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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.
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Exactly. Ain't nothin' the man hates more than when the sheeple start doin' it for themselves! Grow your own veggies, news media, and communities. Don't let 'the man' tell you how to live.
Remember to first look in the mirror.
The "Man" is operating to sustain the infrastructure (and to get a little profit for "his" friends, of course). Keep in mind that, while we're seeing a lot of corruption, we're seeing a lot of corruption. In the past this was all pretty well hidden. The rot is surfacing. Nothing to be proud of, but then again, we cannot confuse the fact that we're seeing rot with there being MORE being created. THE question is whether the rot has infiltrated our very souls...
There are likely plenty of well-intentioned people. Unfortunately they're operating on the pig: good solution, wrong problem.
Our next evolutionary steps MUST be that of establishing a true sustainable society. That should be the foundation upon which to build. All else is merely operating on a dead pig...
I like the "think big, act small" comment, Juan. If enough people do small things individually and locally while maintaining a "bigger picture" perspective, the small effects can create a much bigger one.
I am quite thankful to live in America, but hope we can get back to the idea that life is a gift and that we must work hard to succeed. I see too many people my age (30) who grew up with the expectation that being American means you are entitled to success. Most people arrived in our nation with the idea that they could create their own destiny and that their success would be correlated to the amount of work they put in. I don't see that around me.....work hard and I will echo the comment to "give w/o expectations".
Thank you for recognizing the core of my piece. Unfortunately when nearly all of us (including myself) are reading something the first time, our egos are front and center so we pick up on things that are familiar or hot buttons and completely ignore everything else.
This is why I have a rule. Read the first time to defuse the ego. Read the second time to engage the consciousness. Read the third time for the shear joy of the message.
"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."
Be careful with this type of thinking. As Jon Stewart pointed out on the Daily Show, the America of your youth probably seemed simpler and more pure because you were a child.
I agree that the nationalization of risk through the government assuming responsibility for private debt is a dangerous road. The country is not just one of "haves" and "have nots" but increasingly of "thinks" and "think nots", "does" and "does nots". The transfer of wealth from the former to the latter is simply unjust.
Regarding the healthcare bill, however, let us not forget that the bill is far more conservative than Nixon's proposal and closely mirrors Mitt Romney's in Massachusetts.
Let us also not forget that just two years ago, we had a President willing to unilaterally assert his unlimited authority to suspend the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. The current President is trying to walk us back from that far more dangerous precipice.
It would be very helpful if we start calling it by its true name.
REVOLUTION.
Is that word so unthinkable that we dance around what must be said. What we must accomplish. If you think that is corny or hyperbolic or whatever then you are part of the problem not the solution.
There is ONLY ONE SOLUTION. Political Revolution. That is our peaceful ICBM. Anything else thrown at the US Congress is impotent.
Agreed. I would take it a step further, and use the word "fear".
The average person does nothing because they fear the system.
Nothing will be accomplished until the system fears the average person.
Well written, CD. Don't lose any of your content for the ADD among us, myself included.
Well-done CD. Even here on ZH, knowledge is responsibility. It can be a very uncomfortable look in the mirror. The ZH and community's role as truth tellers will never end. But, our role as early warning agents, prophesying the SHTF, is over. A new movement is required now. We must practice our own cell-to-cell communication, passing on what America used to be to our children. A wonderful place to start is reading the Founding documents of this country. Letters written by the colonists to King George are poignant, the Declaration of Independence, the anti-Federalists letters, the letters of Resolve, etc. All show us how a free Republic was created, how the founding fathers knew tyranny firsthand and knew of its inevitable return.
It is time to move into that very uncomfortable place of responsibility. I do my political venting on FB, and there too I'm confronted with CD's uncomfortable truth. I will be taking a long, slow chew on this and working up the courage to leave the circled wagons and act. I don't know what that will look like yet, I'm only occasionally a leader, but more oft the first or second follower. But, I personally am going to morph from prophet of doom to builder..
Unfortunately, Financial Regulatory Reform is not an easy subject to explain to people without a financial background. All they know is what they see on TV. Many of you may think of me as a class clown. That's because I am. But there is some method to my cartoon/parody madness. It connects quickly. I send the stuff around to people I know personally and encourage them to use it in communicating to others.
Communicating on this blog is a good thing for sharing data, views etc. As a responsible citizen it is your duty to be well informed. But in order to have a modest impact, you have to go and convince people who would never visit here.
I tell everyone the best thing you can do is get people to just call their local Congressman's office and tell them how angry they are at Wall Street. I know my father has done this and convinced others to do the same. I recognize this seems unscientific. But having experience many years ago working on Capital Hill, let me assure you that a flood of calls from local constituents is noticed.
Finally, it is a very useful exercise to listen to the people who disagree with you. Know your adversaries. You might want to start by reading this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/frank-luntz-pens-memo-to_n_4443...
Everyone should develop their own method. Venting alone will accomplish nothing.
Keep on trucking...
WB7
"I tell everyone the best thing you can do is get people to just call their local Congressman's office and tell them how angry they are at Wall Street."
Respectfully Will that is rubbish anymore. Phone calls to Congress? Did you see how they handled the health "reform" bill? Should we call Al Capone's associates and complain about trucks full of liquor being stolen in plain view?
Congress and the Banksters are beyond retribution. How do you deal with psychopaths? Not with kid gloves Will. You deal with psychopaths as they deal with us. Extreme prejudice and capital punishment.
Exactly how many arrests have there been over the mortgage racket? RICO Act can only be utilized with a total washout of Congress. Period. Complete political revolution. Not phone calls. WTF.
Your right to speak out is valueless if you do not exercise it.
Tell the moron in your district that he is a moron. Then tell thenext moron. Sooner or later they have to run out of morons.
Psychopathic bought and paid for congress is a huge part of the problem, look at the bills it passes. Anyone who thinks they still have representation is a fool and is therefore part of the problem. Supplicate to a dictator is all it is. Ron Paul and two or three others are exceptions.
Dritt,
I do appreciate your point. You feel marshmallows are being brought to a knife fight. But for so many people who have NEVER even called their Congress person to complain, doing so is tremendous progress. Some people need to take baby steps. You are way past baby steps but if you're going to want reinforcements at some point in the future, some of those troops are only now taking baby steps.
This reminds me of a thread I got involved in a couple of days ago. I pointed out that I was a disenchanted Obama voter, and Assetman responded that he had learned the lesson I have now learned (the two-party system is a charade) in 2004. He was five years ahead of me. Kudos to those of you who figured this out earlier than I. But I have now awoken and my eyes are open. There are others yet not to the point that I am. Our numbers are growing...
Thank you for being brave enough to say you're a newbie among more grizzled veterans. Welcome.
A key that very few think about is that the awakening will be exponential. We are still very low down on the curve, with the rise only just beginning to show on the chart. There will be more, many more. But we need to help them along, not ignore them or curse them for being late. I was late when I woke up. Everyone was late when they woke up compared to those who came before.
Help your frinds, help your neighbors, help your enimes to want to wake. Then help them wake others. Ultimately it will be our numbers that turns the tide, not our weapons.
I'm honored that WB7 would take the time to post a lengthy comment under my article.
As "Bob" said in the quote I re-posted "Do I have an active alternative to offer? Not in cyberspace, I'm afraid.” I took that to mean we need to get off our duff and doing something in the physical world. So thank you for your examples of physical action.
In particular, a cartoon is the most effective method of quickly conveying a complex subject to the reader and it's 10 times harder to do than write an article such as mine for one simple reason. I obviously don't worry about space constraints. :>)
I commend you for your efforts WB7.
Your post highlights a very important fact, ranting alone is a form of net madness. If you feel powerless to act, all of this information will literally drive you off the edge.
You are a true American, CD. Thank you.
Thanks CD - a lot of thinking went into this post.
No doubt that JFK was inspiring.
And, was the idea that it was his return to silver-backed currency that really made his death inevitable tinfoil or fact?
Questions about another time for another time.
I do not have much to offer as to solution.
I come to sites like this to see what people more intelligent and connected than I have to say and share.
My experience with trying to get Ron Paul elected introduced me to the caucus machine.
Stuffed with people who have spent years in the maintenance of the machine, he stood no chance.
I assume, from the news coverage here of the Dems, that their machine is similarly clogged.
I have given up on any political solution except to vote 'not incumbent'.
As to the markets, I have also quit burning up my life while trying to turn a nickle here and a dime there.
More money will not bring me answers to the questions I have, and will only encumber my quest for the serenity I feel I need.
What small amount I do have, I try to share with the community at the foodbank and senior services.
I am growing a garden, trying to manage my anger, and praying for wisdom.
And I thank you for your good energy.
And, thanks to the ZH crew for this really cool oasis!
Absolutely man. Feel the same way.
The love of money is the root of all evil...we just chase it here, like hamsters on a wheel.
Whatever man loves, that is his god. For he carries it in his heart; he goes about with it night and day; he sleeps and wakes with it, be it what it may - wealth or self, pleasure or renown.
-- Martin Luther
Thanks for being a part of it! Bringing this sort of perspective to these threads will generate quite a bit of interesting interaction I am sure. DollarMenu.... heheh
A thoughtful piece, CD. Thank you. How about this?... What if 'they' held an 'election' and everybody stayed home? Everybody.
As for JFK's inaugural speech - again, thank you.
One last thing - regarding his sad demise - here's something from a peer reviewed scientific journal that was ignored by the MSM... it has since been contested (of course)... but I suspect the ZH community is more than capable of making up its own mind[s] on that matter...
The citation...
http://www.forensic-science-society.org.uk/Publications/Literature/Content/E/echo-correlation-analysis-and-the-acoustic-evidence-in-the-kennedy-assassination-revisited
The article...
http://pages.prodigy.net/whiskey99/thomas.pdf
I often reflect on just why things are going to hell in a handbasket, and have come to the conclusion that as often is the case during periods of rapid technological advancement, social evolution is severely lagging. Think of the revolutionary technological advances that have taken place in the last 50 or so years: Humans have landed on the moon, reliable birth control has become available, women have entered the workforce en masse, computers provide us with instantaneous information of every conceivable nature, just to name a few.
Unfortunately societal evolution has not kept up. Divorce rates have skyrocketed, children are neglected, obesity has exploded and intellectual property has become a joke. Kids watch their parents, heroes and role models fail in their personal lives. Mom and Pop stores have been replaced with soul-less big box warehouses filled with imported crap nobody really needs. Next time you go to the superstore, notice how most people seem totally oblivious to everything and everyone around them. They thoughtlessly block the aisles, let their children run wild, mindlessly chat on their phones, and then dump the shopping cart wherever is convenient for them.
Despite the flood of mood-altering drugs created in the last several decades, it seems everyone is on edge. People seek to ease the pain by chronically surfing the internet, medicating themselves with pills or booze, purchasing the latest electronic gadget, finding someone or something to hate, or withdrawing from society altogether. While patchwork families fight to makes ends meet, high finance, with the full blessing of the US Government, continues to profit by hollowing out what formerly was the middle class. Blue collar workers, once proud and productive, are forced into low-paying service jobs with inadequate benefits, while Federal workers live high on the hog on the citizens' dime.
Let's face it: There's nothing more frustrating than watching the very companies that caused the financial armageddon get fat at our expense. As JFK said, 'Life isn't fair', but we can respond by either becoming narcissistic and self-serving, or by choosing the high road. Start by doing the little things that make society more tolerable. Give the homeless guy on the corner a buck rather than a scowl. Let the car merge in from the entrance ramp. Sit down and eat meals with your family. Be a good role model for your children. Get off your ass and exercise. Try to be more thoughtful and forgiving to those with whom you make contact.
Who knows what the future holds. What is certain is that a country is only as strong as its citizenry. Be strong.
@Sancho Ponzi
Excellent post.
+1
Sancho has given us actionable ideas! We can start with small stuff (yeah give the guy a buck whether he 'deserves' it or not) and go from there.
Generosity and courtesy are less seen than before, but we can start there.
Let the guy in. Smile. Hold the door open.
Buy gold & ammo too!
CD:
Thanks for a moving post. But nostalgia is a weak emotion. I admit I suffer from it too. It confuses us into believing that the past holds the answers. It doesn't.
Rather than talk about JFK, I would rather look to Gandhi for answers. Avoid war. Become self-reliant. Refuse to co-operate with tyrants.
I think "Hangemhigh" is on to something, but maybe doesn't go far enough. I think it's illegal to advocate that people evade/refuse taxes etc. But it's interesting to think what might happen if everyone delayed their tax payments, or raised their withholding exemptions etc.
What a message that would be.....
Raising individual withholding exemptions is an excellent idea, CW, and like the other ideas that I posted above, it's something any one can do. To get the desired effect, though, requires a sustained group effort. That's where the rubber meets the road. That's what we should be talking about here.
How to successfully confront the illicit cabal of smooth talking, well connected felons that has hijacked the future of a great nation and put the well being of each and every citizen in dire jeopardy.
I would remind you,CW, and all of the members of the ZH family, that the Soviet Union tried for fifty years to defeat the United States and was unable to do it. Working from within, though, aided and abetted by their malignant cronies, the damnable drudges in DC, the Wall Street Crime Cartel was able to bring the country to it's knees in less than fifteen years.
The only way to deal with such treasonous misanthropes is to present them with an equally credible threat that puts their well being and privileged status at risk. In doing so, however, all of our actions must be both non-violent and absolutely legal.
Your withholding suggestion could be a powerful step in the right direction.
So, ZH'ers, is your discontent no more than a mile wide and an inch deep? Are you all hat and no cattle? Or, are you mad as hell and not going to take it anymore?
It is we the people who allowed this miserable set of circumstances to come to pass; our lethargy and complacency put these people in power. It is now our duty to set things right and restore order to the commonwealth.
one minor quibble of your otherwise excellent comment: the WSCC has been working a lot longer than 15 years (e.g. andrew jackson) to force this country and its citizens down to their knees to submit to their self-professed superiority. it's helpful to understand that what we're dealing with here is not a recent issue, nor is confined within this country's borders, but rather a fundamental conundrum of western civilization.
T E C:
You're right about the 15 year thing. It has been going on much longer. My concern, though, is right now; there is an election later in the year that could provide very fertile ground for a well organized group with a powerful political message.
You're not going to recruit people quickly by giving them a history lesson. You have to appeal to their own self interest and give them an easily understandable reason to act now. Action is the key word as it involves immediate commitment. If enough people get on board your train, then educating them between stops is the next step.
ah, you mean a slogan like 'Don't Tread On Me' or 'turn on, tune in, drop out' or 'Yes We Can!'?
there was a good one in mexico last year:
http://anulomivoto.com/
compose a crafty english translation of that and you might have an answer.
"It is we the people who allowed this miserable set of circumstances to come to pass; our lethargy and complacency put these people in power. It is now our duty to set things right and restore order to the commonwealth."
This is the ugly truth, with most people claiming they were busy or on the phone or in the bathroom when the country went to hell so they aren't responsible. I will not be discouraged. Along with their oppression comes their own greed. I'm hoping the thieves begin to fight among themselves and the patriots and stealth underground help them blow themselves up.
Miles Kendig has been asking me to consider writing an article that proposes this scenario. At first I told Miles I didn't see it happening but the more I've thought about it, the more I think it likely. I've got it on my list of articles to write. The damn list keeps getting longer.
I wish the 'junk' button was not next to the 'reply' button... takes some time to figure out if you 'unjunked' properly...
I'm hoping the thieves begin to fight among themselves and the patriots and stealth underground help them blow themselves up.
CD - Doesn't that make having a bunch (group or tribe) of uncorruptable types ready and willing to serve important? Eh?
Talents and Skills would be important.
Perhaps a "clearing house" for talented and skilled people of transparent mind?
It is also interesting to note that the author of President Kennedy's Inaugural Address was Ted Sorenson who, after Kennedy's murder, went to a law firm on Wall Street to practise high-priced law forevermore.
At the retirement party for the Council on Foreign Relations' then-chairman, Peter G. Peterson, Ted Sorenson hailed Peterson as a great and patriotic American.
I completely barfed when I heard that! Peterson is Public Enemy #1......which makes one seriously wonder about Sorenson.....
Excellent piece, CD, but I kinda gotta agree with xppt, too many people are true believers in Obama, just like they were in Bush, and Clinton, and Bush, and Reagan, and Carter, and Nixon. (And few, if any of them, have yet figured out that one finds the same group of appointees among all those administrations.)
Sadly, I must direct one and all to the two articles at the two sites below.
http://dieoff.org/page134.htm
http://www.alternet.org/media/146005/we_stand_on_the_cusp_of_one_of_humanity's_most_dangerous_moments
I wish it weren't too late, but after years of thousands of hours of (unpaid) volunteer activism, and watching it all rolled back over the past decade or so, I see nothing but depressing events ahead. We have witnessed the privatization of emminent domain (Supreme Court decision in 2005), the removal of due process and habeas corpus, and the complete takeover -- at what specific time it is difficult to pinpoint -- of the American government by the banksters.
We is doomed, son, we is doomed.
Yeah, and if that doesn't do it the certain next ice age, which happens to be overdue, certainly will!
Crap! Sell! Sell!
Being "proven" right or wrong in the short, medium or long term is a matter for the statisticians and historians. Being able to write the history books or not write them really has everything to do with the power of storytelling, but very little to do with the final tally of the official scorer. From my perspective the process of moving the ball forward begins with each of us doing what we know to do as responsible and dynamic individuals within a dynamic society. By setting and being the example not only to follow, but emulate (getting back to your last article CD). While we carry our commitments forward in all we do remembering that respect for the contrarian and engagement in the arena of ideas is central to what we are and should aspire to as folks entrusted with this grand experiment in self government.
In essence, we find ourselves considering that we have been led astray and discovering that this could only have happened with our consent to the idea that leadership could be outsourced, just like everything else it seems so we could concern ourselves with the grill and the latest itoenailclippers while abdicating our personal & civic responsibilities. In this aspect I think that the biggest hurdle many will encounter is in believing that there are indeed sufficient numbers of our fellow citizens capable of actually providing trustworthy leadership. As an insidious a side effect of the current structure as can be imagined. You ask what we need to do CD? We need to learn to be trustworthy and to enforce the concept of infinitely focused rather than infinitely diffused chains of responsibility. Folks will never demonstrate trustworthiness without the essence of personal responsibility and accountability consistently applied to all.
Thanks for this thought provoking and timely effort CD.
By setting and being the example not only to follow, but emulate
Yes! In the military I learned that "one should set the example." Hypocrisy distorts truth.
On the issue of leadership... I'd like to see the notion of "leader" tossed into the toilet, that is, any notion that it bestows "extra" power on someone. Power corrupts, didn't ya know?
We Don't Need Them
http://dissidentvoice.org/Nov05/Carpenter1102.htm
To provide leadership via example is one thing, to represent a whole by example is another.
"We need to learn to be trustworthy and to enforce the concept of infinitely focused rather than infinitely diffused chains of responsibility."
brilliantly well said Miles. and when we understand that we can not expect Uncle to do anything but encourage infintile behavior by either keeping folks attached to Mommy's breast or enticing other folks to lash out in rebellion against Daddy, we must take on that responsibility for ourselves to be responsible and to encourage (& sometimes demand) responsibility in others without any attachment to the outcome.
we get the government (& the society) we deserve. time for all of us to grow up?
Government is not societies daddy, society is itself. Society is not only government's daddy, but free enterprise, markets and every other aspect regardless of what some within society would like to have us think.
true dat papa
"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."
Truer words have never been spoken. At every given moment we have a choice. We create our lives from moment to moment...
Excellent post CD!
CD:
Here is what I do to keep the ball rolling.
(1) Ive started my own blog warning people NOT to attend tier 3 or tier 4 law schools unless they have the money or connections when they get out of LS. The job prospects are horrible for bottom tier grads.
(2) I constantly post charts and info on my facebook page.
(3) I tell people to go on ZH, chrismartenson, and other blogs.
(4) I attend antiwar protests on a regular basis.
(5) I tell people that the left/right paradigm is fake and that a political revolution is neccesary to save our economy and nation.
How I really feel: I feel that most of my actions are in vain. I know that MOST people that hear me basically ignore what i say. Most people are too scared or lazy or apathetic to want to learn more. Its going to take a long long time until there is a awakening. Still, I blast the current system and the PTB on a daily basis. Why? Because i find pleasure in judging and exposing evil and deceit. Im not trying to "convert" people. If anything, it is self medication for me to pop their bubble. If by chance, some do open their eyes, then praise God. By and large, most people are not ready or willing to accept the truth. As frustrating as it is for us to know the reality and what everyone careen down the path of destruction, we have no choice but to watch. Its like watching a kid put his hand on a stove. Hes going to do it and you cant stop him. So instead of becoming distressed and depressed, we must accept reality and continue for our own sake. Nevertheless, i blast the current system because it makes me happy to do so.
@ Great Depression
Heard that. I agree. I do it because it's who I am. Can't be any other way. I have recently signed up for Nathan Martin's SwarmUSA, though. BTW, the sign-up is rather cumbersome.
http://www.swarmusa.com/vb4/
This is one of the first places I found others who knew something was wrong. That being said this is a small minority. I hope and pray that enough people will awaken in time to turn this around but as every day passes it seems less likely by the day. I try to do my part by sharing info but it is eerily similar the matrix film. People who awaken to find the real world a scary place and their only wish is to be reinserted so things can go back to being normal for as long as possible. Extend and pretend. God save us all.
We are in the early stages of the transition -- call it The Great Transition -- from a world-engulfing "assembly of sovereign states" to a world-embracing assembly of sovereign individuals. And we are doing so precisely because of our ability to communicate in forums this and therefore confront the state not his terms but on ours. Nietszche was right, after, when he said that "Everything the State says is a lie, and everything it has it has stolen." And all we're really trying to do is to stop the lies, retrieve our property, and get on with our lives in peaceful cooperation with one another.
America is dead. Long live America.
"And all we're really trying to do is to stop the lies, retrieve our property, and get on with our lives in peaceful cooperation with one another."
the republic of the lakotah is trying this as well, for real:
http://www.republicoflakotah.com/
if i may be honored to remix your lucid last line
(a remix of Herr Friedrich itself yes?):
.
America is Dead.
long live america
...
nope, i think america is in the third stage of mourning.
ACCEPTANCE
The progression of states are:[1]
Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of situations and individuals that will be left behind after death.
Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy. Any individual that symbolizes life or energy is subject to projected resentment and jealousy.
The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could just have more time..."
During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect oneself from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.
This final stage comes with peace and understanding of the death that is approaching. Generally, the person in the fifth stage will want to be left alone. Additionally, feelings and physical pain may be non-existent. This stage has also been described as the end of the dying struggle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model
You forgot stage
6. Lay Back And Enjoy It – "We're all just a bag of chemicals that react and then, after a while, cease to react...right?" Sometimes called the "afterstage" or postmodern stage, the dying people within the dying culture and/or state will reach a well below replacement birthrate and progressively rely on or defer to the government most responsibilities toward their families and each other that they were once proud to shoulder themselves. Hedonism, self-loathing and a gradual coarsening of inter-personal relationships accelerate towards inevitable collapse. But if you wear black-on-black-on black ensembles and go to all the right parties...it's sooo worth it.