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AlterNet Community Discussion

You know what we think -- now we want to hear what you think! That's why, at the end of every new story and blog post, we've provided space for your comments. The comments area is a shared community space for readers to contribute feedback, ideas and information. You're invited to drop in anytime and give us an earful. Be on the lookout for comments from writers and editors as they respond and contribute to the discussion!

Check out the 40 stories and blog posts most commented on in the past week.

Published between: to

To the Hope and Change Crowd -- How's It Working Out for You?

To the Hope and Change Crowd -- How's It Working Out for You?

Joe Bageant, JoeBageant.com. December 9, 2009. [260 total comments]
Obama promised change -- and sure enough, things are changing for the worse.

Are Americans a Broken People? Why We've Stopped Fighting Back Against the Forces of Oppression

Are Americans a Broken People? Why We've Stopped Fighting Back Against the Forces of Oppression

Bruce E. Levine, AlterNet. December 11, 2009. [253 total comments]
A psychologist asks: Have consumerism, suburbanization and a malevolent corporate-government partnership so beaten us down that we no longer have the will to save ourselves?

Dear Barack, Spare Me Your E-Mails

Dear Barack, Spare Me Your E-Mails

Robert Scheer, Truthdig. December 10, 2009. [209 total comments]
Obama’s faux populism is beginning to grate, and I finally came unglued when one of his "we the people" e-mails from him landed on my screen.

There's More to Sex Than a Cum Shot to the Face: What Men Should Unlearn from Hardcore Porn

There's More to Sex Than a Cum Shot to the Face: What Men Should Unlearn from Hardcore Porn

Vanessa Richmond, AlterNet. December 12, 2009. [199 total comments]
No, porn does not turn men into crazed sex fiends. But it's clear that pornography has affected the way we view -- and have -- sex. Here's how to counter porn's effects.

Homeland Security Embarks on Big Brother Programs to Read Our Minds and Emotions

Homeland Security Embarks on Big Brother Programs to Read Our Minds and Emotions

Liliana Segura, AlterNet. December 9, 2009. [167 total comments]
Half-baked Homeland Security is spending millions to develop sensors capable of detecting a person's level of 'malintent' as a counterterrorism tool.

Supreme Court's Ruling Would Allow Bin Laden to Donate to Sarah Palin's Presidential Campaign

Supreme Court's Ruling Would Allow Bin Laden to Donate to Sarah Palin's Presidential Campaign

Greg Palast, AlterNet. December 11, 2009. [156 total comments]
I'm biting my nails waiting for the Supreme Court's ruling in 'Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission' -- here's why you should be too.

Rachel Maddow Demolishes Therapist Who Claims He Can Make Her Straight

Rachel Maddow Demolishes Therapist Who Claims He Can Make Her Straight

AlterNetDecember 10, 2009. [144 total comments]
Richard Cohen claims his therapy can turn gay people straight -- an absurd theory debunked by all national psychological associations.

Has the GOP Collapse Begun? Hypothetical

Has the GOP Collapse Begun? Hypothetical "Tea Party" Outpolls Republicans

Adele M. Stan, AlterNet. December 8, 2009. [131 total comments]
Something is afoot among the conservative base -- voting Republican doesn't seem to cut it anymore, and incumbents are getting nervous.

Bill Moyers: We Have a Nobel Peace President Who Won't Ban Land Mines

Bill Moyers: We Have a Nobel Peace President Who Won't Ban Land Mines

Bill Moyers, Michael Winship, Bill Moyers Journal. December 11, 2009. [114 total comments]
The Nobel Committee said Obama won the prize for his respect of international law and his efforts at disarmament, yet he won't even sign on to end a barbaric weapon.

Medical Marijuana Apartheid: Different Rules Apply for Rich and Poor Pot Smokers

Medical Marijuana Apartheid: Different Rules Apply for Rich and Poor Pot Smokers

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. December 13, 2009. [101 total comments]
A California hipster can hit the vaporizer without fear of harassment, but a lower-class person smoking a blunt may not be so lucky.

Meet the Billionaire Brothers Funding the Right-Wing War on Obama

Meet the Billionaire Brothers Funding the Right-Wing War on Obama

Think ProgressDecember 9, 2009. [92 total comments]
They're the 9th richest people in America and they're pushing hard to upend President Obama's progressive agenda.

Why Is Mainstream Media Faking a Climate Scandal When There's Real Reporting to Be Done?

Why Is Mainstream Media Faking a Climate Scandal When There's Real Reporting to Be Done?

Faiz Shakir, The Progress Report. December 10, 2009. [87 total comments]
There is plenty of reporting to be done in Copenhagen, but instead the media is playing into deniers' conspiracy theories.

Christ in Your Tree? The Newest Weapon Against Evil Atheists Bent on Destroying X-Mas

Christ in Your Tree? The Newest Weapon Against Evil Atheists Bent on Destroying X-Mas

Tana Ganeva, AlterNetAlterNet: PEEK. December 8, 2009. [84 total comments]
Celebrate Christmas morbidly.

Obama Far Outdoes Bush in Escalating War -- The Numbers Will Surprise You

Obama Far Outdoes Bush in Escalating War -- The Numbers Will Surprise You

David DeGraw, Amped Status. December 9, 2009. [83 total comments]
Increasing numbers of deployed soldiers, mercenaries and drones all add up to Obama being more of a war president than Bush, in terms of hard numbers.

The Reason for 15 Million Unemployed: Poor Thinking at the Top

The Reason for 15 Million Unemployed: Poor Thinking at the Top

Dean Baker, TruthOut.org. December 9, 2009. [80 total comments]
It is absolutely unacceptable to have 15 million people unemployed just because the people who call the shots are too dumb to figure out how to get them back to work.

The Swiss Minaret Ban: What Are They Really Trying to Outlaw?

The Swiss Minaret Ban: What Are They Really Trying to Outlaw?

Laila Lalami, The Nation. December 9, 2009. [67 total comments]
A voter referendum prohibiting the construction of minarets in Switzerland is part of a disturbing, anti-Muslim trend that's been working its way through Europe for years.

Why Fake Optimism Is the Worst Way to Deal with Life's Problems

Why Fake Optimism Is the Worst Way to Deal with Life's Problems

Liz Langley, AlterNet. December 8, 2009. [62 total comments]
Looking at crap and calling it candy has become a growth industry. But experts say there are better ways to deal with crisis.

U.S. Business Interests Suspected in 'Fabricated' Climate Scandal

U.S. Business Interests Suspected in 'Fabricated' Climate Scandal

Staff, Agence France Presse. December 14, 2009. [60 total comments]
The emails that have right-wingers frothing aren't scandalous. The issue is who hacked the scientists' computers, and what they had to gain from undermining their research.

Hot, Steamy Mormons: Are the Latter Day Saints Getting Sexy?

Hot, Steamy Mormons: Are the Latter Day Saints Getting Sexy?

Liz Langley, AlterNet. December 10, 2009. [56 total comments]
Calendars and videos featuring scantily clad Mormons are helping redefine images of the Latter Day Saints -- but not everyone in the Church is happy.

Copenhagen Won't Be Enough -- Only a 'Human Movement' Can Save Civilization from the Climate Crisis

Copenhagen Won't Be Enough -- Only a 'Human Movement' Can Save Civilization from the Climate Crisis

Fred Branfman, Sacramento News & Review. December 9, 2009. [53 total comments]
A strange cloud envelops human civilization as its leaders fail to take the measures to protect it in Copenhagen that they themselves endorsed just five months ago.

Why Are We Drugging Our Kids?

Why Are We Drugging Our Kids?

Evelyn Pringle, TruthOut.org. December 14, 2009. [52 total comments]
Psychiatric drugs are overprescribed and can even make mental symptoms worse in kids. They're also a goldmine for drug companies.

Texas Populist Jim Hightower Makes Progressive 'Hall of Fame,' as Nation Magazine Gathering Grapples with Conflicted Feelings about President Obama

Texas Populist Jim Hightower Makes Progressive 'Hall of Fame,' as Nation Magazine Gathering Grapples with Conflicted Feelings about President Obama

Don Hazen, AlterNet. December 10, 2009. [52 total comments]
A year after the President's inauguration, much of the giddiness surrounding Obama has dissipated.

Rachel Maddow Takes on Man Who Claims He Can Make Her Straight

Rachel Maddow Takes on Man Who Claims He Can Make Her Straight

Jan Frel, AlterNetAlterNet: Video. December 9, 2009. [50 total comments]
Richard Cohen's teachings have been debunked by essentially all national psychological associations, and related peer-reviewed assessments.

Pentagon's Advice to Traumatized Veterans: Think Happy Thoughts!

Pentagon's Advice to Traumatized Veterans: Think Happy Thoughts!

Penny Coleman, AlterNet. December 10, 2009. [47 total comments]
Hey, all you quitters and whiners: If it’s bad and it hurts, you have to try harder, have faith, and above all, think positive!

The Religious Right's Potty Paranoia

The Religious Right's Potty Paranoia

Stephanie Mencimer, Mother Jones Online. December 12, 2009. [44 total comments]
Public restrooms: The final frontier of the right's war on queer folk?

Billions More in Easy Money for Wall Street -- Are We Too Ignorant About Finance to Stop It?

Billions More in Easy Money for Wall Street -- Are We Too Ignorant About Finance to Stop It?

William Greider, The Nation. December 8, 2009. [40 total comments]
A permanent security blanket for big boys of finance will further inflame public opinion. Only the public isn't likely to know.

Senate Passes Compromised Health Care Reform -- Will Progressive Dems Support the Final Bill?

Senate Passes Compromised Health Care Reform -- Will Progressive Dems Support the Final Bill?

John Nichols, TheNation.com. December 9, 2009. [37 total comments]
Senate Dems cut a deal on the public option but also endorse expanding Medicare, leaving some liberals torn over whether they will support the final bill.

The Public Option That Isn't Public At All

The Public Option That Isn't Public At All

James Ridgeway, Mother Jones Online. December 8, 2009. [36 total comments]
As the Senate negotiates its health-care reform bill, liberals appear ready to throw in the towel on a real public option.

Afghanistan: How the War Hawks Caged Obama

Afghanistan: How the War Hawks Caged Obama

Robert Parry, Consortium News. December 12, 2009. [34 total comments]
How a desire for bipartisanship and peace within his own party led Obama to appoint a hawkish cabal that pushed him to a renewed war in Afghanistan.

Why Is the Federal Government Supporting Evangelism?

Why Is the Federal Government Supporting Evangelism?

Eleanor J. Bader, RH Reality Check. December 9, 2009. [31 total comments]
Why does Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, which teaches students to be "Champions for Christ," get tax-exempt status?

How a Few Private Health Insurers Are on the Way to Controlling Health Care

How a Few Private Health Insurers Are on the Way to Controlling Health Care

Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog. December 12, 2009. [30 total comments]
If you think an expanded Medicare makes up for the lack of a public option in the Senate bill, you're smoking medical marijuana.

Zinn's 'People's History' Masterwork Hits the History Channel

Zinn's 'People's History' Masterwork Hits the History Channel

Dave Zirin, AlterNet. December 11, 2009. [30 total comments]
Don't miss Howard Zinn's 'Voices of a People's History' debut on the History Channel on December 13th.

Daybreak for Marijuana: Most Americans Support Legalization

Daybreak for Marijuana: Most Americans Support Legalization

Jan Frel, AlterNetAlterNet: DrugReporter. December 10, 2009. [29 total comments]
New poll shows 53% support for legalization.

Glenn Beck's

Glenn Beck's "Buy Gold!" Hucksterism Pisses Off Fox News

Tana Ganeva, AlterNetAlterNet: PEEK. December 8, 2009. [27 total comments]
It finally happened. Glenn Beck managed to embarrass Fox News.

25 Days In Federal Prison For Littering? Border Patrol Cracking Down on Human Rights Activists

25 Days In Federal Prison For Littering? Border Patrol Cracking Down on Human Rights Activists

Jessica Weisberg, AlterNet. December 14, 2009. [27 total comments]
Walt Staton was dropping off water jugs for people who attempt the often deadly trek into Arizona from Mexico when the Feds ticketed him for "knowingly littering."

Does Obama's Road to Re-Election Run Through Kabul?

Does Obama's Road to Re-Election Run Through Kabul?

Christian Parenti, The Nation. December 10, 2009. [27 total comments]
The real purpose of sending 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan is to make Obama look tough as he heads toward his next election.

How Easy it Is to Reinforce People's Conspiracy Paranoia

How Easy it Is to Reinforce People's Conspiracy Paranoia

Joshua Holland, AlterNetAlterNet: World. December 14, 2009. [24 total comments]
True but kind of lame 9/11 story.

12 Crazy Futuristic Water Buildings That May Help Humans Survive Climate Change Catastrophe

12 Crazy Futuristic Water Buildings That May Help Humans Survive Climate Change Catastrophe

* Staff, WebEcoist. December 10, 2009. [23 total comments]
Twelve prototype habitats are making a convincing argument for mankind's offshore living.

Obama Invokes 'Just War' as Nobel Chairman Compares Him to MLK

Obama Invokes 'Just War' as Nobel Chairman Compares Him to MLK

Daniela Perdomo, AlterNetAlterNet: World. December 10, 2009. [22 total comments]
President Obama accepts his Nobel Peace Prize by calling Afghanistan a "just war." The Nobel chairman claims "Dr. King's dream has come true." What?

Study Says Eco Shoppers More Likely to Cheat, Steal

Study Says Eco Shoppers More Likely to Cheat, Steal

Tara Lohan, AlterNetAlterNet: PEEK. December 11, 2009. [22 total comments]
Yeah, this is bad (and also a little funny).

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