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Sovereignty Series: Lost in America
Sovereignty Series: Lost in America
By
Cognitive Dissonance
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As a young adult studying world history in high school I often wondered what happened to various countries that had turned despotic or dictatorial when previously they were republics or somewhat benevolent kingdoms. The list is endless and needs no repeating here other than a few recent examples for illustration purposes.
Just mention Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy and especially Japan in the run up to World War II and opinions are quickly offered by both apologists and those who wish to point fingers. All these countries were at some point peaceful and civilized, or at least not extremely dangerous to themselves and to others, before they tipped over into utter insanity and were consumed by their ‘self’.
While I do understand history is written not only by the ‘winners’, but by the propagandists in order to control and mold minds, certain trends and cycles are glaringly obvious even to the deaf, dumb and blind. Repeatedly it seems the sweet fruit of liberty and justice, however limited it may be, eventually turns sour and rots on the vine.
Why is that?
Most people would quickly quip, “Well, that’s just human nature.” And I might be hard pressed to successfully argue the flip side, especially if I were discussing the issue with someone who doesn’t see themselves subject to ‘human nature’. Because oftentimes when people blame the human condition as the source of global problems they rarely see themselves as part of the problem, of the herd that succumbs to the insanity. And yet there they are, smack dab in the middle of the mess, demanding someone else clean it up.
If I were to put a rat in a closed box with no other source of food save a lever which, when pushed, dispensed food pellets, would I be able to claim it is ‘rodent nature’ for the rat to press a lever for food? If devoid of all other distractions and pursuits other than a lever that dispenses food, would I be able to say the rat is obsessed with pushing the lever for food and this is also simply rat nature?
This is, of course, a gross oversimplification of the human condition. Humans don’t live in closed boxes and push levers for food. They live in closed boxes with doors and windows and a multitude of other distractions while pushing microwave buttons to dispense food after heating. Any other similarities between rats and humans are purely coincidental.
The above sarcasm was presented to illustrate how simplistic, silly really, our opinions are regarding both ‘human nature’ and what we personally attribute to human nature. Since as individuals we egotistically declare ourselves above the fray and not one of the great unwashed ‘them’, in other words isolated, alien even and most certainly nonhuman, we can quickly dismiss the behavior of others as aberrant while being just like everyone else.
If that boxed rat had been born into his or her captivity and since birth the entire world consisted of the box and nothing else, how narrow a slice of perceived reality would the rat be working with? And how limited is the rat in its ability to discern not only what the ‘real’ world was like, but what ‘rat nature’ consisted of if its mind was boxed up even tighter than its body?
Now extend that thought experiment outward and into our human world and recognize that while we are not physically isolated to any degree equal to the rat, for all intents and purposes our mind is. While the illusion of finite boundaries within the rat’s world is simplistic because the rat’s brain is (supposedly) limited, our externally (and internally) created illusion is infinitely more complex solely because our minds are exponentially more intricate and thus need more creative and multifaceted creations to sate the lazy brain and keep our curiosity dormant. We will not comprehend what we do not wish to see.
I contend there is but one simple explanation for Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the hive mind of WWII Japan and now an increasingly Tyrannical America. “We the People”, while proudly declaring our love affair for freedom and liberty, are increasingly boxed in both body and mind. Sadly we perceive little more than the images projected upon the walls of our closed box by our own ‘authorities’ and sociopaths. Of course, this explanation only applies to all of you out there and most certainly not me. Simply put the problem is you, not me. See how easy that was?
This is not to say there aren’t thousands, even tens of thousands, of sociopaths running loose throughout this country and the world. This includes the extremely destructive global central banks that administer the horribly exploitive financial system which is at the heart of the world’s insanity.
Nor do I dismiss the hundreds of thousands of other so-called ‘authorities’ out there, all those borderline sociopaths and wannabe despots who presently occupy nearly every seat of power, be it political, corporate, academic or private non-profit institutions. These individuals and groups are the puppets and puppet masters who pull the strings and apply the pressure and reap the benefits of corruption on a daily basis. I get all that, I really do. I am not dismissing their suffocating oppression and overwhelming influence upon every aspect of our lives.
But!
This condition, these individuals and groups, do not exist in a vacuum. They were not beamed down to Earth by some rogue alien world to act as a debilitating virus to soften up the population before the invasion force lands. These are ‘our’ sociopaths; we support them, if only indirectly, because we perceive it in our best interest to do so. If I bitch and complain about a nuisance animal on my premises, then continue to feed and care for it, how exactly am I to explain its continuing presence and my hypocrisy?
This is an ugly truth most will reject outright by declaring ‘I’ don’t do any such thing, ‘I’ didn’t ask for this and ‘I’ don’t wish it to be here. ‘I’ am most certainly not responsible for this situation. And yet not only does it exist, but it is flourishing and expanding. It is self evident this can all end very quickly if we truly wished it to be over, thus clearly we do not. ‘We’, despite the protestations by nearly everyone walking the streets that things stink and should change, do nothing to facilitate change because quite frankly the pain isn’t great enough to compel “We the People” to change ourselves.
Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the hive mind of Japan and now Tyrannical America all exist because the people of those countries wished it to be so. All the nations above, and every other maniacal nation/empire that existed throughout history, were loudly applauded, cheered and actively supported not only in the early stages of its creation, but as they grew increasingly dangerous not only to their friends and neighbors, but to themselves. The descent into tyranny is always warmly welcomed by the populace.
Is the present day political and corporate corruption, the abject and transparent central bank controlled and imposed financial swindle, the massive cultural debasement of moral values and personal responsibility, is all this and more the cause of our problems or just the symptom of an even greater dis-ease? Can we honestly point fingers at they, them and those and completely ignore the ultimate source of the illness, the personal dysfunction and corruption that springs from within “We the People”?
No substantial changes will ever take place until “We the People” collectively, and more importantly, individually fully accept the fact that while ‘we’ as individuals are not responsible for this country’s, nor the world’s, problems ‘we’ as individuals are completely responsible for our ‘self’ and the problems that result from our individual beliefs, pursuits and decisions.
The buck does not stop at the President and the executive branch, with Congress or any other legislative body, at the Supreme Court and the ‘justice’ system, in academia or the corporate world. The buck stops here, right here, within me and you and they and them. Since I have no control over anyone else other than myself, my first and most pressing responsibility is to enact change within my ‘self’ first if I ever wish to see it widely disseminated. Everything else flows from this inalienable truth, that “We the People” are ultimately and solely responsible for “We the People”.
Only after we as individuals have declared our own personal sovereignty, and then embody it on a daily basis, will we ever be able to unseat those who declare sovereignty over “We the People”. A sovereign individual does not blame others for issues he or she has the power to change. I must face my own hypocrisy first, a festering condition that feeds and nourishes the greater hypocrisy, before I can demand others to do the same and for the system to change. As long as I deny responsibility for my personal contributions to the ongoing tyranny nothing is going to stop our descent into hell.
It all begins within.
11-17-2014
Cognitive Dissonance
Image Credits – Mitch Debrowner
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" meet the new boss. same as the old boss"
Hi Cog- great article as usual-- so on another subject, i signed up and paid for membership to twoiceflows with paypal but there was some glitch after payment on the redirect and i'm left with no login or password. Sent a mail to your webmaster but haven;t gotten a response.
Oh, THERE you are. I sent you an email too and never received an answer. Please contact me asap at twoicefloes@gmail.com and I'll have you set up in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
Thanks Mrs Cog- will do that today.
Loss of Respect scuppers all .
See
https://www.academia.edu/9354151/The_Economics_of_Disrespect_
Or
http://andreswhy.blogspot.com/2014/11/economics-of-disrespect.html
So many people don't even respect themselves!
Why should they?
indeed, though the outward effects of that takes on different flavors, depending on how one defines "self". either it's manifested as hiding one's lack of respect for self by disrespecting others or allowing oneself to be one who tolerates being disrepected by others. two sides of the same coin though, no?
to andre: interesting read, though i/m/h/o, the Quiet Revolution will not occur until what l.man noted above is acknowledged by those who choose to partake in such an event, even (and especially) if it's labeled a Revolution, quiet or otherwise.
Casting back to your last piece about "Awakening Alone" - even if I declare my personal sovereignty and embody it on a daily basis - if the group mind is trapped in the maze I will receive no help escaping the maze or the lab.
I can be free in my own mind and personal sphere but still physically trapped within the maze. This is why suicide is at an all-time high; it is a way to escape the maze; I don't espouse it, but I understand it.
Unfortunately, when societies and cultures become so self-deluded that they coalesce into a mass frenzy of lies and phony heroes and villains it is: violence, confrontation, and collapse that become the only way the insanity of the group mind can be broken.
Buddha spoke of the 4 noble truths and the Path to escape and live a life in freedom. This is an acceptance of the nature of this world being filled with suffering and impermanence. This was fact in his time as it is in ours. How we marvel at our technological advances yet still struggle with this basic dilemma.
We must transact with this world Eb but we should not let it destroy us. I fight with this myself as I watch people die of drug overdoses and suicides every day. The injustice and cruelty of this world weighs me down heavily at times.
In reality, all we truly have is ourselves and our own journey. Sometimes for me it can be very lonely. Like walking our own endless Green Mile with an occasional oasis bringing a brief respite. And then it's back on the road to a future unknown.
Miffed
Poor baby!
Are you speaking from experience or opinion? Are you free in your own mind? Rationalizing to yourself that you are free is not the same as being free.
Being free from one's own mind is perhaps the most difficult accomplishment ( and certainly most rewarding) ever attempted by man. I'm not sure if it is even entirely possible. But it is the journey, not the destination, that is important!
Pretty much how I feel.
The less I take part in the madness, the better I feel.
I cycle 365 (I'm in Canada, so winter is something of a challenge)
No TV, No Cell phone, No debt.
Most people think I'm a bit odd, but then I think the same about most people.
I'll be 60 in January - can ride 50 miles any day of the week.
Some of the hikes I take would kill most 30 year olds.
I love archery and as I've always been something of a wood working type, I've taken up making bows.
Doing things beats the crap out of watching someone else do something.
More power to you, and a good way to be; no wonder "people" think you are odd.
I've seen several studies that found eccentrics are happier than "normal people" and move society forward in positive ways.
You are correct, some options are limited when the mindless mass is herding.
But......I have consistently found that when approaching problems with the mindset of a sovereign entity rather than a powerless victim, the self empowerment alone opens new pathways I was previously blind to. While the victim is pounding on the closed door directly in front of them demanding they be let back in I look around and perceive dozens of other open doors around me.
Keeping as many options as possible open and available to me when times get tough is the key not only to survival, but to living life as fully as possible. My worst enemy is my own defeated mind. We are not controlled by the police state, but by our belief in the police state's ability to control.
Good perspective Cog, thanks.
Thanks for telling us what’s wrong; now, it’s time to investigate HOW to correct such wrongs.
This question (HOW?) started a search of 30,000 to 50,000 pages of original and un-sanitized history and law books, as I sought men and eras that advanced the cause of liberty. And I found what I never suspected: everything I knew about law and history was a very distorted picture of real facts of history.
For example, Founders repeatedly declared that “no man is obligated to obey any law or pay any tax unless he has given consent to it”. Did they mean this literally? Of course they did. From the first English settlement to the Revolution this was how affairs of the colonies were managed. Every “law” and every “tax” had its origin in contracts between colonial assemblies and those who petitioned for redress of grievances. The terms of the contract were sometimes referred to as “laws” of the contract while its money payments were treated as “taxes”. And only petitioners were obligated to obey such “laws” and pay such “taxes”. When redress was completed, related “laws” and “taxes” expired.
Once you learn this right of consent, you’ll come to understand there is probably not a constitutional tax on the books.
There, in two paragraphs I conveyed to you more real history than you learned in 12 years of elementary and high schools, and 4-6 years of university indoctrination. You won’t learn this and other lessons from professors, or judges, or lawyers; the first two depend on continued grievances for their pensions, the third never learned such history, or law.
This right of consent was won with the Revolution… and who knows it?
And, such is the problem, if no American knows ideals won/confirmed in our Revolution… if no American knows the history, law and procedures of redress, who would trust such Americans to guide men thru catastrophes designed and orchestrated by a nation of cutthroats and thieves who have been perpetrating them for 5 millennia?
Without such knowledge you only launch on missions of suicide.
The ZH servers are glitching.
Duplicate!
Thank you for your opinion and feedback.
Something which is almost completely overlooked or deliberately ignored when studying and discussing the history of the first American 'revolution' is how two underclasses of people were completely left out of any "liberty and justice for all." I could competently argue there were more, but I won't.
I am, of course, speaking of the 'slave' class as well as the class qualified as 'women and children'. It was pretty good for the (mostly) white male population though.
How much do you want to bet the next American 'revolution' will provide no 'liberty and justice for all" to the 'debt class'?
I’m aware of several errors made by Founders; and I can’t address them all in 5-6 paragraphs.
Such errors are why I repeatedly state that we have to learn lessons of those eras that advanced the cause of liberty (Golden Age of Athens, English (1620-50) and American revolutions) – AND THEN duplicate their work – and correct for their mistakes.
Until a few Americans (1%-2%) learn, and apply, these lessons, then, yes, only criminal and useful-idiot classes will survive the storm that looms on the horizon – and all others will be reduced to a mass of rotting slaves.
That’s all it will take, the 1%-2%; but, don’t count on it: two of the most difficult of tasks is to admit that one has been duped… and to correct a self-destructive belief system.
Don't forget those who were here before "we" arrived.
CD, I'm afraid your article has flown right over the head of most here. I posit to you, that there is nothing that can be done or said to right this human ship except learn to right yourself.
Real change will only come through a "consciousness osmosis" if you will. Become conscious, and you will affect change. The rest is just masturbation.
PS I type this while I'm coming!
"the massive cultural debasement of moral values and personal responsibility, is all this and more the cause of our problems or just the symptom of an even greater dis-ease? Can we honestly point fingers at they, them and those and completely ignore the ultimate source of the illness, the personal dysfunction and corruption that springs from within “We the People”? is all this and more the cause of our problems or just the symptom of an even greater dis-ease? Can we honestly point fingers at they, them and those and completely ignore the ultimate source of the illness, the personal dysfunction and corruption that springs from within “We the People”?"
I dunno, we have done pretty well for a species that has "evolved" thru time and chance having created a sense of the moral and personal from out of the void. What's a little personal dysfunction and corruption among friends? /sarc
"What's a little personal dysfunction and corruption among friends? /sarc"
LOL
Back centuries ago it was understood that moral responsibility and common law was (for the most part) embodied at street level and eventually flowed up the leadership ladder to the top. Nowadays it appears the 'state' has deemed itself the moral arbiter where all questions of law and moral behavior originate. This is then 'filtered' down to the plebs.
Of course the state is endowed with the 'right' not to follow its own rules and decrees. Do as I say and not as I do. Don't kill each other for only the state shall kill. And its killing shall always be righteous and holy.
Right!!!!!!
Several years ago, I was engaged in a debate with Lord Tebbit, on the forums of the Daily Telegraph. He sits in the House of Lords and was a Minister under Thatcher.
Anyway, he told me that I must not use my own conscience, but that I must obey the law as set down by Parliament.
He went on to state that Parliament may make any law that it chooses.
Years later, I am still incandescent with rage.
"Years later, I am still incandescent with rage."
and that's exactly why he said what he said the way he said it...to instill that powerful, lingering effect on other human being.
magic works both ways though.
"magic works both ways though."
Either you are creating your own spells or you're living under someone else's.
"Only after we as individuals have declared our own personal sovereignty, and then embody it on a daily basis, will we ever be able to unseat those who declare sovereignty over “We the People”. A sovereign individual does not blame others for issues he or she has the power to change. I must face my own hypocrisy first, a festering condition that feeds and nourishes the greater hypocrisy, before I can demand others to do the same and for the system to change. As long as I deny responsibility for my personal contributions to the ongoing tyranny nothing is going to stop our descent into hell. It all begins within."
COG,
Love your stuff,essentially Pogo's dictum. I don't think the answer is personal sovereignty. Human nature is cor curvum in se " the heart turned in upon itself". It cannot avoid it's tendency toward self/other destruction. Ok, I am a hypocrite, lets have some more Cheetos and beer, hookers and blow, or overthrow Syria, It's all good. "[N]othing is going to stop our descent into hell", I take you mean that figuratively, perhaps if we took it literally we would begin to look outside ourselves.
Luke 21: 25“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The interwebby is chock full of people with all kinds of solutions on how to 'fix' things, including the mess we presently find ourselves in. I do not pretend to know how to do this. In fact the 'fix' is essentially impossible considering the present state of affairs and the mindset of the average citizen consumer. Basically all I (think I) know is that any 'fix' requires a major change in our collective and individual mindset.
Since I don't see that happening in the next week or so all I can do is concentrate on 'fixing' me. Thankfully I have enough issues to last the rest of my lifetime so I plan on staying busy.
Pulling my system out of the fiat. Seems the best way to put it. WW3 is thier big reset plan. If they can sucker some us into it. Thats the thing tho. They only need to suck a few into it. They are pretty good at getting the slower to jump. We need to get everybody up to speed. Even the ones we dont like. For whatever reason we dont like them we still need them all on the same page.
I always look forward to these articles. Well written, and above all nuanced....giving the central theme time to shine in it's own light. (I alos like the fact that they never degenerate into name calling or sensationalism
The primary problem, and chief enabler of despotism and tyranny, is Obedience.
The fall of the Berlin Wall is a good example. Though accidentally encouraged to happen, the people of East Berlin, thinking the Wall was open, or would be opened, inadvertently disobeyed and went to the Wall in expectation of passing to the west.
The thugs at the Wall, feeling overwhelmed, and fearful, by the sheer number of citizens pushing to pass thru the Wall, stood down.
Though not deliberate, disobedience brought the East German governmnet to an end IN ONE NIGHT--12 hours!
Stop Playing! Stop Paying! Stop Obeying!
An American, not US subject.
"The primary problem, and chief enabler of despotism and tyranny, is Obedience."
Unfortunately the path of least resistance when facing tyranny and despotism is often obedience. But ultimately it is our denial that enables the early stages of the insanity, allowing it to fully bloom and fester. What could have more easily been extinguished back in 2001 (9/11 comes to mind) has since permeated not only the entire government, but our culture as well.
When tyranny becomes institutionalized as 'normal' in the minds of the populace, there is not much else that can be done but to tear it down. Sadly by doing so it tears apart the very fabric of society and changes everything.
What was that once said about eternal vigilance?
The only responsible thing to do at this point would probably be a totally futile gesture.
Maybe it would encourage others.
Maybe it would pay homage to our forebears.
But the best thing to do is to try to survive for the rebuild.
There will be no fixing this shitwagon.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Every penny you pay in taxes and tolls, and fees, succor the Beast.
Starve the Beast. It will soon consume itself.
Starve The Beast!
I think about this all the time. I am here in NY. I work to ensure my survival. Part of my life's work is taken from me on a daily basis. It is used for weapons which are then pointed against me and those I care about. It is used to kill while I believe in peace. It enriches a band of thieves so vile that it turns my stomach.
And I live here a hypocrite. I pay into this delusion and to some degree even benefit from it as the spoils from all the killing very much benefit Wall Street. The crumbs left over support the surrounding region.
So I think to myself that I need to get the hell out. I need to starve the beast. But here I am raging against the machine, fighting against it while feeding it and feeding off it.
Where does one go today where they can be free from the blood sucker beast? How do we best address this inner conflict?
Just enjoy it while it lasts man. It won't make one difference if you or even a few thousand people left Wall Street tomorrow. The show would go on. This past weekend 8 young adults came out to the East End of Long Island where I live. All in their late 20s and early 30s, all very friendly, very sociable and fun. They were all living in NYC, 3 were bankers at BOA and one worked at a hedge fund. Didnt catch what the others did. They all chipped in $100 each to get a limo to take them to a few wineries for 3 hours or so. No idea what they spent on wine but I imagine it wasnt cheap. They rented the house for two days (which also isnt cheap, as its on the water) and they all pay around $2k a month to live in the city. Again they were all great, fun people and I joined them for beers Saturday night. So what is the problem? All 8 of them are living this life of luxury on borrowed time and none of them have a clue about it. Hedge accordingly.
"Where does one go today where they can be free from the blood sucker beast?"
There are no more 'new worlds' to flee to, no place to go. We must turn to face the beast....which means we must turn to face ourself.
"How do we best address this inner conflict?"
If I may quote myself.
"I must face my own hypocrisy first, a festering condition that feeds and nourishes the greater hypocrisy, before I can demand others to do the same and for the system to change. As long as I deny responsibility for my personal contributions to the ongoing tyranny nothing is going to stop our descent into hell."
When he was growing up I used to really piss off my son by always answering his questions about tough decisions the same way. It is easy to know what to do. It is always much harder to actually do it because it often involves self sacrifice and pain.
I like your writings, useful part of my life, but that's a washy, liberal, deep-philosophy-from-india answer... you minimize your tax liability, the correct and legal response. And then you get the fuck out. Why, I mean, how can one bear to live under a tyranny? - Europe, far better educational system, more bablanced children, Better safety, Healthier food. Go abroad, call it Foreign Direct Investment - that's what everyone with money did a decade ago. "Seeing" is all good, 'Doing' is an act of the body, it doesn't require the thinking, use your hands and legs and do what has to be done. -- once your will has learnt to be focused (through doing), then one can further see the World and those myriad Wills all of which which cause it to spin.
We in the west are so obsessed with 'doing something' as the only approach to 'fixing' things that sometimes we miss the obvious. While others are busy trying to extinguish the lit fuse before the bomb goes off I observed the fuse is no long attached and just step back to watch.
Often our 'doing' messes things up worse than just letting nature take its course. This doesn't always hold true, but it does more often than we care to admit. Our cultural arrogance is showing.
BTW what makes you think Europe is not on the same train tracks to hell? And what does one do if they don't have money?
whereever you go, there you are
(cliche of the day)
"There are no more 'new worlds' to flee to, no place to go. We must turn to face the beast....which means we must turn to face ourself."
been noodling on this ever since watching the trailer for that new movie Interstellar last week. it appears to me that the "explorer" archetype within the collective psyche does not want to let go of this fact (or rather look within). and it seems the explorer is willing to fuck up the planet beyond all repair (at least to the point where it will no longer support human habitation) in order to kickstart the other archetypes to focus all their efforts into developing technology that will give the explorer new toys in which to explore new worlds in outer space and be the hero that will save the human race. different mise en scene, same ol' story.
considering that the explorer is (a) such a dominant archetype in the collective psyche (don't forget that "America" is named after an explorer) and (b) is more often than not a hard-headed stubborn bastard with not an inkling of a desire for introspection, it appears "We the People" is fucked (with the consequent fear/desire-based manipulations to encourage us to fuck each other over) for the foreseeable future.
one could hope that the collective psyche locks the explorer in the padded room for a healthy timeout with some ayahuasca, but the way things are going (or rather, how reality is being shaped), it appears that only a moment similar to the ending of 2001 (the Kubrick flick) is going to change this trajectory.
I tend to agree. But my agreement doesn't invalidate my article simply because if we carry the same inner dysfunction into the re-set the next results will be the same as the last result, as in history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes. Maybe this time the cycle will complete much faster. Instead of 4 generations (The Fourth Turning for example) there is a rise and fall within 5 or 10 years.
Or maybe it takes much longer than expected to re-set. I have read articles and comments saying since it takes so long for the cycle to complete, all they need do is make it through the tough times. But what if those tough times last 20 years?
A settled and empowered sovereign individual is much better prepared to survive anything that comes his or her way. Any effort expended to achieve that goal is never wasted, even if the goal is never fully realized. The process itself is where most of the learning resides.
The world and the people in it are often quite wrong. That is as far as most of us ever got.
Go further!
Cordially,
TwoHoot
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