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Stop Delusional Thinking
by Joel S. Hirschhorn (libertarian)
About The Author
Formerly a full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and then a senior official at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the National Governors Association. Now an activist writer. Author of three nonfiction books for a general audience; the most recent is Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government - www.delusionaldemocracy.com. Articles and essays appear regularly on over 100 websites. Co-founder of Friends of the Article V Convention at www.foavc.org. Active in the 9/11 truth movement. About The Column
Hard-hitting, in-depth examinations of contemporary issues in politics, government and the economy, intended to not only inform but also to motivate citizen activism. Blockbuster Bailout?
Published: March 18, 2010
Now that it has received terrific competition Blockbuster is going down the tubes and I say good riddance.
Corporate Shills and Apologists (Blaming Toyota Drivers)
Published: March 15, 2010
There appears to be a national campaign to blame Toyota drivers for sudden acceleration and runaway cars. This should really anger everyone, especially owners of Toyotas.
Understanding Toyota Sudden Acceleration
Published: March 8, 2010
This will help you understand the real nature of the Toyota sudden acceleration problem. Neither the government or Toyota are tackling the problem correctly.
Save Your Money or Save the Economy?
Published: March 2, 2010
For those Americans with some extra cash, the tendency is now to save rather than spend. But economic recovery is impossible unless there is marked increases in consumer spending. Face reality; face gloom.
Another Consumer Scam
Published: March 2, 2010
One of the enduring, widespread consumer scams is Direct Buy that uses high pressure sales methods to lure consumers into paying a large membership fee.
Pharmaceutical Pillage
Published: February 23, 2010
Just when Americans felt that corporate misdeeds could not be worse comes yet another example of corporate greed. The diabetes drug Avandia is killing people.
Real, Uglier American Unemployment
Published: February 17, 2010
Economic inequality is shown by much higher unemployment rates with lower income households. The political use of a national unemployment rate is political propaganda designed to hide the real problem that is intractable.
To Tea or Not To Tea
Published: February 9, 2010
A lot of political dissidents and rebels like me surely have some good reasons for not joining the national tea party movement.
Fixing A Bad Supreme Court Decision
Published: January 26, 2010
What must be done when the Supreme Court makes an awful ruling like the recent one permitting more corporate money in politics: recognize that our corrupt Congress will never propose a constitutional amendment to fix the problem nor pass legislation to do the job. Article V offers the solution.
Disdain Versus Democracy
Published: January 22, 2010
Understanding the Scott Brown victory has caused President Obama to recognize his own failure, something that millions of Americans have already done. In a two-party plutocracy angry voters can only shift power between the two corrupt major parties.
American Disappointment
Published: January 1, 2010
The American Dream has been replaced by the American Disappointment as evidenced by a decade of zeros and nothings just ended. Will Americans find their national roots in revolution?
Health Care Delusion
Published: December 25, 2009
This is the ultimate test to see if delusion rules your thinking: Is the bill that the grinning President Obama will sign really good for the nation?
Obama: Say One Term Is Enough
Published: December 1, 2009
As the nation sinks deeper into nation-failing President Obama must find the courage to tell angry and suffering Americans that one term is enough, so that he can seek true and deep reforms.
Article V Convention: No Reason to Fear Liberals
Published: November 20, 2009
I have regularly encountered the fear that liberals would control the convention and produce awful results. Let me carefully make the case why this fear is completely unjustified and why patriotic Americans that are not constitutional hypocrites should support the nonpartisan effort of Friends of the Article V Convention.
What Physicians Know
Published: November 1, 2009
The greatest burden for physicians is dealing with private health insurance companies, which is why so many of them want Medicare to be made available to everyone.
Constitutional Hypocrisy
Published: October 13, 2009
Amazingly, so many Americans express love and respect for the US Constitution, yet so few understand how and why Congress has gotten away with disobeying a piece of it.
Will Obama Have Veto Courage?
Published: October 2, 2009
Most likely the health care reform bill passed by Congress will not be true, needed reform. So, will President Obama have the integrity to veto it?
Corporate Corruption Killing America
Published: September 14, 2009
Only pandemic delusional thinking explains why Americans don't understand that political reforms are prevented by corporate corruption of the political system.
9/11 Mind Swell
Published: August 10, 2009
Approaching the eighth anniversary of 9/11 prompts a hard analysis of why and how the 9/11 truth movement has failed to achieve the most important goal: a new, credible investigation.
Government Gone Mad
Published: July 21, 2009
Americans are getting politics as usual, which means corrupt, dysfunctional government as usual.
Delusional Health Care Reform
Published: June 25, 2009
Unless we replace the awful, inefficient and profit driven private health insurance industry with a government single payer system there is no real health care reform.
Constitutional Rubbish
Published: May 14, 2009
Americans need a civics lesson. And so do politicians. Of all the wrong and delusional thinking about the US Constitution the one that is most thoroughly incorrect and routinely used for political propaganda purposes is that there are three coequal branches of the federal government.
Rule of Law Vetoed by President Obama
Published: April 21, 2009
You do not have rule of law unless the political and justice systems are willing to seriously examine past actions. But Obama wants to look forward, not backward. That vetoes the rule of law.
From Populist Rage to Revolution
Published: March 27, 2009
Americans clearly are capable of being outraged. Missing, however, is a sustained, vibrant demand for deep reforms of our political and government system. All the venom aimed at AIG and its bonus-receiving employees served more as a distraction than a viable political strategy to reform our government.
Senator Feingold Has Constitutional Opportunity
Published: March 14, 2009
Senator Russ Feingold has a fine idea for a constitutional amendment: every senator must actually be elected rather than appointed to that position. But he should shift attention to getting Congress to obey the Constitution and call the first Article V convention.
Four Integrity Tests for President Obama
Published: March 8, 2009
A great smile does not make a truth teller. A talker of change does not define a reformer. What if he is just another untrustworthy politician? What if he does not keep his promises? With these questions in mind, I have examined four areas where I find President Obama’s behavior disappointing.
Mesmerized by Melodic Rhetoric
Published: February 11, 2009
Compared to rioting Europeans, Americans seem like docile, drugged out sheep herded towards the economic cliff, mesmerized by melodic rhetoric of political messiah Barack Obama. Too much hope can precipitate violence.
Tax Solution to Wretched Greed
Published: January 30, 2009
A law should be immediately passed that imposes a new special federal income tax of 99 percent on all income in excess of $500,000 annually for single taxpayers and $1 million for couples, starting for 2008 income. Call it a greed tax.
Libertarianism: If Not Now, Then When?
Published: January 11, 2009
In these terrible economic times, is it not reasonable to think that if libertarianism was ever to have a chance of attracting very broad public support as an alternative to what the US has had for many, many decades, would this be the time?
Consumer Power is the Salvation
Published: January 6, 2009
With nearly $9 trillion in cash sitting in bank and money market accounts, consumers have more power than the government to rescue the economy.
Illinois Citizens Deserve Corrupt Government
Published: December 12, 2008
When Illinois voters went against having a state constitutional convention this past election they really voted to keep their corrupt, dysfunctional political system.
George W. Bush Belongs In Prison
Published: November 29, 2008
There is a compelling case for indicting George W. Bush and putting him in prison, not to get revenge, but to obtain justice and show the world that we truly believe in the rule of law that even presidents are not above.
Unjust Deserts: Book Review
Published: November 22, 2008
Inherited knowledge, not personal efforts, mostly explains becoming rich.
We Need A New National Political Party
Published: November 12, 2008
The current third party movement is dead. We need a new MAJOR political party.
The Anti-Incumbency Movement Is Dead
Published: November 7, 2008
Why do Americans keep re-electing losers in Congress? Stupidity.
Book Review: No Innocent Bystanders
Published: October 2, 2008
You get to a fake democracy when there are too many bystanders.
Eat Your Cats and Dogs
Published: September 29, 2008
Americans cannot vote their way out of our national mess.
Our Republic Raped and Still No Revolution!
Published: September 22, 2008
Ousting Democrats and Republicans is more justified and needed than removing the tyranny of the King of England. Our elected domestic tyranny operating as a plutocracy masquerading as a democracy has been raping our nation.
How to Celebrate Constitution Day
Published: September 17, 2008
Today, September 17 is Constitution Day, but very, very few Americans know this or will celebrate it. If you think of yourself as a politically engaged, civic-minded and patriotic American, then I urge you to celebrate today by expanding your mind about a critically important but never-used part of our Constitution.
Dummies for Democracy
Published: September 9, 2008
For the most part, Americans are ignorant about politics, history and current events, making them vulnerable to lies of politicians that support the two-party plutocracy.
Unintelligence in Federal Intelligence Agencies
Published: September 4, 2008
Using privatization the Bush administration is wasting billions of taxpayer dollars by using contractors.
Palin Ups Chances of McCain Beating Obama
Published: August 29, 2008
By choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate John McCain made a brilliant decision.
Bye Bye Barry
Published: August 19, 2008
Imagine the reactions in November if Obama loses to McCain.
Working Poor Unready to Revolt
Published: August 7, 2008
Despite considerable economic pain, those at the bottom of the income spectrum seem more delusional than ready to revolt against an unjust political system.
We Need More Direct Democracy
Published: July 28, 2008
The failure of our representative democracy creates urgency for more direct democracy.
Too Old and Brain-dead
Published: July 15, 2008
This is the right election year to reject both Democratic and Republican candidates.
The Audacity of Arrogance
Published: June 27, 2008
With horrendous hubris, the ruling class seems incapable of foreseeing a populist revolt.
Poisonous Plutocracy Pushes Economic Inequality
Published: May 28, 2008
The two-party plutocracy continues to increase economic inequality by directing far much of the nation's wealth to the Upper Class.
After Hillary, Voting With Conscience and Pride
Published: May 9, 2008
Time for Americans to find the courage and vote against the two-party plutocracy.
How to Get Universal Health Care
Published: May 2, 2008
Americans deserve to get the constitutional right to affordable universal health care.
Obama's Crotch Itch Problem
Published: April 27, 2008
This skinny candidate has a serious character flaw.
How Hillary Can Knock-Out Obama
Published: April 23, 2008
Now is the time for Hilary Clinton to take a bold position that in one brilliant, courageous stroke shows the nation that she is more willing to pursue true reforms of the two-party plutocratic political system than Obama is.
Most Powerful Americans
Published: April 16, 2008
Forget votes and guns, the real power of consumers to get government actions they want is through their spending.
Open Letter to John McCain
Published: March 24, 2008
There are no good reasons to vote for McBush for president and get continuation of failed policies.
God Bless Ralph Nader
Published: February 28, 2008
Ralph Nader is more than an advocate for consumers; he fights for American democracy.
Delusional Hope: The Obama Rapture
Published: February 21, 2008
Mass delusional hope may sweep Obama into the White House.
Obama Hope Beating Clinton Help
Published: February 14, 2008
Time to stop being mesmerized by the race and see the ultimate reality.
The Evolution of Evil
Published: February 1, 2008
Perhaps a global political apocalypse has already arrived. Evil forces and tyrannical governments have evolved. By learning from history and using new technology they have smarter tools of tyranny. The tools of real rebellion are weak. Most corrupt and legally sanctioned forms of tyranny hide in plain sight as democracies with free elections. The toughest lesson is that ALL elections are distractions.
False Gods Create False Hope
Published: January 17, 2008
When American support false change agents they end up maintaining the political staus quo.
Change Yes, Ron Paul No
Published: January 4, 2008
The vast national desire for political change is manifesting itself through support for both Democratic and Republican change-candidates. Despite Paul being flush with money and having a large number of workers in Iowa, he was solidly rejected as the leading change agent.
Vomit Politics
Published: January 3, 2008
Following the current endless news coverage of this presidential primary season makes me sick. I have never seen and heard so much empty-minded hype and over-exaggeration of so much unimportant political crap.
9/11 Truth Manifesto
Published: December 25, 2007
By accepting painful truth about 9/11 Americans can open the door to needed political reforms.
Ron Paul Reality Check
Published: December 20, 2007
There are good reasons why so many people like Paul, but too many seem oblivious to details about his history.
Americans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting Conditions
Published: December 18, 2007
Americans need to recapture a Boston Tea Party mindset if our democracy is to be restored.
Obama versus Clinton versus Plutocracy
Published: December 17, 2007
Perhaps the political system is so corrupt that the Democratic ticket has been decided by power elites.
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