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Since independent candidate Ross Perot participated in 1992, the exercise has been pre-scripted theater without disturbing questions, shielding major party candidates from unwanted criticism, and excluding independent ones, like Ralph Nader, from participating. Before he died, Walter Cronkite called the CPD an "unconscionable fraud."
(20) Recession Causes States to Cut Welfare
Faced with huge budget shortfalls and little help from Washington, states have been forced to make major expenditure cuts, many affecting vital social services, including health care, education, and welfare.
Yet cutting Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) began prior to the present crisis so funds could be redirected to other priorities. Nationally, welfare rolls dropped over 40% between 2001 and June 2008, and in some states, like Georgia, up to 90%.
By allotting states fixed block grant amounts regardless of need and setting a five year limit for recipients, the 1997 law was deeply flawed as a way to free states and Washington from their obligation to provide welfare to the needy. As a result, America's social safety net is fast disappearing.
(22) Obama's Trilateral Commission Team
In 1973, David Rockefeller founded the Trilateral Commission (TC) to counter a threat of too much democracy. Jimmy Carter was a charter member. Current and past ones include nearly all presidential candidates of both parties; leading senators and congressmen; key members of the media; top intelligence officials; key government agency ones from Treasury, Defense, State, Commerce, and the Judiciary; numerous top business executives, and others from academia, labor, and various NGOs.
Eleven TC members are in the Obama administration, including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, UN Ambassador Susan Rice, National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones, National Intelligence Director Adm. Dennis Blair, Paul Volker, and five top State Department officials, including Richard Holbrooke and Dennis Ross.
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