The bitching and moaning has nothing to do with the price of gas

[Rosemary2205]

it has to do with the fact way too much wealth created by the average American working his ass off is flowing into someone else pocket, in some other country, and will never come back to average America in any of our lifetimes.

Once enough of the wealth leaves the resources will go with it and whether we drive an SUV or a Prius will be the least of our worries.

[Bob Dobbs]

1. Not "some other country" but some other class.

The scam is that the wealth is being concentrated in the super upper class power elite's pockets. The economic elite is a global class that is working all us poor schmucks world wide.

That's what "globalization" is truly about, freeing the economic elite scum to screw us all with no worries about border lines.

Uniting the lower class 98% of The People world wide is the only way to successfully fight back. This is why the elite propagandists brainwash us into fighting these nationalistic, tribalistic, stupid assed wars amongst ourselves, so that we never get together to fight the real enemy of
The People, the power elite, who are playing both sides in every conflict like a drum.

[canetoad]

5. Not really

It was all about divide and conquer.

Ten, fifteen years ago, the traditionally working class became the new share owning mini-moguls and refused to call themselves working class anymore. These days the line is a broken and jagged one. The old working class now feels it is their right to own a few shares. The shame is that they have not thought through the ramifications of 'Mum and Dad investors'. They obviously want their shares to appreciate in value. Any working class punter would. Unfortunately they are neither educated in nor socially conscious enough to realise that the direct result of being sucked in by the global economic machine makes forfeit their right to bitch and whinge about the tribulations of the working class.

Now, if you truly, in your little heart believe that 98% of 'the People' as you call them, can be united in ideal - I say dream on.It won't happen, never, ever. The enemy is not an abstract concept, but the person who lives next door to you. And that is why some ultra-smart person once said 'keep your friends close, your enemies closer.'

Yours faithfully, with the wisdom of years and the tolerance of an old cattle dog in a pen of bullocks.

[Bob Dobbs]

10. That's the evil brilliance of their mind f*ck.

The new stock holders think they have "stock" in the corporatocracy when, in reality, the market is completely rigged to suck the pennies our of the suckers pockets whenever the elite decides to trigger the next "bubble burst" (real estate is the next crash). Where does all that money that is lost go, it doesn't disappear, just the "wealth" that the marks thought they had. And you are totally correct, the schmucks think they have nothing in common with "the commoners" when, in reality, it is just another psychological wedge, like race, tribe, nation, political party, favorite sports team et al ad infinitum, that keeps The People fighting amongst ourselves instead of uniting against the real enemy. And if you and I can figure this our, and trust me, neither of us is all that smart, then the rest of us poor saps can be shown the light.

You are dead wrong that the enemy is the person next door, that's the diseased mythology that the elite want us to perpetuate. And the enemy is not "an abstract" but is the corporate fascists and their lackies in the media, in the government, and in the lower class conservative movements, they are the foot soldiers, the moron republicans in the suburbs, the ignorant fundamentalist religion addicts, the white power thugs, all do the dirty work for the real enemy at the top of the economic pile.

I see a future where the light of knowledge shines into the dark pit of willful ignorance our world society wallows in, and slowly but inexorably The People wake from their stupor, regain their courage and step forward into a new enlightenment of justice and cooperation that will end the hypnotism of false Randian "objectivisim" that our species has suffered under for the past century or two.

If guys like you and I that see clearly what is going on keep spreading the word with courage and conviction, there is yet hope for humanity.

Yes, we can. It's not just Obama's cheap slogan, but a reality that I believe in.

[canetoad]

11. When I said the person next door

I didn't mean it literally.

You are correct when you say the real enemy is the corporatist, however few people sit down and think this through to its logical conclusion. Especially when their 'financial advisor' has convinced them to sink their life savings in a high risk scheme for ridiculous returns.

To me the divide between left and right is a clear one but lately I am starting to think there is a third political front that is the one we must consider and reckon with; The Leghty, Lundie, conliberal....whatever you like. You know the people I mean - the ones whose background and income SHOULD put them firmly on the side of unionism/socialism but who are courted by the manipulative media to aspire and rebel against their very nature.

These are the dangerous people. They cannot be persuaded by logic, reason or discussion. They act on their immediate wants and gratifications.

As far as this light, bright and shining future....lol! I wish I had your youthful hope and enthusiasm. Unfortunately I tend to believe that everything that is happening to the human race is well deserved as we reached beyond the remit of any species on earth. If we become extinct, so be it. The best we can do is document the process, carve it into granite and leave it for a future civilazion to find.

[Bob Dobbs]

12. You are spot on

with your identification of those who vote and work against their real economic interests because they have bought into the mythology of the "free" market as dangerous. They are the backbone of the misled army that does the elite's dirty work. Those who are unredeemable may have to be sacrificed in the war for the future. I know that some blood will have to be shed in that battle.

And I wish I still had youth to go with my hope and enthusiasm, but in my advanced age I retain a positive vision of the future. My crystal ball shows me evolution not extinction.

Stay strong and share your truth. Your wisdom is worth more than gold.

[canetoad]

13. One part of me

clings to the romantic ideal of a revolution, a rising of the good and decent to overcome the greedy and selfish. Another part says it ain't gonna happen.

Human nature. Globalism. The Internet. Americanisation. Self interest, global warming. The Industrial Revolution was where it all started, where it all became possible. We cannot wind the clock back 300 years. There's not-a-one of us that does not deeply believe that the only way to save the species, the planet, is a return to ruralism. To a peasant system. It is our only hope.

Now you go and explain this to the BigBrother watchers.

Truly sorry for boo-boo about age. I'm glad you retained your fire, as it is essential. I've always been more of a sneaky worker for the cause, but we are both useful in our own ways.

Peace, friend.

[Bob Dobbs]

14. I appreciate this dialogue.

Your "boo boo" was, to me, a great compliment. I am glad to be perceived as still "young", if not in years.

Your stealth work is probably more effective in this age of The Watchers, than my bombast, so carry it on.

Thank you, brother.

[canetoad]

15. Thank you too

For a small patch of decency and civility in this increasingly ugly place.

A lot of people here still have not learned how to disagree with grace

[whistle]

2. Coolusion and price manipulation does

[Doctor Cynic]

3. Or it's too many people in the US living more than they should.

With such a current account deficit with the rest of the world, will a sharp correction not occur?

If you've been using your plastic to sustain your life, you only have yourself to blame.

[Lars39]

4. Ever had to put a medical procedure on a credit card?

[Doctor Cynic]

6. That, and a government in the pockets of HMOs.

I'm fortunate not having to pay a dime to see any doctor, though the wait times are *occasionally* a pain.

If you saw Michael Moore's Sicko movie, I actually went to the ER that Mike went to in Canada. It was for my sister who had a bad fall, and we waited about two hours before we saw the doctor. The session was fast and we didn't lose a dime.

The fact is, as a nation the US has been living way above an economically sustainable level. Nowhere else in the world, even in Canada, can you make $60K, live in a McMansion, drive a 4WD car, and call yourself middle class.

There's a simple reason why Chinese factory workers need to work weeks to buy what they make. Their government is taking the wealth they deserve and shipping it across the Pacific.

Eventually something will give. And it won't be pretty.

[FirstLight]

7. Okay, I have to say something to this ...

people living on plastic...blah, blah, blah

I have heard this over and over, and while I agree that there is and entire "false-class" in this nation, it is really an outrage to have to choose to drive to work or to put food on the table

MY outrage at the gas prices comes form the fact that I worked THREE jobs this month,
and was supposed to make an extra few hundred bucks for my effort
(in addition to being a single mom, this is no small feat to juggle)

and at the end of the month I am lucky to make rent and hope to not run out of money before the 15th of june and the next payday

no gas, no work, no money, no food = endless cycle of despair

so the self righteous crap about people living on plastic is lost on me because I have bigger things to worry about, like feeding my children

[Breeze54]

9. Yes and all the roads are paved with gold in the US!!!!

:sarcasm:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. If salaries and employment opportunities were keeping up with the gas prices

it wouldn't be so bad. But I fear that the rising gas prices will have the opposite effect.