The John Arnolds, Scott Walkers and Chris Christies are the lowest form of life on the planet - more dangerous than viruses. They are Cancer.

I noticed a very large group of "pension-reformers" that the excerpt neglected to mention (though they be discussed in the body of the article) ... the cohort of private sector workers that see public workers as getting a "better deal" than that they have been given; so rather than fight for that which will benefit them (a fight that public workers would likely join), they have taken to arguing to bring everyone down into the mud with them.

it's so sad to hear/see non-union/anti-union workers lamenting the "better deal" union workers get. It's as if they have no understanding of cause and effect or history.

longest time were underpaid, and over worked with constant fears of losing jobs through contracting out to the private sector. Highly educated and skilled minorities and women were refused employment in the private sector because of nepotism, sexism, and racism. Public sector jobs were lower-paying but at least offered the security of a fair and safe retirement with health benefits. And the Federal government became the biggest equal opportunity employer to attract this talent to the workforce. And this move alone was one of the contributing factors to raising the standard of living among huge segments of our population. Graduating seniors from major ivy league colleges would laugh at going to work for the government when they could make three times as much out side the public sector. Remember, the "public sector" included Federal, state employees including teachers. Often the lowest paid among graduate-degree holders. Instead of high paying jobs, public sector employees at least had the benefit of a safe retirement after 25-35 years of service. It wasn't until the retirement funds of private sector workers became subject to the fraud and greed of Wall Street and the banksters that their attention turned to scorn for the public sector worker. And now many of those who would have taken jobs in the private sector are gobbling up the public sector jobs from those who previously would have gone to work in the public sector for lower pay but better security. Either through direct hire or contracts, the former privileged class is most willing to take on those public sector jobs that they shunned before. For some, unions are even becoming attractive but most feel that their privileged class will protect them and unions and paying union dues is not necessary. Public sector think: teachers, firemen, police, trash, post office, state and Federal workers. Most never earned six figure salaries and never will. But now they are being trashed because they have or had better job security. The power brokers sure know how to keep the people divided.

If you have become really addicted to the game, you feel you HAVE TO figure out a way to get that pile into your pile. The most desperate money addicts not only want to pay no taxes, they begrudge every expenditure. They hate leaving a single penny as a tip because they could have reinvested that penny and made another fraction of a penny.

But what is the ultimate goal of this game? What does it mean to win? Does every other human on Earth have to starve to death for you to win? Money addicts have lost sight of money as a means to other ends. They make it the end in and of itself. And they feel compelled to try to set a new personal high score.

is trying to get every pile of money. Social Security, Pension funds, the Federal Reserve (guaranteed bail outs at tax payers expense), and destroy EVERY Union, because the dues are used to help elect People that will help the little guys.

The billionaires want to be the ONLY players in the game.

They want it ALL......which is also known as FASCISM.

well, to be honest, all his interviews w/ Taibbi are stellar. but i am staying topical. it's nice to hear people talk about it in plain speak so the real magnitude can be grasped easier.

a rare breed.

Thanks, xchrom!