The World Remains Five Minutes From Midnight

Lasrick writes "The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces whether their Doomsday Clock has been moved with this open letter to President Obama, outlining progress on a number of fronts, but also detailing what still needs to be done to avoid various threats to humanity." From the article: "2012 was a year in which the problems of the world pressed forward, but too many of its citizens stood back. In the U.S. elections the focus was "the economy, stupid," with barely a word about the severe long-term trends that threaten the population's well-being to a far greater extent: climate change, the continuing menace of nuclear oblivion, and the vulnerabilities of the world's energy sources."

I know! I know!

[PPH]

Somebody forgot to wind the clock!

Re:Doomsday clock

[fustakrakich]

The clock is a lie

Re:Doomsday clock

[icebike]

Thank you captain obvious.

Its not like any of us would have stumbled on that symbolism in 66 years since they started making their predictions.
We are all so dense you know.....

Re:Doomsday clock

[ChrisMaple]

What makes you think Republicans can't afford to cut Medicare/Medicaid?

Here's what to do: end medicare/medicaid immediately. For all people not already qualified to receive Social Security due to age, raise the age limit 1 year for every 3 years the person is below the current age limit. End Social Security disability payments immediately. Restrict the FDA to controlling purity only. Restrict the SEC to fraud only. End highway funding. Close the EPA, return its functions to the states. End farming subsidies, close the Agriculture Department. End all social programs run by the Defense Department. End all foreign aid. Sell off federal parks or cede them to the states they are located in. Close the Interior Department. Close the department of Labor. Close HUD, end all housing subsidies. Close Department of Health and Human Services. Close the Department of Transportation, end all transportation subsidies and turn airport control over to private or municipal organizations. Close the Department of Education and deport its higher level management. Close the Department of Energy and jail its higher level managers. Close the Department of Homeland Security and turn its few valid functions over to the FBI, CIA, or state organizations, as appropriate. End support of the UN and deport all foreigners therein. Close the Small Business Administration and turn its valid functions, if any, over to the states. Severely limit and cripple the Commerce Department. End federal restrictions on and support of payments to those unemployed. End ALL off-budget discretionary spending. End all emergency relief, and add a Constitutional amendment making it illegal. Close the National Infrastructure Bank.

The above will cut the Federal Budget by about 60%, and by more as the debt is paid off and Social Security is phased out. In about 60 years, the burden of federal expenditures will be about 20% of what it is now.

The alternative is universal poverty and despotism.