I don't see how the wiretapping saga can ever be resolved unless the government submits to a full and critical examination of the events and a determination made if laws were circumvented or not. If that doesn't happen how can citizens be assured their rights were upheld?

Our legal system is rendered completely useless if because of political wrangling or other undue influence it is impossible to determine that persons observed the law or not. Even in the case where national security is at issue there has to be a structural devisement that defines the process that has to be followed. Whatever the current state of that process at any given time, it's the one which must be followed. That it might be inadequate relative to an unforseen event cannot be used as justification to circumvent the law. Doing so introduces the potential for the subjective nullification of the law. Such a scheme cannot possibly ever work in conjunction with the constitution. The obvious question is how can you have a system that introduces contention that cannot be resolved?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28364.html

I am starting to think that the typical investor stands little chance against professional traders and Wall Street in general because unless a person devotes a lot of time to this, available returns are siphoned off by skilled traders and other denizens of Wall Street. I'm thinking this ends with a significant dilution of possible returns and thus it becomes decidedly disadvantageous for nonprofessionals to even bother.

And then there is this stuff going on that I suspect is only the tip of the iceberg.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10376993-265.html 

Just my two cents.

Here we go again with big corporate interests having exclusive and direct input to a legal structure which the public is not allowed to see and which will remain secret.

This has a familiar ring.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/10/these-42-people-are-shaping-us-internet-enforcement-policy.ars

Out of the mouths of babes. You gotta love the way kids see the truth without the slightest encumbrance. The burdens of life really cloud our vision. Sometimes with disastrous results.

Isn't it odd how age and truth sometimes manifest themselves in opposite proportion?

I wonder if it's just a coincidence that this phenomena repeatedly attaches to the same persons?

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/fourth-grader-to-obama-why-does-everyone-hate-you.php

Enigma definition:

An enigma is a type of riddle generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that requires ingenuity and careful thinking for its solution.

In this case I happen to think a solution may not be within our grasp. In particular as it requires ingenuity and careful thinking, the impediment may be insumountable.

I don't know how to react to this. It feels like it is part of a broader picture we have been watching develop. That picture has us regressing in ways which intuitively feels wrong. I've no idea how to get in the head of persons making these horrible decisions and understand even a little the knowledge, ideas and thought processes that make these decisions possible. Neither do I understand a system which permits such persons to be in a position to make them. I guess this runs parallel to my failure to understand how we let 9/11 happen, let the banks screw over the global financial system or how we let insurers take our healthcare system hostage. It's almost as if all the information government and business are gathering is being used to harm rather than serve the nation.

Day by day we keep adding to our burden without truly relieving ourselves of any of it. I wonder how long it will take before it becomes too much?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/ 

In as much as most people would categorize a criminal as someone who brings them harm in some way I am having a difficult time telling the criminals from the good guys. That I am referring to things going on in our nations capitol is very alarming.

Right now we are lucky if we can get a third of U.S. Senators to support a healthcare reform package or a financial reform package which truly supports the majority of citizens in a way where those citizens interests come first.

Of what value is legislation that is disadvantageous to the majority?

How can we have a majority of senators who actually favor legislation that is disadvantageous to the majority of citizens?

What possible reason could our senators have for making this choice?

If informed citizens understand which choices would provide the most desirable result for the majority of citizens why isn't that one of the available choices for our senators to consider?

How long do we have to tolerate Senators lying to or agreeing with their ill-informed constituents in minority population states who seemingly haven't a clue what is in their best interests and who are holding the entire nation captive to harmful nationalistsic notions of freedom?

How long do we have to tolerate having corporate interests operating as major contributors to legislation where they have a major say in the formulation of that legislation which then generally supercedes the interests of the majority?

Is it ever logical or moral or ethical to observe the supposed rights of a minority constituency, corporations, when doing so results in real, measurable, and significant harm to the majority?

Can anbody think of a reason why we should trust in the honesty, ability, intelligence or integrity of our representaives in Washington? None occurs to me.

It was with disbelief that I read this piece from the Washington Post this morning. It describes how states and municipalities have lost vast sums from their pension funds and won't be able to meet their obligations. The suggested fix is for taxpayers to make up the shortfall. I kid you not. That is what it says.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33264342/ns/business-washington_post// 

Once upon a time when someone screwed up in a huge way and harmed hundreds of millions of people they were held accountable. I have to look directly at congress where over the years they relieved themselves from any accountability for their decisions or actions. We no longer have a standard of conduct or accountability. Congress has ushered in a system where no matter how big a screwup, nobody is held responsible. The topper is, the majority who are harmed are then expected to pay the very ones who screwed up while being made to eat their own losses. Our entire society is on the brink of insanity.

There have been those times in history where entire governments and the entire ruling class was slaughtered by the general populace. I'm beginning to see how that happens.