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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.
- advertisements -
Short sharp sound bites. We are accustomed to demanding instant gratification, right down to propositions of philosophical import.
Dear Lord,
give me patience,
but give it to me now!!!!
Oh, yeah,
and a pony and a Barbie Doll
and a new bike and a puppy to love...
and self-actualization.
LOL
A double order of self-actualization and I want it yesterday.
Funny, yes.
But isn't that what we've become?
Bingo!
Humor isn't without a root in reality.
CD:
This was posted yesterday in response to your thread on "How To Start A Populist Movement.."
I offer it today in response to your current question:
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?
RE: STARVE THE BEAST
To change things, to change the system we live in, we have to focus on the beating heart of that system and take action not words. We live in a kleptocracy ruled by a terminally corrupt core of avaricious, 'rat brain' driven sociopaths. They will always want/need more of something and will do absolutely anything to get it.
(The defining literary character identifying this personality type is Milo Minderbinder from Joseph Heller's classic WWII novel "Catch 22")
http://www.shmoop.com/catch-22/milo-minderbinder.html
How do we the people deal with such a demented leadership? I would suggest a decidedly Rovian stategy: attack their strengths.
As a basic approach I like the idea of "Starve the Beast". It's simple evocative and easily understood. As for tactics around which to organize and recruit, simple sound-bite like constructs that could easily fit on a bumper sticker are preferable.
1) CUT UP YOUR CREDIT CARDS. Save your money!!! Credit is the lifeblood of the Ponzi; anything that endangers continuous credit creation is a mortal threat. If credit driven consumption could be effectively curtailed on a large enough scale, the speculative, boom-bust, get-rich-quick economy, and the power of the dark lords who profit thereby, would come to a screeching halt. A basic equation that could radically shift power very quickly, the message is simple and powerful. The needs of we the people constitutes 70% of the economy. Until we get what we want, we will save instead of spend. When we are satisfied that the changes we want are in place, we'll play the consumer economy game again.
2) KILL YOUR TV. Unplug the Matrix lifeline that guarantees cognitive dissonance as a way of life. The vast wasteland of the MSM and it's accompanying 'white noise' is a virtual reality sideshow that simultaneously motivates and imprisons. The invasive political power of the MSM is even more insidious. Politicians have one primary career goal: to confuse and confound. Once the voting public is sufficiently bewildered as to the real facts surrounding important questions, they can then be easily manipulated into making emotional decisions based on meaningless slogans and symbols. The MSM plays a key role in this infernal shadow play.
3) VOTE THE INCUMBENTS OUT. The Congress and the White House are wholly owned subsidiaries of the crime cartel. Both major political parties have been terminally compromised by corporate cash. The idea that there is some meaningful difference between Democrats and Republicans is part of the con. Alleged ideological and/or party differences are illusionary issues generated as part of ongoing 'daze and confuse' operations. The only thing that should really matter to voters is access and accountability.
In closing let me say that these ideas are offered only as examples of simple, action oriented programs that might produce results. Everyone knows that something is terribly wrong but very few people can put their worst fears into words. There is, I believe, an archetypal unconscious that we all share. To be successful, one must tap into this powerful subliminal reservoir.
If faced with a genuinely threatening, internet based uprising, the first order of business would be to eliminate all such electronic message boards. As part of some kind of 'national emergency', the internet could quickly be disabled. There is already a carefully crafted story in place that could serve as an effective cover for such actions in the form of news reports concerning 'Chinese hackers'. Any one old enough to have lived thru the Cold War knows that, in any geopolitical conflict, each side needs and uses the threat of the other as a means of keeping their own populations in line.
Simple stuff, eh? I'd have to ask, however, if shutting down the boob-tube would not include my computer as well. The ratio of good/bad is about the same in both media. Perhaps the better approach is to use both my TV and my computer with reasonable discretion. I don't watch network TV at all, but I do enjoy many of the other cable channels for their educational and informative programming. I specifically exclude FOX and CNBC in that respect -- to name just a few. By extension it would be prudent on my part to maintain a credit card that is paid off every month and only used in exigent circumstances. This is exactly what I do. The siren call of numb television programming and easy credit can be resisted. More importantly, the technique can be used to do damage to the present social/economic/political structure if used with some forethought and planning.
Yes, indeed, hangemhigh -- all of 'em.
there's more coming out of your TV than you realize. it's not just the programming, we are being jammed. our cognitive, and intuitive potential, is being bombarded constantly. they are literally throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at us, to hold us down, and they are afraid, and their end game, includes culling the herd. wake up, they kill presidents, with impunity. there is no reforming this parasite. it's us or them.
delacroix:
you are both right and wrong. yeah they killed a president and got away with. and yeah, they stole an election while we sat there and watched. and yeah, they then turned around and sold us a ruinous, endless war like it was a crummy box of soap. and we bought it.
that's the whole point. we have the government we deserve.
it was/is our negligence that put them in power. everyone believed that 'IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE'. well, it can and it did. if we change who we are and what we stand for, and act on those principles, we can eliminate these lower forms of life by taking back the power that we gave them, and they use against us.
++10K
1) CUT UP YOUR CREDIT CARDS. Save your money!!! Credit is the lifeblood of the Ponzi; anything that endangers continuous credit creation is a mortal threat. If credit driven consumption could be effectively curtailed on a large enough scale, the speculative, boom-bust, get-rich-quick economy, and the power of the dark lords who profit thereby, would come to a screeching halt. A basic equation that could radically shift power very quickly, the message is simple and powerful. The needs of we the people constitutes 70% of the economy. Until we get what we want, we will save instead of spend. When we are satisfied that the changes we want are in place, we'll play the consumer economy game again.
This alone is the big one. While we need to be aware that credit -- in and of itself -- is not evil and that there are valid functions for it, the way credit is currently structured in this system forms the lifeblood of the forces arrayed against us. We need to be completely awake and cognizant of who is profiting from our credit. The big banks are quite well-known and publicized at this point. Close all accounts there yesterday. If the movement to do this grows sufficiently, that alone is probably the strongest statement "We, the People" could possibly make at this point in time. I agree with the other points made here, too, but I think credit is the lynchpin right now. It's the weak point at which our attacks have to be aimed.how about charge them up, buy gold, then cut them up.
Goldmember;
When you decide to use the same tactics as a souless enemy, you in effect become them.
They, the bad guys are counting on that. Those kinds of choices on the part of we the people is not only how they gained power, but how they plan to keep it.
What you suggest is more or less making the same kind of deal with the devil that they did.
I cannot go there.
They stole it, ipso facto, rules are set, steal it back. Such is the game.
Bingo!
Every kid without a mortgage or other lien on their property, should max out their cards as cash withdrawals and buy gold, silver and other PMs. When done, tear the card up and claim ( in the spirit of the times) that the total was lost gambling at the track. It's the only way to drag protection out of the future, playing the game in with the same tactics as central banks, you know, as in deception. This is the war to fight. No weapons other than debt, same as the banks. Drain the banks of their most precious asset, reversing the ledger. The status quo will see them burdened with the excesses of their parents. What fairer other way is there in balancing out the debt they will inherit?
one starting point is here.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Jesus Christ that was a long winded post...
So, yeah, I don't think anyone cares if you want to post about Green Shoots. But there is a reason that people are sick of hearing about them. its not because we feel defeated or powerless... Its because the government has gone morally astray, and whether their immoral behavior produces economic growth or not is a rather moot point.
I agree with AR and I agree with the author as well. The problem we are all going to smack into is that the America we loved where we could go have a beer at a sports game and not have to worry about when our government will crash our dollar, or when the automatic traders will crash the stock market is over. We have to either play dumb and flip our burger in the back yard or we can acknowledge the problem and prepare for it. Preparing for a worthless currency or for bare shelves in the stores is unwitting. People are wound up and to be able to know that there are others out there who are awakened and knowledgeable is comforting and indeed harkens to a time in America where facts were more important than how much we can be fleeced by our bullsh!tting politicians and their banker "friends". The least common denominator among our politicians has drawn us to the point of blatant lies. In fact I use the prez's comments as a barometer. Whatever he says, he's gonna do the opposite. America has run roughshod over it's own constitution. If anyone can take true comfort in this or outright ignore it and go back to living like we did in the 80's, I really admire that! You are one lucky guy or gal. Perhaps we all should just roll back and see what happens. It may even make the remainder of our viable days more palatable--if you find the secret to getting our country back, let me know----let us all know, and don't talk about psychoactive drugs because thats not going to work for a lot of us.
edit
ARI5AU, you are correct when you state "the government has gone morally astray". You are the government. Fix it, is CD's call.
Al Gorerhythm
LOL!
Can you be my ghost writer? You just summed up my article in 22 words. Thank you.
I don't know what folks are complaining about, CD. It's not like they're tackling War and Peace, is it? Nice composition.
AG,
Thank you for your kind words.
Many people want complex subjects distilled into 30 seconds or less sound bites. It can't be done, but since our politicians tell us it can be done and they seem to have a grasp of how to do so with their illusionary 30 second sound bites, anyone speaking more than 30 seconds is long winded and using too many words.
It's more than just ADD, we have become mesmerized by the bright lights and moving objects. Because things are moving faster than we can comprehend, we stand transfixed, in a perpetual state of confusion, our mind never catching up, constantly trying to reboot and hang on. So the 30 second explanation is a relief and is grabbed onto with all the strength a drowning man would use to grab a life preserver. Because in the confusion of the mind, those short blurbs are life preservers. They bring cohesion and structure to a terribly confused mind.
When I see a piece like the last? On a site like this? It tells me that even the dedicated and deliberate are demoralized. I saw the same "theme" on Bill Fleckenstein's site right before the market cracked. Bill looked and sounded terrible. I suspected that any day he would "become bullish" in the face of regular beatings from the markets/hedge funds and the media. A couple weeks later, the whole wall came tumbling down.
These types of articles strengthen my resolve....................
And, I know one thing for certain, regardless of the outcome--Wall St and their lap poodles, Washington DC--and all the other shadow whorehouses can suck my dick. Win or lose.
"When I see a piece like the last? On a site like this? It tells me that even the dedicated and deliberate are demoralized."
Brokenarrow,
I'm not sure if you read this piece completely because your comment is confusing. I'm not demoralized in the least. I was speaking about some who are expecting total collapse because there's nothing they feel they can do. I'm suggesting that there are ways to battle this mess, but only if we get real, get active and try different methods, one of which I suggest.
Please, take the time to read it. It's not that long. The last third is just a reprint of a Kennedy speech and doesn't need to be read. I'm very upbeat that things can change and change quickly if that is what people decide they want. I repeat that message numerous times in the article.
Yes, so. Is there agreement here on what should or can be done?
Probably not...
Pester congress? Run for congress?
Work at building local community?
Sharing tips on bunker supplies probably isn't what you have in mind...
We all have to start with ourselves. First, subdue or disengage the ego. We won't get far without doing that.
With all of our egos clashing we most likely will run out of time discussing the multitude of complexities surrounding the issue of what to do and where to go. It seems to me that, in may ways, our fundamental need to act is inhibited by our desire to act, or at least our desire to act to the extent to which we can absolve ourselves of personal responsibility.
If we forget how important we are to ourselves, it's possible that we might have enough energy left over to see the correct path clearly laid out before us. It might be as simple as opening our eyes.
We're all in this together, like it or not.
Afterall, I belong to everyone and all are mine. (or is it, all are mind...i forget).
Work at building local community?
Yes, Pat, that would be the ONLY meaningful action. Make peace with those around you. It's how humankind has operated in most of the world for most of its existence. But... I caution about trying to manufacture that community: read Dymitri Orlov's Real Communities are Self Organizing)
Gulching is great, but the State will violently intervene as they wish.
Keep "organizing" off the radar or they'll crash the party.
I think merehuman has demonstrated this well. He has invested/infused, of his own free will, silver into his community. He has spoken with them, trying to catch their ear, looking for others that refuse to lie to themselves.
---
Dymitri Orlov is a great perspective:
www.cluborlov.blogspot.com
AR, your comment has fuck-all to do with what CD was talking about.
Perhaps you would be so kind as to summarize the thesis of the article in a few sentences so that I may better respond...
Thesis:
We all seem to be overcome by individual weakness in the face of overwhelming corruption. Power-brokers seem to hold sway over the entire world. What can we do to alter this "inevitable downward death spiral"?
Summary:
[The] state of mind we call America {is an ideal}. 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 .
{Due to "new media"} "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.”
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. {MLK, JFK, etc. - obvious examples}
Question posed: How can we over come the illusion of our separateness and weakness, when we clearly have the numbers?
Got ideas?
Answer: Yell louder!
Thank you for that...
My response would be that Americans have brought this corruption on themselves. They voted for Obama knowing he was corrupt, but turning a blind eye because they believed that even though he was corrupt, he would help their special interest group (be it any group - environmentalist, black, gay, poor, anti-war, etc).
So, I suppose I disagree with this premise. Being against corruption is just not a priority for most people. And they are more than willing to let the country collapse in order to make sure that wind power or gay marriage or reparations is promoted. Maybe I sound like some kind of hater, but that's the way I see it. These special interest morons that control the political parties need to be taught a lesson: that preventing the country from collapsing is more important than their sexual preference or a spotted owl.
Cheers
How's the tea party going?
My response would be that Americans have brought this corruption on themselves.
That's unfair. It doesn't make the distinction between those that knowingly aided and abetted from those who are just plain ignorant. The former need to be shot, the later slapped.
Watch Adam Curtis' The Century of the Self. Plain people just don't stand a chance against this juggernaut. As CD seems to suggest, mental programming is VERY powerful, and key (though there's no way clicking the slippers together is ever going to make more Earth, more resources necessary to support our growth).
Seer,
Your comments are always probing and thoughtful and you keep me sharp. Thank you.
You are correct, I am strongly suggesting that mental programming is very powerful. But I am also suggesting that it can be overcome and to assume that some people are powerless in the face of it is incorrect. I was just about as far gone as you could imagine, completely conditioned and programmed. Yet I broke free because I wanted to. Since the bright lights have transfixed and mesmerized so many, it will most likely take that slap you mentioned to wake them up. Or it might just be another bright light that breaks the trance. Thus my call for ideas.
Though I think you make some good points with regard to not being powerless, and that the individual does matter, I take a bit of exception to the fact that you say things about what the community needs or deserves from anyone. That's how we got into this mess, thinking of how the people who make stuff and do stuff should provide for those who don't. Isn't that what got Obama elected?
Could you expand on your thought? Where am I saying "what the community needs or deserves from anyone"? Did I specify something? Or are you simply objecting that I propose that we should?
Thanks in advance.
Oh, yeah... I forgot.
Be willing to die for your ideals.
Hey. It works. At least it worked the first time (founding fathers, etc.).
Guess it will come to that.
i.
"I would not die for my beliefs, I might be wrong." - Bertrand Russell
"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." - Bertrand Russell
(although I do not usually like to quote Bertrand)
"Be willing to die for your ideals" This is the only sentence on this page (thus far) which answers the question with any sense of realism.
As a corollary -- I would suggest bearing arms at political rallies in the near term. It is our Constitutional right and it must be utilized.
I would think it somewhat insulting to CD to summarize the article in a few sentences especially right under the written article. I got the impression reading your comment that you just read the first two paragraphs of the article. I am not looking for an argument with you I just thought that talking about green shoots in your first sentence, then calling them moot points in your last sentence, left just one point " But there is a reason that people are sick of hearing about them (green shoots). its not because we feel defeated or powerless... Its because the government has gone morally astray..." I failed to see how your comment had anything to do with CD's call to action and felt that if someone scanned down that article to the comments section before reading it that they probably wouldn't bother after reading your comment which would be a shame. I felt if anything your comment was repetition of the "growing undercurrent of inevitable defeat and resignation in the air".
Well, that was more of a challenge to you than anything else... was curious if you could synthesize that post down into a summary.
It is true that the whole "gold bichez!" is a kind of "embrace your inner apathy" mantra. And it is also true that if all these doomsday people wanted to, they could turn their attitude around, and start participating in the economy again.
But for me, personally, its more critical to let the corruption collapse in on itself, not to try to save it. I want an epic lesson to be taught to all of my fellow Americans about "why we don't behave this way". And at this point in time, it is a lesson better taught with the pain of collapse, than with the carrot of prosperity.
If we let the corruption collapse in on itself, are we not saying it, and what led to it's collapse are acceptable? I am tempted to put an Edmund Burke quote here, and I am sure you know which one. My biggest fear is that if we do not learn anything we will just rebuild the system the same or even worse than it's predecessor. There is an opportunity with a collapse, and the people who know it best are those who have facilitated the downfall. Their plans are not necessarily in the population's best interest.
Perhaps this analogy might help...
Imagine if the US had continued to dump billions into the Vietnam war, with hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of US troops killed, that there were no folks to rufute that war. Do you think that, after sure defeat, the US would be running around engaging in wars today?
Sometimes allowing something unfettered ability to collapse on its own weight (not interfering with it) makes it all to obvious what was behind the collapse. And yes, even with corrective surgery on this pig we will still end up with a dead pig. The problem, however, will be that it will be the surgery, how it was financed, who was operating, that will be studied until we've got yet another dying pig on our hands; no one will question whether it was the pig itself!
I'd become person non grata among a group of pretty bright people on another economics blog after I stated that I could not engage in any "corrective" discussions unless the fundamental issue of growth was addressed. In the end their little project failed. I knew it was destined to fail, not because there weren't competent surgeons or enough energy, but it died because they didn't address the fundamental of the pig.
Not only is it guranteed that capitalism will result in massive corruption (less competition results from, and in, foul play), but growth on a finite planet, I mean, really, why can't anyone talk about This? I challenge everyone to ask of every economist that you run across how can we have "sustained [economic] growth" on a finite planet.
I appreciate people working hard to address problems, but, please keep this Eric Sevareid quote tucked in your vest:
The chief cause of problems is solutions.
Operating on the pig might be the right solution, but for the wrong problem.
NOTE: No pigs were actually harmed in the making/writing of this reply.
"Sometimes allowing something unfettered ability to collapse of its own weight (not interfering with it) makes it all to obvious what was behind the collapse."
Thus the reason the images from this and all subsequent wars have been and will be kept from the people. As long as average Joe doesn't need to digest images of limbless/headless bodies with their Big Mac's and Easter hams, the highly profitable war machine can roar on.
<sarcasm on>
I love me some french fries with my (30 mm explosive rounds fired from hovering Cobra gunships) decapitations.
<sarcasm off>
Those in power will attempt to remain in power. At this point i may not be alone in thinking their attempts to obfuscate will include war. I would as soon not use the word at all. What would you do in their shoes?
Fess up and put themselves at our mercy?
Can they keep on juggling so many plates and not break the crockery?
And how can the enablers on the periphery look us in the eye? (judges, DAs)
NO it all has to fall or be brought down. Either way many innocent will die along the way with no one held accountable.
DISGUSTED. "Failure to act in the behalf of our own survival due to ignorance" should be writ on our tombstones.
My turn to be confused by a reply i guess. Are you disagreeing with my premise that we should be aware of why the system is failing in order that we can stop repeating the same mistakes in a "new" system?
AR15AU
Your comments are confusing to me. At no point in my article do I ever suggest we should save the system nor do I suggest green shoots. In fact, I suggest a novel way to organize and fight it.
I'm confused (nothing new of course). On one hand you seem to imply that you're NOT advocating that the System be saved, yet on the other you note your advice on how to save it?
I love ya man, but I think that you tried making a positive out of two negatives somewhere along the line, and That math just cannot add up, no matter what mindset one takes on.