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[yesthattom]

The Audacity of Government: If you listen to only one episode of This American Life, I hope it is this one.

We’ve noticed a trend in actions taken lately by the U.S. government. Tiny things you probably haven t heard of, but with big implications. So we ve decided to spend an hour admitting and discussing what everyone knows is true: America’s become a jerk.

But if you don’t have time to listen to that, at least check out Tom Hanks endorsing Obama:Video

Comments

[kathdem.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I found this episode amazing,and I talked to my conservative mother about it too. True conservatives should be just as horrified by this kind of maneuvering and insertion of government where it doesn't belong as we are. Just awful.

[knell.livejournal.com]

I haven't listened to it, but I can certainly confirm that "America's become a jerk" pretty much sums up the view over here. It's like:

"Hey, that rich kid across the road with all the nifty toys used to be really cool. but now he's become a jerk. you know if you want to go over to his house now you have to provide all your personal details in advance and have your fingerprints taken? just weird. and he's not been playing well with the other kids, either - he's been coming up with lame excuses to beat them senseless just so he can take their stuff, and you know what, then he says it was all their own fault? he says he had to do it because another kid who lives down the road from the kid he just beat up kicked him in the shins a few years ago, and he has to beat them up just in case they were thinking of kicking him too. Then he just says they should be grateful he beat them up anyway and walks off. Now he's complaining that nobody wants to play with him any more. What a jerk."

[mrfantasy.livejournal.com]

The thing I know a little about is how much more difficult it is for musicians from abroad to come over to tour. Visas are more difficult to get, you need to have an independent person (not your tour sponsor) basically vouch for you and put up a bond, and then our government takes 30% of your earnings on the way out if they do allow you in.