Michael Moore's Action Plan: 15 Things Every American Can Do Right Now

Please join us! Pass the Weiner Amendment for Health Care for All!

If you are not on facebook you can help by staying informed - do a google news search for the phrase "Weiner amendment" every single day until the floor debate begins...

Your searches are measurable, and as the interest in this builds, the media will respond with better coverage of this story.

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Here we have a concise and very easy to implement set of marching orders. Let's take the party back from the "center-right, corporate-appeasing, mealy-mouthed" DLC turds like Rahm. Let's give people a real choice at the voting booth, and let's cover spine transplants for any current Demo-wuss who wants to grow up and join up. If we can't hurry the pace of third party growth, let's top-to-bottom renovate the party we've got.

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Mike,
If you really want things to change, why don't you lead by example. Give your money to the poor.

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I watched an old episode of "Little House on the Prairie" with my kids last night. It was around 1870 and Mary had an infection in her gut that doc Baker could not fix so she went to a hospital on the other side of Minnesota. They could not pay so the first recourse was a church collection among poor farmers, then Michael Landon tried to sell thier farm but everyone was to broke to buy it, then he got a job on a raildroad crew and nearly died in a dynamite accident. So, just 139 years later we STILL have people handling thier health care like Charles Ingulls did --selling thier farm off, taking dangerous low pay work, and risking life and limb and exhausting debts so his daughter could have an operation. It is not 1870, but we are still there...from the slow moving steam train (our trains today in the US move about the same speed at those in the late 1800s--but we now have less tracks!) to losing the farm to pay for health care...NOTHING has changed. How sad? When my kids asked me if this could happen today I had to say YEs...it happens every day in the year 2009. YIKES. Shame on all of us for letting our country slip!

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Taxes are the choke point.


FREE AMERICA

REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY

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Also, don't forget the epidemiological evidence presented by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009) in The Spirit Level. They conclude the following about increased equality in the US:

The relationships between inequality and the prevalence of health and social problems...suggest that if the United States was to reduce its income equality to something like the average of the four most equal of the rich countries (Japan, Norway, Sweden and Finland), the proportion of the population feeling that they could trust others might rise by 75 per cent--presumably with matching improvements in the quality of community life; rates of mental illness and obesity might similarly each be cut by almost two-thirds, teenage birth rates could be more than halved, prison populations might be reduced by 75 per cent, and people could live longer while working the equivalent of two months less per year.

Now who can argue against that?

Thanks, Michael Moore--once again!

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Remember last Fall, when Congress was debating the No Banker Left Behind Act?

Recall that they were getting deluged with phone calls, emails, faxes and letters running 8 or 9 to 1 AGAINST that bill?

What did Congress do? They told We the People to shove it and passed the damned thing.

We're way past the point of sending letters or making calls to our Congress, they don't give a damn what us serfs think, they only seek to keep happy Wall Street, the Pentagon and Israel.

Back in 1789, the French got tired of seeing the wealthy elite living like pigs on their labor while the average family was starving to death and living in hovels while the upper crust were living in castles.

Their solution was a bit messy, but it damn sure got the King's attention.

And that's what we're dealing with; American royalty by right of money and power.

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1. Don't invest in the stock market? No business, no jobs. Some people are not equipped to run their own business--they just need jobs.

2. Unionize? That, for the most part, is also a waste of money. Internal corruption and politics is worse inside unions than out. They constantly extort all they can from the companies, instead of what is "right" or "fair". ref GM, Ford, etc. (just think what a car would cost, and how many more of us could afford them, if those workers made $15/hr, like most of us, instead of the $70+ they were reportedly getting). The members pay dues to support the laziness and lavish lifestyles of the union bosses. Their goal is to make the members happy by pushing for more pay and more perks for less work. Also, they want as many new positions created(job shop) to get more members and dues, regardless of how inefficient this makes a company. small companies, like you would think Moore would support, cannot afford to pay someone only to run a forklift for instance, when you only need a forklift for 1 hr/day.(This also happened in a 6 employee company near us---it folded. The employees told the union they were happy and not to force this---but the union told them---you are part of our union, this is how we do it, you will too. They are now jobless). In reality, they just make products more expensive for those of us that are non-inion. If everyone had all those benefits and pay, then their would be no advantage to joining the union---everything would just be higher priced.

3. Worker owned companies can work, but a couple near us collapsed for very obvious reasons--the owners took care of themselves at the expense of non-owner employees, and at expense of the company itself. As owners, they were not held accountable for their responsivbilities, etc. Simply imploded. People are still people. No bank, including a community bank or credit union, can support a business that cannot show positive cash flow. "Oh, I see, you cna't pay your loan, which is really other members of our community's money, because you are paying yourself 3x what the average person is making, you don't feel, as an owner, that you need to show up to work on a regular basis toperform your duties, but we should loan your company more money to keep going...." NOT

4. Moore is a hypocrit. He is profiting from the dollars the poor pay to see his movies. Perhaps if he made these movies with his own money, then gave them to movie theaters for free, with the caveat that they had to show them for free, would he be credible. Of course he can't do this--but how about $1? He critcizes the company execs, and in some cases rightly so---noone is worth those kind of dollars, but lets put things in perspective.....A large company exec making $1-10mil/year vs. a movy starlet making that much or more for 1 movie! The exec is a job slave to that co. The starlet--move on to make more movies. Has he criticized his own industry??? Let's call a spade a spade.

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I am a fan of Mr. Moore but am not convinced calling our reps and letter writing to them has any impact. I have done that for years and if I got a response it was a form letter with a stamped signature. All calls went to voice mail or whoever was on the other end listened, took the message, and still nothing. They do not believe they can be voted out and they are so entrenched with money, even when they are, they become lobbyists or consultants so they are not hurt. I agree the effort has to be at the grass roots level--And hard effort to get our people in and take back our government. It is in the workplace, the community, city hall, town halls, etc. It will not happen tomorrow and will take a long struggle to do so, but that is the only way it will occur.
We will take back our country county by county, city by city and finally state by state until the federal govt. doesn't matter or it is our once more: And better.

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I agree with Mike on his views wholeheartedly, but I have to say, as I often do that his assertions that protests and phone calls work is fallacious. While I do believe its important to voice your complaints (because silence is acceptance), I don't believe for a second that anyone on the other end of the lines are listening anymore.

The reality is we live in an oligarchy. The corporations (and us, but do so at a WAY lower rate), through lobbyists pay the politicians and give them a future 'speaking tour' career once they tire of raping us all while in office. Until we can outlaw lobbies- really outlaw them, not just make them blaze', as is the current trend, we will NOT be listened to. Scream all you want, say whatever you want on any TV or radio show, call whomever you like, write your 'elected' officials a ream of letters and a gigabyte of emails every day of the week if you want, but it all goes in the trash, the recycle bin on the desktop or gets routed to a drone whose job it is to politely ignore what you are saying. Unless your complaint letter has a (minimum) $10,000 check paperclipped to it, nobody hears you. In situations like this, the only thing that can fix the system is to start hanging people and then rewrite the law repealing corporate personhood and outlawing lobbies. Until we do that, all we're doing is screaming at the choir. It feels cathartic to do so, but no real action begins until blood preceeds it.

Don't believe me? Go read some history. Tyranny and corruption are only expelled by burning it out- not politely accepting it and turning a blind eye to the truth.

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Do you really rely on Michael Moore's advice for our economy? Get real.
What's next for him? Maybe a Nobel Prize?
He is a hypocritical entertainer, a capitalist wolf in socialist sheep's clothing.
He could use a personal trainer and a image stylist, too. He always looks like sh*t.

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They are not listening, folks. Call, email, snail mail, they do not care. I have been expressing my options to presidents, senators, congressmen for years. Does anyone really believe the "of the people, by the people, for the people" anymore? The "powers that be" are running the show and doing whatever they choose fit. It is a mind game to believe that calling and writing will do any good. That is just a ploy to make all the sheep believe thay have a voice and to keep us all calm and in control so they can go on with their charades without a revolt.

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Hi all-
I agree with the 'oligarchy' statement- and the fact that some basic issues need changing, ie the the idea that corps. are recognized as persons. Our daughter spent 4 weeks in Stockholm- she said she would prefer to raise her kids there. I have spent time in Europe;no, it is not paradise...however it is Civilized. We had our civil war, now do we need to be bombed out of our homes to get to our very own "Marshall Plan" ? No. I think we can skip that part and move to Reconstruction via our already in place republican/democratic process. Naysayers, as exemplified here with observations of M Moores'lack of "style" are a waste of time. ... continued...

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They have cut the throats of the poor and the middle class.

They have looted our national treasure.

They have abandoned their constituency in favor of a multi-national corporate behemoth and an out-of-control military industrial complex.

They have created a global, geo-political catastrophe in the Middle East that will take at least a century to remedy.

They have shoveled a generation of American children into an untenable slaughterhouse in Iraq.

They have engendered an economic nightmare so immense that generations yet unborn will still be bearing its burden.

They have sold our nation's soul to the highest corporate bidder.

They have made a mockery of the First Amendment.

They have squandered a trillio-plus dollar surplus with a tax cut for a class of people who didn't need it.

They have gutted vital social programs that aid the poor and the elderly which have been in place for over seventy years.

They have gutted laws meant to protect working men and women.

They have plundered the environment.

They have depleted our educational system.

They have hijacked this nation's political dialogue.

They have ruined our international reputation.

They have handed our domestic agenda over to religious fanatics.

They have stolen two national elections.

They have trampled on our constitution.

They have sent our Bill of Rights through the sausage grinder....

They must never, ever be allowed to govern our country again.

The grand old party is over.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan

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The suggestions made in this essay are easily do -able- even in our pajamas and robes.
How do you think Obama received the majority of the popular vote? WE did it! In our P J's.
No guns, no marches, no flag waving.
WE control the media by our google searches as mentioned in the first post. Just keep hitting that 'search' button. CNN, et al pick it up immediately- people like us are busy being paid to track. You know that! We all know this.
Let's use it. We cannot wait. Let's try it now for a public plan for health care. Every action needs the frontline. WE are the frontline! We have already demanded and are receiving Fairness on overpaid bank execs. In my 60+ years- this is the first time the gov't has put the brakes on EXCESS and GREED! It Can be done. Keep on truckin', I say- send those e mails, letters, make the phone calls. Wallpaper your bathroom with the form letters that come in response- and...

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Take back this country from the corrupt politicians and corporations. It's simple. Spread the word...vote out every incumbent!

If 10% of the population with participate in a vote-out-the-incumbent drive we could change everything. Campaign finance reform and term limits would go a long way toward fixing the problem but the corporations are the ones writing legislation so it will never happen.

We can change this country with our votes. Don't consider their political party affiliation. The Dems and the Repubs are one and the same "corporate" party. If we throw out every incumbent during the next election you can bet the rest of the worthless bunch will sit up and take notice. (Especially those veteran politicians with multiple terms.)

Spread the word on every blog.

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My favorite rsponse to all those who are
"afraid" of this administration and it's actions- I say "AMERICA- LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT"
F*#ch. That's what we heard in the '60's whenever we walked in a line for the Table Grape boycott for migrant workers- for civil rights, for women's rights. We,The People Have the Power- and it is easier than ever to
Participate. I have not seen Moore's movie and likely will not pay movie prices to see it. I don't need to. We "saw" this movie when 4 kids were shot down in Ohio by our own military. When I watched as a young woman had her legs beaten in Chicago in '68. I would not wish any of that on anyone- but I do wish anyone reading this will ACT. Thank you.

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When I lost my job - the first thing I did was apply for three credit cards on the "zero percent interest introductory offer." I did it soon enough that they didn't find out I was unemployed.

Hey, free money - Citibank in particular is an odious institution. They got us into this mess, let them finance our recovery.

Now that I'm employed again - I'm making minimum payments. I've got a year ... and when it's over, I can pick up another "zero interest on balance transfers" card.

(uhh, word to the unwise: don't try floating a bigger & bigger debt. You *do* have to pay it off eventually.)

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Thanks for that one, Mike. And a potent form of cynicism is when a good article is written with good advice, a large number of comments ignore the advice and point out why he's wrong. It can sound very astute to zero in one thing he wrote that seems, to you, ineffectual. But actually, we'd be in good shape if most of us took his advice. It seems to make many feel better to knock good advice and return to negativity instead of realism. And realism means that when things suck, which will always be at least partly true, there are good places to get started and keep plugging away. Even we Obamabots know that; you know, the ones of us who brainlessly voted for Barry HUSSEIN, our Messiah?

Just thought I'd get all of that out of the way for some of you, and let you proceed instantly to other cynicism.

Any time any person or group affected big change, there were plenty of moments when things looked hopeless. Probably if you could all up all the emotional reactions by the activists during the time of striving you'd see more hopeless, wondering-if-it's-all-futile plugging away than moments of "woohoo! Victory is just around the corner!" Hindsight is not 20/20, it's delusional when looking at activist movements. None of those involved knew if failure was about to crash down. The historical moments of victory we see looking back were not inevitable in the minds of those trying. What they thought was that you keep trying for what is right, and you do it whether or not it seems to be working. You do it as long as it takes. If your elected officials seem to ignore you, why aren't you nailing them for that? Writing LTEs? Making it a campaign issue when they run for reelection?

Thank god Michael Moore doesn't think the way so many here do. If he did, he'd never have made a single movie. He would only have made movies if they fairly quickly accomplished the goal addressed in the film. But no one much thinks he's ineffective because that didn't happen, right?

You're all right, YOUR single phone call doesn't affect too much. It's yours combined with mine and everyone else's that do matter. If you look at single instances when it didn't work, you're probably giving in in a way that makes the evildoers very, very happy. They want you silent. They want you to never tell your congressmen anything.

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should be first on the list. Moveon made a step in that direction during the last decade, but drifted off track. Disintegrated into a million little meetings with too little common focus. Daily Kos rejects the idea of real inclusion of its masses toward the achievement of praxis. A few major figures are worshipped by many. And aside from these, nothing even potentially substantial. So instead of writing letters to congressman and such, how about posting diaries on Kos asking for what we need, and if nothing happens create another place to get the job done. Personally, I have some faith in the creativity and competence of both organizations once they get on track. But I also can't deny the degree to which they suck up energy and distract, if they don't. Michael Moore is a great film maker, has some excellent ideas, but is not, and probably doesn't want to be the leader we need now to take the absolutely essential first step.

BUILD ORGANIZATION

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Hats off to Michael Moore, who is a true American hero!

My only comment to Alternetters would be: Go a little easier on Barack Obama, who may be doing as good a job as possible! The credit crisis did not have easy solutions. The U.S. President is not a dictator but must cope with Congress and opinion-makers who are definitely NOT liberal.

I was amazed when I confirmed, on the websites of authentic liberal organizations, that Obama did indeed have "the most liberal voting record" of any Senator in 2007. I consider Obama to be an intelligent and good-spirited centrist, rather than a liberal; that 99 other Senators were to his right seemed shocking ... and more than a little sad.

I must say I was amazed -- and saddened -- by some of the other comments here:
M. Moore is a hypocrite? Those who say so are the hypocrites.
Taxes are the problem? What drug are you on?
One letter to a Congressman will do no good? True enough, but Moore is talking about THOUSANDS of letters. (If that doesn't work, what would you propose? Guns?)

James

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By reducing the military budget by even 25 % and legalizing most drugs we could do even more to get on track. Eventually we could reduce the huge military budget even more. By putting less people in prison for drug offenses we could significantly reduce the funds used to build prisons and keep inmates. When 90% of the wealth is controlled by 3% of the population, it will be increasing more difficult to change public opinion. Too many equate any socialist movement with communism. They are addicted to TV and Fox news as well as the shock jocks. Yes, calling and writing your elected officials is good and needed, but until the ignorant masses are snapped into reality, very little will change. A major global event or the return of aliens may be the trick to initiate real change. If the population ate correctly and exercised they would not need to take the drugs or poison sold by these companies and would not need as much healthcare. I would add these points to the plan and maybe a few more. The most important point he makes is the need for public transportation to be our main way of travel. A revamping of this system could create the many jobs needed now. For over 40 years I have been to protest and marches and carried signs. I plan to continue and hopefully before the end I can see some positive change. It is my hope, something we can never give up.

































5

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Except for his clinging to the Democratic Party advice, I like the rest of his list since it's not political in nature. It would be nice if Moore would have included progressives that just don't happen to be Democrat. There is nothing wrong with supporting third party progressives either. In fact, progressives get marginalized in the Democratic Party. And "make them do it" ? One can only go so far with pressuring Congress and will have to let the results show at some point. Sometimes, there's no point in repairing a party that is beyond repair and the Republican and Democratic parties are just that. Otherwise, thanks for the reminders.

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Noting the 'distorting the role of the Democrats' lie in Moore's article. Carter's 1979 deregulation, which freed banks to become the nationwide behemoths they are today, needs to be repealed as well. The country's economy worked better when all banks were local or at best regional.

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Make sure your money is still worth something. Buy gold and silver coins. These have outperformed the stock market in the past 10 years by a substantial amount.

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What Michael Moore could do himself would be a follow-up film to his great "Capitalism -- A Love Story" --- the film could take its name from the accurate term that Dylan Ratigan is bravely popularizing to describe this hidden ruling-elite corporate/financial EMPIRE that has taken over our country ---- "Corporate Communism" --- and I would recommend subtitling it "Dead Men Flying” --- the directors cut.

Hopefully the film would include some real video (not staged) of the only kind of “Fallout” that will help more than pay-cuts:

In the first Great Crash of 1929, and even before the Great Depression that ravaged the American working/middle-classes, the most memorable scenes were of financial manipulators jumping from windows.

Hopefully, Michael will be able to incorporate some real film --- if we are lucky --- from today’s second Great Crash and before the second Great Depression can totally devastate the public, of memorable scenes of Wall Street Looters, Hedge Fund Whores, and Private Equity Pirates, who caused this, being pushed out of windows.

Now that’s a film that would be both popular with everyone and an Oscar favorite.

Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine

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As a middle class citizen, whether upper, lower, middle or aspiring, you should know that 186 Senators and Representatives vote for legislation that favors the middle class 100% of the time; 349 do not. We need more that do. Ref: Let's Vote our Interests - Only if We Do, Will They .

When they do not vote the interests of the middle class you know they vote for a “special interest” at your expense.

If you sometimes, even if you should but don’t, “get mad as hell” at Congress and “don’t want to take it anymore”, please help in making a change.

1. Copy and paste "My Voting Pledge", below, to your word processor. Substitute your
name, zip code and your Representative’s name in the “I am” and “To” positions.
A. Repeat twice more, once for each of your two Senators.
B. Google up the three names, go to their .gov home page for an address and mail each a hard copy; alternatively, use the “contact me” from their .gov home page to email it to them.

2. To increase the effectiveness of the message and your pledge we need to go viral.
A. Please forward this email to every person in your address book.
B. Ask them to pledge as you have.
C. Ask them to forward this email to every person in their address book, ad infinitum.

3. To measure our progress, when you have taken the pledge, please send a message showing your zip code as the subject to votemiddleclassdan@bellsouth.net .

Thanks for your help.


I am: Harold Hellickson
Zip Code 28739

MY VOTING PLEDGE

FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS

To: Representative Heath Shuler

Is This

If you vote 100 % for legislation favoring the middle class, I will vote for you in every primary and general election.


If you do not vote 100% for legislation favoring the middle class I will, if I can, depending upon state requirements, vote for an opponent to you in the next primary election.

If you nevertheless win the primary election, I will vote for your opposing major party opponent in the general election unless his or her national party has a lower “middle class voting score” than does your national party. In that event, I will vote for a third party candidate if one is available.

If no third party congressional candidate is available, I simply will not vote in the congressional election.

I will use as my scorecard of your voting record and that of your national party that which is determined by
www.themiddleclass.org .

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By emailing him and suggesting to him that another political party is sorely needed here as the difference between the rethugs and demos has all but vanished.
My suggestion is that if it hasn't already been done by somebody else, a Social Democratic party should be formed as an antidote to the poison we have to endure under the corporate crooks and their lackeys in "government".
The Social in that name means exactly what it says, with a healthy dose of Socialism to gain us what we need and DESERVE, namely single-payer universal health care,and universal EDUCATION through college, and as a watchdog over the corporate thieves who've proven time and again that they're CRAZY with greed, and can't be trusted for a minute.
Who to head up such a party? Why, Michael Moore, of course.

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What could be more basic than resurrecting the commons and redefining property (the basis of class, in turn the basis of corporations)? His other #5 that should've been a #1 was start (or join) your own media; communication among ourselves, drawing others in, is essential. His only #1 that was a #1 was shift any savings leftover from banks to credit unions; de-power Wall and re-power Main St. May Mike some day soon make a movie on land, real estate, property, mortgages, FIRE, speculation, bubbles, business cycle, Wall St over Washington, etc.

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MM must be younger than he looks, to think this is a viable strategy. People have been doing this, or calling for it, for 40 years (that I remember), and for 37 of those years the Democratic Party has moved only to the Right.

Yes, you can take over your local party committee; the one in my town is extremely liberal. Even the state convention will pass very liberal platform items - but exactly nothing comes of it.

The truth is that the Democratic Party is controlled by big money - essentially the same big money that controls the Republican party. Their collusion to keep out people like you and me is blatant, and so is their steady joint march to the Right.

Given the efforts already put into trying to "take back" the DP and the results, we can conclude that they are exactly counterproductive: the harder progressives work, the farther the DP moves to the Right! That's because they become ever surer of your commitment to them, and because your own work shuts out genuinely progressive alternatives, which would have to be outside the Democratic Party. You and MM are feeding the beast! (Yes, I know, some of you caught on long ago - more power to you!)

The real power resides with the big money, so unless you can outbid Goldman Sachs and the rest of Wall Street, you're going to have to "grow a spine" and try a whole new tack that doesn't depend on sold-out power structures.

Some of us already started: www.gp.org.

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Michael Moore has a unique ability to get down to the level of his audience and patiently explain the simple truths of a matter that escape a lot of people. He does an excellent job of clarifying very complicated issues and breaking them down to the salient points. Five disparate concepts are delivered in a simple study-guide fashion. I hope someone is listening.

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Don't think so. Both parties are corrupt. Vote 3rd party.
I agree with the person who suggests reducing the military budget. Why do we have troops in Europe? WW2 ended prior to my birth.
Use all those troops to begin laying tracks to a electric train system for rapid trnasport if goods and people within the country, as well as deploying solar panels and wind turbines.
Break up food cartels that own the whole chain of production, purchase, and distribution of food so family farms can be profitable within the U.S. again.
Get out of trade treaties and insist basic industries a nation needs to remain non-dependent must be protected. Steel, concrete, machine tooling, generators, clothings, food, etc should be produced within the nation.

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I have already called my congressman and Obama.

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But before I get to that, HR 676 is the bill that gives us single-payer. I am happy to see this promotion of the Weiner amendment, but 3200 does not in and of itself even suggest national health care. The original 676 still has more co-signers than anything else, and when all is said and done, maybe we can get back to it. And Moore knows it's the bill ----he's talked about it often.

Instead of calling my no-good Republican Congressman (but I do use Health Justice free faxes to bug him constantly), I work tirelessly to replace him or put more progressive cadidates in office at all levels. If I lived elsewhere, I could volunteer to keep some of the good ones (Weiner, Ellison, Massa, etc.). I can't change the Republicans and certainly don't need more Blue Dog Dems, who are often the biggest obstacle. Most of the work that needs to be done requires talking to people where you live. The real work is going to demand some sacrifice (in 2008, I retired a year early making a significant financial decision to work full-time on a Congressional race --- and no, we didn't win this time).

If you can't find a campaign right now, feel free to help with ours --- I'm calling people this morning to donate to Greg Marrow's campaign for the House of Delegates in VA. Why not send us a donation? www.gregmarrow.com

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Things will not change as long as everything revolves around money.
That is the problem with the world.
As long as it requires money to get things done.
Change for a better world will never happen.
We will not have Freedom and we won't have Liberty as long as we are dependent on money.
As long as we keep denying it
The the hardship we are having will always be there.
Until we reconize that MONEY is the problem.
It perverts our decision to do the right thing.
It fuels man greed and lust for power to control over others.
Power corrupts.
It devides the people and brings desention among the people by putting them into seperate classes.
It doesn't bring them together for the common good.
Instead it fuels hate,prejudice,envie.
Causing us to commit crimes against our fellow man.
enslaving them to sevatude to others.
No person should be a slave or servant to another.
We should be work together as equals for a common cause of making a better world for all of us to live in.
Not just a certain class.
The people are the answer. not money.
The planet provides us freely the resources we need,we have the manpower and technology.
There is no excuse.
I hope we have the wisdom to use it all wisely to solve our problems.

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Not only do I have my money in what I considered a locally owned bank, but my family owned stock in it for years. The stock has dropped by nearly 2/3 in the last three years and we think the bank may be going under. It merged with a larger bank, lots of stupid real estate mortgages in a growing resort area, took TARP money and can't pay it back, writing off bad loans like there's no tomorrow (maybe there is no tomorrow for them). I'm back to square one when it comes to local banks. Any ideas about where to start the homework on that one?

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Would add that I don't allow myself to think that the government will take care of me. Doesn't anyone remember Hurricane Katrina? And in our family we live in a SMALL home, own a small car that is paid for. Appreciate having simple food to eat, indoor plumbing and other things most Americans don't seem to think about very often. Own fewer clothes, and we know that health begins with us. So rather than make some food corporation rich, we eat simple, whole food that comes from either our own vegetable garden or at least within fifty miles of where we live. We don't own a cell phone, iPod or a plasma tv. Limit our time online and avoid like the plague gossip sites online and on tv.

Being independent voters we attend town and county council meetings and are involved in our community. We do homeschool, but if someone has a child in public school they need to be more involved and stop expecting teachers to do the job of the parent. And we take care of our elders. We don't warehouse them!! And we know our neighbors and help them weekly when they are out of work, sick or in need. This is the meaning of community! Washington D C is three thousand plus miles east of us. They are NOT our community.

My biggest gripe is people who talk and talk and talk about what other people should be doing, but when you look closer you see the talk is all talk on the part of the talker, and NO walk the talk. So do not listen to anyone who isn't walking their talk, because talk is cheap!! Actions are louder than words.

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First, how about giving Michael Moore a Nobel Peace Prize someday? He probably deserves it as much or more as Obama and Gore.

Second, we saw an effort by the progressive wing of the Democratic party to vote out a Republican-lite incumbent in Connecticut in 2006. Ned Lamont beat Joe Liberman in the primary. Then what happened? AIPAC and the other factions that control the party's leadership were so scared of losing Lieberman that instead of bowing out of the race gracefully, Lieberman ran as an independent. Progressive Democrats voted for Lamont, but Blue Dog Democrats and scores of Republicans voted for Lieberman. The result: We have an "independent" in the Senate who caucuses with the Democrats (who treat him like a rockstar) but who pulls stunts like siding with the Republicans to curtail civil liberties. I wonder how the Democratic voters of Connecticut feel now. We could see many versions of this story play out in 2010 if a significant number of progressives do challenge conservatives. It shows that the current Democratic party is more like two parties than one.

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Over 100 mg methanol impurity per liter wine becomes formaldehyde and then formic acid in humans -- co-factors for "morning after" hangovers -- folic acid protects most people: Rich Murray 2009.10.23

There is the same level of methanol from the 11% methanol part
of the aspartame molecule in 2 L [ 6 cans ] aspartame beverages,
as in 1 L dark wine or liquors.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579335

Dermatitis. 2008; 19(3): E10-E11.
© 2008 American Contact Dermatitis Society
Formaldehyde, Aspartame, and Migraines:
A Possible Connection
Sharon E. Jacob; Sarah Stechschulte
Published: 09/17/2008

Abstract

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener
that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.
Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized
into formaldehyde in various tissues.
We present the first case series of aspartame-associated
migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions
to formaldehyde on patch testing.

formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series,
Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD,
Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553

consider co-factors (methanol, formaldehyde, and protective
folic acid), re UK FSA test of aspartame in candy bars on
50 reactors, Stephen L Atkin, Hull York Medical School:
Rich Murray 2009.09.29
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1587

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages

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Here is a man who never once raised a hand in violence but managed to overturn the rule of one of the most dominant empires of all time by inspiring everyday people through his own behavior as a person. Your bloody revolution will kill thousands if not millions of innocent people. And when your pitchforks lose against the most advanced military in the world…think unmanned bomber drones blowing up your houses and the houses of your friends, who is to say that won’t just be the excuse those at the top need to set-up a truly fascist government.

You talk about getting rid of old systems and ways of doing things but bloody revolution is one such old system. Human beings can solve problems without violence. You arrogantly tell people to read history but you pay no attention to it. Our country was created by a violent revolution against an oppressive government. Did that achieve utopia? No. But it definitely inspired one of the most violent societies in history. Your methods of solving a problem will always manifest in the outcome. If you use violence you will get more violence. The people in this country whether they are the wealthiest or the poorest are human beings. Some of them are ruled by greed, anger and stupidity but the point is while we must stand up to these things outside of us we must also realize the enemy is within. Unless we are all battling these things and tending to the weeds in our own gardens then we should not be surprised when those tendencies manifest in society. Children are not born evil and greedy they learn these things. And while I definitely respect Mr. Moore and his solutions (and they are great ones), I believe we must not just treat the symptoms but also the illness itself.

All human problems are created by humans, ergo the solution lies within. We have tried political, social, cultural and economic revolutions which have all left us far short of our goal. We need a human revolution…A transformation deep within the hearts of people. Some may dismiss that as idealistic or difficult but it is the only way to transform our world in a lasting way. I would add to Mr. Moore’s list that we need to transform the way our children are taught. Education is not about teaching someone skills to be employable but rather giving someone tools by which to live an inspired, sincere and compassionate life. We also need to start within. Those who rant about bloody revolution are not serious about change because that is a fantasy and will not solve our problems. Start with yourself and don’t doubt that your own transformation can change the world.

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Washington and state legislatures are fundamentally disconnected from real life in the USA. One way to change that could be to repeat the patriotic mantra, THE WELL BEING OF OUR NATION RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF HEALTHY WELL PAID WORKERS WITH DOLLARS TO SPEND.

Further, let's stop bashing unions and recognize that unions work for everyone because when worker paychecks are equal for the same work, companies must compete on the basis of quality and service. That works for all.

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Bravo for the suggestions and also the links to make action easier. I am so sick of hearing what won't work. How do we know because we have never tried on mass before??? The worst things to do is NOTHING!

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But, I'm not sure about phoning The President up every day. Hasn't he got more important things to do?

But anyway what is the International dialing code for the USA - I can't remember..

Its +44 for the UK, but then you have to omit the first 0 of the UK number

"Each of us must get into the daily habit of taking 5 minutes to make four brief calls: One to the President (202-456-1414)"

"Hello Barry - You need a New Team. You've employed a bunch of Fascist Cunts"

"Yes Tony - I Know - I'm Dealing With That"

Tony

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Mike, you should take your own advice and think outside the politics-as-usual box. Instead of telling people to 'take over the Democratic Party' and run for office as Democrats, why not acknowledge the Green Party and other options for progressives? You can make a difference by starting a local Green Party and running for office as a Green.

Let's face it, the Dems have a super-majority and they're not doing any of the things on your list. Why not add to that list: instant runoff voting, to eliminate the so-called 'spoiler effect' and allow us to vote our hopes, not our fears; proportional representation to expand the range of views represented in government; equal access to debates for all candidates, not just Democrats and Republicans; and reform of ballot access laws meant to keep citizens from participating in the political process?

Mike, I'm not asking you to register Green. Just stop acting like Greens don't exist, and acknowledge that there are other routes to change than the Democratic Party. Peace!

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1. Declare a moratorium on all home evictions.

Nice. I lost mine already. IMO, anyone who had a subprime oughta be spared the shit...seein' how subprimes were schemes and immoral to begin with. Same as the housing prices.

Don' much matter no mo'... it's all shit and we know we're on our own. Always were down here in the lower classes.

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Dear Michael:

You say start your own media. I have done just that. I used to write letters and letters to all sorts of people and my voice was never heard. It was just like hitting delete instead of send. I got no return whatsoever from my many efforts to express my views on things and be heard by SOMEBODY.

I decided to write a book and get it all out there--and I followed George Bernard Shaw's maxim of "If you're going to tell people the truth, you had better make them laugh or they'll kill you."

I wrote my book. It is called VIVA LA EVOLUCION. Of course I couldn't get to first base with an agent because they are scared to take a chance. They only want guaranteed slot machines that pay off. Then nearly all the New York publishers (Macmillian, Scrivners, Knopf, Random House, St. Martin's Press, you name it, most all of them) are owned by two big German publishing outfits. An unknown, little person with these corporate guys plays like a joke.

So, thank goodness, there is Print On Demand publishing these days that will print a person’s work and put it on amazon.com, give it an ISBN number, and in the process not charge you an arm and a leg. Granted they publish everything and so a lot of it is not good, but it is giving people a forum that they would ordinarily not have.

I am one of those people. My book is coming out in about two weeks under the LULU imprint (lulu.com). I am not a novice writer and I think my book is a good one. I just did not have the years it takes to get it before the right people's eyes. If you don’t have the golden-handshake with that crowd in New York, they’re not going to give you even the recognition that indeed you are alive and a human person. You are a thing, a little person, a nobody. We don’t know you!

What is lacking in the USA is we need to get rid of the golden handshake. We the many are out here trying to make ourselves heard and make good things happen for the many instead of the few. We must yell like hell to make ourselves heard. I'm trying to do it with a book. Without some means of being heard, the fat-cat, golden-handshake people are never going to listen to us.

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After living in Canada a few years now . . . you know, that civilized country to the North that provides health care for all, recognizes gay marriage, does NOT have failing banks, I could go on but . . . .
I've come to the conclusion that Canada is what it is thanks to 4 major political parties, 15 minority parties and about 20 more newer parties.
America is too much about left vs. right . . . and that's it . . . no middle ground, no alternative. The "You're either with us or against us" mentality has to go. Period.
Whatever it takes to create at least ONE MAJOR alternative party is paramount to the survival of American Democracy. (A few more couldn't hurt)

Hey Michael . . . . start a new political party. You certainly have the means . . . the money . . . . the influence . . . . the resources . . . . the following. Your next movie should be about that . . . then you'll have the momentum to make it happen. But please, don't run for office . . . we need you to keep doing what you're doing.

just and idea . . . .

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Actually, the first thing we need is to discuss these 15 ideas and reject those that are unreasonable and inject new ones.

As for the first idea, don't evict, this is silly. All it does is perpetuate the idea that everyone should own a home. It would also make everyone who's paying for their homes now wonder why they should continue; if the government is going to force banks to reduce mortgage payments for those who have lost jobs, why not also for those who still have jobs, but whose homes are worth much less than before?

The idea about common ownership of natural resources is not necessarily a good one. The "public" is no more likely to be responsible stewards of natural resources than Capitalism was, or Communism, or any other -ism, for that matter.

One idea that should be injected is to demand a 50% reduction across-the-board reduction in all Federal government pay scales. Right now, government workers tend to make twice what people working in private businesses make. This is exorbitant, as bad as the banksters. So, we need to reduce pay by at least 50% for all governmentsters.

Then we need to have one "pension" system for all people, in or out of government, with no double and triple dipping--and still complaining, and there's a lot of double dipping and triple dipping, collecting social security, collecting a government pension, plus working as a "consultant," or collecting disability checks and still working full time.

Then we need to withdraw the right to patents for all pharmaceuticals, shut down and hand out capital punishment to any pharmaceutical that peddles a toxic "medicine."

Then we need a Constitutional Convention.

Then we need to bring ALL the troops home and close down the hundreds of oversea bases, particularly the covert, secret, publicly unknown ones.

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Since corporations have the same rights as individuals, I've wondered why we don't have the same rights as corporations. We don't and probably never will so let's all incorporate. Than we can send in one big tax return, deduct all expenses that corporations can like overhead costs of utilities, fuel, utilities, property tax, lunches, travel, and business related expenses. Since none of us will actually draw a salary from the corporation, we won't pay individual taxes on our labor.

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This idea (a work in progress) concerns finding a way to give those homeowners whose tenure is threatened a way to keep up with payments by adding uses to the property. They could take in a boarder who would live in the neighborhood and do various neglected but needed jobs, particularly in landscaping. Participants might include nonviolent offenders in lieu of incarceration, unemployed from US and also from Afghanistan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Haiti etc., and graduate students in management, interns, volunteers, Israelis, Palestinians, under leadership of Tony Blair.

For example, in California, Texas and elsewhere there are trillions of dead sticks which need to be picked up and clipped off and removed from drought-ridden areas to head off more billion-dollar fires. After the best branches are logged and hauled to urban centers for use in carpentry and manufacturing, shreddings and bundled brush can be parked in gullies and revines to trap rainwater leading to gradual reforestation. This program could be placed under the administration of former President G. W. Bush and named "Bushwater".

Perhaps a partnership can be arrived at where the government pays a low but honorable wage to such workers, with a place to stay and some assistance with meals, medical staffing, day-care, language-learning, access to innanet and whatever else is needed, along with the vital aid to the homeowner meeting payments.

A logical training aspect would be for everyone to learn some rudimentary carpentry so that structures can be erected in the house such as shelving units to store everyone's stuff and "mezzanines" or sleeping-lofts so that someone can sleep in a room even while the floor area remains available for working at a desk etc. In this way the occupancy of a 1500-sq.-ft. house can reach ten easily without conflict or crowding. This program can be merged with Habitat for Humanity under the leadership of Jimmy Carpenter.

If national governments can cooperate, maybe families in the US can cooperate with families in Australia, Brazil, Chile etc. so that while a skeleton staff remains in each house in the winter months, the majority of members of two families reside and work in the summer country (i.e. from October through March in the southern hemisphere etc.). This program could be named Hemigration.

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What about a 6th thing Americans can do. Why can't we write our congressmen and the president to vote to change the benefits of our congress and senate making them have to pay for their benefits over the amount that an average american gets. In reduce their pension to make it in line with "normal" civil workers. The day's of the elitist is over!!!!

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I would like to briefly explain how I have been and continue to commit multiple acts of civil disobedience (if you can even call it that). What I like to do is completely LEGAL and has the potential for very high impact. Please note that I used to be a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service so I am telling you this based on empirical evidence. Trust me on this! I believe in utilizing the USPS and at the same time providing a bit of information and entertainment along that very complex journey that a POSTCARD takes to its intended recipient. Your imagination should be kicking in about now and causing a huge grin on your face. Take and print your own pics! Again, use your imagination. Think of the positives...keeping the postal employee employed, informed and entertained. Why would you send a letter to a bankster, congressperson, Foxy news, AIPAC, defense contractors, Insurance companies, the food & drug industry, prisoners, schools, etc., when you can send a POSTCARD so that everybody along the way can not only get a chuckle out of whatever is on the postcard, but what has been written and to who. I can tell you however, that the more graphic & vivid the postcard, the more ATTENTION it will receive during it's peaceful little journey. Stay away from gross images because the postcard will then be put in an envelope where the world can't see it and then 95% of the purpose is defeated. What a way to utilize digital technology! This idea is not just for bad, evil people & corps. It is also a wonderful way of showing somebody respect and approval.

May justice prevail for all.

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My only problem with your plan is the Health care! No one knows or understands the health care plan being passed in Congress! It sounds like even if passed could be a failure!

I get health care insurance in my state for the poor and uninsured! What is cool about the plan is that it partners with an HMO that is local in the county where you live. I had four to choose from and I called the call center about my choices. I spoke with someone who understood the state plan and was able to make an intelligent decision.

My thought is that the federal money for the health care should go to each state to develop a plan for their population. It gets broken down even more to the local level. The recipient of Badger Care pays a co-pay and a low yearly amount. The insurance seems to work, it is not perfect, because we do not have dental or vision on the plan. Otherwise I am happy with it!

I know other states have insurance for the poor and uninsured. Why can the government look at these states for what works and what does not? Why not give each state funding to monitor and run their own health care?

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To change this country we need a silent revolution or call it what ever you like.
The list is good but not good enough! In my opinion, the fact of the matter is, the system is broken calling and demanding doesn't do anything. They will do what they want because they can and besides you aren't invited to their party.

We've been living in the 1800 for a long time. We can't continue to live like this. Think about it! We don't have anything to loose we don't have anything! The Government, corporate America don't even give us the BASICS, even when we are demanding them, even when we vote for them.

We can't wait any longer for change. Are we just waiting for them to die???? because then their kids will take over and they are probably worst. One example is the Bush Family. I can just see it, I can just imagine Bush's daughters in Washington trying to fulfill daddy's dreams u know kill me know and just think and be sure there's more, where that scum came from plenty of it..

I took Michael's list and shrunk it to 4 things we all can do to change the US. ultimetly the world because changing the US unfortunetly also would save the world FROM EVIL...that is right America is EVIL and you are too because u have allowed ur country to kill of everything and then u go to church.

Here is the countdown, if you really want to save the world from Evil and Ultimetly change our way of living then u should join.


4. Take the money out of your bank even if it didn't get bailout money. You most wonder what they stole from you that they didn't need the $.

3.Drop all credit cards even the ones you pay end of month Master card American Express they are both also part of the problem, don't be silly.

2. Loose your stocks,You invest you provide power to the wrong individuals. If you have to invest them make sure you arenn't investing in corporate that is going to come back to hunt u or ur neightbor.

1. GO EXEMPT from your federal taxes. AND DON'T PAY UR federal TAXES AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS THAT SIMPLE! Pay ur State taxes so your community doesn't suffer. If most of us did it at the end of year they will get the picture. Trust me nice and clear and all from the comfort of your home, no tear gas no beatings etc. I'm not saying take a vacation with that money even though is temting.. is leverage meaning THE POWER TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING; AN strategic advantage!

No one ever said a war or a revolutions were easy. by now we have nothig to loose no jobs no insurance. What bothers me most is that we are so conformist and we allow a group to do horrible things not just to us but to others around the world and we turn a BLIND EYE IS THE TRUTH and I'm really ashamed to be an American. I want to prove to the rest of world that Americans aren't stupit, we are good people we mean well and that we aren't killers we just don't know any better because we are so far away from the rest of the world. That's SAD!

Kikiriki

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Why not public burning of credit cards similar to the Viet Nam era draft card burning? Participants would agree to burn all their credit cards (with the exception that Michael suggests) and not to apply for another until banks are truly regulated and their CEO's no longer get those unconscionable bonuses. Break the credit habit while giving the banks a little pinch!

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Read on. The book to read is by Wilkinson and Prichett. Wilkinson is a British epidemiologist and Prichett is a social psychologist. The book is "The Spirit Level". It is slow, dull, even technical. But the idea that what we have guessed to be true is supported by solid science is in itself exciting.

I found the conclusions out about page 160 to be most interesting. By every good measure the United States is in 30th place when rating quality of life. This should be required reading for all true patriots.

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