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Guest Post: Why Don't People See
I meet people that still believe that the world is fine. They believe things like:
- The US government has plenty of money.
- Government cares for its citizens.
- The economy cannot crash.
- We are not in a recession (Depression).
- The lives of their children will be better than their own.
- The government can continue to print money to fund promises they cannot afford.
Despite these untenable beliefs, these are not stupid people. Many are professionals who do quite well — doctors, lawyers, dentists, college professors, etc. They are not zombies, our walking dead, have no idea about what is happening around them no less the way things work in an economy, society or the world. It is our educated who should care yet seem to be oblivious to what lies ahead.
The ignorance and/or lack of concern of this group is perplexing and maddening. They are certainly capable of understanding. It is also in their interests to comprehend, as they are the ones who will lose the most. How does one open their eyes? What can they be shown to arouse them from their ignorance?
Sadly, I don’t have answers to these frustrating questions. It is not that others have not presented the information as much as these people refuse to acknowledge the implications. Are they all too busy? Are they idiot savants who are geniuses in their fields but not very smart away from it? Warnings come from many sources and from many different perspectives, yet they do not seem to penetrate the minds of those most capable of effecting change.
From a self-interest standpoint, this productive group should be the most concerned. After all, they are ground zero for the Socialist schemes that are destroying society. They are the ones that will be crushed in the redistribution dreams of our political class. Will they awaken too late? Or, will many of them just withdraw their productivity by retiring early, emigrating, etc.?
I don’t have answers to these questions, but I do know that this professional class is about to become prey for our predatory State. And, when that happens, they will hurt but not nearly as much as the rest of us.
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Ah hipster douchebags. Those are fun people to be around for sure. I make sure that those Profs know to stay away from me, and that any open ridicule towards me will be met with equally if not more embarrassing rebuttals.
love this line,
the beliefs maintain the illusion, the semblance of a reality, but in truth, once the belief is removed. . .
*poof*
Good point, Drachma. When one considers the juried process of approval for a PhD, continuance of the entrenched paradigms is almost guaranteed. PhD candidates who 'think out of the box' may be refused PhD approval until they massage the thesis in order to gain acceptance. Acceptance requires building upon the acceptable supporting theses of those already in the PhD 'club'. Theses presented by non-PhDs are not given the time of day until they are presented by a PhD, preferably from a widely respected institution, in a reputable journal. To be a tenured professor at any such respectable institution, one must have the PhD credential bestowed by those already in power, and to be hired one must be approved by fellows of the department. All along the way the avenues of study and resulting theses are weeded to please the jury of peers within the research facility, the sponsors, the publishers, the fellow scientists, before finally reaching the public at large.
Once distributed widely for public consumption, a process greatly accelerated if one can sensationalize results in the internet world, the published findings are deemed Expertise and given a great deal of weight in decisionmaking and governance. No wonder there is pressure to push data to meet a thesis, rather than disprove a thesis. For those riding on the coattails of the Establishment, big money and widespread acclaim may be had.
PhDs wishing to 'swim against the tide' must first gain the accreditation without succumbing to the process of peer pressure, and without mentally defecting from their beliefs. Once the PhD accreditation has been obtained, they then face the difficulties of finding a research center that will allow them to be an iconoclast, and finding funding to support said research.
Orwell also pointed out that if you promise a peasant next year the government will give him shoes, and he doesn't get the shoes, he knows the government lied.
But if you educate him you can shoot him a load of bullshit about the next 5 year plan, green shoots, the dictatorship of the proletariat, whatever you like and he will buy it and be quite content to go without shoes, knowing he will get them next year.
This is why socialists and communists set such great emphasis on education. Their kind of education, not the kind that is of any use.
" most of the professional classes are hopelessly entagled in the system, and therefore, will not rise up in opposition. the push will come from the underclass."
Dunno who wrote this (kudo's to the original poster) - me think it fits right in:
"The few who understand the system will either be so interested in its profits or be so dependent upon its favours that there will be no opposition from that class, while on the other hand, the great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that capital derives from the system, will bear its burdens without complaint, and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical to their interests.”
Can't remember the precise source, but it is circa 1870, spoken by a Rothschild agent here in the US.
Whole system is fucked up. either AAA or bankrupt nothing inbetween.
the quote in bold above is credited to,
here
As a member of one of those professional classes listed above, you hit it spot on. Most of those folks are among the most invested in the "system." They continue to believe because they need to believe.
On the flip side, when you have come to no longer believe, it's sure a bitch getting out of it.
Went to one of the local Bar Association section meetings the other night. As I sat there looking around the room I noticed that they were all old white men. Only about 3 other attorneys like me under 40. No minorities. A half-dozen women, maybe... I hate going to these meetings because these lawyers live in a bubble. You'd think that lawyers are supposed to examine all sides of an issue in order to come up with strong positions. The longer I do this, the more I realize that the old guys have the power. They think the same. Never challenge their beliefs. Ha! They are definitely not the type to read ZH! They work to protect what is theirs. They work to protect their special interests. The thought of the system unraveling is too much to comprehend. They have too much to lose. It's sad. They won't acknowledge that anything is wrong until it all comes crashing down.
indeed, everything they've learned, all the special language of obfuscation designed to keep them in power, rather like the High Priests of Religion, is protected by their "Association" - they are privileged, and "smarter" than the rabble. . .
this kind of thinking exists at many levels, globally. . . little bubbles of languaged hierarchy, privileged classes, lording it over those who weren't trained to think in their verbiage. . .
One thousand up arrows for you john39 and GetZeeGold.
I've posted threads that dispute certain thoughs you have portrayed, but for once, you portray logical thoughts that convey a true cultural truism. Those thoughts are in line with what I have thought for years and have expressed in my post. And oddly enough, these are conservative thoughts.
It is so partially because most give-away money would have ended in roads, bridges and the like. Still better than in the pockets of the Wall St. thugs.... :-)
I see dead people.
Speaking of emmigration...
Can we get a thread going on 'great destinations' as in the permanent type?
Often times we see ZHedgers commenting that they found some ideal country where the laws are sane or unenforced and the taxes are low... the cops aren't dicks, etc... but rarely do they disclose the country iteself.
Where preytell, my friends, would you go if you decided to pull up stakes and tell Lady Liberty to piss off for good?
Mars.........
Bad news. There are dicks everywhere.
Oh, and I'm heading for Cuba. I hear the Bay of Pigs is nice. Anyone else coming?
The scuba diving and snorkelling are really nice, although citizens of the "Land of the Free" are discouraged from visiting there. It contravenes someone's embargo and "spreading democracy" racket.
They don't stamp your passport down there ... I think Americans go visit from a southern destination with a non-US carrier.
An uncle of mine would fly to Mexico City, Cozumel, Cancum etc. and make the hop from there. Did it several times.
Oh, and I'm heading for Cuba.
Let me turn off the /sarc switch for a bit. While I haven't been to Cuba yet, I've learned a few things about the place:
1) It's pretty much a dump with a lot of neat but run-down old buildings and a vast fleet of "collector" cars from the Batista era.
2) The dumpiness is largely a product of 50+ years of rule by the idiot Fidel.
3) Fidel will not live forever, and Raul is not Fidel
4) At some point, probably quite soon, Fidel will fold or be wheeled off to the Old Dictator's Home.
When that happens, Cuba will slowly re-enter the light of day. Raul and the military will abandon much of Fidel's failed policies, and the USG will move to normalize relations (because U.S. corporations have been salivating over direct access to Cuban markets for a long time).
Cuba has nowhere to go but up. It's kind of like Maui with much lower prices and more hurricanes.
You are correct when you say that central planning has not been good to the buildings and infrastructure over there. Central planning works equally badly wherever you go.
They are already doing small-scale privatization and capitalism, which will continue regardless of who is in charge.
Cuba is and will be the same. One word SUGAR. Southern Florida can not compete with Cuba. Agro business will lose alot of $$$ if Cuba opens up.
If an embargo or policy doesn't make sense, follow the money. See Organization of American States, Helms-Burton.
They feed themselves, hoss. More than you can say for Amerikans not named Monsanto. And as for those buildings, cars and refrigerators, 50 years of sanctions will do that to ya. Things is, they've kept those relics running. Guess they couldn't just run to Walmart and get a new one...
Monsanto is from Australia.
Underground
Bingo...hide in plain sight.
You know there is a ZH forum where you can start your own threads and stuff.
http://www.zerohedge.com/forum
Good suggestion, I will do just that.
Ya'll come join me over there if you care to...
Fiji allows Americans to own land and levies no property taxes, and is also quite close to American Samoa if you need to go and get a passport renewed or something. With all of the jokes about boating accidents, I'm honestly surprised that you don't see more people here mentioning sailboats. Talk about the ultimate bug out bag... Pack your boat full of food and just go somewhere, if it sucks, go someplace else. FWIW, that's my plan. Fiji is also close to Australia and New Zealand should you long for a more developed place, though that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid with the sailboat.
and even new racing catamarans are cheaper than most east coast houses. Else buy a used on for 200K
http://www.aeroyacht.com/
Yeah, I have a mono-hull and long time living isnt comfortable. Cat's however...
Great suggestion. Now all those disaffected Americans are going to flock to Fiji, and the next thing you know, the island will begin to tip over. Just like Guam almost did, or so a certain Democratic congresscritter (Hank Johnson) warned us.
Suggestion: if you're moving to Fiji, bring a lifesaver.
Panama--I was born there when my dad was in the Army in the 60's. I'd be a beach bum.
Iceland! - I wilst rename myself to Sigurd Skallesmaekker (Sigurd Skullcracker) or Harald Halvgrim (Harald Halfugly)
Bind me to the mast folks - I'm pining for the fjords!
Every place has pluses and minuses. Ultimate freedom is where there is no law and over there you are responsible for your own life. It’s like living in a chicken shed where you are provided with safety, food and disease free but you must lay an egg and will be slaughter when you are not laying egg. Freedom is like a turkey in the wild. I personally lived in four different countries and still hold multiple passports. I will very honestly suggest find a place away from big citieslike three hours drive from a medium size city in the US and keep pretty low profile. Spend on what you really really need and stay out of trouble ( stay off line). That’s what you most probably will do anywhere else in the world. Even than if you like I can suggest few.
Marc Faber: "If I ver you, I vould buy a haus out in ze country in za middle off novhere, where dey von't drop a bomb on you and da governmint von't find you."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvZyyDBVsJ8
It's near the end, after a bunch of real zingers. Fun stuff. Gotta love Faber.
Dr. Marc Faber has been long term bearish about the American economy for a number of years and continues to be so. He concluded his June 2008 newsletter with the following mock quote -from wiki:
"The federal government is sending each of us a $600 rebate. If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, the money goes to China. If we spend it on gasoline it goes to the Arabs. If we buy a computer it will go to India. If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. If we purchase a good car it will go to Germany. If we purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the American economy. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it on prostitutes and beer, since these are the only products still produced in US. I've been doing my part."
This man is living on a paradise, the northern borderline part of Thailand, the second biggest city yet only hosts 2 millions something of population (much contrasted to Bangkok), Chiang Mai, the capital city of Chiang Mai Province... it's a truly nice, beautiful and serene place with warm and quite friendly people!
bones ometepe island
Anyone go to the mall this weekend (after attending the "Flip that House" seminar, of course)?
It was painful. No one buying didly unless it was reduced 90%. One younger girl picked up a dress that was reduced 80% and looked up at Mom with pleading eyes...the Mom said," Sorry, darling, it's still too expensive. Wait until it is another 40% off."
What a time to be desperately struggling to sell ANYTHING. I'm waiting for JCP and Sears Q1 reports.
They can always blame blizzards, hurricanes, drizzle, abnormally pleasant weather, etc. It's never the fact that the government and Fed are squatting on the face of the economy and taking a day-after-Mexican dump.
I did not go to the mall (have not been in one for a decade, maybe longer), but I did go to the supermarket, and, let me tell you, it was dead. There were perhaps a third or a quarter of the people normally there. Checkout girl said it'd been like that all day.
Yes, it was as you describe.
Crickets at the cash registers.
Very low inventory in all the stores.
I'm willing to bet that Darden results suck also; I smell desperation in the retail eateries that aren't fast food, as well as the retailers.
Yes but ammo sales are going gang busters...so that's gotta be a good sign.
So are home invasions here. In some pretty Tony neighborhoods.
" these are not stupid people. Many are professionals who do quite well — doctors, lawyers, dentists, college professors, etc."
You had me going until you included lawyers and college professors as "smart" people. Doctors, dentists, and scientists are almost exclusively very focused people. They tend to narrow their thinking to put all of there cognitive effort into there focus work, which limits their ability to understand economic and social crisises.
"We'd do a lot better if we have a government made up of welders, HVAC servicemen, and plumbers."
Not really. The answer is far less centralized gov't that puts too much power into the hands of a few. The solution is to bring the power back to the people by letting the local gov'ts have more control and getting more people involved in the policies and work performed by local gov'ts. We would also need to remove money from gov't officials, it should be more of a community\volunteer service, The Mayor or governor should not make more money than the fireman. Perhaps involvement in local gov't affairs should be manditory, ie 6 months for every citizen. Politicans should also be banned from making financial commits that are not budgeted for. ie They can't promise pensions plan increases entitlements unless the money is already in the bank. All local gov't budgets should be voted upon and there should be a test on the vote, so see if the voter understands what they are voting for. ie a 5 or 10 question multiple choice. If they fail, their vote is rejected. This isn't perfect, but it would be far better than what we have today.
..and no Lobbying from special interest groups
..and no Lobbying from special interest groups
And what do you think happens even at New England town meetings? Everybody talks for their own special interests. The only way around this is to keep everything small enough so you can show up to defend your position.
I suppose when you start bellowing because your ox got gored, it's no longer a 'special interest' when you ask for damages.
'Lobbying' is what the other guy does, I'm just informing the Senator about the facts of the matter.
"The Mayor or governor should not make more money than the fireman"
be careful what you wish for, here in Comrade Jerry's Peoples Republic fireman clear $200K and even lifeguards clear $100k. Pubic servants are licking the plate clean.
Right, But excessive salaries are covered under the policy that politicians cant offer compensation beyond what they have in the bank, and votes must approval all budgets including salaries and entitlements.
- And the REPRESENTATION... each REPRESENTATIVE must be a true local resident of the region he represents, e.g. living locally at least 5 years consecutively at recent period; definitely no dual-citizenship holder is allowed. Go further by prohibiting any dual-citizenship... one cannot serve two masters!
- All kinds of representative (incl but not limited to Senate, House, Supreme Justice, and so on) are termed, maximun twice consecutively (can be reelected after the break, like the Putin case)
- Each representative can be revoked by his constituency any time through a local referendum for severely failing to do his job properly or grave misconduct (principally representation is not a lifetime bestow)
- Limit the power of lobby groups (or even dissolve them totally) by limiting the total amount of money allowed in all kind of campaign and promotional activities of each candidadte in any kind of election, in particular the presidential election, and all donation must be clearly accounted and reported, and set a limit to the maximum amount allowed per each donator
- No revolving door between the regulatory body and the affected industry is allowed.
- Voting in all kinds of election is one man one vote, and principally a direct voting system, the clear winner is the one who gets at least 50% +1 [or whatever prudent benchmark]. And voting should be a mandatory for every eligible citizen! Each candidate does not necessarily come from any party [limit the power of the party or much reduce the entry barrier of setting up a new party and just allow any independent candidate] If after the second round election, no candidate gets 50% +1 [or whatever prudent benchmark] votes, then set up a new election with brandnew candidates (all previous ones are not eligible for the immediate election and so on).
- Much simplify the tax codes (set a maximum to the 10% of its current complexity/length/etc), and definitely Corporations CAN NOT BE People in any sense (legal, taxation, etc), all taxes must reflect the fairness principle, etc.
- .... AND MANY MORE OTHER ASPECTS TO IMPROVE
There are more than enough intelligent and wise people to create a much better, less failure-prone humanity system, only the establishment won't allow its existence for it's against their very interests!
Above steps should improve things to some extent, but the essential improvements may only be achievable by returning to the sound money system, revoking the central banks, terminate "the debt is money" fiat system... banks can only loan whatever they have, can't loan out something from thin air; no such thing as TBTF, all are 'jailable', all companies can go bankrupt... but all of these changes require a nationwide or even a worldwide revolution, otherwise it's impossible, just waiting for the implosion."The modern banking system manufactures money out of nothing. The process is perhaps the most astounding piece of sleight of hand that was ever invented. Banking was conceived in inequity and born in sin…Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them but leave them the power to create money, and, with a flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again…Take this great power away from them and all great fortunes like mine will disappear, for then this would be a better and happier world to live in…But, if you want to continue to be the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let bankers continue to create money and control credit."
~~ Sir Josiah Stamp (1880-1941)
President of the Bank of England in the 1920s, the second richest man in Britain, speaking at the Commencement Address of the University of Texas in 1927.
Well someone if going to have to deal with this sh*t...
Better stated: 'Are they ignorant savants who are very skilled in their specialties but not very smart or questioning outside of it?' YES, exactly.
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." —Upton Sinclair
trading out "salary" for "position in the social hierarchy" works too. . .
If you're the one taking advantage of it
You see 99% of people are on a need to know basis. You need to know how to do your job, how to sleep, how to eat and consume and live supposedly comfortably within the social bubble of the modern lifestyle concept. This is why we call them sheep...they do not take the time to look at the whole picture. They know what they know and they believe that is all that they need to know. Ya know?
These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized.
prison life consists of routine, and then more routine.
Red, Shawshank
been on the inside, you'd be surprised just how quickly people become institutionalized. starts setting in after the first year.
It's never happened since I've been living, so it could never happen. (and history is just too boring to read when I've got Fifty Shades of Grey to read)
"Men go mad in herds and only come to their sense slowly, and one by one..." Never truer words.
nice one, JPM...I have always liked Charles Mackay's works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNT0dO81jjI
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.
- Upton Sinclair
Complacent.
Not stupid just ignorant and...
COMPLACENT. Suffering from complacentcy bias.
Not stupid, a bit ignorant and mostly hoodwinked.
I really dont understand why they write this kind of article. True, whatever he has mentioned is a sad fact. But apart from that what else does he bring to the table? Nothig!
A Waste of time and Spreading the frustuation.
Read the comment then, lots of great info shared here
Astute info is most often derived from informed comments
Socialism and redistribution is not what is killing America. It's the 1% stealing everything in sight, while the government protects them.
Hey middle....they are STUPID. No excuses in the post-internet age. If one does not know the deal now (e.g. the Fed, manipulated media driving propaganda, not news, big-money bribes to both parties, re-electing 91% of those that they supposedly disdain......sorry. No pass for the masses.
They need to put down the remote, and stop surfing porn all day.
I agree that there is much ignorance in these matters. However, as far as I'm concerned, the market is the most important. I'll be long as the market tells me. When the market turn, then I'll be short. I will not get ahead of the market and try to guess the next step. I think it's the best way to make big money with Uncle Ben.
Not just ignorant, selective ignorance based in abject FEAR.
Nah. It's just that everyone's anal sphincter is sufficiently loose now that we don't notice the intrusions anymore.
It's all about fucking conditioning...
From fucking birth most of the lemming full retard population is conditioned to obey. Obey your elders,police, authority...whatever.
Conditioned on fucking backward priorities...sports, being popular, fitting in, admire fucking popular stupid fucking assholes on TV and movies.
Conditioned on money...currency is fucking money, fear the treasury and IRS because they are smarter, buy fucking useless shit NOW...on credit, don't fucking worry about affording it.
Conditioned in schools...fucking stupid educators being pumped out of fucking libtard colleges with education degrees teaching kids their fucked up versions of learning.
Conditioned by the corporate and govt fucking MSM...fucking CNBC, Bloomberg, NYT, Barrons, NBC, CNN...it's fucking endless full fucking retard propaganda fucking brainwashing horseshit.
and to top what you said add conformity to it
Buddy- I want to read your posts, and you make valid points, but this level of profanity hurts your credibility.
Sometimes, profanity is REQUIRED.
When I look out at what's going on in the world I am often just lost for words - can't find any that express my anger at the parasites or my total bewiderment at the lack of thoughts or thinking coming from most people.
Fuck it doesn't cut it!
All that (well placed) vitriol reminds me of a happy memory from years past. Thanks for fueling the reminesence.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and still do (for those pressed for time, just the first 55 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNCcpAgFQrs
I prefer "Ow My Balls"....Pass the Brawndo!
'The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it'. - Morpheus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N7DBvWwJh4
Idol.
And their ratings are down huge.
Honey Boo Boo is taking the wind out of their sails.
Letting Simon go is the worst thing that has happened to this country since 9/11.
Normalcy bias, bitches.
+1 Cunny. Well spoken Z/H spelling is BitcheZ
Conformity Compliance Alert!!
Beaches.
It's one part normalcy bias and one part social engineering and these two things reinforce each other.
I lifted this quote from a paper written by David Korowicz... Trade-Off
Financial System Supply-Chain Cross-Contagion: a study in global systemic collapse. I'm sure people can find it if you look. The quote:
"The consensus view, even if backed by established experts is not, in and of itself, a justification for the consensus view. Consensus views can embody mythologies and popular prejudices, contingent assumptions viewed as transcendent truth, and habits of looking that obscure what is being regarded. One of our most basic failures is to assume mythologies belong to other ages, and prejudices and delusion to other people."
My take: The "by design" part takes a little bit of work. They don't need to control all of the "agents", just the ones who decide what becomes the myths and prejudices, contingent assumptions and transcendent truth. That becomes the framework for everything else. You don't need to create Paul Krugman specificly... the system creates him for us.
You can argue, if you would like, whether this is some conspiracy or just the unfortunate nature of things, but it doesn't really matter.
I dunno. I never met anyone who believes any of the things the author mentions, even before the recent financial crisis. Maybe I don't meet enough people. But I am skeptical. Maybe the people the author meets just say those things to jerk his chain (and you must admit, when confronted by a zealot, chain jerking is a temptation.) Or maybe the author just puts those words in their mouths because they refuse to agree with his particular line.
This post strikes me as just a bit of raw meat for the ZH crowd on a slow day, with markets closed.
Most people I know are exactly as he describes, unfortunately.
Someone doesn't have to say those things to let you know they believe them.
>>>This post strikes me as just a bit of raw meat for the ZH crowd on a slow day, with markets closed.<<<
Raw meat with pink slime added. Next, we'll get another "hobo with an iphone" post.
very astute quote, particularly,
re-enforcing "normal" by always looking for the same patterns. . . plenty of that to go around.
agree that the "agents" have no need of control - in a hierarchy, the mere belief of a smidgen of superiority over the other on the rung beneath is enough to perpetuate the cultural gatekeepers, and there you have it - "society" - or "Krugmans" heh. . .
Tell it to these folks
Just check out some of these store closing numbers for 2013. These numbers are from a recent Yahoo Finance article…
Best Buy
Forecast store closings: 200 to 250
Sears Holding Corp.
Forecast store closings: Kmart 175 to 225, Sears 100 to 125
J.C. Penney
Forecast store closings: 300 to 350
Office Depot
Forecast store closings: 125 to 150
Barnes & Noble
Forecast store closings: 190 to 240, per company comments
Gamestop
Forecast store closings: 500 to 600
OfficeMax
Forecast store closings: 150 to 175
RadioShack
Forecast store closings: 450 to 550
The RadioShack in a nearby town just closed up where I live. This is all happening so fast that it is hard to believe.
But the truth is that those store closings are not the entire story. When you dig deeper you find a lot more retailers that are in trouble.
For example, Blockbuster recently announced that this year they will be closing about 300 stores and eliminating about 3,000 jobs.
Toy manufacturer Hasbro recently announced that they will be reducing the size of their workforce by about 10 percent.
Even Wal-Mart is going through a tough stretch right now. According to documents that were leaked to Bloomberg, Wal-Mart is having an absolutely disastrous February…
Damn! Where is everyone going to buy all the crap that they buy?
Fluoride in the water?
What is the Matrix?
Professionals and educated people are the most likely to be blind to reality simply because they are the most exposed to academia, where all the socialism-supporting junk science spews from.
ptb and media anoints them experts and the sheep believe...
hidden agenda live on.
When a man is paid to think in a certain way, he will think that way until he is paid to think another way.
If you liked The Matrix watch Cloud Atlas...Sober the first time and High the Second. Two completely differnt levels.
I turned Cloud Atlas off when the faggots started making out. Made me sick.
Glad to know who to avoid.
that would be you.
And stop up arrowing your own comments.
Can the other 4 reds identify so we all know who to avoid?
suck my dick.
fair to say you were okay with the "faggots making out" then?
I don't give a rats ass either way about who was making out with who...
~~~
Cloud Atlas was hard to follow & didn't come close to The Matrix...
Why would I not agree with my own comment. Go back to sucking your boyfriends cock.
Next thing you know they'll be putting Aspartame and other proven neurotoxins in baby food... Oh, wait...
I had to attend a public health clinic for a bit for post-op complications and the innoculation program is nuts. Four shots over six months to be fully protected from the frickin' flu. People just line their kids up for this kind of consentual systematic poisoning.
Mind control and programming has worked a treat over the last few generations...
Not to mention all the neurorologicaly active pharmaceuticals excreted in urine that are not removed by waste water treatment, and returned to the environment.
Yes but the fish are easier to catch on vacation thanks to the anti-depressants in the "food chain"...
Has anyone ever encountered a mellow Great White?
"you cant handle the truth"
getting our hands on the truth, and the people responsible, would be a good idea
I can handle an AR 15 though so the truth is less important.
denial above all, including common sense
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md6v28jm0w1qgyjbbo1_1280.jpg
Actually, in the final analysis, they are stupid.
Thank you!
I was going to ask, "are you SURE they aren't stupid? "
My former Long Term Care insurance company q4 11 profits were 75mm. q4 2012 were 7mm and the CEO opened company specific remarks that the low interest rate environment was causing significant pressures to the books of business. I called one of my old buddy's still working and asked, "Do you see it yet?"
"No, I guess I just have a more optimistic view."
Yes, optimism, that's what I'm lacking.
The M.D. types will wake up when they find that .gov and the insurance companies are putting the screws to them. - moreso than they already are -
Many of the doctors get it. The middle class is getting it. Lots of seniors and baby boomers are getting it. The problem now is it is probably too late to avoid an implosion. The sheep are brainwashed by TV and Hollywood. You watch it - you support it.
Yeah but they are all old and don't matter. The media has pretty well convinced the younger crowd to throw Granny under the bus and hand her retirement money over to the big banks. By the time the young crowd wises up and figures out what the big boys have in store for them, it will be their turn to be sold out by an even younger (and dumber) group.
I'm afraid that's the answer; if one's definition of intelligence is the ability to synthesize a new unique and relevent thought out of disparate, seemingly unrelated information inputs. And that's my definition of intelligence.
Critical independent thinking. Some people are less capable of it and that is not a sin.
But those who are clearly capable of it and consciously decide it is better to put blinders on, can only be called stupid when it comes back to bite them in the ass later.
"But those who are clearly capable of it and consciously decide it is better to put blinders on, can only be called stupid when it comes back to bite them in the ass later."
Nominated for Quote of the Year.
hidden truth is they have the most to lose-bring it on warp 3, cause it is going to happen anyways...
Critical independent thinking...
They've been conditioned to never do it.
13+ years of professional conditioning in State schools have their effects.
After the critical thinker (lone nut), they just need a few good followers.
http://youtu.be/V74AxCqOTvg
via TED
I think stupid is the inability to think critically and look beyond what you're being fed. These people are demonstrating willful ignorance; they believe what they want to believe.
Hey Banzai-
It isnt really a question of capability. School trains data in data out and not critical thinking. We need to get our kids back on The Trivium.
I posited earlier on an ADD OCD link for some awake in the population. This is derived from the idea that we are constantly taking in vastly greater amounts of stimulant and information everywhere we go and have been since birth. Controlling this energy is our curse. Most would trade it for a few more friends.
And we don't blinder anything, in fact quite the opposite. Those who achieve high functionality like myself then learned to link the surroundings and information we gathered and come to conclusions...because we hate to wait for someone to tell us.
The downside is I'm a mile wide and an inch deep in far too many subjects.
And our stupidity comes in a lot of flavors. Most leave a bad aftertaste that lingers. Especially dealing with criminals. Especially those in "respected" positions. See priests, politicians, and playboy bunnies. We think they're only doing it for us depsite the evidence right in front of our face and right behind us kicking our ass
And you can't fix stupid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8suVjclu8Zo
But I'll admit that while I believe things are on the road from worse to worser, I do find it difficult to visualize a world....well to quote JHK a "The Long Emergency/World Made by Hand" as the future.
None the less, I try to prepare as much as possible though undoubtably not as quickly or as completely as should be.
I suppose my real aha moment was almost a year a go when I lost a "cushy job with good benefits". Being out there/here having to, for example, deal with health insurance/care is sobering. On the posiitve side, it is amazing how much one can do without when one has to - and be OK.
PS
I do have a job in the family (legit) business and have no plans on being a leech. Didn't even do the unemployment comp thing though I hold no malice to those who do.
thanks dad and mom for not trusting thy neighbor or the church or anyone-paranoia is my savior.
everyone for themselves-rule number one-never forget!
in the end that is all you will have...
Kunstler has this weird devotion to the idea that we're all going to become 1830's subsistence farmers with wood-burning stoves and horse-drawn plows. That somehow we're going to lose the ability to use/produce electricity, computers, motorized vehicles. It's a silly, romantic notion of his that he promotes all the time. We may have some of that in the future - there may be some technologies that we can no longer afford - but Kunstler goes off the deep end.
Agreed, we probably won't lose it all - but we might lose being comfortable, above all.
The electric grid is in stressed shape, and the transformers that are in it are in short supply, and some not made in the U.S. any more. After a few of those are lost without replacement, sections of the grid will go down and stay down. NOTE: not all of it, just the places that aren't powered by local power plants. If coal plants are shut down for stupid reasons, then capacity drops until natgas or something else goes online. Solar can help (by taking certain loads off the grid), but unless you live in AZ you're probably not going to generate 4160V with solar. Ditto wind, geothermal, etc. Coal, oil, natgas and nuclear power enough of the grid that we might hang on to large sections of it - until the linking transmission lines lose transformers, and then some places will go dark.
Likewise, once power is not reliable 24/7, other services get more complicated. Gasoline stations need power for the gas pumps, water utilities need power for the water pumps, sewer systems need power ..... retrofitting all these to be self-sufficient is going to take a while. We won't forget how to make motorized vehicles, but you might find gasoline to run it rare - or need to run your tractor on biodiesel, locally made from (vegetable) oil. We can meet these challenges, but not until we're forced to - part of being human.
What I see is their skewed system of beliefs. Once the tribe has instilled their beliefs, the majority of people will never question it. You could prove certain points to them, & the cog dis that it would invoke is way more than they could handle. An intellectual storm that turns into an emotional tornado if you will.
I have gotten about 5 people to open their eyes. One just this weekend that had no clue as to how the Fed. Res. worked. Actually thought it a govt agency. Two, wrote me off as barking mad until they were approached by other people that get it. Then, all of a sudden, I'm not as paranoid as they thought.
Now whether they're doing what they can to preserve their wealth is another matter entirely. Deer in the headlights & paralyzed with fear. I'm afraid there's only so much we can do, as we all know who's got the big guns. It's obvious they're not afraid to use them either. HAMDRONE ;oD
Illusion trumps everything .
William its like when you are growing up and realize that the teachers who are teaching you are as numb as pounded thumbs.
...and it's no accident either but then again, you know that already. ;)
yet the dilemma was voting for Romney would NOT make them less stupid either!
Because of the completely successful Public Education System, as brought to you by your sponsors, the Fed.and its minion banks.
Outcume, 23% iliturit.
Weapons of Mass Instruction
nice.
You're Welcome.
You're blaming the failure of the Public Education System on the Fed. and banks. That's the funniest shit I've read in a long time. The Democrats are responsible for the failed modern public screw system.
No Child Left Behind. Brought to you by the sponsoree's of the Bush Admin and the various Admins before and since.
GO FUCK YOURSELF.
They refuse to admit they are part of the problem. They demand more from their government than the government can afford to give them. Sure, they are bright people, but they are nanny staters that ulitmately want to be taken care of from craddle to grave. They have been conditioned their entire lives to believe exactly what they believe.
My parents belong to the group of modern 'neo-conservatives'. Never have taken anything from anyone, worked hand to mouth every day of their lives. My Dad flew captain of a major airline and now builds experimental aircraft and restores old war birds in retirement. They are neither stupid nor want anything from the government......except...
Post cold war they are comfortable with the idea of Empire and believe the old America they believed in still exists, that it simply can be changed at the polls (a trait shared with many in the Democrat wing of The Party). The ignorance is willful and in many ways they simply are not built for real time, outside-the-box independent analysis - not everybody is. Most are afraid to be different in a culture where 'the nail that stands out is hammered down'.
There will always be sheep and it is up to the 3% to change the world. So stop yer bitchin'!! ;)
By the way, they live an order of magnitude better standard of living than I do and I have not one shred of envy - a fucking scourge of an emotion now infecting this welfare nation.. This isn't directed at you Zap, just complements your post...
No kidding! The seven deadly sins are deadly on their own, not because of God (or Allah or Gaia or the FSM) but because of man.
Gluttony, greed, envy, sloth, wrath, pride and lust.
Words of wisdom, friend..
Each profession you listed thrives under big government. They know exactly what their doing.
If you cant beat em, join em.
"I want a uniform."
Ephialtes- 300