Source: Consortiumnews.com - 11/01/13

Unrestrained free markets destroy the middle class, push working people down the economic ladder and concentrate wealth at the top. But promoters of this hyper-capitalism, who dominate the U.S. media debate, simply blame the poor for poverty, as Lawrence Davidson explains.

By Lawrence Davidson

Most of the poverty in the United States is artificially manufactured. It is poverty created in the pursuit of “free market ideals,” expressed in recent times by the imposition of neoliberal economic policies – the sort of policies that cut taxes on the wealthy, do away with fiscal and other business regulations, shred the social safety net, and erode middle-class stability – all while singing the praises of self-reliance and individual responsibility.

As a result we have done very well in making the rich richer and the poor both poorer and more numerous.

‘Oligarchic tendencies’: Study finds only
the wealthy get represented in the Senate

The Raw Story - Eric W. Dolan, 8/19/13

In all of the five Congresses examined, the voting records of Senators were consistently aligned with the opinions of their wealthiest constituents. The opinions of lower-class constituents, however, never appeared to influence the Senators’ voting behavior.

The neglect of lower income groups was a bipartisan affair. Democrats were not any more responsive to the poor than Republicans.

More: rawstory.com

Michelle Pfeiffer reveals odd cult experience
as a young actress

Los Angeles Times - Christie D'Zurilla, 11/04/13

Now a strict vegan, Pfeiffer was put on a diet by the unnamed couple, who also worked with weight training. "Their thing was vegetarianism," she said (via the Daily Telegraph), and a diet that "nobody can adhere to."

Turns out their thing was also breatharianism, a belief that when a human being is in his or her highest state, it's possible to exist only on sunlight.

Video and more: latimes.com

The Guardian - Russell Brand, 11/05/13
 

Jeremy Paxman interviews Russell Brand on Newsnight.
Photograph: BBC

Million Mask March World Event

All who claim anyone is in charge of Million Mask March knows little of Anonymous.
There is no official site, and nobody is in charge: it’s a movement, not an organization.