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Page added on September 29, 2017
Kunstler: Homework Assignment
Poor old Karl Marx, tortured by boils and phantoms, was right about one thing: History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Thus, I give you the Roman Empire and now the United States of America. Rome surrendered to time and entropy. Our method is to drive a gigantic clown car into a ditch.
Is anyone out there interested in redemption? I have an idea for the political party out of power, the Democrats, sunk in its special Okefenokee Swamp of identity politics and Russia paranoia: make an effort to legislate the Citizens United calamity out of existence. Who knows, a handful of Republicans may be shamed into going along with it. For those of you who have been mentally vacationing on Mars with Elon Musk, Citizens United was a Supreme Court decision — Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 558 U.S. 310 (2010) — which determined that corporations had the right, as hypothetical “persons,” to give as much money as they liked to political candidates.
This “right” devolved from the First Amendment of the constitution, the 5-4 majority opinion said — giving money to political candidates and causes amounts to “freedom of speech.” The Citizens United ruling opened the door for unlimited election spending by corporations and enormous mischief in our national life. Then-President Obama — a constitutional law professor before his career in politics — complained bitterly about the opinion days later in his State of the Union address, saying that the court had “reversed a century of law to open the floodgates, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections.”
And for the next seven years he did absolutely nothing about it, nor did the Democratic Party majority in congress. Rather, they vacuumed in as much corporate campaign money as possible from every hokey political action committee (PAC) from sea to shining sea, especially in the 2016 presidential election starring Hillary “It’s My Turn” Clinton. It turned out to not be her turn in large part because the voters noticed the stench of corruption wafting off this toxic flow of corporate money, which Hillary was using to vastly outspend her billionaire opponent, troll that he was.
Of course, corporations have not always been what they are deemed to be today. They evolved with the increasingly complex activities of industrial economies. Along the way — in Great Britain first, actually — they were deemed to exist as the equivalent of legal persons, to establish that the liabilities of the company were separate and distinct from those of its owners. In the USA, forming a corporation usually required an act of legislation until the late 19th century. After that, they merely had to register with the states. Then congress had to sort out the additional problems of giant “trusts” and holding companies (hence, anti-trust laws, now generally ignored).
In short, the definition of what a corporation is and what it has a right to do is in a pretty constant state of change as economies evolve. And insofar as the current economy is sinking like the RMS Titanic — and our republic as a mode of governance with it — surely the time has come to redefine in legislation the role and existential nature of a corporation in this polity. This homework assignment should be given to the Democratic members of congress, since they are otherwise preoccupied only with hunting for Russian gremlins and discovering new sexual abnormalities to protect and defend.
The crux of the argument is that corporations cannot be said to be entirely and altogether the equivalent of persons for all legal purposes. In law, corporations have duties, obligations, and responsibilities to their shareholders first, and only after that to the public interest or the common good, and only then by pretty strict legal prescription. It may be assumed that the interests of corporations and their shareholders are in opposition to, and in conflict with, the public interest. And insofar as elections are fundamentally matters of the public interest, corporations must be prohibited from efforts to influence the outcome of elections.
That’s your assignment Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of the Democratic Party leadership. Get serious. Show a little initiative. Do something useful. Draw up some legislation. Get behind something real that might make a difference in this decrepitating country. Or get out of the way and let a new party do the job.
128 Comments on "Kunstler: Homework Assignment"
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:02 am
“Yea is rings a bell, mad-kat1”
You’re contradicting yourself again Davy.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:06 am
“This will make the US navy stronger.”
The only things that Navies are good for in the 21st century, are intimidation, and attacking those who don’t have the ability to fight back. Floating tombs.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:06 am
“That’s a pretty sad narrative Davy, and paints an extremely disfunctional picture of the USA. Would you not agree?”
Sure grehg, what’s your point? Are you saying I am not anti-American enough for you and your morning gang? I love this I got the big bad anti-Americans all stirred up. I got you out of bed really early. I bet you laid in bed thinking about stalking and pricking davy last night. LOL Friggen love when a plan comes together.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:07 am
Clogged, say something useful and I will reply. You last comment was just puke
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:09 am
“You’re contradicting yourself again Davy.”
Explain yourself grehg or are you incapable of that?
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:09 am
“The only things that Navies are good for in the 21st century, are intimidation, and attacking those who don’t have the ability to fight back. Floating tombs.”
Opinion or fact?
Cloggie on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:12 am
You last comment was just puke
That’s 12 year old school yard talk.
The idea of a forum is for adults to debate, usually over subjects they disagree on.
“puke” is not an argument.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:17 am
The US fleets will last about one hour after the Chinese and Russians declare war. About the time the US is radioactive glass. The US has no antimissile systems that work against the current Russian and Chinese missiles. None.
Denial doesn’t change anything. Even the US Navy understands that they are sitting ducks and will be for years. IF, the US can ever build a functional system, that is. Not likely with their recent failures. No real engineers left in America.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:18 am
“I got you out of bed really early. I bet you laid in bed thinking about stalking and pricking davy last night. LOL Friggen love when a plan comes together.”
More delusions Davy. It’s 4am here. I often get up in the middle of the night to look at the stars. Astronomy has been a hobby of mine for over 30 years.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:18 am
Cloggie, you are dealing with a 12 year old mentality, not a rational adult, when you debate with Davy.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:19 am
“It’s 4am here. I often get up in the middle of the night to look at the stars. Astronomy has been a hobby of mine for over 30 years.”
Me too, that is sweet grehg, we have something in common.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:19 am
“Opinion or fact?”
Fact.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:21 am
“Cloggie, you are dealing with a 12 year old mentality, not a rational adult, when you debate with Davy.”
LMFAO, that is the best you can do dumbass?
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:22 am
“Opinion or fact?”
Fact.
No wonder you are a stalking prick, you confuse facts and opinions.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:24 am
“Me too, that is sweet grehg, we have something in common.”
Cool. I’ve just been photographing M31. It’s pretty much directly overhead tonight.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:25 am
“The US fleets will last about one hour after the Chinese and Russians declare war.”
Mad-kat1, got references? opinion or fact? Any history to refer to? Do you need to go to a nursing home?
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:39 am
“Ha Ha Ha, correct but from what I have seen it is likely they have been hacked and I am sure they will learn from these cyber intrusions.”
The best lesson to be learned from cyber-intrusions, is that any system can be hacked., but I’m more prone to believe that the alleged hacking was an excuse, like the Russians winning the U.S election.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:46 am
“but I’m more prone to believe that the alleged hacking was an excuse, like the Russians winning the U.S election.”
Maybe Japan but the most recent shows a high likelihood of cyber intrusion.
I would expect you to believe your excuse thinking. It supports your foundational thesis of incompetence and decline of the US at every level. That is the basis of anti-Americanism. You are a wonderful excuse of that.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:52 am
Greg, does hacking affect the vision of the pilot or the officer on watch? When you cannot see a ship multiples larger than your own, there is something wrong. I can see a tanker or freighter at seven miles up when I fly over the Pacific. I cannot imagine not being able to see one at sea level at least a mile away. No tech needed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/us/navy-collisions-history-mccain-fitzgerald.html
The US Navy is rotten to the core. It’s ships are antiques. The new ones need to be towed back to port on their first time out. Junk, like the F35.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/747210/us-navys-newest-warship-breaks-down-towed-to-port
A paper tiger.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:54 am
Davy, you keep proving my ’12 year old’ evaluation.
“LMFAO, that is the best you can do dumbass?”
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:56 am
“I would expect you to believe your excuse thinking. It supports your foundational thesis of incompetence and decline of the US at every level.”
Whether an excuse, or a hack, either way it would show incompetence and/or decline. Warships colliding with freighters is not exactly a sign of being in control.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:02 am
Mad-kat1, keep proving my assertion you belong in a nursing home. Double lol
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:05 am
Sure, grehg but we are still the best navy in the world. Fact or opinion. Fact.
Double friggen LMFAO at the anti-Americans
You see anti-Americans two can play your fun with facts games
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:10 am
“Sure, grehg but we are still the best navy in the world. Fact or opinion.”
Delusion. Neither one of us owns, controls, or has any relevance to any Navy. We are not a navy Davy.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:20 am
Davy, your insanity is showing again. Maybe you need your meds changed?
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:26 am
Fact.
Your delusion that the Navy is somehow yours, is a product of propaganda, and indoctrination.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:30 am
Love how you anti-Americans play fun with facts. You like double standards. Be careful, too many double standards gets you disqualified. I am already making an exception allowing a old man with dementia to play.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:37 am
“I am already making an exception allowing a old man with dementia to play.”
More delusions. You have absolutely no control over what anybody else has to say on this forum.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:46 am
Greg, more of Davy’s delusions. He thinks he has control of all of us and has us figured out. Not even close. The blinders are too tight and all he can do is his version of fingers in ears and “LA LA LA LA I can’t hear you” when we point out facts he disagrees with. There is no defense of America. None. There are no FSofA positives these days. None. It is an empire in the process of collapse.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-28/we-are-already-depression-if-borrowing-money-not-income
” I believe the U.S. economy is in a depression masked by debt. I further believe there is no indication we have had an actual recovery of the actual economy.”
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:01 am
Lighten up grehg, you are so far up your ass how are you ever going to get help for your stalking and pricking issues?
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 10:46 am
Like I’ve said before Mak, I find it difficult to believe that Davy is in reality an adult. His mannerisms are more suggestive of a spoiled rotten pre-adolescent.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 11:00 am
Grehg, I love when you are confused. Hanging around mad-kat1 will do that. Why not grow up and stop you stalking and pricking?
shortonoil on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 12:36 pm
Kunstler has brought out a very important point, corporations have hijacked the Republic by buying the ballot box, and all you guys can do is stand around and piss on each others foot. No wonder we are totally FUBARed!
fmr-paultard on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 12:53 pm
of course if i believe in aswang i woudn’t also mind suicide shower
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 1:08 pm
“Kunstler has brought out a very important point, corporations have hijacked the Republic by buying the ballot box, and all you guys can do is stand around and piss on each others foot. No wonder we are totally FUBARed!”
Corporations have hijacked far more than the republic Short. Their influence knows no borders. Imaginary human lines drawn in the sand make little difference to them. And the reason why we are all so FUBARed, is that there are so many enablers, like Davy above.
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 5:36 pm
Davy:
Spoiled 12 year old?
Delusional?
Insane?
All of the above?
I leave it to the reader.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 6:47 pm
“I leave it to the reader.”
Mad-kat1, do you need attention or something. It is your fault you are a lonely isolated old man in a faraway country with few to call friends and no family. If you were not such a disgusting person I would say what a tragedy but with you it’s called Karma.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:03 pm
More delusions…….
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:09 pm
What’s with the need to continue to make stuff up Davy?
Does it in some convoluted way, help you to feel better about yourself?
makati1 on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:09 pm
Davy, Proving my assertion … again?
Hawkcreek on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 7:49 pm
Dumbest comment contributions yet. Damned shame….Peak Oil used to be a great site.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:07 pm
It’s been going on almost daily for over 4 years Hawk, and there’s one individual who is always at the center of it all.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:09 pm
Hawk, at least you didn’t claim sides. You kept it balanced. That is a step forward.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:12 pm
Typical of grehg to avoid responsibility, pathetic
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:12 pm
And I might add, that individual had made himself very clear that his mandate is to continue to attack others at every available opportunity.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:17 pm
One more time Davy.
This is an open internet discussion forum. People are entitled to their own opinions, without the constant childish rhetoric from you. If you wish to debate a subject like an adult, by all means have at it.
Otherwise you are only dragging the entire forum down to your level. Enough already.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:21 pm
And Davy, my name is Greg. Not grehg. That might be a good place to start. Thanks.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:27 pm
Grehg, you are just plain pathetic. You have a personality that is a lie. You have the bold face to place all the blame on one person. My God, you are a lost case. Grow up and take some responsibility. You can play your self-righteous respectable game of lies all you like but anyone who appreciates balanced knows the truth. You are sick and evidence of that is how you protect you sick buddy. You stalk Americans you don’t like but that is ok. I take responsibility for my part. Grow some balls and do likewise you pussy.
Davy on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:30 pm
You deserve no respect grehg. I will call you anything I like. WTF, are you going to do about it? Geeze, you are loosing it. Am I getting under your skin? Good. It’s called war dumbass. Deal with it and quit your whining.
GregT on Sat, 30th Sep 2017 8:39 pm
“Grehg, you are just plain pathetic.”
Well at least you’re capitalizing my name now, even though you are still incapable of spelling it correctly. Baby steps Davy. Try real hard, and you just might be able to help yourself get over your anger management issues. I’m not holding my breath however, because I don’t think for one second that you have it in you.