What We Missed

how about one of the biggest stories never told
NAIS---(national animal identification system) is a business plan designed to benefit corporate agriculture and factory farming so they can sell their product on the global level but will put those who own livestock on a private basis, (such as the Amish or the pot belly pet pig owner) including whoever raised or owned that animal to be under more govt surveillance than illegals, drug dealers or child molesters.

All those who own even one cow, pig, horse, chicken or other farm animal will be required to register their premises, microchip (RFID) each and every last critter, no matter if it is a pet or potential food. Then they must, under threat of huge fines, tell the govt about all birth, death and off-property movement reports (within 24 hours) on every last critter on the place.

If animal disease is even suspected in an area, the USDA can go in and kill the animals. The claimed purpose of NAIS is to provide 48 hour traceback should a disease be suspected. Animals within a 6 mile radius could be killed, though most diseases are preventable, can be vaccinated against or the animal recovers.

The only problem with this program is that e-coli happens after the cow is slaughtered, which is when NAIS tracking stops. The beef is most vulnerable to being tainted in those processing plants.

And the fact the majority of beef is raised by corporate agriculture, who will not be required to tag and track each animal because they raise them in lots, they get only ONE number per groups of animals. Any one of those critters in that group could be diseased and who would know. But as long as there are appearances of something being done, the city dwellers will eat in peace, while granny and her few egg hens will be tracked closer than the illegals everybody is making such a fuss about and that will make our beef supply oh so safe. See nonais dot org for more info on the true impact NAIS will have on all of us who eat!

It's too bad that the "news" outlets are no longer journalists but commentators. Who decided that these were the top 10? And why are there comments in them? Just present the news and let the readers have their own opinions. I agree with 73winchester and Nightster. I am a member of the FED UPs - fed up with Congress, fed up with the media, fed up with overpaid CEOs, fed up, fed up, fed up.

America's biggest enemy - Rudy G., is always on tv trying to convince the American public of what to do and the need to unite but when it comes to our next presidient the Great Barack Hussein Obama - he sheds hatred and doubt. So we are supposed to take his word when he says that the country should back Bush thru his fiascos but we should investigate Obama when there's nothing and everybody else including the majority of Washington says he checks out?? No, HE IS BLACK and there will always be someone wanting to interigate him - thats basic.

Money is power and our current economy proves it - not saying we didn't know that before. But anwere a question - all the money that was lost in 2009 where did it go? No!!! We did not just have a loss in value, the money went somewhere - SOME PEOPLE (very quiet probably simpathetic individuals) BECAME VERY WEALTHY, WHILE OTHERS SUFFERED. Who can do anything about it - nobody. The federal government is too strong and big business is their partner. How do you think credit cards make so much money because the banks are allowed to charge for almost anything without recourse. Most banks and credit card companies facilitate a situation that promotes their clients to incur fees. Read that last sentance again. Huh. Don't get me wrong I love America, but we are no longer the democracy that made us great,- it's just important to those in control to keep the citizens thinking it still is. Ketchup mustard - without drastic changes we will see very dramatic global reorganization and probably new emerging governments - go report that and see how many patriots come out the wood works ready to crucify the truth!

You hit it right on yhe nuts Dumplin!

Most under-reported news is the war on the middle class of this country. Ship the high paying manufacturing jobs to China and India, let the Mexicans take the paying jobs at slave labor rates, and bring in the Indians for the high paying software engineering jobs. And then raise gas to $4 a gallon, and interest rates on credit cards magically go to 29.99%. No wonder consumer confinence is at an all time low, along with the economic collapse of the US economy. Our politicians have sold out the middle class, and we've gone from a government by the poeple and FOR the people, to by the Eastern elite for the corporate rich. Obama isn't going to fix this with more spending.

Most under-reported is lack of investigative journalism in United States. There is a continous total lack of investigative reporting on conduct of government policies. Instead of education about the issues and conducting investigations,, the reports included money spent on Sarah Palin dresses and what Obama is doing etc.

The most underreported and unsung hero this year is Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General of NY. He has forced the 3 rating agencies to enter into consent agreements that would prohibit the credit reporting agencies from accepting commissions from issuers of mortgage backed securities while at the same time opining on the creditworthiness of those same securities. This was one of the prime reasons that we as a country have arrived at this point, and the most underreported story from an economic standpoint of the century. The heads of these credit reporting agencies should all be indicted, but they won't be; the world economy would cease to exist if these agencies were held accountable as was Enron and Arthur Anderson.

Also missed- for more than 20 years- are the almost 2.5 million dead in the southern provinces of Sudan. Darfur is in the west of Sudan, but relatively calm compared to what has happened in the south. The silence is pretty scary. But, the difference is probably because it is Muslims killing Christians in the South, rather than Muslims killing Muslims in Darfur. Somehow the former is OK, when it comes to the mainstream media. Nigeria has been ignored for the same reason for more than a decade. All of the Sahel has been under attack from Islamic peoples and governments "cleansing" the region of millions of Christians, but this has been utterly ignored by our media.

lack of coverage and anti-war protests lengthen war

The Vietnam War was a prime example on how anti-war protests and even more slanted media coverage not only lengthen a war but increase causualty rates by giving hope to the enemy. The Vietnam War lasted 4-5 years longer and cost an additional 16,000 US lives due to the slanted anti-war coverage. The General in charge of the North Vietnamese Army wrote in the 1980's that they were ready to ask for a truce due to the tremendous losses during the 1968 Tet Offensive. But when he and others saw the anti-war demonstrations and slanted media coverate, he and his advisors decided to continue knowing the American people had no resolve or patience and would eventually force the military to give up. Four more years of war resulted and 16,000 additional deaths. The men serving in Vietnam won a tremendous victory in actual combat, the media and anti-war demonstrators threw it out the window.

This thing about mental health riding in on the coat tails of the "bailout" sure is funny, since most companies (employers and the insurance companies) already provide mental helath coverage in the basic plan. What I don't understand is this bailout. There are rumors flying that everyone over the age of 18 could have recieved $200 to $400 thousand. If this be the case why not create the governmental job to pay everyone's mortgage, car notes, and card cards off. Then write a letter to all these people and ask for three estimates on all their needed home repairs. This would give jobs back to the construction companies. The remain money (at the decision of the citizen) either must be invested in the stock or it is given to someone that needed more to accomplish the same goals. If this was done then banks and the big three auto companies would have their money. Plus think of how many people would have more "mad money" for spending. Just a thought.
Christi
Tacoma,WA

Dr. Stephen Jones has discovered thermite in WORLD TRADE CENTER DUST... 911 was a False Flag Operation and an INSIDE JOB. THis is the biggest story of the year ignorned by the Neocons and mainstream media! World Trade Bldg. 7 wasn't hit by a plane and collapsed in its own footprint. This was reported by the BBC and others a full 20 minutes before it actually collapsed. Pre-scripting by the media? Wake up America you've been hijacked!

"...the lack of coverage (and antiwar protests) surrounding Afghanistan could lead to a longer war and continued deployment."

How can it be that media coverage and antiwar protests are assumed the reason wars are shorter? War doesn't end because the media covers it!!! If it does, then it must be the media that starts them. Yellow Journalism maybe..? Either way US involvement and success in WWII was shorter this war on terrorism(and more civilians were killed then, just look up the napalm bombing of japan), and WWII had a lot less media coverage of the events. Less media coverage may indeed be the key to military success. Besides, media coverage in this century is pressing withdrawl of troops, rather than a military victory. I think for the safety of everyone military victory is key, not media coverage and protests. And no, im not a war fanitic...but I do see war as a necessary evil when reasoning and diplomacy ceases to exist.

After new immigration legislation failed to pass in 2007, the Bush Administration focused on enforcing existing immigration laws. Many believe the Administration's strategy was to demonstrate governmental resolve to implement what would have been the enforcement component of eventual legislation -- a resolve that had not been demonstrated following the last major amnesty legislation in 1986. According to most analysis, the Administration's recent enforcement efforts have reduced illegal immigration -- discouraging new illegal crossings and causing some undocumented immigrants already here to return home -- with the decline beginning prior to the current economic downturn. During the recent presidential campaign, the question that begged to be asked was whether the candidates would continue the enforcement policy irrespective of Congressional action on amnesty legislation. It's a straightforward, yes-or-no question that would have revealed much about the direction of immigration policy under the new administration. Unfortunately, no one in the media asked the question.

After new immigration legislation failed to pass in 2007, the Bush Administration focused on enforcing existing immigration laws. Many believe the Administration's strategy was to demonstrate governmental resolve to implement what would have been the enforcement component of eventual legislation -- a resolve that had not been demonstrated following the last major amnesty legislation in 1986. According to most analysis, the Administration's recent enforcement efforts have reduced illegal immigration -- discouraging new illegal crossings and causing some undocumented immigrants already here to return home -- with the decline beginning prior to the current economic downturn. During the recent presidential campaign, the question that begged to be asked was whether the candidates would continue the enforcement policy irrespective of Congressional action on amnesty legislation. It's a straightforward, yes-or-no question that would have revealed much about the direction of immigration policy under the new administration. Unfortunately, no one in the media asked the question.

T

Wow, the crisis in Darfur was even overlooked by this list. How sad.

Hmmm, did I read that right? Lack of media coverage could lead to a longer war in Afghanistan? You think maybe the author of this piece has a slightly elevated opinion of the role of media? Not only does the media report but it also CAUSES events? That is almost existential. Yes, the media needs to cover Afghanistan more- to discuss the growing insurgency, non-completion of initial (2001) goals, growing lawlessness, and inability of the Afghanis to create sustainable government across the country. But maybe the media should not think they caused all of that themselves.