Eh, I disagree that the president doesn't have much power. The Executive branch is way more powerful today than it was ever intended to be- it's been a slow creep of power, so it might not be obvious, but it's definitely the case. I mean, we are so far from the president being required to get a declaration of war from Congress– these days we just send drones and troops into countries without even informing the public.

Let's not also forget the assassinations of Anwar Al-Awlaki and his completely innocent 16 year old son, both American citizens! This was unprecedented, and it was ordered by Obama.

An interesting trend in America today is also the designation of power to organizations outside the influence of voters. JSOC and the NSA operate independently to some extent- there are decisions that these organizations make without informing (or being expected to inform) Congress or even the President.

This isn't to absolve Obama of any guilt, though. When he takes the podium to respond to NSA allegations, it's safe to assume that everything he says is a lie. In fact, you owe it to yourself to assume that he's lying- the Guardian will typically follow up his speeches with contradictory material from the NSA leak.

It is honestly baffling to me that people still support the man. Sure, one person can not singlehandedly solve all these problems, but Obama has EXPANDED these egregious programs! How many times do you all need to be lied to before you would start disrespecting him? Imagine it was George Bush leading the drone program, expanding the NSA, starting wars in Yemen and Africa- how would you feel about that?

…

But let's put Obama aside. The economy is truly in shambles, and wealth inequality is a huge part of the problem. One of the most frustrating things is hearing the government talk about how unemployment has fallen to 7%– that's only the case if you don't include people who have stopped looking for work. The real percentage is more like 11%.

You also have problems like automation replacing workers. That's a problem that will only get worse.

I'm a fan of basic income, but I'm completely not an economist so I'm not in a position to explain or defend it. For your entertainment.

We're also in pretty big bubble right now- we can expect another crash within the next couple years because 2008 didn't result in any substantial reforms.

Here's my armchair estimation: wealth inequality will continue to get worse, as it has been, until it reaches a breaking point. Once we hit that breaking point, we'll see (some degree of) a revolution. But man, that seems so optimistic right now. I hardly believe myself.

AND finally- none of this matters because we're unsustainably extracting resources from our planet. I'm expecting the looming environmental crisis to dwarf the looming economic crisis.

I recommend:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dirty_Wars/70267831?sod=search-autocomplete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfS2Op9l3nk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuothSrX1mQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikCUHh3Ge_k

(anything with Glenn Greenwald is bound to be informative)

Also, this on the Obama administration's aggression towards whistlblowers:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/obama-whistleblower-prosecutions-press_n_3091137.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/reporters-privilege-obama-war-leaks-new-york-times_n_1527748.html

"The hardline stand against reporter's privilege… is a hallmark of the Obama administration's unprecedented crackdown over leaks."

@Poly - someone else who'll talk about the scheme of basic income! It has its attractiveness, but also its requirements. Also, topics I really want to talk about: automation vs what would replace those jobs, unsustainable resources vs the recent push for extra-terrestrial resources, the recent massive push for sustainable energy (I could rant about power sats, and there was some recent articles about O'Neill cylinders which I find refreshing to see in the public mind). Plus bioprinting, the fact that immortality research is being taken seriously, and a ton more ;_;

You should also check out Blue Gold: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137439/ - an excellent documentary.

@Steve - I can't wait for true automation - I don't mean mere 'identical product' assembly lines - I mean automation in the sense that all individual products are potentially completely custom configured. Think like the Zazzle custom t-shirts thing, but applied to anything - computers, cars, clothing, even housing. We'll need to push 3d printing much further, and have better robotics for dynamic automatic assembly, though. Our technology base isn't quite there yet.

ugh, I hate this line of reasoning. Are we supposed to just "settle" with someone for the rest of our history? Support an alternative to first past the past voting, and until that happens, stop voting.

2nd sentence I agree with, to the extent that you're only talking about the president. Real, representative, change happens in the house, but our districts have been gerrymandered into meaninglessness.

"Short term" assumes we fix the unemployment problem quickly! But I don't want to make myself out to be an opponent of automation, I'm excited by the long term prospects.

I think that puts too much blame on the plebs. Especially given the economy, many people are just concerned with surviving. The problems we face are enormous and complex- the only reason I know anything about them is because I've spent months researching this shit, as I'm unemployed. Also regular people don't have as much influence over the economy/environment- governments and corporations do (of course). And if those systems are broken, what are the plebs supposed to do?

If people are indifferent it's because the problems seem insurmountable.

Partially I have to admit to being a devil's advocate here. A lot of people who I know that should be informed about this stuff, aren't.

Ha, basic income and nothing else. Right? I mean what else possibly could? In my ideal world, an appreciation (and increased funding) for the arts.

We are decades away from extracting resources from an asteroid, but our rate of consumption is only increasing. Also keep in mind all the developing parts of the world– they're going to want all the gadgets of the first world as they "grow up." I like the idea of space mining because I love space, but I don't see it as an ideal or timely solution.

Yes yes, all good! I guess 2012 was the first year in which our rate of adding CO2 to the atmosphere slowed. Will we convert to sustainable energies quick enough? I don't know.

I will check out that documentary!

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, because I really support what you're saying Poly, but everyones idea of perfect is ALWAYS different (atodev) and no matter WHO is running, a lot of people are always going to have to settle for the guy they dislike the least.

You will never have a candidate, in today's world, that will appease everything everyone wants. You and I may hate something, but if the majoriety of the nation likes it (even if its shitty, like the death penalty) we have to accept it. We can push for change but, at the moment, it is what it is.

Oooooh, yes, the voting systems. USA and our fucked system where if you don't vote for whoever won, you literally might as well as have not voted. It'd be much nicer to have an instant-runoff voting system - that way if your primary vote wouldn't have won, your vote still counts. Hell, even single-transferable vote is better than what we have >_>

Also, yeah, one of the problems with Basic Income is it does have a few technical and societal requirements that we haven't quite met yet.

Because, despite its flaws, you actually do have it pretty good. You gain practically nothing by revolting, the risk is not worth it in your situation.

I'd argue that we have plenty to gain by fixing the system - back full circle to "just because it could be worse, doesn't mean it shouldn't be better". We do have it quite good compared to most of the world - and it is horrifying compared to how much better it actually could be. It really helps bring into perspective how much of a massive clusterfuck this all is.

I'm not picking out parts of Obama's presidency that I disagree with, I'm showing things that he's done which are explicitly illegal under our constitution- and which should enrage anyone, regardless of his/her political affiliations. I'm trying to point out that there really is no difference between who you elect- for example, Obama's expanded the military in ways Bush never did.

Put it like this- I'm not just unhappy with Obama, I'm unhappy with the system. And I'm frustrated that people will stubbornly continue to support Obama, a part of the system.

Well of course, that's why there hasn't been a revolt yet. But things are undeniably getting worse, so the time will come. And I would argue we already have a lot to gain by revolting.

Bmo is staring down the guy, all intense, like how dare you hang off my box, let go now!