Braden's Corner Of The Net

Man, will this open your eyes. 
Sound familiar? 

Hell, does it LOOK familiar?

12 July 1921

1 The young socialist movement came into existence as a result of the steadily increasing capitalist exploitation of young workers and also of the growth of bourgeois militarism. The movement was a reaction against attempts to poison the minds of young workers with bourgeois nationalist ideology and against the tendency of most of the social-democratic parties and the trade unions to neglect the economic, political and cultural demands of young workers.

In most countries the social-democratic parties and the unions, which were growing increasingly opportunist and revisionist, took no part in establishing young socialist organisations, and in certain countries they even opposed the creation of a youth movement. The reformist social-democratic parties and trade unions saw the independent revolutionary socialist youth organisations as a serious threat to their opportunist policies. They sought to introduce a bureaucratic control over the youth organisations and destroy their independence, thus stifling the movement, changing its character and adapting it to social-democratic politics.

2 As a result of the imperialist war and the positions taken towards it by social democracy almost everywhere, the contradictions between the social-democratic parties and the international revolutionary organisations inevitably grew and eventually led to open conflict. The living conditions of young workers sharply deteriorated; there was mobilisation and military service on the one hand, and, on the other, the increasing exploitation in the munitions industries and militarisation of civilian life. The most class-conscious young socialists opposed the war and the nationalist propaganda. They dissociated themselves from the social-democratic parties and undertook independent political activity (the International Youth Conferences at Berne in 1915 and Jena in 1916).

In their struggle against the war, the young socialist organisations were supported by the most dedicated revolutionary groups and became an important focus for the revolutionary forces. In most countries no revolutionary parties existed and the youth organisations took over their role; they became independent political organisations and acted as the vanguard in the revolutionary struggle.

3 With the establishment of the Communist International and, in some countries, of Communist Parties, the role of the revolutionary youth organisations changes. Young workers, because of their economic position and because of their psychological make-up, are more easily won to Communist ideas and are quicker to show enthusiasm for revolutionary struggle than adult workers. Nevertheless, the youth movement relinquishes to the Communist Parties its vanguard role of organising independent activity and providing political leadership. The further existence of Young Communist organisations as politically independent and leading organisations would mean that two Communist Parties existed, in competition with one another and differing only in the age of their membership.

4 At the present time the role of the Young Communist movement is to organise the mass of young workers, educate them in the ideas of Communism, and draw them into the struggle for the Communist revolution.

The Communist youth organisations can no longer limit themselves to working in small propaganda circles. They must win the broad masses of workers by conducting a permanent campaign of agitation, using the newest methods. In conjunction with the Communist Parties and the trade unions, they must organise the economic struggle.

The new tasks of the Communist youth organisations require that their educational work be extended and intensified. The members of the youth movement receive their Communist education on the one hand through active participation in all revolutionary struggles and on the other through a study of Marxist theory.

Another important task facing the Young Communist organisations in the immediate future is to break the hold of centrist and social-patriotic ideas on young workers and free the movement from the influences of the social-democratic officials and youth leaders. At the same time, the Young Communist organisations must do everything they can to ‘rejuvenate’ the Communist Parties by parting with their older members, who then join the adult Parties.

The Young Communist organisations participate in the discussion of all political questions, help build the Communist Parties and take part in all revolutionary activity and struggle. This is the main difference between them and the youth sections of the centrist and socialist unions.

5 The relations between the Young Communist organisations and the Communist Party are fundamentally different from those between the revolutionary young socialist organisations and the social-democratic parties. In the common struggle to hasten the proletarian revolution, the greatest unity and strictest centralisation are essential. Political leadership at the international level must belong to the Communist International and at the national level to the respective national sections.

It is the duty of the Young Communist organisations to follow this political leadership (its programme, tactics and political directives) and merge with the general revolutionary front. The Communist Parties are at different stages of development and therefore the Executive Committee of the Communist International and the Executive Committee of the Communist Youth International should apply this principle in accordance with the circumstances obtaining in each particular case.

The Young Communist movement has begun to organise its members according to the principle of strict centralisation and in its relations with the Communist International – the leader and bearer of the proletarian revolution – it will be governed by an iron discipline. All political and tactical questions are discussed in the ranks of the Communist youth organisation, which then takes a position and works in the Communist Party of its country in accordance with the resolutions passed by the Party, in no circumstance working against them.

If the Communist youth organisation has serious differences with the Communist Party, it has the right to appeal to the Executive Committee of the Communist International.

Loss of political independence in no way implies loss of the organisational independence which is so essential for political education.

Strong centralisation and effective unity are essential for the successful advancement of the revolutionary struggle, and therefore, in those countries where historical development has left the youth dependent upon the Party, the dependence should be preserved; differences between the two bodies are decided by the EC of the Communist International and the Executive Committee of the Communist Youth International.

6 One of the most immediate and most important tasks of the Young Communist organisations is to fight the belief in political independence inherited from the period when the youth organisations enjoyed absolute autonomy, and which is still subscribed to by some members. The press and organisational apparatus of the Young Communist movement must be used to educate young workers to be responsible and active members of a united Communist Party.

At the present time the Communist youth organisations are beginning to attract increasing numbers of young workers and are developing into mass organisations; it is therefore important that they give the greatest possible time and effort to education.

7 Close co-operation between the Young Communist organisations and the Communist Parties in political work must be reflected in close organisational links. It is essential that each organisation should at all times be represented at all levels of the other organisation (from the central Party organs and district, regional and local organisations down to the cells of Communist groups and the trade unions) and particularly at all conferences and congresses. In this way the Communist Parties will be able to exert a permanent influence on the movement and encourage political activity, while the youth organisations, in their turn, can influence the Party.

8 The relations established between the Communist Youth International and the Communist International are even closer than those between the individual Parties and their youth organisations. The Communist Youth International has to provide the Communist youth movement with a centralised leadership, offer moral and material support to individual unions, form Young Communist organisations where none has existed and publicise the Communist youth movement and its programme. The Communist Youth International is a section of the Communist International and, as such, is bound by the decisions of its congresses and its Central Committee. The Communist Youth International conducts its work within the framework of these decisions and thus passes on the political line of the Communist International to all its sections. A well-developed system of reciprocal representation and close and constant co-operation guarantees that the Communist Youth International will make gains in all the spheres of its activity (leadership, agitation, organisation and the work of strengthening and supporting the Communist youth organisations).

Do I even need to say anything further? 

How much do you want to bet this guy voted for Obama?

Watch this and you’ll be incredibly pissed off.
I guarantee it.

This god damn society makes me sick.

I am -so shocked- to read this.

(Reuters) – The Times Atlas of the World exaggerated the rate of Greenland’s ice loss in its thirteenth edition last week, scientists said on Monday.

What a big time surprise, huh?

The atlas, published by HarperCollins, showed that Greenland lost 15 percent of its ice cover over the past 12 years, based on information from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado in the United States.

The Greenland ice sheet is the second biggest in the world and significant shrinking could lead to a global rise in sea levels.

“While global warming has played a role in this reduction, it is also as a result of the much more accurate data and in-depth research that is now available,” HarperCollins said on its website on Monday.

However, a number of scientists disputed the claim.

“We believe that the figure of a 15 percent decrease in permanent ice cover since the publication of the previous atlas 12 years (ago) is both incorrect and misleading,” said Poul Christoffersen, glaciologist at the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) at the University of Cambridge.

Scientists being incorrect?  No way!  After all, they’re scientists!  They are incapable of being wrong!
Right, Rob?

“We concluded that a sizable portion of the area mapped as ice-free in the Atlas is clearly still ice-covered.”

I have nothing else to add.

Other scientists agreed.

“These new maps are ridiculously off base, way exaggerated relative to the reality of rapid change in Greenland,” said Jeffrey S. Kargel, senior research scientist at the University of Arizona.

Gee, I wonder why those new maps “are ridiculously off base?”  It couldn’t have absolutely nothing to do with data manipulation, right?
Of course not.

The Times Atlas suggested the Greenland ice sheet has lost 300,000 square kilometers in the past 12 years, at a rate of 1.5 percent per year.

However, measurements suggest this rate is at least 10 times faster than in reality, added J. Graham Cogley, Professor of Geography at Trent University, Ontario, Canada.

“It could easily be 20 times too fast and might well be 50 times too fast,” he added.

Last year, a U.N. committee of climate scientists came under fire for bungling a forecast of when Himalayan glaciers would thaw.

The panel’s 2007 report, the main guide for governments in fighting climate change, included an incorrect projection that all Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2035, hundreds of years earlier than scientists’ projections.

I cannot help but wonder what the global warming climate change zealots think of this.
Oh, Al?  Al?  Are you there?  Al?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

September 11, 2001.

A day I’ll never, ever forget.

I remember precisely where I was when I heard about what had happened during that dreadful morning.  I was a few feet past the Interstate 79 North rest stop off ramp.  I can remember thinking to myself that it was incredibly odd that an airplane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

I wasn’t sure what kind of airplane it was, but I immediately thought of a small single prop airplane.  Jetliner hadn’t come to my mind at all at this point.

“Wow, that’s weird.  How can that happen?” I thought to myself.
I continued motoring on my way.

Not long after, I can remember hearing on the radio that another plane had crashed into the second World Trade Center tower.  Right then and there, I knew something very bad was taking place, and it was NO accident.  We were under attack.

Once I arrived at work and made my way into the common area of our main offices, I saw every one in our group hovering around the television set, watching in absolute disbelief.

I remember a few conversations taking place among my co-workers; like what they thought was happening, and what could be happening next, etc.
Keeping to myself, I pretty much just stood there complete horror which started to grow to anger.

All of the sudden, the first tower began to collapse on itself.  I remember watching it as if it were occurring in slow motion. Everyone around me was in complete disbelief as to what they were witnessing.

My memories of what happened between the time that the first Word Trade Center tower fell and the second are vague.  Although, I do remember looking down at my feet and noticing that I were two different shoes to work; which was the first and only time that has ever happened. Hell, it ended up being a very brief hilarious moment during an otherwise dreadful morning.

After that, I don’t remember much else, because of the state of shock I was in.  I can only remember everyone being told to leave work in an orderly and calm fashion and to go home.

I believe there was a moment when I was in tears I was driving home.  Thoughts of people jumping out of windows, falling to their deaths was going through my mind.
“My God” I thought to myself.

Once I arrived safely at home, I remember calling my Mom & Dad.  My Mom literally begged me to come to the house to spend the day.  I also remember sitting on my parent’s deck thinking about my girlfriend (now wife), non stop, wondering what she was up to, hoping that she was safe.  The skies were so very eerily quiet that day due to the FAA grounding all flights.

I can remember at some point finally getting through my girlfriend (now wife) via phone.  I was relieved that she was safe; but that still didn’t make me feel completely better because I wanted to be with her.

It was a very dark and sad day for all Americans.  A day I’ll never, ever forget.  Thousands of my fellow Americans perished because of the selfish act of those who hate America and for what she stands for.

Our son brought this home from school the other day.
I was in disbelief over what I saw.

Click on the image below to zoom in a new tab/window.
You won’t believe what you see contained in the red box.

Are you as pissed off as I am?

So, who pays for this for the illegals?  Any ideas?
It’s simple really.  Look in the mirror.

In other words, it literally does pay to be an illegal immigrant.
Can somebody please tell me what the hell is wrong with this country?

Doesn’t anyone give a shit?

Hold on for a second, Dancing With The Stars is more important.
My bad.

I think I’ve been in every single one of these situations at one time or another:

The Delta PFB1212UHE-F00 is absolutely ridiculous in terms of the airflow this thing creates.
Just look at this thing installed in my machine. It’s insane.

Here is a very interesting piece on the possibility of fracking being linked to the recent Virginia earthquake.

Could you imagine if this is true?
All in the name of the mighty dollar.

What will the excuse(s) of the pro-frackers be?

H/T:   Cowboy Byte

If this isn’t symbolic of what’s really going on in Washington, DC, then I don’t know what the hell is:

I’m just saying.