Amazing....

[Detroit Stylin]

Maybe there is hope for our future yet. From the mouths of babes...

[gibran]

what a inspiring voice for all people...I have chills of admiration listening to such a strong voice coming from such a young mind...he will be all of our future's hope

[detmich]

How about saying- " I do my homework and behave in school".

[lilpup]

I just don't get the "Queens, Kings, Princesses, and Princes that we really are". If every African was a King, Queen, Princess, or Prince, then who were the subjects?

Cross reference: Detroit - City Council

[Omaha]

You're right, this is amazing. It is reminds me of a Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it.�

[gibran]

Omaha great qoute...

[ccbatson]

Raw individualism can be found in his words and should be cultivated. Note that this makes him an enemy of the collectivists/statists.

[Detroit Stylin]

Yep and several people who replied STILL don't get it.....but thas ok......

[Jimaz]

Thanks for the video, Detroit Stylin. That was special. It put a lump in my throat.

I think we can expect more performances like this. May they grow in number until they're no longer remarkable.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMyp8y8SkUM for some related videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMdQm8Mguw&fmt=18 is fun.

[vetalalumni]

May they grow in number until they're no longer remarkable.

Amen Jimaz.

[ccbatson]

"God given talent" "Self determination".....individualism. Coming from an extremely bright and articulate child. I pray that this is not corrupted by adults less clear headed than he is. I fear that this may occur as he appears to admire Obama, who, while he is African American, opposes the core values that this boy speaks of.

[Lorax]

"God given talent" "Self determination".....individualism. Coming from an extremely bright and articulate child. I pray that this is not corrupted by adults less clear headed than he is. I fear that this may occur as he appears to admire Obama, who, while he is African American, opposes the core values that this boy speaks of.

To the contrary. You are the one blinded by hatred of anything not in keeping with the goosestepping fascist right and their talking points.

You are indicative of why the Repugnican Party is doomed.

Your future is closing before you like a fist.

[ccbatson]

Remember that Obama, until the campaign, was not ashamed to let it be known that he was a socialist [[in print via his books).

[rb336]

Remember that Obama, until the campaign, was not ashamed to let it be known that he was a socialist [[in print via his books).

you have yet to show, chapter and verse, where that is so inspite of numerous opportunities. you have never read his books, and are clearly just aping the pronouncements of your brain-dead idols, who also have never read his book

[gibran]

funny after reading his book I came away with the feeling he was more conservative and a stronger stewart of the constitution...

I think the extremistsin the Republican Party [[not all republicans fall into that catergory) and neocons fear Obama for a variety of reasons...maybe they fear his ability to balance our world image on fairness and our economics to the middle-class... those who want things the way they were well " times are a changing"...

[Detroit Stylin]

Ummmmm......


At WHAT point in this video did President Obama's name get mentioned and HOW exactly does he fit into the context of this discussion?

[ejames01]

I assume that he thinks that the President is going to infect that child with SOCIALISM!

Ummmmm......

At WHAT point in this video did President Obama's name get mentioned and HOW exactly does he fit into the context of this discussion?

[Omaha]

Speaking of SOCIALISM, I was riding down the street in Omaha over lunch this afternoon and passed a parked car with a pair of bumper stickers that really got me thinking. One said “get corporations off of welfare� and the other said “end socialism for the wealthy.� I saw the driver plugging his meter and I pulled over and asked him what those bumper stickers meant. Was he, like me, opposed to government bail outs of investment banks, car companies and the like? And shouldn’t the other have read “end socialism for the incompetent senior decision makers of large corporations?�

Nope. He wasn’t talking about what happened under Presidents Bush or Obama. He was talking about something more local. He said that corporations regularly play states and cities against one another—using job creation as the bait—to win large taxpayer subsidies for what he called “low paying� jobs. He actually used the term "BLACKMAIL" in describing the process. Hrumph!

I told him that corporations have the freedom to move to where they get the best deal. He said that every dollar in taxes that the corporations don’t pay…the average citizen pays. He argued that meant states were using their common wealth [[taxes) to attract economic growth [[although he didn’t use those last two words). Add those tax breaks to the cost of infrastructure put in place by government to entice corporate location or relocation and the city or state investment is so high it can’t be paid back in taxes on the jobs generated for many decades, if ever. That he assured me was government welfare for corporations. He also said that those kinds of tax dollar investments reminded him of socialism for the wealthy!

I merely replied that if he didn’t like the way the free market worked, he could either move to the People’s Republic of California or start up a business and take advantage of the great deals that occur with states and cities compete…they give away the store! I got on my soapbox and told him it’s only right that corporations use their bargaining power and whatever other advantage they have [[paid lobbyists?) to lower operating costs so that they could maximize profits for the stockholders. The social consequences of that kind of behavior are not to be considered in the drive to maximize short term profit.

Then I added it’s too bad that there ARE national regulations covering wages, collective bargaining, environmental protection and the like. Because if there weren’t, corporations could do even better in reducing the cost of doing business as states and cities competed with one another.

[vetalalumni]

You've drawn it up remarkably well again Omaha [[your post # 18). A+ on balance, content, and detail. You've raised the bar.

[ccbatson]

The boy mentions Obama's achievement in a tone of admiration near the end of his speech.

Not funny Gibran...sad. Reread it, particularly where he speaks of what influenced him, his affection for "Marxist professors" and the like. Also check out the works of those he references [[most lead back to Sol Alinsky and his book "rules for radicals"). Read that if you want to be enlightened [[and scared).

[Lorax]

Speaking of SOCIALISM, I was riding down the street in Omaha over lunch this afternoon and passed a parked car with a pair of bumper stickers that really got me thinking. One said “get corporations off of welfare� and the other said “end socialism for the wealthy.� I saw the driver plugging his meter and I pulled over and asked him what those bumper stickers meant. Was he, like me, opposed to government bail outs of investment banks, car companies and the like? And shouldn’t the other have read “end socialism for the incompetent senior decision makers of large corporations?�

Nope. He wasn’t talking about what happened under Presidents Bush or Obama. He was talking about something more local. He said that corporations regularly play states and cities against one another—using job creation as the bait—to win large taxpayer subsidies for what he called “low paying� jobs. He actually used the term "BLACKMAIL" in describing the process. Hrumph!

I told him that corporations have the freedom to move to where they get the best deal. He said that every dollar in taxes that the corporations don’t pay…the average citizen pays. He argued that meant states were using their common wealth [[taxes) to attract economic growth [[although he didn’t use those last two words). Add those tax breaks to the cost of infrastructure put in place by government to entice corporate location or relocation and the city or state investment is so high it can’t be paid back in taxes on the jobs generated for many decades, if ever. That he assured me was government welfare for corporations. He also said that those kinds of tax dollar investments reminded him of socialism for the wealthy!

I merely replied that if he didn’t like the way the free market worked, he could either move to the People’s Republic of California or start up a business and take advantage of the great deals that occur with states and cities compete…they give away the store! I got on my soapbox and told him it’s only right that corporations use their bargaining power and whatever other advantage they have [[paid lobbyists?) to lower operating costs so that they could maximize profits for the stockholders. The social consequences of that kind of behavior are not to be considered in the drive to maximize short term profit.

Then I added it’s too bad that there ARE national regulations covering wages, collective bargaining, environmental protection and the like. Because if there weren’t, corporations could do even better in reducing the cost of doing business as states and cities competed with one another.

Problem with your take on things, is that without national regulations on wages, collective bargaining, environmental protections, etc, corporations would have us working at slave wages, dumping raw sewage in the rivers and lakes, and forbidding formation of unions. Corporations without regulations is what got us into this mess in the first place.

In fact, you've just advocated for a totalitarian fascist state.

Perhaps you could hop in your time machine and return to 1930's Italy where you and Mussolini could have a little tea and sympathy.

[ccbatson]

Lorax, THINK...if a company in a free market has a desired product or service to offer, other companies will compete with them in the market, right? In order to produce the goods or services, the company needs labor as does the competing company. Bidding for labor ensues such that the best workers get the most reimbursement and opportunity for ascension in the company. Starting at the bottom, these individuals WILL be successful according to their abilities. No slavery is possible.

[gibran]

In all of your studies cc didn't you learn to read other perspectives [[critical thinking) and find anything of value...I personally enjoy reading other perspectives..it helps me either to modify my perspective or gives me a clearer understanding of my point...

[Lorax]

Lorax, THINK...if a company in a free market has a desired product or service to offer, other companies will compete with them in the market, right? In order to produce the goods or services, the company needs labor as does the competing company. Bidding for labor ensues such that the best workers get the most reimbursement and opportunity for ascension in the company. Starting at the bottom, these individuals WILL be successful according to their abilities. No slavery is possible.

Unofortunately you've made it rather obvious that critical thinking isn't your strong suit.

Your explaination of labor and it's place in our society is simple, and in a perfect world it would be nice, however it's tragically flawed since it will never, and has never worked in practicality.

Unfortunately when monopolies are allowed, and people like Reagan refused to enforce the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, any ability to compete is destroyed.

Look no further than Walmart, which has been allowed to destroy main streets across America, with impunity, with tax freebies galore, add all of Wall Street, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Citibank, Exxon, all corporations "too big to fail" which are always first in line for corporate welfare in the form of tax incentives, tax abatements, free land, utility hookups, endless loopholes created in our tax policy to benefit the monstrous corporations, which has effectively killed incentive, and kept others from being able to invent the better mousetrap.

Instead our anti-American republican politicians and corporate heads allowed "free trade" to take over, allowing an escape hatch for corporations to set up off-shore tax havens and hire slave labor to benefit the bottom line.

As if these fabulously wealthy companies hadn't already shipped our manufacturing base overseas already.

Then the Japanese car makers and Communist China Inc. built the better mousetrap, and now we find ourselves running into a wall.

Thanks but no thanks for your repugnican bridge to nowhere.

[ccbatson]

Every job I have ever had has included incentives and rewards to retain productive and efficient labor...What were you saying about it not working? Have you ever worked? You never experienced the concept of merit based raises, promotions, bonuses, or employees getting better offers from competitors?