It's a rigged game! That IS the banking arrangement. The regulations are there to direct the hot potato to the mark. When money is created by 'borrowing' it, the principle and the interest cannot be paid back without creating more debt. It's a giant Ponzi scheme -- as long as someone keeps borrowing, the scam continues, but like all Ponzi schemes, they eventually crash. When they do, the bankers pick up all the property that was purchased with this money. It happens over and over again, with the population gradually losing all their property and essentially renting their lives in service to the nation's debt. That is what the game is designed to do!

I'm glad that Americans are finally starting to figure out how all this politics-business works! Thanks to WikiLeaks and TrumpTweets, so much has been exposed behind the scenes of the DNC and HillaryMail and the ClintonFoundation, all their games and deals... And now all eyes are on the rest of the establishment cronies, and they are all just as guilty and complicit as the Clinton's, Obama's, and the Bush's cohorts. This is merely business as usual.

I am not familiar with the use of the word 'capitalism' prior to Marx and Engel using it -- perhaps they coined the term. Like the word 'terrorism,' it is used to define 'the enemy.' I do not call myself a capitalist for engaging in fair trade, but my enemy will call me a greedy capitalist pig -- always trying to malign with every use of the word. While 'socialists' do not think of themselves as Marxist, communists, even socialists; they call themselves 'progressives' and 'liberals' and 'the workers' (or 'out-of-workers'). They do not see themselves as authoritarian, thieving, violent -- that's how their opposition see them though.

Fascism is the de facto form of government of the US -- often confused as 'capitalism' but is a form of socialism that enriches select 'private' businesses and the politicians that arrange those deals.

Socialism is monarchy without the pomp. The glorification of mediocrity and groupthink. Sort of a light-hearted communism, what do ya say, comrade? First rule of communism, get control of all the energy production. If there is none, go take it from those that have it. Same rule for socialism whereby 'energy' is 'labor.' Both are forms of servitude.

Nut Shell! Too funny... ;-)

Face it, the government is superfluous -- it's a giant criminal racket designed to put and keep people on a payroll. There is NO limit to the amount of debt they may incur and place on the rest of us. The Titanic is destined to sink, and the rats are eating up every last morsel before jumping ship.

Classic! This is the primary reason for day-to-day 'governance' -- protection of private property from THEFT, including theft by government fiat. The usurpation has gone so far, we are now merely passing one leaky vase to another in hopes we might get but a drop or two. The Earth is so bountiful and the labors of man so productive, wealth and property are a natural by-product. It is the insatiable desire for more and more power that impoverishes and oppresses. Seems to be a recurring theme in human civilizations' rise and fall...

Howard makes the point. The cop says, "I issued you a lawful order!" Then can do whatever the hell he wants. The 'order' is not only unlawful but most likely illegal if the rules and the regulations were 'lawfully' being exercised.

If the cops want to target you, they have a bag full of tricks of the trade. Ruby Ridge, the Davidians, and others -- I cannot recall ever a story (that got published) of government employees being shot for trespassing where the property defenders were found to be in the right.

Yep.

Think Venezuela, and every other crash of totalitarian governments around the world.

The central banks do not care what the form of government is, as long as it is completely beholden to them. A central bank that creates its own money is fundamental to totalitarianism in its many forms. Communism rapidly sucks the blood dry from the people, socialism merely sucks more slowly. The end result is that the banks own everything and everyone -- that's why they call themselves 'governors.'

You are what you eat! Money, food, energy -- where it comes from and how one gets it plays a significant role in the final product. What was the intent that birthed it and nourished it? It is not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. ;-)

The Executive Branch is popularly misunderstood -- it is Congress that makes the laws and declares war, the Executive MUST administer the laws, not change them or make law through executive orders. Obama was not only weak but also willfully ignorant in this regard.

Every 'thing' has a right and a left, top and a bottom, and a front and a back. If someone calls me a 'radical right-winger' then I know that they are a radical left-winger. Same if I am called a peace-loving pinko liberal, the accuser reveals more of his own character than mine. I believe it takes two wings to fly, and at least two legs to stand well. Eyes in front, but watch your back -- whether on the left or the right. Me? I am at the center, of course!

"Trickle-down" and "supply-side economics" are nothing more than the same socialist non-sense as the source for either was government spending with borrowed funds. The economy flourishes unaided and unsubsidized -- that is why it is such a common target for taxation. Central control ultimately becomes monopoly, which are anathema to a flourishing economy. Greed is no less found among communists and socialists than kings and emperors.

The truth is unfortunate, the central banks rule the world with all nations paying tribute or else -- talk about blanket superiority.

Hear, hear! The Liberty Tree still stands!

To figure out what "-ism" is being practiced, one need only to follow the flow of money. The structure that forms supports the flow of power to the rulers (they know who they are) while loading the common people with obligations and perpetual indentured servitude to church and/or state both under the ruler's command. It comes in many forms and flavors for the culture of the day, but always assumes power over all in the name of whatever deity the masses hold dearest to them. The devil cites scripture for his own purposes...

Ever since I was a little boy I have wanted to govern myself -- I was so tired of all the prearranged 'games' and hoops to jump through each day by teachers, nuns, psychologists, social workers, guidance counselors, nurses, coaches, cops, judges, television... and to have to eat it all up as if propaganda and hypocrisy were a turkey dinner. Their games have never ceased.

The New World Order props are starting to fail. The man behind the curtain has been exposed, and the emperor has been called out for wearing no clothes. For decades, most eligible voters have not voted for any of the above -- the silent majority still say NO by not saying 'yes.' Delusion has a price, and the bill comes due. Staying free requires constant attention as every trick in the book is used to get us to give it up for a 'promise' of a better day.

Waffler confuses the People with their government. The People have chartered the government for mutual protection of our lives, rights, and property. When a government becomes corrupted into a ruing class, the People have every right to condemn it and clean house. Integrity in government is the highest order of public concern.

Indeed!

I prefer a more 'Kung Fu' approach which never attacks, skillfully avoids evil's attempted blows, and uses the enemy's force against himself. No initiation of violence nor taking of revenge.

I understand Carlton's point -- but also Mike's.

I miss Waffler. ;-)

Thus compulsory education by the state. Tell me the prevailing sentiments of the young, and I will tell you the curriculum of the state.

Collectivism is the creed of state education breeding dependence, irresponsibility, servitude, authoritarianism and envy. Blame, blame, blame. Do Americans even want to produce anything anymore?

Certainly! 'Knowledge is power,' and power without integrity is an insatiable beast.