This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mike Papantonio and David Bender:
Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern
This week on Ring of Fire, Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi will be here to tell us how Wall Street thieves like those at Goldman Sachs scammed the federal government through the bailout programs.
John Nichols from The Nation magazine will be joining us to talk about how the Democrats need to define themselves in this year’s midterm elections, and why the moderates need to be worried.
And Lawrence Lessig, Harvard professor and founder of ChangeCongress.org, will tell us about how we can Call a Convention to possibly overturn the disastrous Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens’ United case.
You can now SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST by clicking on the “Podcast” tab at the top of the Ring of Fire blog.
And don’t forget to join us on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook icon on the left side of our blog!
To find out more about the political ideology and IQ study, click here!
You can support Bill Halter’s campaign against Blanche Lincoln by clicking here!
I’m very sad that the podcast is subscription only. Being unemployed it’s hard for me to pay for this kind of service and I’m not always able to be home to listen.
I will miss listening on a regular basis to RoF as I have come to rely on the information from the show.
Shelagh,
I think there are ways to record streaming video but I don’t know what they are. I would guess that would be acceptable to the RofF people as long as you don’t make the recordings available for download somewhere. Maybe someone from Ring of Fire could tell us if they would object to that or not?
I am also really strapped for cash and so can’t take on another subscription. My problem with being limited to the live stream (RofF is not available on my XM/Sirius stations or on any of my local stations) is that the broadcast is very long and I cannot ever make the time to listen to it all in one go. Oh well, good luck with the live stream. I suppose we are stuck with that until our fortunes improve!
oops I meant streaming audio. I guess the same rules apply, though.
As much as I love this show, I can’t afford it. This amount of money bought ALL the shows on Air America, not just one show once a week. Couldn’t you lower the cost? I do and will miss listening to the show since it has not been on in my market for some years now. I was a podcast junkie, but I will have to go cold turkey I guess…
ShelaghC and Deborah,
I hear you both. My husband is currently unemployed. I can’t listen to the show in one shot either. I don’t know anything about the streaming audio being recorded, though. I hope RoF is reading these posts and sees how many people can’t afford to pay or be home to listen to the show live all at once. I think this was a bad time to pick to have people pay for podcasts. So many people are unemployed or just plain strapped for cash.
PS…Peter…I hear you, too. Your post came through before mine did.
Colleen, there are tutorials on line on how to record streaming videos. I just don’t want to link them here if the RofF people don’t like the idea. I would happily pay for a subscription but I just can’t part with the money, as I said above.
and audios too
ugh. I keep saying that.
Deborah—I understand why you don’t want to link streaming audios here. I realize you would happily pay, we all would, but when you just can’t afford it–you just can’t afford it. That’s the way it goes.
I am major dissapointed. Rof is a great show but it looks like the greed doesn’t stop at the corporate right. Ed Shultz for instance is 5.99 per month and thats 5 days a week 3 hours a day. You also get the Ed show on MSNBC in those archives. Thats 15 hrs a week radio 5 hrs a week TV show. Rof wants 7.99 for 3 hrs a week. Norm goldman free… in fact Rof is higher then Rhodes, Press, Malloy, Hartman or any of the other shows that give us a full week.
I could afford it. But I’ll not be lining these greedy pockets just like I wont line the pockets of those Rof report on their show everyweek.
Shame on u Rof. You’ve priced those who can’t afford your’e 3 hrs a week of audio right out of the game.
Your’e hypocrites….YOU SUCK!
Um…
It wasn’t my intention to start a RoF flame. Only to convey my disappointment that I won’t be able to continue podcasting the show. I am not angry at anyone and – no, they’re not hypocrites and they don’t suck.
They’re businesspeople, they have a staff and things have changed since AAR closed in January. Ring of Fire is part of commercial radio and they do have an overhead.
About recording the stream: I may look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.
About the actual cost of the podcast: Yes, it is the same price that paid for the full lineup at Air America. But AAR had volume on its side to lower the hosting costs. IOW, the sheer numbers of people subscribing to their shows offset the difference. Plus I’d be willing to bet not many people downloaded *all* the shows but only a couple of shows regularly.
About the fact that RoF now charges for podcasting at all: When Ring of Fire was associated with AAR, they had the luxury of that association and could house their podcasts at the AAR site instead of having to do so themselves. Now RoF is with a different organization without the “space” for in-house podcasting. So now RoF has to pay for that which was probably included in the price of syndicating through AAR.
And bandwidth is not free.
btw, one of the sources of revenue for a venture like RoF comes from the commercials when the show airs. Podcasts have no commercials so it’s only logical that there’s a cost involved to offset that as well.
I still totally support Mike Papantonio, Robert Kennedy Jr and David Bender in this show. While I wish I had fuller pockets so I could afford the podcast, I also understand the decision and what must have led to it. And I would hope others who listen to the show would feel the same way.
I understand the frustration some of you might be having now that podcasts are no longer free, but this has nothing to do with greed. Ring of Fire has been on the air for almost 6 years, and since day 1, Mike Papantonio has been responsible for 100% of the costs – salaries, building the radio studios, equipment, insurance, building websites, everything. Every single dime that went into this show or to the staff for salary came directly out of Mike’s pocket. When we were with Air America we were never paid for our show, so this show has never pulled in even a dollar’s worth of income. I know how much of his own money Mike has lost on this show, but I will not divulge that info here. Just udnerstand that it is a lot of money, and charging for the podcasts is one way to help offset the hundreds of thousands of dollars in other expenses the show incurs on a yearly basis. This has nothing to do with greed, and to even suggest that is ignorant. This show is not free to produce, and all we’re asking is for a couple dollars a month to support something that you enjoy. I don’t think that’s asking too much.
Farron,
Only one of us has complained about a fee being charged. The fact is that, when compared to most subscriptions (by that I mean magazines, etc), it is kind of expensive. Nevertheless, with the exception of one person, no one is saying it isn’t worth the money. I personally can’t afford even one more monthly or yearly bill. I am not going to cancel, say, my Sirius/XM in favor of this or any other subscription. I don’t have cable TV and I need at least some way to stay in touch with headline news, etc–even if the mainstream media is sadly lacking in independence and objectivity. Plus, it offers entertainment such as live streams of the Metropolitan Opera and various other entertainments.
Mike Papantonio lives in Pensacola, which is not too far from here. I am sure he is well aware of the poverty experienced by many, many residents of the southeastern U.S., even on a good day, and is painfully aware of how much worse things have become in recent years. If he is aware of this conversation, I am sure he doesn’t take it as some kind of personal attack against him (with the exception of one comment by one person). Rather, I am sure he realizes that people are suffering financially but would still like to hear what he has to say.
Since you have not complained about the recording of this show, I can assume that it is all right with you and can only tell you and the others that I downloaded some software from CNET, have tried it and it works well. Again, I guess this must be okay as long as the files are not posted elsewhere for download by others, which I have no intention of doing. It is just that I work a six-day week, am attending graduate school and manage our small farm and, therefore, simply cannot carve out three hours of time on a Saturday to listen to this or to do just about any other singular thing.
Farron,
I’m with you on this – and I’m glad you commented.
I’ll go out on a bit of a limb, here, and suggest (as I did in a previous email), that offering a bit of explanation, as to why the RoF show now must charge, when it hasn’t, previously – just as you Did, right here – is a helpful thing to do.
I really Do find it helpful, your comments! And I hope it won’t be seen as greed on My part, to find such info as Farron conveys, something that actually Helps me Want to support this wonderful show.
I’m going to sign up right now, for the podcasts. RoF is my choice. Had I made previous, other choices for other shows, it would be hard, and as it is now, money is tight, but Farron’s words have helped me understand the situation more completely.
Anyone who suggests greed on the part of RoF IS being ignorant, and the only way to clear up ignorance is with legitimate and honest information.
Some will accept the info and Still not be able to afford the podcasts, and some will go on being ignorant, but even so: information is helpful.
So: I thank people for bringing up this issue – since I know that Colleen and myself had wondered about why RoF was now charging – and I thank Farron Cousins for his words.
I hope all now will be well. People need not be resentful of RoF. It’s their choice, but Why the choice must be made – to buy the podcasts or not – is now clear, in my mind.
I’m more than happy to support the show.
From what I can tell, being new to Progressive news (but innately holding Progressive viewpoints, all along) is that Most people are extemely ignorant and tend to lean toward the conservative end of the spectrum.
I see this where I live, and I don’t live in the deep south. I live in a blue state.
We need to fight for what we believe in. Sadly, money is very important in this world. It’s a reality we can’t forget about. I wish we could. Just as we can’t forget about it, neither can RoF, and Progressive news doesn’t have the massive corporate backing that the Fake Fox Noise and other such hate-talk can call claim to.
Also, to support this show – well, it’s a way for fans who can afford the fairly low fee to show their support and love for this fine show and the wonderful people behind it.
If you can’t afford to support RoF, I doubt that Mike or Farron or anyone else would hold it against you, but if you can, what a GREAT way to offer support to people who put on such a fine show.
This is not bad, having to pay for podcasts. What would be bad is if the show stopped, altogether.
The right would crow and taunt Mike and others and emerge even more smug than these bastards already are.
It’s sad, how money is so tight. I’m just as scared as anyone else about being able to afford my life – modest as it is. I’m sure that RoF understands that most of us struggle.
The thing is, I really admire Mike Papantonio so much (and, goes w/o saying: RFK Jr. and David Bender). I love All these guys.
Mike Papantonio is so perceptive and interesting. I’d rather listen to him than most anyone else in the media. I think he deserves my support, as does this show. I’m happy to give it. I hope I always can.
Farron,
Thanks for clearing things up and now I understand the situation. All we wanted was information. I’ll probably wait to sign up for podcasts until my husband is working again. I’m living in a very uncertain time right now. I have to wait until we get financial footing again. However, I will still visit the blog and comment on what I can–for example, I just commented on the PAP Attack. At least if that keeps being posted and when Mike goes on the FOX noise shows, I can still keep somewhat connected.
Colleen and others,
I agree that supporting this site can occur in ways such as time spent here viewing the videos and other blog entries, and by commenting, which is a great thing to do! In fact, even if I did not sign up for the podcasts I would still want to show my support by coming here and commenting on what is posted here, at the site.
It saddens me that more commenters don’t post here who like and follow this show. I don’t know why it’s just mainly me and Colleen – and sometimes G and Chrisy and a few others.
I’m actually quite fine w/that, myself, as I think that Colleen is a very perceptive person with informed views and a good heart. She’s extremely knowledgeable about politics and I learn a lot from reading her comments, not just what I learn from RoF. It’s the truth, Colleen, so don’t get embarrassed. I’m simply stating a few facts. As for me, I like to comment. I enjoy and Love writing, as well as communicating w/Colleen, and some others who come here.
Even if I disagree, as G and I recently did, I still appreciated G’s views, because we were both able to disagree w/o hatred. That, to me, is more important than anything else, as I grew up in a terribly repressive family where disagreement was not allowed.
Ok, Had a bad day, spoke definately a bit harshly. But.
The fact remains they are out-charging EVERYONE else for a show that has a third the content. Cmon, thats my problem.
I subscribe to 2 other podcasts and this is one of my favorite shows. I was here to subscribe when I saw the price…Did the comparative math, and frankly…it pissed me off. Not so much for me but for every poster before me, that in these tuff times wont be able to listen, cause the replay went from free to more then all the others…again the others are full time.
I apologise, and really I do for the over the top language. I gotta say though, I wont pay the price. Not fair market value.
I’ll still catch it online from time to time. Shame, but principles win out here for me.
Well, I will pay the price and already have paid it, gladly, and am now a member.
The point is, the show has been FREE for SIX YEARS! Can you say that about those other shows? I know that many of them Did charge, when they were at Air America, such as the Ron Reagan Show.
There are a LOT of people who would like to silence Progressive voices in covert and not so covert ways. This world is filled with nastiness.
Bastards! Those far right pieces of sh*t who think that there is No Such thing as Freedom of Speech.
Well, there IS. And I am supporting it, TODAY. And I am GLAD to. I can’t afford it anymore than I can afford one more new piece of sh*t that I really Don’t need, So. It’s not a big deal to me, as long as this wonderful show Stays ON.
And, so far as I can tell, it WILL.
And I don’t know what to think about “fair market value”. I’m not good at math, but if you sign up for the full year, it’s almost 60.00.
That works out to, probably not so much, per show. Again, my math skills suck. It’s probably very little, per show. Two dollars? I can afford that, I think, esp. if I stop buying those bastard Easter things in the toxic colors – you know what i mean – those peep things.
Mind you, I hadn’t bought Any, but I’ve been eyeing them and they keep calling out to me, and I actually like the toxic blue and pink colors of these fake things, these marshmallow monstrosities….
(Easter. Always a hard time. So much candy. Bunnies in chocolate. So. hard. to resist)…plus those pink peep things, that average about 99 cents, and then you eat them and that’s that, except you feel sort of sick, afterwards.
So, no peeps this Easter or maybe not so many of them. That’s a good way for me, at least, to afford this show
Also, I can certainly do w/o……let’s see…..nail polish. Mind you, I don’t buy a lot of it. But it’s also toxic. Bad smell. It chips too much. So, no more of this stuff, although, in truth, I have enough of it anyway.
But, I can cut out……hm……I can cut out buying other stuff I don’t really need. Not saying I have much money. But I CAN afford this.
Now, other shows may offer a greater value, in terms of just the price, alone, but I always say: don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. The fact is, this show may NEED to charge what it does, to stay afloat!
I don’t want it to go under.
People may disagree w/me but here it is: A true fan who Can afford the show WILL support it financially. Note that I say “can afford”. If you can’t, that’s different. But if you can, w/o much trouble, you Really should, I feel.
I was first upset, but mostly because no info was given. Now, the info is out there. People can decide what they can do or not do, but to say: I WON’T is bad form, imo. And it discourages people who might want to.
Personally, I’d rather have 3 hours of Mike and the others then a whole week of the others. So, to me, this show is beginning to actually look like a BARGAIN!
That last sentence came out wrong. I MEANT to write that I’d rather have 3 hours of Mike and RoF than the Other shows out there. That’s me. I think Mike is well worth it, plus we get RFK jr. and now: the Wonderful David Bender!!!!!!
And now, as regards Liberals being more intelligent (the iq study link, provided), I must admit that I would probably fail an IQ test, myself.
I am not a rational, analytical thinker to any extreme degree, and my understanding is that IQ tests are heavily scored, in that area.
Lest I sound like a big wussy, I am Not going to go into how high my “Emotional Intelligence IQ” is, for that sounds like something that would come out of that “Eat Pray Love” book that I could barely stand. (Apologies to those who might have loved this book. I am a bitter person, but also a person who cannot stand it when people write about their lives in this glowing, “don’tcha just LOVE life” way. I’m not against happiness, but, at some point, I must needs Fling the book across the room that is filled with such writing and madly declare: Enough Is Enough).
Also, I am not an atheist. I NEED the comfort of not dying when I die, which, apparently, means I am Weak minded. I dunno.
At any rate, the study is still flattering. I’m smarter than anyone I know in my family.
Does…..that count? (They are all conservatives).
Please let it Count!
Mara,
Speaking of PEEPS–we just saw them in the grocery store today. They are now also making chocolate covered ones.
Thank you for your kind words. Your posts cracked us up!
Yes, hard to walk by that stuff and not buy something.
Scott is a math wiz….it goes like this….$60.00 a year figures out to be $5.00 a month or $1.25 a show–because it airs once a week. I enjoy commenting at this board as well with you Mara and the other people who come here.
As for “Eat, Pray, Love”….I prefer the “other” title….”Eat, Pray, Queef”. That is one of those shit, republican women books that I see at the houses I clean at.
No thanks—I’ll take my true crime, political, psychological and a few other types of books anyday!
Yes, Mara…it counts!
Colleen…..
It’s, um…..too bad you told me about those Chocolate covered peeps….
darn…..
didn’t know that They existed…..
Well, I’ve been a subscriber to the RoF podcasts for all of 3 hours or so…..
guess I’ll just have to cancel……now that I know about those *Chocolate* covered Peeps
But No! I WILL resist the Peeps, even those bastard Chocolate covered ones!!!
I will be strong.
I gave up Peeps for Lent.
Jesus would be Proud of me, perhaps.
(Not really. I’m lying. I never give up Anything for Lent….including lying about giving up things for Lent, truth be told)….
Your words Crack me Up, Colleen!!!!!
And now w/your validation of that book being something that would appeal to Republican woman, all I can say is: Vindication! It is SWEET!!!!!
(and it Doesn’t make me feel ill, unlike those nasty, lovely, demented Peeps)!
Hey LOOK:
When Peeps Take the Constitution Into their own Hands:
http://afrocityblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/peeps.jpg
The Peeps have Landed!
http://boingboing.net/images/wecomeinpeeps.jpg
Peepwear?
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/4180-Baby-Peeps.jpg
(not a good look, really, even for small children)
Colleen…..
It’s, um…..too bad you told me about those Chocolate covered peeps….
darn…..
didn’t know that They existed…..
Well, I’ve been a subscriber to the RoF podcasts for all of 3 hours or so…..
guess I’ll just have to cancel……now that I know about those *Chocolate* covered Peeps
But No! I WILL resist the Peeps, even those bastard Chocolate covered ones!!!
I will be strong.
I gave up Peeps for Lent.
Jesus would be Proud of me, perhaps.
(Not really. I’m lying. I never give up Anything for Lent….including lying about giving up things for Lent, truth be told)….
Your words Crack me Up, Colleen!!!!!
And now w/your validation of that book being something that would appeal to Republican woman, all I can say is: Vindication! It is SWEET!!!!!
(and it Doesn’t make me feel ill, unlike those nasty, lovely, demented Peeps)!
Mara and everybody else,
I read the IQ Study. It doesn’t surprise me that liberals and atheists have higher IQ’s. For the record, I’m not an atheist–I’m an agnostic–but still these groups represent people who question evidence presented to them and just don’t take anyone’s word for something without solid facts to back their views. It’s good to question. I have had the sentence “you ask alot of questions” said to me. It doesn’t bother me because I’m curious and if something don’t sound right to me, you can bet I’ll question it. You have to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. How anyone can not question or sit down and think is beyond me. Look at all the insanity that’s around us….if you don’t question this stuff and wonder WTF?!….you’re in trouble!
Mara,
Back to the books….what I’ve noticed about the books these rich Republican women read always have this one reoccuring theme–they are married to a guy with money(that’s how they got to live in a McMansion and live in the neighborhood they want) but none of them are happy. They are always these “poor, little rich me. I have everything a woman could want and I’m still not happy and my husband is such an a-hole.” (but of course they can’t leave him or do anything about it because that would be the end of the money train) As you can see, these books reflect THEIR lives. That’s why they read this shit. They live vicariously through these story lines but never have the guts to play them out in reality. At least in some of these books, the women take action. Also the stuff they read is always fluff. What do their husbands read? Here’s a sampling—Fortune 500 mags, “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, books about Reagan, Milton Friedman and books by The Glenn Beck and O’Rielly. Nuff said. And you wonder what is wrong with their kids?
Colleen writes: ” I have had the sentence “you ask alot of questions” said to me. It doesn’t bother me because I’m curious and if something don’t sound right to me, you can bet I’ll question it. You have to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”
I recognize what you say here to be true for me. In fact, growing up, I had a more assertive side to my personality and a very beaten down, oppressed side. The oppressed side was always feeling bad over the fact that from grade school to college, teachers and certain professors (who Really should have known better) would take me to task for “asking too many questions.”
You know, that attitude shows, I think, how indoctrinating school often is and how even a college can be that way. In fact, I KNOW that a college can be that way.
As for those books, it must be that they leave me cold because I am resentful. It’s hard to commiserate w/pain when the person has a pretty good life, otherwise.
I can’t help but think: gee, I have got at Just as much pain, plus my life Also sucks!
Instead of being able to feel sorry for myself (which, let’s face it, has it’s comforts), I read a book like that Gilbert one, the Eat Pray Love one – and I am forced to endure this chirpy, can-do, “nothing can get me down” attitude.
It’s why I like Sylvia Plath. EVERYTHING got Her down! She had Tons of blessings and achievements and Still managed to kill herself at age 30.
It’s brutal, but it speaks to my pain, and I don’t mean to say my pain is special, but I don’t like a happy book unless it’s REALLY well written!
I bet you anything, Colleen, that those far right readers like “The Secret” too! They LOVE that kind of book because it tells everyone that if you just think nice thoughts, lots of nice things will come to you.
Well, I’m an embittered Pollyanna, and/or an Optimistic grouch. I will write a book someday and people will read it and say:
this person is bizarre, but she is honest, too.
Colleen writes: “I have everything a woman could want and I’m still not happy and my husband is such an a-hole.”
(There’s some truth, there. I can read a book like that, but I always get disgusted, because the woman never joins a convent or does something Truly radical – what she does is finds herself a New man, and this man has lots of money, and/or she has lots of money from her divorce , and they sail off into the sunset. That’s what the *movie* Eat Pray Love. will treat us too. Julia Roberts, the “Pretty Woman” stars in it. Need we say more? As a young Pretty Woman, Julia showed us all that a woman could charm the likes of Richard Gere’s Donald Trump-ish character – Trump, but w/some actual *charm*, so Truly this was a Fictional Movie we were watching – anyway, the Pretty Woman charmed Gere by being an endearing, beautiful, innocent, goofy, gorgeous street-walker. We ALL fell in love with this movie! Who could Ever forget how Sweet Julia Roberts, as the Pretty Woman whore/cinderella character was?!? Well, now Julia has aged a bit. It happens. No matter! She gets to show what an Older Pretty Woman can achieve if she does enough yoga and reads enough new-agey stuff! I guess she won’t be a prostitute in This movie, though. She’s already married, as the character, so she’s good to go. No need to walk the streets in the thigh-high boots. Now it’s time for prayer beads and some botox. Well, that’s what women are still sold on. Men, too, come to think of it. Men want beautiful women who have money. Am I jealous? Sure. Is this all fun to poke fun at? Sure. I guess it all evens out)….
I don’t think it is particularly helpful to even talk about whether or not liberals or conservatives have higher IQs, particularly since intelligence quota testing is and has always been notably biased and, therefore, generally inconclusive–at best.
Although I can appreciate Pap’s frustration with the judgment calls made by many Southerners and other conservatives, I don’t think it is really fair to say that their brains are actually inferior in any way. Rather, there are cultural issues here (even apart from religion) in the South which encourage conformity and acceptance rather than individuality and dissent–and those factors of course play into such issues as education and politics.
I have lived all over this country, including the very liberal Puget Sound area of Washington state (for 10 years. I am a native of southern California. Believe me, there is no shortage of blind ideologues and other types of ignorant people in any of the places in which I have lived. In light of this, I think it is more productive to look at ways in which ALL people may be enriched and lifted up, rather than making ourselves feel superior by laughing at the shortcomings of those who don’t seem to measure up to our standards in one way or another.
Mara,
Good posts and funny! You bet “The Secret” is in their collection…I failed to mention that…my bad.
Deborah,
You make good points. There are over the top ideologues everywhere. Some people are too far left while some are too far right. Cultural issues play a big role in how a person sees things. You make the point that ALL people should be enriched and lifted up but there are alot of greedy, cynical people out there who are just looking out for number 1, sadly.
Also there is that hate factor directed toward anyone different than themselves or who they feel are trying to “take their money and freedom away.” Or taking away “the country they knew.” The Glenn Becks of the world have done a number on this country.
Glenn Beck hails from Bellingham, Washington, as far as I know. How he grew up there and turned into such a rabid conservative and, really, a demagogue, I will never know. Still, haters can come from anywhere and he is simply playing to people’s basest instincts.
Well, perhaps a little insight here would be useful. While the Puget Sound area is notably politically liberal, it is also notably anti-Indian. By this I mean anti-Native American. Over the my years residing there, I was subjected to many, many instances of native Northwesterners spewing the most vile anti-Indian racism in my face, even while knowing that I was of mixed ancestry.
Glenn Beck is a convert to Mormonism, which teaches that Native Peoples are dark because their ancestors, a lost tribe of Israel, were “exceedingly sinful.” It’s in the Book of Mormon if you care to read it. This is a religion based on racism. Perhaps Beck was able to easily convert to him because of the racism that exists in the society from which he came.
Back to the South:
Of course Southern whites’ racism towards blacks and their bigotry in the 20th century (and probably the 21st century) towards Catholics and Jews is pretty well known. And, it is a bigger deal since there are many more blacks, Catholics and Jews than there are Native Americans in this country which are adversely impacted by this racism and bigotry–not to mention to fact that people in all of the sections have and continue to profit from screwing the Tribes, whereas only Southerners “benefit” (at least in their own eyes) by perpetuating their prejudices.
I think I might just be running on but I guess the takeaway from my rambling would be that things are not usually what they seem and that the best place to start in terms of making society better is in our own individual hearts.
lol “convert to it” not him. I am multitasking again and making mistakes!
Great show as usual. I’m now a podcast subscriber and it’s money well-spent, period.
It has always been easy to con the American people and in particular the middle-class. I remember a time in the not so distant past, before the middle-class became the “poster child” of progressive class-war politics, that “The Silent Majority” was held in low esteem for being politically apathetic. When I came of age the mores and values of the middle class were being questioned and condemned as being sold out to the “American Dream, ” the cherished vision of the materialistic American scheme. The post Second World War economic boom lulled the middle class into a contented consumerist society and our domestic manufacturing glutted consumer demand within several decades. Not too long ago, salaries in the advertising industry were considered scandalous and the industry’s practices devious; there was outrage over “planned obsolescence” and “false advertising claims.”
The late George Carlin in a brilliant routine named “Stuff”; asks the question, “How much stuff do you need?” He defined our homes as a place to house our “stuff.’ As a society we have gone from being able to afford what we need, to buying too much stuff and now we can’t afford what we need.
Under capitalism rising developing societies prosper economically as older societies, like ours, decline. As with the advertising industry a few decades ago by fine-tuning the art of selling society stuff they don’t need, Wall Street and Big Business now understand that the American middle-class can no longer fuel the machine of capitalism and now sell stuff nobody needs.
Self-sufficiency and cooperative alternative lifestyles will be the only viable option for survival in this century. Don’t give up hope, “for love hopeth all things”, and don’t give up the fight against unchecked greed and corruption which rule the day. But at the same time take some time to plan for a measure of self-sufficiency and cooperative living with neighbors, friends and family. Urban, private and local food gardening, bartering cooperatives and neighborhood infant and elderly care will ease a lot of the suffering that we will more than likely be facing in short order.
Before I add my 2 cents on charging for podcasts, I’ve been a loyal listener to ROF, either live or by podcast since day one. ROF and State of Belief were the only two shows I listened to on Air America since Thom and Randi left. I use to listen to Air America’s “So What Else Is News” with Marty Kaplan, the best one hour of news every day. I also listened to (and watched on Sundance) Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher, Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron and Mark Riley (I liked Riley better but Maron grew on me when paired with Sam on Break Room Live), Rachel and Kent, and Thom Hartmann. Other shows that I listened to were Eco Talk with Betsy Rosenberg, David Binders Sunday show, and Richard Green’s Clout. With the exception of Clout and Thom Hartmann, all of the above shows started (and some ended) on Air America during it’s first two years. For the most part the last year of Air America’s regular radio lineup was useless and unlistenable.
I was unemployed for the better part of 2.5 years from January 2003 through June of 2005. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science and over 15 years of experience and credits towards a Master’s degree in Computer Science. I also have a disabled wife who worked full time until her disability. We had spent our lives saving our money and not blowing it on new cars, fancy clothing, drinking, and we never did drugs. COBRA, our mortgage, and taxes chewed up our savings. My current IT job with a non-profit is much more satisfying but I’m compensated at about 60% of what I was making before I had my jobbed shipped to India in January 2003. I have not had a salary increase due to financial issues at our non-profit for two years (this will probably make it year 3). I’m still recovering financially from Bush Recession #1.
My wife and I had always been personally conservative (agnostic in religion) but progressive/liberal in the way we thought society should be run. It was with the advent of Air America and the above shows that I realized that not only were we not alone in our views, but there were at least a significant part of our population, if not the majority, that had the same beliefs that we had and that many others, through no fault of their own, were struggling.
As far as charging for the Podcasts I’m not against it but I do have a caveat. Like some of the other posts in this blog stream I feel that charging almost $60.00 a year for 20% of the content that you can get with Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Jeff Farias, and Thom Hartmann is steep especially for those on a limited or no income. Even though we are just making it financially, I subscribe to Malloy and Hartmann and donate to the Interfaith Alliance to help pay for their weekly podcast (though it is not mandatory). I don’t subscribe to Randi because I believe that much of the subscription money first goes through the hands of her parent company that supports, with the exception of Randi, only right wing talk.
My wife is actually against having me subscribe to any more podcasts especially since the ROF podcast cost supports only a single weekly podcast. If the storage costs are an issue then can I suggest teaming up with Ben Burch (WhiteRoseSociety.Org) which I also donate to about once a year?
If the annual subscription cost were $25.00, I would subscribe right now. Otherwise, at some point in the future, I will probably subscribe to ROF but I don’t know when this will be.
Deborah, you have good points about enriching people; however, it seems that education is not being used to open people’s mind, but rather to enclose those minds plus education is being used to enslave other people.
Deborah,
Thank you for the history lesson about Washington State. Yes, I have read that Glenn Beck hails from there. Through my extensive reading of Ann Rule’s true cime books I’ve come to get a very detailed knowledge of the type of idiosyncratic personalities who reside in the Northwest. I think it’s terrible how the Native Americans have been screwed over and keep getting screwed over. Those Mormons–you bet they are racists. Interesting that the Mormons were driven out because they were discriminated against for their religious beliefs yet they can be just as intolerant to others.
You write:
“things are not usually what they seem and that the best place to start in terms of making society better is in our own individual hearts.”
That is so true.
I just signed myself up for the Podcasts yesterday The only disappointment I have is that there is no video; I guess the radio show is not filmed anymore? I wish I knew. I must assume that it is not.
Otherwise, though, it’s not so bad just having audio. I can do housework and fold laundry as I educate myself. Still, I hope there will still be plenty of videos to watch on this site. Mike is too cute not to watch! That’s just the simple fact of the matter, and I shouldn’t be blamed, really, for stating the obvious, especially as I do so with a humble sense of modest admiration.
Deborah you bring up many good points. I agree w/much of what you write, but I will say that I also Do believe Liberals are way smarter than most conservatives.
My only beef is w/IQ tests, probably because I would do poorly on them. So, rather then being all-inclusive and compassionate about this matter, as You are being, I am actually one arrogant SOB, I must admit. My false modesty should not fool anyone. I am not really humble. I have the arrogance to imagine that I am extremely smart. Or, perhaps, like John Edwards, I have a lot of “sides” to me running around! The modest sides and the overbearing sides.
(I just heard the 2/27 RoF show. It was GREAT)!!!!!
David Bender talked with Andrew Young, who just wrote a book I must get, called The Politician, and it was Fascinating to hear Young talk to David about John Edwards (did you know that Bobby’s father, RFK, was John Edwards’ hero? I didn’t know that, myself).
Apparently, Edwards started out w/many noble ideals, but he became badly compromised.
I, personally, don’t mind that he had an affair w/Rielle Hunter or even 100 other people, if it comes down to that. Honest to god, I just Don’t care. I’m not married to the lying twit, now am I? No. Plus, that Elizabeth Edwards sounds like quite a piece of work, Herself.
Now, HERE is what upsets me w/Edwards: he betrayed his best friend, Andrew Young by Not coming clean about the Love Child until Young Forced him to, by writing his book. If a friend takes a fall for you, such as telling the whole world that He fathered Your love child, you Need to come clean, at some point)!
I Do have morals. I think a friendship betrayed is much worse than extra-marital affairs, which I am Not saying are great, but they happen, and they don’t necessarily make a person a monster or even someone w/bad judgement (in ALL things).
As David Bender said: we make heros out of people and then become enraged and disgusted when they fail. I think we Americans need to stop expecting Snow White to be running for office.
What we get, instead, is a bunch of hypocrites. Maybe if we, as a country, were a little more forgiving, Edwards might not have self-destructed quite so crazily. I could be wrong, but I do think we go overboard over sexual stuff way too much. It’s a form of titillation to be so Crazed when someone has an affair.
I don’t blame Edwards for asking Young to lie about being the father of the love child. I know, I know; not the Best decision, but c’mon: we Americans are as puritanical as can be, which is downRight weird, considering how soaked in sex our culture is.
Oh well, Just my opinion! Deborah and others, it’s so Good to read your words! It’s Great to hear other commenters and what they think.
As for paying for the podcasts, I am biased, truth be told. I love this show so much that the fee is not too high for me. Guess what I learned on Last Week’s show?
For every 100,000 Americans, *700* of them are in prison!!!!
Is that not whacked? Is that not CRAZY????
For China, which we see as less humane than our country, it’s 110 Chinese in prison for every 100,000 of them.
America. I might very well be incarcerated before I drop dead. I figure, w/those kinds of #’s, it’s Bound to happen, no matter How Hard I try to stay on the straight and narrow.
(If they Really want people to stay on the straight and narrow, they should chose a more fun sounding name, even if it’s a big lie, just to attract people to the straight and narrow, such as: the curvy and star studded. Or Something. I don’t know. Straight and narrow sounds like a corset to me or something that might have attracted the Palins to each other).
Oh, and I have to admit that I LOVE when Mike gets all “insulty” about the Southerners! Mind you, one of my Very best friends is from the South.
I figure, Mike is down there, so he must Know, and plus, when you hear a person w/a GREAT, strong Southern accent express disgust over, well, just about Anything, it’s so much More enjoyable than hearing, say, a regular kind of disgust, expressed w/a more plebeian accent.
And, yes, I know that using the term “insulty” very much makes me sound like a person who would Not pass an IQ test (as, indeed, I have admitted as much), but I still think I’m smart. I know I’m smarter than my entire family, and as they are all conservatives, that tells me something. I look exactly like my father, though, so it Can’t be that I have a different dad, and my mother wasn’t around to be the John Edwards Love Child bearer, so I have to assume I just lucked out. If you can call being born into a family of crazy, conservative imbeciles “lucking out”. I would say that you can’t. I just try to be optimistic. That’s me: as chirpy and happy as they come.
I just listened to hour one of the 3/6/2010 show. Excellent! I like how Mike talked about Anthony Weiner and how we need more people like him who are willing to stand up to the Reps and tell it like it is.
I like how David explained the Pod Cast deal and it’s necessity. I have much greater appreciation of the rationale behind the subscription. We can not afford to lose strong liberal/progressive voices from the airwaves. As Mike said the silence would be deafening.
Mike has spoken many times about the Chamber of Commerce..or as David calls it “Chamber of Horrors” or as Mike said “whores.” Both work in my opinion. The Supreme Court decision granting corporations status as people for purposes of influencing elections might actually deminish the chamber’s power to funnel cash surreptitiously to special interests because of the legislation being proposed by Chris Van Hollen and Chuck Schumer and this would be a wonderful unintended consequence for them.
I’m glad the guys bought up the concept of the “idiot savant.” This is exactly what’s happening and what the right wing has spawned. The dumbing down of the American electorate.
Last but not least….Mr. Bunning. The stunt Bunning pulled creating even more hardship for the unemployed was just terrible. To use the already disadvantaged as a pawn in his warped political game was as low as it gets and I was equally appalled by the fact that his amendment was defeated only 53-43 receiving some Democratic support including incredibly my
“progressive” Senator Russ Feingold. He can take his supposed purist attitude a bit too far at times. If his excuse was because of former governor and Bush appointee Tommy Thompson’s potential opposition in the 2010 mid terms it’s still is inexcusable.
One last note on the Chamber of Horrors….Mike bought up that the chamber likes the idea that 5 people are going for every job allowing companies to low ball the salary offers is directly effecting my husband’s ability to find work. I’m glad Mike bought their hypocracy up. People (including my husband)will work for peanuts just to have a job.
Mara,
Read your posts. Loved them! You are so right about how obessed our country is with affairs/sex yet we try to come off as Snow White. WTF?! Yet these holier than thow types are the most twisted pervs there are.
Plus the info you gave about the # of Americans in prison. Geeze…that’s because we are throwing so many people in prison who don’t belong in prison for starters. Like for growing pot or something…I can think of better reasons for someone to be in prison. In my state recently, we had a guy driving a truck and he hit a construction worker on the side of the road and while driving recklessly through a construction site and got only a fine of $175.00. Then on the flip of the coin, we have a high school kid in my state who is going to prison for 15 years for sexting. Something’s wrong with this picture!
In all honesty, I was against charging for podcasts. My argument was that you can’t give something away for free for six years and then suddenly start charging. But again, this show has never pulled in a single dollar, so every cent that has been spent came directly out of Pap’s pocket. There’s only so long that someone can continuously lose money before they just pull the plug, and that was the situation we were facing. A few months ago, we actually made the decision to shut the show down, but after a few days to think it over, we decided to keep going. Things are tough everywhere. I am struggling with everyone else. I could go on and on about my problems here, but as an administrator that would probably be in bad taste. Just understand that I hear you, I’m with you, and we’re trying to make things work for everyone.
Farron,
). I can’t speak for everyone, but I know you hear us and are with us. I’m glad you decided NOT to shut down the show….and I’m sure Mara and others will be glad to know that. As I wrote in my previous post–we can NOT lose the liberal/progressive voices that are out there. That would be a disaster! Peace.
Thank you for commenting again. As you can see some of us are paying (thank you again Mara!
Hour 2 of the 3/6/2010 show. Lots to learn here. John Nichols points out how the 2010 elections will be a referrendum on the the Democrats. (I have read on Democrats.com that the Dems plan to THROW the next couple of elections–I personally believe that–here’s the link—http://www.democrats.com/democratic-partys-plan-throw-next-couple-elections
I was sickened to hear that Bill Clinton is NOT backing Halter for the AK Senate seat to get rid of Blanche Lincoln.
I also agreed when Mike said to John Nichols “Throw Rahm over the side of the boat.” Nichols said they won’t because it will look like the ship is sinking but who cares at this point–it’s sinking already!
When David talked to Lawrence Lessig I agreed the log that keeps blocking any progress…as David mentioned David Crosby said was the DOJ. Well, that’s because it’s still the Bush/Cheney DOJ. So nothing will get done or change.
Lessig still thinks that the Congress can be fixed but it’s must be a major groudswell starting with the people but in this day and age, I don’t see that happening. Even though Citizens United is the worst Supreme Court decision ever made in our life times.
When Lessig spoke about students being arrested in their dorm rooms for illegal internet use, it’s starting to sound like Russia instead of the United States!!! It made me think of this documentary I saw on PBS about how the Russian authorities cracked down on the students for trying to smuggle in BEATLES records and were thrown out of school when they were found in possession of the records. This country is more of a police state everyday. Speaking of students, a couple of weeks ago I read a story where high school students were being spied on IN THEIR HOMES! WTF?! Big Brother was some how able to monitor them in their own homes. That speaks for itself.
Colleen, thank you for your kind words!
Farron,
Your words mean a lot. And I don’t think that if you were to share your struggles, we would judge you, nor do we judge the fact that now RoF needs to charge. That’s just the way it is.
It must be painful to have a show, and lose money and feel like not enough people are listening. Any kind of show must take so much hard word, dedication and devotion to a cause, which is, with this show, exposing corruption and educating the public.
I don’t think that’s an easy task, by any means, even when it comes to the RoF listeners, who (if I may Non-Humbly go by myself and others here) seem to be a pretty intelligent lot.
Still, people get lazy and used to something and then it goes. Then, it’s Too late. That makes me very Sad!
Of course, you know what they say: you never miss something so much as when you realize it’s gone (or words to that effect).
I am Very sad, thinking about the idea that RoF might end. I know all things must end, at some point, but it’s so painful to think about a premature end to such a fine show.
In truth, I don’t want RoF to EVER end!!!!
At any rate, I was reading “Dear Theo” today, which is a book of collected letters that Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his brother, Theo. Often, Vincent had to ask Theo for money. He Hated doing it and felt extremely guilty, esp. after Theo married and had a wife and baby son to also support.
(Interesting to note – that baby, Vincent Van Gogh’s nephew – also named Vincent – was the grandfather of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was killed by islamic extremists for courageously making a film for women’s rights that is critical of islamic treatment of women):
“Van Gogh worked with writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which was critical of the treatment of women in Islam. On 2 November 2004 he was assassinated by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch-Moroccan Muslim. The last film he completed before his death, 06/05, is a fictional version of the assassination of politician Pim Fortuyn.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_van_Gogh_(film_director)
Theo Van Gogh, the murdered director, was not a controversial figure, but he didn’t deserve, in the Least, to be brutally murdered for speaking out on various issues.
There is so much terrible repression in this world. Even the threat of violence is enough to keep voices silent.
Anyway, my convoluted point is that even though Theo Van Gogh (painter Vincent’s brother) was not rich, he was devoted to supporting his brother because he believed in his art, he believed in Vincent and because he was a loyal, loving brother.
(I bet neither Theo nor Vincent could ever Dream of how much money Vincent’s paintings would someday earn):
http://www.theartwolf.com/10_expensive.htm
(One thing that impresses me, given the fact that Vincent ending up committing suicide, is that he Deeply believed in himself as an artist. The public was not up to speed, at that time, to truly appreciate his work, but he certainly knew he was deeply talented. This is not arrogance. This is acceptance of one’s gifts, even though the public cannot always recognize them as such, esp. in visionaries).
I think of RoF that way, too. Mike, RFK Jr. and David Bender are all exceptionally talented, and I do see them all as visionaries. Listening to David interview Andrew Young, for instance, or talk to Mike: it’s GREAT!!!!
RFK Jr. speaks so eloquently on environmental issues, and I have truly come to understand the truth of what he says about environmental issues as being human rights issues Now have a sense of this, whereas before, I did not. I could read the same, I suppose, in his articles and books, but the spoken word has power, and RFK jr. is a very powerful speaker.
And Mike, well, what can I say? Mike is an exceptionally perceptive, talented man. I think Mike has many gifts, and he’s here to share them w/the world, namely his great insight and his courage and yes, even his humor.
So, really, this show is a bargain. Moreover, I am Proud to support it. I don’t do much to help out in this world and I don’t feel I can. I have low energy and a beaten down sort of life (sorry to be so personal), but I will say this: it’s all improved since listening to this show, and what they say is true: when you give, you also receive.
I Hate to get all maudlin (being as how I am an emotional basket case, it’s an occupational risk), but that is the truth.
So, I’m glad RoF took the risk to charge, and gee: I hope enough fans will consent to support this show if they can. Please do.
PS: I meant to write that director/filmmaker Theo Van Gogh WAS a controversial figure.
Also, I don’t mean to slight RFK Jr.’s books or articles. I’ve read several of his articles and he is a powerful writer, too, but i do like to actually Hear these views, as well as read them.
(I should really edit my comments a bit more. Oh well).
Flick writes: “The late George Carlin in a brilliant routine named “Stuff”; asks the question, “How much stuff do you need?” He defined our homes as a place to house our “stuff.’ As a society we have gone from being able to afford what we need, to buying too much stuff and now we can’t afford what we need.”
Too true, but I also like all of my “stuff” alot and even want More of it!:(
Colleen writes:
“Then on the flip of the coin, we have a high school kid in my state who is going to prison for 15 years for sexting. Something’s wrong with this picture!”
What???!!!!??? I have heard about this crazy laws that treat kids as child pornographers, or something. Crazy. Kids are often clueless. So, too, the law, it would seem. Prison, yeah, that’s a Healthy environment.
I can think of few things worse than being in prison. I’ve never been to prison. I think I am the only one in my immediate family who has Never been behind bars. Jeez. As of yet. Well, I’m hoping to not do anything to jeopardize my “freedom” (such as it is)….
Sorry. I shouldn’t joke about this. There is a lot of depressing stuff in this world, which is why humor is so important, vital and Necessary.
I just listened to Mike and David talk about charging for the podcasts, (on the podcast, in fact, of the 3/6/10 show).
All they said makes sense and Farron’s comments, here, are esp. helpful, as well. Again, the info provided helped me a great deal to support RoF as much as I can.
I can’t speak for others, but as others have said, money is hard to come by for many of us. David and Mike talked some about the differences between far right supporters (who seem like nasty, yet devoted, little zealots to their cause) and liberal supporters (who, essentially, talk a good game re: support, but when the rubber hits the road, um, well)…..
We were used to a free product. That was nice, while it lasted and: a Big *Thank You* for that!!!!
As for myself, the truth is: I Cannot support any other Progressive cause. I am tapped out. This show gets what I can give.
I feel very good about my decision. I’m putting my support behind the show the matters The Most to me.
Farron writes: “I could go on and on about my problems here, but as an administrator that would probably be in bad taste.”
I am just a regular commenter, not an administrator, so I Do go on and on about My problems, here, and I apologize! It IS a nice kind of outlet, though, as long as I don’t get too crazy. (My idea of what constitutes “too crazy” might well differ from others). I hope I do not bore/offend anyone too much. I met Colleen here, and that is very nice, as well as G and NR!
I have never felt so scared in my life about money and other issues. Part of that comes from listening to this show, truth be told. It’s not that I am complaining. Please don’t think that! The humor and insight and intelligence are all worth it, but the stuff we hear on this show can be very dark, indeed. It’s not RoF’s fault, it’s just how sh*tty everything in the country is. You hear an interview that says, basically: Forget about being able to retire, then you need and Want to support RoF and it’s scary, but, as mentioned, I’m glad that I made the decision to be supportive. Now, if I could just manage my fear a bit better. No one knows what the future will bring.
In the end, I want to know that I have helped support Progressive views and voices. But for now, I want to know the bottom won’t fall out from under me and I don’t know that. I only know that I want the info that RoF brings.