Disqus - Latest Comments for BraneMatter

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - Editorial: Symbolism and the Inaugural Prayers

BraneMatter — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:51 -0000

It is hard to understand Obama's reasons for his invitation to Rick Warren, who is a VERY divisive force because of his fundamentalist religious views.

And why must we have a pastor to pray anyway, when the government is not supposed to be in the business of promoting a religion? As an atheist, I find this attack on reason and science offensive. Perhaps I would not find it so offensive if religious people were not constantly trying to shove their ideas down our throats, and insisting that the world is only a few thousand years old.

Obama has said that his presidency will be characterized by a new respect for science, but science is always under attack by people like Rick Warren, who base their view of reality on the Bible and not the scientific method and reason.

If the human species is to survive long term, we must overcome superstition and irrational beliefs. We must, as some have suggested, assign religion and capitalism as belonging to the "predatory phase" of human evolution. We must, in short, break the power of the gangster bankers and priest witch doctors over our world.

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - Saving the Big 3 for You and Me

BraneMatter — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:00:27 -0000

The anti-union atmosphere in this country and in the Congress is absolutely disgusting.

To blame union workers because they bargained for decent jobs and benefits is pure capitalist propaganda and scapegoating of workers. Why is it wrong to have a job that allows you to buy a house, a car, and send your kids to college? Is that not the so-called American Dream?

Now workers are losing all the benefits and pay won by decades of hard struggle, and the good jobs are being replaced by jobs with low pay, no benefits, and not even full-time hours. Many factories now employ only low-pay temporary agency workers who have none of the union benefits and wages It is being suggested that American workers should now accept third world wages in order to be 'competitive.' Instead, we should all be fighting to raise up workers everywhere, not pull down those who have achieved something worthwhile.

Capitalism is now making a bold move to oppress workers everywhere in a coordinated global attack, and we should be aware that this is the motive behind the current economic difficulties. The largest transfer of wealth in history, from the working class to the rich, is now taking place.

Bravo to Michael Moore for standing up for the workers and for the planet! He is one of the few voices in the United States speaking the truth these days. Socialism IS the answer, and Michael has not been afraid to say so in spite of all the anti-socialist hysteria and propaganda in the media and culture these days!

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - Reflections on the (Unplanned) Death of an Ideology

BraneMatter — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:24:26 -0000

"Government planners, with the interests of the American public, not profits, at heart, should be at work providing real-time solutions to the nation’s economic problems. "

Excellent article!

So far, it would appear that lobbyists for the bankers and Wall Street gangsters are calling the shots on all the "bailout" money being passed out by the Bush administration (close to $8 trillion so far). Obviously, it is now going to benefit the rich, with few strings attached. Prince Alwaleed and Citigroup can apparently call up Paulson at his home, even on a Sunday, and get another twenty billion, no problem. I guess the Detroit automakers don't have Paulson's private number, otherwise they could have avoided all that nasty business with the Congress!

Will Obama turn things around? I dunno. I am not impressed by his economic team. It's pretty much the same crowd and free trader philosophy that got us into this mess. Nor do I see the unions or the people rising up to demand a socialist style planned economy. How bad does it have to get to wake them up?

A Russian economist today said the U.S. could eventually break apart because of this crisis of debt. He may be right.

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - How to Reform Medicare and Lay the Basis for National Health Care

BraneMatter — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:18:16 -0000

Medicare and the new prescription drug program are a joke. There is massive fraud and abuse, and they do not provide the care needed to seniors. I do not use them at all. Instead, I go to the VA.

I am against so-called "Universal Health Care" in the form of a single payer system, because such a system leaves the medical industry in private hands. This is not the answer UNLESS severe controls are imposed on the profit and greed that drives the private medical industry.

The correct answer is, instead, a socialized system like the VA hospitals that would be available for everyone. The VA is actually a pretty good system except where it is not properly funded.

The government should establish these "public hospitals" across the nation, and doctors would be employed directly by the government. In addition, private medical insurance should be done away with altogether. Hospitals, medical equipment companies, pharmaceutical companies, and all medical related industry should be nationalized.

In other words, I am advocating complete socialized medicine and nationalization of the entire industry.

I have spoken with numerous VA doctors, and for the most part they are well paid and have good benefits working for the VA as compared to private practice. There is no reason this VA type system would not work for everyone. Also, if you look at the size of the VA system, it is relatively corruption free compared to the private medical industry. There is a big emphasis on preventive care and check-ups in the VA system, and improved electronic record keeping that transfers anywhere within the system, and even though the drug industry is still in private hands, VA medicines are obtained by negotiation and are reasonably priced.

There is absolutely no reason to go with a single-payer Medicare type system that is already broke, when a perfectly good working system is already in place that could serve as a model for a new socialized public system.

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - Which Way? A PA Interview with Michael Albert

BraneMatter — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:45:55 -0000

The perceived dichotomy between reform and revolution continues to be a volatile issue today among leftists.

Albert, I believe, correctly solves the confusion, but just the other day I read a piece that accused the CPUSA of "reformism" because of its support of Obama as the best option for dislodging the right-wing from power.

There is still far too much of "I'm a TRUE revolutionary, and you're not" going around these days, and too much readiness to exorcise the other guy from the revolutionary ranks as a "reformist."

We need to look a little deeper, perhaps, and give "the other guy" the benefit of the doubt, rather than jump to hasty conclusions about motive and before letting fly the accusation of "reformist." Most leftists, I believe, are just trying to make the best out of the two-party "Catch 22" they have been dealt.

It would be better to concentrate on building up the revolutionary ranks, rather than constantly looking for ways to divide and throw people out in the cold. That's the only way, ultimately, that the two-party death grip will be broken, and people will finally have real choice. Without numbers, any third party, no matter how ideologically correct, will only remain a sideshow and distraction at best, with no hope for revolutionary change.

I have even heard some who would have us completely abandon reforms in the best interests of the working class because of the dangers of reformism, and some of these same people have even argued that we should all vote Republican in order to drive things to a crisis point. They see such a strategy as the best direct path to revolution. However, if, as a result of abandoning reform, the working class no longer perceives communists as standing with them in their struggles all along, then one must wonder exactly what sort of 'revolution' might proceed as a result of that division.

So how to proceed?

I would contend that this issue of reform vs. revolution is still a major divisive factor in and of itself, aside from what other ideological differences already exist. In fact, it might be THE most divisive factor on the left. A lot more discussion needs to take place here, I believe.

I do not wish to diminish the dangers of reformism, but certainly we cannot abandon reforms either. It is a tightrope we must walk, like it or not. "Keep your eyes on the prize" must be more than just a slogan! We must constantly guard against the notion that capitalism can be reformed and made acceptable. You just can't put lipstick on this pig and then think you can take it to the dance!

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - Nationalize the Banks, Employ the Unemployed

BraneMatter — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:43:05 -0000

I wish I could have such optimism.

As you say, the key question is, "Who is taking over who here?"

As I understood the details, there will be no government representation on the Boards of Directors of these banks, so how much regulation will take place, and in whose interests, is somewhat in doubt. Also, almost all of the people on the TARP bailout teams are Wall Street alumni. Maybe the result will just be an unlimited license to rob the treasury, since the banks are now semi-nationalized, quasi-government entities.

Could this all a step in the right direction? Perhaps. As you say, time will tell, and I agree that the Obama campaign now becomes even more crucial, as the Reaganites must be dislodged from power to stop the slide into fascism and the incestuous relationship with Wall Street, the banks, and the defense contractors.

Re: Political Affairs Magazine - How the Left Saved Capitalism

BraneMatter — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:40:56 -0000

The capitalists are not stupid. When the level of exploitation reaches a boiling point, they have learned to allow just enough "reform" so that the workers' anger will not reach a revolutionary pitch.

Now, Wall Street is in an incestous relationship with the U.S. government, and, with the help of their politician cronies, they find ever more complex and hidden ways to rob and exploit, without the workers realizing exactly what is happening or who to blame.

For example, the government "intervention" in the markets today is only for the benefit of the wealthy capitalists, and not in the interest of the people. It is a massive robbery and fraud at the expense of the working class, but yet they are calling it "socialism," That is a lie. It is not socialism by any stretch. It is more akin to fascism, in fact.

Globalism has indeed given the capitalists more options to deceive by a sort of shell game, but the basic nature of capitalism has not changed. Technology has connected us in a communications web that operates instantly, so we can see where the misery is occuring and who is benefiting. Motives are exposed, like those behind the Iraq War.

Marx was right in his analysis of capitalism and its ultimate fate, but the historical dialectical formula was just more complex than he could have envisioned in his day, and the timeframe longer.