If you love your comforts and gizmos more than your rights, you are part of the problem.

[omega minimo]

Your age doesn't matter, your generational category is moot. Some generalizations apply: Boomers tend to have learned about thriftiness and healthy eating, via Depression era family members or natural health lifestyles. The post-"Commodify Your Dissent" generations (see Tom Frank) grew up with conspicuous consumption and branding everywhere. They may accept -- or reject -- much of it, without having known a time when your brain wasn't wallpapered with consumerist corporate logos. A time before patriotism = Buy More Stuff!

Whatever your Official Demographic Marketing Category, if you love your comforts and gizmos more than your rights, you are part of the problem, not the solution.

Now that everyone's walkin' around staring into their solar plexus/hand held pacifier, addicted to gizmos and instant gratification, it may be difficult to talk about balance. Earlier generations who weren't wired 25/7/365 may have an easier time spitting out the electronic teat, making choices to make do with priorities other than, "It's NEW and SHINY and I want It!!"

How could our decisions and choices not make a difference? Now that the financial shit has really hit the fan, it may still be difficult to enlighten people -- people whose options are still open -- about purchase power and consumer choices. These concepts that, like thrift and health, commonly had more resonance with the public in earlier eras.

More folks now are being forced to make conscious choices about purchases. More people are gardening for food and going to Farmer's Markets for cheap organic produce. Some are even GASP giving up extras: cell phones and cable and manicures and various vestiges of conspicuous consumption. Many are being forced to downscale and losing basic needs.

Whatever your life situation and priorities, you can decide to be part of the solution. It's your decision whether to support corporate power, by buying services and products that may be destructive to you and everything you care about. It doesn't have to be All or Nothing, but it does mean Paying Attention. You can find a BALANCE, a way to consider your impact on the economy, on your health and on the planet.

You may think about Where Did This Come From? Who Made It? What Were They Paid? Do They Have My Job? Is This From A Country With No Health And Environmental Protections? Will This Pet Food Kill My Pet? Will This Toy Kill My Child? Will My Unemployment Run Out Or Be Hijacked By Insane Repugnant Senators? What's a Carbon Footprint? And what the Hell is HABEUS CORPUS?

Do you know where you left your Civil Rights? Checked on 'em lately? If you love your comforts and gizmos more than your rights, you are part of the problem. The solution R us.



http://www.tcfrank.com
http://www.thomhartmann.com
http://www.naomiklein.org/main

[KG]

1. i'll be back to read this after i watch the 'dancing with the stars' rerun on hulu.com.

[omega minimo]

2. LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Ah getting your brain made into... mush

[virgogal]

5. God,you're quick. Very funny post.

[MineralMan]

26. DUZY!

[Uncle Joe]

3. Balance is key and the keep up with the Jones addiction

is a one way trip to global catastrophe.

Greed is not good and never was.

Thanks for the thread, Omega.:thumbsup:

[omega minimo]

6. "The keep up with the Jones addiction is a one way trip to global catastrophe"

Well put. :yourock:

[stray cat]

7. That includes housing for your family or food or school or other such comforts

like sitting around and posting on DU

[omega minimo]

8. if you're trying to miss the point, try again. That post doesn't even make sense.

:hi:

[tabasco]

9. If you think a 300hp car can make you "cool,"

you're part of the problem.

[Fumesucker]

10. Nah, you're not cool until at least 400 hp..

And 500 or more is needed unless it's a really small car.

[tabasco]

25. LOL.

If you're on a drag strip, perhaps.

Out on the streets, not so much.

[Fumesucker]

29. Corvette Z06 wins MPG Marathon in the UK

http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/11/corvette-z06-wins-mpg-marathon-in-the-uk/

At first glance, a Corvette may seem like an odd choice for a vehicle to enter into an event aimed at fuel economy. At second glance, and when one realizes that the Corvette in question is the Z06, which happens to be powered by a 7.0-liter V8 engine that offers up over 500-horsepower, the choice looks positively insane. Perhaps it isn't. Any car can be driven in an economical fashion, even one powered by an extremely large-displacement eight cylinder engine. It helps that the 'Vette has a six speed manual transmission and makes plenty of stump-pulling torque right off idle, so its driver can shift quickly at very low RPMs. When properly driven, the Z06 is actually capable of delivering rather good mileage. In fact, the Z06 won the annual Fleetworld/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon in the U.K. by averaging 30.96 mpg over the trip's two-day, 411-mile route.

[malaise]

11. Nice thread

There's a generation called 'the latest'. They must have the latest edition of everything - the lastest phone, car, furniture, bla bla bla. They are totally and completely brainwashed.

[omega minimo]

12. LOL

funny. also true. and sick.

tell me what you think of young women being brainwashed to be high heeled and high maintenance and all that expenditure of time and $$$ and braincells makes em look like they're wrapped in plastic?

not that I have an opinion or anything :yoiks:

[malaise]

21. I an exposed to many of them

I love when they tell me they can't afford required readings on their course outlines. Thankfully I don't run into too many of them - life is too hard here for college kids.
I usually tell the very high heeled kids that they only have one spine and high heels will twist it permanently.

[omega minimo]

46. priorities

already twisted.

[jody]

13. The most basic Civil Right, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms for self-defense, is being reviewed by

SCOTUS right now in the case McDonald v. Chicago to determine if the Second Amendment is incorporated under the Fourteenth Amendment against the states as are the other rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

[omega minimo]

15. That's not the "most basic Civil right." It's also a misrepresentation of the "right to bear arms."

U.S. Constitution: Second Amendment

Second Amendment - Bearing Arms
Amendment Text | Annotations
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.



Annotations
In spite of extensive recent discussion and much legislative action with respect to regulation of the purchase, possession, and transportation of firearms, as well as proposals to substantially curtail ownership of firearms, there is no definitive resolution by the courts of just what right the Second Amendment protects. The opposing theories, perhaps oversimplified, are an ''individual rights'' thesis whereby individuals are protected in ownership, possession, and transportation, and a ''states' rights'' thesis whereby it is said the purpose of the clause is to protect the States in their authority to maintain formal, organized militia units.1 Whatever the Amendment may mean, it is a bar only to federal action, not extending to state2 or private3 restraints. The Supreme Court has given effect to the dependent clause of the Amendment in the only case in which it has tested a congressional enactment against the constitutional prohibition, seeming to affirm individual protection but only in the context of the maintenance of a militia or other such public force.

[jody]

17. What Civil Right do you believe is more basic? n/t

[omega minimo]

18. The Framers didn't pick one, why would I?

T H E    C O N S T I T U T I O N
O F    T H E
U N I T E D    S T A T E S

PREAMBLE
PURPOSES OF THE CONSTITUTION

W E THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union , establish justice , insure domestic tranquility , provide for the common defense , promote the general welfare , and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity , do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.


http://usgovinfo.about.com/blfirstbor.htm

The Original Bill of Rights
The following is a transcript of the original version of the Bill of Rights as submitted to the states (thus to the people) for ratification.
CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES,
Begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday, the
Fourth of March, One Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-nine.
The Conventions of a Number of the States having at the Time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a Desire, in Order to prevent Misconstruction or Abuse of its Powers, that further declaratory and restrictive Clauses should be added: And as extending the Ground of public Confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent Ends of its Institution,

RESOLVED, by the Senate, and House of Representatives, of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, Two Thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States: All, or any of, which Articles, when ratified by Three-Fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all Intents and Purposes as Part of the said Constitution, viz.
ARTICLES in Addition to, and Amendment of, the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the Fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Article the first 
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article the second <27th Amendment - Ratified 1992>
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article the third <1st Amendment>
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article the fourth <2nd Amendment>
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article the fifth <3rd Amendment>
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article the sixth <4th Amendment>
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article the seventh <5th Amendment>
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article the eighth <6th Amendment>
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article the ninth <7th Amendment>
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article the tenth <8th Amendment>
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article the eleventh <9th Amendment>
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article the twelfth <10th Amendment>
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
Speaker of the House of Representatives
JOHN ADAMS,
Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate
Attest, John Beckley,
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Sam. A. Otis,
Secretary of the Senate

http://www.constitution.org/billofr_.htm


The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added.

Article the first

After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.

Article the second

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Article the third

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article the fourth <4>

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Article the fifth

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Article the sixth

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Article the seventh

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Article the eighth

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Article the ninth

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Article the tenth

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Article the eleventh

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article the twelfth

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

[jody]

19. Consider the actions of PA and VT in their constitutions.

The original states incorporated statements protecting rights in their constitutions.

Pennsylvania (1776) said in “A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, “I. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, amongst which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

Vermont (1777) followed Pennsylvania’s lead and said A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATE OF VERMONT, “I. THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."

Those two states explicitly listed the "natural, inherent and inalienable {unalienable} rights, . . . defending life and liberty" first in their declarations.

Even a superficial reading of natural rights theories discussed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke will discover the right of self-defense is basic.

The right of self defense is called by Locke the first law of nature.

Hobbes argues that although some may be stronger or more intelligent than others in their natural state, none are so strong as to be beyond a fear of violent death, which justifies self-defense as the highest necessity.

[omega minimo]

20. These are not -- or were not -- intended to be the United States of Paranoia

even your quotes acknowledge that "acquiring, possessing" precede "protecting." There has to be something to protect.

Fixating on this is far and away from the original intent of the Framers of "promote the general welfare."

[chrisa]

14. It's always been that way.

It's human nature. To have the most stuff, be the most comfortable, and get lost in entertainment. Those "good old days" only was missing those things because people couldn't afford to buy them, or technology wasn't as advanced.

However, it's time to stop exporting jobs, and encourage (or force) companies to manufacture products completely in America, where we can regulate them and apply strict standards. This will raise prices, but it will be worth it in the long-run.

[omega minimo]

16. No it's not. It's brainwashing. And yes, people couldn't buy things that didn't exist yet

or be brainwashed into thinking they couldn't live without them.

[CanSocDem]

23. Thank God for television.....

...just kidding of course. But you make a good point. It's all about creating needs."...thinking they couldn't live without them." That's how many of our 'suspect' institutions have managed to position themselves over the years. ModernMedicineINC. comes to mind with its wide variety of gizmos and quick fixes. Things the American public isn't quite ready to give up. As if they didn't quite believe that they had a 'human' right to good health.

Good OP!!

[omega minimo]

31. selling the medicine and silly packaging options..... single servings of cough meds "On The Go"

Thanks :hi:

[malaise]

22. I disagree

I don't ever remember telling my parents what I wanted before I was a pre-teen. These days three year olds watch TV and have a shopping list for their parents. Marketing companies spend gazillions with one intention - brainwashing people about their products.

[dysfunctional press]

24. some of my comforts and gizmos ARE more important than some of my 'rights'.

just because i have a 'right' to do something- it doesn't mean that i can, or that i even want to.

[omega minimo]

32. doesn't get it

[dysfunctional press]

38. well...if you don't 'get it'...that's not my problem.

i have 'rights' that i'll never need, use, or might not particularly want to...but my 60-inch plasma, my computator, and my ohm walsh speakers get used everyday, and my life would be greatly diminished without them.

does that help you to 'get it'...? :shrug:

[omega minimo]

40. you don't get it. That is your problem.

you need your civil rights intact, whether you "use" them or not.

you don't need a 60" plasma.

[dysfunctional press]

41. you are mistaken.

you can only speak for yourself, not me.

you have no 'right' to determine my 'needs'.

sorry. :shrug:

[omega minimo]

44. you are confused

No one is speaking for you or determining your wants.






No one "needs" a 60" plasma.

[dysfunctional press]

51. no one needs anything except bland food, basic clothing, and rudimentary shelter.

if that's an existence that would satisfy you- i pity you greatly.

[omega minimo]

52. The OP makes it very clear.

[dysfunctional press]

53. and my response to it was just as clear.

and in this society, whether they'll admit to it or not- most people DO value some of their 'stuff' more than some of their 'rights'.

people who see life, the world, existence, as a black or white, yes or no, all or nothing situation are usually fairly 2-dimensional and uninteresting....and you seem to be saying insisting that people must value each and/or all of their rights, more than any and/or all of their possessions, accomplishments, or aquaintances...and that's just not how it works in the real world- (just in case you ever care to join it).

[omega minimo]

54. just as dense

those are false accusations, which the OP, if you choose to read it, made very clear are false, unnecessary, bogus excuses, strawmen to prop up your assumptions and failure to actually READ the OP.

It specifically says "it's not "all or nothing" " anticipating this very sort of lame and clueless bullshit. HOW COULD YOU MISS IT.

[dysfunctional press]

55. i'll admit that i only made it about halfway through your inane rambling.

and i apologize for getting glazed over by the nonsense prior to the all or nothing part.

you sure do like your syllables, huh...?

[omega minimo]

57. I like my syllables enough

to reread them carefully and edit, reading for clarity for different points of view, including anticipating exactly the type of bogus accusations that you and MM made mere, due to not READING what I actually wrote and giving it even BASIC consideration before spewing bullshit.

If you don't like reading or comprehending, then don't attack what you don't understand.

Thank you.

[dysfunctional press]

58. i enjoy reading things that are comprehensible...

it's the self-indulgent babble that loses me...:shrug:

[omega minimo]

59. There are so many choices, DP, you should know by now

if you can't comprehend what I write and it just pisses you off, DON'T READ IT. :hi:

[MineralMan]

27. Wait! This is not my beautiful house! This is not my beautiful wife!

And yet, here you are, typing on your computer on a website on the internet. Do you not see the discrepancy in what you are writing and what you are doing?

Last I looked, I still had all of my rights. Did you lose yours somewhere?

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MineralMan]

42. Perhaps Name Removed

would PM me with the message that was deleted. I'd be happy to read it there and respond.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MineralMan]

45. I trust that the moderators had good reason.

I did not alert on it. I didn't even see it until this morning, and it was already gone. I have no idea whose post it might have been.

[omega minimo]

47. Too bad they didn't let you see it

:shrug:


you don't have that right :spray:

[MineralMan]

48. Oh, piffle. It's their site. They can make their own rules.

You're talking nonsense, now.

[omega minimo]

49. they sure can

they can ignore them, too.


You're still not reading for comprehension.

[Odin2005]

28. Many people my age are organizing stuff on Facebook or Twitter with our cell phones.

:)

[omega minimo]

34. volunteering for tracking and data mining

[Cetacea]

30. Long but compelling video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjSPmwSARMM

[omega minimo]

35. Thanks Cetacea. Welcome to the New Dark Ages

:hi:


Doctor Doctor what is wrong with me
This supermarket life is getting long
What is the heart life of a colour TV
What is the shelf life of a teenage queen
Ooh western woman
Ooh western girl
News hound sniffs the air
When Jessica Hahn goes down
He latches on to that symbol of detachment
Attracted by the peeling away of feeling
The celebrity of the abused shell the belle
Ooh western woman
Ooh western girl
And the children of Melrose
Strut their stuff
Is absolute zero cold enough
And out in the valley warm and clean
The little ones sit by their TV screens
No thoughts to think
No tears to cry
All sucked dry
Down to the very last breath
Bartender what is wrong with me?
Why am I so out of breath?
The captain said excuse me ma'am
This species has amused itself to death
Amused itself to death
Amused itself to death
We watched the tragedy unfold
We did as we were told
We bought and sold
It was the greatest show on earth
But then it was over
We ohhed and aahed
We drove our racing cars
We ate our last few jars of caviar
And somewhere out there in the stars
A keen-eyed look-out
Spied a flickering light
Our last hurrah
Our last hurrah
And when they found our shadows
Grouped around the TV sets
They ran down every lead
They repeated every test
They checked out all the data on their lists
And then the alien anthropologists
Admitted they were still perplexed
But on eliminating every other reason
For our sad demise
They logged the explanation left
This species has amused itself to death
No tears to cry, no feelings left
This species has amused itself to death
(switch channels)


"Years later, I saw Bill Hubbard's name on the memorial to the missing at Aras. And I...when I saw his name I was absolutely transfixed; it was as though he...he was now a human being instead of some sort of nightmarish memory of how I had to leave him, all those years ago. And I felt relieved, and ever since then I've felt happier about it, because always before, whenever I thought of him, I said to myself, 'Was there something else that I could have done?' And that always sort of worried me. And having seen him, and his name in the register - as you know in the memorials there's a little safe, there's a register in there with every name - and seeing his name and his name on the memorial; it sort of lightened my...heart, if you like."
"When was it that you saw his name on the memorial?"
"Ah, when I was eighty-seven, that would be the year, ninete...eighty-four, nineteen eighty-four.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. New?

"We are still in the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages — they haven't ended yet." Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

[omega minimo]

39. LOL

[inna]

36. K&(Invisible)R!

Great post. :toast:

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[upi402]

56. how many planets do you use: take the test here

http://www.myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information/

"Congratulations, you are living an ecologically conscientious lifestyle. If everyone lived like you do, we would need only 0.48 Earths."