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zeemike

(18,998 posts)
45. Thus the bread and circus.
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 10:56 AM
Apr 2016

Keep the masses fed and entertained and the status quo will continue.
And the TV is the ultimate circus. It keeps us occupied 24/7 with lots of drama.

Most American voters "mental zombies" manipulated by olilgarchs. Divernan Apr 2016 #1
Jimmy Carter said the same thing. It's been pretty clear for a long time. Dustlawyer Apr 2016 #12
Mental zombies? Most? Sounds like the usual right wing rhetoric we hear when... Nitram Apr 2016 #25
One thing is certain when the oligarchs are mentioned... R. Daneel Olivaw Apr 2016 #37
This message was self-deleted by its author silvershadow Apr 2016 #59
DUZY!!!! Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2016 #86
Thank you! silvershadow Apr 2016 #87
Most Americans are uninformed, ronnie624 Apr 2016 #43
It is not just Fox News, it is the whole Media! Paper Roses Apr 2016 #65
I agree completely, ronnie624 Apr 2016 #66
I don't think so... TowneshipRebellion Apr 2016 #128
Not just Fox News. 840high Apr 2016 #79
Right. The article I posted makes that perfectly clear. n/t ronnie624 Apr 2016 #82
I disagree - Americans are highly informed. RiverNoord Apr 2016 #93
Well put and good question. Akicita Apr 2016 #103
Sounds like a Hillary apologist this. KPN Apr 2016 #73
Just someone who thinks America and Americans are not as bad as you make us out to be. Nitram Apr 2016 #78
My my ... arrogance abounds. KPN Apr 2016 #83
I agree. Your arrogance would seem to have no limits. Nitram Apr 2016 #135
And the Clinton fans see everything their authoritarian leaders do as wonderful. Living in a rhett o rick Apr 2016 #101
Have you ever visited any of the countries... Bohemianwriter Apr 2016 #125
And that's all Clinton's fault? What a crock! Nitram Apr 2016 #134
She is partially responsible when she pushes for these hawkish policies... Bohemianwriter Apr 2016 #136
Exposing one's ignorance while expressing outrage is not confined to the the right wing. OnyxCollie Apr 2016 #74
exactly. people with blinders flocking to BS media that only tells them what they want to hear uhnope Apr 2016 #130
Fucking Amen. Phlem Apr 2016 #68
Counterpunch LOL. They should talk about "mental zombies" uhnope Apr 2016 #129
Mental zombies who don't think big money, dark money etc. is a problem. haikugal Apr 2016 #2
This is the very reason the Democracy Spring Protests are so important. Lint Head Apr 2016 #3
Of course, people have to really care enough about it cprise Apr 2016 #95
Listening on FSTV to a Chris Hedges interview from Democracy Spring right now. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #96
"Time to scare the shit out of the power structure" Chris Hedges. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #97
"Our current situation is Economic Elite Domination (or, you know, plutocracy). " Divernan Apr 2016 #4
Super Delegates colorado_ufo Apr 2016 #53
This election is so clear on that. The idea of the Clinton jwirr Apr 2016 #56
Agree 100%. I am disgusted and disillusioned about our election process. n/t Paper Roses Apr 2016 #76
Thank You For Sharing cantbeserious Apr 2016 #5
Michael Parenti drew that conclusion decades ago malaise Apr 2016 #6
I used to love to listen to him speak. I have several still, just copied a couple to my phone cui bono Apr 2016 #84
Ha - are you married malaise Apr 2016 #85
Study: Brilliant round object illuminates eastern sky each morning n/t IDemo Apr 2016 #7
For all those who are clueless as to meaning/existence of "oligarchies" Divernan Apr 2016 #8
I was pointing out the self-evidence of their findings, not questioning its relevance n/t IDemo Apr 2016 #9
The MSM is going to jump right on NOT reporting this story! Dustlawyer Apr 2016 #13
Ticker on CNBC right now: "REFORMING THE TAX CODE" HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #15
This might have been news in the late 18th century Orrex Apr 2016 #10
And your PhD is from where? Oh, right, Quid-pro-quo U. Divernan Apr 2016 #11
Golly! It's like you didn't read what I posted! Orrex Apr 2016 #18
I think the robber barons of the late 1800's probably controlled government as much or more Akicita Apr 2016 #104
LINCOLN SHOT! TITANIC SINKS! HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #14
sometimes we need to be told our collective fly is open dembotoz Apr 2016 #24
Do any of those studies bother to come up with a solution? jwirr Apr 2016 #57
Not especially. It would require several. HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #75
Those sound like very good goals. And the first paragraph jwirr Apr 2016 #80
yes but.... MidwestTech Apr 2016 #100
So why do we even bother, then? Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #16
Because we can still wake the fuck up! Divernan Apr 2016 #20
This message was self-deleted by its author Vilis Veritas Apr 2016 #33
Thus the bread and circus. zeemike Apr 2016 #45
You may be right but the leaders at the barricades are the jwirr Apr 2016 #64
^^^THIS^^^ jwirr Apr 2016 #60
Yes, it seems that US democracy is more about faith then about rule by the people fasttense Apr 2016 #17
This says everything zentrum Apr 2016 #19
No, Diverman... zentrum Apr 2016 #21
The solution is simply to get involved treestar Apr 2016 #22
"The US ... is basically similar to Russia or most other dubious 'electoral' 'democratic' pampango Apr 2016 #23
Interesting that no one seemed to have noticed that the report says the US is... Nitram Apr 2016 #26
yep. The ballot is still the currency of power in the USA, so it's not an oligarchy (yet) uhnope Apr 2016 #90
Distinction without a difference. Do you have an opinion re the OP? Or are you just here rhett o rick Apr 2016 #99
I'm just pointing out that you all are e ngaging in some serious hyperbole. Nitram Apr 2016 #133
Facts? That's funny. Clinton supporters some how believe that if we give the banksters rhett o rick Apr 2016 #137
Jesus, not this shit again. Indydem Apr 2016 #27
Jesus, not this shit again Scootaloo Apr 2016 #31
Thank you! 2naSalit Apr 2016 #36
So much wrong. Indydem Apr 2016 #51
Then vote suppression and election fraud are anti-democracy movements. TryLogic Apr 2016 #54
If we were a democracy gay marriage would still be illegal in California and many other states. Akicita Apr 2016 #105
Our supreme and circuit courts are democratic institutions as well Scootaloo Apr 2016 #117
"A constitution is simply a foundational body of law". No, the Constitution IS the law. Every Akicita Apr 2016 #107
And those changes are achieved via a democratic process. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #118
Geez. We are a constitutional republic. Akicita Apr 2016 #122
Huge +1! Enthusiast Apr 2016 #110
Those are very right-wing points you're making, there. TransitJohn Apr 2016 #42
Not talking about Parliamentarian democracy. Indydem Apr 2016 #47
"Period." TransitJohn Apr 2016 #48
Very mature. Indydem Apr 2016 #52
Super easy to get under your skin. TransitJohn Apr 2016 #55
yeah I can't believe those little emoticon thingies are used by anyone over age 13 uhnope Apr 2016 #131
Hmm. The founders did not trust the people. So they set up this republic. PatrickforO Apr 2016 #44
The question is simple: Indydem Apr 2016 #46
Then let me posit this: our representative government SHOULD but does not presently work. PatrickforO Apr 2016 #58
You are missing the point kaleckim Apr 2016 #62
I can feel it. Equinox Moon Apr 2016 #28
What else is new? Of course we aren't a democracy. nruthie Apr 2016 #29
rw talk radio is worth 390MIL$/MONTH, at least certainot Apr 2016 #30
Huge +1! Enthusiast Apr 2016 #111
Oh, what a surprise. (Not) Chalco Apr 2016 #32
And what will we do about it? Bernie is our chance in a lifetime to return reject the oligarchy. NCjack Apr 2016 #34
Here's another "duh" question... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #35
Those few who control America...and, indeed, most of the world... Thespian2 Apr 2016 #38
Schools across the U.S. teach the fallacy LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #39
Mark Twain said, "If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it." Maybe you should have PatrickforO Apr 2016 #41
Carlin had his finger on the pulse. That American Dream LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #115
How did our current group of young Democrats learn the jwirr Apr 2016 #67
I think the answer is to a large extent social media. LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #114
That sounds like my grand children and their friends. And jwirr Apr 2016 #116
Well, WE all know this. Too bad it won't be picked up by the corporate owned PatrickforO Apr 2016 #40
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Apr 2016 #49
To many of us, it is pretty damn obvious. TryLogic Apr 2016 #50
Really look at the FREE TRADE issue hollowdweller Apr 2016 #63
The fact is that more workers benefit than are harmed. Nitram Apr 2016 #138
it takes the brits to formally announce this Demonaut Apr 2016 #61
They finally won the Revolutionary War. jwirr Apr 2016 #70
No, it was from Princeton, and widely covered in the USA in the couple of years muriel_volestrangler Apr 2016 #113
But, but, but, but, Hillary Phlem Apr 2016 #69
The best money can buy! Blue Owl Apr 2016 #71
Kick and R BeanMusical Apr 2016 #72
In a related story they determined water was wet. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2016 #77
Divernan, forgive me, saidsimplesimon Apr 2016 #81
knrnt Rebkeh Apr 2016 #88
five power categories 4ricksren Apr 2016 #89
BS from a blog. The ballot is still the currency of power in the USA, so it's not an oligarchy (yet) uhnope Apr 2016 #91
Its a corrupt Banana Republic ErikJ Apr 2016 #94
Actually, the country was founded deliberately as ... Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2016 #92
Hillary...Where Hope Goes To Die billhicks76 Apr 2016 #98
Not only that, but it's an oligarchy within a republic. merrily Apr 2016 #102
It did not become an oligarchy by accident. We can trace back to a number of bad decisions made Enthusiast Apr 2016 #106
400 recommendations would be about right for this one. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #108
It's interesting to follow the recs it's got over the couple of years since publication muriel_volestrangler Apr 2016 #112
So if the USA is an oligarchy Angel Martin Apr 2016 #109
Learned this in poli sci 101 laundry_queen Apr 2016 #119
STOP THE PRESSES! sakabatou Apr 2016 #120
Progressives need to look after each other Kumbricia Apr 2016 #121
It's true. A handful of people wield power disproportionately using money/media/etc. as a tool. PoliticalMalcontent Apr 2016 #123
So change from the inside out is not possible. What IS the answer? Lodestar Apr 2016 #124
Not quite, it is a plutocracy...which is just a more diverse oligarchy. Rex Apr 2016 #126
The BBC is spot on robertgodardfromnj Apr 2016 #127
too bad this wasn't the BBC but just a blog rehashing the same old cherrypicked BS uhnope Apr 2016 #132
I thought we were an autonomous collective. Francis Booth Apr 2016 #139
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