The party is over for those “Tea Heads.” After listening to their diatribe of rants and railings against the evil federal government over the last three years, they have finally met their match in the Occupy movement.
In “Capitalism: A Love Story,” Michael Moore planted the seeds of malcontent that is now bearing fruit. Americans directly affected by lack of jobs, money, housing, medical care, etc. have gotten it! The source of our economic malaise is not coming our form of government but rather our economic model. Capitalism, Adam Smith, is broken. Witness the repugnant salaries and bonuses paid out to Wall Street brokers when the vast majority of working Americans haven’t had a wage increase in the last two to three years. Don’t forget the multimillion-dollar salaries and bonuses that CEOs continue to rake in as the national economy stalls. Sorry, Ronnie, but it don’t trickle down. It stays in the families for generations.
America is fast becoming a benevolent oligarchy, though one might legitimately question the use of the word “benevolent.” Our middle class is continuing to dissolve into a “lower” middle class. The poor are growing in number at an alarming rate. Recent college graduates can’t find a job commensurate with their high-priced education, and they certainly cannot afford to begin making payments on their student loans.
Tea party Republicans and their flavor of the month, Herman “the Pizza Man” Cain, would have you believe that if you’re poor and without a job it’s your own fault. They beat their chests with bravado until they confront their own mortality, and then they’re first in line to apply for government subsidies like Medicaid, unemployment and Social Security benefits. They’re called “fair weather” ideologues. They paint a picture of illegals, meth users and young people being the primary clients for big government social services, while all along they’re either not paying their fair share of taxes or they’re off scheming up some illegal strategy to scam the IRS. Shame on them.
So, politically, it all comes down to whether a majority of the voters are going to side with those who say that “big government” is the cause of our problems or whether it is Wall Street, the big banks, the corporate CEOs or all of the above.
I’m betting that the people will occupy the tea party. What a gas. What perfect timing. Goes to show ya why liberals always win.
• Jon Beydler is a 33-year Valley resident and the former mayor of Fountain Hills who now lives in Chandler.
Cas Lee posted at 7:55 pm on Sun, Oct 28, 2012.
Hello, my fellow American voters!
I watched the Oct. 3rd, 11th, 16th, and 22nd debates.
1st Romney-Obama debate covered 7 topics: jobs; budget deficit/debt; social security/entitlements; federal gov’t economic regulation and role; healthcare; partisan gridlock.
2nd Romney-Obama debate covered 11 topics: college graduate jobs; gas prices; taxes; equal pay; Bush policies; Obama’s record; illegal immigrants; Libya; assault weapons; jobs; candidate misperceptions.
3rd Romney-Obama debate covered 10 topics: Libya; Syria; Egypt; U.S. world role; military spending; Israel; Iran; Afghanistan; China; U.S. national security threats.
Ryan-Biden debate covered 10 topics: Libya; Iran; economy; medicare/social security/entitlements; tax reform/spending/budget cuts; military policy; Afghanistan; Syria; abortion; negative campaign tactics.
Romney and Ryan won all 4 debates, although Obama improved some in the 2nd debate and Romney slightly took the win both in the 2nd and 3rd debates.
In the 3rd debate (unlike in prior debates), Obama reflected his weakness and disrespect by interrupting Romney a lot and using too many “one-line quips” to try to denigrate Romney.
Ryan won despite Biden’s consistently rude behavior during the debate (often interrupted Ryan, laughed when Ryan talked, pointed his finger). Biden’s tactics to evade issues/truth disrespected Americans interested in facts, figures, forecasts, and solutions for real people with real problems.
Romney and Ryan won with substance, directness, integrity, respect, clarity, facts, commitment, inspiration, credibility, and leadership.
As an INDEPENDENT female feminist (egalitarian) voter, I support the Romney/Ryan ticket.
Romney and Ryan, with their no-nonsense and methodic approach to solving America’s problems, are the best persons in terms of qualifications and character to lead our country and make life better for all Americans.
I am inspired by Romney/Ryan, and I hope that you are too!
Best regards,
Cas Lee
ValenS posted at 12:16 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
Everyone seems to be having different ideas about what OWS is about, so... I might as well get my 2 cents in. I think it's about seeing justice done on the prepetrators of our second GREAT DEPRESSION. Jail time for the bankers who took us all to the cleaners, for the rating agencies that lied about the low risk of the "FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS", for the realestate agents that pushed people into ARMs that they had no business taking. They need to be tried, sentenceed, jailed, and have all their assets taken to pay back the bailout cash advance. That's what OWS NEEDS to be about!
Dale Whiting posted at 6:06 pm on Fri, Nov 4, 2011.
Rose,
I'll kept is simple. You are a neo-conservative. I am a conservative. Read my piece on what it means to be a conservative and maybe you'll come to understand how badly you've been hoodwinked. My piece got very few comments. The neo-conservatives could not understand conservatism. They were shocked. The few who could understand it disputed it. But I was quoting Russell Kirk almost word for word.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 7:36 am on Sun, Oct 23, 2011.
They love you in Tehran Jon.
http://tehrantimes.com/index.php/politics/3816-students-hold-demo-in-sympathy-with-wall-st-protests-
TEHRAN –A number of students from universities across Tehran held a demonstration outside the Swiss Embassy on Saturday to express their solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Iran and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, and the Swiss Embassy in Tehran hosts the U.S. Interests Section in Iran.
The demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the protesters and denounced the crackdown on the protests.
The students also set the flags of the United States and the Zionist regime on fire and chanted “Down with the United States,” “Death to Israel,” “Down with Capitalism,” and other slogans.
In_God_We_Trust posted at 7:39 pm on Sat, Oct 22, 2011.
Arizona Willie, how much more do you think all those products you mentioned would cost if made in the united states with well paid American workers? I know they would be more because I try to buy American made whenever possible, and I see higher costs for American made counterparts. Harley Davidson would be out of business if they had to pay what American unions demand these days. We have literally priced ourselves out of our own jobs.
Rational Human posted at 6:16 pm on Fri, Oct 21, 2011.
Jon is a ObamaZombie
chatmandu002 posted at 1:01 pm on Fri, Oct 21, 2011.
Once you buy into the liberal/progressive/socialist philosophy you have to take it all "hook, line and stinker". No matter how bad the players, you have to support them. Even the radical communists, anarchists and union thugs.
Jon, I'll gladly follow the constitution, you can have your radical socialist agenda.
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 6:39 pm on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Dale, once more you show your true colors. I guess you're not hiding behind that facade of conservatism anymore. Just another Obama zombie progressive socialist like everyone knows you to be.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:57 pm on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Jon,
When Alan Greenspan admits that even he was shocked at the behavior of the Wall Street boards of directors, you must have a point. No way Alan expected all of those bonuses to be paid. Alan did not expect these men to be so self serving and to serve their shareholders so poorly.
Don't worry about all of the above detractors. They are too dense to see through all of the fog being spewed out to obscure what is really going on.
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 5:33 pm on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Rose - THOMINDUBAI, last poll I read a minority of Americans agree with Occupy Wall Street. They represent hardcore socialist activist that want chaos to rule instead of government.
LOL very funny Cerulean. Could you try to be a little more extremist in your views? You don't quite make it to the level of nutcase you seem to be trying for. For instance, the Tea Party is for everyone's taxes to be lower. The wealthy already pay the largest share, but you want them to pay more? Many of the Tea Party members are themselves on social security and medicare and other social supports so why would they want to see them cut? The members who aren't but have paid into those programs all their lives are hoping they exist when their time comes to collect. But don't let those pesky facts get in the way of your humorous rants that speak volumes on your insanity plea when the time comes as I'm sure it will. lol
VofReason posted at 12:56 pm on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
If 99% of the people were behind it, why are there only 6,000 or so riff raff in New York? Let's keep this in perspective. That is just a little fewer then watch MSNBC most days. And we all no what an impact that has made- none. Just a question, as noted above, what gives Mr Bydler the credit to have a column on a regular basis. Is he the fair and balanced approach to Dr Patterson? If so, he he thoroughly over matched.
Cerulean posted at 10:17 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Know-Nothing tea party = No tax on the wealthy, eliminate corporate regulation and stick it to the poor.
Strategy = First, cry that there must be a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution (knowing that Republicans in the House can’t actually balance the budget). Then sign Grover Norquist’s ‘Taxpayer Protection Pledge’ (to which all Republican contenders for President except Huntsman have signed); and lastly, eliminate social security, Medicare and other social supports with thousands of tiny cuts. BOO!
THOMINDUBAI posted at 10:03 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
The Occupy Wall Streat Movement is representative of the 99% of Americans who are rightfully angry and upset with the current state of affairs in America. With multi-national corporations buying off our congressional representatives, on both sides of the isle by the way, and paying for their campaigns, the majority of our citizens can no longer count on legislation that will move the Country in a direction that will benefit all.
The U.S. has a capitalistic system of commerce run amuck. When they threw out the Sherman Antitrust Act and allowed corporations to merge and grow to cut out competition, which is one of the basic tenants of capitalism, we now have banks and oil companies, insurance companies, and car makers " too big to fail".
There are now only 5 major banks, and 3 major airlines and a handful of major ITcompanies in the U.S. now. There are many more examples.
The government needs to reinforce the Sherman Antitrust Act and break up these large conglomerate companies, so that competitiveness can return to the market. This break-up will also allow the smaller businesses that were bullied out of the market place to come back to compete. And yes, the prices will then come down, and more jobs will be created here in America.
[smile]
gilbertgrandma posted at 9:12 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
When people resort to name-calling (Tea Heads, Pizza Man, etc.), they show their lack of intelligence. End the commentary with "what a gas", and you have the rant of an old hippie, not a thoughtful, intelligent discussion.
mnjcpa posted at 8:38 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
All you need to know is the last sentence "former" mayor of Fountain Hills. That's because the citizens found out quickly, outed, and recalled Beydler for his liberal views.
Tea Party members are disgusted with taxes spent on wasteful spending - period. The only thing that has been outed is the Hope & Change thing exposed to be what it really is - a slush fund for labor unions and the Democratic party.
Michael Moore became a multi-millionaire through capitalism - slamming capitalism. That's the beauty of America in a nutshell. Moore found a voice, went out and created it, and made a profit. That's the same thing Cain is communicating - every person in America has the same opportunity that he had. What you do with it defines who you are. The Government & successful businesses take care of you or rugged individualism? I admire Cain for his views.
Everyone that actually pays taxes has a right to be upset. When a union (public or private) can retire in their 50's - with a multi-million dollar pension -( life expectancy of 30 years - salary and benefits AFTER they leave) - it's not hard to see how quickly even a great country like America will go broke. That's not counting the billions that are spent on illegals. And the big banks are at fault for this? Nonsense.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is a diversion from the failed policies of the Obama administration who has long past its shelf life blaming Bush. Our problems are with progressive politics and expansion of government- not the big banks. Out the liberals that have got us in to this mess (Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd) - not the supporting cast - just as Fountain Hills citizens did with Beydler.
I doubt that will happen because there are too many drinking from the trough. I've been predicting for a while that America is going to be brought to its knees from our financial irresponsibility - similar to what you're seeing in Europe right now - by the end of next year. That's when the world will make us change our ways and move away from the dollar as the world currency.
Then maybe then Cain's interpretation of how to succeed won't fall on deaf ears.
Diogenes Lantern posted at 8:32 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
After watching the movie, "Inside Job", I can understand the Occupy Protestors anger at the Wall Street executives who should be in jail and are living on their monster bonuses. Obama campaigned for Hope and Change and our Robin Hood is a Huge Sellout to Wall Street.
Goldman Sachs, the worst offenders, are all throughout Obama's administration running the Fed Res and the Treasury. Obama gives taxpayer dollars to Gen Motors, GE ,Goldman Sachs, Bof A, Morgan Stanley, etc. In return, they attend Obama's $3500 dinners. Obama is owned by Wall Street and Silicon Valley.
CEO of GE is Obama's Job Czar while transferring jobs overseas and pays minimal taxes.
President Obama has just started yet ANOTHER war now in Uganda. In 2008 George Soros has financial connections to Uganda's oil industry estimated at 2-6 billion barrels of crude oil. However, the Ugandan President has pretty much taken control of the country's oil industry so Obama again provides help to Soros, Obama's backer.
Obama also gave taxpayer money to Brazil for drilling in the deep waters off Brazil after Soros invested in Brazil's oil industry. Obama refuses to allow more deep drilling permits off America's continent destroying jobs and our energy independence.
EXXON destroys jobs, fishing, ecology and Obama gives the Exxon gentle slap on wrist with small fine and EXXON's stock soars. Of course, with the settlement to the FEDs, EXXON is free of lawsuits from the little guys.
Lot of the bailouts, Q1 and Q2 went to the BIG banks, who then made a killing in the stock market (75-90% of gains). Fed allows banks to get interest from the Treasury on the money we gave them so zero incentive to loan to small businesses or do loan mods or short sales. Obama has rewarded his BIG bank donors with take-over of the smaller regional banks so now the BIG Banks are mega monsters.
Weekly visitors to Obama are CEO's of Apple and Facebook, who pay millions to their top people yet pay less taxes than lower middle class people.
Obama's oracle, Warren Buffet, made $69 million last year yet is behind in paying taxes by $1 Billion.
Arizona Willie posted at 7:44 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
TeaPartyPatriot ... foreign made goods are NOT, necessarily, lower priced to the consumer.
Hershey Chocolate built an entire town around producing their product and then abandoned it for cheap China labor -- BUT THEY HAVE NOT LOWERED THE PRICE OF HERSHEY CANDY BARS.
In fact, now they want to sell you Hershey Kisses that have been blown full of air bubbles so you get only half the chocolate and raise the price because it's " special ".
Levis jeans were desired the world over. Russian girls sold their bodies for a pair of Levis.
Levis moved out of the country for cheap foreign labor BUT THEY DID NOT LOWER THE PRICE OF THEIR JEANS.
Whirlpool appliances moved out of the country for cheap foreign labor -- BUT THEY HAVE NOT LOWERED THE PRICE OF THEIR APPLIANCES.
I defy you to produce a company that HAS lowered the price of their product because they moved overseas.
They try to tell you that cheaper labor means cheaper price but like politicians -- they don't keep their word.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 6:52 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Tell me something Jon, when was the last time you bought something made in America? You and every other American that buys nothing but cheap foreign made goods are the real problem, but why are they cheaper? Could it be that fat, lazy Americans have priced themselves out of the world labor market that large multinational companies work with now? Sure the corporations are getting wealthier. They produce their products you buy in a country where the workforce is cheaper and works harder. You want to blame capitalism for your own stupidity? You want the old USSR to take over and set things right. Go to Cuba or North Korea if you don't like capitalism. Take your communist ideas and leave the country if you don't like it.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:57 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
As anyone who has ever visited Fountain Hills for it's wonderful "Art Festival" finds out after getting a downwind "whiff" of the famous "Fountain" finds out that It sure ain't Sparklet's Spring Water that is shooting hundreds of feet in the air. I think the locals refer to it as "beige" or "grey" water. Just like the "faux artesian fountain" of Fountain Hills, it's past Mayor also is shooting off some "faux" remarks about the Tea Party and Conservatives.
It sure looks like the ex-Mayor's remarks and the Fountain Hill's Fountain's "faux-water" are coming from the same "source".