a dynamic economy, flourishing with jobs, and an improvement in living standards. My guy is Ron Paul.
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  259. @captcrais101 If you analyzed the voting records of every killer in America you would find people from all political angles. Do you think gang bangers are conservatives? Do you think mass murderers are conservatives like the Christian right. By the way, I am am an Athiest, for the record. By the way, Thomas Jefferson would consider himself a classical liberal, and a fine good one in my opinion. Jefferson isn't on the left or right.
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  260. After 35 years, did this guy even save any money? Or did he spend it? I can understand if you're a younger college kid having trouble since unemployment is higher for those 18-25 yrs. old. If he just saved money. He had PLENTY of time. I made only 30K for several years, but was still able to save money, while living in a nice area. Got to watch spending. At this point, I'd recommend he live with family and find odd jobs like most near retirement.
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  261. It could happen, but the price of gold would shoot through the roof. Look at the National Debt Clock for what the price may be.
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  262. @TheClosestranger00 I just talked to a local business owner who can't hire people because of government permits, licensing, taxes and labor laws. There is a point when regulation makes it impossible to even start manufacturing. Manufacturing also takes capital, and if the government overtaxes our income and capital gains then there is less of an incentive for a business to do manufacturing. Abolish NAFTA, GATT and get out of the WTO and get back to real markets, not corporatocracy.
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  263. Tim Pawlenty voted for spending money on the Twins Stadium and signed a smoking ban. Tim also approved of more spending. It was a Democrats 12% increase versus a Republican 9% increase and the Republicans celebrated their 9% increase in spending. Really? I thought Republicans wanted to cut government. When it boils down to it, the R's and D's have little differences and Pawlenty is just another mushy moderate.
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  264. @Umberto2 Somalia is anarchy which is not what I advocate and they have no rule of law. Major difference. It's true Somalia had no government, but Somalia did establish government in 2004 and had elections in 2009. Previously, they went from Communism to a collapse in their system. They also went through hyperfinlation of their currency recently, massive poverty, and civil war. I don't advocate collapse, but instead gradual progress toward liberty through persuasion, democracy and peace.
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  265. Minimum wage is not the reason why college student can’t afford college. Adjusted for inflation the minimum wage should only be $4.19 according to CNN. But minimum wages are going to $10-$15 depending on your city. Colleges have been charging more since the government has provided college financial aid through Sallie Mae and other programs. It’s an endless money pit and keeps getting more expensive.
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  266. TRUTH - Government grows and spends more every year, year after year, while you spend less and get laid off. The Ryan budget will also grow the debt even larger than now. Know the truth.
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  267. We can't have a job recovery without manufacturing. There are only so many service jobs. Manufacturing jobs come from capital, but when government regulates, taxes capital gains, has strict environment regulations, and interferes with markets and business, it makes it more difficult to start, for example a copper mine and employ hundreds of people. The government needs to relax laws and tax laws to get businesses to hire again in manufacturing.
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  268. @justonefirefly1 I think Thom is a very smart guy. I wouldn't call him a Communist, because it's not factually accurate, and it lessons credibility to call him that. I'd call Thom a Progressive, which I think is pretty fair.
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  269. Bottom line guys is that unemployment is up ever since the Bush/Obama stimulus plans. All of this "stimulus" goes to corporate special interest and not you. The fact is unemployment is way up. The government doesn't even count people after a certain period of time because they consider them no longer looking for work. They also don't count unemployed. The more accurate unemployment is around 15-18%. And food stamp use is at an all time high. Nice try propagandists!
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  270. @rodzmen1 I think my point is that, it's good to have a "plan B" because the government work may not always be there. In fact, in life there are no guarantees. By the way, the corporations are not leaving any time soon. The corporations are like the bad guys in the WWE, we vote for the good guys (Politicians), but the dirty truth is that their best friends and do business together. We are just spectators.
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  271. The 53% movement is just another form of class warfare just like liberals using class warfare to say all capitalism is bad. No. There are certain corporations that are colluding with the government and lobbying them to get tax breaks, subsidies, etc. Those are the bad aspects, while good capitalism is mom and pop shops, or those who produce in the U.S. So the class warfare game is played on both sides.
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  272. @MaryJesusJoseph Why not look at the candidate as individuals? Painting a broad brush on all Republicans saying they are idiots shows your lack of intelligence. You should be able to judge each one. For example, I think Michelle Bachman is kind of an idiot, especially when she got her facts wrong, but I do think Rick Santorum seems like a smart guy. I just disagree with him a lot. And for the record, I don't want a nuclear "button". I'd remove that power immediately.
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  273. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.png?width=880&height=440&id=M1SL
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  274. @ApemanD Who determines who to limit the speech? Would you like more GW Bush free speech zones, or maybe more FCC powers, or more Internet Censorship? It's a slippery slope to say these people can have their freedom of speech and these others can't. It just shows your lack or principle. If you don't like cigarettes, you have the freedom of speech to tell others about the dangers or create your own campaign. Thom does want an anti-smoking message, when government should be neutral.
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  275. Thom loves to bring up a quote from the Founders: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." But he is never consistent on the issue when he wants to give up freedom of speech, even if you don't like tobacco companies. I don't smoke, and it's an awful, disgusting habit, but it's none of Thom's business to tell people what to do with their bodies.
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  276. @hollywoodt00 What party am I in? I've been an Independent ever since Ross Perot ran. I voted for Independent Jesse Ventura. I voted for Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans, Constitution Party Candidates, or anybody who will follow the Constitution. I obey the Constitution before any political party. All you support is the corporate fascist Democrats who continue the looting with the Republicans and Banksters.
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  277. @disrxt Fascism is an old philosophy once called "Actual Idealism" philosophy was the philosophy of Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, Napoleon and even the Roman Empire, just to name a few before TJs time. They just didn't use the term. Again, it's all out on Wikipedia.
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  278. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA More government regulation never works. Period. Any time a regulation seems to raise a standard, across the board, it hurts people and actually causes unemployment. A business still needs to pay workers for their time off and may not be able to hire the other works, OR what I think is more likely, is that businesses just pay all the workers less, because they need to keep their business operating while people are on vacation.
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  279. @judyleasugar97 The wealthy can't remain wealthy without government. We need to elect people who will no longer give corporations any money, power or regulations that favor them. Then let them fall or prosper only on their merits and the services or goods they provide. Here was a good video on why Ralph Nader, Kucinich and Ron Paul need to band together to fight against one thing. Corporatism and fascism. watch?v=QLdcB0ln9t8
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  280. The definition of a troll is: "someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion." According to that definition on Wikipedia I'm not a troll, since I'm giving a counterpoint to Thom's arguments. I'm on here to discuss liberty with some very intelligent liberals.
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  281. The Barter System has existed, but it didn't work well, and that's why paper money became popular. However, that's where the Central Banks have tampered with the value of the money through expansion of the money supply. Check out this video "Why Not Print More Money?" watch?v=ZkyBnaYCUhw
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  282. Thom mentioned that the FDA has had cuts. According to the FDA dot gov site the FDA budget was 2.1 bill in 2008. The 2011 budget is 4 billion. It's out there for everyone to see. Again, more disinformation from Thom. Maybe the FDA isn't working if 50 million people are still getting sick from food. Or at the very least they aren't doing a good job.
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  283. @hollywoodt00 The real financial terrorists are the ones who created the bailouts to Wall Street. Plus, Wall Street is also at fault. I'm a middle-class, midwestern worker who is against getting a free lunch, and that includes the "big dogs" as you say.
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  284. So is Thom suggesting that when prices of homes go up, that's a good thing? Mitt Romney believes the same bullshit. Rising prices on homes are NOT a good thing. It's good for homes to maintain their value and not be artificially get propped up to make them more expensive for the poor who do not have homes. Otherwise there are imbalances in the economy, followed by a bust.
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  285. Too many people are marking comments as "spam" but you are simply doing this because you disagree with them. Stop it! Debate is important, folks.
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  286. You can't refute my arguments. Thom has been misleading you guys on so many issues and I am calling him out in particular versus other progressive pundits. In this case he FLAT OUT LYING about "SHREDDING" welfare programs. It never happened if you look at the numbers. Both parties have an interest in retaining government power.
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  287. @twosquirrelly How is giving bailout money to GM a part of National "Security"? Seriously, GM should have figured out their own financial mess, but instead taxpayers gave money to an organization with one of the highest paid unions on the planet. Something Thom mentions frequently is "those who give up their liberties for safety, deserve neither" which came from Benjamin Franklin. Yes, a true 100% free market doesn't exist, however I am arguing for freer markets, like in America's past.
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  288. Thom is concerned about greed, but I would argue that in a business you can't be greedy and steel from a consumer. A consumer must buy a businesses product, otherwise it's theft. But government can take as much through taxes and fees, with the backing of their police and guns. If you don't pay your taxes you go to prison. If you are concerned about greed, then be concerned with the greedy government rewarding their friends and punishing their enemies. Government is the most evil greed.
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  289. @rickbar123 Shoe prices go to an equilibrium, meaning that the consumer will not pay for something too high and the seller will not sell something too low in the marketplace. As of right now, a consumer may pay the $69.95 if they judge it based on other shoes in the market. If the shoe is too high priced they will buy from another company. Bottom line is that a Communist country like China suppress wages and that's how prices are so low. (To be continued...)
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  290. @rickbar123 I must not be full of shit if we agree. You are correct about some of these major international corporations moving their production to China, India, etc. So you have to admit that I am correct that business people will leave if they are overtaxed and overregulated. This is the nature of doing business. Create the most affordable products with the most affordable labor.
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  291. It didn't make any sense to Thom, because he doesn't talk financial markets, but this made perfect sense. The debt of the government is NOT the safest investment. Bill Gross, formerly the largest holder of US treasury bonds just dumped all of his bonds. We are seeing the bond bubble right in front of our eyes. Along with it is the fall of the dollar. Here was another warning, but of course when the shit hits the fan people will wonder WTF. Don't say we didn't warn you.
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  292. @ArtetlaMusique87 There are some on the right that are close minded and hyprocritical. Sure. But it's good to listen to them for yourself. I listen to the left, right and libertarian/independent on YouTube or on TV. It's good to hear both sides of an argument to really understand an issue.
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  293. @leftysergeant If a business has 100 trucks that ship various products. The business owner should pay a gas tax, to pay for the roads that his 100 trucks drive on. If a fishing business fishes in a lake, the business should pay a user fee. That way THE POOR WILL NEVER PAY FOR BUSINESS EXPENSES. I certainly do not want to pay business expenses through more taxes. I'm in favor of direct user fees. You use something then you pay a %. The more you use the more you pay.
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  294. @ChicagoJoe57 That was sure a demeaning comment for women. Post something of value and debate what the guy said.
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  295. As far as the tax breaks to the international corporations, they shouldn't get special treatments. They should pay their fair share and not avoid paying taxes. Libertarians are also opposed to NAFTA and GATT because it's not so called "free trade" but corporate regulated trade.
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  296. I just heard Obama speak at the funeral service and he was took the higher ground and did not blame people like Thom Hartmann. People should go listen to Obama.
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  297. @oolong2 First, we live in a Republic, and not a Democracy, even though some would like to think so. Second, I never blamed government as a part of my argument. Yes, everyone is in the system. All I am arguing is a better way to fund the government, by less coercive means. Third, I don't believe in corporate controls. Being libertarian is actually being anti-corporation, anti-fascism. If you don't understand this principle then you have a lot to learn. Corporations are not free market.
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  298. Thom is talking about prosecuting Bush for war crimes. It's funny how the American people are completely outraged by Casey Anthony because she killed a child, but we can't be angry and outraged about all of our Presidents that lead our military to kill millions of people. On average, our U.S. military has killed over 100,000 people per year in wars for the past 100 years. That's fucking outrageous, yet politicians in both parties get away with their thugary.
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  299. @ArtetlaMusique87 If he doesn't have a family, all the more reason to save money. Even if he can't get a job a McDonalds, find work online, or sell personal things on eBay, or change his career. A job can't be guaranteed forever. Grocery and energy bills are up because of inflation, due to monetary policy (QE1 & QE2). Unfortunately, money printing is going to make life for this guy much harder. When you have 35 years to save, he should have done it. You can't depend on government forever.
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  300. @StunnedByStupidity Let me ask you a question. Are you aware that the dollar has lost 97% of its purchasing power since 1913? What do you think this does to the poor and middle class? The private Federal Reserve is largely to blame in the erosion of our economy. See Cenk Uygur from the Young Turks discuss their involvement in massive corruption with the banks. This isn't free market. youtube.com/watch?v=j5Qkbk76-QY
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  301. @StunnedByStupidity You are an immature person if you can't have a civilized debate and learn things. You shouldn't be afraid of learning. Stop the swearing. It shows you are childish and can't defend yourself.
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  302. @01bdbark If I had a child I'd allow him or her work a job outside of school, to help pay for their college, or to get a work ethic, instead of rot away with video games. It's voluntary to get a job. Nobody is forcing the child to work. And besides, I wouldn't let my child work in a coal mine. I'd try to give them a job in something they were interested in, or that came from their natural talents. This is common sense, and especially would help certain children get out of poverty.
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  303. I remember this guy on late night TV. I'm glad to see he's on our side about all this insane government spending. If you need a libertarian voice for your finances, I would check out Peter Schiff at Peter-Schiff . com. He's got a very good podcast you should check out, so you can learn how to profit during these inflationary years.
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  304. Vouchers are not free market. All government money comes with strings attached, regulations and these schools may need to be "certified" according to the government. Homeschooling is more free market, but vouchers which came from taxpayers are not free market. All schools should ideally be private so kids get the best education.
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  305. A doctor should be able to ask any questions as long as they keep it private from government. Simple enough. Here's an issue where I agree with Thom.
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  306. @BJBoi18 I own a gun for defense in my neighborhood. Plain and simple. When burglars even see a gun they run. If I don't have a gun they can take my property, take my life, rape my wife or do whatever they please. I hope that it never, never, never happens, but I can't predict the future. I can only learn how to defend myself. Guns are the last thing to use, but can only be used if the situation meets the 4 requirements for using a gun in defense.
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  307. @enslavetherich I agree. I don't trust the slick car salesman Mitt Romney. Beware of that guy. Ron Paul has my vote.
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  308. @j0hnwi11iams I understand they are keeping their currency down. This will only make China stronger in the long run. To get our trade deficit down, we simply need to stop importing oil and create new sources of energy and allow for more drilling and building of nuclear power plants. We need more alternatives for energy and wind/solar isn't quite there yet.
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  309. @imaginepeace63 General welfare means things that MOST use like roads, bridges, and military and defense. But to for it to mean everybody can get "free" health care, food, housing, and energy is a BIG misinterpretation. Today, welfare supports specific individuals, not most of the people. Sme have argued that the word "welfare" was used in the context of the health of the states and not people, based on older definitions. We didn't get Independence just to build another tyrannical state.
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  310. Amazing how he was paid in gold. Fascinating! A $5 gold piece today is worth about $1000 today.
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  311. Preston forgot Bitcoin.
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  312. @MrGnarus Here's a good video on who the real criminals are. It's the corporate banksters who operate and influence our government. youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kEPob3kQ-6g#at=524
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  313. These birthers need to give it up. Start debating issues instead of these fringe, worthless issues. There are so many issues that are more important, especially the coming dollar collapse, which needs more attention. Give it up birthers!
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  314. @leftysergeant People can go look up HR 875 The Food Safety Modernization Act. It's anti free market, anti-small farmer. We should be opposed to any regulations for these small independent farmers, especially considering their economy.
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  315. @mos277 Yes, the Fed believes they can control inflation by changing interest rates or using other "tools" at their disposal, but central banks have tried this throughout history and it always fails in currency collapse. No currency ever stands the test of time. When I speak of hyperinflation I am speaking of out of control inflation where there is a combination of massive money printing and the loss of confidence in currency. The inflation is kicking in now.
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  316. Since we are headed for hyperinflation, and nobody is going to cut spending to sustain our government, everyone will be forced to sacrifice, meaning higher food and energy prices. This has been all done to pay off the corporate banksters. Nobody is going to stop them except for maybe Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul.
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  317. When an employee gets hired, the terms of the job should be voluntarily negotiated upfront including vacation. For the government to create more mandates on businesses causes employers to hire less, since they still have to pay that person when they leave for vacation. I'm pro-choice. I would rather have employees negotiate with employers. Besides, with all the government mandates on business, eventually you'll get your vacation time. Unfortunately, it's called unemployment.
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  318. Thom may be correct that there are right wing Nazis on the list, but the philosophy of a Nazi is totalitarian government. Even modern day Republicans are also believe in the state and more power. Rand Paul believes just the opposite since he believes in the Thomas Jefferson, James Madison philosophy that smaller government is better government and the power should be given to the people... We the People.
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  319. @youngbuck189 If you lower the age to 50 years old, who's going to pay for it? Nobody would want to work. Why don't we all just not work and the government pays for everything?
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  320. @oolong2 Just to clarify, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 a law that "gave local authorities in both slave and free states the power to issue warrants to "remove" any black they thought to be an escaped slave. It also made it a federal crime to help a runaway slave. The act was rarely enforced in non-slave states, but in 1850 it was strengthened with higher fines and harsher punishments." According to HowStuffWorks - FYI
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  321. @oolong2 I understand that it's very minaturized. There are even ATVs and snowmobiles that can't be fixed by an Average Joe but they need to take them to specialized technicians since the parts are so small. If the DHS proved that the Chinese have in fact created a killswitch or spyware in the chips, then that's when the government, businesses and others should change chips. This could be a very big story, so I'm glad David and Thom bring it to our attention.
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  322. @captcrais101 I'm sure this was the case, but I'm talking about a vast amount of murders are done because of gangs. Keep believing that conservatives have a monopoly on violence. People who read this should make their own conclusions. Common sense should tell you that people from all philosophies kill for various reasons. Remember that Democrats voted with Republicans to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq. Government, by far, mass murder more people than any one serial killer.
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  323. @abbadabbadolittle Yes, the drug companies benefited from the "free market" Republicans. GW talked "privatizing" SSI, but really it would have still been a government approved stock scheme. I couldn't keep the money or opt out or purchase gold or whatever with their "privatization". And Bush could have easily done it with a Republican House and Senate, but they didn't because all politicians want to keep power, not truly give it back to the people. This has happened time and time again.
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  324. @ 6:01 The only thing this guy deserves to lose is his hair piece! Maybe the government will take that next for an unsightly hair piece.
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  325. @etzel33 Austerity is important when budgets are in the red. They should be in balance. Budget deficits can't continue forever otherwise countries will no longer buy our debt. And then we potentially face a currency crisis which would be 100 times worse than it is now. You can see this trend happening with a lower dollar and gold making new highs at $1650. I believe this will be the next big crisis.
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  326. I don't believe in serfdom, kings and queens of the Middle Ages. I believe the common man should have the power. And this power does not come from government or corporations. It comes from strong individuals and strong communities. We should never allow a handful of people with a concentration of wealth. This would never happen if people are free. Wealth must be created honestly otherwise we should jail those that are dishonest... especially the banksters and Wall Street folks of today.
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  327. First off, Global Warming isn't the right term. It should be called Global Climate Change because it has been cooling technically. And the earth will always go through cold and warm cycles. Even before the modern industrial age we had tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Now weather is just better documented. I live in Minnesota and it's common to get tornadoes. You can't blame every storm on man. Besides how is a corrupt government going to solve it while still meeting energy demands?
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  328. @psgchisolm I always say I agree with conservatives about 50% and progressives about 50%. I'm basically for peaceful non-violent solutions to problems, which is more community based. It's difficult for a "representative" to be influenced by our emails or protests. Instead, I believe in working with communities one-on-one versus going to Washington to solve our problems. I believe in the people and not people we elect only a few times a year.
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  329. @tcdowning666 Why do you say Ron Paul is crazy? He's pretty reasonable. Balance our budgets, promote peace by ending the wars, and protect civil liberties. I like Ron.
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  330. This is where we are headed. A fascist America, where corporatism takes over the government. It's so destructive for government to be corrupted in this way. This is no way free market. Make no mistake of it. Government should PROTECT our private property rights, not trample on them, via corporate friends polluting as they please.
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  331. Yes, legalize gambling, cocaine, hookers, and mangos on the streets! We need people to get back to work again! : )
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  332. @woostopalypse Also, watch the video on the number of labor accidents. It just shows you that government intervention is not necessary, and in fact interferes with making us safer. watch?v=3N01k5pSVp4
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  333. @ggadguy I should add that we are all immigrants except for the Native Americans, obviously.
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  334. @rickbar123 Believe me, the Banksters who got the bailouts shouldn't have received it, and we should have a tax system that doesn't allow corporations to go tax-free, however I'd separate the Banksters from other businesses who didn't get bailouts. We need businesses to hire people, and the way to do it is to attract them to our country or prevent them from leaving. So we should be very sensitive to "taxing the living shit" out of them. Good sentiment, but it would hurt our economy even more.
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  335. @luvcheney1 Yes, both Obama and McCain wanted bailouts and GW did bailouts too with a Republican Congress. And Bernanke has been chair of the Fed in the Bush years and Obama years and he will be there again if Romney is in there. The banking cartel will continue.
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  336. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA I agree that the division between the rich and poor is widening dramatically, and they could afford it. But this has happened due to corporate created government regulations. The smaller businesses can't afford the regulations like the big corporations. In fact, when these regulations get passed it actually causes smaller businesses to fold and the corporations to get even bigger. This isn't by chance when corporate lobbyists outnumber congress hundreds to 1.
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  337. @airforcemax Just Google "government welfare spending charts" and see increases in welfare, Medicaid, the Food Stamp program, Energy programs, school lunch programs. Even Headstart quadrupled in the last 20 years. The HUD budget doubled from 21 billion to 43 billion. The general 1997 budget was $1.7 trillion and the 2012 budget is $3.7 trillion according to Wikipedia. So government has doubled in about 14 years. Have you been paid double? Besides we should cut military first!
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  338. The free market isn't lobbyists pushing their "ideas" or "regulations" or "special tax breaks" that benefit their companies. That is the most anti-market thing they can do. What a joke! This just further exposes what I've been saying for many years. Money talks in politics and they rarely benefit the common man. The big entitlements are for the corporations and special interests.
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  339. @megagagnon1 Ron Paul is the only anti-corporate welfare, anti-war candidate. And those are the two big areas we need to cut first.
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  340. If people are concerned with Chinese computers or security, then couldn't organizations use a third-party security product or solution that patches the problem? The more likely scenario of a "kill-switch"on the Internet has been used by dictators in government, like in Egypt and Algeria once the people wanted to protest. I don't trust Homeland Stupidity.
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  341. For once I agree with the Young Turks.
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  342. @oolong2 Yes, free markets can't cure all problems, but if you have more choices in a market, the honest, safe, affordable products always prevail. I don't determine this. Consumers determine it. I think you and I agree that corporate influence should not be in our government. But the fact is that corporate lobbyists greatly outnumber Congress and they write the laws. And here's a good video on how they get represented more than we do. watch?v=6uR4lqa7IK4
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  343. The solution from Thom and Chris is that if you are broke and in debt, get another credit card and go massively further into debt. We have more college educated people in this country with huge debt that can't get jobs. So the government spends MORE on these projects!? Printing your way into prosperity has never worked. I agree with Chris that we need to get the debt down, but both parties have proposed LARGER spending, while the economy contracts and has a harder time to pay taxes.
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  344. @ 7:00 I like Thom, but he's wrong when he says Social Security has never missed a check. Just Google the term "missing social security checks" and there are almost 16,000 articles about the topic.
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  345. @disrxt When I mention Wikipedia, it's not even a statistic I mention, but rather Thomas Jefferson's general principles. Even WhiteHouse (dot) gov says Thomas Jefferson was a "powerful advocate of liberty". It very easy to see that he was maybe a left-leaning libertarian, but certainly not a progressive. Modern-day progressives do not believe in both economic and social liberties. They don't even believe in social/civil liberties in many cases. TJ was not an advocate for the state.
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  346. The truth is the "hidden tax" of inflation, which even Ben Bernanke admitted was a tax, has gone up tremendously. We are paying for this hidden tax through higher energy prices, higher food prices, which happen to be not included in the official government inflation statistics. Go look it up. Cotton, wheat, silver, corn, soybeans, oil are all way up and reaching new highs. This is the biggest tax which kills our currency. Bush and Obama have been lying about this just to appease the masses.
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  347. I think musicians like the Dixie Chicks, Bono or even Kelly Clarkson should have their say. They're just like us, being outside of Washington and speaking their minds. I like it. And I happen to like Ron Paul too.
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  348. Why don't those 142,000 people in Colorado just pool their money together for the government? Oh wait. They would rather have other people pay for their programs. Now I see how greed works. If they really cared they would donate $100 each and raise $14.2 million dollars. But they would rather FORCE others to pay for their utopian dreams.
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  349. @MadXMax187 The fact is that the most of the Republicans are increasing spending in most of the programs, including all of the ones you mentioned. Nobody is going to cut anything, and the D's are afraid of tax increases. Both parties want to monetize the debt with further Quantitative Easing which means the money you make will buy far less. Inflation is the hidden tax, and they've been doing it to us since 1913 since the private Federal Reserve was created by the crony capitalist bankers.
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  350. @sewbuttns To compare Walker to a Nazi is laughable. They are polar opposites. Look at the big picture. Walker apparently is for smaller government (fewer corporate control through government), while Hitler and the Nazis were for big government (true fascism). Besides, Hitler killed people. We are nowhere near that type of brutality.
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  351. @oolong2 Another thing about the "social contract". There are literally hundreds of thousands of times where the government breaks their own social contract, and all you can do is vote them out of office. But the re-election rate is around 95%. When politicians don't follow the Constitution they don't violate social contract law. They don't go to prison or face fines. Yet they violate it frequently. The Founders would have never imagined the corrupt government we have today.
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  352. Here's the solution. Abolish the marriage license for straight people! That way nobody can get "married" in the eyes of the government. But feel free to get wedding rings to proudly display your marriage, or have a marriage ceremony, but the government stay completely out of straight, gay or other marriages.
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  353. @hollywoodt00 I'm not "above average" as you assumed. I'm a middle class worker. I just want to be able to save $ since it's squandered in Washington on everything from War to Corporate Welfare. I'm quite familiar with the Gilded Age and "robber barons". There will always be rich people in society. the question is, will they be in government and/or in business? With business they need to persuade buyers, while government uses their monopoly of force to control which isn't how to prosper.
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  354. Thom presents a false choice of either putting the money into treasury bills or to Goldman Sachs... how about NEITHER? How about it goes right into my pocket so I can pay for my family, the gas prices or my next meal?
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  355. Thanks and I agree with you. Ron Paul is called "Dr. No" for a reason, because the lobbyists would be denied their pork, subsidies or regulations. That's why the big bank and Wall Street money is going to Romney... Dr. No doesn't tolerate handouts to banksters and Wall Street.
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  356. We need more free market anarchy versus socialism. Dave doesn’t really believe in markets if he doesn’t allow all people to sell whatever they want. A “moral” capitalism is decided by whom? Let the people decide. Not DC.
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  357. @oolong2 Slavery isn't human liberty. That's something in opposition with my philosophy on how we treat people. The institution of slavery had been a part of the world for thousands of years, and in some respects freedom helped break that institution. And the peace and freedom philosophy would also translate to women, immigrants, the Native Americans and everyone to be treated and respected as an individual versus being a group.
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  358. @irondragonfilms Why are the Tea Party people Nazis? Explain. I thought Hitler was a statist/authoritarian. I think most Tea Party people side with Thomas Jefferson. Right? So I think you have it wrong.
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  359. As a libertarian, I completely agree that the government-backed Wall Street thugs are the ones to blame. We should have a low flat tax so that the rich pay their fair share, instead of taxing the middle class (which includes me). No more loop holes either! The next crisis will be a government debt crisis.
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  360. @MrGnarus Your logic of being in debt and going further in debt DOES NOT WORK. Projections were made by the government of long-term prosperity forever, but it isn't happening, so if you don't cut the budgets they will not be sustainable. Our creditors like China and Japan are dumping their treasuries and trying to find alternatives to the dollar. WAKE UP!!
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  361. @hollywoodt00 I am certainly no expert, but I listen to experts who predicted the housing downturn, predicted the credit crisis and are now predicting the dollar crisis. In 2005 I predicted housing to fall. In 2007 I bought gold at $600 and now it's $1,600. In 2007 I also got out of stocks and didn't get hurt in the crash. Keep listening to the people who are CLUELESS, or you can wake up and start understanding how real world economics works. I do this to truly help YOU guys & gals out.
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  362. @hollywoodt00 You guys are paranoid idiots. I'm not a Koch hack.
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  363. @hollywoodt00 That's why we should be opposed to the military industrial complex, oil companies that get subsidies, ethanol companies who want tax dollars, banker bailouts (TJ was really against central banks) and any company that wants special privileges. It's against everything the free market stands for.
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  364. @oolong2 You proved my point that government even allows very harmful elements in everything from pop to gum. This is an example of corporatism using government, which I am opposed to. Fascism isn't free market. It's crony capitalism. And in a free market you have a choice to consume irradiated food.
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  365. For Thom to say that this guy is paid to call into Thom's radio show just shows how massively delusional Thom is. Beware: If your opinion is different than Thom's then he will expose you as some paid-off Koch Brother minion. It's called Social Security INSURANCE. It should be just an insurance program. Rich people still PAY tax money into the system, but they don't get it back. I agree with the caller.
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  366. Jesus Christ, Thom! Can you let the guy speak!?!? People may disagree with him, but let him have a dialog.
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  367. @oolong2 Most regulations are sponsored by corporations because they know the regulations will benefit their business versus their competitors. Even Thom has been talking about this for years. It's just that we have different solutions. Yours is to somehow control the businesses and mine is to not fund them with subsidies, tax breaks, loopholes, private/public partnerships or whatever schemes.
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  368. @captcrais101 I know third parties are not always in each race. That's why I said infiltrate the main parties. If you're a Green try to run as a Democrat. Otherwise we're pretty much stuck with who's on the ballot, or change the ballot laws. Maybe run-off voting? I'm not sure.
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  369. @MarmaladeINFP I'm familiar with Rob's work. I will take a look, but most likely give you a rebuttal.
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  370. @etzel33 "Fiat money is money that has value only because of government regulation or law" according to Wikipedia, which I already knew. However, gold has intrinsic value whether or not a government deems it as legal tender or not. That's the difference. So if gold and silver backs the paper dollar or if we use coinage in circulation, then yes we would pay our taxes in dollars backed by gold. What's the problem with using real money?
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  371. @LouieArrighi I understand economic. I called the top of the housing market in 2005 along with my real estate buddy who is also a fan of Austrian economics, then pulled out all of my money from the markets in 2007 (was off a year) and now I'm positioned for a dollar collapse, all due to understanding economics and how government intervention causes these booms and busts. Check out this Hayek vs. Keynes rap video on economics. youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk
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  372. Thom is right that it is a phony debate when Republicans raised the debt ceiling like 7 times during the Bush administration. Now they are playing politics to appease their base, to look like they are fighting Obama, but they will raise the debt ceiling at the last minute like they always do. Why? Because they know the Federal Reserve will just print the money. They are in bed with the banksters as much as Obama and the Dems are.
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  373. I love John Stewart. He's better than FOX because of the content, plus I enjoy comedy. Steve is a typical neo-con who falls into this left-right false paradigm. People are waking up and the new paradigm is between the corporate-fascist government elite versus free people. And people should wake up that it's not a FOX Bubble, but a Dollar Bubble. People need to research how the Federal Reserve is destroying your money and why gold has gone up 11 years in a row. WAKE UP!
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  374. Once again, you have a corporate fascist arguing against a socialist. Both advocate more government. Where's freedom in this discussion? Instead both parties accept billions in corporate donations in their PACs. And GATT, and NAFTA are not free market but more international regulations that benefit the corporations signed by Bill Clinton in the 90's.
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  375. Thom is wrong about currency. We once had a currency based off of real materials (gold, silver). But now it's not backed by ANYTHING. Just the confidence in the citizens. Backing currency restrains politicians from printing money and devaluing your savings and labor. I beg liberals and conservatives to watch this video and understand why money should be backed by real money (gold, silver). Otherwise it can be manipulated and devalued over the years. youtube.com/watch?v=E5VNAEmmBQM
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  376. @flake452 Just like Superman, we are all immigrants. Superman lived in New York, but he's leaving because of government. But I think Thom just proved my point that important people do leave tyrannical countries. There is massive evidence of this all over the world throughout history. America has slowly been losing her freedoms for decades to the corporate statist government. Wake up that the left and right are both for more statist control.
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  377. @MiracleMile90 When I say "government/corporatism" I'm talking about the past century. All presidents have made their deals with the banks, corporate farming, oil companies, big pharma, etc. It wasn't the "deregulation" since the government regulation, as a whole, only grew during the Reagan years with a Democrat Congress. These regulations, which are written by the corporate lobbyists, only hurt small businesses and free markets. This has been going on for decades. Reagan betrayed us.
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  378. @hollywoodt00 I am not an expert, but here are 15 people who are financial experts in my book: Jim Rogers, Doug Casey, Eric Sprott, Jim Rickards, Ben Davies, Marc Faber, Peter Schiff, Jim Paplava, David McAlvany, John Hathaway, Bill Fleckenstein, James Turk, Chris Whalen, Rick Rule, Sean Brodrick just to name a few . I bet you haven't heard of even half of these guys. I listen. I learn. I'm giving you a gift of knowledge right now. Start Googling these folks.
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  379. What’s the CNN approval poll? Vote in the comments.
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  380. Approve
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  381. Disapprove
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  382. @mistermassive1 Nothing in this world is free. The college teachers, dentists and doctors will need to get paid. So we should call your proposal what it is... tax-funded college, tax-funded dental, etc. And taxing the rich isn't going to be enough. The middle class will pitch in large amounts of taxes. Then it will cost more once the government gets involved like in medical, military and welfare programs. I'd rather not pay a bureaucratic middle man for these essential services.
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  383. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA One more thing... our economy will have a hyperinflationary collapse at some point. It will seem like the markets are going up, all while the dollar gets debased. I predicted the housing crash (around 2005), the market crash (I pulled out early in 2007), and next is a hyperinflationary collapse which I predict will happen in the next 3-5 years. We should stop talking about more spending and vacation mandates and talk about serious cuts, tax increases and closing loopholes.
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  384. @rickbar123 Many companies are still here. By the time the economy collapses and we inflate the dollar the rest of the companies will leave.
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  385. @noldorian86 Who said this guy was a Republican? The facts are we are in deep shit with the debt, and Republicans and Democrats are to blame. I complained like hell when Bush was spending like a drunken sailor and creating wars, with 8 years of Republicans. The debate Thom and Peter are having is between low taxes or high taxes, but the real problem has been government overspending and we should be debating what to cut. I agree with Ron Paul that it should be military and subsidies.
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  386. @oolong2 Freedom is a pretty clear but concept. It's either you have the freedom to make decisions about your life as an individual, as long as you do not use force or fraud, OR the government makes decisions for you. And usually the government is influenced by very powerful special interests... Interests that don't help the common person like me. Yes, industries benefited from war, which I would be opposed to. The real wealth had been accumulated prior to WWI and WWII.
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  387. @Beannaich That is the tool of government. It's an institution that can be compromised by corporations because of the attraction to power. They use the power against us, and it gets magnified as more and more power and tax dollars are accumulated. As far as the "me" society, it worked for America for many years. Each person could have their OWN American Dream. It wasn't a dictator's dream of utopia. And of course, a free society isn't perfect, but the common man has wealth, freedom and power.
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  388. @woostopalypse Of course when the government makes something illegal, people do abide by those laws, but I would argue that child labor laws actually made poor families even poorer. Here's another good video explaining why laws have unintended consequences. watch?v=rmdWIB2Idko Despite the child labor laws we were a free enough country to prosper... so much so that only one income was needed to fund a family.
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  389. @MaryJesusJoseph I feel bad for this guy. But it still begs the question, why didn't he save money for 35 years? He's fortunate to even have the opportunity to have worked since nearly 16% of the work force is out of work or short of full-time work. And if people kept their money in the markets after the "bank meltdown" the market came back, including my own funds. If they have medical bills it's because of this screwed up government/corporate system we have, which is another debate.
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  390. @KateAnneNYC Yes, you are correct that the colleges are greedy, but it's easier to charge the big bucks since the propaganda has been that everyone needs a degree. Tell that to the hundred thousand janitors with college degrees or the millions with minimum wage jobs with college degrees. College can be great for some people, but a total scam for others and can't be forgiven debt. College tuition has been going up more than oil prices. There's something wrong with that picture.
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  391. @oolong2 Once the system of government grows too large the average person can't influence it, when special interests have more influence. I can't call my Congress person every single day to tell him or her my opinion on every single bill. People do not have time, information or even the power to access their federal, state and local reps. I'd rather give power directly to the people at a more local level. The "system" should be closer to the people.
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  392. @oolong2 The stimulus created short-term jobs, but not sustainable jobs. I've heard the government created a half million jobs since the 2009 stimulus bill, but in return they forestalled one million private-sector jobs. Bottom line is unemployment is higher, and even unofficial unemployment numbers are much higher. The stimulus isn't working now, when the goal was to create a net increase in jobs.
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  393. @StunnedByStupidity Obviously, you are refusing to look up the facts. Ron Paul is not right wing according to the Nolan Chart. Those are facts. I do not favor the corporations, the insurance companies or the companies that pay no taxes. This is the right wing fascism which I oppose. I'm a libertarian for true free markets to allow competition against the corporations and want a flat tax system. And you should judge individuals as bigots instead of groups. Don't paint a broad brush.
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  394. @disrxt It also makes perfect sense that since the beginning of the formation of governments they have been corrupted by business entities for the direct benefit of the businesses. It's natural for some businesses to gain political favor. That's why we must oppose them from corrupting our government. Thom expands on Jefferson in another video here to help clarify this issue on how government protects our liberties: watch?v=VBZTeEviWcE
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  395. Should be talking about the real David and Goliath story... SILVER!!!!
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  396. Could this theory of sociopaths in power also be applied to those in government?
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  397. Thom also said that Republicans run on a platform of "no government". This is also ridiculous. I've never heard one Republican call for no government. They sometimes use smaller government, but the majority of them are progressives meaning that they believe in more government. Bush was much more of a progressive than a libertarian. Bush and the GOP Congress GREW the government, the debt, social programs, started two wars, and started a drug program for seniors. That's a LOT of government.
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  398. @lynchmobb2000 Actually, the "rich" in this country have the second highest tax rate, just behind Japan. BUT they find loopholes. In general, everyone pays too many taxes for war, corporate welfare, and, we have to admit it, social programs takes up a huge % of the budget. We need to start getting creative solving our debt problem. Also, the middle class has slowly become more poor because both parties support a declining dollar, higher taxes, and NAFTA and GATT regulations.
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  399. @Beannaich That's a good suggestion, but I'm afraid the politicians aren't going to do jack squat. It's going to need to be a combination of tax increases for the corporations who pay no tax now, and spending cuts, which could be done in many ways, starting with the military. Did I get to my 80% mark yet? : ) OK, I'll shut up.
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  400. @etzel33 Funny how Thom Hartman says on his radio commercials that buying gold is "smart". It's because he knows a currency collapse is coming, as he eluded on shows back in 2008, and he wants liberals to have some purchasing power left over. But Thom doesn't elaborate on why to own gold. It's because the Federal Reserve has been destroying the currency over the last 98 years. I wouldn't go for a gold standard but the markets would determine if it's gold, silver, platinum, copper, etc.
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  401. @Kooshkoff If you listen to that entire clip of Glenn Beck wanting to kill Michael Moore, Beck is being facetious and it was out of context. Thom is being deceptive by pulling these clips out of context. Beck doesn't really want to kill Michael Moore.
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  402. @MrGnarus Hwaaa ah ah ah!! It's the evil Koch brothers trolling YouTube!! Hwaaa ah ah ah! We will never be defeated!!! Seriously, I've never been paid for speaking my own god damn mind. Try debating me instead of name calling.
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  403. @LouieArrighi If you didn't read the article then you obviously do not care about the real issue or poor people. Your intentions are good, but as they say "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I read a quick synopsis on The Report on Manufactures on Wikipedia. I would agree with Thomas Jefferson and disagree with the policy. Jefferson disagreed because he "opposed to the use of subsidy to industry." This comes from Wikipedia. I guess you DO support corporatist fascist policies.
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  404. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA Yes, when there is greater unemployment, to some degree, businesses can take advantage of workers since they know there are many unemployed people available to take their place. Correct. But when there is very low unemployment rate it gets even more competitive. So the goal is to lower the unemployment rate which is a whole other discussion.
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  405. @pulsatingremedy As a whole, the U.S. government was one of the smallest governments that allowed free markets. This is what attracted immigrants. They looked at the big picture. Back in those days, immigrants didn't receive education programs, health care, welfare, etc. They came to America because they believed in keeping the fruits of their labor, and from their experience, tyranny didn't work. They wanted a shot at was once called the American Dream.
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  406. @ANTIDALLARD This makes perfect sense. If rich people are taxed too much, they'll just shelter their money in other countries, or move like LeBron James did. He got the hell out of Cleveland and their high taxes. See here: youtube.com/watch?v=yP7HCKweZiY Taxes should be LOW and FLAT no matter what your income, along with cutting back on government spending.
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  407. We better keep funding Head Start because those poor parents sure don't know how to raise children or get a job. They'll never get out of poverty, so we must keep fighting the War on Poverty as the poor get poorer.
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  408. @hollywoodt00 If there is anything false with what I stated, refute it.
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  409. @47f0 Again, you are making assumptions about a whole group of people, just like Thom, by saying that libertarians don't owe anyone. That's not true. I would actually turn it around and say the "my toy" behavior is with government right now. Both parties are increasing spending, not laying off workers or cutting back while the private sector is cutting back, taking pay cuts and laying off workers. The real GREED comes from the government because they have the guns to back up their power.
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  410. @TheSpeckofdust That's ridiculous. What good is that going to do? Idiot.
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  411. Andrei, there’s an argument for saving money. It allows people to save for a rainy day, retirement, and not have their currency be rotted away in value. This Keynesian policy of infinite growth and currency printing is going to be very painful for the poor and middle class.
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  412. @Mestilf22 Yes, gay people should be allowed to marry. We should be free to choose on every issue.
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  413. @MRELTUCO2 Exactly. This shows that certain Republicans REJECT the mainstream neo-con talking points. People should always be skeptical of bill titles like the "Patriot Act". Are you not a patriot if you oppose it? Of course not. The Patriot Act is frankly unpatriotic and tyrannical on our liberties.
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  414. The Founders believed in housing and caring for the poor, but not by using government . That's where Thom is flat wrong. "A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government." – Thomas Jefferson (1801)
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  415. @megagagnon1 Yes, I agree with you. The analogy does NOT work. Gadhafi is using violent force and is killing people. Thom just loves slandering and skewing things, when he should just stick to the facts. He's about as bad as Bill O'Reilly when it comes to spinning, when he's apparently reporting the news. News anchors used to be more neutral.
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  416. @BJBoi18 Millions died in Germany because Jews and others handed over their guns to the government. In China from 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents were murdered by the government. The crime rate in Japan was already low before the gun controls. In Africa, there are many examples were governments banned gun ownership from certain groups and mass genocide occurred. Again, watch this video: watch?v=jFp51KusLmU
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  417. @hollywoodt00 I never said Social Security is a savings account. But more people should save $ instead of putting $ into a bureaucratic system that they will never see again. If that woman dies at 60, she and her children will never see a penny. What a joke of a system. I'd rather give her the option to be in SSI. I know she would have a higher quality of life if she had that $200,000. Then in those rare cases where people do run out of savings, we do the right thing and take care of them.
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  418. The US has a fascist health care system because of the corporate health care insurance companies lobbying efforts and legislation. Alternative health care, medical marijuana, cancer drugs, etc. should be legalized. Instead, the government creates black markets in these areas and also doesn't allow trained doctors to practice medicine because of restrictive licensing. We should listen to Dr. Paul, when Thom doesn't have the medical background. Dr. Paul on health care: watch?v=foXQbmZxWYY
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  419. This guy is a Communist and un-American, and I don't like using that term, but this guy is outrageous.
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  420. I do agree with Thom that Herman Cain is a bigot and I agree that the debt ceiling is a joke when it gets raised 100 times. We should get rid of it, but replace it with a Balanced Budget Amendment so we never have these debt issues.
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  421. @oolong2 And many free market people have read The Jungle. It was required reading in school. But you should look up how free markets introduced the technology of irradiation to help sterilize meat, killing bacteria. Eventually the FDA approved it, but for years thousands of people died and millions food poisoned, which could have been prevented. So your benevolent government actually got in the way of food safety. Be glad the "free market fairies" are at work making us safer.
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  422. Peter, I agree with you 100%, but you should talk like a progressive. Here's how... Progressives do not generally like police states. Remind her that if the minimum wage is increased to $10 are you prepared to have those paying $8 to have a police state shut down their business and those jobs? In general, let your guests speak a little more and don't talk over them, if you can help it.
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  423. @imaginepeace63 Whenever the government "helps people" they first have to tax us. And then their operations need to be run by a bureaucracy which will give about 30% of the money to the poor, whereas a private charity can give 90% because they don't have the bureaucracy, and they go under more scrutiny. I'd rather have a society of thousands of charities than one big inefficient government that squanders the money to help people.
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  424. @BJBoi18 Maybe all U.S. citizens should undergo training, like in Switzerland. I'd rather have that then a giant military policing the world. The Swiss were protected by their own people, rather than government. I hope you arm yourself, before a tyrannical neo-con becomes a dictator.
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  425. @hollywoodt00 That's right. Not 100% of the population should go to college. Instead of be in debt for $100,000, they could save the money and have a better life. I think we need to vastly improve K-12. Besides, not everybody is suited for 4 years of college. I'd recommend you watch this video to take see another side. To put poor people into more debt is a shame, but that's what society deems as the way to go. Watch this: watch?v=C7BqMSAo3DQ
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  426. @fatfatat444 To help the economy government should get out of the way, end bailouts, stop printing money out of thin air and end all wars. Instead they come up with horrible programs like Cash for Clunkers that only hurt the poor by jacking up the prices of used cars and benefit the auto manufacturers. The next crisis will be a currency crisis. I don't know when, but the fundamentals are already in place.
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  427. @oolong2 I just served on jury duty 2 weeks ago and since I've worked in advertising the prosecuting attorney asked me in general how ethical advertising is from 1-100. 100 being most ethical. I said 70 since I do know that certain advertising is misleading, especially in certain industries, but it's on a case by case basis. I have to treat each ad individually. Libertarians are very much opposed to fraud. This is one of the areas where government should be prosecuting.
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  428. @oolong2 The role of government should not be to interfere in markets, but to enforce contracts. So that when a contract is broken, then there is a role for our court system. And people can be as greedy as they want, but they can't outright steal from customers. Instead, the banks and corporations are stealing with the bailouts, TARP, welfare, etc. As far as money, there is nothing corrupt about gold or silver, since they can't be easily manipulated. That's why they call it "honest money."
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  429. A "living wage" means nothing if we don't have a sound currency. I hope people are paying attention but the dollar has been falling for years now. In just a decade it has lost about 30% in value. Most poor people CAN NOT AFFORD a sinking dollar. When we work we should be paid in a dollar that maintains value. The private Federal Reserve is at the core of the problem by printing their money. Please go research one of the CORE reasons the economy is getting worse. Go read "End The Fed" NOW!
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  430. Health care isn't "free" as Thom seems to think. It comes from us through taxes. Nothing is for free. There is no free lunch. Everything is taken from someone else. So progressives need to stop saying "free", because it's not.
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  431. @Beannaich I would love to have solar panels on my home, since I want energy to be dirt cheap... however, solar power isn't economical yet when people are scrapping for money and selling their homes to downsize. The way solar panels become a top power source is to have a stronger economy so that solar panels are affordable. Otherwise, if the government mandates these things, it will not be economical, which will ultimately hurt the economy.
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  432. @oolong2 I'd like 1776 freedom and opportunity with 21st century technology. Slavery was all over the world, in tyrannical countries too. But it didn't last long in a free society, versus other countries that had it for several hundred years. A non-aggression, peace philosophy is anti-slavery in all forms.
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  433. Here are more quotes from Thomas Jefferson. "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." "Experience [has] shown that, even under the best forms [of government], those entrusted with power have, in time and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny." – T. Jefferson 1779 "Dependence leads to subservience." "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
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  434. A "me" society allows 100% of the people to decide 100% of the time, where their money goes, to which businesses, to which charities, to which causes, etc. A "me" society, where all of us have our self interests, equates to all of us ("we") deciding how society should run as a whole. We shouldn't ask permission from government on how to run our lives. The choice is really power to the people versus power to a few.
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  435. @Davetech23 My point is that he need to stop the worthless debate and start talking issues. Yes, the top 1% who don't pay taxes should. But in general, Americans should pay far less.
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  436. By all measures, the Tea Party, which is a loose term anyway, has not taken over the Republican Party. They are still a minority movement within the Republican Party IMO. The Republican Party has been talking about "smaller government" for years and they can't deliver or don't practice what they preach. Even their new proposals RAISED spending, but just not as much as Democrats wanted. That's your choice. Big government or bigger government.
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  437. @Mestilf22 I'll go look it up. On the surface it sounded ridiculous. At least it gives Taco Bell bad press, which is a free market function. Some consumers won't even eat there if it's unhealthy or unsafe. I'll learn more about it.
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  438. The Kardashians are popular because people watch them on E! It's not my decision on what's popular. The only voice I have is when I make daily transactions with the products I buy, people I work with, the shows I watch, etc. If big-tit models works then why doesn't it work in most advertising? It works for beer ads or cosmetics ads, but it's not fucking magic pixie dust. You obviously don't understand markets if you think it's that easy to build a company from nothing and serve people.
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  439. @oolong2 Certification is not required by the FDA, however the FDA does further regulation. My point is that there are many private organizations that provide food safety standards. The consumer doesn't need to know but most businesses want some form of certification. When I referenced eBay as an example, I'm making the point that online ratings allow consumers to make better choices in everything from electronics to food. I'm not saying they privately certify.
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  440. Of course Newt is a hypocrite for going after Clinton when both of them are cheaters. But to be fair, Clinton was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. That's what the impeachment was about. For the record, I've never liked Newt since he's a neo-con.
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  441. @oolong2 I'd also add that free markets are not mythical. They happen every time you choose to eat something, or watch a movie, or buy shoes, or get a hair cut. The markets are all around us at all times. True free markets haven't existed for over 100 years. It's been slowly eroding for years. I think Ben Frankln said it's the nature of government to gain and liberty to yield so it's no surprise we have out of control debt and bigger government and fascist corporate power than ever.
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  442. @oolong2 Also, Japan is a Democracy and Monarchy, even if they have universal health care. They're in favor of free trade, business, a strong monetary policy and property rights. So it's a big stretch to call them socialist. Germany is a Capitalist country with social programs. They're pro business freedom, free trade, super strong property rights, however higher taxes + programs. They're the strongest country in the EU, but that's compared to the "PIG" countries.
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  443. @oolong2 I don't believe in government doing research and development in anything, and here's why. When the government wastes billions or trillions of dollars, the people do not protest this or vote for someone else. Government has little accountability. However, when the private sector creates something their business is at stake, so they need to create useful technologies, products or services. Has the government created technologies? Yes, but I would argue for a much larger price tag.
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  444. Compared to other industries, yes, the financial industry is very regulated. It's right along there with health care and pharma. There are literally thousands of rules and regulations in the financial industry. The problem is not the regulation, but it's actually the politicians who bail out corporations. Our politicians receive millions of dollars from the big banks to both Republicans and Democrats. It's corrupting the system and making our financial system worse.
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  445. @LouieArrighi Yeah, who cares about civil liberties, the freedom to marry (gay or straight), freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to travel without a TSA, freedom to privacy, freedom to decide what goes in my body or what I can do with my body, freedom to earn money that I earn. We should take down the Statue of Liberty since we're a different country now. Just let the elite corporations, "representatives" and bureaucrats decide for us. We're so "dumb".
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  446. Where's the discussion on Congressman Ron Paul or Governor Gary Johnson? Ron was #1 in the CPAC poll and Gary was #3. I guess the Republicans want to elect another big government, neo-con, corporate fascist. Pawlenty is awful. He created the Minnesota Twins stadium for billionaire Carl Pohlad, was a big corporate ethanol supporter, banned smoking in restaurants, flip-flopped on many issues, raised the sales tax, increased spending by the billions and more. I've had plenty of Pawlenty.
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  447. @MrGnarus Then go buy a Taco at Taco Johns if you want real meat. I hate both places and would rather buy fresh food at the grocery store.
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  448. The reason why food, gold, oil, commodities are going up is because of the downfall of paper currencies all over the world. The dollar is going down, which causes commodities to generally go up. Thom isn't going to talk about the dollar crisis ahead, although he sells gold on his radio program.
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  449. @etzel33 You said the "government is not based on barter". That doesn't make any sense. Can you barter gold? Sure. Can a government back their currency with gold? Of course. Government should back their currency by real tangible assets, and then if they need to purchase things they are using a currency that is in demand and stable. A government that uses devalued fiat paper money will eventually lose purchasing power and need to come up with a new system.
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  450. @LibertaerUeberAlles Well said. Finally someone on this board who understands that the very powerful billionaires are ones who create the laws and regulations to benefit themselves.
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  451. @Louloe Awesome! Good news, because I know lots of my Democrat friends also believe in liberty and not the fascist/socialist government.
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  452. Bitcoin is going higher. Much higher. Why not have just 1% in your portfolio? Cryptocurrencies are going to play a huge part in the economy and in technology. Bitcoin may not be the long term answer, but crypto provides an alternative to the fiat dollar.
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  453. Thom likes to say that 400 people own more wealth than 150 million people. But those 400 people most likely have million dollar payrolls to pay many of the millions of people he mentioned. Is it right to have corporations get tax-free breaks and subsidies? No. It's not free market, and those are some of the reasons why there is such a divide of wealth in the U.S. We should have more small business competing with the fat cats. This will only happen when we deregulate small businesses.
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  454. @j0hnwi11iams A gold standard would stop the massive inflation and prevent the Fed from printing money and devaluing your $, unless you like less food and gas to buy. Things were bad during the depression of the 30's, however the government did gold confiscation, followed by gold revaluation and dollar devaluation. When government allows the devaluing of our money to go down, it drives people into poverty. In cases of hyperinflation it KILLS people. Google hyperinflation starvation stories.
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  455. Nano (XNO) is the future in cryptocurrency.
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  456. @newsradiohead That's what I meant. The gift shop. It's not reasonable if people do not buy the expensive goods from the shop. Prices need to be at an equilibrium, meaning that the prices should be reasonable and not overpriced, otherwise customers will not buy the products.
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  457. @oolong2 If I had a restaurant the last thing I would want is a bad reputation for poor food. It's ridiculous to suggest restaurants would want to put feces in their burgers. What's more likely to make you die is simply eating burgers every day and getting a heart attack at 40. + There's nothing inherently wrong with making $. I am certainly not for corporations since they are not free market, but making money allows companies to hire people, provide services and products, and benefit society.
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  458. @uben56 He upholds the oath, you idiot. I bet you've never heard him speak on the topic of his oath.
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  459. Progressives need to hear the other side on the labor debate by watching this video called "Public Unions Vs. The Unorganized Taxpayers". youtube.com/watch?v=5CxP5clZf_g
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  460. @bohemianwriter1 Here's a little history on what Benjamin Franklin said after the Constitutional Convention. watch?v=DioQooFIcgE
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  461. @oolong2 As far as Democracy, you can't compare it to a car engine being fixed. That's absolutely ridiculous. I can fix the car directly, whereas I can't fix my Congressperson, unless I'm a corporation with billions of dollars to lobby him or her. There is no comparison. Poor folks can't just "earn money" because of government barriers to start their own business or accumulate capital. In the past, immigrants would come to America with not a penny and could make it. Not any more.
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  462. @oolong2 You are correct that people do bad in business, government foundations. The difference is that when government gets corrupted, like it is, there's not much we can do at this point, except hope that the corporate media reports it, yet they would rather talk about cock shots from Mr. Weiner. Obama has reduced some corruption, however he still has banksters around him and massive corporate contributors. But still Dems will keep voting for him and Republicans will have corruption as well.
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  463. To say Ron Paul is a moron isn't right. You may disagree with him, but he's certainly not a moron. If you read his book End the Fed you'd understand why many of our Founding Fathers were against it. The U.S. had the best monetary policy in the world, and that's why our dollar became the reserve world currency.
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  464. short answer is we need to have a flat tax, which closes corporate loopholes and makes them pay their fair share, and then cut spending starting with the wars, corporate welfare, and then sell some of the government assets. Otherwise we'll be fucked like Greece, Ireland, Zimbabwe and other countries in debt.
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  465. I'm a libertarian and subscribe to Thom's YouTube channel because there are many areas of agreement liberals and libertarians have: pro gay rights, pro-choice, anti-war, pro immigrant, anti PATRIOT Act, pro civil liberties, anti War on Drugs, pro free speech, tolerance, etc. There's a lot we can agree on. If Democrats would just free markets and cut spending I'd vote for more of them. By far, from a libertarian perspective, Clinton was better than Bush when it came to balancing a budget.
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  466. @BJBoi18 I don't vote right wing. I vote for liberty. Seriously check out the World's Smallest Political Quiz or the Nolan Chart to see why it's not left versus right, but liberty versus tyranny. I'm AGAINST the bankster bailouts, the wars, the Military Industrial Complex, the drug war, NAFTA, GATT, corporate welfare, the Patriot Act, and FOR free immigration, gay rights, free speech, civil liberties, and I'm just getting started. Am I a right wing voter? Nope.
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  467. I'm a libertarian and I believe in climate change. It's a matter of science. I wish Jesse ran for the Libertarian Party because he has been a great voice for freedom, liberty, privacy, and against the war machine and the war on drugs.
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  468. Making money must be done voluntarily. Every dollar a business makes is done by agreement with two parties. Government is the only institution that can use force to collect their money. And almost everyone left, right or center disagrees with some portion of the spending. A free market allows people to pay for only those things they agree with, or give to charities that work best, instead of rewarding a government that squanders it. (i.e. The Pentagon losing a trillion dollars)
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  469. @gnomechomskylives I agree. There is no hyperinflation. Hyperinflation is when it's out of control, and I think it's identified by 50% per year, so we are not near that. Yes, there is certainly an energy influence from the Mid East. The government doesn't want to include food and energy because it obviously reflects poorly on their QE1 and QE2 policies. Commodities are what people consume, so it's important to factor in a large basket of commodities when calculating inflation.
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  470. @Umberto2 The model that existed was early America. That's the closest thing we have in modern time with liberty as the foundation. Liberty is found in our money, our founding documents and and in our monuments. Liberty was at the heart of America. This was an example of a country that grew into liberty with rule of law with an established Republic. I'll explain Somalia in a moment, since I am limited to the number of characters in a post.
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  471. Thom, I have to inform you that America was the great experiment in individual liberty and gave us a pretty fantastic country. That's the country we can look to. Of course we had our problems of war, and slavery like the rest of the world, but we built an industrial revolution, made the middle class, had a better standard of living than anywhere on the planet. Unfortunately, the trend of the past 100 years has been creeping statism, bigger debts, bigger government.
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  472. Fight! Fight! Fight!
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  473. The country has been going in the wrong direction for the past 40 or 50 years, but now Thom wants to blame it all on the minority Tea Party. Thom bragged after the election on how few were actually elected. So don't blame them. The Tea Party didn't get what they wanted. We all want a AAA+ rating, but we got it because of our debt issues still being unresolved. Until we solve it, you'll likely see our rating go down much further in the coming years, or maybe even months.
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  474. Technically, the Federal Reserve is a private corporation. However, the chair is appointed by the President of the United States. It’s also a highly political organization.
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  475. Here's the definition of GREED: excessive desire, as for wealth or power. When the government unions are demanding more than the private sector, WHO PAY THEIR BILLS THROUGH TAXES, then they are being GREEDY using their power to take more and more and more. That is GREED. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
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  476. @LouieArrighi Actually, Ron Paul has been against corporations. He's for free markets. There is a major difference. Corporations squash competition with their corporate funded legislation and regulation. That's how they get bigger and bigger. Ron Paul voted against the bailouts for banks. Libertarians are against subsidies for oil or anybody for that matter. Here's a recent interview with Dylan Ratigan and Ron Paul on the subject. youtube.com/watch?v=y2g9Fzl8_Ms
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  477. @Boomer1949 My wife had been on welfare for years as a child. She remembers the block cheese. She knows poverty, yet she worked her way through college, kept her money and now is on her feet. There is a role for welfare, but it should be private charity, like the charity hospital. People came to America because of our ability to work and to give. I'm in favor of abundance and wealth for the common man and woman so we can give directly to others without a massive bureaucracy.
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  478. As far as the Fair Tax, I don't think they'd see a reduction in their taxes since they buy big homes, lavish dinners, pricey vacations, expensive cars. I'm still opposed to it, simply because it will turn every business, contractor, vendor, to be a tax collector for the government. Plus, we should be having a debate on how much we are taxed versus what method is used. In my opinion, we should fund the government by more user fees, tariffs, and less aggressive means.
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  479. @rickbar123 I'm not a fan of conservatives like Beck. I'm a libertarian. Know the difference. I believe in social freedoms and being fiscal freedoms.
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  480. Bernie says we should (meaning we will all pay higher taxes) to send more people to college, go into massive debt, all while they have trouble finding jobs. Here's the truth: watch?v=AVz-HqwOuyo
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  481. @ 3:50 Thom gives the false choice of choosing between the government or a corporation... how about NEITHER? How about local doctors and nurses that have no ties to UnitedHealth Group or bureaucrats? Health care was once very local, affordable and you could get second opinions and house calls. You may disagree with me, but Thom is giving you a false choice.
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  482. @hollywoodt00 That might be true. I think my debate is more for others to make up their own minds. The best ideas will prevail.
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  483. It sure isn't "Christian" to kill people, so how do we know 100% he's a principled right winger? The alleged Christian George W. Bush killed hundreds of thousands of people in the mid-east and I'd consider him a statist because he massively grew government, but people still think he's right wing. These labels don't mean much. Just look at the actions of individuals instead of painting broad brushes or taking people out of context.
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  484. I bet most people do not know about the Great Depression of 1920. New York Times-bestselling author and historian Thomas Woods explains how the depression of 1920 was solved. It can help give insight on how we can solve our problems today. watch?v=czcUmnsprQI
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  485. @KataVideo I'm not a liberal or conservative. I'm a libertarian: socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I'm not a fan of Bachman or progressives.
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  486. @oolong2 If the government does cut spending, and then focused on better private property rights, then corporations couldn't dump toxins in our water or spew anything into the air. In countries that do not have private property rights the government and corporations destroy the environment. There are many documented cases all over Africa. As a libertarian, I believe in some form of justice when it comes to the environment, which derives from solid property rights and just courts.
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  487. Home prices will keep going down so people can downsize to smaller homes and pay for higher prices in energy and food, all due to government inflation. Inflation also hurts minimum wage workers. Why has the minimum wage gone up several times over the years? Because of government inflation. If the government didn't devalue the dollar you would never need minimum wage increases.
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  488. @pulsatingremedy As far as tyrannical governments, dictators throughout history will bribe their citizens with benefits and promises in the early stages. Eventually, when their systems collapse and the government is bankrupt, like in Germany, Russia, Argentina, Zimbabwe, North Korea, etc. the government has nobody to help them and the people are left to either flee to find work and food or try to survive. Go research the collapse of Communist countries and how they also devalue their currency.
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  489. @xxcrysad3000xx I agree that the inequity in the different races has widened. It's become clearly obvious. My honest belief is that the welfare system and the War on Drugs policy has destroyed the black communities. Sending people to prison for non-violent "crimes" destroys families, and it hits black folks harder because of their poorer local communities. Welfare doesn't incentivise learning a trade or starting a business and that's one of the keys to long-lasting growth.
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  490. @Larkinchance Right now taxpayers are paying for the USPS failure when they have a shortfall... and it's in the billions. At the very least the government should get rid of the USPS monopoly on standard mail delivery and keep the USPS in operation. Let them compete and not make poor people pay for their failure. Having winners and losers is an important part of progress. It sounds harsh, but it rewards success instead of subsidizing failure.
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  491. @pulsatingremedy When immigrants came here they set up their own small businesses. They were in control and didn't "sell" their labor to anyone. They created the products and services. They owned the commodities or even grew them. Immigrants who worked for businesses made this agreement. Nobody forced them into it. This was a much greater choice for them versus working for their corrupt, tyrannical government who was so powerful they knew they didn't owe them anything.
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  492. Bernie is crying wolf about the Republican budget. The Republican plan was to even further into debt and spend more money and not balance the budget until 2040. It was ridiculous. There may be cuts in certain programs, but the overall budgets were BIGGER! So wait until the real cuts come, then Bernie can really complain.
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  493. Who cares about the other half of Wisconsin citizens who pay the taxes. We should just tax the middle class more to pay for these union benefits. Who cares about taxpayers, even though they don't get the same benefits. Here are the facts and charts on Bloomberg. watch?v=TvNIL-jsyW4
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  494. Rand is one of the biggest advocates for criminal justice reform. They don’t even know.
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  495. @captcrais101 I'm not sure why Rand believes it. I think Ron Paul believes we need to fully pay those on Social Security, but allow future recipients the option to opt out. Ron is probably the most anti-subsidy public official I know, maybe next to Bernie Sanders, and they are in different parties!
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  496. But didn't Obama SIGN the legislation from Republicans to "cut" the FSIS to fund the FDA? A Democrat Senate passed it too! So both are to blame for "cuts". Obama chose to cut FSIS to fund the FDA from $2.1 billion in spending in 2008 to $4 billion in 2011. It's all available on the FDA dot gov site. So the government of BOTH PARTIES are screwing things up. Technology, science, private inspection, competition and capital make our food more safe, not bureaucrats making decisions from DC.
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  497. @oldwarhorse1865 YES, END THE FED. RON PAUL 2012!
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  498. The liberals and conservatives love to debate over who was a Founding Father or not, but they both bastardize the Constitution and vote on things that would make the Founders roll in their graves. Both parties have completely strayed from the Constitution, Bill of Rights, 10th Amendment, the Declaration of Independence, etc. Instead we have the parties bickering over what that teocon Michelle Bachmann said instead of discussing real issues.
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  499. @FriedDaisy I'm against crony, fascist capitalism. I'm for true liberty which doesn't allow government to benefit private corporations through subsidies or special deals or tax breaks. Corporations are not free market. Until we understand this, we can't defeat them.
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  500. Bernanke has no clue about job creation, when he doesn't create them. Government only destroys jobs and creates poverty. 45 million people are using food stamps. 17% real unemployment. Bernanke is clueless. He didn't see the housing crisis when Austrian Economists did. Bernanke didn't see the credit crisis when Austrian Economists did. Bernanke also didn't see inflation coming, but it's here. The next crisis will be the dollar crisis, and that's why Thom Hartman says buying gold is smart.
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  501. Big government fascism at it's worst. Thanks for informing us.
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  502. Thom may be correct that job growth has gone up, but it isn't keeping pace with the population growth. That means not enough people are employed. Plus the real unemployment rate, when you count those who are "no longer looking for work" or underemployed working part time, the number is closer to 17%. The bailouts or the New New Deal stimulus didn't work either.
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  503. For the record, here's the Libertarian Party stance on the environment (from lp.org): Competitive free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Governments are unaccountable for damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights and responsibilities regarding resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Where damages can be proven and quantified in a court of law, restitution to the injured parties must be required.
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  504. Bernie and Thom's plan... defy science and basic economics by continuing the unsustainable deficit spending, just like Bush, but on steroids! And the destruction of the dollar. Once the dollar goes down, there is NO savior or government that will help the common man. That's the direction and you can see it in food prices, energy prices, the CRB index going UP UP and UP right NOW! Poor people and the middle class will be wiped out, but the banksters will get bailed out again.
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  505. Progressives need to hear the other side on the labor debate by watching this video called "Public Unions Vs. The Unorganized Taxpayers: There Will Be Blood". watch?v=5CxP5clZf_g
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  506. By the way, gold is not volatile as Thom would suggest. It's been on a slow and steady move higher and higher for the past 11 years. If you want a STRONG currency you want it backed by gold instead of just paper and faith. I pleaded with my family to buy gold at $550 and now it's $1525. There's a reason why I am right and that's because I know economics and Thom doesn't have a god damn clue.
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  507. I don't shop at Walmart, so it's not a monopoly. Can it be a monopoly in certain cities? It's possible to get a monopoly. But in small towns there may be only one barber shop or one auto shop or one laundry shop. But in my city I have about a dozen other businesses that compete with Walmart, and it's like this in most cities.
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  508. @rickbar123 I study all of the time. Anybody who thinks they "know it all" doesn't know it all. I certainly do not know every historical fact, because it's impossible to do know everything in every country, in every era, etc. But I have learned from history and economics that the most prosperous countries are those that are free. There's a wide body of evidence to support this. And in my opinion, any country, including China has the right to buy whatever technologies they want.
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  509. @oolong2 I bet you can find charitable organizations that help themselves. And that's why I said I don't believe it's the best route. A better route is to cut out the middle man and allow poor people to accumulate wealth through (1) Earning real money with real value, (2) Saving money through lower taxes and regulations, (3) Allowing poor people to operate their own businesses without licensing or burdensome regulation ... There are many more ways, but I believe in bottom up prosperity.
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  510. @rickbar123 You said "Protectionism is Americas only hope". If I closed the borders of just your city block, is that really going to help you? It only isolates you from the world around you. It removes the ability to work with talented people outside of the border, or order specific parts, new flavors, technologies or whatever. You can't trade with them. We should be able to decide with our free will what is right and wrong, not always a minority of elitists deciding how to run your life.
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  511. @bohemianwriter1 Yes, I agree 100%. Even with legalizing all drugs. This completely clogs the court system and prisons, for people who are non-violent. We should get money back from the banks and prevent it from happening again. As far as taxing the rich, make sure corporations don't get these tax-free deals. Then close loopholes, remove write-offs, etc. I'm still a libertarian (not a fan of teabaggers) since they are neo-con, social conservatives. Anyway, I agree with you.
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  512. That statement from Mr. Goode does not sound libertarian. It sounds like like a right-wing statement. True libertarians don't mix church with the state and don't get paranoid about people in other religions. There's a big difference.
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  513. @oolong2 To transform the poor into the middle class it will take years, as Obama correctly states. Over time, the poor can accumulate wealth buy purchasing homes instead of living in the projects. With no licensing laws they could own a business with little money down. With no zoning laws they could start a business in their home and don't need to rent another building. These are just a few examples to radically bring wealth to the poor. That's doing something, not nothing.
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  514. Somalia was under Communist rule for hundreds of years, went through hyperinflation due to their central bank, civil war, etc. Their country was a result of COMMUNISM and more complex issues. Go look at the top 10 free countries versus the 10 most tyrannical countries. You would no doubt want to live int he freer countries with better wages and a better standard of living. America was once a great example of a freer state with no income tax for 150 years, civil liberties, freedoms.
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  515. @sambudwiser Rick Perry is NWO hack since he recently went to Bilderberg. I don't trust him one ounce.
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  516. @eirefrance I've heard all about how the past was terrible. However, you need to compare countries that had freedom to countries that did not have freedom. Millions of people FLOCKED to America just to be able to EAT. They didn't even have "meat shops" in their tyrannical countries or even the capital to have government check the food. When countries get poorer they also neglect safety. It's capital and wealth that allows for better food safety, not trickle-down government.
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  517. @oolong2 As far as the banksters, is it the local municipal banking industry that's bad, or is it the big companies like Goldman or JP Morgan that get massive bailouts? A lot of smaller banks didn't want the bailout, but they were forced to take it from the government. So you have to separate the big banksters who got the bailout and have insider deals with the ones that are local and smaller. My opinion on wealth is to allow the poor to accumulate it. Right now they have little opportunity.
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  518. I wish this kind of journalism was in the U.S.
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  519. @StunnedByStupidity There's a difference between free markets and corporatism. Corporatism is when businesses influence, pay off or run the government. Free markets are ones where the government enforces contracts but doesn't create legislation to benefit business. That's why we must oppose corporatism and fascism and support free markets instead. That means rejecting lobbyists like Ron Paul does, and then no lobbyist comes knocking at his offices because it's a wasted time.
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  520. Take race out of the equation. What's important is the riots are primarily happening in the government ghettos of London. The government never takes responsibility for controlling these young people through their bribery of welfare and housing programs. Take another look at the issue from Stefan Molyneux. watch?v=tigA5OubpFQ We should never endorse force or theft. These kids are nothing but thieves. Even if they have a motivation, it does not justify stealing and destruction.
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  521. @hollywoodt00 How about debate on the issues instead of talk about all of the Koch brother boogie men?!? Common and debate me instead of name drop your favorite corporate goons.
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  522. Bernie and Thom, here's some truth on the budget. Both the Republicans and Democrats are BOTH going to create MORE debt with their budgets. It's a sham to think that Republicans are cutting anything. Their spending MORE, but not as quickly as Democrats. Here's a chart: youtube.com/watch?v=nMqcLQzD-aA We are headed toward HYPERINLATION which will cripple us if we don't act now to sustain the government.
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  523. @flake452 I understand the idea. My point is that this is just speculation on Thom's part. There is no evidence to back this up. Thom just makes things up. The economy will not crash because of one party. It will crash because of Federal Reserve policy, both parties reckless spending, and both parties are in bed with the banksters. We are screwed no matter who gets into office within the next decade.
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  524. @MarmaladeINFP Thanks. I'll Google Derrick Jensen.
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  525. @miketothad There you go name calling again. You progressives simply can't answer the question "Why should government unions make more than non-government unions?" Whining means complaining like a child, but if you and your cohorts just name call, isn't that childish? Keep acting like a child and I'll act like the responsible parent teaching you guys real world economics.
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  526. @hollywoodt00 I'm not stupid, sir. I'm a honor student, college graduate and I'm in adult education. And I'm not a troll when I offer relevant debate. Trolls are there to stir up trouble when I'm just debating ideas. What I want to know is what is wrong for a company to use fillers? Consumers can tell the difference between Taco Bell and Chipotle, unless you are "stupid."
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  527. Does Thom really think the United States was founded on Socialism? Thom is the one who needs to be schooled. The United States had NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX for the first 150 years in existence. We were the most free country on the planet. Immigrants came in droves with NOTHING to flee from tyrannical countries. Thom must be pulling our legs. And I am not a right or left winger but someone who believes in the rights of the people, not the powerful elite who are in the banks, government, etc.
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  528. Thanks for exposing this one, Thom. It's another reason to purchase other devices other than Apple. We should be able to film the police, protests or whoever is in a public place. This is very important to keep government or others accountable.
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  529. @LeifEiriksson I just donated $500. Take some of those profits you made in metals and give it to Ron. It's probably one of our last chances to support Ron.
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  530. All people need to do is read the book "Minimum Wage, Maximum Damage" to understand how the minimum wage regulations hurt job growth and the poor. It seems counter-intuitive but it requires some investigation and learning.
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  531. Shadow stats says the real inflation is closer to 15%, not 7.5%.
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  532. "If it wasn't for the government we would never live past 35" What a joke. It's because of technology and science that we are living longer with each century. No libertarian wants to go back to those old technologies. That just proves you are a bunch of morons.
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  533. I only get so many characters in my comment section, so I couldn't address everything. Countries where there are low or no private property rights, land is misused, polluted, contaminated, and nobody has ownership. Think about private housing how people fix homes prior to selling versus The Projects that are crumbling empty buildings or little or no value. If you arm yourself with information, then you understand how liberty actually improves the lives of all people, not just the elite.
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  534. @oolong2 Yes, the motivation for everyone is to accumulate wealth. That's why they influence government, because it's easier to extract money rather than work for it in the marketplace. I just heard how 40,000 lobbyists contributed $2.5 billion to Congress in 2010. Of course they are bought and paid for, which I am completely against. That's not free markets but crony capitalism or fascism, to be blunt. We should oppose corporatism and support fair, free markets.
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  535. I live in Minnesota, so I've heard a lot of news on this. The Republicans proposed the largest budget in the state's history by increasing government spending by 6% ($4 billion) and Dayton wouldn't sign it. It's not like the Republicans even proposed cutting spending.they even increased spending in education. It's not that unreasonable. In a recent MN poll most people want government to cut spending and the GOP will not even do it.
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  536. When the Republicans had power under Bush and a Republican Congress, they never privatized Social Security or Medicare. In fact, Republicans increased spending on these programs and even created an expensive prescription drug program for Big Pharma. This is a fact, and Bernie doesn't want to admit this. And common Bernie. Don't call yourself an Independent. Go ahead and call yourself what you are, a Socialist. And these are your words, not mine.
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  537. @etzel33 Well, I am certainly not a "conservative who wants to legalize pot". I'm a libertarian that would deregulate all drugs like in Portugal so that we don't waste money on sending non-violent people to prisons so they have worse lives. I think Mises and Rockwell advocate liberty, not a plutocracy. I disagree with you on Universal Health Care because it's forcing others to pay for others. People should be sovereign and not put our future grandchildren in debt, which is what we're doing.
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  538. Here's the trick in radio... and Sean Hannity and Limbaugh do it too. Make sure the call screener only let's people on that have less intelligence than the host. I bet none of you progressives could even name some famous libertarians, Austrian economics or libertarian radio show hosts... why? Because you haven't looked into these arguments... just like the right wing neo-cons will be brainwashed by FOX as well. There's much more to it than small soundbites.
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  539. @hollywoodt00 You are correct. Owning a gun doesn't make you safe, but if used properly, it can help deter crimes from happening, and even prevent mass crimes of murder. And yes, the government is quite happy with the bread and circuses. While this is happening, I'll do the right thing and protect myself. I certainly do not feel any "safer" because of the boondoggle we call the War on Terror.
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  540. At 6:30 or so Sam REALLY needs to study up on monetary history and understand how money has value, and what comprises money. Fiat money is something that is manipulated unlike other forms of money like gold, silver, platinum, copper, etc. Precious metals have been money for thousands of years, while thousands of paper currencies have died.
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  541. @oolong2 The tool to fight against them is to say NO to corporate welfare. That's a free market solution by making these lobbyists pack up their suitcases and get real productive jobs instead of getting deals. There's no other way to stop them, otherwise they will stay in DC and find the politicians to bribe.
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  542. @NoogLeader I agree. We need to back the currency, otherwise people will continue to get poorer and poorer, while the bankers get the bailouts and the politically connected get "stimulus". Yes, let's at least balance the budget.
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  543. How about each parent decide and be allowed to opt out of any class if they have religious, moral or other differences? There should be more choice instead of bureaucrats deciding.
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  544. @oolong2 Let me correct you slightly... do fascist forces corrupt regulations? Yes. We agree. However, true capitalism wouldn't allow corporations to corrupt the regulations. "Reasonable" regulations are up to a bureaucrat versus the market. It may be UNreasonable to ban a certain toxin over another, but I would rather have millions of individuals decide, and health safety experts in the private sector decide versus a handful of bureaucrats. Thanks for the discussion.
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  545. @oolong2 These aren't hypotheticals. Markets do provide safety as a product feature. Yes, a consumer may not investigate the a supply chain, only the end product, but the businesses supplying the products do get private certification. They want the highest quality because consumers demand it. That why businesses get privately certified by HACCP, ISO, FS 22000, IFS, SQF, just to name a few. Plus, consumers rate millions of products and sellers on Amazon, eBay, Angie's List, Yellow Pages, etc.
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  546. Libertarians have excellent ideas, but Jo doesn’t interview well and was not a fighter. Trump, whether you like him or not, was a fighter. Also Ron Paul could debate in the GOP debates.
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  547. I'm a libertarian and I totally disagree with Curtis Daily at Heritage. Not all tax cuts benefit us, especially when the taxes are benefiting the ultra rich. As Thom pointed out, Reagan and Bush exploded the national debt. It shows supply side economics doesn't work. A more fair approach is to have a flat tax, no loopholes, no tax benefits to corporations. If the conservatives want to cut taxes, then they have to cut government, otherwise the debt goes higher. Let's start with the military.
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  548. @OolTube02 I understand infrastructure allows food to travel and energy to get to local gas stations, etc. I get all that. My point is that if we pay people to dig ditches and fill them up just for the sake of making people work and get a paycheck, it's not a productive thing to do. What's important is that the labor produces a rewarding end result. In some cases infrastructure projects are just boondoggles with no bid contracts to businesses that have friends in government. Just a thought.
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  549. Congrats, Thom. As a libertarian I just agreed with everything you just said. GO THOM! Think liberty and freedom first, and challenge our government.
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  550. @oolong2 The industrial revolution may have started in the UK, but my point is that there was little government involvement in starting the industrial revolution in our country. It was not US tax "regulations" as you put it, but the lack of taxes that helped give incentives to the American worker, immigrants and new businesses. We had far more inventions and technologies in the U.S. because of our freedom to create, build and produce.
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  551. @oolong2 If you look at how modern Indian reservations operate today, most Indians are in poverty, even though they've received government funds for many decades. You have to take a look at this video: watch?v=Y1Ey_g4wOnw I want the Indians to have dignity and be empowered versus how they are treated today.
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  552. @Beannaich If the government "takes on" solar energy, I'm afraid it will not have a cost-benefit, meaning that more money will be spent versus the actual outcome. It's still not economical, and it will only worsen the economy. There are so many ways the corporations have took over government to regulate energy production. We should identify those regulations that burden energy technology and productions and soften or abolish them to do what's economical, not dictating what might work.
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  553. @TheyCallHimTheTops When you said business can reinvest in themselves, they can't buy machines to replace people. People do need to be hired to manage things, fix the machines, or improve the machines. Businesses will hire people when machines or equipment can't do the job. A progressive tax is exactly what is driving businesses out of America right now. You can see it in the states. Businesses are moving from high tax states to low tax or no tax states, just to improve their balance sheets.
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  554. Her point about Costco paying more is an example of free markets and she brought it up! You could have capitalized on that point, Peter.
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  555. @rickbar123 Like I said before, everything is relative. A dollar can pay for more goods in poorer countries. Most Austrians would NOT favor trade agreements like NAFTA and GATT. Those "agreements" are nothing but government regulations. And Austrians are against the WTO which neo-cons supported. Again, here's Ron Paul on the issue. I refer to him since he'd principled like myself. watch?v=GGTqts7amx0
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  556. Here's a good video from Occupy Media related to the school shooting and bullying. watch?v=3VSqIMkXVe4
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  557. @StunnedByStupidity First off, I'm far from a bigot. You have no idea about my life and my thoughts. You just made that shit up out of your peon pea-sized mind. You shouldn't use that term loosely and use it for real bigots. Second, I don't care how mad you get. That's your own emotions ruling you. If you can't rule how mad you get and get a hold of yourself then you aren't mature yet. Yes, I know Ron doesn't support redistribution, because we don't need a middle man to steal from us.
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  558. @LouieArrighi I'd also add that being fiscally conservative means two things. Bush's conservatism was to bail out banks, legislate prescription drug coverage for the corporations, giveaways to big oil, etc. Ron Paul and other libertarians totally disagree with this. You're right that Greenspan considered himself a libertarian, but libertarians hate him for disbanding libertarian principles. Greenspan didn't act like a libertarian, but a corporatist Keynesian like Bush and Obama.
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  559. @rickbar123 Well then kiss some businesses goodbye. Why would they stick around when they can find another country that has lower taxes? That's their bottom line. A perfect example is when Cuba nationalized many industries in their country and confiscated property, many people and businesses fled the country. We do have attract businesses. It's kind of like attracting a mate or friends. You have to get along otherwise cordially, otherwise it's not beneficial for both parties.
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  560. @woostopalypse The poor working conditions diminished due to prosperity, growth, technology, etc.all while other tyrannical countries EVEN TODAY are so poor that children are forced into prostitution, labor and sweatshops. Prosperity allowed parents to stay at home with the kids. The 40 hour work week is not mandatory when people are forced to work weekends or extra hours, due to a poor economy, caused by massive government regulation and diverting resources through taxation.
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  561. @Umberto2 That's sad that in this day we need to be bought out by a corporation to "win" as you say. But I tend to agree with you. And when I talk liberty, yes, I am talking about the classical liberal model of the 18th and 19th century, because our country needs to get back to making things, earning savings, more jobs and abundance.
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  562. @TheyCallHimTheTops I'll also add that I am against a lot of what big corporations do, for example, eminent domain, bailouts, lobbying to write the regulations to squash small business, subsidies, tax-write offs, loops-holes, etc. Ideally, since I'm an ideolog libertarian, we should have less corporations and more small businesses that don't rely on government subsidies. The power should be back to the people, instead of corporate lobbying for more power.
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  563. 1:24 There is no Glenn Beck video on the FEMA camps because he refused to look into it, even though we know they exist. Jesse Ventura proved this was the case on his show Conspiracy Theory where Homeland Security currently keeps families. It's just starting to get exposed. Here's part 1 of Jesse's show: watch?v=rHb83VNijBM
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  564. @iwillspyonyou One of the few voices of reason! Thanks for your post.
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  565. Governor Schweitzer is a stand-up, decent Democrat. He is probably the most libertarian/liberal Democrat governor in the nation.
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  566. @youngbuck189 Here's a great detailed video on why Socialism doesn't work: watch?v=alqUqdbfxhk I might add that right wing fascism doesn't work either.
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  567. @oolong2 I have several friends that are very poor. One friend of mine has to move back to Detroit with his mom because he can't find work here in Minneapolis. Another closer friend has literally $17 in his bank account. I just gave him some money to help him out. My sister-in-law has about $1000 to her name with no car. I know a lot of people who would do better if they kept their social security taxes, income taxes, sales taxes or were not hurt by inflation.
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  568. See, the first robber barons of railroad were created by government! It would have never happened without GOVERNMENT. It wasn't free market. Only government can create these monopolies. It's another reason to never vote for corrupt corporate politicians. We don't have a laissez faire system, but an even bigger corporatized, non-free-market system. To understand the difference between corporatism and laissez faire, watch this movie The Corporation with commentary. watch?v=P7ccCN6cjFU
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  569. @ggadguy If the government were to print 1 trillion dollars it just makes more paper chasing the same amount of goods, which means that the dollars in your bank account will be devalued. So expansion of money is a hidden tax and it's been going on for years. Infrastructure should be paid as the economy naturally expands versus going into further debt. Wall Street loves more debt and money printing. I'm against it because it only makes the poor poorer.
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  570. On point 1, I understand that most nations have commons. It just doesn't make it right. I advocate for having less of the commons and more private ownership. On point 2, give me a more concrete argument. You should watch Stossel. I watch Thom because it only helps understand different viewpoints or arguments. I was a progressive for most of my life and only recently became libertarian due to Stossel and others. Stossel convinced me the drug war is actually worse than the drugs.
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  571. @ravenbh When you have a choice between Obama and Palin, you're not going to sit it out, are you? You'll vote for the lesser of two evils, like most people do. And then you still end up with evil. Democracy, is just two wolves and a sheep deciding on what to eat for dinner. It's too bad we don't have a true Republic anymore.
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  572. @hollywoodt00 Here are more financial experts I research and learn from: Louise Yamada, Michael Pento, John Embry, Bill Murphy of GATA, John Williams of Shadowstats, James Dines, Eric King, Mike 'Mish' Shedlock, Andrew Maguire and many many others. I know a lot about the financial markets and the major trends of the economy. My research has saved my butt! But you will not do the research, even if I was right on the economy in the last decade.
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  573. The real truth is that the Republican budget is actually spending more than in past years. It's true that they want to cut different programs than Democrats, but we should be clear that the budgets are still bigger, the debt is getting bigger, and we are going into hyperinflation where the middle class and poor will be wiped out completely in the coming years.
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  574. @MaryJesusJoseph I'm simply asking questions. Anything wrong with asking questions? We should ask... who is going to manage and take responsibility for your life... The individual/community/family or a politician? Who has more compassion... you, your family, church or neighbor... or the corrupted politician? Who can allocate money to individuals better... individuals/family/community or bureaucrats? Last time I checked charities give 90% while government gives far less.
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  575. @ryguy86 I agree to some extent. They would be screaming like piggies. However, the stock markets are a good feedback mechanism in this pseudo free market we have, even if there are a lot of computers trading based on algorithms.
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  576. @oolong2 Do poor people need parks? Do they need the courts if they are honest people that do not cause problems? Do they need the emergency room if they're safe and healthy? All of these government programs cost money, and when money is diverted from the people it doesn't sustain and grow the economy. Bridges should only built as a result of economic growth, not building bridges to get growth. My unemployed friend isn't using bridges or parks, unless he becomes homeless soon.
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  577. @47f0 Businesses are hiring, but not as fast as population growth, which means we still losing net jobs. 400,000 NEW people every two weeks file for first time unemployment. We are hemorrhaging jobs, but it's not government laying off people, when their budgets increase by trillions. That money has to come from somewhere... the private sector. Businesses and people have been cutting back while government spending is shooting through the roof. Go look at the budgets. That's greed.
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  578. I'm not even making comparisons. I'm just pointing out how Thom has his history wrong. Our country was founded in Liberty, not some big government foundation. Thom cherry picks historical figures and what they said during those times, but if we look at the founding documents and how the country actually ran, we were the most free country on the planet. That's all I'm pointing out is that Thom likes to paint the U.S. as a socialistic foundation when that is distorting the truth.
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  579. @captcrais101 I understand that solar is a fantastic renewable energy, since I want a better environment and low cost energy, but it's not economical just yet. That's the issue. It's great to advocate for it, but to give direct subsidies and pick winners and losers squanders the money inappropriately. I hear ya! I want all the things you do, but I also believe that change happens based on what is affordable. For now it's oil, but that will change with time.
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  580. @KateAnneNYC You're right. Churches and non-profits are low on $. This is because people have less money to donate due to Bush/Obama Keynsian economics. College is expensive because of government loans. Years ago college kids could work a job, while going to college and have no debt or loans. We need to allow more competition to bring down tuition prices. The way to do this is cut regulations, lower taxes, and at least make getting loans more difficult so not everyone goes when they shouldn't.
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  581. @oolong2 Here's the principle for business. Do business as long as there is no force or fraud. No government welfare to corporations, subsidies, tax breaks, loopholes or bailouts to Wall Street. Wealth should be earned and not taken through government law or favors. If Kochs steal, then SHAME on them! Also, libertarians and conservatives disagree on many issues: The wars, corporate welfare, abortion, immigration, civil liberties, gay rights, drug war, police state, speech, National ID, etc.
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  582. Thumbs down for talking about non issues like glamor, when Reason should be talking more about important world events and future problems with our currency and economy.
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  583. @oolong2 High fructose corn syrup is a toxin that I mentioned. Toxins like refined flour, Omega-6 seed oils, corn, processed soy (soy milk, soy protein, soy flour, etc.) are all toxic but in small doses are fine. But yes, if consumed in the long term there are health concerns. This is a part of education because we can't eliminate these foods. This should be taught in school. In general, businesses do not want to sell insects in beef. Would you do this with your business? Really?
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  584. @shazbot76 I agree that Paul and Sanders are irrelevant. And I don't trust the mainstream media on the left or right. The two party system is really a one party system built by the corporations... not "We the People."
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  585. @oolong2 I agree that the general public will not be educated on foods. However, most foods have toxins. Even if you shop for organic there are toxins. So how would you solve it? You can't ban toxins. You are totally that businesses allow a certain level of lower grade products to enter the market place. Even with modern regulations, there is bacteria in meat, puss in milk, feces in vegetables, etc. The solution is to cook meat thoroughly, buy graded milk, wash vegetables, and much more.
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  586. @BJBoi18 History has shown throughout the world, in hundreds of countries and civilizations that when guns or even other weapons are banned, government tyranny can occur. And this is when hundreds of millions of people die... 170 million in the last century. Here's a great video from the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms on the history of gun control. watch?v=jFp51KusLmU
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  587. @bohemianwriter1 My point is that we were not even a Democratic Republic. We were just a Republic. There was no mention of Democracy in our founding documents. As far as an Oligarchy, I'm not for it. I'm totally against it. I'm more for a Constitutional Republic.
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  588. @endauthority Yes, fuck is a good word to describe it. The 2 parties are more like 1 party at this point that serve the corporations. It's the most unfree market thing I can think of.
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  589. Thom lost on this one. This guy made good points.
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  590. @tcdowning666 That's the nature of government. They pay off their friends and punish their enemies, as Harry Browne once said. It's all about power and control. When they have the power and can regulate people, the people are left helpless to the corporate government.
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  591. @dragon8me2 Bottom line is that we're going to need to jack up taxes, increase the interest rate and cut spending if we want to balance the budget and hopefully knock down that debt. I've changed my tune and believe we are so down the rabbit hole that we are going to need to do a combination of things.
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  592. If people care about the environment, look at the crypto Nano.
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  593. As a libertarian, I agree with Thom Hartman on what most of what he said in this video, however I believe we should not raise the debt ceiling. We need to start cutting military spending ASAP... and cut the corporate welfare. And private businesses (bars, stadiums, etc.) should have their own policy on whether to permit guns on their land. Here's a good video from 60 Minutes on how the government-backed Banksters are continuing to screw home owners. watch?v=IKwB1BaFu9Q
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  594. Also, if you need to see your REAL political perspective go to TheAdvocates . org /quiz.html to see your TRUE perspective. There are truly 4 corners, not just 2 sides.
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  595. Thom believes that the Republicans want to crash the economy. Thom, Miss Cleo called and said she wants her job back. How the hell can Thom somehow know what ALL of the Republicans intent is? Not all Republicans are this monolithic group. In fact, there is a lot of in-fighting. I think it's irresponsible that Thom make these assumptions that Republicans want to crash the economy. This is just his wacked out theory.
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  596. @dirtylos30 RonPaul2012 (dot) com
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  597. I defend whatever fee speech, and then the right of Thom Hartman to tell him he's an idiot.
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  598. @rickbar123 When the business people leave to other countries the U.S. will not receive the millions or billions of dollars of tax revenue and we will be left with the poor and what is left of the middle class and the politicians. That is what kills me. The tax revenues would disappear and then what happens to the government programs?
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  599. Move your businesses out of these neighborhoods. They do not deserve our business.
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  600. @nfwvideo1 Before the USDA, why didn't every single person die of disease? Why wasn't there millions of children and people poisoned by free market food? That's because the free market provides clean, highly self-regulated food. Even today when you buy raw meat there's bacteria, worms, parasites, etc. Consumers have responsibility to prepare foods appropriately, and to make decisions about which businesses provides cleaner foods. I can't answer in 250 words, but it's a start.
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  601. This is the best clip you could pull from your conversation and w? It's not a surprise that progressives are up to dirty tricks. You guys are just as dirty as the right! Is this really a surprise that the governor wants to break up the unions wants to talk to his big contributors? To me, this isn't big news. Big politicians frequently talk to their big contributors from the left and right.
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  602. The tax cuts COMBINED with massive federal spending contribute to the deficit and debt. This is basic accounting. Bush economics doesn't work and Obamanomics doesn't work either. Remember, Obama isn't taxing the rich. He's in bed with the corporations just like Republicans.
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  603. @megagagnon1 Yes, abolish NAFTA and GATT. These Trade regulations actually hurt real free trade. This is more this Orwellian-speak when we call it free-trade when it's actually regulated-trade. That's the absolute truth.
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  604. States shouldn't be able to declare bankruptcy, then they will act more reckless with their spending. Who bails them out? The Federal government will print the money, making your salary worth less, making your grandma's retirement saving worth less, making your gas and food more expensive. There isn't an easy way out. @ 3:56 Stephen just made a great point. Forcing people to join a union is anti-Democracy. People should be free, and also unions should be free to unionize.
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  605. @hollywoodt00 Of course a phone is also another thing that helps people disperse information and the truth. However, a cell phone will not help you if your government or some other government were to commit genocide here. If you ban guns you put the innocent at risk. Our military may be huge and well-trained with the latest technology, but the government knows not to screw with over 100 million gun owners.
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  606. All politics aside, that was uncalled for to make fun of Glen and speculate on whether it's fake or not. Don't you have something better to talk about, especially with what is going on in the world today? PEACE.
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  607. @bodryn I'm also from Minnesota. How can you call him "bridge collapse" Pawlenty? No person would have wanted this to happen. And no one person can possibly know all of the workings of a state. It's ridiculous you'd blame it on this one guy. For the record, I voted for Independent Tim Penny (former Democrat) over Pawlenty, but Penny only got 20%. I'm not a fan of Tim, since he's not a fiscal conservative. He's trying to con the neo-cons.
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  608. Notice how Gary Hart is somewhat vague about his group. Hopefully people know Gary Hart is another big-time New World Order advocate and I'm sure his group favors more global governance and losing our sovereignty, not about peace. Be very cautious about supporting this organization.
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  609. @baxtar1963 I've always said that having a flax tax would close the corporate loopholes and bring in the revenue necessary. But at the same time we do need to cut the war spending, the war on drugs, TSA, Homeland Security, ICE, immigration police, corporate welfare and many other areas. If you are a progressive, then there should be many areas to cut, otherwise you are a fascist like GW Bush.
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  610. Peter, I've been a client for 3 years now and I've been quite happy with you guys. And I also donated to your campaign. I do this because I believe you're ethical and know your economics. I'm glad you went after NIA, since they are doing bad business practices by pumping and dumping and by creating documentaries to manipulate investors.
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  611. @MsZeitgeist85 I love it when he goes nuts, even though I agree with a few of his points.
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  612. Are we broke? I've heard both sides. What does Reason TV say? watch?v=Tjw2Ls5mZXA
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  613. @captcrais101 Instead of debate me, just call me names and call me a troll. You can't debate me because I'm right on this issue. Just look at the data and facts. I'm posting comment to confront Thom's misguided philosophy, assumptions and the facts. I target Thom because he often is misleading people. He's deceptive like many of the neo-cons on Fox News. You have to have a filter to listen to Fox and Thom. They are all controlling statists.
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  614. 2:27 While I do not favor tax cuts without spending cuts, business men aren't just going to buy cars and junk. They'll invest more in their business, expand it, buy other companies, invest in other companies, hire people, etc. When you have money, you don't just spend it on crap. Honest businesses have salaries to pay, deals to make, and help put food on your family table.
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  615. We should raise the age of Social Security because people are living longer and then means test, so rich people don't receive it. Tom Blumer made a good point that the worker to retiree ratio is getting lower and lower which isn't sustainable. The program needs to be reformed so we don't keep deficit spending. But first cut back all the military spending. There is a priority to where to cut first.
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  616. @StunnedByStupidity Uh, Thom would agree with me that our government is looking more like a Corporatocracy, instead of true Capitalism. Here's a GREAT video with Michael Moore even admitting that we do not have true Capitalism: watch?v=gwQ41Yo60og Libertarians are opposed to Corporatocracy and Fascism. There's no free lunch for businesses or entitlements. I hope you understand the difference between conservatives and libertarians on this issue.
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  617. @Mahoivlich The UK is certainly not the model capitalist country, since they have a high income tax and massive government spending and bailouts. If you mean corporatism instead of capitalism, then you are correct. I recommending watching Stefen Molyneux on the london riots and the real causes. watch?v=FjW-lfTlr0g
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  618. @ 8:09 New York Central Park is actually operated privately and Thom rudely interrupted because he didn't want Len to make his point.
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  619. @pulsatingremedy The U.S. government had no income tax for 150 years. That is keeping the fruits of our labor. Immigrants left their countries with little or no money because they were not able to eat, feed their families, put a roof over their heads. In America, they could. You can learn a lot when you go to Ellis Island in New York. You can hear personal stories and how immigrants built America. I've been there and have studied this topic in depth.
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  620. @YY4Me133 Agreed. That's a good small government solution. We need to let the free market work instead of crony corporatism running a muck in government.
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  621. @misticspear I agree that some vacation can boost productivity. But it's for an employer and employee to negotiate. If an employer is smart they would give more vacation time instead of increases in their salary every year.
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  622. If you want to learn the difference between public and private unions, and why public unions naturally make more than private unions and have more power, take a look. watch?v=tpCe79biR_8
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  623. 💛
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  624. It’s time the government gets tougher on these thugs. A one thousand dollar bail is ridiculous.
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  625. Tom and Jamie are both wrong. No drug testing and no welfare or corporate welfare. Government shouldn't play favors to the elite.
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  626. Grover Cleveland was anti corporation, because corporations aren't free market. "Corporations" were created by government. Grover Cleveland was one of the most libertarian presidents, next to Thomas Jefferson. As a libertarian we should be opposed to corporations, but instead have free markets.
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  627. I agree with this statement as well. A corporation isn't free market.
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  628. Wow, what a shocker. Businesses have major influence with our government. This bribery happens on the left and right. Make no mistake about it. It's something Ralph Nader and Ron Paul have been talking about for years.
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  629. @oolong2 I understand how slavery changed because of government. They were righting their wrongs. I'm not ignorant.
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  630. It's easy to bash millionaires, when you aren't one. But millionaires (or generally business owners) are an important part of an economy. Millionaires that put the money in a bank, allow the banks to make more loans. Millionaires generally pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, regulations costs, taxes that support government programs. So we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. But yes, corporations that pay no taxes should pay.
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  631. Isn't there something wrong with our nation in debt and seniors spending hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, per person on their own health care in last few years of their life? Who pays for this? The next generation of children and myself, a young person struggling to make it. Common sense would say to not overspend on health care to put the next generation in greater debt. There needs to be a better way to care for the elderly.
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  632. @hollywoodt00 I believe in individual liberty which is the antithesis of slavery and masters. I believe anybody should be able to achieve their American Dream, gay, straight, Atheist, transexual, whatever. And it's ironic how progressive Democrats in power are implementing more fascist policies like the corporate bailouts and tax breaks for the corporations.
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  633. @miketothad I'm not saying I am an economics GOD! But I'm asking to hear both sides of an argument. Then argue your points. When you mention that I support "fraud and failure" what politicians of mine have been in the government? Very few, since I'm Independent and not a Republican or Democrat. In MN I voted for Independents, Constitution Party candidates, Libertarian candidates, etc. Almost none of them get into office, except for Jesse Ventura in MN. So you can't blame me at all, sir.
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  634. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA Also, the reason I am so passionate about this is because our economy is going to die a death by a thousand papercuts if we continue to chip away at business and the taxpayer. A vacation mandate alone will not "collapse" the economy, but if we keep adding regulations on the back of the mule, eventually the legs will buckle and it will fall. I'd love to have more vacation time - everyone would. But with anything it must be earned, otherwise it's taken from someone else.
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  635. Let's just close loopholes. No need to raise taxes, but only on the corporations like GE and oil companies that pay no taxes. Just close loopholes. That's it. But don't overtax them or they will leave where taxes are lower.
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  636. Honestly, go check out the videos and read the book "Healing Our World" from Mary Ruwart. She and I were former progressives and I make these comments on YouTube because I am confident people can come to understand that liberty makes us better, stronger and give us a better quality of life. This is not corporatism. If you don't know the difference, honestly check out the Mike Shanklin video.
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  637. @megagagnon1 Keep on speaking the truth. We'll wake them up so they know that both parties are scamming the American people and the American worker.
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  638. I hate it how Thom assumes that two candidates are in every race. He is wrong on this one. In larger elections you generally have about 7 or 8 options. In gubernatorial races you might have 3-5 depending on your state, and in local elections it varies. I understand the two parties dominate politics, but we should have more choices and not limit ourselves to two parties... or one party as I like to say, the big government party.
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  639. I'm not defending Corporations, since they are creations of the state. I support free markets, but not corporations as they exist today. Again, check out the Mike Shanklin video. It's long, but he helps explain the difference, which not many people can distinct. Libertarianism is NOT Feudalism or Victorian rule. We don't believe in queens, kings, rulers, dictators, etc. Human betterment should be built through peaceful, negotiated, non-violent means instead of rulers.
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  640. The corporations and banksters fund both parties, so it's not just Mr. Ryan that's in the pockets of corporations.
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  641. @ 2:30 Thom, if someone has another opinion, or plan of action, must you assume that a person is doing it to be Vice President? How about challenging the issue instead of his integrity. There's no evidence of this. This is once again smear tactics, instead of talking about SOLUTIONS.
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  642. What's funny is that Obama and the Democrats just got done supporting Bush-style economics by extending the tax cuts and continuing to deficit spend. Both parties are corrupt and we need to stop thinking left vs. right, but liberty vs. tyranny.
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  643. @luvcheney1 All agreed. The government wants DEBT SLAVES.
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  644. Why do we need public radio when it seems that private radio like Air America is working just fine? Let's cut it. We need to cut this and the military.
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  645. The real debate should be that we have WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE IN PRISON. We have MORE PEOPLE IN PRISON PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER DEVELOPED NATION. If the states are hurting for money, which they are, then let's decriminalize marijuana use and other drugs, prostitution, stupid laws, restrictive licensing, etc. Take the millions of non-violent people out of prison and it's less tax dollars for prisons and less money for the corporate prison industrial complex.
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  646. The most idiotic reasoning at 5:20. The liberal solution: Get ourselves further in debt. That's not my America.
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  647. It's good to expose Goldman Sachs, but we need to get Goldman Sachs henchmen out of the White House, and other banksters out of the Obama cabinet.
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  648. Thomas Jefferson was against government tyranny (war, fascism, etc.) and for liberty. He was for Constitutional, limited government classical liberal. From Wikipedia: "A proper government, for Jefferson, is one that not only prohibits individuals in society from infringing on the liberty of other individuals, but also restrains itself from diminishing individual liberty." The big negatives about Jefferson is he owned slaves, and didn't believe in equality for women in politics.
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  649. @hollywoodt00 I think you are totally missing my point. Businesses or entrepreneurs must PERSUADE people to buy products or to work for them or to do any action. It's not just buying products, but also making agreements or contracting. All actions in a freer market should be voluntary with consent. If the robber barons used government to grow their own business then this isn't free market. It's crony capitalism, which I'm opposed to.
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  650. @BJBoi18 No, I don't smoke anything since it's not healthy. MN is one of the white states, yes. But in Minneapolis there are more minorities and that's where I took the training. Yes, most of the attendees were white guys, no question. On a side note, I just filled more paperwork with the county and saw two young woman in line to get her permit to carry. Again, people of all walks of life own guns and carry.
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  651. @ChicagoJoe57 I'm not running, but Ron Paul is. He's about the only one talking about this stuff.
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  652. @Redfox161616 I hope you mean both parties, because both parties are to blame for the current economic climate. They are interfering with real growth and prosperity.
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  653. @oolong2 I never said I had "gut feelings" on a flat tax. I just think it's most fair and just versus progressive taxes. It's arguable to say all industrialized nations have been helped by a progressive tax system. There are many factors to include like overall spending, debt, monetary policy, regulations, war spending, etc. Taxes are just a part of it. In general, you can clearly see countries with more free economic policies do far better than authoritarian nations.
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  654. Thom doesn't think billionaires ever go on strike. Billionaires relocate frequently due to market reasons. This is arrogance. It's not just billionaires either. When a country goes through an economic downturn, everyone will flee, not just business.
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  655. Thom is right that corporations are not people. This guy is defending fascism, since corporations are not free market. Abolish corporations and legalize freedom.
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  656. @oolong2 I just heard a new stat that for every job created through the stimulus is cost the taxpayers $254,000. Many of the jobs were temporary jobs like census workers, "shovel-ready" work, etc. Recent studies from Harvard professors indicate that the stimulus net effect is a loss of jobs. Bottom line... A small group of planners can in no way understand the complexities of the economy versus the decisions made by 300 million people. I'd rather give power to the masses than an elite few.
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  657. @Umberto2 Technically, the recession has been going on during the early Bush years and continues to happen today. You can't just look at the GDP alone, but take into consideration the purchasing power of the dollar, unemployment %, number of people on food stamps, the markets, debt, etc. I do believe Obama will continue the economic downturn because his fiscal policies, as far as Bush deficit spending, are still happening, but only bigger.
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  658. Jimmy wants equality... but not everyone will have equal talents, equal work ethic, equal efficiency, equal ideas, etc. But we can strive for equal OPPORTUNITY. That's the keyword. I'd recommend a flat income tax, so we all pay the same percentage. Rich now the very rich can write off their taxes, but a flat tax would make everyone pay. It makes common sense to me. Comments?
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  659. Bottom line is that run in whatever party you want. The libertarian ideas will win.
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  660. How about instead of government breaking up the banks, they let them fail? No more bailouts. No more "no interest loans". No more bonuses, especially when they received a Federal Reserve bailout. This is why we need to either end the Fed or compete against them. As a libertarian I do support the protestors, as long as they stick to the message to be against the corruption and fascism from corporation and government alliances.
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  661. @misticspear I have a voice since I am valuable to an employee, because I have a degree and experience in my field. I can negotiate my vacation time before I start a new job. I can choose a job with more benefits and less pay, or a job with less benefits and more pay. This should be the choice of the worker, not from politicians. I have no problem w/ unions negotiating their agreements on benefits & hours. That's because it's voluntary. I'm for unions and individuals, not mandates.
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  662. I remember going to a Republican Senate District Convention in MN and a very fat guy was carrying his gun, since we're an open carry state. There was no problem. At the time, Senator Norm Coleman even spoke at the convention as well as our U.S. Representative. This "banning" of firearms at the National Convention just goes to show you that the Republicans have no convictions about gun ownership. They don't believe in freedom?
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  663. Mercantilism isn't Libertarianism. Go read Wikipedia to educate yourself because you really have no idea what you're talking about.
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  664. @ggadguy People should be soon buy TBT which is the short position ETF on the 20 year U.S. treasuries. The Chinese are not buying our bonds like they once did. This is being propped up by the government.
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  665. Bogus Bill!
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  666. I live in Minnesota and proudly voted for Jesse and would do it again. We need people who don't sell out to the corporate fascists. That's why Jesse likes Ron Paul. Quick plug for Ron.
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  667. @oolong2 Yes, government is a part of our country, but not the country. Don't go that far. Government is just one institution in our lives. It does not truly represent the people when lobbyists infiltrate the Congress, while the regular worker isn't lobbying them, but is more concerned about making the bills and feeding their family. Government is more concerned about who contributes to their campaigns, how they stay in office, and how to consolidate power, not giving power to the people.
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  668. It is true that there are more government monopolies versus private monopolies. So if you favor more government,which lures corporations to lobby for special favors, you are bound to get more monopolies. If there are no government subsidies they will not come. Abolish subsidies and special tax breaks.
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  669. I wish Thom would refer to his "Live and Let Live" philosophy to all his political opinions, because I do. Thom believes in force on many issues. The world would be a much better place.
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  670. @LouieArrighi I'll give you another article discussing how Ron Paul, a true libertarian, opposed Greenspan. Who's the dumbass now? blog.mises.org/11695/greenspan-the-libertarian/
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  671. Let me get this straight... The government's debt deal is going to spend trillions MORE in spending, but some how these are cuts in Thom's world. The tea party isn't happy about raising the debt ceiling. This is a deal that will only ruin the currency, and you can just look at a chart of gold versus the dollar to learn the truth. This "crisis" will only give an excuse to Bernanke to do QE3.
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  672. How about talking about real issues that effect the country instead of questions that are meant to smear someone you don't like? Gary isn't running on child labor laws. He's running to balance the budget, protect civil liberties, allow civil unions for gays and lesbians, bring the troops home, and cut wasteful spending. Besides if children and forced to go to school for 8 hours at school, why can't they voluntarily work a part-time job to help earn money for college?
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  673. People may be buying TLT which is the long bond stock, but people should really be buying TBT which is the inverse bond stock since we are in the biggest bond bubble right now. Real money is made when things are dirt cheap, not buying gold at $1750. I bought gold at $600, but still holding. People should have a at least 25% in a basket of metals (gold, silver, platinum). I'm getting OUT of bonds since those will collapse with the currency collapse.
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  674. @Macabre215 Gotcha. Thanks.
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  675. @LouieArrighi I agree that politicians are giving subsidies to corporations. It's a case of I scratch your back, you scratch mine. That's fascism. However, protectionism is also just as bad because it shuts us off from the world, like North Korea, Russia, parts of Europe. The fact is the U.S. is competing against China that can suppress wages. So it's very difficult to compete with their labor. It would be good to produce locally, to avoid freight charges, but it's not economical yet.
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  676. @rickbar123 Isolationism has never worked. Find an example. When the Chinese government decided to slowly free their markets decades ago they are now quickly becoming the economic power of the world. China isn't the government I would want, but at least they are freeing their markets. Isolationism was tried in China centuries ago and it destroyed their country.
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  677. @xxcrysad3000xx I would agree. No matter what your political views, people should be encouraged to read books, listen to lectures, challenge their philosophies, read blog articles from websites with opposing views like I do. Discussions like this don't move us anywhere towards real solutions. There's too much attacking the messenger, when we should debate the message.
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  678. @ryguy86 What's stopping you from investing? Anyone can participate in the markets so I wouldn't complain. When you get home from your 40+ hour job you can sit on your ass and try to make money too. I do believe that Wall Street shouldn't get any bailouts or "stimulus" from the Fed.
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  679. Here's a great video from Campaign for Liberty on the Right to Work: watch?v=KVJM5s8GzJ8
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  680. Juan nails it on the head! Google is a private company. If a certain political group doesn't like working with Google we need to work with other companies that are more friendly to whatever message you're promoting.
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  681. Where are the anti-war protesters? The people rose up during Bush's regime and now people should protest during the Obama regime.
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  682. @hollywoodt00 No, freer markets had existed in this country for many years. Is there a pure free market? Of course not. But I'm advocating a freer market. There are varying degrees of economic and social freedoms all over the world. I advocate for both freedoms.
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  683. I'm opposed to vouchers. But I do think we could give parents tax credits and give parents the choice on where to send their kids since they are closest to their kids. That way parents aren't forced to send their kid to a corporation, but maybe to a school like Thom's in New Hampshire.
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  684. The next crisis will be the debt crisis where food and living expenses will get more expensive. Everything is going to get more expensive due to Fed currency printing. If you don’t know what a debt crisis is then read into it. It’s coming. People are already preparing.
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  685. @oolong2 The Industrial Revolution had ALL TO DO with a free market, a history of liberty and freedom. The government was primarily not involved and left businesses alone. Transportation, Electricity, Medicine, Communication, you name it, every thing flourished under this environment. It is the people who know what to do with their money know how to grow an economy best. All we have to do is let them keep more of it and continue growth. Instead it's diverted capital.
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  686. Thom likes to ask, are we a going to be a "me" society, or a "we" society? "We" will never be the case. Government in no matter, shape or form can satisfy all people. When Congress has an approval rating of less than 10%, then we are not being served. Any business with an approval rating like this would have been long gone. The idea of "we" always gets compromised by corporations who get far more bailouts, subsidies and deals than the lower class, and it's all due to government power.
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  687. Another thing about jobs... Every week NEW unemployment claims are still around 400,000. That is hemorrhaging. These guys are absolute propagandists and are just as bad as FOX covering up the destruction of the war. The fact is BOTH parties are leading us down the wrong path for America.
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  688. @ 4:30 Jan and Thom said that we need to keep "consuming", which is something Bush wanted after 9/11. Go out and spend all your money!! NO! Actually, people need to start SAVING and INVESTING. If people have savings, they will not rely on the government system as much and be able to give more to charity, or save for retirement, or save more money when the economy goes south, etc. It's good to save and Americans shouldn't get sucked into charging it on the credit card.
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  689. This is the collapse of America. Blame both parties.
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  690. @YY4Me133 Haven't we tried "trickle up" for the past 100 years? Look at the creation of HUD, rental assistance, Headstart, WIC, Energy programs, S-CHIP, social security, pell grants, student loans, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, unemployment insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, all for the poor. What program is going to be the be all, end all welfare program or solution? Real trickle up is to limit regulations on small businesses, allow people to keep more of their income and opt out of SSI.
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  691. @lisabob22 Of course regulations stop business owners from doing business. Check out the Institute for Justice and their many cases on how licensing destroys jobs from African hair braiders to moving companies. Small businesses are getting destroyed by regulations created by the lobbying corporations that benefit from the laws. For example, look what's happening to the DC taxi cab drivers. It even happens at a local level. watch?v=2T2912EqJ0U
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  692. @Jane102248 So how do you plan to solve our debt problem? At some point we'll need to cut back the social programs, raise the age, or raise your taxes. Check out the movie IOUSA to learn more about the debt problem. Here's a short clip on the problem with the social program spending. And of course we should cut the military. watch?v=-FSoXKapKQs
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  693. @rickbar123 Businesses do not screw everybody. That's ridiculous. A successful business is built on a high number of successful transactions with willing consumers and workers receiving a benefit. Businesses benefit society. The problem is that the corporations interfere in the markets by getting special tax breaks to go off-shore. That's not free market. They shouldn't get these breaks, when small businesses "pick up the slack" of the taxes to pay.
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  694. Even hardcore libertarian Harry Browne believed that we should abolish NATFA and GATT, and replace with a small tariff. Then we can have real free trade instead of managed free trade which is exactly what NAFTA and GATT are... regulations. Harry also wanted to abandon the WTO completely. He was a solid libertarian like Ron Paul.
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  695. Yes, but it's not "free". It's an important semantic to remind us that health care comes from workers. 99% of people aren't involved in the details, quality of the program or the pricing. When government gets involved in health care, college, housing, it gets wildly expensive. I understand the commons. Here are videos on the Tragedy of The Commons to give you another point of view. watch?v=MLirNeu-A8I watch?v=3IdzaEiYx5o watch?v=vo_OB6iX_5o watch?v=qmAGuZgtxE8 watch?v=wRV88SBSU3w
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  696. Dr. Paul has a top three donor list made up of the US Army, US Navy and US Airforce... not corporate America like Romney. Romeny's top ten list is made up of Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Bank of America and JP Morgan. You obviously have no clue.
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  697. 2:30 When Ben Franklin said if you give up liberty for safety you get neither, you should apply this same logic to health care. When you give away your liberty to the government to mandate health care, then you will not have liberty or health care. This has been demonstrated time and time again because people simply can't get everything for free. There is always a cost and liberty is priceless, and something that is so difficult to get back once taken by kings and dictators.
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  698. @rickbar123 You are correct. China is using Mercantilism. However, they are NOT isolationists. They are freely trading and exporting their products. Also, I don't watch Beck. I prefer guys like Judge Andrew Napolitano, John Stossel, Peter Schiff, Free Talk Live, Stefan Molyneux and others.
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  699. @oolong2 I am going to bet that you are a very compassionate person, and very concerned for the health of others. I am only having this discussion to hopefully allow yourself to understand that markets are very safe for consumer. Are there hucksters? Absolutely. Is the market place perfect? Of course not. But I would suggest that market forces and consumer forces are more powerful and more active than bureaucratic government. I honestly believe we would have a better quality of life,
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  700. @oolong2 When government was established it enforced slavery... bottom line dude. And yes, there was a profit motive for slaves. It doesn't mean it's right. Some may look at pornography or abortion or stem cell research as not right, but some do find it right. It's not for me to decide, but for society to decide. And in those days, society had conflicts with slavery. Some were for it and others were opposed to it.
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  701. Another point. Glen Beck is not the only one that promotes gold. Thom Hartmann also has promoted gold on his radio show for YEARS! I know because I've listened to him for years. He knows gold is the only true money. So do what Thom says. Buy gold because the dollar has been falling for years. It's not just Goldman Sucks buying it. It's China, India, Russia, and many other central banks buying gold. Don't be left holding paper. Buy real value... gold. It's been money for 5,000 years.
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  702. @ggadguy When I say stop the lobbyists, I mean, don't vote for politicians that allow corporations to write the regulations. There's a reason why lobbyists don't visit Ron Paul. It's because he's not going to give them any favors. Ron Paul isn't perfect, but at least he doesn't let corporations walk all over him like most politicians.
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  703. I'm no fan of Glenn Beck, but Thom didn't play the full clip of Beck talking about PIven. What gives? What's the argument? Am I missing something? Let's talk about politics and not personalities. Glenn isn't anti-black or anti-poor. I think he has good intentions to better America. But sincerely, tell me what I'm missing.
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  704. In my experience, it's very rare for a libertarian become a socialist. Most libertarians I know were either socialists or conservatives. There is more of a growing trend of libertarianism happening in the U.S.
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  705. @luvcheney1 Yes, people should decide. And they do. Every time anyone makes a purchase there are differences in quality, safety, price, with or without government involvement. Businesses are nothing more than a collective of people selling a service or product to benefit others. If that businesses gets special favors from government, it no longer is serving the people but their own interests while helping the politicians.
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  706. @TruthAndMoreTruth Not just SS will go bankrupt, but the US will go bankrupt. Once the U.S. has too much debt, countries will no longer buy our treasuries, and our dollar will tank, if we keep spending more than we bring in revenue. Here's the clip from IOUSA, a good non-partisan movie. watch?v=-FSoXKapKQs
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  707. Thom knows that commodities are going up because of a falling dollar and other currencies are losing value all over the world. The biggest bubble is the dollar bubble. Go watch the "Dollar Bubble" movie and you'll deprogram yourself from Thom's banter. watch?v=eZA0qNsf4m0
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  708. @flake452 They are Republics in name only. This happens all of the time.
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  709. @oolong2 The government is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. It's mob rule. I'll explain why they do a poor job of representation. In the elections, 50% of people vote. Then the person elected is representing roughly half of the people that voted. So that's roughly 25%. Then when in office our Congress gets an approval rating of 10% and the president is around 40%. Most people are very unhappy with government because it's mob rule, instead of "we" the people.
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  710. I agree with Thom and the Greens that proportional representation seems like a better system. Instant run-off voting is a decent system too.
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  711. Here's the other side to the story on why net "neutrality" is actually infringing on our rights. youtube. com/watch?v=oTshrURtcjU
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  712. Argentina collapsed because of hyperinflation due to too much debt. More lies from Thom Hartmann. Look it up on Wikipedia and you'll know the truth.
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  713. Inflation was already on the rise before the Ukraine conflict. It’s just going to make it worse.
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  714. @biguy617 Think about this for a minute. If a company charged too much for a good or service, would they be able to stay in business? No. Because the competition would be able to undercut them. I love undercutters! So then there becomes an "equilibrium" in the prices of things. Prices do change based on many factors, but I would rather have it decided by consumers, businesses, markets, or some other feedback mechanism rather than an elite few.
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  715. Liberals and Conservatives need to get a different perspective on this political theater about the debt debate. watch?v=_aeIGwwF9-E
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  716. @bubbathenaslover Why? That's ridiculous. We should be given the freedom to associate however we want.
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  717. I don't subscribe to Ayn Rand's lifestyle, but with the size of government you are bound to use it, especially if you are older. I'd recommend people read the book or watch the movie. I would have to say objectively that the acting was C-list. It was on a low budget, but it was worth watching. Thom is so against it, because it tells the truth that capitalism, not crony capitalism, actually helps the consumer, worker and society. That's the truth that can't be denied through history.
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  718. @imaginepeace63 Libertarians are infiltrating the Republican Party, yes, but they're NOT creating a conservative party. If you look at the Nolan Chart, it shows 5 sides to the political spectrum: left, right, moderate, libertarian, and statist. The Greens and Democrats could be closer compared to the Constitution Party and the Republicans. The Libertarians are different from Republicans because we agree with liberals half the time and conservatives half the time. There's a big difference.
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  719. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA The government will not "redistribute" the wealth to the people, but to their corporate cronies. Government redistribution is all about rewarding contributors and punishing enemies, all while the rich get richer. When the US was freer, money circulated among the people and not corporations. Corporations were created by the government with many legal protections and advantages. Redistribution will go to the rich, with the guise it's for the poor, while they make us poorer.
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  720. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA Actually, more people have degrees than not, but they believed the lie that a degree would get them a great job. Yes, unfortunately they have to settle for undesirable jobs. The worker can always negotiate the terms of employment. Employees hiring have different wages, benefits, vacation time, working environment, parking perks, etc. I'd rather live in a free society where I can choose and agree where to work instead of a Communist country where you're forced to work.
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  721. The bottom line is that we should be voting for representatives that do not vote for subsidies, corporate bailouts, etc. But both parties are corrupt. The only true monopolies are the ones that government and corporations create, for example utility companies, cable companies, water companies, etc. The caller is completely accurate to get the power out of Washington and back to the people and that's why I'm a libertarian to root out the corruption.
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  722. "Growing your way out of it" will not work, all while the national credit card debt is getting larger and larger. It's going to take a combination of tax increases and closing loopholes and then cutting government, starting with the military, corporate welfare and entitlements will need to be addressed because SSI and Medicare alone will consume the budget. If you cut the programs now we can keep them in the long run, otherwise we are going into hyperinflation and everyone will be poor.
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  723. @hollywoodt00 Education can be a way to go DEEPER into poverty and debt, especially if they drop out or they didn't get an appropriate degree, and then don't get a job. Don't get me wrong, everybody should have access to college, but it's not a right. See the difference between rights and privileges. watch?v=t26ENNxHiPg And I'm not a troll, but someone to challenge your thinking, so we can have a better future for everyone.
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  724. Aren't most of the states broke? I think the only state that has is surplus is one of the Dakotas.
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  725. Thom believes the social safety net has been "SHREDDED", but the major trend has been government EXPANSION in government welfare programs, even with the Clinton reforms in the 90's. People can just Google "government welfare spending charts" and see increases in Welfare, Medicaid, the Food Stamp program, Energy programs, school lunch programs. Even Headstart quadrupled in the last 20 years. It's not Reagonomics, but Keynesianism that is making people poorer and more in dependency.
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  726. We shouldn't regulate MORE of Wall Street. It's already one of the most regulated industries along with health care. It's about regulating the Federal Reserve or abolishing it. And if this doesn't make sense, check out Ron Paul's new book "End The Fed".
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  727. Let's talk workers "rights". In the words of the great George Carlin, you have no rights. It's all imaginary. watch?v=hWiBt-pqp0E&feature=player_detailpage#t=262s There are only privileges. Safe working conditions must be created through peaceful organization either through unions, by individuals, by condemning unsafe businesses or their practices, competition, etc. If work conditions are not agreed upon peacefully, then it's done through coercion.
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  728. Look at the big picture. Both Democrats and Republicans are for the drug war. Because of these policies black markets are created which creates danger and murder. Just look at alcohol Prohibition. Both parties also advocate for the Military Industrial Complex which kills, on average, over 100,000 people worldwide for the last 100 years. The stats are out there. So the institution of government, both D's and R's, is the most violent entity either directly or indirectly.
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  729. Should the rich be allowed not to pay taxes? Of course they should pay their taxes. However, if Warren Buffett wants to send in more taxes he can just write a check to the treasury. He won't because he wants OTHERS to pay for his programs. If government was so great Warren would be writing checks left and right, but government is a black hole of dysfunction and inefficiency we all unfortunately pay for.
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  730. The Ron Paul ideal is not to have parents put a nail and vaccine their kids in their basement. Thom Hartmann doesn't understand the libertarian view on vaccination if he says these ridiculous things. He's putting words in Ron Paul's mouth. Instead, here are a few videos directly from Ron Paul: watch?v=ZzKZH7Uip48 watch?v=QJiTStZtrlE watch?v=f74xvtRijMc In short, consult your doctor, weigh the consequences and benefits, and know what you put in your body. Knowledge is power and truth.
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  731. @SwaloMyLode I worked at UPS and met Jimmy Hoffa Jr. while he was campaigning. I didn't know who he was when I met him at 19 years old. I also worked in a local restaurant in a union. The longer you are in a union, the better off you are. It's not the best for the first few years. In general, public unions naturally make more than private unions, take a look. watch?v=tpCe79biR_8
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  732. @mistermassive1 If you've read my other posts, I am not for these tax-free exemptions for corporations. I'd prefer a flat tax that requires corporations to pay, without loopholes or write-offs. So you can't put me in that "right wing" category. Corporations relocate their businesses for many different reasons, like there are lower wages in China, Vietnam, India and other countries, and because environmental standards are lower. Also in some parts of China it's more free market than the US.
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  733. Tom said we have an economy that's working again. But you can find him saying a few videos ago that we are in a depression and it will get worse in 2012. Which is it Thom? I've been in the camp since 2005 that we were headed towards a depression and I've been right ever since.
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  734. @hollywoodt00 Also, I think you meant "due" instead of "do"... but I'll let it slide. We all make spelling mistakes.
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  735. Silver is much more “useful” than gold. Why did Peter say gold is the most useful?
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  736. @LouieArrighi It's good that he's free thinking enough to believe in reasonable regulations. Give Wayne Allen Root a little credit when they agree with you.
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  737. @ 9:00 the truth finally is revealed. The fact is that there are MASSIVE billion dollar deficits at the state level and trillion dollar deficits are the federal level, and if tax revenues are going down, then government spending must come down. And there should be a flat tax, no loopholes for corporations, but let's get back to the Clinton days of balancing budgets, otherwise we are going to destroy our currency. It's happened over and over with countries in debt.
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  738. @captcrais101 I agree with that. The government is certainly getting more fascist. Filmmaker Aaron Russo made an excellent movie called America: Freedom to Fascism, which I agree with and recommend people see.
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  739. @mahmooa1 I am not a Bircher. All I am saying is that Thom and Bernie are not outraged that the Obama budget is more of the same, big spending, big military spending, just like Bush. Both Obama and Bush believe in Keynesian economics.
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  740. @rickbar123 Yes, I smoke crack just to tolerate listening to your misinformed arguments. Bananas, cocoa, oil, coffee, wine and many other products are imported because they are generally cheaper, or they give us more variety. I'd hate to only drink domestic beer. :( But yes, we also import most of the products from China, Japan and other Asian countries. You are correct. But you need to know the difference between corporatism and free markets. You need to differentiate the two.
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  741. @Redfox161616 Feel free to say fuck. Because that's what we are... fucked.
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  742. @captcrais101 Ron Paul is a populist, since more and more people want liberty and less corporate bailouts, corporate "no interest loans" from the Federal Reserve, corporate deals, etc. Ron would a TON of support from the left. Even Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel are supportive of Doctor Paul on so many issues. We need to build a right/left coalition that is AGAINST the corporate bailouts, corporate wars, corporate prisons, corporate welfare. Otherwise we are headed toward fascism.
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  743. I'm a libertarian and believe that getting special tax breaks because you gave campaign contributions is wrong. Totally wrong. That's why I support a simple flat tax with no write-offs for corporations or loopholes. Unfortunately, we are getting closer to fascism or nationalism that benefits a small minority.
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  744. Here's a lesson when you work for the government or get benefits from the government. The government that has the power to give to you also has the power to take away. That's why I don't rely on the government and don't plan to get social security. If I do get it, it will be in devalued currency with little purchasing power.
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  745. @psgchisolm I agree. Corporations that pay no taxes should pay taxes. I've often suggested a flat tax with no loop holes or write-offs. However, even the Democrats extended the Bush tax cuts. The reason is because they know they can print the money to fund the wars, pay for programs and monetize the debt. As a side note Democrats just worked with Republicans to extend the Patriot Act. Point is both parties are corrupt and they are conning everyone. We need freedom from government.
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  746. @oolong2 You are correct that there are smaller governments, in size, but they have great influence on the lives of their people through their power. You can indicate big government by the amount of laws created, regulations, various programs, corporate subsidies, countries they invade, occupy or establish bases in, taxes they acquire, etc. By all measurements, the U.S. government is taking on too many things and has expanded their budgets greatly, from both parties.
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  747. Send this guy to prison and throw away the key.
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  748. @italstal07 They're irrelevant because Congress, nor the president has much control over the Federal Reserve and the banksters. The American Dream is fading away. Here's a fun cartoon on the dying American Dream. watch?v=tGk5ioEXlIM
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  749. @oolong2 ... As long as government has the monopoly on power, greedy businessmen will try to use that power to create monopolies. And that's why it's so important to reduce the amount of power and influence government has or can grant to corporations. That's why I'm so opposed to the fascist government we live under. It's not full-blown, but we are getting there.
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  750. @hollywoodt00 Yes, it should be "come on". You're right. After writing thousands of words on YouTube I'm sure I'll misspell something. Back to the topic at hand. You simply can't debate the issues. You keep going back to the messenger and not the message. I've won the debate if you can't debate economics.
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  751. More government money means more money from your families paycheck every week. The more they take the more the squander. The Pentagon couldn't account for trillions of dollars, and the welfare programs give a small fraction to poor people, yet conservatives and liberals want to keep spending more money. Bernie is lying. The Republican budget proposal is actually spending MORE than in 2010. More government lies.
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  752. Our own U.S. government has been the largest buyer of our own treasury bills. Isn't that scary? The government has the Fed print the money and purchase U.S. bonds. That's why TLT is going up. Right now the bond market is in the biggest bubble and will eventually crash once interest rates go up.
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  753. @fantasticalNINJA What happens when you don't pay the fine? You go to jail. All government laws are backed by men with guns.
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  754. @hollywoodt00 Fine. Don't learn the truth from the videos. I'm giving you valuable information that would help your family and has helped mine. Those videos are actually ANTI-BANKSTERS. They would never pay for exposing them. Tell me how many libertarians actually have any power, and then tell me which corporations own them? You can't name one. The vast majority of people in government are the neo-cons and progressives, who are the true corporate whores. Your arguments are always so weak.
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  755. @wompeter1 You're an idiot for saying that. What good is your comment? It's not constructive at all. Thom dominated the call for 7 minutes versus 3 minutes the caller got. So much for a dialog.
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  756. @helltrackrider Totally agreed! Once again people have to fall for left vs. right economics. Either spend and tax liberals or spend and don't balance the budget. This isn't a real choice. The real solution is cutting government. Reagan couldn't do it. Newt couldn't do it. You can't have a giant military, police state and entitlements and balance the budget. Get real.
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  757. @miketothad More name calling that gets you nowhere. You have no game, no substance, no arguments. Fail! All I did was ask a question.
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  758. @oolong2 I should also mention I did some digging on the Koch brothers and who they donated to over the years. They donated to the Libertarian Party back in the early 80's and gave money to two LP candidates. However, their libertarian donations were probably 5% or 10% compared to their giving to big government Republicans. Thom likes to call them libertarian, but based on their donating I'd call them right-wingers or conservatives. That's a big difference.
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  759. @eirefrance Also, even Michael Moore admits that we do not have true Capitalism, but Corporatism. This was a great video with Michael: watch?v=gwQ41Yo60og True libertarians are opposed to the current state of Corporatocracy which is where we've been headed for decades.
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  760. @oolong2 I would also like to add that it's important for businesses to fail when they deserve it. The market (the people) are constantly telling businesses that their product or service or valuable or not valuable. If they don't serve the people they do not exist. Unfortunately, when a government program fails it is rarely abolished and there are many departments that never go away or are unchecked. Sometimes MORE tax money is spent to "fix" programs when they are truly obsolete.
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  761. @PoetikkJustice Tax cuts alone don't create jobs. I'm not a supply-side Reagan guy since Reaganomics doesn't work, but a libertarian Austrian economics guy. You can only have tax cuts if you cut spending as well. To create jobs it requires the private building of capital to produce. It could be machinery, warehouses, human capital (trades-people), etc. Businesses also need a pro-business environment, or they leave like one of my clients. They moved from MN to TX because of too many taxes here.
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  762. @AloneOnASeeSaw Henry Ford also gave us 40 hour, 5 day work week and there were no unions. I don't work for a union and I work 40 hours. The 40 hour work week doesn't matter when people can no longer pay the bills because of taxes, regulations and licensing. People are forced into working a part-time job or going back to school. What helps us work fewer hours is machinery, production, technology, etc. to make our lives easier, not legislation. Here's a debate on unions. watch?v=3N01k5pSVp4
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  763. @StunnedByStupidity First off, if knew the Nolan Chart you wouldn't call Ron Paul a right winger. He's a libertarian. It shows your lack of knowledge about the political spectrum. Go look up "Nolan Chart" in Wikipedia. Second, the Austrian School isn't right wing either since they are anti-war and anti military empire, anti-war on drugs, pro immigration, pro civil liberties, pro gay marriage, anti-corporation (but pro real business) etc. If you research you'll find this to the facts.
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  764. Thom said that no country has ever cut it's way back to prosperity. So should we keep spending more money and go into further debt and get downgraded further? There are many examples of cutting government to help the economy recover like recently in Chile.
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  765. @ryinski2 Yes, the top 1% who don't pay taxes should pay. But in general, Americans should pay far less. I'd be in favor of a 10% flat tax across the board with no tax write-offs for businesses, and end loopholes. Stop putting words in my mouth, asshole. It turns out I agree with you. But we still need taxes to be lower and cut the military spending to balance the federal budget.
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  766. @optionsupdate Yes, in fact if you look at the 10 most free nations versus the 10 least free nations it's like night and day. Free countries are always better and more prosperous. There will always be wage gaps between rich and poor, but at least everyone is prosperous in a free country. This has been proven time and time again.
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  767. @hollywoodt00 Don't think for yourself or have an honest debate. A troll is someone who gives comments not related to the video or taunting. I'm not doing that. I'm here to knock some principles into liberals and conservatives, because neither of them believe in freedom.
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  768. @flake452 We don't need governments to create banks when deposits are currently insured up to $250,000 by FDIC. The money will be there, but the Federal Reserve will devalue that money while people hold it in the bank. That's the real stealing going on. When more dollars are printed it makes it worth less, eventually worthless. All of these protests were predictable years ago. The economy will get worse. The rich will get richer through government. We will have a hyperinflationary collapse.
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  769. @pulsatingremedy I went to Wikipedia and looked up United Fruit. Yeah, I'm totally opposed to government bribery for special privileges. No company should get special tax cuts. I think it would be good to have a government that can withstand influence, however it's quite difficult since there is so much government money to dole. I noticed in the Wiki article that this bribery was the cause of their monopoly. Not a surprise.
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  770. Thom said every Republican is opposed to the Koch Brothers oil subsidies. The only one that's opposed to it is Congressman Ron Paul.
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  771. It’s crazy how Mike never meet Eddie Murphy. You would expect SNL cohorts would meet. That’s showbiz, I guess.
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  772. @misticspear I know a lot of people don't agree with me. When they hear "5 weeks vacation" it sounds really good! But what are they giving up? It's a question that's not asked frequently. They may be giving up their own job. I know a lot of people who have negotiated their time off before they took a position. It's just like I negotiated my salary before I took the job. They wanted to low-ball me but I raised them. I am not an "outside" guy but very much a middle class worker.
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  773. Even if Ryan's budget passed the government debt will still grow and grow. The budget doesn't even balance for a few decades. Thom wants you to believe that the government will be gutted, when the truth is that the Republicans love spending money just as much as Democrats.
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  774. That's real intellectual progressive commentary. Thanks for stimulating four letter words.
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  775. The Great Society is no longer helping people in Detroit. The New Deal has turned out to be a massive failure when poverty is on the rise in the U.S. and the rich are getting richer. One way to help the people of Detroit is to liberate their people by getting government out of the way. They are one of the most regulated states in the Union. We need them to be owners of their labor and allow them to accumulate capitol.
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  776. @oolong2 Gold and silver in a physical form, from a trusted mint like the US Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, and that's weighed is best. I don't trust silver from China or coins that do not include their weight or origin. There are also gold coins from Russia that are not pure. There's all sorts of information on the topic. If metals are not a standard in money then the money will continue to get manipulated by the banksters. Real money is tangible, that can't be manipulated.
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  777. @hollywoodt00 If David Sirota is correct, he is alluding that the Chinese GOVERNMENT is potentially engaging in the spying and would potentially declare a cyber war.
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  778. Grayson was a champion to audit the Federal Reserve to see what the banksters have been up to. I support him on this issue. What Grayson and Thom don't know is that the United States has been defaulting since the 70's, when Nixon ended the existing Bretton Woods system. We really need to balance the budget which will require raising taxes and major cuts to defense and entitlements at this point.
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  779. @rickbar123 They are corrupt just like the Republicans when they vote for the so-called Patriot Act and continued war.
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  780. @JulianConrad666 Part of the reason people didn't have prescriptions is because technology and innovation in pharma has increased greatly within the last 30 years. So it's not a good comparison. But Americans in 1913 had a far greater quality of life versus other countries in the world. Immigrants flocked here for prosperity. Bottom line is now we are the largest debtor in the world. If you don't understand the consequences of country too much in debt, then you don't understand history.
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  781. @gnomechomskylives Have you checked gold or silver these days? They are hitting all-time highs. Go look at corn, wheat, soybeans, hogs, cocoa, oil, cotton and other commodities on the CRB Index. They're going way up. No, there's no inflation. Ignore the dollar charts while the cost of goods are going up, which hurt the poor. When the government calculates the inflation numbers they conveniently leave out energy and food. Of course you don't need those things to live, right??
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  782. @flake452 That doesn't mean any god damn sense. If you are smart you are a Communist? What? Explain.
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  783. @oolong2 Right now the poor can't accumulate wealth when there are so many barriers to wealth. For example, poor folks should be able to keep money passed down from generation with no tax penalties. Poor people don't generally receive SSI because they don't live as long like rich women. If they were able to keep that money they would be able to make a down payment on a home and own something rather than make landlords rich. We need to remove more barriers to wealth. What wealth do they own?
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  784. I just unsubscribed from NIA. Thumbs up if you unsubscribe from them too.
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  785. Words do have meaning, but you are correct that terms do lose meaning over time. Libertarian isn't Fascism. It's quite the opposite. All real libertarians are opposed to fascism. See Aaron Russo's movie "Freedom to Fascism". He was a libertarian and greatly opposed fascism, as I do.
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  786. @rickbar123 I just went to Wikipedia. Isolationism is a government policy where no foreign trading is allowed. Mercantilism is a policy of government involvement in foreign trade with other countries. So Mercantilism is NOT isolationism when the government is trading with other countries. Anybody reading this can go to Wikipedia and understand the major difference.
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  787. @etzel33 The Austrian view of monetary issues is not for Plutocracy. That's factually incorrect. I'm no fan of Ayn Rand, since I disagree with her on various issues, but I do believe in liberty. A Plutocracy is not a libertarian government. A Republic is more of a libertarian government.
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  788. Now the banks and Wall Street are giving more to Romney in 2012, which means they are betting he'll win and keep the easy money policies of Obama and Bush. Romney's top donors in 2012: 1 Goldman Sachs $535,680 2 JPMorgan Chase & Co $375,650 3 Morgan Stanley $323,800 4 Credit Suisse Group $299,160 5 Citigroup Inc $282,765
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  789. @captcrais101 I do know that Jefferson believed in government schooling, and created the Embargo Act, forced assimilation of Indian tribes, was involved in the Louisiana Purchase, etc. I know it. But if you look at most of the issues, he believed in liberty. After all I've read and heard he believed in Constitutional, limited government. That's what the Constitution and Declaration of Independence was all about. Jefferson was not a modern day progressive but more classically liberal.
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  790. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA How are people "entitled" to anything in life? Am I entitled to stick a gun in your face and demand things? Of course not. But the government can do this. If you don't pay your taxes you'll find men with guns to bring you to prison. If small businesses can't afford to pay "entitlements" then all you have left is the big corporations that will employ you, giving you fewer choices on where to work. I'd rather have more small businesses with better competitive benefits.
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  791. Van Jones is wrong. Kamala jailed more black men as a prosecutor. That’s the truth.
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  792. @rickbar123 When I say a country is "isolationists" I mean products do not get imported into that country or exported from the country. China is still largely mercantilistic, but they do import billions of dollars of goods, so it hasn't been a one-sided trade. They are expanding their trade policies.
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  793. As a libertarian, I appreciate Thom's principles. I know where he stands. I actually agree with him on almost all the issues on this particular video. Thanks for speaking out on the Patriot Act, unlike my two Democrat Senators in MN who voted for it.
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  794. Yes, I agree with Thom that Republicans have spent like drunken sailors and they then call for "smaller government" but don't believe it. All they care about it POWER, just like the Democrats. Both parties are to blame for this. They both spend more and believe they should direct the assets. Government spending is what we should cut because then those dollars are out of the hands of people who do not create jobs or capital. Government only has short-term fixes. We need long-term solutions.
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  795. You and Glenn Beck are idiots! There is a new political spectrum... It's not just left and right. It's more like a diamond. Please go to Wikipedia and type in "Nolan Chart" and you can see what I mean.
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  796. @MrGnarus Thom is just making things up again. There is no such thing as two parties mentioned in the Constitution. In fact, there are Independents and other parties elected the national and state office all of the time.
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  797. @oolong2 As far as toxic food, there must be an understanding from each person what is healthy or unhealthy, because the government can't eliminate unhealthy food. It's impossible to ban fatty foods, cigarettes... just look at the drug war. Can they curb it? Possibly. But you will still have obese people eating fast food, fried foods at home, high fructose corn syrup that will make them die far sooner if they had a healthier diet. It comes down to education, choices, and will power.
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  798. @flake452 TV media like Fox News is very right wing. I despise Fox News. I get my news from Russia Today, various websites, blogs, YouTubers, etc. As far as radio, that's where the right wing dominates. As far as health care, I have a difference of opinion. I know, based on history, that the Americans had the best health care system in the world until corporations and government started controlling it. A free market would drive health prices down, employ more people and be more accessible.
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  799. @oolong2 Attack the messenger and not the message. It's clear the Indian people have been screwed by the government in the founding of the country and now these modern day government projects. These reservations are just like "The Projects" in New York, which were and are an absolute failure, and don't allow the poor to own their own property and wealth. Same goes for the Indians. You should know by now that I'm opposed to the bankers, so I'd never say that. Don't put words in my mouth.
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  800. Here are a few more Thomas Jefferson quotes: I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. – Thomas Jefferson The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. – Thomas Jefferson I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive. – Thomas Jefferson
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  801. I hate this term "working families". I'm a part of a working family. But I'm not in a union. They should call it what it really is... war for government unions. Here's a provocative video. Are Teachers Overpaid? watch?v=7tck77z3x0I
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  802. @47f0 Yes, I understand. People get paid to do the work. But if the work doesn't have a cost-benefit analysis and it doesn't benefit the public, then it's a waste of money. Lost money is a lower quality of life. Sometimes politicians are quick to say that "we created thousands of jobs" but the jobs didn't benefit the public. Here are just a few video examples: watch?v=0fRcj__Y8J8 watch?v=N7XsBwBZAPg Bottom line is that government doesn't create productive long term jobs.
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  803. @oolong2 I just had this discussion with a progressive friend of mine about this topic about 2 weeks ago. We both agree that if you make a little, you only pay a little. If you make more you pay more, but the percentage remains the same. It just seems most just and fair. Right now, the rich can get away with not paying taxes because of write-offs, loopholes, etc. I just think a flat tax is better than what we have in place to not cheat the system. We agree to disagree.
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  804. How about nobody gets a bailout? When you give politicians power they ALWAYS help their campaign donors whether it’s the corporations, unions, banks, etc. The Federal Reserve is literally printing trillions of dollars right now. The next crisis is a debt crisis. If you don’t know what that means then do some research. It’s the next crisis happening right now but the media isn’t talking about it.
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  805. While I am no Republican, the notion that the Republicans want to purposely crash the economy is ridiculous. How does Thom know their intentions?
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  806. @oolong2 I never said the U.S. is anything near the U.S.S.R. All I stated was that the Communist or Socialist models are built on "We" society mentality, where the people give up their power to "representatives" and wealth is redistributed in some scale. America was not founded on Communism or Socialism. We were founded on a very limited Constitutional Republic. So we were never a "We" society at Hartmann claims.
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  807. As a Minnesotan, NOBODY thought Jesse would win the governorship. It takes many steps to gain support. If ANY independent can get into the debates it’s Jesse. He will bring in progressives, libertarians, independents, and even Trump voters. Unite against the establishment!
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  808. @Louloe I agree. Both parties are benefiting from the rich or their special interests. The banksters give to BOTH parties. The corporations give to both parties and their PACs. The unions give to the Democrats and the Republicans are controlled by big oil, big pharma, etc. The common man, who benefits from freedom and free markets, doesn't benefit from the two fascist parties. We need to get back to what made the country great (FREEDOM), because we're moving in the wrong direction.
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  809. Bernie is just another conspiracy theorist. What a joke! Privatizing social security never happened in the first Trump administration.
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  810. @hollywoodt00 The model America was from the founding of the country until about 1913 when the Federal Reserve and the income tax was created. I know it was not perfect, but there was certainly growth, healthy immigration and human freedom. America was a model country for liberty because we didn't have an income tax for 150 years, and the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and many other documents supported the notion that government's role is to protect our liberties.
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  811. @italstal07 We can make money in the market, but the difference is that the common man doesn't get the bailouts.
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  812. @hollywoodt00 If you had a "real" account I'd suggest you have a legal will that passes it on to the people you designate. It could be your family, children, siblings, favorite charities, endowments, etc.
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  813. @hollywoodt00 I watched the Foxconn factory accident on YouTube. It just happened this week, so sorry I am not all-knowing about every incident in the world. Bottom line is that you want to get government more involved in working conditions, but this will only allow government to own you as a human being. The government that GIVES, eventually TAKES everything you have, your labor, home, property. The American Dream will be replaced by a dictators dream of equality of poverty for everyone.
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  814. @LouieArrighi I believe in liberty and freedom, so I'm a libertarian. I will not drop the label. My point is that progressives and libertarians actually agree on a lot. So when you hear from a guy like Ron Paul, listen to his principles and not just the left vs. right paradigm.
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  815. @justonefirefly1 Here you go folks. Here's the intellectual argument from the statists... just swear and offer no argument. Nice!
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  816. Could roads be built by the private sector? In fact, they already are. In fact, many roads in America are built privately. Here are 3 videos that give a different perspective. Challenge your thinking. watch?v=c5DCmDXJun4 watch?v=LyPEgIDhj5s watch?v=MseBlo-Sno0
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  817. @oolong2 Safety doesn't need to come from the federal level. I'd prefer a variety of standards set by local governments, communities, local businesses, different packaging, competitive safety standards, the Internet, stores, etc. that accommodates the community best at various prices. Many high cost regulations do make the poor poorer, which is why regulation should vary. And when government gives big fines, it diverts businesses to buy safety products, cattle vaccines or cleaner facilities.
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  818. I thought Social Security was the most perfect program. It's a shock it's understaffed. If people were actually able to keep their own income they wouldn't have to wait for an understaffed government bureaucracy, so they can pay the rent on time or get their medications. The system is broken and is getting worse. There's a reason why Bernie Madoff said Social Security was a Ponzi Scheme and he should know!
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  819. Thom points out that the Tea Party events are fizzling out. But then he somehow says that the current debt ceiling legislation that was passed by a Democrat Senate and a Democrat President were somehow rammed through by the Tea Party... and that the Tea Party is to blame. But the debt ceiling bill RAISED spending by trillions. You can only blame the current representatives at this point which are mostly Democrats in control, but the GOP is no better.
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  820. @hollywoodt00 Instead of saving in account, ideally we should just receive more $ in our paychecks, with the understanding that we need to save for retirement. A 35 year olf woman I know looked at her SSI statement and it says she's owed something like $200,000. If she had the $ now, she could get rid of the debt, finish college and save $. I believe in people, and you do not. You believe in an elite few that decide a one-size-fits-all policy. That's not freedom if we can't control my money.
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  821. @hollywoodt00 You guys are paranoid idiots if you believe I'm a paid troll from the evil Koch brothers. You are simply delusional if you sincerely believe that. Is Thom Hartmann a mental masturbator by talking about issues all day? Of course not. He's simply debating his ideas like I am. We just happen to disagree about 50% of the time. So stop whining like a baby and start thinking.
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  822. @mrx0066600 Try opening up your own grocery store and serve unsafe food and you'll quickly get a bad reputation and will eventually have no business, no customers, no profits. This happens all of the time even with the FSIS and other laws.
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  823. The "commons" as Thom calls it, is freedom... meaning freedom from government... just to be clear. Thom isn't always so clear with his Orwell-speak.
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  824. In a libertarian society, the legal title of "Corporations" wouldn't even exist. Voluntararyist Mike Shanklin reviews the movie "The Corporation" in depth so you can understand this perspective. watch?v=P7ccCN6cjFU Also, corporations just can't pollute since libertarians believe in strong property rights. If a company were able to pollute land then there would be severe restitution and penalties against the offender. For low pay, just see this video: watch?v=Ct1Moeaa-W8
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  825. I've got news for conservatives and liberals... this lady is absolutely correct. All the war spending was paid for by money printing from the Federal Reserve, off budget. The Federal Reserve is now buying up treasuries with "printed money" since the Chinese and other countries don't want to buy our debt any more. The Social Security "reserves" are only there if the revenue is there and it isn't. We are going into a hyperinflationary period this decade, since no politicians are addressing SSI.
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  826. Thom says we can't cut anything. How about the military, TSA, Homeland Security, ICE, end the war on drugs to save Federal money on prisons, courts and cops. There are so many things that are not Constitutional and areas to gut. We need to otherwise the government will just print the money as they've done in the past and the job (which you are paid in dollars) will be worth less and less.
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  827. @chromelung66 I agree that it's a left versus right game, when the real debate should be civil liberties and freedom versus government tyranny and war. The Republicans and Democrats are BOTH for endless wars, more government, more debt, a lower dollar, more corporate bailouts, corporate subsidies, entitlements, the failed war on drugs, the police state (Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, wiretapping, etc.), and much more. The government has been growing while the economy keeps shrinking.
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  828. @tybrady64 I agree. I get beat up by progressives on this board, but as a libertarian I know there are so many good issues we can agree on. I agree big money has too much influence, and we need to stop it.
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  829. @StunnedByStupidity The problem is corporations and government colluding together. Believe me, I'm against the military machine (government and corporations). I agree that restitution should be a part of justice from the government. Right now we have polluters (like BP) who's Obama's #1 contributor. Obama can look the other way but talk tough. The government is actually the biggest polluter, bigger than the corporations, due to their military actions and lack of proper care.
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  830. If your 401K took a hit, don't blame Obama or the Democrat Senate who also also passed the bill. Just because John Boehner got "98% of what he wanted" doesn't mean it's what the Tea Party wanted. If you polled the Tea Party about the bill I would bet 90% would be OPPOSED to that bill that increased spending. I'm NOT a Tea Party person, but when I hear Thom make wild allegations, it needs to be refuted.
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  831. @oolong2 As far as wars, the government may hire people which creates government jobs, but the product they produce is death, destruction, more enemies and a worsening environment, usually for corporations like Halliburton and Blackwater. Then we pay for early reitrements for wounded soldiers and pensions. We should be in far fewer wars and sell off the 700+ military bases all over the world so that when a job is created it's PRODUCTIVE instead of DESTRUCTIVE.
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  832. You're right. I have plenty of movies on how our middle east wars are really corporate wars for their benefit. Corporations also rip us off with corporate-crafted legislation and regulations that only favor themselves, hurting the small business. This is wrong as well. Simply owning a business isn't wrong, but using government to squash the competition is wrong. This happens every day with a lot of government "licensing."
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  833. @seiferganon Maybe you live in a "right to work" state, because most of the states FORCE you to join the union.
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  834. Look at the price of nickel. It has SKYROCKETED! Silver and gold are next.
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  835. Trump supported sanctions on Cuba. We need to reverse sanctions and embargoes and support LIBERTY! FREE CUBA! END SOCIALISM! END COMMUNISM!
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  836. @hollywoodt00 What does this have to do with what I wrote? Yes, businesses can agree with an employee to work long hours and work in these conditions. They aren't forced.
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  837. @seeqer66 You'll notice the woman at the Homeland Security building even admits it's run by Homeland Security. I thought the whole New World Order conspiracy stuff was funny at first. I had the same reaction. But as I looked into it I couldn't debunk this particular topic.
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  838. If you measure the GDP much of it comes FROM GOVERNMENT! You can't measure if government is too big based on the GDP. You have to look at $15 trillion in debt, the entitlements owed to seniors $50 trilion, the war spending $2-5 trillion which is "off the books", etc. We are MASSIVELY IN DEBT and soon we are headed for a debt crisis because we can't grow ourselves out of it.
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  839. @oolong2 The United States was a free country and that's why people came with no money in their pockets. That's because tyrannical governments destroyed their countries in various ways. And that's what will eventually happen here. In 2005 I predicted the current events with gold, the markets, credit downgrades, etc. This is the nature of government interference. People leave their countries to find prosperity which is generally found in free or Democratic countries.
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  840. @etzel33 You are correct there are real owners of government and it's not us. The government and the elite banksters and corporations control what happens in D.C. and the game is benefiting each other. Ironically, libertarians truly do not want corporations to get a penny from government. Real libertarians don't play favorites like they do in Washington now. That's why I'm a libertarian and not a corporate whore conservative who gives subsidies to everyone from big oil to Halliburton, etc.
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  841. I was hoping Tulsi was going to discuss this is a result of the war on drugs and militarizing the border. The problem is not people but police state policies.
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  842. @MundusPax I agree. Somalia was a Communist country for many years with little capital. Their government collapsed like many Communist countries. Their currency hyperinflated and they are still going through civil war and they have no rule of law. Most libertarians want a rule of law and to get there incrementally, instead of a collapse like Somalia went through. Liberty is what made America a great country. I think we need more liberty, not less.
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  843. @flake452 Agree with you 100%. Let's not blame all rich people, but blame the SPECIFIC people in the banks, corporations and politicians in DC. We shouldn't stereotype, but call out the real offenders.
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  844. I'm a libertarian and agree with David Cobb 100% on being opposed to the corporations who benefit from government law. I'm glad David is principled on this issue.
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  845. @hollywoodt00 You can call me whatever name in the book you'd like. Whatever you've said has not been factually true. It's laughable that you use the childish tactic of name calling in an argument. You're an absolute nutjob if you think I'm paid Koch brother troll. You're just as bad as neo-cons like Sean Hannity, who character assassin Obama, but it doesn't work. Obama is a smart and decent guy, but I disagree with him half the time. So you're right on the level with Sean Hannity, IMO.
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  846. @captcrais101 Actually, the system now benefits the rich. If we had a flat tax, the rich would pay their fair share. A flat tax treats everyone equally with the same percentage. So if you make 30K you pay 10%. If you make a million dollars, you pay 10%. Both the poorer and rich pay the same flat rate. How does this benefit the rich. Spell it out for me.
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  847. I'd recommend people go to Wikipedia to check out the term "Mercantilism" so they understand the history and opposition to this economic theory. And these "free trade agreements" like NAFTA and GATT is just more regulation, not more freer trade. This is 1984 double-speak language.
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  848. @bohemianwriter1 Slowly as the corporations had their lobbyists outnumber Congress, they passed more legislation to benefit them and make them HUGE. I'm 100% against the corporate takeover of health care since this isn't free market. I found a video of Ron Paul which explains in greater detail. youtube.com/watch?v=foXQbmZxWYY UnitedHealth Group is a HUGE corporate provider of health care. They and others lobbied for universal care and now their stocks are soaring. Devils are in details.
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  849. @MaryJesusJoseph What I'd like to see is more people keep more of what they earn, so they don't have to beg for cash. Then they wouldn't need assistance, but be more self-reliable. I know there will always be people who need help, and that's where charity, family and community come in.
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  850. @oolong2 I agree. The international bankers and the big "Too Big To Fails" are always the direct benefactors from the Fed. However, the government still appoints the Fed Chair and still has influence on monetary policy. The Treasury Secretary, appointed by the President, also has a big role. Plus, there are some things the President and Congress can do to outside of the Federal Reserve to change our monetary policy too.
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  851. According to the government's own website at state.gov it says "The Smoot-Hawley Tariff might not have caused the Depression, it certainly did not make it any better." It was also reported that the day Hoover signed the bill the markets sharply plummeted and export industries were devastated, shedding thousands of jobs. Those are the facts, so I wouldn't favor protectionism. I don't even agree with NAFTA, GATT since these are trade regulations and agreements for multi-national corporations.
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  852. @BJBoi18 Government doesn't represent the people when 50% of people do not vote. Then when there is a candidate elected 49% of people didn't get their representative in. So roughly 25% of the public elects candidates to public office. Then when they get into office they have approval rating somewhere between 10-50%. For example Congress has about a 15% approval record and Obama is around 45%. I do support Ron Paul or anyone who is against the Fed, corporate corruption and banksters.
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  853. @PhilJRose Thanks for your sophisticated debate with name calling.
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  854. @FloppyFormatFrenzy That's absolute bullshit. When you have a choice between Obama and Palin, you're not going to sit it out, are you? You'll vote for the lesser of two evils, like most people do. And then you still end up with evil. Democracy, while it's better than other statist forms of government, is just two wolves and a sheep deciding on what to eat for dinner.
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  855. @eirefrance First, Capitalism is not Corporatism. True Capitalism only happens when there are no favors or special tax breaks for corporations, no bailouts, no regulations that favor corporations, etc. There are many kinds of capital too like physical, natural, social human, and cultural capital. In a nutshell, if we are free to acquire capital, we trade, save, invent, produce we create capital which in turns helps us trade, save invent, produce all for greater prosperity. Then repeat & grow.
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  856. There's a HUGE difference between crony capitalist Republicans and libertarians. Libertarians do not believe in corporations getting tax-breaks, bailouts or favors. Unfortunately, the libertarians are not in control... the conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats have been in control. Ron Paul and Rand Paul are the only true libertarians in Congress. That's a HUGE minority. The majority of Congress is for the fascist government.
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  857. @italstal07 You are correct. Even if Paul was in charge, he wouldn't be able to abolish the Fed. Look what happened to Kennedy. He challenged the Fed and weeks later he had a bullet to his brain.
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  858. 2 million jobs have been lost since the stimulus. And every week 400,000 NEW people are filing for unemployment. We are bleeding jobs, which shows that Bush/Obama economics of government deficit spending doesn't work and things will get worse. Stimulus is like a temporary shot of drugs to the arm. It helps with short-term projects, but long-term stable jobs are what we need. Government needs to get out of the way for once.
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  859. @TombaFanatic I think vouchers are a step backwards towards more government. I would rather let parents opt out and give them either a tax credit or lower taxes all together. I'd rather not give government more control of our money.
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  860. The reason for the birth and ongoing success of Fox is because the media is largely progressive and biased for the left. That’s why Fox dominates in the ratings because they give a unique POV. For the record, I’m not a conservative and do not watch Fox but I understand it’s existence.
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  861. Here's a good video from Constitutionalist Michael Badnarik discussing real rights, the Constitution and who should enforce the Constitution. Answer in short: We the People. We shouldn't put up with our corrupt government. youtube.com/watch?v=hIggk2dFHMI
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  862. @StunnedByStupidity Yes, that's my point. Corporations have corrupted the government. But those practices of corrupting the government are not free market, but fascism. That's the difference and that's why we are having the problems we are having today.
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  863. First world problems
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  864. @imaginepeace63 Most people on the outside may not know the differences, but there are major difference between the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party. They differ on issues like immigration, abortion, prostitution, porn, drugs, gambling, gay rights religion, etc. The Constitution Party believes in restoring "Biblical foundations" which is ridiculous. They're a party with a religious bent. There's a reason why they are two different parties. The LP is more about true liberty.
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  865. @rickbar123 One more thing... You know I believe government is big, bureaucratic and inefficient. This is exactly what is happening to corporations that benefit from government. They are getting too big, bureaucratic and inefficient, at the same time hurting small business with their regulations. Here's some old school schooling on how corporations LOVE anti-trust laws and more regulations for their benefit. This isn't free market. Know the difference. watch?v=8C4gRRk2i-M
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  866. Thom, SSA (dot) GOV has a page where people can report missing checks as well as an 800 number. It happens to tens of thousands of seniors every year. Don't say there's not one missing check in 75 years. Anyone can Google "Missing Social Security Checks" and people can find 14,000 links. It just goes to show that government is incompetent. That was a whopper, Thom. A big whopper.
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  867. @oolong2 I agree that one guy being charitable is not enough, but if all the liberals thought government was so great, why wouldn't they donate to it? Because it's better to donate to specific causes that show results. I don't even believe charity is the best route. I believe in individuals keeping more of what they earn to form their community, and build it by consent is the best route. I agree that people should come together, but not through coercion and government force.
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  868. @twosquirrelly Yes, I would not subsidize nuclear or oil. Markets (the people) should decide which energy is most efficient. I really want sustainable, cheap energy, but it's not economical yet for most people. If the government picks winners and losers then the market can't function appropriately. It's important to allow businesses to fail, because the consumers are telling the business that they are not providing an affordable, safe, or innovative product. We shouldn't reward failure.
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  869. @disrxt The name calling doesn't help. You are probably a child and your testicles haven't dropped yet, so I'll give you a break. Of course it's a rigged system. The 400 he mentioned are probably those in banks who received government TARP money and those who help create the regulations to benefit themselves. I know it's a rigged market. And it's certainly not a free market when they receive bailouts, are not allowed to fail, get preferential tax treatment, subsidies, etc.
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  870. @oolong2 You can accuse someone of "talking points" all you want. I hear right wingers say the liberals have "talking points". And I hear liberals accuse right wingers of using "talking points". I think we are all speaking our mind. I'd rather discuss the ideas rather than who I sound like. And know that I'd abolish the legal title of all corporations and their big subsidies. I speak my own mind, based off of a peace philosophy or what some call the non-aggression principle.
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  871. Bush "used a crisis" to create the TSA, Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, two wars, and more. Using a crisis generally means the government takes more of your liberties.
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  872. The term "Communitarians" sound so sweet and innocent, but they should just call them Statists or Authoritarians... and remind them that this isn't Communist Cuba.
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  873. @flake452 That's fair that Fox "distorts and then you decide", as I like to say, but Thom sometimes alludes to things, or gives us his opinion, instead of just stating the facts. A real news program would just report the facts from both sides and don't give spin as O'Reilly does in his apparent "No spin zone" which is a joke.
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  874. @imaginepeace63 Actually, when the founders created the Constitution it didn't mention market regulations or the government giving us entitlements, but it mentions government PROTECTING our liberties and civil liberties. If you compare modern day politicians to the founders, you would easily see that the founders were far more libertarian. We had liberty on our coins, monuments, in our founding documents and we even have a Statue of Liberty. If you deny this, you deny reality.
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  875. @LouieArrighi Then stop knocking freedom, because it's a package deal. Civil liberties are just as important as my economic liberties. If government has the POWER to take away our economic liberties, eventually it takes our civil liberties. You need to make the distinction that multinational corporations that receive government trade deals, subsidies, no tax deals and corporate welfare are not the same as an independent worker, barely making it. I pay taxes and get little in return.
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  876. Even though this was an ugly debate, I think debate is healthy, but I'd recommend folks seek out other opinions or books. Arguments like this may be counter-productive. I know I learn a lot from Thom, even though I only agree with him about 50% of the time.
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  877. As a libertarian, I totally agree with Thom on everything. Thanks for fighting against the man (the corporations and government).
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  878. Is Rand Paul "extreme" and "right wing" if he wants to bring our troops home, cut military spending, protect our civil liberties, legalize marijuana, protect speech freedoms and stop corporate welfare? The whole left/right paradigm doesn't work. He's not on the right wing, but on the freedom wing. He just panders to the conservatives to get more votes.
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  879. @hollywoodt00 Back in the day people would save more than enough and would have enough to give to their children. They outright owned the homes they lived in and had far less debt. Debt is killing college students, home owners, credit card users, etc. Also, it was very rare for seniors to run out of money, since health care was much more affordable, and living expenses were cheap. In those rare cases parents would live with their children and help raise grandchildren or use other safety nets.
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  880. @etzel33 I have seen the Secret of Oz. It was very interesting. There's a lot of good information in the movie, however I do have disagreements with him. Which particular parts of the gold standard did you object to? Like I said in the past post, a paper dollar with some backing would be an improvement. For me personally, I don't need a gold standard. I just buy it. That's my personal standard and it's worked for the last 10 years. It's the only asset to have gone up 10 years in a row.
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  881. @oolong2 Yes, unemployment and the economy are the top issues. I want to get people back to work, but the stimulus didn't create jobs. It just diverted money from the job creators. Cutting government doesn't necessarily mean cutting jobs. If you cut back on subsidies or tax breaks to corporations, this doesn't end jobs. If you cut back on the military adventurism by not going to wars, or ending wars, this doesn't end jobs either. Our servicemen will still be paid. The gov is overextended.
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  882. Thom says we are the richest country in the world. However, we have the greatest personal and government debt in the world, which will be extremely difficult to pay back, and interest on the debt is getting larger and larger like a snowball that can't stop. I've said it before and I'll say it again. We need to do some combination of raising taxes on the very wealthy and massively cutting spending.
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  883. @oolong2 Slavery was an institution of force, which was established in many tyrannical countries all over the world. It's absolutely anti-freedom and anti-individualistic. So in a true free society, slaves would have never been purchased, owned, etc.
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  884. @ggadguy Oh, and then the tacos at Taco Bell become more expensive, since they have to pay for the lawsuit. In the end you'll pay one way or the other. I'd rather just buy food from some other restaurant or eat at home.
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  885. I love it when this guy goes nuts!! I always get a chuckle. I do think the rich should not be exempt from the rich. We should have a flat tax and close the loopholes. Since he are so in debt we need to raise taxes and cut government. The government has projected budgets based on a healthy 5% GDP, but it's more like under 1% right now. So government will need to cut.
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  886. @FRSFreeStateES Yes, I consider myself a Classical Liberal or libertarian. Some day the conservatives and progressives will wake up that freedom brings massive prosperity and peace.
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  887. We could cut spending, starting with the military, corporate welfare, oil subsidies, the police state, the TSA, just to name a few government boondoggles. We need to cut spending to balance this damn budget. And I've been harping on this even during the Bush years.
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  888. This guy is talking about shipwrecks and treasure.... Give him some dreadlocks and ditch the glasses and it's Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean
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  889. @oolong2 Yes, I remember Paul Krugman insisting on a bigger stimulus. IMO it would be even more harmful to print the money and central plan the economy. Yes, I'd agree that the Bush tax cuts increased the deficits. Duh! : ) To solve our debt problem we're going to need a combination of tax increases and massive government spending cuts. We are so down the rabbit hole, a good compromise would be to raise taxes and decrease spending. But tax increases alone will not solve the problem.
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  890. @leftysergeant A flat tax seems most fair. But make it very low, like 10%. If you want to pay for infrastructure then we should tax gasoline at the real cost for building roads, instead of throwing the taxes into a general fund. If you use it, you pay for it. That seems pretty fair to me. I'm more for user fees than general taxes.
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  891. Funny how Thom thinks we will live "like serfs" except the serfs were slaves to the state, and that's what Thom wants. The government is NOT YOU. Don't fool yourself. The super wealthy elite control the government which is why they need their power removed, so WE THE PEOPLE have the power.
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  892. @captcrais101 The Democrats certainly aren't conservative with government spending, and neither are the Republicans. Under Bush they spent like crazy causing massive deficits and debt. In my opinion, both Republicans and Democrats believe in bigger government with a massive military and domestic spending. It's been well documented.
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  893. The problem is that both the Republicans and Democrats are still proposing bigger budgets. Nobody is freezing spending or even cutting it. Their proposals are virtually the same, and you can see the charts here. watch?v=aikAt-CqtjY It's all a hoax, like wrestling... the good guys vs. the bad guys, yet they're all friends when they pass their budgets. There will be no cuts. Anybody that tells you this is frankly LYING to you. Thom has been lying about this for months.
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  894. More intellectual progressive commentary. So far the most liked comments are childlike at best... but that's too much credit. I hope you realize that the corporate, big government right and left are destroying America's standard of living. Ron Paul is a tiny minority that follows the Constitution. Our federal government is creating debt slaves through housing, college, the money we owe. You can "suck it" for not standing up for freedom and giving away your power to your corporate government.
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  895. I sent this video link to Jim McTague: jim.mctague@barrons.com
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  896. @jimmycrackedcorn226 That's just ridiculous ignorance. I've never banged a hooker or smoked pot, nor do I want a corporation. Corporations are not free market. Liberty means I have the choice to do something or NOT. And with hookers and weed I chose not to, but I am not going to throw someone in prison for doing something that is non-violent and voluntary. A part of being a libertarian is a peace philosophy of live and let live.
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  897. Thom is right that the Republicans are absolute hypocrites for running up these massive debts. However, Thom said that there is no problem selling our debt, but there is. The Federal Reserve became the #1 buyer of U.S. Treasuries by buying 70%. Anybody can look this up. That's the mother eating her young.
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  898. Right now Google the terms Mises (for the libertarian Mises Institute) and the word Greenspan. The first article explains why Greenspan isn't a libertarian. mises.org/daily/3244
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  899. I don't wish anyone to commit suicide, no matter their beliefs.
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  900. Bachman may be a zombie, but Chris is a sucker for Obama and the tingle up his leg.
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  901. Here's Libertarian Adam Kokesh's rebuttal. watch?v=Smn-GF-D3rw
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  902. You can believe in global climate change, as I do, but you can also believe that central world government can't solve the problem.
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  903. @captcrais101 Even on domestic spending the Republicans are proposing increased spending, and they even did it in the past decade as I mentioned. Who's the idiot? You are sir. The charts and facts are all on the web to see how the Republicans ran up the debt on war, corporate programs and social programs. I'm not a conservative. There's a big difference between libertarians and conservatives, even on economic issues. If you don't know then let me know and I'll send you links.
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  904. With automation, robots can do the menial and repetitive work, while we humans can do more meaningful work. At least that's the goal.
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  905. You must be a liberal if you ask the hard or practical questions.
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  906. There isn't "news" in the title of MSNBC, but they do offer news. They are the liberal version to FOX News in my opinion. And I'm neither a conservative or liberal.
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  907. @psychokanuk I am going to guess that Richard Wolff didn't see the credit crisis or the housing crisis like Peter Schiff did in 2003. Peter eventually published a book in February 2007 called "Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse". He was correct! I recommend people still read it because it still applies today.
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  908. Thom believes a balanced budget will mean an end to the dollar. He's wrong. The end of the dollar will be a result of the Federal Reserve printing or more accurately adding zeros to their balance sheet and by buying US treasuries. The bond bubble has formed and even Bill Gross, the largest bond investor sold all of his bonds. Our bonds are in trouble. Does anybody want to buy Greek debt? Of course not. That's where we are headed. A default and collapse of the dollar due to Fed policy.
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  909. @captcrais101 This may be the difference between states, since I need to show my permit to purchase when I buy a gun at a gun show, then I have to have my ID and fill out paperwork. At least that's how it works in Minnesota. It may be different in Boston.
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  910. @oolong2 Go read the book by Jason Lewis called "Power Divided is Power Checked". If you have too much power at the top then you get inefficiencies, corruption, and regulations that don't fit each state. Each state should have their own set of rules instead of the Federal Government taking too much responsibility and enslaving us with debt. In a libertarian society, which we don't have, corporations wouldn't exist so they couldn't buy up the land. Corporations are not free market.
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  911. Not only did do college students go into massive debt, they also lose 4 years of working and making an income. Here's a 4 part series I just watched that gives a counterpoint to this hype of getting a college degree. College can be a scam. Part 1 watch?v=AhXKkswynC0 Part 2 watch?v=DmOU8Apd0As Part 3 watch?v=r02NEElBZHQ Part 4 watch?v=1qGR7KA-c8s Part 5 watch?v=SzoqBO_ltiI Hopefully I saved you tens of thousands of dollars by avoiding the college scam!
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  912. Giving people a raise isn’t socialism. It’s capitalism. Socialism is an act of government redistribution.
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  913. Thom just proved that trickle-down government bailouts to banksters doesn't work either. The government needs to refuse to give another penny to the bankers, liquidate the malinvestments in the system first and then we will see the true job growth. Until that happens keep seeing 400,000 people every week get unemployment with no end in sight.
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  914. @flake452 There are all sorts of progressives in America. It's just that the government is a corporate-owned machine owned by the "left" and the "right" which we are supposed to root for every few years. "Democracy" is just a scam if you think you control it. You don't. They are bought and paid for by elite bankers and special interest that do nothing but create regulations that benefit themselves and hurt the little guy.
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  915. @oolong2 It's not a gut feeling but a policy that is more fair. In fact, the United States had no income tax and had the greatest industrial growth on the planet. And now since government and corporate invention we have been losing our manufacturing base. Agree to disagree, but the facts are out there that economic freedom is the engine that funds the government programs. So you can't kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
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  916. @j0hnwi11iams We should abolish tariffs and embargoes, to make it easier to trade with people all over the world. For example, Cuba is a supposedly this super-scary communist country. Then we slap embargoes on them. We should open trade with them, and all other countries too, to get the best prices and quality products. Otherwise we shoot ourselves in the foot by closing off trade and being isolationists. This is just one of many solutions on how to compete with China.
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  917. What's wrong about the "free trade" of today is that it's more regulated than ever. That's why we should abolish NAFTA, GATT and get out of the WTO. Those organizations and agreements benefit the international corporations and not the smaller businesses and are not true libertarian solutions. The reason people are building in China is because there are fewer business regulations, hardly any setup fees and low wages.
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  918. Is it somehow greedy for corporations to hold onto their money? There's a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace, so if a corporation invests in the economy and it gets worse, they lose out. Right now, businesses want certainty that America is the best place to invest their capital. On the flipside, if they are in a prospering business it may make sense to expand. But I wouldn't fault businesses for being cautious.
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  919. If Thom wants to take the word "News" out of FOX, which isn't a bad idea... then Thom should also take the words "News" off the title of his videos, since he spins things just like Bill O'Reilly does, it's just a different opinion.
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  920. @LouieArrighi Greenspan lowered interest rates too low. He was Keynesian. Go read some mainstream libertarian writers and they will all bash Greenspan. Seriously, go find one. You can't. You might find some conservatives and that's because their Keynesian as well.
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  921. @ggadguy Just like Superman, as Thom mentioned! People leave tyrannical countries. People don't leave prosperous free market countries, because we know true free markets work, not crony capitalist fascist government.
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  922. Most people think we just avoided a debt default, but when the value of the U.S. dollar is going down big time, and gold is making new HIGHS, WE ARE IN CONSTANT DEFAULT as Ron Paul correctly states. The government passed the bill but now we will continue to see poor people hurt by higher prices in grocery stores, at the gas pump because they expanded the debt.
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  923. @MaryJesusJoseph They have a website at theACRU (dot) org if you want to learn more. I just Googled it.
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  924. Why does race always need to be injected into the conversation? Should this be a debate on how best to educate children? Just asking.
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  925. I actually met Jimmy Hoffa Jr. when I was in the Teamsters Union. Back then he was running for president back in the late 90's. I learned that the higher you get in a union, the more protected and the benefits get better. But it wasn't the best for new workers. In my opinion, unions favor the more powerful in the pyramid, but aren't great for new workers. Comments?
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  926. @oolong2 Am I trolling? Some argue yes, but I like having discussion with liberals because I agree with them half the time, and believe in a peace philosophy. Bottom line is that the libertarian philosophy is against enslavement and against government enforcing these laws or Jim Crow laws or any laws that force people into enslavement I understand Africans and Native Americans didn't have guns, or very limited access, and the government kept it this way.
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  927. @LouieArrighi A Keynesian like George Bush, Obama and Bernanke believe during recessions government government should fund bailouts, money print and fund GSEs (government sponsored enterprises). That's the big trend in the past decade. Here's a good video that shows the difference between the Keynesians and Austrians. I know this stuff backwards and forwards. youtube.com/watch?v=MnekzRuu8wo
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  928. @leftysergeant If things don't have a cost-benefit analysis, and money is squandered, that's less money for health care which saves lives. Any time any money in the economy is misallocated, like bombing other countries in wasteful wars, those dollars could have been spent by us, creating jobs, spending money in the economy, or on better uses, Remember, the corporations are the ones who write the regulations and eventually take over federal departments. I agree with Thom, stop the lobbyists.
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  929. @rickbar123 I agree that the corporations could care less. That's because corporations are not free market when they get subsidies, bailouts, use eminent domain, get special tax breaks, government privileges to pollute, regulations that favor their monopolies, etc. I disagree with conservatives on economics when it comes to the corporations. Corporations are not free market. Here's a good video on how both parties are OWNED by Wall Street. watch?v=m0Wirbtf6Bw
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  930. @captcrais101 Jefferson was pro gun rights, pro free markets, pro Constitution, anti war, pro civil liberties. That's what made him a classical liberal or libertarian. I'm not talking about his personal beliefs about religion. I'm talking about his political beliefs. He believed in freedom and the Constitution.
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  931. If this woman really believed in freedom like Ayn Rand, she would believe in freedom of culture, speech, beliefs and religion including Muslims. Real libertarians are tolerant and treat people as individuals.
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  932. @etzel33 If we do argue for a central bank, many would argue to back the currency by a tangible asset like silver as they once did. I keep an old U.S. dollar in my pocket that says "Silver Certificate". This would prevent the money supply from expanding and put some restraints on the Central Bank. This would certainly be an improvement. For an Austrian Perspective on this subject you can read "Gold, Peace, and Prosperity" by Ron Paul. I highly recommend it.
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  933. Thom sure knows how to have a dialog. I count 3 minutes for the libertarian and 7 minutes for Thom Hartmann talking over this guy. I plead for the smart liberals to dig into this topic discussed by these two. I know you guys are smart. Listen to other points of view from economists. I support the caller, because I know that government is giving tax breaks to corporations because they are the biggest campaign contributors. Here's a video from DEMCAD on the topic.... watch?v=m0Wirbtf6Bw
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  934. I was a Teamsters member when I loaded trucks for UPS, so I'm familiar how unions can certainly benefit from safety standards. However, when they are government funded unions there is a cost. Mainly, higher prices for goods produced by unions and more taxes taken from non-union workers to pay for unions through government programs. But for now, the U.S. government is just putting all of the expenses on one big credit card like Bush, at over $14 trillion. And we want to spend more?
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  935. @etzel33 The problem is that "tokens" have no intrinsic value if they're made of zinc. Money must have value, and be in limited supply, otherwise people lose faith in the paper and will quickly exchange it for real goods. If money is "valueless" as you stated the Central Banks can easily manipulate the currency, most likely electronically. With gold it is limited to 2% growth every year and requires mining, refinement, weights and measures. Digital money can be created all they want.
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  936. @lildread1 Why should government unions make more than non-government unions? Explain.
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  937. @47f0 Even Bernie Sanders says the true unemployment rate is closer to 17%, since the government modifies the way they track unemployment. Government Shadow Statistics along with other independent organizations track the true numbers. Don't trust the government when they don't even track people who gave up looking for work. I totally disagreed with Bush's policies the entire time he was in office, and now Obama is doing much of the same, but just faster. We're so screwed.
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  938. Donald Trump would be the best thing for Obama, since Trump is an EGO-MANIAC and also a statist. He believes in interventionism for oil, restricted and regulated trade, universal healthcare, gun restrictions, more war and fewer civil liberties. He is a complete authoritarian. Don't support this scumbag if you believe in Democracy and freedom.
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  939. @megagagnon1 Government would work a lot better at a local level for education. In general, if there were more free market options prices would come down on educating our kids and college students. Right now, education is highly regulated and very expensive. All I'm saying is that free markets mean parents have more control in decision making on where their kids would go to school, be they liberal or conservative. I happen to be a political athiest.
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  940. @sinistar99 I am for peaceful free trade among people. There isn't any stealing going on. When the government prints the money, it "steals" through inflation. When more dollars are in circulation, it means the dollars in your bank account are worth less. And that's why so many libertarians are joining with progressives to end the Federal Reserve, end fractional reserve lending, end bankster bailouts, stop TARP, and other Wall Street deals from government. That's stealing, not capitalism.
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  941. Both the left and right have been abandoning our heritage of liberty, freedom, the Constitution and the Republic. We need to defend the entire Constitution, not just the few parts we like.
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  942. @oolong2 Also, nobody wants birth defects, cancer, toxins, etc. I certainly do not. Markets (businesses, consumers, investors, and private certification organizations) determine the appropriate amounts of regulation in whatever industry. When consumers demand labels with the chemicals in products, this is part of regulation. Companies voluntarily highlight these differences on their packaging, because it's important to the consumer.
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  943. @oolong2 One last thing... just because we elect politicians to office doesn't mean they care more about us. In fact, it could be argued that they are more influenced by big corporations who compromise our safety and health, simply because of the power they have to legislate. Remember, the corporate lobbyists write the laws, not politicians. Corporations want to dominate industries by killing competition by over-regulation. It happens all the time.
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  944. @flake452 I'd agree there's no Monarchy in these countries you mentioned. The ideology of a Republic ranges greatly. For example, the Chinese Republic is very different from the U.S. Republic, etc. Even Iraq was declared a Republic in '79. So yes, thanks for bringing that to our attention.
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  945. What I mean is I don't want to dictate your life and neither should politicians or corporations. Corporations would never exist if it were not for the government. That's why we should abolish this legal status of a corporation. Also, Democracy sucks. It's two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for dinner. It doesn't work. Freedom allows for literally thousands of solutions for people in a fast moving, technology economy, instead of hurtful, oppressive government mandates.
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  946. @CLAUDIUSMESALINA An employee can have influence if they provide a skill, talent or experience that is valuable to the company. Then the worker has more negotiating power. If you are new the labor force, why should you get the same 5 weeks of vacation time as a senior who may need more time off? It's not for me, the dictator, to decide these things, even though on the surface it sounds really nice to give everyone vacations. But with every government action comes unintended consequences.
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  947. That kind of dialog doesn't help anything.
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  948. @youngbuck189 Also, I'm not "enslaving" anyone. If anything, the government is the ultimate use of force by taxing and then using guns to enforce their taxes. An early retirement must be earned by your own efforts. If you choose to work more hours, or pay for a college education and get a better job, then you deserve an early retirement. I shouldn't force other people to pay for my retirement. That is the definition of slavery. I can choose not to work if I'd like, but I choose to work.
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  949. @Louloe I get a Social Security statement annually to show the amount owed. It's in writing. But the truth is that the government doesn't have the money in their possession. It's an IOU statement to pay, based on future revenues. And another point is that if people don't make it to the retirement age and don't get any money and can't pass it to their children it makes them all the more poorer in the long run. It SHOULD be a real account that we can pass along to our children.
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  950. The "wisdom of the crowd" approach IS the free market approach where all people decide with our decisions to form society... not a Queen Bee.
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  951. Giving subsidies to solar/wind companies is just as bad as politicians giving subsidies and corporate welfare to big oil. It's all resource misallocation when politicians pick winners and losers and reward certain industries. And when money is misallocated on thousands of programs, and money is squandered, people get poorer and hungry while the elite benefit. Bernie has a bad case of dictator syndrome on this issue.
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  952. @flake452 Taxes are immoral, because they are confiscated with the use of force. Government has a monopoly on force to use their police state to take a portion of your money and labor. It's not moral to force people to fund a war machine, a counterfeit machine and a corporate government empire. It government were so benevolent we would fund it voluntarily, but instead they use guns otherwise you go to prison for not supporting the machine.
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  953. @StunnedByStupidity The dollar decline isn't conspiracy theory but public policy and fact. There's no way around facts. Yes, we have peak oil, a financial system that is reckless due to bailouts and guarantees from the Fed, and global climate change is real, but to predict the trend is quite difficult since it has changed. Change comes locally, from your neighbors and community, which is what I'm advocating instead of a central planner or a dictator deciding what's best.
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  954. @8chxBLhJDy9 I suggest people subscribe to his YouTube channel for a weekly hour long video. Jacob is probably one of the most principled libertarians going back three decades.
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  955. @paradoarify Yes, really! I hope you were being sarcastic. I'd rather drill for oil here in America, create jobs, and stop spending billions for wasteful wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In one way or another, we're going to pay for energy. I'd rather do it the peaceful way instead of the government hiring out corporations and kill lots and lots of people.
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  956. "Leadership means that 'the buck stops here'. Instead, Wahington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and failure of leadership. Americans deserve better." - Barack Obama (2006) We are in even worse shape now! Here's a better RT show to watch. watch?v=VgDhKpcHAAI
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  957. I disagree with Thom. If you look at history, when bigger government takes a larger role in helping reduce poverty, it always makes it worse. The rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer when government takes these responsibilities. The government that can feed you can also starve you just like in socialist and Communist countries. Freedom gives poor people abundance and a far better standard of living than those living under tyranny.
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  958. @BJBoi18 First off, I'm not a conservative. Far from it. Go look at a Nolan Chart on Wikipedia and see how I am on far end on the libertarian scale. So it's a strict combination of liberal freedoms and conservative freedoms. Bottom up freedom and community is when people are able to keep their income because they are sovereign individuals. Then they "vote" with their dollars every day, instead of voting once every 2-4 years. Check out a Socialism vs. Voluntarism debate: watch?v=vX2TqXT8GcY
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  959. Wow, what a surprise government and corporations collude for more power! This happens all of time. This shouldn't be a surprise that corporations benefit powerful politicians after and while their in office. So what's the solution? To give them more tax dollars to "regulate" them? Of course not. Expose them, fire them at the ballot box, and boycott the corporations that do dirty business. Otherwise you're just over-regulating the honest business and not the true evil ones.
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  960. @oolong2 If the government owns the roads, which they do, then they have to have their own set of laws to enforce safety on the roads. If the roads were owned privately, which they will never be, they would require private security and "rules" instead of laws. Then if there are accidents the government would be involved in restitution to those who were harmed and charge those who were guilty.
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  961. @junechris I watched the video again. You're 100% right. I got A.D.D. I'll admit when I misheard him. I just was asking if he thought it was a good idea for homes to go up in price. Because when I heard Mitt Romney say that housing prices should go up, this actually hurts the poor. I hope Thom doesn't support legislation or even incentives for home ownership. Housing prices should be at an equilibrium so they are not artificially overpriced.
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  962. @miketothad Also, if I don't know economics, then tell me why I'm so god damn wrong, Mr. Know-It-All. I have a strong opinion on economics because I've studied it while in college, and outside of college for over a decade. So when I hear lackies like yourself tell me I don't know economics, I know it's factually not true. Again, enough with the name calling and give me some of your arguments. Otherwise you look uneducated.
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  963. @Savior20061 I'm quite familiar with the Nolan Chart which shows 5 different viewpoints on politics. (progressive, conservative, statist, libertarian and moderate) My point in my post is that these labels really don't matter nowadays since both parties are corporate owned and only desire more power, once they get into power.
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  964. I never brought up taxes. I'm talking about cutting spending, which neither the left or right wants to discuss. The Ryan plan goes from 3.8 trillion to 4.9 trillion deficits in 10 years, so this scammer is trying to convince the right that he's cutting government. What a joke! Here's a reality check from Nick Gillespie watch?v=2FZXrJH3ajY Yes, the neo-cons think lowering taxes is somehow shrinking government, but it just expands debt like in the Bush and Reagan years.
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  965. @xxcrysad3000xx A minority of people actually vote for the politicians. About 50% vote in the elections. Half of those people get their candidate in office. So that's 25% representation. Then they pass thousand page bills which they haven't even read, which were sponsored by corporations who lobby them. This "social contract" does not represent all of us. But in your opinion, a little government slavery is a good thing. Be a good slave, because government knows best. That's not freedom.
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  966. @seiferganon Walker isn't breaking up the unions. They'll still be working for the government. This debate is over the right for union workers to be non-union, based on their own voluntary decision, and still work for the government. What's statist about this? It's not clear to me. Hiring more government employees would be something a statist would do, for example.
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  967. @oolong2 Just go learn about the Industrial Revolution and how America, the land of the free, rapidly built our industries while there was NO Federal income tax. The income tax wasn't established until 1913. Anybody can right now to Wikipedia and type in "Industrial Revolution" and learn all about how America flourished with a government that protected our liberties and freedom. These aren't lies, but facts in history. WOW! What are they teaching you in school these days?
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  968. @ArtetlaMusique87 You are wrong. I'm not on the right or left. Go look at a Nolan Chart and find out that there are 5 sides to the debate. Stop living in a left-right world.
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  969. There's nothing free market about the banksters getting their billions of dollars. This would be an example of corporate fascism, which is just as bad as socialism. Look up the term "Government Sachs" and you'll find Goldman in DC looting the average person. Wake up folks! The corporations took over your Democracy, and Obama and Bush are behind it.
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  970. @ 2:42 It's official. People who run charter schools or businesses do NOT care at all about children. They could care less about learning according to Thom, because Thom has the ability to read all of their minds. Only bureaucrats love children according to Thom. Ridiculous!
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  971. Thom Hartmann sure can ask some stupid questions and be so naive. I bet if randomly asked a handful of progressives or conservatives they couldn't name five libertarians... because both the right and left don't investigate liberty, read libertarian blogs or read opposing views.
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  972. I agree with Thom's general point on this video, however this needs to be said. I just went to a gun carry permit class and out of 25 people, there were a few blacks, a few Latinos, 5 women, and the rest were white guys. I'm an Atheist, not a Protestant. This is represents our diversity in Minnesota. Thom may be right about militia's being white guys, but most gun owners and not in militias. I'd love to see Thom keep race out of it when it's not needed. It doesn't add anything.
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  973. @TiradeFaction Yes, there's Bernie in the Senate, third party candidates all throughout city government, like the Green Party in Minneapolis, and the Independence Party of Minnesota has had some competitive races. I say infiltrate the main parties or go independent, even though I know it;s difficult.
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  974. @redsunflower67 I'm 33 and probably going to get diabetes since I'm about 70 pounds overweight, so I am anticipating paying out tens of thousands of dollars in costs, just in prescriptions. That's why I need to work out more to hopefully prevent it. I'm working on it.
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  975. He just won here in Minnesota. He's also won in several other states. Go watch the Rachel Maddow video on how Ron Paul is doing the delegate strategy.
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  976. @21tikcah Sorry to correct you, but government spending is going up in 2012. Ron Paul argued for a spending freeze, but couldn't get it. Instead the Republicans will tell you that they didn't "raise taxes", yet when they create more debt, like they did in the Bush years, it IS A TAX which needs to be repaid. Both parties are just kicking the can down the road while the U.S. dollar gets hammered and gold hits new all-time highs. If you don't know what's happening I got one word... STUDY.
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  977. This guy just kicked Thom's ass. If we give the government the power to regulate the Internet, we give the government, or future Republicans, the ability to abuse their power over the Internet. Leave it free as it is now. Don't fix what ain't broke.
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  978. @leftysergeant Although, there a point where the infrastructure spending can be too high. If the government overspends on infrastructure, this means less money in the pockets of the working class to spend on food, energy, etc. So we shouldn't overspend either. At least we agree that they shouldn't be bombing and then building in Iraq and Afghanistan, all which benefit the corporate donors.
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  979. Thom is so full of shit when he says the Republicans passed their plan. Obama and the Democrat Senate passed it too. And the difference was very tiny if you look at a chart. Both proposals increased spending in the long-term. Both parties have been doing this for years. It's an absolute joke.
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  980. @bohemianwriter1 In New Hampshire there is no car insurance. I'm against forcing poor people to get expensive insurance, when they can't feed their family. Instead, if someone causes an accident and injures the poor person, they agree on a settlement through the court system. As far as health care, the problem really started with the HMOs in the 70's. This is when the corporations got their grubby hands in health care to jack up prices. I'll continue...
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  981. @ggadguy I would also add that I am not an anarchist, but we should remove the coercive government "gun" as much as we can and give people true democracy and freedom, in the more classical liberal sense.
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  982. Crony capitalism is winning. Government spending is winning. Libertarians like Ron Paul do not have power in Congress. There are only a handful of them in Congress and they are not leading the agenda. The statist Republicans and Democrats are in full control. Their agenda of spending, crony capitalism, war, central bank controls, and going into deeper debt. That’s not liberty. That’s government control.
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  983. @oolong2 Pure free markets don't exist, but freer markets do exist. North Korea is less free market than South Korea. Singapore is more free market than China. America was more free market in the 1800's versus today. So there are different levels of free markets versus controlled fascist/socialist government controlling resources. They are not mythical. There are clear differences in levels of freedom. It's like saying civil liberties are mythical. They are not.
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  984. @miketothad Is that the best you've got? Name calling? It just shows you can't argue your points.
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  985. @flake452 You are correct that Thom's show isn't a news show, but he does report the news and spin it, like O'Reilly. That's my point.
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  986. @MadXMax187 Our conversation is more for others to learn about this stuff and expose the politicians and banksters.
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  987. Bernie and Thom think Mitt and Rick are going to destroy the New Deal. The evidence is just not true. Rick Santorum voted to expand Medicare and the drug prescription program. Romney talks like Reagan but he's a big government fascist just like Santorum. These guys will continue the war empire, dollar devaluation, corporate/fascist state and never cut the debt. I only trust Ron Paul to do the right thing to live within our means, cut waste, balance the budget and bring our troops home.
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