{"id":11903,"date":"2013-12-30T01:24:25","date_gmt":"2013-12-30T09:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=11903"},"modified":"2013-12-30T01:24:25","modified_gmt":"2013-12-30T09:24:25","slug":"open-thread12302013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2013\/12\/30\/open-thread12302013\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–12\/30\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, and trying to finish before the final week of holy days in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb begins services.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today’s took me 2:53 (average 5:06).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Religious Ecstasy<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"1229-Broncos34-Raiders14\"<\/font><\/p>\n

Peyton Manning set the all time NFL records for passing touchdowns and passing yards in a single season, before sitting out the entire second half.  The Broncos set the all time NFL record for storing in a single season.  This makes this year\u2019s Broncos the most potent offense in history.<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From Alternet<\/a>: <\/font>Joseph Epstein in Wall Street Journal: The problem with America is the collapse of white rule.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There just are not enough rich, white men in power in America anymore. It is a terrible problem. Instead, what we have is some sort of self-styled meritocracy, where instead of the good old-fashioned ruling elite, people who have overcome adversity and achieved success by dint of hard work and effort, rather than their lineage, are in charge. Ugh! This must be why society is going to hell in a handbasket.<\/p>\n

So goes the argument of writer Joseph Epstein, who penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal last weekend bemoaning the collapse of white rule. Not just white rule. WASP rule.<\/p>\n

The column, which resembles satire, but apparently is not, argues [Murdoch delinked] that modern-day \u201ccorruption, scandal and incompetence\u201d are hallmarks exclusive to this new era of non-white rule. Because that shit never happened when whites were in charge. If only, he laments, colleges still admitted more legacies and didn\u2019t encourage applications of non-white students. Then maybe, instead of a Senate that is 95% white, we could go back to the 100%.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t even get him started about the president.<\/p>\n

This is just one of the eight worst things Republicans said last week. Click through for the other seven.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Bill Moyers<\/a>: <\/font>For the past 40 years, corporate America has spent untold millions<\/a> convincing lawmakers and the wider public that government intervention in the private sector results in painful unintended consequences that harm us all. At the same time, corporate-backed think tanks and media outlets have advanced the narrative that public benefits create a culture of dependency<\/a>, and by doing so ultimately do their recipients more harm than good.<\/p>\n

The hypocrisy of these claims is becoming increasingly evident as low-wage employers \u2014 notably retailers and the fast-food industry \u2014 enjoy profits subsidized by their workers\u2019 reliance on public benefits. These firms are the real \u201cwelfare queens\u201d<\/a> in today\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

In short, our tax dollars are going to give the Walton family, owners of Wal-Fart, more money than the entire bottom 40% of American families.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Bernie Sanders: (received in email.<\/font><\/p>\n

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy new year.  I also want to express my gratitude to you for the political support that you have given to me, and for all of your efforts in trying to move our country and the world in the direction of peace, justice and environmental sanity.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

As we survey our country at the end of 2013 I don’t have to tell you that the problems facing us are monumental, that the Congress is dysfunctional and that more and more people (especially the young) are, understandably, giving up on the political process.  The people are hurting.  They look to Washington for help.  Nothing is happening.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n