NO WE CAN'T! Rachel Maddow & Matt Taibbi pt.1

[macgeek2004]

@chslosers WHAT??? What in the HE'LL are you talking about, dude! That LITTERALLY goes against EVERYTHING Progressives believe! Now, was it an economics professor? Because you probably just failed Kayesian Economics! Lol, j/k! But yeah, dude, keep telling yourself that you failed out of college because you weren't "liberal enough." just keep telling itself that, dude!

[xadam2dudex]

when r people going to get it thru their heads ..the stock market has nothing to do with the economy.. it is nothing but a casino for speculators...when it goes up the rich are making more money when it goes down some people are selling off to avoid the price bubble of the stocks..health insurance is a crime..it makes money denying care for profit..prices out people as they need health care and restricts care to those they would have to pay out for..France has the best system we need that too

[sayid11111]

Rachel is the greatest journalist in the country. Whip-smart, Rhoades scholar, ten times a Katie Couric, who btw, we owe our lives to her for saving the Republic by insisting ON AN ANSWER??? WHAT DO YOU READ??? Watching this video in hindsight on the Friday after Thanksgiving reminds me that Maddow and people like Matt Taibbi, are heroes, fighting the lies and fear-mongering from Limbaugh-Beck et al.

[betodesign101]

@sayid11111 there can only be 1 smart lesbian in this country and that's Liz Cheney.

[sayid11111]

bet, Mary is the lesbian, Liz is the dumb one.

[betodesign101]

no Liz is the smart one. trust me. just search for her videos on how she destroys 0bama.

[sayid11111]

No, can't trust you. Liz is a shill for her bitter neo-con father and literally makes a fool of herself everytime that maw of hers opens. She is a nobody, the daughter of human feces with legs attached. She has no political experience and only gets a chance at airplay when her father is off shooting hid friends in the face. Sorry.

[betodesign101]

dude, im telling you. you dont know what yer talking about. the girl is brilliant and always manages to shatter and dismantle 0bama in succinct and precise short sentences on all the lib channels. look for her interviews on youtube. the way she speaks makes me wanna jizz in my pants.

[Chslosers]

If I had a progressive viewpoint , I would get straight A's in college, unfortunately because I opposed the federal reserve and my professor was a self described feminist , she gave me a C-.. hmm interesting perfect grade to just barely fail me. College grades are based on ass kicking and nodding your head to the prof. It's pathetic, therefore from my experience in college, I have more respect for Conservatives who are successful in higher education.

[oneviwatara]

Barack Hussein Obama is the biggest fraud in history.

Hillary 2012!

[Veteran4Peace]

If this is true then I'll never support the Democrats again...ever. EVER.

[sushifool]

Me too, I would make an execption for Kucinich.

[dicklacock]

That'll never happen. Kucinich is too much to the left fot even the left in this country

[MountAthos]

You know everyone jumped on Jim DeMint when he called these government health care schemes "Obama's Waterloo".

But looking at the incredible collapse in Obama's poll numbers, it looks like he is a great prophet who predicted the future well!

[countess16]

I will not vote for President Obama's re-election if he does not get us the Public Option. I may not vote at all because in all good conscience, I CANNOT vote for a Republican.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Oh please. There are other ways to health care reform that don't involve a public option. Stop being so close-minded.

[countess16]

You Are Correct...SINGLE PAYER AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM!

[Blahblahblah3210]

Right... >_>

The government can place restrictions on the insurance companies that will solve this problem without having to resort to a public option or other radical changes.

No need to go all socialist on us.

[intoximacated]

The public option is a de facto restriction on the insurance companies.

[LustyHeroine]

You hate filled conservatives need to get your facts correct. By the way, name calling isn't going to phase anyone like Rachel considering she's dealt with it and chooses to not let it affect her. Liberals aren't foolish enough to believe in false facts/rumors. Grow up and take your self-righteousness to the churches.

[Blahblahblah3210]

You hate filled... need to get your facts straight. By the way, name calling isn't going to phase anyone... aren't foolish enough to believe in false facts/rumors. Grow up...

(See Keith Olbermann; he does that kind of thing for a living)

[TulliusVII]

CORRECTION: We do NOT have free-market capitalism when it comes to health care- we have collusion between government and corporate interests (usually done for the "public good") Big Pharma, Insurance companies, Attorney Malpractice, and legislation that reduces competition.

All these need to be addressed to give America a TRUE private health system- which would be FAR healthier than trusting our incompetent government!

Ironically, such reforms also make having a public option more viable!

[xxEROxxSENNINxx]

Maddow is smarter than all of you combined. Please keep watching Fox you poor misinformed sheep. You deserve the fate you get.

[jmspflw]

Maddox is ignorant Mrs. ACORN. Thats why FOX has been number one for years and PMSNBC's ratings are in the toilet.

[xxEROxxSENNINxx]

ROFL. Fox is "number one" because most Americans are fucking complete idiots. ACORN? lol really? I bet you were screaming "Swift boats" several years back. Unplug from the misinformation matrix. Start reading books. I don't feel sorry for the moron lemmings who watch Fox.

[jmspflw]

FOX is number one because its the only network that will provide both sides, although they do tilt to the right to compensate for ABC, CBS, NBC, which are all in Hussein Obama's hip pocket.

The "fucking complete idiots" you speak of are watching Dancing with the Retards and Comedy Central. And 99% of those voted for Hussein Obama.

[xxEROxxSENNINxx]

They should have voted for Ron Paul in the Primaries, but Fox didn't back Dr. Paul so neither did the rest of America. I agree about the Dancing with the Tards part fwiw.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Do you feel sorry for the ones that watch MSNBC?

[xxEROxxSENNINxx]

Not as sorry. There's more truth coming from MSNBC than Fox on any given day. You have to ask yourself who stands to profit?

[Blahblahblah3210]

I'd have to disagree with you on that.

Based on what I've seen, MSNBC twists facts and statistics to advance their political agenda more than any other network. What MSNBC claims to be truth a good portion of the time turns out to be distorted nonsense; and it just so happens Olbermann spearheads that whole capaign (how fitting). Sure, some guys on Fox and even CNN do that a whole lot as well, but as far as a channel in general, MSNBC is the cable king of ****.

[Blahblahblah3210]

...that whole campaign...

Wow, how did I not see that typo?

[balddove]

I would pay money to see Rachel Maddow slap Keith Olbermann upside his head with her strap-on. Maybe that would get MSNBC's rating out of the toilet.

[LORDOFWARS8]

Watch it for yourself on Youtube and decide:

watch?v=CQXYgmfmGXc&feature=re­lated

[LORDOFWARS8]

Watch it for yourself on Youtube and decide:

watch?v=CQXYgmfmGXc&feature=re­lated

[rtardbox]

Rachel, you are simultaneousness very ugly and very lesbian

[reno93535]

You missed the most obvious. She looks more stupid than homo or ugly.

[jmspflw]

Can anyone name me one program the govt took over that saved money? And ran more efficiently?

[creamsykle]

The fire department? When it was private they just let people houses burn! After all it's all about the money.

[jmspflw]

The fire department is not part of the federal government. And many small towns have volunteer departments. I would most certainly let your apartment complex burn.

[jmspflw]

Gov't medicare drove the prices up, and this bill will do the same.

[jmspflw]

Democrats are getting all we we up about this government health care.

[AStarSpangledGirl]

halcy...exactly.

Time to clean house!!!

[jmspflw]

Really, you read the final bill, they just have a rough draft out right now. And several different versions. The democrats claim there are 47 million uncovered. And that includes illegals. Hussein also says they will save money? The only way you can save money is to cut out service for seniors, thats how the other socialist countries do it.

[jmspflw]

Socialists rot. Give Health care to illegals and take it away from seniors who have paid taxes here theire whole lives. And we all must pay for it. No wonder illegals are protesting if favor of health care. Hussein didn't learn the lesson from watching Bush push for amnesty. Of course, Hussein Obama favored amnesty too.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Joeboudreau makes a great point. Any way you look at it, the insurance companies will still be making plenty of money.

You obviously don't know what fascism is. The US is a capitalist society, where competition reigns supreme. Government interference would only discourage competition and in actuality INCREASE the risk of fascism.

And I find it funny that you think we need choice even though a single-payer system would take away our ability to make choices on this issue.

[dearkgar]

Why are all the comments on here by corporate loving right wing lunatics?

[golperuano]

Why does Rachel want this single payer so much? Is she going to use it? No, she's wealthy. She'll have private insurance. She wants it for the rest of us. Gee, thanks Rachel. How magnanimous of you.

[USAPatriot1966]

Because she is a closet communist!

She refused to call North Korea a communist country and called it a totaltarian dictatorship.

[dearkgar]

You are a stupid dickhead. Shut the fuck up.

[USAPatriot1966]

HHAAHAHAHAH!

 Are you a gay communist lover too?

[golperuano]

WTF are these "industrialized countries"? They have traditions that are foreign to Americans and anathema to the American mindset. Like you can't impose American ideas onto, let's say, Spain, you can't expect that Americans will want what Spain has. She says, "better health outcomes" for these countries even through they spend less than the US. But, a lot of that is attributable to the American lifestyle and NOT because they have single payer government health care. Rachel, move to the UK!

[dearkgar]

Good point... just like how American things like ipods don't work if your are in Spain because our values are different. Facts don't matter because we have very specific, special values that no other country can understand.... totally makes sense.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Spain is among the most radical countries in the EU.

What you call "special" I call socialist.

[golperuano]

"It's not how other countries do it..." Um, ever heard of American exceptionalism? "...a fat bottom line." Meaning, health care is their business and therefore they are amoral for being in that business. Health care should be purely altruistic in nature. No on should try to make a living from curing people. She cites the VA as an example of a public option. However, most folks who get VA medicine would prefer to receive private insurance. Wait for an appointment in the UK: 18 weeks.

[golperuano]

Rachel Maddow: "...it's been a disaster for the American people and for the American economy." Um, I think most people would disagree. Polls show that most folks are happy with their health insurance situation. If folks really wanted the government option they'd be clamoring for it. They're not. So you can't claim that it is a disaster for the American people or for the economy. What Rachel Maddow CAN say is that the public option is desirable to her for political reasons.

[TheElefaunt]

it's like that because the pharmicutical companies

are backing Obama's plan and are doing what they do finding a way to profit and survive,

not single payer universal healthcare from kucinich not paul's idea's restructure a utopia by ending our wars,

those are dangerous ideas

both different,but both for the people

[joeboudreau]

omg how are you so dense? You say govt is tied to the corporations, that is true. But you think a govt option would be tied to corporations?? Insurance companies WANT the government to push through healthcare reform with a mandate for everyone to be covered, that would be millions more customers for them. Don't think they aren't getting theirs with a public option too. It will cost trillions and folks will prefer cheaper private options that they now are forced to have because of reform.

[AStarSpangledGirl]

true competition can only come from the GOVERNMENT to stop accepting BRIBES from insurance companies and other corporations.

[AStarSpangledGirl]

This country was founded on the principle of .....LIFE, LIBERTY and PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS....not Social Justice and Healthcare for all.

You are right....not everyone is as radical in this country.  The faster the Liberals understand that...the faster we can get back to restoring this country.

[Blahblahblah3210]

So you're a socialist, then? All of the countries you mentioned have socialist healthcare systems. That's not what the American people want. Increasing the size of an already-corrupt government is a big no-no. You should know better than that.

I know it's shocking for you to hear this, but not everyone in the country is as radical as you are. Deal with it.

[AStarSpangledGirl]

Blahblah...that is what Liberals don't understand. There is a reason this country is the greatest country in the world...we have a DIFFERENT system very well engineered by our Founding Fathers. So no....we don't want to be like all the socialist European countries. BIG GOVERNMENT Is nothing but WASTE. Paying people for paperpushing and all our money going to SPECIAL INTERESTS.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Wrong. The tax breaks were for ALL Americans. But it just so happens that the people who don't pay taxes didn't benefit from them. Boo-hoo.

The bailouts, on the other hand, were corporate protectionism, a socialist tendency that was COMPLETELY unnecessary despite the situation. The government should have let those corrupt corporations collapse, giving rise to newer, smaller businesses that would have to compete for the spot the large corporations once had.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Their track records prove otherwise. You keep making these controversial claims, and yet you have no facts to support what you're saying.

[Blahblahblah3210]

Yeah, I highly doubt that. Even if they do happen to follow the model you're suggesting at some point in time, their constituents will knock sense into their heads long before a vote is ever cast.

[joeboudreau]

and yet you favor giving the government power over your health care. You are freaking brilliant.

[mrsthursday]

you're funny.

[exbronco1980]

people get the government they deserve. people also get the healthcare system they deserve.

[leesagrrl]

exbronco1980:

I completely disagree. There are many many Innocent bystanders who will suffer for the Arrogant Ignorants bluster.

America needs Health Care... NOT Insurance that's more like a Gambling Casino.

[lynchmobb2000]

Fuck Max Baucus, fucking sell-out piece of shit.

[sugarhigh678]

good lord LOL most people prefer Medicare coverage vs Private Health Care ... What BS.

[Orionx26]

ITS been GREAT! for the Government too! If the government just stopped regulating it and allow the market to be completely free, we system could work. Why does Obama have his children in "PRIVATE" school if the government can RUN institutions so well? Why aren't you basing the track record of government run institutions like schools and see if that measures up? Private sector outperforms government there? Maybe just maybe we should let the market handle healthcare and stop regulations

[NELLM1717]

Your point is taking but you forget greed will always win out

[Orionx26]

My apologies for my grammar. I know its hard to believe but, the more I learn, the more I understand that the Government instigates and rewards that greed thru regulations and taxes. Monopolies are set up thru the Government and this has happened time and time again throughout our history. I am saying that the Government is an underlying problem in this case.

[fivestarmichael]

Well I think the Dems were concentrating so hard on how to rob the American people. They forgot who they were supposed to be writing the bill for... they fucked up.

If you are going to steal money to give to your special interests buddies, you have to pass small bills in the middle of the night when no one is watching.

[sugarpuddin88]

The Government is a growing Tumor & the illegal privately owned FED Reserve is its blood supply!

The 2008 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports show the combined unfunded liability of these two programs has reached $101.7 trillion in today's dollars!

TARP plus debt to illegal privately owned FED Res is 25 trillion

Amount plundered from other Federal Gov trusts: 53 trillion

Every man, woman, child in USA owes $600K in FED Gov debt

Americans have the Government they deserve!

[starVol]

Is Rachel Maddow a man?

[fivestarmichael]

The Dems shot themselves in the foot. The proposed Bill is over 1,000 pages long and almost impossible to read.

Which means few people can understand it or really grasp what is in it. The size and byzantine language of the bill scared most Americans.

Sure, Bills are written this way to leave plenty of lee-way for future theft, so special interests groups can get rich. However, the bill was so complicated it was impossible for even Barry to sell to the American people.

[bostonsluggo]

She's terrible

[ponyboy316]

why? Because she holds the president's feet to the fire for what he actually does, and not how a lot of people like to fantasize about what he might be?

[SuperEvilC]

Medicare should cover EVERYONE!

[Blahblahblah3210]

Not if it's at the cost of those who ALREADY have coverage.

We shouldn't have to pay to cover illegal immigrants and others who shouldn't even be here!

[SuperEvilC]

Would you rather they die in the gutter outside your house? You're ALREADY paying for illegal immigrants if they go to the hospital ER. If ANYONE needs treatment in our hospitals, they should get it. EVEN with Medicare for ALL, you could still pay your private insurance company... what's the boggle???????

[sugarpuddin88]

Hidden from news last week:

Americas 6th largest financial collapse: Colonial Bank!

The FDIC is run by Sheila Bair, a Lawyer, and the dean at the Isenberg Institute. Her and her staff of Zio-clowns are not about to arrest the directors, the executive management, the auditors, or the investment oversight board.

This clueless clown belongs behind the counter of a McDonalds. He is cooking the 'Health Scheme' where doctors, hospitals, and Hispanic immigrants get a $ trillion dollars

[Blahblahblah3210]

The boggle is that the private insurance companies would be forced to compete with the government, a competition they couldn't hope to possibly win, what with the government mandates that would be placed on these companies.

This is only the first step toward a socialized, one-payer system: Obama and other liberals in Washington have even gone on record as saying so.

Here's a link so you can see it for yourself:

watch?v=p-bY92mcOdk

[Blahblahblah3210]

And in regard to the illegal immigrants, although I do believe that something should be done so that they aren't forced to go to the ER for every medical ailment, a monumental expansion of the government isn't necessary to handle this situation. Especially at a time of economic crisis.

And don't you think adding coverage to 50-75 million people would overflow the system? Where are the doctors going to come from? This will more than likely result in lower quality care for all.

[sugarpuddin88]

The former head of the federal agency that guarantees the pensions of 44 million Americans invoked his Fifth Amendment rights at a Senate hearing, refusing to discuss his contacts with Wall Street firms bidding for business

Professor Elizabeth Warren who is supposed to look into TARP says she has no idea where the first 350 Billion dollars went - And they won't tell her, (she said it on the Bill Mahers show)

Is this not as bad as the old USSR as far as corruption

[Paolo7219]

There are SIX healthcare industry lobbyists for EVERY member of Congress. That's alot of power. What would be best for the consumer is not on the radar. What absolutely ASTOUNDS me is how American could oppose health care reform. Do people LIKE bankrupting themselves over medical bills? Are they terminally stupid? They MUST be. 14000 Americans lose their health care every day. And THIS is the system people want to keep?? I don't know, maybe Americans DESERVE to go bankrupt.

[ponyboy316]

The ones against it won't be the ones going bankrupt. That answer is not only emotional, the dehumanize the ones who are actually suffering from this.

[almamatters2471]

Obama is a disgrace...one  term president.

[ZedAlfa273]

Without the Public Option (Single Payer), there is no Health Care Reform.

[KataVideo]

agreed. co-ops are a sham.

[CLONG3]

Dr. Anne Doig, the incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association, said her countrys health care system is sick and imploding, the Canadian Press reported.Dr. Anne Doig, the incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association, said her countrys health care system is sick and imploding, the Canadian Press reported......still sound good?

[booley]

And yet, "It's not about choosing between an American system or a Canadian system," said Doig. "The whole thing is about looking at what other people do."

Even with their issues, Canadians do not want an American system, their system is still better then ours, covers more people for less and people live longer without risking bankruptcy.

& why do you guys keep acting as if Canada is the ONLY single payer system or that we couldn't make a better single payer?

[ponyboy316]

Look at the party that put her in.

[exbronco1980]

if most of the american people really wanted universal healthcare or even a public option, they would have had it a long time ago.

[CLONG3]

Yes, this is the truth that they can't see. Dr. Anne Doig, the incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association, said her countrys health care system is sick and imploding, the Canadian Press reported.

[ponyboy316]

Look who's running it. Conservatives.

[Chrisnoscrub047]

Wow. I really dislike Maddow.

[exbronco1980]

most americans like the healthcare situation the way it is. they say they don't, but really they do.

[motorolarules]

single payer scares insurance companies

[RomeoMD25]

The best example is the VA system which sucks so much money and provides the

worst care to the best? American citizens who are injured protecting their country. Among the civilized

world the US government bureaucracy is mostly staffed and manged by incompetent fools.

[rmcc0002]

...and Medicare is bankrupt, idiot.

[Staticnz]

If Obama is awesome this is all smokes and mirrors intended to tone down the rhetoric, and he will actually put through a public option.

If not, then he is...well...pretty weak, and selling out. He'll still be an alright president, but pushing on lame duck status and not having had helped America in any enduring way.

[mrsthursday]

I guess that's politics.

[tburke64]

HR 676 NOW!

[bbbbmer]

when did 'health care reform' become 'health insurance reform'??? there MUST be a public option -- that's why we VOTED for obama!!! if there is none, it'll be a free for all for the GOP - --- is this what obama planned all along/????

[Smartassawhip]

Max Baucus is in the pocket of big pharma and the insurance comapanies. Anyone who wants to know the truth about Health Care reform visit my profile and look in the comment section. It is a virtual one stop shop for resources including the bills, myths DEBUNKED, answers, phone numbers, videos, all kinds of good stuff that has been accumulated by a bunch of us who are fighting for the cause. Oh and you can also see who else is in the pocket of big pharma too. Public Option is still on the table.

[mrsthursday]

Are u part of the Billionaire club they are a riot.

[Smartassawhip]

If I told you.. LOL I would have to kill you.. Just kidding.. no I'm not.. but I would love to be... they are great.

[Boobalopbop]

Right on.

[almamatters2471]

Obama is already a failure.

[xwarnomore58x]

If you thought you were going to get free health care then I have a magic cat to sell you. In 2016 SS will take in less money than they pay out and taxes will have to be raised to support a system we have counted on to loot to pay bills. In 2017 Medicare will have no money to pay for the hospital part of Medicare. We have no idea how we are going to finance the programs we have much less figure out how to give free health care to everyone.

[mrsthursday]

Free healthcare? Stop listening to Rush you sound like you've been smoking the magic cat.

[xwarnomore58x]

Source is the SS administrations report of March 15th. Stop listen to Maddow and put down the crack pipe.

[mrsthursday]

who's maddow?

[xwarnomore58x]

You watched her video don't you know?

[mrsthursday]

Oh that maddow. lol.

[Pvtjamesryan2]

Rachel Maddow has to be the BIGGEST hypocrite in the ENTIRE WORLD!!

She's bitching about health care when she has the BEST fucking Health Care that money can buy. She wouldn't give up her private insurance coverage even if you put a gun to her head.

[mrsthursday]

Best in the world? She lives in the UK? Canada? Japan? France? If she gets a long term- illness her insurance will eventually run out like all US citizens. That's how the system works.

[DameDiabolique]

As if your 8 years of George W Bush was even better...

[sclf]

I expected the demos were not as big as a sell out as the repubs, i was wrong, soon with no public option , dead wrong, lol.

[mrsthursday]

Yeah ain't it sweet

[priorzola]

Rachel also needs to mention that depending on state ALL health care costs are paid between 45-55% by the GOVERNMENT. The GOVT needs to cut these profiteers off for a year and only provide funding for the govt insurance subsidies of Medicare, the VA, Medicaid etc (that account for 30% of all customers on the market) and then see your premiums go up 50% overnight and then watch as the Americans who allow themselves to be willfully ignorant of these facts scream for PUBLIC OPTION or ELSE.

[policeeatdoughnuts]

let's charge the health insurance companies with fraud since they sold policies on dishonest information ad charge them with murder since they denied claims of people who needed life-saving medical operations

[MikeRoch6969]

so the obama admin was just a bait and switch after all...

[mrsthursday]

Exactly, the right-wingnuts were grovelling around in the mud looking for something that wasn't there.lol. ZING!

[Squirelbutt]

Let me tell you how crappy the VA is. They are regulatate by cost and admin czars. My doctor prescribed a good blood pressure medicine that had little to no side effects. Admin came back and said it cost to much and there fore i had to use other medicines. Well i went through 10 different drugs that screwed me up more. MY doctor fought. And finally they had to give in. But it is bullshit anyone has to come between you and your doctor.

[hollyhoodjoe123]

I am so sick and tired of people like you claim Medicare, Medicaid, or even VA sucks so bad. If gov't run health insurances suck so bad, then why would it be political suicide to even consider eliminating them?

How come the mass majority of Medicare, Medicaid, and VA are generally happy with it?

How come Congress wouldn't scrap their gov't run health care and get their health insurance from the private sector?

Bottomline: Gov't health insurance can be both efficient and effective.

[Squirelbutt]

Do you know why it is political suicide? Do you know how much money insurance companies make from the government subsidys and from collecting from people.. LOTS. to grease politicians. And congress doesnt have the same run care, they even voted to change to the same care and failed it majority wise. Some people are happy with getting scraps of healthcare that insurance gives them. BUT insurance is not health care its whole purpose is to restrict care to make money.

[cowpacino]

The Democrats are pussies.

[colibri1]

Yes, some Democrats are pussies, but Republicans/Libertarians are outright evil.

[MooseOfReason]

colibri1, How am I evil?

[cowpacino]

Republican's aren't evil, they are assholes, and it's good to remember that a pussy is only a few inches away from being an asshole

[xwarnomore58x]

Did it occur to you that the democrats are not pussies? They are financed by the same corporations that fund the repubs. Could this entire argument be just a circus for the people to distract you from the fact that we are about to go broke?

[priorzola]

xwarnomore, we are already broke and our healthcare costs (even for those with health insurance) is the primary reason for that. We can blame corporate control of the government but in the end we need to take a look at our unsustainable lifestyles, our willingness to turn on the powers that protect the average American (unions, others in the working and Middle Class) and our own delusions that we will one day be RICH even if we must spite our neighbors to be so.