This video clip is probably my favorite political statement of all. It’s time, even more so than any other time, to make it go viral:
FUNDAMENTALISM: A Powerful, Mental Growth Inhibitor
06 Feb 2018 4 Comments
in Child abuse, Childhood Development, propaganda, Religious Indoctrination, Uncategorized Tags: Christianity, Donald Trump, propaganda, racism, Rural America

(Photo: Wikimedia commons)
A child is born neither Christian, nor Jew, nor Muslim, nor atheist, nor an adherent to any other brand of religious or philosophical order. A child is born a human being with an ability to learn and from this raw material society builds her walls of nationalism, [prejudice] and religious certitude —Max T. Furr, The Empathy Imperative
An insider explains how rural Christian white America has a dark and terrifying underbelly
FORSETTI’S JUSTICE, ALTERNET
06 FEB 2018 AT 02:20 ET
As the election of Donald Trump is being sorted out, a common theme keeps cropping up from all sides: “Democrats failed to understand white, working-class, fly-over America.”
Trump supporters are saying this. Progressive pundits are saying this. Talking heads across all forms of the media are saying this. Even some Democratic leaders are saying this. It doesn’t matter how many people say it, it is complete BS. It is an intellectual/linguistic sleight of hand meant to draw attention away from the real problem. The real problem isn’t East Coast elites who don’t understand or care about rural America. The real problem is that rural Americans don’t understand the causes of their own situations and fears and they have shown no interest in finding out. They don’t want to know why they feel the way they do or why they are struggling because they don’t want to admit it is in large part because of the choices they’ve made and the horrible things they’ve allowed themselves to believe.
Read more at https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/insider-explains-rural-christian-white-america-dark-terrifying-underbelly/
“No Such Thing as Marital Rape!”—God
06 Dec 2017 2 Comments
in family values, religion, Religious Indoctrination Tags: Biblical Ethics, Biblical Morality, Christianity, faith, family values, Moral Bankruptcy, religion
In my mind, if it wasn’t violent or you didn’t cry for help, that wasn’t rape, that was fornication. If it was violent and you did cry out, it was still only rape if you didn’t happen to belong to your assailant (Deut. 22:23-24).
Rape was a one-time thing, a life and death situation, not something that happens with people who love you, and certainly not from your own husband. Marital rape? No such thing!
Read more at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/removingthefigleaf/2016/08/i-let-my-husband-rape-me/#0uMKbvLJUMH2cWWu.99
Does Anyone Disagree with this Message?
24 Oct 2017 8 Comments
in economy, U.S. economy Tags: Government Corruption, Government Dysfunction, Resistance, Robert Reich, root cause, video
It cannot be stressed enough. Robert Reich’s message in this video needs to be shared by all who understand, or are seeking to understand, that the root cause of government dysfunction—the root cause of virtually all hot button issues setting Americans at loggerheads—is money in politics. For those who might be blaming the left or the right, it must be understood why BOTH are at fault, with few, individual exceptions.
This IS the number one issue. Listen to this video and share it. Tweet it. Post it where ever you can.
I don’t care if you are conservative, liberal, progressive or far, far right evangelical, this message is for everyone.
Who is there who does not agree with Reich?
ROOT ROT: The Cause of Corruption in Government
19 Oct 2017 2 Comments
in Acts of the Ignoble, America's shame, Antipathy, Dishoner Tags: Government-Corporate corruption, Government-Corporate greed, Money in Politics, Oligarchs, Opioid crisis, Politics

Why can’t we ever learn? FOLLOW THE FRIGGIN’ MONEY!
I’ve been making MONEY IN POLITICS my major argument for the ROOT CAUSE of virtually all that is wrong in our Government–in economics, the healthcare “debate,” gun violence control, poverty, etc, etc. .
“Our government?” NAY, our corporate government (we continue to let it happen)!
The ONLY candidate who wanted to stop it was Bernie Sanders. But all corporate America had to do was to keep their elected congressional representatives and Senators in Washington (otherwise called conservatives and blue dogs) repeating (without qualification) to the public that Sanders is a Socialist, and since most of the public has never had an education in civics or in the argumentative fallacies (critical thinking), and because we’ve been nurtured for the past century to belive that socialism is equivalent to old Soviet style communism, they run from him no matter what he says, and into the arms of our corporate congress.
But, you say, conservatives passed a bipartisan bill in 2016 that would severely cut back on the ability of corporations to keep pumping the nation full of opioids?
Yep. sure did. McConnell helped it pass. But that was only FOR SHOW to their voters. They then refused to fund the program. It’s all a dance. It’s the dance called the Side Step. Now you see me doing the right thing, but then you don’t see me refusing to let the right thing happen–tah ta tah ta tah dance dance dance, money money money!
Trump and many politicians have said a lot in favor of curbing corporate power, but how many times does Trump softly say the right things–what people WANT to hear, but then turn around and do the opposite? He is the consummate con man liar as are all who blocked the funding (probably by poison pill clauses or amendments). It would take some digging to find out, so they know they are safe and will be reelected with the financial help of the pharmaceutical corporations–otherwise called legal bribery.
And many wonder why conservatives and almost all liberals refuse to make higher education tuition free for all, as Sanders was advocating, and have the super wealthy (those who benefit from money in politics) pay for it. An educated public (in the humanities) would see these self-serving rats for who they are and could not be propagandized nearly as easily as they are now.
Donald Trump was not wrong. Hours before his nominee for “drug czar” withdrew from consideration over his part in a law limiting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to crack down on pharmaceutical distributors feeding the US’s opioid epidemic, the president took a shot at the influence of drug companies over Congress.
Read more at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/19/big-pharma-money-lobbying-us-opioid-crisis
— Max T. Furr is author of The Empathy Imperative, a philosophical novel exploring the nature justice and religious belief.
Was Descartes wrong and God was a deceiver, after all?
Consider that if the Christian Bible were true (sans contradictions), then what would that say of objective science, such as astronomy, biological evolution and medical research? Indeed, what would it say about logic and the Creator, Itself?
What would the world be like had it been created by a truly benevolent god and our primary motivating force was empathy, not self interest? How, indeed, with the human condition as it is, could we achieve such a world either via a god or by humanism?
Join humanist Professor M. Jefferson Hale as, in part II, he puts God on the witness stand in an ethereal court to answer for Its malfeasance and terrorism.
A Darkly Humorous Window into the Future of Reliable News in the U.S.
04 Jul 2017 8 Comments
in Acts of the Ignoble, Intellectual Dishonesty, propaganda Tags: Christianity, Dark Humor, Politics
NOTE: I have vetted the claims put forth in John Oliver’s segment on Sinclair Broadcasting’s greasing of the slope upon which the United States is sliding toward permanent one party rule by the wealthy and the privileged. While Oliver’s segment is presented in a humorous setting, his facts are all too true.
The following is only one part of the ongoing effort of the political, corporatist and quasi religious, conservative right to gain permanent and exclusive power, and it is likely the most frightening one. It is one that, under the guise of free speech and the ongoing deregulation of the broadcast industry, is psychologically nurturing the nation’s public to unwittingly support their efforts.
Currently, I’m working on the major events in our history that have brought us to these darkening, religio-political skies.
Max T. Furr is author of The Empathy Imperative, a novel of political intrigue featuring the factual history of the rise of the modern neoconservatives, their political philosophy and worldview.
While the storyline in part 1 is based on biblical literality, part 2 features a trial of God in The Ethereal Court of Answers.
The overall thrust of the novel is an analysis of religious cognitive dissonance where modern views come into conflict with the Old Testament’s alleged actions of God.
Is the god of the Bible amoral? Do true-believers believe that whatever their god does, he does because it is the moral and right thing to do, or are his actions right and moral because they are his actions? —A paraphrasing of a question originally posited by Socrates.
An Open Letter to Rev. Franklin Graham from a “Small Church” Pastor
21 May 2017 2 Comments
Although I am not a religious person and frequently engage in debates with fundamentalist Christians, I love this letter and it is why I like Christians who can see through the hypocritical, emotional rhetoric of self-serving preachers and have the courage to call them out publically.
Dear Frank
Can I call you Frank? This is just pastor to pastor. Feel free to call me Peter. Anyway, I have to say I was flattered when I learned that your Decision America Tour took a detour off the beaten path to call upon us “small community churches.” We are nothing if not small. We seat 30-40 on a good Sunday. And we are a century old fixture of our small community. Most often we are overlooked and overshadowed by mega-churches and politically influential religious voices like your own. We don’t hold a candle to an auditorium filled with the music of a one hundred voice choir led by professional musicians. We probably will never be recognized in any nationally syndicated media. After all, we don’t do anything really “newsworthy.” We just preach the good news of Jesus Christ; love one another the best we can (which sometimes isn’t…
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INDIFFERENCE and GREED: Profit Over People, Profit Over Lives
09 May 2017 6 Comments
in Acts of the Ignoble, America's shame, Antipathy, Dishoner Tags: greed, immigration, inhumanity, Private Detention Centers
Once again we see what for-profit private prisons (corporations) are doing to boost profit. Millions of voters and conservative politicians claim that private enterprise, when deregulated and/or allowed to oversee themselves will do what’s best for the people, and do better than the (Federal) government with all its regulations and oversight. Yet study is yet another example of that shows otherwise. It’s the same problem with our private “healthcare” corporations in the U.S.—profit over people, profit over lives.
By and large, corporations are concerned with, not people or reasonable profit, but high profit alone—and as high as they can get it by hook or crook. Deregulate Wall Street? Abolish public schools? Abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? Abolish the ACA? Take away healthcare for millions of people? These are the goals of the present administration and Congress. Profit over people, profit over lives.
President Obama was trying to phase out private prisons and detention centers (human warehouses) at least on the federal level, but Trump wants more of them to warehouse more people. More profit! More profit! —Author
From The Guardian —
Immigrant detention centers marred by ‘needless deaths’ amid poor care – report
This report cites a ‘systemic failure’ to provide adequate medical care to detainees with health issues and warns Trump’s desire to expand capacity would make it worse. . .
Raúl Ernesto Morales-Ramos, detained in California and ravaged by cancer, begged for treatment. He was given ibuprofen.
Tiombe Kimana Carlos, detained in New York with chronic schizophrenia, was held in solitary confinement. She made a noose from a sheet.
Manuel Cota-Domingo, detained in Arizona with untreated diabetes and pneumonia, began to have trouble breathing. Staff dithered over who should call 911.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/08/immigrant-detention-centers-medical-care-deaths
American Theocracy Devalues, Controls Women
25 Apr 2017 4 Comments
Some of us, especially women, have the feeling that our nation, in terms of both economic and social justice has taken a 180° turn and is careening headlong into the past.
Take a read and decide for yourselves. Is this what we want for women in our society?
The disturbing Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu April 26) hinges on misogyny and controlling women and their bodies.
The main events of the tale have actually happened at some point in history, as I have written about before.
Unfortunately, the story also reflects our current political moment.
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The Darkness Within . . .
18 Apr 2017 4 Comments
in Acts of the Ignoble, courage, Empathy v. Racial Bigotry Tags: Islam, Politics, Quran, religion
–This is the very reason for our Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment–
An excellent editorial from the Dawn, a Pakistani publication:
A medieval brutality, a very cancer of the soul, has permeated this society. Not only has it pervaded the hinterland, it has also spread to places where minds are supposed to be enlightened by knowledge and learning.
Each ghastly detail of Mashal Khan’s murder on Thursday illustrates this chilling fact. The 23-year-old student at the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan was lynched on campus by a mob of fellow students over allegations of blasphemy.
Read more at https://www.dawn.com/news/1327030
Real Men Don’t Beat, Rape Women
31 Mar 2017 4 Comments
this is one of my favorite and informative blogs.
By Ted Esparza
Constance Johnson was a domestic violence prosecutor – and also a battered wife.
She met her husband, Ben, in college and fell in love. They got married and were very happy for three years.
But then he began criticizing her. Everything was her fault. He was always right. And she was too fat — at 110 lbs.
After they moved near her husband’s aging parents to help them – Ben’s idea — the violence began. He didn’t seem happy after the move and one morning he decided he didn’t like his breakfast.
“Make it yourself.” Constance told him.
— SLAP —
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What Sort of Nation has the U.S. Become?
10 Mar 2017 3 Comments
in Idiocracy, Keystone Cops Tags: Fact Check, Idiocracy, Keystone Cops, Lottery winners, Medicaid, Republicans
I’ve used various terms to describe our economic system in the U.S.; Corporatocracy (rule by corporations), Kleptocracy (rule by those who have take from those who have little), and even fascism (corporate government merging-militant militarism-extreme nationalism-racism).
Since the Republicans now have gained full power in DC with Donald (Captian Queeg) Trump is president, and seeing what they are saying and doing, we can add another to our little group of descriptive nouns: Idiocracy (rule by the stupid).

Powerball probabilities. Photograph: Mona Chalabi
“The Republican healthcare plan wants to crack down on ‘high dollar lottery winners’ – how many of those are there?”
In the draft law now known as TrumpCare, Republicans have inserted language relating to “‘high dollar lottery winners’. . . (almost six of the draft law’s 66 pages are spent on these Americans).”
These people, according to Republicans, are apparently still on Medicaid, cheating the taxpayer.
Tucker Carlson’s Cognitive Dissonance
02 Mar 2017 6 Comments
in Antipathy, Con Games, Creationism and Evolution, Uncategorized Tags: Cognitive Dissonance, evolution, Global Warming, Psychology of Denial, science, territoriality
LOL! Tucker Carlson did his best with his constant interruptions designed to unhinge Bill Nye, but became unhinged himself as Nye remained quite calm and provided the answers to what he was asking. But then, Carlson denied Nye was answering the questions because Carlson couldn’t understand the very simple, factual answers.
We humans are still territorial creatures, a legacy of our evolutionary past. Today, we can see our territoriality in political borders, properties and land possessions, supported by law, the police and the military.
We have psychological territories as well (subjective belief that cannot be independently verified as true), such as religion, politics and, yes, even negatives such as global warming science denial.
Many of us cannot allow objective facts (e.g., independently verifiable, human caused, global warming) to encroach on our subjective territories. Tucker’s angry conflict arose when Nye’s objective facts came in contact with his subjective border, and Nye correctly identified it as Tucker’s “cognitive dissonance.”
That Carlson rushed to his border to fight against Nye’s objective facts demonstrates his belief that his territory was threatened, which is why he became angry.
Bill Maher on the Magic (R)
24 Feb 2017 4 Comments
in America's shame, Con Games, Dishoner, Uncategorized Tags: Bill Maher, Conservatism, political integrity, Politics, Republicanism, Trumpism
A fascinating take on conservatism v. Trumpism and political integrity on the Right. Maher is well known for telling it like it is and adding a degree of humor even as he is being serious. He nailed this on!




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