I know this feeling. Its so simple, so beautiful, and so true, like most things of beauty.

It reminds me of thoughts that I've had before, but never come to mind until it's too late.

Thanks for reminding me.

"Some products are better suited to be built in other countries. SOme in this countries. Not a problem."

But it seems that the United States taxpayer is always suitable for these international corporations to run back to when they're in trouble.

GM, for example. They build cars and provide jobs all over the world, but where did they come when they were about to go under? You got it - to us. Why didn't they seek help from one of those other countries that were more "conducive" to free enterprise?

Even though I'm far less than rich, I've always felt that making the rich pay a higher percentage of their income, simply because they're rich, is a non-progressive concept. If everybody pays the same percentage of their income, simple math levels the playing field.

I'm convinced that if progressives had refrained from indulging in that little piece of hypocrisy, there'd be a lot fewer Republicans. It is an unjust policy, and should be considered un-Amrican.

But then, we often ignore our "ideals" when it's convenient - ask Cheney.

"During the last century, big business and the American people were a partnership. The business community hired us to manufacture their goods, and paid us a living wage that was sufficient to purchase those things that we manufactured. It was a symbiotic relationship. They paid us well, and guarantee a job for life, which gave us the confidence to borrow from the banks and purchased what they produced. It was perfect.

But now, in this new world economy where big business is selling their goods all over the world, and competing with countries who are paying their workers pennies a day, the American worker is no longer an asset, but a liability. Those same American businesses who once relied on the American worker are now international in scope. So they now look upon the American worker with, our relative high wages, as an extravagance that they can do without. While they still want to sell us their goods, they no longer want to pay us to produce those goods."

Things have changed.

Here's what you get when you give the vultures of the the free market free rein:

"(CBS/AP) A top court has dismissed thousands of juvenile convictions issued by a judge charged in a corruption scandal.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday threw out more than five years' worth of cases heard by former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella. He is charged with accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks to send youths to private detention centers."

Thanks, Adel.

Thanks, Adel.

Is helping one's own family really a form of socialism? Is always enriching the rich what capitalism is all about? Are these jackleg preachers REALLY speaking for God? Does the Republican Party actually corner the market on morally? Can they trust the likes of Rush Limbaugh? And why is it that I like this president that their trying to demonize much more than I do the demonizers?

I'd say thinking conservatives are in deep contemplation at this point, and the GOP knows it. That's why they're desperate - and becoming increasingly dangerous.

But those weren't 'mis-steps'- they were blatant acts of political fraud.

And it is that very selfishness on the part ofthe American people that going to be our demise.

That a beautiful video.

Just like a cult, they seem to be saying, "We don't care what the rest of America thinks; we know the truth - we have God on our side." So they're not only beginning to resemble a cult, but a dangerous one at that.

Isn't it amazing what you can see when you open your eyes?

They also tend to look down their nose at Dennis Kucinich like he's some kind of wild-eyed radical, while he's just trying to bring a little common sense to the table.

Just the fact that Bush and Cheney are not in irons says it all to me - and contrary to popular belief, that's the issue that has many independents looking askance at Obama.

Once we've lost equal justice under the law, we lost America.

The GOP doing everything that they can to make America suffer for the next four years, so they can mount a campaign saying it was Obama's fault.

Obama needs to recognize that he's dealing with insurrectionists. What is good for America, is bad for the GOP.

Hey, that sounds like an article!

I hereby accept this great honor on behalf of this TPM site. I just hoped we're not attacked by the GOP for being unworthy.

Chuck, you're incorrigible. you just made me spit coffee all over my screen.

I think that I am representative of Independents in one respect. The very fact that we are independent clearly demonstrates that we're not knee jerk supporters of either of the major political parties. And since those who identify with the Republican Party is only at 20%, that number would indicate that the GOP has even lost part of its die-hard base. It suggests that more indepentents are disenchanted with the GOP than they are with the Democratic Party.

Then there's the issue that congress's numbers are in the toilet as well, while President Obama is at 57% with an upward trajectory from the Summer. That would tend to indicate that the American people would like congress to be more in line with the policies of President Obama. Thus, the rationale behind my comment.

Your analysis is right on target. That why I pointed out in the article that "it's all about class."

I've written two or three articles on this issue. Politicians have become a class unto themselves. We've allowed them to give themselves too many perks, and way too many raises. They've gotten to the point now where they can't even identify with the people they represent.

If we ever want to get this government under control, we're going to have to snatch these politicians down a notch or two. We need to come up with a formula that makes it illegal for them to make any more than median income of America's middle class, and with a ceiling at a given amount above the minimum wage.

They also need to be FORCED to work five 8 hour days per week, and 11 months a year.

In short, they should be forced to live like we do.