Monthly Archives: April 2012

When Top Tax Rates Rise, So Does The Economy

by Arlen Grossman/ The Big Picture Report/ April 9, 2012 Looking at the first chart below, you can see the top marginal income tax rates dropped from 73% in 1921 all the way down to 24% by 1929. After that, … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, economy, government, inequality, Republican Party, taxes | Tagged , , , , , , | 53 Comments

BPR Quote of the Day: Understanding the Bible

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” Mark Twain

Posted in Quotations, religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Security State Noose Tightens

Someone You Love: Coming to a Gulag Near You by Chris Hedges/ Truthdig/ April 2, 2012 The security and surveillance state does not deal in nuance or ambiguity. Its millions of agents, intelligence gatherers, spies, clandestine operatives, analysts and armed … Continue reading

Posted in civil liberties, crime, Justice, law, Occupy, protest, protests, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Morris Berman: “A Postmortem For a Dying Nation”

Why the American Empire Was Destined to Collapse Interview with author and social critic Morris Berman  who says the fact that we’re a nation of hustlers lies at the root of our decline. by Nomi Prins/ AlterNet/ March 7, 2012 … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, economy, finance, inequality, media, politics, poverty, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

BPR Quote of the Day: America, A Love Story

“I know of no other country where love of money has such a grip on men’s hearts or where stronger scorn is expressed for the theory of permanent equality of property.” Alexis de Tocqueville from Democracy in America, (1835)

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is It Still Torture If We Do It?

New Bush-Era Torture Memo Released, Raises Questions About What Has Changed And What Hasn’t by Dan Foomkin/ Huffington Post/ April 6, 2012 WASHINGTON — A six-year-old memo from within the George W. Bush administration that came to light this week … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Barack Obama, foreign policy, Iraq war, Justice, law, military, Terrorism, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BPR Quote of the Day: AKA Last Refuge of the Scoundral

“You’ll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race.”          George Bernard Shaw  

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Awaiting the Next Kent State

When the authorities get tired of pepper spray, and really want to teach protesters a lesson, what will be their next move? As economic conditions worsen, demonstrations increase, and police feel overwhelmed, my  fear is we may not get through … Continue reading

Posted in civil liberties, government, law, Occupy, Occupy Wall Street, protest | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

BPR Quote of the Day: Being Hopeful

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Ending Authoritarianism and Plutocracy in the U.S.

By Rocky Anderson  Presidential Candidate, Justice Party, March 26, 2012,  speaking at Hinckley Institute of Politics, at The University of Utah  Let us consider the fundamental guiding principles for the United States of America — freedom, equal opportunity, compassion, and security. … Continue reading

Posted in civil liberties, Economics, elections, foreign policy, government, Justice, military, politics, war | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments