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The Enemy Within
By Jeff Gates
The phrase “enemy within” brings to mind the image of a shadowy spy stealing military secrets. That was the case for Israeli master spy Jonathan Pollard jailed for 1980s espionage that compromised U.S. Cold War strategy.
That phrase also describes those involved in a form of psy-ops that is not easily detected because it operates so brazenly. For instance, the well-timed release of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks displaced reports of Israeli obstinacy in peace talks with reports of a need for war with Iran.
That operation relied on editors at four major newspapers chosen by WikiLeaks to manage the releases. Despite the delight at their impact voiced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mainstream media failed to mention the possibility of undisclosed bias by those who chose what to release and when.
Was Jesus a Socialist?
By Robert Bows
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
--William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming, 1920
One of the techniques of successful propaganda is to repeat a statement over and over again until people believe it to be true, as any encounter with the media and the pulpit amply demonstrates. So, to transform the world into a sustainable and progressive place, we must deconstruct the underlying lies promulgated by the mouthpieces of plutocratic propaganda, by which they justify the current state of affairs.
Given the increasing gap between rich and poor, the sharp spike in religious fundamentalism, and the impunity with which corporate-controlled states seize resources to which they have no legitimate claim, one of our first priorities must be to disable the use of religious dogma to justify greed and war.
Since surveys indicate that three-quarters of Americans consider themselves to be Christians, let’s begin there.[1]
It has become a tenet of faith for many Christians that they can simultaneously practice their religion and conduct economic affairs in their own self interest. Indeed, ever since the Protestant Reformation arose from the pressures of the Industrial Revolution, the pulpits of Christianity have been used to turn wealth (economic success) into an indication of favor from God.
10 great progressive moments of 2010
Mary Shaw
2010 was a wild ride.
The year had its share of low points for progressives, like the reelection defeats of Senator Russ Feingold and Representative Alan Grayson, the scrapping of a single-payer health care option, Arizona's xenophobic new laws, and the extension of tax breaks for zillionaires.
But the year also had some high points.
Here are my 10 favorites political moments of 2010, in chronological order:
1. February 24 - General Motors announced that it would discontinue production of the gas-guzzling Hummer. The planet is grateful.
2. March 23 - President Obama signed the health care reform bill into law. It's far from perfect, but far better than nothing.
3. May 17 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes may not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Every child deserves a chance at redemption.
Unity in 2011
by Timothy V. Gatto
As 2010 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on everything that has happened. In my personal life, it really hasn’t been a bad year. I’ve had two books published, a novel and a political book. I guess that seeing my novel in print (Kimchee Days or Stoned-Cold Warriors) after 15 years of rejections, it was the best thing that has happened this year. People that are closest to me are healthy so I’m happy about that also.
I can’t really say that the entire year has been a joyride. This has probably been the most frustrating year I’ve ever experienced. I knew that the Democrats were going to let us down, but knowing they would didn’t make the experience any better. I was amazed at the way Obama continued Bush’s foreign policy.
Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
By Gary Kohls, MD
Duty to Warn:
Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
Excerpts from Robert Whitaker’s Anatomy of an Epidemic
From Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol. 7, Number 1, Spring 2005
Full article, with extensive documentation, accessible at:
http://psychrights.org/index.htm
Excerpted, with minimal editing, by Gary G. Kohls, MD
The percentage of Americans disabled by “mental illness” has increased dramatically since 1955, when Thorazine – remembered today as psychiatry’s first “wonder” drug – was introduced into the market.
There are now nearly 6 million Americans disabled by “mental illness”, and this number increases by more than 400 people each day. A review of the scientific literature reveals that it is our drug-based paradigm of care that is fueling this epidemic. The drugs increase the likelihood that a person will become chronically ill, and induce new and more severe psychiatric symptoms, often psychiatric drug-induced, in a significant percentage of patients.
E. Fuller Torrey, in his 2001 book The Invisible Plague, concluded that insanity had risen to the level of an epidemic. This epidemic has unfolded in lockstep with the ever-increasing use of prescription psychiatric drugs.
The number of disabled “mentally ill” has increased nearly six-fold since Thorazine was introduced.
The number of disabled “mentally ill” has also increased dramatically since 1987, the year Prozac was introduced.
America's Gulf: New Report Says It's Dying
by Stephen Lendman
Concerned Citizens of Florida.com (CCF) believe efforts must be made now "to address what may very well be the greatest environmental catastrophe of North America in modern history....government (and media) cannot be relied on" for truthful information. As a result, its site is a platform for truth and accuracy on a disaster of such magnitude.
On December 1, CCF published a special Dr. Tom Termotto Gulf disaster report, titled "The Gulf of Mexico is Dying." He's National Coordinator for the Tallahassee, FL-based Gulf Oil Spill Remediation Conference (International Citizens' Initiative). Its disturbing findings are discussed below. He published them so "the world community will come together to further contemplate this dire and demanding predicament." Future generations depend on it.
Palestine Today: A Reality of Justice Denied
by Stephen Lendman
Salama Abu Harhish
On December 24, Mondoweiss co-editor Adam Horowitz wrote:
"Israeli military kills 20-year old Gazan for herding animals too close to buffer zone."
On December 23, Israeli forces shot and killed Salama Abu Harhish without warning while herding sheep and goats in Beit Lahya. Civilized nations don't murder nonviolent civilians in cold blood, this time leaving a widow and day-old unnamed baby.
What "democracy" thrives on violence, spurns peace, and wages preemptive wars like Cast Lead. Besides America, only Israel, a global menace like its Washington paymaster/partner, together with Britain the real axis of evil.
It's all good! Party on like there's no tomorrow
By Numerian posted by Michael Collins
"The US financial system is close to collapse - The deliberate public relations campaign by government, politicians, and business leaders to assure us that “all is well” when it comes to the banking system is unraveling. The dry rot that is destroying banks keeps eating away at the foundations of finance, the latest example being the revelations regarding the foreclosure process. The ugly, life-threatening reality that no one in banking wants to talk about is that the biggest asset class of the industry – home mortgages – may be severely compromised because the mortgages themselves may be uncollateralized. ... The simple fact that the banks have failed for twenty years to keep the borrower’s note connected to the mortgage document, and have both registered with local recorders of deeds, means that banks cannot really prove they are the legal lender with rights to foreclose."
Israel Hardens Repression as Palestinian Recognition Increases
by Stephen Lendman
On December 24, Ecuador became the fifth Latin American country to recognize "the Palestine state as free and independent within its borders since 1967." An accompanying statement said:
"Sadly, the Middle East continues to face wars and violent events that have led to the death of many innocent people, a situation contrary to the humane and pacifist position established by the Ecuadorian Constitution. This recognition is meant to reinforce the valid and legitimate wish of the Palestin(ian) people to have their own free and independent state." Having it is "fundamental to achieve the peaceful co-existence of the nations in the region through dialogue and mediation."
The Huffington Hoax
By Bob Fox
Like many liberals/progressives in this country, I was very happy when The Huffington Post was launched on the web in 2005. The left needed a voice on the internet and Huffpo provided it. Being a writer, I also engaged in posting my opinions on many articles at Huffpo over the years as the site became a force on the internet.
But then I started to see some troubling practices at Huffpo. For one, out of every five posts I would submit, I would only have two posted after the moderators at the site looked at my posts. The subject matter involved usually was about the JFK assassination or the events of 9/11. It got me to the point that where I stopped posting at all on the site and rarely visited the site anymore.
In addition to that, I started to see articles in Huffpo that were very disturbing and very similar to the way the mainstream media has reported events like the JFK assassination. Articles like this one for instance. What a bunch of malarkey. That particular story was torn apart by many experts including this excellent retort by Jim Fetzer and Jim Marrs.
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