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THE LUNATICS

ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM!

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The deliberations of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were held in strict secrecy. Consequently, anxious citizens gathered outside Independence Hall when the proceedings ended in order to learn what had been produced behind closed doors. The answer was provided immediately. A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

America is an oligarchy, not a democracy or republic, university study finds

By Cheryl Chumley, The Washington Times

April 21, 2014--America is no longer a democracy—never mind the democratic republic envisioned by Founding Fathers.

Rather, it has taken a turn down elitist lane and become a country led by a small dominant class comprised of powerful members who exert total control over the general population—an oligarchy, according to a new study jointly conducted by Princeton and Northwestern universities.

One finding in the study: The U.S. government now represents the rich and powerful, not the average citizen, United Press International reported.

In the study, “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups and Average Citizens,” researchers compared 1,800 different U.S. policies that were put in place by politicians between 1981 and 2002 to the type of policies preferred by the average and wealthy American, or special interest groups.

Researchers then concluded that U.S. policies are formed more by special interest groups than by politicians properly representing the will of the general people, including the lower-income class.

“The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence,” the study found.

The study also found: “When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose.”

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/americas-oligarchy-not-democracy-or-republic-unive/#ixzz3IstLGB7V

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CONGRESS IS IN TOWN!

Don't Get Too Excited...They're Not Staying
 

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Silos Marner  

By George Eliot 

Silas Marner, the Weaver of Raveloe, published in 1861, is unique among George Eliot's writings for its brevity and its apparent allegorical clarity. 

The novel is only slightly longer than the short stories that Eliot published.

I had to read Silas Marner in school. Checked it out again recently...Yep, still don't like it! She wrote Middlemarch, which, I believe was shown on television recently.

I like not only to be loved, but also to be told I am loved.

George Eliot

Congress returns to Capitol Hill for post-election battle

By Mike Lillis

The players are the same, but it’s a whole new political world when Congress returns Wednesday to a Capitol turned upside down by last Tuesday’s elections.

Fresh off a midterm victory that gives them control over both chambers next year, Republicans will use the lame-duck session to pick leaders and plot strategies for confronting President Obama in the homestretch of his White House tenure.

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I want to put a ding in the universe.

Steve Jobs

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