This was obvious even before we went to war, but it makes me feel guilty ... because I think I have had more opportunities to write and comment - and have not.  I think I am a little stupified ... stupified at how little our federal legislatures have actually done.  They really are caught up in another version of the world where political gain is much more important then meaningful, correct and real constituent support.  I fail to understand how they miss the connection between money spent in Iraq and money therefore not available to their districts ... via pipeline appropriations etc.  It makes the difference come elections.  Certainly one of the issues right now is the connection between the war and our economy is not being effectively made.  Further - the flow of taxes ends up in a bating game.  The worse one, however, is the way vets are being treated.  They KNOW they underfunded, and have done so consistently for years.  And what they have created (for lack of a better word) is a very complex system that is driven on a value system of frustrating vets so that they will not pursue benefits.  Further, there are so many levels of this that they almost have to present their case in pretty close to what is a court.  They can spend years trying to get a hearing for PTSD .. or, for an illness that the military will NOT admit exists.  Here is something more sad ... the largest case load for offices representatives and senate will be the military.  And that I can tell over many years, very little has been done.  I think we need to make a really strong case for giving vets their benefits WILL stimulate the economy!  ...

How sadly true this short comment of yours, purpolewolf!

The only true statement to ever come out of any Bush family member was during the ‘88 primary campaign when 41 called it voodoo economics. Keynesian economics and the New Deal worked. Real, decent paying jobs have to go to the people- and not to the corporate moneymen who will pay barely minimum to illegal immigrants here, and foreign workers in out-sourced factories overseas. The deregulation and privatization highway that we have been speeding down since Reagan has to be detoured, or we are doomed.

Stiglitz is right!

While the MSM focuses on changing the focus- the bank run blog reports daily on the current economic crisis and its financial and social consequences

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Matthew Rothschild, editor of the venerable “The Progressive” and of Progressive.org lambastes John McCain as “John McCAIPAC”.

It’s clear that a fanatical dedication to a militarized and domineering Israel makes McCain “tick”, but why this is so begs a larger question: why does the far right get to define what it means to be “pro-Israel” or “anti-Semitic”?

Rothschild doesn’t count as a “major Jewish leader” because you see, his views on the middle east are somewhere to the left of Attiila the Hun. This puts him closer to actual Jewish opinion in America, but in direct opposition to the “major Jewish organizations”.

Rothschild writes (by the way, Howard: this is how you quote a person at reasonable length, giving proper credit and a link):

“When John McCain went before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on June 2, he could not have been more obsequious to this group that has done more than any other in the United States to block a just solution to the Palestinian quest for statehood.

“...Israel doesn’t really want peace, and McCain was telling AIPAC that this is just fine by him.”

http://www.progressive.org/mag_wx060308

And the neocons were able to create this disaster by simply using fear. The American people should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen. We have squandered our children’s futures,while enriching a select few, all to fight this absurd war on terror. FDR was right.

So it’s the war stupid! And more so it’s a war based on lies, deception and plain evil. The economy might relatively recover after one or two years, but how are you going to fix millions of shattered lives, mostly in Iraq, but also at home!