General Discussion

Fire Walk With Me

(38,893 posts)

104. It is possible to trace this trend to two sources.

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:29 PM

Feb 2013

The DHS who are turning PDs into tentacles via the "iWatch" program, and the extremely rich who are raking it in via the $1 trillion a year spy tech industry (TSA scanners, etc.)

How the Los Angeles Police Department are made into tentacles of Homeland Security.
http://occupyobservations.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-lapd-are-made-into-tentacle-of-dhs.html

Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force

The national security state has an annual budget of around $1 trillion. Of that huge pile of money, large amounts go to private companies the federal government awards contracts to. Some, like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, are household names, but many of the contractors fly just under the public's radar. What follows are three companies you should know about (because some of them can learn a lot about you with their spy technologies).

http://www.alternet.org/meet-contractors-turning-americas-police-paramilitary-force?paging=off

Anonymous: Night Raid Equipment-Maker Lobbied for NDAA, Singles Out Sen. Rob Portman.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/19/1046972/-Anonymous-Night-Raid-Equipment-Maker-Lobbied-for-NDAA-Singles-Out-Sen-Rob-Portman#

Anonymous singles out Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) for receiving a particularly large sum from companies and PACs lobbying for the NDAA. From the RT report:

Robert J. Portman...we are truly disturbed by the ludicrous $272,853 he received from special interest groups supporting the NDAA bill that authorizes the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil.

Even in Washington terms, over a quarter million is a ridiculous amount of money from special interest groups supporting an issue to any single legislator. Congressmen have been bought for far less, with around $50,000 considered a serious ante at anyone's table, and much less merely keeping you in the game.

snip

“Among the supporters of NDAA are California-based manufacturer Surefire, L.L.C., who won a $23 million contract from the Department of Defense three months ago.

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Ever get the feeling that virtually nobody with power gives a crap about your life? [View all] MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 OP

I am a numbered ballot. Any and EVERY politician will tell me what he or she thinks I want to hear. cherokeeprogressive Feb 2013 #1

I Can Agree With Your Post TheMastersNemesis Feb 2013 #2

No, Manny, I have the feeling that it's 'us' vs. them... babylonsister Feb 2013 #3

I know you feel that way. And you know I feel this way. MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #8

Elizabeth Warren is the only reason I haven't given up hope. Archaic Feb 2013 #10

She's a breath of fresh air, isn't she? Rider3 Feb 2013 #95

I definitely have a feeling that Jamaal510 Feb 2013 #29

But don't you see? babylonsister Feb 2013 #42

it is somewhat crazy to believe that Obama hfojvt Feb 2013 #82

Psychologist never said that Right Wing Authoritarians were "crazy", however... Larry Ogg Feb 2013 #98

No we are only crazy if we think that the oligarchs dont have control in both parties. rhett o rick Feb 2013 #131

Political parties are not teams, sulphurdunn Feb 2013 #111

Well thanks for that clarification. babylonsister Feb 2013 #118

You're welcome. sulphurdunn Mar 2013 #140

A woman at the grocery 840high Feb 2013 #121

She's right. MichiganVote Feb 2013 #127

That's what I told her. 840high Mar 2013 #142

I can't tell you how many times woo me with science Mar 2013 #144

You are so right. This 840high Mar 2013 #145

Did you see this video? woo me with science Mar 2013 #147

Thank you. 840high Mar 2013 #150

The real irony here, to me, is that the dysfunction at the Federal level is... Poll_Blind Feb 2013 #4

I suspect that politics has always attracted an overabundance of sociopaths MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #6

Gerrymandering and a whole bottomless pit of corporate money loudsue Feb 2013 #56

Exactly dreamnightwind Feb 2013 #93

So true, evidenced by how Wasserman-Schultz did just that in FL. ancianita Feb 2013 #109

Well said. n/t loudsue Mar 2013 #139

Socialize the election process, voting box, and public media... Larry Ogg Feb 2013 #102

"I think this plane's going to crash. " dixiegrrrrl Feb 2013 #124

They remember we exist every 2 years when they remember Warpy Feb 2013 #5

Every damn day. Lint Head Feb 2013 #7

I second that!! DearHeart Mar 2013 #146

We who are about to die salute you pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #9

That about captures it. MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #11

Morituri te salutamus. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2013 #20

Did they ever? dkf Feb 2013 #12

The Founders, Lincoln, and FDR, I think. MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #15

The corporations that own congress... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2013 #67

Really RobinA Feb 2013 #70

Hi RobinA LittleGirl Feb 2013 #77

have not believed that people in power cared about *me* for a long time. not even local HiPointDem Feb 2013 #13

I Do Not RobinA Feb 2013 #75

psychologically freeing. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #83

Yep. All the time. TDale313 Feb 2013 #14

I honestly believe that no one in power gives a shit about me or you. Apophis Feb 2013 #16

Yeah...call it a "feeling" cbrer Feb 2013 #17

We are here to pay the bills. Archaic Feb 2013 #18

Pay the bills? No. The money we receive for our work is illusory and mostly given right back HiPointDem Feb 2013 #30

WE willingly gave away our power Tsiyu Feb 2013 #19

When you stand up and demand positive Change, suddenly they do. Very much so. Fire Walk With Me Feb 2013 #21

There are no adequate words. woo me with science Feb 2013 #73

The horror to me was the recognition that they ALL have the same uniforms now... Moostache Feb 2013 #79

Yep....sadly. nt snappyturtle Feb 2013 #87

It is possible to trace this trend to two sources. Fire Walk With Me Feb 2013 #104

Yes KT2000 Feb 2013 #22

Neglect seems like an improvement. I tend to think they are actively trying to milk us. TheKentuckian Feb 2013 #23

They're looting the place with our approval. UnrepentantLiberal Feb 2013 #24

+1 That's the bottom line of corporate rule. woo me with science Feb 2013 #45

Here's the deal. Fuddnik Feb 2013 #25

That's false equivalence. Jamaal510 Feb 2013 #31

yep. +100 n/t BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2013 #36

+1 Shankapotomus Feb 2013 #41

What you said. cliffordu Feb 2013 #59

Thank you. great white snark Feb 2013 #64

Absolutely true. But some just want to believe the parties are exactly the same. They are not. Jennicut Feb 2013 #71

Thank you! There are differences. I'll remain realistic, but refuse to be so pessimistic and cynical mountain grammy Feb 2013 #85

Sometimes they're different in what they say but the outcomes....not so much. snappyturtle Feb 2013 #90

I'm ok, but we've been really lucky to have been healthy with decent union jobs. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #103

You're banging your head against a wall with this crowd. But good luck Number23 Feb 2013 #107

I know, Jamaal510 Feb 2013 #117

Get the feeling? Spirochete Feb 2013 #26

I only feel that way the first seven days of the week Kennah Feb 2013 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author Jamaal510 Feb 2013 #28

Yeah... I'm with you all on this one. defacto7 Feb 2013 #32

...... snappyturtle Feb 2013 #96

what kills me is how many DUers still swoon Skittles Feb 2013 #33

That yep. 840high Feb 2013 #123

Yup, Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #34

nobody *without power* does either! BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2013 #35

+ struggle4progress Feb 2013 #130

was having a bum out night BlancheSplanchnik Mar 2013 #136

I planned to post the same, just on general grouchy principle, but you beat me to it! struggle4progress Mar 2013 #138

They remember us every election, and then promptly drop us like Autumn Feb 2013 #37

I've had that feeling for years-since Nixon. hobbit709 Feb 2013 #38

Every damned day. AngryOldDem Feb 2013 #39

President Obama cares - and he has changed things Zax2me Feb 2013 #40

When Paul Krugman lunches at the White House as often as Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #47

AMEN TO THAT. ancianita Feb 2013 #113

Hope and Change woo me with science Feb 2013 #72

All the time. CanonRay Feb 2013 #43

I don't believe they do. nt raccoon Feb 2013 #44

It's not a feeling, it's an absolute certainty. 99Forever Feb 2013 #46

I never thought they did in the first place, not once, not ever Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #48

Carlin said it all: "They don't care about you at all" deutsey Feb 2013 #49

Carlin was a prophet GiveMeFreedom Feb 2013 #105

In the truest sense of the word. deutsey Feb 2013 #126

+1 woo me with science Mar 2013 #141

Aside from both my Senators, my Congressman, my guv, the vast majority cali Feb 2013 #50

Look at how long it has been going ProSense Feb 2013 #51

It's not a feeling to me. I live in Texas. It's a reality here. nt Javaman Feb 2013 #52

Because they don't. Comrade_McKenzie Feb 2013 #53

Somedays it feels as if there is samplegirl Feb 2013 #54

No, I do not treestar Feb 2013 #55

Yes. Daily. Myrina Feb 2013 #57

There was a scene in House of Cards on Netflix erinlough Feb 2013 #58

Thank you. nt woo me with science Feb 2013 #65

when revolution comes i hope our overlords arent too surprised roguevalley Feb 2013 #60

The universe is indifferent to us AngryAmish Feb 2013 #61

Rub it in, Manny. Jackpine Radical Feb 2013 #62

They are paid to not give a crap about us... RevStPatrick Feb 2013 #63

Thanks, and keep screaming it, others will join in - nt dreamnightwind Feb 2013 #125

No but I can see why people who don't like either party rationalize it in that way. great white snark Feb 2013 #66

Every minute of every day. n/t ProfessionalLeftist Feb 2013 #68

+1000000 It's not a feeling. It's a sick, nausea-inducing reality, woo me with science Feb 2013 #69

Every day more and more George Carlin was right: it's a big club and we're not in it. Initech Feb 2013 #74

"I tell people to hell with charity, you only get what you're stong enough to get." HomeboyHombre Feb 2013 #76

True enough. MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #101

Ever get the feeling? Manny don't tell me you think they care? Rex Feb 2013 #78

Conservatives consider us all to to have only one function. Consume.... Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2013 #80

Exactly like an abusive relationship felix_numinous Feb 2013 #81

Has anyone thought of a national tax revolt. Refusal Refusal of the middle class to give up one dime ancianita Feb 2013 #120

Yep... K & R !!! WillyT Feb 2013 #84

I think this is one of your best posts! Couldn't agree more nor could I be more envious. snappyturtle Feb 2013 #86

Wow. woo me with science Feb 2013 #88

Yes, it does but it is true. My grandfathers both lived well into their 90's also. snappyturtle Feb 2013 #91

I understand what you are saying. woo me with science Feb 2013 #94

I couldn't agree more woo.....nt snappyturtle Feb 2013 #97

It's not a feeling. It's reality. forestpath Feb 2013 #89

Politics is not one of the caring professions FarCenter Feb 2013 #92

I was raised with that feeling Scootaloo Feb 2013 #99

I always KNOW that virtually nobody with power gives a shit about my life. obxhead Feb 2013 #100

But Manny, didn't you see the latest pictures of Michelle Arctic Dave Feb 2013 #106

Sure I do.......... socialist_n_TN Feb 2013 #108

We are a stock entity that gets the 'pump and dump' routine every election cycle. ancianita Feb 2013 #110

But, but ... OUR GUY won the election!!!! 99th_Monkey Feb 2013 #112

The feeling is mutual. rucky Feb 2013 #114

It's a Beeeg Club, & You & I Aren't In It! harkonen Feb 2013 #115

Only on days that end with a 'y'. KamaAina Feb 2013 #116

apathy is only rivaled by ignorance (often the willful kind) in this country stupidicus Feb 2013 #119

Yeah yeah. Even if I did believe him (which I do not) abelenkpe Feb 2013 #122

Most of them are millionaires, so they cannot relate to the people they claim sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #128

I don't have a large enough ego to think anyone would or should give a crap about my life. RB TexLa Feb 2013 #129

It is not your ego that elected them to Office, it is your vote and it is their job to care 1-Old-Man Mar 2013 #148

Most Democrats care Pancho Schneider Feb 2013 #132

''Chaos is required for the veils to fall.'' DeSwiss Feb 2013 #133

Is that the Boston Marathon? MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #134

Not sure.... DeSwiss Mar 2013 #135

Ha! It is. MannyGoldstein Mar 2013 #137

kick woo me with science Mar 2013 #143

America has been suffering from an empathy deficit for quite some time. shcrane71 Mar 2013 #149

actually, I think its a small but vocal minority with limited power that believes that graham4anything Mar 2013 #151

That's only fair. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #152

As Lennie Briscoe once said, "All day long." WinkyDink Mar 2013 #153

All the Republicans and half the Democrats are bought whores. limpyhobbler Mar 2013 #154

kick woo me with science Mar 2013 #155

More like knowing instead of feeling. mmonk Mar 2013 #156