This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
And So, My Fellow Americans: Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You ………
And So, My Fellow Americans: Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You ………
For a few months now, I've been sensing a shifting vibration in the comment section of ZH and it’s something I wanted to talk about. There’s a growing undercurrent of inevitable defeat and resignation in the air and if nothing else, we need to be aware of and acknowledge it. I suspect some of it has to do with the very nature of Zero Hedge, which has a single minded focus; to expose the ugly underbelly of the beast and its various assorted minions, lackeys, stooges and front men. So the range of comments that are "on topic" will obviously be narrower (and a bit more negative) than a standard financial news blog or a general interest news site. This is to be expected. Tyler, Marla and the rest of the crew set the beat and we dance to the tune.
In addition, the invited contributors are guests of Zero Hedge and pretty much stay within the Zero Hedge theme, though poor Leo gets beat up for being realistic (some would say optimistic) in his assessment that the rocket fueled market rise isn’t over. I can't speak for the others but my sense of social grace demands that I not burden or embarrass my host by singing off key. After Tyler invited me to contribute and Marla showed me the house, my primary question was "What were the house rules"? Marla said that other than the obvious, meaning no loud parties, keep my feet of the coffee table and use a coaster under my glass, there really were no rules. The ultimate judge of whether an article is off base would be the reception it receives on ZH. She wouldn't need to run me out of town if I bombed or went off the reservation because the ZH community would do it for her. Fair enough. But this is a financial blog and I’ve often wondered where the line is between inbounds and out.
With that in mind and with sufficient rope in hand to hang myself, I’d like to start a new dialogue. There seems to be a growing survivor’s vibe on ZH that has ballooned as the stock market rise has continued in defiance of all known laws of gravity. There’s quite a bit of anticipation that the bubble’s going to blow soon and it's going to be ugly when it does. And while everyone doesn’t subscribe to this perspective, in my view we seem to be developing a herd mentality that is narrowing our focus and tolerance for contrary views. Considering this is a contrary blog, we’re becoming somewhat intolerant of contrary views. In my humble opinion these are warning signs, and this was the reason I decided to post my "How To Start A Populist Movement In Under Three Minutes" article. My intent was to break up the music mix and spin some new tunes. And as always, I wanted to spark discussion and debate.
The response was great, with many jumping in and providing intelligent and thoughtful feedback, proving once again that the real value and hidden treasure of ZH is in the comments section. In fact, there appears to be a movement growing already, with many discussing the idea of a one page synopsis of the top issues we're facing that can be quickly distributed to friends and community. This was an excellent example of proactive thinking rather than reactive, of positive instead of negative; a sign of healthy community discourse. In fact, there was an wonderful comment posted by "Bob" that I would like to (in part) repost because it deserves closer attention. He (assuming Bob is a he) brings up a valid point and something I was hoping to see. Bob said....
"I'm pleased to see this question addressed. My perception of the ZH commenter community's evolution from the beginning to now is that the herd here has developed ever more sophisticated rationales, analyses, arguments and proofs, excuses, etc., for fatalistic surrender to impotence in the face of the criminal mass clusterfuck by the banksters and their minions. This strikes me lately as the perfect soil for a non-movement . . . a potential crop that just never germinated. If I were a NSA psy-ops guy, I can see that clever passivity would be a great thing to cultivate as cool enlightenment. I would indeed like to see something different here, however."
Further down, in response to some back and forth commenting, Bob makes another valid point. He says……
“I do understand the math, B9K9, but I don't understand sitting back. That posture may be good for the individual, but the larger community (it seems to me) deserves more from the people who are most knowledgeable--meaning much of the ZH readership--than for us to circle our wagons and simply await the fireworks together. I understand the odds of it making any difference, but it strikes me as throwing in the towel. Do I have an active alternative to offer? Not in cyberspace, I'm afraid.”
The focus of my articles and comments, particularly since I was invited to be a contributor, has been to see the bigger picture, to look within the mind as well as over the hill, to see beyond the single minded perspective of “the one” and gain the perspective of the many. If we were to dogmatically follow a path of strict self interest in our thinking and actions, the community as a whole, whether in cyberspace or in earth space, would rapidly disintegrate into a narcissistic naval gazing self centered hell hole.
In my view, Bob quite eloquently challenged us to see not only that we need to move beyond the self, the ego, but that we must do so, that it is our obligation as members of this community to reach out to others and return far more than we consume. He’s talking about the selfless impulse of community service in whatever form it may take. Bob is challenging us to put our money where our mouth is and do something rather than just talk about it. His comments certainly hit home with me. While my message has been consistent, I’ve been timid and hesitant, reluctant to push any harder than to drop ideas and concepts here and there and see what germinates. As I said earlier, some of that has to do with my position as a guest. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do more.
So are we just sitting around, waiting for Armageddon to arrive to prove us correct in our assessment? Are we endlessly discussing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin while congratulating each other on how refined our analysis is? I don't mean to be harsh or critical. ZH is by far the best blog I've ever seen, with an active community of dedicated contributors and posters of obvious high intelligence, open mindedness and tolerance for contrary views and opinions. The community is the icing on the cake Tyler, Marla and company serve up piping hot on a daily basis. Hands down, we have a great community.
But where are we going and what will our contribution be to the community outside of ZH if we’re correct and the world is headed for a very painful awakening? What if it doesn’t? We talk all the time about the sleepwalking masses. I published two articles titled "End of Empire" which obviously speaks to where I think things are headed, though I expect the unwinding to be agonizingly slow as the vampire powers extract every last ounce of blood from the body, eventually killing it’s energy source. But what am I doing about it? How am I preparing myself and my community for what I see coming? If you think this thing through, if the veins and arteries of this nation become clogged, not only will the nation as a whole suffer greatly but the communities where we live will be impacted as well.
I found myself thinking the other day that my America, the one I grew up with and took for granted, was missing in action, AWOL, gone and seemingly never to return. And I wondered what had happened. Why wasn’t someone doing something about this? Where were the responsible people? Where did “we” go wrong? How could we have let these bastards steal that which is most important to each and everyone one of us, our identity, our national soul, our presence. It feels like someone snuck in during the night and took the very essence of America. Then I realized that this essence isn’t static or stationary, that it can’t be formed into a box or tin can which is then placed on a shelf for easy retrieval when needed. It’s much more than that.
My body is not the same “body” I possessed a month ago. Most of my cells have been replaced or repaired and technically I’m not the same person I was. But obviously I am the same. This seamless transition occurs because my essence (some would say my soul) is passed from one cell to the next, with both old and new cells acting in concert to maintain and possibly improve the whole, the entity of which each cell is a part of. The continuity provided by my consciousness ensures that my essence isn’t lost as my component parts are repaired and replaced.
Thinking this through to its logical conclusion, a deep sadness fell over me as I recognized that at some point I had failed to pass on America’s essence to the next person, the next citizen, that I was in fact AWOL, not America. America is exactly what you would expect her to be after decades of neglect and disinterest, of constant use without renewal. I looked into the belly of the beast and that beast was me. If I had been upholding my end of the bargain, these bastards would not have been able to do as much damage as they’ve done. I’m not shouldering all of the blame, only my fair share of this mess. I’m not asking us to walk a self destructive path of endless guilt and despair, only that we do an honest self assessment of our own responsibilities and (in) action and then move the ball forward.
America isn’t a land mass located in the Northern Hemisphere between the Pacific and Atlantic. America isn’t 350 million people who live within its boundaries nor is it a government drifting dangerously close to a rocky shoal in uncharted waters. America is none of these things. America is an idea, a concept, a state of mind, the cumulative product of the collective consciousness of not only its inhabitants, but of the 6.6 billion humans who live outside its borders. Which means America can renew and rebuild as quickly as we wish, for the reality of this renewal can materialize as quickly as our imagination can create it. We can change everything in an instant if that is our wish.
For example, I can instantly decide I no longer wish to be angry with my son for some silliness he may be guilty of. It’s me, and me only, who can decide at this very moment that I would rather love and hold him tight than spend another minute angry about something of no consequence. This conscious decision, not anything my son did or didn’t do, is the spark that creates the change that then effortlessly materializes. No one “makes” me angry, sad, glad or frustrated. It’s always my choice, my decision, what my reaction or perspective will be, regardless of outside influences. I decide what state of mind I possess and what will be presented to the world from one moment to the next. To blame anything or anyone else for my state of mind is nothing more than blame shifting and the ultimate in self deception. The same applies to all of us; to that state of mind we call America. This is our center, our energy source, where our true power originates. It can never be taken from us, only given away because we’re either ignorant that we posses it or tricked into believing it doesn’t exist at all.
The American renewal could begin in an instant if only we make the conscious decision. When done, it would quickly be followed by the fleeing sorcerers and magicians. It’s so deceptively simple that it remains incomprehensible. The powers-that-be have tricked us to believe that only they possess the power to change what we see. So while fully armed but convinced we are defeated, we hand over our power and turn back to our bleating. The powers may appear to be supremely arrogant, but they’re also aware that the time bomb is ticking. They’re more frightened of us than we are of them and the evidence of this is in their preparations for the end.
While there are always a thousand and one reasons not to do something and sometimes just one or two in favor, the consensus roadblock to change is awareness and self-actualization, brought about through organization. Here is a brief excerpt from the book “Here Comes Everybody: The Power Of Organizing Without Organizations” by Clay Shirky.
“For most of modern life, our strong talents and desires for group effort have been filtered through relatively rigid institutional structures because of the complexity of managing groups. We haven’t had all the groups we’ve wanted, we’ve simply had the groups we could afford. The old limits of what unmanaged and unpaid groups can do are no longer in operation. The difficulties that keep self assembled groups from working together are shrinking, meaning that the number and kinds of things groups can get done without financial motivation or managerial oversight are growing. The current change in one sentence is this. Most of the barriers to group action have collapsed and without these barriers we are free to explore new ways of gathering together and getting things done.”
For thousands of years, each successive generation of the powerful have perfected the techniques and methods used to distract, deflect or destroy populist movements that have a dynamic leader. And the belief is that movements cannot exist without a leader. The failed populist movements of the past 50 years of American history are perfect examples of this. The labor, anti-war and minority movements of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were subverted from within or by execution. The same can be said with the political assassinations by the state of JFK, RFK and MLK, to name just a few. To think that such overwhelming forces could be subverted by a leader of a nascent movement is pure folly. You do not attempt to meet head on any forces that are overwhelming. But, what keeps the powerful up at night is precisely the opposite, a leaderless movement that can’t be appeased, divided or decapitated. And since the mechanisms of communication for leaderless organizations are now a central part of the economies of the world, the tools we can use to create this movement can’t be taken from us without crippling the powerful as well. Power to the people now has a new and more powerful context in which to germinate and bloom.
A very famous line from John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address of January 20, 1061 has been rattling around in my head for weeks. Kennedy was attempting to tap into the soul and creative spirit of America with his signature speech, and he continued this theme during his tragically short presidency. JFK was not only trying to wake a sleeping giant, he was doing something far more dangerous to the entrenched powers-that-be. He was attempting to transfer power back to Americans by inspiring Americans. He was showing us that we can, that we should, that we are in fact obligated and responsible as citizens of this nation to give more than we receive. Most importantly, he was telling us with actions and words that by doing so; we grow stronger both individually and collectively. This is a concept we take for granted when dealing with our families, but we’ve forgotten it’s also our responsibility and reward as citizens of this nation and our community. We complain that we’re called consumers rather than citizens. Do we deserve to consider ourselves citizens? Do we honor the concept of citizenship with little more than our rhetoric?
So with apologies to Tyler and Marla if I'm breaking the house rules and in the spirit of the season of spring renewal, I’d like to ask the ZH community what we think each of us might do to move the ball forward. Short of moving into an underground bunker with a stash of dehydrated food and emergency supplies of Playboy magazine (or Playgirl for our female contingent) if or when the breakdown comes, we'll still be living in our community and thus we'll need to make do with what's in place at that time. What can we do on a local, regional or national level that will improve our lot in life as a community and as a nation, now or later? How can we organize without leaders? As far as I’m concerned, anything goes and no comment should be shouted down as silly because quite frankly, we really have no idea how this will play out.
As inspiration, below please find Kennedy's inaugural speech in its entirety. Ready.....Set......Go!
Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge—and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom—and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.
So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."
And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
- advertisements -
CD:
I opened a factory this year. Yes, in this economy. I did not create that factory to fuel the government with taxes and augment the GDP.
I did it to practice the act of creation.
I did it to prove that my choices can change the world.
I did it to create the America I want: one that has a domestic light industrial manufacturing base.
I did it because I am not just making industrial products in this factory:
* I am laying the foundation for a new middle class.
* I am building a workforce of empowered person.
* I am establishing a new paradigm of leadership, based on personal accountability and the power of every person to choose for themselves.
The fatalistic view you are observing here on ZH says that I should take my capital, bury it in precious metals and guns and tobacco, and wait. I believe that is self-muting. I have my hedge against failure in place: I have my guns and gold. Everything that is not in that hedge is directed towards changing the world locally, and making this place one that is self-sufficient.
Revolution without strength at its core results only in a populace angry that THEIR MASTERS HAVE FAILED. They will seek new masters. Maybe you and me, because we have gold and guns. But there's the rub: I don't want to be the new master.
If I can create self-sufficiency in strength here, I will only have to await the awakening of each person to the knowledge that they DO NOT NEED a master. Then the departure will be gentle, the revolution will be peaceful, and I'll sleep easy.
Is this what you are referring to?
I don't post here much because I'm busier out in the world... but I've been reading here since the early Blogger days. I thank you and Tyler and the other contributors for bringing in the data that helps me chart my productive course. And, when I get a little too depressed reading the content, I just get back out there and make something happen. For me, action is the antidote to depression.
"If I can create self-sufficiency in strength here, I will only have to await the awakening of each person to the knowledge that they DO NOT NEED a master. Then the departure will be gentle, the revolution will be peaceful, and I'll sleep easy.
Is this what you are referring to?"
Yes, that's what I'm saying, that the first change that needs to be made is within and once that's done, other problems will no longer be there or will be solved immediately because priorities or needs will have changed.
My community moves between hate and love for me because I constantly tell them they can empower themselves. So they tell me they want me to lead. I say no, that they don't need a leader if they are truly empowered and I most certainly don't wish to lead anyone. If each person became their own leader, responsible for themselves and those immediately around them, their problems would disappear.
We go round and round. They don't want to be empowered, they want to avoid responsibility. They want someone else to tell them what to do so they aren't responsible for doing what they need to do. Quite infantile. I keep trying.
Thank you for getting me.
Which is why we need to understand ourselves, our parts and how we fit . There is more to us than meets the eye. The last world yet to be fully explored is the inner self. Most folk would rather deny that side, after all the outside material world is so inviting.
America will collapse.
The only question while this is happening: Is Obama going to take direct aim at the owners of farms, cattle, guns, gold/silver, and/or food stockpiles? Those people are overwhelmingly conservative Christians, and would be the new ruling class of America and inclined to imprison him.
Zerohedge will not be the source of populist power, before/during/after crash, it isn't a Christian site, it has no internal unity or goals, its "leaders" hide behind screen names and some even have plans to leave the country.
The best case scenario for America is a peaceful transition to rule by worldnetdaily, not zerohedge.
Any premise which begins with a "Us vs Them" mentality is doomed before it starts.
And the universal law of Cause and Effect, also called - You reap what You sow, cannot be avoided. Many sages have advised, "What we think, we become".
Be careful with your thoughts
Could you explain what you mean by the "Us vs Them" premise? Please be specific.
I've written two articles about raising our consciousness and I talk about it here again. I say the problem is us, that we aren't taking care of ourselves and our country. I thought I was clear when I said we allowed this to happen and we need to change ourselves before anything else can change. I said that once we make the decision to change our own mind set, that others changes will come effortlessly.
I hope you were able to read the entire thing.
Heartfelt post. Heartfelt sentiments are those that transform into change-in-action.
The internet is good for sharing ideas, inspiration, but change is going to happen locally. Walk out your front door and get this change started.
....Ask not what your country can do for you, but what that appendage is doing in your derriere!
CD, I know where you are coming from. Unfortunately, I have come to believe that TPTB own and run everything, and will crush you if you stand up. Poitics, finance, military, all of it. We all have a family or something left to lose, and we can't afford to rise up while we have something to lose. But what I can do is slowly drop out and disengage;
Eat less, drink less, drive less, consume less
stop using credit cards, use cash
barter when possible
move your money to small local banks and credit unions, as long as their balance sheet is sound
Make friends with your neighbors and like minded people around you. Talk about the issues.
support local farmers if you want local farms
realize that democrat vs republican, liberal vs conservative is all political theater.
Wonderful writing CD!
I particularly liked the reminder that the essence of America is not a question of geography.
CD, I do not believe the community is in need of a rejuvenation, just look at the replies; all of them write genuinely and from the heart. You could not pay for this, in fact this cannot be bought! The anger and nihilism, they are rapidly being overcome by the growth of the individuals within. I believe all of us are well on our way towards health.
In my case the betrayals and lies perpetrated in my name no longer bother me. I have this community to thank for it.
As a community I believe we are well through worst, the fever has passed and we are getting back on our feet. I like the way we are, who we are and how we reason. The irony that once hurt, disturbed and angered us have now been appropriated by the group. It is now a source of humour: "Futures are up".
We write to ourselves and to those with the fortitude to listen. This place documents the financial atrocities that one day will be marked to market. That day will be the day vindication but until then ZH is my home. My "salvation" lies in reading, writing, arguing and giggling on this site. Change to this community will arrive by itself oddly enough because the people on this site are simply to intelligent and above all genuine to become trapped. We are intolerant towards what is shallow and stale.
None here is a comformist, of that I am sure. It is shallow to presume that just because a conclusion is shared by more than one party that only one path was taken. We describe problems we do not solve them and therein lies our virtue. We carry the mirror of truth. This is how we help others.
To that effect I have a warning. The community has acknowledge the titanic forces at play in, or shall I write "below" the markets. I too believe a tremendous clash is coming down the corridor of time when Wall street, Main street and the government have to collide. Prudence dictate that when titans and gods fight clever mortals step out of the way because no matter who wins we will lose. The French revolution ended with the decapitation of the decapitator himself and though ZH will be singing along with the revolutionaries we may be too affiliated with the previous administration to be allowed to live in the new world.
If memory serves, MENSA was supposed to create a better world, today the members meet to play scrabble. There is a wisdom to that choice.
Furthermore, when was it our obligation to save others? How much energy should we allocate? Yes I said that, and I meant it. I cringe at the injustice between Wall street and Main street. Much of the energy for this feeling comes from the presumption that one part is virtuous and the other evil. Now, one of them IS evil but the other is by no means virtuous. The ignorance of Main street and the financial sloth of the average American is itself so cataclysmic one cannot construe it as being innocent.
We see market complacency for what it is. We have no problem arguing that that "harmony" is an indication of horrific stress. We acknowledge, we see, and many of us here feel the titanic forces beneath the gentle rise of the S&P however, we believe we can cheat destiny or that we can help other achieve theirs. This is folly, destiny is at work and we need to respect its labour. We help ourselves and those who visit by remaining true and honest.
agreed with chindit.
"I too believe a tremendous clash is coming down the corridor of time when Wall street, Main street and the government have to collide."
maybe this is already happening...in virtual space?
"CD, I do not believe the community is in need of a rejuvenation...."
Neither do I. But the vibe was changing and people who wanted to discuss this were being shouted down to some extent. A community that doesn't talk to itself, that doesn't talk about everything no matter how uncomfortable, is a community who will begin to lie to itself. Consider me the person with the stick and ZH as the bee's nest.
While I take a moment to consider you with a stick I am sure that you are considering this thread and what it reflects with Dd providing an excellent example.
Very nice.
I support the Obama administration and supported the health care bill. I don't say that here because I have a hard enough time having to defend myself from the hateful and in some cases racist Fox-parrots where I work. Having to endure a commenting barage here would be too disheartening.
What did he promise you to make you believe? How has he lived up to his promise? Who will you believe next time round? What will be their siren song?
No comment barrage. I'll treat your post with respect. With all due respect, however, think about the two main issues on which Obama ran his campaign: war and the economy. Ignore his rhetoric and look at his policies. Are we out of Iraq? No. Has there been fundamental change in the economy or even the attempt at it? No. Extend and Pretend. The definition of insanity always ends in the same results, and never has that been more true than with Obama. His administration has continued fundamentally along the same path as Bush's with different window dressing. Ask yourself where we would be if Bush had stayed in office and see if it sounds much different than where we are today. I don't find that it seems different to me.
so by stating your case you prove that you are a glutton for punishment? I was all for Obama. Then he hired Summers and other crooks. So far he has proven himself not to be a leader, but a follower.
If you still support this administration then you really need to remove blinders. I am not being hateful, its just true.
CD is correct,time to roll up the sleeve's and get something,ANYTHING done,you do not need anyone's permission.You never did
CD,
I must pose to you, and the ZH community, some challenges/questions. I pose these, not because I disagree with your observations, but because I agree with them wholeheartedly.
But first an observation. I constantly hear the rhetoric from politicians and 'regulators' that we cannot stand idly by -- we must act. With action, they feign comprehension. And yet, the obstacles that must be overcome have not even been clearly defined, nor their origins understood. This leads me to my question/comment; In order for us to understand what actions we must undertake, collectively or individually, we must (at the very least) identify the goals and obstacles as the first, and primary step, in taking action.
To get the ball rolling, I'll offer an a major obstacle that exists, and encourage the ZH community consider possible solutions. It was mentioned, possibly by more than one post, that most people adopt politics in the same way they adopt religion. That is to say, sans logical analysis and sans a mindset that would be limber enough to accept the potential falsehoods of preconceived notions. Often times their conclusions come before any analysis -- and any analysis that we may provide is, as you mentioned in an earlier article, a threat to the ego, which results in stubborness and anger to manifest themselves. I have been guilty of this many times, and must continually, and actively, catch myself from giving in to that reflex -- a reflex designed to comfort, not enlighten.
Another obstacle I encounter when discussing politics or economics, I often find myself spending hours defining terms, for if the terms of discussion are not agreed upon, then no sane conclusion can ever be reached. For instance, many use the words capitalism to describe America over the past 20 years -- certainly most ZH'ers would disagree, and so I find that expend 99% of my energy simply going to the basics and establishing a common denominator for a solid foundation on which a discussion can continue.
"if all men were angels no government would be necessary"--James Madison
Without a conception of human nature and the factors that influence it there can be no rational basis for politics. I believe that all of us are capable of the most noble and most heinous of actions--Buddha to Pol Pot in one amazing spiritual animal. This is one reason I hold that the Founding Fathers basically got it right (see my prior response to CD); their understanding of human nature is up to snuff.
Overly simplified concepts of human nature, fuzzy thinking and self-interest are the major flaws in political discourse. I do not know any other course but to drive straight through the mire. Either enough people 'get' a sane message for whatever reason (just to make the noise stop, instinct, who knows) or they don't.
No guts no glory! Onward in all directions (old Sufi motto)!
Pol Pot was a buddhist monk by the way...
I lived in south-east Asia. There, most boys go through a period of spiritual training. You see them walking around in saffron robes all the time. It's a good idea. Doesn't mean they all grow up to be morally and spiritual pure.
"I lived in south-east Asia. There, most boys go through a period of spiritual training."
But at least they can't say they didn't know, just that they didn't care or believe. Today, in America, our children receive their training in front of the boob tube and are all set by 5 or 6, when they're introduced to the state training regime of propaganda and mindless projectile vomiting of mostly useless factoids and myth instead of real history.
BTW, for those who don't know, there is a world of difference between spiritual training and religious training. One involves looking within with inquisitive eyes, of learning about oneself and the world and the other involves denying oneself and learning blind obedience to the only "one" worthy of your adoration and dollars.
Makes for good conditioning for that time when you are told to shut up, eat your gruel and mind your master.
Your post was interesting until you started speaking admiringly of the Kennedys and Martin King; to me, these are some of the most evil people in American history. (...Even the PBS special about the Kennedys admitted that Joe Kennedy made his fortune by manipulating the stock market in the 1920's.)
You claim,
In fact, these movements succeeded beyond their wildest ambitions and they became the reason for America's final demise. Labor was really an early 20th century movement and it is most responsible for sending us down the path of socialism and big government. The "anti war" movement ended the draft, gave irresponsible and unknowledgeable 18 year olds the right to vote, created a permanent stigma on the military (which had previously been a highly respected part of society), and destroyed our ability to wage war effectively. But far and away the worst of these movements was the "minority" movement, which destroyed White America and replaced it with Mexicans and West Africans. Historically, the Mexicans are incapable of forming anything better than a second-world country; forget about "putting a man on the moon," or saving the world from Nazism or Communism -- these people can barely feed themselves. But they are infinitely better than the West Africans, who were never able to rise above the level of grass huts despite constant contact with the advanced civilizations of the Middle East and Europe. People in the United States have been brainwashed for decades into thinking that "we're all the same." We're not. West Africans can no more raise their average IQ than Englishmen or Chinamen can run as fast as Usain Bolt or jump like Michael Jordan. It's all a matter of genetics, and as the underlying genetics of the United States changes, so changes the country.
So in answer to your question, "What can we do...", the answer is nothing. Well, nothing short of changing the underlying genetics which can't be done under a pluralistic democracy. As for me, I'll be moving to Canada probably, or Australia, but I don't hold much hope for the long-term chances of the human race. If an alien "Marco Polo" were to visit earth 500 years from now, he might find a world teeming with human beings and not much other life, a uniform human population of Orientals or Melange (but not both) living under a dictatorial world government (perhaps even an islamic theocracy) similar to the way people live in North Korea today; the kind of final nightmare envisioned by Orwell or Huxley.
Hey man, you got some racisim on your face, its about to drip all over your white hood...
BTW, the notion that skin color or ethnicity differentiates people is absurd. Burn your skin off with acid and you would look the same as a Mexican or West African who suffered the same trauma. We're more or less all the same. The strong nuclear force that holds your atoms together does the same thing for everybody else on the planet, regardless of skin color. Get over yourself. Love, Live, and Let Live buddy!
The only proper response to this post is a viscious ad hominum attack.
i think ya got it right, jack?
Who is that in your avatar? It is interesting that your final nightmare scenarios were both based on populations of ignorant followers (as far as I remember, haven't read BNW in a long time). Canada (where i live), is not much different than the States, and Robbin Williams' recent comments about Australians aren't far from the mark.
What are the thoughts of the Praetorian Guard ?
When republics fail the internal military option becomes a viable alternative - unlike the contrived military coups of vassal states when the empire begins to fail the soldiers of the republic are the last hope.
Many of the functionaries within the pentagon maybe servants of the cartel but I cannot believe that all are traitors.
De Gaulle would not have survived for long without loyal soldiers and he made a valiant defence of his republic.
I am waiting for a counter event that will hurt the inner government but I guess it will take some more time before these men can identify the beast.
I'm pessimistic about the US and the West at this point. I like to look at it from a Roman history perspective. Right now I feel like we're transitioning from republic to empire, or perhaps we're actually much further along than that. It looks like we are less capable of maintaining our far flung military empire and will eventually cede to some sort of barbarian takeover (the Chinese?). We will soon find ourselves faced with punitive taxation and tax farming and our children will be indentured servants on some latifundia. After that we enter the dark ages. So all of this pro-active consciousness raising seems kind of beside the point.
Escapeclaws, you are so wrong. Conciousness raising (more love) is exactly whats needed. Being rather than having. Sharing rather than keeping.
We got a long way to go to catch up to our mechanical/industrial prowess.
ya know mere, call me a fool. i have to do what works for me on a waking up in the morning basis. i sing dance and smile. why because i can. fuck we can put on whatever face we want to, especially in this entitled white majority nation. i choose the energy that propels me best.
i try to share the love. and am still standing.
OH the Buddha on PBS wed. 7th.
I think you are in part mistaking temporary inaction for defeatism, CD. I don't deny there may be a sense of despair due to inability to change things quickly. But that's not the same as surrender. My study of history tells me human beings are not that easily defeated.
Many including myself started reading these blogs because of the economic crisis and concern about our financial future. As it dawns on us the market and the economy are thoroughly rigged by kleptocrat crooks, we have lost interest in its ups and downs. I totally agree with the first poster here (AR).
I like both the ideas proposed by Shell Game and merehuman. I think we can draw inspirations from the American Revolution or any other revolution. A discussion of what they were thinking in those difficult times will be illuminating on human nature. Those who want to do something right away can hand out flyers.
Human spirit is resilient. If most people are not paying attention, it's because they are still doing ok. There is one thing I'm probably in the minority opinion here. I don't see the need to tell people how to prepare for the incoming bigger crisis (in any case it doesn't work). If this crisis failed to rally enough people to demand real change, it means it's not severe enough. As humans we are deeply flawed. We need some suffering to atone for our past excesses. Extremely adverse conditions tend to bring out the best in us. I just don't see the loss of fortune nearly as serious as the loss of justice and freedom.
htp, well said. Fall=humility. So needed!
A few points.
It makes sense to do more than bitch and complain on a blog. I share my views with anyone that will listen. The cold hard fact of the matter is that people will not mobilize in force until the whole thing really falls apart. It is the human condition. No one does anything until it is a crisis. And at this point, we have so many crisis mounting just over the horizion, we cannot possibly tackle them all.
Which brings me to my next point.
It is all well and good to talk about America the concept and America the undying soul. But there is a America the reality to face out there as well. Sure, much of what ails us is has been brought on by ourselves by crooks and fuck-faced bankers. But there are much larger forces at work as well. We have reached peak everything on this planet. Even if we locked up all the white collar degenerates up in Pelican Bay and had a revolution in the national charater, where would that leave us?
Cheap fossil fuel is gone forever and this planet is about to get much more action-packed as the great human carrying capacity over-shoot unwinds. That is the real bubble.
6.6 bn and counting.
This planet, and the human race's future upon it, is a gigantic, steaming pile of dog-shit. Accept it and don't worry about it.
This is some of the best advice I have ever heard.
http://campfire.theoildrum.com/node/6213
congratulations cog. believe you will contribute meaningfully.
as to changing the world, i have always favored the credo "charity begins at home." educate your children, make sure your parents are attended in their old age, make sure your neighbor can eat when he loses his job, give to your local food bank, buy locally when you can and, most importantly, don't make yourself a burden to others.
"-and to remember that in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside." Good line.
CD Thanks for the post. Frank Owens is correct. Zero Hedge's greatest role is to spotlight the corruption that's rampant through the political and economic systems (which are really not separate systems). Bringing the corruption into the light will produce change. The more people come to know and understand the depth of the corruption to closer we will be to change.
When you are in the middle of change it is often impossible to see change for what it is. Rosa Parks did not know that her sitting down would bring the end of segregation. Nelson Mandela did not know during his years in prison that he would become the president of a post apartheid South Africa. Lec Walsea and Solidarity did not know that their early strikes would result in the the complete collapse of the Soviet Empire. George Washington at Valley Forge could not have imagined being the "president" of a united republic made up of the former colonies. Do not become discouraged. You have already started the process. Commit yourselves to carrying through to the end.
JT
Well said, JT. Wow!
Cognitive D,
Since it's Easter we should all take another look at Monty Python's movie, Life of Brian, and listen to the catchy tune closing the movie, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" - of which the opening lyrics are:
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle,
Don't grumble, give a whistle,
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
It's been said we are all wired to think present conditions will extend forever into the future - which we also all discover sooner or later to be bull shit even though we mostly all believed at the time.
In other words, this (negative pessimism) too shall pass.
"Always Look on the Bright Side.." (cont):
Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show,
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember the last laugh's on you.
A different take on what to do. I do not think our society adequately encourages its people to develop the innate talents of individuals. As a child I displayed extreme talent in music. I even studied music in college, with a undergraduate degree in music theory. As graduation pressed closer, it was difficult to see achieving 'financial' (something I had been convinced was desirable) success in the field of music. So I decided to go to law school, and eventually became involved in a renewable fuels company. I then witnessed my fellow employees become increasingly infected by greed, which was allowed to grow unfettered by 'paper' financial instruments. Finally, the error of our ways was realized when the financial implosion made further borrowing/renegotiating impossible. The party ended, with all of us unemployed.
Instead of trying to reinsert my self and family into the psychotic credit binge, we have downsized considerably. And perhaps most importantly, I am now doing what I love, which is composing. Although my bank account is smaller, my soul is finally alive, as it was when I was a child. And my creative output is much more forceful, no doubt a result of the life experiences achieved along the way. I will communicate my ideas through my art, as I was intended to do in the first place...
Thank you CD and others who are willing to further the realization of our common lunacy.
Who the hell would junk such a passionate comment? It is good that you found your soul, Chev. Do what you love, want what you have (I forgot the rest).....
A troll.
.
follow your bliss, from the lovely mouth of the great Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth
he is the elder that awoke this being. bless you mr. campbell.
picking nose is one of the joys of a drywaller.
Sorry C_D, but this feels too much like corporate
sensitivity/diversity training bullshit to me.....
+1000
the first thing is to cut through the crap
second is to help yourself
third is to help the guy next to you. who is trying to make sense of it all, and needs a hand up
the political, social and religious instituions are failing, we know that much
we can't build new institutions overnight, if we did the powers to be would simply occupy the building, (if the third party starts winning elections, Democrats and Republicans will try to join the third party)
the social bond is inherently strong, family and extended family.
the people in power betray this bond, when they choose one side against another.
the people whose lives are inseperable from their roles in the failing institutions will fail as well. no amount of money will protect you, when those institutions fail. it will be worse than the French Revolution, in terms of retribution.
get your house in order.
help your right thinking neighbors, and give the road to the rest.